Alignments Newsletter - Lammas Eve - July 31, 2005 http://ezezine.com Alignments Newsletter -- Lammas Eve -- July 31, 2005 The Alignments Newsletter focuses on star alignments, personal and planetary transformation, metaphysics and personal mastery. Subscriptions are free. See the instructions below to order, and feel free to share your copy with others who may benefit from the information. Need to change your address? See the instructions below. All Content Copyright 2005 Allison Rae/QuantumRealityCoach.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Attuning to Natural Cycles The Sun’s transit of Leo creates a festive backdrop for a series of complex planetary alignments in coming weeks. Most prominent is the Sabbat known as Lammas (Lughnasadh), one of eight powerful gateways of consciousness celebrated in pagan and esoteric traditions. Lammas (Lughnasadh) -- July 31/August 1 (traditional); August 6 (zodiacal) New Moon in Leo -- August 4 -- 10:05 p.m. EDT; August 5 -- 3:05 a.m. GMT Mercury Stations Direct -- August 15 Venus into Libra -- August 16 Jupiter Trine Neptune -- August 17 Aquarius Full Moon -- August 19 -- 1:53 p.m. EDT; 6:53 p.m. GMT This is a time of personal power, ritual, celebration, sharing, community, growth and manifestation. Enjoy the journey! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As the Wheel Turns -- Lammas At the mid-point between Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox, we celebrate the first fruits of the year’s harvest with Lammas. First grains are baked into breads to be shared in community meals, with some grain returned to the land in gratitude. In the Earth’s annual journey around the Sun, she encounters eight “power points” along the way. These are the quarters and cross-quarters of the year, celebrated by pagan traditions as Sabbats. The quarters are the solstices and equinoxes. The cross-quarters are the midpoints between the solstices and equinoxes. In addition to their agricultural significance, each represents a specific Sun-Earth alignment that’s particularly powerful for spiritual practice, healing, manifestation and interdimensional communication. Solstices and Equinoxes are the Lesser Sabbats. The cross-quarters -- Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane and Lammas -- are considered even more powerful times for ritual and manifestation. They are the Greater Sabbats. The Sabbat of Lammas approaches in the Northern Hemisphere. Traditionally, this mid-point between Litha (Midsummer or Summer Solstice) and Mabon (Autumn Equinox) is observed on August 1 and celebrated the night before, July 31, as Lammas Eve. Lughnasadh (Lammas) celebrates the first fruits of the harvest, at the height of the summer season. The grain that is cut both nourishes the community and provides the seed that will be planted to nourish us next year, completing the cycle once again. The God gives his energy into the corn and grain; the Earth Mother is full with the ripening harvest. As they share with us, so do we share with each other, and with the Earth. In this period, we give back from what we have received at the culmination of the cycle, and continue to work toward the harvest that will be reaped at the next turn of the wheel. The astronomical mid-point between Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox is actually August 6, so the entire period from July 31 to August 6 is considered appropriate for prayer, celebration, ceremony and ritual. Dreams and meditation and dreams may be especially vivid and powerful during this gateway. In the Southern Hemisphere, the Sabbat of Imbolc falls at this time, signaling the first stirrings of spring deep within the belly of Mother Earth. The promise of renewed life is celebrated. Attuning to natural cycles through ritual and ceremony is the heart of the practice of Wiccan, Native American and other Earth-based spiritual traditions. The Earth Mother, or Goddess, represents the Divine Feminine, bringer of life, nurturer. She provides sustenance for the people. The turning of the Solar Wheel represents the natural flow of creation, the energy that supports our personal and collective process of manifestation. Consciously working with these cycles of energy brings power to our prayer, meditation, healing work and intentions. As we give thanks for our physical blessings, it’s also appropriate to take stock of our successes and accomplishments at this time of our spiritual “first harvest.” Now is also the time to plant some of the “grain” to seed further progress. The suggested Lammas ritual below comes from http://www.starcraftsob.com. I especially resonate with its author’s intentions and want to share it with you. This ceremony is personal, and may be adapted for group use. Another excellent source for information about the Sabbats and the Solar Wheel is http://www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk/sabbats/index.asp. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Lughnasadh Ritual of Sharing (from http://www.starcraftsob.com) To prepare, set out symbols for each element, such as a feather and incense for Air, a red candle for Fire, a seashell or bowl full of water for Water, a rock or a flower for Earth. In astrology, Air and Fire are considered of the masculine polarity; Water and Earth are of the feminine polarity. For the purposes of this ritual and for balance, we'll use the polarities to call upon both God and Goddess within. Center yourself and create sacred space in your usual way. If you are using incense, light it, and light the red candle. Hold the censer and feather in your hands and focus, saying: "God is within me and I hold the Air, mighty power of thought in my hands and in my mind. What will I do to direct that power and share it with my world?" Pause for a moment to listen for an inner message and then form your answer. Use the feather to direct the incense smoke as you walk around your circle and speak of what you will use to share your gifts of Air: rational thought, learning, communication... Hold the lighted red candle and focus, saying: "God is within me and I hold the Fire, mighty power of spirit and inspiration in my hands and in my heart. What will I do to rouse that power and share it with my world?" Again, pause for a moment to listen for an inner message, and then carry the candle around your circle as you speak of what you will do to share your gifts of fire: energy, inspiration, courage, initiative... Hold the container of water and focus, saying: "Goddess is within me and I hold the Water, mighty power of feeling in my hands and in my soul. How may I share this flow?" Pause for a moment to listen for an inner answer and then carry the water around your circle, sprinkling it with your fingers as you go, and speak of what you will do to share your gifts of water: intuition, compassion, sensitivity... Hold the symbols of Earth in your hands and focus, saying: "Goddess is within me and I hold the Earth, her body, in my hands. How can I share my gifts of Earth? (Or, how can I protect and heal my world?)" Pause for a moment to listen for an inner answer and then carry the stone or flower around your circle as you speak of what you can do to share your gifts of Earth: responsibility, persistence, strength, practical manifestation... Resolve that you will take steps to carry out the promises you have made within this rite. