Uproar in Heaven – Lessons from The Monkey King in the Age of Aquarius

We are moving into a new Age. Some say we´ve shifted into it already. Whichever celestial timeline you take, the fact that things are changing (for better or worse) is inescapable.

As a spiritual facilitator, the sheer intensity, depth and rapidity of shifts I have seen happening is nothing short of a miracle. Individuals who have borne heavy, intense karmic baggage for decades are shrugging it off in an instant of awakening and profound self-realization.

People are radically re-examing their belief systems, turning over the roles, rules, narratives, archetypes and paradigms of life they have held as sacred, unquestionable or absolute. We are exploring new ways of being and re-structuring our karmic and energetic relationship with Life, the Universe and Everything.

Some are fearing the changes and getting even more stuck in the past, in older ways of seeing the world – often those that perpetuate hierarchy, cycles of pain and stagnation. And so humanity finds itself mediating between two extremes – There doesn´t seem to be much of a middle ground yet. It´s Evolve, or .. Bust.

One of the biggest shifts I see – that has relevance to my work and to the way I experience my own evolution – is in the dying of old archetypes. Or rather, the fixedness we have associated with them. Whether it is the Saint or the Sinner, the Demon or the God, the Aggressive Patriarch or the Wounded Matriarch – we have all begun a tremendously complex, global process of re-signifying these archetypes as we transform the consciousness of the collective.

With this new age I see individuals beginning to discard and weave anew karmic contracts or understandings they have carried within for so long, and to re-assert their agency in the process of consciously driven evolution.

Whilst Piscean themes of compassion, self-sacrifice and empathy (and a sense of being trapped by their own karma) have had their own roles to play, their relevance is beginning to shift.

I see all us beginning to explore new meanings of sacredness. And with that, the meaning of what it is to be human, quite naturally, will also transform.

It´s daring, it´s exciting, and it certainly will fly in the face of what we´ve all been taught – through the generational line. Some of the old will be re-woven into the new, and some will need to be released. This process will be terrifying to some, pleasurable to others (most likely a combination of both).

Remember the compassion of Pisces, but equally the independence of Aquarius, exemplified best by mythological figures like Prometheus (Greece) and The Monkey King (China) – both of whom challenged the heavens and forged new paths for all those who followed.

Prometheus stole fire from the gods and in so doing, made civilization possible for humanity. The Monkey King stole the Heavenly Fruit (Peaches of Immortality), and in so doing elevated a demon-monkey to an immortal sage in Service of the Heavenly Realm (which, in retrospect, isn´t that benevolent a space in mythological terms. The gods in various global traditions, have, let´s just say … been rather human 😉 )

Both acts, left in their wake, a tremendous energetic legacy. And interestingly, both Prometheus and The Monkey King (San Wu-Kong) were punished for their rebellion against the status quo. That sense of confinement and punishment is also heavily linked to a different aspect of Piscean Energy.

I feel that now, more and more of us are, in our own lives, going to issue (our relationship with) the Cosmos, similar challenges. Without getting tied to a rock and being mauled by an eagle eating your ever-regenerating liver (Prometheus) or buried in a mountain for eternity (San Wu-kong / The Monkey King).

In short, the Hero(ine)´s Journey is being Re-written.

Blessings to the Collective,

Bairavee Balasubramaniam
The Sky Priestess

Image: Mystic Eye In Search of a New Horizon, Bairavee Balasubramaniam, 2016.

Note of Thanks to my brother Ashoka Mohannan who inspired me greatly in writing this piece.

 

PS – Uproar in Heaven refers to a popular animated classic depicting the Monkey King´s daring challenge to the Gods. I used to watch it each year with my brother as kids. It used to be aired on TV each year in celebration of Chinese New Year.

RUMBLE OF THUNDER, SERPENTINE SLITHER: SUN (20 LEO) TRINES URANUS RETROGRADE (20 ARIES) , INCONJUNCTS CHIRON RETROGRADE (20 PISCES) IN PREPARATION FOR THE LEO NEW MOON – AUGUST 13/14 2015

Blessings to All. The celestial spotlight has been turned and focused upon matters of the heart, joy, passion, romance and the archetype of the Child. People have engaged with this energy today in a variety of ways: feeling great emotional intensity, powerful roaring release, a sense of compression, all at once – or something else entirely.

