The Dragon's Flight into the Leo-Aquarius Axis

Friday, as Venus moved back into Aries (Divine Feminine expression of the Warrioress) and Mercury Retrograde was conjunct Uranus in Aries (information overload, surprising revelations, breakthroughs), the Moon’s nodes shifted from our last lessons of the Virgo/Pisces plane to the lessons of Leo/Aquarius. The Lunar nodes, in scientific terms, are the points where the orbit of the Moon crosses the ecliptic. The astrological implications of the lunar nodes are about karmic lessons, the relationship between the outmoded past and the creative future, and the necessary balance between what we’ve already learned and no longer need to focus on (The Dragon's Tail:  South Node in Aquarius) and what we must learn now, however uncomfortable and uncharted the territory, for the growth of our souls (The Dragon's Head:  North Node in Leo).

Each of us has our own natal nodes and lessons, which are a significant part of the answer to the age-old questions, ‘Why am I here?’ and ‘What is my soul’s purpose?’  But the positions the Nodes are in at the present moment affect the collective soul’s growth of our entire global community…so while we are each having our own soul’s intentions directing us one way, those lessons are also being influenced on a global scale by the current position of the Nodes.

And it’s that shift that I’m talking about now…the one we’re all feeling. Now that the South Node is in Aquarius, we’re being introduced to the lesson of our earthly experience and the consequences of spiritual bypass and denying the shadow.  We’re currently so intent on getting as much spiritual and mental information downloaded into our head space, that we end up narrowly-focused on the power of the intellect while furthering a disconnect to the physical and emotional aspects of ourselves, others, and the Earth. The North Node in Leo directs our paths toward the benefits of creative self-expression, heart-centered leadership, and self-love. Being overly-detached or emotionally repressed becomes problematic during this time because we may distance ourselves from others to the point of having little support when we really need it…and while we may be more comfortable in our heads or behind a screen right now, we may find ourselves constantly hitting impediments that could be overcome by getting out of our comfort zone backstage and into the spotlight to consciously connect in powerful ways. Our powers of courage and creativity need to be cultivated now in an effort to inspire empowerment in others and move forward through bleak times. We ARE the ones we've been waiting for. The time IS now.

For the next 18 months that we are learning to let go of the lower energies of Aquarius and learning to implement the higher energies of Leo, we will find that the information age is struggling with its setbacks. In order to understand what is meaningful and real again, we have to explore the heart-to-heart connections between each of us face-to-face. Release the fears of how much you'll be seen, how unpolished you think you are, or that you don't have a large enough list of credentials to be heard, and allow your light to shine. Experience is in remembering who you are. It's time to launch and learn.

This axis is likely to be most difficult to wrap their hearts around for those who are sensitive to their environment, suffer from anxiety, have grown accustomed to intellectualizing the human experience, or aren't very grounded or connected to the Earth as a living, breathing being. Focusing on loving ourselves and showing up in all our radiant glory while embracing and transmuting all that has held us back from feeling love for ourselves is going to be a battle for some.  Our brains will remember the shadows of what that Leo South Node experience was like 9 years ago when this axis was flipped. That was an Enlightenment period on the spiritual and mental planes then, where we were spotting the traps of our egos and waking up to what was beyond our self-centered experience. The dawning of the Age of Aquarius was what we were all feeling then in revolutionary ways that got us to expand ourselves socially through the internet and social media. We saw how selfish we had become, and how unaware we had allowed ourselves to become as a collective...And we learned a lot by detaching from those lower energies to see in more egalitarian ways.  

Over time, we became addicted to the ‘safe space’ of detachment, though. We became more fearful of the shadows that crept in and took control in the now while we were focusing into the future, and we started repressing or distancing ourselves from our involvement with them. And now we return to our center...Our core...In the heart and the gut. 

Leo as a solar sign is connected to the solar plexus/power center...But also to the heart center. Here, we are emboldened to act as well as embrace ourselves and others...It doesn't happen in the head. It's a gut knowing and a heart feeling that inspires our passion to take action. We are all coming to realize our responsibility now. Moving forward can be inspired in the mind, but manifesting ideas into action radiates from that link between the courage of the heart and the self-confidence of the gut instinct.  We must follow our own lead, and allow others to find themselves in the good example we set.

