terça-feira, 21 de março de 2023

Phoenix Symbolism & Meaning

 




Anything in this life is possible 
when you have 
the passion of a phoenix.


This majestic spirit guide is a powerful symbol of rebirth, regeneration, and new beginnings. In almost every culture, the phoenix is associated with positive aspects such as strength, determination, passion, resilience, and compassion.

Phoenix symbolism gives us hope for a better tomorrow. It is a sign that great things will manifest in your life because of hope and faith. Just as the Phoenix rises from its ashes, so will you be able to face the challenges in life and emerge victorious after loss and devastation.

When faced with challenges in life, the phoenix reminds us to be resourceful and determined in our efforts to overcome them. Just as the phoenix rises from the ashes of its previous self, we, too, can emerge from difficult experiences stronger and more resilient than before. 
Listen to what the phoenix has to say. It’s time to rise!

The Phoenix is the custodian of the fire in all creation. It is the symbol of death and rebirth.

Its invincibility shows that it is the master of renewal. Like the sun, which dies every day and is reborn every morning, the Phoenix straddles over all creation.

With this spirit animal on your side, you can never go wrong. 
You’ll rise from your predicaments to shine in your glory again.



The Phoenix never really dies. 
A new one rises in its place. 
What does Phoenix rising mean to you? 

This spirit guide comes into your life to inform you that you are indestructible. 
It wants you to understand that death –in whatever form – is not the end of life. 
Death is just but a phase we have to go through to get to the other side. 
In a nutshell, the Phoenix symbolizes hope, renewal, resurrection, and immortality.




Phoenix Symbols

Phoenix symbols were also prominent in ancient Greek astrology. 

According to the historian Herodotus, it was a mythical bird that originally came from the modern-day Ethiopian lands. He described it as immensely large and beautiful, forming its nest from cypress branches. All other birds build a nest in preparation for becoming parents and creating a stable household. But the phoenix animal spirit was thought to be constructing its death bed. The creature would go there to die, setting itself on fire using its own heat and burning to ashes. After three days, it would emerge from these ashes, reborn anew.This process signified its ability to live on forever, resurrecting from its death sentence. 

Another Greek, the poet Hesiod, also made bold claims about the phoenix animal totem, writing that it could live longer than nine generations of ravens, which were highly symbolic of longevity in that time (about 700 BC). Thus, the Greeks placed a high value on the phoenix, utilizing its message in many different avenues of artistry.


The phoenix also has associations with several other symbols. 
All of these symbols represent different aspects of this mythical bird.

  1. The first symbol is fire. The phoenix can rise from the ashes, which represents the power of transformation.
  2. The second symbol is the sun. The phoenix is often seen as a solar symbol, representing rebirth and new beginnings. 
  3. The third symbol is yin and yang.In Chinese mythology, the phoenix has associations with the concept of duality. It represents both male and female energy. If you have this spirit animal, you are probably a level-headed person.






The Phoenix appears in various  traditions

There are several theories regarding the origin of this mythical bird. The most popular one is that flamingos inspired the phoenix myth. Flamingos would create their nests in salt flats which were very hot. The heat that emanated from the water would make their nests look like they were on fire.

Another bird that is comparable to the phoenix is the similarly-sized and colored peacock. In Chinese folklore, the depiction of the phoenix resembles the Asian ostrich. Others believe that the golden pheasant is the closest bird to a phoenix; however, their sizes don’t match.

A bird that’s similar in size to the phoenix is the eagle. While most eagles don’t share the same colors as a phoenix, some have blue and purple feathers, just like the mythical bird.

Garuda in Hindu and Buddhist tradition, 
Firebird in Slavic mythology, 
Simurgh, the Persian   
Paskunji, the Georgian  
Anqa, the Arabian 
Konrul, the Turkish...also called Zümrüdü Anka (“emerald anqa”),
Me byi Karmo, the Tibetan 
Feng Huang, the Chinese 
Zhu Que, known as Suzaku, the Japanese


Phoenix Symbolism In Ancient Egypt
One of the first myths about the phoenix was born in Ancient Egypt. According to the myth, the phoenix was a large majestic bird that traveled the world. When the Sun God Ra spotted it, he was so impressed by its beauty that he decided to grant it immortality.

However, the phoenix’s body began to deteriorate as the years went by. The Sun God showed mercy and guided the bird to fly towards the ancient city of Heliopolis (which means city of the sun in Greek). There, he ordered the bird to build a nest out of a specific type of wood and spices.

When the phoenix finished building the nest on the top of the Temple of the Sun, the Sun God lit it on fire and burned the phoenix. A few days later, a new bird was resurrected from the ashes to start a new life cycle. Every five hundred to a thousand years, the phoenix dies and is reborn from its ashes.

During the 19th century, this story began to gather suspicions. 
Eventually, it was discovered that the people of Heliopolis had altered the story of the Bennu to create the myth of the Phoenix. 

Bennu was a deity that resembled a large heron bird and is believed to carry the soul of the Sun God Ra.

Phoenix Symbolism In Ancient Greece
The phoenix was a significant bird for the ancient Greeks. After all, the name “phoenix” originates from a Greek word that means red or purple, just like the colors of the phoenix feathers.

It is believed that the Greeks were aware of the mythical bird many centuries ago. The first written mention of the phoenix is a riddle by poet Hesiod, which regards it as a known entity. The riddle associates the phoenix with the passage of time and immortality.

The legend about the origin of the phoenix was first written by the famous Greek historian Herodotus. During his travels to Egypt, he learned about the tale from the citizens of Heliopolis. However, the historian was not convinced about the legend’s credibility since it talked about a yellow and red bird without mentioning fire.

The Greeks often depicted the phoenix as having a halo that consisted of seven rays, similar to Helios, the Greek personification of the Sun. The phoenix ashes have also been credited with having healing powers, although Pliny the Elder was not convinced about this. His reasoning was that a medicine that was available only every 500 years was impractical.

