Totem Tuesday: Eagle Medicine

Totem Tuesday:  Eagle Medicine

By Felina Lune Kavi

“Leaders are like eagles.  They don’t flock…you find them one at a time.” -Anonymous

Keywords:  clear vision, broadening perspective, insight, messenger between above and below, freedom, courage, power, ability to grasp details and opportunities, precision, awareness, connection to Spirit, solar energy, leadership, industry, rising above the material to see the spiritual, respect, healing, carrier of prayers, knowing beyond intellect

For those of us who live in the United States, Eagle holds national symbolism as an emblem of freedom, power, and leadership in our country.  And while many misuse this medicine, especially as used by government and corporations, it is really each individual person in this country who has the ability to reconnect with the whole of this medicine and use it for good.  Eagle sends us all on a vision quest here…one that most are not accustomed to, considering we have all but lost the significance of rites of passage.  The storm is here, and Eagle is showing us the way to fly above it and gain better perspective. 

Eagle is not just some mascot for team USA (Babylon, Egypt, and Rome have all used eagle imagery for their empires as well)…but there is good reason for this connection.  Indeed, for the whole country, its medicine is currently that of the shadow totem…medicine which we have inherently, but repress in various ways, and so we don’t work with it consciously (or even constructively, much of the time).  We tend to focus on the industry and the mental power…building the biggest nest, flying higher than others, sinking our talons into what we want, consuming as addicted opportunists…but have lost our perspective as a whole, as well as the proper use of power.  

Majestic as Eagles are, many who live and work on the Alaskan Harbor (where nearly half of our nation's bald eagles live) also know them as ‘Garbage Chickens’ or 'Trash Birds'.  This is because the eagles there, especially young males, find dumpsters an easier target for finding food than to sharpen the skills they are actually born with.  In a way, you can’t deny that this reflects the convenience-fed masses that have lost their way in this country. 

But there is much more to Eagle Medicine when we fly higher above the land.  Yes, the air element of these birds is connected to the mind…but also to the spiritual realms.  Many cultures understand Eagle as a sacred messenger between above and below.   

Eagle has also been featured in various religions around the world, such as Christianity and Islam, in ways that suggest it is “on the side of God”.  There are some similar threads between different cultures, such as Native Americans and Greek Mythology, that suggest a shape-shifting magic to this medicine.  Zeus, the chief God of the Greek Pantheon, was said to change into the form of the eagle in order to control the thunder and lighting.  Some Native Americans believed Eagle to symbolize the Thunderbird as well.  In Gaelic, Eagle was called “Suil-na-Greine”…or Eye of the Sun.  Throughout history, people all over the world have held eagles in high esteem as a bird that is very connected to Spirit. 

People with this totem medicine may also develop a close connection with Spirit…sometimes to the point of being able to hear messages and see visions with Eagle Eye precision.  They may even feel a strong energizing connection to thunderstorms.  Mostly they hold great wisdom, and people respect them as someone who gives a great deal of valuable insight and perspective on life.  They are strong communicators and can use that power to send healing to others, or to crush them like the Eagle’s powerful beak crushes prey.  Again, this medicine teaches proper use of power.

There are many different kinds of eagles, and while all of them have the medicine detailed above, some of them have specific medicine as well.  Their coloring, habitat, or predominant prey can tell you more about each of them.  For example, the Bald Eagle’s diet consists mostly of fish…which usually involves them diving to the water and catching them mid-flight.  This is symbolic of the intellect of the air element being able to peer into the vast ocean of the emotional and subconscious realms and grasp what it needs to integrate (digest) in any situation.

Eagle teaches how to rise up from the material world and see the spirit within all matter.  Those with this totem have that ability, and the ability to put their leadership skills to good use.  Eagle asks us to consider what type of leader we are, and if that path we’re leading others to is one that is ultimately constructive or destructive.  It’s not always in the mind that we come up with the right answers…there is wisdom in the heart as well.

If Eagle is one of your totems, these and many other lessons will be prevalent in your life.  Eagle will encourage you to refine your mastery of this medicine.  If you see an eagle, 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.  Eagle may be contacting you to help you gain some perspective on a situation by looking at it objectively…or it may be teaching you to be more aware of your surroundings.  However Eagle chooses to share its medicine, it means to empower you to soar to your highest potential.

