New Mysteries of the Black Madonna decks

 

I have copies of the Mysteries of the Black Madonna tarot decks arriving at the end of May.

I offer pre-orders on my website at www.hergracesacredart.com

Currently these are locked for patrons of my patreon as this is one of 

their benefits of supporting my work on an on-going basis.

The Mysteries of the Black Madonna deck now comes with black edging

I am also crafting a new bag for the decks, similar to the style of the Mysteries of Mary decks.

The bag is black, with the gold satin lining and trim, but now with an added

holy card of the Dark Mother and Holy Child.

Pre-orders will be opened up on Sunday 21 May 2023

in bhakty

Hettienne

The Spirit of Tarot - the search for God's picture book exhibition

 The Spirit of Tarot : The Search for God's Picture book is an exhibition at the Graduate Theological Union, in Berkeley California from 28 October 2021 to January 28, 2022. At the moment is it only an in-person exhibition, but it will probably become an online one next year, according to the exhibition archivist David Stiver.

The exhibition is entitled The Spirit of Tarot : the search for God's picture book and is introduced with a quote from the book, The Tarot of Lenora Carrington.

The tarot is not meant solely for divination purposes. Each suggest navigation devices where a poetics of the unconscious is available for immediate exploration. These cards may be consulted as subliminal objects, separate from rationality; they give access to magical environments. Because the subliminal body might be conceived as an out-of-the-body experience, it also entails a liberation from the rational corporeal form. The body is able to travel through subconscious doorways. - Susan Aberth and Tere Arcq (Fulgur Press, 2021)

The Graduate Theological Union is a private college founded to support graduate theological education and promote ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, the GTU’s location enabled access to the resources of the University of California, Berkeley, as well as with Stanford University according to the website www.gtu.edu

My work was submitted for consideration to be included in the exhibition by Prof Kate Barush, author of Imaging Pilgrimage. See my previous post.

http://bookofmarysacredheart.blogspot.com/2021/10/imaging-pilgrimage-art-as-embodied.html

 

A selection of 12 tarot decks were chosen for the exhibition, reflecting an inter-spiritual, intercultural spectrum and both the Mysteries of Mary and the Mysteries of the Black Madonna have been included. According to David Stiver, the exhibition is done in a circle with each display facing the centre. My decks are flanked by Vicky Noble's Motherpeace and Paul Foster Case's Bota tarot deck.

 

Other decks included are The Cards of U'Ut by Ellis Nadler, The Tarot by Lenore Carrington, The new tarot for the Aquarian Age by John Starr Cooke and Rosalind Sharpe, The Jungian Tarot by Robert Wang, The Native American Tarot by Magda Weck Gonzalez, The Bay Area Tarot by Melina Alexa Ramirex, The Hoodoo Tarot by Tayanna Quillar and the Rider-Waite tarot.

What an incredible honour for the Mysteries of Mary and the Mysteries of the Black Madonna to be included in this selection!

blessings

Hettienne

Update on progress with the Mysteries of the Black Madonna tarot deck

 Mary the Holy Tree from the Mysteries of the Black Madonna tarot deck

I want to give you an update on the progress of the Mysteries of the Black Madonna deck.

The progress is going well and, as always, there are many unexpected twists and turns. Just when I thought that I had completed everything and now it is a simple matter of 'putting it all together', I am being gifted with radiant images and clarity from the cauldron of the unconscious and I am right now in the process of making very important changes to the deck. When I set out to create this deck I had an idea and a vision and this deck is surpassing all those expectations.

Also, I had forgotten how many little details there are to take care of to get a deck published. We are in lockdown level 3 in South Africa and everything is taking much longer than anticipated. I dont have to explain to you, we are all in the same boat.

My intended shipping date for the first pre-orders were set at end of March or end April. Right now the expected shipping out date for the first batch of pre-orders are set at end April and it will continue into May 2021.

Shipping for the second set of pre-orders will still start on time during May and June.

Thank you for your support and patience. I will add the second payment listing for those who have made one payment and you can pay the balance when the decks are ready to ship.

I will continue to share updates here, also on Patreon and

on Instagram @walkingwithmary

www.hergracesacredart.com

blessings

Hettienne

Twelve Days of Mary - Day 14 December 2020

Today is the first day of the third week of

Walking with Mary

The IX of Distaff in Mysteries of Mary tarot

The Holy Shekinah

Proverbs 31:19 In her hand she holds the distaff. Her hands

are spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber ....... 