Leo has the energy of the King or Queen archetypes as well as the Actor/Performer.  So in these months, it is best to surround yourself with others who are willing to take inspired action, embody compassionate leadership, and uphold individual sovereignty.  We will recognize it and feel a pull toward it as it enters the scene, and become leaders ourselves...supporting the whole cast in this production by being present and authentic. 

Even the true Divas that are born of this same self-confidence have something to teach those of us who've been waiting in the wings, helping the actors backstage, or observing the drama unfolding from our comfortable seats in the audience.  If we see the Queen of Hearts shouting “off with their heads!” from center stage, we may understand it as a call to get us all out of our heads right now and into our hearts again...Rather than just an illogical laugh line in this twisted Wonderland playing out across the world stage.

What are we passionate about? What must we do to love ourselves so that we can generously share our love with others? What will increase our will to radiate and create a more loving world for our children? Connect with your inner child to find remembrance of who you really are and what inspires you to be.

Self-acceptance in the now...instead of focusing only on what we wish ourselves and others to become...is where we move past the old ways of thinking and come into our collective ability to empower ourselves and others in shining our light into the dark corners of our fears and weaknesses. It will be frustrating while we're getting used to these lessons because we'll be seeing a greater tendency (especially from the powers that want to control our minds and the people who allow it) to deny what is really stripping us of our sovereignty, rights, and inherent power. Yes, some of us see it.  But some are needing to be shaken to awaken; to know from the gut that we're being disconnected from our own identity and willpower. We're taking back our responsibility in this. And even those of us who have been consciously navigating our own Awakening for years will be able to see into the shadows more clearly now and create better solutions.

Those we have handed our power to in the past are skilled in being disconnected and also separating others.  Yet now is the time they will be faced with its negative implications as more and more people will be emboldened to activate and reclaim their sovereignty...And be seen doing so...inspiring others to do the same. This is the time we learn the lesson that caring for ourselves is the first step in taking care of the larger whole. Repairing our connection to self, creating in the moment, and leading by example are underlying goals for the next 18 months.

To see in what areas of life this shift affects you personally, look to the houses in your natal chart where Leo and Aquarius begin. The last time the nodes were in this axis was between 1998 and 1999. Try to remember what was going on in your life at that time to get an idea of what is to come now, after maturing since then. Astrology follows patterns, and recognizing those patterns can help you to work with the energies when they come around again.

Here are some ideas on how to make the best of this ingress: Be brave. Follow your heart. Connect with your inner child. Engage in creative play. Take center stage. Be spontaneous. Get personal. Explore your creativity. Accept compliments wholeheartedly. Don't be afraid of love. Inspire and lead others through your acts of courage. Allow yourself to be dramatic or emotional. Warm up to others. Get out of your head. Don't over think or over plan things. Improvise. Develop your individuality within a group. Release your dependence on the ideas and opinions of others. Cultivate self-confidence. Find your willpower. Make time for fun. Put yourself out there even if you don't feel “ready”.  Be present. Show up.  And above all, enjoy yourself!

New Moon in Taurus: Solar-Powered Pollinators

New Moon in Taurus: Solar-Powered Pollinators

Moon conjunct Sun @ 7:18am CDT, 4-26-17

It is the beginning of the Flower Moon cycle, when Sun and Moon meet in Taurus…the sign of the Gardener who brings Spirit into matter.  Pollinators are flitting from flower to flower, doing the work that brings the essence of beauty and infinite joy into our lives on this blessed Earth.  They hum, buzz, and dance the sacred songs of our ancestors as they illuminate the world with their wisdom of love in right relationship.

