Archive
I Ching Gua for the New Moon in Scorpio
We have had quite a time of it! Halloween, the last day of the Celtic Year, Samhain; All Saints Day, All Souls Day, The Day of the Dead, Diwali, New Moon in Scorpio and to top it all off, a Solar Eclipse! This has been a powerful time; if you are feeling a little “winded” from all this celestial activity, you are not alone!
To help myself come back to earth from soaring with the Moon, I really enjoy sitting with my yarrow stalks to consider the incoming energies with the New Moon, to see what the month ahead might look like. If you have been reading this blog for a bit you know I do this divination as close to the New Moon as possible. (And if you are a new reader, search back on “new moon” for previous I Ching readings.) I did my work Sunday morning, just after the eclipse and New Moon at about 8:00 AM Eastern Standard time.
My yarrow stalks did not let me down; the energies they revealed are exactly in line with all the other divinations and readings I have seen about this time; from numerology to astrology and to the channeling from Rosemary’s sources, all energies seem strongly directed to Transformation!
The hexagram I cast is Da Zhuang which means Great Strength. It’s pictured here. Beginning with Great Strength is very auspicious but this does not mean that immediate action is required. In fact it is better to “stand your ground” at this time. The initial weak yang line (a 9 which is a changing line) indicates an infirm base. There is no need to move out quickly; be patient. Yet there is great strength here, a solid and imposing Gua of power. There is high energetic potential here. The power needs to be used wisely.
In Da Zhuang the upper trigram, Thunder, is yang energy on top of the lower trigram, Heaven, which is also strong yang. Remain solidly passive holding the inner strength.
Notice that there are two changing lines in the hexagram, the first (bottom) and the fifth. The bottom line is a 9, a weak yang line which can change to a yin line. The fifth line, a 6, is a weak yin line which can change to a yang line. Master Alfred Huang recommends reading the yin changing line. This means that Da Zhuang changes to the accomplished Gua, Guai which means Eliminating. It’s picture here.
The built-up potential energy of Da Zhuang can be held in check no longer. It is time to use the power, the Great Strength, to Eliminate darkness. Shine the light into the shadowy places. Yet, even as this great potential is built, there is need for caution to be sure everyone is onboard with the program. Consult the constituents. Proceed with the energy cautiously.
This action can happen later in the month. Again, there is no need to rush into this. Nevertheless, great outcome is possible. The power can overcome the dark. This is very auspicious.
There is one more Gua that can be derived from this cast. The Mutual Gua, which holds a secret or inner meaning, is created from the 6 inner lines, taking lines 2, 3, and 4 as the lower trigram and 3, 4, and 5 as the upper trigram creates Heaven over Heaven. The hexagram with all 6 yang lines is Qian which means Initiating – Transformation! The conclusion of all of this celestial energy in Scorpio, here at the end of the Celtic year and the beginning of a new cycle is – Transformation – with Great Strength to Eliminate whatever is in the way of the New.
And just to confirm there are other indications that this energy is with us, here’s a snapshot from Gloria Hesseloff’s newsletter on the New Moon in Scorpio:
Scorpio is ruled by our beloved and respected Pluto. Thus, the higher levels of Scorpio include nothing less than TRANSFORMATION. This is a call to restore back to sacredness that which has become taboo. This includes our Shadow. Scorpio represents our shadow. We usually think of the shadow as our lower frequency qualities. However, the shadow also holds anything we have repressed, including our talents, our authenticity and our light.
It will be quite a month!
Adjusting Our Tolerance Levels
In yesterday’s post I wrote about tolerance and my view of what tolerance, what we come to tolerate, means. As a follow-up I want to explore today how to set those tolerance levels for optimum effect and performance.
Why? Because when we tolerate things to an extreme it drains our energy. When we are lax in our standards, when we tolerate something beyond a reasonable level it saps our strength; it depletes our ability to cope and to move through life with ease. And we may overlook important lessons if our allowances are too lenient.
