THE SUN CONJUNCTS THE GREAT ATTRACTOR, VENUS ENTERS SCORPIO, VESTA RE-ENTERS ARIES

Over the next 3 days (Dec 6 – 8, 2015), we’re all going to be ‘attracted’ or pulled into alignment with the people, pathways, paradigms that call to our Spirits – as The Sun conjuncts the Great Attractor (14 Sagittarius). Some of you will be discovering teachers and guides who can help you, and others will walk away from them. The question here is not about truths or teachers themselves (or lack thereof), but how you resonate with those truths and the larger belief systems that underpin them. Some of you may also discover the Teacher within.

It’s also a time where many may travel, begin new adventures, engage with academia, organized religion or other institutions that make specific, authoritative claims over knowledge. Those of you getting astrology or tarot readings, or dealing with spiritual teachers in the next three days – bear in mind that the work you do now will be unusually powerful.

Ensure that you trust your facilitator, and that s/he is willing to respect your Journey without imposing their view as Absolute.

It’s probably not the best time to get into the ‘my Path is Better than Your Path Debate’ as really, what we choose to believe has more to do with ourselves, than any external measure of it.

My suggestion is to instead, use this energy to find the path that brings you the most expanded perspective of who you are and where your horizons (currently) reach out to.

Venus in Scorpio (Dec 4/5 – Dec 29/30, 2015) – Over the next few weeks, we’re going to be drawn towards the darker, hidden, unacknowledged sides of our psyches. Some of this will come up as you seek to merge your energies and resources with another – be in in the bedroom, or the boardroom.

It is also a fantastic time to question and explore the way in which we embody different aspects of The Shadow / The Dark Archetype and its connection with the Sacred Feminine. Bear in mind that there many gifts within these hidden spaces, the black, sacred, ground within. Whilst this journey of intense self-reflection may be uncomfortable for some, it can be a deeply rewarding path or perspective to take.

Whilst associated with death, crisis and trauma- Scorpio is also the sign of healing, rebirth and alchemical regeneration.

Balance whatever deeper work that you do at this time with play – things that are uplifting, uncomplicated, joyful – both vibes are equally important. If you’ve forgotten how to play, just look at a happy baby or young child 🙂 (or cute furbaby of your choice)

Vesta’s re-entry into Aries (Dec 3/4, 2015 – March 7/8, 2016) – Vesta now begins a new astrological cycle – her transit around the zodiac over the next 3.5 years (till April 2019). We’re going to be burning through what remains of the ego-self (which we can get to this time around), and finding deeper parts of ourselves from which we can be of service.

We’re being asked to listen to our instincts and our body’s inner wisdom as we embody a particular type or path of facilitation (for self and others).

Whilst Aries can be impulsive and run head-strong into things without permission or cause, it is the same energy of the pioneer, the one who ‘breaks through’.

The question is – where is that impulse coming from – Ego? Heart? Spirit? – and have you fine-tuned yourself to tell the difference yet?

Much of these answers also relate to the path of service we choose to undertake within this lifetime. The more we are conscious of our motivations (and how they change), the more aware we become of our energy and the work that we do with others.

Summary – Taking it all together, it’s a fantastic time to get deep, to get real, to connect with the Sacred Feminine, and the Fires of the Awakening Self. Over the next three days, pay attention to whom you meet, the decisions you take, the ideas you have or encounter. They could well pave the way for another chapter of growth and experience within your life.

Some of you will experience a profound paradigm shift at this time. Some will embrace it with open arms, minds, hearts and bodies. And others will bitterly resist it as it challenges the truths they have become comfortable with identifying with. What response you have depends on upon your relationship with the idea of Truth … with a capital ‘T’.

Blessings,

Bairavee Balasubramaniam
The Sky Priestess

~~~

Additional Info:

The Great Attractor is a gravitational anomaly in space denser than the mass of 1000 trillion Suns, located in a fairly mysterious zone in the Cosmos known as the ‘Zone of Avoidance’. Whenever the Great Attractor (14 Sagittarius) is activated – this time, by the Sun’s transit -, we see an intense focus on issues surrounding belief systems, paradigms, religions, world-views, long-distance travel, visas, citizenship, etc.

The Great Attractor takes no hostages, and often leads to the expression of information or perspectives that can be sharply polarizing – it leads to a ‘love it or hate it’ type of response by fairly large groups of people. It is not a private revelation, but one that involves the masses and their reactions in one form or another.

From an earlier article on the Sun’s Trine to the Great Attractor (8 August 2015) ~ http://wp.me/p4OUNS-Ap

~~~

Image: Sagittarius A.jpg, NASA, public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Post © Bairavee Balasubramaniam, 2015. All rights reserved. Please see T&Cs below.

** Terms and Conditions: Please note that none of the information presented above or in linked material is meant to replace advice from a medical, healthcare, legal and/or other professional service. How you choose to act upon the advice given is entirely based on your own free will. You may use this information for educational and non-commercial reasons, in parts, or in entirety with full credit given to the author and links to her webpage ( www.bairaveebalasubramaniam.com ), with T&Cs intact. The author shall not be held liable from any intentional, accidental or other consequences of acting upon, sharing, or engaging with this information in any form. Use of this information implies tacit acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

The Priestess In the Re-Making – VESTA RETROGRADE IN PISCES, OPPOSED THE NORTH NODE IN VIRGO

Someone reached out to me a little earlier, wanting to know why things felt .. . weird. There’s a tonne of stuff going on in the Universe right now, and quite a few exact aspects in our neck of the cosmic woods. Jupiter opposed Chiron, Venus preparing to oppose Vesta, Vesta opposing the North Node, Uranus opposed Juno, Pallas Athena shifting into Capricorn (with Ceres’ recent re-entry into Aquarius) and so on …

There’s just a lot happening. As a Priestess / Spiritual Facilitator, I feel the effects of the Vesta Retrograde quite keenly. I suspect many of you who read my work would do as well.

