Saturday 12 January 2013

FELIZ ANO NUEVO Chango y Ochun!

I waited to write this New Year blog until the first New Moon for 2013 was upon us. For many astrologers, the New Year simply cannot start under a waning moon. May be the reason why many of us are finding it hard to stick to New Year's resolutions so early in the game. Re-start those resolutions after Friday January 11, 2:44 pm Eastern Standard Time, and you will probably be much more successful!

The title of this post, which translates to "Happy New Year Chango and Ochun!" refers to the 2013 Letra el Ano, as divined by the Cuban babalawos associated with the Comision Organizadora del Letra del Ano Miguel Febles Padron in La Habana, Cuba. For Cubans, the Letra del Ano is a serious business. People wait anxiously for hours for the sheet of paper stating the odu that will govern the upcoming year.



This year's odu Ogbe Otura, speaks of "tragedy between persons due to the usurpation of rights" (you can read both the Spanish and English descriptions of the Letra here). This can occur on both a macro and micro level. One example that is clearly playing out before the world's eyes is the gang rape and subsequent death of the young student in India, and the trial that is now taking place. Even though this occurred before January 1, the implications and reverberations of this act (along with the countless others globally) is drawing attention to an issue which in many societies is still not treated with the gravity it deserves. On a micro level, expect to see struggles, conflicts and unpleasant consequences in interpersonal relationships (intimate, family, work, friendship, neighbours). To better understand the energies we are dealing with here, let's looking at the two reigning Oricha for 2013: Chango and Ochun.

 
The Cuban take on this couple's relationship is pretty volatile: Chango, depending on how you view him, was a womanizer (or polygamist, which is traditionally Yoruban), macho, unapologetic, and very much a stereotypical bon vivant who lived for wine, women and song (well, in his case, drums). Ochun was the belle of the ball, a flirt, puta, co-dependent, a tragic mulatta, and loyal to a fault. For this reason, many Cubans frown on relationships between children of Chango and children of Ochun - they are said to result in tragedy. When these two energies connect too intensely, they become distorted. Chango (Mars) represents life force, chi, and is naturally self-preserving and self-serving. In too intense contact with Ochun energy, however, this energy can turn selfish, violent and cruel. Ochun (Venus) is connected to pleasure, of all kinds. The pursuit of pleasure is also self-serving. Yes, Venus represents love, but love on a more personal level (sexual, friendship) as opposed to divine love or love for all humankind (agape). Don't get it twisted. Ochun likes her mirrors! But in too intense contact with Chango energy, Ochun falls off course, becomes enamoured with the pleasurable pain of longing for the unattainable, becomes self-sacrificing rather than self-serving, putting the needs of others before her own. Uh-uh. That is a no-no.

We've all seen (or been in ) relationships like this one. The other person is offering us their heart and soul - so we turn cold and distant, or lash out at them. We disdain their selflessness. We feel trapped by their undying adoration. We toy with them - because we can. Or, we become enamoured of someone who will  never quite commit. Who betrays us again and again. Who gives us great intense sex, but leaves before the dawn. Who has other lovers (or families!). This dance can go on forever.....or it can end tragically (as it often does). Crimes of passion. Suicide. Jail. Court. Death.

So how to navigate the energies for this year 2013? Balance. More on this in future posts, but suffice to say, we need a balance between self-interest and considering the interests of others. Tragedy is to be avoided at all costs people! One thing Ochun and Chango share in common is passion. So if things get too heated, too intense and too crazy in your interpersonal relations, please step away, even if momentarily, before things get outta hand.

Keep posted for more on 2013 Oricha energies and astrological musings. Kawo Kabiosile! Ori ye ye o!







No comments:

Post a Comment