October 23, 2014 Sun and New Moon in Scorpio With a Solar Eclipse - “Insight, Passion and Respect in the Morning”

Scorpio is an edgy sign.  It’s known for dark, brooding passion

"OSHO Zen Tarot,"© by Deva Padma
shows us the fiery flowering that is
Scorpio's power to tranform

and a laser sharp intensity that never suffers fools gladly, or otherwise.  Intentionally injure a Scorpio and you will live to regret it, no matter how long it takes them to construct their revenge. They live life with little, or no middle ground.  The sign of the scorpion teaches us the power wielded by coupling keen intuition with a tremendous ability to focus.  On October 23rd, our Sun moves into Scorpio, creating a New Moon while going conjunct with Venus. Did I mention the solar eclipse? That’s right.  During all the emotional rip tides caused by these power players in the house of Scorpio, we’ll also be dealing with a solar eclipse that in effect, pours gasoline on this combustable cosmic alignment.  

The vibrations, or patterns of a solar eclipse remain with us for six months. They show themselves as newly discovered personal issues, insights and motivations. That’s why it’s extremely important that you pay attention to the themes and patterns emerging in your life during the next few days. They’ll be with you for a while, along with the consequences of your responses to them. This New Moon and solar eclipse combo will be most keenly felt by those born under the sign, Scorpio, those who have the moon, or other planets prominently in Scorpio and people born in the other water signs (Cancer and Pisces). Also those born underTaurus will feel the pull of this configuration because of Taurus’ oppositional place against all the scorpion action.  Now that we understand the dynamics, let’s look at the energetic fallout.

Scorpio’s exoskeleton protects a tender underbelly where

The 8 of Wands reminds us
to pay attention to messages and
also to pick our moment. From
Lo Scarebo's "Tarot of the Pagan Cats"©

they store their emotional vulnerability. They use those legendary claws of theirs to dig deeply into the meat of issues until they find the answers they seek. While scorpions keep their revelations private because of their secretive nature, they don’t shy away from confronting what they discover.  Expect to have more need for privacy for a  while. The next six months will be a good time work on addictive behaviors, particularly those dealing with sex, money and power struggles. Eclipses break old patterns. They are the harbingers of endings, but most importantly, of new beginnings as well. 

Scorpios may have one of the baddest reps in the Zodiac, by there is more than one side to them. Granted, all of their sides are very passionate.  Scorpions are highly spiritual beings. Of all the signs in the Zodiac, they are most willing to let the hidden come to light. They are very creative and intuitive and they possess the ability to narrow their focus into a scorching beam of light and wisdom.  They love deeply and are loyal to a fault. We can borrow these attributes during the next six months and use them to refine and achieve our own goals. 

"Inner Voice" represents The High Priestess,
tarot's card for the moon. From "OSHO Zen Tarot"©
by Deva Padma

This New Moon with an eclipse combo offers us all the chance to start anew – projects, jobs, life re-invention – you name it.  However, this is strong, primal energy we’re tapping into.  It takes courage to steer a ship into heavy weather, but we must remember that our vessel was designed for this purpose. This human shell that we all wear, came with the resources we needed to survive this journey.  Use your instincts when pulling Scorpio’s energy, but follow a few safeguards as well.  Stay grounded through meditation and time alone.  It’s up to you to provide those opportunities for yourself, no one else’s.  As with the energy of our last Full Moon, think things through three times and only speak once.  Remember that when you expose wounds to the light, the idea is to let them heal, not remember old grievances that hold you hostage to your own fear and pain. Let them go. Lastly, this is a time of great transformation. Use it boldly and with love.  Besides, the view from a crest of a wave is spectacular.  

LADY ORACLE

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Herbalism Integrates With Consciousness

"Meadsweet" from "The Druid Plant Oracle"©
by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm

There’s an herbal apothecary shop in Astoria Oregon called, “A Gypsy’s Whimsy.®” Great name, isn’t it?  They sell all manner of exotic trinkets and it has been one of my favorite ports of call for years. They carry wonderful soaps, incense and herbal tea blends for people, like myself, who enjoy the idea of herbal remedies, but lack the skills necessary to effectively combine the ingredients. I’ve always enjoyed listening to the conversations that spring up when herbalists stop by the shop to pick up an ingredient or two. Their knowledge fascinates me almost as much as the jars of dried herbs and bottles of essential oil. However, it took a series of recurring, but relatively minor health issues to give me the final push towards the study of herbalism.

A baby herbal study starts to grow and
with it, my awareness of what
makes up the world

The idea of homemade anything has always appealed to me. My mother, a British war-bride, knew every work around and substitute ingredient known to man. From her I learned that salt can be baked in the oven, poured into a cloth bag and used for as a highly effective hot compress. It holds heat for hours. I took what she taught me about pickling and preserving with me when I moved to the granola belt of the Pacific Northwest, Eugene, Oregon. Everybody made their own yogurt in Eugene – that was a given. Making your own sprouts was required as was having a good whole wheat pie crust recipe. Heck, my friends and I made our own crackers and marshmallows (the campfire kind, not the herb kind). Weird, I know, but what are you going to do when you can’t macramé to save your life. In short, my newly discovered love of herbalism was predestined.