In Pisces, the Vesta Retrograde basically asks us to Surrender, Have Faith-in-whatever-it-is-we-consider-Sacred, and to Let Go of what no longer works. We’ve been doing a lot of that with 3 years of Saturn-in-Scorpio, but this time around it’s not so much about the Hero/ine’s epic Journey into the Underworld-and-Back, it’s more like the washing away of Piscean illusion, delusion, entrapment and spiritual glamour (meant in the magickal sense).

My take on this energy is to simply let it move through you. Keep no expectations of what must or ought to be, especially in terms of your relationship with Spirituality. You’ve got the chance right now to put an end to far older karmic patterns, contracts and past-life-lessons. There’s a lot of dissolution going on, a lot of messages that come through endings and finality.

Stay open, be compassionate – especially if that means starting with you. Priestesses and Spiritual Facilitators are born of wounds – we become ready to serve once we begin to learn how to work with them, and in ways that will not harm others in search of our work.

Try not to force a logical narrative or understanding on what you’re feeling now – Pisces’ energy is anything but rational. Just let things unfold and allow the less conscious parts of your brain & psyche outlets to channel themselves into. Some of you will turn to prayer, others to solitude and nature. Some will seek to escape into obsessive-compulsive behavior, others will feel the need to fast or exercise some kind of regiment. Some will simply need sleep and sanctuary, and others will actively seek a way to make the world move a little faster. Generally speaking, if things are simply not flowing – don’t try to force them to.

Be as receptive as you can to the powerful currents of the collective sub-conscious moving through us all and let them guide you to where you need to go. Stay aligned with your sense of inner discernment and let yourself experience the powerful alchemy of Pisces, as its waters take you to new shores.

You will find great release through forgiveness and compassion. This is always the case, but more so even now. Spiritual work and rituals of release will be particularly effective now, but use them with caution and seek help from an experienced facilitator if unsure.

Vesta’s powerful lesson – to me at least – is about letting go of those wounds that started me on the spiritualist’s journey. It means changing what I thought and felt a Priestess / Spiritual Facilitator was. The wounds do not cease to exist, but an identity of service solely born of them is released. And so new chapters can begin, new journeys, new lessons, new energy can then enter the work that I seek to do.

I suspect many Priestesses and Spiritual Facilitators are feeling this in their own ways. The Vesta Retrograde ends on November 13th in Pisces and it finally re-enters Aries on December 5th, 2015. That represents the completion of Vesta’s cycle around the zodiac, beginning on February 25/26, 2012, 3 years ago!

But why, might you ask, does Vesta gain so much importance in the skies now, when there are so many other exact aspects?

Because of her proximity to the Nodal Axis. Vesta conjuncts the South Node in Pisces, opposing the North Node in Virgo.

Quite literally, new paths of Service open as we release attachments and identifications to certain types of wounds and vulnerabilities that set us upon the path we were on.

In other words, we allow Vesta to be re-born as we release her old identity and the karmic dynamics/attachments that required that identity to come into being. Some of you might find some clues as to that how/where/what/why that particular identity was born by looking back to September 25/26, 2006 – when the roles were reversed and Vesta in Virgo opposed the North Node in Pisces.

I found that my breathing difficulties and instant need to go pilgrimaging in Nepal started right after Vesta re-entered Pisces (in my 9th house of long distance travel). Many things began to be washed away, and I begin to see what this process seeks to uncover.

A New Priestess. A New Path of Service. A New … Chapter.

And by new.. I simply mean a stripping away of whatever fear, shame, pain, or attachment to certain narratives it was that made us forget what we were in the first place.

Spirit.

Bairavee Balasubramaniam
The Sky Priestess

PS – For those of you new to my work, I do not consider Priestess energy as exclusive to women. It is an energetic archetype – a particular way of connecting with some sense of the Sacred and embodying that connection with/to others. This archetype can manifest in people irrespective of their biological attributes / sex at birth. The Priest, as I understand the term, refers to a different archetype – you can think of it as the difference between the High Priestess and the Hierophant in Tarot. To phrase it a different way, I’ve met Priestesses who were men and Priests who were women; men who understood the Divine Feminine and women who perfectly embodied the Masculine; and beings who understood both, and much, much, more. And that just makes the world a whole lot more interesting.

Post & Image: ‘Priestess Bairavee in Nepal, 2015’ © Bairavee Balasubramaniam & Ashoka Mohannan (respectively).

MERCURY CONJUNCTS VESTA ( + CIRCE ) – The Priestess Receives the Message and Begins to Heal her Womb, Be-friending the Serpent & Transforming the Cosmos (Pt. 2)

Blessings to All. This is an exciting energy for all those who walk the Path of the Spiritual Facilitator, in service of the Rising Feminine Principle. Thanks to a beautiful conjunction between Mercury (The Messenger), Vesta (The Priestess) and Circe (The Sexual Alchemist) at 17 Aquarius, we are collectively opening ourselves up to powerful messages that can shape the Path of Service we walk on and experience, and to begin the Healing of the Womb. As we do so, we will also need to face some of our deepest fears surrounding the Power of the Womb and its Vulnerabilities.

