NEW MOON AT 19 CAPRICORN – Grand Cardinal Cross with Uranus, Pluto, Black Moon Lilith, Thereus and Cyllarus (Jan 9/10, 2016)

Blessings to All. It’s the first New Moon of 2016 – and it’s a Wowzer! New Moons are potent windows for the setting of intentions that culminate during the corresponding Full Moon of the same sign. We are now in the seed-setting cycle of the Capricorn New Moon. Its energies urge us to think about the material, physical, energetic and other forms of legacies we bequeath for later generations to inherit.

Capricorn’s energy also relates to our image or role in the public eye, be it through the successes and accomplishments we work hard to achieve, or the career or profession that gives us the scope to do so. At the societal level, it is the energy of the Supra-Conscious, the voice or level of consciousness that tells us what is socially desirable, acceptable and legitimate. Tied into this is a discussion of power, authority and the institutions that govern us as their (formal and informal) subjects, i.e. governments and banks.

Energetically, I associate Capricorn with the archetype of the Earth-Crone or Grandmother who watches over the land with a soft, care-worn expression in her face. She is custodian and protector of the land, as the legacy her grand-children will ultimately inherit (and inhabit).

As we set intentions for a new cycle of manifestation, bear in mind that this New Moon (Sun/Moon conjunction) is woven into and forms a part of an unusually potent Grand Cardinal Cross, involving Uranus and Pluto. We experienced a similar alignment with these two transpersonal bodies during April-May 2014. Though we may respond to that level of intensity differently now, you’re likely to see some echoes.

Pluto –  the planet of crisis, change, transformation, the hero/ine’s journey, birth-death-rebirth, issues with intimacy, sexuality, boundaries, power, health, regeneration, alchemy and resurrection – conjuncts the Sun-Moon at 15 Capricorn. The New Moon draws us into the depths of the Plutonian Underworld in order for us to explore the shadow and the gifts hidden within.

In Other Words,

Once More … Into the Abyss.

(But that’s really not a bad thing…)

The Underworld, just as the concept of The Shadow, is of course, one that has been heavily projected upon as being ‘evil’ or ‘negative’. That was a later cultural construct that gained currency with the rise of monotheism (and I would also argue, with the rise of patriarchy).  For instance, Greek mythology saw the the Underworld as more than a place for souls to go to upon death. It was the space in which heroes were born – as they faced their Shadow – and equally, where heroes returned to upon their death, i.e. in the Elysian fields (their equivalent of Paradise). Compare that to our contemporary (mainstream) idea of the Underworld – as a space of torture, confinement, and suffering – and you can see the deep cultural shift I’m talking about. And let’s not even get into the topic of how the Earth-Mother was displaced from her Dark Womb in later mythologies and religious conceptions. Darkness is a far more nuanced, multifaceted construct.

So, as Pluto draws you in, be it through a willing Descent into the Darkness of the self, or through the modality of crisis – bear in mind that this a journey into Shadow. Here is where the seeds lie in their nascent state beneath the soil, where the fetus gestates in the waters of the womb, the vacuum in which all existence burst forth from Nothingness. Here is the space of new beginnings, a realm of great healing, nurture, sanctuary and re-connection. And equally, here is where you hide your strengths, fears, truths and deep illusions.

Intimate partners (Pluto) and/or older, authority figures (Capricorn) may be the ones to draw you into this shadow space, more likely through the modality of conflict, rather than not. You may find yourself in games of emotional manipulation, projection and power-plays without realizing it.

Pluto, The Sun and The Moon square Uranus at 16 Aries. This is familiar terrain, what with the life-and-generation-transforming sequence of seven exact Uranus-Pluto squares we all experienced between 2012-2015. Uranus, The Great Awakener, strikes us with an erratic, unpredictable bolt of Consciousness. Where it comes from, why, and through whom, is something no one can reasonably give you an answer on – except by checking which house it occupies in your chart. In Aries, be it by initiation or as a response to something else, Uranus awakens us to the Truth of the Self.

Aries energy expresses itself easily within the lower chakras, so pay heed to those gut-level impulses and responses. You may be surprised by the Self that is revealed, particularly when its sovereignty and power is challenged by another (Pluto).

All of this energy makes an aspect to Black Moon Lilith (15 Libra), the more matured (Crone) aspect of the Dark Feminine. She seeks to find Balance in the relationships that surround her and to ensure fair play between all parties, though she is likely to be negatively projected upon for doing so (and for reacting to that projection). The fact that Zeus (the ultra-patriarch)  is nearby at 18 Libra tells me that much of this re-balancing is going to have to look at the ways in which patriarchy has limited the scope for women’s agency, identity, power and spiritual presence over the past few millenia.

She may go the route of (what looks like) the bully, trying to carve out a (probably legitimate) space that has been traditionally denied to her. She may also go the route of (what looks like) the doormat, allowing herself to be take the back seat for the sake of a relationship, partnership or collaboration. However, that type of compromise isn’t likely to last long as Black Moon Lilith pushes us to challenge imbalance, especially as she fails to tolerate it 😉 . In general, this is not the best time to seek out objective-decision making (a Libran concern) in the domain of relationships, partnerships and collaborations, owing to Lilith’s reactivity and Uranus’ unpredictability. In other words, avoid making major life-changing decisions and commitments right now and let circumstances unfold as they will. Observe first, before reacting – to whatever extent possible.