But there is another side to this tolerance coin as I mentioned yesterday. We can also set our levels too high, our expectations too demanding to the point of spending too much energy holding ourselves and others to that high standard. Again, we lose energy, in this case actively.
So, where’s the balance? How do we determine the best level of tolerance in a given situation? This goes to the heart of values. We first assess our values, list them and prioritize them. For our highest values we establish an approach to live by those values. And we set boundaries around these values (we may even do this subconsciously based on our life history, family of origin, socialization, beliefs, etc.). The boundaries become our measures of tolerance, both for ourselves and others.
Here’s an example: I was outraged a few days ago when I learned through a news report that three US Congressional Representatives, led by Michele Bachmann, traveled to Egypt and made a speech about the turmoil there and praising the Egyptian military for its actions to overthrow the elected government. They did not have their facts straight, they did not speak well, stumbling over their words, and their general demeanor seemed typical of the superior, high-handed western approach. I had to bite my tongue not to explode in reaction to this total misrepresentation of facts, American ideals and me as an American. Did I expend too much energy on this? Certainly! Why? Because I set my standards too high for politicians these days. Let’s be real: there is a very good reason that our US Congress has one of the lowest levels of approval in history!
OK, so what do I do about this? I have several choices: 1) stop believing that the representatives in the US Congress actually represent me; 2) stop expecting these representatives, and senators, to have much in the way of standards; 3) relax my standards on what it means to be a) an American b) an elected representative c) a politician d) a participant in a democratic experiment; and 4) lower or even remove the notion that living in a republic is a useful value!
Sorry that sentence got a little complicated but I think you get my drift here. I can lower my expectations of how I think a member of the US Congress should behave, especially internationally, and save a lot of wasted emotional energy worrying and railing about it!
I use this example to illustrate my approach to the process. I chose a value of lower priority in my scheme of life to keep it light. My practices, on the other hand, are high on my priority list. And I spend a lot of energy on these practices. They keep me both grounded and connected to what is real. They offer me a way to assess and reassess these values that are so important as a gauge to adjusting my tolerance levels. Values change with the flow and evolution of life and consciousness. Tolerance levels rise and fall with lessons learned.
Do your practices help you adjust your tolerance levels? Do you have a way to assess your values and apply them consciously to the events in your life? What is your approach?
I Am Tolerating WHAT???!!! – Richard’s Commentary
Tolerance, a “permissive attitude”, can be a lackadaisical approach to life or it can be a philosophy and intentional approach to life. Which is it? Maybe it can be both.
Tolerance in a carefully machined automobile part is the amount of deviation from a standard that can be allowed for the part to function properly. In this example machining the part further to comply with a tighter than needed tolerance would take more time and energy and would not necessarily improve the functionality of the part. A more relaxed tolerance in this case can save energy rather than expend more energy.
Personally I can tolerate a certain amount of dust on a windowsill or a few dust bunnies under the bed; if I vacuum the rug every two weeks rather than every week I am saving myself time and a bit on the electric bill. The tolerance level here is the amount of deviation from perfection that balances the energy saved with the energy expended on accepting the deviation.
If you are a parent, how much do you tolerate from your kids? Do you have a “permissive attitude” toward their behavior? And how far do you allow that permission to extend? Again, energy can be a measure here: the energy you spend on parenting can be balanced by the energy the children spend on testing the boundaries of your tolerance. They are busy learning about those boundaries and you must be busy setting them so they learn how to be balanced, creative, socially adapted individuals.
And then there are the personal boundaries that we develop and evolve as we grow and mature, learn and expand consciously. These boundaries form the tolerances in our lives. Some are external; they involve our family, friends, community, even country. Some people choose to leave their country of origin because they can no longer tolerate the living circumstances, whether those are political, religious, social, or economic factors. And then there are the internal boundaries, the tolerance levels we set up as standards for our own behavior and how we live life within those standards, or values. It is these values around which we balance the energy we expend on maintaining our adherence to those standards versus the energy drain from letting down our guard and giving in to a lower standard.
