I’ve all the time beloved August. Rising up again East, it was sizzling, humid, and the Adirondack lakes have been the warmest we’d expertise all summer time. Should you have been going to swim, August was the time to do it. As nightfall approached, so too did the mosquitoes, however there have been additionally fireflies, barbecues and the stillness and serenity of the lake earlier than the solar lastly disappeared.
Our gardens have been additionally full, from flowers to herbs. We beloved rising mint: OMG, we had a lot of it. We’d rub our fingers with it and breathe within the scent, and did the identical with our rosemary, regardless of it not being as plentiful. My grandfather pulled scallions on daily basis to accompany his lunch on our entrance porch, which confronted the lake. Corn was priced as pennies per cob, and our tomatoes have been beginning to ripen, and as for the remaining? Golden, heat, virtually tangible.
Every part felt extra embodied in August and nonetheless does, even on the West Coast.
In non secular circles, August 8 has come to tackle a brand new that means, and because the years go on, there’s been an rising buzz about Lion’s Gate. We, too, have held circles in its title over time and led on-line classes by way of Zoom. For some, they are saying there’s a connection to a celestial group often called the Hathors or Sirian vitality. A connection to historical Egypt. The checklist goes on.
August 8—Lions Gate—is when the Solar is transferring by Leo. Regardless of residing with what some name a full-embodied channel (others merely say “coming into an expanded state of consciousness”, and other people within the East check with it as a “Samadhi” state”—name it what you’ll), the references to stronger cosmic portals, galactic alignments, energetic downloads, and highly effective waves of non secular vitality, has by no means resonated with me utterly . . . largely as a result of it’s by no means felt grounded.
It’s one of many causes that we didn’t embark upon a bodily or on-line gathering this yr. Voices in my head, maybe from my larger self or who is aware of from the place or what, say, “Floor individuals, Gaia, floor.” As an apart, Gaia is my nickname nowadays in non secular circles. I really like the earth. I consider in our connection to Her. The facility of seasons. Gratitude for the abundance She provides us many times, regardless of humanity’s abuse of Her assets.
For me, there’s something much more compelling in merely standing on the earth and asking: What is that this time revealing to me?
As a result of whether or not or not there’s a literal “gate” opening someplace within the cosmos, there may be unquestionably a threshold taking place in nature. And nature has all the time been considered one of my best lecturers.
And btw, I consider a tree has consciousness, though Michael Pollan throws bushes (and different crops) within the sentient class, a step earlier than acutely aware. I really like his work (and have learn 3 of his books, together with his newest, A World Seems), however I disagree with the categorization. For me, bushes do certainly have consciousness, maybe not the identical degree of consciousness as human beings, or maybe they do, however we don’t have the flexibility but to narrate. I’ve all the time subscribed to “We don’t know what we don’t know,” and have an open thoughts round this concept. Psychedelics give us a glimpse into that merging with nature, and Pollan appears to agree with that.
There’s something deeply non secular about feeling that connection though some human beings can’t relate. Fortunately, many do. (BTW, as I completed writing the final sentence, a large hawk flew previous my window . . . twice)
We spend a lot of our lives making an attempt to grow to be who we predict we’re imagined to be. We tackle identities, expectations, obligations, beliefs, and tales about who we’re. We even invent new exaggerated tales round dates, corresponding to Lion’s Gate.
Finally, we are able to neglect what it appears like to easily be ourselves.
Maybe that is one purpose the picture of the lion speaks to me presently of yr. Like a tree, a lion doesn’t have to show its energy. Is there not a quietness to true energy? You wouldn’t understand it if you happen to merely noticed the perceived energy in Washington nowadays.
True energy is aware of when to maneuver, however it additionally is aware of when to relaxation. To be silent. To step again. It doesn’t waste vitality chasing each distraction that crosses its path. When distractions hit you (and there’s no scarcity of them on social media nowadays), belief your intestine. Your instinct. Go inward and ask:
Feeling into what your physique is telling you (and exhibiting you) is the inspiration of Gnosis or Gnosticism, but in addition the Female Path of Embodiment, which we additionally educate.