Phoenix Symbolism In Ancient Rome
Ancient Romans were particularly fond of the phoenix. They associated the bird’s immortality with the longevity of their empire. Every time a new emperor was crowned, it represented the Eternal City’s rebirth, just like the phoenix. The phoenix was also present on the back of Roman coins, which proves the bird’s significance even more.

The Romans had many interpretations for this mythical bird, all of which were recorded by the famous historian Tacitus. Despite the differing opinions about the size or color of the phoenix, most agreed that it was related to the sun.

Tacitus’ sources claim that the phoenix’s rebirth process differed from what the Egyptians or Greeks claimed. When the phoenix was ready to die, it would produce offspring, which was responsible for cremating the older bird.

Phoenix Symbolism In China

In China, the phoenix is very similar to the bird that is known as the leader of the birds- the Feng-huan. In Hindu mythology, the phoenix is similar to Garuda – an immortal bird that is the vehicle of Lord Vishnu.

In China, art depicts the birds in pairs, representing the yin and yang of the Universe; this also symbolizes balance as the Yin is intuitive and lunar and Yang is the sun and logic. This imagery frequently appears at weddings as a gift that ensures an auspicious and happy marriage.

This is tied to the story that Phoenix appeared to the Emperor Huang Di in about 2600 BCE. Following the appearance of this important creature, his rule was prosperous and successful. Therefore, it is believed that Phoenix is an omen foretelling blessings and abundance.

The name for Phoenix in Chinese lore is Feng Huang. 
The Phoenix meaning in Chinese culture is not only passion and rebirth but also a good omen associated with harmony and good luck. Phoenix spiritual meaning can help us prepare for good fortune but also help us understand that there is always darkness before the dawn.

The Phoenix has been used to represent the imperial household. In this setting, the meaning of Phoenix includes respect, fidelity and an era of peace. The Phoenix appears only at very special times such as the birth of a great leader. At such moments Phoenix comes from the heavenly realms to bless humankind with gifts. When it’s time here is done, Phoenix returns to the Celestial realm.

Some philosophers connect the colors of the Phoenix’s tail to the five virtues of Confucianism: namely charity, honesty, loyalty, knowledge, and good manners. The “red bird” of Japan resides in the Western quarter of creation similar to the Native American story of greeting the rising sun. Painting the image of a Phoenix on a tomb keeps it free from evil spirits. Carrying an image of the Phoenix brings good luck.

The art of placement, Feng Shui, considers the Phoenix an auspicious creature. It’s a good symbol for attracting money and wish fulfillment. Hang the image of the Phoenix in the Southern part of your home, improving the chi for prosperity.

Phoenix Symbolism In Japan
In Japan, Phoenix is called Suzako. 
It’s name is a combination of the male energy Ho and the female energy Oo, and so Phoenix represents a similar blend of masculine and feminine (also Fire and Water) as found in other cultures. Ho-Oo first appears in Japanese art around the seventh century. Thus the ancient connection to this belief in the balance and regenerative alchemical energy blending masculine and feminine, 
Fire and Water, is well established.

When Phoenix appears to you, you may be guided to explore your own polarities in masculine and feminine energy. Your own projective and receptive nature and the fiery spark and nurturing waters within you.

Suzaku (朱雀, Suzaku) is a creature from Japanese mythology.

Suzaku is a large, scarlet, phoenix-like bird. His home is in the southern sky. He spans seven of the twenty-eight Chinese constellations, taking up one quarter of the entire sky. The constellation which makes up the left wing of the bird is located in Gemini. The constellation which makes up his head feathers or comb is located in Cancer. The constellations which make up his head, beak, and body are located in Hydra. The constellation which makes up his right wing is located in Hydra and Crater. The constellation which makes up his tail feathers is located in Corvus.

Suzaku is one of the shijin, or Four Symbols, which are important mythological figures in Taoism. Suzaku is the guardian of the south. He is associated with the Chinese element of fire, the season of summer, the planet Mars, and the color red. He represents the virtue of propriety. He controls heat and flame. 

The ancient capitals of Fujiwara-kyō, Heijo-kyō and Heian-kyō were each guarded on the south by a large gate called Suzakumon (Suzaku Gate). Beyond Suzakumon was a wide avenue called Suzaku Boulevard, which served as the main north-south road. In Kyoto, this road ran from the Imperial Palace to the gate at the southern end of the city, Rashōmon. Today, though the gates are long gone, Suzaku Boulevard (now called Senbon Avenue) remains an important road in the city.

Suzaku and the other shijin were brought to Japan from China in the 7th century CE. They are strongly associated with Taoism, feng shui, astrology, the five element theory, and other forms of Chinese mysticism. Japan’s ancient capitals were built in correspondence to these beliefs, with each of the quadrants of the city dedicated to one of the Four Symbols. Excavations of ancient burial mounds in Nara has revealed paintings of Suzaku and the other shijin on the tomb walls.

In later centuries, belief in astrology waned, and worship of the Four Symbols was gradually supplanted by worship of the Four Heavenly Kings of Buddhism. Their use as symbols, however, continued.


In Japan, as earlier in China, the mythical Phoenix was adopted as a symbol of the imperial household, particularily the empress. This mythical bird represents fire, the sun, justice, obedience, fidelity, and the southern star constellations.

According to legend (mostly from China), the Hō-ō appears very rarely, and only to mark the beginning of a new era -- the birth of a virtuous ruler, for example. In other traditions, the Hō-ō appears only in peaceful and prosperous times (nesting, it is said, in paulownia trees), and hides itself when there is trouble. As the herald of a new age, the Hō-ō decends from heaven to earth to do good deeds, and then it returns to its celestial abode to await a new era. It is both a symbol of peace (when the bird appears) and a symbol of disharmony (when the bird disappears). In China, early artifacts show the Phoenix (female) as intimately associated with the Dragon (male) - the two are portrayed either as mortal enemies or as blissful lovers. When shown together, the two symbolize both conflict and wedded bliss, and are a common design motif even today in many parts of Asia.


The Chinese compound term Fèng Huáng means Phoenix. The Feng Huang was believed to control the five tones of traditional Chinese music and to represent the Confucian virtues of loyalty, honesty, decorum and justice. Its image first appears on Shang artifacts of China’s Western Zhou Period (11th century BC to 771 BC).

