The Descent of the Yellow Brick Road

The New Moon in Cardinal Air on the 14^th of October 2023 at 17:55 UTC

Now you are going to come down; now you are going to land, as the Sun gracefully descends, casting a warm golden light upon the landscape, revealing its magnificent yellow brick road. Stretching down from the blue waters above, now glistening with shades of amber and ochre as it fades into the softening horizon, the Sun’s vibrant rays paint the sky in a mesmerising array of colours, as if nature itself is applauding the arrival of twilight.

The tempering beams of the pre-dusk light embrace the yellow bricks, enchanting them into a pathway of sheer wonder, just as the interplay of light and shadow adds an ethereal touch to the surroundings, creating an atmosphere of tranquillity and anticipation.

This road holds the promise of adventure and self-discovery, beckoning you to continue on a downward journey, as the twilight infuses the path with an otherworldly glow. Towering either side of the golden path stands two pillars, symbols of divine equilibrium, holding the essence of cosmic balance through which this path of equity dissects.

Awareness draws you to remember the feather held in your hand, a key charged with the responsibility to open the Southern gate that descends to one of two places of Initiation – by the pillar of Grace or of Severity. With each step forward, apprehension rises within you as you can feel the weight of your life and whether you have lived consciously, seeking higher understanding or unconsciously, living in reaction to life’s vicissitudes.

Yet, as you draw closer to the pillars, a profound shift occurs. The pillar of Grace embraces you with its warm and loving energy, reminding you of the boundless mercy that exists in the universe. She whispers gentle reminders of forgiveness, kindness, and unconditional love, urging you to extend these qualities to yourself and others. Simultaneously, the pillar of Severity, with its stern yet wise presence, reminds you of the importance of discipline, accountability, and the pursuit of truth. She too is encouraging, but she is fanning the spirit of strength to face challenges head-on and to embrace the necessary lessons that propel you towards spiritual evolution.

Placing the feather on the scales, a third path opens, one that draws forth from both pillars, a middle path, the way of the alchemist, fusing forgiveness and love and one that understands that the virtues of both pillars hold the key to your liberation and spiritual ascension. Ahead is a journey of self-discovery, shedding countless layers of ego and embracing the six mansions of your sOul.

Your eye is caught by a piercing, yet gentle light, shining upon you, lightening upon the shadows that reside within your heart. You can feel the tender compassion, reminding of times when you were delicately and lovingly held as a vulnerable infant, emanating from this blue-white pulse. Softly her whisper envelopes you encouraging you to embrace your wounds, your vulnerabilities, and your perceived imperfections, without judgement or condemnation.

This radiant presence, eyes sparkling with the timeless knowledge of the ages, engulfs you in a sacred space. Your soul now laid bare and as the weight of your existence settles upon your chest, memories, deeds, and intentions rise to the surface, open for scrutiny. There is no hiding, no pretence, as the scales await their purpose. With reverence and humility, you offer yourself to the divine judgement, surrendering fully to the process of accountability.

Tipping and swaying, aligning the delicate balances of your deeds, your thoughts, and the intricate tapestry of your life, you can start to realise the deep significance of your breath, the consequences both seen and unseen, and the ripples they have cast upon the fabric of your creation. Past, present, and future converge, intertwining in a dance of illumination. The echoes of choices made reverberate through the chambers of your being, urging you to confront your shadows, to acknowledge your shortcomings, and to embrace the lessons they hold.

Within the wan light, judgement does not feel harsh and critical. It is not one of condemnation but of guidance and encouragement as if an opportunity to rectify past transgressions, to realign your compass with the virtues of truth, integrity, and compassion is being offered. This is the Way of the Initiate, and this is Her time.

As daylight bids farewell and twilight takes hold, you continue your journey, heart enflamed with purpose to descend along the deeper path, the Inner Way. Step by step you tread, as the owl in the woods pierces your ears with its howl, as you decide your future lies beyond the allure and enigma of the yellow brick road.

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As the Sun makes its journey across the southern horizon, heading south into the depths of the underworld, a sacred dance unfolds between the celestial and the earthly realms. It is a time of transition, of surrendering to the mysteries that lie beyond the veils of the mundane world. In this dance, the soul is tenderly prepared to receive the profound wisdom of the divine feminine.

The Sun, with its radiant warmth and life-giving energy, symbolises your conscious awareness. As it begins its descent into its southerly declination, there is a shifting of energies, an invitation for introspection and inner exploration. It is here that the Sun willingly descends into the darkness, embracing the unknown, mirroring the journey of the soul as it ventures into the depths of the subconscious.

In this descent, you find yourself drawn towards the wisdom of the divine feminine. It is a calling from the depths of your being, an invitation to open your heart and mind to the intuitive, nurturing, and transformative energies that reside within. The Divine Feminine represents the creative and receptive aspects of your consciousness, embodying qualities such as compassion, intuition, and unconditional love.

Descending deeper along its southerly path, a time of soulful introspection, a shedding of layers, and a surrendering to the shadow aspects of yourself is encouraged. In this unfolding process, you are to confront your fears, unresolved emotions, and limiting beliefs, bringing them to the surface to be lovingly acknowledged and released.  It is in the ‘darkness’ that you find the seeds of wisdom, awaiting their time to sprout and blossom into conscious awareness. Whispering her secrets in the stillness of the ‘night’, inviting you to embrace vulnerability and to trust your intuition, this is the Path of the Nocturnal Signs, starting with the purification of your Mind and Breath, as you enter through the pillars of Justice and Truth and lay the weight of your soul on the scales to be judged, as depicted within the Egyptian Tradition as the meeting with Ma’at or within Christianity by meeting Micha-el.

This path is known as Cardinal Air, within astrology, the first sign of the nocturnal zodiac, and a reminder that the journey within starts with the conscious inhalation and exhalation of your breath or more commonly now known as Libra. Within the Christian tradition, this is the Way of the Initiate or the Path of the Magdalene and within the Pagan tradition it is the Light of Spica.

The spiritual significance this initiation lies in its ability to awaken and nourish the seeds of divine wisdom within you. It is a reminder that true illumination comes not only from the outer world but also from the depths of your being. It is also an invitation to honour the sacred dance of duality within you – grace and severity, for it is through their union that you can access the fullest expression of your soul’s potential.

As the Sun and Moon unite in this sign on the 14^th of October, heralding a time when the dual Lights of your Being embrace, creating afresh a new relationship to one of the twelve mansions of your soul, let us revel in this initiation and prepare our soul to receive the wisdom of the divine feminine. Let us surrender to the depths and allow the transformative energies to guide us towards greater self-awareness and spiritual fulfilment over the coming half solar year. May you emerge from this decent in March, with heart ablaze, ready to shine your inner light upon the world, spreading love, compassion, and healing wherever you go.

Many blessings to you for this lunation.