Full Moon in Scorpio: Reclaiming Your Self-Worth by Living Your Purpose

Full Moon in Scorpio: Reclaiming Your Self-Worth by Living Your Purpose
Moon-Sun Opposition @ 4:42pm CDT, 5-10-17

“Like a beautiful flower full of color and also fragrant, 
even so, fruitful are the fair words of one who practices them.”

--"Pupphavagga: Flowers" (Dhp IV), translated from the Pali by Acharya Buddharakkhita

The Full Flower Moon has always been one of my favorite lunations of the year (even when stressfully aspected). The Taurus-Scorpio axis always seems to enliven the life force within us in some way; it marries depth and celebration into sacred ceremonial space for getting right to the heart of matters. This Moon is also celebrated as the birthday of the Buddha, illuminating the middle path which balances between our two luminaries in opposition upon this axis.

The feeling of this moon, I know well.  I was born under a Scorpio Moon myself, which resides in my 7th house of partnership. To live with, and through, those lessons is to know what it means to push the boundaries of human existence, and come out even more alive than before. Not an easy path, but one important that some of us learn from. The wisdom it can bring is healing for the whole tribe...As not everyone is meant to walk the edge, but can still learn from one who has.

The Taurus fuel from the Sun this season inspires the Gardener within those of us who have Taurus prominent in our natal chart.  I was born with Taurus rising, and Chiron in Taurus conjunct that ascendant in my first house of self. My own natal Chiron (the wounded healer) is currently being transited by the Sun as it moves through the 21st degree of Taurus.  There is a great deal of medicine in this Taurus energy for me, most of which came from discovering and healing the wounds (Chiron) of self-worth and finding the gift within those lessons. The highest vibration of Taurus, for me, is symbolized by the image of a healthy and thriving bee colony that not only loves and supports themselves, but the larger whole outside the hive as well...which benefits from their pollination efforts. Taurus energy honors the sweetness and sensual pleasures of life...The essence of beauty and bliss...And coaxes it out for others to enjoy. Though, in it's lowest vibrations, there is always a bit of a sting to it that can hold you back from fully enjoying yourself and others.

And here we are, this full moon, with an eagle eye set on balancing between extremes... Wanting to elevate ourselves above an opposition to gain perspective on the theme they share. Symbolism is what I use to understand the greater story unfolding. So let's take a look at the sabian symbols illuminated by our luminaries.

Sun in the 21st degree of Taurus:. “A finger pointing to a line in an open book.”

We are searching for meaning within the larger story of human existence. What line of this book draws us to look deeper at ourselves and extract our own medicine, inspiring us to let it shine? I have countless books with highlighted passages and margins filled with my own musings. Many of us have used the practice of grabbing an insightful book during times of confusion, opening it randomly, and blindly pointing to a paragraph that we read into to find guidance. Consider, now, that we are this insightful book. What line of our own story are we currently highlighting? Is it useful to us now? Does it inspire a turning point in our transformation? Is it the turning point that we are finally on the other side of? Does it get get right to the action at the heart of our matter? The sun here illuminates the current focal point we are radiating out into the world. If that current focal point isn't aligned with our whole Self, we may need to shift our focus.

Moon in the 21st degree of Scorpio: “Obeying his conscience, a soldier resists orders.”

When pinpointing what gives our lives meaning and purpose, another light illuminates what we value and what may be out of step with those values.  Societal expectations often trap us into tight little boxes of what seems to be demanded of us, especially in aggressive societies still clinging to the last grasps of what is falling away (like ours). This can keep us small and orderly, for a time anyway. But Scorpionic energy always eventually bubbles up to the surface from what is hidden...And sometimes even has the potential to explode like a volcano if it is too long repressed. We are much larger than those neat little nondescript boxes. We have feelings that are unique to each of us, purpose that we came to learn, and Mysteries yet to be uncovered...Which can look like chaos to the established order of things within societal norms.  If something being asked of us is not truly aligned with who we really are, our conscience (our individual sense of values) steps in to bring us back to our path. We accept the consequences of stepping out of the box, and we assert our inner freedom. The full moon here illuminates that though the powers that we have allowed to control us have grown in influence, we are not spiritually bound to their control (even if otherwise imprisoned).

Scorpio is a multidimensional sign shrouded in layers of mystery to keep occult knowledge protected, which means it often gets misunderstood by the perpetuation of surface appearance (Oh no! A scary scorpion! Don't cross them!)  But the scorpion is not the only symbol of this sign. The higher vibrations of Scorpio are symbolized by the Eagle (and sometimes, the Phoenix). This is fitting symbolism during this moon, for me, as I am integrating the Eagle/Condor archetype into my heart chakra now as part of a process that began with receiving the Harmony Rite of the Q'ero tradition of shamanic healers.