Finally, we see Cyllarus (17 Cancer) and Thereus (18 Cancer) directly opposing the Sun/Moon/Pluto combination and squaring Uranus and Black Moon Lilith – this completes the Grand Cardinal Cross. Cyllarus warns us of the costs of acting in haste, lashing out or lunging forward without forethought. Cyllarus feels particularly threatened when the group identities that he feels at home in (tribe, culture, football team, etc.) are somehow challenged. In mythology, Cyllarus goes charging headlong into something without thinking and ends up dead with a spear through his chest.

Thereus, on the other hand, asks us to be mindful of victim-abuser dynamics, especially when one feels emotionally trapped by another. In mythology, Thereus was a hunter who stalked bears, entered their caves, hit them on their head and dragged them out afterwards. He’s not big on the idea of consent or honoring the personal integrity of another. In charts, Thereus often refers to the area in one’s life where they do realize the fact they are trapped or subject to predation by another, until it is fully revealed to them. Some prefer to ascribe something positive to the entrapment (a blissful state of denial) or to get defensive and reject it outright.

So, Thereus challenges us to become mindful of hidden control tactics or energetic/emotional predation; Cyllarus cautions us against simply not jumping the gun and charging in arms akimbo when we feel things that we are strongly attached to, challenged in some way. Both are present in the sign of Cancer, representing the domestic sphere – family, home, tradition, racial/ethnic identity, relationship with the mother or maternal archetype, and so on. Whether it be the source of triggering, or the context in which we seek the dynamics of triggering play out – familial/tribal dynamics pose powerful challenges during this New Moon.

In other words, even if someone from home challenges us, or someone challenges our sense of home – think twice before responding or falling into the victim-abuser polarity. This is going to be triggering some massive shadow-work and the need to acknowledge how we – and our families – at times, hold one another in rigid, dysfunctional emotional patterns. As we make healthier choices for ourselves as individuals, and as members of a partnership, we may find resistance from family and the traditional values they uphold – or even from authorities or institutions that we allow to exercise power over us.

Thank the God/esses for Uranus and Black Moon Lilith! They give us the impetus to walk away from inherited wisdom and ancestral truths that continue (rightly or wrongly) to tell so many of us just how and why we are wounded or trapped and why that is our fault or why we can’t change that ‘reality’. Whilst there are wonderful things we can inherit from our pasts, there’s a lot of baggage that gets lumped in as well. Be mindful that your individual actions can rock the boat for others around you, but as always – Follow your Truth.

Taking these together, we see an extremely intense, shadow-oriented, unpredictable flow of energy between the signs of the Self (Aries), Partner (Libra), Family/Home (Cancer) and Career/Legacy (Capricorn). Many of you will begin exploring new directions, perhaps even with a new map (i.e. a sense of what is possible). This New Moon will be a defining time for many, strongly echoing similar dynamics we collectively experienced during the Grand Cardinal Cross of April-May 2014.

Look to July’s Full Moon in Capricorn to begin reaping the seeds sown at this time (27 Capricorn, July 19). June’s Full Moon at 29 Sagittarius will have some precursors to what we see in July. The Moon moves into Capricorn not long after it opposes the Sun at 29 Gemini (June 20).

So, taking this all together – it’s a powerful, energetically intense time that asks us to consider how we (ultimately) think about the different aspects of who we are, who we choose to connect with, where we’re from, and – where we’re going. The legacy we leave behind in the world weaves together the elements from each Cardinal sign and the challenges and strengths that they bring.

Choose your legacy wisely, and as far as you can, remember that we are all facing this dynamic – together. How strongly these placements influence you depends upon your natal chart and your own spiritual path / process of evolution.

Blessings to All,

Bairavee Balasubramaniam
The Sky Priestess

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NEPTUNE GOES DIRECT (7 Pisces) – 16:30 UTC, 18-November-2015

As Neptune stations direct, many of us are going to be experiencing a subtle, but powerful shift in the way we access and engage with spiritual energy. Neptune Retrograde was all about casting aside the illusions, ego-based projections and deep insecurities surrounding the act of Spiritual Surrender & Communion with what we understand as ‘The Sacred’. Much of the focus of the retrograde has been on inner experiences and responses to the mystical and transcendental aspects of spirituality. Neptune, in direct form, brings its own intensity, but it also allows us to go forwards and expand outwards, there’s slightly less pressure on the internal experience.

In fact, much of the heaviness and shifting we’re collectively experiencing is tied in with the end of the Neptune Retrograde. If were were to look backwards, check back to major spiritual experiences around February 17-19, 2015 when Neptune was last at 7 Pisces. For reference, the Neptune Retrograde began around June 12, 2015 at 9 Pisces ’49 – Neptune will only pass this degree once more around March 7/8, 2016. Then, and only then, does it leave its shadow period.

Basically, this means that we will be revisiting the spiritual lessons, experiences and opportunities for inner re-alignment and integration that we experienced between Feb-November 2015, over the next few months (till March 2016).