This, to me, is without doubt one of the most lovely features of the Gnostic custom. Gnosis is usually translated as “information,” however it isn’t merely information gathered from books or lecturers. It factors towards a deeper sort of understanding—one thing skilled instantly, which, fairly frankly, is a vital distinction.
There’s a distinction between being instructed that one thing is true and encountering reality inside our personal expertise. And BTW, this is applicable to the whole lot, together with a non secular day corresponding to Lion’s Gate.
There’s a distinction between believing that we’re altering and truly changing into completely different. There’s a distinction between speaking about consciousness and changing into acutely aware of ourselves and others. There’s a distinction between saying {that a} portal is opening on a selected date (and never different dates) and understanding that we’re the portals themselves. We’re consciousness. We’re the universe and the universe IS us.
For me, spirituality turns into far more significant when it could meet us there.
- In {our relationships}.
- In our our bodies.
- In our decisions.
- Within the troublesome conversations.
- Within the locations the place we’re nonetheless afraid.
- Within the moments when no one is watching.
That’s the place the actual work occurs. And I don’t assert that it’s straightforward. Crikey. I face challenges strolling a non secular path on daily basis, and the longer you stroll it, the less individuals you possibly can speak to in regards to the phases you stroll by.
Whether or not you depict her as actual or not, nonetheless purchase into her picture as a prostitute who wanted demons solid out of her, the spouse and accomplice of Yeshua (Jesus) or not one of the above, you possibly can at a minimal see her as an archetype, simply because the Hindu tradition appears to be like to the goddess Durga (my favourite btw) for the qualities and traits she carried. I don’t see Magdalene in my life because the one who was wrongly portrayed by centuries of interpretation and projection by the Patriarch, however as a powerful and smart lady who’s able to seeing, questioning, listening, and understanding.
In our e book and within the non-canonical Gospel of Mary, she isn’t ready for another person to inform her what to assume. She is engaged with the educating. She perceives. She speaks. She enters into the thriller herself regardless of being condemned and rejected by the male apostles. And at occasions, even handled like cattle, like all ladies throughout that period.
There’s something profoundly female about who she was—not female as a set of qualities that belong solely to ladies, however as a method of regarding life that values receptivity, instinct, embodiment, connection, collaboration, discernment, and direct expertise.
I feel that is significantly essential in a time when spirituality can generally grow to be one other type of consumption.
- One other educating.
- One other frequency.
- One other transmission. OMG, fashionable spirituality is all about their transmissions.
There’s all the time somebody telling us what is going on energetically and what we must always consider about it. That on in the future, a portal opens for us, however we don’t have entry to it on different days.
The Magdalene, for me, reminds us all to grow to be our personal witness. And as a part of that witnessing, we are able to hear, query and discern for ourselves. To know the distinction between one thing that resonates deeply inside us and one thing we merely wish to be true.
A few of you may even see this as cynicism or criticism, however I see it as non secular maturity. Let me add, “grounded non secular maturity.”
Returning to one of many causes I’ve all the time beloved August: it precedes Fall after we change seasons. It begins the season of ripening. Let me clarify. In spring, we plant, however in the summertime months, we have a tendency. We additionally play (at the very least I do). However finally, one thing begins to disclose what it has grow to be. Just like the bushes I discussed earlier, tomatoes don’t instantly grow to be ripe as a result of we demand that they accomplish that.
It occurs by a quiet and gradual course of. BTW, we planted our tomatoes in a unique location this yr and are tending to them in a different way, together with how we deal with them, and yup, I’m speaking to them on daily basis. Don’t name me woo—the outcomes are profound.
Tomatoes are in relationship with the solar, the soil, water, temperature, and time. Are we not like that too? There could also be issues in our lives which were growing for years, corresponding to a realization, a calling, a relationship, a brand new understanding of ourselves, a willingness to lastly say no (discernment and limits), and a willingness to lastly say sure after we’ve held again earlier than (give up).
