We've now reached the middle period of Summer and with it the sign of Leo. At this point the cycle of elements has completed and we return to the Fire. Aries began the cycle with Cardinal or Moveable Fire, being the spark of new life that initiated the seasonal wheel. From this innocent new awareness we settled into the sign of Taurus, representing the Fixed mode of Earth, and took shape into our physical forms. In Gemini we entered the Mutable sign of Air and became aware of the other beings around us with which we could interact and communicate. From this interaction, in the Cardinal Water sign of Cancer we learned the inner reflection which gave rise to emotions. Now, with the first cycle complete, we are ready to express our own individuality through Leo.
As Aries is the spark, Leo is the flame. Leo is the heart, the soul, the passion and creativity that drives us in life. It is the steady burning flame at our core which fuels us. Leo is ruled by the Sun, which represents our eternal Soul. In this way, Leo is the truest expression of the Self. A healthy Leo brings out our unique talents and interests and brings them into play in our lives in a way that invigorates us and blesses those around us. This expression of the Soul is absolutely vital to our mental, physical, and spiritual health. We each have come into this world with a purpose for our lives. If this path is not followed, the Soul becomes enraged as if it were a trapped animal. It will breed resentment which will fester and eventually begin to decay the body and mind. This is unfortunately an all too common sight and has resulted in many of the classic stereotypes we see such as the salaryman slaving for the dollar and the burned out daydreaming housewife. Leo is the king. It must not compromise and must not be withheld from its purpose.
In keeping with its relation to the Soul and self-expression, Leo rules the heart. Leo can be thought of as a Solar aspect of the heart, while Cancer is the Lunar aspect, or the pericardium. This relationship has great significance in the practice of Hanuman Xigong as we cultivate the masculine and feminine powers of the heart center. The feminine power of the pericardium surrounds and empowers the heart, which in turn maintains the Soul's flame of inspiration that guides our lives toward our ultimate purpose and evolution just like a warrior king on the battle field.
To integrate the energy of Leo into our lives, consider the flame. Wherever it presents the flame is always the center of attention. It provides a place to gather for warmth in the cold. It becomes a place of dance and song in the heat of Summer. The flame burns bright as a pillar of inspiration. It is steady and strong, yet ever-changing in its shape and colors as it dances and sways. The flame is not shy about itself. It takes all of its beauty and puts it on full display for the world to see and enjoy. In this same way, we each have a unique skillset which can be used to do the two things a great king is most known for: to gain glory for himself and to bring blessings and prosperity to his subjects. To bring out the energy of Leo, we must bring out those talents and put them into action in the world. The Fire element is all about action. It doesn't like to be kept hidden. Often we are shy and self-critical about the things we enjoy or the talents we have been given. But this is merely suppressing the flame that burns within us. Leo gives us the inspiration to go forth regardless of criticism and express ourselves to the fullest. Here we learn to relax and just have fun. Life is not such a serious thing that we can't enjoy the journey.
댓글