This new cycle begins in the 7^th degree of Taurus, illuminating the symbol of “The Woman of Samaria at the Ancestral Well”.  This symbol alludes to the bible story of Jesus stopping in Samaria and meeting a woman at their ancestral well as she is retrieving water.  Back then, Jews and Samaritans did not get along...mostly because they disagreed on where and how to worship God. Jesus's conversation with this woman put such petty separations into perspective.  Though she was an outcast among outcasts, Jesus revealed himself to her as the Messiah...awakening a sense of unconditional love and acceptance of all, not just the pious and devout followers of one way.  In essence, this woman was an empty vessel and ready to receive a vision of the future...one that expresses universal love over tribal law for all people who yearn to be liberated from limiting dogma.  Here, at this well, there was a meeting of the traditional past with the creative spirit pointing toward the future.  This meeting always takes place in the present...a time far more important for awakened action than what has passed and what is to come.  This woman was moved into a present revelation.  Here lies a test for any person who claims to know their Creator.  Is this the God of today, speaking the language of today, and meeting the challenges and needs of today? The moral of this story is that we are all one...and that clinging to the outmoded ways of the past does not help us to grow to our higher potential as human beings.

Now, to bring this symbolism to a more individual level, the New Moon is calling us to embody the archetype of the Samaritan through understated, kind service to all...even those who are often avoided...with no expectation of gain or compensation, for the betterment of society.  We are meant to separate superficial spin and rationalization from the search and source of being genuine.  So today, keep your mind open and listen for something said that may reveal a deeper truth and perhaps put you in contact with the very source of your own concerns.  Act with integrity and kindness and you will discover the path that is right for you.

In this second New Moon since I received the seeds of the Q’ero archetypes into my chakras through the Harmony Rite, it is Siwar Q'enti (Hummingbird) who I will be focusing on integrating throughout this waxing moon.  The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird is a personal totem of mine.  The first speech I ever gave as a child was on this beautiful bird…and after, I felt so connected, that I asked my dad to get a hummingbird feeder so they would come to our yard.  I remember the feeling of joy and awe in watching them…that feeling continues to this day every time I see one. 

Six years ago, I wrote a series of archetypal explorations where I connected my primary archetypes with my personal totems and expressed them through the 12 astrological houses.  In my fourth house (house of Home and Family), I connected my archetype of the Poet/Lover with Hummingbird.  This is the poem that spoke from that connection:

Poet

By Felina Lune Kavi

The poet is a hummingbird;

Her words, a joyful dance.

Her life, a sensuous wonderland,

Is the nectar of romance.

Something of beauty catches her eye

And causes her to hover.

She hums the moment magically,

Embodying the Lover.

The universe inspires multi-verse

Within the poet’s heart.

Love abounds in the world around

To feed her soulful art.

An open heart like an open book,

A rainbow kissing flowers.

The miracle of living love and light,

The beauty of her powers.

The Poet nests her eggs and rests

On a limb from her Poet Tree.

Her warmth and love gives birth to life,

Creating what she sees.

The universe inspires multi-verse

Within the poet’s heart.

Love abounds in the world around

To feed her soulful art.

Small as we may be, she says,

We sing the sacred key.

Our medicine hums happiness.

In each moment, we are free.

For me, Hummingbird is the totem on my right side…connecting me to the Divine Masculine within.  It is fitting that Hummingbird has made the most significant contacts either between my father and me or linked with his side of the family.  A memory I’ll never forget is that on the day I miscarried Phoenyx, I saw Hummingbird drinking nectar from our pink lantanas.  Then she rushed right in front of my face and hovered there for a moment, before flying away.  On the same day, I found out later, my dad found a female hummingbird lying in his yard in Iowa, flapping her wings a little but not able to get up and fly.  He picked her up and brought her inside to show my mom.  Then when he went back outside, she flew away.  His sister, my Aunt, had a Hummingbird encounter that day in Oregon as well.  To me, our Ancestors were giving us messages to recognize the joy even in dark times.  My family and friends were that source of joy, supporting me with love even as I was experiencing the most extreme sadness I had ever felt.  Like the Hummingbird, who makes what would otherwise seem an impossible flight possible…I was uplifted by my loved ones to keep going through that dark night of the soul and eventually find illumination on the other side.

To the Q’ero people of the Peruvian Andes, Hummingbird is a messenger between Above and Below and is also a symbol of resurrection.  It seems to die on cold nights, but comes back to life again at sunrise.  To them, Siwar Q’enti is ‘the Royal Hummingbird’…the only one to ever see the face of God (harkening back to this New Moon’s symbol of the Samaritan woman who was the first the Messiah revealed himself to).  In Hummingbird’s story though, he tricked Kuntur (Condor) by sneaking under his wing to hitch a free ride to visit Wiraqocha, the Supreme Deity in the Hanaq Pacha (Upper World).  These visits were usually for Kuntur alone, who was not permitted to look upon the face of Wiraqocha and would sit facing away.  Upon arriving at this meeting, though, Hummingbird flew out from under Kuntur’s wing, buzzed around Wiraqocha, and landed on his right shoulder.  It was then that he became Siwar Q’enti, the Royal Hummingbird. 

