Song of Orpheus

Many things are converging and flowing together, the wind of change is picking up strength – we are entering within the passage between two worlds, a transition zone of strong unpredictable energies…..three thresholds between the 26th and 31st of October frame the gateway, a new moon, the culmination of a great cosmic cycle and a powerful cross quarter fire festival. And, now the People are mobilising a collective energy is carrying us forward…… the lunation beginning with this Scorpio New Moon opens the way before us. This is a time to reckon with the reality of archetypal powers….it is a journey that takes us into some very deep and dark places, the true smithy of the soul, but this is a place from which we may return with treasures of incalculable value. 

The culmination of a great cosmological cycle is a leitmotiv for our times that has inspired many ideals for a better world, the peace of a True Earth, but these ideals rarely materialise without an heroic struggle – our myths tell us truths, there is far more to reality than surface appearance, and reality always bites down hard on the best of those ideals. All that glitters is not Gold. Sun and Moon uniting in Scorpio oppose Jupiter retrograde in Taurus and sextile Pluto in Capricorn. Jupiter is now in exact trine to Pluto. The powerful energies pull on us, within us within the events of the world within our perceptions of reality. Jupiter is in earth as he travels inwards towards the heartlands protogenic womb, and opposite, Sun and Moon in water also seek the lower worlds, the deep subterranian watercourses, the dynamics of the ancestral and archetypal. Even in opposition their movement is complimentary, takes us beneath the surface. Pluto adds weighted pull to both, makes of this an Orphic journey – to find True Earth we must go within  and search for the world soul.

Jupiter asks us the most difficult of questions in this, to which we can only answer truthfully – ‘what are my deepest motivations?’ Jupiter is a very culpable planet – while he is capable of bestowing riches, a potentially philanthropic influence, he is also equally capable in shadow form of being the egodriven ‘sugar daddy’, the self indulgent fat cat, blindingly unfaithful and a massive user and abuser. A real Janus. Being opposite the Sun/Moon here his challenge is twofold; to own the shadow we project, and that means we must become aware of where we are projecting our strongest emotions, what and who we are rejecting and ejecting – and to acknowledge our highest ideals, those that we know and sense will stand the test of time. It takes a heroic stance to be truthful and stand by the courage of our own convictions, no matter what.

There is currently a collective focus onto the fat-cats and the wrecking games played by rogue traders, and, with archetypal infection loosening our focus, we are really open to including any others we hold responsible for provoking chaos in the land – the scapegoating strategy will be exposed in this lunation, the culpable may fight back with accusations of equal culpability amongst the people given the slightest chance. Infact it has already begun, for example with defenders of corporatocracy descrying what they see as  ‘rampant and indiscriminate capitalism bashing’ – however, as one wiley commentator responded, “its not capitalism that is being bashed, its BAD capitalism.” The big message is this – we must all examine our consciences and truthfully accept those ways in which we individually contribute to the rot and rotten system that perpetuates it, and, having done so commit totally to reforming the way we live. This not only goes for the outer world, our most intimate relationships as much as our collective ones, how we relate en-masse is coming ever under scrutiny. Emotionally challenging this may be, but, our honesty is essential if we are to clear out all the rot, and this too is now an echo that is beginning to be heard worldwide! Welcome to planet Scorpio……

Pluto has the upper hand in many ways. It is characteristic with this energy that if resisted the challenge will return and keep on returning until the process is totally realised. Even the remnants of a ‘job’ half done can become amplified until they are dealt with. For the People, especially those of us out on the streets making our voice heard, this means finding new and deeper inner resources….’digging in’ is an appropriate phrase, but this really will be emphasised, especially as winter bites down on the northern hemisphere and youthful exuberance floods the southern. A test of commitment, and here is where that truthfulness brings its greatest value – what we resist persists, until we own up to it in ourselves, and, conversely, what we are drawn to must correspond with our own inner wealth and values, or it will prove fickle and lead us down a path without a heart, until we recognise our true path. 

Inner or hidden facts coming to light will carry a strong charge in this lunation, especially those relating to the values we express, the fidelity of our communications and depth of our thinking.  Mercury conjunct Venus, also in Scorpio, awaken us to the truth in this. The marrying of heart and mind at the primal level can be  very healing both individually and in our most intimate relationships, a passionate boost from our essential vitality that can carry us through tough times and help us deepen our connections – but, to achieve this these will be tested. Appreciation of our roots and recognition of who our real ‘family’ is are highlighted here, reminding us of our sacred obligation towards the future and those who come after us. What gives this the added torque, an imperative energy, is Mars in Leo in exact square to Venus and Mercury. The wilful desire to bring about change can both divide and unite.

