“If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it’s not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That’s why it’s your path.” ~Joseph Campbell
On our collective and personal Hero’s Journey, when Pluto entered Capricorn in November 2008, we began our Descent by Crossing the Threshold into the underworld of transformation. Think back over the last six years and the last two in particular— haven’t you encountered tests, allies, obstacles, gone into your innermost cave and faced psychological ordeals and losses as the unprecedented destruction of previously solid institutions has careered remorselessly on?
On the Hero’s Journey Map, we entered the Innermost Cave in October 2012 when Saturn entered Pluto’s sign of Scorpio accompanied by the North Node of Fate. That was when we had to begin to master the skill of consciously walking the edges of what is dying and what is being birthed with opportunities for purposely creating a new paradigm out of the ashes of the old. The trick to this fear-arousing shift is to embrace what is unfolding whilst letting go of attachment to any specific results. It’s normal to feel varying degrees of fear around the edges of what is changing in our own lives. As the first of seven Uranus/Pluto Squares occurred in June 2012, the seismic fissures appeared and the fault lines cracked open. The fifth of these Uranus/Pluto earthquakes has just occurred on April 23 this year at the Great Fracturing, increasing the Ordeal of relentless metamorphosis on a scale never seen before.
Excavating the Treasure
As the ripples and repercussions from the Grand Cross start to flow out down the time stream, May‘s task is to sift and dig for the gold, the first signs of retrieval of the Reward from our Hero’s Journey. This inner treasure has been rising to the surface of our consciousness from 16 months of Saturn edge-walking through Scorpio, excavating our shadow and periodically breaking the ground at the Scorpio-Taurus eclipses—November 13, 2012; April 25, and May 10, and November 3, 2013; and April 29, 2014. The Cardinal Cross on April 23 has just blasted open a new seam for us to mine for gold out of the chaos of psychic mud, coal and detritus.
“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” ~Joseph Campbell
May 2014 Astrology
In May the Taurus/Scorpio axis, so recently excavated by the Nodes of Fate, will reveal how to work and sift this valuable material starting at the Taurus Solar Eclipse of April 29. It is under the sign of Taurus that humanity is learning the deeper spiritual lessons of desire, and the transformation of the energy of desire. It is through desire that we take a physical incarnation and it is desire that also keeps us trapped in Samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth. Taurus teaches about what needs to happen so we can transform the energy of desire into the desire for service.
Taurus is an Earth sign long associated with mining, and in trine now to Pluto Lord of the Underworld and Guardian of the Unconscious in Capricorn. Exoterically ruled by Venus—driven by desire, beauty and values—Taurus is esoterically governed by Vulcan, known as the blacksmith of the Gods, whose task is to shape and fashion substance: forging physical matter from light in the heat of his furnace. Once illumination in Taurus has been realized, Vulcan’s First Ray of Will and Power turns it into some tangible practical shape, in physical form, to fulfill spiritual purpose.
As metal is melted down in the blacksmith’s forge it can also be purified. In a liquid state anything that is not gold can be removed so that pure gold can be poured out and fashioned into shape. This alchemical function of Vulcan gives a clue to one of the deepest mysteries of Taurus: the opening of the third eye. There are many references in esoteric writing to the “Eye of Light”, the “Eye of the Bull” and even the consciousness of Buddha has been referred to as the “Diamond Eye”. In nature, natural diamonds form in conditions of high pressure, and high temperature, deep within the Earth. During May, the energy of Vulcan is at work: transforming ordinary rock through fire and pressure into something which is pure, illuminating by showing us the nature of light. These higher octave properties of illumination and revelation are hinted at in the esoteric mantra for Taurus:
“I see and when the Eye is opened, all is light.”
Key Dates
April 29: Taurus Solar Eclipse
This is the last Taurus Solar eclipse until 2022, awakening your Third Eye wherever 8 degrees Taurus lies in your chart. The conjunction of Sun and Moon is birthed in the sacred geometry of the Grand Cardinal Cross and a Grand Water Trine, with flowing aspects to Pluto and Jupiter.
The Chandra Symbol for the Solar Eclipse: A large ruby inscribed with a prayer.
“A beautiful dream that comes true. Conceiving in your heart that a fresh life current is here to be met in the physical. Being magnetized to the spot where the New Earth arises. You feel deeply drawn to give yourself over completely to what the new life-wave asks. Sensing acutely that this is all that counts, and suffering for all of those who are shut off from the bounty. Knowing how hard it is to feel dejected and forsaken, and never forgetting the ache, the longing, the distances, and what it takes to earnestly clasp new life and realise you belong to the heavenly kingdom in the Earth and will never again be out in the cold.”
May 9: Star of David
May 14: Wesak High Spring Festival of the Return of the Buddha, Scorpio Full Moon
Ancient Wisdom teachings consider Wesak the most significant moment of the year, when an actual heavenly event takes place and manifests upon the Earth. The Wesak Festival is considered to be a time when God Himself, transmitting through the Buddha and the Christ, releases a blessing upon Earth. It has been celebrated for centuries in India as a holy and public holiday and always occurs during the Buddha Full Moon. During this time, humanity can place itself completely in line with spiritual forces unavailable at any other time during the year. The Scorpio Full Moon is conjunct Master Teacher Saturn, repeating the hard-won lesson of understanding our role as a change agent.
Mining For Gold
“Where you stumble and fall, there you will find gold.” ~Joseph Campbell
So what is your gold? It is to be found in thriving, not just surviving. It is facing your shadow, withdrawing projections and taking back your power, walking your talk, finding then living your purpose. It is being able to turn setbacks into success, by being resilient rather than comfortable, by mastering how you manage yourself. It is by living by Miguel Ruiz’s Four Agreements:
1. Be impeccable with your Word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the Word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your Word in the direction of truth and love.
2. Don’t take anything personally. Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
3. Don’t make assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4. Always do your best. Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.
Mapping Your Personal Hero/Heroine’s Journey So Far
Think back over the years in the Underworld since 2008: what have been your greatest challenges?
- What’s the narrative, the thread, the story?
- What have you learnt that you couldn’t have learnt any other way?
- What was your Call to Adventure?
- How did you Refuse your Quest?
- When did you accept the Call and enter the Unknown?
- Who or what came to your aid, as a guide, a talisman, a compass?
- Who are your allies?
- What was your supreme Test?
- How are you different now?
“If you want to change the world, you have to change your metaphor.” ~Joseph Campbell
Lorna Bevan is a former Consultant Astrologer for The Sunday Times Magazine and other publications. She works with clients across the world, combining Visionary Astrology with Master NLP Coaching. Her passion is giving her clients the tools to live their best life.
Lorna is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Analytical Astrology.
She’s also a Jungian Psychotherapist and Master Coach qualified in NLP and Psychosynthesis.
She writes for the Cosmic Intelligence Agency as Agent 98 and for Daykeeper Journal and Infinity Magazine.
She is a Member of the Association of Professional International Astrologers, The Astrological Association UK, MBACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy ).
Lorna works to the BACP and APAI code and all sessions are completely confidential. Book a 2017 Reading with Lorna
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