The Magic of the Equinox: a transformative step in the Spiral Dance of the Year

Posted on by Della Ratcliffe

The Equinox arrives today, on September 22nd at 1:02 PM Pacific Time / 20:02 UTC.

For those in the Northern Hemisphere, this Equinox marks the astronomical start of Autumn and is known by many in the Pagan or Wiccan communities as Mabon, as Alban Elfed (Light of the Water) in Druid communities, and as Cónacht Fómhair (or Meán Fómhair) in Irish Gaelic

For those in the Southern Hemisphere, this Equinox marks the astronomical start of Spring and is known by many in the Pagan or Wiccan Communities as Ostara,  Alban Eilir (Light of the Earth) in  Druid communities, and as Cónacht an Earraigh in Irish Gaelic.

The Magic of the Equinox

The Equinoxes of Spring and Autumn are magical times, turning points in the Spiral Dance in our Wheel of the Year, promises of things to come (Summer in the Southern Hemisphere, Winter in the Northern Hemisphere) and times of personal transformation as our energies shift from Summer’s peak through to Winter’s reflection, and vice-versa.

Embracing these shifting energies just as they are is key to our own harmony and balance. Energy is never static, and neither are we. Throughout the year, we dance with the opposites within us… waxing and waning, Yin and Yang, the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine, the light and dark, action and rest, expanding and contracting, abundance and lean times, breathing in and breathing out.

lughnasadh-blessingsWe need all of these opposites to create harmony and balance, to be whole. We are constantly transforming, rebalancing, and dancing between these opposites as we find our equilibrium. The awareness you bring at the focus points throughout the year — the Fire Feasts (Imbolc, Ostara, Beltaine, Samhain), the Equinoxes and Solstices — are an opportunity for self-reflection, for conscious transformation and to know your Self in all your energetic states. Yes, you are changing and transforming but always connecting to Self, to your Sacred Purpose and Sacred Contract.

And today I will share with you how I find balance and harmony at these times, including card layouts for both the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes.

But first, a reflection on the Equinox itself.

Spiral or Wheel?

wheel of the year 4We often look at the Wheel of the Year as just that… a wheel revolving throughout the seasons, coming back to its starting point with each New Year. But for me is it a spiral because we never really come back to the same place. We return with the wisdom and experience of the year before. We may have a different perspective. We might have new wounds or we may have healed old wounds. We may be coming from a deeper place, as we get closer to our knowing and connecting with our Wise Inner Self and understanding our Sacred Purpose and Sacred Contract even more.

SOUL QUESTION: What deeper wisdom awakens within you at this Equinox?

The Energy of the Equinox

The Equinox of September 22nd marks the “official” (astronomical) start of Autumn here in the Northern Hemisphere, and the first day of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere.

At the Spring and Autumn Equinox, the Earth is in perfect harmony: the days and nights are of equal length at this midpoint between the Summer and Winter Solstices. It is a time of balance and harmony, as the Sun enters Libra, the sign of Balance. But this is also a time of change and transformation, as nothing is static in our Universe. The energies continue to shift, to wax and wane depending on your location, towards the energetic and opposite peaks of the Solstice.

SOUL QUESTION: What energies shifted in you as we moved towards the Equinox?

pumpkins-1642249_1920I live in the Northern Hemisphere, and see daily changes in the Earth all around me… the days are starting to draw in, to shorten; Grandfather Sun’s warming powers are waning and the days are cooler; the deciduous trees are ablaze with vivid reds, purples and golds as they gently shed and turn in; many trees are ripe with fruits and berries and releasing them to the Earth; the fields are becoming bare again as we harvest the Earth’s bounty.

goat-1596880_1920In the Southern Hemisphere, the signs of the coming spring are seen in the longer brighter days, the greening of the grass, the birthing of lambs and calves, new leaves on the trees, the warming of the days and rituals like Spring Cleaning as we ceremonially move from the indoor life of Winter to the outdoor airy life of Summer.

These are all part of the Spiral Dance we celebrate through the Wheel of the Year, as we follow the energies of the Mother Earth, GrandFather Sun, and Grandmother Moon. Our ancestors wisely entrained themselves with the energetic cycles: active when those energies were rising, waxing; resting, nurturing and reflecting when those energies were turning inward, waning. They shifted from the outdoor world of farming and harvesting to the indoor world of preparing foods for winter, for prepping for the coming winter and the spring that follows.

But what of the changes in our Self? What happens with our energy?
How does the balance and harmony of the Equinox manifest in our lives?
How do we dance with the transforming and shifting energies?

Balancing at the Equinox

The Equinox is a perfect point in time for self-assessment and reflection, as we move from the abundance of summer to the reflective time of Winter (and vice-versa, of course, in the Southern Hemisphere). It is the perfect time to ask your Soul Questions as you ready for the coming changes.