Mishlei (Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible) She stretches forth her hands

onto the distaff and her hands support the spindle.  She spreads out her hand

to the poor man and she stretches her hands out to the needy.

She fears not for her household for snow, as all her household

is dressed in crimson.  She makes beautiful bedspreads

for herself;  fine linen and purple wool are her raiment.

These passages refer to women, skilled in the art of weaving, weaving

the curtains of the Tabernacle, or the veils of the holy of holies.

The curtain of the holy of holies, the innermost chamber of the temple,

is also a reference to the Veiled Sacred Woman of the World,

the Veiled Isis and the veiled images of

Pistis Sophia or Lady Wisdom.

From these passages we deduct that the Holy Shekinah weaves the curtain,

and that women in the world do the work of weaving.

If a woman or man's heart is uplifted in adoration to the

Shekinah, the Divine Feminine in all creation, and she or he is

devoted to Her, the person will become at one with Holy Shekinah

and the Shekinah (the hidden sacred feminine Presence) becomes

manifest in the person and what s/he weaves or manifests,

the Shekinah weaves, or manifests.

This week is dedicated to

the Suit of Distaff in the Mysteries of Mary tarot

and the archetype of

Mary as Sophia, Our Lady of Wisdom, Shekinah

and the colours are Green, Dark Blue and Purple

(its not limited to these colours only as there infinite

ways of interpreting the inner wisdom)

The element is Air.

There are various elements in this week's stories and focus.

We will work with the red thread, scissors, veil, knitting,

weaving and sewing.

It will add meaning to your work this week, if you add some

of these elements to your altar.

If you have not been wearing a veil up till now, then you

may want to consider wearing one for the practise of this week.

These are all symbolic actions which speak powerfully to the

subconscious and unconscious mind and you may be surprised

at what comes to the surface of your consciousness when

you use the ritual tools.

A practise that I have done for many years and have shared it with

others over time, is to embroider my veil as a contemplative practise.

I work simple patterns in silk or wool and attach pieces or charms

that have special meaning to me, on the borders.

I have a number of these shawls that have travelled the world

with me and I have worn them when visiting places sacred to the Mother.

The Suit of Distaff is the suit of peace and the Veils of Mary.

Before the invention of the spinning wheel, the spinning of wool

or flax were done by women using a spindle and a distaff.  The spindle

was a long spool to hold and spin the wool and the distaff a short rod

with an opening or branches at the top for holding the flax or wool.

The top of the distaff had the shape  V and has been called the

sword of peace.

According to the dictionary the word distaff took on the

meaning of 'woman's work' and eventually of 'woman'. 

It is still used to refer to the female side of the family.

Mary, like the goddesses of old, has a rich tradition of weaving 

similarly to Persephone, Kore and Athena and her role in weaving the

temple veil is an important event in the holy story.

Preparing the red thread

Before the wool and flux could be spun, it had to be prepared. 

The red thread represents the sacred red wool which forms

the the thread of our lives, our connections to each other and

our connection to Mary Sophia, the Divine Spirit, both within and without.

In the temple Mary was given the red and purple wool to spin.

The red represents the earthly life of blood and flesh and the

purple symbolises royalty and divinity signifying the 

sacred marriage of flesh and spirit in the conception and birth

of her holy child and the holy child that each one of us carry

within ourselves.

We are a divine weaving of flesh and spirit.

The young Mary, as one of the sacred virgins, preparing

the flux in the temple.

I choose to refresh my altar.  I clean my space and for this week

I continue to burn frankincense on the charcoal burner

and I add Frankincense oil to the rose oil in my oil burner.

You only add one or two drops

and it is a very special blend.

It is a very expensive oil and you may choose to rather

continue with eucalyptus and rose.

Frankincense has a very high vibration and you only need

a few drops at a time as it can become very overpowering.

The sanctification of our sacred altars

Mantra for blessing and sanctification
Ave Maria Sanctum Gloriae
Ave Maria Sanctum Gloriae
Ave Maria Sanctum Gloriae
OM

Repeat the full mantra 3 or 6 times.  You can keep count with your rosary
or prayer beads. Then place your hands on your shawl and move to the rosary
and all items on your altar.  Place your hands on the container with water.  If you choose
to drink the water afterwards, keep a small amount for the next day.  You can
daily add to the water and by the end of the thirty days you will have water
with powerful healing properties. 

