Summer Solstice and the Blossoming of your Soul

June 20-June 21 marks the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere and simultaneously heralds the beginning of winter in the southern hemisphere. In 2012, the summer solstice occurs and summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere on June 20, at 7:09 p.m. EDT

Whenever I think of the Summer solstice, I cannot forget this same time, in my late hippie teen days when I decided to hitchhike around England with my friend Robin. One day, for no apparent reason, we decided that this would be a nice day to hike to see Stonehenge. We had no idea that it was the summer solstice! It was amazing and even eerie as the Druids and other Pagans began to arrive. They started to rope off areas as it got later in the day. Druids witness the sunrise on the longest day of the year at the prehistoric site marking the event with religious ceremonies. We just intuitively were in the right place at the right time. Maybe we had cellular memories, but it was a remarkable day.

Today at 7:20 I will be with friends drumming in celebration of the longest day of the year. 

and I am grateful. Grateful for the fullness of my life and grateful for the blossoms and bounty in my garden. You can see in my photos below how my butterfly bush has grown through the years into more of a tree than a bush. My flowers blossom alongside my tomato, pepper, eggplant, string bean, and dill plants. The birds share along with us the delicious blueberries on our small bush in various stages of ripeness and a few cherries are still left for the Robins, Cardinals, Mockingbirds and other birds of this area.

 

 

 

 Rose’s fragrant and full adorn the bushes….all this in such a tiny space of a garden. We get so much pleasure in such an array of color and fragrance. All around we see Fibonacci's magical sequence in the spirals of daisies and Echinacea plants. lettuce and snail shells. Thank you for this moment. 

The flowers must first grow through dark soil before they blossom fully.  The butterfly must first evolve within a dark cocoon before it can flutter around the garden. So now like the butterfly and flowers, may we shed what ever may have been constricting us and emerge at this powerful time strong, creative and free to blossom fully. Set a positive intention for the rest of the year for transformation and self growth.

Sending love to all of you for a wonderful Summer solstice and may you enjoy the fullness of life.

"How did the rose open it's heart

and give to this world all of it's beauty?

It felt the encouragement of light against it's being,

otherwise we all remain too frightened."

- Hafiz

A Touch of Venus

A Touch of Venus

Vitruvian Woman - Eileen M. Rose, pencil and marker 

  June 5^th Venus will be transiting the Sun. This is an event only happening 4x every 243 years. The last time was June 2004.                                 

Ava Gardner as Venus

Venus de Mile

In mythology, Venus is the Roman Goddess of Love and Beauty, and closely related to the Greek Goddess, Aphrodite. Many think of the Goddess Venus as the armless statue, Venus de Milo. (I remember my father warning my sister, "That's what's gonna  happen if you keep biting your nails") Other first memories of the Goddess Venus are from one of my favorite old black and white movies I used to watch as a girl, "One One Touch of Venus, played by the beautiful Ava Gardner.  It taught me of Venus's gifts of love and beauty. 

As the transit of Venus is in the news and on our minds, what a great opportunity  for us to examine and redefine the meaning of love and beauty, and because it is in Gemini as it transits, this creates something new in the way of communication. Every 8 years Venus returns to the same place in the zodiac where it was before. It is now returning to its position of 2004.   In 2004 there was a leap in communication (with internet, cell phones) And now a huge door of communication may be opening as to how we communicate and relate to each other. Attune to how we share our ideas and expression and communication in a whole new way.

The celestial path of Venus

The path of Venus creates a 5 petal rose by doing this 8 year cycle dance in the movement of hearts and creating this 5 pointed star mandala. You must see this wonderful video of the Tango of Earth and Venus around the Sun.  

Because of this path, Venus closely relates to the Golden Mean – (Phi,) and the Pentagram, the shape that relates perfectly to the Golden Mean and the Fibonacci series of numbers.

The Fibonacci ratio creates the golden mean spiral, as in our galaxies. And in so many flowers, shells, and, pine cones and other forms in nature, as so beautifully illustrated in the Sunflower painting by P.C. Turzcen . Everything is all related. 

Sunflower by P.C. Truzcen

So if you have the chance to see Venus or even without looking to the skies, become aware of how to live in harmony with nature. In this link,  John Wadsworth give a great explanation of this event of the Venus Transit on June 5th/6th 2012.

You can see the path that Venus will travel in those brief few hours when it passes over the sun, live from NASA. There is a video of how it will look.