I have a few tried and true rituals that support me in self-reflection and transformation:

  • a shamanic journey with my guides (and I would recommend this for any time of the year)
  • an oracle or tarot card spread, focusing on balance and transformation
  • a release ritual to release what no longer serves me, to help me move forward (you can also do this at any time of waning energy, such as between the Full Moon and the New Moon)

Soul Questions for your Shamanic Journey

SM 800 x 800-5I always prepare Soul Questions for my journeys… and sometimes I even get to ask them of my Guides! On some of my journeys, my guides have merely asked that I observe or listen. On other journeys, they are awaiting my questions, so it’s good to be prepared.

Create your own Soul Questions for your Journey, based on what you are currently experiencing and the guidance you need to move forward, and connecting with your heart… or use these basic questions:

  • How do I define balance?
  • How do I know when I’m in balance… or out of balance?
  • Is balance a short-term effect or a long-term dance?
  • What aspect(s) of my life do I prioritize? What aspect of my life do I ignore, put on the back burner? How do I recognize when I take on too much?
  • What can I do to maintain or restore balance in my life?

TIP: Consider using the questions in the following Equinox Card Spread

Use your Tarot or Oracle Cards to balance

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Three card layout using The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Deck

I love working with both tarot and oracle cards, and find that sometimes I even use more than one deck for a reading. I might start with The Wild Unknown Tarot or Animal Spirit Decks, but then call on additional decks to answer specific questions, such as Earth Magic, Soulflower Plant Spirit, The Enchanted Map or The Seeds of Shakti.

TIP: Work with the cards you LOVE, with what calls to you at this Equinox.

You may have a favourite layout that you use time and again. Keep in mind the energy of the Equinox and what questions you need to ask in order to reveal what is in balance (or not), how you can move forward, what you have learned this year and what you will be planning for next year.

You could start with a simple three-card layout, such as:
1. What is out of balance?
2. What will support me in restoring balance?
3. What wisdom/medicine will help me moving forward?

Equinox Card Spread (& free Ebook)

If you’d like to try a new card layout, try this spread I created for this Equinox, using symbols associated with the Equinox such as the Sun, Moon, Libra (balance) and the Celtic Tree of Life representing the shifting energies throughout the year.

card-spreads-us-letter-4

Click here to access

It includes questions for both the Spring (Southern Hemisphere) and Autumn (Northern Hemisphere). Feel free to create new questions or modify these to make them uniquely your own, or even mix them up a little!

This spread is part of our Equinox ebook — which also includes the Apple Ritual/Blessing for the Equinox, a simple Cacao ceremony, tips for your altar and more.

You can access this FREE eBook in a couple of ways:

Celebrate!

And let’s not forget one of the most important aspects of the Equinox – celebration! Cultures all around the world celebrate the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes, and the pagan Earth-based spirituality of our ancestors has found its way into many contemporary and religious celebrations.

The Spring Equinox is associated with festivals of awakening, birth and new life such as Easter, Ostara and Alban Eilir;  the Autumn Equinox is associated with harvest, with gratitude and thanksgiving such as Mabon, Michaelmas, Alban Elfed, and more.

How will YOU celebrate this Equinox?

image

Equinox Blessings!

sidebar graphics 7If you love working with Mother Earth, following the energies of Grandmother Moon (Seanmháthair Gealach), aligning with the energy of the Celtic Wheel of The Year, or are interested in learning more about this path, you will find great resources – and the opportunity to ask questions, share rituals, and more – in our NEW private Facebook Group, the Wise Woman Bean Gealach Circle. Limited to those who identify as women. For more information about the Circle, CLICK HERE

WP Sidebar graphics-5Connect to your purpose, your medicine, eliminate self-limiting beliefs, and integrate the new wisdom into your life through this unique you-centered blend of shamanic coaching and journeys, energy healing, alchemical healing, Earth Medicine, PSYCH-K® and PER-K® balancing, and six-sensory work. Together we draw on the modalities that best support your journey. Click on the picture for more information or visit our website:  www.innerjourneyevents.com

WP Sidebar graphics, resized to 300 x 213 pxDo you want a better understanding of the Wheel of the Year and how its shifting energies can support your own transformation and growth, support you in aligning with the rhythms of Nature itself? Subscribers receive regular free ebooks and articles, such as Celebrating the Equinox, along with tips for their personal practices, advance notice on free events and webinars, and much much more! 

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Celebrating the Equinox with a new eBook

Posted on by Della Ratcliffe

I am sure many of us are looking forward to Friday’s Equinox, which arrives September 22 at 20:02 UTC (1:02 PM Pacific Time)… a divinely balanced time between Earth Medicine and Sun Medicine, between Mama Earth and Grandfather Sun, Fire and Water (Northern Hemisphere) or Earth and Air (Southern Hemisphere), and between Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine.