As Hummingbird is an efficient pollinator, this New Flower Moon is a perfect time to focus on the medicine of this archetype.  Don Oscar Miro-Quesada says, “Hummingbird medicine takes our nectar and cross pollinates us with the universe so that we are always connected to the great web of life.”

As with Serpent and Jaguar in the New and Full Moons of the last cycle, I will be invoking Hummingbird to speak through me here.  Since this totem is connected with my inner Poet…here is another poem.

Siwar Q’enti

I have seen the Wiraqocha.

The unknowable, I now know.

I am a sacred messenger

Between the Above and Below.

I hold the space for ancestors

As they reach this generation.

My gifts are of infinite joy,

Pure love, and illumination.

I teach you how to drink deeply

From the bliss that makes life so sweet.

Share these gifts with the ones you love

And with each of the souls you meet.

I whisper to you in the winds

And my memory is so vast;

I hum the Now into a song,

And bridge the Future with the Past.

For more information on the 3^rd Gate of Personal Power, where we reclaim a renewed sense of self-knowledge and empowerment, check out 3^rd Chakra:  Healing the Identity.

Totem Tuesday: Jaguar Medicine

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Totem Tuesday:  Jaguar Medicine

by Felina Lune Kavi 

“On the hunt for our fears of freedom,

Jaguar peers into the darkness,

Pounces upon the prey of promise,

And feeds the Spirit.”

-excerpt from ‘Visionary’ by Felina Lune Kavi

Keywords:  Integrity, Self-knowledge, ESP, Walking Between Worlds, Shapeshifting, Integration, Shadow Work, Facing Fears, Reclaiming Authentic Power, Strength, Confidence, Focus, Peace, Clearing Heavy Energies (Hucha), Setting Boundaries, Sudden Transformations, Deep Emotional Healing, Speed, Agility, Solitary Path, Psychic Vision, Recognizing Patterns, Leadership, Diplomacy, Patience, Proper Use of Silence, Communication Skills, Instincts, Protection of Home and Family

Over six years ago, I came to know Jaguar suddenly (though there are remembrances from my younger years) when my 17-year-old cousin, Katie, was days away from dying.  Through psychic sight and sacred breath, Father Jaguar journeyed to Katie before I could physically be there…and witnessed a dolphin nearing the end of her life.  He stood guard until I could make the journey myself.  

Jaguar is stealthy, and even sneaks up on those who are meant for this medicine…before pouncing into action, usually in a protective manner.  In my case, Jaguar was protecting my family during the transition between life and death of one of our younger generations.  There were some heavy energies looming that needed to be swiftly devoured and transformed…and there was no time for formal introductions at the beginning of this new stage of my journey.  Mother Jaguar came later to answer my questions, though most of the answers were in the form of visionary action rather than discussion.  Jaguar is a patient feline, but prefers to cut to the chase.  

After this abrupt initiation to Jaguar medicine in non-ordinary reality, I cultivated a more gradual friendship with Manny the Jaguar (at the Omaha Zoo) who was born the same year as my daughter.  The more I have worked with Jaguar over the years, the more this medicine has worked through my own life in significant ways.  

Jaguars are the largest of the big cats of the Americas.  As apex predators, their diet consists of upwards of 85 different species and they are unrivaled by other predators.  They once roamed from Patagonia in South America to the Grand Canyon in North America, though their population and range has decreased and they are no longer allowed to live freely in the United States.  Today, the largest populations of Jaguars are in the Amazon Basin.  

The name Jaguar comes from the Tupian word ‘yaguara/yaguarete’ meaning ‘true beast’.  To some indigenous tribes the word ‘yaguar’, means “he who kills with one leap”.  Other names for Jaguar from different tribes in Central and South America are Otorongo, Balam, and Ix.  

