I AM CONSCIOUSNESS – I LOVE ME
March 28, 2008
By Guru Rattana, Ph.D.
This newsletter is divided into 3 sections.
PART I – CURRENT ASTROLOGICAL INFLUENCES
PART II – UNDERSTANDING THE ARIES ARCHETYPE
PART III – DEEPENING YOUR SPIRITUAL PRACTICE
This issue gives you a short summary of the essential goals of the Aries archetype. If you are interested in how to take advantage of the special gift of your Self, this issue is for you. The last section offers directives to use during your practice of Kundalini yoga and meditation to cultivate an energetic experience of I AM.
MARCH 19 – the Sun moved into Aries at 10:49 PM PDT (March 20th 5:49 AM GMT). The Sun grazes into Taurus April 19th at 9:51 AM PDT (4:51 PM GMT).
MARCH 21 - Libra Full Moon
APRIL 5 - Aries New Moon at 8:56 PM PDT (April 6th at 3:56 AM GMT)
PLUTO goes retrograde April 2nd through September 8th.
Every Planet except Saturn is direct through April 2, when Pluto goes retrograde. (Saturn goes direct May 3rd at 1 degree Virgo.) Pluto retrograde makes us more aware of our motives. Pluto demands accountability for our actions, our choices and how we use our resources. We are still being supported by the direct movement of the other planets. The Aries energy adds an additional source of fiery motivation to take action and to get things done.
At the Libra Full Moon, the Sun and Moon opposed each other and squared Pluto in Capricorn and Mars in Cancer, creating a grand cross in the cardinal signs. Cardinal signs are action oriented. Grand crosses demand change. Take a look at your life. Does your strategy for getting what you want produce the results you want? As you take your next step, examine how you use your power and your resources. A shift in mode could be instrumental in propelling your forward. When we are at a crossroads in our life, we need to hold hands with both courage and kindness. Aries reminds us - Don’t forget to be kind to yourself!
At the Aries New Moon (April 5-6), the celestial bodies line up in activation mode. The Sun and the Moon are both in Aries (16 degrees), inviting us to be courageous and to step forward without hesitation. The Sun and the Moon square Jupiter in Capricorn (20 degrees) and Mars in Cancer (13 degrees). Jupiter in Capricorn and Mars activate our entrepreneurial spirit. Mars in Cancer asks us to examine our motives, to check in with our feelings, and to shift our priorities to align with what we really want and need. It is time for realistic and heart-directed action.
PART II – UNDERSTANDING THE ARIES ARCHETYPE
EACH ARCHETYPE INFLUENCES US
DIFFERENTLY
I
find it fascinating each month to work with the energy of the zodiacal
archetype of the current Sun sign. Last month, when the Sun was in Pisces, it took me days of meditation
to connect with the messages being delivered by Pisces. Sometimes when I was writing I couldn’t find
the right word, which rarely happens to me.
And then I remembered, ‘I am in Pisces territory. Just let the right
word float in on the next cloud.’ And sure enough it always did.
The
day the Sun entered Aries, I felt a dramatic shift. I experienced more vitality. I felt like I had finally recuperated from my
fever in January. I had myself and my
fire back. I was definitely feeling the
influence of Aries. The experience of the fire of self is the pure essence of
the Aries archetype.
If
we just pay attention, we can witness the power and potential of the
energy of each sign of the zodiac. The
archetypes speak to us. Their unique
energies profoundly influence us, whether we believe it or not.
ARIES LESSON IS ‘I AM’
Each
archetype has its own mode. We certainly wouldn’t choose to be in combat mode
with Pisces, which would simply disappear on us, making us look like a
fool. Aries has an entirely different
mode. Aries is direct, courageous and
straightforward. This is ME! When I started preparing my classes on the
Aries archetype, the most basic lesson seemed so simple. Instead of pages of
explanation to choose from, I had only two!
The
most important Aries lesson is I AM.
How many pages does it take to explain I AM? I guess we could talk about it forever, like
many philosophers have done. But mental
discussion diverts us from our task. I
AM cannot be understood by an explanation.
I AM is not a mental concept. I
AM is an experience that we enjoy in our body.
The subtle sensations have no words.
THE BIRTH AND DISCOVERY OF SELF
Aries
is the first sign of the zodiac. It represents our entrance into a physical
body and the birth of Self. Aries leads
the way toward the awakening of our human consciousness of our soul. Aries initiates our journey and quest to discover
our Self & our Soul. Aries represents the search for our identity
and our path toward individualization.
Imagine
how life would be if we were all real, all authentically ourselves! The closer we get, the happier we become!
Aries
introduces us to the basics.
[1]
We are a soul who has come to Earth for a physical experience.
[2]
Our soul lives in a body created especially for this incarnation. Isn’t that
amazing?
[3]
It is important to take care of our body and keep it vital and healthy.
[4]
Our physical body helps us get in touch with and express our identity.
[5]
We appreciate the dynamic elegance of our body because it is the vehicle of our
soul.
Aries
is the first fire sign. The Ram
is active and constantly on the move. The DO
energy of Aries too often overpowers the BE
energy, also represented by this archetype.
Our culture rewards us primarily for that we DO. But if we look closely at our lives, much of
what we attract, including
*recognition, *love and *appreciation is a result of who we are.
Take
a moment to feel the truth of
“I attract because of who I AM. My presence speaks and works for me.”
