Beltane

Each year on October 31 the Northern hemisphere celebrates Samhain, better known as Halloween. As Pagan festivals are earth based they look toward the seasons for their celebrations. Samhain is a time to prepare for the oncoming darkness of winter. It is a time of reflection and remembrance. Some say the separation between the physical and spiritual realms is narrow during this time, bringing forth the tales of Halloween.

In the Southern hemisphere we are embarking on the warming days of summer. Beltane tells the story of a youthful God becoming a man, stimulated by nature he desires the Goddess in his arms. They fall in love and the Goddess is fertilised by his seed.

Beltane is a time of love and celebration. The earth is once again fulfilled with vitality providing enthusiasm and anticipation. It is a time to be creative and embrace the abundance of nature.

Today I paid homage to the Gods and welcomed them to this day of Beltane. Myrrh resin welcomed the youthful God Adonis. The young God died from a boar wound and the flower of anemone grew from his blood. His beloved Aphrodite was so distressed that the Gods allowed Adonis to spend six months of every year on earth with her. And so we are graced with the revival of nature as Adonis returns.

Red rose petals were gently burnt for Eros, also known as Cupid – God of love and son of Aphrodite. Finally, sage greeted Jupiter, God of rain, storms, thunder and lightening. We give thanks to the Gods for the wealth and beauty that surrounds us.

Happy Beltane.

Ostara/Eostre

The Goddess Ostara, or Eostre, is associated with fertility and it is during spring that she breathes new life into all us. Mother earth revitalises the life energy around us, and spring emerges with blossoms of effervescence and growth. As the days become brighter and the nights warmer, we find balance in light and dark.

Ostara is a time of birth and replenishment. It is an ideal opportunity to re-energise the body, stimulate the mind and invigorate the soul. Take some time to enjoy the exhilaration of restoration, find some balance within ourselves and embrace the nourishment and love waiting for us.

Illness

A prolonged period of illness takes its toll in every aspect. We feel emotionally drained, physically tired, mentally fatigued and spiritually depleted.

Many of us believe that an ailment or sickness can be a way that the body communicates with the consciousness that a change is in need. I too believe this to be true. When our physical and mental states are exhausted it is obvious the message is to slow down. A time to take care and nurture ourselves back to revitalisation. Stress can be a major factor for all of us, living in this hectic place that is constantly speeding up, and can manifest in differing ways.

Meditation is particularly useful to refocus and maintain positivity, to check in to see where we have overloaded. It is here that the necessary adjustments present themselves.

On a divine level, illness can be the body eliminating toxins for greater spiritual enhancement, clearing the path toward ascension.

And if nothing else, feeling healthy again is a reminder of how wonderful it is to have vitality, to have a clear mind and feel alive.

Dragon meditation

I leaned into the stone well and visualised all of my stresses of the day leaving my body. All my problems, all my anxieties, all my worries – I watched all of them fall down into the depths of darkness and the negative energy with them. My body felt immediately lighter.

I turned around, took a deep breath and continued down the dirt path towards the cave. I had not been inside this cave before but I was not afraid. This was exactly where I was meant to be and it gave me a sense of calmness, almost a sense of familiarity. The rustic walls surrounded me and I could feel moisture. Small dragons were scurrying across the ground, chasing each other and testing out their new found wings. What a joy to witness. I stood very carefully so as not to startle them and suddenly a great dragon emerged from the pond. She was a deep rustic and metallic bronze colour – very beautiful!

She snarled and roared at me to make sure I knew I was trespassing and she would not hesitate to protect her young. I felt her warm breath gush against my face and my hair moved as if I was walking in the wind. It was amazing and yet I was not frightened. I closed my eyes and kept them shut. She sensed I was not scared and stealthily moved closer – I could feel her presence, her breath and I could hear her sniff my scent. She seemed to recognise me although we had not met before. She moved back to the pond and I held my position for a while.

When I opened my eyes, she was watching me but with a sense of peacefulness. I call her Dragoness.

I moved carefully towards the edge of the pond and let my fingers gently paddle the still water. I could see my reflection. Suddenly Dragon appeared, my dragon. He came very close to me as he usually does. I was so happy to see him. He is lighter in colour but quite majestic. I put my arms around him and he his wings around me. Underneath this giant I felt warmth and tenderness. Moments of pure magic…

I realised this was his family. Dragon had introduced me to his family – a family I did not know existed. I felt privileged to be in their presence. He spoke and I was so overwhelmed I nearly did not hear his words in my head. Dragon had never spoken to me before, I had to bring my mind back quickly or miss his message entirely. He spoke of my fears and inhibitions that hold me back, to not be afraid, to embrace what I see and continue on my journey.

We spoke a little while longer until we both knew it was time for me to leave. I felt safe and comfortable and was reluctant to leave. But I knew this was not my place so I carefully walked towards the opening I had entered.

Dragon is my most powerful spiritual guide and the bond between us is very strong. He represents two of the elements of nature: water and fire. I have shared many wonderful moments with Dragon but this was the only time I have met his family.

Strength

One legged Chaturanga

When I first began practicing Power Yoga, I realised just how little upper body strength I actually had. For months my arms and shoulders ached from holding Down Dog and trying to master Chaturanga, both key elements of the Sun Salutation Vinyasa. As my practice became more familiar, I also grew stronger.

Gradually I have been able to attempt some poses that I once thought would be impossible for me to achieve. My body has slowly begun to open up, allowing me to move deeper into my practice. I like the term 'practice' because I think I will always be a novice and every class is exactly that - practice.

But I can now look back and feel grateful for all the aches and repetition of poses that have brought me to where I am in my yoga today. My body continues to change and life insists on providing new challenges. Every day is amazingly different and my strength continues to improve. Herein is yet another of the many available and astounding benefits of yoga.

Judgement

I know who I am and that my spirit originated from another dimension. I know that I am different, but certainly not special. I know that my divine journey is quite spectacular and one that perhaps some cannot relate to but does not separate me.

However, I find myself casting judgement on others. And in judgement we are at our worst. It is an ugly human behaviour.

I expect others to think as quickly as me. I expect others to have the same work ethic as me. I expect others to see the big picture and move on from meaningless relationships easily. I expect others to keep up and understand my erratic nature. I have judged those who are experiencing life, their life in their own unique way. My expectations let me down.

In this feeling of remorse, I remind myself that not everyone is on the same spiritual journey. It is important to acknowledge that each spirit has it's own place and will travel at it's own speed. This humbles me and allows me to see the light shining from each spirit for who they truly are.

Winter bliss

I love this time of year. Crisp, fresh mornings and sleep filled nights. Admittedly the days are shorter and I do miss coming home to spend the last hour of light in my garden.

These first few weeks of June just before the Winter Solstice are the longest, darkest and perhaps the coldest.

If we listen to our bodies, it's a time to rest. Early nights in with a sense of hibernation. It is also at this time that the earth rests. Crops and plants lie in waiting for the first specks of spring to launch their new growth. And so it should be for us since we are also creatures of the earth. In the fast pace of the Western world we forget to slow down and listen to our bodies. We forget to move with the earth and live as one.