Everything inside and around us wants to reflect itself in us. We don’t have to go anywhere to obtain the truth. We only need to be still and things will reveal themselves in the still water of our heart.
~Thich Nhat Hanh
Thich Nhat Hanh has written a wonderful children’s book entitled the Coconut Monk. Based on a true story it tells of an eccentric monk who, during the Viet Nam war, finds a way for enemies to live together peacefully. Thich Nhat Hanh uses the images of a cat and mouse to demonstrate his lesson, that we can live together in harmony, peace and love no matter how difficult the circumstances; an apt contemplation as we complete 2016 and move into a new year…how to better serve our selves and humanity through acceptance and peace. How better to inform the collective and encourage positive outcome than generating positive intentions. Change is inevitable. Let us be in peace with whatever crosses our path.
The month of December begins with active optimism and a sense of expansiveness—Mars in Aquarius (action motivated by collective reasoning) trine Jupiter in Libra (wisdom, justice, balance and peace—that which serves the highest good). There is a natural tendency toward community healing and reaching out to create viable solutions for everyone. It is good that we are ready for change even though at times we may resist what is unfamiliar in favor of what is comfortable. Challenges are met with varying degrees of acceptance. Acceptance allows for a natural flow of energy that will automatically carry us from A to B.
An exact square of Sun in Sagittarius and Neptune in Pisces on December 1st speaks of ‘self-undoing’. It lays the ground work for ‘discovering Reality’. Self undoing is not always the negative experience we may expect it to be. The 12th house in astrology is sometimes referred to as the house of self-undoing. It is where the personal faces the infinite and essential, Truth of Self. When we embrace our true nature we automatically embrace everything. We soften into what is occurring and have compassion for all. As the monk points out in the Coconut Monk all beings deserve our caring. Each one of us is here with equal bearing. Though we may be engaged in any number of expressions, from our heart radiates only love.
It is an opportunity to further overcome self doubt. Self doubt is: a lack of faith or confidence in oneself. This can be the result of early childhood conditioning, echoes from the past. When we are able to be in the moment, the past only exists if I think of it in this moment and have attachment to that. We do our best to not be influenced by this conditioning and eventually find freedom from such attachment. An expression of non attachment is clear observation, non judgment, a smile perhaps, a hug and overflowing gratitude for being here walking with grace. This is our residing nature; being present as Absolute awareness. Each one of us has this option and the innate sense that service to the highest good is where our greatest joy resides.
If we allow our selves to sink into these words we find relaxation, a letting go of any need to control or direct our lives. There is freedom and joy of simply being without effort. The effortless journey of discovering that there was never anywhere to travel; that wherever we think we are on this journey is exactly where we need to be. It is the only place we can be and that is perfect.
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Four of Pentacles by Painted on My Soul[/caption]
The Four of Pentacles is our starting point in December. This tarot card shows some one who is attached to the familiarity and comfort of where they are. Fours are a place of accomplishment where a firm foundation has been created to further ones growth. We are
not meant to remain here but to use that base as a springboard to ‘greater accomplishment’. Pentacles are where we find our footing, in earth that makes easier rising up to .
From there we move to the Six of Swords and here we find movement. There is the inclination to go with the flow
and travel beyond the impediments that our thoughts would create. Sixes represent the presence of the divine in physical reality and as such give us an opportunity to successfully navigate the area described by the suit based on faith. Swords are air and our mental structure that can dissolve to allow for not knowing.
When our thoughts are clear, lacking judgment, the way is open for us to experience greater awareness, new growth and inspiration. The Ace of Wands is an indication that a new beginning, as relates to spiritual realization is offered; that an influx of light is immanent; that we are having a moment of enlightenment that forever alters our landscape and how we travel through life.
Everything is an opportunity for us to embrace what appears to be greater than this self. From darkness we will waken to an embrace that can only be of this self and my arms easily enfold that. My arms are that.
We celebrate in December the joy of being free, inclusive and loving. And we are ever grateful for the fact that we are here with endless possibilities and ways of expressing that. As 2016 draws to a close we look forward to applying all that we have learned in this year of great demand to a year that promises the realization of our ‘goals’.
The last day of December there is an exact conjunction of Mars to Neptune at 9 degrees Pisces and Black Moon Lilith exactly squares the north and south nodes. A Mars/Neptune conjunction in Pisces has not occurred since April 1849. …
Mars conjunct Neptune in Pisces is the realization that our actions can create the reality of our lives, and therefore, we can create the life of our dreams with our actions…which makes it important for us to be aware of both how we are acting and what we are dreaming. (lifebysoul.com)
The south and north nodes represent our journey; where we have been and where we are going. If a planet or point (BML is a point in space) squares this axis it indicates how we will proceed from one end to the other. BML is called a point of empowerment or where we realize self. It is our deepest fears and our greatest liberation. These two profound aspects on the last day of the year send us off with the best intentions to serve the highest good with faith, strength and confidence. 2017 is a number 1 year. Our potential is unlimited.