Basically – It’s an excellent time to work with facilitators you trust, who can receive cosmic information as clear channels. Many of you will be ‘turning a corner’ in your own emergence as Priestesses, Priests, Shamans, Shamankas, Healers, etc.

I’m going to links to a few meditations and make a few suggestions before diving into the Hardcore Astrology – with Zeus, Chaos, Dionysus, Ceto, Achilles, Varda, Hybris, Toro and Circe (The Sexual Alchemist). So hang on to your hats!

In terms of meditations and practical guidance, I can recommend a few:

(1) Your Feminine Essence: The Kore of Female Spirituality –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JwxC4vq9ko

By Marie de Kock at http://marie-de-kock.wix.com/femininessence [Check out her E-book on “Heal your Feminine Essence A Transformative Journey Within For Women who Wish to be Free”]

 

(2) Naomi Wolf’s Vagina: A New Biography – Recommended Reading for just about Everyone on the Planet. [ Updated Version: http://www.amazon.com/Vagina-Revised-Updated-N…/…/0061989177 ]

Here we see the intricately woven, neuro-biological connection between the female sexual center, the brain, consciousness, spirituality and orgasm. Not a spiritual practice per se, but certainly something that can help you become more aware of Sacral Energy, and the Wisdom of the Womb.

(4) Gemstones such as Rose Quartz, Rhodocrosite, Carnelian will gently allow you to work with these powerful energies. Essential oils such as Rose and Neem will also help (use a carrier oil if you’re sensitive).

(5) Deities: Whomever you feel guided to. Goddess Ishtar, Goddess Venus, Goddess Isis, Goddess Durga, The Serpent Goddess (in her many forms, and others, for starters.  Male deities/archetypes who honor their connection with the Great Mother such as Lord Cernunnos, Lord Shiva, etc.

What comes next in this article is a detailed narrative of how this Womb-Working Journey will unfold – using the road-map provided by astrological alignments. You are invited to engage with it and to take the time with as I am using astrological archetypes, couched in terms of spiritual, mythological and psychological narratives. In any case, the gist of the alignment is already summarized in the first 2 paragraphs  you have the basics of what you need to know there, along with practical guidance.

So – those of you wanting to go further, get deeper … and into the epic astrology of this energetic alignment – let’s Begin 😀

THE ASTROLOGY OF IT ALL

All of this wondrous opportunities for healing the womb are supported by a powerful Grand Air Trine involving Zeus (17 Libra) and Dionysus (17 Gemini) and Chaos (18 Gemini), along with a Sextile to Varda/Hybris/Toro at (16-17 Sagittarius). The more challenging aspects come from Ceto (17 Scorpio), Sila-Numam (16 Leo) and Achilles (16 Scorpio). I’ll explain what all of that means.

This is the third time that Mercury (The Messenger) has conjuncted Vesta (The Priestess) in the past few months – (1) December 23/24, 2014 at 10 Capricorn, (2) Februrary 5, 2015 at 3 Aquarius (with Mercury in Retrograde) and (3) (today) March 4, 2015 at 17 Aquarius. Mercury is also now Out of its Shadow Phase and moving full steam ahead! (Whoo!)

Look back to these two dates to see the full implications of the Message that Mercury brings to you now. Conjunct Vesta (the Goddess Asteroid of Priestessing), the message deals with the archetype of the Spiritual Facilitator and the kinds of wisdom that S/he can help you access. As both these bodies are now in Aquarius, the focus is on how we can communicate directly with/through the Cosmos, via the Collective. It is a fantastic energy that can be used to reach out to kindred spirits who share the same spiritual values, mission and ideals as you, and to find spaces in which you can offer your individual gifts to a collective cause – if you are a facilitator yourself. If not, it is an excellent time to receive messages from facilitators, in turn.

I also refer you to Pt. 1 of this article which describes the 2nd Mercury (Rx) – Vesta conjunction. http://wp.me/p4OUNS-jF

Now… we get to the fun stuff 😉 – the deeper astrological narratives that come through and give life to this alignment –  Mercury/Vesta:

CONJUNCT CIRCE – THE SORCERESS! (17 Aquarius) Circe represents the knowledge of sexual alchemy and deep magic. Caution is needed here to learn how to use this knowledge in ways that empower the self and others, rather than to subjugate. The wisdom and power of this Sorceress is also present as a profound influence at this time and can represent a deep gateway to accessing the Wisdom and Memories of the Womb and Sacral Energy. Those who identify as male will experience the same, but in a different way. It is likely that you will know about experiences from the past where you have been involved with a violation of sexual/sacral/fertile energy in some way.

SEXTILE VARDA/HYBRIS (at 17 Sagittarius) and TORO (at 16 Sagittarius). Many revelations can come through a reading of the stars (Varda), and ones which help you reveal layers of egoic conditioning that keep you from seeing who you truly are (Hybris). We draw upon the energy of the Bull (Toro) in charging through those out-dated perceptions and ways of being – but be warned that Bull can also keep in place these perceptions out of sheer stubbornness!

