Gaia talks to us all the time. After all, we are subject to life on her skin, and she is subject to our doing that living on her skin. Try to imagine it from her point of view for a moment. All of us - billions of us - scrabble around daily on her skin with our toys and machines and chemicals... that would get a bit itchy, don't you think?

Now, even though I love it here and feel a great affinity for this planet, some of us do not. Some of us feel alien here, as though we're from somewhere else entirely, as though we don't belong or aren't wanted. Whether that feeling comes from significant physical trouble - allergies to pollens, foods, dust, etc. - or the misunderstanding of other people, or difficulty assimilating the energy of this place... I believe Gaia does her part every day to communicate with us. I believe she is doing her best help us make sense of our daily experience.

I believe that Gaia shows us, every day, in her inimitable way, how energy moves in Her Natural world outside our buildings and cars and suits. Think of it... she is a PLANET! She experiences energy and life force on a whole different level. She perceives the energy that moves in our small, synthetic world very differently than we do and she wants to make our stay as comfortable as possible - for BOTH of us.

Whether or not you feel any affinity for this planet, it is the elements of her body that provide your physical vehicle. It is the cycle of her warmth/chill, wet/dry, light/dark that forms the structure of your daily routine. She is the mother, the lady of the house, and it is her rules that we must live by.

Let's have a listen, shall we? 

THERE ARE TWO PARTS to this article. The first is the energy of the "Moons" through which we are moving. The Moon is the fastest moving heavenly body in our sky. Its movement influences the tides of our planet, and, since our physical bodies are made up of mostly water, it influences us, too. Most directly, we feel the Moon in our emotional state. It can be revealing - and quite helpful - to consider the way our experience "flows" with the Moon.

Technically, there are 13 moons in each year, but for our purposes, we'll be using twelve, which correspond to the astrological cycle and our western calendar. This means there are three for each season, and, if we pay attention, we will see the arc of influence and how it correlates with our experience. For those of you in the Southern Hemisphere, I've reversed the cycle... just scroll down.

The second part of the article is the Reading. In our Reading, we're using the Sacred Path Cards, by Jamie Sams. This is one of the most remarkable decks I've ever, personally, had the pleasure of using. If you're interested, you can find a copy on Amazon.com. The symbolism of these cards is Native North American and I use a spread called the Inner Spiral to seek insight into the particular challenges that face us at this time.

 
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

From Frogs Return...
What a splendid time of year! Frogs Return is downright intoxicating! Winter has truly lost his grip and all of our pent up energy has been released. This is a splendid time to make new plans, finish old ones, and generally go about "creating" our world.

It is a time of great determination and stamina. You feel like you can take on the world and, generally speaking, this is a great time to do, it, too. Just beware taking on too much. It's tempting, when the sap rises like this, to believe you can do it all yourself... but you'd be wise to make sure you've got backup.

The key word throughout this moon is "cooperation." Friends, family, co-workers... cooperate. Till that ground and get ready for manifesting!

... Into Corn Planting
You guessed it - Corn Planting is about continuing the energetic surge of Frogs Return. Here we continue to plant the seeds of our future. Here, we grow like crazy under the sun's warmth. And, here, we must be careful of becoming overwhelmed. Sometimes, in the intoxication of Frogs Return, we create too much for ourselves, and now we must fall back on those cooperative relationships to help us through.

Whenever you feel overwhelmed, don't panic. Just stop. Take a deep breath. Think it through. Then, plan the next step - just ONE - that you must take. One step at a time, this moon will see you through laying the foundations of your dreams.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

From Freeze Up...
Exactly opposite the rising energy of the Northern Hemisphere, you, in the Freeze Up moon find your energy waning. The frantic press of outer growth has slowed, and you find your attention shifting toward inner growth.

Use this time to get quiet... have a conversation with your innermost self. Re-examine who you believe your Self to be. We are not a static creation; we evolve from year to year, and sometimes we change quite a bit. This moon is a time of shedding old skin, like a snake (in the Native American calendar, people born under this moon call the snake their birth totem). It is a time of consciously shifting the role you play, even as you change your wardrobe for the cooler season.

The folks around you may feel a little threatened by your willingness to stretch and become. Just remember their fear and uncertainty is not yours to deal with. Tend to your own evolution and let the authenticity of your deepest being shine.

...Into Long Snows
In the stillness of the Long Snows moon, you find yourself drawn further within. This is a good thing! The Divine wishes to spend a quiet moment with you, to share a quiet cup of tea, if you will. Welcome this respite and this quietude. Dive deeply into it like you would a mountain pool... seek out the guidance that waits within.

May, 2009

WOW! Big shift this month! May's reading has a totally new energy to it than what we've been seeing in the last few months. Previously, it has felt like we needed to "clean up" our acts and clear the way for new energy. Well, here it is!

This month, we are asked - repeatedly - to turn within and make conscious decisions, based upon the unique, personal truths we find there. We are also encouraged to go boldly forward, empowered by that inner wisdom. There is some fantastic energy here... it's humming like an amplifier that's been cranked to the max!

Where will Spirit lead you this month?

The CREATOR Offers Divine Guidance
GREAT SMOKING MIRROR - The mirror reminds us that every reflection is one of ourselves - especially the ones that are hard to look at. Take the time to look deeply into the mirror. Remind yourself that you've been there - on some level, in some manner. Offer compassion.

The MOTHER Suggests Where You Should Turn Within
WEST SHIELD - I cannot imagine a more perfect card for the Mother than the West Shield. The West Shield teaches us about introspection (turning within) and goals (both setting and achieving). These are the lessons of the bear, getting ready for winter. She eats of all different foods of the forest - berries, insects, honey, fish - anything she can find that might nourish her through the cold months. Then she retreats to her cave. Those foods that serve her well DO sustain her, and the others simply fall away.