The symbolism of the Chinese Phoenix (Fèng Huáng) is strikingly similar to the symbolism of the mythological Red Bird (Chn. = Zhū Qiǎo 朱雀 or Zhū Niǎo 朱鳥), also of Chinese lore. In Japan, the Red Bird is pronounced Suzaku (same Chinese characters). 

The Red Bird is the same creature as the Phoenix. 
The Red Bird is one of four legendary Chinese creatures guarding the four cosmic directions (Red Bird - S, Dragon - E, Tortoise - N, and the Tiger - W)
The four appear during China’s Warring States period (476 BC - 221 BC), and were frequently painted on the walls of early Chinese and Korean tombs to ward off evil spirits. For more details on Phoenix lore in China, please click here.

The Asian Phoenix should not be confused with the Phoenix found in Egypt and Greece - that is a bird of completely different feathers and traditions. The Arabian-Western Phoenix, if you recall, is a solidary creature -- only one of its kind. When it dies, it dies in flames, and from the ashes is born the next phoenix

Because they look very similar, Suzaku is often confused with hōō. The attributes, colors, directions and symbolism of one are sometimes mixed or swapped with each other. Though it has been suggested that they may share a common origin—perhaps going back to the mythical bird Garuda in Indian mythology—there is no strong evidence linking these creatures to each other.

 


 








Symbolism and Meaning

What does a phoenix rising from the ashes mean? 
A new phoenix rises from the ashes of its dead predecessor. 

This is symbolic of rebirth, hope, renewal, progress, end of oppression, and eternity. 
It is no wonder that the beautiful bird has inspired many tales, poems, and even legends. 
Through these legends and literary representations, the phoenix has become a symbol of the renewal of time. In fact, it has generally become the symbol of any kind of renewal that, with it, brings a period of happiness and good fortune. 

Phoenix symbolism and meaning are recognized by anyone who has experienced a major initiation or transformation.

Are you facing some of the most challenging moments of your life? 
Are you grieving and wanting to heal old emotional wounds? 

Phoenix as a Spirit, Totem, and Power Animal can help! 
Phoenix teaches how to endure in trying times while giving yourself time for healing. Delve deeply in Phoenix symbolism and meaning to find out how this animal spirit guide can support, strengthen, and inspire you.

The symbolism and meaning of the Phoenix as an Animal Spirit Guide ties tightly to the myths and legends surrounding this creature. Certainly, there are differences depending on culture and era, but some commonalities arise. Phoenix represents rebirth, magic, renewal, safety, transformation, permanence, inventiveness and the sacredness of life.

No matter the setting the story of the Phoenix has a distinctive them. It begins with lifting from darkness into light; this is a complete life cycle and also a symbol of our immortal soul.

The most commonly known writing about the Phoenix comes from the historian Herodotus in ancient Greece. He believed that the Phoenix originated in Ethiopia. It is described as a larger than life bird with spectacular feathers. The Phoenix beds itself in cypress branches where it waits for death. Sitting still, Phoenix creates fire and burns to ashes. Three days later, she emerges whole and immortal (well nearly so, lore says they live longer than nine generations of ravens).

Romans featured the Phoenix on their coins; this represented the impressive strength of Rom and the continuance of the empire. Unfortunately, Rome did not have the Phoenix’ ability to rise from the ashes.
Considering the story, it’s not surprising to find the Church using the Phoenix as a symbol of resurrection. As Christ spent three days in the cave, so did Phoenix remain as ashes. Finally, both return from the dead without so much as a blemish.

Moving to Egypt, Phoenix held a strong place among solar symbols. Legend tells us that the Bennu (a heron/falcon blend) is responsible for the annual Nile floods that create rich farmland. The Bennu carries the sun out of its slumber each day, then returns it by night. Without the Bennu’s efforts, there would be no crops and no life.

Egyptian alchemists used the Bennu for various rituals. They ascribed it to the cardinal direction of the south, which governs health and strength. Her element is fire, the ultimate symbol of transformation and creation. Bennu is ruled by the sun, offering the symbolic value of illumination, self-awareness, time and clarity. Bennu’s season is summer, a time of nature’s bountiful growth and its element is red Sulphur, representing the soul.










Native American 
Phoenix Symbolic Meanings


Depending on where you read this legend, the phoenix is capable of living anywhere between 500 to 7000 years. In America, the phoenix symbol was depicted on the first Great Seal of the United States in 1782. 
It was only later replaced by the eagle.

Native Americans called the phoenix the thunderbird. 
Thunderbird was a powerful cross-cultural element of Native North American mythology. 
As in other cultural representations, the thunderbird of the Native Americans was also a large, red, and colorful bird. It had very strong wings and when the bird would flap and beat them, it was capable of making it rain and thunder. 
Thus, the thunderbird played an important role in Native American rituals and traditions. Since it was associated with the weather, its feathers were used for healing, for magic, and to make it rain or grow crops as well. 
As the bird became symbolic of rain and the weather, the Native Americans also believed the phoenix bird meaning meant growth, abundance, and power.

Though it is not a mythical creature like Phoenix, the connection between Phoenix and Eagle is often made. Eagle is an important Animal in Native lore. It is believed that the Greeks built upon the lore of Phoenix, adapted from Egypt, and encompassed the imagery of Eagle in their development of the Phoenix legend.

Similarities can be found between the Greek legends of Phoenix and stories in Native lore regarding a giant bird who can’t lay eggs.

In Greek lore, the Phoenix comes to Heliopolis bringing an “egg” made of myrrh and the ashes of his father. The Bird sets these eggs in a nest of twigs in a Solar Temple and then lays down to die in the nest when it is time. Stories convey the Phoenix as either bursting into flames and then giving birth to itself again. The bird in this view is said to resemble an Eagle but with fiery colors of red and gold. This can create a connection between Phoenix energy and the symbolism of Eagle in Native traditions.

This leaves some to speculate that the Phoenix story is related to the Bird described in these Native legends.