This is because we’re preparing for tomorrow’s very, very, powerful New Moon in Leo, one that involves the Sun and Moon conjunct Ashlesha – the Serpent Star. Serpent energy is by nature, neutral – meaning it can work either way for/with/against you. Serpent energy is one which deserves respect and requires deep compassion … invoking it in ritual or ceremonial ways will be exceptionally potent at this time, especially with the Sun-Uranus trine. But that brings with it a set of challenges which, ideally, one would have an experienced guide or mentor to help you through with.

Today we see the ‘preparation’ for that New Moon, and in all honesty, it looks like the celestial equivalent of lightning striking a forest, burning it to a crisp, just so it can grow once more. The seeds you set now will come to culmination about six months from now, with the Leo Full Moon in February 2016. This – to me – comes across through the Sun’s trine with Uranus and inconjunct with Chiron. Let’s talk about those.

Now, trines are aspects that amplify the energetic connection between two astrological bodies. Amplification is neither a positive, nor a negative thing – it simply means, there’s going to be a lot of whatever energy is coming through.

The Sun trined Uranus brings in a powerful amplification of Awareness/Focused Consciousness (Sun) and the Lightning Strike of Awakening/Expansion of Consciousness. So, in other words – Uranus is about to blow your mind wide, wide, open. In the signs of Leo-Aries, this trine focuses upon:

the things which make us feel good to be alive
what we’re passionate about
what we truly feel joyful about
what we love (be it our kids, lover/s, creative projects, etc.)
along with our most vital, embodied, immediate sense of Self.

Use this energy to fully embody and express whatever it is that your creativity leads you to. You may surprise yourself in what you’re able to bring through 🙂 Sexual and sensual activities will be heightened at this time as they highly activate your energy body.

All of this can be wonderful, empowering, uplifting and energizing, however, bear in mind that there is such a thing as ‘burning out’ or being ‘over-activated’. Think of the fuse that pops because it can’t handle an electrical surge – the same applies to the human energy body, as it draws in the electricity of Uranus.

Another note – especially for spiritual seekers – Uranus is linked with the activation of the kundalini and the world/vision/self-expanding awareness that it brings. Whilst it might seem like a ‘perfect fit’ for the way in which the skies are lit during this New Moon – instead of actively trying to ‘push through’ with kundalini awakening / other intense spiritual practices – it might be a better idea to figure out how to stay open, receptive and grounded to whatever comes through. (You have to make sure you can receive that energy first without damaging yourself in the process).

Kundalini awakening is a pretty serious, hard-core spiritual practice that can truly lead you to profound places in your journey, however equally debilitating effects may arise if the kundalini is improperly raised and/or not lowered. Bear in mind that kundalini energy refers, once again, to the Serpentine archetype – one that is already activated by Ashlesha’s role in this New Moon.

For more info on this topic, check out: http://www.elephantjournal.com/2015/02/the-basics-of-kundalini-awakening-our-serpentine-energy/ – I talk about the experience of kundalini and discuss some of the effects of premature awakening.

Those with placements between 13-27 Sagittarius (so, anything near the Great Attractor & The Galactic Center) will experience a GRAND FIRE TRINE, activated by Sun/Uranus.

In the skies, we do see the asteroid Ixion (The Tyrant, 21 Sagittarius) present. Certainly a time to note the ‘I KNOW AND YOU DON’T!’ kind of vibe in any kind of student-teacher/mentor/guide relationship, and to assert your Truth irrespective of who or what is going on a power trip on the basis of the knowledge they see themselves as having (to be a little blunt about it).

Teachers who have worked through the multiple dimensions of power – having it, using it wisely, letting it go, realizing you can’t ‘let it go’ or ‘have it’ because you are it – will also powerfully come forward with their views on their respective worldviews/paths. What you accept to be True, however, is entirely up to you.

