PAN International Issue 65
PAN Provisional Astroshamanic News
International Edition, 18 April 2007, Issue 65.
Editorial Director: Franco Santoro.
Cluny Hill College, Forres IV36 2RD, Scotland. (+44(0)1309-672289. + PAN@astroshamanism.org
© 2007 Franco Santoro. All rights reserved. Permission must be granted by the author for publishing and use on websites. For permissions contact PAN@astroshamanism.org
What is Astroshamanism?
Thanks to the heroic and innocent burning ventures of Aries, spring approaches its climax and gradually projects into the grounding path of Taurus, where the Sun enters on 20 April, shortly after the New Moon in Aries on 17 April. Although the Sun is in Taurus, this lunation preserves the Aries qualities, granting supporting energy for pragmatic intentions requiring courage, initiative, adventure and trust. If the previous months or years have left grievances and disappointments, this is the time to start novel enterprises, setting up true potentials and embracing the refreshing forces of spring. Beyond the layers of ordinary reality, unbelievable changes are developing on our planet. While most human beings prefer to remain within the composting vortex of our separated world, some pioneer to new routes, surmounting blockades and paving the way for the operative emergence of our true multidimensional heritage. Those who share this passion have the responsibility to dehypnotise themselves from ages of conditioning swamps, awakening their true potential and allowing it to operatively shine, as they join forces with other enlightened beings on the path. There is no way in which consciousness can expand as long as it continues to cling to its limitations. Our liberated spirit needs to absorb the fragmented pieces of the soul, aligning us to the loving stream of power that will eventually restore the multidimensional face of the planet.
I have just concluded The Blessed Way of Passion: Astroshamanic Healing Touch and Soul Retrieval, the Easter workshop at Findhorn, and I continue with further astroshamanic touch work in Germany, where I travel soon to hold Multidimensional Portals of the Senses: A Gateway Course in Astroshamanic Healing Touch in the mountains of Vogelsberg near Frankfurt from 20 to 24 April 2007 (Erik: emansson@hotmail.com Tel. 069/95504794 Mob. 0171-3493424).
A major feature for the upcoming season is the Foundation Training in Astroshamanic Trance Dance and Drumming from 12 to 19 May 2007 at Findhorn. I strongly recommend this most significant event, of which I have enclosed details below. Please book at your earliest convenience if you are interested.
Also I recommend the Grand Original Quest in Corvaro (Italy) from 15 to 21 June 2007 and the Findhorn Astroshamanic Summer Gathering have changed and they are now from 22 to 28 July 2007 (please be aware that the date has slightly changed). More details about these and other events in the calendar below.
Receive abundant blessings, Franco
Astroshamanic Sky:[i] Moon in Gemini from 15:52, 19 April to 17:51, 21 April 2007. Moon in Cancer from 17:51, 21 April to 23:39, 23 April 2007. Moon in Leo from 23:39, 23 April to 9:25, 26 April 2007. Moon in Virgo from 9:25, 26 April to 21:46, 28 April 2007. Moon in Libra from to 21:46, 28 April to 10:42, 1 May 2007. Moon in Scorpio from to 10:42, 1 May to 22:49, 3 May 2007. Moon in Sagittarius from 22:49, 3 May to 9:22, 6 May 2007. Moon in Capricorn from 9:22, 6 May to 17:49, 8 May 2007.
On 19 April Saturn shift into a forward motion after being retrograde in Leo since 5 December 2006, which may support more opportunities for giving solid manifestation to creative ideas or intentions. This may also initiate a gradual release of blocks, limitations and delays experienced by people with strong Leo and Capricorn natures.
On 21 April Mercury forms a Grand Trine with Jupiter and Saturn, creating favourable conditions for pragmatic and expansive communication and decisions.
The Sun enters Taurus at 11:08, 20 April 2007 to 10:13, 21 May 2007, enhancing the Taurus qualities of sensuality, pleasure, determination, practicality, yet still within an Aries highly energetic context, due to the lunation cycle in Aries initiated on 17 April 2007.
Mercury leaves Aries at 7:17, 27 April and is in Taurus until 9:18, 11 May 2007. Here ideas can more easily reach manifestation, while rest, patience and connection with nature may be valuable sources of insights and brilliant thoughts.
Full Moon at 10:10, 2 May 2007, in 11° Scorpio 38’ (see details below).
Venus leaves Gemini at 7:12, 6 May and moves in Cancer until 18:00, 5 June 2007.
The Healing Spirit of Trance Dance
The aim of shamanic trance dance is to lead into an inner sacred space where the healing power of spirit can touch you, where you can have a direct experience of your ecstatic and multidimensional nature, as well as a deep understanding of your potentials, gifts and spirit guides. In a trance dance, sounds and movement liase to facilitate expanded states of consciousness that allow access to your core multidimensional identity, i.e. your highest and deepest self. Here the body establishes a direct link with the web of life, becoming an instrument of your authentic nature and experiencing the bliss and power that comes from unconditional freedom and love. Ultimately the aim of trance dance is pragmatic. Far from being an escape into non-ordinary states of consciousness, its function is to generate the required clarity, support, energy and power to promote well-being, satisfaction, joy and whatever you truly wish in your everyday life.
