The Wind on the Mountain

The first New Moon after the Equinox arrives just as the Earth is clothed equally in day and night. The light is rapidly sinking in the North and energetically rising in the South. Everything is in motion; the geese are beginning to fly, the wind rising on the mountain speaks of transformation, and on Earth we watch as the Moon comes into alignment with the Sun in the sign of justice, balance, relationships and ‘the other’. Looking out upon the world we can see the energy rising through the lens of the cosmos in tune with the times.

At the crossing point in time and the seasons it is time to take stock. The polarities of light and darkness, growth and decay, are in dynamic equilibrium all around us. In the wider context the times offer us opportunity, as, in bringing attention to the pivotal point around which division swings, we can also choose to work towards bringing an end to all that keeps us divided. The New Moon amplifies the energy, brings it to a needs/must status – we can perhaps sense a tension rising, the balance point is loaded with potential, flashpoint uncertainty…..releasing the tension, with vision and foresight, is a great challenge. Being caught up in the energy of change, having the ability and courage to persist in the midst of immense challenges, let alone look to the future, will push us to the limits of our resourcefulness. Perhaps this will be the crucial fact of our coming experiences that will decide for us how we persist, the nature of the vision we are able to manifest in visceral reality. But, before we consider the implications on the ground, first, it would be wise to get in tune with nature.

Earth Mother speaks to us both through the falling fruits, coming to ripeness, leaves flying in the wind, and the emerging shoots, vigorous with promise, bursting buds, tender in their blossoming – death and birth dancing together in our One World…..

…….from the northern perspective She asks us to awaken our sense of Value as we appraise the harvested fruits of our labours and identify those most fertile with seeds, those that will carry us through the dark time and those that will bring energy and sustainence that will help us stay healthy and bring the warm glow of the dream-time to our wintering hearts – these are the precious seeds of our imagination and inner vision…..

……from the southern perspective  our values can help us identify the new growth, the sprouting life force taking shape, caring for those that need protection, that need feeding and planting out, the healthiness of the seeds that have sprouted within our dreamings, to which we will give most attention in the coming growing time as they unfold their stories, testing themselves out in the world.

If we were to look into the cosmobiological world, the dominant impulse, seismic and volcanic, the global climate and solar activity tell us we are in the Southern half of the cycle – Earth is awakening, pushing the physical boundaries as the life force increases with pulses from the source – the Sun becoming newly activated and seeding the magneto-sphere is driving the weather and charging Earth’s nervous system. The hemispheres hold the balance…….all is dancing together, to the tune of Change…..this dance, however, has the accelerating rhythm of a dance going wild……

In both our gathering and our sowing ‘Care’ and ‘Vigilance’ are our watch-words as we encounter the unpredictable weather of the autumn and spring. In the human world, where we predominantly base our decisions on factors independant of nature, we are at a forward looking moment of choices – and the times have a flavour that says our future remains in the balance, undecided – we can go either way. So, looking to our resources, the better to make informed decisions, has  a crucial edge of destiny about it at this time.

Just four days after equinox a New Moon in Libra brings a re-defining influence to the energetic shift in the seasons. The decisions we take now will be carried forward over the next month through the lens of the Libran Moon. What we decide now will also carry us through to the Solstice – it is a propitious time!

If we were to look into the human world, the dominant weather, our politics and economic climate would tell us that we are in the Northern half of the cycle – and, perhaps our evaluation would have us throwing out most of ‘the harvest’ – so much of it has become rotten to the core, its life force corrupted. War strips us of the very means with which we can stop the rot……increasingly we can see, the people are awake and know that only through waging war on War itself and the divisive infra-structures that support it can we bring justice to bear. We will see how Mars and Pluto are at work in this.

There is an air of rising realism, at odds with the illusions spun to keep our collective power yoked. Uranus is making strong connections here too, not least of all with Mars. The blinkers are off, and soon enough, at each emergent trigger point, the restraints will come off too – Wall Street is the latest in an increasing pattern of unpredictable flashpoint demonstration of the public will and  anger. This is bringing the whole question of resources to the frontline of action……it is not through violence that the voice of the people will be heard, this will fuel only more deeply entrenched division. Intelligent use of resources is supported through awareness and open distribution, communication and fostering integrity – anger is natural when these are denied. Uranus gives us access to the higher mind, Mars brings a crucial sense of realism that will not be denied. 

Our emphasis here is on the higher vibration. A powerful upswelling of Earth changes is very much a part of this process…….at this New Moon Venus, ahead of the Sun and Moon in Libra, gains an uplifting energy from Jupiter retrograde in Taurus. Venus rules both Libra and Taurus, but, here she transits within the constellation of the Crow – in keeping to the higher manifestation look out for deceptions and scornful trickery around resources. Be aware of false promises. Sacred Law will guide us. We must be prepared to defend ourselves against usery.

