PISCES: Swimming without Water

Happy Solar Return to all you born under the influence of Pisces! The sun has entered this mystical, intuitive and watery sign today, February 19. The symbol of the two fishes is said to be derived from the ichthyocentaurs, who aided Aphrodite when she was born from the sea.

“We Pisceans know how to swim without water” 

― Munia Khan

I've been delving deep into astrology lately and all the wonders of this ancient, pattern tracking wheel, thus expect more on this topic here at the journal. I'm married to a Pisces and have lots of the sign showing up in my chart. All of us have some form of this mutable sign in some way and we can relate to an aspect of it personally or how the symbol shows up in others and the world.

What shall we scent our Piscean friends with, watery GreenWitch, intuitive Vespertina or the very tender and flow inducing Gracing the Dawn? Hmmm, I say it's too hard to choose, let's layer them up or, even better anoint a different part of the body with a different scent!

"And here fantastic fishes duskly float,

Using the calm for waters, while their fires

Throb out quick rhythms along the shallow air."

— Elizabeth Barrett Browning, A Drama of Exile

Opening image: Painting by Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis, Golden Indian Coin 

The Triple Goddess: Crone in Santa Fe

As you may already know, in September, Greg and I moved from Los Angeles, California to the high desert in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  It's been a bit of a wild, Mr. Toad adventure which has presented many challenges and interesting (to say the least) characters (Crazed Tesuque lady) along the way.

A few weeks ago, along the dirt road that leads to our new temporary dwelling, we met a crone that walks with a tall staff. After passing her on the road and waving, Greg and I turned to each other and gasped, “Female Gandalf!”

"In Joseph Campbell's classic work The Hero with a Thousand Faces, the first encounter of the hero on his journey is with a protective figure who provides him with amulets or magic devices against the dangers he will face. The crone is one of the most common of these protective figures"

Then as we returned home, just before making the turn down that same dirt road, I spotted about ten bee hives to the side of a house with a little sign that said "Earth Nurse". I gasped and pointed it out to Greg. We started wondering who the “Earth Nurse” was.  ???
🐝

On another day, heading back from town along that same dusty and bumpy dirt road, we spotted the “Female Gandalf” once again. We choose to stop and say hello, assuming that she might be the "Earth Nurse”, after all she certainly embodied an Earth Nurse by her outward appearance and great staff. Her answer to the question was, “Well, the Earth nurses me.”

Indeed she is the "Earth Nurse" and in my opinion the community crone, a facilitator of balance in our little neighborhood here along the Santa Fe River. As we dialogued I learned that she is hosts many gatherings at her home and planning is to create a "closing" event for the Counter Culture exhibit currently at the New Mexico History Museum. Since the Counter Culture tribe is alive and well, particularly here in Santa Fe...meaning Holy Faith. Perhaps you have heard me mention that Santa Fe is the city of the retired hippie?

Despite the constant challenges, Santa Fe continues to enchant and surprise daily. In many ways she herself is the crone, an ancient city with a very bloody HIStory which may be being healed a bit by the creative presence found here.

Here is a link to the Counter Culture show here in Santa Fe just in case any of you are local or come for a visit in the next few weeks.

(1)  Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces (orig. pub. Princeton University Press, 1968; 3rd ed. 2008), p. 57.
(2) Fine Art America, the Crone

Chamisa photo along the Santa Fe River and text ©Roxana Villa
I couldn't find attributions for the two pieces of art used in this post, if you happen to know who the artists are please leave it in the comments or send me a note. The second image says Wheel of Life, oil on canvas 1998 (?) with an attribution that is hard to read ©maiana.de perhaps?

Letter from a Vampire

The witching hour has arrived here in the wooded hills. The neighborhood has gone all out this year with their decorations. While on a walk the other afternoon Greg mentioned how odd it is how holidays evolve from one thing to another.

Halloween for me is the celebration of what Carl Jung calls the "Shadow" aspect of the unconscious mind. This dark side is made up of repressed feelings and desires which tend to get more dense the less the are revealed. Golum of Lord of the Rings is a great archetype of the shadow aspect.

Always, always, always, always, always, always,
always do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

For many the shadow side offers a connection to a plethora of creativity, vividly honored in the holiday of Halloween. This evening wondering through cities we have mummies, zombies, vampires, dark witches, skeletons, etc.


While sifting through old postcards yesterday for a photo shoot I found the one shown above and thought...Ooooo so creepy and perfect for Halloween. So here tis...front and back. Of course it has nothing to do with vampires and blood.

Tonight is also the celebration of Samhain, one of the high Celtic holidays celebrating the shift from light to dark and the end of the agricultural year. For more about Samhain and some ideas for creating a Samhain natural perfume check out this order post here and here at the blog.

"Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble."
Macbeth Quote (Act IV, Scene I).