I’ve made a few changes to our Equinox eBook … new graphics, dates, and more. You can access this FREE eBook in a couple of ways:

Not only does this eBook give an overview of the Equinox for both Spring and Fall, it includes some rituals that you might like for your Equinox celebrations — wherever you are — including:

  • tips for your altar
  • an Apple Ritual and blessing
  • a simple Cacao ceremony
  • an Equinox card layout with prompts/questions for both Northern and Southern Hemispheres

Northern Hemisphere
This Equinox marks the astronomical start of Autumn. In the Wheel of the Year, it is known as Mabon in the Pagan or Wiccan communities, as Alban Elfed (Light of the Water) in Druid communities, and as Cónacht Fómhair (or Meán Fómhair) Irish Gaelic.

The Fall Equinox represents the direction of The West, and the Element of Water. It is represented by the Stag and Doe, representing the harmony and balance of the Divine Masculine and the Divine Feminine.

Southern Hemisphere
This Equinox marks the astronomical start of Spring and is known as Ostara by many in the Pagan or Wiccan Communities, Alban Eilir (Light of the Earth) in Druid communities, and as Cónacht an Earraigh in Irish Gaelic.

The Spring Equinox represents the direction of The East, and the Element of Air. It is represented by Eagle, (great vision, perspective on our lives).

Equinox Blessings!!!

Soul Work for the New Moon in Virgo… Balance, Balance, Balance

Posted on by Della Ratcliffe

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My Moon Bowl set on my altar for the New Moon

Wisdom from Seanmháthair Gealach (Grandmother Moon)
New Moon in Virgo (Earth Element, Mutable)
Tuesday, September 19th @ 10:29 PM PT /
Wednesday, September 20th @ 5:30 UTC
Theme for this lunar journey: Balance

Entraining and Balancing with Grandmother Moon and Mama Earth

Such a glorious week and such a glorious colourful time of the year (sorry, my Northern Hemisphere entrainment is showing!) as we approach astronomical Autumn… a New Moon on Tuesday followed by the Autumn (Spring in the Southern Hemisphere) Equinox on Thursday, September 22nd.

And, yes, I did say astronomical Autumn. For me, the first celebration of Autumn was Lughnasadh in early August, the second is coming with the Equinox and the final celebration will be Samhain, also marking the start of Winter and the dark half of the year.

The Equinox has inspired my theme for this lunar month: Balance.

If this theme works for you, wonderful! If not, choose another theme that resonates… perhaps one inspired by your Dark Moon reflections on last month’s journey or other influences in your life.

BALANCE IN NATURE
In what is a hectic world for many, Mama Earth and Grandmother Moon give us many “prompts” throughout the year to reflect on our own balances… an opportunity to reflect on how we balance work/play, self/others, spiritual/ secular, etc.

Twice a month, La Luna moves into the Quarter position in her journey, when She is half-light, half-dark… a potent example of the fleeting Yin-Yang balance. And twice a year, we experience the Equinox when Mama Earth herself is in balance with Father Sun, when the days and nights have equal length, and we change seasons astronomically, from Winter to Spring and from Summer to Autumn.

GODDESS / WHEEL OF LIFE ENERGIES
So many influences at this time… The New/Dark Moon brings us the deep feminine energy of the Crone, the wisdom-keeper, the blood-mystery of menopause, the wise blood within. The Crone can be represented by goddesses such as Hecate or An Cailleach.

The Fall Equinox brings us the energy of Mab, Demeter, Hera, and the Spring Equinox brings us the energies of Persephone and Artemis.

ACTIVITIES FOR THE NEW MOON
You know I will always suggest starting the month in a couple of ways:

  • drawing cards for the New Moon Medicine Wheel layout (or any other layout your prefer there are a few in our FILES section). And this Dark Moon/New Moon also is the time to complete the PREVIOUS month’s journey…. your own Moon Lodge of reflection on the journey and noting the wisdom gained.
  • beginning a Moon Wheel Chart to track your energies/flow (and other markers that are important to you) throughout the lunar journey

And there are many other ways to celebrate the New Moon, the new lunar journey. For instance, I start many new herbal medicines at the New Moon… more on that in a separate post!

You could also:

  • create a Moon Bowl (pictured above) for tracking Grandmother Moon’s energies throughout the month
  • set up a new altar celebrating the Goddess(es) that are important to you at this time of year and in these changing seasons… perhaps Demeter and Persephone?
  • meditate with a crystal on your goals for this month
  • take a New Moon shamanic journey to connect with your guides
  • celebrate in Circle with others — sing, dance, share, feast

Do you have any New Moon practices that are special for you?

SOUL WORK / QUESTIONS FOR THE NEW MOON
This month, I ask you to consider your Moon Time energies along with the theme of Balance as you draw your cards, and ponder on last month’s journey and on your new goals/intentions for the new Lunar Journey.

In an earlier post for this New Moon (Soul Work, Blood Mysteries, and the New Moon), I suggested meditating — or journeying — on your relationship with your Womb, your Inner Cauldron… how that relationship has transformed over time, how you feel about your body, and how you might either maintain a positive relationship or transform a negative one to a more loving and positive relationship.