While male and female unite in the quest for truth the ‘edge’ within this journey is ever present and we need Mercury’s canny perception to see through the deceptiveness of others and keep a clear mind. We can also be very tribal with these values, headstrong and seperatist if we let the untempered ego, our immature self, take the reins – tribalism often fuels division. And at the same time identifying with our tribe can energise a sense of belonging – one of the most pertinent choices here is about whether we can trust the ‘chiefs’ with our personal wealth, material or immaterial, to protect our personal interests and lead us forward now. The choice of the individual matters a great deal and should be protected through this time at all costs. The leaders will try to persuade us this is their mandate, however, there is no hiding place for any shade of totalitarianism disguised as democracy any more……

The true value of exchange is also examined at the root here and any imbalance, especially where we see giving being superceded by taking, will also become exposed – debts, we may demand, must somehow be repaid, or resolved. This could have obvious international repercussions, but, it also carries a stark warning for those in positions of power in the midst of economic meltdown, if they are expecting the people to follow – truth about the commerce of usury and debt will continue to shape our political affiliations and loyalties. Pluto is very much at work here…..

There is a rebeliousness behind this energy, stemming from Mars sextile with Saturn – we could see a run on the banks becoming more common as people seek to take possession of what is rightfully theirs.  This could also be a red flag for collective protest manifesting as fierce determination to protect ones own, especially the very young and vulnerable. Saturn may close the doors of the banks, exert the curfew and enlist Mars in the defence of ‘the realm’,  but, social division between the State and the People too will backfire with increasing energy now – however, Saturn is also a realist and we’ll be with him again shortly…..

Mars is also coming into opposition with Neptune and Chiron, at the same time as Venus and Mercury are coming up to square with them – a tightening T square that could expose old wounds brought up by the fact that we continue to waste resources while refusing to heed wisdom and deceptions are perpetually spun about just how out of control the situation really is. This is all very ungrounding if you are taken in by the media generated haze of distraction and the hollow political dogma, but, who really is any more…….we can also use this awareness to  individually gain a deep inner sense of self worth, as the real value of our personal gifts are given the reality test too.  We can see how the tension is building……

Mercury and Venus are also coming into orb of a trine to Uranus – this is a prevelant aspect, that will build through the first half of this lunation – watch for the 2nd through 4th November when the trine is exact. It has a constant energy flow that fires synapses, so while the door remains open for eureka moments arising from all this sharp scrutiny and deep inner processing we are also prone to being caught off-center by those same unexpected truths becoming illuminated – on 4th November, along with the Mercury+Venus trine to Uranus, Mars opposes the Moon conjunct Neptune and Chiron, a recipe for confusion, reaction and counter-reaction like an instant feedback loop, of light and dark, feeling/unfeeling. No sooner have we gotten something figured, its reality is challenged. This is Uranus the heyokah, playing with Fire.

There is throughout this lunation covert as well as suprisingly open energy at work – Scorpio is very secretive to this effect, presents a polished enigma to beguile, but, the silence and fertile darkness can also hide the subversive movements of our innermost selves, especially those cut off parts of our psyche that we would rather not know about…..significant exposure of insidious betrayals, spying games, black ops, more shadow work, more skeletons springing out of the proverbial closet. It begins to sound like a ghost ride in hell! And we do have All-Hallows approaching…..

Infact, we could just step right out of the nightmare! Uranus effect of explosive transformation can inspire us into equally fierce creative action with a tight quincunx to this New Moon. We could find our Orphic voice and begin to re-enchant the world. And we must not forget that the underlying influence in all this, the archetypal undercurrent, is coming through Uranus square Pluto. For the artist in us who works with creative tension and is compelled to give expression to the zeitgeist this is a fiercely creative aspect. In the square one end or the other will try to dominate, or, to put it another way, both will be at work full-on, but without any co-operation, which of course can lead to a dynamic of change that is beyond the individual….we simply have to go through this, accept that its highest value is for fueling radical and creative transformation, which is the gift of the square. It energises the situation until it is transcended. We are already seeing, on the web as much as on the street, an explosion of creativity – our art can heal as well as transform. The archetypal power of the outer planets in strong aspect is inexorable. We can all feel it, a sense of powerful shifting undercurrents at work, and creative honouring of this divine power is a skillful response, innate and grounding. Our future can be truly magical if we embrace the symbolic nature of reality and make this our foundation.

The shift into co-creativity can perhaps only come through a collective response to the symbolic nature of reality, a movement of great trust that can paradoxically release us into a deeper knowledge of the material world.

