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Facets of The Spring Equinox Goddess and her Dragons

Posted in Astrology, Dragons, Earth Healing, Equinox, Goddess, Spiritual Growth, Visualisation, tagged , , , , , , , , on March 13, 2013| 1 Comment »

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My book ‘The Sovereignty Year’ * (linked to the Sovereignty Essences**) describes the facets of the Goddess for each of the 4 solar stations of the year and the 4 quarter-days between. In the book the facets are given Celtic or Arthurian names, but each has a resonance worldwide.

Spring Equinox (20/21st March)

The archetype in Arthurian Grail legends is Kundry where she is described as a wild woman, an ugly crone who challenges Gawain. She also appears in Wagner’s ‘Parcifal’ in a similar role. The name ‘Kundry’ itself is derived from the German for ‘news’ or ‘information’ (Kunde). Indeed although depicted as an ugly woman she is also described as wealthy and learned.

In many Celtic tales she is referred to as the ‘Loathly Damsel’ whom the hero is often required to kiss. When he does, her ugly form will then dissipate and she is transformed into a beautiful woman. As a facet of Sovereignty (the Goddess of the Land) any aspiring king or knight must embrace her in her worst aspect in order to have the authority to rule. This can also been seen as a need to love the Land in winter, which allows the flowing season of spring to appear!

The Loathly Damsel also appears in the folk songs, like ‘King Henry’first recorded by Steeleye Span in 1972

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In this song ‘King Henry’, Henry is challenged to do the ugly crone’s bidding, which he does, to the letter, and is rewarded.

“Take off your clothes now King Henry
And lie down by my side,
Now swear, now swear you King Henry
To take me for your bride.
Oh God forbid, says King Henry,
That ever the like betide,
That ever a fiend that comes from hell
Should stretch down by my side.

When the night was gone and the day was come
And the sun shone through the hall,
The fairest lady that ever was seen
Lay between him and the wall.
I’ve met with many a gentle knight
That gave me such a fill,
But never before with a courteous knight
That gave me all my will”

This type of ‘challenge’ made to men is present in many cultures and many legends and reflects the ancient tradition of women holding the power and ‘ownership’ of the Land. In Egypt, for example, the pharaohs only ruled by the power of Maat – the goddess of judgment and balance. If he did not meet her requirements, he did not rule.

It has only been since the balance between male and female was lost, that men have taken over that role of ruling and ownership alone and in the process have tended to subjugate and denigrate their role to bolster their own. Regrettably many religions, business and goverments continue to regard women in this lowly way.

The energy behind the goddesses of the Spring Equinox epitomises knowledge, challenge, teaching and destiny.
Kundry is regarded as a guardian of tradition and has no qualms of getting down to do the most difficult of tasks. She has clarity and compassion, but is also thought of as wrathful or ‘black, indicative of the amount of power she wields, rather like Kali of the Mahavidyas and Hindu mythology.

Kundry represents the voice of the Earth and therefore the voice of Sovereignty. When approached in the right way she has much to teach much about how we approach experience. One way is to embrace everything and look at life as a play of the Elements, another is to study theories. One way is to know things intellectually and the other to know things from the center of our being. This reflects the duality of the spiritual path, a recognition of the balance of male/female within.

The Spring Equinox energy also has close links with serpents and dragons, with all the mythology that both entail.

Visualisation from’ The Sovereignty Year’

Kundry’s Dragons

1. Begin by settling your body into a comfortable position.
2. On each outbreath relax your body
3. Imagine yourself in a small clearing within a wood, surrounded by trees with spring flowers bursting from the ground beneath your feet.
4. Follow that pathway before you and begin to walk into the wood.
5. The further you go, the more rugged the ground. You come across a stream that is running very fast.
6. Centre yourself, and ask for help from the Earth elemental energies, to enable you to cross the stream.
7. Before you, stepping stones emerge from the waters and you can then safely walk across.
8. Continue following the path until you come to a place where a veil of ivy bars your way.
9. Sweep away the ivy and you see before you a tree stump, framed by two other trees.
10. As your vision clears, you notice that there is a silver dragon entwined around one tree and a gold one around the other.
11. On the tree stump you can see a hologram of moving and changing lights and energies, and you draw nearer for a closer look.
12. In the ever-moving spherical hologram you see people, places, the future and the past.
13. Centre yourself once again, closing your eyes.
14. When you open them again, the hologram has changed to a view of far-off galaxies that move to engulf you.
15. Concentrating on the trees around you, you become aware of the dragons speaking to you.
16. Stay here for a while. Listen first to the gold dragon, then the silver. Listen to what they say and look closely at anything that is offered to you.
17. When you are ready to leave, thank the dragons and see them merge before your eyes and dissolve into the galaxies and stars.
18. You find yourself, once again, on the shores of the fast running stream. The stepping stones are still visible, but as you use them to cross over, they disappear from sight.
19. You retrace your steps to the clearing in the wood, noticing the beauty of the flowers.
20. Stay still for a few moments and then bring yourself out of the visualisation.

