Listen
to things more often than beings.
Hear the voice of the fire, hear the voice of the water,
Listen
in the wind to the sighing of the bush:
This is the ancestors breathing.

Those who are dead are never gone;
The dead are not down in the earth:
They are in the trembling of the trees,
In the groaning of the woods,
In the water that runs, in the water that sleeps,
They are in the hut, they are in the crowd.

Those who are dead are not ever gone;
They are in the woman’s breast, they are in the wailing of a child,
They are in the burning log and in the moaning rock.
They are in the weeping grasses, in the forest and the home.

Listen to things more often than beings.
Hear the voice of fire, hear the voice of water.
Listen in the wind to the sighing of the bush.
This is the ancestors breathing.

(traditional song from Senegal)

Druid’s Egg AKA: anguinum; glain y nidir; mân macal.

The Druid’s Egg (also “glain,” “serpent’s egg,”
or “snake stone”) was a talismanic object sacred to
the Druids. Tales about it resemble those of the Philosopher’s
Stone sought by the alchemists. Its myths may also be related
to those of the Omphalos, a meteoritic stone that was kept at
Delphi and was thought to be the egg of the serpent-monster Python.
In legends, the Druid’s Egg is credited with endowing its
possessor with the ability to obtain almost all he might desire.

In truth, the Druid’s Egg was an egg-shaped talisman made of
stone. This consecrated object served as a tool for meditation
and magickal focus, and symbolized the promise of renewal and
rebirth. They could be made from any stone, and were generally
small enough to fit in the palm of one’s hand (about the size
of a chicken’s egg).

The Druid’s Egg appears to have been an object of interest to
the ancients, some of whom describe having actually seen and handled
it. Among those who have specially described it is the Roman historian
Pliny, who claimed he was shown one of these by a Druid from Gaul
and called it an “anguinum.”

According to Pliny’s Natural History, XXIX.52.:

“There is also another kind of egg, of much renown in
the Gallic provinces, but ignored by the Greeks. In the summer,
numberless snakes entwine themselves into a ball, held together
by a secretion from their bodies and by their spittle. this is
called anguinum. The Druids say that hissing serpents throw this
up into the air, and that it must be caught in a cloak, and not
allowed to touch the ground; and that one must instantly take
flight on horse-back, as the serpents will pursue until some stream
cuts them out. It may be tested, they say, by seeing if it floats
against the current of a river, even though it be set in gold.
But as it is the way of magicians to cast a cunning veil about
their frauds, they pretend that these eggs can only be taken on
a certain day of the moon, as though it rested with mankind to
make the moon and the serpents accord as to the moment of the
operation. I myself, however, have seen one of these eggs; it
was round, and about as large as a smallish apple; the shell was
cartalaginous, and pocked like the arms of a polypus.”

Many species of snake do form such a ball in the cold months, but the
few species of snake native to Britain are not egg-layers. A snake
which does lay eggs is the python, not found in Britain, but which
was kept in the goddess temples of the Aegean; this may be taken
as further evidence of an association between the Druids (or their
predecessors) and the Delphic cult which kept the sacred Omphalos
stone.

Of all the historic sources who have testified to seeing this legendary
egg, none claim to have witnessed its creation.

While the Druid’s Egg is not a widespread tool in modern Druidism, it
is used by some as a ritual implement for grounding and to protect
its owner from manipulative magick or other harmful intents by
acting as a magickal “shell,” absorbing and transforming
any destructive energy.

Apparently, the Druid’s Egg was also believed to create a favorable outcome
in courts of law; enough so that the Romans outlawed carrying
one into any courtroom, and would put to death anyone caught carrying
such an object.

In recent times, there has been some debate as to what Pliny is describing:
is it made of glass? is it a type of sea shell? Lately, there
have been some glass baubles found in Wales and Scotland that
some claim are the “eggs” in question, but whether they
actually are or not is unknowable.

In Wales, there is still some belief in the objects; they call them
mân macal (snare stones), and glain y nidir (the snake’s
jewel).

References:
Jones’ Celtic Encyclopedia
Pagan Wiki (The Free Pagan Omnipedia)

This is the time of year that my thoughts drift back to the life and
death of my friend, Gwydion Pendderwen. He left the physical realm
on a weekend in early November, just after Samhain, and –
in the interest of keeping his memory alive and also in introducing
him to those of younger generations, I offer the following…

Gwydion Pendderwen was my first exposure to Pagan Music. In fact, I believe he was one of the first to put out a Pagan Music album (yes, the
vinyl album!), and I wore out several copies of it in the ’70’s! He was the first “Official Bard” of the “Church of all Worlds”, and a dear personal friend of mine whom I’ve stayed with in Ukiah – his forested ranch property was adjacent Oberon Zell-Ravenheart’s and Morning Glory’s and Orion’s, and
many other Pagan big names of the times.

They were forerunners in the California Pagan movement, and fellow
Druids, in the way they had the annual Winter Solstice tree plantings
(redwood and incense cedar trees), which Pagans from around the
country would attend, and the hot tub parties were always a delight!

Gwydion’s first band was called the “California Wicca Blues Band”, and considering how long ago it was when they were popular – before the fancy musical technology we have today – they had a distinctly “homegrown” and “earthy” sound, which may sound quite “primitive” to modern ears, but I still appreciate it to this day…it reminds me of those outdoor Pagan festivals where the music was necessarily acoustic because there was no electricity…

Gwydion was also one of the first teachers of the “Faery Tradition” of Witchcraft – being an initiate of Victor and Cora Anderson who began the tradition. His lineage tended to emphasize the Celtic elements of Feri. (I’ve been to his workshops, which generally took place at the annual Pan Pagan Festivals, and believe me, you really did learn to see Faeries in this workshop! 🙂

He also gave me my first Welsh book – and was instrumental in my learning to speak Welsh (it was his heritage, and he kept a house in Carmarthenshire,  Wales)…

One of his poems is called “Goodbye.” (This was recited across the country when he died in an accident in 1982 – we lit a white candle (as did hundreds of other Pagans across the country) and read all his poetry and sang his songs in memorial…his shrine  is his old house – the “Shaggy Mushroom”, a little cabin  he lived in on a hill called “Old Fluffy” – upon whose rain washed out road his truck slid off during a storm and rolled over and over downhill, where he died – I had just seen him at a Samhain party hours before…). Here are the words:

“Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circling flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there. I did not die.”

He had also written a song about how he wanted his body disposed
of after he would die – some of the words were:

“Plant an acorn on my grave, and pass the whiskey around…”

Anyway, this following link tells something about Gwydion, and be sure
to read all the pages, as they contain some song lyrics and CD
ordering information:

http://psychevanhetfolk.homestead.com/Gwydion.html

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Pagan Music movement,
and have therefore missed out on the unique spiritual beauty and
inspiration of such music, I have compiled for you just a few
of the many links out in cyberspace of some of my favourite sources
of pagan music:

The Weird Sisters website has a list of wonderful Pagan musicians
– many of the best are on here:

http://www.threeweirdsisters.com/pangaia.htm

Circle Round Music has many songs and focuses on raising children in
Goddess traditions:

http://www.circleround.com/musiclist.html

Libana- an all female ethnic music group – here is some info on their most “witchy” album, where you can actually listen to samples of all the cuts:

http://www.libana.com/

“Best of Pagan Song” CD, featuring many famous pagan artists and
songs:

http://tinyurl.com/5cpcup

Gypsy, Salem’s High Priestess of Song and a Witch from Salem, has this
beautiful CD that includes rituals, initiations and trances and
chants (you can even listen to samples on this page):

http://www.paganpresence.com/gypsy001.html

Loreena McKennitt is a Canadian musician who plays beautiful and trancey
harp music, and sings with a Faery-like voice of the magickal
places she has traveled to, and her inspired perceptions of the
spirituality of the Earth mother, standing stones, and Pagan Holidays:

http://fabrizio.oasi.asti.it/Loreena/

Circle Sanctuary (with whom I lived a short time when I was in southern
Wisconsin)…I especially recommend the final four examples from
this page – the ones by Jim Alan – truly unique ones that really
take you somewhere! (Most of these were done LIVE, and I think
some of my drumming and chanting can be heard on them in the background!):

http://www.circlesanctuary.org/shop/music/chants.htm

This is, of course, just a small sampling of the Pagan music available
out there. It is amazing to me how much the Pagan Music Movement
has grown since those early days when Gwydion was one of the only
sources.