As an example one of my standards, a practice, is to write three longhand pages of text everyday, early in the day, preferably first thing in the morning. This is a practice I adopted from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. I have been doing this for years, and I find it very worthwhile. It is a way for me to meditate, to journal, to dump the cobwebs from my psyche, to rail at the Universe, to give thanks to the universe, to channel the divine. I love this practice. Do I do it every day, first thing in the morning? No. Clearly there are things that get in the way, that disrupt this practice. This morning I am writing this blog post first before my pages. Lately I’ve been eating some breakfast before my pages. These are tolerances that I can live with; energy spent obsessing about always writing the pages first is not balanced by the positive effect of the writing. On the other hand there are some days I miss writing altogether. When I occasionally miss one day it seems to be OK, I can tolerate that. But when two or more days go by and I fail to get to mypages, I begin to notice the effects: I get more irritable, less tolerant! Then the balance tips in the direction of energy drained from me that is out of balance with energy spent in writing the pages.
How do you measure your tolerance levels? Do you do this consciously? Are you aware when your boundaries are crossed and your energy drained? It’s good to think about your boundaries so you can maximize your energy levels and live fully, in the present.
Now I’m going to write those pages!
ROSEMARY’S EXPLORATION: I Am Tolerating WHAT???!!!
We all have some things in our lives that aren’t perfect. They can be as mundane as a kitchen we wish were updated or shoes that aren’t quite comfortable but look oh, so good with that one outfit. Or they can be huge, like a spouse who abuses us or a job that we dread going to each morning.
What are you tolerating in your life today?
What has bugged you in the last week? Was it a friend who called and you couldn’t wait to get off the phone? Was it the traffic in your long commute to work? How about that dripping sink in the bathroom that keeps you up at night? Or that orange carpet that you keep planning to replace?
Look around you and ask yourself if you are surrounded by things that you enjoy seeing, people that you enjoying being with, activities and work that feel fulfilling. Is everything in your house in working order or are you tolerating some things that don’t quite work right?
Everything around you that is just a ‘tolerance’ is draining your energy, your very life force, your ‘chi’ or ‘prana.’
Think of the energy it takes to look at that ‘tolerance’ every day and wish things were different. Do you judge yourself harshly for not having taken care of it yet? Are you silently passive/aggressive, getting angry at your partner or kids for not taking care of it? Are you constantly reminding yourself that you ‘can’t afford’ to do anything about it, which keeps your focus on lack instead of abundance?
You CAN do something about the things you are tolerating in your life!
Make a list of those ‘tolerances’ this week. Big, little, mundane, significant. And then look at the emotional impact of having those tolerances in your life. Are you giving away your power, your energy, to something that you can change?
No one must tolerate being abused by another person. No one. There is always help if you feel you must get away, whether it is a partner, a family member, an employer. If this is on your list, make it a priority to do something about it.
Not every tolerance is physical. Are you procrastinating about your spiritual life because you are tired or too busy or overworked? Are you tolerating a schedule or energy drain that doesn’t allow you to have JOY in your life? You deserve joy. Is there something in your life that is blocking joy? Take care of that block.
Sometimes the shift is as simple as thinking in terms of ‘and’ instead of ‘either/or.’ Sometimes a huge effort is required to make a change. Whether it’s getting a new job or leaving a relationship or painting a room, you can do it.
Find a friend in whom you can confide, or a trusted counselor, and talk about your list of tolerances. Someone else might be able to offer a simple solution that you haven’t considered and you can cross that one off the list. Others might take some time to clear.
Think of the energy you are freeing up, though. Imagine if you spend next weekend clearing away the tolerances in your home [you can start with the easy ones like fixing the faucet or painting the room] and see how much better you feel. Then work on the ones that might require more work or outside help.