In  Hindu mythology, Venus, known as Shukra, is the son if the great seer Bhrigu. Bhrigur taught his son all of the spiritual sciences and scriptures.  They too believed that Venus is an embodiment of love and a benefit planet and governs the refined attribute, romance, beauty, sensuality, passion, beauty, wealth, art, music, dance.  

Here are two of my Venus yantra paintings as taught to me by Pieter Weltevrede and Mavis Gewant in the tradition passed down to them by Harish Johari.  The mantra to recite for Lord Venus is Om Shukraaya Namaha    

Venus Yantra Vedic Square paintings by Eileen Rose

                                         

 The paragraphs below are is from the Midland School of Astrology:

 The Meaning of Venus

 If you do not know any astrology, that's no problem, you can read this, for I will be describing things in layman's terms.

Venus is an Earth or Earthy planet. This much must be understood at the beginning. So what she delivers (or takes away) is manifestly and concretely felt. You can hold it, celebrate it and use it. Venus seeks gratification, pleasure and fulfilment. She will give affirmation and success in war or love because her aim is to manifest it .......to make it happen - whatever that is. Venus understands the beauty of form, possession and manifestation.

 She is useful in practical and everyday living for protection, power and support. She supports aspiration, success and achievement in LIFE. To the Egyptians, her symbol, the ankh, was known as the Giver of Life.

The Meaning of the Sun

 This is the energy storehouse of our existence. The Sun's immense nuclear and spiritual power fuels our lives from within and without. Many ancient and not-so-ancient cultures believed that the Sun was the source of all Spirit. It is the heart and ruler of our Solar System and it controls all life with the heat that warms and the energy (calories) that emanate from it both invisibly and visibly. So the Sun gives light and invisible power.

What do They Mean Together?

 On the surface of it, together they mean something very successful and powerful, but on this occasion they might just SAVE THE PLANET! Sort of a cosmic Superman and Superwoman actually. For if you haven't noticed, Earth is in trouble and we need a miracle. We are heavily over-populated and we are indulging in massive over-consumerism. Debt has fuelled over-inflation and the over-consumption of our planets raw materials. In short, we have been asleep in the wheelhouse of the Titanic for the last two decades and now we need a miracle! So hopefully, this Venus Transit can deliver one......  To read more from Midland School open this link http://www.midlandsschoolofastrology.co.uk/astrological_meaning_of_venus_transit_2012.html 

As Venus blesses the Earth with her presence, let us not just witness this, but use this time to connect to the energies of love and to do what we can do to keep peace, balance, and love in our lives with our relationships. with our surroundings, and even with our enemies.  Can you forgive and love unconditionally? 

Synchronistically, at our Mandala Class at Omega Institute, on the day of the transit of Venus, we will be doing processes on Unconditional Love,  Gifting and Forgiveness. A perfect way to honor the qualities of Venus.

For more info on the transit of Venus you can check out these video links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehHY9fTrb7Q&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAx-_iuCq14&feature=related

Boticelli's :The Birth of Venus

Beloved Weeds

It is a beautiful day today, and despite the many chemtrails overhead, I am at peace and planting flowers in my garden. My garden is a mixture of wild and store bought plants.  Ella Wheeler Wilcox once said, “A weed is but an unloved flower.  I personally love them all. Here are a few pictures I just took from my garden.

Red Clover makes a great tea for purifying blood and the wild sprearmint at the left is great added to tea for digestion and for some minty flavor to your lemonade.

I often think, who decided what is a weed and what is a throw away plant.  In the dictionary a weed is defined as a wild plant that is growing where it is not wanted and in competition with cultivated plants.  Well, they do tend to compete with the other plants so I can understand needing some control, but the complete removal of weeds from a garden is not for me. I can’t image spraying chemicals on my lawn like so many of my neighbors to keep weeds away! Even my lawn is a diversified mixture of a variety of grasses, clover, dandelions, and so many so called weeds. It is so hardy that it rarely needs watering and never needs reseeding.

So many weeds have healing qualities for a variety of needs. My beloved dandelions, that most frown upon in the garden are rich in vitamin-A, C, iron and calcium and detoxifiers which explains its use in medicines.

Dandelion root is a most popular herbal remedy. The specific name, officinale, means that It's used medicinally. The decoction is a traditional tonic. It’s supposed to strengthen the entire body, especially the liver and gallbladder, where it promotes the flow of bile, reduces inflammation of the bile duct, and helps get rid of gall stones. This is due to its taraxacin. It’s good for chronic hepatitis, it reduces liver swelling and jaundice, and it helps indigestion caused by insufficient bile. Don't use it with irritable stomach or bowel, or if you have an acute inflammation.