You can add this healing (holy) water to your bath or food.  

The Immaculate Practise for week 3

The holy is within.

Within is everywhere

Within is all

Hail Mary

Ave Maria

In the Mysteries of the Mother

all the opposites are joined

Hail Mary

Ave Maria

Mantra
The Sanskrit word 'mantra' means protection of the mind.

Om Jai Mata Mary Ma
Jai Jai Ma

(Hail triumphant Creatrix Divine Mother Mary
Victorious Mother)

Draw a card for the week and place next to your two cards

for weeks one and two  on your altar.

If you have not done so yet, contemplate on how

the card of the previous week manifested in your life.

Keep all the cards on the altar and at the end we 

will read all four cards together as a story.

  You may want to keep your journal or a piece of paper at hand

and make a few notes every morning.

Every morning when you sit down for your communion with Mary, 

gaze on the card

that you picked a few days ago,
 and when you have completed your mantra, write down any 

thoughts, feelings, sensations, without judgement and analysis.

At the end of the seven days you will have a deeper understanding of 

your journey.

Sit quietly for a few minutes, just allowing yourself absorb

 the energy you have invoked.
Enjoy it ...... feel the presence of the Sacred embracing you, 

flowing all around you.
We rejoice in our physical nature, appreciating this 

time to pause and remember the holy
purpose of our lives.  We feel gratitude for those 

travelling with us on this path of love
and freedom.  Feel a smile forming on your face.  

You are happy to be here in this
peaceful inner place.  Let there be peace.  

Gently refocus on the outer world and carry this peace
with you into the world.

blessings

Hettienne

Walking with Mary December 2020

 

When you pray to Mary, mother of Jesus, you pray, without knowing it,

to the World Mother in her many forms. -  The Mists of Avalon

Many of us have been waiting for the Thirty Days of Walking with Mary 

and the time is drawing near.

I invite you to join us, the Walking with Mary community in a 30 day practice
with the metaphor, Sacred Presence and iconography of Blessed Mary. 

This practice is based on the initiations into the Temple of Mary
for the past ten years, the archetypes of the Mysteries of Mary tarot deck and for

the first time I am including some of the Mysteries of the Black Madonna tarot deck that

will be printed in early 2021.

Each Thirty Days with Mary is slightly different, but the basic
outline stays consistent. I like to add new prayers and practices every time

but I also know that many like the comfort of consistency and the known

and then there are many who are joining in for the first time.

The Mexican Virgin of Guadalupe is not a typical artistic image in the sense of its creation and expression. In fact, it is not a painting; it is an imprint of the spiritual world upon earthly matter.

The Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico is truly a miracle and a one of a kind representation of the Madonna - Stephanie Georgieff

This year we start on Tuesday 1 December 2020

You can participate wherever you are and you can spend as much time as you can afford to on the daily practice.  The month of Walking with Mary will include special prayers, contemplation, spiritual exercises and tools to uncover your own Sacred Heart and strengthen your relationship with 

the Blessed Mother Mary.

This is a free event and open to everyone

If you subscribe by email, you will receive the updates in your inbox.

I have an Instagram account @walkingwithmary and if you tag me I will share

some of your posts with the community and others will be able to find you

and follow along.

Over the next few days I will share here a few items that you have to collect and prepare beforehand.

If you own the Mysteries of Mary tarot deck and/or the  Amulets of Mary Healing Oracle,

you can bring them to this retreat.

We will consecrate our decks and we will set up a special Walking with Mary altar.  

Subscribe to this blog (http://bookofmarysacredheart.blogspot.com) on the right hand side under the tab 'subscribe by email' and you will receive weekly blog posts setting out the teachings of Mary and her many roles;  I will share sacred healing practices with you and you will receive instructions on how to do the Silent Heart meditation and how to receive the Sacred Heart diksha which you will practice on a daily basis.

You will experience the flowering of peace and joy and you will see the changes in your personal life unfold as you walk these thirty days with Mary.