In addition to these powerfully fiery influences, we also see the energy of Chiron at play during this New Moon as The Sun is inconjunct Chiron Retrograde at 20 Pisces.

Inconjuncts are fairly uncomfortable alignments as they seek to merge elements that are (traditionally speaking) not compatible with one another (Air/Fire with Earth/Water). It takes work to merge the energies present in compatible ways – in the same you have do something to oil and water to make them into an emulsion, else they remain separate.

The Sun’s focus in Leo is on matters of passion, joy, sensuality, love, etc. as has been discussed – whereas – Chiron Retrograde focuses upon the vulnerability of the Soul’s Wound and its process of healing. In Pisces, Chiron’s energy fixates upon cycles of karma, past-life connections, otherworldly experiences and the more mysterious aspects of Spirituality that are just so hard to put into words. Formless, Amorphous, Ever-Shifting.

We may find a sense of vulnerability, or a recognition of our woundedness in the more tender aspects of our inner Child Archetype, the centers for Joy and Connection (Heart and Sacral Chakras) through this alignment. We may also discover the karmic dynamics that have fueled such wounds – with the option to now release them back into the Aether.

You may be drawn to spiritual practices like transcendental meditation, art therapy, anything that gets you into that state of no-mind, fully opening to and flowing with the streams of intuition, emotion, psychic connection and spirituality of Pisces. These experiences can benefit from the intense focus that the Sun and Moon are capable of providing, as you seek to heal a particular karmic wound or imbalanced dynamic. Alternatively, they may simply be too overwhelming for some to handle – in which case, be extra gentle with yourselves and take baby steps 🙂

Now, when two inconjuncts get together, they form a Yod (Finger of Fate), in this case, completed by placements between 17-23 Libra and/or Capricorn. Those with these placements will be taken to a set of karmic crossroads where they are challenged to get through the wounding-vulnerability of Pisces and to re-discover the authentic, core of Joy within (Leo). Relationship (Libra) and Legacy/Career (Capricorn) related matters may act as a trigger for these Yods to come into play.

In short:

The skies bear a spicy, fiery, electric, serpentine energy, and one that needs to be treated with moderation, balance and respect. It’s a time where we process deep wounds of the soul and in so doing find ways to heal our most vulnerable selves. It’s a also a time where we are challenged to come forth with our truth, but in ways that Honor the Self, and All Else.

Blessings to All,

Bairavee Balasubramaniam

The Sky Priestess

GODDESS KALI – INFINITY AND NOTHINGNESS ALL AT ONCE!

The Dark Goddess… The Wild Woman… More and more of us are guided to these archetypes and energies, with each passing day. But what do they tell us about our Spiritual Paths in life? What do they actually mean in daily practice?

I’m going to do my best to answer this question through an exploration of Goddess Kali (arguably the most iconic Dark Mother/Primordial Wild Woman in this Age). We’ll be looking at the way She is described in scripture, how She is popularly represented and ways to embody Her energy in day-to-day life.

Goddess Kali is often shown with blood dripping from Her fangs, hair loose, mostly nude, standing with 8 arms (some which hold weapons, others which hold blessings) with one foot on Her consort (Lord Shiva’s) chest.

In certain Hindu traditions, She is kept outside of or at the margins of temples as Her energy is so fierce, raw and primordial. Similarly, keeping her statues or images in the home are frowned upon in some Hindu homes. Naming one’s daughters after Kali/Bhairavi (in that rawer form) is also taboo. (Thankfully my mum didn’t know what it meant in this sense when she named me!)

But now, with so much interest in Awakening the Power of the Divine Feminine, men and women are beginning to reclaim the ferocity of Kali-Ma, breaking through the taboos that surround Her.

Let’s face it. She’s a sight to behold! Badass, in fact.

Hence, the existence of a blonde-haired, blue skinned Kali-Barbie prototype, and celebrities like Heidi Klum dressing up as Kali for Halloween (not that I have a problem with the latter). And of course – the beautiful, powerful, iconic projection of Ma-Kali’s face unto the Empire State Building in New York!