Native American stories tell of a bird that never lays eggs, and therefore has no children. It has been with the world from the beginning of time. Standing beneath a glorious sun, the bird looked up. The solar disk smiled at the dazzling colors of the Phoenix tail and claimed the Phoenix for eternity.

Phoenix took this as a great honor but found that humans were forever trying to capture him. Looking for a safe haven, she flew to where the sun rose in the morning so he could sing to her.

There she remained for 500 years, keeping her promise to sing. But she was weary. Even her feathers lost their luster. Phoenix thought that this was the end, her death was near. She begged the Sun to make her strong and young again. Sun didn’t answer. She flew across mountains and deserts singing out for aid. Along the way, Phoenix gathered cinnamon twigs and carried them on his journey.

Phoenix finally grew weary and came to land and create a nest from the cinnamon, some fragrant leaves and a ball of myrrh to be the “egg” she would never have. She sang to the sun again, and she replied with glorious beams of warm light. The sunlight was so intense it caught the nest on fire.

When the flames died, there was no evidence of Phoenix other than a pile of ashes. That would not last for long, however. A small, but glorious Phoenix shook off the ash and spread his wings. Upon seeing she was whole, she promised the sun to sing songs forever. She continues her song to this day, releasing herself to ashes every 500 years to be born anew.

Though the mythical being known as “Phoenix” did not originate in North America, a very similar story in Native lore tells of Thunderbird, a gigantic bird with teeth in its beak who could easily consume whales. Thunderbird is so large, it’s name derives from the sound of thunder that emanates when he flaps his wings.

In modern times, some have come to refer to Phoenix and Thunderbird interchangeably because of their similarities, when discussing the Phoenix archetype in terms of Native traditions.
The connection between Thunderbird and weather made this creature significant in rituals and ceremonies related to rain and weather. Thunderbird could create lightning from it’s beak and could make it rain or invoke storms.

In Native lore, Thunderbird is a Spirit in the form of a gigantic Bird but could also transform into the figure of a human when needed, thus there are other slight differences between the story of Phoenix and the story of Thunderbird.

If you are connecting with the energy of Thunderbird, you may be more sensitive to the shifting tides around you and magic related to the elements and weather may be something for you to learn more about.

Thunderbird may be an important symbol for you to consider if you need to draw on your power of transformation and protection as well. Thunderbird plays an instrumental role in maintaining balance in the natural world. You may be asked to be more mindful of how you are maintaining balance through your relationship with the world around you.

Thunderbird can also bring reminders to walk in your highest integrity and not to give in to your lesser desires. You may want to consider how you need to follow your morals and integrity as Thunderbird is considered an enforcer of righteousness.

Natives of the Puget Sound area told stories of a Firebird whose description resembles that of the Phoenix. This Bird was said to have given the gift of Fire to humans.

Do you need help finding your fire of inspiration or devotion now? 
Phoenix may help you find your motivation.

This mythical creature’s meaning and lore can carry archetypally across cultures and times.



Phoenix Totem Animal

If you were born with the Phoenix as your Totem Animal, you have a natural willingness to sacrifice yourself to a greater good. You radiate hopefulness to those around you and have little tolerance for proverbial grey clouds.

Because of the transformative nature of Phoenix energy, you will have many roles in life-changing jobs, partners, homes; this is always a positive change, however. You know how to pull up your bootstraps and keep moving. You often find that change a relief and blessing. There is really no stopping your sunny disposition.

Phoenix people are hardy and strong to their toes. They have a core that’s been forged by fire and keeps them centered. During trying times, Phoenix knows there’s something down the road. Use your spiritual awareness to guide your feet.

Because the Phoenix is born of fire, you may be a rather feisty soul. For all of your ability to shine in any situation, you also need the help of trusted people, so you don’t burn out.


Phoenix Power Animal

The Phoenix makes an excellent helpmate whenever you are facing difficult changes. When called upon, Phoenix, as your Power Animal, provides the insight necessary to navigate bumpy water.

If you are dealing with literal or figurative death, Phoenix energy can heal those wounds and help you come to acceptance. You will mourn for a season, but then be born anew and find your joy once more.

Phoenix medicine can give you new perspectives on things that otherwise seem elusive, including the solution to vexing problems. Be aware, however, that when you call for aid, you will experience the fires of cleansing and a challenge to be open to completely fresh outlooks that are healthier for you.

Speaking of fire, turn to the Phoenix spirit animal for guidance in working with the element of Fire. Shamans say this is the hardest to master. As a being born of flame, Phoenix offers protection and wisdom in using this type of magic.



Phoenix Spiritual Animal


Thus, there is phoenix meaning symbolism in almost every culture around the world. The phoenix is truly a very unique bird. It is solitary and can self-regenerate.

Spiritual meaning of Phoenix is all about transformation and rebirth. Yet it is also about the combination of opposites, much like the Yin Yang symbolism. Phoenix is often portrayed as representing a paradoxical nature.

Phoenix represents the masculine and feminine energy inside all of us, regardless of social conventions of gender.

Phoenix meaning on a spiritual level, relates to transition and initiation.

The Spiritual meaning of Phoenix reminds us that there is always hope of rebirth and new beginnings even if we have to first makes some kind of symbolic or literal sacrifice.

Phoenix Spiritual meaning is associated in many cultures with the power of Fire, that being the power of rebirth, passion, intensity, motivation and courage.

Like many mythical creatures, the meaning of Phoenix and their spiritual powers can be drawn to you through meditation, ritual and creativity. You can call on Phoenix through art, music or dance. Their appearance in your life may be in a dream or in some other form of conscious awareness. When Phoenix appears to you, it may be time to embark on a journey of transformation, letting go of who you think you are in order to embrace who you are becoming.

In the worst of times, it teaches us how to be victorious. 
Out of suffering, we grow in spirit. In heartbreak and sadness, this beautiful and gentle creature sings an enchanting song that summons the forces of heaven.


When Phoenix comes to you as a Spirit Animal, it brings fire to your soul. It is time to literally put a fire under your hopes and aspirations and get moving. This fire also nourishes your spirit, which may feel very weary.