The Hearth of Mary is on Patreon and during the month of December I will share extra exclusive content with patrons.  During these 30 days of Walking with Mary I will share a special mantra and invocation of the Black Virgin (in the Black Madonna tier and higher up) and very importantly,

I will share mystical practices and prayers specifically devoted to the Mexican Virgin of Guadalupe

on Walking with Mary tier and all higher tiers.

The outline of these thirty days are :

Week 1 Tuesday 1 December to Sunday 6 December

Mary the Immaculate Conception

The suit of Vessels

0

Week 2 Monday 7 December to Sunday 13 December  

The Sacred Heart of Mary 
and the archetype of Mary as the Holyrood

Celebration on 9 December - the first vision of the Virgin of Guadalupe and

12 December of Our Lady of Guadalupe feast day

0

Week 3 Monday 14 December to Sunday 20 December

Mary as Sophia, Our Lady of Wisdom, Shekinah

0

Week 4 Monday 21 December to Thursday 31 December 2020

Mary Queen of Roses, the Earth and Theotokos

blessings

Hettienne

The Mysteries of the Black Madonna tarot deck

 

I am so excited to share with you some of the artwork of the

Mysteries of the Black Madonna tarot deck.

The deck will be launched for pre-orders on my website

Her Grace Sacred Art

on 12 December 2020 for patrons of my Patreon with special discounts and other offers.  These will be shared with all patrons in posts on Patreon closer to the time.  I am still waiting on pricing, delivery dates and other details.

On 19 December 2020 I will open the purchasing of the deck to everyone else.

I will also make clear the expected delivery dates and shipping methods. At this stage I am planning for delivery in February or March via DHL Express Couriers. You can read more below.

I will be offering a gilded version as well and it will be accompanied by a handmade pouch and other small details and extras.  

I share regularly on Instagram and Facebook

You will find me on Instagram @bhaktymayi_ma and @walkingwithmary

I know many of you have been following along on social media and are as excited as I am to start working with this deck.  When I created the Mysteries of Mary tarot deck I never anticipated that there would be such a demand and love for the deck.  I really created the deck for myself and for my own use as there was no deck available that included esoteric Christianity and its ancient roots.  As an artist I also wanted to capture the mystical metaphor of these stories in a visual artwork.

Shipping challenges

Just before the global lockdown earlier this year I shipped a large number of decks worldwide and many of them were caught up in the chaos that followed.  It has taken days of following up, answering enquiries from buyers and trying to track parcels and then South Africa shut its borders and closed all businesses for five months!  The parcels that were eventually shipped once our borders opened, are taking weeks and months to arrive and tracking is turned on and off as other countries are going back into lockdown.  

Limited numbers of decks to be printed

I will print a limited number of decks of the Mysteries of the Black Madonna tarot in January 2021 when the printing industry return to work after the annual Christmas break (which is three weeks).  

Shipping with DHL Express Courier

And I will not ship international airmail unless shipping conditions have completely improved at the time of shipping.  I have negotiated a lesser rate from DHL Couriers and have been using them with great success.  Delivery by DHL takes place, with the parcel being delivered into your hands, within a week and they also have a no-contact delivery option. 

Walking with the Holy Black Mother

I have been creating this deck full-time for the past four years.  Some of the sites holy to the Black Mother, I visited as a pilgrim over the past 25 years and I reflected my relationship with their Essence in poetry and paintings.  My understanding and relationship with Black Mary deepened and intensified and the past three years I was presented with deep soul work in my personal life which can only be attributed to her incisive and transformation action in my inner world and reflected in life around me.  I lived through deep and tragic loss of loved ones and other potent changes. My research into her stories, myths, miracles and history opened my eyes and removed many veils of ignorance and assumption about the true nature and meaning of the Black Madonna. 

The backs of  the cards

 I do not regard myself as an academic expert on the Black Madonnas nor their historical background, but I do know her intimately.  At 17, during a deep crisis in my life, I had a life altering  kundalini awakening and for many years I struggled with deep grief and depression and chronic illness and my spiritual path led me to a great healing of the soul.  Working so intimately with the Black Mother of us all, I stared into the face of the abyss again, and I was dragged through the flames of the inferno.  This deck carries that energy and it is presented as a path of initiation to embodiment of Lady Wisdom and the other aspects of the black mother. 