Our inner resources gain great strength when we connect with Jupiter’s inner expansion of wisdom, of elevated awareness, and this in turn can bring a deeper meaning to Venus’ heart centered infusion of love into our relationships. She is on her way to meet with Saturn soon after New Moon – this will help us ground the Earth centered values she is bringing. Saturnian maturity will help us fully incarnate those values and seed our vision for the future……so much rests upon us manifesting this through our collective power as an agent for change.

In the Equinox template Sun began entering into opposition with Uranus in Aries opening the collective mind with a drive for originality and freedom. Over the coming months we can utlise this energy in breaking the mould of habitual thought through opening to insights and realisations about our collective potential. Mars in Leo trines Uranus and sextiles the Sun bringing original creative power to all that we seek to embody – and, at equinox, Mars was also conjunct the Moon. Collectively, we the people are becoming fired up, finding voice.

Mars will continue to feed this doubly fiery energy into our creative endeavours for change as at New Moon he moves into exact quincunx to Pluto in Capricorn. Here is the push for realism. Systemic change within our Earth field will begin to reach down to the roots and the signs are already there…….they hardly need re-iterating. How we work with these combined influences is key. Watch the financial turmoil increase, but, don’t get sucked into the inevitable ‘spin’ that it will generate……the mesmerising culture of consumerism is dieing, and despite the insidious inroads it has made into our psyches,  its influence is increasingly waning on how we connect with our own deepest personal values, gifts and power. We know these have a better purpose….take care of them and be patiently alert. We would do well to be patient, as an elder would be, and hold back superficial and reactionary judgement by keeping the bigger picture in mind. There is much work to be done within the initiation zone. A shot of Heron medicine will also serve us well here…..

We need to be able to spot the moment when we are called to manifest the flashing energy of Uranus, as it happens, and really feel the power surging from source – we can experience ecstatic joy in our creativity, if we are open to it. The more we quiet our minds and reside in our hearts, the more this will be available to work with and we can grasp ‘the flash of opportunity’ beneath the surface, no matter how clouded the waters become with sudden change. Neptune can symbolise this clouding, but, Mars, Uranus and Pluto will have none of it!

A healing vision for our planet is at work behind this – staying with the higher vibration, Chiron brings the healing waters of Pisces into our New Moon, deep waters that cleanse our world of the wounds of the past, and Neptune in Aquarius, still in partnership with Chiron, brings the connectivity of higher consciousness into the healing process. This is available for our emergence, beyond the competitive mindset, into one of co-operation. Neptune atomises the energy and spreads it through each of us, as fractals of the whole containing the hologram of  wholeness. This influence is present at Equinox and holds.

At equinox, making this all the more powerful and underpinning our creative responses to bring a thorough and realistic clearing, Chiron’s and Neptune’s combined energies have become amplified with Pluto’s unstoppable alchemy of transformation – a great push for total change in how we express our collective power as an achievable goal that heals our collective mind. Again, they feed back to Mars.

The signs suggest that we are ready to work hard to realise this visionary process,  embodying the shamanic paradigm, through our own spiritual alchemy – the Sun recieves this transformative impulse through sextile with Mars and the Moon feeding into the equinox template. Pluto sextile Neptune and Chiron combine in a yod to feed their impulse through Mars and the Moon. When such deeply transformative potential impulses the energised emotional body of the people revolutionary power can course through us – we need to ground this power and let it flow. We can ground it with holistic creativity when we let it flow through our hearts. It will fund us with courage. With courage we begin to grow in confidence and the energised emotional body in turn expands our connections – we get a picture of ourselves within humanity expressing the interrelated polyrythmic nature of the dance. It’s polyrythms tell us it is multi-dimensional, working at many levels in unison. Entering the shamanic state in full consciousness of integration within the matrix of Life initiates us into the shamanic paradigm – if we are truly to become co-creative we must be able to go there. We will come back to this in a moment…..

Courage inspires and helps us raise our consciousness. Sun sextile Mars and Moon at equinox form a second yod back to Chiron and Neptune that manifests a feedback loop for our healing vision – at first we will feel it, then through the New Moon matrix we will learn how to manifest it. Mercury is also at work here and can augment Chiron and Neptune’s influence in ways that will help us raise our consciousness, working with shamanic awareness and dexterity as a part of this process. Intentionally working in this way, now is a good time to utilise the potential here – trust as you do that you will be connecting with others in natural co-operation. Spiritual symbiosis.  Tending to our own soul path enables us to work together without having to even think about it, but, doing so together strengthens the energy – 10 Billion Beats is a prime example and the energy of the drumming will continue to reverberate through our individual work for many months.

