Welcome to the Chinese Year of the Tiger. Seems like it might have some claws and teeth!
There are astrological build-ups happening as we move toward late spring and summer that will definitely bring upheavals as we tumble and thrash our way to restructuring our lives, both personal and collective, to bring more balance and sense into the picture. We so resist change because we are afraid of the chaos of the passage, even though the end result is attractive and calls, pulls and pushes us forward. Birth process, anyone? As we enter what Mark Borax says will be the “make it AND break it year”, we are awakening from what Ellias Lonsdale calls the “trance of normalcy”. Mark published “2012 – Crossing the Bridge to the Future” in 2008. It is a memoir of the mystery school he attended around the time of the Harmonic Convergence in the late 80’s with the wizard Ellias (then William) Lonsdale. The book is well worth reading as it looks ahead to the current times and the changes that are to inevitably come.
If you have been waiting for 2012, it has come 2 years early! Astrologically, the planetary line-ups this year and next outshine for intensity anything showing in 2012*, so you might as well let go of the resistance to what is insisting on change in your life right now and trust that it is necessary for you if you are to pass through the rabbit hole when our sun aligns with galactic center at the winter solstice of 2012. This is not necessarily an apocalyptic vision, though the recent earthquakes in Haiti, Chile and Turkey may be a sign that there are more earth upheavals to come. I can’t help but think of that line from “Avatar” when Jake tries to invoke the forces of nature through the holy tree to come to their aid and Neytiri tells him “Nature doesn’t take sides; she just restores the balance”. Maybe the earth shifts are part of that restoration in some way we do not understand. In any case, spiritually, we are all being shaken awake.
I have been enjoying how the viral nature of information in our internet age is showing us now that nothing can remain a secret. We can no longer claim innocence and ignorance of the total corruption of politics and politicians; the financially irresponsible practices of big business, banks and insurance companies; the hypocrisy of religious institutions; the deliberate misinformation put out by the “news” media; the shadowy lives of our sports and media “stars” – the list goes on and on as bloggers and videographers are reaching larger and larger numbers of people through on-line sources and the “social media” of You Tube, Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. We simply can no longer stay in our stupor, assuming that our institutions are working for “we, the people” or that, in fact, anything is as it seems to be.
Many people are overwhelmed by all this. Add the stresses of long term unemployment, lack of acceptable health coverage, stress and fatigue for those hanging on in work that gives them no sense of meaning, strained relationships – the list is long – it is all taking it’s toll. The pain is especially great for those who have no spiritual resources or practices. Many are now seeking deeper answers. Those that have been seeking for some time are needing to gather in community with others to strengthen their practices and to feel more connected. We are all being asked to make new decisions about what really is of value to us. We don’t know what the new “normal” will be as we awaken from our trance, but we sure know that what is, is not working for us.
On a personal level, I have been feeling the pressure of the astrological forces since last spring, as all these major planetary line-ups directly aspect my Pisces sun and kicked in a while ago. I went into complete melt-down last year when the business seemed to go into free-fall as groups and individuals either cancelled or did not book at all, and I honestly did not know if I would be able to keep it going. I faced the ultimate possibility of losing everything, at least financially. My spiritual path to this endeavor took me via Assisi and St. Francis (see my blog post of January 19) and the challenge to give everything I had to my calling, so I had nothing in reserve. My response was to own up to my situation and ask for help from as many sources as I could think of – something that was really challenging to my pride and need for privacy and would never have happened except in extremis !
I have been sitting on this black hole for the past year while working really hard. Some of the responses to my cries for help were amazing – witness the great video now on the home page of our website courtesy of those fabulous and generous folk, Lynn and Morris Walker. As always, of course, the lesson is in the mirroring – when I can allow myself to be seen to be vulnerable and in need of help – others are empowered to respond and the flow can go both ways. Duh!!!
I have also let go of my resistance and embraced the new media and you are now as a result reading my blog, you can be our friend on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and goddess-knows whatever else, courtesy of my new helper, Stephanie. I am amazed at this new ever- connected world that these young people take for granted, while those of us with grayer hair struggle to embrace and keep up with it. For me, especially, the need to surrender some level of privacy and be willing to be more exposed, is a challenge – but then that has been the challenge of artists always as they put their souls into a piece of work and then invite the world to judge them. Except the world has in the past been somewhat limited except for a famous few, while now we literally put ourselves up on the “world wide web” !
As for the business, I am seeing that the demand for the kind of retreat we offer is recovering, and indeed will soon exceed what it was before, as people realize the value of a taking a relaxing break from the craziness of the world, to recharge and reconnect with nature in a powerful setting, to strengthen bonds with their families and with their spiritual communities, and to develop practices which bring inner strength and a sense of meaning.
I know there is more to come – for us all, as the planet of complete surprise – Uranus – joins the mix this summer. But I feel stronger now that I have faced and survived the possibility of total loss, and know that I can embrace all that will be. One of the things I am noticing has changed since my emergence from my winter rest (see my blog post of January 27) is that all the “if only’s” have disappeared. I know that I am exactly where I am supposed to be, doing what I am supposed to do, doing it well, enjoying it and fully in trust that when the time is right for change, it will happen gracefully. I am amazed at the shift in my core being that has occurred already in this process and I am deeply grateful to have reached this peaceful and joyful place in my life.
When anyone asks my friend, Peter, how he’s doing, he answers “I’m living the dream”. And his voicemail message says “Sorry I can’t come to the phone right now – I’m probably too busy counting my blessings”. Bless you, Peter, for these fabulous mantras!
Melita
* For those who want to know more about the astrology: Pluto in Capricon squaring Saturn in Libra and Uranus/Jupiter in Aries, all in early degrees of cardinal signs. Check out markborax.com – read the archives of his “Cosmic Weather Report” and sign up for those to come.