Watch the energy of vision, inspiration, imagination and spiritual communion surge forward as Neptune begins to move in stride, once again 🙂

Much Love,

Bairavee Balasubramaniam
The Sky Priestess

PS – Neptune is the energy of the deep sub-conscious, as it connects with the collective un-conscious. It represents the Cosmic, Primordial Ocean of Energy that connects us all. Not everyone handles Neptune’s energy with ease as it absolutely opens us up to deep vulnerabilities, requiring deep states of spiritual surrender and being able to simply ‘sit with’ powerful emotions and intuitive currents of energy. If you’re feeling vulnerable, seek grounding in nature or the support grounds of friends or people who can hold a nurturing space for you. I’ve also compiled a list of practical techniques that I’ve found of great personal benefit in coping with the shift – http://wp.me/p4OUNS-Gt – Hope it is of use and interest  ❤  ❤  ❤  Blessings!

~~~~~~~~~

Image: Cymatium lotorium 2010 G1.jpg – By George Chernilevsky (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Post © Bairavee Balasubramaniam, 2015. All rights reserved.

SPIRITUAL SHIFTS & BREAKTHROUGHS

Spiritual evolution is a tough thing to measure, however, there are certain markers which indicate that a ‘shift’ has happened. If you’re still in the middle of a particular phase, the inverse might apply (especially if you’re at the cusp of a spiritual breakthrough). Bear in mind that the process is never-ending, it just completes one chapter and starts anew, like an ascending/descending spiral.

The build-up to a shift often entails the breaking down of all you thought you knew, all you thought you were. It is, generally speaking, not an easy process.

Once a shift has happened, your paradigm is re-set. Sensitivity tends to increase, as does the capability to withstand all that it entails.

You are better able to perceive spiritual energies / to understand the psychological nature of your attachments and responses to the world.

You are likely to re-interpret key aspects of your spirituality in new ways. You might realize that something you thought was no longer a part of you, still is. Or you might realize something you identify with now simply does not resonate. You might be drawn to a paradigm you had dismissed before, or move away from something you’d been following from a while. Possibilities are endless.

You will begin to notice things you had taken for granted before, or things previously invisible to your method of discernment. At the same time, your ability to discern will (most likely) lead to a lessening of ego-based judgment. In short, you can see things better for what they are, but this does not affect you as much as it did before.

Your relationship with the earth deepens, as does your need for periodical grounding.

You are less able to accept vague generalizations about a ‘better, higher’ spirituality and begin to question ‘accepted wisdom’.

Rather than renouncing that-which-makes-you-human and the energetic network that links you to this physical plane (and others), you deepen your sense of shared humanity & embodied sentience.

The constructs of Up/Down, Male/Female, Lower/Upper, Light/Dark realms ceases to have the power of sanction and division. They are, all, equally sacred and part of an indivisible whole.

As you continue to evolve, it is important to seek out others who can help you in the process. No one has the answers to everything. It’s within the Self, yes, and the Self is a part of the Universe seeking to figure itself out, yes … but if we could access that knowledge, we wouldn’t quite be on the path we’re on…

You will find the need to constantly check in with the spiritualists/counselors you work with to ensure they have made the necessary shifts in themselves, so that they can then better work with with you. (That’s one of the reasons why the guru/mentor paradigm is a little hard to work with in this timeline – everyone keeps shifting so fast! )

The people who are drawn to your work will be different. Their needs will reflect the vibration that you now embody. If you’re seeing a pattern in your clients / recipients of your services, pick up the message the Universe is sending you.

Whilst your own growth will be a source of joy for you, you will constantly be amazed at how quickly young children seem to accelerate their own wisdom. It is a powerful reminder to remain humble and to realize that there is always something to learn.

Priestess B. Bairavee
The Sky Priestess

Image: Multiple cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning strokes – NOAA.jpg, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

Post © Bairavee Balasubramaniam, 2015. All rights reserved.

** Please note that none of the information presented here is meant to replace advice from a medical, healthcare, legal and/or other professional. How you choose to act upon the advice given is entirely based on your own free will. By engaging with this work, you also accept the author’s non-liability for any consequences that may emerge from reading this work. You also accept that any part of this work can be used for non-commercial purposes with proper citation to the author and her website www.bairaveebalasubramaniam.com, T&Cs apply.

Current Energies – 16/9/2015: Eclipse Season, Welcoming Mercury Retrograde + More

Why do things feel so heavy? Why does it feel like the cosmic spin cycle just got a hundred times more intense? My personal take on this crazy intensity is simply — Eclipse Season + the last-days-of-Saturn-in-Scorpio.

There’s a wild influx of energy present now – things are shaking, unsteady, and waiting to birth/burst/combust.

And that’s okay.

Personally, I see tomorrow’s (Sept 17) Mercury Retrograde in Libra as a good thing. Merc Rx actually brings a welcome slow-down to the already overactive mind. It’s a good energy to work with, take a chill pill, and slowly – but steadily – make key decisions inspired by the Virgo New Moon and the upcoming Total Lunar Eclipse in Aries (Sep 27/28). I feel like there should be a wolf howl accompanying that in the background…