For ages and in all traditions humans have employed trance dance and drumming for healing and empowering purposes. In ancient times dance was neither a form of artistic expression accessible only to experts nor a performance of athletic and technical prowess. It was used as a tool to achieve a state of ecstasy where the dancer, letting go of its separated HAC identity, would uncover his true nature and surrender to the guidance of Spirit. The whole point of trance dance involves releasing the identification with the ego and thoroughly experiencing a multidimensional enlargement of consciousness. Anyone who is capable of moving at least one bone of his or her body is in the right condition to dance. It is an inner operation, devoid of any purpose of public performance, aimed at revealing experiences and visions beyond time and space. “Make it a point to simply dance to God. So there is no need to be technical - because He is not an examiner. You will simply dance as a small child... as a prayer. Then dance will have a totally different quality to it. You will feel for the first time that you are taking steps that you have never taken before; that you are moving in dimensions which have never been known to you. Unfamiliar and unknown ground will be traversed”.[ii]
In astroshamanism, with trance dance the energy of the zodiac signs and planets represent the pieces of our fragmented soul. Each sign has its own frequency and through dance you can tap into its pure essence, allowing it to express through your body and fully integrating it into your life. With trance dance we open to stars, planets, nature, ancestors and whatever or whoever exists around us, asking to reactivate the memory of our ancient communion with the web of life. By physically dancing the astrological signs, you enter into their rhythm, experiencing their energies and directing them toward your highest Intent. It is one of the most powerful ways to connect Earth and Heaven, matter and spirit, and any polarity or apparent opposite.
Astroshamanic trance dance also works as a superb practice for releasing blocks and grievances, which are also described by the patterns of astrological aspects and transits. In this context, you offer any emotion or feeling through physical movement, letting go of whatever you experience in that particular moment (excitement, vitality, pain, weakness, restlessness, sexual energy, craziness, etc.) until a void is created. This will constitute the space for receiving. Having relinquished what is in excess, the dancer is ready to receive the necessary gifts for healing and transformation.
Various music and sounds can be employed to accompany trance dance. Monotonous sounds (drumming, rattling, waves, etc.) are ideal as they do not influence, or interfere with, the experience of the dancer. Dance can also take place with no external sound at all. In this case the subject is invited to listen to his own internal music or to use his own body as a musical instrument (stamping the feet, clapping, breathing out and in, etc.). Rhythmic or melodic sounds are very helpful when, on the contrary, the intent is to evoke or attract a specific energy or experience, and also to orchestrate the various frequencies of the stars and planets.
In the Sacred Cone Circle we have produced a series of recordings aimed at assisting astroshamanic work. New CDs are in production, while the main titles currently available and on sale (contact info@astroshamanism.org) are:
Drumming for the Astroshamanic Voyage. (the basic CD for any type of astroshamanic practice)
Breath of Emuria: Astroshamanic Healing Trance Dance (the ideal CD for basic astroshamanic trance dance)
Mediterranean Shamanic Drumming in Vertical S9 (suitable for working with West and North directions)
Italian Tambourine & Jew's Harp for the Ritual of the Sacred Cone (the basic CD for Astroshamanic Touch)
Autumn Equinox Trance Dance (suitable for advances release trance dance practices)
Tridumax: Original Quest Trance Dance (for advanced trance dances aligned with East and South directions).
We have also created a large trance dance library with music and sounds associated with each zodiac sign and planet, encompassing many traditions and rhythms. These sounds are combined and integrated during our astroshamanic trance dance events and workshop according to the energy of the participants, the environment, the positions of stars and planets. As a result, similarly to the pattern in the sky, our astroshamanic trance dances are always unique events, devoid of routine or repetition, and entirely aligned to the spontaneous flow of energy.
At least one trance dance is featured in all types of astroshamanic workshops. If you feel drawn to experience trance dance with more depth and effectively engage in the wide spectrum of its healing potential, I highly recommend the Foundation Training in Astroshamanic Trance Dance and Drumming (see below).