Ix, used by the Mayans, has multiple, interchangeable meanings:  Jaguar, Heart, and Goddess or Lady.  The Jaguar Goddess, Ix Chel, translates to Goddess of the Rainbow, or Rainbow Jaguar.  I thought she deserved mentioning, since she has been sending me synchronistic pieces of wisdom since the Full Moon…and has introduced herself to me years ago as a Rainbow Jaguar.

Those with Jaguar Medicine have the capacity to be fierce fighters... though their speed, agility, and hunting skill often translates to going after goals or dispelling negative energy in and around them.  Shamans often use Jaguar Medicine for protection, shapeshifting between worlds, clearing hucha (heavy energy), and aiding others in reclaiming their power by letting go of fear. 

Unlike many cats, Jaguars do not avoid water.  The most aquatic of all cats, they are excellent swimmers.  Those with Jaguar medicine are not afraid to go into the depths to stalk heavy energies and are often adept at deep emotional healing.  They are also used to sudden transformations in their life and are quite adaptable.  Jaguars are said to possess the transient ability of moving between worlds because they are comfortable in both the trees and the water, their ability to hunt as well in the nighttime as in the daytime, and their habit of sleeping in caves (places often associated with deceased ancestors and used as shamanic journey portals to other realms).

Most Jaguars are tawny colored with distinctive black spots that are called ‘rosettes’ because they are shaped like roses.  However, some Jaguars are so dark that they appear to be spotless, though their markings can be seen on closer inspection.  Black Jaguars (often referred to as Black Panthers) have the same medicine, but have additional medicine as Gatekeepers to the Unknowable and Keepers of the Circular Time Continuum.  Regardless of color, their coats hold the symbolism of understanding the patterns within chaos.  Their particular camouflage, as well as their grace and silence in movement, helps them to go undetected by their prey.   

Jaguars live and hunt alone (aside from mother-cub groupings)…and those with this medicine tend to walk a solitary spiritual path.  That is not to say they won’t help others or that they will remain loners for the rest of their lives.  

Jaguar is protective of the natural order…keeping all things in check.  It is a keystone species, playing an important role in stabilizing ecosystems and regulating the populations of its prey.  Jaguar people understand that their medicine is not only useful to themselves and their family, but that it is necessary to protect the larger earthling family from destructive energies as well.  They often feel called to the Priest/ess or Shaman/ess path out of a sense of duty to Mother Earth and all living creatures.  But, ultimately, they are very self-reliant and understand the right time to act and the right time to hang back and observe…so people with this medicine go through periods of solitude and community with the ease of their ability to shapeshift between worlds.

Females have litters of one to four cubs, which are blind and helpless at birth.  Mothers stay with their babies and defend them fiercely from any animal that may approach—even their own father.  Young jaguars learn to hunt by living with their mothers for about two years.  

Those with Jaguar medicine are very protective of their children, especially women.  And while female Jaguar territories tend to overlap (though they generally avoid each other), male Jaguar territories (containing two or more females) are twice as large and do not overlap.  Men with Jaguar Medicine are often even more protective of their larger community, designating clear boundaries against the threat of aggression from other men.  When Father Jaguar contacts you, it is often to alert you to a threat not within the immediate family, but the larger family.  It is Mother Jaguar who often defends close to home.

Jaguar is also connected to extrasensory perception because of their ability to instinctively sense the right time for action.  They kill their prey swiftly, with one bite right between the ears…piercing through the skull and into the brain with their sharp teeth and powerful jaws.  Jaguar people have a similar inner knowing of what needs to be done and when.  In an argument, they tend to get right inside the other person’s brain and pierce through their preconceived perceptions of what is real.  Similarly, as healers, they get right to the root of an illness rather than treating the symptoms.  

Jaguar has many different vocalizations, but is not really a roaring cat.  Jaguar people, similarly, don’t feel the need to express their power in dominating ways.  They much prefer to communicate in subtle ways, and often learn to use their inherent gifts of clairaudience, clairvoyance, or telepathy.  The Jaguar totem often communicates in similar instinctual knowings as well.

