Read the blog below or click here to watch the video.
Suffering is the means through which our deepest healing occurs.
Let us join together to walk each other Home to the light within us…
These words came across one of the various social media postings I saw recently. And at the time, I felt compelled to make note of the words, knowing that they were forming a foundation for my next blog.
What I didn’t know was they were tucked in the back of my mind, percolating, waiting to come as words to screen after a profoundly interesting and moving live group session I facilitated in April.
Many of you know that I have advanced certification in solution-focused wellness coaching. I’ve held a dream of doing this work in the healthcare sector for the providers, to develop peer coaching programs in this population, and help any potential client see the light to their own path to wellness.
What most of you may not know is that I’m also a certified Usui Reiki Master Practitioner and a trained master sidereal astrologist. I’ve always had a passion for learning and knew someday that the myriad of things I’ve studied would coalesce some way where I could serve my community.
And that coalescence showed itself in this group discussion I lead in mid-April. These members are part of my star family who study and discuss all things sidereal astrology. And just what the heck is sidereal astrology? Isn’t astrology just astrology? Well, actually no, it’s not. I’m not going to belabor all the details of the history and differences from mainstream astrology and sidereal astrology. But I will tell you there IS a difference. A BIG difference. And for sake of simplicity, the major difference has to do with the sign constellations (Virgo, Libra, Aries, Leo, etc.).
Photo by Nastya Dulhiier on Unsplash
In mainstream astrology, years ago, the system shifted to a 12 equal 30-degree sign system. 12 is a pretty, round number and plays nice in the math sandbox. So, 12 sign astrology is fairly easy to follow without much background or training. However, if you look at the sky (go get a free app – SkyView Free is a good one), you will notice that the actual constellations are not equal sizes. For example, Virgo is not 30 degrees (of a 360 degree “circle”) in size, it’s more like 44 degrees, while Libra is closer to 23 degrees. Oh…and there’s more. There’s a 13th sign that is actually a part of the zodiac – Ophiuchus. Most mainstream astrologists ignore this as a separate constellation and fold its effects into Scorpio. But that doesn’t do justice to the difference between the two signs and how they manifest their energies in a chart. Let’s save that story for another blog, perhaps. Or, you can do your own research – there’s a bit of it out there should you wish to go venturing forth.
Just what does this mean and how does this all tie together for me and the work I want to do? In studying sidereal astrology, I’ve come to appreciate just how the planets, stars, sun, moon, and other celestial bodies truly do show us our stories. Indigenous peoples knew this. They looked to the skies and respected what they learned as a guide in life. Do some homework and you’ll see what I mean. It’s time to get back to the roots. Back to basics and connect with the energies of Mother Earth and Father Sky to understand this thing we call human existence.
And lest you think astrology is a “woo woo” thing, I ask you again to do your research. What we see in mainstream newspapers and fluff magazines isn’t astrology. That’s the “woo woo” stuff. Believe it or not, there are many who look to the stars and the skies to understand what’s going on with the energies around them. For example, many high-level leaders in financial institutions look to the stars. Really. They do. Keep an open mind and really consider what I’m saying here.
So, back to that session – what happened was this sidereal astrology group has decided to work together to strengthen our individual astrology muscle by having set times to talk about particular topics that we encounter in doing this work. We all bring a different palette in how we each decorate the sidereal house and we have such rich discussions with much to talk about. One of those members is one I met about 3 ½ years ago and connect with pretty much every week to talk all things life and how the astrological transits are playing out for us. This astro sister, Melody, has incredible intuitive ability and a strong sense of how the asteroid (or comet – depends on which sources you follow), Chiron, plays out in a chart. Chiron is a much-overlooked celestial body but has a big role in how we all handle our wounds and pain in life. Chiron is the wounded healer rejected by his mother at birth. And similar to the concept of the original sin in Catholicism, the idea is that we as infants come into this world with an imprinted wound thanks to Chiron.
But there’s good news in this because with the sidereal astrological blueprint, known as your birth or natal chart, you can have some insight as to how its placement affects you and where it will play out in your life. And even better is once you understand this, you can move forward to not only heal the wound and pain, but you can also help others who have similar placements work through theirs.
Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash
Cue the coalescence. Take one-part natal chart, one-part Chiron interpretation and understanding, one-part solution-focused wellness coach and one-part Reiki healer. And bingo – the recipe for working through and with these life challenges has revealed itself.
I certainly can use my coaching training to have that conversation with the burned out, overwhelmed healthcare provider. Use the skillful language of questions that guide clients to their own remembering and recognizing their internal strengths and abilities when confronted with the crazy stress of life. But imagine having the road map that tells clients where these challenges are the most intense and prominent? Having insight as to how the effects of a planet like Pluto (deep excavation to face fears, overcome them and become empowered) dancing in the playground with the hurt little Chiron might be addressed and resolved? And how the restorative work of Reiki can help heal the deep emotions experienced as these challenges are confronted and ultimately reconciled?
As clients are guided to interpret their own stories (aka natal chart and subsequent transits), and work through the challenges that are presented, the suffering they experience always leads to great healing. Hence my opening words at the start of this writing. The deeper the suffering along with the greater understanding of the why, then the deeper the healing can be. Subsequently, as the client begins to feel relief, have hope, then the light begins to show itself again.
Photo by HalGatewood.com on Unsplash
In closing, let’s go back to the second sentence, “Let us join together, to walk each other home to the light within us.” This is the perfect statement of the partnership between client and coach. Client and astrologist. Client and Reiki healer. But ultimately, it’s the illumination of the partnership between the client and the Self within. Once that light within begins to shine again, becoming brighter as the healing process continues, then that client is truly Home. Home in every sense of the word – inside and out.
Photo by Ludovic Charlet on Unsplash
If you’d like to talk about Chiron and how he slings his arrow across your chart or have other insights and ways to manage or understand other challenges and strengths within that chart, let me know. As one who has that wounded healer hanging out in the health and healing section of her chart, it is my mission and desire to do this work. And I’d be honored to take your hand as we walk each other Home to that light.