Sening love and greetings from the Highlands of Ecuador. The photos included here are from Laguna Quilotoa, a lake carved out of the crater of a volcano approximately 3,900m above sea level. Apparently the purple flowers in the photo above only bloom once a year so it was really special to be there for that moment.
I've been immensely pleasantly surprised with how much I love Ecuador. I love the diversity of the nature. I love the beauty and brightness of the people and community I've gotten a chance to get to know. I love the depth of the culture. Not sure how much longer I will be here for, perhaps another week or so. We shall see what doors open.
Lions Gate -- 8.8
Ok... so you talk to any astrologer worth their salt and they will tell you that Lions Gate is bullshit. Or, if they're using nicer language they'll explain kindly that the supposed alignment between the Star Sirius and the Sun in Leo and the earth isn't actually correct. That alignment actually occurs in early July, not on August 8th. This is just ... true. And no New Age debate can refute that truth. But I feel there is more to the conversation than simple facts (which many empiricists might have trouble with).
For those that haven't heard of Lions Gate before... here's the tea:
- Lions Gate is said to occur on August 8th or 8:8
- The belief is that is the time where the energy of the Star Sirius, the sun in the constellation of Leo, and the earth are in alignment.
- Sirius is also known as the "cosmic sun" and has deep significance for many ancient cultures like Egypt, Greece, etc.
- The time of Lions Gate is usually connected with Manifestation practices, Spiritual Awakening and Illumination, and the opening of one's True Self.
So if empirical truth isn't the only thing that is valid... what else is there?
--> Myth and story aren't rooted in empirical truth and yet they shape human consciousness and thus how things like society, culture, and indiviudal life paths are shaped. Just ask Carl Jung or Joseph Campbell.
--> Collective agreement, also known as social constructs or collective beliefs, have immense power. A good example of this is... money. It doesn't actually "exist" outside of collective agreement, and yet it can be easily seen how much that agreement shapes and moves the world. Another example is the power of prayer. When people come together, align with intention, amplify power, and direct that for a specific aim... wow. It can move mountains. It has the capacity to change the world. It DOES change the world, or at the very least it changes those who engage in the prayer... alters how the live and move through the world, and thus the world is shifted through that interaction.
Regardless of the legitimacy of the supposed alignment of Sirius, the Sun, and the Earth... there is still power in the collective agreement of the significance of this day.
There is are energetics you can tap into.
There is a myth you can glean insight from.
There are symbols and metaphors that can be used as guiding lights or markers on the path for you.
There are portals that can open for you.
Suggested practices for Lions Gate and/or the Full Moon occuring the next day:
- Spend time learning about the star Sirius. What is its significance? What myths are associated with it? What cultures honoured it and in what way? What kind of "energetics" or symbolism does it represent?
- Work with the themes of Abundance and Spiritual Awakening/Illumination
- Contemplation or Reflection questions: What does living an abundant life mean to you? In what way is there abundance already present in your life? What would a collective experience of abundance be like, rather than just individual focus?
- Work with citrine, carnelian, sunflowers, the energy of the sun
- Dedicate your ritual, your practice, for the benefit of ALL BEINGS. Yes, all beings. Not just people who think or live like you. Not just victims. Not just people you deem "good." But also villains and perpetrators of harm, people who are on the other side of the dividing line than you, those who you would label "evil." --> I truly believe to the core of my being that we must also be doing the work to help awaken and heal the hearts and minds of those who are causing harm. Spiritual awakening is not just for the elite "good people".
I made a playlist for you!
Most of the playlists I have made are with yoga classes in mind. Was a joy to create something different. Yesterday I listened to this on a two and a half hour bus ride from the highlands of Ecuador to the rainforest. It's a good playlist for long journeys and creative afternoons.
Enjoy!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1v3lPOLy4xpDQzjNrnSR5Q?si=bc06fa5410714353&pt=d07f1bca150bb24211e900715f2ad445
