The
Cosmic Story: The Wheel of the Year
Imbolc:
Fire Festival of Light Returning
After
writing New and Full Moon newsletters since 2007, I've decided to
take a break from that monthly task. Instead, I'm going to write an
astrological newsletter for each of the 8 seasons of the Wheel of the
Year. The bonus is that I also get to write about different seasonal
energies and goddesses we can turn to for inspiration and to find
what archetypal patterns can contain the new life we're engendering.
Just
as I'm in transition (most
people I know are),
we are all living in transitional times -- not only from one
astrological age to another, but also a transition out of a social
system that has dominated most societies for the past 5,000 years.
Patriarchy is a system of the 'rule
of the fathers',
where a male/father's rule is law over his children, his wife, his
goods, the laws. Patriarchy has certainly created good as well as
evil. But the truth is, its day is over.
Patriarchy
is in its death-throes and we are experiencing its last attempt to
regain power. But just as the Sun inevitably sets in the sky,
patriarchy's sun is setting.
We
are entering into a new social order where first and foremost, men
and women are equal. Where the gifts of the sacred feminine and
sacred masculine are valued and it is understood that women's voices
add something vitally different and important to the collective
story. There have been partnership societies before. We will do it
again.
This
new partnership society is a society that gives equal value to women
and men and our separate, unique gifts. A society in which all
genders, all races, all beliefs are equal and free. If you've been
living in that paradigm already, then you have the consciousness and
tools to make it so in the world. Look around. Lots of people are
responding and going out into the world to stand up for this truth.
And people are waking up from our collective patriarchal dream.
Are
we the
change we've been waiting for
yet? I think we are!
This
change in consciousness is the Light we need to exhibit now to calm
the fearful, stand up to tyranny, and recreate the world. Let's live
conscious, compassionate, creative lives.
Speaking
of transitions, January is really a transitional time between last
year's ending and this year's beginning. Like the two-faced Roman
god Janus who faced in two directions, January is a time to look back
at where we've been and within for the new Light that was born at
Winter Solstice. In reality, as in astrology, the new year begins on
the Aries point of Spring Equinox, when the Sun rises North over the
equator. (Those
of you in the southern hemisphere, I'd love to hear how you
experience our calendar, which forces you to make believe it's Winter
when it's really Summer for you. It doesn't seem quite fair to you.)
In
terms of the cosmic timing, things haven't quite begun -- things are
in transition in January and February. Perhaps that's why so many of
us can't keep our new year's resolutions. It just isn't time yet!
It would serve us better to get back on track with cosmic timing,
which we begin to learn from Mother Earth and then look to the
Heavens for Father Sky's cosmic input.
Mother
Earth says it's time to withdraw from the surface cold and conserve
life in the death time of Winter. It's a time to introvert, to go
inside yourself, your home, your cave and be with yourself. During
the dark months, it's a great time to read, watch and tell stories
that inspire you to grow this year. It's a great time to meditate,
dream and journey to find out what that spark of Light conceived on
Winter Solstice is growing into. What are you going to do with the
promise of this new year? What are you going to do with the present
-- the NOW?
As
we align ourselves with Mother Earth's seasons and the energies of
these times, we will find ourselves really living our lives, enjoying
the changes rather than fearing them and in the end, being more
aligned with our Higher Self.
We're
moving out of the deepest darkness (in the north) and into the time
of year when we notice the days getting longer. Think Groundhog's
Day -- a tradition of looking for the light's return as a promise of
Spring's return.
We're
entering the Gateway of the Wheel of the Year called Imbolc.
Imbolc:
February 2-5, 2019
On
February 2nd
- 5th,
we
celebrate Imbolc, the second gateway of the Wheel of the Year. At
this 2nd
gateway, we begin to envision what the new Light and energy born at
Winter Solstice might become. We are still in the beginning times,
so go gently. It's not a time of doing;
rather it is a time of visioning.
Imbolc
is the Celtic word for 'ewe's milk' because this is the time when
spring lambs are born and the mother ewe's milk comes in. The lamb's
birth promises returning life and light to the world, despite the
snow and frost that still linger in the land. Spring finally arrives
at Spring Equinox around March 20th
- 21st,
when the Light and Dark are equal and the Earth begins to warm up and
then fully blossom at Beltane on May 1st.
Since
it is still dark and cold outside, Imbolc is a season of
introversion, silence and vision. The unknown spark born at Winter
Solstice is beginning to take shape and form. If we envision what
this new life is growing to be, we can hold it in our intention and
nurture it into being in the spring. This is our Ground Hog's Day
ritual—the ancient prophetic signs in nature were seen and
understood. Weather magic and prophecy are just a few treasures of
this season to be relearned and remembered.