Those with placements between 10-23 Cancer will experience this as part of a profound Yod (Finger of Fate). They are advised to work with the disciplines of astrology, astronomy, or simply ‘speaking to the stars and opening your hearts to the Universe’. These individuals will be able to learn a lot about who they are and what acts of facilitation they came to perform and experiencing.. If you’re interested in doing so with me, I’d recommend the Soul Portrait Session – http://wp.me/p4OUNS-kb .

IN A GRAND AIR TRINE WITH ZEUS (17 Libra), DIONYSUS (17 Gemini) AND CHAOS (18 Gemini) – Without going into too much detail, the Mercury/Vesta/Circe conjunction is amplified by the intensely focused, powerful Being that is Zeus himself. Mythologically, Zeus – as the Patriarch – has been involved in the sexual conquest of female beings, often appearing through various disguises and ruses. I wouldn’t be surprised if this particular theme came up in our sacral processing – irrespective of whether we identify as male or female or neither or both in this lifetime. Dionysus warns us of sensual excesses and asks us to focus upon these lessons and experiences with a certain degree of sobriety :D, not seeking to lose th self the process (which is very different from ego-dissolution).

And finally – Chaos – in this context, is not something to be feared. In its original sense, Chaos referred to the ‘Gaping Void’. To me, it speaks to the idea of a tunnel, through which something emerges. It is a beautiful metaphor that speaks directly to the Womb itself, or the Birth Canal through which New Life Emerges. Issues or incidents surrounding the formative years of childhood may also come up for many at this time. Don’t be afraid, just accept it as part of the processing, or karmic work, that you came to do.

Here we get to the challenging bits – Mercury/Vesta/Circe:

SQUARE CETO (17 Scorpio) – Ceto represents our deepest sub-conscious fears. In mythology, Ceto was the giant sea-serpent that engulfed ships – a motif that is echoed across the globe. It is here that we must face the fear of the Deep Ocean, The Abyss, and the nature of Serpent Energy. Serpent Priestesses, Ocean/Sea Priestesses, Priestesses who remember or who are associated with the sunken energies of Atlantis, Mu, Lemuria, Kumari Kandam, etc. will all be feeling this profound energy – as they begin to feel into their Womb-Sacral Complex.. Some may also revisit fears of drowning, or other intense experiences with water. Transcending your Ceto, or ‘Making Friends with your Giant Sea Serpent’ is part and parcel of the Spiritual Journey. It represents a great milestone in learning to access the Deep Sub-Conscious. Ceto, the Serpent, is not something to be slain, but understood, and if possible, healed.

SQUARE ACHILLES (16 Scorpio) – Achilles represents a point where, despite feelings of invincibility, we bear our deepest vulnerabilities. The idea of invincibility in itself can be a dangerous one to hold in any spiritual tradition, as it often feeds into the ego seeking to self-aggrandize. To me, the warrior who knows his or her vulnerabilities is far more prepared, than one who does not.

In Scorpio, the vulnerability – once again – is centered upon the Sacral Chakra – and for women (and men in tune with this aspect of themselves) – situated within the Womb. Remember that the bodies we are in now are just for this lifetime – we are likely to have had memories and experiences of being other sexes/genders in earlier times. The Soul Remembers..

As we Rise and Celebrate the Feminine Principle once more – it is vital to honor both the Power and the Vulnerability of the Womb and the Feminine Essence that it contains. It is also counterproductive to engage in the narrative of blame, shame, guilt, victimization as we do so – as that only feeds further into maintaining the Wound, rather seeking its release. This is a huge topic in itself, but you can refer to my earlier posts for more on that.

Ceto- the Feared Serpent – rears his head here, showing you the places where you can spread your web of healing and integration onto:)

OPPOSITE SILA-NUNAM (16 Leo) – Sila-Nunam’s role in this picture is … less of a challenge that may frighten you … but more of one that can excite you. It opposes Mercury/Vesta/Circe and, along with it, forms a Kite that weaves in the Grand Air Trine. Ceto/Achilles and Sila-Nunam make a T-Square aspect to Mercury/Vesta/Circe. In some sense, you can think of Sila-Nunam as the destination point or direction that all these energies are asking you to walk towards. Please note that those with placements between 10-23 Taurus will experience this as a Grand Fixed Cross – time to shift what no longer works;)

Rather than running into a situation yelling Charrrrggee!! or using metaphors of battle where you have to ‘defeat’ the energy that you fear – Sila-Nunam asks you to take the opposite approach. This is where acceptance and love wields a greater power in integration and healing of the Seat of the Sacral Chakra (represented here by Leo – it’s amazing how many Sacral Activations are a part of this alignment).

Here we are called to Play with the Serpent, and hug the Vulnerabilities of the Wounded Inner Child. We are called to hold Him/Her in a Loving Embrace and to practice Self-Compassion, Acceptance and Serenity. Through all of the intensity of the other aspects, we are – at the end of it all – asked to come to terms with and find a sense of peace with the many layers and complexities of our Sacral Energy. And much of that will involve a processing of deep wounds and hurts.

What can result from this, is a profound breakthrough in the way you relate to this delicate, intimate part of yourselves – that represents the seed of your creative, reproductive, joyful and authentic Being! It is also here that you can find the gifts that allow you to Co-Create a Powerful Reality of your Choice, with the Cosmos (coming back to Aquarius and the Collective).