May it continue to grow and thrive…

The noble name of Sinann seek ye from me,
Its bare recital would not be pleasant,
Not alike now are its action and noise
As when Sinann herself was free and alive.

~~ Translated from the Irish of Cuan 0′ Lothchain ~~

Sinann* was the daughter of the learned Lodan, who was the son of Lir,
the great sea king of the Tuatha De Danaan colony of Erin, from
whose son and successor, Manannan, the Isle of Man derives its
name and ancient celebrity.

In those very early times there was a certain mystical fountain
that was called Connla’s Well (situated, so far as we can gather,
in Lower Ormond). As to who this Connla was, from whom the well
had its name, we are not told; but the well itself appears to
have been regarded as another Helicon by the ancient Irish poets.

Over this well there grew, according to the legend, nine beautiful
hazel-trees, which annually send forth their blossoms and fruits
simultaneously. The nuts were of the richest crimson colour, and
teemed with the knowledge of all that was refined in literature,
poetry and art.

No sooner, however, were the beautiful nuts produced on the trees,
than they always dropped into the well, raising by their fall
a succession of shining red bubbles. Now during this time the
water was always full of salmon; and no sooner did the bubbles
appear than these salmon darted to the surface and ate the nuts,
after which they made their way to the river.

The eating of the nuts produced brilliant crimson spots on the
bellies of these salmon; and to catch and eat these salmon became
an object of more than mere gastronomic interest among those who
were distinguished in the arts and in literature without being
at the pains and the delay of long study: for the fish was supposed
to have become filled with the knowledge which was contained in
the nuts, which, it was believed, would be transferred in full
to those who had the good fortune to catch and eat them.

It was forbidden to women to come within the precincts of Connla’s
wonderful well; but the beautiful Lady Sinann, who possessed above
every maiden of her time all the accomplishments of her sex, longed
to have also those more solid and masculine acquirements which
were accessible at Connla’s well to the other sex only.

To possess herself of these she went secretly to the mystical
fountain; but as soon as she approached its brink, the water rose
up violently, burst forth over its banks, and rushed towards the
great river now called the Shannon, overwhelming the Lady Sinann
in their course, whose dead body was carried down by the torrent,
and at last cast up on the land at the confluence of two streams.

After this the well became dry for ever; and the stream which
issued from it was that originally known by the name of the Lady
Sinann or Shannon; but having fallen into the great succession
of lakes which runs nearly through the center of Ireland, the
course of lakes subsequently appropriated the name to itself,
which it still retains, whilst the original stream is now unknown.

The original Sinann is, however, believed to have fallen into
the present Shannon, near the head of Lough Derg, not far from
Portumna.

*Sinann is pronounced “shannon”, as in Gaelic the “si” at the beginning of a word is a “sh” sound…

From On the Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish
by Eugene O’Curry

Set up Ancestor Altar; optional, to drink Spirit Water;

I. Find your self in a place of nature….. walking thru a meadow, and over a small wooden bridge across a stream. … As you step off the bridge on the other side, you see a path that leads into a woods….. follow the path…..

   
As you walk you begin to climb a hill or barrow, and you realize
that this is a sacred sidhe – a place of entrance to the underworld….
as you spiral around the sidhe, you see a figure coming toward
you …. a welcoming figure … this is Herne, the Horned One,
the Lord of the Animals, the Lord of all wild places, and of the
Underworld. Herne is your Guide who has come to help you on your
journey …. to lead you to the four Guardians of the rivers that
bound the Summerlands, the Land of the Dead, and to help you to
meet their challenges …. take a few moments to speak with Herne……
sense the love coming from Him…. you feel that you have known
one another before …….. feel the love and acceptance coming
from Herne …… Thank Herne for coming to you, and start your
journey to the Land of the Dead …….

II. You step into a circle of standing stones, which have spirals
carved upon their lintels…… Four rivers are before you …..
spiralling inward ….. they mark the boundaries of the Summerlands…..
but before you may cross them, you must meet the challenges of
the Guardians of these rivers…. you must pass the Guardians
who protect the entrance to Summerlands, the Land of the Dead,
the Isle of the Blest, the Apple Isle, Avalon. Your beloved dead
and all your ancestors await you there.

1. Follow Herne to the first river, in the East, and meet the
guardian of the East River, the guardian of Air ….. A figure
stands in the red dawn of sunrise and challenges you with a puzzle:

“WHAT IS YOUR TRUE NATURE? ….. …
“WHAT IS THE TRUE NATURE OF YOUR BEING?”

Think of your answer ….. speak it to know if you have passed
the challenge of the East: Be aware: the Guardian of the East
pulls away your mind…

The answer,

“I AM OF FOUR NATURES, PHYSICAL, ASTRAL,
MENTAL, AND SPIRITUAL …”

The Guardian further questions you:

“WHAT IS THE PHYSICAL NATURE IN YOUR
REALM OF EXISTENCE?”
the answer: EARTH

“WHAT IS THE ASTRAL NATURE IN YOUR
REALM OF EXISTENCE?”
the answer: WATER

“WHAT IS THE MENTAL NATURE IN YOUR
REALM OF EXISTENCE?”
the answer: AIR

“WHAT IS THE SPIRITUAL NATURE IN YOUR
REALM OF EXISTENCE?”
the answer: FIRE

…..stop now…..
there is a further question….

“WHAT IS YOUR TRUE NATURE?…. IS IT
FOUR NATURES?……. WHAT IS THE ANSWER?”

Speak it aloud: …..

“MY TRUE NATURE IS ONE …. THE FOUR
NATURES ARE ONE; BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, AND ASTRAL, ARE ONE NATURE.”

The Guardian now asks a final question of you:

“HOW IS THE ONE REPRESENTED IN YOUR REALM OFEXISTENCE?”

the answer: THE ONE IS SPIRIT, THE SOUL
OF BEING ITSELF, THE SOUL OF NATURE AND THE NATURE OF BEING ITSELF,
WHICH IS THE EARTH AND ALL ON IT; THE PLANTS, THE ANIMAL, THE
TREE, ALL OUR RELATIONS.

You realize that the Guardian has stripped away your rational,
thinking mind …. you are left with the starlight mind of intuition
and visions ….. you pass on.

2. Herne takes you spiralling inward to the Guardian of the North
River …. the Guardian of Earth …. the Guardian of the North
stands firmly facing you and challenges:

“WHO ARE YOU?”

Look inward ……… give your answer now, to learn if you have
answered the challenge of the Guardian of the North… This is
the challenge of the physical Self …. the Guardian of Earth
strips away your physical body, your physical world …… you
become whitened bleached stone ….. you become part of the Earth
….. but you must leave even this stone body of the Earth ……
You give your stone body to the Guardian and pass on……. you
have left your physical reality behind

3. Herne leads you ever spiralling inward to the West River, and
the Guardian of Water….. A dark shadowed figure stands at the
entrance to a cave which is curtained by a waterfall ….. the
Guardian of the West challenges you:

“WHAT DO YOU DESIRE?….. TO WHOM …..
TO WHAT…. ARE YOUR EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENTS?”

As you name these, the Guardian strips them away from you …..
all your desires, ambitions, pride of accomplishment …. hopes….
loves ….. ego…. all are stripped away……….you feel the
waterfall flowing from above your head …. flowing through you
…. flushing through you ….. and out from your feet …. and
your emotional nature, your feeling nature, flushes away with
the water ……

4. Now you and Herne approach the South River, where the last
Guardian awaits you…..the Guardian of the South, of Fire, ……
you feel uncertainty and dread ….. The Guardian mockingly confronts
you and demands:

“WHO IS YOUR GOD? ……… WHO IS
YOUR GOD?”

………… answer …… the question reverberates through you….
continue to give your answer, until ……… you shout it aloud

I AM!……..

You are on fire……. burning up …. all aflame …… but not dying …… only a GOD can do this!!! ….. you have no body, so you can’t be on fire!….. you are aflame …. you have no feelings…not emotions… so you feel no pain! The fire releases your Spiritual nature….. The I AM is a surrender ….

