The rising Φοῖνιξ Phoenix

Truth and illumination - doubt and confusion - inquiry and imagination. NOTE: The frequency of these articles is increasing, relative to the transformational times approaching.

A depiction of the Phoenix was originally published in the German twelve-volume educational series: "Bilderbuch für Kinder" ("Picture Book for Children") (1790–1830). Published by Friedrich Johann Justin Bertuch.

“When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”

— Lao Tzu

image: Aberdeen Bestiary- A fragment of the Precepts of Chiron, attributed to 6th century BC Greek poet Hesiod. In the fragment, the wise centaur Chiron tells a young hero Achilles the following, describing the phoenix's lifetime as 972 times the length of a long-lived human’s: “A chattering crow lives out nine generations of aged men, but a stag's life is four times a crow's, and a raven's life makes three stags old, while the phoenix outlives nine ravens, but we, the rich-haired Nymphs, daughters of Zeus the aegis-holder, outlive ten phoenixes.

Inner vision: Feeling the love and being in a state of inner Trust

Oh, I am feeling the love of life— I made a few slight changes in my daily routine - small but meaningful. I made a promise to my little me to keep an eye out, at least three times a day, to pause and appreciate my journey.

In fact the other day I went for a walk and I invited one aspect of myself for a conversation. I decided to talk to myself and made a list of all the things we have done by ourselves, one by one, such as:

-how we (all my selves integrated) came to this country and legalized my talents through a 01-Visa [Outstanding Alien— love the name!] which led to sponsoring myself for my Green Card [working permit] and subsequently getting naturalized [being able to acquire a US Passport] in fewer than 10 years upon arrival. (This was apparently a record time, with the support of a great immigration lawyer, who at times accepted trades of my photographic talent as part of his hefty, albeit well-deserved, fees— I was once a B/W portrait photographer, yep you read right!)

-how we made our first artwork, daringly, and sought to exhibit it continuously, landing multiple gallery representations throughout the years… without following the herd… without going to art school. Instead, keeping a very open and reflective mind, finding the practice of observation to be the best tool to learn about art-making. We marveled at how we created such a body of work! And we found an authentic voice and style— My goodness, Monika did you see that?

I am not boasting, I am actually acknowledging the path, the trust, the courage…

-how I almost gave up and checked out six years ago when my life hit a wall, as I had followed my dreams in a linear way, at times confusing the main scope of being authentic for the fear of being left out. NYC is a b*tch: the rat race, the pretense, the &*#* networking— nothing phonier than that for one that holds freedom as the most important theme in her life!

-how we learned so many things while keeping a beginner’s mind and deflating the arrogance we were once known for. Now, looking back, IMHO, it was just a sign of weakness, for I had started living a life that lacked truth. The decade between my Uranus opposition and my Chiron return in 2004/2014 was full of tribulations, doubts, and resilience. I rarely give up, but I know when something is over— there is a difference there, for I never cling to anything or anyone that doesn’t appreciate my value or want me around.

Only now after 31 months of leaving NYC, I’ve removed myself from ground zero, and since then I live a life of joy 💯%. I have proven to myself day by day that life is worth living.

Enough said— the list goes on, I just wanted to recognize a few things in the open.

The power of the Phoenix rising

We can rise like the Phoenix any time we want, but especially when we have been burned inside.

I could have a bitter heart, I could have an envious eye, I could be angry about unmet expectations— but I am not.

I can’t live with that vibrational frequency.

My vibration is pure joy and kindness, and sharing love is within my nature.

The Fenghuang (Phoenix) symbolizes the union of yin and yang. is associated with resurrection, immortality, and triumph over adversity. The Phoenix is also symbolic of rebirth, hope, purity, chastity, marriage, faith, constancy, summer, eternity, immortality, and light.

Venus work

If you have done the Venus work in the last 14 months, you must be feeling the rewards. (Link to past article back in May 2022 when I was starting to practice a specific shadow that would be my constant trigger, I can now openly admit that it has been integrated, for I react less and less I become so aware when it is happening, I hold space… hurray!)

What is the Venus work? Tending to your needs and focusing on your values, and how you relate and listen to those needs gives you leverage in any kind of relationship— with other people, situations, or things. Before the full moon on March 7th, we have Venus in Aries joining marvelous Jupiter and Chiron, the wounded healer, at 13 degrees. Asteroid Vesta is also close by (all this on my progressed ascendant, my 3rd house, woohoo!)

We are feeling that drive to initiate and expand our individuality with courage. If you have been integrating the vulnerable side, of not feeling like you have everything you think you need to enter the game, then you are already on a roll, devoted to the feeling of expansion, new horizons, new venues, and new ways.

Confronting and leaving behind addictions and behaviors has been part of the Venus Work. As Pluto opposes this polarity, and the nodal axis at 4 degrees of Taurus is soon to be experiencing a couple of eclipses which will strengthen the possibility to keep committing to the way you relate to your needs and then to the needs of others. Mars, the ruler of the next nodal axis, rules all these planets meeting in Aries.

Where does Aries fall in your chart? This is where you will find expanding your individuality with devoted courage.

There is a square (90 degrees) to Pallas Athena in Cancer— she acts as the emotional warrior. The crisis may emerge if the emotional patterns are yet to be integrated, for they can create tension and some insecurities. Empathy could guide a battle. Check your needs first, and when you have met them, offer a hand or two…

Mercury just initiated a new relationship with Saturn and moved to Pisces - whatever commitment you have made with yourself, make sure to keep that inner voice nurtured by your dreams and imagination.

After and near completion

The Sun at Gate/Hexagram 63 [fire above water], the truth starts with doubt and develops through self-inquiry. The Earth at Gate/Hexagram 64 [water above fire], there is a confusion that leads to illumination through the imagination. If you look at the hexagrams they are both balanced between Yin and Yang. We are entering a beautiful space of truth and illumination by ways of verification and meaning, one side of our mind is logical, another abstract, looking for patterns of understanding and surrendering to collective experiences.

易經的卦63: ䷾ “既濟 After Completion- 易經的卦64: ䷿ “未濟 Near Completion

Let’s make space before the full moon (conjunct my Chiron in Pisces) so the lord of time [Saturn] and the lord of the underworld [Pluto] spend the last degrees in two signs, where one is leaving, and the other is making a grand entrance.

-I appreciate my life.

Do you appreciate yours?

Some things to contemplate these days: I leave you with words— make the best mantra for yourself.

-structure, spirit, value, support, individuality, relationships, needs, liberation, courage, transformation, fear, joy, authenticity, service, devotion, strategy.

Mine goes like this:

It is with the utmost devotion towards my individuality that I feel connected and supported by spirit; I have confronted the fears of being authentic, thus transformation has occurred and I am of service with joy, for I value my needs, and my strategy is to take time to ride the wave of liberation.

Let’s talk about Value

I sustain my weekly writing and copy editor fees by doing Astrological-Human Design readings, study group facilitation, and selling artwork.

It would be a wonderful feeling to know that I would have your support for an upcoming publication without having to put all or some of the content behind a paywall.

If you have at some point benefitted from my insights, if these have supported your journey, I would be delighted to receive your token of appreciation, either by using the subscription button or any of the other ways below.

Thank you for reading, I enjoy writing very much!

M.

These three are your greatest treasures.
Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies,
you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself,
you reconcile all beings in the world.

To understand the limitation of things, desire them. ― Lao Tzu

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