This is the first in a series of three or four installments as we work our way through the “chakras of the Nile.”   The Nile is the longest river in the world, flowing uniquely south to north for more than five hundred miles.  The ancient Egyptians called their fertile land Khemit, which meant “black land.”  The word is the origin of our word alchemy, out of Egypt.  The desert was called red land.  One was rich and fertile while the other was harsh and forbidding.  The Egyptians saw their land as a sacred reflection of heaven on earth and perceived the Nile as the earthly mirror of the Milky Way, the celestial river. Today we can see the amazing likeness of river as photographed from above–it’s cause for wonder.

As above, so below  

Around the world Earth energy, and the phenomenon often called vortexes, or telluric energy, seems to compel people to build on sacred land again and again.  Over thousands of years this urge has brought forth a network of sacred sites, which naturally unfolded due to the inherent power of locations which lie at intersections along this invisible energetic “grid.”

Looking at a map of Egypt it’s easy to be struck by two things.  First, the rich Nile Delta and the river look very much like a lotus in bloom with a long stem.  Second, and more symbolically, the same image looks like a crosswise representation of a human brain and spine.  Seen this way, the ancient temples emerge into our awareness as energy centers, Chakras along the Nile.  The Nile can be seen as a reservoir of Kundalini energy, rising from the river’s origin in the south, infusing the sacred sites with spiritual force, and empowering them as places where the frequencies of those centers can be strengthened and balanced.

Whether or not the ancient Egyptians worked consciously in this manner and recognized such a connection, the telluric energy of the Earth resonates powerfully at these sites.  Even now, after the structures of humans have been toppled, the power of the sacred vibrations can be felt.  I believe the nature of the gods evoked at these shrines correlates with the nature of the Chakra with which they correspond.

Serpent Energy

There is a prevalence of serpent symbolism in Egyptian iconography.  The rearing head of a cobra, with hood spread wide, of the royal uraeus emerges from the brow of the Pharaoh and was an emblem of divine kingship.  Wadjet, the cobra goddess of the royal uraeus, was a fire-spitting serpent who was also the power behind the Eye of Re, the sun god.  Sanskrit Kundalini is also a goddess, and this “raised serpent” feminine energy on Pharaoh’s crown is striking in its Kundalini imagery.  As representative of the sun god the cobra also suggests the quality of illumination.

Chakras of the Nile

Although thousands of years of patriarchy have eroded and sometimes demonized the Divine Feminine, to the Egyptians the archetypal energies of the gods took both masculine and feminine form and were seen as equal.  The counterparts were like mirrored reflections of the same archetypal energy.  This is not obvious anymore and scholars have also diminished the feminine aspects of these deities.  Because of this divine duality there are usually two temples at significant locations, each dedicated to a god or goddess, and each honoring one side of the polarity.  It may also be that some predynastic sites have yet to be discovered and still greater wonders still lie buried beneath the sands of time.

When traveling to Egypt with intention the particular character of each site, and its correspondence to the archetype of a particular Chakra, can be experienced in a deep way.  Healing and balancing of the energy centers can be accelerated by setting an intention to harmonize the particular “frequency” of the site.  People respond in different ways to this experience.  Some feel intense joy, others shed inexplicable tears.  Fear comes up for some as deep emotional blocks are released.  In all cases, profound healing and empowering can occur.

. . . to be continued.  

Sacred journeys change us in ways we can’t imagine or foresee. It’s a living, organic experience. Long before the first step is taken subtle messages appear, synchronicities, dreams, challenges, and blessings. Our resolve and courage are tested. At some level, we realize we won’t return as quite the same person, and we sense that the experience might challenge us in unexpected ways. Usually there is a period of integration that can last for months afterward, and there may be an accompanying feeling of a “call to action,” a desire to do something significant with the experience.

Should you choose to embark on a sacred journey, it’s important from the very beginning to realize that a pilgrimage is NOT the same as a vacation. It is a process of spiritual awakening and not just physical renewal.  An actualization of spiritual transformation, and inner resolution is absolutely necessary, if we are to gain the gifts we seek. We can’t drive down the road to the mall, and we are often faced with a collision of cultures that challenges our normal patterns. Of course, that’s the point, isn’t it?

Sometimes people get triggered by something unfamiliar that makes them uncomfortable.  It can be something as simple as an change in the itinerary that dramatically upsets their equilibrium. Or someone can experience an unexpected emotional reaction to a particular site or temple. Intense joy or deep, inexplicable grief can emerge.   We can choose to be open to what arises unexpectedly and experience an alien culture as well a powerful connection to the past.  When we travel to Egypt we enter the realm of the Middle East, and the media has done a masterful and malicious job of making the term itself frightening. For many people just the idea conjures up images of terrorism.  This offers a profound mirror to watch our responses to life. Do we see the experience as a gift, a lesson, or a threat?  It can be a great teaching to consciously shift our perspective and understand what is happening on a deeper level when we start to feel uncomfortable. In fact, this is the potential gold mine of the experience as it takes us to the level of unconscious patterns and fears that need to be transformed.  

The pilgrimage begins with the intention and signing your name, or paying the deposit, which represents a commitment. It is my experience that it is at this point that the journey begins and simple, but profound, events may start to occur months before the plane takes off.  I always find there is one person who takes the plunge early and holds space for whoever else may choose to join the adventure along the way.