You surrender to your Higher Self, your Holy Guardian Angel, your
Divine SELF….. the God or Goddess within ….. the ONE … Who
is now in control …. you and your Higher Self are ONE and are
a single flame …….

The Guardian speaks: “You have passed the tests, and may enter the presence of your First Ancestor, the Father of all, the Dark Lord of Death and Resurrection.”

III. The Dark Lord, (God name), the Comforter and Consoler, HERNE the Hunter, CERNUNNOS the Horned One
now greets you, and welcomes you…. you are in the apple garden of Summerlands, the Land of the Dead….. you are in the garden of (God name)….. It is beautiful and lush, with many varieties of growing green plants and trees and fragrant, blooming flowers ….. animals play peacefully ….. four large stones mark the far corners of the garden ….

As you look around, you realize that you stand in the center of
a large ancestor altar … you stand in the center of the ancestor
altar of the Dark Lord, (God name),the Horned One ….

You stand in the center of EARTH Herself …. the womb of the
Great Mother …. the womb of (Gdss name), of Cerridwen, of the Great Weaver Goddess called Aradia, Ariadne, Arionrhod …. you realize that Earth Herself is the ancestor altar of the Dark God.

A fountain of pure, sparkling water bubbles from a cleft in the side of a hill and falls into a pool …. the pool overflows into four branches…. the fountain is the source of the Four Rivers of Summerlands … the Rivers are the life-giving waters of the living womb of the Great Mother …..

You stand in the center of the ancestor altar….. but Earth Herself IS the altar ….where YOU stand is the center of the Earth …. wherever YOU are is the center of the Earth …… YOU ARE THE CENTER………….

                                                   …..

IV. The words of the Dark Lord, (God name) , are flame …… you return on the fire of His words ……. spiralling out….. past the Guardians of the Four Rivers…. only your name is left to you …… only your name can reach you now …………..

As you pass the South River, the Guardian whispers your name,and the purified positive aspects of your spiritual nature are restored to you. The negative remains, to become mulch in the garden of (God name).

As you pass the West River, the Guardian whispers your name, and the purified positive aspects of your emotional feeling nature are restored to your. The negative remains, to become mulch in the garden of (God name).

As you pass the North River, the Guardian whispers your name, and the purified positive aspects of your physical nature are restored to you. The negative remains, to become mulch in the garden of (God name).

As you pass the East River, the Guardian whispers your name, and the purified positive aspects of your thinking nature are restored to you. The negative remains, to become mulch in the garden of (God name).

You are returning on the fire of (God name)’ words…. you realize that you are coming out on top of a mountain …. that you are in a volcano filled with the roaring fire of (God name)’ words…… Suddenly the mouth of the volcano is blocked …. it is blocked by an angry form, made up of all of the negative aspects you left with the Guardians …… this figure angrily threatens you and demands,

WHO ARE YOU THAT DARES TO PURIFY YOUR SPIRITUAL BEING?
WHO ARE YOU THAT DARES TO PURIFY YOUR EMOTIONAL BEING?
WHO ARE YOU THAT DARES TO PURIFY YOUR PHYSICAL BEING?
WHO ARE YOU THAT DARES TO PURIFY YOUR RATIONAL BEING?
THE DARKNESS OF THESE ARE OF MY REALM AND ARE MY POWER OVER YOU!

Herne speaks: “You must be able to answer with all your being who you are …. remember …. you  have the spirit and fire of the ancestors behind you…. Shout your NAME ……NOW!!!” With all the power of your Will!

Your name comes out as a powerful blue flame that destroys the  angry form, and reduces it to ash…. a cloud of ash that settles      to  the ground and becomes mulch in the garden of (God name).                                                                                                                                                

You stand free on top of the mountain … reborn and transformed….
you are holding your gift from (God name) in your hand…. thank
Herne and say goodbye for now….

Now that you know the way to the Land of the Dead you may return
whenever you wish, and Herne will always be waiting to help you……
our personal ancestors altars are the link between us and our
beloved ancestors who watch over us and wait for our visits….
let us remember to honor the ancestors…. When you ready, return
along the path to this place……..

Open your eyes and hold your gift from (God name) over the physical
object you brought from home…. they merge and become one…..
greet your friends who have also returned safely from the Land
of the Dead….

Relax for a time…. be sure to ground!

Source: http://www.druidry.org/obod/ancestors/summerlands.html

The research involved in genealogy eventually leads to cemetery visits
and tombstone reading. What was once considered a morbid pastime
has become a normal part of the investigative process for the
family history researcher. Cemeteries tell us so much about our
ancestors. Much information can be gleaned from the words carved
on the headstones. We can learn a great deal from the placement
of a grave within the cemetery itself concerning family relationships.

As more and more researchers venture into cemeteries to seek out
ancestral graves, more and more questions arise about the meanings
of the artwork and symbols found on the tombstones. The researcher
wants to know what a symbol might mean and if the meaning of the
symbol might provide more clues about this ancestor and his life,
his ideals, his associations, and so on. Can reading and understanding
these symbols help us gauge and unravel some quintessential element
of this ancestor’s life?

The task of interpreting the symbols on a tombstone is a daunting
one. Though most symbols that you will see engraved on a stone
DO have a textbook meaning, it is quite possible that the particular
item you find engraved on the tombstone was put there simply because
someone liked the look of it. Therefore, it will have no meaning
beyond the taste of the deceased (if the request of what was to
be on his stone was made by him), or the taste of the mourners
left behind to choose the stone’s appearance. The point is, many
people who choose grave motifs have no idea that the ornamentation
they select has meaning.. What they know is that they like the
design and feel it is just somehow “right”.

While reviewing the symbols below, be aware that the meanings can change over time and their meanings often depends upon the area in which
they are located. You will find a few of the more common headstone
symbols below…

OBJECTS

Anchor/Ships:
Hope or seafaring profession
Early Christians used the anchor as a disguised cross, and as a marker to guide the way to secret meeting places. A Christian symbol of hope, it is found as funerary symbolism in the art of the catacombs. Often set amongst rocks. It can also be an occupational symbol in sea-faring areas or the attribute of Saint Nicholas, patron saint of seamen, symbolized
hope and steadfastness. An anchor with a broken chain stands for the cessation of life.

Angel:
Flying Rebirth; resurrection
The agent of God, often pointing towards heaven; guardians of the dead, symbolizing spirituality.  Angels are shown in all types of poses with different symbolism. Two angels can be named, and are identified by the objects they carry: Michael, who bears a sword and Gabriel, who is depicted with a horn.

Angel, Trumpeting:
Resurrection

Angel, Weeping:
Grief & mourning

Arches:
Victory in death

Arrow:
Mortality

Book:
Representation of a holy book; or a scholar
Books remind us that tombstones are documents, bearing vital statistics and epitaphs concerning the deceased. Books may be open, possibly to signify that the stone is a kind of biography, or closed in recognition of the fact that the story of the dead is over. The book on a tombstone may be a Bible or other Spiritual tome. This identification can be clinched by the presence of a citation (e.g. John 19:14) or an actual line of scripture. Arabic characters identify the book as the Koran. Faith, learning to read and write, a scholar. A
prayer, or knowledge or even memory (where it has a dog-eared page). It may represent the Book of Life. A popular form is the book as a double page spread.

Broken Column:
Loss of head of family

Broken Ring:
Family circle severed

Bugles:
Resurrection and the military

Candle:
Soul; light of the world
Candles stand for the spirit or the soul. Mourners often leave candles on the grave to show
that prayers have been said for the deceased.

Chains:
Binding the soul to the body
Medieval thinkers sometimes held that a golden chain bound the soul to the body. Broken links on a headstone can mean the severance and subsequent release of the spirit from the body. Chains are also the insignia of the International Order of Odd Fellows, so called because of their dedication to giving the poor decent burials. This association can be clinched by the observation of the letters IOOF or FLT (Friendship, Love, Truth) either inside or near the chain.

