“Like a true Nature’s child, we were born, born to be wild”
Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse
…Monday afternoon, just after the moOn moved into Aries, moving her way slowly and patiently towards her Full phase, I decided to drive to the high country, in search of the sacred ‘bear medicine’–Osha. Deep in process, reflecting on a series of cathartic events that have recently shook me to the bone, I was surrounded by beauty, synchronicity, and the feeling of de ja vu, as I ascended up those rocky slopes . I remember thinking about the Pluto/Uranus square–”the 2012 aspect”– feeling how Uranus truly relates to a “breakthrough vs. breakdown” dynamic in our lives right now, wherever it is transiting in our charts. It made perfect sense me. Pluto brings the Fear and the necessity of emotional transformation, and the square to Uranus, is the opportunity for our “big breakthrough.” Drunk on this idea, I then arrived to Hesse trailhead. Blade in hand, in the crisp air of the high country of Colorado, I took my first step into the Wild, seeking out this sacred Osha medicine…..
It is said:
“Wolves are the epitome of the wild spirit. Their positive characteristics are so numerous it is no wonder that Native Americans and others practically deified them. They symbolize power, clan, honor, and the connection to Nature’s greatest mysteries. The wolf is the true spirit of the free and unspoiled wilderness.”
from Ted Andrews “Animal Speak”
One of the main reasons for my trip–aside from the search for Osha–was to clear my head. Having just experienced a burning back draft of an unfortunate secret I reluctantly decided to keep from a dear friend, I was needing time for process with Nature, and the wild energies that never forget to help us in our healing. LIke the boomerang of karmic service that Saturn offers, it was also apparent to me, that the Full moON which was in the process of formation, was intimately involved with Saturn, because of its conjunction with the Sun in Libra. There have been a few conjunction aspects to Saturn over the past weeks: Venus/Saturn on Sept. 29th; Mercury/Saturn on Oct. 6th, and then, the soon to be Sun/Saturn conjunction this Thursday, Oct. 13th. The essence of any Planetary Archetype who makes contact with Saturn is Alignment to Truth. With Venus it relates to our Values and Love; with Mercury it is Mental Discipline; with the Sun its Purpose and Integrity. I’m sure you have also been feeling these heavy, constricting, and mature energies as of late. And…this is where I was at, as I took my first steps into the river valley. Questioning myself: “Where have I lived outside of integrity;” “How have I lost my honor;” “Where is my love;” “Where is my Heart….” These were my questions, just moments before my great discovery.
When harvesting Osha ((Ligusticum porteri), you must be overly aware of other Ligusticum plants and look a likes, in the carrot/parsley families. The reason for this is because Water Hemlock is one of them, and it is a plant that can easily kill you, if ingested in sufficient amounts. Being that the first frost has happened, there are no longer leaves or flowers on any of the plants–just seeds left over. If you are not aware of the seed differences between these plants, you are in for a Fool’s errand. Luckily, I have been properly schooled on this subject, so I wasn’t worried–though, I will admit, once I discovered three different varieties of this family growing next to each other, I became a bit doubtful. Still confident enough in my plant knowledge, I found a proper Osha stand, and choose my plant. Saying prayers, asking the plant if it was alright for me to harvest here, I got my botanical intuitive nod, and went in.
The moment my blade struck the earth, there was a monstrous ruffle in the bushes, and I jumped back!!! Osha is also referred to as “Bear root,” and the split second adrenal rush I experienced was full of red vision scare, thinking I was about to be mauled by a bear, protecting his medicine. But I was wrong. Instead, a pure white wolf dog appears, wearing no collar. He stops just feet from me, silent, staring, psychically communicating a special message into my heart. It was a two fold message:
1. You have found the root. I am its messenger for you today.
2. You are a Lone wolf. You always have been….Just look: “You are on Hesse trailhead…” Remember reading Herman Hesse’s ‘Steppenwolf’, the world is not random. It’s perfect. And you are remembering.”
Startled by this message, but drawn to the Spirit of this animal, I moved forward to connect more. But he would not allow it. He began barking frantically, attracting the attention of a passing woman on the trail (I thought I was alone). Turns out, the woman who was walking, was just seconds ago, thinking about her old wolf dog who had died a few months prior. She said this wolf dog was nearly identical to her own. And so we shared magical stories, harvested the Osha together, and moved on. Once she departed, a deeper layer of my journey revealed itself. It was a lesson of the pack–the wolf pack!
For the past 7 months, I have been living with two Wolf dogs up in the mountains, with Twin owners, who also embody “Wolf medicine.” Living there, laughing there, healing there, I have learned many lessons around the idea of “Community” and “Pack.” Lessons that I will never forget. Being the Lone wolf spirit that I have always been, it was good for me to experience. But unfortunately, there are aspects of myself that are fully sacrificed living in such a way. My solitude, my truth, my long journey’s alone into Inner space, which no doubt atrophy when sacrificed for social wings. And for some unknown reason, a series of unfortunate events had to occur, creating a rift around a wound, to force a shift in the role I have in the Wolf pack. Howling at the moON, I saw it, I see it, and I accept. The healing is nearly complete, as long as I am forever seeing into the nature of my mind and heart, through those piercing eyes of the Osha wolf.
….the pregnant Aries moON illuminates to road ahead. Don’t be afraid to howl. And definitely, have no fear of the Wolves who await you.
* How did this Full moON affect you? Have you learned the Big lessons? Do you want to know where it happened in your own Natal chart? Do you want to understand the delicate and complex implications of this lunar cycle for yourself? If so, you can contact me for a reading, and we can dive in deep, searching for all the missing pieces, craving to be illuminated.
KOSMOGNOSIS@GMAIL.COM
namaste,
sOma
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