In Part 1 (http://wp.me/p4OUNS-sx), we discussed the astrology of the Eclipse – now we discuss its symbolism. What does it mean for us all?
For me, this Eclipse strongly speaks to the need to reclaim certain archetypes that have been heavily projected upon as ‘Bad’, ‘Evil’, ‘Negative’, when in fact, they can be deeply Sacred. I’m speaking of course, of the Rise of the Feminine as an equal and necessary aspect of the Spectrum of Energies that makes up ‘Divinity’. There are sound astrological and symbolic reasons for linking this phenomena with the energetic re-claiming that I speak of, so keep reading 🙂
This particular eclipse is a Blood Moon. It appears red due to the refraction of the Sun’s light as it streams, and is refracted by, its interaction with the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere – the resulting red rays are projected onto the Moon – which we then see as the ‘blood-red’ colour. So, at first, a very literal physical distortion and projection of colour onto a neutral object.
The second level or layer or projection is symbolic: It comes with the association of the ‘Redness’ of the Moon with something Apocalyptic, Dangerous, and so on. Now, as a woman and a Priestess on the Path of Formlessness (as taught to me by the Dark Mother) – I see Redness something very, very different.
I see Redness and I think of Life, Sex, Passion, Vitality and the Cycles of Menstruation. I see it as proof of my body’s ability to Bear Life, and its attunement with the cycles of Nature. I see it as a bond I share with all women, from time immemorial to the present, and (hopefully) the future. I see it as a potent Elixir, one that bears within it many secrets of Rejuvenation (as science is beginning to show as well).
And yet, when I consider the ways it has been projected upon —
I see the Sacred Red Streak, the same Scarlet Shade that has been projected upon as being Shameful, Dirty, Toxic and Unfit to be placed in the eyes of the Divine. I see it as the Strength of Woman turned against her into a source of crippling Shame.
I think of the woman who is denied the role of the priestess, or even entry to the Sacred Temple, as Her Blood as she cannot face the Divine with her Impure Blood
I think of the maidens who are kept apart from their families at this time, sometimes told that their blood will soil even the food that they touch.
I think of the crone who regrets for the many years she was told to hide away and pretend that her body did not bleed in preparation of life.
And so, I see this time as a powerful opportunity to Reclaim Redness, to wash away the shame associated with Menstruation and – more broadly – with a woman’s ability to connect with the Divine.
There are of course other connotations of Blood – The Shakta Tradition shows the Sacrifice of Goddess Chinnamasta, The Christian Tradition associates this with the Passion of the Christ (and, well, we’re close to Easter Sunday). The rhetoric of nationalism calls to honor the blood spilt of the soldier in battle. Some of these associations are tender, and others are deeply problematic.
When we think of the way that the blood spilt from the menstrual cycle is something kept outside the categories of ‘the sacred’ or ‘the honorable’ … well … that tells you a lot. Why is blood spilt in Death any less sacred than that which emerges to precede and prepare for Life?
Spiritualists will also note the connection of Blood-Redness with the Base Chakra and all that it represents. Our vitality, our connection with Physical Reality, our link with our ‘Tribe’ (to quite Caroline Myss) – as expressed through the Base Chakra energy center (lower back to coccyx/base of the spine). It’s a time wherein we are called to recognize that our material, physical, ‘basic’ needs are just as valid and as important as loftier spiritual ideas and non-physical energetic work.
Earth rituals will be particularly potent at this time – so it’s a great time to honor that Sacred Connection we all share, life supported by the spinning fires of Mama-Gaia – particularly those that involve sacred blood, as it was so in ancient times.
I find this nexus between Sacred Blood-Women-Spirituality-The Earth-The Womb be the the symbolic and archetypal heart of this Eclipse and the kinds of transformations it brings about in us all.
And the astrology supports that interpretation.
In a direct sense, this Libra Full Moon/Total Lunar Eclipse/Blood Moon is culminating the seeds of intention we placed during the Libra New Moon last year: September 24, 2014. The big highlight of that lunation was the Sun/Moon conjunction with the Super-Galactic Center (a supermassive black hole at the heart of the Laniakea supercluster the Milky Way is a part of), along with a Novile to Black Moon Lilith in Leo.
Anything that touches the SGC point links back to this .. profoundly powerful Source-Connection we have with the Universe. The ripples and waves made of this conjunction spread far and wide, in ways that we (using the rational or intellectual mind) cannot begin to fathom.
The Novile to BM Lilith indicated that it was a time to begin to address our relationship with the Shadow of the Feminine, and the ways in which Her Creativity, Sexuality, Sacred Womb and Playfulness have been heavily projected upon and/or suppressed. We will see the full culmination of those seeds during the September Full Moon of 2023.