I’ve been sleeping, and sleeping and sleeping. Crazy dreams though – but hey, it’s an interesting way to process.

Bear in mind we’ve also got other things going on/coming up – Juno’s entry into Libra, Jupiter/Neptune opposition – Sept 17, Saturn’s shift – Sept 18 and more besides.

It’s a busy time for us all to search for Balance, Equilibrium, and the role of the Self within/through Partnership.

Love,

Bairavee Balasubramaniam

The Sky Priestess

PS – Whilst most of us are still in the ‘dying’ phase that precedes rebirth (Saturn-Scorpio themes), some will have already passed that phase. For them, it’s smooth sailing through epic energetic intensity.

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 PRIESTESS ON THE PATH OF FORMLESSNESS AS TAUGHT BY THE DARK MOTHER

Recent weeks have really opened up a whole new chapter in my life and my Understanding of Spirit. I began my journey as a Priestess in the Service of the Dark Mother (which – for new readers – has absolutely nothing to do with Evil). I thought that my role was to speak out for the re-institution of the tradition of the Priestess, and the many discriminatory practices that surround so many faith-based practices and texts. I still see that as my role, but the way I interpret it has changed dramatically.

These changes began in Nepal, when I both died and fell in Love with a sacred site to Lord Shiva I found through pure instinct (with no conscious clues of any description). Something in me could no longer exclusively identify with a Female conception of Divinity as somehow superior to the male. Or to ignore that aspect of Spirit. Lord Shiva has always featured in my life some how, but it was that experience that really cemented the indivisibility between the Masculine, the Feminine and my Path.

Recently, another shift has happened. God and Goddess made sense before – and now they don’t – not in the same way they did before. The balance of dual energies seemed like the pinnacle, and now they just seem like one part of many. Deities, and demigods that seemed to be the end-all, now look as though they are intermediate facilitators – or perhaps partial reflections – of a more Transcendental Energy.

I don’t deny their existence or their value in the spiritual path, only that they occupy a different space in my understanding of the Cosmos than they did before. An in some way, that re-framing makes their Presence even more palpable.

Rather than looking for the Divine ‘out there’, my focus has always been within. Despite my academic background, the direction of my spiritual growth has rarely been through the Mind to the Heart, but from the Womb to the Heart to the Mind – in the spirit of a very feminine process of gnosis. So not so much about the abstract concepts or the words or ideologies, but all of this knowing and re-knowing and learning and un-learning has been prompted by whatever spiritual Curriculum my Soul chose to manifest. And for me the guide or pathway to this understanding has been through the Dark Goddess – particularly in her Crone Aspect.

The more I realize, the less I ‘know’. I hope that makes sense. All of this is felt change, change the body and the womb stir me into re-membering, rather than the rationalizing attempts of a mind. But the more I feel, the more logical it seems. And this whole Rational-Emotional divide seems less and less relevant.

Perhaps I’m at the start of what many are calling 5D evolution? Perhaps my consciousness is beginning to understand what lies beyond dualism? Maybe even a glimpse of Reality behind the Veil?

Who knows. I’m just going with the flow. And not letting me get ahead of myself. There’s too much for me to discover for me to assume that I can authoritatively say ‘This Is It’.

So I’ve been thinking about how to define myself and my path – as it is now, and believe you me – it will evolve — And here are the key components of it so to speak:

(1) Authenticity: If it isn’t you, don’t do it, don’t be it. Just be you.
(2) Vulnerability: If it hides you away from your wounds (healing and transcending is a different process), then something’s up – if it gives you a false sense of superiority, invincibility or security – then something’ s definitely up
(3) Integrity & Honesty (Related to Authenticity, but not quite the same thing – you could be an Authentic Jerk… )
(4) Non-permanence and Formlessness: The Universe is a pretty big place. I doubt Divinity looks Human, if it has a shape at all. With so much going on, and Energy shifting the way it does (call it Spirit) — I would somehow be uncomfortable with an idea of a Stable, Eternal, Absolute Truth for a Universe essentially Dancing in Motion as we speak.
(5) (Seeming) Paradox – To see the Formless through Form. To see Spirit through Matter. To work with Energy within the confines of Matter.
(6) Relentless Questioning – The fact my spiritual path survives my constant questioning is a sign that … I’m probably doing what I need to be doing.

Again, these are ideas to be expanded upon. Not quite my priestess manifesto …
And they will evolve. But they’ve moved on to the point where I can safely say:

That I am a Priestess on the Path of Formlessness, as taught to me by the Dark Mother. I love God as I love Goddess: They are two parts of Many that make up the Whole.

You might ask – why still use the ‘Title’ of Priestess – why make that distinction? Truth be told, someday, we will all realize the Divinity within us – and will need no intermediaries or facilitators. Until that day we will still require a label, title or marker to simply describe what we (facilitators) do.

As we collectively shift, we are unearthing so many divisions and distinctions that have kept so many away from a recognition of their Innate Divinity. (And here’s where Paradox enters…) Like the being who has incarnated to dissolve a karmic seed, and must fully express that desire before it can be released – I feel that we must honor, recognize and allow all Forms of Form to flourish, before we release the need for them in their entirety.