Orpheus knew the secret of this and saved the hero Jason from the fateful enchantment of the Sirens that would have drowned the Argonauts, dashed against the very material rocks surrounding the Sirens island – a powerful symbol for us now. Orpheus was the stronger magic, being an oracle and initiate of the Dionisian mysteries and shaman of the wilds. Scorpio’s realm is the place of roots, instinct and animal nature…..navigating the archetypal energies, with our own seeing and spirit guidance our personal quest can keep us clear of the deceptions and steer through rocky passages we may encounter – we can now use them well, and the truth and trust they will instill in us through our deeper connections is a treasure of incalculable value! 

The journey has begun and as We have to go through the passage between two worlds, how and with what means we are equipped  is key. Back to Mercury and Venus……

….and Saturn! The keeper of the gateway is also in a tight sextile with Mars. Saturn can have a civilising influence upon that strong fiery egotisitcal Mars, can be the rules and orders that martial the will into discipline. Such self discipline is crucial and can be incredibly empowering for us in holding to our vision and collectively bringing wisdom to bear on our wounded and wounding nature as we follow the path inwards…..Saturn is also in closing trine to Neptune and Chiron, by wide orb at the moment, but, we need to get the message Saturn brings here right now. We should be prepared for the long haul, and in the  balance is everything we hold most valued – Saturn in Libra enables us to give real shape and form to the most enduring of our values, once we have stripped away the dross and developed true appreciation for Life, and he will offer us a fair run at it over the next year, spending a further long period retrograde before he enters Scorpio early in October 2012.

There is an intimation that War itself could be up in the dock through this time…..we are already seeing the major nations writhing under increasing costs of wars fought beyond their own borders, naturally exacerbated by economic instability. There are increasingly strong  possibilities for a further scaling back and withdrawal of troops, but, also a re-examination, in the current climate, of the incredible damage that every single war and violent conflict inflicts upon individual lives….soldiers could refuse to fight, putting the healing of deep emotional wounds and the well-being of people above service to a cause that ultimately only creates more and deeper division, inequality and destruction. The growing movement of the People may shift its targets to the military/industrial complex and call for Peace, and thats peace with a capital P! Saturn semi-sextile Venus and Mercury says if the feelings are deep enough, and a sense of end-times is enough to do it, the People will take the law into their own hands and assert inalienable human rights on this matter, knowing that the most fundamental issues are now going to come out, inevitably…… 

It seems every culture carries the memories and imprint of previous end-times and we all have some resonance with them. As these times approach a certain hysteria can accompany the re-emergence of those thoughts and memories as we project them into our own times – remember YK2, and look at the madness surrounding Comet Elenin, for example. We get infected by the archetypes and lose our senses, sacrifice our sense of reality to a kind of passionate nihilism. The same can be seen in the way we envisage positive change, becoming overly optimistic and really spaced out with the adrenalin of hope. Uranus can do this to us in blindingly sharp shocks of inspiration that feed our desire to simply be free, and again, without the grounding element we can lose the plot. Witness the ‘New Age’ mentality that continues to fuel ideas of ‘Ascension’, the Second Coming, alien intervention, the ‘release’ of Earth from ‘quarantine’ and a return to cosmic community – coming back to the present helps to get earthed. When we ignore the reality of the moment and fixate on the ideal, when we arrive at the appointed time, we get Uranus backlash, the jolt of harsh reality to awaken us from the reverie and delusion. Idealism does not translate well into the flesh without becoming transformed. However, staying earthed in these times is also a harsh reality if you’re starving and on the street……compassion is the pragmatic bringer of hope here. And, there is no question of the reality of life beyond what is already known to us – it is the manner in which we meet it, the preparation of our inner reality, that enables us to survive the encounter with the unknown…..

Pluto always wins and has his way with idealistic utopianism. When collective movements are riding surges of archetypal energy we line ourselves up for repeated realitychecks, lessons in what is real for the moment and what will endure – the future becomes less certain, virtually every day delivering tricksy pop-quizzes, especially under Uranus’ influence. Archetypal infection of Uranus and Pluto energies for change is unavoidable in such times, at worst ruthlessly reckless, critically destructive, at best hyper-discerning and unflinchingly thorough – all potentially transformative. Two paradigm shifting powers skirmishing in the archetypal now.  But, the Scorpio field is also where we see most deeply into that realm, so there is also a chance here to get rid of the unwanted detritus of unlivable, dieing and past realities and clear the decks for the new. This is very karmic. It is no accident that Samhain is embedded within the Scorpio field.

The spider’s web of aspects at this New Moon are describing an inner dynamic that is strangely familiar – did anyone get that, that this all feels like something ‘new’ that we’ve known before? Although we might not recognise it as such there is a strong ancestral presence in this – even on the streets and in the concrete jungle, an underlying question is  ‘can we now become Homo Sapiens’? 