Cherub:
Angelic

Coffin:
Father time, picks/shovels

Columns and Doors:
Heavenly entrance

Cross:
Emblem of faith
Christianity. Usually mounted on three steps, signifying ‘faith, hope and charity’. The most
potent symbol of the Christian faith, the cross has been used for religious and ornamental purposes since time immemorial. To the Aztecs it symbolized the god of rain, the Scandinavians set them up as boundary markers, and two buns marked with a cross
were found at the ancient Egyptian site of Herculaneum.

Crown:
Glory of life after death

Cup or Chalice:
The sacraments
The chalice often appears in association with a white circle representing the consecrated Eucharist. The two items combine to signify the Catholic rite of Holy Communion. The headstones of priests often bear these objects.

Darts:
Mortality

Drapes/Curtains:
Mourning; mortality
In the days when the body lay in state in the parlor, it was the custom to cover everything
in black. Draperies, with their fancy frills and tassels, are more elaborate than a simple shroud. They allow the expression of mourning to linger long after the body has been taken out the front door and the accoutrements have been stowed for the next death in the family. Curtains can also set the stage. Parted, they reveal a telling excerpt. What is important in such displays is the main actor or central object of the stone.

Flame or Light:
Life; resurrection

Grim Reaper:
Death personified

Harp:
Praise to the maker

Horns:
The resurrection

Hourglass:
Swiftness of time

Hourglass with Wings of Time:
Time flying; short life

Imps:
Mortality

Keys:
Spiritual knowledge
Spiritual knowledge or, if held in the hands of an angel or saint, the means to enter heaven.

Knot (Celtic):
Eternity

Labyrinth:
The passage of Life

Pall:
Mortality

Pentagram:
Pagan symbol of protection; elemental power ; Wicca/witchcraft
Also, the 4 elements plus spirit. Upright: Spirit rises from matter; used by Wiccans and most witches. Reversed: Spirit descends into matter; also Women’s Eastern Star Masonic symbol.

Pick:
Death; mortality

Portals:
Passageway to eternal journey

Rod
or Staff:
Comfort for the bereaved

Scroll:
Life; honor
A symbol of life and time. Both ends rolled up indicates a life that is unfolding like a
scroll of uncertain length and the past and future hidden. Often held by a hand representing life being recorded by angels. Can also suggest honor and commemoration.

Scythe:
Death; the divine harvest

Seashell:
Resurrection; life everlasting; life’s pilgrimage
The use of shell in burials is pre-Christian in practice and pre-dates even Egyptian burial
practices. Shell is symbolic of fertility, resurrection and pilgrimage. Shells, coins and small stones are the traditional objects left at grave sites. There are several meanings given to this act. It may be a symbolic referral to the ancient custom of burying the dead under a cairn of rocks to protect the body from scavenging animals, or a reminder that the individual is not forgotten. Scallop – symbol of the Crusades, pilgrim, pilgrim’s journey, resurrection,
life everlasting, connotes one’s life journey. A symbol of birth and resurrection, a traditional symbol of the Puritans.

Shells:
Pilgrimage of life

Spade:
Mortality; death

Star:
Spirit
Stars stand for the spirit, piercing the darkness as an expression of their triumph against
the overwhelming odds of oblivion. (See Pentagram).

Star of David:
Jewish religious symbol
Six-pointed star or Star of David, also known as Magen David (Hebrew for shield of David),
it is typically used as a symbol of Judaism. The star is actually made of two triangles. It signifies divine protection as epitomized by the alchemistic signs for fire and water, which are an upward and downward apexed triangle. The star is a very ancient symbol, used by several Asia Minor cultures, as well as some Greek city-states. For Judaism, the Star of David came into widespread use at the beginning of the 20th century. Theodore Hertzel, a Jewish activist, adopted the symbol in his writings promoting Palestine as a Jewish homeland.

Stars & Stripes Around Eagle:
Eternal vigilance, liberty

Sun Rising:
Renewed life

Sun Setting:
Death

Sun Shining:
Life everlasting

Sword:
Spirit; triumph
Stars stand for the spirit, piercing the darkness as an expression of their triumph against
the overwhelming odds of oblivion.

Swords, Crossed:
High ranking military person

Tombs:
Mortality

Torch:
Life; living memory
Until the church banned such things, most people were buried at night. Torches furnished the light which both allowed the gravediggers to see and the bearers to scare off evil spirits and nocturnal scavengers. Lit, the torch signifies life — even eternal life.

Torch Being Snuffed:
Time, mortality
Extinguished, it stands for death. It can also stand for living memory and eternal life (e.g.
an eternal flame).

Trumpeters:
Heralds of the resurrection

Urn:
Immortality
Greek symbol of mourning, the body as a vessel of the soul, originating as a repository for
the ashes of the dead in ancient times – a popular symbol of mourning. Most represent an ossuary. In several examples an Angel is looking inside it as if to inspect the contents. A flame is sometimes shown coming from the Urn. They are often draped with a cloth or festooned with a wreath or garland. This fashion of Urn’s persisted well into the 1850’s at least.

Urn, Draped:
Donnotes death, often of an older person.

Urn with Wreath or Crepe:
Mourning

Urn with Blaze:
Undying friendship

Winged Effigies:
Flight of the soul

Winged Face:
Effigy of the deceased soul

Winged Globe:
Creative power
A symbol of the Egyptian sun god, Ra; on Victorian monuments it is symbolic of the power that can recreate and, with the wings, means, “God, Lord over all, creator.”

ANIMALS

Bird:
Eternal life

Birds, Flying:
Resurrection; flight of the soul
These are symbolic of the “winged soul.” The representation of the soul by a bird goes back to ancient Egypt. Some older burial art features only wings to convey the symbol of divine mission. Often denote the graves of children, eternal life.

Butterfly:
Short-lived; early death
The soul. The meaning is derived from the three stages of the life of the butterfly-the caterpillar, the chrysalis, and the butterfly. The three stages are symbols of life, death and resurrection. Short-life.

Dog:
Loyalty
Dogs often appear at the feet of medieval women, signifying the loyalty and inferior place of
each in the chivalric order. Modern dogs only imply that the master was worth loving.

Dolphin:
Resurrection

Dove:
Innocence, gentleness, affection, purity, resurrection
The little bird appears in both Christian (usually Catholic) and Jewish cemeteries, representing some of the same things and some different things in each. Catholics
usually see the dove (which makes its first Biblical appearance in Genesis carrying an olive branch for Noah) as the Holy Spirit. Jews interpret the dove as a peace symbol. The biblical allusion to the dove also suggests a connectedness with the earth and its color, white, represents for Europeans, purity and spirituality.

Dragon:
Universe; power
For the Chinese, the dragon is an emblem of Imperial Power, which has brought the universe into its thrall. It also stands for the Universe itself, a chaotic force which none of us can truly master.

Eagle:
Courage
Suggests courage and possibly a military career; symbol for St. John.

Fish:
Faith

Hart (Male deer):
Wildness, freedom

Horse:
Courage; generosity

Lamb:
Innocence
Usually marks the grave of a child. The lamb always stands for innocence. Christians go a
little further and associate it with the Lamb of God, meaning Jesus.

Lion:
Courage; protection
Symbolizes the power of God and guards the tomb against evil spirits. Like other guardians, the lion’s watch is as eternal as the stone of which it is depicted. The lion also recalls the courage and determination of the souls, which they guard; they manifest the spirit of the departed.

Owl:
Wisdom

Peacock:
Resurrection; immortality
The incorruptibility of flesh, resurrection, beauty of soul, immortality.

Rooster:
Awakening; resurrection

Snake:
Transformation

Snake (Tail In Mouth):
Eternity; immortality

Squirrel with a nut:
Religious meditation or spiritual striving

Swallow:
Child; or motherhood

PLANTS AND TREES

Bouquets/Flowers:
Condolences, grief, sorrow
Flowers convey love, grief, happiness and other emotions. These symbolic connections of flowers with emotion are cross-cultural and their origins are unknown. During the 1800s, the use of floral symbolism became so popular that almost every flower known had a symbolic gesture attached
to it.

Buds/Rosebud:
Morning of life or renewal of life

Corn:
Ripe old age

Daisy:
Innocence; purity
Innocence of child, youth, the Son of righteousness, gentleness, purity of thought.

Dogwood:
Divine sacrifice, triumph of eternal life, resurrection.