Sadly, the Priestess-hood and the right of Woman to hold any Divine status is still challenged today. And the work that I do serves to bring that Form into full realization once more, before it can all be (ultimately) Dissolved. When that day comes (and if I’m still in the cycle or birth-rebirth) I shall no longer use that title to describe my work as it will no longer be required.

But till then …..

This is Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam, PhD
www.bairaveebalasubramaniam.com

Some articles of mine which talk about different aspects of this … Path of Formlessness. Others have of course written and spoken about this in different ways. I can, however, only speak for myself.

The Formless Feminine – The Dark Mother Who Led Me To This Path – Dhumavati-Ma: http://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/08/dhum-dhum-dhumavati-the-formless-shakti-of-smoke-detachment-priestess-bairavee-balasubramaniam-phd/

The Divine Does not Discriminate: http://wp.me/p4OUNS-7m
A Wake Up Call from My Brain: http://wp.me/p4OUNS-7u
Detachment and the Illusion of Form: http://wp.me/p4OUNS-5S
Dissolution: Maya Un-Masked – http://wp.me/p4OUNS-6G

Image Information: Ashes in the Wind 1996.jpg – By Richard Rappaport (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

A WAKE-UP CALL FROM MY BRAIN: Am I trying to complete a million-piece jigsaw with just two parts of the puzzle?

I think I’ve finally settled on a word for this part of my Journey:
Inner Formlessnesses, Outer Balance

Whilst I adore Goddess Kali and Lord Shiva, and so many other Beings from other pantheons — The idea of an Ultimate Masculine, or an Ultimate Feminine doesn’t quite appeal anymore.

What if there’s more to Spiritual Essences or flows of Energy than this whole Masculine-Feminine thing?

Just a thought experiment: If we had three or four different sex chromosomes (and not just X or Y) … would we then have Masculine, Feminine, and two other types of energies? And each had biological differences that translated into different functions (historically and statistically speaking), and each of those functions became reified over time….. In that case, we would have 3 or 4, rather than 2 different ‘types of energy’.

In other words, if we had more sexes in our species, would we have more Divine Archetypes?

Based on the way humanity is configured right now – yeah – totally.

Personally, I feel the Divine is a lot larger than the way certain aspects of our sex/reproductive/biological genders are configured. (Of course culture and history have a lot to do with solidifying those differences).

We’ve seen an evolution in the way we relate to the Divine based on the Tribe (1st chakra), then on Sexual Differences (2nd chakra), then on who conquered whom (3rd chakra – power). And historically speaking, that does make a whole lot of sense.

We saw philosophical approaches to the spiritual that stressed Unity Consciousness (7th chakra and above), that stressed the Rational, Scientific Approach to Spirit (6th chakra) in principles of the Vedas, Saiva Siddhantha and many so-called ‘New Age’ Paradigms. We saw intermediate religious forms that replaced the feminine focus with a masculine deity, along with the rhetoric of shame and (in their eyes) justified suppression of the Yoni and her Teaching.

The more philosophical, and later patriarchal approaches, historically evolved in response to earlier understandings and resulted in the rejection of practices and belief systems that centered upon the Mother, the Priestess, The Serpent and the Earth. Sacred women became witches or whores. Serpents became the Devil And the Earth became Hell, a place of torment, and not the Source of life.

(And so many of us are working to reclaim these condemned traditions, bringing them back into the spiritual mainstream – Hooray!)

Another tangent of the more philosophical approach simply renounced all things material … or any concern in the ‘real-world’, adopting a position of – I’ll call it materialistic nihilism. (For those of us who believe we came as Spirit-in-Flesh for a reason, that doesn’t work either)

The rational, universalistic rhetoric of the later, more philosophical approaches were not borne out in practice as seen as the great departure between text and practice. One cannot claim to recognize to see the Divine in All and then deny a woman, a foreigner, a transvestite – anyone who does not fit the status quo equal rights, even in places of worship. They spoke of detachment, mind and non-judgment, but the institutions that carried that knowledge did not abide to those principles.

Now all this time I thought I was playing for the first team. Then I thought finding a middle space for both teams to shake hands was the task (4th – the Heart Bridge). Now, something in my brain is waking up to say – No love, you’re not even supposed to be playing the same game.

What that is, I’m still finding out.

But back to the discussion –

If I could compare the Divine to any part of the human Body, I’d compare it to the Brain and it’s infinite capacity for neural re-wiring and learning. Heck, the architecture of the brain mimicks the architecture of the Universe – not a coincidence I think.

So why remain fixed upon distinctions rooted in secondary sexual characteristics and learned behaviors?

Coming back to the male-female construct (which is the basis of duality) – What if thinking in these terms of constructs pretty much shuts out other types of energetic expressions? Things which we may have greater access to if were less bound by those constructs.

Don’t get me wrong – this isn’t to say that masculine and feminine do not exist – but perhaps they aren’t the whole picture. Perhaps we’re building a picture of Spirit based on two pieces of the jigsaw, when there may be a million other pieces.

Yeah, dualism doesn’t seem to work for me anymore. But the perspective of ‘it’s all one, it’s all interconnected’ is still missing a few explanatory pit stops, for me at least.

That doesn’t mean to say I don’t believe in the God or Goddess anymore. They do exist, but just in a different space than they used to in my growing relationship with the Universe.

