A Lantern in the Dark

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: A Lantern in the Dark - Navigate Life’s Crossroads with Story, Ritual & Sacred Astrology, by Danielle Blackwood, in kindle and paperback 234 pages of text, no images, £14 Published by Llewellyn Books. 

“With unflinching wisdom and compassion, Blackwood guides us towards the holy grail of a meaningful, examined life.” Steven Forrest, author of The Inner Sky

What happens when we find ourselves at a crossroads in life? This crossroads is a threshold, and you can use astrology to assist your understanding and progress. Myths and folklore can also provide guidance. This book helps you and others to make peace with the past, navigate now and move on to your life purpose. This book will also help you to transform your crossroads into something sacred. The author is an astrologer and educator of 30 years duration. She provides meditations, stories, affirmations, and rituals. Every major astrological transit is covered, Saturn returns, Uranus opposition, etc. There are self-care tools, journalling, crystals and herbs, all for beginners. Beware of the self-fulfilling prophecy. 

 

A long story of Vasilisa begins our tuition. I include below a sample of a Saturn ritual for moving from one phase to another. I enjoyed the story of Inanna and her descent into the Underworld, and this is followed by chapters on Pluto and then Neptune, Uranus and Saturn. Baba Yaga is a final chapter. 

Saturn Ritual: Choose the time when the new moon is in one of the threshold signs such as Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or  Pisces. You will need an old key, a piece of clothing, a small altar, something that symbolises a doorway or threshold to cross, a black candle, a small cauldron, stone mortar or other fireproof dish. A new piece of clothing, some herbs, incense, essential oil, a sharp knife, paper and pen, and a paper bag.

Hold the key in your hands and visualise it opening doors to new experiences, connections, and knowledge that will guide you in your next steps along your future path. Imbue the key with the intention that it will unlock the right doors to give you safe passage through the gates of new experiences. When you are ready to do the ritual, put on the item of clothing that represents the phase of your life that you’re leaving behind. Place the new clothing on the other side of the threshold. 

Set up your altar as close to the threshold as possible. Place the key, candle and new items of clothing on the altar. clear your chosen space and ground yourself. Carve the glyph of Saturn into the candle to represent this milestone, and this energy for commitment, perseverance, wisdom and purpose. Light the candle. Take some time to contemplate what you’re leaving behind. Make sure to acknowledge and thank the things of the past that have led you into this moment. Write out what you are leaving on the paper. When you are ready, put the paper in your cauldron or fireproof dish and light it with a candle. Watch these things of the past be consumed and transformed to ash. This may bring up emotions and you may shed tears as you say goodbye to the past. Allow yourself time to process your feelings.

When you are ready, pause at the threshold and visualise yourself leaving behind whatever you wish to release so you can move forward. Slowly, reverently, with your old items of clothing, thank them for serving you. Place them in the paper bag. When you are ready, take a deep breath and step step across the threshold. Take a moment to feel the shift that this action symbolises as you step into your next chapter. Put on the new items of clothing and then pick up the key and say:

“With this key I open doors, to carry me safe to distant shores, with this key I cross the gate, and in my own hands - I hold my fate.”

Put out the candle, give thanks, and close the ritual. Place the key on your altar or carry it with you as a talisman. If it has a loop, you can thread a length of ribbon through it and wear it as a necklace or hang it somewhere to remind you that you hold the key that will open the right doors. Take the ashes of the past and bury them at the crossroads. Take the paper bag with your old items of clothing and donate them.

Review by Wendy Stokes  https://wendystokes.co.uk