Millions of people from around the world visit Egypt each year.  I believe one reason Egypt draws us so strongly is a subconscious memory of a time when the Mysteries were acknowledged and taught in the temples.  Egypt’s ancient culture is still miraculous in many ways.  We have no idea how they built the pyramids or why, despite theories and Egyptological orthodoxy.  Egypt was once a land of magic, and something deep within our psyches remembers this and aches to reclaim the knowledge. At some level we understand that sacred sites are like pressure cookers, with the potential to accelerate healing and stimulate our memories.

Even if our journey is only internal, and we never leave the comfort of our couch, connecting with the potency of a sacred site with which we resonate can act as a powerful trigger for memory. Ancient Egyptians believed that true intelligence resided in the heart. In other words, life was meant to be lived in balance and every thought and deed measured by true spiritual sight with love and compassion.  In fact, it was believed that after death the heart was symbolically weighed in a balance against the feather of the goddess Ma’at who embodied right relationship to all things. Therefore, a spiritual pilgrimage can be a way to shift our perspective and connect with our hearts.  It is my personal belief that we are drawn to scenes of past lives, but the process works whether or not we hold or agree with this belief.

In this context as we experience different incarnations we build up positives and negatives which need to be brought into equilibrium.  For some people ancient wounds, which have replicated pain through many subsequent incarnations, need to be recognized and destructive patterns released.  For others karma which magnetizes painful and destructive relationships need to be cleared.  Special gifts or talents which have been forgotten or lain dormant for lifetimes need to be retrieved, integrated and offered in service in the present life.  As people gain their own recall these memories may emerge spontaneously as a “new” invention or revolutionary healing technique.  I have witnessed and shared many amazing experiences with people.

Even though time and space are illusions, and other dimensions move at the speed of light , we are encased in  physical bodies.  So we experience limitation because the motion is slower.  It’s my experience that sacred travel, embarked upon with humility and intention, can bend space and fold time in consciousness in a way that is mysterious and miraculous.  At the site of an ancient temple, perhaps where we lived and worked before, we can accomplish soul growth in an instant which might otherwise take a lifetime.  It’s more like a shamanic journey, bestowing a state of grace where we can step outside of time and miracles of healing occur in the blink of an eye.

As an analogy, when we were limited to the technology of cassettes, finding information was linear, requiring either reversing or fast forwarding the tape sequentially to locate a specific piece of information.  With the advent of CDs and digital technology, we can access any portion of the stored information instantly as it resides everywhere all at once.

I believe each person carries a carefully protected fragment of hidden wisdom, like a coded piece of a giant jigsaw puzzle.  If we can reclaim our own memories, accessing the personal hall of records waiting deep within our own psyches, we can work to reassemble the collective picture.  Undertaking a pilgrimage of power, whether the journey is an inner one of consciousness, or a trek to the other side of the earth, the healing work accomplished can help transform the world.  And that is why we go.

 © 2013 by Julie Loar

“Don’t give in to your fears. If you do, you won’t be able to talk to your heart.”

“There are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them.” Andre Gide

Psychologist Abraham Maslow presented his concept of a hierarchy of needs in 1943 and it has since become a staple of psychological teachings. He identified five levels of needs, often presented as a pyramid drawing, one level of needs layered on the other. The foundation of the pyramid outlines basic survival needs while the fifth and uppermost level refers to self-actualization needs. The premise is that we must first meet our most basic needs before we can address more advanced needs.

For instance, if we’re striving to meet the basic physiological survival needs such as breathing, food, water, sex, and sleep it’s unlikely that we would be concerned with higher order needs such as achievement, personal growth, or knowledge. The hierarchy in its original form is depicted as five levels. Beginning with the most basic needs, the levels are:

1)      Biological and physiological needs, such as mentioned above.

2)      Safety needs, such as for security, order, law, stability, and limits.

3)      Love/Belonging needs, such as friendship, family, affection.

4)      Esteem needs, such as achievement, respect of self and others, status, and responsibility.

5)      Self-actualization, including creativity, morality, acceptance, personal growth.

As you can see, feeling safe and secure is the next most immediate concern once our physiological and biological needs are met. Although physical safety is the priority at this level, another aspect of feeling safe and secure that is typically overlooked is what can be called spiritual security. This means that no matter what may be going on in your environment, your body, or your mind, you have a relationship with Spirit that helps you feel safe at all times.

One of the spirit beings that is a supreme protector and guardian is Wolf spirit. As you develop a conscious relationship with Wolf spirit (or any other spirit guide you trust to protect you), you’ll find your internal sense of security deepens so that even in the most challenging of times, you know with certainty that you are cared for.

One evening many years ago I was sitting out on the balcony of the place where I lived. I had my feet up on the railing and thinking and feeling about things, feeling lonely and wanting to stuff myself (and my feelings) with popcorn and ice cream, I called on the one that I refer to as Grandfather, a guide who has been with me for some time. I turned to my right as I was having my pity party, and although I often hear his voice, for one of the few times I clearly saw him sitting a couple of feet away.

“I’m feeling awful lonely, Grandfather,” I shared with him in a whisper. He continued to gaze out at the sky. “Yes, I understand,” he answered as he nodded his head, took a deep breath, exhaled with a sigh and said, “Ah, yes, the lonely walk of the human being on this planet!”

I immediately started weeping! Here was someone who understood me, loved me, watched over me, and showed up for me consistently in my shamanic work. I sensed his movement closer to me, then his face loomed quickly and immediately before me such that I was startled out of my reverie. He said very slowly so that I could clearly understand him, “And . . . you’re . . . never  . . . ever . . . really . . . alone!” Whenever I recall this experience, any sense of isolation or loneliness dissipates.