12-19 MAY 2007
AN INVITATION TO JOIN THE Foundation Training in
Astroshamanic Trance Dance and Drumming
This is a special opportunity to experience the healing effects of shamanic trance dance, music and percussion on the human body, mind and spirit. This training functions as a basic module for both beginners and qualified dancers or healers. During the week we delve into trance dance and drumming according to astrological and natural cycles, creating sacred space, establishing connections with spirit powers, retrieving fragmented soul parts, directing and redeploying energies and using them to support major transformational processes. The programme also includes astroshamanic chants, planetary alignment dances, sound healing, shape-shifting rituals, astrodrama and the exploration of various astroshamanic drumming methods. The workshop is unique because it aims at unveiling pioneering healing applications of trance dance, including the mechanics of focalizations and the dancing representation of the participants’ astrological charts. It is also the only workshop I know that integrates shamanic trance dance and astrology. The training also includes another optional week from 8 to 14 September 2007, which can be attended by those who intend to further explore this type of work. For questions or further information please contact Franco. Cost: £ 455 (including 7 nights training, accommodation and all meals). Bursaries are also available. For further details click here. If you intend to take part please book at your earliest convenience through the Findhorn Foundation at bookings@findhorn.org or Bookings, The Park, Findhorn IV36 3TZ, Scotland. Tel. +44 (0)1309 691653. For booking online, click here.
Eyes, Horns, Figs and Sundry Bona Fide Horny Bits
The following is a synopsis containing excerpts from various Franco's talks, also related to the Easter workshop, The Blessed Way of Passion, held at the Findhorn Foundation from 7 to 14 April 2007.
One of the basic assumptions of astroshamanism is that the physical body is a microcosm of whatever exists in the universe, seen and unseen. Hence through the body I can connect with everything and everyone. The physical body contains all features of life, encompassing the animal, vegetal and mineral kingdom, as well as links with the unseen or multidimensional realms. Although I may perceive myself as a separated identity, my body is not the result of a separation process, and is never separated at any time. The body is in constant connection with the network of life and all its cycles. Unfortunately the HAC ego mind has a different understanding of the body, which is what causes all major problems in life as we human beings experience it. This mind considers the body as the representation of a separated identity.
Shamanic wisdom shows that all pain and misery is the result of this perception based on separation and the ego. According to the shamanic perspective everything and everyone is connected through the web of life and our identity is not given by our body, emotions of thoughts. We are part of a sacred unity and becoming experientially aware of this unity is the only true way out from any type of sufferance. In this respect pain is the driving force of our separated identity, which is bound to suffer unless it releases its forlorn alienation from the web of life. The more I dwell in this separated identity the more I will experience pain no matter whether I do my best to run away from it. This separated identity is the ego, which in the Gnostic tradition is called eidolon, “image”, from which the word “idea” comes from. The eidolon is the “parasitic psyche”, the idea of being the physical body, rather than the Consciousness which has produced the idea itself. The Gnostic path of initiation involves realizing that I am not the eidolon, while also gradually retrieving the complete awareness of who I truly am.
In astroshamanism the ego is the basic component of the Human Arbitrary Configuration (HAC), i.e. our separated reality. The fact that HAC is arbitrary does not mean that is corrupt or evil. There is nothing unethical in arbitrariness as long as it serves an honourable purpose. Problems arise when I am not conscious of the purpose and I become the victim of the arbitrary role I play, when I forget that it is the result of a choice I made rather than something that has happened to me. The issue is not separation as opposed to unity. The issue is getting stuck with separation, having no other choice but separation, being blind to any other option. Shamanism is described as a way of power, and this power is given by the capacity to exercise choice. This means that, if I decide so, I can get a wider perspective of who I am, moving beyond the boundaries of my limited sight, whereas, if I stay where I am right now, this is the result of my choice. Hence, as long as I am aware that I can choose, there is power.
The physical body is astroshamanically regarded as a multidimensional grid capable of connecting us with the web of life. Yet here I need to be aware that the physical body, as most human beings see it, is a mutilation of our true physical body. The body that we see is the result of HAC belief systems based on separation. Coherently such beliefs cause a perception of the body as separated from whatever and whoever exists. My body is surrounded either by the void or other physical components, which I do not regard as my body. This is the result of a belief system based upon a third-dimensional split perception of reality.
Ordinary vision depends upon the formation of selected images in our brain and not upon what is truly there in the external world. Humans and predatory animals have a stereoscopic vision, which allows them to focus two eyes on an object and exercise the capacity to see third-dimensionally. This type of sight allows the perception of arbitrarily selected physical forms through the awareness of depth. Depth is the result of the visual removal of other physical forms, which are integrated in the void that surrounds arbitrarily selected physical forms. Stereoscopic vision is the result of a competitive, polarity and rapacious perception of life, which creates the predatory universe to which HAC belongs. There are other possibilities of vision involving awareness of fourth-dimensional or additional multidimensional elements, yet these are not part of our human consensus reality because they involve a level of empathy incompatible with our configuration based on competition and conflicts between polarities. Hence they cannot be seen. Unless as human beings we move beyond our predatory stereoscopic vision, there is no possibility of experiencing a more peaceful way of living on this planet. This implies retrieving awareness of the void and thereby unveiling our veritable loss parts and whatever we forlornly hunger after in the bogus third-dimensional scenario of our lives.