Remember, you are claiming your energy and your power. It’s worth the effort!
PS: Are you ready to let go of those things you tolerate? Are you ready to unlock the mysteries you carry? Do you want to hear mystic messages specifically for you? Apply for a FREE Discovery Session with Rosemary! Apply Here
ROSEMARY’S INSPIRATION: What Are You Tolerating?
Rosemary’s “Two-Minute” video for the week: What Are You Tolerating?
PS: Are you ready to unlock the mysteries you carry? Do you want to hear mystic messages specifically for you? Apply for a FREE Discovery Session with Rosemary! Apply Here
MONDAY’S POEM: Red Lion
Red Lion
Some days the beast requires a leash,
Some ways the body must seek release.
There’s no chance of change in full control,
Transformation comes through Red Lion’s role.
Remember this warning, keep to the path.
Control the creature or suffer his wrath.
Don’t bind him too tightly, there’s energy need.
Give him his head, he wants to be freed.
There’s a delicate balance of domestic and wild:
Too much domestic, the mix is too mild:
Too much wild, the mix goes astray;
Isis knew the secret of this precious way!
©2013 Richard W. Bredeson. All rights reserved.
The Language of Being the Natural YOU – Richard’s Commentary
In Rosemary’s article this week she channels The Divine Feminine who quote a favorite line of the followers of The Law of Attraction and their key premise: “Energy flows where attention goes.” Then Rosemary explains that attention is thought and thought is governed by language. Therefore to be who we came here to be, we need to use the language we came here to use to think natural thoughts, to express ourselves using natural language, to adhere to natural beliefs in order to manifest our natural selves.
I like this word natural very much. There are many associations I have with this word, like nature, native, indigenous. One of my teachers, Martín Prechtel, claims that one of our main goals is to become a natural human being: one who belongs where they were, fits their environment, lives a natural life. He also teaches that a good way to begin to understand how to live a natural life is to learn an indigenous language, especially one that does not use the verb form “to be.”
And this brings me full circle to my posts last week about the concept of time and how natural people typically have a very different relationship with time than “western people” with their heavy reliance on the Indo-European language use of the to-be verb form.
So, what is this natural language Rosemary urges us to adopt in order to get in touch with the inner light that we are? Do we all have to learn an indigenous language that does not rely on “to be”? Or is there an easier way?
When I ask myself questions like this I find myself almost naturally going inside to seek answers. And when I go there long enough answers usually come bubbling up.
Of course when I do this I am following Rosemary’s advice explicitly! She says: “The Natural You is the being at your core, that center of Light that can brighten the world for others. Put your attention here. Focus on your BEING, not what you are DOING.”
But notice she is using the to-be verb forms here in this very suggestion! An interesting irony. Nevertheless her point is clear. And what I conclude is this naturallanguage is the language of being. We speak this language when we meditate, when we go inside. We use this language not so much to express thoughts as to let thoughts go. We use this language when we touch our true nature, that light-being at our core. We use this language when we speak to God, or whatever expression for the Eternal appeals. We use this language when we speak from the heart. Poets use this language when they are at their best.
This natural language is easy enough to learn. But it is very difficult to perfect. It takes a lifetime of practice to get it right. We can all speak it as natives. But few become fluent. The world would be an awesome place; it would be “Heaven on Earth” if we all strove to perfect our use of our natural language!
And, yes, this is a belief I hold. I express this belief in an Indo-European language using the to-be form here: “would be.” My natural language is not a written language. It is difficult to find written examples except in rare instances of near perfect poems and certain stories of the heart. I have heard some of those stories, translations of stories from natural people, like stories Martín Prechtel tells.
Do you speak a natural language? How do you get in touch with your inner light? How do you express your beliefs that guide you through this world? This is your natural language.
ROSEMARY’S EXPLORATION: The Language of Being the Natural YOU
Today’s message starts with guidance, and then I’ll comment.