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Leo-Aquarius Axis Throughout the next lunar phase, from the New Moon on August 4/5 to the Full Moon on August 17, we’ll be exploring the many dimensions of the Leo-Aquarius polarity. In its highest expression, Leo represents the actualized self, a fully individuated and integrated spark of the Godhead brimming with possibilities, creativity and love. Immature Leo is egocentric, self-absorbed, pretentious. Opposing Leo on the zodiacal wheel is visionary Aquarius, prodding us to transcend the self toward the higher aspirations of service to humanity. The individual vs. the collective will be a common theme in coming weeks. Aquarian ideals of brotherhood and humanitarian service are the foundation of the next zodiacal age. Unevolved, Aquarius tends toward self-righteousness, over-intellectualizing, and stubbornly clinging to his own ideas. Watch for these qualities to surface within you during this lunar cycle. Focus on cultivating those expressions that bring balance, peace and harmony within. The Sun and Saturn are both now in Leo, urging us to express our inner strength, power, courage and leadership. As the Moon moves to align with the Sun at the Leo New Moon, our thoughts and feelings are in for a burst of creative energy. Mercury is conjunct the Sun and Moon in Leo, opening the door to new and inspired perceptions. Meanwhile, Neptune opposes the Sun, Moon and Mercury, creating a fresh canvas for your dreams. Through August 15, Mercury is still retrograde, or “moving backward” in the sky from our vantage point on Earth. Use this time to envision higher ideas for your life, rewrite your personal script, or even recast yourself in a more starring role. Mars forms a T-square with Saturn and Chiron at this lunation. Old issues may surface for healing that need to be cleared so you may pursue your passions more fully. Venus, Goddess of Love, returns to her home sign of Libra on August 16. You may notice you’re more drawn to the finer things of life -- art, music, literature, poetry -- and more prone to spend lavishly. Explore your sensual side during this transit. Neptune continues to influence our dreams and aspirations as he moves to an exact trine with Jupiter on August 17. This is the last of three trines between the planet of expansion and the god of the underworld. The first was November 29, 2004, and the second on March 13, 2005. This expansive and harmonious alignment brings us together at a soul level to form community, transcend apparent barriers, build bridges and co-create at a higher level. The ideals of Leo and Aquarius come into their fullest expression at the Full Moon on August 19. As an individual, how fully are you expressing your life purpose? How does your purpose fit in the context of the collective? Who are you aligned with? What do you stand for? The Sabian symbol for this Full Moon at 27 degrees of Leo hints at the significance of this time in Earth’s history: “The luminescence of dawn in the eastern sky; the exalting challenge of new opportunities at the threshold of a new cycle.” This lunation has an open and airy quality, allowing us to release old patterns and experiment with new ones. This is a social Moon, a time of community. Explore new possibilities and play freely. Leo rules the heart and circulatory system. During the Sun’s transit of Leo, support your physical body with plenty of aerobic exercise. Try brisk walking, jogging, swimming and other cardiovascular activities. Nutritional supplements important at this time include magnesium, red clover and borage. Mars forms another T-square at this lunation, this time energizing dreamy Neptune and intelligent Mercury. Pay attention to your dreams, study in areas that interest you, and follow where your heart leads! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Final Days of Summer Fiesta How do incoming celestial energies influence you on an individual level? Could you be expressing your life purpose more fully? Are you manifesting and creating at the level you would like? Cycles of soul evolution affect your growth and transformation both internally and in the outer expressions of your life, including your career, relationships, business and family matters. As a spiritual life coach, I work with individuals around the world to develop their destiny, create positive change, and overcome resistance as they manifest richer, more meaningful lives in alignment with the soul. The Summer Fiesta runs through July 31 and includes special rates on phone readings and healing sessions for Alignments Newsletter subscribers. Soul Readings, Life Path Consultations with Astrology and Numerology, High Priestess Readings and Transformational Healing are all $25 off per session. Just mention this announcement to receive the special rate. Appointments are available by phone and e-mail. For details, visit http://www.QuantumRealityCoach.com and click on Readings -- Coaching -- Counseling or Transformational Healing. I look forward to working with you. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Peace on your journey. Namaste. Allison Rae http://www.QuantumRealityCoach.com ______ Allison's free e-mail newsletter, “Alignments,” offers in-depth information about star alignments, personal and planetary transformation, metaphysics, personal mastery and more. To subscribe, visit http://www.QuantumRealityCoach.com. 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