I’ve spent the past three months reading, gathering equipment and herbs and creating my work space/resource room. As is the case with things that are meant to be, I discovered that during the years I’d collected many things that ‘looked cool’ such a copper and ceramic double boiler (for chocolate), various antique beakers, infusers, cobalt-colored bottles and sundry items that could be used in herbal work. Also, the Universe has made certain I was in the right place at the right time to find free bookcases, cabinets and resource material.

The wonderful thing about any new endeavor and the creation

"The Restorers" from "The Druid Plant Oracle"©
by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm
Sigh...a rather nice image for inspiration

of new space in your world is that you focus on life’s possibilities – what will come, as opposed to, what do I have to overcome. There’s an excitement and a freshness to each day and a wish to stay present in every moment. I spend a lot more time noticing the plants that grow wild around me and it’s true what the philosophers say. Something is always happening around you and your awareness of everything is entirely a matter of focus. In my back yard I discovered plantains, dandelions and lemon balm. All have medicinal properties, but previously they were simply weeds to be pulled from the garden. A walk across a field can bring the opportunity to collect chamomile, cleaver and blackberry leaves, as well as the opportunity to notice the abundance and variety of life around you.  

We are an adaptive species and it is never too late to change our perspective and learn something new. I may never hang out a shingle as an herbal apothecary, but what I learn about our planet, the bounty it provides and my relationship to it all will serve me well for the rest of my life.

LADY ORACLE 

Crystal Balls - There's Magic In Threes

Triumvirate: "A group of three powerful or notable people or things existing in relation to each other. "

Note the large Pink Quartz lending tremendous
heart vibration – perfect way to read over distance!

You see them for sale in tourist shops, import boutiques, on eBay and Amazon.  Crystal balls come in a variety of sizes and can be made from just about any mineral.  Quartz, Tiger's Eye, Malachite, Selenite, Beryl and Obsidian are very popular.   On the surface they're colorful conversation starters, but more deeply, they are the tools of energy workers.  You can do healing work, meditate, channel or scry (crystal gazing) with them.

 I have two spheres made from clear Quartz and one sphere made of Austrian lead crystal.  Mine sit in the middle of my kitchen table unless I move them on the rare occasions when I practice the ancient, and somewhat forgotten custom of serving dinner.  I call the spheres, my triumvirate.  I didn't intend to create one.  It just sort of happened by following my instincts as I connected to the vibration of the crystal balls.

The light is wonderful in my dining room.  While sunlight glazes my backyard, it can't shine directly on the spheres inside.  Crystal balls are lens, after all, and perfectly capable of igniting a fire if left in direct sunlight for an extended period of time.  My spheres range in size from large, to medium, to small.  I keep them in a triangular configuration with an enormous pink Quartz in the center.  I have two pieces of Black Tourmaline flanking the Pink Quartz, helping to dispel and transmute negative energy.  I also scatter Ametrine around them just for fun. That's a lot of healing

My card reading setup – complete with Corrine Kenner and
John J Blumen's Wizard's Tarot©

love and psychic energy on that table. (See blogs: "Crystals Every person Needs I and II" for crystal properties)  I like to think of it as a perfect storm of high vibration.  Simply sitting there with a cup of tea is an uplifting experience.

It takes time to introduce one sphere to another.  Imagine the complication of introducing three at once.  They compare their pasts, take each other's measure and seek, not only common ground, but also what they can learn from each other's differences.  Does this all sound like hocus-pocus?  Probably, unless you've worked with crystals before, or have ever sat in front of three active crystal balls who are exceedingly happy that you found them.  I actually performed a crystal ball rescue in the case of two of my spherical friends.  I bought them from a hoarders estate sale.  They felt grim and unstable for a couple of days.  I set them in my garden under a light Spring rain.  The contact with the earth and greenery helped to clear them out and they began to wake up.  I washed them with Dragon's Blood and mild soap, then rinsed them and tucked them under a cloth.  Within a week they began to resonate with me.

My triumvirate passes a vibration amongst themselves and when I sit with them, reading tarot cards, meditating, or taking tea, they include me in their song.  Sometimes I play my CD of Tibetan singing bowls.  The bowls start a conversation and the spheres answer.  Before I know it, I'm connected to the Universe on a whole other level.

If you've never worked with or even considered working with crystal balls I suggest you try it.  Start with one.  The sphere will tell you how it works best with you.  Some people scry with the crystal, some meditate, some heal.   Set up systems to keep your crystal ball clear.  Smudge them, and cover them with a cloth infused with clearing oils such as White Sage or Dragon's Blood.  Above all touch and talk to them so they know you.  There are some very good books on scrying, if you wish to try your hand at the time-honored art of crystal gazing.  It takes focus, patience, an open mind and a genuine connection between you and your sphere.  Checkout your local bookstore or online vendor for these books:
   
            "Crystal Balls and Crystal Bowls- Tools for Ancient Scrying and Modern Seership"
              by Ted Andrews

            "Crystal Ball Gazing: The Complete Guide to Choosing and Reading Your Crystal Ball"
              by Uma Silbey

            "Crystal Ball Reading for Beginners: Easy Divination and Interpretation"
             by Alexandra Chauran

Explore and enjoy the worlds around you.  You have nothing to lose and a whole new perspective to gain.


LADY ORACLE


visit me at www.ladyoracle.net