Mid-Summers Eve

The Summer Solstice will occur for those of us in the northern hemisphere on June 20th-21st as the sun moves into the astrological sign of cancer. Solstice literally means sol for sun and sistere, to stand still. At the solstice, the sun has no apparent northward or southward motion. It is a time when the sun is at its zenith at the tropic of cancer, and basically when the sun reaches the highest point in the sky. It is the longest day of the year when the light force reaches its highest peak.

Many esoteric traditions celebrate various rituals during this important event. The ancient Druids gathered at this time period to celebrate the forces of light. Many Pagans celebrate this time period as Litha or Midsummer’s Eve. It is celebrated as a triumph for the forces of light over the forces of darkness with a huge bonfire. Wiccans honor the Horned God in all his glory and the Goddess as pregnant, and ready to bear the fruit of the harvest.

One interesting ritual that many Pagans celebrate is the Wheel of Fire. This ritual consists of constructing a wheel (usually made of wood or cardboard). Everyone in the ritual ties little colored ribbons, covered with symbols representing wishes that they would like to see made manifest to the wheel. The wheel would then be taken to a hill and lit on fire with drumming and dancing. At the climax, the wheel of fire would be rolled down the hill usually into a lake or pond. Basically the ritual symbolizes the sun at the height of its cycle and its sojourn downwards again. It is the intention that the wishes on the wheel, following the cycle of the sun will be realized when the sun reaches its lowest point at the winter solstice.

Esoteric and Exoteric Spirituality

What is Esoteric Spirituality? The word esoteric comes from the Greek work esoterikos meaning inner or from within. Basically, esoteric has to do with information or knowledge that is understood by a select few individuals or group of people. Esoteric knowledge may consist of teachings and doctrines handed down from a teacher to the initiated. This knowledge may require an inner realization, either from insight, intuition or meditation/contemplation in order to understand it fully. Esoteric spirituality, in a nutshell, would consist of any religion or spirituality that centers on an awareness or knowledge that is obtained through intuition or meditation and shared with a select group of followers.

Throughout history, western esoteric spirituality has been connected with diverse movements such as the Orphic tradition, the Eleusinian Mysteries, the School of Pythagoras, Gnostic Christianity, neo-Platonism, the Hermetic Tradition, Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, Spiritualism, Theosophy and Occultism. There are many branches to the tree of esoteric spirituality and it encompasses many different topics such as: Alchemy, Astral Projection, Astrology, Clairvoyance, ESP, Hermeticism, Intuition, Kabbalah, Magic, Metaphysics, Mysticism, Numerology, Occult, Rosicrucianism, Tarot and the Western mystery tradition, just to name a few.

Esoteric Spirituality has to do with spiritual development from within. It’s greatest teachers, i.e., Pythagoras, Hermes, Plato, Plotinus, and including Jesus have taught that the soul can expand the boundaries of every day consciousness and experience higher levels of awareness all the way to cosmic consciousness. The essence of their teachings were esoteric and given to a select inner group of followers or disciples. Pythagoras had his inner group of followers called the mathematiikoi who were given the guarded secrets of the cult. Hermes’s esoteric teachings were only given to those who were initiated. Jesus taught his deepest truths to his disciples. Jesus said, Do not throw your pearls before swine. In other words, do not throw your pearls of wisdom to those who would not understand them and then trample them. This is the essence as to why esoteric teachings were only given to a select few. Certain information was only given to those who were ready to receive it. This is one of the main differences between esoteric spirituality and exoteric spirituality. Exoteric spirituality was meant for the public and is about the external teachings of spirituality. Esoteric spirituality is meant for the inner spiritual development of the soul.

Neptune and Jupiter Conjunction

Right now, as I speak the planets of Neptune and Jupiter are in conjunction. From as astrological point of view, it is an important time to tune into higher states of consciousness and awareness through meditation, prayer and astral projection. For those who have always wanted to experience astral projection, this is a good time to begin or concentrate your practice. This is the time to "ride the tide" so to speak, and let it help carry you to higher states of consciousness. This astrological aspect will be in effect for most of the year, so take the opportunity to pour more energy into your meditation and astral projection practice now.

HERMES BIRTHDAY

Today is Hermes Birthday! As the sun moves into the astrological sign of Gemini, we honor Hermes Tremegistus. Hermes corresponds with the Egyptian God Thoth and the planetary vibration of Mercury. (Mercurius ter Maximus)

Look to Hermes in your life for all things magical, i.e. the Hermetic teachings and to help you with mecurial phenomenon on this physical plane. If you want to improve your communication(Remember that Mercury was the messinger of the Gods), writing, expression, learning and understanding; pray to Hermes for guidance.

The famous quote "As above, so below; As without, so within" is attributed to Hermes and describes the magical operation of the entire universe. We are all connected to each other from within. We seem to be separated only in appearance, but we are really connected to everything. That is why at the center of our being, we are at one with the universe. But we exist in the physical universe to fullfill our desires and dreams. This requires time and space which God provides us in the wonderful play of earthly delights. We can make of it as we wish. It can be a beautiful garden or a garbage pit. The Hermetic goal is to manifest peace on the earth or to transform everything around us to a higher octive of existence.

May Hermes guide us all on our quest and help us to be the best that we can be.

Times have changed

I did not write this bit, but it was forwarded to me by a friend. I thought it was cute and so true for those of us born between 1930-1979 and so I wanted to pass it on:

To Those of Us Born 1930 - 1979
At the end of this email is a quote of the month by Jay Leno. If you don't read anything else, please
read what he said.
Very well stated, Mr. Leno.
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE
1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!! First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-base paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads.
As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.
Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And, we weren't overweight. WHY?
Because we were always outside playing...that's why!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And, we were O.K. We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Play stations, Nintendo's and X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet and no chat rooms. WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them! We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them. Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.
Imagine that!! The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever.
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. If YOU are one of them? CONGRATULATIONS! You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.
While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave and lucky their parents were.
Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it ?
~ The quote of the month is by Jay Leno:
'With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?' For those that prefer to think that God is not watching over us...go ahead and delete this. For the rest of us...pass this on.

Celebration of Mother Earth

The Celebration of the Earth Element occurs at 15 degrees of Taurus which happens on May 5th this year. Astrologers know that at 15 degrees of Taurus, the Earth principle is at its most focused point in the year. It is the best time to celebrate the Earth Element, Mother Earth, and Mother's Day! Now, I want to share with you an important ritual at this time of year that everyone can do. First, you should prepare a scroll or piece of paper with a prayer for growth and stability in whatever area of your life you wish. Then pick up a plant, bush or tree to be planted. Find a place where you can dig a whole into the earth to plant your bush or tree. For those living in the city, you could do this in a big pot filled with dirt. After you dig your hole, place your scroll in and then your plant. Say a prayer to Mother Earth and that completes the ritual.

This is a wonderful ritual that everyone can do and it will benefit your life in many ways. It feels so good to communicate your wishes while playing in the dirt through the Earth Element which will bring about their manifestation.

Me and You

Me and You


Rising in the early morning dew,
I remember the me and sing about the you.

Laying down in the twilight skies,
I dream about the stars and who you are.

Cascading rhythms of crimson hue,
Reveals the nature of me and you.

Brought together over eons of time,
Displayed in ripples of celestial rhyme.