Greetings <<First Name>>!

We embark on the discovery of how the four survival archetypes (Child, Victim, Saboteur, and Prostitute) weave their energy through our daily lives, starting with the Child this month.  The cliff note version of these fabulous four is that they symbolize various ways we negotiate away the power of our spirits.  Each holds the key to our major life challenges and how we choose to survive.
 
The experiences connected with these survival archetypes are associated with our fears and vulnerabilities.  Let me put it in a simple way – these experiences can make us feel like a piece of popcorn flying around a popper.  We may feel neurotic and just want the experience to end.  We may even try to strike a “deal” with God.  The negotiation begins.  What we are asking for, from a spiritual perspective, is to be grounded - grounded so we are able to make choices that allow us to fulfill our dreams and opportunities.
 
Your archetypes become your guardians.  Because of this, remember, they are to be seen as neutral energetic patterns that support you in your daily life.  The more conscious you are of these patterns that influence your behavior, the more likely your choices will preserve your integrity, you will maintain your authenticity, and you will hold on to your power in any circumstance. 
 
This consciousness is where you become transcendent, where the richness of your Sacred Contract unfolds.  Let the games begin!
 

THE CHILD ARCHETYPE

Symbolic Living Through the Lens of an Archetype

Work Cited
Myss, Caroline.  Sacred Contracts: Awakening Your Divine Potential.  New York: Three
     Rivers Press, 2002, 2003.  Print.

A CHILD TESTIMONIAL

by Becky Mathews

I have dabbled in the world of Caroline Myss and other soul teachers by reading their books and listening to their audios and videos, trying to connect with their suggestions and apply them in my life.  I became aware of archetypes through these readings, but I met my Orphaned Child when I started work with Kendra.  I have discovered that the Orphaned Child has played the lead role in my life for as long as I can remember.  I had an emotional disconnection in my family at a young age, and that’s when I connected with the Orphaned Child.  On one hand, the Orphaned Child had me think the negative interactions with my family, friends, and colleagues were my fault; I wasn’t attractive enough and felt I had to change to be accepted.  I certainly was lacking something to be loved. I grew to become distrustful of others and myself and wallowed in self- blame and pity.  On the other hand, the Orphan Child was my survival mechanism:  she would keep me in a state of watchfulness, just waiting for the other shoe to drop, and she would protect me by having me withdraw to feel safe and secure. 
 
The greatest thing about “meeting” my Orphaned Child and getting to know her is my awareness of how she plays such a strong role in my psyche.  Now I can stop her shadow side when I see her coming.  I am learning to capture my reaction before I actually erupt.  I feel a downward spiral begin with a grip that tightens my chest and throat.  I am aware!  So, in that moment, I ask myself, “What do I replace the Orphaned Child with?”  And instead of letting my Orphan Child consume me, I can replace her negative thoughts with self-love and letting go.  I can let go of my grudges and resentment and replace them with self-acknowledgement, acceptance, and forgiveness.  When low self esteem and negative thinking creep to the surface, I can replace them with LOVE for others and myself. 
 
My dear Orphaned Child has played a major role in my life.  She has been my nemesis and my protector.  Now that I know her, I can greet her with compassion and love instead of fear.  And as a result, my relationships with others have grown!
 
With light, love, and happiness! 

INSPIRED POETRY

What Child is This?
by John Morris
 
My assignment this month is to explore the Child archetype through the lens of Numerology – now that’s an exciting challenge!  One of the core archetypes, the Child is present in all of us.  However, it is complex with many variations – Eternal Child, Divine Child, Wild Child, Wounded Child…  Each of us has a different variation playing out in unique ways at different times in our lives.
 
See what I mean by a challenge?!  Identifying the Child in numerology is as complex as the archetype itself.  But I am excited because, well… can I tell you a secret?  The Child archetype is one of my favorites!  I happen to have a potent Child within me, which makes me playful, curious, joyful, and able to see the world through innocent eyes.
 
