Aquarius New Moon Mandala
January 27, 2017
Victory! – Hope Reborn
This cycle certainly came in with a bang! This new moon ushered in the year of the Fire Rooster according to the Chinese Calendar. “People born in a year of the Rooster are very observant. Hardworking, resourceful, courageous, and talented, Roosters are very confident in themselves. Roosters are always active, amusing, and popular within a crowd. Roosters are talkative, outspoken, frank, open, honest, and loyal individuals. They like to be the center of attention and always appear attractive and beautiful.” “Fire Roosters are Trustworthy, with a strong sense of timekeeping and responsibility at work.” http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/rooster.htm
For me, Rooster symbolism is full of “WAKE UP! WAKE UP!!!” And, more importantly of being aware of and acknowledging LIGHT! Legend states that the only time the rooster crowed at midnight was the night that Jesus was born. In Spanish and Latin American countries, “Misa del Gallo,” the Mass of the Rooster, is celebrated at midnight on Christmas Eve. The crowing of the rooster at the dawn of each morning symbolizes the daily triumph of light over darkness and the victory of good over evil. ~ https://www.bronners.com/topic/rooster-legend.do
We also witnessed a rare and beautiful event during this cycle: the lunar eclipse! Lunar eclipses are said to be emotionally based and the energy helps us to till the soil of the sub conscious. This full moon is known at the Snow Moon or the Hunger Moon. As I think back on this cycle what stands out most for me is a change in direction and the renouncement of a false god thanks to a victory in what I refer to as the Klondike Battle.
The Mandala
Beautiful, once again, this offering from Zodiac Arts. If you aren’t connecting to this monthly gift I encourage you to jump in! You’ll find a new mandala every month created by Sandra Mosely at http://zodiacarts.com/elements/mandalas/color-a-mandala/ Print it. Color it. And Contemplate… it’s a beautiful monthly process!
Most prominent in this mandala for me are the five pointed stars. Of the Star Sandra writes:
“The Star is the flow of cosmic energy coming to Earth to be made manifest. It depicts the depth of inner consciousness that is attained through meditation. It teaches us to release our fear of isolation and to love and serve humanity. Confer with The Star to increase self-confidence or to generate a new flow of energy and resources.”
~ http://zodiacarts.com/zodiac-arts-new-moon-news/aquarius-new-moon-january-27-2017/
Two squares are found, one small and interior, the other larger and reaching to the exterior ring. Square typically speak to me of earth, stability, structure, but can also represent the four elements: earth, fire, water, and air.
The interior circle also holds a pentagon which connects the points of the star. This fifth side adds Spirit to the four elements – the spark which creates a viable, living entity.
Surrounding the stars are three seven-pointed stars… the interior pointing down and more acute than the other two more obtuse shapes. Seven is a mystic number traditionally associated with Venus and more recently with Neptune. It is the number of feelings and of instincts – of the Group Mind, of Love, whether that strange, indescribable but pervasive feeling of love is towards another person, a pet, oneself or one’s God. ‘Love’ embodies tremendous sexual energy, the emotions of which may be directed in various ways. ~http://hpathy.co.uk/Seven.html
In Christian tradition, the seven-pointed star represents the seven gifts of the Spirit – wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, fear of the Lord, and delight in the Lord. http://www.planetgast.net/symbols/stars/stars.html Fear of the Lord is often misunderstood. It is not meant to be afraid, but rather to be in AWE! Breathlessly in awe!
Three could refer to mind/body/spirit or the Trinity.
There are five circles which radiate from the center. In general, concentric circles represent:
- processes,
- interrelationships,
- wholeness,
- systemic view of nature and universe,
- usually physically represented as a place or location from which stories and experience emanated and to which the people and stories are historically tied, and
- layers of meaning.
~ http://www.hyperformer.com/NativeArt/Circles/
They always remind me a bit of rings in a pond…so there is a soft, radiating quality to this five. Five is the number of balance and of the human being:
Human Being
Five is the number of the human being.