This is a fantastic alignment for all beings. Whilst there are challenges to be met, these will only help you find a deeper, truer, sense of peace, grace and healing compassion – starting with Yourself ❤

Blessings to All! I’m excited for each and every one of you! 🙂

Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam PhD
bairaveebalasubramaniam.com
fb.com/theskypriestess

Page: Astrology with Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam PhD

Image: Manasa, the Snake Goddess (6124609239).jpg – By English: thesandiegomuseumofartcollection (Flickr) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Text © Bairavee Balasubramaniam, 2015

THE SHADOW OF THE DIVINE FEMININE AND DIVINE MASCULINE IN ASTROLOGY (INTERVIEW LINK)

Topics/Questions addressed in this interview (in order of their discussion):

– What is a Priestess?
– Who am I? How did I get started on The Path?
– What is the Nurturing Feminine/Masculine?
– What is the Assertive Masculine/Feminine?
– Astrological Bodies that represent the Feminine/Masculine
– Interpreting Venus & Mars in the Natal Chart
– The Goddess & God in Astrology
– Reinterpreting Juno and Virgo
– The Fiery Venus: Going back to Goddesses Ishtar and Inanna
– The Compassionate Masculine: The Christ Archetype and Lord Shiva
– Eroding Gender Binaries and its Impact on Astrological Interpretation
– The Path of Formlessness / Dissolution
– What is ‘The Shadow’? (Goddess Chinnamasta as Compassion, Saturn as Crone-Love – Reversing the Archetypes and bringing them into balance)
– Nessus & Overcoming the Cycle of Abuse
– Eros & Intimacy
– Re-defining Astrology as a Tool of Healing

+ why everything said in this interview is but one Truth, not fixed, and open to Interpretation and Evolution … breaking through the stereotypes!

*****

Many thanks to Empower You Media and Conscious Consumer Network TV and all panelists. Links: www.empoweryoutv.org , www.consciousconsumernetwork.tv and Living Astrology

*****

Blessings to all,

Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam PhD
www.bairaveebalasubramaniam.com
www.facebook.com/theskypriestess

Astrology FB Page: Astrology with Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam PhD

REFLECTIONS: WHAT MAKES A PRIESTESS?

Sometimes a Priestess finds herself in welcome company, and at other times she is the outcast, the ridiculed, the exiled, the heretic. Some people find the idea of a ‘Priestess’, ‘Goddess’ and the ‘Divine Feminine’ off-putting. Some minds open, and others close when they encounter these terms and the energies they represent.

Priestessing is an unusual vocation by today’s standards, and not everyone is going to get it or respect it, or need to. It’s not an easy road. It’s not particularly glamorous. It just is what it is.

God/dess knows it’s good to realize you’re not alone in the Journey. That there are others who feel just as you do. Who share the same faith, the same fears and who just ‘get it’.

Other priestesses have begun to reach out to me in response to my article called ‘Priestess is a Verb, Not a Title’ ( http://wp.me/p4OUNS-4c ). It moves me to see the time and effort that they have taken to write to me and narrate (in part) stories of their journeys. It is a good energy of ‘coming together’, of reunion in many ways – and it is what prompted this exercise of reflection you now read.

There are more of us than we realize, walking on kindred paths and paving a way forward for spiritual women to be seen as what they are, once more.

But what does all of this entail?

In other words – What makes a Priestess?

Walking on this path requires you on the one hand to completely commit yourself to something you consider sacred. On the other hand, you are constantly called to check-in with yourself, with that deep connection to Source/Spirit that moves you, with your development and how attached you are to a certain idea of Truth, a path, a practice, and so on.

On the one hand we act with utter faith, and on the other, we constantly feel into it deeper – allowing it to change, evolve and transform if need be.

At the very least, that is what I am called to do – and it keeps me from falling into stagnation and complacency – which is very different from a state of receptive stillness.

It makes the experience of Being a Priestess a very conscious one. Part of you is constantly attuned to this state of devotion and reflection on that path of devotion. It’s not a switch you can turn on or off, not a vocation that obeys the 9-5 schedule and has the weekends off. It’s 24/7.

The ‘reward’ (if you can call it that) you get by being a Priestess can’t really be measured in material terms. If the goal was to earn money, gain prestige and status, make friends, get your ego stroked / validated, etc. there are a lot of other, easier options that would give you that kind of ‘job satisfaction’.

Moreover, there are energetic and karmic consequences for Priestesses (and Spiritual Facilitators in general) who use their role primarily to fulfill their ego’s desires. That applies to us all, but more so for those who speak the language of Spirit.

Perhaps the real reward you get is the simple recognition that you are in fact, Honoring Yourself. A recognition, an acknowledgement that comes from within.

You express and embody that Sacred Truth that resonates with your Soul. And in so doing, you Honor the Divinity within you – which You are.

Perhaps you do that in a public role, perhaps it’s private – for your eyes only … either way – you’re just being you – that is a gift in itself.

Bear in mind that this is my take on The Path. Your understanding may be different, and that is perfectly fine. Stick to what resonates. Whilst I speak of Priestesses, know that I speak of an energetic archetype, not limited to a single gender.