When the phoenix is your spirit animal, you are passionate and outgoing. You aren’t willing to settle in life, no matter what you’re pursuing. Phoenix types have an inner fire that pushes them to continue learning.You are probably a naturally optimistic person who always looks for the silver lining. You approach life with hope and courage, and you are always ready for a new beginning. You may also be a gifted leader, as you have the ability to inspire others to reach their full potential.
When it comes to love, the phoenix is fiercely loyal. If you have this majestic spirit animal, you are likely to be a devoted partner who always puts your loved ones first. You may also find yourself attracted to creative and unconventional partners.
Sometimes, the phoenix spirit animal can represent an unhealthy obsession or codependency. If you find yourself in a relationship that is no longer healthy, it may be time to let go and start fresh.

If you have a phoenix totem, you will likely experience many major changes. 
Your life path will have more seasons than others. 

Similar to the butterfly, frog, and dragonfly, the phoenix spirit animal is great for big life changes.
What type of changes can you expect? 
The changes may be physical, such as moving to a new city or starting a new job. Or, they may be internal changes, such as going through a major life transition or experiencing personal growth. 
No matter what changes come your way, you have the ability to navigate change with grace and strength.

There is no question that Phoenix medicine is all about change. You may have to let something die symbolically to experience rebirth; this is not always an easy process, but Phoenix Spirit is an expert guide.


Phoenix Spirit Animal shines the light of day on any darkness in your life. There is no place for shadows to hide. As you purge negativity, you’ll find that life has more coherence and your creativity soars like your wise Teacher.

If you are about to embark on a new path (a new job, school, etc., Phoenix’s message to you is one of development. Phoenix works in tandem with your personal growth, so you can really spread your wings. Trust the growing vision Phoenix medicine gives you. For someone getting married the appearance of Phoenix is a very happy omen of a longing relationship.


When to Call on the Phoenix Spirit Animal?
Sometimes life deals its toughest blow when we are at our weakest. At such time, you’ll be forgiven for thinking that the world has come to an end.

You need the right spiritual guidance to get out of such situations. 
Otherwise, you may never recover.

The phoenix spirit animal comes into your life just for this purpose – to help you back on your feet.

Call on this invincible warrior bird when you find yourself in these situations:

  1. Life has dealt it you its worst blow
  2. You are surrounded by hypocrites who want you to remain down
  3. You’ve lost all that you love and treasure
  4. You have encountered a calamity of unprecedented proportions
  5. You need to unleash the full potential of your mind







Phoenix Symbolic Meanings 

The phoenix is one of the most uplifting spirit guides you can learn from. They have a ton of positive qualities. If you can tap into even a fraction of these qualities, you will be well on your way to making positive changes in your life.

Positive characteristics of the phoenix :

Endurance
Inventiveness
Magic
Permanence
Rebirth
Reincarnation
Renewal
Safety
The Soul
Transformation
Creative
Balanced
Resilient
Passionate
Resourceful
Determined
Generous
Compassionate
Forgiving



Negative characteristics of the phoenix :

Arrogant
Stubborn
Proud
Demanding
Hotheaded
Reckless
Inflexible
Unforgiving
Jealous
Vengeful
Dreamy
Unrealistic





How can the phoenix be forgiving and unforgiving? 
If you feel resentful or vengeful, you may find it difficult to let go and move on. This negative quality can prevent you from experiencing personal growth and healing.
If you find yourself holding onto grudges, try to see the situation from the other person’s perspective. Learn how the lion spirit guide would handle things. 

Nothing is impossible. 
You have the incredible power to be an optimist and believe in your dreams and act for these dreams. You are an action taker, dreamer, inspirer, and visioner. 
The weak side could be that you can be dreamy and unrealistic if you are not in your center.

Taking the high road will do wonders for your mental and emotional well-being. 
And like the mythical bird itself, you will feel reborn and renewed. 
So don’t be afraid to spread your wings and fly!




All in all, the phoenix is a unique mythological creature. Its immortality comes at the cost of having to kill itself and be reborn every time. This shows tremendous courage and faith in the end goal.

The phoenix is a symbol of rebirth and renewal. Anytime you feel connected to this mythic bird, it’s time to change your life and strive to become a better individual. The phoenix will accompany you on your journey and lend you its strength, healing ability, and good luck.



 

domingo, 19 de março de 2023

Tudo é natural, faz parte da vida





Para quem olha a vida com bons olhos, a felicidade é natural, não precisa de motivo.
É um hábito que precisa ser cultivado.
Enxergar as coisas boas que possui, não absorver os problemas dos outros sabendo que cada um responde por si, alivia e acalma.
Saber esperar, fazer o melhor, acreditar que a vida sabe mostrar a cada um o que precisa aprender é ficar em paz e enfrentar os desafios do amadurecimento com inteligência.
Tudo é natural, faz parte da vida.


Zíbia Gasparetto




O Tempo Nos Teus Olhos








A história dos teus Olhos começou no Dia da Primeira Árvore 
quando as estrelas saíram dos poços para apodrecerem no céu.

Então as aves existiam apenas dentro da imaginação da luz 
e as flores ainda voavam no cio dos perfumes enlaçados.
O canto não tinha limites. Prolongava o silêncio 
até ao murmúrio das últimas constelações.

Foi então que os teus Olhos criaram o mundo.
Ordenaram as pedras com cuidado para não as acordar.
Pentearam os lagos com lírios.
Adormeceram os voos nas açucenas.
Separaram o mar das lágrimas dos homens
e deram às fogueiras este jeito de vento e de cabelos.

E pouco a pouco os teus Olhos desfizeram-se no mundo.
Diluíram-se nos vales dos regatos de choro oculto,
na fixidez de remorso dos pirilampos,
nas pálpebras verdes do crepúsculo,
nos astros ainda trémulos de lágrimas no teu rosto.

E nesta Penumbra de coração em cinzas 
que me enreda e beija e quer e dói e ama,
e és tu, és tu, és tu a olhar para mim
- num envolver de braços no pescoço.


