Manifesting Your Divine Potential Beneath the surface of our daily lives, we are always asking the question, “Who am I, really, and where is my true home?” The answer to this question is so utterly obvious, so beautiful, so ordinary, and yet so profound, that like the nose on our face, we have a hard time seeing it. Because of our own self-imposed limitations, the answer to this mystery can only be revealed little by little, as if a great veil were being lifted inch by inch, until the truth is completely exposed. Yet, we are destined to receive this knowledge. The alchemical movement toward purity and perfection which is our birthright as spiritual/material being ushers us ever closer to the truth of who we really are and where we belong. Ancient alchemists believed that the natural world taught that in order to relate properly to nature, one must follow the “truth of imagination.” From the word, imagination, we find the word “image” which is the manifestation of our physical form and body identity. The image we carry of our self within our mind and heart carries the power to bridge our highest ideals into our everyday practical life. On the other hand, attachment to a poor image of self-condemnation and suffering carries the potential to destroy our right to joy and abundance. Which do we choose? Practicing the laws of “visualization” is not unlike the practice of meditation, where the seeker opens oneself to channels of higher guidance and inspiration. Ideally, we are given the opportunity to walk through the gardens and forests of the earth with astute concentration and attunement, opening our opportunity to the light of healing and service, each and every day. As the veil is lifted, the truth is revealed: we are each of us the High Priestess; our bodies are her temple. We were present at the birth of this universe and, beyond that, at the death of the one that came before. We heard the first sound vibration and the first spoken words. We birthed chaos into form and became known as the Empress, Sophia, Mother of the World, whose love and wisdom opened the gates to the heart of wholeness. We are Anima Christi, the feminine face of God. We are the Black Madonna, unafraid of the dark, watery womblike spaces. We are Tara, the first fully enlightened female Buddha, and Goddess of the Lotus, also known, in the Chinese context, as Quan Yin. We are Isis who holds alchemical secrets concerning the evolution and destiny of the human race. We learn through the alchemy and, in our quest for wholeness, that knowledge has the potential to lead us toward our own perfection rather than away from it. The choice is always ours to make. What we do with our spiritual knowledge and wisdom is up to us. We are all made in the image of The Divine. Likewise, nature is the Divine Mother, the vessel of life which contains our origins. Our bodies are but temporal imprints of this splendor, cast into form by the design of infinite possibilities and magnificence. It is your birthright to be a part of the grand plan of mastery and personal fulfillment. Dare to open your mind and heart to the deep ocean of love that pours forth on all beings from the Loving Mother of the World’s “cup of golden light.”

Saturn in Leo: Reconstructing the Heart of Humanity On July 16th, 2005, the planet Saturn entered the sign of Leo after completing a 2 1/2 year cycle in the sign of Cancer. We’ve now shifted from the watery lunar nature of Cancer into the fiery solar light of Leo. We shift from the idea of self-preservation to that of self-expression. The energy is very different. In the last two plus years, we explored the emotional infrastructure of the collective unconscious. We examined the underbelly of fear as a means to rebuild a sanctuary of social order that might protect, preserve, and nurture the masses. However, on the shadowy side, the shell of fear would provide a place to hide, deny, and ignore the cry of need within and without. As the years gained momentum we began to ponder upon simple and yet poignant questions, such as, “What is safe?” “Who protects us?” “Who do we trust?” “Where do I belong?” As global tensions amplify, our duty is to discern between a fierce pretense of defense or false power, and true caring that truly meet the needs of humanity so that Love prevails. Saturn in Cancer challenged us to look at our own emotional response to parenting and authority. It is believed that a good parent or leader will keep us safe from harm and teach the ways of survival and protection against all evil. If that authority is immersed in a paradigm of fear and false power, a foundation of trust within the life of the child cannot be formed. The child will eventually stray and ponder, “What measures must I take in my life to find safety in an unpredictable world?” The child must now find a way to redefine life according to new standards and self-realized values. Our next step as humanity involves the task of pursuing the Truth of our passions and the conviction of Love as we redefine the power/fear imprints from the past. We now turn our face toward the fire where passion and creativity conspire. The force of Leo will seek to manifest as a torch of conviction and self-expression for each individual, assisting one to reference the unconscious material that has been collected in the past two years. No doubt, there will be uprisings in religion, prophecy, and all matters of the heart. The symbol of loyalty, passion and patriotism will prevail. Fierce, bold, showy, and grandiose gestures will be expressed as the masses begin the battle for power, prestige, and attention. You may see many new book titles about relationships, and all convictions of the heart, including more literature and books about the Christ Consciousness, Mary Magdalene, and the human pursuit toward Love and Devotion. The momentum of this cycle could be dangerously arrogant or it could open the door to the Higher Will of Love and Wisdom. My guess is that it will be a mixture of both. Saturn represents structure and form and is the teacher or initiate. Leo is generous, childlike, playful, and needy. Leo individuals do need attention yet they don’t like to tell anyone or show it. Consequently, they play out their dramas hoping to get the attention they seek. Unappreciated or ignored, the Leonine individual may sulk, suffer pride loss, and run away to lick their wounds of rejection alone. As their internal fire rages, time will tell how this deep, unmet need will manifest. The healthy Leo child learns to balance the internal need for creative action and attention, discovering ways to unite with the world around him or her with a playful pride and ego. The unhealthy Leo may strategize ways to manipulate the system so that all eyes will be focused on his or her drama of the day, gaining more and more attention for him or herself. Archetypically, this will be the choice we have before us as a collective “body social.” How will we behave? How will our leaders behave? Leo rules the fifth house of the astrological wheel. The fifth house governs children procreation, passionate experiences, romance, and defines how we receive love. When Saturn occupies the fifth house in an astrological chart, the individual is given the task to learn responsibility in these areas of life and must explore the potential for joy. With Saturn in Leo, we are each given a taste of Saturn in the fifth house. We have an opportunity to use our creativity and passion responsibly, remain self-centered and focus on the power of love and relationships. It will become our privilege to explore the many ways love can manifest unconditionally in our changing world. The experience will be nothing short of “Reconstructing the Heart of Humanity” for the good of all concerned. Nations are healed because People are healed. Blessings.

Tarot Message for the Month of August This month’s tarot message has been chosen from the new Tarot of the Four Elements tarot deck. Review and Order this deck. Knight of Earth In the Knight of Earth we witness a bearded male being carrying a yellow pentacle encased in red, riding what appears to be a member of the deer, elk, or moose family. Notice the figure’s green body, which strongly associates him with the energy of Mother Nature. The top of his head seems to be linked to trees forming a backdrop to the picture. The bright glow of the Sun shines behind him, representing the light of Selfhood and Courage. With the appearance of this card, make sure you are attending to the needs of your physical body, diet, and health. Are you in tune with the earth and rhythms of nature? Check the need for adventure, outdoor activities, and exercise. The vital forces of the healing properties of nature wish to assist your life at this time. Be in your body and enjoy the expression of your earth experience. It is a blessing. Inspiration: It cannot be too firmly realized that every Soul in incarnation is down here for the specific purpose of gaining experience and understanding, and of perfecting his personality towards those ideals laid down by the Soul. Let everyone remember that his Soul has laid down for him a particular work, and that unless he does this work, though perhaps not consciously, he will inevitable raise a conflict between his Soul and personality which of necessity reacts in the form of physical disorders.... Edward Bach...founder of the Back Flower Remedies in the 1930

Isha Lerner