Capricorn New Moon Mandala
January 16, 2018
Deep In the Belly Something Stirs
“Life is too precious to waste doing anything less than what makes us happy.
You get to be happy.
It’s not about whether you spend your life in a boardroom,
your bedroom, on the beach or the Mai Tai in Maui.
When you look back on your life the only thing that matters is:
Did you spend doing what you love with the people you love?
Were you happy?
Did you make the most of this beautiful, terrifying, messed up life?
Did you let go of all the things that held you back
so you can hold on to what matters most?”
~ Dr. Miranda Bailey
Grey’s Anatomy
S14Ep11: (Don’t Fear) the Reaper
The Mandala
I was reminded this cycle that no one can know for certain what Sandra has in mind as she draws the mandalas each cycle. I do, however, enjoy taking a guess at it as symbolism often speaks a universal language. What it says to each individual can also be very different.
Once again, this cycle she drew the reoccurring looping that we see in the outer ring. We saw this symbol in the Scorpio mandala associated then with the number 10 – life, death and rebirth. We see it here grouped as 15+15 in an expression of 30: symbolic of explosive creativity and discovery. I chose white as these loops reminded me of the Snowdrops I had seen while traveling. This first sign of spring was popping up all over at Windsor Castle.
White is also symbolic of new life, new beginnings. The way these loops are grouped in the mandala they look to me to be like little ballerinas.
Inside the repeating loops are 8 large circles and 8 small circles. These smaller circles create the central “budding figure” in light green.
Eight, symbolic of business, success, wealth, continuation, repetition and cycles, success as in dogged determination and repetition – the “snowball” momentum if you will. (what’s your sign)
If you add the Eights together we get Sixteen circles in total: as an Angel Number, “16 is a reminder that our thoughts create our reality – so hold on to positive expectations about your life, lifestyle and material issues. Trust that all your needs will be met.”
Two circles enclose the mandala and create the outer boarder
Grounding this mandala, “Two is symbolic of kindness, balance, tact, equalization, and duality. The number two reflects a quiet power of judgment, and the need for planning. Two beckons us to choose. The spiritual meaning of number Two also deals with the exchanges made with others, partnerships (both in harmony and rivalry) and communication. Two urges us out of our indecision, calls us to unite with like-minds and like-ideals. Two asks us to exert our natural flow of judgment to do what is best for our souls.” ~what’s your sign
Interesting to note that the Universal Energy for this year is 2+0+1+8 = 11 or 1+1=2.
The Month
“You will find true success and happiness if you have only one goal…
to fulfill the highest most truthful expression of yourself as a human being.”
~Oprah Winfrey,
~ https://www.facebook.com/aplusapp/videos/1893485930722334/
“In the human body and Spirit, there is always a wintertime,
when something is dying and falling away.
There is always simultaneously a springtime,
when something new is coming to life.
When you allow your soul to work on that threshold
where the old can fall away and the new arrive,
you come into rhythm with your destiny.”
~John O’Donnohue, Eternal Echoes
shared by Pam Younghans, FB
“Life is full of frightful things.
The great thing is to find something to be happy about
and stick that that.”
~Mum, Goodby Christopher Robin
For the second cycle in a row the first symbol of the cycle was snow. When we don’t pick up a symbol/message meant for us it will keep showing up until we “get it.” Snowflakes, in particular, are symbolic of uniqueness. Each snowflake falls with the others and coats the world in beauty! For some of us, however, it is tremendously easy to lose sight of the beauty and get caught up in the dark…those things that hold us down and count us out…fear being one of them. In those times it is tremendously important that we hold on to and encourage the Light within… hold onto positive thoughts, as few as they may be, and sing our song even if we’re singing it alone. No worries…those of like minds/thought/voices will join in soon enough.
Recent events have unsettled me and I find myself drifting. My Spirit shared this “drifting” aspect as a grounding quality on my dream wheel back in December. Drifting and Grounding – how opposed can two experiences possibly be? None-the-less it seems I need to befriend this “drifting.”
This cycle, Lovie was invited to present the budget to the board…in London. With the company covering much of his travel expenses it was a great opportunity for me to tag along. Had I not let go of some things in the last part of last year, something Spirit had encouraged me to do for the better part of a year, I might have missed this opportunity. I am perhaps too responsible for my own good and often feel conflicted. Though Lovie worked much of the time, I was afforded an opportunity to experience another culture. That they spoke English was a plus! In addition the trip helped to elevate my mood.
Whilst (a word often used in the UK) it is often said that “the journey is best enjoyed in the company of others,” there are some roads one has to travel alone. This experience abroad encouraged “courage” in me that I would not have found had I not had all this “alone” time.
I began each day laughing.
One of the TV channels broadcast Frasier every morning. Gravitating to the familiar (I used to love this show) watching Frasier tilled the soil of my timid heart and lightened it substantially. Laughter – good medicine indeed!
And ended each day with beauty.