At
Imbolc, Spirit lights us up so we can see the possibilities of our
future. It is a fire festival, a time to light candles and make
wishes and set intentions, visualizing what you intend to manifest
this coming year. The vision is the foundation/intention of what you
want to manifest. Honor this gift and grace that Mother Earth shares
with us by re-dedicating yourself to your new purpose. Don't waste
these cosmic energies. Put in the time and effort to seek your
vision or watch the energy get dissipated and lost in the collective
chaos of our times.
Since
Imbolc is such an introvert festival, it's associated with women's
mysteries, although it speaks to the feminine spirit within both
women and men. It's a time to go down to the well of our inspiration
and renew our creative spirit. It is the Divine Feminine Spirit that
calls us to seek our vision in the imaginal world/quantum field so it
can manifest.
Imbolc's
Astrological Energies
Instead
of talking about specific New and Full Moons in the next two months,
I'm going to give a general outlook for the times, which you can then
use in nurturing you vision. You can find many good astrologers
writing about the New and Full Moons to get the finer details of the
times.
I
cast this chart for when the Sun arrived at exactly 15* Aquarius, the
power gate of Aquarius, which is the astrological signature of
Imbolc. It's just a few hours before the Aquarius New Moon on
February 4th,
the Chinese New Year of the Boar. (Boar is the animal energy of the
ancient Great Mother.)
The
Sabian symbol for the Sun at 15* Aquarius is: Two
lovebirds sitting on a fence and singing happily.
What's better than lovebirds singing? This seems to be a symbol of
joy and inner happiness. And since it's in the collective,
humanitarian sign of Aquarius, perhaps this happiness comes from
helping our fellow humans and our animal/plant relations.
The
Sun hits 15* Aquarius hours before the Aquarius New Moon. So the
Moon hasn't quite caught up with the Sun. The Sabian symbol for the
Moon at 7* Aquarius is: A
child is seen being born out of an egg.
This is a symbol of a primordial birth, an original birth, a mythic
birth. Perhaps it implies that a new universe can be born now. If
you're born out of an egg, you're not born of 'ancestors' -- so
you're free of their karma. It's a great time to look at our shadow
beliefs and prejudices bequeathed on us by our ancestors. Let's
leave the fear behind and embrace the unknown. Perhaps it isn't as
bad as we've been led to believe.
This
symbol speaks of a new evolutionary pattern arising in the world.
Perhaps souls from other planets and dimensions are incarnating here
on Earth now. Perhaps these are the aliens who have come to help
humanity. Perhaps we are the aliens. Either way, something new is
being born in the imaginal world. How is it manifesting in you?
At
the Aquarian power gate, new ideals and archetypes can be seeded in
the collective mind/consciousness. The Cancer north node asks that
new archetypes based on inner happiness and connection, contentment
and commitment be energized. As we let go of old stereotypical
beliefs, we replace them with new energy patterns that renew the
archetypes that govern life. This is the objective Aquarian Mind,
the Cosmic Mind that knows the ways of the universe.
We
can channel this new archetypal energy, but it has to be filtered
through our hearts. We don't own the energies. We are channels for
their manifestation.
With
Jupiter's expansive energy in his own home sign of Sagittarius, he's
going to give us what we need this year. Plenty of hope and faith in
the future. Embrace it fully.
Most
of the planetary energies in this Imbolc chart lie in the last 4
signs of the zodiac: Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces. These
are the social, collective signs -- energies that form our
communities and societies. This is the time, in the dark of winter,
when we look at our collective life and see if it is sustaining us or
not. If so we honor and support it. If not, what will we do about
it?
The
lunar nodes have just entered Cancer and Capricorn, focusing our
collective attention on timing and rhythm as well as conception and
birth. It's a great time to take some movement classes and find your
own rhythm. The question is, do we continue to hurry along at
society's breakneck speed, or do we slow down and get entrained with
Earth's rhythms? When a woman conceives a child, she has to allow it
to grow at its own pace. We have to learn that lesson if we're to
prosper in the new partnership society. North Node Cancer asks us to
experience spiritual pregnancy and learn this uniquely feminine
wisdom that is patient, enduring, nurturing and creative.
Both
Saturn and Pluto are conjunct the south node in the sign of
Capricorn, helping us release old karma, old rules, old forms of
control and conformity. This death and rebirth of our social system
is our karma, what we've collectively created together. And together
we have to transform it. The old paradigms won't want to budge, but
as we're seeing in the news, being stubborn and standing up for
what's right can get big results. Now, everyone can see the man
(men/women) behind the curtain. So take back your power of intention
and imagination and realize that it's always been in your control.