José Gomes Ferreira




quinta-feira, 9 de março de 2023

PROJECTO




 



Procuro a terra branca de um outro 
continente, os montes áridos de um litoral
tempestuoso, o fundo secreto de uns olhos
abertos para o coral da eternidade. Perdi-me
nessa procura; destruí os cadernos onde 
apontara o caminho. Como um cego,
estendi os braços para o ocaso de um infinito 
que os loucos desenharam. Bati contra 
os seus limites, e andei às voltas sem encontrar
uma fuga.

Mas vi saírem todos os barcos do porto
que imaginei. Tinha-o pensado com longos
cais vazios, e percorrera-o devagar, tropeçando
nas madeiras podres e nas cordas inúteis
de um velame corrupto. Por vezes, sentei-me 
nos caixotes desfeitos pelos vagabundos 
em busca de um resto de comida. Os cães 
vinham ter comigo e lambiam-me as mãos
como se eu fosse o seu dono.

Não sei o que levaram esses barcos; nem 
que sonho de felicidade se desfez nos olhos
vazios dos afogados.


Nuno Júdice
in, Fórmulas de uma luz inexplicável




Chiron – Your Deepest Wound, Your Greatest Gift








Just like Pluto, Chiron is tiny but mighty. 

Because of its strategic placement – between Saturn and Uranus – Chiron plays a key role in our natal chart. Chiron’s symbol is a “key” – and not by coincidence. Chiron is the KEY that can unlock our chart. 

In Astrology, Chiron stands for:
  1. Our Deepest Wound
  2. Holistic Healing – which only happens when we integrate the wound 
  3. Our greatest gifts and talents – which only become gifts when the initial wound is healed 
  4. Chiron’s role is to help us find wholeness, by accepting and integrating those parts of ourselves that appear to be at cross-purposes.

Chiron points to what we need to improve, and where we need to grow so that we can find our purpose and reach our true potential.

You may already be familiar with the “Wounded Healer” archetype. 

However, there are three archetypes associated with Chiron: 
  1. the Wounded Healer, 
  2. the Shaman, and 
  3. the Alchemist. 

These 3 archetypes represent the transcendental journey of the soul: 
we first suffer and explore our primal wound (the Wounded Healer). We then embrace it and heal it (the Shaman). Only after we explore the first 2 Chiron archetypes can we then transcend the wound and transform it into a gift (the Alchemist). 


1. The Wounded Healer
The Wounded Healer describes our first experiences with the primal wound. At this stage, the wound is not yet acknowledged. 

Some people brush their wounds off for their entire lives. Lurking in the background of their unconscious, the wound sabotages them in unconscious ways. 

Most of us continue living with the wound, because we’re not even aware that there’s ‘another way’. 

2. The Shaman
There comes a time when the wound is so painful, so acute, that it can no longer be ignored. This integration of the Chiron wound corresponds with the 2nd Chiron archetype, the Shaman. 

We associate the “Shaman” developmental stage with the so-called  “healing crisis”. 

A healing crisis means that healing is initially preceded by a worsening of the symptoms. However, this temporary sickness is, in fact, a sign that the treatment is succeeding, even if it doesn’t feel that way.

When we have a fever, we feel sick – but the fever means that our immune system is fighting against the disease. 

We call this stage the Shaman, because a Shaman, or the Medicine Man or Medicine Woman, has the ability to travel between worlds. 

This ability to ‘travel between worlds’ is a metaphor for the integration of the different areas of our psyche: the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

When we hate our bodies, are ashamed of our secret desires, or are disturbed by our anger, envy, greed, or other ‘undesirable’ traits, we can never be whole. 

When all the different parts of ourselves are integrated, then, and only then, healing is found. The Shaman is the most intense Chiron developmental stage, but it’s critical to embrace it if we want to alchemize our wounds into gifts and live wholesome lives. 


3. The Alchemist
Finally, the 3rd developmental stage, the Alchemist, corresponds to the gift that naturally emerges when we heal and integrate our wound. 

Once the wound is embraced in the previous stage, something inside of us “clicks”. The broken pieces become a beautiful whole. The puzzle comes together. The very wound that made us investigate different approaches and develop coping strategies, transforms into a healing gift. 

  • Our primal identity wound helps us see our beautiful uniqueness in ourselves and others
  • Our self-worth wound transforms into healthy self-reliance. We are capable of taking care of ourselves and others without burning ourselves out
  • Fighting chronic illness eventually helps us discover a unique, holistic approach to healing
  • Our early communication struggles make us powerful communicators 
  • Our feelings of anxiety or inadequacy transform into soul-touching art
  • Our unsuccessful attempts to have loving relationships develop us into wonderful partners 








But how do we transform the wound into a gift? 
How do we do “the Chiron work”? 

Chiron is much more subtle. 
Chiron is that “owie” we all feel but we can’t really put our finger on it. 

You may be in a good place in your life, but you still have a vague sense of disconnection from the world; something deep inside is 'off'.

You know you’re here for more; but you’re not sure what this “more” is. Chasing goals leaves you empty and disappointed “that’s not what I expected”.

You experience feelings of intense longing; you crave something deep, something profound, something meaningful, something that maybe doesn’t even exist. 

This deep longing, this “owie” we all feel can go unnoticed for years. But then there’s a transit like Jupiter conjunct Chiron that brings it to the top of our awareness and DEMANDS us to do something about it. 

What’s this Chiron “owie”, this Chiron longing all about? 

We come into existence through an experience of rupture. 

Deep inside, we all miss that Neptunian sense of bliss and self-sufficiency we experienced inside our mother’s womb, and we hold some sort of resentment for being brought into the world. 

No matter how loving our parents were or how healthy our upbringing was, we still feel nostalgia for the lost paradise we emerged from. 

In the Greek myth, Chiron is abandoned by his parents at birth. This abandonment is metaphorical, and it represents the experience of rupture, the experience of being born. Expelled from paradise, from our mother’s womb, we feel like an alien in a 3D world with new laws and new rules.

Why am I here? 







Chiron - Longing For The Divine
Welcome to your Chiron wound.

Your Chiron wound is the wound of “being”. Of being alive, and of being a human being. 