Flower, Severed Stem:
Shortened life, fragility of life

Fruits:
Eternal plenty

Garland or Wreath:
Victory in death

Holly:
Protection
People used to believe that holly bushes protected tombs and other monuments from lightning strikes.

Ivy:
Friendship and immortality
Ivy springs up naturally to cover English tombs, but Americans who transplanted it to their
graveyards decided that it meant friendship and, like most cemetery plants, also immortality.

Laurel:
Fame or victory

Lily or Lily of the Valley:
Emblem of innocence and purity
Chastity, innocence and purity. A favored funeral flower of the Victorians. Joseph is often depicted holding a lily branch to indicate that his wife Mary was a virgin. In tradition, the first lily sprang forth from the repentant tears of Eve as she went forth from Paradise. The use of lilies at funerals symbolizes the restored innocence of the soul at death.

Marigold:
Guidance back home
A large variety, called cempasuchitl, enjoys a special association with Mexico’s Day of the Dead; mostly because of its availability in that season. Marigolds not only decorate the graves in the form of crosses and arches, but also form trails to lead the souls of the dead to a home altar set with their favorite foods, photos, and other pleasantries hard to obtain in the afterlife.

Mistletoe:
Golden Bough; immortality
The marvelous ability of this parasite to sustain itself far above the ground lent to the Druidic belief that it was a sacred plant and an ingredient of immortality. The “golden bough” was used in animal sacrifices. The Norse God Balder lost his immortality when he was pierced by a mistletoe-tipped spear.

Morning Glory:
Beginning of life

Oak Tree or Leaves and Acorn:
Maturity, ripe old age

Olive Branch:
Peace

Palm Branch:
Signifies victory and rejoicing
Spiritual victory, success, eternal peace, a symbol of Christ’s victory over death, as associated with Easter.

Pine:
Immortality; renewal
Intimations of immortality ooze from the very sap of the pine tree. The cone, for example,
ensures the perpetuity of life’s renewal. Pine boxes were used as coffins in the Wild West, however, simply because the wood was so plentiful.

Poppy:
Sleep

Rose:
Brevity of earthly existence
Love, beauty, hope, unfailing love, associated with the Virgin Mary, the “rose without
thorns.” A red rose symbolizes martyrdom and a white rose symbolizes purity and virginity. Whether the rose is a bud, flower or somewhere in between indicates how old the person was at the time of death:
Just a bud – normally a child 12 or under
Partial bloom – normally a teenager
Full bloom – normally in early/mid twenties. The deceased died in the prime of life
Rosebud, broken – life cut short, usually found with a young person’s grave

Severed Branch:
Mortality

Thistle:
Scottish descent

Thistles:
Remembrance

Tree:
Life

Tree
Sprouting:
Life everlasting

Tree Stump/Trunk:
Life interrupted; Brevity of life

Tree Stump with Ivy:
Head of family; immortality

Tree Trunk Leaning:
Short interrupted life

Weeping Willow Tree:
Mourning; grief; nature’s lament, earthly sorrow

Wheat Strands or Sheaves:
The divine harvest
Wheat, like barley, was associated  with the Egyptian cult of Osiris. The death of a grain crop is followed, after a period of stillness, by the re-sowing and germination of the seeds. Though no corpses have produced new people, tombstone carvers still employ the ear of wheat as a symbol of rebirth. Convent bakers use wheat flour to make communion wafers, making it a holy plant, of sorts, fit to grace the tombstone of a priest.

Wreath:
Victory

BODY PARTS

Arms outstretched:
The plea for mercy

Breasts (Gourds, Pomegranates):
Nourishment of the soul; the church

Eye of God/All-Seeing Eye:
Eye of Horus, used in Masonic and alchemical workings
Symbolizes the all-knowing and ever-present God. In Egypt, it was the Eye of Horus – a symbol used in magick and metaphysics and alchemy. During the Renaissance period in Europe, it was common to illustrate the Eye of God surrounded by a triangle (the Holy Trinity). The eye within the triangle, surrounded by a circle and radiating rays of light is used to symbolize the holiness of God.

Hand of God Chopping:
Sudden death

Hand, Pointing: Depends on direction
Downward – mortality or sudden death. (Possibly a depiction of a secret Masonic handshake.) Upward – the reward of the righteous, confirmation of life after death. Heavenly reward, ascension to heaven.

Hands, Clasped:
The good-byes said at death
At first glance, these hands all seem to be in the same fashion but a number of interesting
characteristics stand out. First, most of the hands illustrate the right hand in a grasp with fingers overlapping the other hand while the left hand is open. This could be the depiction of a man holding a woman’s hand and indicate marriage or a close bond between individuals, unity and affection even after death. Clasped hands are also symbolic of a farewell or last good-bye. Look at the cuff to distinguish between a man’s or woman’s hand (woman would have a frilly cuff.) The person who died first holds the other’s hand, guiding the spouse to the afterlife.

Hands, Holding:
Connectedness
A chain with a broken link symbolizes the death of a family member. A heart – symbolic of charity and is common on 19th century memorials. It is typically seen on memorials of members of the Independent Order of Odd fellows. Charity An open book – the embodiment of Faith

Handshakes:
Farewell

Hands, Praying:
Devotion

Heart:
Love; mortality
Stylized hearts stand for the affection of the living for the dead. Two joined hearts on a stone mark a marriage. Bleeding – Christ’s suffering for our sins. Encircled with thorns – the suffering of Christ. Flaming – signifies extreme religious fervor Pierced by a sword – the Virgin Mary, harkening to Simeon’s prophecy to Mary at the birth of Christ, “Yea, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul.” It can also be used to represent charity.

Skeleton:
Life’s brevity

Skull:
Mortality

Skull/Crossed Bones:
Death

Winged Skull:
Flight of the soul from mortal man

Wreath on Skull:
Victory of death over life

This is by no means a complete list, but we have covered a lot of the
most common tombstone symbols. It’s a fascinating study, and there
are more being added all the time. The Pentagram is a very recent
addition on military graves- and I would also like to see the
Awen symbol for our brother and sister Druids who have gone on
to the Otherworld…

References: http://www.everlifememorials.com/v/headstones/cemetery-symbolism.htm
http://www.vintageviews.org/vv-tl/pages/Cem_Symbolism.htm
http://www.monuments-of-distinction.com/headstone-symbols.html
http://tinyurl.com/57um56

As we have discussed, the attributes of a mature Druid are seven-fold:

Point #1: Doethiweb – Wisdom
Point #2: Eluseugan – – Compassion
Point #3: Rhyddfrydwr – Liberalness
Point #4: Wmbredd – Abundance
Point #5: Ymnellltuaeth – Noncomformity
Point #6: Dysg – Learning
Point #7: Delfrydwr – Idealism

Last time we discussed Rhyddfrydwr, or Liberalness. One of the primary
attributes of Liberalness is the principle of sharing. In the Kabballah, it is taught that sharing is the attribute that makes us most like Beal. That opens the door to our 4th point, which is Wmbredd – Abundance.

When we give of ourselves, we receive. The more we give of ourselves
the more we receive. This is a universal law of metaphysics, and
there are whole courses of study devoted to teaching this principle.
But the simplest explanation is that sharing is the key to abundance.
Now, abundance isn’t just about material goods, or money,
or how big a house or car you own. In fact, the acquisition of
the material is only a side benefit, because Beal takes care of
those who work for the Light. Beal enables us to give of ourselves,
to share, and sets of the cycle of sharing and receiving, sharing
and receiving etc.

THE UNIVERSE IS YOU – SO SHARE

Most metaphysical texts use the phrase “The Universe.” By this they mean the same thing as “The Force,” “The Source,” “Universal Life Force,” “Reiki,”
“God,” “Goddess,” and some Kabbalists may say “The Creator,” Those of us who realize our own Godness know that they are referring to what we call “God” (as in “Thou art God”) which we Druids we refer to as “Beal” or sometimes “The Earth Mother,” and we know that in speaking of any of the above we are really speaking of ourselves.

The Earth Mother gives of herself constantly and continuously. She
creates the oxygen we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink,
and from which we receive life. In fact, her main function is
to share herself with us and with the creatures and plants and
other life that lives on her. We in turn, as integrated parts
of her eco-system, give of ourselves, in producing the carbon
dioxide that plant life needs to breathe, in cultivating the crops,
taking care of the animals and being general stewards of the environment.