Much of BBC TV is documentary based – much of it about the earth and it is so beautifully captured! I am really enjoying the BBC series Blue Planet back here in the States. I love the beauty and find the show to be enlightening and quite calming. I also experienced some truly stunning artwork and architecture whist away. Beauty lifts the heart and fills the soul.
I came to find that the world is not as scary as one might think.
It takes me a while to warm up to the unfamiliar whether it be places or people – it is my nature. I once told an instructor not to take offense…it just takes me a while to warm up to the new and previously unknown experiences of life and living. I still will rarely leave the hotel room alone once the sun goes down and not wanting to look like a tourist I took few pictures – maybe these are examples of common sense? Though I’m sure my blue jeans gave me away, lol… but as the week wore on I became more and more comfortable walking to my destinations alone. There was much to see and experience within walking distance of our hotel. It just required a little courage to get out there.
I also found that there are stories waiting to be told and people waiting to be validated. Some of the stories truly tragic and heart breaking… some enlightening … and others joyful and hope-filled. The challenge was to allow the experience as it was and not let fear get in the way. I met some really terrific people… from Romania…Bulgaria…. England… taxi drivers, wait-staff, military…some with family back in the “old country” who dream of coming to America… all with stories to tell that enriched me and my perception of the world. They will long be remembered, especially in my prayers.
A good cup of tea goes a long way…
Someone I knew when my children were little gave up tea every Lent. Her nighttime tea routine calmed her. I grew to enjoy this afternoon tradition… even in the morning – with milk and a little sugar – a first for me! I usually drink it straight – no chaser. Lol…. A little caffeine doesn’t hurt either.
Other items of interest this cycle:
The Pantone color for 2018 is Ultra Violet – a blue-based purple (color of the spectrum for Capricorn by the way) “that takes our awareness and potential to a higher level. From exploring new technologies and the greater galaxy, to artistic expression and spiritual reflection, intuitive Ultra Violet lights the way to what is yet to come.”
~Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute
~ https://www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year-2018
I have also recently reconnected to light classical music playing on the “telly”. I played a lot of classical music in my youth as a bassoonist. There is something about music that can shift a mood so beautifully – you just want to dance! And, I have to say, Baroque music is great to “color” to!
I revisited the introductory eight-day session in It’s About Time: Progress without Pressure with Donna Iona Drozda whilst away. With no traditional tools at my disposal I turned to the Notes App on my phone and drew the images with my chubby fingers on that small screen. The images were very primitive and child-like… almost as if my non-dominant hand had drawn them.
Deep in the Belly a Light Shines
…having some fun on Notes here while waiting for a train back to London
from a quick 28-hour visit in Paris.
Through this PWP experience I deepened into the Mystery quadrant, re-connecting with my heritage and life experience, those things and people that have had a hand in making me “me” …grounding me so that I can be and share the gift that I am more authentically. Syncing into the natural circadian rhythms of each day, week, month, season and year in search of the Be-ing/feminine energy (because our society is SO skewed to the do, do, Do-ing-masculine energy) if only for 15 minutes a day continues to be a profoundly enriching experience! And it’s a great group of people! I highly recommend it!
~ http://www.donnaionadrozda.com/its-about-time/
From Christine Valters Paintner online Abbess at Abbey of the Arts:
“February 1st-2nd marked a confluence of several feasts and occasions including: “the Celtic feast of Imbolc, St. Brigid’s Day, Candlemas, Feast of the Presentation, and Groundhog Day!
Imbolc is a Celtic feast that is cross-quarter day, meaning it is the midway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox. The sun marks the four Quarter Days of the year (the Solstices and Equinoxes) and the midpoints are the cross-quarter days. In some cultures, like Ireland, February 2nd is the official beginning of spring.
As the days slowly lengthen in the northern hemisphere and the sun makes her way higher in the sky, the ground beneath our feet begins to thaw. The earth softens and the seeds deep below stir in the darkness. The word “imbolc” means “in the belly.” The earth’s belly is beginning to awaken, new life is stirring, seeds are sprouting forth.”
http://abbeyofthearts.com/blog/2018/01/28/imbolc-and-the-feast-of-st_brigid-a-love-note-from-your-online-abbess/
I also learned that “in the belly” in Ireland refers to the Ewing…that first soft curve of a pregnant belly – hinting at the new life growing within.
~ http://www.goddessandgreenman.co.uk/imbolc-candlemas
Ah… Spring! The promise of a breath of fresh air! Can you feel the expansion and the hope in that simple expression? There will be some “tug of war” days before winter gives way to spring but the light is lengthening, the land is softening, tree buds are beginning to shed their winter coats… and seeds of new life are stirring in the deep, dark belly of the earth. One has to wonder: What is awakening deep within each of us? At this time we may not even be aware of the potential these seeds hold… our seeds hold. The time to awaken, refresh and renew will soon be upon us. For now, the gentle stirring of what will be fills me with delight and hope.
Much love,
L xoxxx
If you connected to anything here, feel free to share.