Oh. Yes. Um, there is a shadow side, and I definitely have that too – but I’ll talk about that later!
 
In previous articles, I for the most part have correlated each archetype with one of the single digits, one through nine, but the Child archetype calls for a different approach. Sure, there are a few numbers that would appear, on the surface, to line up with a variation of the Child: three, with its creativity, playfulness, joy, and social nature; five, with its powerful sense of curiosity; and six, with its focus on love and family, provide a few examples.
 
But I believe that the Child archetype as a whole, rather than aligning with any one number, relates more powerfully to a specific position in the numerology chart – the Soul Urge, often called the Heart’s Desire number.
 
Take a deep breath, and allow me to explain.  We need to go through a little technical talk about how a numerology chart is set up, in case you aren’t familiar.
 
If you know even a little bit about astrology, you know that we aren’t just one sign of the Zodiac.  We are a complex combination of signs and planets, all working in relation to each other.  The same kind of structure is true of a numerology chart.  We are not just one number.  We are a whole combination of numbers, each having a different influence in our chart, depending on its placement, and each relating to the other numbers in a variety of ways.  It’s amazing stuff!
 
To make it quick and simple, every numerology chart has five major numbers that are considered the core of the chart and provide the strongest influence on the person being read.  One of those five core numbers is the Soul Urge number, which is considered to reveal your deepest inner longing – your true heart’s desire, as a soul, in this lifetime.
 
This core number, I believe, most accurately represents the essence of the Child in you because it indicates what secretly (or not so secretly) makes your soul most happy - a powerful influence indeed.
 
For each person, then, the essence of the Child will be different based on the number calculated as the Soul Urge number.  Before I go further, I’d better tell you a little more about how that number is calculated – so take another deep breath please!
 
You may remember from my previous articles that your numerology chart is based on your date of birth and full original name as it appears on your birth certificate.  That’s it, nothing more.  Know those two pieces of information, and you can calculate your whole numerology chart.
 
One of the five core numbers is based on calculations using your date of birth.  Three of the other core numbers are calculated using the letters of your name by assigning a numeric value to each letter.  So, every letter in your name receives a numeric value, one through nine. Hanging in there?  Then, to calculate the Soul Urge, you work with only the numbers assigned to the vowels of your full name.
 
Why only the vowels for the Soul Urge?  Because in many of the ancient wisdom traditions, words and letters had great meaning, and the vowels were considered to be windows to your inner life and soul!  I told you this stuff is cool.
 
Your Soul Urge, after final calculations, will be represented by one of the single digits, one through nine, and that will give you an indication of the nature of the Child within you, as well as an idea of how that Child essence relates to every other aspect of your being.  If your Soul Urge is represented by the number one, for example, your Child may long for new beginnings, always looking to start something – and possibly wanting others to follow!
 
If your Soul Urge is represented by the number two, on the other hand, your Child might have a deep desire to be the peacemaker, always making sure that everyone else in the family is okay and getting along with each other.  My own Soul Urge number is three, meaning I’ve got that desire for joy, play, and creative fun deep in my heart, no matter where I’m headed in life!
 
Oh.  Yes.  Um, remember earlier I said there is a shadow side to the Child archetype?  It’s just the same with numerology; each number contains the potential to be expressed in light or through the shadow.  So for me, that Child shadow has at different times in my life expressed itself by being so eager to play, in as many different ways as possible, that it had a hard time focusing on one thing.  At other times it was so intent on joy, in an ungrounded way, that it had a hard time getting serious about life (read that as – growing up!), or it was cut off from joy and became too serious altogether.
 
Maybe a few of you can relate?  The beauty of a numerology chart comes from seeing all your numbers together, including their essential characters in both positive and negative expression, and their potential influences.  They’re all laid out where you can take a good look, gain objective distance from the energies at play in your life, and make the changes needed to create positive growth and healthy balance.
 