Although stereoscopic vision prevents the awareness of alternative configurations, it is unable to work at all times. There are many moments in life that confront us with alternative visions, yet they go mainly unconscious. When I sleep and dream, the whole reality I perceive with stereoscopic eyes dissipate and new configurations emerge. When we close our eyes the outer visual environment becomes irrelevant and a different perspective takes over. This does not occur only in dreaming, it happens also whenever we connect with past memories, anticipate future situations, daydream, fantasise, use our imagination, have ideas, etc. All these processes are quite relevant for most human beings, yet they are not seen by the eyes. And they are not seen simply because what the eyes see is stereoscopically filtered according to a predatory perception of life, which is conditioned by our HAC mind and more specifically by the consciousness diverting mechanism, i.e. a controlling device aimed at deflecting our conscious attention towards HAC separated reality, while chastening the awareness of alternative configurations and the gateway to such configurations, i.e. the bona fide horny bit.
Since HAC is an arbitrary separated reality, it depends upon an unbending policy of bogus self-sufficiency, which implies thwarting awareness of any external source of energy or alternative reality apart from HAC itself. Although HAC overtly purports to be autonomous, it is inevitably a portion of the web of life. HAC is the fragment of a much wider scenario, with which it continues to sustain an ongoing relationship, although this rapport is either oblivious or classified. Even if HAC considers itself as the only reality, it is unable to generate energy on its own and needs to secretly or unconsciously refer to resources existing in alternative settings so as to guarantee its survival. The bona fide horny bit represents the gateway to this energy, which is denied by HAC and thus regarded as non-HAC, i.e. not real. The bona fide horny bit is the direct link with the Core Multidimensional Identity, the original matrix, from which HAC receives the energy that allows it to function. Yet, as HAC is based on the denial of that matrix, its policy is to disguise the nature of the bona fide horny bit, while at the same time making sure that it operates in order to allow energy to feed HAC. Here the consciousness diverting mechanism plays this role, disconnecting human perception from non-HAC and its matrix of energy once HAC has received energy from the source itself, via the bona fide horny bit.
In the English language the term horny describes animals or beings with horns and is also a slang adjective denoting sexual arousal or desire for sex. In the ancient mystery traditions horns were the attribute of the heroic initiates and shamans, those who managed to move beyond stereoscopic vision, trespassing the gateway of HAC and establishing a direct connection with the Core Multidimensional Identity. Horns refers both to Sun and Moon, they depict the two polarities and the predatory universe as a gateway through which it is possible to access the mystery of the void, i.e. the third polarity. Since in some popular animal species only males are horned, horns often appear to have male connotations. There are also several male gods and heroic beings traditionally depicted with horns, such as Cernunnos, Pluto, Amun, Moses, Dionysus and, of course, Pan. Despite these male apparent references, horns portray the structure of the woman’s reproductive system and were used since ancient times in close association with the female power of creation and as attributes of all Mother Goddesses. In later times, following the adaptation by Christianity of the Horned God to the Devil, horns became a symbol of turpitude, shame and evil.
In HAC everything and everyone possesses a separate identity. Whatever exists in HAC tends to reproduce the same separated patterns of HAC, which are reflected in our vision. What we see is the result of HAC predatory beliefs based on separation and conveyed through language. Ordinary languages provide the foundation of our stereoscopic vision. The complete spectrum of what can be seen and experienced in HAC is given by the dictionary of the languages we employ. All that we see and conceive is labelled with words. The association between any object or experience and its linguistic definition is simultaneous. At times, when I do not remember or know the name of something or someone, there can be a delay in the labelling process until I recover the appropriate term, which I will still derive within the boundaries of HAC languages, without considering alternative configurations.
HAC languages set the limits of our reality. If something I see or feel is not defined in these languages and their dictionaries, it is not officially real and hence it does not exist. From time to time, it is possible to introduce new words if there is official consensus about the object or experience involved. Before this happens that object does not exist in HAC and thus nobody can see it. It is not part of HAC and therefore it does not exist. HAC determines what is real and not real through the conditioning of languages and culture, yet our body does not ascribe to this and continues to sense reality through direct experience. Since vision is conditioned by belief systems, I may not see something, yet this will not prevent me from feeling or experiencing it. The eyes are not the only device for sight. If we consider the whole amplitude of the body, they are merely two small dots. In HAC the eyes hold the official monopoly of sight. Yet there are many other body parts that can see. This is also one of the reasons why most body parts are traditionally covered while the eyes are constantly visible, with the exception of those who wear glasses in order to force HAC’s non-cooperative eyes to adapt to consensus vision.