Consider this as you turn within. We need to be willing to receive many different kinds of nourishment. Then, within our stillness, we must pay attention to our "digestion process," so that we become aware of those that sustain us best. Once we have this understanding, we also have the foundation upon which we may build our dreams. This awareness of our personal truth allows us to build upon joy, rather than the expectation of others.

Remember: just because one truth serves one person admirably, it is perfectly okay to seek something very different for ourselves. In fact it is Nature's way! Imagine a bear trying to survive the winter on a bird's steady diet of sunflower seeds. Each of us has unique needs which must be met to obtain optimal "wellness."

The FATHER Directs You To Act Decisively
DRUM - Rhythm is a personal thing. Each and every creature on the Mother's skin has its own rhythm. When they are moving in time with their own rhythm, they are also in harmony with the Mother's rhythm. Seeing this card in a reading indicates that something is out of sync - you're missing a beat. Perhaps you're pushing too hard. Perhaps you're not pushing at all.

As per the Mother's advice above, go within and rediscover the heartbeat of the Mother... she's always there, you have only to stop long enough to listen. Find that rhythm... move to that rhythm... and you'll find your outer world coming back into sync once again.

The GRANDMOTHER Speaks With the Voice of Your Past
PIPE - The Pipe is a reminder of inner-peace. In Native American tradition, peace is much, much more than the absence of war! Not making war is only one action that we might choose. Peace is far more than an action. It is the presence of balance, respect, gratitude and personal responsibility.

The Pipe asks you to remember the blessings bestowed upon you by Great Mystery. It asks you to remember who you are and why you are here. It asks how you can contribute to greater well-being of all beings.

Turtle Card (EARTH) - Represents Your Current Position, Focus
HOUR OF POWER - What gives your heart greatest joy? THAT should be your focus right now. If it isn't, it could be... doesn't that excite you?!

Each person has an "hour of power" when they feel the most energized, the most enlivened. Find your hour, and then honor yourself by taking that hour to be in harmony with your deepest, most vital being. Perhaps you'll go for coffee and a scone, perhaps you'll water your plants, or maybe you'll just sit and watch the birds at the lake. Whatever feeds your soul, you NEED. Give yourself this gift.

Frog Card (WATER) - Represents The Obstacles You Face
FIELD OF PLENTY - I read a story once in which a character had a magic pocket. When he reached into the pocket, he was actually reaching into a crate in a warehouse far, far away. So, he could reach into this 'empty' pocket and pull out whatever was in the crate - oranges, for instance. The Field Of Plenty is something like that. It is the crate - always full of everything we need, and always present even though we can't see it. Only two things are needed to sustain the magic: willingness to share the abundance, and gratitude to Great Mystery for providing.

Drawn in the position of Water (obstacles), we are reminded that WE are the ones who limit our manifestation. If we're not sharing, or we're not grateful, we're stunting the magic. The Field Of Plenty waits patiently for us to reach into our ever-full pocket.

Thunderbird Card (FIRE) - Represents The Energies In Motion
WARBONNET - A Native American man had to earn the honor of each feather he wore. For a man to acquire enough feathers to wear a full warbonnet, he had to demonstrate certain qualities as a role model... not just a warrior, or a hunter, or a protector, but also as a listener, as a healer, as a leader. He had to demonstrate patience and wisdom and honor. In short, the warbonnet was entirely designed to acknowledge lessons learned, and respect earned.

Drawn in the position of Fire, you are being told that you have earned your warbonnet. It is now time to advance. Quit spending energy in lessons of the past, and move on to new challenges. Remember, this advancement may be on any level - perhaps you are emotionally ready for the next step, or physically, or mentally... Consider carefully. Count the feathers you have earned in past victories, and charge forward!

Butterfly Card (AIR) - Represents The Future Coming To You
SACRED SPACE - Sacred Space is ALL about respect. It is critical that you have respect for the possessions, ideas, homes and people around you. Likewise, it is critical that you have respect for your own Self - your body, your feelings, your space.

ALL things in creation are sacred, and deserving of respect. They are NEVER to be abused, for any reason. Remember: you set the tone. If you do not respect your Self, how can you expect others to respect you? If you do not respect their possessions, why should they respect yours? It begins with you; it begins within. Where respect has been given, it will be returned. Where it has been denied, there is none to be returned.

Drawn in the position of Air, this card asks us to examine the future we have "ordered" for ourselves. Take a good hard look... what tone have you set? What future is coming to you?

© Vara LorEl, 2009

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 
Vara LorEl is a model builder at heart, an Exec Admin by training, and a Graphic Designer by experience. She has also worked in a grocery store, a greenhouse, a bank and a bookstore. She's done Customer Service, Construction, Missions and Marketing... and let's not forget the years she studied Bonsai or the uncounted hours spent in a saddle.

Chinking the spaces between, she engages in an ongoing little exercise she likes to call Spiritual Cartography... studying the archetypes found (again and again) in Mythology, I-Ching, and Shamanism, also poking about in Astrology, Numerology, and Tarot, as well as study of the Chakras and eastern philosophies. It could also be noted that she considers Cooking and Gardening to be some of the richest meditational spaces anywhere.

Over the years, she has lived all across these grand United States - from California to Georgia - currently calling Alaska home. When not up to her eyebrows in the next issue of PLW, she can be found in her home office playing Oblivion (way to go Bethesda Softworks!), on her couch reading a good book (with her cats curled nearby), on her soap box talking about any one of a dozen esoteric subjects... or, on her knees thanking GOD for the best life partner to ever embrace her nomadic heart.