"As one meditates, so one becomes": The Medicine of a Moth

As one meditates, so one becomes.

Each morning I arise to spend time in meditation, followed by a morning fire to watch the sun rise in the sky.  It is my gift to myself; a time to reflect upon the day ahead, to ask for guidance, and give thanks for the moment of breath. Many times whispers in the winds are heard to share direction for the day.  Then there are days when a more subtle message is gifted.  This morning was one of those mornings. 


As I was reflecting upon the day that was before me, I kept feeling something brush my hair.  Yet, each time I turned I could see no “guest”.  I finished my morning coffee and was walking into the house when the brush against the back of my head became more insistent.  There is always that moment when a bit of fear stumbles in as you feel something in your hair.  This time something was physically felt.  When I turned to look a rather large moth fluttered to the floor of the carport.  Beautiful creature; wings spread out with a reddish tint and large eyes gazing up at me as though to say “about time”.  We spent time just connecting with one another, sharing a moment before she fluttered her wings and took flight.

I am often asked about animal meanings; while I am not an animal guide expert, preferring to receive messages for the moment than a generic message of the symbolic meaning, I always find the appearance of animal spirits intriguing. 


So what about a moth?  We look to their nature for clues.  They are nocturnal.  They fly by the moonlight.  A moth is attracted to the light.  When the moonlight is no longer available, they find man’s light or even the flames of a fire.  She is determined and vigilant to follow the light.  She is fragile, even perhaps vulnerable.  Even as the man’s light or the flames may result in her own death, she stays true to her own path towards the light.  Authentic in nature to the point that she is blinded her own truth.  The message here:  stay authentic in your own truth but do not become blinded by the light?  Perhaps.


As we go deeper into her nature we know that as a moon creature she is influenced by the moons movement.  This weekend happens to be a solar eclipse and while it will not be visible here, the ring of fire that will be visible in some locations is experienced energetically by all.  Her appearance today, perhaps a message to adjust the direction headed by first looking to what is visible only in an “eclipse” such as this – the “ring of fire”?  Perhaps.


We know that a female moth influences her partner through the essence of her aroma.  Her scent can be powerful and be followed great distances because it is influenced by the powerful energy of love.  The message here – when the essence within is pure love, the energetic signatures will travel great distances?  Perhaps.


A moth can easily disguise itself by blending into its surroundings.  It took some time for me to really discover the nature of something brushing my hair even.  This is her natural defense against predators.  Looking at the message here, there are times when one must adjust and adapt in order to overcome the natural vulnerability of following ones truths?  Perhaps.

The personal messages for me were quite evident.  Every animal relation that crosses our paths can gift us a message to guide and direct us if we pause long enough to listen to them.  A simple moth can reveal profound meaning to the day.  Just look into their eyes and become silent.

Dancing In the Rain: A Lesson in Darkness from Nature

Recently, I went to do the most normal and mundane activity with my teenage daughter. We went to take the dogs out for their nightly walk. As is typical in this part of the country, the heat of the day gave way to an evening thunder storm. Many times I forget the gentle and miraculous gifts that nature provides and her profound message.

I was trying to cover my head with my jacket to avoid becoming drenched. I caught a glance of my daughter. She was lifting her chin up to the moon and stars letting the rain wash down over her. Relishing and dancing in celebration. The difference in our responses to the situation was vast.  I had to pause and ask myself why my reaction was to hide and my daughters was to experience and celebrate.

I spent some time reflecting on this difference. When I explore the darkness of life there is always a very fine line between the beautiful moonlight illuminating the skies and showing off the stars that draw pictures in the universe and the dark shadows that are created. Most tend to stay in wide open spaces in order to only see the moonlight beams or where there is artificial light. Why is it that in general we tend to shy away from the shadows?

The shadows hold the fears, the negative emotions, the heaviness of life. I can only assume that this is the reason that the “lightworkers” of the globe shy away from dealing with the darkness. The fear of giving it too much energy and allowing it to spread. Logically thought process for most. None of us want to spend our lives in the negative darkness. We all strive to live life in the most positive way possible. I get this.

When I look at the darkness, explore it and begin to understand it I am reminded of the Taoist symbol. This simple symbol is something that many carry as a reminder, but do they truly understand what it represents. It shows how it completes itself with true darkness compared to true light. They do not compete. They precede and follow one another. Within this symbol it shows me where my own inner light is needed most to stay in the natural cycle of light and dark or day and night.

Stay with me for a moment.  What if we step into the darkness and explore it. Begin to understand it and why it exists?  What if we look face to face with our fears?  What if we see the shadowy side of ourselves?  What if we take down the veil or mask that we put up to the world and reveal ourselves naked and vulnerable for who we really are?  It is only after this deep intimate look into self that we can truly begin to see the moon’s rays illuminate. It is then that we have no need for the artificial light. Our own inner light will be a beacon.

All energy, whether it is from the darkness or from the light, is energy that we must develop a relationship with it.  It takes time and energy to develop relationships. Perhaps even more so when you are working with energy from the darkness. However, when you find ways to determine and identify what the darkness is, give it a voice and honor it for being part of sacred; the breakthroughs within your own life can be astronomical. It is only through delving into the darkness, becoming intimate with the knowledge contained there, and learning the value of the shadows that I have become able to change the tide in my own life. If one can not dare enter their own darkness, how can any one share their own light with someone else lost in the darkness?

It is interesting that a great deal of the people I have come across in my path that have all the right intentions and motivations in their sharing and service; yet, each of them seem to be searching for something more. They proclaim how happy, joyous and free they are and speak all the right words.  To watch them walk, to see their energy, and to listen to the whispers between the words there is a great deal of imbalance.