Just go
home.
Venus
enters Capricorn the day before this New Moon and will travel through
it until March 1st
when she enters Aquarius. Venus is the archetypal energy of feminine
wisdom -- the wisdom of the body, of the Earth, of the soul.
Astrologically, She represents love and relationships, sexuality,
beauty, value and worth, money and pleasure. For myself, I see her
as Aphrodite, the divine teacher of Psyche, the human soul. She
awakens us through love, through connection, through being fully
embodied.
Aphrodite,
the blessing of the union of Heaven and Earth.
What
a great gift we've been given and look at how hard we find it to
just love, just connect.
Last year's north node eclipses in Leo gave us an initiation into
our hearts. Did we learn to open our hearts and love and trust? Can
we find our heart's truth and hope? If so, now we can nurture that
love while the Moon's north node is in Cancer, standing opposite and
daring
the Capricorn south node, Pluto and Saturn to ignore Her. Mama
Cancer has our backs. We can learn a lot about how to love and take
care of ourselves and others in this next year and a half. Don't
miss your opportunities.
Venus
always asks us, what
does your soul desire?
What do you value enough to go after it? While Venus transits
Capricorn, she'll connect to the values that can sustain society (and
those that don't) and then go into Aquarius to renew those ideals to
inspire us again. Freedom, equality, compassion, connectedness (the
U.S.'s e
pluribus unum - out of many, one)
have to be meaningful and alive if we're going to have a peaceful
revolution -- a revolution of values and objectives rather than one
of warfare and chaos. And that goes for the whole world -- we are
all one. And we all need freedom and peace and security.
Venus
joins Saturn in Capricorn on February 18th
, the day the Sun enters Pisces and the day before the Virgo/Pisces
SuperMoon Full Moon and then joins Pluto on February 22nd.
With Venus' retrograde in Scorpio last year and the MeToo#
movement, I think she can stand up to the old patriarchs Pluto and
Saturn. And maybe even soften their cold, hard hearts.
If
Venus symbolizes connection and values, then Mars is the desire that
gives us the passion to go after what we want. Mars is traveling in
his home sign of Aries, along with Uranus, the great Awakener. Last
year Mars went retrograde in Aquarius, renewing his idealism and his
will to work for the good of all. He's free to create in Aries, the
primal fire of life. And with his side-kick Uranus, he'll create
things his own way. They know what their hero's journey entails.
Cultural renewal and peaceful revolution.
While
Mars and Uranus remain in Aries, they square the nodal axis of
Cancer/ Capricorn, challenging us to do what's needed to leave
patriarchy behind. We are reminded that we have to work for what we
really want and need. Not for the job or the money, but for the
family, for the community and for our own soul's life. Mars and
Uranus urge us to be uniquely ourselves as we come up against both the
old rules which have to go, and the new rules of Cancer, that we can
be nourished for ourselves. What really nurtures us will enhance us
-- we just have to desire the right things for ourselves.
Both
Mars and Uranus soon move into Taurus: Mars on February 14th,
making for a sensuous Valentine's Day, and Uranus on the Pisces New
Moon on March 6th
-- which
is conjunct Neptune, so make a really big wish!
Both planets in Taurus will rock our world and help change our ways
as they travel through the most earthy of earth signs. Expect to see
new growth.
All
the planets are moving in direct motion since January 6th,
and after last year's cascade of planets going retrograde, the
energies feel very light and refined. Mercury starts this Imbolc
season in Aquarius, conjunct the Aquarius New Moon, making for lots
of communication with the archetypal planes. Then on February 10th,
Mercury dives into Pisces and goes retrograde there on March 5th
until March 28th.
This is Mercury's first retrograde of three in water signs this
year. Mercury will be honing our emotional intelligence and
imagination during these watery retrograde (unlike Mercury's fiery,
intuitive retrogrades last year).
So
this Imbolc season, work on the imaginal/quantum plane to imagine
what it is you want to create, not only for yourself but for the
world.
And
now I'd like to introduce Brigid, this Gateway's Goddess Guardian.
Imbolc
and Brigid: Goddess of Fire and Water
Brigid ~ Emily Balivet
Imbolc
is one of the four main Celtic Fire Festivals, sacred to Brigid, the
Goddess of poetry, smithcraft and healing. She is a triple goddess
of Vision, Fire and Water. As Rumi says, “Love is the Water of
Life. And a Lover is a Soul of Fire. The Universe turns differently
when Fire Loves Water.” Brigid brings this passion to her
creativity.