Blessings as always,

Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam PhD
www.bairaveebalasubramaniam.com

Image Information: Statue of the princess – priestess Takushit (4334574410).jpg – By Tilemahos Efthimiadis from Athens, Greece [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

VENUS CONJUNCTS VESTA IN CAPRICORN (3:55 am, Dec 16th 2014, GMT + 8)

Blessings All. Venus, representing the energies of Abundance and certain aspects of the Sacred Feminine conjuncted Vesta – the energies of the Sacred Facilitator or Priestess Archetype at 6 Capricorn ’27 (in an Earth/Feminine sign). The energy of the Feminine on all three counts! (But remember that it is found in all beings, irrespective of sexual and gender identity).

I feel that these energies point to a recognition of and opportunity for further material advancement offered to the Feminine at this time. And yes – material manifestation and recognition is important in so far that it is just another slice of the Pie of Life, no less, and no more important than the other parts.

Let’s start with the sign first: Capricorn. Often linked with issues of career, status, ambition and achievement. That’s certainly a part of it – but so too is the idea of the legacy that we leave behind after departure from this realm and the way our deeds are ultimately remembered. There is a powerful energy of Service that can also feed into this sign, contrary to its association with a Machiavellian sense of power-acquisition and manipulativeness (you can be any sign and still do that). Capricorn also represents the energies of the Earth-Crone, the wizened, ancient Grandmother archetype who teaches us the ways of Old, hidden deep beneath the earth or in the darkness of caves hidden up high in the mountains. There is something deeply maternal and ancient about this energy, when accessed.

As Alan Oken puts it, it also refers to an energy of Initiation – considering that the Winter Solstice (with the theme of Resurrection from the Tomb) is celebrated when the Sun enters Capricorn. There’s a lot else that can be said about this sign – and much work that needs to be done in its astrological and energetic re-interpretation.

Let’s now move to Venus and Vesta!

Venus, representing Femininity, Desires, Judgment/Value Systems is placed into the spotlight now and she is given the chance to shine and be recognized! She may seek to conform in some ways, but is best served by staying true to her desires and authentic self. In a more direct way, it is a time where Beauty, Harmony and Fairness is showcased in the public eye. How this manifests for you depends on your natal chart and other factors. Be careful of becoming attached to status and recognition for its own sake and remember to deal with institutions/persons in authority in a Balanced Manner. That will be key to your success in dealing with whatever situation or opportunity arises at this time.

Vesta, representing a particular type or path of Service is similarly highlighted. The Service that the Priestess must perform now moves from the personal, to the familial, to the immediate, and now to the societal level. Recognition from authority figures or opportunities to work with them are especially present. Whilst an emphasis on achievement is present, it needs to be sublimated to a deeper cause of really doing what you need to, as opposed to how it is received/interpreted/responded to by the collective.

In fact, asteroid Hidalgo (6 Capricorn) was also conjunct Venus and Vesta at this time. Hidalgo (in real life) was a revolutionary priest who led a crusade against the Spanish Colonial Government and whose death precipitated the struggle (and acquisition) of Mexican independence (Source: http://www.zanestein.com/hidalgo.htm). This energy points to a spiritual person in a position of power whose actions are able to spark and give life to collective actions. There is an element of sacrifice here (as there is with Vesta in any case), but it is highly unlikely to manifest as loss of life in this conjunction.

This is an excellent opportunity to align your core values of Service (those of you who facilitate) and the overriding ethos of this generation: To Bring Back the Feminine into Balance with the Masculine. Dealings with authority figures may be possible at this time – and also career advancement/recognition in some form. Remember to leave the Ego at the door and receive it through your Heart as best you can!

Blessings, Love, and Joy to All,

Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam, PhD
www.bairaveebalasubramaniam.com

PS – I’m going to be speaking about the Goddess Asteroids & Black Moon Lilith on The Living Astrology Radio Show with host Janet Hickox. My topic is ‘Awakening The Goddess Through Astrology’ – tune in if you’re interested! Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1517417401865734/?ref=ts&fref=ts

Image Information: The Hindu Goddess Parvati LACMA M.77.82 (5 of 12).jpg – Los Angeles County Museum of Art [Public Domain Image] via Wikimedia Commons

THE PRIEST/ESS MEETS THE VOID: NEPTUNE RETROGRADE IN PISCES SQUARE VESTA IN SAGITTARIUS

Neptune Retrograde and Vesta are both at 5 degrees of Pisces and Sagittarius respectively. They formed an exact square aspect at 5:34 am, October 17, 2014 (GMT + 8). Neptune Retrograde refers to that source of inspiration, vision, otherwordly perception or connection. It is situated within a web of formless, boundless, psychic connection. It is the planetary energy that seeks transcendence and the loss of ego, Self and Knowledge. In Retrograde, Neptune can slice through the comfortable illusions we hold about ourselves and our spiritual paths. Those willing to face their inner realities may escape deeper into delusion, or find self-dissolution (unhealthily) through self-destructive behaviors of some kind (e.g. addictions to substances, people, etc. ). Neptune is reinforced in Pisces, its home sign and its emphasis is upon transcending the requirements of form, definition and boundary in spiritual pursuits – up to a point, this is completely welcomed, but in excess, it leads to all other kinds of issues.

Vesta refers to that point of complete focus, dedication and commitment – an intense pursuit of something for which we are willing to sacrifice all. At times, it is exactly that pursuit that we are called to sacrifice, at different parts of the Journey. It is linked with the energy of the Priest/ess Archetype. Vesta in Sagittarius has her sights set upon the Path itself. She looks to the Mountaintop, the Faraway, the Teacher, the Institution for knowledge, experience and the opportunity to expand Knowledge of the Self and Pathways of Ancient Knowledge. It is also a time in which our energy of focus, commitment, and our potential for regeneration lies in anything which expands our horizons – be it travel overseas (long-distance journeys), learning something new, re-starting school, adopting a new spiritual philosophy, etc.