Wolf spirit communicates the seeds of this reality: that someone is always with you. In the guidebook for the Children’s Spirit Animal Cards here is what he has to say, not only to children, but to any of us adults as well:

“Everyone, whether they’re children or adults, sometimes feels scared and unsafe. For instance, if you’re out with your parents and lose track of them even for a short time, you may feel alone and unprotected. It can be scary if someone at school tries to bully you, or when you hear unfamiliar sounds at night. It’s also perfectly normal to be at least a little bit nervous if you’re performing a song for others or acting in a play. Any number of things like these can trigger those feelings where your heart beats a little faster and your breathing quickens. Your body and your mind think you’re in danger even when you’re not.

“A lot of times you can have those feelings even though there really is nothing to be afraid of. No matter what makes you feel that way, call on me and I will help you feel safe. You can even ask me to be with you through the night in your room to help you get a good night’s sleep! And of course, if you’re really scared, always call on one of your parents or a close friend to be with you.”

Like others in the guidebook, there are suggestions for children to follow to further instill this sense of spiritual security as follows:

* Whenever you walk, walk tall and with dignity, making eye contact and smiling with others you come across.

* Write in your journal about one or two experiences where you felt safe and protected even though you also felt scared.

* Get involved in something that helps build your confidence in yourself, such as yoga, martial arts, or a sport of some kind.

* If you’re ever scared, call on God, the angels, or Wolf spirit to protect you.

For parents, especially with younger children, there are suggestions for activities they can do that help their children feel greater safety and protection:

* Teach your child protection techniques such as cloaking themselves with an invisible cloak, surrounding themselves with mirrors that face outward or surrounding themselves with beautiful roses.

* Give your child a comforting totem small enough to carry with them and tell them to use it whenever they feel scared.

* Teach your child their address and phone number and explain if they are ever lost to provide this information to a police officer or other public servant.

* Encourage them to stay clear of going places alone that do not have lots of people or are in enclosed spaces. Use the “buddy” system.

With all that goes on in this world that we hear about it’s challenging at times not only for adults to feel safe, yet even more so for parents to trust that their children are safe. While nothing is ever guaranteed, by instilling and encouraging a sense of safety that includes not only measures to assure the child feels physically secure and cared for but also develops a sense of being protected by Spirit. Wolf is an excellent choice, yet any animal spirit guide to whom your child is attracted can be called on in addition to others that are consistent with your spiritual beliefs.  

“The more you trust your intuition, the more empowered you become, the stronger you become, and the happier you become.” Gisele Bundchen

“There’s no safety outside of God.” Beth Nimmo

To purchase Children’s Spirit Animal Cards, click here.

Dr. Steven Farmer

Dr. Steven Farmer is the author of the several best-selling products including Children’s Spirit Animal Cards, Earth Magic, Animal Spirit Guides, Power Animals, Earth Magic Oracle Cards, Power Animal Oracle Cards, Messages from Your Animal Spirit Guides Oracle Cards, and Sacred Ceremony. He is a shamanic practitioner, ordained minister, hypnotherapist, former college professor and retired psychotherapist.  Steven offers workshops and presentations on a variety of shamanic healing and earth-centered spirituality topics and also offers private shamanic healing and divination sessions.  To learn more about his workshops or to contact him, please visit www.EarthMagic.net.

The myth of Persephone is an ancient retelling of the cycle of vegetation portrayed in numerous global stories such as Attis, Adonis and Osiris.  Persephone embodies the renewal of the earth after the quiescence of winter.  One day she was picking flowers with her mother Demeter, when Hades, lord of the underworld, burst upward through the ground, driving a chariot whose horses trampled the flowering earth.  He kidnapped her, took her to his realm, and raped her. This abduction is said to mythically represent the cycle of vegetation that sprouts from the earth in spring and withdraws back into the earth after harvest. This violent act occurred with the complicity of her father, Zeus/Jupiter, which also mythically describes the abduction of the feminine principle that occurred as the patriarchy rose to power.

Demeter grieved for her daughter, or her own lost innocence, and withdrew in solitude to search for her.  Without her the Earth became barren, and people risked starvation.  Zeus sent gods with gifts to influence her, but it was not in his power to command her to make the Earth green.  Nor could the king of heaven order the crops to grow on his own, as the nature of her feminine fertility was not within his domain. This strongly suggests that Demeter was an earlier and more powerful goddess.  In fact, when Demeter was given a genealogy, she was the daughter of the Titans Cronos and Rhea, and therefore Zeus’s elder sister, even though Persephone was said to be his daughter.  Their mother, Rhea, finally intervened, and Zeus agreed to bring Persephone back. At the end of the tale, Demeter taught humanity the secrets of wheat and cultivating grain, pointing toward the deeper meaning of the story.

In Classical Greek art, Persephone is portrayed robed, often carrying a sheaf of grain. She could appear as a mystical divinity with a scepter and a little box, but she was usually represented in the act of being carried off by Hades. Persephone is also known as Kore, and she was Proserpina to the Romans, which means, “to emerge” in Latin. She embodies the principle of rebirth. Her mother is Ceres, the origin of the English word cereal. In some versions of the story, Pluto (Hades), tricked Persephone into eating pomegranate seeds so she would have to stay in the Underworld.  In other versions she ate the fruit of her own accord.  Now Persephone spends four months in Hades and eight months bringing light and warmth to the earth.    