The Hearth of Mary on Patreon

 Eighteen months ago I started a Walking with Mary community on Patreon and it expanded into the Order of the Dove, a path of self-initiation in the shaktypat tradition of the Mother.  From the start it was an agreement from my side to my loyal patrons that they will have first access to purchase the deck and that they will get special discounts.  Without the support of my patrons I would not have been able to complete this deck in this time.  They provided an income for myself and my assistant, to continue with the creative process and being able to spend enough time away from the world in order to integrate the path and its many twists and turns.

More decks to be printed

I will follow up with the printing of bigger numbers of decks but I may have to stagger the shipping dates as it is too difficult to currently ship such big numbers out.  South Africa is still in level 1 lockdown and the local DHL agent is a small office with one dedicated staff member.  I understand that buyers become frustrated and impatient when promised something and it takes much longer than expected. 

blessings

Hettienne

Mysteries of the Black Madonna Tarot Deck

 

I have been working on the Mysteries of the Black Madonna tarot deck

for the past four years - well actually the past 20 years without realising it.

The deck is now nearing completion and all 78 sacred altars have been completed.

As with the Mysteries of Mary tarot deck, a substantial guidebook will be printed.

Pre-orders are set to open at the end of October and shipping will start in

2021 - date to be announced.  I will print a limited number of decks

only and patrons on my Patreon account will get early access to orders.

I will also issue discount coupons to patreons based on the length of time that

they have been supporting my on-going work.

Without the support of my patrons I would not have been able to complete this

deck and book.

I have been creating small travel altars with miniature Black Madonna statues

that I brought back from pilgrimages - obviously there are only a limited number

of these and they will be offered for sale with early access to my patrons.

The first 50 decks will be accompanied by a miniature Black Madonna statue.

Exciting news!

I will be adding a new tier on the French Madonna community on Patreon

where you will receive a miniature statue of Mary, Mary Magdalene, the Black Madonna,

Mater Dolorosa and others every month.  These statues are limited editions and the same designs will

not be repeated.

I will post an update soon on this new tier.

Follow on Instagram @walkingwithmary and @bhaktymayi_ma

Patreon you will find here

www.patreon.com/thefrenchmadonna

blessings to you

Hettienne

Resurrection and regeneration

In the light of the opening of the Lionsgate, I am re-posting an earlier post here.

Resurrection, Regeneration and Re-birth

These are words and images desired by all and often pursued with great intent and focus. But, alas, this part of the journey implies a preceding destruction, dissolution and death - something which the human mind would rather deny or avoid at all costs.

Nothing can be created without destroying something else. Anyone who is consciously creating art, will know this principle well. Often one becomes paralyzed at the thought of breaking down that which seems to be serving you well and that which has proven a worthy vehicle, but you cannot build without breaking down. Even if it only means that where previously there was an empty space of land, and you now create a new building, you still have to destroy the empty land.

And this also holds true for the self. Leaving the old behind invites that you step into the unknown, into a new part of the adventure, without a map and without a clear detailed plan. This calls for great courage and action - both characteristics of the heart chakra. Action as in an inner attitude, a willingness to do things differently, a willingness to let go of who you think or believe you are. For instance, it is no use telling your partner or your family, that 'you are not an emotionally demonstrative person' when you know that he/she is yearning for some display of affection from you. It is about reaching out, taking the risk, becoming vulnerable, and doing that which your heart calls for. This can be something really small - look at it as a pebble on the surface of a lake - the smallest pebble creates many circles and ever-widening circles - the same as love in action.

The human resists change, but life is an ever-changing flow, with nothing permanent or 'absolute'. Everything depends on your perspective, your beliefs and your paradigm. Many sages have set out to demonstrate this reality to seekers, but the power of the mind and its fear of change and the unknown is very strong and this is seated in the lower parts of the brain, known as the primitive or reptilian brain and the limbic brain (more about this in further blogs).

The answer lies in the higher functions of the brain - illumination and 'enlightenment' is a function of the higher brain and accessible to all human beings! The activation of higher neural pathways in the brain, is the goal of all energy healing, mystical traditions, practices and very importantly, the goal of meditation. Activate the higher pathways of the brain and you will be re-born into a new reality - one where it is possible to live with the tension of the opposites; where you will know, as the Shaman, that it is possible to live in your own reality, beyond the laws that govern the world created by the lower mind, artist and creator of your own life - albeit always as a part of the whole. Entering the domain of the artist/creator/shaman does not equate the status of 'God'/Creator/AllThatIs. We are a spark of the Fire and we are both nothing and everything, mortal and immortal, of no consequence and of every consequence. This is part of the paradox that will become clear to you as you step into direct encounters with the 'mystical' world. (I place many of these words in apostrophes as they are all words laden with belief and conditioning. The way in which I use them will only become clear to you if you continue to read my words and gain a deeper understanding of the meaning that I am trying to convey to you).