For more benefits of weeds, check out this site: http://agriinfo.in/default.aspx?page=topic&superid=1&topicid=351

I was once taught to make dandelion wine by Susanne weed. Here is her recipe http://www.ashtreepublishing.com/Book_Healing_Wise_Recipe_Dandywine.htm

FantasticFarms.comAU states that Weeds are nature’s band-aids, placed by the wisdom of creation to heal and restore damaged soils. When farmers husband the life of the soil, as they do in organic agriculture, the improved conditions dissuade many weeds and favor their crops. The crops, being healthier, are also better able to compete with those weeds that are present.

Gold Thread is a common wildflower. How many of you have ever looked closely at one.This macro shot of the Gold Thread let's you see how magnificent it is. 

I’m not saying to leave every weed in your garden, I’m not saying let that poison ivy spread or the weds to choke out your crops, but do give them their space, and honor all of your plants as sacred and living and they may reveal to you their healing gifts.

Enjoy this Youtube 

Wildflowers" - Tom Petty

"You belong among the wildflowers,

You belong somewhere close to me.

Far away from your trouble and worries

You belong somewhere you feel free".

-      Tom Petty, Wildflowers

Namaste' May your day be filled with beauty and joy!"

The Meaning of Motherhood ~ Happy Mother's Day

Today, as we celebrate Mother's Day, I not only think of my own beloved mother, daughter, granddaughter and mother-in-law... but also the various forms of the Divine mother that have been present in history (her-story).

I think of Kwan Yin, Tara, Mother Mary, the Shekhinah, Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi, and Maha Saraswati. Durga, Primordial Mother, Shakti ...I could go on and on as forms of the Goddess are countless!  I grew up with the absence of feminine symbolism for God. Joseph Campbell once reminded us, "one person's mythology is another person's religion."  The Goddess was not a myth to our ancestors and I have such gratitude that I have now been exposed to so many traditions today that abound in honoring the feminine aspect of God.

The true symbol of Motherhood to me is pure unconditional love... I  think of Mother Theresa as a manifestation of the Divine Femine. She cared for the dying with such love because she saw her Beloved in each of them. In her case her beloved was Jesus.

In these times, I think of Ammachi, the hugging saint, as a feminine aspect of the Divine. She has compassionate love for all. She sees all people as her children. I have seen her sit for hours without a break hugging thousands of people. 

Here is a quote by Amma, that was part of her speech given at the Globel Peace Initiative of Women Religious and Spiritual Leaders. October 7, 2002 on the true meaning of motherhood:

“The essence of motherhood is not restricted to women who have given birth: it is a principle inherent in both women and men. It is an attitude of the mind. It is love – and that love is the very breath of life. No one would say, ‘I will breath only when I am with my family and friends; I won’t breathe in front of my enemies.’ Similarly, for those in whom motherhood has awakened, love and compassion for everyone are as much part of their being as breathing."


The Dalai Lama shows that the essence of motherhood is inherent in both men and women.  I don't know the source of the photo below of a young soldier and his baby but you can feel that he is oveflowing with love for his child. May we spread love to all we meet. Even when you are walking in the street and you see someone pass that you do not even know, say to them, silently, that you wish them love. They will receive your loving energy. Love is something that if you give it away, you end up having more.

Happy Mother’s Day to all! Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti, Namaste! May your day be filled with blessings.  Love and hugs, Rosie 

Remembering Rajjita

Today I Remember Rajita Sivananda May 8^th, 1941 -  May 18^th, 2010

May 8^th is the day of the birth of my mentor and dear friend, Rajita Sivananda, formally known as Judith Cornell. She is the award-winning author of Mandala: Luminous Symbols for Healing, The Mandala Healing Kit, Drawing the Light From Within, and many other wonderful books.  I think of Rajita often but yesterday and today I am filled with thoughts and memories, and joys of our times together and the wonderful phone conversations we shared.

It was over 20 years ago that I took my first mandala class with Judith at Omega Institute. It was such a spiritual opening and joy for me that I continued to study with her, soon becoming one of her assistants and eventually, her co-facilitator.

In 1979, Rajita, had a spiritual awakening and her art changed dramatically. She started to teach mandala classes that helped participants to use mandalas as a tool for self-discovery and spiritual awakening.