Persephone and her mother Demeter, who is a goddess of grain and the harvest, were the central figures of the Eleusinian Mysteries.  These rites predated the Olympian pantheon and were celebrated in Greece for 1,800 years. These were the most important rites of initiation in ancient Greece and are believed to have originated in Minoan goddess worship in Crete nearly 4,000 years ago. The road between Athens and Eleusis was called the Sacred Way as thousands of pilgrims from all levels of society, from Greece and beyond, made their way to celebrate the mysteries. The only requirements were never having committed murder and not being a ”barbarian,” that is, unable to speak Greek.  

A binding vow of secrecy was required, and the penalty for breaking this oath was death, so we can only speculate from clues and indirect evidence what actually occurred.  But tradition says that the high point of the ritual was a eucharist where a “sheaf of grain was reaped in silence.” What little is known about the exact nature of the rites bears similarity to the Egyptian mysteries of Isis and Osiris, and Syrian and Persian mystery cults, which have similar themes. 

It’s said that the secret mystery ritual of Eleusis held the symbolic key to immortality and the principle of resurrection.  Ancient writers asserted that the rites of Demeter and Persephone promised the initiate a better life on Earth and happiness in the afterlife.  The Eleusinian Mysteries were seen as deeply spiritual and inspiring–a far older and more elevated approach than the intrigues of the battling and scheming Olympians–and offered an alternative religion well into the Christian era, as did the worship of Isis in Egypt.

Each year at the beginning of spring the goddess Persephone returns to the surface of the earth for a joyful reunion with her mother Demeter.  In winter, while Persephone lives in the Underworld as the Queen of Hades, Demeter’s grief causes earth to become cold and barren.  When mother and daughter are reunited in spring, birds sing in the trees and flowers bloom again.  As the long, cold nights of winter give way to increasing light we can take heart and affirm that even after the darkest night of despair the dawn always comes.

Based on and excerpts from Goddesses for Every Day © 2010 by Julie Loar.   Printed with permission of New World Library, Novato, CA www.newworldlibrary.com  

“Stand up and face your fears, or they will defeat you.” —LL Cool J

“In many ways, history is marked as ‘before’ and ‘after’ Rosa Parks. She sat down in order that we all might stand up, and the walls of segregation came down.” —Jesse Jackson

As noted in the quote by Jesse Jackson, Rosa Parks was one of those heroic figures in recent history who by refusing to move to the back of the bus challenged the existing policy of segregation, propelling a radical change in public policy. Mahatma Gandhi was able to make a stand for what he believed to be right and true, and through nonviolent protest was able to persuade the British government to relinquish their grip on India such that it became an independent country. John F. Kennedy challenged the leader of the Soviet Union and by doing so convinced him to have the missiles they had installed in Cuba dismantled and removed.

In addition to these examples there are numerous other heroic figures throughout history that have made a stand for what they believed in. They are models of courage and determination whose stories can inspire you to speak up for yourself even if there is some risk of disagreement or disapproval. It isn’t always easy to do, especially if you fear that someone will not like what you say.

The voice of Bear spirit in the Children’s Spirit Animal Cards is quite naturally the one to address this. The message on the card itself is “Stand up for yourself.” In the accompanying guidebook he elaborates further on this message:

“This is a time to stand up for yourself and trust your instincts. Be brave when facing others who don’t approve of you or don’t like what you have to say, especially when you express something you truly believe in. It’s not about you being right and making the other person wrong, but about trusting in what you believe. Although it’s nice when others agree with you, it’s really not necessary that they do, but it is necessary to treat them with respect no matter

“Standing up for yourself is also different than making a stand against someone or something. It takes courage to do but it also takes courage to know when to let go and when to compromise. If in doubt, ask a trusted adult such as your mother or father, to support you or guide you in a different way to handle the situation.”

Just as with the other spirit animal messages, there are activities in which children can engage that further reinforce the message:

* The next time you notice an uncomfortable feeling with what someone wants you to do and you’d rather not do it, just respectfully say “No, I’d rather not.”

* If there’s a cause that you feel strongly about, such as helping animals out, make a plan about what you want to do about it and then do it.

* Whatever the rules are at your home, such as you’re not allowed to watch movies that are more than G or PG rated, follow those rules when you’re out with friends or at a friend’s house no matter what kind of pressure you feel from your friends.

 Other suggestions are provided for parents that help their child learn to stand up for herself:

* Show your child how to stand up for herself by modeling assertiveness (rather than aggressiveness).   By responding to situations rather than simply reacting you can model a collaborative approach to problem solving.

* Encourage your child to try a second time for something they really want rather than letting their initial disappointment be the deciding factor.

• Encourage them to be active in a cause that is meaningful to them. 

 By supporting your children’s ability to stand up for themselves and for what they believe in, it will help them as adults deal that much more effectively with their world. Who knows? Perhaps your child will be the one to change the world.

“Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven’t half the strength you think they have.” —Norman Vincent Peale 

“It’s really important to stand up for yourself and not always agree with what people say if indeed you don’t feel that it’s true.” —Lily Collins

To purchase Children’s Spirit Animal Cards, click here.