[Again, this is my internal understanding – of how Spirit may be structured – I guess you could call it my evolving philosophical approach to understanding Spirit]

As these ideas wake up in my brain, I ask myself – how do they best translate into the outer world?

Do I stop valuing and honoring the priestess tradition? or the Goddess Path?

Absolutely not. That’s one of the greatest imbalances in the world. If the two pieces are going to reach out to the missing million, they’ve got to work together.

Do I stop seeking for balance?

No way! It’s just that my idea of balance and integration is no longer bound to a male/female form.

Do I stop being a priestess?

Only if I stop being a woman who serves the Divine. And that ain’t changing. Even this line of thought is part of that Path of Service.

So, what, in my external actions – does this line of thought change –

Not much, as far as I can see. The vibration of my words and actions might change, however. The reason why I’d seek balance would of course, be different.

But internally —- Man…. Woman… God.. Goddess… What a Trip writing this has been!

Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam, PhD
http://www.bairaveebalasubramaniam.com
Where the Divine is taking me, who Knows?

xxx

DETACHMENT AND THE ILLUSION OF FORM: RELEASING THE FEAR OF FEARLESSNESS – A NEW CHAPTER IN MY PATH BEGINS

In the past two days, I have felt a complete shifting of tack, or a turn in direction I hadn’t anticipated heading into so quickly: Detachment. This isn’t to say a lack of love, or compassion (far from), but a single minded focus upon the tasks that I have to do at this time. And a rapidly transforming world-view.

It’s frightening, and challenging to feel the power of living in a state of loving detachment – or at the very least, beginning to.

The fear is having that sense of power – the state of total fearlessness: I can determine what I want. I no longer need to be held back by the expectations of others. I can actually cut through the cords, the unspoken expectations and the weight of assumptions that so many human relationships are based upon. So much I thought I knew about people seems a false construct. Those assumptions no longer make sense to bear.

The fears I had about whether I gave too much? or too little? Just disappeared. The desire to Serve The She That is Me that is in Us All – the Dark Goddess in the Macrocosm and the Microcosm – has only intensified.

I feel as though I can face anything and have no reason to fear any longer. I am ready to begin my work.

Who knew that so much of my identity as I understood it before was held back due to a profound fear of being fearless?

And how, my evolution has begun to unfold once that fear of fearlessness was released.

I’ve spoken about the fear – but here comes the challenge:

The challenge is embodying detachment in a way that does not remove you from the core of your humanity, vulnerability and empathy. That does not remove you from alignment with a Truer Power or a Path. That does not simply legitimate the dictates of tyrannical ego bent upon forcing its will without regard for others. There are those who mask acts of cruelty, abandonment and neglect through the abuse of the energy of ’emotional detachment’ – and sometimes they wear the garb of ‘the spiritual teacher’.

So it’s really important to be able to tell the two apart – is this Spirit’s or the Ego’s understanding of ‘Detachment’?

Detachment is often confused with emotional disassociation and ‘being aloof’ – the two are very different things. For me, spiritual and emotional detachment is meaningless without retaining the ability to feel, to have compassion, to know Love.

Detachment is not an invitation to Apathy, Arrogance or Alienation (of Self or Others). It’s a strange place, and an experience or state of mind that I am ‘re-membering’. As one who has been a High Priestess in previous lives, this was/is my ‘natural state’ – it is familiar to my Soul, but my Ego is still taking it all in.

The world looks different. People look different. My view of relationships are wholly altered. All that is not Truth, simply has to go. All that is Real I am allowed to keep in my life.

On the one hand, this state of mind has only led me to greater compassion and love for the people in my life. There is an acceptance of things that I would have once hated, knowing that they do not affect my awareness of self, or identity in any way. So many fears I’ve had surrounding my path have just vanished.

But at the same there, there is also a commitment to voicing out the elephant in the room – for issues that I cannot simply be silent over. The things that really need me to do my job and speak out for.

Overall , this awakening has made me more committed to my path and more insistent on the idea that all Paths are to be respected. That ultimately, as we reach the Mountaintop (no matter the road we take), we Ultimately realize that there was never a Path, or a Mountain in the first place.

An acceptance of the need for form, and the ultimate nature of formlessness in one moment.

I realized all this yesterday at the movies. I went to see ‘Lucy’ with my parents (very synchronistic, if you’ve seen the film). And _before_ the film had a chance to start. BOOM! came this profound realization that …

Something has changed within me.

Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam, PhD
4:07 pm, 31st August 2014
www.bairaveebalasubramaniam.com

Image information – Tara_lithograph.jpg – By Chore Bagan Art Studio [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

SUPERMOON IN AQUARIUS: REVELATIONS OF BALANCE by Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam PhD

Blessings to all,

A few notes on this Supermoon in Aquarius. This will occur at 2:08 am August 11 2014 (GMT + 8 – Malaysia), 4:08 am Aug 11 (Sydney), 2:08 pm August 10 (New York) a 18 degrees Aquarius-Leo.

Aquarius is an Air sign, contrary to its description as ‘The Water Bearer’. It has a fluid quality – in the sense that we are in fact surrounded by an ‘ocean’ of minute particles that make up the air we breathe. It is what the ancients called Ether, it is what we spiritualists understand as permeating the vacuum of space pervading the Universe.

