Temple of the Cosmic Spheres

Dear Followers..

Please be patient for new posts. Two-weeks out from a total hip replacement but on the mend and soon back to posting and sharing. In the meantime, there is plenty to read in the archives. Enjoy!

Blessings …Robin

Last night we began our journey through the astronomical year and deeper connection to the quarter points of Solstices and Equinoxes. This poem emerged from that intention. Enjoy…

Light strains to take hold
As darkness spreads her wings
Of Divine shroud.

Darkness seeks its mate
Of brilliant light
And both weave the
Dance of courtship and
Consummate Union.

Darkness lifts a wing ready to
Molt its downy blackness
And Light kisses one
Last time lips that seek the hermit’s solace.

Light coils within the shadows
Spiraling out and reaching
With tendrils of inky
Stain that becomes the
Beauty of a palette of
Misty grey.

To deepen this writing, please listen to the audio of our opening pathworking here…

Standing in the Center
(12 mins.)

Continue the work of the New Moon and please enjoy a ritual pathworking of empowerment…

Click Here: Lighting the Torch!

May 6.2016
New Moon in Taurus
3:30 p.m. (EDT)

Sun in Taurus

I breathe out exhaling
And thousands of fiery
Stars burst forth.

Each light is the pulsing
Of my celestial body.
Each silently issues the
Sacred sound of universal
Sky held in timeless magick.

I inhale and all of Earth’s
Fertility is drawn into me
Moving in ecstatic joy as
The starry heaven of my body
And the fecundity of earth
Join as one.

I breathe and my lover stretches
Upward in embrace seeking the
Perfection of our profound union.

I breathe and the Cosmos speaks
My Name and the star-filled
Breath of its calling becomes the
All of creation.

We just celebrated the Sacred Union of Beltane’s Lord and Lady, so it is fitting that this New Moon in the astrological sign of Taurus is one of beginnings that may flow through all of our manifest endeavors. I have chosen the Egyptian Goddess Nuit as the image and energy for this New Moon. She is an ancient Goddess of the Heavens and her brother, Geb lay beneath her as the embodiment of the Earth. Her body is that of the blackened starry night and within that mantle lay the potential of planet and luminary to shine as they will adorning her form.

The union of Geb/Earth and Nuit/Sky held the space of the between from which life and the quickening of form drawn down into fertile space of ground could become. The cloak of Taurus calls us to be present in all of our physical workings.; and as it adorns the strength of the Solar God it illumines the way for what this bull of longevity and commitment chooses as its focus of protection. Nuit wearing the veiling of Taurus provides the promise “as above, so below” that bodes the nurturing of the cosmos and the life contained within her.

The Moon lay hidden; embedded in Nuit’s creative waters. Sun and Moon find their way, entwining and moving in the ecstasy of promised union. This is the calling of a new moon’s beginnings. This is the space of breath just before the exhale that gently feeds what will blossom forth in fullness in the weeks ahead. Look up to the blackness of the night sky, knowing that Nuit’s Moon surrounds you. You, who stand on the form of her lover, Geb and for a moment in time, seed and womb becomes as one. What will you manifest this night?

Please enjoy a recorded meditation honoring Nuit’s New Moon of Creation…

Nuit’s Moon of Creation

All Hail to Astrological Beltane and the Parting of the Veils of New Life!

A little background..

In many traditions the date of celebration for Beltane is May 1st and that of its counterpart, Samhain is Oct. 31 or Nov. 1. Although these dates have accumulated much astral energy from repeated use, if you wish to follow the astronomical approach, which is where the origins of the cross-quarter days lay, those dates are premature.

Beltane falls mid-point between the Vernal Equinox and the Summer Solstice. Each of the cross-quarter Sabbats – Beltane, Lammas, Samhain and Imbolc fall within that half way point between an Equinox and a Solstice. And, for those ancient practitioners who strongly followed the correlate of Solar tides, this placement provided very specific energy in relationship to the line of the Sun’s outpouring onto Earth, its placement during these times between and what was called into action in celebration, ritual and devotion.

If you look a bit closer at the timing of the astrological correlates and know, even a bit, about the energetics of the zodiacal signs as they move through the Solar Year, there is a wellspring of underlying meaning that can be drawn from as you open to new levels of connection that deeply inform how you construct your personal ritual or celebration of these cross-quarter days. Read more here…

Mercury Retrograde in Taurus
April 28.2016
1:20 p.m.