Dr. Steven Farmer

About The Author:  Dr. Steven Farmer is the author of the several best-selling products including Children’s Spirit Animal Cards, Earth Magic, Animal Spirit Guides, Power Animals, Earth Magic Oracle Cards, Power Animal Oracle Cards, Messages from Your Animal Spirit Guides Oracle Cards, and Sacred Ceremony. He is a shamanic practitioner, ordained minister, hypnotherapist, former college professor and retired psychotherapist.  Steven offers workshops and presentations on a variety of shamanic healing and earth-centered spirituality topics and also offers private shamanic healing and divination sessions.  To learn more about his workshops or to contact him, please visit www.EarthMagic.net.

On February 15, 2013 a meteor raced across the skies of central Russia, shattering violently about fifteen miles above the ground, the lowest level ever recorded.  The thundering explosion created fireballs and rained down thousands of tons of debris, destroying property and injuring more than a thousand people.  The object careened into the atmosphere at about 40,000 mph, detonating with the force of a 500-kiloton bomb.  By comparison, the Hiroshima bomb had the force of 15 kilotons.  Ironically, the Russian meteor explosion happened on the same day that an asteroid, Near-Earth Object 2012 DA14, passed by Earth.  Identified last year, many telescopes were trained on its path while no one detected the approach of the meteor, although it’s estimated it was one-third the size of the asteroid, and its effect was dramatic.

It’s tempting to equate such occurrences with Biblical prophecy such as the verse in Revelation 8:10-11, “And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as if it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers and upon the fountains of waters.”   What are we to make of signs in heaven, prophecy, and the role of astrology in the Bible?

Zondervan’s Pictorial Bible Dictionary states, “There are hundreds of references to stars, sun, moon and planets.”  A well known verse from Genesis 1:14 proclaims, “And God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.’” Job 38:31-33 is a well known phrase, “Canst thou bind the sweet influences of the Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?  Canst though bring forth Massaroth (zodiac) in his season or guide Arcturus with his sons?  Knowest thou the ordinance of heaven?  Canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?”  In Judges 5:20 we read, “They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.” Sisera was a Caananite commander who oppressed the Israelites. In Psalm 136: 7-9 the author says, “To him that made the great lights; the sun to rule by day; the moon and stars to rule by night.”

The story of the Magi, or wise men, and the star of Bethlehem is a favorite Christmas story that only appears in the book of Matthew(2:2). The Magi ask Herod, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?  We have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”  And later in Matthew 2:10, “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding joy.”  Different authors have tried to identify the star, but it’s likely it was symbolic. The Catholic Encyclopedia informs us that “Magi is usually translated as ‘astrologers’ as the magi were thought to be priest-astrologers from Persia. The historian Herodotus (5th century BCE), attests to the astrological mastery of the Persian Magi.”  Accounts vary as to the number of Magi, but the oldest tradition says there were twelve.

The practices of stargazing and divination were well known and respected in biblical times; divination means, “to be inspired by the divine.” There were  Roman augurs, Sybiline oracles, the Chinese I-Ching, the Tibetan State oracle, the Oracle of Delphi, and of course Joseph, who interpreted dreams for the Egyptian pharoah in the Old Testament. Through most of its history, astrology has been considered a scholarly tradition and was accepted in political and academic contexts.  Astrology was connected with astronomy, alchemy, meteorology and medicine.  The Chinese, Indians, and Maya developed elaborate systems for predicting terrestrial events from celestial observations.  Among Indo-European peoples, astrology has been dated to the third millennium BCE with roots in calendar systems used to predict seasonal shifts and to interpret celestial cycles as signs of divine communication.

Early forms of astrology emerged from Bablylonia, Assyria and Egypt and entered Greece after 323 BCE when Alexander the Great’s conquests spread Greek culture throughout the Mesopotamian and Roman world. Egypt has star charts that go as far back as 4,200 BCE. The earliest known evidence of astrology are markings on cave walls and bones, dated to 25,000 years ago, showing lunar cycles.  Babylon, or Chaldea in the Hellenistic world, was so identified with astrology that “Chaldean wisdom” became synonymous with divination through the stars and planets. In these cultures astrologers like the Persian Magi were astronomer priests with significant power.

The Zodiac of twelve constellations is one of the oldest conceptual images and began as a way to mark time. The twelve zodiac constellations are the backdrop for the Sun’s apparent path through the band of sky above and below the equator over the course of a year.  The zodiac also reflects the twelve months of the year, the four seasons, and the solstices and equinoxes.  The term Zodiac, “circle of animals,” indicates that constellations were personified as figures or animals. Scholars often conclude that the figures depicted in the constellations suggest what’s happening on earth at the time. For example, lambs are born at the time of Aries, and harvest occurs at the time of Virgo, who holds a sheaf of wheat.

Rupert Gleadow, in The Origin Of The Zodiac, says the idea of dividing the circle into 360 units originated independently in Babylon, Egypt and China as an approximation of the number of days in the solar year.  Further dividing the year into twelve months is an outgrowth of the lunar cycle as months have always been “moon periods.”  Albert Churchward, in The Signs and Symbols of Primordial Man, states, “The division is in twelve parts:  the twelve signs of the Zodiac, twelve tribes of Israel, twelve gates of heaven mentioned in Revelation, and twelve entrances or portals to be passed through in the Great Pyramid, before finally reaching the highest degree, twelve Apostles in the Christian doctrines, and the twelve original and perfect points in Masonry.”

Revelation 21:12 says that the new Jerusalem, “had a wall great and high with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.”  The origin of our twelve birthstones comes from Revelation 21:19-21 and is rooted in the twelve colored stones in the breastplate of the High Priest of ancient Israel as recorded in the Book of Exodus. The breastplate is sometimes called the breastplate of judgment because the Urim and Thummin, which were used for divination, were placed inside.  Although the books of Deuteronomy and Leviticus condemn divination, Exodus 28 gives Urim and Thummin to the priestly class to “divine the will of Yahweh.”

