If you're reading this, you survived Mercury's most recent retrograde (it went direct August 26... cue collective sigh of relief). To better offer context to the recent transit of the planet that rules communication, it serves to recognize that Mercury impels our thoughts, our cognition, our attention and our comprehension from one moment to the next. When this planet goes retrograde, we're given the opportunity to explore this aspect of our psyche, shine light on our outdated behaviors or false identifications, as well as remember our optimal patterning and ideal focus. Fragments of the Mercury retrograde review will continue into September, but we've got some stellar support to assimilate the expanded awareness these little bumps in the road tend to bring about.
With the new moon in Virgo (at 8:03pm Sunday, August 28), we have a magical opportunity to heal all that has arisen the last three weeks, as well as the last three months, and do a quick inventory. What did you see that you're complete with? What did you recognize that you're proud of? What direction are you called to follow? What truth(s) can you embody in a good way, for your self, your loved ones, and your contribution to the world at large? In Virgo's highest form, we're encouraged to embrace the answer to the one question that guarantees happiness over all others... How can I be in service?
"I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve." ~ Albert Schweitzer
This summer has been fueled by a series of aspects, both painful and blissful, that have accelerated you into a deeper knowing of the spiritual dimension often referred to as I AM. The term I AM refers to the essence part of you that transcends all labels, identifications and the myriad distractions of a culture that blinds you from the truth... that you are the one. But, you're not the only one. Like every other organism on this planet, you are a manifestation of divine energy. Before we fully grasp the truth of who we are, we navigate again and again the shadowy waters of who we're not. And now, with a stellar KITE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kite_aspect) optimizing this new moon, we have a beautiful window to let IT be. IT as I'm referring to IT in this post, is the ego. This is what we're being called to pay attention to, and to no longer allow ourselves to fall asleep to. It's that part of you that wants to disassociate your focus to anywhere but here; to anything but what's right in front of you, right now. The part of you that wants to stop reading this post. The part of you that makes excuses for not doing the things you recognize will bring you to the fulfillment of every task you aspire to complete. IT's the part of you that wants to feel security and certainty in a world where the only guarantee is change.
So let's play with change for a moment, and more specifically, let's look at Gandhi's encouragement to be the change we wish to see in the world. With this particular new moon, the seeds of your deepest intentions can be planted in a way that serves the healing of your voice. With Mercury trekking backwards through Leo, we got to see up close and personal how fear-based reactions perpetuate our sense of separation, and reenforce the fallacy that we are victims. Let's face it... there are forces in this world, in this universe, in ourselves, that we are unavoidably influenced by in ways we cannot control. How we're influenced, however, this is where the I AM in all of us can rise up in response. Where IT reacts when we go unconscious, I AM has the power to remember to stay awake, and respond from our center, in a good way, with compassion.
Virgo knows that life is a dance best navigated with order and discernment. Ruled by Mercury, we have a window throughout this Lunar cycle to access the Venus, Jupiter, Pluto trine (harmonious aspect) to transform our lower mind's (IT's) controlling ways into the higher mind's (I AM) creative expansion. Like a feng shui master, Virgo sees the highest order of what will provide the most harmonious flow. With the Sun's transit through Virgo, conjunct Venus, we can see beyond the self (IT) to the Self (I AM) to which we are all connected.
Every method of communication influences the tapestry of our inner-and outer world. Our thoughts, our words, our actions carry a precise vibration. Science has provided myriad evidence to support what great sages, or Rishis, have taught through time immemorial; There exists an inner-connectedness of all things, and we are all influenced by the thoughts, words and actions of everyone else. And, rather than blame those who perpetuate IT's influence in the world, we can use that mirror to remind us who I AM, and heal the split that's destroying humanity. It takes each and every one of us to step up and own our truth. Leo shined the light on IT. Now Virgo demands that we put IT in its rightful place... as nothing more than a servant to your truth. We can't kill the ego, but we can enlist its service. And that's what Albert Schweitzer meant, in my humble opinion, in his encouragement to ask the question; How can I be in service? To put my mind around that question, suddenly my desires have no place to slip in and undermine how I can show up for a fellow brother or sister. And beware the ego's English on the ball that gives in order to get. Can you give, just for the sake of giving, without need for recompense, and trust the universal law that every action has an equal and opposite reaction? If you can do that, there's no doubt happiness will soothe your every breath.
This reminds me of a quote I once heard from Ram Das, when asked "Is this the Armageddon, or is this the new age?" His reply: "When I was younger I imagine I would have had an opinion about this, but now, as I think about it, if this is the Armageddon, and I'm going to die, then the best thing for me to do is quiet my mind, open my heart and deal with the suffering in front of me. And if this is the new age, then the best thing for me to do is quiet my mind, open my heart and deal with the suffering in front of me. And when I think about it that way, it really doesn't matter, so I don't care."
This new moon opens a window to reorder and restructure who we are, in relationship to what's happening during this planetary shift. A lot of fear (IT) will continue to come up, as the structures we have long taken for granted show increasing signs of impermanence. So too, a lot of faith (I AM) can rise above IT. We're in the last month of summer, and the fruits are many. We can build our dreams right now with the force of the seeds we plant this week. The next full moon (September 12 at 2:26AM pst) will be in Pisces, the sign of the dreamer, and the part of us that links our human endeavors with our highest spiritual ideals. So if you're inclined to dream, now's the time to dream big. Plant your seeds with your authentic voice. No one, not even IT, can limit what you're capable of right now. The best route to bring these dreams into reality is to set your intentions from the unconditional love inside your heart. The I AM in you that puts the highest good of all concerned at the root of your every endeavor, will water those intentions with every thought, every word, every action you put forth. And when you conjure up a doubt or denying thought, know that you're not in denial, but IT is. And then you take this energy from your ego and transmute it into creating that to which you are committed. It's all energy. And it's time to play with it. There's no better time than right now to release the old, and give ourselves over to the larger cosmological flow that supports and guides us in all moments.
"The fates lead him who will. Him who won't, they drag." Seneca teaching
Thank you all for your unique contribution to our collective awakening...
With love and stellar blessings,
Ryan
www.bodyworkastrology.com
namaste