Lessons of integrity are an important part of Jaguar Medicine.  Jaguar people have the underlying intention to be honest and true to themselves and others.  They want to be trusted to do what they say they will do.  The lesson is in making sure your actions are aligned with your feelings.  Integrity comes from a deep connection with Self.  ‘Know Thyself’ is a life code for Jaguar people.  They express this by their willingness to speak their truth, to address their shadow issues honestly, and to bring issues to resolution and completion with themselves and others.

If Jaguar is one of your totems, these and many other lessons will be prevalent in your life.  Jaguar will encourage you to refine your mastery of this medicine.  If you see a jaguar, but it is not one of your totems, respect it as a messenger for that time.  You may need its medicine for what is happening then or what is coming up in the near future.  Jaguar may be contacting you to teach you how to step beyond fear or how to walk on this earth with a sense of patience, expert timing, and clarity of purpose.  However Jaguar chooses to share its medicine, be prepared to go deep and face your fears. 

Full Moon in Libra: Sacral Shapeshifting

Full Moon in Libra:  Sacral Shapeshifting

Sun opposite Moon at 1:06am CDT, 4-11-2017

The Rain Moon is full, and it’s my 35^th birthday (well it was when I started writing this)!  Despite (or maybe even because of) all the rests and refrains of the retrogrades and the key changes of the squares in the Music of the Spheres above, I am really feeling the transformative energy of this time in an empowering way.  My Solar Return was exact Monday night at 7:13pm CDT, and the Sun is still in the same degree of Aries 22…where Sun and Mercury were in on this day in 1982…as the two luminaries meet in opposition after midnight. 

The Sabian Symbol for Aries 22 is “gate to the garden of desire” and has much to do with cosmic optimism (yes, fitting for my Sun and Mercury…my fuel and my communication).  Other astrologers may view the many square aspects between planets at this time as potential for painful experiences…trudging through the past with all the current retrogrades.  I don’t deny that possibility…it is likely.  But it’s not where I dwell.  I’m here in the bliss garden, blessing every transformation as well as every weed for the medicine it carries.  It’s the solar fuel of the season in which I was born, the mercurial mindscape where I envision the blossoming of thoughtseeds, and my whimsical way of communicating that works in tandem to express my own truth.  It’s a very creative and fertile garden.  It is my past, my present, and my future.

Conjunct the Sun at this Full Moon is Uranus in Aries 25.  The Sabian Symbol for this degree is “a double promise is revealing”.  It is likely that there will be some surprising revelations in this cosmic climate.  Uranus, the Great Awakener, holds the frequency of the Visionary archetype here.

Opposite to this solar energy is the Mother Moon…full, reflective, and radiant…in Libra 22.  The Sabian Symbol of this degree is “a child giving birds a drink at a fountain”.  This is an exchange of Ayni (the symbiotic balance of give and receive in right relationship).  It comes from a place of pure feeling…of innocence connecting at the spirit level between beings.  Life force is replenished to the birds through the water they receive, and delight fills the child who interacts with them.  Each is giving and receiving love and gratitude as they come in harmony with each other. 

Conjunct the Moon is Jupiter Retrograde in Libra 18.  The Sabian Symbol for this degree is “two men placed under arrest”.  Jupiter is a societal planet (along with Saturn, they are midway between the personal and generational or trans-personal planets) who teaches in expansive ways about social orders and laws, along with higher mind pursuits.  In retrograde, that energy goes inward for us and reaches back into our past to learn necessary lessons about our society and our place in it.  There is an energy here of accepting the consequences of our past actions.  And righting the relationship between ourselves and the patriarchy in which we currently live.  These old structures of society are falling away as our own past is calling for release.  But we are caught up in it now, and now is the time for awareness of the last grasps to cling to those old paradigms…within and without.  In order to step into that place of right relationship with the world around us, we need to focus within first.  The transformative lessons we learn within radiate outward as medicine to reform the world around us.  First, we surrender our own outmoded past…then we may release our future.