The picture I have attached is one that I took at the last mandala training she presented. We were in the middle of our sand mandala dissolution, and I remember thinking that this would probably be our last training together.  Judith had confided in me about the condition of her health, stage 4 cancer and yet, she looked radiant and beautiful and I recall how even until the very last day of this life, she looked beautiful.

At her last teleconference, she relayed to her beloved students that she would not be in this body for much longer, and that if we were feeling loss and suffering, that we should work through that, because we are seeing it from the ego. “If you remember me from the heart and love, we will be together. I will be with you.“

Rajita is remembered as a bringer of light on the planet and we, her facilitators, are working to spreadi that light to others.

Rajita had a good passing. She was surrounded the whole week with friends and family. We chanted the Mahamrityunjaya chant in the room adjacent to her bedroom. We read to her and the apartment was filed with feelings of love and light. She passed in peace and with presence.

I learned so much from Rajita

Some of the many gifts I received from her were :

• ·      The gift of silence
• ·      The importance of holding strong intentions for everything you do or want to create.
• ·      How to create and hold sacred space
• ·      When in a state of worry, to take the mountain view, - from perspective your problems don’t often seem so great.
• ·      Remember to create and speak from the HEART not the head.
• ·      Never label anyone in a negative role. That only holds them there. See everyone as a reflection of God
• ·      Before you teach a class, hold in your heart the soul of every participant and assistant, even before they show up, even if you haven’t met them before. Hold that their highest good be supported and their soul will flower and flourish.
• ·      We are reflecting and transmitting light in our drawings and remember that we are not the doers , we are receiving this Divine light and expressing it.

·       

I am very grateful that our lives have so beautifully intertwined. Fly on with the Great Masters and until we meet again, know that I love you.

Om Shanti, Shanti Shanti

Love to Everyone, Everywhere ~ All You Need is Love!

"Love can accomplish anything and everything. Love can cure diseases, Love can heal wounded hearts and transform human minds. Through love, one can overcome all obstacles." - Ammachi

Illuminated Rose Inc. would like to wish you all a wonderful and happy Valentine's Day filled and overflowing with LOVE.

Scratch Board Mandalas

On a recent trip to the mountains, I only brought along some crayon pastels and tag board thinking I might makes some quick studies of the beautiful mountain landscapes around. I was feeling very connected to the nature around me but instead of a landscape, I felt like making a mandala. What else is new? I revisited an old project that I used to do with my younger elementary school art students - Scratchboard, although we used to call it “black magic”. You can create your own scratchboard using either crayon or crayon pastels. Pressing firmly, cover the entire piece of paper or tag board, making sure not to leave any paper uncovered, and then cover completely with black crayon, black ink or tempera paint mixed with some dish or hand soap liquid so it will stick to the waxy crayon. Afterwards we scratch our design into the black paper and uncover all the colors below. It felt like I do was doing scrimshaw rather constructing a mandala. Although I think it was a nice change and kids of all ages will love it. I only had a nail and my compass point to work with but there are tools available with varied thicknesses. If you try it, make sure to use some newspaper underneath to catch the bits of black crayon that you scratched off, and let me know how it goes. Love, Rosie

The Flower of Life

Here are two recent drawings using colored pencil and black paper…and of course my beloved compass.

I have always been intrigued by sacred geometry, and lately I have been enjoying creating Flower of Life mandalas. Drawing this sacred symbol in various ways can fill a lifetime and each time I finish one, I feel more energized and connected to source. The flower of life is a name given to a sacred geometrical figure consisting of evenly spaced over lapping circles. that are arranged so that they form a flower-like pattern with a sixfold symmetry like a hexagon. The center of each circle is on the circumference of six surrounding circles of the same diameter. The Flower of Life contains perfect form, proportion and harmony and is said to contain the patterns of the creation of the Universe. This pattern is thousands of years old and found in many of the world religions.

The Flower of Life symbol shown of the right is an ancient carving set in stone 
at the Temple of Osiris at Abydos, Egypt.

There are many spiritual beliefs associated with the Flower of Life. Depictions of the five Platonic solids (templates from which all life enfolds) are found within the symbol of Metatron's Cube, which may be derived from the Flower of Life pattern.

Studies of the Flower of Life were found in Leonardo DaVinci’s notebooks.

If you are as interested as I am in the Flower of Life, here are three Youtubes you might like to check out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D39eGrx3a_A&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiJ_ZzH4W_I&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vca36mHPfTY&feature=related

Peace and love to everyone, everywhere, Rosie