“Dear Ones,
Energy flows where attention goes.
This is a familiar phrase to many. But the part that many do not know is that language directs the attention that the energy follows.
This is why a worrier can create such havoc in their life. They talk about their worries (attention) and the energy flows into the possibility that manifests that reality containing the worried-about-events.
Language, then, becomes the focuser of attention.
Language is also a component of thought. You think in a language that describes a picture or a quality or an event. Choosing language carefully, even in thought, is very important.
This is especially important when communicating with another person. The language you use creates a response in the other person. Is the energy flowing between the two of you as you wish or is your choice of language communicating something different to the receiver?
When you keep your thoughts focused on that which you desire to manifest, and you choose your language carefully to support that direction, then the energy to manifest will follow the path of your attention to manifest your desires.
This path also works to manifest your worries, if that is where your thoughts go.
You choose.
And so it is.”
Rosemary’s Commentary:
As we reiterate that ‘energy follows attention,’ we have to examine not only our thoughts, worries, speech but also the source of those thoughts, worries, speech. These originate from our self-concept, our beliefs about who we are.
If you find yourself focusing on your faults, your deservedness (or unworthiness), your lack of direction or confidence in your next step, then you are sending energy to maintain that fault, feeling of unworthiness or confusion.
Catch yourself using the language of what you ARE NOT and change it to WHO YOU REALLY ARE!
Much of my client time is spent helping them to find a new way of languaging what they are saying. Just shifting from ‘either-or’ thinking to ‘and’ thinking can make a huge difference. But it’s the subtleties of the choice of language that can really trip you up.
Each of us puts up a persona to the world as if we have donned a mask to hide behind. But who are we REALLY?
You are not what you lack or worry about. You are a great Light in the world shining only as brightly as you energize that Light.
The Natural You is the being at your core, that center of Light that can brighten the world for others. Put your attention here. Focus on your BEING, not what you are DOING.
Energize the Light that you already are!
This is the Natural You. Speak, think, believe ONLY the language of the Being of Light that is the real YOU.
Language will focus the attention that allows the energy to flow and brighten your Light!
PS: Through the month of Rosemary’s birthday, August, she is offering a very special price on a Reading with her: $65! Get help with direction, with next steps, with living more naturally, in the moment. This special expires August 31. Purchase Here
What Would You Do? Do It Now! – Richard’s Commentary
I don’t feel old! OK, I did just move through my 68th birthday. By many standards this is at least approaching “old.” My grandkids think I’m old, but even they are polite enough not to say so unless asked directly. They see us in action and know we move through life with a lot of energy, a lot of vitality; good qi drives us!
But maybe these days it doesn’t require attainment of a certain age in order to get this message: “do it now!” This past Friday in our Qigong class the teacher, who is also an acupuncture practitioner, reflected that she was seeing way too many patients coming to her with a “pre-cancerous” diagnosis. A good, younger friend was just told he had a lymphoma; another good, younger friend just completed his treatment for prostate cancer. And I just scheduled a bone marrow biopsy to determine why my red-blood cell count is diminishing.
So, the admonition in Rosemary’s message: There is an urgency about the energies around us today. We each have a reason that we were born into this time on the Planet. Have you discovered your purpose? Are you clear about what you are to be doing now? If not, then that is your work today really does ring true!
First the “urgency”. I do feel this energy and it’s not just because I am in the midst of diagnosing a health condition and am surrounded by others going through a similar process for one ailment or another. There is a building sense that things are not right, that there is a potential building to create a shift, and not necessarily a gentle shift! Rosemary and I both have been writing in our blogs about this energy for transformation. Many of our associates are also feeling this energy. It is manifesting in many way, not just through disease. Many are feeling the dis-ease of our times, whether it is in the form of political, social, economic, or health issues. We seem to have come to a place where things our “out of kilter.”