In reality we have yet to collectively live up to the latin name for our species Homo Sapiens Sapiens…..doubly wise? Like the Tarot Fool, the gullable hero in us  would believe the road leads ‘to some higher purpose’ and that as long as we keep on looking up we will get there. And yet it seems the real path to higher consciousness at first leads through the marshy wasteland of ignorance. Realising with honesty the falacies and delusions of Jovian grandeur is the beginning of the true test of our claim to wisdom, but, like the fool it also seems we have already let them lead us to step off the cliff – and its not as if we didn’t notice the ground suddenly falling away. So, who’s the fool here, who is culpable….both Pluto and Uranus are shockingly impersonal while demanding honesty – we have to get our bearings and get used to the fact that we too are animals, quite inspired, and, become quite mad with it……..however, there is wisdom in the ways of the ancestors. There is also a serene ignorance in the idealism of the fool that ignores the lessons of the past, and yet, as Orpheus tale reminds us literally turning back to what we love most before the journey is complete can have fatal consequences……perhaps it is the innate wisdom of the ancestors within our present that serves us best now…..who and what we truly are at root.

As we enter the realm of primal instinct and animal nature Samhain marks this is a place where the veil between the worlds thins and those energies that are most innate to us come to bear upon our lives…….the karmic residue of the year can be shed, and the spirits rise to bid us do so. There is a sacred ecology at work here, but, for us, with the emergence of a united voice that would shed our collective karmic ties and see a new world come into being, the potency of the spiritual and archetypal presence is intense and deep, beyond the norm this Samhain – interesting times we live in.

Much of what is happening now carries the law of cause and effect, karma, very responsive and strong at this time – and its a deep past dynamic, akin in its causes to the ancient Greek notion of heimarmene, the chain of eternal causation in nature. This is the fate revealed in our birthchart……it, like our soul journey, may have very deep roots, but, they are equally present, latent in the form of our lives. It provides us with the template for our souls journey of transformation. Collectively this is also a reality. Almost anyone with planets or angles in early degrees will be feeling this lunation, almost vortex like as inner and outer converge.

It is a shamanic as well as an individuating process, essential to the transmuting of ‘naive and self serving use of our powers’ into ‘mature balanced service’, to a greater cause, Life – the shaman knows how essential this balance is in Life and continually works to restore it. S/he descends into Pluto’s realms with indomitable faith of spirit. Pluto’s foil in this is Ceres…..the Great Mother is the most fearsome of defenders of her children. The shaman as her ally accepts this as her nature……Her presence will become ever more deeply and openly known to us through this time of transition, and beyond – I have no doubts, She is returning……Ceres is square the Moons Nodes now and will hold the balance of our aspirations and healing, our future and our past converging in this ongoing point of transition, the ever changing present.

She tells us that for the northern hemisphere we are in the inward spiral of our solar cycle, our dreaming body will awaken as we head for the midpoint between Equinox and Solstice, as winter opens her arms around us – as we approach the center pole of the year, the great central Tree of Life, we can follow the trees in their dreaming, journey with their roots into the dreamworld of the inner Earth, the ‘lower world’ – we can climb their roots in the sky realms, their branches, to the stars and the ‘upper-worlds’ – the animals too show us their changing, shape shifting appearance and help us in preparation for the dreaming time. We are gathering our stories too….only, within our times we are weaving them together into a new medicine blanket, a new world myth.

She tells us that in the southern hemisphere the life force is returning with renewed vigour, juiced up with the spirit energies of the dreamtime, giving new form to the world, showing us that beauty does not die when it enters the hidden realms, but, becomes even more precious and beautiful – we can rise into the fullness of light and embrace the sun with the blossoming trees, our animal guides can show us the mysteries of birthing our spirit, of creativity and the practice of wisdom in the everyday world – we can enter the daylight dream-time of the ‘middle-world’ and remember our place in creation, fully embody who we are and why we’ve come here…..the two hemispheres together speak with Ceres wisdom through our soul’s journey and spirit work and we are truly blessed in this.

Nature is the great healer, She always prevails, no matter how deep the change, no matter how challenging it may seem in the midst, and Her example is the one we can most rely upon and realise as our own now – in traversing these challenging times we can be with Her, working with and letting the Earth hold us, speaking with Her and the other members of Our family, Her children – how often do we say that, ‘Nature is Our Family’…….and this is our True Earth…..may we be as fierce as the Great mother in defending Her!!

Blessings be with us all

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In putting together this reading the I Ching was consulted for an overview and, as ever, came up with a strong mirror for the essential energies and dynamics – the hexagrams arising were 35 Chin, Advance with one changing line, the second, producing 64 Wei Chi, Not Yet Settled….