Deb Houlding, in the Mountain Astrologer magazine, wrote about the eagle as an evolved symbol of Scorpio energy:

“If, as the Egyptians thought, scorpions represent initiation into the sacred mysteries, we can consider the sign’s other related creature, the eagle, as a higher expression of Scorpio power. Many ancient astrologers, including Ibn Ezra [Arabic astrologer] , recognised eagle symbolism as valid to this sign, since the biblical prophet Ezekiel described a vision, believed to be drawn from Babylonian astrology and representative of the ‘fixed cross of matter’:

As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man [Aquarius], and the face of a lion [Leo], on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox [Taurus] on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle [Scorpio]. (Ezekiel 1 verse 10).

Saint John’s book of the Apocalypse (Revelation 4, v7) also alludes to the vision, of which Fred Gettings, in The Secret Zodiac, writes:

The eagle of St John is the eagle of Scorpio, which sign (alone of all the twelve) has two images, the eagle the symbol of the redeemed and spiritualized Scorpionic nature, the scorpion its fallen, unredeemed and earth-bound nature.

Transcendence from the crawling scorpion to the soaring eagle, still predatory, still conveying the essence of patience and penetration, but capable of flight and height, brings together the theme of destruction and renewal as a story of evolution.”

In the Andes mountains of Peru, the paqos share the prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor... which has unknown origins but is present in the oral traditions of many indigenous tribes of the Western hemisphere. The common thread in this widespread prophecy, as described by anthropologist Jeff Jenkins, is that we come to a time when “the human family would face the choice of evolutionary transformation into symbiotic presence within the more-than-human world or to continue in the destruction of the planet.”

The archetypes within this prophecy represent the coming together of the North (Eagle) and the South (Condor). The Condor represents the path of the heart, intuition, and the feminine. The Eagle represents the path of the mind, industry, and the masculine. Together, they create a bridge of understanding and symbiosis by sharing and learning the medicine of both paths through open communication and mutual empowerment.

The following is my own intuitive account of the prophecy.  I wrote it as a dialogue describing the story of this archetypal alliance growing within my own heart.

Kuntur de Hurin and Anka de Hanan

In the Upper World, Kuntur met with Anka to discuss the coming together of their people's paths.

Anka: They don't understand their potential yet.

Kuntur: They will. More and more are reconnecting. Remembering their larger family.

Anka: My people are still largely destructive, distracted by the dream of the North. They consume and consume, they seem to live for it.

Kuntur: Like Caterpillar, yes... Consuming vegetation to grow larger. But within the chrysalis of transformation, they will change the dream.

Anka: It is difficult to be patient with their process; difficult for them as well.

Kuntur: It is. But it is up to our people to become luminous as Butterfly. It is not up to us whether they succeed or fail.

Anka: Indeed. Right now, it looks like failure. It is as if they have to hit rock bottom before the flower of their collective heart can even reach the earth again to grow.

Kuntur: And my people had to feel rock bottom too, during the past Pachakuti, to unearth the gem of their collective mind away from fear of their oppressors and into alliance with them now.

Anka: How did they survive?

Kuntur: Their spirit is strong. It is the same with your people. There was a lot of death and destruction, but all was not lost. They, too, had to change the dream of the South. It always begins with ancestral lessons, and then manifests within the younger generations.  They are finding their purpose.

********

For more information on the 4th Gate of Compassion, where we reclaim the healing of the emotional heart and a renewed ability to truly love yourself and others, check out 4th Chakra: Healing the Heart.

Totem Tuesday: Hummingbird Medicine

Totem Tuesday:  Hummingbird Medicine

By Felina Lune Kavi

“Like the hummingbird, we have the capacity to experience great love, bliss, healing and nourishment when we drink from the nectar that is available in our love relationships.  Yet that flower is also delicate; like our hearts and the hearts of the ones we love.  So it is important to go gently, carefully, and precisely to the heart of the flower…

In the end, it is actually your own heart you are drinking from.”