And for our theme of Balance, consider these Soul Questions, or create your own relevant to this theme or to the one you have created for this month:

  • How do I define balance?
  • How do I know when I’m in balance… or out of balance?And how do these states manifest it in my life?
  • Is balance a short-term effect or a long-term dance?
  • What aspect(s) of my life do I prioritize? What aspect of my life do I ignore, put on the back burner? How do I recognize when I take on too much?
  • What can I do in this lunar journey to maintain or restore balance in my life?

Shine on, SiStars!

 

sidebar graphics 7If you love working with Mother Earth, following the energies of Grandmother Moon (Seanmháthair Gealach), aligning with the energy of the Celtic Wheel of The Year, or are interested in learning more about this path, you will find great resources – and the opportunity to ask questions, share rituals, and more – in our NEW private Facebook Group, the Wise Woman Bean Gealach Circle. Limited to those who identify as women. For more information about the Circle, CLICK HERE

WP Sidebar graphics-5Connect to your purpose, your medicine, eliminate self-limiting beliefs, and integrate the new wisdom into your life through this unique you-centered blend of shamanic coaching and journeys, energy healing, alchemical healing, Earth Medicine, PSYCH-K® and PER-K® balancing, and six-sensory work. Together we draw on the modalities that best support your journey. Click on the picture for more information or visit our website:  www.innerjourneyevents.com

WP Sidebar graphics, resized to 300 x 213 pxDo you want a better understanding of the Wheel of the Year and how its shifting energies can support your own transformation and growth, support you in aligning with the rhythms of Nature itself? Subscribers receive regular free ebooks and articles, such as Celebrating the Equinox, along with tips for their personal practices, advance notice on free events and webinars, and much much more! 

Soul Work, Blood Mysteries and the New Moon

Posted on by Della Ratcliffe

Dancing Women by Leah Dorion

Wisdom from Seanmháthair Gealach (Grandmother Moon)
New Moon in Virgo (Earth Element, Mutable)
Tuesday, September 19th @ 10:29 PM PT /
Wednesday, September 20th @ 5:30 UTC
Theme for this lunar journey: Balance

THE POWER OF OUR MOON TIME 
The Dark/New Moon is — for some women — the time when they experience their flow, their Moon Time. In our Wise Woman Bean Gealach Circle, we recently introduced these blood mysteries into our Soul Work.

In earlier times, women cycled naturally with the Moon just as Lady Ocean does, the tides higher/lower corresponding to the phases of the Moon. Many women started their cycle at the New Moon and ovulated at the Full Moon, while for others it was/is the opposite and, for others, there was/is no consistency at all.

That “original” cycle is still embodied and honoured in the Medicine Wheel energies of our lunar cycle. The Dark/New Moon is our beginning, a time of deep reflection and shedding. Our energies rise throughout the first half of the cycle, peaking at ovulation the Full Moon, when we are most fertile — however that expresses itself, such as through ovulation or creativity.

In the second half of the lunar cycle, our feminine Yin energies rise in preparation for the return of a new cycle. But even though our energy may not flow with LaLuna’s, it doesn’t mean we are out of sync with Nature… just that our creative energies are expressed in a different way.

Flow at the Full Moon is considered, by some, to be a Red Moon Cycle, while flow at the Dark Moon is considered a White Moon Cycle.

Apparently many believed that the Red Moon cycle “belonged to the medicine women, to the midwives, the magic-makers and the wisdom keepers of the community.” (Per the Yoga Goddess blog).

In her book “Red Moon” Miranda Gray says,

“A woman with the White Moon cycle, bleeding with the dark (new) Moon, becomes linked to the deepest levels of her awareness, reminding her that there exists more than just the world she sees, because she is the carrier of the seed of life. A woman with a Red Moon cycle, bleeding with the full moon, brings the energies and mysteries of her inner darkness out into the world around her as a gift and an offering of the depths of her learning.” (quoted in the Yoga Goddess blog)

MOON TIME AS SACRED RITUAL
This weekend, I had a powerful reminder of how sacred our Moon Time is. I participated in a workshop led by The Medicine Collective, a group of First Nations elders and wisdom-keepers here in Vancouver, Canada. We were preparing blends of sacred herbs and tobacco, which will be shared with the local community for ceremonial use throughout the year (and a pouch to take home for our own rituals).

Before we began the opening ritual, a woman in the workshop said it was her Moon Time, and that in her people’s traditions, women did not participate in ritual at that time.

This opened us all up to a beautiful discussion on women’s blood mysteries and how the Moon Time was/is respected in First Nations’ traditions. And by the way, this particular workshop was led by the male Elders of the Collective, who spoke so powerfully and lovingly about their wives, daughters, sisters, aunties, and grandmothers… and their powerful role within their Nation.

MOON LODGES
You are likely familiar with the First Nations’ concept of the Moon Lodge, and/or the Grandmother Lodge. Starting with a woman’s first flow, she would join the Moon Lodge every month… sitting with other women and with the elders in ritual, reflection, renewal, guidance from Creator, and ceremony.