Although my vision is very limited, I can get details of what is unseen through emotions, feelings, thoughts, drives, intuitions, etc. Emotions are visible, yet not under the ordinary parameters of human sight. Shamanically whatever I experience is part of reality and has a form, which I will fail to see if I adhere to an arbitrary configuration based on the denial of certain experiences. The problem in HAC is that emotions and thoughts are identified with physical reality. Here our stereoscopic eyes play a crucial role and cause most of the problems, which is why their functions are generally excluded or minimised in shamanic work. This is to prevent stereoscopic vision from creating damage. An exemplification of this damage is the evil eye in the Mediterranean folklore and esoteric traditions, which is indeed a most ancient and widespread notion. The evil eye is traditionally a curse provoked by a malevolent gaze. What triggers the evil eye is envy and it is the envious here who casts the evil eye, doing it unintentionally, yet causing potential harms to the person who receives it. There are many traditional preventative measures to deal with the evil eye, and here I tactically take a break and indulge with some of them. The most popular is the gesture of the horned hand (corna in Italian), which involves extending the first and index fingers from a fist. This was an ancient shamanic sign for blessing, fertility and abundance, which later assumed a vulgar meaning in Mediterranean countries. In Italy if the horns are placed behind someone's head or directly pointed at a person, the conveyed meaning is that the person involved is being cheated on by his wife or (yet more rarely) husband, from which comes the term cornuto, i.e. “horned”, meaning cuckold. The origin appears to trace back to the legend of the Minotaur, who was born from queen Pasiphae and a white bull, betraying king Minos of Crete; the most prominent proof of the betrayal being the horned offspring.
In astroshamanic touch horns are one of the gestures used to align with the bona fide horny bit and prevent the activation, or diminish the effects, of the consciousness diverting mechanism. Pressing the middle finger with the thumb, while holding the horn is also an excellent gesture for rejuvenating the immune system, and one of the most bona fide horny mudras ever been conceived. Its meaning and impact is beyond any attempt of description, which is an explicit invitation to try it out experientially, breathing deeply and holding the horns with the right hand upward at the height of your heart for at least 12 minutes, while placing the left hand on your belly with the thumb on the navel and the little finger low in the pubic zone. The left hand can also be placed on someone else’s belly, bearing in mind that this interaction may cause arousal and amplification of sexual energy. In this case the invitation is to spread it out to your body and all the bodies, seen and unseen, of your local and wider environment holding a healing intent. In order to capture the multi-dimensional implications of this practice it is recommended to contain the energy and not to express it genitally for three hours at least.
Together with the horns, another measure to prevent the evil eye, an inevitable consequence of our stereoscopic eyes, is "touch iron" (tocca ferro), similar to “knocking on wood”, while a more vulgar gesture involves grabbing testicles. Another traditional gesture is the mano fica (fig hand), which is produced by placing the thumb in between first and second finger, hence depicting sexual union. Fica meaning fig is also the Italian obscene word for the female vulva. Since ancient times the fig has been associated with fertility and more esoterically with the bona fide horny bit, with the consciousness diverting mechanism being represented by the fig leaf. This also refers to the Bible, in Genesis, when Adam and Eve employ fig leaves to cover themselves after eating the forbidden fruit and realising to be naked. Since then, yet especially in more recent times, fig leaves have been used to cover what is embarrassing or controversial. This applies to nude statues or paintings from ancient times which were subsequently “chastened” by putting leaves over their genitals.
Far from being the result of superstitions and ignorance, the evil eye is regular practice in HAC. Whenever I look at someone with envy, any type of grievances or judgements, this is an evil eye. By looking in this way I may create damage to the person involved. This happens mainly unconsciously and indeed occurs in HAC practically at all times through the mechanics of stereoscopic vision, which defines what we see according to our language. Whenever I define something or someone with an adjective, quality or any term, bad or good, this is a judgment that sets vision according to HAC paradigm, causing that object to be affected by separation. This does not mean that I have to stop seeing in this way. As long as I live in HAC, its patterns are parts of the rule of the game. This game is honourable as long as I can also decide to play other games. And coherently it is essential that in the first place I do not judge HAC as wrong or right. The evil eye is about judgment, and giving no time and space for what I see to truly express and define itself. It is providing all the answers and forgetting about the questions. What in the first place is needed on the way of healing, as I see it, is the unconditional realisation of our profound ignorance regarding who we are and what this world is about. It is a suspension of all attempts to define the world, ourselves and others. It is the availability to ask the vital questions of our life, accepting a long healing gap of silence and uncertainty, where our responsibility is to support the emergence of the answers we have refused to listen for ages. It is through the judgmental evil eye that we lose the connection with the bona fide horny bit. It is through judgments that the consciousness diverting mechanism operates its sidetracking strategy.