Typically we don’t acknowledge that we have now modified as a result of there wasn’t one dramatic second when one thing occurred. Somebody from our Blue Soul Alchemy knowledge faculty reached out lately and mentioned, “I want I used to be rising and increasing greater than I really feel I’ve by now”, one way or the other alluding to the notion they’re doing one thing improper (we’re presently on Pillar 4 of 12 btw) . The reality is that we’re all the time shifting and altering, however we could not see the expansion within the second, simply as we don’t see the expansion of a kid we see on daily basis, however somebody who sees that youngster as soon as each 2-3 months notices issues we miss.
At some juncture, we merely get up one morning and understand: I can’t return to who I used to be. I can’t spend time with the identical individuals I as soon as did.
One thing has ripened. Our consciousness has expanded in methods we are able to’t describe in linear methods.
Returning to the Lions Gate, what if we don’t see it as a literal door or “gate” that opens for a number of days annually? What if we noticed it extra as a metaphor, a logo, a threshold, or a reminder?
What if the good non secular motion isn’t about escaping this human expertise, however about changing into extra totally current inside it?
That is the place the magical and the grounded meet for me, otherwise you may say, resonate most. We don’t want to go away the earth to expertise one thing sacred. We are able to merely stroll by the bushes, put our fingers within the soil (it’s so so underrated), watch the altering gentle, sit quietly beside somebody we love and have gratitude, expertise pleasure just because, and hearken to our personal our bodies. We are able to even give ourselves permission to really feel grief after which launch it.
And maybe consciousness shouldn’t be one thing separate from any of this. Maybe that is the thriller. Can we be okay with that? And never all the time attempt to determine it out. To all the time want to offer one thing that means. I discover myself asking that very query typically.
This isn’t about manifesting more durable or anticipating issues to shift as a result of the vitality is meant to be stronger this time of yr. I don’t consider any of that is about opening ourselves to some sort of highly effective cosmic obtain.
As an alternative, merely go outdoors and discover a place the place you possibly can sit quietly. A backyard or park bench will do, and even in opposition to a tree in your individual yard. Put your naked toes on the earth and grow to be quiet. Discover the temperature. The sounds. Your breath.
Discover what your physique appears like while you aren’t asking it to carry out or do one thing a selected method. Ask your self: What’s ripening in me? What do I really feel in my physique at this second?
Ponder with that for some time after which ask your self: What do I do know now that I didn’t know a yr in the past?
Sit with that for some time after which ask: What am I able to cease pretending I don’t know?
Let the questions settle into you and don’t power one thing that doesn’t come naturally. Even when it sounds foolish or unusual or not what you had hoped.
One of many issues I’ve discovered over time is that generally the deepest solutions don’t arrive as phrases. Now that I’m eager about it, my grandmother used to inform me that after I was little, however it didn’t totally settle till I used to be an grownup.
Typically solutions arrive as a sense in our our bodies. A understanding. You may even say, a loosening of kinds. I consider it as a heaviness that lifts and your physique feels lighter. Have you ever ever felt that? After which whoah or an aha second . . . when that lightness comes, a sudden readability about one thing you could have been circling for a really very long time emerges.
Once we faucet into that braveness, it’s not a sense of energy or dominance, nor, btw, is it some extraordinary non secular achievement. I fall into it at occasions, too. Fairly, it’s the braveness to inhabit our personal reality.
And maybe that can also be the place I really feel the Magdalene standing beside us. Not above us. Not telling us what to consider or who to consider in, however reminding us that the trail inward requires each openness and discernment.
- That we are able to stay curious with out changing into gullible.
- That we are able to stay mystical with out abandoning the earth.
- That we are able to honor thriller without having to clarify the whole lot.
- And that we are able to belief our interior understanding with out assuming that each interior voice is the one reality.
Typically individuals we work with ask us, “How do I do know that what I really feel isn’t enjoying methods on me? Or is just my ego?” They’re legitimate questions. The trail of gnosis isn’t about merely following no matter we really feel however studying to see clearly past the noise.