So – what Child is waiting deep in your heart to be discovered?  What does that Child long for?  When is it sweet, and when is it just a brat?!  How is it expressing itself in your life right now?  Take a look at your numerology chart, go to your Heart’s Desire number, and start exploring – from the Child’s point of view!

WISDOM FROM ANIMALS

• You have the ability to know the mind & the cycle of self-transformation.

• Egg Stage/IDEA (Is this just a thought or idea?)

• Larva Stage/CREATE (Do I need to make a decision?)

• Cocoon Stage/REALIZE (Am I developing and doing something to make my idea a reality?)

• Birth/SHARE (Am I sharing my completed idea?)

• By knowing where you are, you can take the next step and find the creativity of Butterfly.

• Openheartedness and compassion are signs of strength.

• Through kindness and tenderness you will attain your goals.

1. Is this the EGG stage?  Is it just a thought or idea?
2. Is this the LARVA stage?  Do I need to make a decision?
3. Is this the COCOON stage?  Am I developing and doing something to make my idea a reality?
4. Is this the BIRTH stage?  Am I sharing my completed idea?

WISDOM FROM ASTROLOGY

Saturn is Exalted in Libra
By Vidya Dasi
 
Just an important reminder that the time for studying the places in our lives where we feel fearful, have conundrums, and/or feel victimized has arrived.  Saturn is now exalted and becoming more and more fully active as the days pass so he can now shed some wisdom on solving these difficulties in our lives.  He always delays things; so don’t be surprised if the process takes you longer than you expect.
 
Saturn is presently exalted in Libra and empowers us to be deeply introspective, determined, hard working, wise, take responsibility for our actions and choices.  He is known as the task master and continues to put pressure on us to purify our lives for our ultimate purification and understanding.  Although he is most potent when he reaches 20 degrees, and he is now only around 6 degrees, still there will be great impetus that we will all be experiencing to solve some of these mysteries in our lives.  Hopefully you have written them down and can now refer to this list.
 
Let us now look at how this exalted planet is going to affect each of us according to where it is located in our birth chart.  Whatever house is ruled by Libra that is the house that we must study.  Remember this is referring to your Vedic Astrology birth chart.
 
Generally this Saturn is making everyone feel divine discontent.  Although it is a spiritual indicator in our chart, in its exaltation it is making us desire financial and material success so that we can proceed with our spiritual quest.  If you are in debt, you must bow to the necessity to resolve this debt.  We must not get discouraged by delays but rather see them as meaningful and they are being sent for a purpose.  This is an opportune time to become purified and
do purifying activities.  You may be feeling adventurous.  It is now the time to explore where that restless and adventurous energy might take you.
 
Let us look to see how this exalted Saturn is going to affect each of us individually.  Look in your Vedic chart to see which house Libra is ruling.
Then here are the benefits for a person with Saturn in each of the 12 consecutive houses: (Remember that with all of these helpful things there will most certainly still be delays.  Learn not to be frustrated by them but see how even these delays have helped to make perfect timing in your life.)
 
If Saturn in Libra falls in your first house you should expect that you may be called upon to take a leadership position or your status will increase.  Wealth, intelligence and virtue will come to you.  You will feel inclined to perform good deeds and practice habits which will elongate your life.  You will be grateful for your birth family.
 
If Saturn in Libra falls in your second house you will attain wealth by slow and steady progress.  You are learned and knowledgeable.  You will seriously dedicate yourself to your family.  Your imagination will be fertile and you may be called upon to speak as an authority on certain topics.
 
If Libra rules your 3^rd house you can expect to feel powerful and highly motivated.  You may have some contact with your younger siblings and you will be admirable with good character.  You may discover or utilize your talent and interest in fine arts or in the literary field.  You will feel very dutiful and your efforts will gradually be highly successful.
 
Saturn exalted with Libra ruling the 4^th house will make you concentrate on your home, mother, real estate and /or concentrate on obtaining higher education particularly higher degrees.  You may get some ancestral wealth or property.  You may have more association with your mother or other mother figures.  You will be disciplined and feel extraordinarily spiritual and unattached to relative pleasures.
 