Of all the air signs, only Aquarius has a ‘Fixed’ quality. This means that the movement of its energy seeks some kind of fixed form or definition. Whilst some of you might go – aha! but isn’t Aquarius all about unconventionality, rebellion and freedom? – others might remember that ‘breaking out’ or ‘defying the system’ depends upon some reference to what is ‘convention’/’order’/’structure’ in the first place.

It is the energy of innovation and breakthrough, associated with those flashes of genius and insight that have the capacity to change the course of the planet’s future. Aquarius also rules the energy of friendship groups, networks or associations aimed at spiritual, charitable or other altruistic causes. It has an orientation that is revolutionary, idealistic and humanitarian.

Aquarius, the 11th house and the planet Uranus are all associated with one other – their energies are often linked to the concept of the ‘Higher Mind’. What this essentially means, for those of us who channel or do other forms of spiritual work, is that the Gates of Aquarius open portals of knowledge to other realms, often from other parts of the Universe. It can equally manifest as that ability to connect with and download information directly from Source, Beyond the Self.

I disagree with the idea that it is a Higher pursuit of the Mind, in the sense of Higher being somehow Elevated in the normative sense of the term. I see Uranian energy as simply referring to Wisdom from Beyond, rather than Wisdom from Within. It is a terminological issue, which does not alter the essence of this article.

With the Moon in Aquarius, we are awakened to the ability to tap into Spirit/Source-Within-The-Self – through the Body/the Womb/through revelations by way of Gnosis as the Sub-Conscious mind opens portals to ancient Knowledge we often forget even exist.

Ultimately Gnosis and the Uranian function work well together – except that our _perception_ of the Sources of Origin of Insight Differ. One is ‘out there’, the other is Knowledge from ‘Within’. From a holographic perspective of the Universe, it’s all one and the same at the end of the day. But for students of astrology, it is an energetic difference well worth bearing in mind.

We have this powerful opportunity to open the Gateways of Information at both ends as it were – in the Heavens and in the Earth, through the Vessel or Vehicle of Self, engaging all levels of our Consciousness. The Revelations we understand now, from within or without, will link together profound wisdom that can alter your life, and the lives of all those around you as you create your own ripple of energy, moving through the Universal Aether. These energies are syncretic and synergistic – differences of ‘In/Out’, ‘Us/Them’ simply dissolve in the the Direct Experience of Knowing that will be available to all at this time.

As a Supermoon, this Full Moon occurs at a time where the Moon is closest to the Earth – it’s energy will be felt more intensely as compared to other Full Moons. However, the energetic dynamics and symbolic significance of the Full Moon remains the same – only more intense.

Full Moons – and SuperMoons – are times of culminations. They may literally or metaphysically represent a time of harvest.

You set the seeds of what you reap now during the New Moon of 30/31 st January 2014. This was a Black Moon Rising, i.e. a second New Moon in a single calendar month and marked the start of the Year of the Horse, as per the Chinese Calendar.

We are now at the midpoint of its energy. Look back to the end of January to realize what you now reap, how and why.

Other influences strongly intersecting with the energies of the SuperMoon are: its opposition to the Sun/Mercury/Lilith conjunction in Leo, the square that these objects make with Saturn and their trine to Uranus Retrograde in Aries. The Sum of these energies are channeled powerfully through the central opposition between the Full Moon and the Sun/Mercury/Lilith conjunction in Leo. I also discuss the energetic opportunities and challenges that arise with these other aspects at this time.

I would like to single out and emphasize the energy of Lilith in Leo and the implications of its opposition to the Full Moon in Aquarius. Lilith, the archetype of the Dark/Suppressed Goddess – the Woman that has been Slighted – is Rising with Her Lion.

She is Kali-Ma, She is Hekate, She is Pele, She is every man and woman who has been disallowed from expressing the wholeness and complexity of their feminine selves. All of us, have felt repression along those lines: The little girl who wasn’t allowed to run and play and express her creativity because … she was just a girl. The little boy who was told to ‘man up’ because he wanted to cry at something that hurt him.

Lilith is supported by Mercury (communicator, analyst) and the Sun (focus of consciousness, the Blessings of the Father) as She Rises. She reaches out to the Mother in the Moon and asks Her for a Vision.

This Vision will reveal a Path for us to integrate, in a way that Honors All, the Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine in all Beings. For more information on this aspect and its significance, you might like to also read my article on: Kali-Ma Dances Her Tandava on the World’s Stage: The Rise of the Dark Goddess at http://wp.me/p4OUNS-3f .

A final note: We will meet so many beings as part of our ‘Soul Tribe’ aligned with this, and related causes, at this time. Celebrate those unions, and take the time to embrace one another as we Forge a New World. We may also find the need to set appropriate energetic boundaries with those that may outwardly pretend to play that role, but are in fact seeking to harness or harvest energy inappropriately. Saturn in Scorpio is your ally here, squared by the Dark Goddess. Be fair with the boundaries you set, but honor your needs and path as you do.

I found this article a lovely complement to this piece, also on the SuperMoon: https://www.facebook.com/DharmaStarsAstrology/photos/a.208715032514360.80242.208642779188252/802535083132349/?type=1&theater – They suggest looking back to August 1999, when we had a Full Moon at the same degree (18 Leo- 18 Aquarius)