In the first book of Ezekiel (1:10) he has a vision and describes four living creatures above the wheels of the chariot he sees, “the four had the face of a man and the face of a lion on the right side: and the four had the face of an ox on the left side, the four also had the face of an eagle.”  That’s a confusing desciption to be sure, but these symbols can be compared to the four fixed signs of the astrology:  Leo the lion, Aquarius the man with a water pitcher; the Calf is Taurus the Bull, and the Eagle is one of the symbol of Scorpio.

There are many references to the idea of an “age” in the Bible that seem related to astrology. For example, In Matthew 28:20 Jesus tells his disciples, “I will be with you even to the end of the world.”  The Greek word aeon is translated in the King James Version as “world,” but the actual meaning of the word is “age.”  The period of roughly  2,160 years required for the precession of the Sun through one zodiacal constellations is called an age and was named for the constellation in which the Sun rose as it crossed the equator at the vernal equinox.  Approximately six thousand years ago was the Age of Taurus the Bull, the Age of Aries the Ram followed, and then the Age of Pisces, the Fishes, about two thousand years ago.  We are near the end of that aeon, and the Age of Aquarius the Water Bearer will come next.

During these ages religious icons took the form of the appropriate celestial symbol.  For example, the Bull of Heaven and Golden calf in the Age of Taurus, the  Passover lamb and the ram-headed god of Egypt, Amen-Ra, in the Age of Aries.  In the earlier Age of Gemini, the Twins there are examples, like Isis and Osiris, of deities who are both twins and siblings.  In the Age of Pisces, Jesus the Lamb of God became the Fisher of Men as he was born at the juncture of two ages. The sign of the fish was one of the earliest symbols of Christianity. Jesus’ early disciples were fishermen, he fed the multitude with two small fishes, and Jesus ate a baked fish after his resurrection (Luke 24:42).

When Jesus’ disciples asked him where the next Passover would be (Luke 22:10), he replied, “A man will meet you carrying an earthen pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he goes in.” This has been interpreted as the natural sequence of precession where Aquarius, the Water Bearer will follow Pisces, the Fishes. Understood in this way, Jesus’ reign as the “Son of God” for an age will end when the Age of Aquarius begins.

As early Christianity became the Church of Rome, in 321 CE the emperor Constantine issued an edict that threatened Chaldeans (astrologers), Magi, and their followers with death.  Not surprisingly, astrology went underground for a time.  Constantine then convened the famous Council of Nicea in 325 CE in what is now Turkey as part of his plan to make Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire.  Among the subjects debated and decided was the divinity of Jesus, making him a “Son of God,” which put him on a par with Pagan gods and made Christianity more attractive to converts.

Astrology did not remain hidden after Constantine.  Ptolemy’s work Tetrabiblos, written in the second century, became the basis of the Western astrological tradition.  The Catholic Encyclopedia reports that the emperors Charles IV and V and Popes Sixtus IV, Julius II, Leo X and Paul III followed astrology. In fact, papal and imperial court ambassadors were not received until the court astrologer had been consulted. Lucas Gauricus, who published a number of treatises, was the court astrologer of Popes Leo X and Clement VII. Men of the Renaissance, including Nicholas Copernicus, who observed that the Earth orbited the Sun, asserted that astronomical research was valuable only to the degree that it advanced the discipline of astrology.

The powerful Medici family of Florence produced four popes.  Catherine de Medici, who married a French king and wielded enormous power as regent for her son Charles IX, popularized astrology in France. She built an observatory near Paris, and her court astrologer was none other than the celebrated Michel de Notre dame, Nostradamus. He published his work on astrology in 1555, and it is still considered authoritative.

In Hebrew, astrology was called hokmat ha-nissayon, “the wisdom of prognostication,” in distinction to hokmat ha-hizzayon, the wisdom of star-seeing, or astronomy.  The Jewish Talmud identified the twelve zodiac constellations with the twelve months of the Hebrew calendar, and astrology became predominant in some books of Kabbalah.  Although on the surface Jewish tradition discredits astrology, the zodiac has appeared as a central motif in at least six synagogues dating to early centuries after the destruction of the temple.  That has led scholars to imagine that the Jerusalem temple was decorated in a similar way where the temple represented the cosmos.  This stellar theme was discussed by the historians Josephus and Philo of Alexandria, and the idea is being confirmed by new discoveries in the field of biblical archeology.

At the beginning of the 17th century, great scientists like Tycho Brahe, Galileo Galilei, Johannes Kepler and Pierre Gassendi, who are now remembered for their roles in the development of modern physics and astronomy, all held astrology in high esteem. Astrologer William Lilly’s comprehensive book, entitled Christian Astrology, was published in 1647 in three separate volumes. It is considered one of the classic texts of traditional astrology from the Middle Ages and has never gone out of print.

By the end of the 17th century, new scientific concepts in astronomy and physics, such as heliocentrism and Newtonian mechanics, caused a growing division between the emerging science of astronomy and its mother discipline astrology. Likewise, the divide between science and religion continued to widen. In our time psychoanalysts like Carl Jung caused a popular revival of astrology with a more psychological approach.