The Chiron wound is engineered in our genes. Just like Chiron is a half-horse, half-god centaur, we too are half-human, half-divine. Just like Chiron, we too need to reconcile the paradox of our existence, by embracing BOTH our human and divine nature.

The feeling of longing that Chiron transits like this one awakens in us is rooted in our remembering of who we really are. We KNOW that we are more than this body, this mind, in this place at this time. We know that the empty space inside of us is divinely designed to be filled up with “something”. 

And it’s exactly this longing for “something” that will show us the way. 

Is our opportunity to heal our rupture wound and find a deeper meaning to our existence.

When we have a Chiron transit, healing the wound doesn’t only mean finding relief from pain – it means digging into the wound until we find the deeper meaning behind it.   

If there is something that keeps triggering you, chances are there is a gift there to be unveiled. A potential that is yet to materialize. Your wound is the KEY to something much greater. Your wound will continue to bug you until you recognize the gift behind it.








Chiron is now in Aries, since 2019, and it will stay in Aries until 2027. 
Of all the signs of the zodiac, Chiron spends the longest time – 8 years and one month – in Aries. 

Chiron spends so much time in Aries perhaps because it has more work to do there than in any other sign.

Chiron doesn't have it easy in Aries.

There’s something about Aries that Chiron finds difficult to process; that’s why Chiron takes its time in this sign.

Since Chiron spends so much time in Aries, most people alive today have Chiron in Aries. If you were born between April 1968 and March 1977 you too have Chiron in Aries. 

Since Chiron entered Aries back in 2018, we have witnessed a dramatic increase in the phenomenon of “influencers”.

An influencer is an individual who wields influence over an audience of people, usually on social media. Influencers use blogs, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or TikTok to leverage their following to promote other brands or ideological agendas. 

Chiron in Aries has also brought us a boom in cosmetic procedures and plastic surgery. In the last year alone, the plastic surgery market increased by 55%. 

Gender fluidity or not resonating with one’s prescribed gender identity is another topic that is becoming increasingly talked about. 

All the societal trends are expressions of Chiron in Aries. Aries is our identity, Chiron is our deepest wound. 
With Chiron in Aries, what we are aiming to heal and transcendent it’s our identity wound. 

“I am not good enough”. “It is not ok to be me, I should be someone else”. When Chiron is in Aries, we question our identity, we question our very existence. 

The root cause of our dissatisfaction is whether - or not - are we living up to our true potential: “Am I truly living my life?”, “How close – or how far – am I from living my purpose?”.

Chiron In Aries – The Identity Wound
Aries is the first sign of the zodiac. Its role is to help us develop a sense of identity. 

Aries rules the Self, but Chiron will challenge this affirmation of the Self to find a deeper sense of purpose.

Aries is the “Me first” sign – it is our identity, how we express our uniqueness, how we assert ourselves. 

Aries is the very first sprout to emerge from the soil in the spring, choosing life, choosing to ‘get out there’ into the world, to make a statement “I’m here”.

Chiron, on the other hand, is a symbol of everything Aries is not. 

Chiron is where we feel wounded, ashamed, and inadequate. Chiron is where we second guess ourselves, where we feel guilty, vulnerable and broken. 

Chiron will challenge Aries’ expression of the Self.

Chiron in Aries’s goal is to help us address and heal our greatest wound of all – the wound of identity.

The wound of identity is when we feel we don’t have the right to exist. This is the most painful wound – because it is rooted in who we are, as human beings. Because the individual IS the wound, it’s difficult to dissociate ourselves from our identity wound. Our identity wound is our blind spot. 

We Are Born With It
We are all born with the wound of identity. When we are babies, we hardly have an identity. We are the result of the genetic makeup of our parents.

As we grow up, if our self-expression is encouraged, we slowly develop our unique identity.

But the process is not always smooth. 

Our parents may – rightly so – see us as an extension of themselves, and may have difficulties in acknowledging that we are different human beings. They do this because they want to protect us.

But trying to force the child to become something different than what they were born to be, is incredibly damaging. 

People who struggle the most with mental health usually come from upbringings where they were not allowed to be themselves, to express and develop their unique identity.

Chiron In Aries – Symptoms Of The Identity Wound

 

  • “I am nobody” – an overall feeling of emptiness and disconnection
  • “I am not enough” – a desire to “prove” oneself
  • “I am not who I should be” - a desire to be someone else 
  • “If I don’t fit in, I don’t exist” – a desire to be liked by everyone
  • Feeling disoriented, alienated, wanting conflicting things 
  • A tendency to imitate other people
  • A desire to remain unnoticed, a fear of expressing one’s opinions and beliefs
  • Difficulty connecting with one’s body or feelings
  • A tendency to hurt oneself, physically or psychologically – self-inflicted wounds, abuse of drugs, alcohol and medication, overworking, feeling ‘numb’


Chiron In Aries – You Are Here For A Reason
Can we heal our wound of identity?

No achievement, no money or success can heal this wound – because being you is not about becoming something you are not, but is about becoming who you are meant to be!

Chiron in Aries will ask you to address and heal – once and for all – the wound of identity, a wound that we are all born with.

Your existence is the very proof you deserve to BE. There is a reason why out of billions of genetic possibilities, it was YOU who made it.

Not only do you have the right to exist, but you are here for a very important reason. You were born with a unique mission.

The stars, the whole universe collided so you could be here today. You were born to express the divine in your unique way, to develop and share your unique gifts, talents, and skills. 

Chiron is associated with feelings of inadequacy, shame, guilt and rejection. But beneath all of these feelings lies the root cause of Chiron’s wound: the wound of abandonment. 

To understand why Chiron’s wound is rooted in abandonment, let’s get back to Chiron’s myth. 

Saturn, Chiron’s father transformed into a horse when he mated with Philiria, Chiron’s mother. As a result, Chiron was born half-human, half-horse. Disgusted by his appearance, his mother abandoned him.

Chiron - The Abandonment Wound
This was Chiron’s primal wound – the wound of abandonment.

This abandonment is metaphorical, and represents the experience of rupture, the experience of being born.

