Balance beyond belief

What we lived
2020 has already been one for the books, but we are all charged with completing this mammoth year. I know we have a bit of trepidation with elections, a second virus wave, and possible shut downs ahead. I felt like it only makes sense to try to decipher what is ahead. Of course this is not looking into a crystal ball trickery, but rather ancestral wisdom looms over my head just as it does over yours. In this post I will lay out one way to view all of this and suggest a way to decode what lies ahead.

What we do

Navigating the remainder of this year is about knowing what type of energy has already been put out into the world with COVID, injustice and large amounts of global deaths. Once we know we must accept all that transpired thus far and digest it in order to transmute this surge of negative and positive experiences. Even as I write this I too struggle with parts of this prescriptive plan of moving from this moment.

What we need

Ok let's chunk this into smaller parts. Simply stated the pandemic has changed our lives in an instant and spiritually this has been a huge undertaking to pivot, adjust, protect, root and ground ourselves. Having said that I personally felt that leaning into my ancestors and their experiences and ways of living is one of the things that really got me through the darkest days (since I live in North New Jersey which was a part of the eye of the virus initially). Once I was able to identify that this wasn't new and that there was a blueprint of some sort acceptance became an option for me. Now digestion, well that one was a bit more difficult.

What we know

Digesting all of this comes with such grave aspects of knowing that there really is meaning in ignorance is bliss, but since I lean towards learning every time, I had to just take whatever came with the knowing. Again my ancestors provided me with insight that what we are experiencing is not new and is a pattern of human behavior when there is lack, inferiority, and emptiness in their souls. Also the ancestors taught me that there was nothing anyone did to deserve this fate and that somehow calmed me in the harshest of the storm.

What we will
Lastly, (and where I currently find myself) is the place of transmutation. The phenomenon associated with taking the horrible and making it useable is a tall order on any given day, but during or after a pandemic is quite heroic humanity and spiritual might. So I will say this, ancestrally speaking, this is where our greatest and best good lives dwell and if we swim through all of our spiritual muck to reach the point of peace, understanding and balance what we access is much like that of walking a tight rope with a monkey on our heads. PURE BALANCE.

What we are

Now many of you may ask how do I lean into, reach out to, or even access my ancestors. Well it is much simpler than you think. For me, a practitioner of an earth based spirituality, I believe our ancestors are always around us we just block ourselves from seeing them.

But for a beginner or even a naysayer here are a few things that help me access them.

Ancestor Connection

Make their favorite food and eat it, you can even have a small spirit plate that you leave for them while eating

Set up an ancestral altar with pictures, objects they like and candles to light the way for them (be careful, use safe candles or faux candles)

Do a meditation on them and really concentrate on connecting to them in order to receive messages they have for you

Engage a family member in a conversation about the ancestor so you can remember their personality, traits, wit, and wisdom

Go to a favorite place of theirs and spend some time there just being there and staying open to any understanding that you may receive

Celebrate a holiday or favorite time of the year that your ancestor liked, you can do it like they did it or add something new to it that is your own flavor

Wish upon a Winter Wolf

credit: sunrisereikicentre.com

Full Moon breaks
This Saturday at approximately 8:45pm EST we will enter the Full Moon in the sign of Leo.  In this darker, cooler weather I am sure we all want to snuggle up and be blah, but this Full Moon presents blessings and magic that we can not ignore.

What it is
In general a Full Moon is that time during the lunar cycle when you check in or it can also be that time when an apex of intention may be reached, whatever the case I want us all to take note of where we are at this very moment then we can proceed.

Well, well Wolf
This particular Full Moon falls in Leo and its ruling planet is the Sun. That great beacon of light and hope always finds a way to bring that ray right back to us. So be careful with what you wish for cause these days are super potent. And while we are on the subject of potency, take note that this Full Moon is often known as the Wolf Moon. That's right the Wolf Clan is bringing us lessons, cohesion and strategy over the next few days so be open, be intentional, and be ritualistic when possible.

Waters of Wolf
On my meditation on this Wolf Moon I was told to be still, be strategic, and know that I hold all the power that the Wolf Clan has for me. This full moon I stand in my power, feel its vastness, and allow its energy to fall all over me like a waterfall.  Winter time is one of my favorites mainly because I give and accept some much, here is something else for me to take in.

Welcome the ritual
I suggest that with this Wolf Full Moon you create a ritual for yourself that you can complete for the rest of the full moons in this calendar year. Keep it simple or expand and make it grandiose, the choice is truly yours.  Ritual can be a meditation, a song, elemental materials (incense, candle, water, earthen object), movement, a walk, a meal. Please be open to creating what will bring you centering and closer to your spiritual self.

Making it more
Below I thought I'd give us all a bit of the medicine that the Wolf Clan has for us. Please see these messages as a doorway that you will open to find these things or whatever is there for you once you cross that threshold.  Be brazen, be humble, be beautiful, like the Wolf!

Wolf Totem

Meaning - Intuition, Ritual, Spirit 

credit: hrexach.wordpress.com

My rituals are sacred

Order and harmony are a part of my life

I honor my family and younger people

I use all that is available to me

My inner voice is at the center of my decisions

--Andrea

Imbolc, our Mid Winter Rebirth

Credit: weheartit.com

This morning as I began preparing my personal rituals I was going to do for Imbolc, I thought wait....Maybe folks would like to know this information as well, so here it goes...

Imbolc is a Gaelic celebration that was, and for many still is, a festival of the hearth and home, and a celebration of the lengthening days and the early signs of spring.  It serves as a midpoint for many between the dark, internal, and womb like energies of winter and the lighter, crowning, and re/birth energies of spring.  In the earth based lores it is the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.  Fire and purification are an important aspect as well.  So candles and fires can be a part of the celebrations.  Makes total sense, since with spring comes more light of the days and our spirits.

As a part of my coming rebirth (what I am marking this Imbolc) I am claiming the new me that has been on deck for what feels like a hundred years.  But I must be honest and say that even though I have been frustrated, at a loss for words, and even a couple of times doubled over in tears up to this point, I know it has all been for a greater, stronger, more focused me.  I wouldn't change a single moment, action, thought, word, or understanding.  Transformation of the self is not for the faint at heart.  Neither can it be ushered in by a personal assistant.  We must do the work in order to reap the benefits.  It's a simple equation, although we make it hard at times.  

Below I laying out some representations of what that midpoint can represent.  Each of us have images in our mind of what these symbols are.  I challenge all of us to see beyond the mere words and give meaning to the symbols.  Does this move you?  Do you need to develop something else? Decide for yourself what you will do with this information and how you will use it to assist your personal goals.  Maybe daily, maybe hourly, or maybe always.  Ritual is a lot of things, but for me it is mainly personalized.  Make these symbols real for you, be it a deity, a food, a saced text, or even a family ancestor.  We give energy to that which we believe.  So figure what you believe.

Credit: bridalbouquet..blogspot.com

 Imbolc Symbols

Deities

Virgin/Maiden Goddesses

Concepts

Growth & Renewal

Fertility

Herbs

Coltsfoot, Heather, Iris

Incense

Basil, Cinnamon, Myrrh

-Andrea/Drea of Waters