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

Along came a snake

credit: pinterest.com

Taurus time
This morning we entered the Taurus lunar cycle. Welcome, we have lots to do and this is the PERFECT time to get it done.  Taurus, which is Venus ruled, is the best time to take on the triple P's: Perseverance, Patience, and Practicality.   This cycle should be about taking action, moving on our dreams, and putting in the necessary work to continue to evolve.  Since Taurus is an Earth Sign we need to find solace in grounding ourselves around what we will undertake.

A serpent's gift
Snakes. That's right the descendent of the mighty serpent.  In the image above what do you notice? Is it the color, the coiled body, the eyes or the skin?  And what feelings come to mind: fear, intrigue, excitement, or amazement? The snake/serpent is one of the most power symbols of the concept of Transmutation, something that is so timely during the Taurus lunar cycle.

Know the cycle
What is transmutation? Well, transmutation is the ability to intake something (negative or positive), ingest it, integrate it, and then change it into whatever you need at that time.  Simply explained yes but, much harder to put into practice.  With the power of this lunar cycle I challenge us to transmute the small things in our lives like traffic, tardiness, a spill on our clothes or the many other things that plague us daily.  Taurus is here to support and amplify our power to transmute. All we need to do is take that first, small step.  If we begin with the smaller things as the cycle progresses we can take on bigger more challenging occurrences in our lives in order to transmute as well. We have to start someplace and this is as benevolent a time as any.

GPSing myself
My personal work this cycle will be around knowing exactly where I am in the transmutation cycle whether it be intake, ingestion, integration, or transmutation.  I do understand the concept and have reaped the great benefits of practicing it, but I need to continue doing it. And for me I can be more Macro aligned than Micro, so my use of transmutation with the little things will greatly improve some of my day to day mishaps.  I am ready, are you?

Just do it
Please look below for ideas of ways, where, and how to work on transmutation this cycle.  Don't be afraid to dream big that is how miracles are granted.  As always what resonates with you either negatively or positively is probably what you should be focused on during this cycle. It's not rocket science, but we make it that way :)

Work in Sign of Taurus

Abundance

Love Magic

Employment

Healing

Taurus Lunar Cycle Concept - Transmutation

Growth & Generation

Healing

Fertility

Life - Death - Rebirth

Taurus Lunar Cycle Herbs/Essences

credit: commons.wikimedia.org

Benzoin - Air Element - Calming

Passion Flower - Water Element - Peace

Thyme - Air Element - Courage

Taurus Lunar Cycle Stone - Malachite

credit: imgbuddy.com

Stimulate Dreams

Rebirthing

Transformation Stone

 Taurus Lunar Cycle Affirmation

With this cycle I ask that I am connected to my intuitive understanding and am able to make progress,

I will knowingly look my creators in their faces and see my own divinity reflected back at me and I will be humbled, confident, and charged,

The portions of myself that no longer serve me will be discarded and room will be made for learning about newer parts of me that are now waiting in the wings,

I will do all of this with grace, humility, and steadfastness

Andrea

Inside the Silence

credit: guymarc-aurele.ca

The dust is settling
As the leaves fall and the grey clouds come we must welcome, with open arms, Sister Winter. Although she's been here for a week I'm sure we are still getting used to her idiosyncratic ways.  I hope we all can stand and absorb all the blessings she can bestow upon us, IF we are ready.

Medicine that is unsaid
While winter is here I hope we are able to take advantage of the true medicine that can come from sitting in our own silences and hearing the messages spirit(s) have for us.  Let the barren branches of the trees make way for light and sight.  What has been thought of as a time of year for colds and sedentary lifestyles can be replaced by movement and activity. 

To accept and forgive
For me this winter is about self-forgiveness and acceptance of the transmutation that has already begun.  Since I can be one of my hardest critics I often forget how profound my impact is on my community, near and far.  Well this winter I stop all of that kind of thinking because my guides have given me such supportive care and compassion on this part of the journey, so who wants to challenge that.  Certainly not me.  I am working on self-forgiveness and acceptance from the inside out and the outside in.  My aim is high, but whatever heights I reach with this will be another step closer and for that I am willing to take the risk.

Choose your ways
I am sharing with you symbols, concepts and benchmarks for you to begin your winter journey.  And take your time, you have many more weeks to get to wherever you are going.  Along the way be honest and when you need help, ask for it. Being in need is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of true understanding of one's place.  Happy Journeying!!!

Winter Animal Totem - Snake

Focus - Dive Into The Snake's Mouth

Know I possess Fire Energy

Amalgamate the Female and Male

All life's poisons can be altered

 Winter Concept - Transmutation

credit: lynetteshelley.com

Enter the West Lodge

Silence

Death/Rebirth

Forgiveness

Winter Mantra

credit: whiteswanmusic.com

In this chill I am clear and have clarity

*** Try saying the mantra to yourself 108 times at each sitting the mala above can be useful and meditative.




--Andrea

 

A river running through us?

What has slithered in
Yes, there is a winding, curving, moving entity coming our way.  This being is not the traditional body of water you are probably thinking of.  The lasting loops coming our way is that of the Water Snake year as it will be delivered to us all on Sunday, February 10, 2013.  The sixth in the sign of the Chinese Zodiac, many great things are burgeoning.

The Serpent's blessings
The Snake (in the element of Water this time) will be a good time to get our finances in order, begin to really research endeavors that interest us and lastly make sure we find a safe space from which we can turn our greatest wishes into beaming realities.  Intuition, transmutation, and protection are forces that we will be able to capture this year.

The Age Aquarian
Because all of this happens when the Moon is in the sign of Aquarius, we must always remember our inner humanitarian, who will be our moral compass, our guiding light, our best friend to the end.  Often associated with New Age endeavors, commit this Lunar New Year to usher in your own personal Age that is New.  New in the sense that we can be brand new.  We can reach for our greatest selves and re-imagine, rejuvenate, and re-make the person we are.  We've got the next 13 moons to do it.

The entire cycle is for me
My purpose this Lunar New Year drives me towards a wholistic approach to transmutation.  Although I've attained it before I have struggled to maintain that deep understanding of life-death-rebirth.  Sometimes I just hold to the death and elongate the rebirth.  No more, I do have the power to change this reality and I am choosing just that.  For me the Water Snake will nourish me and strengthen me see the necessary steps on the trinity of creation, that being life-death-rebirth.

Things to mark this Snake
See the elements that could be a part of your intention setting, your ritualizing, your cementing the power of this beautiful Lunar New year.

Lunar Year Totem - Snake

Think, Act, and Desire to Transmute

Know I possess Fire Energy

Amalgamate the Female and Male

All life's poisons can be altered

Lunar New Year Colors

Red - Determination, Energy, Passion

Yellow - Mental Agility, Manifesting Change

Lunar New Year Elements

 

Use these tools as often as you like or need: daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly.  Set the space, make the time, do the works.

• Journal
• Sacred Space (altar, ritual space)
• Stones or Rocks 
• Water or water related objects (shells, sand)
• Sage or Rosemary smugdes or dried herbs to burn (clears the energy of spaces)
• Written Intentions for the year as a visual, living, reminder
• Candles colored to match your intentions
• Spiritual tools or books that are helpful

--Andrea/DaughterofWaters