In the heat of the hype surrounding this sexy, ferocious, primordial pre-Bhramanic deity from ancient India, I see many distortions and exclusions which render this Goddess a pale echo of Her true form, energy and significance.

‘I’ve got my Kali on’ … this picture fills me with ‘Kali energy’ …. I see Her invoked in daily conversation, and often exclusively to describe a state of ‘anger’ or ‘rage’, or even of intense dislike. Whilst rage is certainly one aspect of Her – it’s a very, very small slice of the picture.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad my favourite Goddess is dancing Her Tandava (Cosmic Dance) on the World’s Stage to a steadily growing global audience – I’m glad that people are beginning to see Her in their daily lives – but there’s just so much more to Her than the stereotype of ‘the Avenging Feminine’.

Which brings me back to my initial question – what do these archetypes really mean? And how do we weave them into our daily lives?

When we look at the Devi Mahatyam (an early Hindu text), for instance, we see an array of Das Mahavidya (Ten Mahavidyas, or Wisdom Goddesses) and each make up the whole that is Kali.

We’ve got Kali Herself, Tara (the Compassionate), Chinnamasta (the Epitome of Ego-Death and Surrender), Dhumavati (the Widowed Crone), Bhagalamukhi (She who Hypnotizes, Mesmerizes and Smites), Bhuvaneswari (the Cosmos Herself), Bhairavi (The Terrifying One, Destroyer of all Obstacles), Kamala (She who grants Prosperity), Matangi (She who is ‘Polluted’, Goddess of the Forests) and TripuraSundari (The Maiden who rules the Three Worlds).

There’s a lot more to each goddess – but this is just to give you an idea of the complexity of Kali – and the total spectrum of Divine Femininity that She represents. The Just Protector, The Compassionate Mother, The Detached Crone, The Beautiful Maiden, The Devoted Wife (as Parvati), and more besides – all rolled up into one Super-duper Celestial package (or more accurately, a Vibration of a particular state of Consciousness).

In other words – All this is Kali. And She is All. Some traditions even equate Her energy interchangeably with Lord Krishna. She’s pretty much … Infinity and Nothingness in a Female Form.

In other words, looking at the Totality of what She represents, there’s very little which isn’t Maha-Kali!

But what does that mean for those of us who seek to embody her Wildness? Her Power? Her Love? Her Presence?

Personally, I see it as a call to begin witnessing Her energy through every moment of our lives…

When we hold our children and nurture our families,
When we fight for justice and walk away alone, bleeding but with our heads held up high,
When we learn the secrets of Life, the Universe, and Ourselves,
When we make love,
When we are love,
When we simply breathe,
When we simply be

… Every time you look in the mirror, there She is … watch out for that cheeky wink and knowing smile…

Bringing ‘Kali Consciousness’ into daily life does not require a ritual, a ceremony, a mantra, a holy book or instrument of prayer – all it requires is You!

Live from your Heart, learn that things come and go – as do people.

Love as fiercely as you can knowing that tomorrow may wash away the hopes of today. And love anyway.

Be unafraid to reveal that Which You Are, for you cannot be contained. Just as She cannot be.

And as you stand and step into your own Power, in acceptance of its Totality – of Light, Shadow, Rage, Compassion, Joy, Sorrow – therein lies a precious gift.
You.

Blessings to All as you embark on your Journey of Fierce Love, Non-Judgment and Transcendental Detachment …

Dr. Bairavee Balasubramaniam PhD :

Priestess, Astrologer, Motivational Speaker & Founder of The Dark Mother’s Children ; Honoring The Dark Mother: A Temple-Space

 

Note: I first wrote this article for my friend Morgan Potts and her Moonblush Blog in November 2014. It has been reprinted here with her permission.

Image: Goddesses – Kali Maa.jpg; By Chobist (Flickr: Goddesses – Kali Maa) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Text & Content © Bairavee Balasubramaniam, 2014. All rights reserved.