Brigid
is the Celtic goddess of the fires of the forge and the hearth, of
poetry, healing, childbirth, and unity. The name Brigid means either
‘Fiery Arrow’, ‘Bright One’, or ‘High One’ in the ancient
Celtic language, referring to her solar aspect, as she is a solar
goddess of Light and Flame.
Brigid,
Brigit or Brighid (pronounced Breed) is an important Celtic Triple
goddess, appearing as 3 sister aspects rather than Maiden, Mother,
Crone. She is the patroness of poetry, healing and smithcraft, all
different forms of using the creative fires of life with practical
and inspired wisdom. As a solar deity Her attributes are light,
inspiration and all skills associated with fire. Although She is no
longer identified with the physical Sun, She is the benefactress of
inner healing and vital energy.
3 Brigids
Brigid's
shrine near Kildare was located near an ancient Oak that was
considered to be sacred by the Druids, so sacred in fact that no one
was allowed to bring a weapon there. The shrine is believed to have
been an ancient college of priestesses who were committed to thirty
years of service, after which they were free to leave and marry.
During their first ten years they received training, the next ten
were spent tending the sacred wells, groves and hills of the goddess
Brigid, and the last decade was spent in teaching others. Nineteen
priestesses were assigned to tend the perpetual flame of the sacred
fire of Brigid. Each was assigned to keep the flames alive for one
day. On the twentieth day, the goddess Brigid herself kept the fire
burning brightly.
Robert
Graves calls her 'the White Goddess' but she's not all sweetness and
light—she has her dark side, especially if we don't hold up our
part of the bargain. She is a Muse that inspires, but can also be
fickle if we prove unworthy of her gift. We must do something with
that gift of creativity or we will lose it.
Brigid
is a goddess of natural springs, those magical places on the Earth
where sacred and life-giving waters suddenly flow out of the Earth.
A gift of Life from Mother Earth. As Water deity, Brigid is the
patroness of healers, with many healing springs and wells dedicated
to Her throughout the British Isles. Symbolically, water is a portal
to the Otherworld and a source of wisdom and healing. Water is also
associated with psychic ability, music, and poetry. Natural bodies
of water were also sacred to Brigid, particularly where three streams
join together.
Water
and Fire are both associated with divination. Celtic Seers divine by
both looking deeply into water or into the flames. Now is the time
to practice this skill.
The
goddess Brigid was also revered as the Irish goddess of poetry and
song, the Muse who inspires. Brigid's fire and water nurtures our
inspiration, our ability to 'breathe in spirit' which helps us create
poetry as well as healing. She is the Muse who inspires our soul,
providing the ‘fire in the head’ of poetic inspiration. The Bards
are the surviving class of the Druids, keeping the ancient traditions
alive until the present day. Poets are inspired by the Other World,
and have the gift of prophecy. As the patroness of poetry and
bardic lore, Brigid is the primal retainer of culture and learning.
As
patroness of Smiths, Brigid blessed the smith with creativity and
vision. Smiths in any tribe were seen as holding a sacred trust and
were associated with magical powers since smithcrafting involved
mastering the primal element of Fire, molding the metal (from Earth)
through skill, knowledge and strength. Concepts of smithcraft are
connected to stories concerning the creation of the world, utilizing
all of the Elements to create and fuse a new shape. This new
creation is also within Brigid's power, for she inspires us to create
our life anew each year by opening our vision to our soul's
possibilities.
In
many ways, Brigid carries the whole blessing of the Celtic psyche—its
creativity, vision, memory and power. She has never been an
abstraction but remains inseparable from daily life. The fires of
inspiration, as demonstrated in poetry, and the fires of the home and
the forge are seen as identical. There is no separation between the
inner and the outer worlds.
Brigid -- Goddess of Inspiration
Brigid
can serve as a Muse and a Guide to us this season. Light the fires
of inspiration and get creative. It's a great time to create a
ritual around fire and its many blessings. Get your tribe together
and celebrate this powerful Aquarian Gate.
That's
all for Imbolc. I'll be back for the 3rd
gateway of the Wheel of the Year: Spring Equinox on March 20, 2019 --
the day of the 1st Libra Full Moon. This year, the Moon cycle flips
back to its New Moon/Full Moon rhythm, creating a true Blue
Moon,
when there are two
Full Moons in an astrological sign.
More in the next newsletter.
Blessings
of the Light Returning,
Cathy
Please
Like and Share. Thank you.
Copyright
2019 ~ Cathy Pagano.
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