Mercury stationed Retrograde this afternoon and adds its energy to a retrograde hit list of 4 other planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Pluto. Five is the number of change and abrupt transformation. It is also the space of creation; having envisioned the point of newness that pushes through a 4-sided wall of foundation and becomes something more than a static base.

My Mars Retrograde  post was entitled “Stand Down”. Now, with the addition of a Mercury retrograde, the need for observation, non-resistance and being patient takes on more meaning. Any retrograde intensifies the baseline energy of that planet’s gifts. Mercury is one we are most familiar with, since its frequency is generally 2-3 times per year. The stereotypical Mercury Retrograde involves failed communication, technology glitches, tongue stumbling and the attempts at expressing oneself, being misunderstood, misconstrued and generally frustrating.

However, the plus side to these inconveniences is the opportunity to check and double-check what you say, how you proceed and generally slow down the frantic communication strategies we have come accustomed to in this highly “connected” age.

The Mars Retrograde on Apr. 18th amplified the need to step back from the natural push of this planet in asserting its willful action. Saturn’s retrograde is holding in check the exuberance of Mar’s energy; both being in the fiery sign of Sagittarius. And, Pluto stationing Retrograde the day after Mars in the earthy sign of Capricorn required slow and careful footing as travels into the great “beyond” of what we perceive as the most distant of planet’s energy.

The stage is now set, the microphone readied and communication that is deliberate and clear is asked to be the star of the show. The intensity of Mercury will play out in a very physical and concrete way. Taurus is a sign of the Earth element. This is the strength of the bull that establishes his territory and holds firm in protecting. Mercury in Taurus means that the intellect and style of communication will be very deliberate and abundantly clear in its purpose. Again, think of the bull and the “no mistaking” active communication when you venture into its territory and perceived a threat. Additionally, Taurus as a sign of the Fixed modality applies structure and synthesis. Now, add the complexity of this stalwart approach as a focus of intensified application to Mercury, the quintessential sign of communication and you will soon understand the need to speak slowly and clearly into the amplifying mic.

Staying with the stage analogy, the Sun is currently in its Solar month of Taurus! Spotlight (Sun) on the communicative star (Mercury) on opening day of a highly theatrical run that will engage its cosmic audience through May 22nd.

“Fire in the Hole”

Mars and Saturn in Sagittarius – Fire
Jupiter in Virgo – Earth
Mercury in Taurus – Earth
Pluto in Capricorn – Earth

An interesting occurrence is that 3 of the 5 Retrograde planets are in Earth signs; and together represent the trinity of modalities Cardinal – Fixed and Mutable. We began this trinity in the space of Mutable Virgo acting as the vehicle for Jupiter. Mutability is flexibility; the flexibility that allows for endings to flow into new beginnings. Pluto in Cardinal Capricorn, laid the ground work for those new reachings to take hold and the Cardinal intentions of new growth to bubble up. Mercury in Fixed Taurus, provides the container that draws from the Cardinal outpourings; mixes and refines the product as it stabilizes in preparation for the next cycle of Mutable action to begin. All the while, this action is taking place with the intentions of manifestation and palpable effect in the physical realms.

Mars and Saturn add Fire to the mix. Not just any fire, but that of the Mutable kind; hoping to spread its seeds of will to action and making full use of its catalytic nature. Here we find the friction of Mars, wanting to charge full speed ahead and Saturn, demanding that everything be ordered and structured in a lasting and durable way. These are the volatile fires that if not carefully balanced detonate in a blinding burst of chaos and upheaval.

So, think of all the efforts towards manifestation having aptly applied expansion (Jupiter),  and the seeding of the unknown (Pluto) into a carefully constructed vessel that clearly communicates its intention (Mercury). The fires have settled in and if not handled with the utmost of care, attention, observation and proceeding with caution, the sparks will fly and what foundations may have been laid will soon be blown apart, only to have to rebuild again.

Go Gently Into These Times…

The words, “be gentle with yourself”, are those to follow this year. Take time for yourself. Take time to be with those you love. Use the energy of this year’s astrology to find out more about who you are. What things are your passion and what things will you willingly release in finding the path back to “you”. Think of these (and the others that occur later in the year) as times to slow down and to sit with all the gifts of humanity that allow you to experience the changes, challenges and joys of having the “time” to be fully present in the moment.