So you easily see the cycle: the Earth Mother, the Universe, shares
with us, we in turn share back, and this creates the cycle of
sharing and abundance, which in turn enables us to share ever
more, especially with our families, our tribes, our Groves and
fellow Druids and with those less fortunate than ourselves – the
victims of capitalism.

There are lots of ways to share our abundance. Mothers, of course, do
this every day with their families, as do fathers. We share ourselves
in the workplace as well, especially when we do our work well
and go the extra mile, doing things that aren’t really expected
of us, that aren’t in our “job description.”

We can also do volunteer work for the myriad charities that beg
for our help and our donations. It doesn’t hurt to throw
a dollar or two at the guy on the corner with the cardboard sign.

This is why I have said over and over again that the political view
of Libertarianism is anathema to Druidism. Libertarianism is grounded
in the teachings of Ayn Rand, author of “The Virtue of Selfishness.”
Ayn believed that altruism, giving of yourself to others, was
a stupid way of life. She died famous and rich, but also alone
and miserable. Worse, though, she left a legacy of selfishness,
that many in our society have embraced to the detriment of not
just our society (and as we have seen of late, our economy) but
to the Earth Mother as well.

Every time we share, we are drawn closer to Beal, and Beal is drawn
– attracted – to us. The more we share the more others will share
with us. And that is the key to abundance and to living the abundant
life.

The ultimate in sharing, and thus the ultimate key to abundance, is
to teach sharing. As Druids, we are “clergy at large to
the Pagan community.” As such we enjoy a “bully pulpit,”
and people listen to us and will learn from us. This is true of
our teaching, but also of the example we make. By teaching that
people need to share, we are teaching them how to get closer to
Beal (and the self-realization of their own Godness), and we are
opening the doors to abundance in their own lives, and increasing
the openings for abundance in our own.

Do you see that each point of the star is interconnected to and builds
upon the others? As we move further around the star, we shall
learn even more.

Next: Point #5: Ymnellltuaeth – Noncomformity.

I would know what it feels like to be loved unconditionally…

I would know what it feels like to be respected and supported…

They would have taught me to honor my boundaries
and to respect those of others…

They would have taught me to be generous with my love and affection,
and to choose my mate with care and to honor the union for life…

They would have taught me that it is never permissible to mate
with a family member…

They would have taught me what support and community are all about.
The elderly, the aunts, and the uncles are welcome as members
of the pack. They are helpers and look after the cubs while the
parents are out hunting or resting. They bathe, feed, and care
for the young like they were their own…

The wolves would have taught me to be myself but to also be able
to play, eat, sleep, travel, and move with others…

They would have taught me not to get more than I needed…

They would have taught me to kill only when I was hungry, and
not to kill for fun or sport.

Being responsible for my actions would be a lesson that I would
have learned from the wolves. If I stepped out of line one of
the leaders or my parents would have reprimanded me but they would
never have shamed me. The wolves use a good and necessary kind
of discipline called “tough love”…

Wolves grieve when they lose a mate, a loved one, a family member,
or a pack mate. They allow themselves to howl or cry. They would
have taught me that it is an essential part of living to experience
the grieving and would never have tried to stop me until I was
finished.

The skills that these supposed “wild animals” receive
are sometimes more than our children are taught. It is sad to
think that we as a human race don’t always give our offspring
the capacity for loving, and respecting themselves as well as
others – that our Brother Wolf has the forethought to do…

~~ Source unknown ~~

SKY EVENTS

The Sun moved into Scorpio October 22 at 6:08 PM PDT October 23 at
1:08 AM GMT.

The Sun shines in Sagittarius November 21 at 2:44 PM PST or 10:44
PM GMT.

Saturn in Virgo and Uranus in Pisces were in direct opposition November
4.

The Taurus Full Moon is November 12 at 10:19 PM PST and November 13
at 6:19 AM GMT.

Neptune turned direct at 21 degrees Aquarius November 2.

AN HISTORIC ELECTION

This issue of New Millennium Being examines the energies and messages
of what I call the Scorpio-Aquarian election. We have witnessed
an historic American election that will significantly impact how
we enter the Aquarian Age. We will explore the planetary energies
that have lined up to support and guide us on our journey into
the Aquarian Age.

This election is both the continuation and the beginning of a long
journey. There are so many aspects to this journey. What I would
like to focus on is our quest (1) to open our hearts, (2) to experience
oneness with others and (2) to become more conscious and responsible
human beings.

At the beginning of any journey, we set out with hope, faith and
some fear of the unknown. At pivotal points along the way, our
hope and faith is renewed. But no matter how we gauge the distance
we have traveled, there are always challenges that must be faced
to move forward. One of the most important messages of this election
is to remind us that ultimately our journey is to find and live
in our heart. In our heart, no matter where we are in our physical
travels, we have already reached our goal.

THE ELECTION OF HOPE AND TRANSFORMATION

The United States presidential elections are always held when the
Sun is in Scorpio. Scorpio and its ruling planet Pluto demand
an in-depth and honest look at reality. If we are not able or
willing to be honest and truthful with ourselves and each other,
if instead we go into denial, we make serious mistakes and have
to live with the pain and suffering that we cause ourselves, others
and the world.

Eventually when the pain we have created is just too much for us to bear,
we give up our illusions and surrender, sometimes willingly and
sometimes unwillingly, to the necessity of change. Fundamental
change requires a transformation in consciousness.

If is often said that things have to get really bad for us to be
willing to change. We have reached that point in the world. It
has taken the American and the world economic crisis to wake us
up. We see signs that the apathetic, checked out, victim-oriented
collective consciousness is dissatisfied with the way things are.
There are people everywhere who seem to want to be part of something
new. There is palpable hope in the air.

URANUS OPPOSES SATURN

In the United States, the 2008 presidential election seems to have
cracked our attachment to the old and our resistance to change.
What is the nature of the change that is upon us?

The most auspicious and interesting planetary alignment of this election
was the exact opposition of SATURN in VIRGO and URANUS in PISCES.
A SATURN/URANUS opposition happens only every 40 years. The last
time Saturn and Uranus were in opposition was in 1965-67. This
was a time of volatile and profound political and social turmoil.
This was the time of impactful civil rights and antiwar demonstrations.

Because of the retrograde movement of the planets, there will be 3 exact
oppositions of Saturn and Uranus. The first occurred November
4th. So this election is just the beginning of another period
of profound social and economic change. The next exact opposition
is February 5, 2009, when Saturn is retrograde. The third opposition
is September 15, 2009 when Uranus is retrograde.

So what is the nature of the relationship between Uranus and Saturn
when they oppose each other? Saturn represents stability, convention,
the status quo, the past, tradition, conservative values, and
resistance to change. Uranus symbolizes reform, rapid change,
transformation, unconventionality, progress, self-empowerment
and freedom. Their opposition dramatically highlights what does
not work and why. We become aware of the necessity to radically
alter structures that no longer serve us. The challenge is to
artfully use wisdom and experience to keep what works, to throw
out what does not work and to support radical transformation where
necessary. When Uranus confronts Saturn, change happens!

In this election, John McCain, a 72 year old Virgo, represented Saturn.
If elected, McCain would have been the oldest elected president.
Barack Obama is a Leo with Gemini Moon and Aquarius Ascendant.
Obviously, at 47 years, Obama represents youth and change.

THE FORCES OF EVOLUTION –
OPENING THE DOORS OF THE AQUARIAN AGE

When Saturn and Uranus work together, they can combine both pragmatic
(Saturn) and progressive(Uranus) qualities. Note the graceful
and heart-centered concession speech by McCain. There is nothing
so honorable as a good loser.

VIRGO is a hard worker. But Virgo can also be very critical and cynical.
PISCES (Uranus in Pisces) has its loving and fluid way of helping
us transcend our knit-picking view of the situation and connecting
us with the universal energies of love. Pisces makes it possible
to experience our oneness. Uranus works toward the collective
good and wants everyone to play their part in a the collective
effort. Note Obama’s acceptance speech when he talked about every
calloused hand and every person playing a part in creating solutions
to our current challenges.