The women did not participate in other rituals at their Moon Time because their flow was the ritual… a sacred ceremony, recognizing the spirituality of creating life, of the blood mystery itself, of the purification it represents. WOW! And elder woman also joined Grandmother Lodges, recognizing that even though their flow had ended, energetically that flow was still there… ebbing and flowing within their body, expanding and contracting, maintaining their connection to Grandmother Moon.

So, each month, women sat together… empowering each other, sharing, inspiring, learning, mentoring… supporting each other in the transition from Flowering Maidens (this was also part of the Celtic culture) to the Fruit of Motherhood/Woman to the nurturing Seed of the Wise Woman.

Can you imagine what it was like to welcome your menarche in this way… and all the blood mysteries, including childbirth and menopause? And to have the support of women in Circle 13 times a year…. every year?

SOUL WORK
For the women reading this post… In your Soul Work this month, consider reflecting on the Blood Mysteries in your life… your relationship to them, how you honour them, how you felt about your own menarche or your own menopause… reflect deeply on the relationship… and how your cycle may have an effect on your intimate relationships. Most importantly, are you content with your current relationship to your womb, your Inner Cauldron, or would you like to manifest a new relationship with it?

And for the men reading this post… perhaps consider what you know or believe women’s cycles… the blood mysteries… and perhaps this can be an opportunity to talk with your partner about their relationship with their cycle, your relationship with her cycle, and how it may (or may not) affect the dynamics of the relationship.

And let’s not assume that this is a simple or easy reflection, especially for women. Many of us have very complex and challenging relationships with our body, and with the Inner Cauldron of our womb. For instance, some experience an inability to conceive, or have experienced miscarriages and terminations. They may have painful periods due to endometriosis or cysts, or hormonal imbalances. The uterus may be absent… gone or never there. This may create a spiritual crisis for some — manifesting in anger, despair, depression and other emotions — while others may channel their energies and heal in a different way.

Whatever path your journey has taken you, know that when we discuss this in our Wise a Woman Circle, it is a safe place and that I — and all in this Circle — hold loving space for you on that journey.

Le grá (with love),

Della

Delve into your Soul Work for this New Moon even more with info on rituals, best practices for celebrating and honouring the New Moon, the Goddess energies and more in Soul Work for the New Moon in Virgo… Balance, Balance, Balance 

sidebar graphics 7If you love working with Mother Earth, following the energies of Grandmother Moon (Seanmháthair Gealach), aligning with the energy of the Celtic Wheel of The Year, or are interested in learning more about this path, you will find great resources – and the opportunity to ask questions, share rituals, and more – in our NEWprivate Facebook Group, the Wise Woman Bean Gealach Circle. Limited to those who identify as women. For more information about the Circle, CLICK HERE

WP Sidebar graphics-5Connect to your purpose, your medicine, eliminate self-limiting beliefs, and integrate the new wisdom into your life through this unique you-centered blend of shamanic coaching and journeys, energy healing, alchemical healing, Earth Medicine, PSYCH-K® and PER-K® balancing, and six-sensory work. Together we draw on the modalities that best support your journey. Click on the picture for more information or visit our website:  www.innerjourneyevents.com

WP Sidebar graphics, resized to 300 x 213 pxDo you want a better understanding of the Wheel of the Year and how its shifting energies can support your own transformation and growth, support you in aligning with the rhythms of Nature itself? Subscribers receive regular free ebooks and articles, such as Celebrating the Equinox, along with tips for their personal practices, advance notice on free events and webinars, and much much more!

Connecting​ with Mama Earth in liminal times

Posted on by Della Ratcliffe

IMG_1456

Sunset at Spanish Banks, Vancouver

This weekend in Canada — and many other countries — we celebrate the Labour Day long weekend. For me, especially in my school years, that weekend marked the end of summer and the return to school the day after Labour Day. In many ways, it also marked a new year… new school clothes, new books, a new class, a new adventure in learning.

In the Celtic Wheel of the Year, we are slowly moving towards the end of the light half of the year and the beginning of the dark half of the year, marked by Samhain at the end of October. And soon we will celebrate the Quarter Day of the September Equinox on September 22nd at 1:02 PM Pacific Time / 20:02 UTC, marking the astronomical start of Autumn (Northern Hemisphere) and Spring (Southern Hemisphere).

This is a transitional time, a liminal time. The energies of Mama Earth and Father Sun are shifting in the Wheel of the Year. Summer is slowly losing transforming into Autumn here in the North. In my part of Canada, the grain and corn harvest began In early August, the blackberries and summer fruits have peaked, and the autumn fruits and vegetables are starting to show up at our local farmers’ markets…. and soon we’ll be harvesting pumpkins and other winter squashes. I’ve already seen some leaves changing their colours. And no doubt, pumpkin spice lattes are on the horizon!