A PATH OF FLAME DANCES IN THE SHADOW; THE DARK GODDESS CALLS -GRAND FIRE TRINE BETWEEN ERIS/PERSEPHONE, JUPITER AND THE GALACTIC CENTER (28-JULY-2015)

The energy of the Dark Goddess has been building for some time now, like the low rumble of thunder gradually getting louder and louder before the full-blown storm eventually hits. With Jupiter’s transit through Leo, that energy has found expression through the many pathways and paradigms of mentoring, guidance and teaching that focus upon the Wisdom of the Womb Center (which we all have) and The Sacral Chakra.

A powerful, emergent wave of teachers, guides and seekers have begun to remind us of our innate, authentic, child-like, joy; of a life that is led as a celebration; of the flow of creative juices that precede great works and energies of manifestation and uninhibited expression. Much of this work necessarily involves the Rising Principle of the Assertive Feminine and overlaps with Her Dark Counterpart.

This powerful wave of energy and guidance is heading to a point of climax, with the exact trine between Jupiter (27 Leo) and The Galactic Center of the Milky Way (27 Sagittarius). The energy of the Feminine and Her Rise is woven into this powerful cosmic alignment by way of Eris-conjunct-Persephone (23 Leo) that trine the two, creating a Grand Fire Trine.

Whilst I’d originally planned to write this piece featuring the Jupiter/Gal. Center trine as its center-piece, I felt it necessary to situate this aspect within the larger context of the Rise of the Feminine and the Re-claiming of the Shadow. It cannot be isolated from this narrative, nor consigned to a footnote – for the rumble of the Dark Goddess, is no longer just a rumble, but a fully-fledged Storm…

So, what does this Grand Fire Trine encourage us to do or become?

Eris (23 Aries), The Dark Goddess, asks us to Roar in the Heat of Battle, to Rage against all that is an Inauthentic Expression of Self. She rejects the institutional and systemic suppression of the Feminine Principle, her Wrath Rising as She Asserts Her Right to Simply Be. We are called to rebel against patriarchal scripts that prevent the fullest expression of the feminine principle. For instance, the furore against Instagram’s banning of the #goddess hashtag comes to mind as a clear example (bear in mind that Uranus is also nearby in Aries, ruling electronic communication and social media platforms).

Persephone (23 Aries), daughter of Ceres and wife or co-regent of Pluto, asks us to look to Our Individual and Collective Descent into the Realm of the Underworld. Here, the Daughter of the Earth was once taken into the Shadow Realm by force, abducted and raped by Pluto. At first a captive, she then becomes a Queen. Persephone asks us to face all that we consider traumatic, taboo, unpleasant, mysterious, frightening – all the things we wish we didn’t have to deal with, only to discover their power magnified through the willful act of denial and suppression. What Persephone reveals is that our fears and monsters transform in the power of our fearless gaze and often become our allies, as we view them through the lens of compassion.

Some argue that Persephone had a greater agency over her seemingly-forced abduction and literal descent into the sub terra – even so – the narrative of descent, abuse/trauma/strife and re-emergence – remains intact, and is reminiscent of Goddess Inanna, Psyche, and so on.

Together, on the Battlefield of the Shadow-Realms, Eris and Persephone stand side by side, showing us the way to Reclaim our Power and to Stand in the Sacred Fires of the Self. As we take that traumatic, messy, cathartic, intense and powerful journey within, we discover a familiar face: The Dark Goddess – once proud Matriarch of the Earth, buried deep beneath layers and layers of patriarchal narrative and re-invention, vilification and denigration.

And Still, She Glows – Still, She Bleeds – Still, She Nurtures. From sparks, to embers, to fiery coals that burn through the storybooks, the scriptures, the shame… Droplets of sacred, scarlet red oozing through the black veil cast over all that is taboo, fringe, forbidden – and equally – over so much of the sacred, ancient, traditions of the Goddess.

The Shadow is being Re-claimed, Re-written with Sacred Blood long forgotten.

And to this inferno, this raging fire of Awakening and Radical Self-Acceptance, we see, connected by way of trines, a Triangle of Flame lit by Jupiter (27 Leo) and the Galactic Center (27 Sagittarius), to which we now turn.

Jupiter awakens us all to the Path we need to take, that we may find the most expansive understanding of who we are with respect to the rest of Creation. In this context, guidance appears as flames, beacons, lit through the Underworld, a trail reaching from the Belly of the Earth to the Dark Womb of the Galaxy.