-Yollana Shore

Keywords: Infinite Joy, Illumination, Resurrection, Making the Impossible Possible, Sensual Pleasure, Finding the Sweetness in Life, Finding the Goodness in Others, Efficiency, Memory, Being Present in the Moment, Solar Energy, Service to Spirit, Essence of Beauty, Love in Right Relationship, Lightness of Being, Endurance, Timelessness, Sound Healing, Healing with Flowers and Herbs, Quick Response, Adaptability, Coexistence, Playfulness, Free Spirit

Hummingbird (Specifically the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird) is my totem on my Right.  In this direction, it is connected with the Divine Masculine within me…very much the Peaceful Warrior of my Mars Retrograde in Libra.  Though hummingbirds can get territorial when food sources are low, they usually only do minimal feather damage to each other in battle.  They will defend what is theirs...but they are lovers, not fighters.  Mostly, they are concerned with vibrant displays of courtship and finding enough sustenance to live another day.  So if you see bickering, jousting hummingbirds…plant more of the flowers that they like, or hang feeders in different parts of your yard.

With well over 300 known species of Hummingbirds, their evolution has coordinated with plants by evolving their bill shape to the shape of specific flowers.  This is why, in places like the Andes, 140 different species of hummingbirds can coexist.  This is one reason why they teach adaptability.  Another reason is that they can move swiftly in all directions and even come to a full stop, hovering in flight.  Their visual processing is so advanced that it allows them to sense all movements around them very quickly, and move accordingly to avoid collisions while speeding along.  

People with Hummingbird medicine learn to develop a similar sense of heightened awareness and adaptability, avoiding dangerous situations but also dealing with sudden changes with quick responses and strategies for overcoming obstacles in their path.  Hummingbird teaches successful coexistence among diverse groups by finding your own unique expression and medicine that contributes to the whole.

Among the smallest of birds (the smallest being the Bee Hummingbird), Hummingbirds have a spirit that is much larger than their bodies.  For example, their courtship dives, which produce a specific sound from vibrating tail feathers in some species, is the highest speed relative to body length for any vertebrate (twice the diving speed of peregrine falcons in pursuit of prey).  

Like songbirds and parrots, they also have the mental capacity for language learning (mimicry)…but their brain is larger in comparison to body size than any other bird.  Their hippocampus is up to five times larger than a songbird’s.  Hummingbirds have excellent memory.  They can remember where every flower in their territory is and how long it takes to refill with nectar after they have fed.  They also remember, year to year, where each feeder is…both at home and along their migratory path.  They learn which people fill the feeders and which ones don’t.  

By remembering their food source and the last time they visited it, they can plan with precision and visit hundreds of flowers each day to sustain their high metabolism.  This is known as episodic memory and was previously considered exclusive to humans.  People with this totem medicine often have excellent memories as well, or at least keep track of things well by writing them down.  They are efficient enough to be able to enjoy their lives and be present in each moment.

There are so many things about Hummingbirds that seem impossible at first glance.  And yet, they show us that even what we may perceive as impossible is, in fact, quite possible when you live in right relationship with your surroundings.  

Some see Hummingbird as a symbol of resurrection.  Because they go into a hibernation-like state at night, called torpor, but are revived during the day…it appears as if they die each night and are reborn each day.  During torpor, their metabolic rate drops to 1/15^th of what it is during the day while they are foraging.  

We often observe hummingbirds flitting about from flower to flower, but they are actually only in flight about 15% of the time.  Often, they are perched…conserving their energy.  People with this medicine also learn when it is best to act and when it is best to be still and observe.  They will vary between sociability and introverted times of recharge, adapting between these states fluidly.  And if someone challenges their dreams as impossible, they will prove playfully that anything is possible.

Hummingbird flaps its wings over 100 beats per second and does so in a figure-eight pattern.  This pattern connects it to infinity and timelessness.  

Though Hummingbird remembers the past and has the visionary ability to recognize the future…this bird is a teacher of how to enjoy each moment in the present, giving and receiving in right relationship, and drinking deeply from the sweetness of life.  Hummingbird is a free spirit who illuminates where our unique medicine is and how we can use it in service to Spirit as well as in interconnected ways with all of Mother Earth’s creations. 

If Hummingbird is one of your totems, these and many other lessons will be prevalent in your life.  Hummingbird will encourage you to refine your mastery of this medicine.  If you see a hummingbird, 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.  Hummingbird may be contacting you to teach you how to lighten up and resurrect the joy in your life.  Or it may come to remind you that what appears to be impossible is actually possible.  However Hummingbird chooses to share its medicine, it is an inspiring creature teacher who will show us how to go straight to the heart of each matter and extract the essence of beauty and pleasure from life, even in chaotic times.

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

-->

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.