Squaring these four opposed celestial bodies is Pluto, The Great Transformer, in Capricorn 20.  The Sabian Symbol for this degree is “a hidden choir singing”.  Pluto is at the apex of this Full Moon T-Square, and where the energy of the luminaries, along with Jupiter and Uranus, is being directed.  In many great cathedrals, the choir is hidden behind the altar or above the nave.  It is symbolic of the connection with heaven and the music of the spheres.  Even when we can’t see where the music is coming from that guides us to unity of above and below…we can hear it and, especially, feel it.  Pluto in this degree helps us to transform from the personal, ego state and into trans-personal harmony…connecting together with voice and breath…in order to find unity and resolution.  Mars in Taurus 23 provides a creative outlet (trine aspect to Pluto) for any stress that may arise from this T-square.  The Sabian Symbol here is “a jewelry shop”…which invites us to protect and preserve our values and our gifts while allowing them to radiate their medicine out into the world.  The outlet of a trine must be activated…because harmonious as it is, it’s opportunities often go ignored amongst so many other pressing energies.  So if you feel the stress of the squares, do something creative that activates your inner gifts.

Linked through a harmonious sextile to Mars is another high-powered conjunction between Chiron and Venus Retrograde in the 27^th and 28^th degrees of Pisces.  Both Sabian Symbols for these degrees have lunar imagery:  “a harvest moon” and “a fertile garden under the full moon”.  Chiron (the wounded healer) in the harvest moon degree brings opportunities for shining a light into our deepest wounds and finding the bountiful gifts within.  We do this by reaping what we have sown, cultivated, and also what we have not taken care of in our past.  Venus Retrograde in the fertile garden degree illuminates absolute unconditional love and the gifts it can bring when focused within.  The message here is that you already have everything you need.  This healing conjunction, though, is in a tight square with Saturn Retrograde in Sagittarius 28.  The Sabian Symbol for this degree is “an old bridge over a beautiful stream”.  This image shows the ways that the creative ingenuity of humans can work harmoniously with our natural environments.  The square energy between this and the Pisces degrees may make the best of this energy difficult to see…we may see more of the ways where humankind is infringing upon these healthy and natural exchanges…paving over them, laying pipe under them, or endangering them in other ways.  Saturn is retrograde here to revise some of what has been rather carelessly disregarded.  The retrograde energy also brings it within to focus on conservation and balance…restoring old bridges that will carry us into our future.

So with all of these squares and retrogrades, as well as a focus of energy on Pluto…there is likely to be some shadow work to be done.  Shadows often surface when the past comes to call.  My primary power animal, Jaguar, is my totem helper who stalks the shadows and integrates them in ways that shift them into medicine.  Jaguar is important to the Q’ero people of the Peruvian Andes as well.  Though I have known Jaguar for many years, a recent initiation into the ways of the Q’ero paqos has provided me new information and an even stronger connection to Otorongo (the name for Jaguar in the Quechua language).  

At the New Moon, and throughout her waxing phase, I was integrating the Serpent archetype awakened in my root chakra.  At this Full Moon, and throughout the waning phase, I will be integrating Jaguar into my sacral chakra…welcoming her to shift down from my solar plexus into new territory.  She has helped me, in the past several years, to balance out my power center…but she is needed now in my center of creativity.  There is still some ‘psychic sludge’ in my womb from past trauma.  Jaguar, in her hunt, shows me how to integrate the shadows and discover the gifts within those wounds.  She heals through sudden transformation.

Visionary

by Felina Lune Kavi (August 2011)

Into the golden eyes of the jungle cat…

The Seer sees within the shadows,

Stalking through the tangled jungle

Of the human mind.

On the hunt for our fears of freedom,

Jaguar peers into the darkness,

Pounces upon the prey of promise,

And feeds the Spirit.

Moonlit eyes arise in gratitude,

For the stars hold worlds of verity

When the power within connects

To our symbolic sight.

Visions integrate a path of integrity

Between the Blue Road of Spirit

And the Red Road of Physical Life…

A harmonious bridge.

Jaguar leads through lessons of Self…

Respect, discipline and actualization.

Short-cuts through the Ego’s Jungle

To the center of the Soul.

Now, six years after I wrote that of Jaguar, I am invoking Jaguar again to share her medicine through me.  Serpent brought forth a monologue last month…but there is a story to tell here in my Sacral Chakra, and more characters to introduce.

Otorongo and the Garden Priestess

Serpent meets Jaguar at the Garden Gate under the Full Rain Moon.  “This is the fertile and abundant garden of innocence where, together, we create the future for our next seven generations.  Walk softly on those paws through this gate, Otorongo, my sister.  This is the belly of Pachamama.  She feels us as we can feel Her.”