I have no delusion that I am balanced, centered, and focused all of the time. I pray that I never become that person. It was shared with me by a mentor that I needed to become the pendulum or better yet learn to become the energy that surrounds the pendulum. In either case, you are in constant movement. Constantly shifting from the light to the dark. Constantly seeing things from new perspectives. Savoring and celebrating every moment in the movement.

I ended up outside last night in the rain with my daughter and our dogs laughing, relishing in the cleansing rain, and celebrating the gift of the dark night. I was shown once more that it is the simplest of lessons that I gain the most insight.

You are both Dark and Light: A Reflection

"Embracing Shadow Self"

I embrace all aspects of Self, shadowed and illuminated. I embrace the illuminated Self for she is my spirit realized. I embrace the shadowed Self for she reveals to me the pain and fear still needing resolution.

by Rita Loyd (http://www.nurturingart.com)

“You are both dark and light.  Just because the light illuminates the darkness does not negate that the darkness exist.  It simply means that you cannot see the darkness for the moment.”

Recently, I have been asked to look at dark and light, look at shadows, and look at the purpose of even looking at anything in the shadows of life.  Diving in to the deep waters to look at the parts of the inner world to discern a new perspective on life's situation can be a difficult process.  Looking at the inner world first in a polarity perspective, meaning what do you consider to be the "light" characteristics of self and what do you consider to be "dark" or shadow characteristics.  I have heard some say they have no fear, not dark sides or shadows.  What this really means is that one has not examined their own wounds, their own pain, nor their own fear.  This is not an easy task.  To admit to self those things within that sting like salt in an open wound is daunting and can be painful but the result in doing so is creating an objective balance sheet of the inner world of one's self that can give great medicine.

What makes any illumination seem so brilliant is that it is shining from a deep darkness in order that it has a reflection to be seen.  These so called “dark” characteristics that dwell within the inner world feeds the brilliant “light”.  Reflecting on that single thought, it would seem that in reality “dark” is sharing its experiences and wisdom with the “light”.  The two polar opposites actually dance together, unable able to exist without the other, and are truly part of the same whole self.  There is a partnership between these seeming opposites within the inner world. The partnership exists for a purpose, and that purpose may be to develop spiritually.  This is an exercise that can shift the perception of self and allow one to see situations, moments, from a sacred perspective rather from a reactive perspective.

Healing is ending a struggle.  Healing is not about curing a problem.  Is “dark” characteristics really a problem or a negative or should it be looked at as a gift from the Divine that had the potential to expand spiritual horizons?  The first step of the understanding of unity is to accept and experience the dynamic nature of each perceived polarity in order to realize there were far more shadows that pure “light” or pure “darkness”.  These shadow areas are where the darkness of life warn the consciousness and the light about potential dangers, other options, and even different perceptions.  If you attempt to negate anything within your inner world that you perceive to be of “dark”, what you are stating is that you are not a whole person.  The Divine Creator made a mistake.

The true medicine of this reflection is to know that before one deems some aspect of their own inner world as unacceptable, to ask self a few questions.

Can this aspect of my inner self provide any different perspectives?  Can it provide some illumination of the other person’s perspectives?  Can it shift into light or positive characteristics?

The Divine Creator does not make mistakes.

Marketing, Mother's Day and the Moon: Weekly Vibe with Laurissa Heller

Artist Rita Loyd

Happy Mother’s Day Lovely Ladies!  Take in the beauty of the Earth trine which will last only one day.  There is actually a kite formation as well that points to a Moon, Chiron conjunction. 

The energy will fittingly be around our creativity.  Childen in astrology are sometimes considered to be part of our creativity.  We may feel at one with our families and our babes.  How lovely~

Although, old wounds may show up in the middle of our gatherings.  Family is one of our greatest teachers, so when issues arrise it a teaching moment, so be prepared and know that “things” may surface.  The issues may be around owning who we are in the group. As women are asserting themselves differently into the world right now, shift becomes more apparent with how we manage family gatherings. 

There seems to be a steadiness in this energy.  It is almost as if the Universe is asking if  we are ready to let go of some of the control.  We cannot go out into the world if we cannot give up some of the regulation around the home.  We have to loosen our grip around perfection, and allow life to flow more freely if we want to experience all aspects of life such as work, family, children, and partners. 

Marketing has made us feel like there is only one way to be, and that is perfection in the eyes of what marketing is selling to us.  This lifestyle is a facade.  We as women need to give it up, and give one another permission to be happy with all that we have, and what is being offered.

But we do not have to give up our core values.  This is how we make our souls soar.  Lets take back our power from the marketing folks, and put it in each other’s hands and hearts.  Support and Love the women in your life~

Eastern Philosophy ~ Western Living ~ Infusion Astrology

About Laurissa:

Laurissa is an astrologer who likes to work with people to help them find answers to life's questions through her own interpretation called Infusion Astrology. She pulls from yoga, buddhism, astrology, intuition, and life to help guide people through their decision making processes. 

Relationships, Work, Family, Children, Travel and Location for Living are all part of her offering as part of her Infusion Astrology Readings.  Her mission is to enhance people's awareness in their own lives so that they are able to live to their fullest potential.  Her philosophy is that by taking care of ourselves and recharging our own batteries we are better able to assist the people who are in our lives and extend that energy into the environment as well.

Laurissa offers Astrology Guidance and is an Educator of Conscious Living and Yoga Meditation Teacher (500 Hour Yoga Alliance Certified Teacher) and has been practicing yoga and meditation for nearly a decade. 

To find out more information about workshops offerings and private sessions, visit her website at www.tribaltree.org or visit her facebook page .


You can also catch "The Weekly Vibe" show on BlogTalk Radio where Laurissa and Deb Kabin (Earthmother Holistic Events)  The Weekly Vibe Show