And yet, we already begin to see the ways that this .. movement towards Balance and an acknowledgement and Healing of the Shadow-Feminine is taking place. It is little wonder that my 2nd radio show, called ‘The Dark Mother’s Children’ suddenly scheduled to air in the shadow build-up period of this Eclipse. I’d urge you to tune into it if this subject speaks to your Soul. Link Here: www.wgtrdemand.com/the-dark-mothers-children.html
I’ve also been seeing so many others begin to step into the idea that the archetype of Darkness is not all that we have led to believe it to be (i.e. Evil, Negative, and so on). It’s a wonderful, wonderful, thing to witness!
Moreover .. Black Moon Lilith is – right now – making a powerful inconjunct to the Sun! This is a particularly disquieting aspect that demand the Light of Consciousness/Awareness from the Self to be turned to the Dark Mother (Black Moon Lilith) in the Sign of the Priestess (Virgo). In short, our awareness is being pushed to those uncomfortable, denied, neglected and heavily projected upon energies of the Dark Priestess Herself! Those with placements near 14 Scorpio or Aquarius will experience a powerful Yod (Finger of Fate) that will lead you to a key decision point in the ways in which you relate to the Dark aspects of the Sacred Feminine.
Lilith herself represents a neat bridge between the astrology and symbolism of the Blood Moon – with the Reclaiming of the Red, Dark, Bloody Feminine.
We’ve seen too often in human history where the woman who would not submit (think Lilith in the Judeo-Christian tradition) was projected upon as a Whore, Witch, Nightly Terror, a Threat to Man after she left Adam, refusing to serve and submit to him.
It’s a powerful strategy of suppression and silencing found all across the globe, leveled against (particularly) women who seek to find their own paths and honor the deep magic within themselves.
This also relates to the rejection of women’s bodies and the spiritual path of Gnosis that arises through a very specific relationship between the moon, the womb, menstrual cycles and other biological-spiritual connections specific to women.
In some sense, the rise of Woman and her link with the Mysteries can be seen as a direct challenge to some of the dogma that organized forms of religion preach. The idea of a Goddess, and a very earthy, bleedy, tender and beautifully messy representation of deity stands in contrast to idea of ‘God’.
Which brings me to the question of the Blood Moon Tetrad and its link with the Apocalypse.
This Lunar Eclipse is the 3rd in a sequence of of 4 Blood Moons (total lunar eclipses), one after the other with a 6 month interval between each. It’s a fairly rare occurrence. Here’s the sequence – April 15, 2014; October 8 2014, April 4 2015 and September 28 2015.
Some followers of Judaism and Christianity believe that this is the sign of the Apocalypse – and others see it simply as indicating a great moment in the history of this planet, especially as some of them coincide with important Jewish holidays. I can’t help but notice how close we are to Easter Sunday as well.
But does it mean the end of the world? Yes, but not in the way one assumes it to be.
In a very real sense, the world has been ‘ending’ since 2012 — and many are already beginning to do the work of rebuilding the new. Some are still sitting in that silent space, awaiting rebirth in that liminal space between death and life. And so much of that process was tied in with the square between Uranus in Aries (Transformation of the Evolution) square Pluto in Capricorn (Crisis-Transformation of Legacy).
Such cycles of birth, death and rebirth take place in all of our lives, without necessarily requiring a physical loss of life. A cycle which women are intimately in tune with, through their blood mysteries – wisdom that is now being remembered, and brought back into the collective consciousness.
What about the Apocalypse? I’m quoting from Wikipedia here – An apocalypse (Ancient Greek: ἀποκάλυψις apocálypsis, from ἀπό and καλύπτω meaning “uncovering”), translated literally from Greek, is a disclosure of knowledge, i.e., a lifting of the veil or revelation. In religious contexts it is usually a disclosure of something hidden
Given the role of Black Moon Lilith in the Libra New Moon and Full Moon, the projections upon the Blood-Red Moon, and the sheer disruption that the rise of the Feminine and her Mysteries can bring to our mainstream understanding of religion …. well.. .
I’d say the ‘revelation’, or ‘lifting of the veil’ this Apocalypse brings
will be nothing short of a complete transformation of our belief systems
As She, The Dark Mother, The Dark Feminine, The Dark Priestess
The Sacred Feminine Path, The Holy Black-Red Womb … Returns.
Blessings to All,
Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam PhD
bairaveebalasubramaniam.com
Astrology with Priestess Bairavee Balasubramaniam PhD
fb.com/theskypriestess
Link to The Dark Mother’s Children where I speak more on this subject – www.wgtrdemand.com/the-dark-mothers-children.html (The Archetypes of Womb, Mother, Darkness, Feminine Energy, and how they all intersect – and the practices and ideas that seek to cast them as somehow ‘negative’ or ‘taboo’)
Recommended Books:
Anatomy of Spirit, Caroline Myss
Red, Hot and Holy, Sera Beak
Source: Wikipedia – for etymology of ‘Apocalypse’ (originally read in Red, Hot and Holy – the idea of linking the Apocalypse to the Unveiling of the Feminine came from there)
Astrological connections – My own
© Text and Image: Bairavee Balasubramaniam, 2015
Dr. Bairavee Balasubramaniam PhD: The Sky Priestess 