Full Moon in Scorpio: This Full Moon is regarded by various cultures as the most powerful of all. According to esoteric traditions the Buddha returns at this time every year to provide healing to the world. Spiritual masters led by the Christ come together in the Wesak Valley, a mythic non-HAC location in the Himalayas, position themselves in a vast pentagram, while the Buddha radiates light. It is believed that during the five-day period of the Full Moon, which includes two days before and after the day of exact Full Moon, direct contact can be established with the Great Masters and the Forces of Light that hold the planet. When a sufficient number of people come together, connecting personal with collective history and aligning with luminous intent, this strengthens the foundations for the expansion of human awareness and the reawakening of our multi-dimensional nature. In this respect all group meditations and rituals, sustained by a clear collective intent and inspired by a healing basic purpose, provides major benefits to the human and general environment. Here any activity can indeed be transformed into a meditation or ritual, especially those activities that involve the expression of vast amounts of energy or significant transformational processes, such as eating, going to the bathroom, working, having sex, being sensually involved, etc. What counts, as often as possible, and in any circumstance, is to keep the connection with the web of life, reminding ourselves that no matter which kind of feelings we experience, we are always part of the whole, which means that even though we may appear separate and disconnected, the reality is that we belong to this universe to which we continue to give our precious contribution. Unveiling, understanding and accepting the nature of such contributions involves reawakening our memory, releasing the veil of autistic illusions that keep beating us up and fully embracing what we truly are.
On this Full Moon in Scorpio seekers throughout the world join in meditation or ritual events, releasing the veil of their limitations and becoming receptive to their multidimensional nature. The day of this Full Moon is known as the Day of Safeguarding, which involves holding the energy generated by the alignment with our multidimensional nature. The two days following the Full Moon are called the Days of Distribution, implying passing on the accumulated energy to the web of life. The Full Moon occurs at 10:10, 2 May 2007, in 11° Scorpio 38’.
For further information on the Wesak, see:
http://www.crystalinks.com/wesak.html or http://www.souledout.org/wesak/wesaklegend2.html
On Taurus by Jan
This is a report on Taurus for the Operative Training in Astroshamanism written by Jan. Jan, besides being involved with astroshamanism and other healing arts, is a dynamic bank executive, and father.
My Taurus energies expressed themselves very well in the workshop that I arranged in Frankfurt and Vogelsberg together with Franco here in May, where I was able to make a dream become manifest. My original dream was to arrange a workshop with Franco in our meditation room enabling more people to share the positive experiences I have had working with him and Astroshamanism. The workshop itself and the enthusiastic response from the participants were indeed rewarding, and I was especially pleased from the comments I received from some participants thanking me for sharing Franco with them.
I intended to write this report in a hotel room in London, Stockholm or Milan, but I didn’t get around to it for various reasons. However, I also didn’t feel inspired but it felt like a must and not like a pleasure. Today the report is inspiring to write because I am back to Vogelsberg for 4 days of relaxation after some very hectic business travel. Thus, I have had a couple of days to rest and now it is raining since several days so I can also sit down writing without any bad consciousness that I should rather be working in the garden. I realize that our weekend house is so important to me because it is a retreat where I can return to my roots and my Taurus energies connected to the earth. This is what helps me to reconnect to my true strength and wash away all worry and stress that is related to the outside world.
For the first time the lesson for sector 2 got missing in the mail so Franco had to send it electronically. For this reason I was not sure exactly when Taurus started and it was a bit earlier than I expected. However, this was also an opportunity to once more experience that I often happen to connect to the prevailing energies without being consciously aware. I connected with Taurus in a dream where my parents’ home was rebuilt in the same area but all of a sudden our garden had become a hill rising above the surrounding area with a fantastic view. I felt very proud of what we had achieved and our neighbors admired us. At the end of the dream I left the nice house and my first impulse was to turn around to take a last look at it realizing I would not come back. However, I suppressed that impulse by telling myself that it is time to move on and that I am able to leave the fantastic house of my parents behind without looking back because I am not attached to it and my life is in front of me. The dream made sense to me when I started to reflect on my astrological data and the Immum Coeli four weeks later. I started my exploration of the sacred circle in the opposite sector 8 which is also my Medium Coeli, and now after six months I have come to the point of departure in sector 2. What the dream told me is that I am now ready to make the move of my life / life mission departing from Immum Coeli in Taurus towards new horizons in Medium Coeli / Scorpio. This also came to be a major theme during the workshop.
After the workshop I had a week of intense traveling to four countries in five days and my wallet was stolen the first day including all cards and money. On top of a busy agenda and demanding meeting it was a real challenge to travel around Europe on a shoestring and I had to improvise along the way. Hopefully, I will not have to do this experience again as it was really tiresome. My learning to take away is that no matter how well I feel on my path there is nevertheless a high price / a lot of effort at times when moving dreams from the metaphysical level to implementation on the physical level. If I am 100% convinced and keep pushing I will manage despite all hardship. However, if the commitment releases and doubts starts to arise if it is really worth all the trouble probably the implementation of dreams will never happen. It is a hard lesson to learn but nevertheless important to understand that just because I feel I am track I may still have to input some considerable effort before things are really manifested. For a Taurus the whole point is exactly about this and he can relax only when his dreams are put to practice.