We are born, therefore we are wounded. The process of birth itself is our first experience of abandonment. Rejection is part of our identity development process.

For people who have strong Chiron signatures, abandonment can be very literal; they are literally abandoned by one or both parents.

Others who have early experiences of abandonment, for example children who have parents that have to get back to work as soon as  the child is born or parents who leave their children with caregivers or the school system.

Other abandonment experiences can unintentionally be inflicted by caregivers who don’t respond to the child’s cries, or don’t acknowledge the child when the child initiates connection. 

Even in the most loving families, irrespective of what actually happens, the child internalizes this initial experience of abandonment and believes there is something wrong with them.

In our first years of life, we live in a narcissistic state and don’t have the cognitive ability to distinguish ourselves from the world. That’s why if something ‘bad’ happens, it must be our fault. “There’s something wrong with me”. “My parents don’t love me because I am flawed”. 

In astrology, Chiron is where we feel abandoned and rejected.

Chiron - The Gift Is In The Wound
Let’s get back to Chiron’s myth. 

Chiron was born different: half-god, half-horse. But it was exactly his unique makeup that allowed Chiron to develop into a wise, revered and respected teacher. 

Apollo, his adoptive father, taught Chiron the art of archery, poetry, botany and astrology. These teachings, combined with Chiron’s half-horse AKA animal and instinctual nature, gave Chiron a unique advantage, and helped him become a revered and respected teacher. 

He understood both the workings of nature and the workings of the divine, and became a Whole-istic healer. 

IMPORTANT: If Chiron was not abandoned at birth, he couldn’t have been adopted by Apollo, and he wouldn’t have had the chance to bridge the gap from nature to spirit. This initial abandonment, this initial wound, was precisely what made Chiron so special. 

Our Chiron wound is the “initial condition” – we all share the abandonment wound, and it’s precisely this wound that becomes our catalyst for growth. If we won't feel abandoned, we wouldn't have the incentive to grow. 

Of course, there are healthy ways of overcoming abandonment and finding healing, and less healthy ways. 

When we integrate our feelings of shame, guilt and abandonment, we then allow them to become a catalyst of growth. 

However, when we overcompensate them, the divide between our instinctual nature and our divine nature only grows wider.

As we grow up, we work hard to hide from these feelings of abandonment and rejection. We believe that if we achieve worldly success, we are worthy, and we will never ever be abandoned again. 

These are those people who appear to be extremely confident and to have high self-esteem, however, no matter how validated and successful they are, they still feel empty inside, they lack a sense of true fulfillment. And the addiction to worldly success becomes a vicious circle. 

We want more and more, because we believe that the more successful we are, the fewer chances to be abandoned. 

However, worldly success is only half of the equation.

There’s also the other half of the centaur, the godly side, that asks to be integrated. That’s why many people who become successful in the material world feel empty inside and very often leave everything behind, in search of a higher meaning. 








Case Studies - Jeff Bezos, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk
Let’s take some examples. Do you know what Jeff Bezos, Steve Jobs, and Elon Musk share in common? 

First, they are all incredibly successful, at least by society’s standards. And 2nd, they have all been abandoned by their fathers. 

Jeff Bezos’s parents divorced when Bezos was a baby, and his mother remarried. Bezos knew who his biological father was, but never wanted to meet him. His biological father, Ted Jorgensen died in 2015, without meeting Jeff. Jorgensen’s final wish before dying was to meet Jeff again, but Bezos still refused. 

Steve Jobs has been abandoned by both his mother and his father. His biological parents, Abdulfattah Jandali and Schieble put the future co-founder of Apple up for adoption the year he was born, in 1955. Years later, Jobs would “bristle whenever anyone referred to Paul and Clara Jobs as his `adoptive’ parents or implied that they were not his `real’ parents,” Isaacson wrote. 

Jobs, who died in 2011, referred to his biological parents as “my sperm and egg bank.” It’s interesting to note that Jobs repeated history with his first born, daughter Lisa. His paternity denial led to a legal battle where a DNA test proved he was indeed the father.  

Elon Musk, while he was not literally abandoned, is estranged from his father. Elon called his father, Errol “a terrible human being”.

Elon first experienced a rift with his father, when he was a child, following his parents’ divorce. “It would certainly be accurate to say that I did not have a good childhood… It was not absent of good, but it was not a happy childhood. It was like misery.”

These celebrity examples prove how damaging early abandonment is, and also how these experiences have fueled Jobs, Bezos or Musk’s drive for achieving success.

The abandonment wound, when unhealed, leads to resentment, contempt and regret. The inner conflict never goes away.

However difficult, if we want to heal, it’s imperative we embrace our abandonment wound. 



Astro Butterfly

quinta-feira, 2 de março de 2023

Tão pouco que somos

 




Manhãs há que se despedaçam nas pálpebras,
revolvem a íris,
arrancam-nos do sono, dos seus bancos da névoa,
de qualquer torpor

Estranhas núpcias celebra o homem com a mais 
recôndita vida.
Enlaçados percorremos a noite, derrubamos as suas pontes,
queremos do amor os perfumes,
a trágica magia -

isto é:
lançamos as redes aos mares, somos um peixe de ouro 
que abandona as escamas,
o covil de todos os tráficos, a mutação das cores.

É um estar subterrâneo, liquidamente.
Podíamos adorar as florestas interiores, os labirintos 
da água,
estremecer com os golpes do remador, com as 
rapidíssimas visões no intervalo das luas.

Seguimos a corrente, a flutuação dos líquenes,
olhamos devagar -
serão aqueles sobre a falésia os pescadores de 
estrelas?
Eles, impassíveis,
veneradores do oceano e do Cruzeiro do Sul, eles 
que amaram a cintilação das Pléiades?

Despertamos de repente, ao descerrar das persianas.
Viajámos muito:
uma anémona, corais, um vestígio de náufragos, o nome 
eis quanto trazemos à luz.

Em pleno dia, já não recordamos - esfinges de 
sal e sol envelhecendo - 
tão pouco que somos.


José Agostinho Baptista





Sivert Høyem - Sleepwalking Man (lyric video)