Rosemary’s advice is to “discover your purpose.” And then “do it now!” And no, I don’t think time is necessarily running out; I don’t sense that my life is threatened by whatever malady I have that needs a diagnosis. This urgency is born of the sense that the energy of transformation needs a response. And the best response is in the direction of our purpose.
I have had my hands read by one of the best in the business, Baeth Davis, and by some of her students and others who have studied Scientific Hand Analysis. My life purpose is revealed in my fingerprints. I have lots of “loops” which means I am in the school of love, my lessons are about love and my purpose is love. (So, it’s not unreasonable that I would write a blog entitled Men and the Goddess!)
My purpose is to connect people in community with each other and with the divine. I am a builder of connections so people can experience and express both human and divine love. And over the years I have done this in many ways, through several approaches.
Since I know my purpose and I have been working at it, why this urgency? What is my lesson in the ailment I am being urged to diagnose? For me the message here is to remember my purpose and work as diligently as possible at it. It is more a positive reminder and a gentle push to keep going, keep building community, keep working on the vision Rosemary and I have for a Center of Light and Love.
Do you have this sense that the energies of change are breathing down your neck? If so, and I know many of you know exactly what I’m writing about, then what are you doing about it? Do you know your purpose for being here on the planet at this crucial time in human history? Are you going about that purpose as diligently and energetically as possible?
I second Rosemary’s admonition: “Do it now!”
PS: If you have never had your hands read, if you are struggling to know what your life purpose is, if you too have this sense of urgency that the world is changing and needs your response, then consider getting a scientific hand analysis by Rosemary. She is one of the best because she adds her talents as a Channel and a Medium to the analysis work!Click Here for more information.
ROSEMARY’S EXPLORATION: Moving Forward
With each sunrise your new day, your new life, begins. Every morning is an opportunity to make new choices about the direction in which your life will lead. Do you consider this when you wake up?
Or do you start your day with complaints? About not enough sleep, or aches and pains, or a long to-do list?
At this time in human history, you are being asked to step into your power and your purpose and propel yourself forward in the direction of your dreams. Yes, it is your dream and your vision of your future that pull you into that future. You can move into that vision or you can choose to stay in your present, fighting against the energy to move forward.
Believe it or not, it takes more energy to stay stuck than it does to move forward. You must fight the strong current of the energy of the Universe that wants to support your forward movement if you would keep everything as it is. When you surrender to the forces that carry you forward on your personal journey you will find the fulfillment that we all seek.
Decide today that you will choose to move forward in your life. When you wake up tomorrow, start your day with the thought, ‘How can I take a step forward along my path? What can I do today that helps me to grow, to advance in my consciousness, to understand something I’ve struggled with before, or to live my purpose more fully?’
This first decision is the hardest part. It’s much easier to pull the covers over your head and go back to sleep, literally or figuratively. But now is not the time to sleep. It is the time to awaken to the wonderful opportunities that abound in front of you.
This is not the time to look at the past and judge yourself harshly for not doing/doing something in the past. Today is a new day. Give yourself a pat on the back for opening to the awareness that there are opportunities in front of you and for making the decision to move forward in your life.
I recently came upon some notes from a while ago where I struggled with a problem that has cropped up again for me. Sometimes I think, ‘Haven’t I already dealt with this one?’ The answer I receive from my guides is often, ‘Yes, and now you have the opportunity to delve more deeply into this issue and to move yourself even farther forward.’
Our personal journeys are not linear – they do not go forward in a straight line. They spiral, around and around. And, if we are moving forward in our personal growth, we are able to see from a new perspective with each return of the spiral, to understand in a new way what we couldn’t see before. This is moving forward along our path of personal growth in consciousness.
Once you have awakened you cannot unlearn what you have learned. You might try to stand still but the energy within you leads you to move forward.
Keep growing. Keep moving. Reach in front of you for help from someone leaping ahead. Reach behind you to help someone who is moving more slowly.
Keep moving forward.
Men and The Goddess 