PLUTO forces us to eventually move from resentment to soul-searching.
We can no longer afford to mourn the past. We have to embrace
the unknown future. We have to give up victimhood and take responsibility
for what we create.

The uplifting message is ‘Come from the heart.’ Obama, a LEO, embodies
the Sun energy of the heart. (Obama has Sun, Mercury, Uranus,
and the North Node in Leo.) AQUARIUS says include everyone. Everyone
is important. Everyone has a role to play. (Obama has Jupiter(vision)
in Aquarius and Ascendant/Rising (how we view the world) in Aquarius.

PISCES reminds us that we are all one. We all have the same need to be
loved. Connection with the Divine gives us hope. The experience
of our oneness expands our mind and our heart space.

NEPTUNE went direct – forward movement – November 1st at 21 degrees Aquarius, supporting us to embrace the ideals of the Aquarian age. We can
feel it – the willingness to collaborate, the desire to do our  part, the feeling of equality, the respect for freedom and the absolute necessity for change. Collectively and individually, we are being impelled to take a giant step forward.

2008 is the year that the doors open to step into the Aquarian Age.
Now we must walk through these doors in a new spirit of responsibility,
respect for each other, and willingness to live in our truth with
integrity and commitment to our ideals and values.

BARACK OBAMA

Here are a few more observations about Barack Obama’s birth chart.

DEEP PRESENTATION TO THE WORLD – Obama has Scorpio on the midheaven or top of his chart, indicating that he presents himself to the
world in a deep penetrating way. No fluffy winks for Obama. During
his campaign a major theme was – If we focus on superficialities,
gaffs and mud-slinging, nothing will ever change. If we get honest,
we have a chance to build a better America and a better world.
He also has Neptune in Scorpio in the ninth house, indicating
that only profound truth will deliver us out of our illusions.
The ninth house represents spirituality and foreign travel. He
called for mending our foreign alliances in his acceptance speech.
He is going to have work to do get America out of its foreign
policy illusions.

SERVICE – Obama’s chart is focused on service. His Mars and Pluto are
in Virgo. Mars indicates where we use our energy. Virgo is service,
attention to details and hard work. Obama’s Sun and Mercury, both
in Leo are in the sixth house of Virgo and service.

RELATIONSHIPS ARE IMPORTANT – Obama has Uranus and North Node in Leo and Pluto and Mars in Virgo in the seventh house – the house of relationships. Uranus in Leo can create surprises from the heart. The North Node in Leo is new territory for Obama – he is learning how to be heart-centered in his relationships.

AQUARIAN SPIRIT – Obama’s Ascendant, South Node and Jupiter are in Aquarius. He sees the world from Aquarian eyes. The South Node represents gifts he came in with – he holds strong an Aquarian spirit. Jupiter
is what expands us and leads us into the future. His mission is to help bring in the Aquarian Age.

SATURN TESTS – Obama’s Saturn is in Capricorn. It is not surprising that
his Saturn trials and tests relate to social and economic structures.

SOMETIMES ALOOF AND DEEPLY INWARD – Once in a while we get that warm Leo smile from our new President. But often he may seem aloof. Aquarius is a mental sign and one of the most aloof of the zodiac. Aquarius
is connecting with the universal mind to try to pull in new solutions
and answers to collective problems. With both Jupiter and Saturn
in the twelfth house of Pisces, more is going on inside Obama
than we can observe. He is constantly reflecting and connecting
with higher energies and wisdom.

PLAYFUL SPIRIT – Obama’s Gemini Moon gives him a playful spirit, a love
of people and a gift of communication. He is always on the move.
His Venus in Cancer is in the fifth house of Leo fun. Venus in
Cancer means that what he loves is his family, his home, the Mother
Earth and his country.

HEART-CENTERED  – As mentioned above, Obama’s Sun, Mercury, Uranus and North Node are in Leo. Leo has a big heart, an ability to self-focus and  a very brilliant aura. He is going to need all for the daunting
task ahead.

Mr. Obama, we send you blessings for stepping forward to take on this
task.

PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION

The American nation and the world changed November 4, 2008. But the
impact of the planetary alignments not only impacted our collective
consciousness, they impacted each of us. In some way, unique to
each of us, we are being invited and even forced to change. How
did the opposing energies of Saturn and Uranus affect you? What
are you leaving behind? What new doors are you walking through?
What uncharted territory are you now ready and willing to explore?
What soul memories are you now able to remember?

One day we will look back at this point in history and realize not
only did something change in the collective psyche, we each personally
experienced quantum shifts. The transformation that we are currently
experiencing is sudden, evolutionary and permanent. The past is
gone. The extent to which we can let go and not hold on will determine
the level of our empowerment, creativity, happiness and freedom.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR CHOICES

We are a part of a moment in time when more than ever our choices
make a significant difference in our individual and collective
future. The Scorpio and Pluto archetypes wake us up to the importance
of the consequences of our choices. They remind us that we are
in constant metamorphosis. We are always in the process of dying
and being reborn. But at certain times in the cycle, the moment
of birth is upon us. We have to decide if we will cling to the
old and create more pain for ourselves or let go and move toward
greater freedom, peace and love.

Pluto represents the descent into the unconscious, the unknown and the
underworld where there is no light. We can extricate ourselves
only by shining light into the areas of our lives where light
is needed. Will we shine the light of hope or will we transmit
the frequencies of fear, revenge, victimhood and apathy? As you
make your moment by moment choices, always remember that without
light, we miss our mark. Without light, we cannot find our way
out of the darkness.

Now  our challenge is to beam more light into our darkness. The task
upon us is to face our personal and collective realities with
brutal honesty and commitment to finding and living our truth.

TRANSFORM AND HEAL YOUR WOUNDS

The combination of forces activated and available at this moment support
us in healing our wounds. We are being nudged to hold the space
of love for ourselves, each other, our community, our country
and the world during this exciting, but challenging and intense
time.

We are being asked to quit complaining and judging and to use our
energy more productively – to get to work and do our part – BOTH
INNER AND OUTER. We are being asked to open our hearts to ourselves
and each other. During the challenging times ahead we will need
(1) to use our expanded sensitivity to connect with Spirit and
our Soul, (2) to listen to and be guided by higher reason, truth
and our heart, and (3) to remember, to experience and to act from
the perspective of our oneness.

TAURUS FULL MOON NOVEMBER 12-13

The Taurus Full Moon is a SuperMoon, when the Moon is closest in its
orbit to the Earth. “SuperMoons function like laser beams,
focalizing the constant stream of electromagnetic particles into
more coherent channels of energy. SuperMoons also increase gravitational
pulls, generating more extreme tides, weather and emotional reactions.”
*(1) The effects of this Full Moon are intensified by the shift
of signs of Pluto and the beginning of ‘the Sixth Day’ of the
Mayan Calendar.

PLUTO ENTERS CAPRICORN NOVEMBER 11

November 11th – 11/11 Pluto definitively moves into Capricorn until 2023.
Pluto gnaws away at whatever does not work and exposes the reasons
why. Pluto in Capricorn demands a truthful look at the state of
our economic, political and social structures and a total revamping
based on an honest look at what we have created and what must
be transformed.

Individually we are being asked the question – Who am I in the world?

HOPE – THE MAYAN COSMOLOGY

According the Mayan cosmology, ‘the Thirteen Heavens, divided into seven
days and six nights, represent the fundamental stages of creation.’
*(2) The Fifth Nights was between November 18, 2007 and November
12, 2008. During the time of the Fifth Night, we experience economic
upheaval, the breakdown of superficial materialistic values and
hierarchical, patriarchal structures. The Sixth Day begins November
12, 2008 and goes through November 7, 2009. During the Sixth Day,
it is said that chaos and darkness will give way to light and
an enlightenment global consciousness. *(3)

SEE GOD IN ALL

The Obama draw is the energy of the Leo/Aquarius axis that he embodies.
To move into the Aquarian Age, we must live in and operate from
our hearts (Leo) and we must work together collectively to achieve
our goals (Aquarius.)

Yogi Bhajan said, ‘If you can’t see God in all, you can’t see God at
all.” And this is our greatest test and challenge at this
time – to have such a profound shift in consciousness that we
actually have this experience and live in this reality. This is
not just a good idea. It is a transformation in consciousness
that allows us to create a better world in the Aquarian Age.