We would do well to begin thinking of ourselves as a global community, a village with a strong heart – I would recommend choosing this time to make earth healing rituals, building an earth shrine or altar, as the symbolic heart of the global village and feeding it with inspirational beauty as gifts and offerings to the spirits. Both spring and autumn fund us with immense richness and beauty so our offerings can really speak to the spirits; ask them for guidance and personal healing that will aid you in the coming months….this will pay great dividends, for us all. These sacred focii will serve us in the coming months too; a golden bees wax candle dedicated to the earth-heart and lit in a central place will bring a strong sense of beauty to our home. Remembering all who struggle to find food and shelter can strengthen our bonds and help us maintain a balanced perspective. There is great support in this from the planetary matrix. But, we are also a part of a much larger community……

Mercury in Virgo at Equinox quincunx Neptune – at New Moon, Mercury catches up with the Sun in Libra and this becomes a tight quincunx to Chiron from Mercury conjunct Sun and Moon. The complex dance plays out in quick-time with Mercury’s advance through this period – it is a window of potent opportunity for entraining with Galactic energy – equinoxial Mercury squares the Galactic center. Sun is fueling our Earth changes, recieving the electric impulses of new energy from the Galactic Center. Watch the uptick in solar activity seeding the Earth matrix. At Equinox the visionary charge of healing energy coming through Mercury’s quincunx with Chiron and Neptune seeds the template with intelligent creativity that compliments the Sun Uranus opposition at New Moon. Uranus opposition with the Sun tightens to exact as the New Moon comes into manifestation. Altogether, with Pluto also coming into a square with the New Moon, this potential can be released with ongoing intensity through the next three months. We can really make our otherworldly connections count now. Sacred Law founded in the heart will teach us how.

Saturn in Libra sextiled the North Node of the Moon in Sagittarius at Equinox – natural balance in accordance with Sacred Law is the basis of our soul journey. Collectively, we can bring a powerful understanding of our responsibility towards the future through grounding our role as guardians of the Earth Garden, a role, we know, enshrining and embodying Sacred Law. Cosmobiological awareness is the way to bring it into consciousness. With Jupiter in trine with Venus at Equinox the goddess energies can help us in turning with the tide, pulling us closer together, uniting us with Her great heart.

At New Moon Venus approaches conjunction with Saturn and sextile with the North Node. Our journey into wisdom as an expression of Sacred Law within the heart. With diligence towards our inner wealth and we can forge the diamond body of indestructible compassion through time……the cosmobiological heart of the Earth Mother coming alive within, helping us to manifest a better world into being, and from this our journey towards Solstice will unfold……but, this is a gradual process, one that needs a steady foundation, that flows with the shifting balance of the seasons.

While care and vigilance are the key words as we enter the new seasonal zone, the Libran Moon is upping the stakes. The driver here is ‘the Unexpected’, powerful influences manifesting through events that exacerbate breakdown and push growth in change to new levels – overall, with this Moon cycle a rising groundswell of transfigurative potential is emergent. The planetary configuration shows a hightened possibility that world events will become cumulative, pushing the agenda for transformation. This is a great test for humanity. We are also, it seems, entering into a zone that speaks of ‘instant Karma’.

This will signal a change in focus, an intensifying of awareness. What is wise within us must now come to the fore. It is a good time to strengthen our bonds with each other, to make our connections truthfull and grounded. For all the apparent complexities at work, this is an inspirational matrix of energy, with centeredness, eldership and realism at its heart. The planetary matrix is calling for serious assessment of what will serve each of us best – a pragmatic stock-take of our personal resources will help us ground and stay earthed, both individually and collectively. Alignment with the seasons brings balance and meaning to all our endeavours.

Awareness is a resource of great power. We need to be watchfull and look out for each other. Rising tension between the power of nature and the force for containment asks us to get real. There will be a tendency for those resisting change and ‘keeping their heads in the sand’ to have their personal agendas sidelined, and this applies as much to the political arena and economics as it does to individuals who hold power within those fields. The dogmatism of the older generations must give way to the embodiment of the Elder, even as it emerges amongst the young. And emerge it will, with our care, vigilance and realism. For all the opportunistic rioting and looting that systemic breakdown catalyses, beneath and behind it is a disquiet that ‘knows’ – the challenge of initiation is to connect with this knowing. This is an important time as the way will open for those whose fore-sight and broader vision is based on Natural Law and innate wisdom to step up to the plate.

The first lunation of the new equinox season will help us decide where we stand within the midst of accelerating change……

As intense as the winds of change may become, the as yet untapped resources of humanity are given planetary support so that we can now considerably increase our capacity to meet them with equanimity. We know that we have a great resource within. Together, each of us holding to the center and expanding our heart energies can generate a protective field of fully conscious and fierce compassion – the mountain is our symbol……but, we must let ourselves go into the dance and let its power flow through us for this to happen….the mountains too will have their dance….