When Pisces and Sagittarius square with one another, what you get is a clash between two very different Spiritual Paradigms. Sagittarius is very certain that IT knows how to reach the Summit, and that other Paths are somehow lesser. Pisces is absolutely certain that it is uncertain …. and its Path is one of dissolution and transcendence. Resist the temptation to assume that this is ‘The Highest’ or ‘Truest’ Path as that would be contradicting what Pisces is about in the first place. And making that Assumption is part and parcel of what makes Sagittarius such a powerful, forceful and determined sign in the first place – its certainty.

Neptune Retrograde and Vesta themselves clash as they play different types of spiritual roles – both powerful. Vesta empowers and facilitates whilst Neptune dissolves and initiates (in a different way). Think of it this way: If your definition of spiritual facilitation relied upon a certain definition of what is/is not Spirit, Sacred, Ritual, Path, etc. … Neptune basically comes in to say that all that is ultimately impermanent, transient and illusionary. Not a happy combination unless you’re already comfortable with dealing with the Pisces-Virgo (seehttp://wp.me/p4OUNS-6Q ) dynamics. Essentially, those who feel very certain they know what Spirit and Path is about, will be very challenged today. We all need tests and challenges on our understanding of the Path from time to time, take this energy as one of those tests and opportunities to hone your understanding and embodiment of Path.

Bear this energy in mind as you go about your day. There’s a powerful potential in this square – one which can help you hold the formless nature of Energetic Spirit and the Material form of Facilitation in the same breath. Those with astrological placements at or near 5 degrees Virgo or Gemini will feel this as a Mutable T-Square or Grand Mutable Cross.

I relate to his energy instinctively as Vesta and Neptune are squared in my natal chart anyway. My writings on the Formlessness and Priestessing might shed some light on the dynamic of this tension, or encourage you to find ways to formulate that truth for yourselves. ( http://wp.me/p4OUNS-84 )

Blessings to all Be kind to Self, and Others as All-Ways Neptune’s energy can be hard for some to handle, seek the company of reliable support groups or networks of people, particularly if you are prone to escapism through addictive substances, self-destructive tendencies, etc. Otherwise, meet the challenge head on and see where it can take you – down the rabbit hole, and back to the top of the mountain – just as the clouds part to reveal something wordless, formless, amorphous, Eternal and Transcendental …

Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam, PhD
www.bairaveebalasubramaniam.com

Image Information: Great Rift Valley.jpg – By Xiaojun Deng (Flickr: Great Rift Valley) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

THE DIVINE DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE

Whilst we embrace the cause of the Rising Feminine, it is important to note that the end-game is not one where you have two equally strong ‘teams’ polarized against one another. It is not to pit man against woman or God against Goddess.

It is ultimately, a Call for Balance.

I am a Priestess and I champion the cause of priestesses officiating over temples and rituals once more without fear, without prejudice, without discrimination – without the idea of filthiness associated with their bodies and their sex. That does not mean that I see women superior to men, or a Goddess superior to a God.

In me, I have a Goddess, and God. In me, I have the Divine. (I’m still in the process of remembering, and realizing it)

So do you. So do we all. So does every bit of creation, animate and inanimate.

In you, in me, in everything there is a God/Goddess/Formless Divine energy flowing through – so what use is there placing limitations on how it can or cannot be expressed?

I find it strange that those who claim their understanding of ‘God’ is ‘gender-neutral’ find it so threatening or uncomfortable when I or others use the term ‘Goddess’, or Priestess. (If it’s all really equal, then no conflict should arise… )

Ideally, there will come a day where both terms are so accepted and embraced by all, that no one will even bat an eyelid.

But that day is not here yet. We are, of course, all working towards it.

Yes, at the end of the day … It’s all Energy, and Dissolution anyway – but we have chosen to incarnate as Spirit-in-Flesh. And it seems sad when half of that Spirit is denied the expression or recognition of its intrinsic Divinity. The Feminine is repressed and challenged not only when she arises through the bodies of women, but also through men who choose alternative definitions of their masculinity-honoring-Femininity.

Till then, I remain focused upon a Spiritual Path that Honors the Formless Divine by ensuring that its Material Representations (Idols, Statues, Sacred Facilitators) are truly representative.

The paradox of recognizing the God/dess on an altar, and not in the flesh of a person is one I’ll address later.

Blessings and Love to All,
Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam, PhD
wwww.bairaveebalasubramaniam.com

Image Information: Minoan – Snake Goddess – Walters 23196.jpg – Walters Art Museum [Public domain, CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

Why I Love the Dark Goddess: An Invitation to Self-Reflection and Dialogue

 

In this video, I pose a few questions at the start to get the ball rolling – and share some of my personal experiences along the way. So many of us are awakening now, as we are following paths which call us to an understanding of femininity, motherhood and womanhood that defies conventional understandings. As we go on this path – asking ourselves the basics of Why? How? Where? can take us a long way in understanding what we are embodying, and how to carry that as we move through the world. There are so many misconceptions surrounding the Dark Feminine (e.g. witches are bad or evil, women are inferior, it’s all negativity, etc.), deeply embedded into the collective psyche. So it’s important to think about how we deal with these challenges, and in so doing, embody the essence of this Path – which is to me, a commitment to truth and a way of life that goes beyond rituals or forms. This is an invitation to engage in self-reflection and dialogue. Please comment with your responses, if so inclined.