The number five symbolizes the four limbs and the head that controls the limbs.
There are five senses: sight – hearing – taste – smell – touch.
~ http://mysticalnumbers.com/number-5/
Underlying it all is the number eight which segments the entire mandala from center to edge:
Number 8 is the symbol of harmony and balance.
Number 8 symbolizes the ability to make decisions.
Number 8 symbolizes abundance and power.
The Pythagoreans called the number eight “Ogdoad” and considered it the “little holy number”.
~ mysticalnumbers.com
The Month
My favorite springtime activity is to look for what’s new… the firsts… the first bud … be it tree for flower…
The first flower and each of its kind…
…the first sighting of chipmonk (or Goober as my belated grandmother would call him), groundhog, baby chick (much later this year) and this year…
first sighting of turtle!
And one Last… the last day my beloved Junco is seen as these snow birds head for cooler regions. These firsts are quite early this year due to the record setting highs we’ve had so my eyes have been more keenly attentive to my surroundings. God has taught me much through nature already this spring, lessons of :
impatience – of being burned by budding too soon…
trying to be something or someone I’m not.
A tree caught a grill cover in a recent storm. The cover does not fit the tree much like the personas many of us try to wear in an effort to please others do not fit or suite us.
Sometimes what we need to let go of is too big for us to deal with alone and we need help. (Can you see the very large branch caught in this tree? The branch begins in the lower right hand corner. )
Looking outward invites me to look for the newness in me. For years my biggest struggle has been with my body. Being in balance and at a healthy weight has not been attainable for me for any length of time. The past several years I have been exploring and listening to the needs of my body. Eliminating food sensitivities and allergens have helped tremendously! This cycle my dietician has me focusing on building muscle instead of losing fat…what a game changer! I’m moving more and getting my core exercises done every day. Brilliant!
Recently I’ve been having difficulty getting through the weekend with just an indulgence or two…one piece of gluten free toast on Saturday becomes two pieces on Sunday and so on…you get the picture. So I’ve decided that Sunday is my indulgence day. The weekend of the full moon, and unbeknownst to my Lovie, I decided to not eat anything with sugar in it. Nothing. I don’t eat sugar during the week, why should I eat it on the weekend? My indulgences would be a piece of gluten free toast with grass fed butter and a personal size Amy’s gluten free, dairy free veggie pizza. (Saturday night by the way, I dreamt I was carrying a toaster in the rain…lol. You can imagine how much I enjoy that piece of toast! Lol…) Well, Friday night my darling dearest brought home a pint of B/J Cherry Garcia and TWO packages of Klondike bars. Seriously? Again, he had no idea what I had decided for myself. It appeared to me I was being tested! Besides, I have to learn to deal…my issues are not anyone else’s issues. Friday went fine. Saturday…no problem. I got to Sunday afternoon and the ice cream bars were calling my name….CALLING MY NAME! Uffda! I thought I’d throw them out, but took a pause… and a breath… and then began tapping…and praying…and tapping. After a few cycles of EFT and a couple of Hail Mary’s I felt so much better. I’ve known about this method for years and this was the first time I had the presence of mind to actually use it. Some of the Klondike bars are still in my house but they have no power over me. I have turned a corner. Victory! This was HUGE!!!
This cycle I got the ground work done and our new night time Prayer Shawl Ministry Meeting was approved. We have five very excited new members! I was also happy to be able to sub for our new music director so she could attend a music conference. It was a great, high energy weekend! Exhausted today, but such joy!!
Now, my thoughts turn to the next cycle…and deep water… or desert – which ever you prefer. Both evoke the same result… resting and tuning in…the kind of tuning in that evokes change. Lent begins Wednesday and it’s time to change the direction in which I look for happiness (the literal definition of repent)… to take what I have learned about myself in this cycle and put it to good use… remembering who I am and Whose I am… tuning in to the divine purpose for which I have been sent… joining in the divine dance… and following the lead of Love.
May your journey be filled to overflowing with grace!
Love, Hugs and Blessings,
Lynn xoxxx