Symbolism, Terminology and Practices

Cycles of Nature

The Universe flows in continuous cycles. When we understand them we can use them to create balance and harmony in our lives, to initiate projects by harnessing the energy of the ‘beginnings’, and learn to consolidate and ride out the ‘breakdown’, or end of each cycle as we await a fresh start. We can remember as we face challenges that ‘this too shall pass’. The Moon’s waxing and waning is a good example of a universal cycle (the ebb and flow of the tides reminds us of the effect of cycles). Our ‘body clock’ or ‘Circadian rhythms’ or ‘Biorhythms’ follow these cycles.

Some symbols of the eternal cyclic nature of the Universe (wisdom, eternity, monad):
The Ouroboros (from one to one, the dragon or serpent feeding on itself).
The World Egg of archaic Cosmology (golden).
The Cosmic Churn (World Axis, Tree of Life, or Celestial Tree).
The Djed Pillar in Egypt, backbone of Osiris.
The Wheel of Life (Tarot Wheel of Fortune, connected to the Goddess Fortuna).
The May Pole.
Yin and Yang.
The Infinity Symbol.
The Whirlpool, linked to the North Pole (Norwegian Cosmology).

Seven Year Cycles

Traditionally based on ten cycles to the age of 70 then continues: From Birth (‘death in the spiritual realm’) we pass through cycles of development and adaptation to this world. Seven is the ‘transition’ card in the Tarot (3 x 7 cycles = 21 Major Arcana + Fool). We even use the term ‘seven year itch’. Depending on the life we choose, and our previous level of development, we can keep our ‘psychic gifts’ or ‘connection’, or slowly shut down. We then need to work to bring this connection back.

1-7 Adapting to rebirth in a new ‘vessel’ and working out how to make it function, why am I here? Crown open, remembrance and psychic awareness (children know what they have not yet learned, see ‘imaginary friends’, or speak strange languages).
7-14 The ‘I’ or ego, emotional expression, conditioning, accepting boundaries, limitations and beliefs (exception: Crystal/Indigo children, Steiner schools etc).
14-21 The desire to fit in, modified behaviour and ‘forgetting’. Mental expression.
28-35 Peak of ‘the great forgetting’, trying to reconnect, symbolised by the mystic child ‘the Fool in the Tarot’, a journey back to find our ‘inner master’, our ‘Eternal Self’.

Planetary Influences

Daily cycles are influenced by the planets. Sunday is the beginning and Saturday the breakdown, just as we are born with a Sun Sign and Saturn appears to challenge us. If we are choosing a day for a meeting or event we can align with the energy that best relates to our activity (this also breaks down further to times of the day).

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