Urban Shamanism

We're at the onset of the Taurus season and this Friday, we celebrate a very important Earth Day full of questions to ponder and revelations to witness. I had a vivid dream where I'd soiled my own clothes in public and was terribly ashamed, but was met with understanding rather than disgust, like a child whose mother knows that making a mess is part of childhood. Well, we've made a mess for thousands of years and yet, Mother Earth still cares for us diligently and lovingly. Sure, there are natural disasters in many places, it seems like the planet is mad at us for the way we've treated it, but most readers could attest to the benevolence of our living spaceship just by looking out the window, taking a walk, breathing the air and watching the trees and the skies. Even in deeply urbanized areas, the order of the world is evident in our artifices, our roads and buildings, the layout of our cities and towns. Perhaps many don't consider the works of mankind as part of nature, and indeed, these works are the core of the harmful effect that our presence has had on Earth, but they're still natural, like everything we do, because we're part of Nature and the Cosmos. Accepting and comprehending this is key: nothing we do goes against the design of Creation, and we couldn't possibly destroy the Universe or anything in it, only reshape it for our own good or ill.

Today's Rune, Ehwaz, is the Rune that I directly associate with my mother. She took into herself the pain of many and died of an extremely aggressive and painful cancer. She remains at my side always and harbors no grudges or regrets for the way she departed, even though she had to experience much disdain and ignorance when she was sick. She did what she did out of Love and shall ever be a loving entity as she ascends in her spiritual progress through the many layers of existence. She's here with me, partly an author of these very words through her insight and protection. Although she left this coil, she'll forever be a servant of the Light and in the Light I can find her when I have need of her succor, the thread the unites us is unbreakable. Same goes with the Earthly Mother, this planet that we inhabit; She stands with us and is immensely forgiving no matter how much suffering we inflict upon Her (and ourselves) in our foolishness and blindness.

Let Nature embrace you wherever you are, whatever you're doing. Let Her soothe your soul and take away the shame and the guilt through her ministrations. Let Her enter your Heart and dwell within, bringing order to your beating and your movement. She is in everything you can experience in the Cosmos, from stars and galaxies to the tiniest grain of sand. Fulfill your duties in the trust that She counsels your actions, that even the apparent mistakes that you make are part of the design that She embodies. Like the greatest of steeds, this world takes us swiftly across the void, its loyalty unfailing, its power unequivocal; like the greatest of homes, it cradles and sustains us, listening to our plights and complaints with the same attention as it heeds our prayers and gratitude. We needn't seek further for support and candor, a Mother's Love is inextinguishable and needs no reaffirmations.

Ehwaz. Horses, Instinct, Willpower

Horse power. The movement increases in potency and velocity, you cannot stop the flow but you can redirect it, find your focus and remain on your route. Those who stand in the way of the process of change shall be overwhelmed by the energy; step aside, don't meddle with the courses of others, witnessing the events without intervening also requires bravery. Manifest your wishes without imposing them, loyalty begins with the respect of the space of others. Trust your vehicle but do not remove your eyes from the road, avoid accidents. Moderate your words, what you say compels you; silence is better than insult and falsehood. The worst accusation is the one you issue against yourself, demanding more of yourself may be profitable but condemnation weakens you. Review your convictions, change your perspectives as many times as necessary, pride won't save you from the abyss. The watchful heart can penetrate the pretense of goodness and nobility.