For those south of the Equator, Winter is turning to Spring. The winter rains and snows are decreasing, the days lengthening… flowers are starting to blossom… the farmers’ fields are being planted.

Over this coming weekend, or when convenient for you, take some time to walk with Mama Earth, immersing yourself in her energy. What are the signs of Summer’s end and of Autumn’s beginning… the gentle downward pull of her waning watery Yin energy… a time of slowing down, taking stock, introspection (NH)? What are the signs of Winter’s end, of the emerging Spring and the waxing rising Yang energy… the gentle breezes of Air, and change, new beginnings (SH)? How does Her energy feel to you? Are you in alignment with it?

I have a few favourite places for my Nature walks, and I visit them regularly. Being with Nature attunes me to my own energy. The two merge as I walk in the forest, along the riverbanks or visit the seashore. This is my daily meditation, my spiritual practice.

I’m now starting to recognize the local plants and trees in all their stages of growth, from dormancy to full bloom and everything in between. I’m starting to become more aware of the timing of their cycles… noticing what’s early or late, depending on the magical combination of sun and rain, when to dig for dandelion roots or forage for horsetail and St John’s Wort, when to gather acorns and chestnuts, or berries from the Rowan and Hawthorn trees for my altar. I’m starting to recognize the cycles of the insects and the birds… when the bush tits will be swarming my balcony in Winter, when the herons are building their nests in late Spring… and even when the ants start their annual assault on our balcony door.

I share with you one of my favourite passages in Embers by Richard Wagamese:

“I am a dreamer made real by virtue of the world touching me. This is what I know. I am Spirit borne by a body that moves through the dream that is this living, and what it gathers to keep becomes me, shapes me, defines me. The dreamer I am is vivid when I fully inhabit myself — when I allow that. Meditation is not an isolated act of consciousness. It’s connecting to the dream. It’s being still so that the wonder of Spirit and flow outward, so that the world touches me and I touch the world. It’s leaving my body and my mind and becoming Spirit again, whole and perfect and shining.”

I’m now starting to recognize the local plants and trees in all their stages of growth, from dormancy to full bloom and everything in between. I’m starting to become more aware of the timing of their cycles… noticing what’s early or late, depending on the magical combination of sun and rain, when to dig for dandelion roots or forage for horsetail and St John’s Wort, when to gather acorns and chestnuts, or berries from the Rowan and Hawthorn trees for my altar. I’m starting to recognize the cycles of the insects and the birds… when the bush tits will be swarming my balcony in Winter, when the herons are building their nests in late Spring… and even when the ants start their annual assault on our balcony door. 

IMG_1453These walks bring to mind one of my favourite quotes by Chilean poet Pablo Neruda:

“…my poetry was born between the hill and the river, it took its voice from the rain, and like the timber, it steeped itself in the forests.”

We each have poetry within us, where our emotions paint a picture with words… I find my poetry in Nature, and in my connection with Her.

Where do you find your poetry?

After your walk with Nature, take some time to journal your thoughts, your poetry. Connect to the dream.

sidebar graphics 7If you love working with Mother Earth, following the energies of Grandmother Moon (Seanmháthair Gealach), aligning with the energy of the Celtic Wheel of The Year, or are interested in learning more about this path, you will find great resources – and the opportunity to ask questions, share rituals, and more – in our NEW private Facebook Group, the Wise Woman Bean Gealach Circle. Limited to those who identify as women. For more information about the Circle, CLICK HERE

WP Sidebar graphics-5Connect to your purpose, your medicine, eliminate self-limiting beliefs, and integrate the new wisdom into your life through this unique you-centered blend of shamanic coaching and journeys, energy healing, alchemical healing, Earth Medicine, PSYCH-K® and PER-K® balancing, and six-sensory work. Together we draw on the modalities that best support your journey. Click on the picture for more information or visit our website:  www.innerjourneyevents.com

WP Sidebar graphics, resized to 300 x 213 pxDo you want a better understanding of the Wheel of the Year and how its shifting energies can support your own transformation and growth, support you in aligning with the rhythms of Nature itself? Subscribers receive regular free ebooks and articles, such as Celebrating the Equinox, along with tips for their personal practices, advance notice on free events and webinars, and much much more! 

A RITUAL FOR THE SOLAR ECLIPSE AND NEW MOON IN LEO

Posted on by Della Ratcliffe

Solar Eclipse Layout

As with any ritual I offer here, feel free to change this up… add, delete, modify in any way that best suits you. Or do something totally different!

This ritual can be done at a Solar Eclipse or Lunar Eclipse. It can be done indoors or outdoors, preferably in a place of quiet and tranquility.

If you are not available at the precise moment of the eclipse, you may do this indoors … preferably in a darkened room.

Preparation
Two candles, one black (or a dark colour) and one white
Two crystals or stones, one each to represent the Sun and the Moon
Your preferred Oracle or Tarot deck

Create Sacred Space
As with any ritual, begin by creating create sacred space your own way — such as calling in the directions, your guides, ancestors, power animals and other allies.