Equally
important, (1) self-love, (2) self-confidence and (3)
self-esteem come from being in touch with the BE energy of our soul. When we value ourselves, our state of mind
and emotional state are not dependent upon our perception of the success or
failures of our actions. Then our joy
comes not from worldly accomplishments, but from simply being alive. From Aries’ perspective (1) We need no
justification for our existence. (2) We
do not have to please anyone or take care of anyone else. (3) Our life is special, and we deserve the
best. And (4) our job is to take
advantage of being alive and to live life to the fullest.
QUEST FOR PERSONAL FREEDOM
Aries
quests for personal freedom. Freedom
is found within. The energetic realization that we are an independent
entity is an essential step in setting ourselves free. Being free also requires
establishing our inner authority.
Following our inner authority requires finding and listening to our own
voice. Finding our own voice requires
being in touch with our inner spirit in
our body.
The
Aries archetype represents our battle for existential freedom. Our battle is to liberate and fully express
the essence of our soul. Yet the
aggressive, conflictual mode characteristic of the Aires archetype doesn’t
work. We have to (1) Let go. We have to
(2) Love who we are, exactly the way we are.
Love yourself and your life, and
you will find freedom!
I AM CONSCIOUSNESS
When
Rene Descartes was 22 years old he came up with the statement, ‘I think
therefore I am.’ This phrase has been
the source of much discussion since. But
our essence is not about endless thoughts.
Young Descartes was searching for an experience of consciousness. Consciousness is the stable male polarity of
the soul. If we are tuned into the right
channel and pay attention, we can experience pure consciousness in our
mind. In addition to the stable
polarity, there is the flowing, feminine polarity of our soul. This
evolutionary force or aliveness exists and animates our body independent of our
thoughts and the desires of our personality.
Our
Aries goal is to experience – I am this
force. I am this energetic
aliveness. I feel, therefore, I AM. I am consciousness.
We
experience this life force as a dynamic impulse, a warm inner fire that makes
it possible for us to move, act, grow, breathe and be alive. This force vivifies our body. This hidden force animates every desire and
action. When we let go, this force is
still present. We discover that we can
trust this force to be with us whether we think about it or not.
THE SIMPLICITY AND THE DRAMAS OF LIFE
Aries
reminds us of the simplicity of life. Aries teaches us (1) to experience a sense of self
and
(2) to love what we experience as ME. Our
priority in life is to simply enjoy experiencing and expressing our innate aliveness,
our pure spirit.
We
must keep in mind that Aries is the first sign of the zodiac. It is both naďve and eager to explore
life. Its childlike enthusiasm can get
it into trouble. Aries is like the Fool
of the Tarot – off on great adventure without paying attention to the fact that
it will soon to walk off a cliff. Aires
is willing to experiment and experience life.
In the process of exploring new territory, Aries creates dramas and puts
itself into predicaments. But the
enthusiastic Aries spirit keeps on going.
Life
on planet earth is about experimentation and experience. No one was given a manual to direct his or
her journey. That is why we are well
advised to spend time connecting with ourselves at least two times a day.
AM – Before our life gets complicated, before we get ensnarled in the
dramas of the day, we are invited to spend some sacred time with ourself. In Kundalini yoga, we call our spiritual
practice Sadhana.
PM – At the end of the day, we need to take some time to come back to
ourself. We are invited to leave the
stories of the day at the door and simply be present to and love ME.
The
practice of Kundalini yoga and meditation facilitates the conscious awakening
of Self. Every day we can experience how
the activation, alignment and integration of our physical, mental, emotional
and spiritual energies bring us more and more into wholeness. Between exercises and after the set, take
time to feel and appreciate the aliveness in your body and to simply love your
energetic self. Below are some
directives to guide you into I AM consciousness.
You can use these directives with any
Kundalini Yoga kriya or meditation. The
kriya I chose to use is “Exercises for Beauty, Radiance and Grace” on
pages 70-1- in SEXUALITY
AND SPIRITUALITY. It is a great set
for awakening to an experience of Self.
‘I AM’
AWARENESS DIRECTIVES
There
is a force, an aliveness within me that exists and lives
independent of my body, my thoughts and the desires of my
personality.
I
am this force. I am this energetic
aliveness.
I
am more than a thought or a doing.
I
am a feeling. ♦ I am consciousness. ♦ I am alive. ♦ I breathe. ♦ I AM
I
experience this life force as a dynamic impulse, a warm inner fire
that makes it possible for me to move, act, grow, breathe and be alive.
This
force vivifies, brings life into, my body.
A
subtle hidden force animates every action and empowers my every desire.
When
I let go and relax, this force, this power is still present.
I
can trust this force to be present whether I remember it or not.
I
simply enjoy experiencing and expressing my innate aliveness, purity,
innocence, and the gift of being MYSELF.
As I go deeper into a
richer experience, I witness and feel my body as the vessel for my soul.
I
awaken to an awareness of the power and pleasure of MySelf.
I
love what I experience as ME.
The
more I love myself and my life, the more I find happiness, peace and freedom.
Sat Nam!
Austin, Stephanie, “Libra Full Moon,” The Mountain Astrologer, Issue #137, Feb/March 2008, p. 103-5. “Aries New Moon,” Issue #138, March/April 2008, p. 105.
Burt, Kathleen, Archetypes of the Zodiac, Llewellyn Publications,
Greene, Liz, The Astrology of Fate, Samuel Weiser, Inc.,
Greene, Liz, Saturn – A New Look at an Old Devil, Samuel Weiser, 1976.
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