We have reached the crossing point. Beyond is the pull of a vision that can ingite our collective soul; paradoxically, gaining access to it through manifesting it……it will take time, but, time itself is changing. When we are able to realise our role as Guardians of the Earth garden, our inner radiance will pervade the earth plane and experiencing time will become ever present access to the whole…..

Hold to the center. Owlmirror advocates giving voice and form to visionary potential as it comes through,  but, it takes more than one voice to encompass the whole, so, have courage and let your voice be heard. This vision, for all its cosmobiological implications, is simply a choice within our humanity…….

The catabolic release of energy that the entropic half of the dance will manifest, as the old balance of power is naturally dismantled, will also fund us with an anabolic empowerment to bring our creative powers into new forms. The vision can be realised. But, it is intrinsic to its realisation that we be discerning and careful not to polarise, to split humanity further. Honouring difference heals division. Healing means making whole. Embracing the whole, light and dark, is the real challenge for our unity. Earth’s equinox seen through the lens of the Libran Moon.

And, it should be said, that regardless of the apparent grandiose nature of such a vision, there is little room for idealism here, we are working with what is, as is, in new ways. Many who feel that the completion of the Mayan Calendar signals our entry into a new consciousness may find that the challenges continue to arise as they have done over the millenia, as they did for our fore-bears. And, as our ancestors knew, the present holds the key to healing all time. They too made mistakes – can we learn? Everything is happening with a purpose, only, be careful of  apocalyptic prophecy, as well as the idea of a day of revelation – for all the portents, they also carry the overtones of the old paradigm that is dieing off…….if the cosmobiological vision holds any weight, emergence from material fundamentalism into gnosis within the living multiverse tell us that fear and denial do not belong to our future….the indigenous prophecies are very down to earth and pragmatic in this respect.

Small steps make a great journey possible, each step at their own time, as the moment requires……our resources are great, our technology ancient and evolving, bringing us to spiritual communion within the animate multiverse – sentient cosmobiological realisation.

 The technological skills we have built up can, if we choose, support this, but, science is not everything and this too is on the verge of great change – the fusion of science with compassionate living born within indigenous Earth wisdom promises much. Would any scientist dare embrace the shamanic vision without it…..a rhetorical question. The electric universe connects us all in the Now.  

Even though we may be reaching for the stars Earth is the Life giver through whom we can truly come to know them and, despite the youthful rebelliousness with which  science also disregards this fact, once we recognise how deep Her love for us is we may also just discover that she holds our deepest memories within her heart. The Earth Garden is the living memory of our stellar origins. Youthful energy becomes mature through the challenges within the initiatic rites. For all the challenges we face on Earth now, this is a golden moment in our evolution….

If at this time we were to view ourselves as a global village we would see that half of the village is being guided by Earth to begin bringing the nurturing of our dreaming bodies to the fore, while the other half is being guided by Earth to begin feeding our creative energies into manifestation through our physical plane. When our creative energies flow from the heart, as artisans of the sacred, we know that these two halves are not seperate, that we never entirely cease from either outer or inner focus working together in manifestation – the two are aspects of one movement, forever in active balance. The times are most propitious now, however, for us to capitalise on all the work we each have done and collectively begun to realise, so that we can also increase our working as one village, with awareness, in ways that manifest this as a single and unified process. The collective spiritual alchemy of humanity is the vehicle through which cosmobiological unity with Earth can be realised. While gradual development along this path is the given theme for this Equinox…….how we can achieve and maintain our sustained development and navigate the path through initiation depends very much on our ability to ride the winds of change.

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The symbols in this post have come from several readings. The astrological symbolism for the New Moon and Equinox are sourced in the tropical zodiac, the signs, the planetary positions and the Sabian Symbols attached to these, as well as the energy that connects them as expressed through aspects. For the Equinox the I Ching was cast using three different translations for interpretation, Stephen Karcher’s of 2002, Thomas Cleary’s of 1986 and Richard Wilhelm’s of 1950 – the image arising was hexagram 53 Chien, Gradual Progress with two moving lines, 2 & 5, giving rise to hexagram 18 Ku, Corruption/Renovation. Amazingly, the relationship between these two hexagrams exactly mirror the equinoxial shift. A further reading for the cosmobiological aspects of the article was made using a method of Cowrie Shell divination originating in West Africa – this method has been transposed into a new form, incorporating and integrating western indigenous techniques, and will be one of the forms of divination Owlmirror will be writing about over the coming year. Further material was sourced through spirit journeying and ancestral divination, both of which will also be brought into our exploration of divination practices and techniques through the year ahead.