* Hardcopy version of ‘The Sovereignty Year’ is available from:
greenmanshop.co.uk

*PDF version is available from TreeSeer.com

** Essences are available from: greenmanshop.co.uk

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Dark/New Moon and Solar Eclipse 13/14 November 2012

Posted in Earth Healing, tagged , , , , , on November 6, 2012| 2 Comments »

An earlier Dragonsmeet post covered the eclipse of 5/6th May 2012. The forthcoming solar eclipse on the 13th November 2012 is the completion of the 2012 series that many have suggested is linked to the Mayan prophesies for this time.

Map of the Pacific showing the path of the eclipse

This eclipse is focused on the southern Pacific arcing from northern Australia, beyond northern Auckland, to its eastern edge, west of La Serena in Chile. This neatly mirrors the arc from 5/6th May, which arched the northern Pacific from Hong Kong via Mount Fuji, Aleutian Islands, Mount Shasta and ending near Texas. Unlike the earlier eclipse, this one is a total eclipse. That is, the shadow of the Moon does fall onto the surface of the Earth.

                                                        Astrology Chart for the time of the eclipse GMT

The energy of this eclipse focuses on deep healing and bringing pain and problems to the surface to be released. The conjunction of the Sun and Moon is close to the North Node of the Moon which emphasises the karmic nature of the change that it possible at this time.

Humanity draws to itself what is needed for its own healing.

Any solar eclipse emphasises the dark/new Moon which itself represents the integration of opposites – past and present; male and female, intellect and emotion; spirituality and the mundane.

Resistance to change is always present, but in the words for the Borg – ‘Resistance is Futile’! With this eclipse in Scorpio, any resistance to change simply delays the inevitable, thereby creating more pain and more suffering.

Other patterns from the astrology show a strong desire to break whatever is stopping progress. There is optimism and courage to move forward into a new start and a fresh chance.

This eclipse is the one that warns of what still needs to be done. It reminds us that whatever our dreams and spiritual desires – we need to put them into practice in our everyday lives so that we can become complete, whole….. so that we are ready!

Mars is also positioned at Galactic Centre (27 Sagittarius), funnelling new ideas and inspiration to filter down into our individual consciousness.

We are not alone.

We are loved.

All is as it should be.

Astrological “Stargate”?

The astrology patterns of this autumn (keeping the science fiction imagery going), shows the methodical activating of the clamps on a sort of “stargate”, something that will create a change of understanding for those who can cope with what they sense, see and feel and who are willing to take a step into the unknown. This eclipse/ Dark Moon is the penultimate shift of energy in the build up towards the solstice.

The activations started with the dark/new Moon of September 2012, when the planet/planetoid Pluto ceased to be in retrograde motion (that is – is going ’direct’), from our point of view.

(In astro-speak,’ retrograde is actually an optical illusion created by the varying orbits of each planet when compared to the Earth. There are differing ideas about how this may affect the energy of that planet. Sometimes it is seen as negative or weakening or diverting energy more inwardly. )

This going ‘direct’ takes the brakes off a planetary energy. So since September 16th, we have been experiencing the energies of Pluto, full on, no-holds barred transformation and change whether we want it or not!

Around this solar eclipse/dark/new Moon, the planet Neptune goes ‘direct’. This gives us the full benefit of all of Neptune’s energies – the inspiration and guidance, illusion and mis-direction.

The final “stargate” clamp is put in place of the next dark/new Moon on the 13th December when Uranus goes ‘direct’. This is the final of the slow-moving, generation planets to be fully released – just a week before the winter solstice. Uranus energies bring the unexpected, sudden  breaking of old patterns, new ideas, fast communication as well as unpredictability and uncertainty.

The dark/new Moon in December in Sagittarius itself indicates rapid expansion outwards with only Pluto in Capricorn’s pragmatism from stopping everything being swept away.  The opening of an astrological “stargate”?

Could it be that the coming dark/new Moon and Solar Eclipse of November 2012 is the 4-week marker, the “get set” prior to the “go” of the winter solstice?

