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 Corn Planting...
Corn Planting is about continuing to plant the seeds of our future. Don't stop now! 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.

... Into Strong Sun
As we approach July, we'll move into the Strong Sun. The heat is turned up during Strong Sun, and it's time to lose the attitude. It's too hot to get your knickers in a knot; so just lighten up and let it be opportunity that you perceive...

Look at the plant kingdom... The time of the Strong Sun is a time of exuberance, a time of "bursting forth." This is when the stubbornest of the slumbering seeds that snoozed under their covers throughout the Spring finally awaken and grow. In order for a plant to grow, it must accept the heat of the sun and burst the shell of old patterns. Acceptance is powerful stuff, as it causes energy to flow - it opens a gateway to new possibility. This is a time for allowing joy and creativity to bubble up and effervesce in the sunlight. Enjoy!

The sun is a natural spotlight, so expect to be invited to parties and events. Expect, too, to become the center of attention. You could be surprised by someone or something from your past, a forgotten passion or talent or gift. Don't fight it; don't scowl and scorch... let the laughter flow, allow yourself to be showered with attention, and relax in the warmth.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

From Long Snows...
In the Freeze Up moon, you find your energy waning. For you, 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. Tend to your own evolution and let the authenticity of your deepest being radiate forth.

...Into Earth Renewal
In late June, you will enter the time of the Earth Renewal Moon. Earth Renewal is a time of power, following one of the two primary solstices of the Earth's cycle. It is a time when we take the lessons we've recently mastered and step forward into teaching roles.

Over the past weeks and months, you've been through some challenging experiences. Perhaps you lost a loved one, suffered ill health, or fell into financial difficulty. Whatever the case, you learned a LOT. We are now entering into a time when the wisdom of that experience will be needed by people around you.

You've probably been feeling some personal pressure, lately, as people have been asking you for advice. Perhaps you've felt vulnerable or even inadequate to the task. Rest assured that you DO have much wisdom to offer, tucked away warmly within your authentic being. Put down your burdens - let the challenges of recent days rest. Remember to breathe... and invite this energy of renewal to flow with ease.

A light touch will serve you well. Offer yourself, but be sure to allow those asking your advice to do as they will with it. You don't need to become caught up in their karma. Remember to allow yourself to be renewed, now, too. Ask for advice where you need it, and resist judging the advice that you receive. Keep an open heart. Give and receive in a spirit of great compassion.

June, 2009

June's reading seems to suggest that we took the exuberism of May's energy a bit too far. Perhaps we lost our balance. Perhaps we got to looking so hard at ourselves we forgot about others.

There's some gorgeous advice in June. I'm reminded of the lessons of the wind... Each direction of the medicine wheel represents certain truths. Native children of some tribes are taught to feel the wind... when they get lost (literally or figurativelly), they should stop and "ask" the wind for guidance. The direction from which it is blowing can remind them of the lessons of the wheel, calm them, and direct their next steps.

We're all on a path. Sometimes we walk; sometimes we run. Sometimes we stumble and stagger. Sometimes we get distracted by the squirrels. It is good to check in occasionally, for Gaia's gentle guidance...

The CREATOR Offers Divine Guidance
FIELD OF PLENTY - Our magic pocket is back! Last time we saw this card, here's what I wrote:

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.

The Field of Plenty is the mystical place from which the abundance that spills from the "Horn" of plenty (the cornucopia) comes. Remember this next time you put out your Thanksgiving decorations. It is not a look-how-much-I've-got celebration... It is a celebration of sharing what we have (whatever it may be) in gratitude to the Creator for always providing enough.

This month the Creator has seen fit to remind us that our pocket REALLY IS ever-full. Perhaps we forgot...

Relax. Breathe. Lean into that reassurance. KNOW that the Creator will provide for your needs. Now, sustain the magic: share what you have with others in need, and alway be grateful that you are able to do so.

The MOTHER Suggests Where You Should Turn Within
HEYOKAH - Oh boy. Heyokah always brings a barrel of laughs, but sometimes they smart just a bit. Heyokah is the "contrary" or trickster clown. He's the Native version of the jester... he uses jokes and trickery to get your attention and make his point.

Since he has appeared in the Mother's hand, it is time to just stop for a minute. Go within. Examine yourself carefully. Where are you taking yourself too seriously? Have a good hard look, because Heyokah is about to skewer you on the point of your own seriousness... You need to unbend a bit, and get willing to laugh at yourself. It's really the only way to take the sting out of the lesson and learn it gracefully.

All of that being said, laughter is a splendid medicine. When you've seen your folly, have a good laugh. Let it roll out of you in big guffaws! Laugh 'til you can't breathe... then wipe your eyes, pick yourself up off the floor, and take this new humor into the new day.

The FATHER Directs You To Act Decisively
SMOKE SIGNALS - Remember that not all communication is spoken or written. You signal your intention (or lack thereof) with every breath you take. Pay close attention to the messages you are sending. Be very sure they attract the kind of attention you want to draw into your life.

The Father directs you to use this power to shape your reality! Now! Not later, not someday when you make up your mind... do it now! But remember, ambiguous and/or mixed signals won't take you much of anywhere. Be concise; be certain. Know where you want to go, what you want to do, and ask for it!

The GRANDMOTHER Speaks With the Voice of Your Past
GREAT MYSTERY - This card's interpretation is so beautifully stated by the author, Jamie Sams, that I will quote it here:

The Great Mystery card tells us the Original Source is the Creator of all life and that we are created in that likeness. We are free-willed co-creators who become the source of all we choose to experience in life. The buck stops here. We are totally responsible for all our joys and all our pain.

The buck stops here. Whatever your situation, you created it, asked for it, needed it.This goes for JOY, too! What has gone before is done, gone now... it is time to separate your energy from it, take with you the lessones learned from it, and carefully craft your choices of today. May we all choose wisely.

Turtle Card (EARTH) - Represents Your Current Position, Focus
SACRED SPACE - Consider your attitude toward the possessions, ideas, homes and people around you. They demand respect, and, at this time, the need for that respect is critical. All are sacred; treat them well. This applies not only to others, but to yourself, as well. You must consider your possessions, feelings and body to be sacred, too! Mark your territory, claim your sacred space, and do not allow others to abuse you.

Frog Card (WATER) - Represents The Obstacles You Face
THUNDER-BEINGS - The message of the Thunder Beings is that there is usable energy close to hand in great quantity. You are a lightening rod for this energy... and, since Frog holds this card, you are reminded that it is USABLE energy! You're not just getting hammered by the bolts... you're being offered tremendous power! What will you do with it?

Thunderbird Card (FIRE) - Represents The Energies In Motion
FIRE MEDICINE - There is a great passion burning within you. You must acknowledge this hunger and come into balance with your inner fire. The sacred fire of life is not just about procreation, but also excitement, adventure, intimacy, spontaneity and passion. Bring these into balance. Release your judgment; let go of fear... spark your passion for life!

Butterfly Card (AIR) - Represents The Future Coming To You
EAST SHEILD - The paths of the East are all about gaining Illumination and/or Clarity. Butterfly holds this card. She tell you clarity is coming - but you don't have it yet. You must continue to seek it. That seeking may be done by bringing order to your space - make lists, tidy up, finish old business. Or, you may wish to share your ideas with another person so they may help you.

Observe your patterns - physical, emotional and mental. See where you may be blocking this clarity from reaching you. Do the work to ensure that the way is clear so it may reach you swiftly.

© 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 ears 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.