With Libra ruling the 5^th house in your birth chart, exalted Saturn might bestow children or accentuation of children.  You will feel fond of children and they will be a source of great pleasure.  You may experience genuine and profound love.  Investments and conservative long-term investments especially
will be successful.  You will exhibit the wisdom, discipline, and humility that you gained in your last life.
 
With exalted Saturn transiting your 6^th house ruled by Libra it should be a very good time for overcoming obstacles and gaining the authority that you have been hankering for.  You will be able to defeat enemies and competitors now.  You may obtain a fine position in life and experience a lot of personal power.  You will display your abilities as an excellent and dedicated worker and you may be attracted to practices both physical and spiritual which will elongate your life.
 
With Libra ruling your 7^th house, exalted Saturn will transit this house and bring you wealth through your marriage partner or business partner.  This period will make you more powerful and prosperous and able to utilize some talents that you haven’t utilized before.  You will experience stabilization in your marital relationship and you may be called upon to take a leadership or authority role.
 
Exalted Saturn will be transiting your 8^th house if Libra is ruling it.  Saturn may bring you some illness that will benefit you greatly in the long run or you may be called upon to serve and help heal others who are suffering particularly from illnesses that are fear based.  You may gain some abundance from wills,
legacies, insurance benefits, etc.  You will be extremely interested in pursuing astrology or other occult sciences or mystical/metaphysical pursuits.
 
With Libra ruling your 9^th house then transiting Saturn will help you experience wisdom, strength and good luck and you may receive some honor and appreciation.  You will be able to improve your maturity and discipline during this period.  You will perform some good deeds.  Your natural leadership abilities will be called upon.  You may visit foreign countries and you may feel capable and attracted to performing sacrifices for religious or spiritual purposes.
 
If Libra rules your 10^th house, then exalted Saturn will bring you success in your career.  Your life mission may gain momentum.  You may become a    powerful leader or politician.  Your perspective on life will broaden and you will become more thoughtful and introspective.  You will have strong vision on the best functioning for organizations and society.  You may receive some honor and your work will greatly benefit society.
 
Exalted Saturn in Libra transiting the 11^th house in your chart will bring you wealth and power.  You may be called upon to become a leader of important evolved souls.  You will see a means to fulfill your dreams.  You may have some association with an older sibling.  You will gain some thoughtful and significant friends who are prosperous, refined and/or spiritual.
 
If Libra rules your 12^th house, then the exalted transiting Saturn will make you adept at retaining your wealth.  You may go to some remote land or place and experience success there.  You will experience much success in the pursuit of higher consciousness.  There will be the possibility of clearing old karmic debts and perhaps financial debt.
 
These conditions will be prominent while Saturn is in Libra, which means until the end of February 2014.

Special Offer:  I am willing to map your Vedic Astrological chart for a nominal fee (to cover my costs) of $25.  If you email me the following information, I will mail your chart to you:

• full name
• address
• birth date with year
• birth place
• birth time

I think this will really help you follow the information I provide each month.  As you can see this month, I am getting more specific about the planets in YOUR chart.

Until we meet again……... Vidya

WISDOM FROM YOGA

Probably one of the best known yoga postures is child’s pose, or balasana.  But in yoga the Archetype of the Child shows up in many more ways than simply as the name of a pose.  Just as a child relates to the world directly, without layers of neuroses and conceptual overlay, the yogi strives to strip away the various filters imposed by his mind in order to attain a direct experience of the divinity of life.
 
This is made most explicit in the traditions of tantra, which – against the protestations of both tantrics and yogis alike – is often now taught in tandem with yoga.  In most tantra traditions, the spiritual aspirant is taught to relate to the Divine in the form of the mother.  As Vimalananda, a notorious and possibly apocryphal tantric guru explained, in tantra “the highest expression of divinity is the Motherhood of God, the God who protects and loves Her children no matter what errors they make” (Svoboda 22).  This is perhaps the central insight of tantra: life is good, the world is not out to get you.  If you can relate to the Divine as a child relates to its mother, you will be protected.
 