(The 3 outer planets stay ‘direct’ until April 12th 2013, when Pluto goes into retrograde motion once again and the “stargate” closes down.)

Dolerite Peaks on Skye (The Cuillins)

Earth Healing

Those who work at the dark/new Moons to help to heal the Earth, the Dragonriders, are needed more than ever to dissipate energy hot spots and to help ease the energy flow around the world.

If you have access to a piece of dolerite/diabase or Preseli Bluestone or you live in an area where there is a lot of dolerite (New Jersey Palisades on the Hudson; Western & central Scotland; Edinburgh (Arthur’s Seat);  Northern England – Whin Sill; Pembrokeshire, Wales; Deccan in India; Curacao, Venezuela; Western Australian; Karoo South Africa; Tasmania) – please link into it when you meditate on the Earth on the dark/new Moons.

(Remember, though to absorb the stones energy to help heal yourself first, before allowing the energy to expand outwards to the Earth, other people and places.)

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Lammas Full Moon 2012

Posted in Earth Healing, tagged , , , on August 1, 2012| Leave a Comment »

The full moon on the 2nd August 2012 (0329 GMT) coincides with the traditional Celtic festival of Lammas and the Gaelic festival of Lughnasadh.

Lammas day, from sunset on the 1st August until sunset on the 2nd August is often thought of as the first harvest festival of the year in the northern hemisphere as it used to mark the end of the grain harvesting that began at midsummer.

In the Sovereignty Essences (see http://www.greenmanshop.co.uk) this time of year is linked to the Lammas Goddess. In Arthurian legends this is personified by Igraine, Arthur’s mother and similar to the energies of the Virgin Mary, Brighid and other female archetypes who are guardians of tradition and sustain and maintain life.

Light of Lammas by Simon H Lilly

This signature of the Lammas Goddess Essence helps with  the conception, gestation and birth of any project – whether it be physical, emotional, mental or spiritual. It activates the transformation of sexual energy into  creativity in all its aspects. It can shed light on the needs in any situation, allowing tasks to be planned  and skills to be managed.  It helps to highlight the underlying flow of communication that links people through generations in, either the same family, the same role or the same tradition, ensuring that a lineage continues.

The astrologiocal chart for this full moon indicates a shift from the fixed patterns of the last few months. With Saturn and Mars both in Libra there is an incesased willingness to fight for what is just and fair. This forceful combination is part of a larger pattern that shows communication on every level is speeding up. (Grand Air Trine: Mars/Saturn in Libra with Moon in Aquarius and Jupiter in Gemini). However there is significant karmic unwillingness on the part of people in leadership positions to let go of their fear (Mercury in Leo, retrograde, quincunx Neptune in Pisces). Conspiracy theories abound (see the video ‘Thrive’ as a good example of the people and corporations who are the real players) and those who have the real power to make big changes are unlikely to act as they wish to stay in control. The continuing backdrop of the consequences of the banking debacle has also reached a point where brave actions are required if we are going to emerge from this situation in the near future.

The full moon itself, from an astronomical viewpoint, happens when the Earth is between the Sun (the future) and the Moon (the past). This could be seen as the the world poised between the past and the future giving us the opportunity to see a way forward. Inspirations and perceptions gathered at any full moon  are best acted upon at the following dark moon when the Sun and Moon occupy the same portion of the sky, bring the archetypal male and female energies together to create something new.

The combination of all this challenges us to reflect on what we bequeath to the future generations. When we find changes are needed, we have two weeks until the 17th August (the next dark moon) to decide what to do and implpement them.

Astrologically, at the moment, the three slowest moving planets (Uranus, Netpune and Pluto) are all perceived as being in ‘retrograde’ motion. This is an optical illusion created by the orbits of each, from the Earth’s point of view. It has been noted over time that when any planet is in ‘retrograde’ the energies as we  perceive them, become internalised. This makes them harder to deal with and can create delays and frustrations.

Pluto stops being retrograde on the 18th September. This coincides with the Dark Moon in Virgo and is likely to mark a big shift both personally and globally. Astrologically, Pluto’s movements have reflected the banking mess, so hopefully the shift will be a positive one! Interestingly Neptune stop being retrograde on the 11th November, just before the lunar eclipse (and Dark Moon in Scorpio) on the 13th November. The following solar eclipse on the 28th is mentioned in previousposts). Uranus stops being retrograde on the 13th December which is also the date of the Dark Moon in Sagittarius………..  Mmmmmm.

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The Sun Goddess and the Sea

Posted in Spiritual Growth, tagged , , , , on June 10, 2012| Leave a Comment »

During one of our earlier visits to Japan, as a break from our teaching schedule, our hosts took us to the Shinto Shrine of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu at Ise.

The name ‘Amaterasu’ can be translated as ‘shining in heaven’. The story goes that she had two brothers – Susano (Mmm ….interesting link there!!), the summer storm god and Tsukuyomi, the god of the Moon and night. (Another fascinating note that the idea of the Sun as female and the Moon as male has its roots in several ancient systems including Tibetan and Norse.)  Amaterasu split with her brother Tsukuyomi after he killed the goddess of food, the break-up giving rise to the division of night and day. She had problems with Susano too, which led to her retreating into a cave, effectively removing the life-giving Sun from the earth. The other gods did all they could to lure her out and when eventually she did emerge, she returned to the sky.

Japan has a long tradition of being linked to the sun. Historically referred to as ‘The Land of the Rising Sun’ Japan continues its link to Amaterasu through its national flag and the items linked to her – the mirror, jewel and sword – that comprise the Japanese Imperial regalia.

We arrived after dark at our hotel for our first night’s stay. I was not at my strongest as I was recovering from the Noro stomach virus. As I rested before going to sleep and probably because of my weakened condition, I slipped into ‘other’ awareness very easily.

I found myself gasping for air. I was up to my neck in water and the ceiling was just above my head. The water was continuing to rise and I knew I was about to drown. There was no panic. I focused on where and who I was. I knew that I held a religious post with many responsibilities and that at least one person I am close to now, was a colleague, and they had already died. I realised too, this was a tsunami and with that I simply let go.

The following day we visited the famous shrine of Amaterasu. There was a familiarity about the place that was a little unsettling, even to being able to find small hidden shrine, tucked away down a narrow pathway. We were rewarded by a gentle breeze that moved the shrine curtains, a sure sign that our presence was noted. We went from there to Mikimoto Pearl Island to learn about pearls and to watch the amazing ‘ama’ the lady pearl-divers, do a demonstration on how pearls used to be collected. How fit are they!

That night, as my consciousness slipped, I became aware of a huge pearl. Apt, I thought, given where we had been that day! I then realised that there was a claw holding that pearl. The pearl then raced away from me, down and down into the earth. I followed it until I came face to face with an enormous dragon. It scared me, it was so BIG. Nevertheless I stood there, holding my ground and now holding the pearl. The dragon roared and flames engulfed me. But I was OK. Shaken, cleansed but definitely OK. I then jolted back into full consciousness.

The next day we went to Meoto Iwa where the famous ‘husband and wife’ or ‘loved-one and loved-one’ stones are found just offshore, joined together by a heavy rope of rice-straw. We were there at low tide (as you can see by the image below), as at high tide the sea fills the gap between the rocks.

In the summer the sun rises between these stones and aligns them with Mt Fuji, in the distance. Whilst fondling the bronze sculpture of the huge frog and looking to the stones, my awareness slipped again.  This view was SO familiar, yet from long ago. I could also see people doing ritual bathing in front of the rocks. Later, I discovered the ritual bathing still happens here.

I thought little more about this until my return to the UK. As an astrologer I was very aware that my natal chart was ‘active’ at this time with transiting Pluto conjunct my natal Mars. On a whim I looked up the correspondences to the Mars placement in (A T Mann) Tad Mann’s book ‘Divine Plot’ (available from Amazon as pre-owned). In this book Tad Mann correlates natal planetary placements to past- life/other-life timings. My Mars placement correspondes to around 1707 AD. To quell my curiosity I googled for tsunamis in Japan at that time.

SHOCK!

On 28th October 1707 at 2pm the largest earthquake at 8.6 (until the recent one in 2011) occured At Hoei. The subsequent tsunami caused thousands of deaths. The landfall of the wave would have included  the Toba/Ise/Meoto Iwa area. It is also thought that it may have triggered the last-known eruption of Mt Fuji in mid-December that year!

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June 2012 Lunar Eclipse & Venus Transit

Posted in Earth Healing, tagged , , , , on June 1, 2012| Leave a Comment »

The lunar eclipse of the 4th June 2012, 11.14 GMT is partly visible over part of the USA and Canada and fully visible in Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand. It provides a neat link between the powerful solar eclipses – one in May 2012 that started in Hong Kong and arched through Japan, to Alaska and down to California and the one that will occur on November 13th from Australia, New Zealand to the coast of Chile & Peru, South America.

This lunar eclipse relates also to the solar eclipse of August 1999, which had a ‘Grand Cross’ of Fixed Signs (Leo, Scorpio, Aquarious and Taurus). Planets involved here were Sun and Moon in Leo,  Mars in Scorpio, Uranus in Aquarius and Saturn in Taurus – all between 14 and 18 degrees. Fixed signs, like the name suggests, have qualities of stability and resistance to change. This solar eclipse heralded the beginning of the changes we now see around us.

The lunar eclipse on the 4th June also has a ‘Grand Cross’, but this time all the sign are ‘Mutable’. These signs – Virgo, Sagitarius, Pisces and Gemini all share qualities of flexibility and adaptability. the planets involved are Mars in Virgo, Moon in Sagittarius, Chiron in Pisces and The Sun (and Venus) in Gemini – all between 10 and 16 degrees.

This lunar eclipse lifts the stagnant, hard-to-move energies of 1999, bringing flexibility and abilities to adapt to changing circumstances. A welcome shift after 13 years of frustration and opening windows of hope in people’s minds.

Added to this, is the transit of Venus across the face of the Sun on the 6th June. These combine together to bring new harmony and creative communication. However,  Venus is in its esoteric home, the sign Gemini. This would suggest that harmony will only be forthcoming when diversity is embraced. Trying to hold on to rigid ideas of what should or must be will be fruitless. As said today in the wonderful blog,  ‘heroesnotzombies’ , there are always options, just maybe not the ones we or our political leaders want!

The astrological energies show the continuing need to be vigilant and not to get caught up in the spirals of negative thought and lost hope.

The speed of modern-day communication shows us that truth can be revealed to those wishing to listen and see.

We are as trapped or caught by circumstance as we allow ourselves to be. Change our thinking and we change our world!

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Calling All Dragon Riders!!

Posted in Earth Healing, tagged , , , , , on May 5, 2012| 2 Comments »

I am writing this on the full Moon on May 5/6th 2012 as we begin the approach to the first of two important solar eclipses in 2012.

This first eclipse is on the dark/new Moon of the 20th May 2012 at 23.53 GMT.

A solar eclipse  occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth.

The full shadow of this particular eclipse does not meet the surface of the Earth and is known as an annular eclipse, but it can, nevertheless, be seen clearly from the Earth.

As with all solar eclipses the energetics show the Moon (the past) creating an opportunity to learn from the past as the past and future (the Sun) ‘meet’ in the present (the Earth). This meeting creates an integration that spurs a move forward into new patterns. This eclipse is in the sign of Gemini, so is linked to thinking processes and new ideas.

The eclipse itself will be seen over the northern half of the Pacific Ocean. It begins in Hong Kong, passes north over Mount Fuji in Japan and on to the Aleutian Islands near Alaska, where is reaches it maximum. It then arcs south to Mount Shasta, finishing in Texas. This arc links two of the most spiritually important mountains of the Pacific Ring, bridging the divide between different traditions and beliefs.

Eclipse May 2012

The impact of the two eclipses this year on the collective conscious and unconscious will depend on how many changes have been made since the powerful eclipse of August 1999.

The pattern of the 1999 eclipse indicated that change would be difficult (Grand Fixed Cross) and indeed, it was only with the banking collapse that we saw any evidence of any real change going on.

This forthcoming eclipse also focuses on the financial centres in the Far East (Honk Kong and Tokyo) and pressurises all those countries whose ‘birthday’ is the 1st January. Pluto at 9 degrees Capricorn sits neatly on their sun-sign! (The UK is one of many of such countries.) More changes for those countries too.

The potential at any dark/new Moon is for the integration of energies into the psyche. For a brief time the male/female (Sun/Moon or Moon/Sun, depending on your beliefs) are in unison from the Earth’s stance. An eclipse intensifies this.

Small groups of people worldwide have been working at these key times to integrate their own energies and those of the planet to heal the multi-level problems in both.

This forthcoming eclipse is an ideal opportunity to do just that. So whatever beliefs you hold, I urge you to focus on and be aware  of yourself and the planet on the 20th/21st May, even if you can’t ‘be there’ at the actual time on the day when the eclipse occurs.

A particular group of people, nick-named the ‘dragon riders’ regularly work for Earth healing at the time of the dark/new Moon. Many perceive the flowing energies of the Universe as ‘dragons’in their various forms and elements. These flows of energy are ancient and are linked to the formation of the planet. The dark/new Moons provide an opportunity to heal the energy flows which have become damaged over time.

There is a ‘dragon rider’ page on FaceBook if you want to keep in touch and be reminded when each dark/new Moon occurs. (Send a friend rqeuest to ‘Jemma’ to be signed in!)

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