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Through this process, I have moved into a place of calm and serenity that I have not experienced in years

Dianne Mance

CONFERENCE MANAGER, WASHINGTON DC, USA

Newsletter No. 1: Aquarius / Imbolc

The Quickening

1st Feb 2008

Welcome to the first Alchemical Journey Newsletter! 

Contents:

  1. The Festival of Imbolc
  2. Fothcoming Events
  3. Free Alchemical Analysis
  4. Alchemical Journey Programme FAQs

1.  THE FESTIVAL OF IMBOLC - 1st / 2nd FEB:  Today is the day when the festival of Imbolc is traditionally celebrated.  Known in the Christian calendar as Candelmas, and associated with the honouring of the virgin Mary, so the alchemy of Imbolc represents a time of purification and renewal in the wheel of the year.  It is the time of the year when Nature is 'cleaning up', ready for a new cycle of growth in the spring.  At this time of the year we see the last of the Autumn debris of leaves and cast-off branches, the old, rotted fruit that was not destined for new growth or animal food is washed away by the rain and snow.  It is interesting to see that even in these times of global warming and climate disarray, the snow has indeed fallen, right on cue, in many parts of the UK.  I think of the ground, already seeded with potential, as being cleansed and prepared now to receive the new life that will burst forth in the spring. 

So as we learn from nature and respond to her rhythms and cycles, in our own alchemical journey, this is a time when we ourselves can be spring-cleaning our own minds and clearing out the deadwood from our lives so that we can receive the divine spark of new life, the creative fire that will burst forth onto the scene at the Spring Equinox in March.  Imbolc is often associated with nature's quickening pulse, the first stirrings of life.  The celtic word Imbolc actually means "in the belly" and originally referred to lambing process, the lambs stirring with their own quickening impulse for life in the belly of the ewe.  There is a quickening too in the shift of light and dark and the light now grows visibly stronger every day, with the days getting longer at an appreciably increasing rate, as we make our passage from winter into spring.   

Astrologically, at Imbolc, we are in the sign of Aquarius, the water bearer, the one who brings a new vision, within the constraints of a harsh winter, and offers the promise of spring rains, fertility and new growth.  In Egypt, Aqaurius was known as "The Great One" and was associated with the annual flooding of the Nile, the most important event of the Egyptian calendar which brought fertility to the Nile delta.  For those in the UK who know of Silbury Hill, synonymous with the great earth goddess near Avebury in Wiltshire, this is a time where an extraordinary phenomenon occurs and the water from the nearby Winterbourne river Kennet (a river which is literally Winter-born) fills the ditch around the great earth mound, forming the shape of the squatting mother goddess.  The nearby swallowhead spring, it has been suggested, would have been seen as part of the great mother goddess and it can still appear, from above, as a squatting mother whose waters are breaking.  (See Michael Dames' book, The Silbury Treasure, for more insight into this phenomenon).

So you might want to consider how, metaphorically speaking, the waters in your own life are breaking.  What might that creative spark of life be fror you?  How might you prepare the ground now, clear the way for the spark of more-than-human genius to enter your life?  What are you preparing to give birth to this year?  

2.  FORTHCOMING EVENTS:  We're now gearing up for the start of The Alchemical Journey's 2008-9 programme.  Deadline for enrolment is the Spring Equinox: Fri 21st March and the first weekend gathering is 28th-30th March.  The programme is running in Bristol and in Brighton. See www.thealchemicaljourney.com/theroutemap1.php for further details and dates. 

We have places available for the programme and the Early Bird Discount is available until 7th Feb.  See: www.thealchemicaljourney.com/theroutemap3.php for price information.

On Wednesday evening, we had a fabulous event at the Pierian Centre in Bristol where I performed The Alchemical Journey with Martin Solomon accompanying me on the harp.  This worked so well, that we are going to team up again later this month. 

3.  FREE ALCHEMICAL ANALYSIS:  I've just added an exciting new feature to The Alchemical Journey website.  You can sign up now for a free alchemical analysis report, based on the element balance (fire, earth, air, water) in your astrological birth chart.  These reports offer insight into which elements are strong for you, which are weak, and what this might mean for you. The report also offers guidance as to how to bring greater balance into your life.  I have customised these reports to relate specifically to the lessons inherent within the alchemical journey, so they really are quite unique.  I am just ironing out a few technical issues with the report writer, but, all being well, the reports will be ready to send out in about a week's time.

4.  ALCHEMICAL JOURNEY FAQs:  I've compiled some of the most common questions I've been asked about the programme and posted them on the website:

This brief Q & A may help you decide if the programme is for you.

    i) What am I likely to get out of this programme and what difference will it make to my life?

You can find my answer to this question at:  http://www.thealchemicaljourney.com/faq_1.php 

     ii) How is the programme facilitated / What kinds of things will we do?

You can find my answer to this question at:  http://www.thealchemicaljourney.com/faq_2.php

    iii)  How will the programme fit alongside my already busy life?

You can find my answer to this question at:  http://www.thealchemicaljourney.com/faq_3.php


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