Jesus is reported to have said that to enter the kingdom of heaven you must “become like little children” (Matthew 18:3).  Many experts have argued that he was expressing the very same idea as the tantrics: relate to the Divine as though you were its child, and you shall find Heaven in that relationship.
 
Of course, we have all seen examples of how this can go wrong.  In today’s society many family relations are dysfunctional; so, we have to be very careful how we model our parent-child relationship with the Divine.  Just as an authoritarian father can create a culture of fear in the household, the modern notion of a “God-fearing Christian” may well be a pathological variation of what Jesus was really getting at.
 
To understand the true essence of the Child, then, we must look beyond our possibly warped cultural experiences, or at least examine them with a careful eye.  For instance, is the essence of the Child one of obedience, as is often supposed?  Or is it rather a loving kind of disobedience, a sort of rascally insubordination that simultaneously exasperates and delights the parent?  If the latter, then this would suggest that the proper way to relate to the Divine is not as some sort of disciplinarian Santa Claus, handing out punishment and reward in proportion to how naughty or nice it deems our behavior.  Instead, just like a child we can rest safe in the knowledge that our “sins” are already forgiven.  From that shame-free point of departure we can then proceed to radiate child-like joy, love, and openness, the sorts of characteristics that our typical “adult” roles tend to prohibit or at least radically restrict.
 
If you are going to adopt the tantric worldview and seek to relate to the Divine as a child to its mother, look into your heart and connect with the true Child within you.  This inner Child never went away as you “grew up.”  Rather, its joyful voice just got drowned out by the increasing clamor of responsibility and worry that seems to come with age.  Like the yogis of old, spend some quiet time alone with yourself and turn your attention inward.  In your mind’s eye, return to a time before life got complicated, before you had learned to distrust the world.  At that age, not only were you more open and loving with the people you met, but also you were fascinated by the vast wonder of the world around you.  As you explored fearlessly and tirelessly, your natural instincts kept you somewhat safe, and when those failed, your mother (whether your biological mother, or whoever else filled that role) was always there to stop you from doing anything too crazy to yourself.
 
If you felt the absence of a strong mother figure during your own childhood, it may be especially hard to trust the world around you enough to relax and let down your defenses.  But the yoga and tantra traditions are quite clear on this point: deep down, you have the courage to do so, and the beauty and peace that await you when you do are truly worth the trouble.  You’ve probably heard it a million times before, but that Anaïs Nin line still rings true: “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
 
- David





Work Cited
Svoboda, Robert. E.  Aghora II: Kundalini.  Albuquerque, NM: Brotherhood of Life, Inc., 1993.    
     Print.

CONSCIOUS EATING

This month's recipe ...

Hearty Chili con Carne
from Alexandra Topp

Ingredients:

• 5 slices bacon (opt.)
• 1 pound ground beef or turkey (opt.)
• 1 medium chopped onion
• 1 small chopped green pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (28 ounce) tomatoes, un-drained and cut
• 1 can (10 ¾ ounce) tomato soup
• 1 can (6 ounce) tomato paste
• 1 can (4 ounce) chopped green chilies, un-drained
• 1 cup water
• 3 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• ¼ teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• 1 can (15 ½ ounce) chili or dark kidney beans (you can use any beans that appeal to you)

Preparation:

• In a sauté pan brown bacon, meat and onion. 
• Note:  Omitting meat is just fine, sauté onion in a little olive oil and proceed with the rest of the recipe.
• Drain excess liquid from pan.
• Place mixture in a large stock pot. Add remaining ingredients to this pot except beans.
• Cover and simmer on low heat for 2 hours. Stir occasionally.
• Add beans.
• Ensure that chili is heated through.
• Serve with a scoop of cheddar cheese and dollop of sour cream on top.