My chosen healing tool during the work with Taurus was to work with the energy of money and for this purpose I have also borrowed a book from my friend Stefania called The Energy of Money – A Spiritual Guide to Financial and Personal Fulfillment by Maria Nemeth. Stefania was very enthusiastic about it a few years ago and suggested me to read it. I postponed it for several years. However, I knew that the time now has come as money is a major grievance I have in my birth sign Taurus. Although I have been working with money most of my life I have several childhood traumas because this was the major source of conflict between my parents and I subconsciously started to perceive money as something fundamentally destructive. During my reflection on money I have received a new awareness that it is nothing good or bad but simply a pure form of energy and what counts is the intent. Hopefully, this insight will help me to get better control of my own finances that tend to swing in roller coaster patterns without me having a proper grip on the situation and also very little interest. The only times I get interested is when I am thrown into a financial crisis and forced to clean up the mess. However, this works only as long as the fear is there, and as soon as the fear is gone I return to the old pattern of negligence. I have now committed to give an evening workshop on money in mid-June to our peer group and my intent is that this event will be a climax on working with the energy of money. I feel that this work on money will enable a major release of pent up energies that I will need on my path going forward. Moreover, by learning to connect to money from a spiritual perspective I will be even more successful in fulfilling my life mission, and make the best use of my possessions for a higher purpose by circulating them in a sensible and conscious way. Currently I tend to have too much disregard for money and often live as if money didn’t matter at all even if I now know it’s a distorted approach. What matters is not to be attached to money, but nevertheless be able to use the power of money to achieve my true goals in life. If I am too disregardful of money I will also hamper my own spiritual objectives as it is important for me to also manifest things in the physical reality. Whether this will be a seminar center one day or a charity fund is not so clear yet, but I think I can be more effective if I also have stable finances.
During the May workshop in Vogelsberg a few of the healing tools were integrated in the events. Our environment (house garden with power-stone and surrounding area) constitutes a sacred site and ceremonial lands. I could strongly feel how the non-human beings in this environment took a joyful participation to our different workshop activities, and in the closing integration ceremony I was attracted to the power-stone in our front garden.
Furthermore, the relationship to sector 2 was also practiced in the outdoor exercise with Franco, where I did an individual meditation with a stone and a joint meditation with a tree together with Monika. For these reasons Vogelsberg is a place where I can regularly receive grounding and reconnect to my original energy. Even if the path is now leading in another direction I will still have the need to return from time to time to my original energy and ground my experiences.
When reflecting on Taurus itself I see a transition from being traditionally appreciative of my Taurus energies as the only sign I as well as other people identified me with. However, when starting with Astroshamanism and exploring my multidimensional identity I gradually also started to disidentify with Taurus as a consequence. Now the loop is closed by again finding back to Taurus realising that it still remain an important basis / foundation to which I can always return to find strength.
Donations for PAN and Astroshamanic Healing activities: PAN is available free to anyone who has attended astroshamanic events/sessions or simply wishes to receive it. If you find PAN useful, inspiring, appealing or perhaps even revealing, any donation (small, medium or big) would be greatly appreciated (for further details contact info@astroshamanism.org). Donations will encourage us to continue on this path and possibly further develop PAN. Donations will also support our project of creating an Astroshamanic Healing structure. Also energetic support, helpful feedback and other forms of contribution are much appreciated.
PAN on-line: You can find an abridged edition of the latest issues of PAN on-line at http://panissue.blogspot.com/. The Italian edition is available at http://panitalico.blogspot.com/ or on request.
We are always open to contributions from our readers so if you have something to add or share please submit it for our consideration to provordo@yahoo.co.uk
Forthcoming Astroshamanic Events
For further details or information please see www.astroshamanism.org or contact Franco info@astroshamanism.org.
To book Findhorn Foundation workshops, please contact bookings@findhorn.org or Bookings, The Park, Findhorn IV36 3TZ, Scotland. Tel. +44(0)1309/691653. To book other workshops please contact the addresses given below.
Vogelsberg (near Frankfurt, Germany), 20-24 April 2007, Multidimensional Portals of the Senses: A Gateway Course in Astroshamanic Healing Touch, part 1 & 2 (Module of the Astroshamanic Gateways Series), Erik emansson@hotmail.com http://www.holisticdialogue.com/ Tel. 069/95504794 Mob. 0171-3493424
Edinburgh, 3-5 May 2007, Shamanic Spirituality(ies) Conference - Ancient Wisdom and Contemporary Expressions, under the auspices of the Edinburgh International Centre for World Spiritualities, EICWS. Speakers and facilitators include: Professor James Cox, Dr Graham Harvey, Dr Heonik Kwon, Dr. Geo Trevarthen, Dr. Robert Wallis, Natalie Keys, Dr. MaryCatherine Burgess, Stephen Mulhearn, Claudia Goncalves, Franco Santoro and Amy Hardie. Contact: Neill Weil. For further information: http://www.eicws.org/content/view/127/51/
Findhorn, 12-18 May 2007, Foundation Training in Astroshamanic Trance Dance - Basic Week: The second and optional advanced week is held from 8 to 14 September 2007.