By activating the higher pathways of the brain, the old recording and habitual (mostly negative) thinking is erased. The gates are opened to a peaceful existence without fear and anxiety rooted in the cellular memory and generated by the primitive and limbic parts of the brain. The entire energy structure of the human being is transformed. The luminous body grows and expands and the higher chakras become active. A large and powerful energy field is created, radiating compassion and tolerance and others are attracted to this Love.

A new way of understanding and thinking will become natural and this is available to everyone as part of their evolution into a 'spiritual divine' being. But in order to activate these higher centres, you have to do the work and above all, you have to allow the changes to take place. You have to die to the old, spend time in the cave of death and the Underworld, going through the pain of loss, and face the fear of death, before you can be resurrected into a new you. This is a physical and real initiation. Undergoing energetic and mystical initiations cannot replace the physical initiation. They can prepare your mind and test your willingness, but ultimately, you have to walk the talk and you will be given the opportunity to be tested. You will undergo this initiation many times until you finally face the final initiation, that of mortal and physical death. Should you pass these initiations, and grow 'wings' as you return from each one, it is said that you will retain knowledge of your personal essence and you will not be re-absorbed into the river of unconsciousness after the final death of the body.

Often one starts with a spiritual practice and changes (as promised) will arrive on your doorstep. However, because these do not fit in with your paradigm and your ideas of who you are and where you are going, you ignore these messengers. The spiritual traditions are all vulnerable to distortion to suit your own, or your spiritual leader's needs and agenda. Everything that looks like gold, is not always gold. The shadow is a powerful adversary and a wonderful instrument in service of the fearful self. When the self fears change and the unknown, it will employ the shadow self as a servant in the game of keeping you in the dark. We have many tools to our disposal, such as rationalisation, justification, postponement, sloth (the lack of courageous action, the lack of integrity), and others. The shadow is a master of distortion and will use well-known spiritual terminology and concepts to hold you prisoner. When fear is present, love is absent.

That then, is the test. Am I in fear or am I in Love? There is no other choice. If you are not in love, then set about discovering why you are in fear. Ask the questions and live the questions. Be patient. Eventually you will live the answers.

The Golden Light of Resurrection

 

The past few weeks have been intense for many people.  I have seen posts about 'feeling stuck in the Underworld' and I  myself have become intensely aware of seeing an increase in distraction around me.  So much so that I decided to decrease all my creativity and I even felt called to suspend my research on the Black Madonna tarot deck and to rather focus on the practical activity of packing my bags for my upcoming pilgrimage.

My dreams have been intense and vivid although the core message remained unclear. The Golden Light has been increasing and becoming more and more intense.  I tried to manifest and make visible to the world the intensity of the golden light.

Contained within this Light is the balance between mind and heart; soul and body. On a physical level it inspires you to bring the health and welfare of your body into alignment with your soul.  Emotionally it asks that you clear out, in other words, that you forgive the past, cut the cords and let go of all the old baggage.  The more you can let go of, the more beautiful will the resurrection (more on this) be.

Then the Diamond Light started to become more and more visible.  A certain clarity and also a 'cold light of day' started to enter.  You may have experienced this as seeing things more clearly all of a sudden and you may be pleasantly surprised by new perceptions.  But mostly, you will feel the squeeze of being pushed to decide what it is that you really want.  You will feel the intensity of having to decide when actually all you want to do is to hide you head under the blankets and shout 'leave me alone'.  A re-balancing of the mind and heart is happening.  The sacred marriage is being called for, over and over.  Is the feminine present?  Do you know what your heart wants or is your mind so dominant that you can no longer feel the yearning of your passion and desire?  Have you given up hope and do you feel that you cannot get what you want?

Maybe being born under the sun sign of Capricorn and being a visionary artist (one that sees the imaginal in the physical) my body is my biggest interpreter of cosmic consciousness and the changes in the Divine Cosmos.  This can be quite tough at times and on my ordinary life, but maybe that is the idea!  