Direction and Guidance appears through guides, mentors, astrologers, spiritual teachers, priest/esses and others recognized as Wisdom-Speakers. In Leo, the focus lies upon these lessons upon the Sacral and Heart Chakra, the tender connection between sensuality, romance, passion, joy, creativity and children. We are called to speak our truth, create our worlds and celebrate our authenticity with the playful, tender, fearless and naturally graceful expression of the Lion-Child.

It is a natural connection for those who work with the Rising Feminine to make. Women in particular, bear within their wombs, the memory of repression – and with it a rage that convention forbids them to articulate. Much of the expression that comes through now will channel this deep-seated Rage – which is wonderful as a first step of validation, but will later be followed by compassion-forgiveness-acceptance-release-integration. It is vital to remember that this expression facilitates the clearing of the Sacral, but that we need not be defined by or overly attached to the emotions that come through – for they too undergo an alchemical change of state.

Jupiter amplifies the need to Rise, Assert, Rebel and Unapologetically Be – as taught to us by Eris. It shines the light upon the lessons of the Underworld – the deep subconscious, our experiences of trauma, shame, regret, guilt, deep rage, and so on – that we may begin the alchemy-qua-Persephone: The transmutation of the ‘negative’ or ‘painful’ Shadow into an acceptance and embodiment of its Sacred, Regal, and Primordial Power.

But what of the Galactic Center of the Milky Way – what I like to call the Dark Womb of our Galaxy – with its Super-massive Black Hole?

The Dark Womb of our Galaxy calls to us with a pulse –  a rhythmic beating that continually seeks to expand our vision, imagination and understanding of the Self and our place within the Wider Cosmos. In Sagittarius, its energies mirror that of Jupiter, which it is trined. Information can be ‘downloaded’ or accessed through mentors and guides (both living and departed) – this includes spiritually evolved beings such as Saints, Bodhisattvas, and the like –  but also through focused meditation where appropriate.

What the Galactic Center will whisper to you individually I cannot say, only that it will ask you to look at your self and life in terms of the larger, grander perspective. Know that you fit into an incredible, intricately woven tapestry of consciousness and energy that connects you with the rest of Creation.

This expanded perspective will fan the Fires of the Self, reveal the full import of the wisdom of the Goddess-in-Exile, and will situate that reawakening in the fullest expression of your authentic, creative, tender, vulnerable, sensual, playful and beautiful self. But make no mistake – it’s not going to be easy. It might be engaging, life-transforming, invigorating, rejuvenating, but no, not easy.

Many possibilities for expansion will be revealed, and much of that requires a release of older forms of knowledge, belief-systems and paradigms that we – for better or worse – have become comfortable with. Finding your Path may be what you’ve been yearning to know for so long, but seeing it in person may in fact, be terrifying.

The Dark Goddess, in all Her compassion and beauty, is an exacting, sometimes terrifying, teacher (comes with the territory). Her lessons, guidance and requirements may stand in stark contrast to the life you expected to be living. And for many, releasing what is known and surrendering to the scarlet-black Unknown can be as painful as walking on hot coals. How you experience Her Guidance depends upon you, your Path and your approach to spiritual evolution.

For those of you who ready and willing to Heed the Call, in whatever form it takes for you – enjoy the wild, wild ride back into her Womb, and out again – Goddess knows where – not knowing is a part of the fun 😉

In short – It’s a wonderful time to be alive as we witness and experience an intense, pulsating alignment of energy that brings together the Dark Goddess, The Spiritual Path and Dark Womb of the Galaxy in a Sacred Dance of Fire, Shadow and Spirit.

The exact Jupiter-Galactic Center trine (27 ‘4 ”27 Leo – Sagittarius) takes place at 16:54 pm (UTC time) on 28.7.2015.

Blessings To All,

Bairavee Balasubramaniam

The Sky Priestess

Image: Khadgayogini LACMA M.85.293.1.jpg, public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Text & Post Content © Bairavee Balasubramaniam, 2015. All Rights Reserved.