Rather than smudging with sage or other sacred herb, use your crystals or stones to clear your energy. If drawn to the Moon energy, move a piece of Selenite crystal (or other preferred “moon stone”) gently through your aura and chakras, and notice any area of dis-comfort or dis-ease. Create an intention that your Selenite will gently release any tensions or discomforts. Feel that connection to LaLuna / Selene through the Selenite.

If you are drawn more to the energy of the Sun, use an igneous stone such as Apache Tears, Fire Opal, Obsidian, Granite, Pumice, or Basalt using the same process and intentions.

You can even use both!

Begin the Ritual
Breathe deeply and slowly until you feel fully connected to your Wise Inner Self, and to Father Sun and Grandmother Moon as they move closer and closer in the Sky.

As the Eclipse begins, take a moment to feel at peace with the impending darkness, the birthplace of wisdom… Endarkenment.

Light the dark candle, to represent what YOU have kept in the darkness and are now bringing to the light… out of the shadows… that which needs to be disrupted and recharged. Take time to contemplate on that and on what might you start birthing in the endarkenment? How does it feel to be sitting in a darkening space… to feel the merging energies of Father Sun and Grandmother Moon?

Perhaps you are feeling the energy of the who goddesses or allies may be guiding you, speaking to you. At first, you may just feel their energy… and then sense their presence. Acknowledge them and ask for their guidance in this ritual.

While still in the darkness of the Eclipse, pull three cards from your deck and place them face up. You may place them one at a time, or all at once.

Card 1: What deep patterns or shadows are disrupted by the energy of this Eclipse?

Card 2: What actions or thoughts can support me in bringing them to the light and releasing them?

Card 3: What new path is revealed in this New Moon energy?

Create an affirmation — in your own words — that the light of the dark candle will continue to illuminate the darkness and the shadow within as you move forward, and that it will release anything that is brought into its light. Feel the darkness ebb away.

As the eclipse completes and the darkness is gone, extinguish your dark candle and light your white candle. The light has returned! And the New Moon has arrived!

Feel the energy of the enlightenment… how does it feel to be in the light? Does it feel different than the dark? Note the differences emotionally, physically, spiritually… and journal your thoughts and feelings, especially about the three cards pulled.

The flame of your white candle illuminates a new journey. You are not just experiencing the Eclipse, you are also basking in the New Moon energy. You are aligned with The Maiden, beginning her journey again… a new start, a new beginning, the freedom to be YOU.

Sit with the white candle for a while and gaze into its light. Breathe in its loving fresh energy. What does it feel like to embrace the light? To stand in a place of new beginnings? As you review your cards one more time from this place of enlightenment, what now seems possible… probable… destiny?

Note your feelings in your journal, or book of shadows… and your actions, inspired by the cards you drew.

When you feel your ritual is complete, be sure to extinguish all your candles safely, and thank all those who supported you through the ritual.

TIP: You may still want to do a New Moon Medicine Wheel Reading (or any New Moon layout you prefer). This can be done anytime during the New Moon energies, up to the first glimmer of light of the Waxing Crescent.

Be sure to read Part 1 of our Solar Eclipse posts:

Soul Work for the Solar Eclipse

Wisdom from Seanmháthair Gealach (Grandmother Moon)
New Moon in Leo, 21-AUG @ 11:30 AM Pacific Time / 18:30 UTC
Solar Eclipse peaking at 10:21 AM Pacific Time

sidebar graphics 7If you love working with Mother Earth, following the energies of Grandmother Moon (Seanmháthair Gealach), aligning with the energy of the Celtic Wheel of The Year, or are interested in learning more about this path, you will find great resources – and the opportunity to ask questions, share rituals, and more – in our NEW private Facebook Group, the Wise Woman Bean Gealach Circle. Limited to those who identify as women. For more information about the Circle, CLICK HERE

WP Sidebar graphics-5Connect to your purpose, your medicine, eliminate self-limiting beliefs, and integrate the new wisdom into your life through this unique you-centered blend of shamanic coaching and journeys, energy healing, alchemical healing, Earth Medicine, PSYCH-K® and PER-K® balancing, and six-sensory work. Together we draw on the modalities that best support your journey. Click on the picture for more information or visit our website:  www.innerjourneyevents.com

WP Sidebar graphics, resized to 300 x 213 pxDo you want a better understanding of the Wheel of the Year and how its shifting energies can support your own transformation and growth, support you in aligning with the rhythms of Nature itself? Subscribers receive regular free ebooks and articles, such as Celebrating the Equinox, along with tips for their personal practices, advance notice on free events and webinars, and much much more! 

Soul Work for the Solar Eclipse​, Part 1

Posted on by Della Ratcliffe

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Such a busy and significant astronomical month…. a New Moon in Leo, the Lions Gate Portal, a Lunar Eclipse, the Perseid Meteor Shower and now a Solar Eclipse in a second New Moon in Leo.