I have shared some of my painful and enlightening experiences before, such as the spider bite and the wasp sting.  Each one of these have opened up energetic centers in my brain which has allowed me to download vivid visions and understanding as to what is happening in the Cosmos.  I share these with you as it is an integral part of life and it reminds us of the bigger picture and not to sweat the small stuff.  It has become the mainstay of my life and the ground of my being and I invite you to firmly root yourself into the Tree of Life which spans heaven and earth. Pay attention to what is happening around you.  Free your mind from mental clutter and on-going conversations and rather keep the screen blank so that your senses can wake up.  We are part of a much bigger story and lots of what is happening around us is just entertainment and advertisements for others' selling their wares.  You have a special mission and purpose and you are receiving communication from the Cosmic every moment of every day.

This week my garden was invaded by bees - thousands of bees.  They churned around in my sacred Mary garden outside my bedroom.  During the years I have held many rituals and group meditations here in this sacred space.  The biggest Mary leyline also runs through this space.  I did not connect the dots as I observed the bees crashing themselves against my windows and trying to find ways to enter the house.  The doors were left open and many had found their way in already.  Google was summoned and I read again about the dire plight of the bees and that they probably are in need of food.  I put out raw honey (which they were not interested in) and maple syrup which they loved.  I moved these further and further away to try and lure them away from the house. But alas, none of this helped.  For three days they stayed and in that time, in short succession, three bees stung me.  One on my left foot on exactly the same spot as the wasp a few months ago and two others found their way in under my dress and stung me on my left leg.  I had once again received bee medicine! And it is intense and painful and impossible to ignore!! And the first words I hear were : 'resurrection, resurrection, resurrection'.

My previous life changing vision which identified the opening of the Lionsgate also included the words  'resurrection'. 

Here is the Lionsgate in this card from Mysteries of Mary
Do you see the two lions?

Here is the vision from a previous blog post :

'We were all gathered in the courtyard.  The light had the luminosity of the Otherworld.  In the centre of the courtyard grew the Tree of Life, its trunk twisted and gnarled, housing an entire city of light.  The sound of the heavens played in its leaves.  I was below, at the base of the trunk, in my role as healer.  I blessed those that came up to me.  A man sat down in front of me, asking for healing.  As I placed my hands on him, I felt the healing power coursing through my body and flowing down my arms and hands.  I was familiar with this transference of healing energy and was unperturbed.  The next moment he jumped up, amazement on his face.  He shouted out "look at that beautiful being!!".  Before I turned around I was aware of the pillar of light behind me and as I turned around I said 'oh yes, that is Serapis.  I saw a beautiful light being in intense white light.

As I was looking at this pillar of light which my Self recognised as Serapis, the vision expanded.  A lion appeared from the branches of the Tree of Life,  facing the East and the rising Sun.  She growled and her mane shook and reverbated and the hair became one with the branches of the giant tree.  She roared into the sky, 'Osiris!!!!' resurrection, resurrection.

As I was watching the scene in awe, my lips formed the word FORTEZA and I continued chanting this word as I returned to consciousness.

 It was clear to me that the message from the bees was connected to the previous lion vision I had but I was not yet sure how.  However, in both cases the core message was 'resurrection and regeneration'.  I sat down and 'looked' within my inner book chamber for the connection between the bee and the lion.

'And Samson turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion' - Judges 14:8.

The bee is a symbolic insect in Egypt and the theology of that era identified the lion with Sekhmet, the Lionness Goddess and the bees came forth from the Lion Sekhmet.

The goddess Asherah is also associated with the lion and the bee and you can read more about her symbology in my guidebook to The Mysteries of Mary.  Here is the link to a previous blogpost that I wrote a few years ago on the vision of Serapis, the Lion and the Tree :   

http://bookofmarysacredheart.blogspot.com/2013/08/asherah-lady-of-wisdom-queen-of-heaven.html

Three bees around Her head

Both these two cards symbolise alchemy and transformation

as does the bee. The bee has been regarded as a sacred being as far back in time as we know.  Without the bees humanity will not survive on this planet.  The ancient goddesses have all been worshipped as the Queen Bee and the metaphors are abundant.   A bee alchemically turns pollen into golden honey, also known as amrit or sacred food of the gods.  The sting of a bee is exceptionally painful, but healing at the same time.  It boosts the body's immune system and is a known therapy for many diseases.  Honey is known as one of the greatest natural healers and healing food on the planet.  In Egyptian and Judaic lore we are told that all we need is milk and honey.  In the 3 of Distaff, the three swords that pierce the Great Mother's heart, has been replaced by three roses.  This is based on the story of the apparition of the Rosa Mystica.  The healing power of love and forgiveness, transform the pain of betrayal, hurt and rejection into the sweet fragrant rose blooms, symbolising the Soul in her natural state of beauty, truth and love.