Findhorn, 26 May – 1 June 2007, Working with the Spirit of Cluny Garden (with Sverre Koxvold and Franco).
Corvaro (Rieti, Italy), 15-21 June 2007, The Grand Original Quest: A Multi-dimensional Voyage through Space and Time. A special astroshamanic retreat aimed at expanding our multidimensional awareness at the dawn of imminent and potential planetary transformational processes. This workshop provides a direct experiential understanding of the many-sided of our nature meant as emanation of the universe, known and unknown. We will employ practices from ancient traditions, learning how to navigate through different energy fields, identifying anomalies, fractures, blocks, power points and healing gifts. We will be trained to use the astroshamanic system of the 12 Sectors, the basic cartography of stellar circuits and other strategic applications for the retrieval of our original 12-strand DNA. The workshop also covers the theme of parallel universes, time-space gateways and the multidimensionality of the physical territory, including the exploration of non-ordinary geography. We will investigate most ancient roots, connecting parts of our ancestral life, releasing old blocks and wounds trapped in the inner and outer landscape, unfolding luminous potentials and promoting healing in the environment at all levels. The programme includes: soul retrieval, time-space voyages, distant astroshamanic healing, trance dance, astroshamanic touch, visionary walks, activation of multidimensional portals, advanced applications of the Basic Ritual of the Sacred Cone and other practices. The retreat takes place at Associazione Terra di Luce in the medieval village of Corvaro (near Rome), between the lake of Duchessa and its wild mystery mountains. It starts on the last New Moon of spring and culminates with the Summer Solstice. The dates and place of the retreat have purposefully been chosen to support the work. The event is open to all participants and is held by Franco both in English and Italian. The workshop starts at 7:30 pm on 15 June and ends at 12 on 21 June 2007. Cost: Euro 630 (all included) plus Euro 5 for association charges. If you book before 21 April the cost is Euro 595 plus Euro 5 for association charges. Please book at your earliest convenience since places are limited.
Information: Franco info@astroshamanism.org & Liliana Cozza 0746.306529 or 3478853271 or 3490724072 liliana.c15@libero.it.
Jesi (Italy), 23-24 June 2007, The Way of the South (Earth and the Physical Body)
Findhorn, 7-13 July 2007, The Original Quest: An Astroshamanic Journey into Space and Time.
Findhorn, 22-28 July 2007, Findhorn Astroshamanic Summer Gathering
A unique convergence of trainees, associates and astroshamanic friends worldwide, aimed at supporting the weaving of a healing network. In this special workshop we will acquire powerful skills and explore ways of creating healing groups with the goal of lovingly serving the human and natural environment. We will encourage and share individual gifts, allowing them to harmonize and shine in the collective, laying vital foundations for manifesting honourable intentions. During this gathering we will also focus on astroshamanic individual and collective rituals for healing nature and urban places, reconciling people, spirits and ancestors, using and creating power points and structures aimed at supporting multidimensional awareness, the retrieval of soul parts and the release of grievances. The event takes place at the Park from Sunday 22 July 2007 late pm to Saturday 28 July 2007 am.
Income related price: £ 225 (payable by participants with low income); £ 250 (participants with medium income); 275 (participants with higher income). Please book at your earliest convenience with a non-refundable deposit of £ 50. A 10% reduction is granted if you book before 19 April 2007. The price does not include accommodation and food. For details on accommodation and catering please contact us. Bursaries may be available. For information and booking: info@astroshamanism.org. For information on accommodation: Celia: celia@astroshamanism.org and Geline sheradashera@yahoo.co.uk
Findhorn, 18-24 August 2007, Settimana di Guarigione Spirituale – Semana de Sanacion Spiritual with Franco and Irmgard.
Inkoo (near Helsinki, Finland), 1-2 September 2007, Astroshamanic Basic Workshop, Info: Micaela Aminoff, maminoff@luukku.com
Findhorn, 8-14 September 2007, Foundation Training in Astroshamanic Trance Dance – advanced week
Disclaimer: All information provided in PAN is presented solely for inspirational or recreational reading, and it is not meant to substitute the recipient’s direct experience and investigation. The information is also given to strategically exemplify the different features of astroshamanic cosmology and is not intended to reflect Franco’s opinion or astroshamanism in general. Franco does not necessarily endorse any of the ideas and views expressed in this literature, including his own.
[i] All times in PAN are given in GMT (Greenwich Mean Time).
[ii] Osho, The Orange Book: the Meditation Techniques of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, Rajneesh Foundation, 1983, p. 8. This book, which contains a wide range of meditation techniques and precious insights, is out of print and is currently replaced by Osho, Meditation: The First and Last Freedom, St. Martin’s Press, New York, 1996.
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