Astrology, the Church and the Bible have a relationship that has shifted over centuries.  Likewise, science and religion often seem at odds as we witness the ongoing debate over evolution and creationism. The struggle between facts and faith, measure and meaning continues to this day. One aspect of the conflict between the Bible and astrology is the literal interpretation of biblical texts. There is also a religious premise of an external creator, who exists apart from creation and must be worshipped with priests acting as intermediaries. Ironically, early followers of Jesus, whom we now call Gnostics, believed that every person had both the right and responsibility to develop their own relationship with the divine, without go betweens.

Other belief systems, like Buddhism, Hinduism and certain indigenous traditions, do not see creation as existing apart from a creator. Rather, the universe itself is seen as a divine being, and therefore, reverence for its cycles and expressions is honoring of the sacred whole. This view perceives that every phase and function of the Universal Body has a correspondence in humans—as above, so below. To the ancients, the study of the stars was a sacred science, for they saw in the movements of the celestial bodies the ever-present activity of the Infinite Parent. In my research, I actually didn’t find negative comments in the Bible about astrology itself.  Rather, the fault was with practicioners who might be viewed as untrustworthy. That charge could be leveled at any occupation, as sadly there are always people who will misuse their knowledge. To quote Cassius in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, “The fault dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves . . .”

Astrology, not unlike the Bible, is an aspect of perennial wisdom that seems to wax and wane in widespread favor over periods of history.  This might even have been forseen by astrology. After all, if there had never been any demonstrated effective applications, astrology would not have developed in the first place, let alone persisted and thrived for six millenia, inspiring many great minds. It seems that the Church and the priests may have taken the place of astrologers for Christians, and it is now the church, in the name of God, that holds the power to direct these believers. Either way, if the result uplifts the spirit and provides wise counsel, the changing tides will serve the greater good. Julie Loar, The Bible & Astrology, reprinted with permission from Atlantis Rising Magazine,  http://www.AtlantisRising.com  Issue #99

About the Author:  Julie Loar is the multiple award-winning author of six books and dozens of articles.  She has a BS in Psychology, has done postgraduate work, and has been certified in numerous professional training and development programs.  Julie was a Human Resources executive in two major corporations, and an independent training consultant, working with large companies.  Her latest book, Goddesses For Every Day:  Exploring the Wisdom & Power of the Divine Feminine Around the World, (available at Satiama) has won three national awards.  Her popular astrology feature appears in ATLANTIS RISING magazine, and she is a featured contributor on John Edward’s web site, InfiniteQuest.com where she has her own internet TV show.  She has traveled to sacred sites around the world, researching the material for her books and teachings.  Each year she leads a sacred journey to Egypt.  Visit her at http://www.julieloar.co

However, we are one planetary race and because of this Oneness, our lives touch and our destinies interweave one with another.

Despite a tide of rising consciousness, there is still misery, poverty, cruelty and war on this planet. Why? Because although the planetary influences are signifying change and transformation on a global scale – and we see external signs of this – war, chaos, natural disasters, changing weather patterns -  a change still has to take place within our hearts and minds – and this is up to us.

2013 provides us with a blank canvas. We are the artists and we can choose to paint each day with love, service, forgiveness, and healing or we can choose to discolor the canvas with our fears and resentment. 2013 is a vitally important lead in year to the next three years astrologically-speaking. I would like to focus on a few of the major planetary trends in the year ahead.

Saturn in Scorpio – This influence will bring a flavor of challenge and crisis. We are being challenged to dig into the dark corners of our psyche and remove deep fears about love, money and forgiveness – so that we can move forward into the light.

Uranus in Aries – This is an influence right through to 2018. Our individual freedom and rights will take on greater importance and we can expect conflicts – individually and globally with our individual freedom vs. authority and government. This is a pioneering period as we are on the edge of a Brave New World.

Neptune in Pisces signals a Spiritual awakening that can reconnect humanity, despite our individual differences. We will see borders between nations relax under this long-term influence until 2025, as well as a resulting backlash based in fear. We are reminded that Oneness is not just a nice concept but a reality.

Pluto in Capricorn – This has been a defining transit from 2008 until 2023 and one effect has been the collapse of the global economy. We will see growing urgency with environmental crises and, as Pluto is associated with the process of elimination, we will see the effects of all our dumping of toxins and garbage without thought for Mother Earth. We have an unprecedented opportunity to consciously create the future rather than repeating the mistakes of our past.

For a more in-depth analysis of the planetary influences in 2013, please listen to “On the Edge with Chrissie Blaze” the Body Mind Spirit radio show at www.bodymindspiritradio.

Chrissie Blaze is an astrologer, metaphysician and Spiritual teacher. She is the author of nine published books and an international speaker. She is a regular media guest and radio show host at Body Mind Spirit Radio. She has a popular website at www.chrissieblaze.com.

Brigid is associated with fire, specifically the sacred “need fire”, called tein-eigen.  At the greater holy days in the Highlands of Scotland, and in the Western Isles, all the fires of the community would be allowed to go out and tein-eigen would be kindled at dawn.  Any type of fire symbolism, including light, candles, illumination, heat, warmth or sunrises also belong to this goddess.  The tradition of female priestesses tending sacred, naturally occurring, eternal flames is a feature of ancient Indo-European pre-Christian spirituality. Other examples include the Roman goddess Vesta, and other earlier hearth-goddesses, such as the Greek Hestia.