“I may not glide as you do, Sach’amama, but I am a stalker of shadows and must sneak up on them to pounce.  I will not disturb Her garden; I will only protect it.”  Jaguar affirms as she peers within the opened gate. 

“Let yourself be known at this Gate of Creativity.”  Serpent says to Jaguar.  “Then enter with love to do your work.”

“I am Otorongo…Mother Sister Jaguar.  I am a fearless protector of Pachamama and a Seer in the Dark.  Shapeshifting in silence, I creep up on shadows by becoming one myself.  I become what they need to be recognized and honored as.  I peer into the pain and see the gift within it.  Then I pounce upon it and deliver it to Pachamama as a seed for her transformation. This is the medicine I share with those who honor Mother Earth.” 

The Gardener approaches the gate, wearing white.  “I hear you, Otorongo.  I see you and know you well.  I appreciate your medicine.  You are my partner in restoring balance in this world.  Please enter this bliss garden and help me see the shadows that reside here.  Show me, again, the speed with which you transmute these wounds into gifts.”

Jaguar sees through the eyes of this Priestess of Pachamama, as the woman sees through hers.  They bow to each other, honoring the shared soul within them.

Jaguar enters the Gate of Creativity…violets wave their fragrance in the air to greet her along the winding path.  Then the gentle West Wind wafts a familiar scent through the Jaguar’s nose, sparking memories of past traumas that had once been a threat to the Priestess’s power.

“There is still some scent of scorched earth here…residue remains from the same shadow I transmuted just outside these garden walls.  Some escaped back in.” Jaguar told the Gardener.

“I felt it.  But I couldn’t find it alone.”  She replied with tears welling in her eyes. 

Jaguar sensed the memories of this wounded healer.  “You were afraid.  Release that fear, and come stalk the shadows with me.  Remember, these shadows are part of you.  When you integrate them, rather than run from them, you embrace the gift they are to you.  Become one with me now.”

Mama Killa, the Mother Moon, illuminated Jaguar’s coat.  The Gardener placed her hand on Jaguar’s head and stroked her third eye.  At once, she shapeshifted into Jaguar’s body.

Through her eyes, she could see everything clearly.  The beauty in bloom as well as the untended spaces.  Through her nose, she could smell the ash that Phoenix had left behind so many moons ago.  Through her ears, she heard the cries of Crazy Woman.

Cloaked in shadow, Crazy Woman appeared in the far corner of the garden, facing west.  She thought she was alone.

Her voice trailed in and out as her thoughts poured from her in disjointed words and phrases.  “The pain of promise!  Never again…but again and again and…!”  She searched the ground frantically.  “Forgetful wretch…but where?  Not here!”

Crazy Woman pulled at the Creeping Charlie, muttering incoherently now.  The Jaguar Priestess assumed her shape and crept up behind her.

“I know what you’ve lost.  I see it.”  She said to Crazy Woman.

Startled at first, but then softened as she turned to see her reflection talking to her, Crazy Woman croaked,  “Oh, you’re me.  Ugly, twisted thing.”  Then she resumed her fumbling search through the weeds.

“You won’t find it out here.” Jaguar Priestess replied. 

Crazy Woman looked at her own face next to her.  Her weathered skin contorted into a creeping, toothless grin across sallow cheeks.  “Where?”

“Within.”  And Jaguar pounced out of the shadows, pinning the screaming and flailing Crazy Woman.  She swallowed the shadows surrounding them and Crazy Woman was absorbed into the Jaguar Priestess.  Left behind was a Rainbow Moonstone. 

The body of Jaguar shapeshifted into the body of the Garden Priestess.  Her white dress shimmered in the moonlight with rainbow colors.  She knew what she had to do.

There in the bliss garden, in a flower bed, she planted the Rainbow Moonstone as a seed.  She watered it with tears of joy; her creative spark fully restored.

For more information on the 2nd Gate of Creativity, where we reclaim a renewed sense of our own value and self-worth, check out 2nd Chakra:  Healing the Emotions.

Love and Gratitude,

Felina Lune Kavi