Shamanic Egyptian Astrology

Ruby Falconer

Shamanic Egyptian Astrology interweaves the myths and stories of the Egyptian pantheon into the ancient language of astrology.  The Egyptian pantheon are the great great grandparents of the Greek and Roman deities who are the archetypal basis of traditional western astrology.  Traditional astrological symbolism is born of cultures shattered by the imbalance between the masculine and feminine polarities.  The Egyptian archetypes - the neteru as they are called - are based in an earlier time when the true power of both feminine and masculine were equally celebrated.  The result is a language of wholeness that speaks to our soul's memory of a time before our wounding.  Now more than ever, in this time of dynamic transformation and change, it is incredibly important for us to move out of our wounds and embrace our wholeness.  Shamanic Egyptian Astrology supports us in this quest.  

Shamanic Egyptian Astrology is the co-creation of Ruby Falconer and Linda Star Wolf.  For more information and to schedule readings contact Ruby Falconer at www.shamanicbreathwork.org or at 828-586-1810.

Egyptian Astrology for August

Month of Nekhbet

In Shamanic Egyptian Astrology a particular neteru from the Egyptian pantheon has stepped forward to claim an association with the signs and planets that form the symbolic basis of western astrology. The earth sign Virgo - August 23 - September 22 - is associated with Nekhbet.

Nekhbet is the great vulture goddess of ancient Egypt. A crone goddess, she is Isis in her elder form, sometimes called the Black Isis. She is the feminine in her power as a grandmother and, along with Wadjet, one of the Two Ladies - the protectors and guardians of ancient Egypt and its king, the pharoah.

The image of Nekhbet in her guise as the vulture is often found above the entry way to the temples along the Nile. In order to enter the mysteries, one must be admitted by the Grandmother Crone. Nekhbet holds us to a high standard, not out of judgment, but out of compassion. She wants all of us to do our very best as we walk our path on Earth.

The earth sign Virgo is ruled by the planet Mercury in traditional astrology. In Shamanic Egyptian Astrology, Mercury is aligned with the scribe of ancient Egypt, Thoth. Thoth is often portrayed as a man with the head of an ibis. Thoth represents the concept of enlightened communication and inspiration. When we open ourselves to a connection with the divine and allow ourselves to speak and communicate from a place of inspiration, then Thoth is present.

Highlights for the Month

In traditional astrology, the month of Nekhbet opens with Mercury, aligned with Thoth, retrograde in Virgo. Mercury, associated with communication and transportation, turns retrograde three times a year for approximately three weeks at a time. Transportation and communication systems often experience breakdowns and delays during Mercury retrograde periods, which can create frustration. While external processes can be disrupted during Mercury retrograde periods, it is an ideal time to get in touch with the inner guidance and inspiration represented by Mercury's assocation with his Egyptian ancestor, Thoth.

In Roman mythology Mercury, and his Greek cousin Hermes, was portrayed as a young man with wings on his helmet and his sandals. His primary mission was to carry the messages of the gods and, in modern psychological astrology, Mercury can be seen as the way we think, communicate, articulate ideas and remember. He also represents the messages of our ego as they are relayed into consciousness.

The Egyptian god Thoth, the great-grandfather of the Greek and Roman Hermes/Mercury, is the archetypal principle representing our ability to connect with divine source and to express that connection through enlightened understanding and inspired communication. Whenever we feel that we have received a "download" from source, when we feel that our communication is inspired by something larger than ourselves, we are experiencing the presence of Thoth in our lives. He is the channel through which true wisdom enters consciousness. Mercury retrograde periods provide us with the opportunity to open to divine inspiration.

There can be no better time than this for each of us to make contact with our inner guidance. We have finally completed our transit through a huge portal of transformation that has been held by the opposition of Sobek (Saturn) and Wadjet (Uranus) over the last 22 months. Over the last six weeks, Osiris (Pluto) has moved through his final square to Sobek, and remains in a t-square with Sobek and Wadjet. The last few weeks have been extremely intense and planetary events - the Gulf oil spill, the floods in Pakistan and other parts of Asia, the famine in Niger - all point to the difficulties we face on our planet. These catastrophes are so far-reaching, threatening and potentially long lasting that our traditional means of responding is hopelessly inadequate.

As of this writing, some 20 million people are affected by the floods in Pakistan. This is a figure beyond comprehension; 20 million people without a home, without easy access to food, clean water and sanitation. The threat of disease and a long term, out-of-control disaster looms over us, and over the next few months we will see if we as a planetary community can create an effective response to such a huge event.

Mercury retrograde periods invite us to go inward and to not be distracted by the external irritations of missed connections and unanswered phone calls. We must call upon Thoth to help us to connect to our inspiration and enlightened selves, and on Nekhbet to assist us in stepping into our wisdom. Thoth / Mercury turned retrograde on August 20 and will turn direct on September 6, in the emmanation of Nekhbet (Virgo).

Also this month, Horus (Jupiter in the traditional language of astrology) will retrograde back into the emmanation of Sothis (Pisces), following Wadjet back into the sign of the dying age. Wadjet returned to the emmanation of Sothis on August 13 and will not return to Kephera (Aries) until March of next year. The Young King Horus expands and intensifies all that he comes in contact with. In this case, it is the forceful power of Wadjet that is being intensified, as she turns her attention back to the dismantling of the old age.

All that no longer serves us must be removed from the planet. The worst of the age of Pisces is fragmentation and a tendency of the people of Earth to align themselves with one polarity and against the other. The best of the age of Pisces is the concept of forgiveness, gained through love and the resolution of an open heart. We must all open our heart to the boddhisatva energy of Sothis and allow compassion to flow through us and to all upon our battered planet.

Osiris, Pluto in traditional astrology, turns direct this month on September 14. The Roman god Pluto was known as the Lord of the Underworld - the god of death and the ruler of the land of the shadows. To the ancient Egyptians Osiris, the ancestor of Pluto, was the god of death but he was also the god of renewal. Out of his death the New King Horus was born. Inherent in his symbolism is that new life always follows death. We must call upon the wisdom of Osiris in the days and weeks ahead as our planet continues to make its way through the death of an old way of being and the birth of new life.