May We Collectively find the Solutions that We Seek.

Blessings to All,

Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam, PhD ~ ~ ~ www.bairaveebalasubramaniam.com

Rise Like The Phoenix! A GLOBAL PRAYER FOR BIRTH-DEATH-REBIRTH: HOPI AND THE GRAND SEXTILE By Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam, PhD

Blessings to all,

Venus is birthing the new world as we speak. Both Mother and Midwife, She Bridges Form and Spirit. She is tapping into the powerful energy of a perfect Grand Sextile (Hexagram, Star of David) present in the heavens. The asteroid Hopi completes the Grand Sextile at 16 Taurus where no personal or transpersonal planets are present. This alignment is strongest in the sky between 7:18 am July 30th till July 31st 3:22 am.

Grand Sextiles are, astrologically speaking, portals of powerful manifestation that light up the Sky! Their symbol has been adopted in different faiths and speaks of a Seal of Protection. Made up of 2 Grand Trines and 6 Sextile aspects, the Grand Sextile simply tells us: WHAT YOU ASK, YOU SHALL RECEIVE.

Many of us claim to want peace and hope, yet subconsciously cling onto beliefs that perpetuate polarity, dis-empowerment and injustice. Some say they want to be happy, but are still deeply programmed and conditioned to sabotage their own joy at a powerful, subconscious level – or see fit to judge who deserves joy and who does not. In this way we create so many divisions within ourselves which are then reflected into the World.

The meaning of asteroid Hopi reflects this dual possibility of manifestation. On the one hand, the Hopi people are associated with peace-loving ways, they know how to nurture and be nurtured by the Earth – their name literally means ‘ The Peace-Loving People’ and they possess an intimate connection with the cycles of the Earth and the Heavens. On the other hand, in astrology, the asteroid Hopi is connected with ‘territorial disputes, prejudice, minority experiences and ambush’. Not a happy connotation when you remember the history of Native Americans and their eventual dispossession. Hence expressing dual poles of what can be manifested at during this powerful Grand Sextile.

The other astral bodies included are Saturn, Venus, Chiron Retrograde, Pluto Retrograde and the Moon in Virgo. That involves karma, material values, healing, spirituality, crisis, the status quo/government, priest/essing, spiritual service – as both Grand Trines occur in Earth/Water signs.

So how do you know what you’re manifesting at this time is actually in alignment with your Spirit?

If you choose to – When working with this Grand Sextile, you’re going to really have to ‘feel it’. From your gut, from your Core, from that Sacred Spark of Spirit inside you. Push through old conditionings, patterns of karmic behavior, all those learned habits of denial and control  —  and find that place. Call it Core, Home, Center, Heart, Womb, Truth, Spirit – whatever works for you.

You’ve got it. Know this. And find that Place as you work with the energies of this powerful alignment.

The timing of these dates are significant for their own reasons as – in the Hindu tradition – the 30th is Masik Vinayaga Chathurthi (a prayer to Lord Vinayaga, the elephant-headed deity of wisdom and the removal of obstacles), whereas the 31st is Nag Panchami – the day in which (according to Hinduism), the race of serpents called Nagas were saved by the Goddess Manasa Devi (Snake Goddess). The Serpent is associated with birth-rebirth, the Underworld (Patala, Nagaloka – linked to Agartha), the preservation of the female principle and the honoring of the Earth’s Womb.  Millions of people in India will be celebrating these festivals – and their energies will also be a part of the matrix of energy across this Planet. It is entirely your choice as to which day you do it on, or whether you want to take this into account at all as you work with the energies of the Grand Sextile.

Also – this Birthing of the New World is taking place close to a Grand Cardinal Cross (which I will talk about in a different post), and the Gaelic festivals of Lugnasadh / Lammas (Northern Hemisphere) and Imbolc (Southern Hemisphere). Both are key days or Sabbats in the Gaelic calendar and represent a liminal moment between different worlds, with the theme of Birth-Death-Rebirth woven into them. In line with the call to ‘Heal the Masculine’, it is worth noting that the Sun God begins to die at Lammas, his energy spent in the Harvest (and the Earth Mother who makes it possible). During Imbolc, he is already a young boy, reborn, his energies young but beginning to reach their peak once more. This corresponds to the dynamic of Masculine Energies between Scorpio (where Mars is) and Leo (where the Sun, Jupiter and Lilith are)   In Goddessian terms, Imbolc is associated with the fires of Lady Brighid and and Lammas with Demeter. Both mark important seasonal transitions.

What can do you to work with this powerful transformative energy?

Prayer, meditation, singing, painting, poetry, introspective work, body-work, dancing, grounding, martial arts – anything that makes you feel connected with Spirit will do. It is important to center and guide yourself through this time with a Heart/Spirit/Womb/Soul centered perspective, rather than the dictates of Ego, or Pure Mind. Remember that this is a time of bridging and birthing both worlds – of allowing the Sun God to begin his death before a powerful, and beautiful Rebirth – of speaking to the Mother as she presides over these subtle, yet powerful moments of transition.

 

I shall be conducting this meditation at 11:20 pm (30th July) – 12:20 am (July 31st).  This is in GMT + 8:00. I invite you all to join me in this powerful prayer of Birth-Rebirth – in ourselves – and across the Planet! – at this time, or at any time within the range of the Grand Sextile that suits you.

For as you Rise, so too does the Collective!

May we Rise in Love, Once More!

Blessings,

Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam, PhD.

http://www.bairaveebalasubramaniam.com