The bees are regarded as the tears of the goddess Sekhmet; the great mother who cries for her children's suffering.  But wisdom teaches us that through mortal suffering our hearts are opened and we come to taste absolute love and joy.

The entrance through the hidden gate 

 Last night the next stage of the Lionsgate opened and a higher reality has become available to us.  For those who live with awareness and in the present moment, many changes are awaiting. 

Resurrection, resurrection, resurrection.

In the goddess temples of Diana, Artemis and other Black Goddesses, the bees were regarded as souls of the dead.  In Egyptian lore the bees were regarded as the tears of Ra, similar to the tears of the Great Mother who weeps at the suffering of her children.

But transformation awaits to those who are willing to change their minds;  be prepared to see beyond what you believe;  be willing to see where you are stuck in the dark corner of your mind;  open your heart and do what your mind fears most!!! 

I regularly read Marcia of StarSister Astrology's updates.

Here is the link to her site : http://starsisterastrology.com/

and she writes the following : (copied from her facebook page)

Our Messenger (Mercury) has begun a 25-day vision quest through the heart. He's searching for what you've lost, forgotten, or haven't noticed about the part of your life that's ruled by Leo, the sign of our solar system's Great Heart.

Beginning on the eve of this century's longest total lunar eclipse, this realignment of mind and heart will take the Messenger through territory he's been exploring through four different retrogrades since 2000. For 18 years, he's been helping you see the power of the heart.

2000 was the last year that Luna made the deep shadow dive of a total lunar eclipse in Saros cycle 129. The next eclipse in that cycle is the one taking place tomorrow -- both of them the longest eclipses in their centuries.

Since it began at the North Pole in 1351, the height of the Italian Renaissance, Saros cycle 129 has been winding its way towards the South Pole, eclipse by eclipse. Every 18 years it's brought revelations about the stunningly destructive and brilliantly creative ways it's possible to use the radiant power that's live-streamed to us from the Sun every minute of our lives.

The lunar eclipses of June 1964, July 1982, July 2000, and July 2018 are the strongest ones in the 1,262-year Saros cycle. Tomorrow's eclipse is the last peak in this wave. And Mercury has turned retrograde to make sure we get the message.

And that's not all. The starting point of this year's retrograde vision quest is the same degree where he and the Sun created a new way to see with the heart in August 2011. Just three months later,the great star Regulus left the sign of the King for the sign of the Goddess. Retrograding through 0 Virgo into Leo, the Messenger was looking for openings in our awareness to re-member the star power of the Divine Feminine. That 2011 Mercury retrograde ended in 18 Leo 42 -- in the exact- to-the-arc-minute location of next month's third and final eclipse in this triple-eclipse, multi-planet retrograde Summer of Re-alignment and Re-set. The Messenger was already preparing us. You're more ready than you think. When that solar eclipse in 18 Leo occurs on August 11, the Messenger will be one of seven planets on retrograde vision quests. As soon as that last solar eclipse re-set occurs, Mercury will turn around, and head to the future. He'll be seeing everything differently. And the more fully you accept his invitation -- to re-think, re-view, re-conceive, re-imagine, and re-create the power of the heart in this part of your life, the more you will be too.

I am departing on the Black Madonna voyage to Southern Italy and Sicily on 4 August and will be visiting the Seven Sisters during the time of the solar eclipse in Leo and while seven planets are retrograde!!!

If you would like to read more on Asherah and the Lion Goddesses, here is the link to an old blog post of mine :   https://bookofmarysacredheart.blogspot.com/2013/07/29-july-2013-as-above-so-below.html

Shrines from the Black Madonna tarot work in progress

Blessings

Hettienne

all images are my own and from my tarot decks The Mysteries of Mary and The Black Madonna.

Please link back if you do share.

www.hergracesacredart.com