Now that we are consciously attuned to the cyclical nature of everything, it is humbling to recognize the true nature of life unfolding. The weekend of our Cancer workshop was no exception. It coincided with several powerful astrological alignments, including the first of seven Pluto/Uranus squares taking place over the next three years. Some believe these aspects correspond to the breaking of the seven seals referred to in John's Revelations in the Bible. Synchronicity is telling me that this is true and the day also coincided with St. Jean Baptiste Day!

How were these energies going to play out in respect to our Cancer connection? Cancer rules the home and is the most maternal of the sun signs. In the old days, the safety and security provided for the individual by the success of the tribe. Within the Cancer vibration, this has lead to a reliance on the tribe or family for our personal security. The shadow side of this vibration is an expected commitment from the individual to the way the tribe operates including its limiting beliefs and values. For a free, creative spirit this can cause all sorts of challenges, often leading to conflict with the more traditional members of the family.

Remarkably, on this weekend alone, I had the opportunity to experience four separate occasions when several groups or tribes, not knowing each other, came together to celebrate one individual common to all the tribes! It was fascinating to see this play out in a most beautiful, harmonious and collaborative way, which has not always been the case in past history.

Right at the beginning of our alchemical journey on the west side of Mt. Doug at the parking lot at the end of Glendenning, it became clear that another "Tribe" were gathering to perform ceremony. In the old days this might have led to territorial conflict, but on this occasion, we decided to join together in a sacred blessing to wish each other well for the day. We then set off on our separate journeys and we headed up to the cave of the ancestors where we were going to open sacred space for the day. As we were about to start, the other group came walking up the trail and so we invited them to join us.

Our Zia, opened space in the Incan tradition, in the four  directions, as above and so below. After we had finished the other group offered to open space in the traditional native North American way by drumming, so we opened space a second time. This was really significant, because here were the tribal representatives of South and North America working in peace, harmony and collaboration together, fulfilling the prophecy that when the Eagle and Condor fly together, peace will reign on Earth. Later in the day, we saw the Turkey Vulture (North American equivalent of the Condor) and the Bald Eagle soaring together over Mt.Doug- confirmation of this moment.

We made our way to Mt. Doug Picnic area for our potluck picnic lunch and discussed the energies of the day, Cancer qualities, and our need to let go of any attachments to anything that is preventing us from moving forward on our sacred quest.

 Zia had a personal challenge. She had received a message from her Incan Elders requesting that all Medicine Bundle Carriers, open their bundles and, "Lay their Stones to Rest!" This bundle is the MOST precious possession of the Medicine Woman. The reason given was that the Summer Solstice on June 21st was the end of the Old World and the New World was to begin. This required the release of everything connected to the old way, all old paradigms, beliefs and structures-Phew!

Zia chose to go down to the water's edge on the beach at Mt.Doug, where the fresh water from Douglas Creek meets the ocean and cast her Stones free. What an example for all of us to follow! Shedding our old skin and allowing the new to emerge. As Cancer is a water sign, this was the perfect site and now we climbed part way up the mountain to the source of a sacred spring amongst a grove of old growth trees.

There we sat in quiet reflection receiving sustenance from the source of all that is. Zia made her appearance here in a stunningly beautiful silver and blue mask representing the energies of Cancer. She led us to two trees joined at the

base, separating as they ascended, leaving a gap between the two trunks, just big enough to step through. This was the site of our symbolic stepping through the "Eye of the Needle". Letting go of all of our baggage, issues and attachments to the material World. Once through we stepped into a beautiful fairy land of an elegant, elemental Arbutus forest, with a magnificent view, overlooking the Ocean and mountains beyond-our Garden of Eden.

The Temple of the Stars pilgrimage always involves some sort of physical challenge as part of the journey and now we were to hike to the top of Mt.Doug, scaling the mountain from bottom to top through our own chakra system as well as the mountains-as within, so without-the inner and outer alchemical journey of transformation. We paused at different spots taking in the vistas and tuning in to the changing energies, as we moved through different frequencies associated with each chakra.

Our final ceremony at the peak was at the same site where we anchored the energies last year with the Lemurian Seed Crystal. This year we were working with the vibration of alchemical Silver which is the precious metal associated with Cancer and the Moon. We completed our Silver ceremony and took some time to take in the magnificent mountain top scenes at what is one of the most significant vortex sites in the "Temple of the Stars", Victoria Landscape Zodiac.

We are now perfectly poised for a three month journey of the Trinity through Leo (Aug.5th), Virgo (Sept.2nd) and Libra (Oct 7th) to co-create our Philosopher's Stone!