The Fierce Feminine
Whether it is just greed, hate or something sinister beyond our imagination, I've started to open to the idea, that there are dark forces in the world that presume to play God with life on the planet. And by attempting to strip Earth of its resources and harness its natural processes, there's a man-made attempt to simulate what the Earth herself does naturally, but for wholly evil ends and with unnatural, disastrous results. I'm using the word Evil here to mean that which is done without empathy or heart, and with no reverence for the Mother of all things. With Mercury in Cancer through the 26th of July, there's more awareness that the heart has its own kind of wisdom and power.
When the devil seems to get off scott free, thumbing his nose at the law, and laughing all the while, you start to wonder about that power -- is it something not of this world? While also the familiar interior shadow of what we've become, seeing ourselves as split apart from nature? After she sent me her inspiring article, Demons in Our Midst: Facing the Tyrant Inside and Out, Suzanne Duarte said that what haunts and hunts us, has to be met by feminine power of a different kind. What we face has dark spiritual power, fed by the collective energy that is channeled its way. It's a kind of black magic, and we've got to rise to meet it with a higher (and more deeply embodied or primal) level of spiritual power. It's time for the fierce feminine. She's a Cancer like me, and while there's a sequestered, hidden in the dunes aspect to the Crab, when roused to action, there's a ferocity that can only be likened to a Mother protecting her young. Cancer is a sign with an instinct to protect, nourish and provide a shelter for itself and others. Mercury's transit through Cancer can open those interior doors of the heart, and allow the soul-force of the feminine to come through.
In her article, The Fierce Feminine, China Galland writes about the Hindu war Goddess Durga, who saved the world through her fierce compassion. The Durga story starts with "Once before, the world was on the verge of destruction. Once before, plants wouldn't grow, and the rivers dried up. Once before, people were starving and there was a war everywhere." She rode in on a lion, the symbol of courage, but also of primal power in Nature that cannot be tamed. With the Sun, Venus and now Mercury in Cancer, we have access to the energy of the Mother, the one that sees in the dark, and acts with the heart. And with a wisdom that comes not from trying to control the awesome powers of nature, but by being in alignment with them.
"Durga and the Untamability of Nature"
Comments
When it comes to the environment, what constitutes “evil” isn’t limited to those who would “strip Earth of its resources,” but also those who would take advantage of the desire of people to live with a “soft ecological footprint.” For instance: In California there is a well-known producer of small-scale electricity-based transportation vehicles. Wanting to invest in something environmentally and socially responsible, I nearly bought stock in this company. Fortunately, before putting any money into something I thought was earth-friendly, I found out that they had managed investors money poorly, turning out somewhat popular (because of the “green” factor) but substandard products. In the meantime they simply profited from the good intentions of people who wanted to help make us less dependent on fossil fuels. The CEO took a huge severance upon his being fired, and the stockholders got (and keep getting) the shaft. The moral of the story: just because it looks “green” doesn’t mean it’s good; just because it’s herbal doesn’t mean it won’t kill you.
Maybe it’s Cancer on my Midheaven (wanting to protect the world at large) and Mercury trine MC (from false information) that compels me to comment.
I’m of the mind that as Pluto moves into Capricorn, what’s just a band-aid or greenwashing, and doesn’t have a structure — integrity, business model based in reality — for the longterm, will be revealed. Good thing you didn’t invest!
Forgot to say I had a similar observation watching from afar a progressive school collapse (just as Pluto went into Cap). A private school with great programs that were about a belief in new models of sustainability. But it was precariously funded by both real estate investments and living as if paycheck to paycheck from federal aid; chaotically unorganized; run with concentrated power at the top. Hints of a lack of integrity, and self-interest, but I would argue not ‘evil’ on the scale i was talking about here.
“The Fierce Feminine” sounds like the newly discovered dwarf planet Eris to me.
An ancient goddess, sure of her power, and at odds with the patriarchal Greek Pantheon, she was labeled, “The Goddess of Discord”. When she made a point, she did so fiercely.
Yes, Molly - it does feel as though there’s something evil at the heart of things just now. I guess it’s rooted in greed, or one of the other 7 deadly sins. “Deadly” is becoming more likely to live up to its literal meaning as years go by, if we don’t sort ourselves out, and quickly.
Feminine power could be rising just now. In a small way the PUMA movement which has arisen out of the US primaries, protesting about the way Hillary Clinton was treated, is a tiny example of it.
Beth, I read your site — thanks for stopping by and adding your comment! I’ll research that, or would love to have a link to an article by you or post one.
Twilight,
here’s a book I’ve got on order by Jean Shinoda Bolen called Urgent Message from Mother: Gather Women, Save the World.
http://www.amazon.com/Urgent-Message-Mother-Gather-Women/dp/1573242659
I think that part of this is not ‘fighting it’, but aggressively asserting the values we want to see in the world. At the same time, calling a spade a spade and raising awareness. Very imbalanced men (and some women) are ruling the world right now, the kind of male that has become sick with greed and intoxicated by power, and forgotten that he comes from the Earth, too, and is part of the cycle, as we all are.
Another good book is Starhawk’s The Earth Path, for learning about working with the Earth’s elements.
I’m going to be gathering links on this — aligning with the energies and elements of Gaia — so if anyone has suggestions, please send them to me!
Thanks Molly!
Here is the link Eris, Here We Go With Them Apples Again
Beth
I posted it on the site - great title, fascinating article.