Bring it on! We’re ready!

PART 1: SOLAR & LUNAR ENERGIES  

So let’s talk about this Solar Eclipse… and Celestial Mechanics

In many ways, there is “nothing new” here. Ancient astronomers devised methods to predict eclipses, recognizing the 135-month cycle for Solar Eclipses and the 122-month cycle for Lunar Eclipses. Archeologists have demonstrated that some ancient stone monuments designed to mark the solstices may also have been used to predict Eclipses. The “Aubrey Stones” at Stonehenge are a good example.

Of course, those ancient astronomers were also astrologers, and the outcome (or failure) of their predictions sometimes resulted in serious consequences, such as being beheaded by an angry King or Emperor, who saw these events as portents of success or failure. Astrology was used to guide many a leader, past and present. It is said that US President Ronald Reagan consulted astrologers regularly to determine best dates to sign documents, launch new initiatives, etc.

Did you know that each year has anywhere between four and seven lunar and solar eclipses, some partial and some full? The Lunar Eclipses always occur at the Full Moon, and the Solar Eclipses always occur at a New Moon… a simple fact of celestial mechanics. The actual time, frequency and maximum visibility vary due to the elliptical orbit of the Earth around the Sun, and the 5-degree tilt of the Moon’s orbit relative to that of the Earth.

This year we have two partial lunar eclipses and two solar eclipses — one annular (The sun appears as a thin ring around the moon) and one total (The moon totally covers the sun, depending on location).

So let’s talk about this Solar Eclipse… and The Magick created with the New Moon in Leo

And if there is “nothing new”, why are people getting so excited about this solar eclipse?

Well, we don’t actually see a full solar eclipse that often, as they peak in various parts of the world, sometimes where nobody actually lives… such as the middle of an ocean. But this one will be very visible a large portion of folks living in North America.

The energy of a solar eclipse can be profound. For some, it may feel like a year in a minute or two… especially those born in Leo, and the other Fixed signs of Taurus, Scorpio, and Aquarius.

Think of the Quarter Moons, when the face of the Moon is equally light and dark, a balance of Yin and Yang.

Now, imagine that energy amplified to the Nth degree… light and dark, Yin and Yang, brilliant manifestation and deep Shadows, the Divine Masculine and Divine Masculine, a liminal point in time between your deepest subconscious and vast universal knowledge  and connection.

Eclipses appear to disrupt the natural order of things. They confuse the birds, the insects, the animals, the plants.

Use this disruption for you… disrupt old (and no longer useful) patterns… create something new from the perceived chaos and birth it in the New Moon!

Are you still breathing? This is BIG!

It’s time to reload… re-initialize… reboot!

This eclipse — combined with the New Moon in Leo — is a time for deep deep work, uncovering of old patterns, shifting paradigms and uncovering blocks by bringing them into the light…. and new beginnings.

Go forth!

Click here for PART 2: A RITUAL FOR THE SOLAR ECLIPSE NEW MOON IN LEO

Wisdom from Seanmháthair Gealach (Grandmother Moon)
New Moon in Leo , 21-AUG @ 11:30 AM Pacific Time / 18:30 UTC
This month’s theme: Endarkenment and Enlightenment

Solar Eclipse Timeline (86.1% partial here in Vancouver)
* Begins at 9:10 AM PT as the Moon appears to touch the outer edge of the Sun
* Maximum Peak at 10:21 AM PT as the centre point of the Moon matches that of the Sun
* Eclipse ends at 11:37 AM PT as the Moon moves entirely past the Sun

Moon in Al-Sarfah until 8:46 PM PT
Essence: Conflict and confrontation. Obstacles. Rich harvest.

sidebar graphics 7If you love working with Mother Earth, following the energies of Grandmother Moon (Seanmháthair Gealach), aligning with the energy of the Celtic Wheel of The Year, or are interested in learning more about this path, you will find great resources – and the opportunity to ask questions, share rituals, and more – in our NEW private Facebook Group, the Wise Woman Bean Gealach Circle. Limited to those who identify as women. For more information about the Circle, CLICK HERE

WP Sidebar graphics-5Connect to your purpose, your medicine, eliminate self-limiting beliefs, and integrate the new wisdom into your life through this unique you-centered blend of shamanic coaching and journeys, energy healing, alchemical healing, Earth Medicine, PSYCH-K® and PER-K® balancing, and six-sensory work. Together we draw on the modalities that best support your journey. Click on the picture for more information or visit our website:  www.innerjourneyevents.com

WP Sidebar graphics, resized to 300 x 213 pxDo you want a better understanding of the Wheel of the Year and how its shifting energies can support your own transformation and growth, support you in aligning with the rhythms of Nature itself? Subscribers receive regular free ebooks and articles, such as Celebrating the Equinox, along with tips for their personal practices, advance notice on free events and webinars, and much much more!