It’s after we grow to be quiet sufficient to acknowledge the distinction between concern and instinct, between need and reality, between conditioning and real understanding.
This takes time, and as human beings, we are inclined to lack persistence at occasions. Even a non secular journey needs to grow to be a race. I fall into this lure at occasions too after which catch myself. Along with time, it takes braveness and apply.
Maybe that’s the reason the lion is such a ravishing image for this second.
We are able to visualize a lion that doesn’t rush by the gate however one which stands on the threshold, observing the legal guidelines of nature and abiding by the ebbs and flows of life with out being in a rush. It’s current and listening. Figuring out when to maneuver and understanding when to stay nonetheless. Figuring out when to talk and when to remain silent and attune to one thing in entrance of it.
Maybe, moderately than wanting outdoors ourselves for some sort of cosmic obtain or non secular awakening to come back to us, maybe we are able to merely be within the current second and see what has already grown.
To honor what has ripened and likewise to launch what not belongs to us. Not serves us. In that second of expanded consciousness, we are able to then step ahead—not as a result of the universe has promised us one thing extraordinary, however as a result of we have now grow to be prepared to stay extra truthfully from what we innately know. I really like the phrase innate and use it actually because it resonates. It all the time has, and I don’t have to know why.
Ahhh sure, pricey mates, the solar is shining, the earth is ripening and the lion is on the gate.
And maybe an important gate we’ll ever stroll by is the one which opens after we lastly cease looking outdoors ourselves for what’s ready to be found inside.
That’s the gate I wish to stroll by. Will you be a part of me?
Renee Blodgett is the Founder and Managing Editor of We Weblog the World, a world journey, tradition and life-style publication exploring the world by the lens of significant experiences, human connection and cultural depth. Having lived in 10 international locations and traveled to 95, Renee has spent a lot of her life immersed within the individuals, traditions, landscapes and concepts that form how we expertise the world.
Since launching We Weblog the World in 2007, she has written and produced in depth editorial protection spanning boutique and luxurious journey, culinary experiences, arts and tradition, wellness, journey, know-how, non secular traditions and transformative journey. Her work is rooted within the perception that journey is about greater than the place we go—it’s also about what a spot, tradition or encounter awakens inside us.
Renee brings greater than three a long time of expertise throughout journalism, pictures, media, model technique, know-how, wellness and world storytelling. She has labored with corporations and organizations world wide on model positioning, communications, product launches, media technique, speaker positioning and storytelling. By Blue Soul Media, she works with authors, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and purpose-driven manufacturers to make clear their message and increase their influence, which incorporates speaker teaching/coaching for high-profile phases corresponding to TED and bringing authors’ work to market whereas retaining authors rights.
She can also be the co-founder of Blue Soul Earth, an academic platform exploring consciousness, historical knowledge, spirituality, therapeutic and the intersection between science and the character of actuality. Renee is the producer and host of the award-winning Blue Soul CHATS, a conversational sequence bringing collectively main voices in science, know-how, consciousness, wellness and spirituality.
Her rising physique of labor additionally contains Blue Soul Residing, which extends her curiosity in consciousness and well-being into the areas we inhabit, exploring how intentional design, vitality and surroundings can help better concord and connection.
Renee is the award-winning co-author of the bestselling Magdalene’s Journey and founding father of the Magdalene Assortment, impressed by ladies’s voices, tales and knowledge throughout cultures and generations.
A longtime photographer and storyteller, Renee has documented individuals, locations and cultures world wide and produced photographic collections targeted on locations together with the Galápagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome and Ecuador. She additionally co-founded Touring Geeks, a world initiative that introduced entrepreneurs, journalists, creators and know-how leaders along with their counterparts in different international locations to alternate concepts and discover innovation throughout cultures.
Renee’s work has been acknowledged by Forbes, the United Nations and others for her affect in media and social storytelling. Throughout her work in journey, media, consciousness and tradition, a standard thread stays: curiosity in regards to the world, the tales that join us and the methods significant experiences can change how we see ourselves and each other.