Brigid is one of the Tuatha De Danann, people of the goddess Danuu, a race of mythical beings who were the deities of the ancient Celts.  Saint Brigid was also associated with perpetual, sacred flames, such as the one maintained by nineteen nuns at her sanctuary in Kildare, Ireland. Giraldus Cambrensis, and other chroniclers, said a hedge that no man could cross surrounded the sacred flame at Kildare.  Reports claimed that men who attempted to cross the hedge were cursed, died, went insane, or became crippled.

Brigid was also connected to holy wells at Kildare and many other sites in the Celtic lands.  Tying cloths, especially white fabric, to the trees next to healing wells, and other methods of petitioning or honoring Brigid, still take place in some of the Celtic areas. One legend says Brigid invented both whistling and the sound of mourning called keening. She is a goddess of healing, metal smithing, poetry and music.  Brigid is considered the patroness of medicine, arts and crafts, cattle and other livestock, and spring. Arrows, bells, thresholds and doorways are also included in Brigid symbolism. Several animal correspondences are tied to her, particularly ewes, dairy cows, bees, owls and serpents.

As a poetic muse she is called the “High One,” signifying the realm from which inspiration comes. She is the goddess of high dimensions, such as high-rising flames, highlands, hill-forts and upland areas; and of activities and states conceived as psychologically lofty and elevated, such as wisdom, excellence, perfection, high intelligence, and druidic knowledge.

Her feast is February 2, Imbolc, or Candlemas to Christians, which marks the halfway point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. At Imbolc, the sap begins to run in the trees, and buds form as the energy of life flows again. Ground Hog Day is a dim reminder of honoring the shift in the balance of light and dark.  On the eve of Imbolc, it was the custom to hang a pure white wool cloth outside on a tree.  The cloth was believed to absorb the energy of the goddess, and sanctified in this way it would serve as an altar cloth or special talisman.  As we have reached the balance point, midway between the darkness of winter solstice and the promise of spring at the March equinox, we can feel life flowing as inner potential is once again drawn into outer expression.  If we purify our minds like a clean, white cloth we can ask to receive Brigid’s inspiration.

Based on and excerpts from Goddesses for Every Day © 2010 by Julie Loar.   Printed with permission of New World Library, Novato, CA   www.newworldlibrary.com

ARIES

The Aries New Moon on April 10 brings you extra energy and enthusiasm. Initiate a new project or go to the gym; it’s your time. The month gets even better around April 17 when a powerful Sun-Mars conjunction in your sign makes you unstoppable. Keep cool and aim to win!

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20)

You work best quietly behind the scenes in early May but shine like a star during late April when your ruler, Venus, enters your sign followed by the Sun and Mars from April 19. Expect some upset or drama with your loved one; with good communication this could revitalize a tired relationship.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21)

As a Gemini you enjoy new ideas, and April is overall a brilliant and creative month for you. However, an important alignment between stern Saturn and unruly Uranus on April 12 suggests you slow down, meditate, relax and think things through carefully, or you could regret something you do or say.

CANCER (June 22-July 22)

You tend to be cautious but in April the planets compel you to take the public platform. You might wish you were invisible but now is your time to be seen and use your leadership skills. It’s important to de-stress and nurture yourself with a walk by a lake or in the countryside.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22)

You long for adventure with the Sun and Moon encouraging you to break away from your everyday routines. Responsibilities at home could slow things down but Saturn and Uranus on April 12 could show you a way to find balance between what you have to do and what you dream of doing.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

You can now work steadily towards your goals but watch out for Saturn’s opposition to Venus and the Sun on April 22 and 28 which could put obstacles in your path. The Scorpio Full Moon is reminding you to take care of your health by taking the higher path and avoiding unwanted emotions.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23)

Keep your feet on the ground in April and don’t allow your dreams to take precedence over reality, or this can affect your decisions and relationships. When the Sun and Mars meet on April 17 use this dynamic energy to keep fit and reach your goals; you have the green light!

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 – Nov. 21)

There are four planets in your area of self-improvement so make the most of this extra energy to keep fit and improve your life in all areas. Your success often comes through relationships and this is particularly true around April 24 when your ruler, Pluto, makes a lovely aspect to sociable Venus.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

You’re know how to enjoy life and live in the moment and this is especially true during the first half of April. The pace slows when Venus enters Taurus on April 15 so remember to smell the roses now and work at improving your skills rather than rushing on to the next adventure.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

April begins with four planets stirring up the foundations of your life and you may feel that things are spinning out of control. It’s good to let loved ones know how you feel and while this type of heart-to-heart communication doesn’t come easily to you it will help you feel more settled.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Your brain is racing and ideas come thick and fast but do take the time to meditate, breathe deeply and slow down, so that you can avoid burn-out and consider your options. Around April 20, a Mercury-Uranus aspect can bring some sudden and brilliant intellectual breakthroughs; be prepared to think outside the box.

PISCES (Feb. 19-Mar. 20)

The lively New Moon in Aries on April 10 joins with Mars and Venus to turn on your charm, and social skills. You may feel a little addicted to love so don’t try and build something permanent from what may be romantic illusions. Be kind, compassionate and forgiving and your relationships will improve.

Copyright Chrissie Blaze 2013.

About The Author:  Chrissie Blaze is a professional astrologer, author of nine published books, radio show host and international speaker. She has a popular website – http://www.chrissieblaze.com where she publishes astrology updates and upcoming planetary news. She also offers Karmic Charts, Forecasts, Compatibility Charts and more. Chrissie’s books, classes and online download lectures and courses can be found in Satiama’s online store.