IN THE HEART WE ARE ONE

When our heart chakra is open, we awaken to a space of love where (1)
There is no discussion or judgment. (2) We feel and can operate
out of compassion for ourselves and for others. (3) We are not
dependent upon others to have an experience of love. (4) We can
hold the neutral space of love, independent of what others are
thinking, feeling and projecting. (5) We can offer this space
without attaching conditions, expectations or neediness. (6) We
enter the realm of simply being love and enjoying the state of
love. (7) We experience our oneness. And it feels good!

ONENESS MEDITATION

There are many kriyas to open the heart in TRANSITIONS TO A HEART-CENTERED WORLD. The one that I choose for the Guru Rattana On-line streaming video class the day after the election is Cleansing the Lymph
Glands on pages 66 -7. The Magic Mantra Meditation is on page 159. *(4)

The kriya wakens our heart so that we can consciously live in the
space of love. The Magic Mantra Meditation uses the sacred mantra
EK ONG KAR SAT GURPRASAD SAT GURPRASD EK ONG KAR. This means that the true gift is that we are all one and all made from the same
creator. Magic happens when we have this experience of oneness.

DIRECTIONS

To  practice this meditation, sit with the hands together, palms up,
cupped in front of the heart center. The sides of the hands and
the Mercury fingers must touch so there is no space. If there
is a gap between your fingers, adjust them so there is no gap.
The thumbs are comfortably out to the sides. With the eyes closed,
look into the cupped hands. Repeat in a monotone:

EK ONG KAR SAT GURPRASAD

SAT GURPRASD EK ONG KAR

There is no special breathing. Simply let the breath adjust itself.
To feel the results, it is best to chant this meditation for 31
minutes, but 11, 15 and 22 are OK too.

EFFECTS AND POWERS OF THIS MANTRA

Yogi Bhajan explained that there is nothing equal to this mantra. Chanting
this mantra ‘elevates the self beyond duality and establishes the flow of the Spirit. It will make the mind so powerful that it will remove all obstacles. We call it the magic mantra because its positive effect happens quickly and lasts a long time. But IT HAS TO BE CHANTED WITH REVERENCE, IN A PLACE OF REVERENCE. When you meditate on this mantra, be sure that your surroundings are serene and reverent and that you practice it with reverence.’ *(5)

ATTENTION AND INTENTION

As you chant be gracefully aware of building a space of love. When
you have completed the chanting, sit quietly and hold the space
of love inside yourself. Anchor in this feeling and set your intention
to take this space with you into the world. You will recognize
others in this space because you will experience our oneness.

NOTE AND REQUEST

After tuning in with ‘ong na mo guru dev na mo,’ we usually chant the
protective mantra ‘ad guray na may, sat guray na may, siri guru
day vay na may’. I invite all those who wish to do so, to include
President-elect Obama in this protection. See him and yourselves
surrounded in both protective white and gold light. He will need
this protection for as long as he is President.

However, you choose to participate in bringing in the Aquarian Age, your
participation is requested and required. Our touchstone is ONENESS.

Sat Nam!

REFERENCES AND FOOTNOTES:
‘Scorpio New Moon’ and ‘Taurus Full Moon,’ by Stephanie Austin, The
Mountain Astrologer, Oct/Nov 2008, Issue #141, pages 103-4.
Transitions to a Heart-Centered World, by Guru Rattan
Kaur Khalsa, available on http://www.yogatech.com
1. Austin, p. 103.
2.
Austin, p. 103.
3.
Austin, p. 103.
4.
Transitions
5.
Transitions

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New Millennium Being is copyright 1999 – 2008 Guru Rattana, Ph.D.

REPRODUCTION:
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EDITOR’S NOTE:
Using an astrological “bi-wheel”, here is Barack Obama’s planets
(outside) surrounding the U.S. chart (inside), which will show
how he affects the country:

The first thing that popped out at me was Barack’s Venus conjunct
(within a couple degrees of) the U.S.’s Venus in the 7th house).
No wonder we like this guy…

It  is near midnight, Samhain night.

I wander to the kitchen to put away the bowl of Halloween candy
that has rested next to the door all evening. I set the bowl on
the counter.

My  eye, no, my heart, is drawn to something. I look up. On the kitchen
wall, hanging by a nail, is a small cleaver. The metal is mottled,
dull. The wooden handle is rough, fastened to the dull metal blade
as if it was an afterthought. On it, a red and white label, made
from the little Dymo label machine we used to label my shelves
and my high school binders, proclaims, “Little Grandma.”

My Grandmother’s cleaver, so often held in her worn, dry hand,
preparing a meal for her nine hungry children after the day’s
planting or harvest from her family vegetable farm.

Slowly, as midnight approaches, my modern kitchen vanishes and the cleaver
fills my vision and my soul. It has become a portal and I step
through it.

“Granddaughter!” she welcomes me, a smile lighting her faded brown eyes and wrinkling
her face in welcome. Her white hair gleams silver in the moonlight.

“I have waited so long for this night. My heart has sought you as
yours has sought me. The gift of Samhain is that we find what
we seek—one another. I have so little time, my granddaughter.
Let me tell you what I have learned while I can. I long with all
my being for your path to be easier than mine. Yet no! It cannot
be or you cannot have the peace I have now.

“I cared for those I loved. I fed them from seed planted by my hand,
nurtured and cared for by the Earth, by the
Spirits of the Field, and by me. I watered the
plant when the rain would not. I spoke to its spirit and asked that it grow strong, full of life, then be willing to sacrifice that life-energy for my children. Is that not what Mother Earth
does?”

“But Grandmother,” I protest. I do not have a farm!”

“Ah, no, Granddaughter, you do not. But you have the Spirit of the
Field within your heart and soul. Even though your bread comes
from a supermarket, it is the seed that nurtures and sustains
those you love—and you, whom I love with all my heart.

“My Granddaughter, our time is so short! Feed those you love, care
for them. My strength, my wisdom, my guidance are yours. The gift
of Samhain is a vision—see now as you can see only on this
night!”

My vision expands. I am at the center of a radiant silver spiral.
Lights glimmer along its whorls like dew on a spider web.

“Indeed it is a Web,” Grandmother replies to my thoughts. We no
longer need words.

“This is the Web of Life. We return to the Womb of the Mother and rest
there in darkness, preparing to be reborn, joining our soul to
the souls of all who have gone before, traveling the Path of Light.

“We travel together, yet alone. Each of us must find our own path,
our own destiny. Yet we are woven into a Web of Light, receiving
strength, wisdom and love from those of every generation, and
giving them our unique gifts in return. The gift of Samhain is
the vision of those who travel with you, who love you, who yearn
for you as you yearn for them.”

Tears fill my eyes. “Thank you, Grandmother.” Awed, humbled,
I kiss her worn hand, then her wrinkled, sunken cheek. They are
warm, pulsing with life.

Slowly, as I hold her hand, it becomes colder, more transparent. I begin to cry in earnest. I fall to my knees. “Please stay, Grandmother!”

“My Granddaughter, I wish with all my heart that this moment could be longer. But the veil must grow dense again so the cycle can go on, as Mother Earth and Father Sky have ordained. Your path is your own, but the gift of Samhain is to know you do not go on alone.”

She kisses me, her lips now icy. I shiver, chose my eyes. I am so
cold, so dizzy, as the portal closes.

My eyes open and my warm kitchen slowly reappears. The warmth penetrates my bones, my soul and my heart. A last tear falls as I gaze at
the cleaver, now so ordinary and rough.

I smile and whisper, “Thank you, Grandmother,” as my
fingers lovingly caress the worn wood and dull metal.

“Grandmother, I honor you and all my Ancestors. Your blood flows through me and your heart has become one with mine this Samhain night. May
it always be so!”

I turn out the light. Moonlight casts a glimmer on the dull metal
blade.

Did I hear, “It will, always?”

May
wonder ever illumine your souls as the candle
does a room on a long, winter’s night,

May
joy blow through your heart with the
intensity of the north wind in a blizzard,

May
peace cover your lives like a blanket of
fresh fallen snow.

~~ Source Unknown ~~