Just so I am clear – whilst I speak of the experience of women, the themes that I address will also be ones familiar to men honoring the Feminine principle, particularly if they do not obey the heteronormative norm (e.g. alternate sexualities, not being a ‘manly’ man, etc.). The same applies for those with a trans-identity, breaking out of societal expectations.

Vanakam, Namaste and Blessings to Everyone Across The Globe,
Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam, PhD
http://www.bairaveebalasubramaniam.com

VESTA, Goddess Asteroid of Priest/essing: A Few Notes by Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam, PhD

In the skies right now, Vesta is part of a Grand Trine and a near-Grand Sextile, as I discussed Earlier. She is helping us to (re) birth a Goddess-friendly intuitive paradigm, along with Juno in Cancer and Neptune Retrograde in Pisces. Juno is the element and energy of Divine Feminine energy as a whole – we know her as Asherah, Sophia-Gaia, Shakti – and so on. Vesta is her Priestess, tending the Sacred Flame in the Self and Others. And Neptune Retrograde drives us to dig deeper and to look at the Truth in our own Spiritual Conceptions.

Vesta generally asks us to look into ourselves, our most initimate (often sexual, reproductive) wounds that block our sacred-creative energy and Connection with Life-Source. She tells us that the healing of these wounds will allow us to tap into the wealth of regenerative, spiritually nourishing energy once more. She tells us how to Light the Lamp in ourselves, yet Again… Glowing with the Energy of the Goddess. In Scorpio (where she is now at 7 degrees), these lessons are further emphasized and highlighted. The challenge here is to know how to give, and how much.

Vesta, at present, is conjunct the asteroid Eurydike – Eurydike was a mythological figure associated with death by serpent, and confinement in the Underworld. There are many ways to interpret her mythology, but it resonates strongly with the element of sacrifice in the name of love. Her husband, Orpheus, fails to retrieve her from the Underworld as he is not willing to have faith and disobeys the condition of her release from death – to not turn around as he walks out of the place. He turns to look, and *poof* she’s gone.

With Vesta conjunct Eurydike, priest/esses in service of the Awakening Divine Feminine will be especially challenged all around to globe to sacrifice something or another. The question is what, why, and how? Sometimes it may be a sexual partner, other times, it may be an intimate friendship that is no longer compatible with your path. It can even be an outmoded view, as painful as it is, that you cling on to and limit yourself with.

But something clearly has to go – Give it up, but know why you do so.

Vesta/Eurydike oppose Bienor, another asteroid, at 7 deg Taurus. Bienor has many interpretations, most of which center around strength, and some concept of integrity. In opposition to Scorpio’s sexuality, underworld affiliations, healing/regenerative ability and deep magical connections – Bienor is likely to question how you manifest these Scorpionic energies through your activities of priest/essing.

It is important to note that the inclusion of Bienor completes the Grand Sextile – it would trine Mercury in Virgo (which opposes Neptune Retrograde) and Pluto in Capricorn (which opposes Juno in Cancer). So the act of service-integrity-sacrifice in your spiritual vocation, calling or path leads to a powerful anchoring of Energies for Manifestation.

Bienor represents a position of power that can also house those who perceive themselves to be ‘maintaining the status quo’ (Taurus), and casting judgment, or creating resistance to your Scorpio-based activities. The Priest/ess, facing this judgment, must then choose to respond to it with integrity, rather than revenge, retaliation or a further cycle of judgment or blame.

Perhaps what we’re called now is to Sacrifice the sense of control that Scorpio so enjoys and to realize that this Path is not a comfortable, or an easy one. It is ancient, but is also deeply challenging. At times we are called not to hit back, when we are attacked. At times, we are called to smile, stay still in the line of fire.

Wholly ignoring the Ego, we are called to Burn, Burn with the Flames of Spirit. I would associate this energy with Joan of Arc, with the Witches of Salem, with the energy of the Condemned, and hunted Feminine Spiritual Facilitator – She (or He) that has embraced the Divine Feminine in a spiritual vocation of Priest/essing in Her Name.

Now all this doesn’t mean you’re supposed to throw yourselves into a literal fire or anything. That’s where Eurydike’s lesson comes in: Perhaps it’s letting go of a snide remark or judgmental attitude towards you or your path. Perhaps it’s releasing yourself from a bond where you can’t continue your path without facing daily attack or criticism. Perhaps it’s simply Aligning yourself with Spirit, and realizing that whatever challenges and vulnerability we might feel now is just part of our Collective Learning Curve as part of this Massive Awakening.

In whatever way this challenge arises, and it will – especially Jupiter (at 7 deg Leo, loosely conjunct Venus at 9 deg Leo) is squaring Vesta (7 deg Scorpio), we’re likely to face criticism or the heavy hand of the judgment by others.

Stand Tall as your Tend To Your Sacred Fires, Sisters and Brothers.

For those interested – I speak about these energies here:http://wp.me/p4OUNS-4L

Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam, PhD
www.bairaveebalasubramaniam.com

Image: Frederic Leighton [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons