Sunday, July 06, 2008
Lugnasadh
FESTIVAL OF TRANSFORMATION
Lugnasadh marks the mid point between the Summer solstice and the Autumn equinox. It is the full moon with the sun in Leo. In nature it is the end of the flowering season and the beginning of the fruiting season.
At this point the astral planes have been completely filled to overflowing and the energy is forced to back itself upward in a reversal of energy flow. The days are now getting shorter but there is still more daylight than darkness. This means the energy is flowing out of the earth and making things grow and mature from the lowest levels to the higher levels. The resolution of each level will bring about the physical harvest.
We receive the first fruits of our labors at this time. In gardening terms we have gotten rid of all the weeds and damaged plants. We are putting all of our efforts into the final healthy ones that are left after the culling and weeding. What we have left is what we are going to work with. Our harvest will depend upon what is physically manifesting right now. We are impelled to do those things that are physically important to us and rushing to finalize important and critical events before it is too late to change them.
This symbolic joining of male and female energies leads to the crowning Christ Light of the Initiate and Priest-King. The key events of the past year find their way into physical manifestation and set up the key events for the coming year. It is the harvest at the autumn equinox that gives the seed for next years crop. At this time the Priest-King's life is surrendered in service to those that recognize him.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The Summer Solstice
FESTIVAL OF JOY
The Summer solstice marks the middle of the flowering season. The official beginning of summer it is also the longest day of the year and marks the shortening of daylight hours. This time corresponds to the EIGHT cards of the Tarot. There is a reversal of energy flow as the days begin to get shorter. The flow of energy is now from the earth outward.
The Christ Festival of the full moon immediately preceding this corresponds to the SEVEN cards of the Tarot. At that time key events and individuals in the astral worlds received a down pouring of spiritual energy to ensure they would become physical reality. In practical terms we pruned and weeded our gardens and projects getting rid of things that were not making it and paying attention to those that were left. We sorted out our plan of action to carry us through the summer.
Now at the time of the Summer solstice all astral activity takes place from the earth's core upward. There is forced expansion at all levels as the earth produces material things to ensure the harvest will be complete. In nature the flowers mature at their full size. Our plans materialize and manifest in their first physical forms. In gardening terms we can see the plants that have grown from the seeds we have sown. They are young and still need to be cared for and mature before they can be harvested.
From a spiritual perspective light pours into the minds of men and we are able to perceive clearly and understand truly the things that need to be done. We are given illumination and clear vision concerning the important affairs in our lives. We have a plan of action that is inspired.
There are three alchemical stages that correspond to this time of year.
LESSER STAGE
This is the stage of separation and distillation. The process of analysis and extraction divides the subtle from the gross and we can see for the first time the unrealistic aspects of our hopes, wishes, and dreams. We can see what we are doing wrong and also what we are doing right. We gain personal understandings of ourselves that helps us to be more effective. The lesser stage always involves personal transformation and healing as we align ourselves correctly with the new energy. This is where we learn from our mistakes. Things are not working out and we gain insight into why they have failed.
GREATER STAGE
Here is the stage of sublimation and vaporizing. We attempt to transform our lives into something higher and more refined. We receive illuminations and new insights that transfigure our understanding and we see things in a new way. We gain understanding of what we must do to achieve the things we want in life. The Greater Stage is always one of personal empowerment as we apply in physical life the things we have learned. In this stage we strike out on our own to make our own way in the world. We have the courage to do those things that we want to do.
AFTER STAGE
This is the alchemical stage of projection and the proving of the perfect. Here we have become a catalyst to others. By casting forth our light or wisdom into the world we transmute all that we touch into spiritual gold. By being ourselves we help others progress on the spiritual path. The After stage always involves our interaction with other people and with society in general. It is in the after stage that we become public figures that have the ability to sway public opinion.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Beltaine
The Fire Down Below
Beltane marks the midpoint between the Spring equinox and the Summer solstice. Traditionally it is the full moon with the sun in Taurus. It signals the end of the leafing season in nature and the beginning of the flowering season. It also marks the end of the Water initiation and the beginning of the Air initiation.
This time of year corresponds to the SIX card of the Tarot. The astral levels are merging during this time. Our "baptism" or Ascension is at an end and our future is secured. As the levels merge there is an outpouring of love upon the entire world. They merge from the top downward and the resolution of these energies acts as a spiritual blessing on those whose life is affected in their downward movement.
The energy that has been coming into the earth since the winter solstice as reached an intensity or concentration where the astral layers can not contain it and they rupture or merge allowing things that exist on the higher astral levels to move to a lower level and become closer to physical manifestation.
These Key events cast ripples of cause and effect onto the entire world. It marks the beginning of the Transfiguration or the Unification of our lives if we are prepared for it. This is a symbolic joining of male and female energies in a spiritual marriage of unity, fertilization, and blessing. Nature rejoices in a flowering growth as life matures and comes of age. Everything holds a promise of the bright future that lies ahead.
The key events of our lives for the coming year are at this time embedded in the fixed etheric levels and the energy within them reaches a climax during the following full moon known as the Christ Festival as that energy begins to back up with no where else to go. This energy is preparing those key events in advance and happens before the physical manifestation of astral events can occur.
As the energy pours into the lower levels it reaches the core of the earth and begins to back up with no where else to go but up. This brings the activation of the lower energy centers and the increased sexual passion we feel in the spring. The Beltaine fires are the fires down below that are stirring and bringing forth new life and prosperity in many guises.
This time of year corresponds to the SIX card of the Tarot. The astral levels are merging during this time. Our "baptism" or Ascension is at an end and our future is secured. As the levels merge there is an outpouring of love upon the entire world. They merge from the top downward and the resolution of these energies acts as a spiritual blessing on those whose life is affected in their downward movement.
The energy that has been coming into the earth since the winter solstice as reached an intensity or concentration where the astral layers can not contain it and they rupture or merge allowing things that exist on the higher astral levels to move to a lower level and become closer to physical manifestation.
These Key events cast ripples of cause and effect onto the entire world. It marks the beginning of the Transfiguration or the Unification of our lives if we are prepared for it. This is a symbolic joining of male and female energies in a spiritual marriage of unity, fertilization, and blessing. Nature rejoices in a flowering growth as life matures and comes of age. Everything holds a promise of the bright future that lies ahead.
The key events of our lives for the coming year are at this time embedded in the fixed etheric levels and the energy within them reaches a climax during the following full moon known as the Christ Festival as that energy begins to back up with no where else to go. This energy is preparing those key events in advance and happens before the physical manifestation of astral events can occur.
As the energy pours into the lower levels it reaches the core of the earth and begins to back up with no where else to go but up. This brings the activation of the lower energy centers and the increased sexual passion we feel in the spring. The Beltaine fires are the fires down below that are stirring and bringing forth new life and prosperity in many guises.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The Spring Equinox
Life Bursting Forth!
There is a four beat to nature's cycle and to life's cycle. At Yuletide or the winter solstice the next years energy pours into the earth as light and spiritual energy. This energy is a tide that moves through the astral planes surrounding the earth. It moves from the top downward and infuses the lowest layers by the time of the spring equinox. This first cycle is also known as the quickening as new life is preparing to be born within the womb of mother earth. All is hidden beneath the winter snows.
This first beat is nearing completion and we can look forward to the second cycle as it begins at the spring equinox in March. The second beat of the cycle involves the energy continuing to stream into the core of the earth and piling up with no where to go except backward and upward toward the original source. We percieve this reverse current as the earth bursting forth with new life from the ground upward. This has also been termed the birth.
The third beat is the summer solstice and the fourth beat is the fall equinox. Of equal interest are the midpoints between these four beats. The midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox has passed. Candlemass or Imbolc was the full moon on the 3rd of February this year. The midpoints are lunar festivals triggered by the respective full moons.
We are now dealing with the time period between this midpoint and the spring equinox. At this time as the new energy fills the lower astral levels it is also blending the astral layers and moving between them. There is a vertical movement as things struggle to find their rightful place according to how much of this new energy they contain. Those with the most get the favored positions and those with less move to secondary spots. The year's harvest is already being set up in advance. This is a fierce struggle for life in a finite space. Something has got to give. Some have got to lose and others will gain. As I mentioned in my last post we should all know by now what kind of spring we might expect.
This first beat is nearing completion and we can look forward to the second cycle as it begins at the spring equinox in March. The second beat of the cycle involves the energy continuing to stream into the core of the earth and piling up with no where to go except backward and upward toward the original source. We percieve this reverse current as the earth bursting forth with new life from the ground upward. This has also been termed the birth.
The third beat is the summer solstice and the fourth beat is the fall equinox. Of equal interest are the midpoints between these four beats. The midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox has passed. Candlemass or Imbolc was the full moon on the 3rd of February this year. The midpoints are lunar festivals triggered by the respective full moons.
We are now dealing with the time period between this midpoint and the spring equinox. At this time as the new energy fills the lower astral levels it is also blending the astral layers and moving between them. There is a vertical movement as things struggle to find their rightful place according to how much of this new energy they contain. Those with the most get the favored positions and those with less move to secondary spots. The year's harvest is already being set up in advance. This is a fierce struggle for life in a finite space. Something has got to give. Some have got to lose and others will gain. As I mentioned in my last post we should all know by now what kind of spring we might expect.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Spring Is Here!
Life Bursting Forth!
THE FESTIVAL OF PROMISE
This time of the year is the Spring equinox and is linked to the following full moon and Easter. It corresponds to the FIVE cards in the Tarot. It is the official beginning of Spring but also the middle of the leafing season and the middle of the Water initiation.
All of the levels of the Spirit planes experience forced growth and expansion to full size at this time. Our spiritual "baptism" or Ascension begun in the Festival of Dedication continues and that spiritual energy forces our long range goals into view. At this time we are given great visions of our future and hope we may achieve our desires. Society is forced to accept our future plans and alter itself accordingly level by individual level within the astral planes.
Being granted a clear vision of our future inspires us to begin our spiritual quest in earnest. We start by learning to master our emotions and our love. There are three alchemical stages that correspond naturally to this time of the year.
LESSER STAGE
This is the alchemical stage of Solution where the ashes are dissolved into a liquid form by the addition of spiritual energy. The missing details and hidden aspects of our future life are filled in so it becomes capable of becoming physical reality. Our wishes, dreams, and inspirations are brought into awareness and we struggle to discover some way of making them real. We do this with the help of the spiritual energy we have received. We are given a second chance to start fresh and try again.
GREATER STAGE
At this stage our wishes, dreams, and inspirations are potential parts of humanities and our own future. We nourish and feed these astral creations with our love. They grow more and become more glorious as they develop and move downward into the fixed etheric regions of the Spirit planes. They take the final forms they will have in physical reality. We have become established within society.
AFTER STAGE
This is the stage of multiplication and propagation. In the Spirit planes our life's work is fully created and set out before us. Now the implications of our life's work show up as future life acts and catalyst for key events in humanity's future. Ripples of influence spread out in all directions in a willingly creative act that multiplies itself. The act of giving love multiplies that love and increases its fire. Astral events have reached a point where the momentum has built up enough to be self- sustaining. We change the lives of those we come in contact with.
This time of the year is the Spring equinox and is linked to the following full moon and Easter. It corresponds to the FIVE cards in the Tarot. It is the official beginning of Spring but also the middle of the leafing season and the middle of the Water initiation.
All of the levels of the Spirit planes experience forced growth and expansion to full size at this time. Our spiritual "baptism" or Ascension begun in the Festival of Dedication continues and that spiritual energy forces our long range goals into view. At this time we are given great visions of our future and hope we may achieve our desires. Society is forced to accept our future plans and alter itself accordingly level by individual level within the astral planes.
Being granted a clear vision of our future inspires us to begin our spiritual quest in earnest. We start by learning to master our emotions and our love. There are three alchemical stages that correspond naturally to this time of the year.
LESSER STAGE
This is the alchemical stage of Solution where the ashes are dissolved into a liquid form by the addition of spiritual energy. The missing details and hidden aspects of our future life are filled in so it becomes capable of becoming physical reality. Our wishes, dreams, and inspirations are brought into awareness and we struggle to discover some way of making them real. We do this with the help of the spiritual energy we have received. We are given a second chance to start fresh and try again.
GREATER STAGE
At this stage our wishes, dreams, and inspirations are potential parts of humanities and our own future. We nourish and feed these astral creations with our love. They grow more and become more glorious as they develop and move downward into the fixed etheric regions of the Spirit planes. They take the final forms they will have in physical reality. We have become established within society.
AFTER STAGE
This is the stage of multiplication and propagation. In the Spirit planes our life's work is fully created and set out before us. Now the implications of our life's work show up as future life acts and catalyst for key events in humanity's future. Ripples of influence spread out in all directions in a willingly creative act that multiplies itself. The act of giving love multiplies that love and increases its fire. Astral events have reached a point where the momentum has built up enough to be self- sustaining. We change the lives of those we come in contact with.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Samhain
Happy Halloween!
FESTIVAL OF PEACE
Samhain is the mid point between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice and corresponds to the ACE cards in the Tarot deck. It is also related to the Festival of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady which is the final resolution of the Magical planes immediately before the winter solstice.
This period is the end of the fruiting cycle in nature and the end of autumn. It also marks the beginning of winter in terms of snow and freezing weather.
The astral activity is still on the Magical planes as the astral layers merge together in an upward movement away from the earth. This is a symbolic joining of male and female energies as the old fruit of the past year is given to the earth in total sacrifice. It is the planting of a seed for the coming year.
This time period naturally marks the end of the crucifixion or enthronement period and the beginning of a new birth or resurrection. Some traditions consider this the beginning of the new year. In some occult traditions this marks the beginning of the initiation cycle of Earth as the probationer is granted entrance and awaits the first initiation.
The Earth cycle is also the last cycle of the initiate so this time also marks the natural last initiation of the advanced initiate into the final mysteries of the Earth. The probationer will experience a new birth and the advanced initiate will experience a resurrection and lifting up as the Magical levels resolve themselves during this period concerning the projected events of the coming year.
Said in plain and simple language the spirit is leaving the earth and entering the seed. What is left is the husk of what once was in the physical. This husk is the final harvest of earthly things as we turn inward toward spiritual things.
It is said that the veil between the seen and the unseen is the thinnest at this time of year. If we think of Beltaine in the spring as when the astral bursts forth into the physical world Samhain is the time when the physical bursts forth into the astral. We may at this time of year be more conscious of the unseen astral worlds and the entities and spirits that dwell in them. We might also travel or enter the unseen worlds more freely at this time of year.
This is tied to the full moon with the sun in Scorpio. This year it actually falls before the traditional observation of Halloween.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Autumn Equinox
FESTIVAL OF CONSUMMATION
This relates to the TEN cards in the Tarot deck. This is the Solar Festival of Consummation and a full harvest of what has gone before. Here we achieve the natural results of our labor for the past year. The seeds we have planted give the full physical results and we receive that which we have earned. This time brings us either crucifixion or enthronement. As the sun enters Virgo anything in the astral that can physically manifest this year will. Virgo is the most earthy time of the year.
What we spend our time on now is last minute activities and reaping the harvest in preparation for the autumn equinox. The autumn equinox marks the close of the year for our personal efforts. We are so busy experiencing the consequences of our harvest it is difficult to give time to the future. If possible it is best to do both.
At the autumn equinox there are no more alterations of coming events for the coming year. They are now permanently set within the fixed etheric levels and programmed to become physical reality as the year unfolds. The autumn equinox marks the end of our personal efforts and Samhain marks the beginning of the new year at the end of October.
This time period is linked to the first full moon after the equinox and involves a forced expansion on all levels of the astral planes. At this time the astral planes are swelling with energy as all true initiates use this energy as a light for others. This is where spiritual understanding is put into action to achieve physical results.
In occult traditions this is the time of year when the initiation into the mysteries of fire takes place. There are three stages of the alchemical process that naturally occur during this time of year.
In summary this time period between now and the autumn equinox produces both a physical harvest and creates the astral seed for the coming year. The physical harvest acts of its own accord. Our efforts do not affect it. Our efforts affect the major events in our lives through the coming winter,spring and summer by establishing them firmly within the astral planes where they will be allowed to grow.
LESSER STAGE
This is the alchemical stage of conjunction and putrefaction. This is where high spiritual expectations merge forcefully with physical reality and die because they are not realistic. This energetic union between subtle and gross is called the Chymical Wedding. The resulting death of ideals as they rot into blackness create what is known as the FIRST MATTER.
GREATER STAGE
This is the stage of fermentation and leavening. Here there is a general stirring up and excitation that enters into our lives. We attempt to put our thoughts into action to achieve physical results. We try to give service and help others to grow spiritually. This is also where we experience the creation of the"soul body" when we are ready for that experience.
AFTER STAGE
This is when we naturally experience the physical harvest, the completion, glorification, and Sabbath of the Great Work. This reflects the causal link between the astral and physical reality made manifest for the first time in our lives as physical results.
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