May 2012 The Mother Archetype: Giver of Life and CreativityMay is an excellent month to reflect upon our mothers, the mother figures in our life, and to focus on what we want to birth or nurture. In her Positive Aspect, the Mother is the Creator, the giver of life. She represents unconditional love, selflessness and sacrifice, patience and nurturance. If you are nurturing and love to care for living things, if you garden, give birth to art, writing, or music, then you are The Mother in her Creator Aspect. The Shadow Aspect of the Mother ArchetypeAdmirable qualities twist into negative behaviors in the Shadow Aspect of The Mother. Taken to the extreme, love becomes smothering. The Shadow Mother may be overprotective or unavailable. Instead of fostering her children's independence, she may use guilt to shackle and undermine them. She may be physically or verbally abusive. The Legacy of Our MothersLike our "tribal memory bank" (Christiane Northrup, M.D., Women's Bodies, Women's Minds) our memories of our mothers are imprinted in our psyches and in our chakras. Psychic wounds inflicted by a Shadow Mother (or Shadow Father) can create blockages in the human energy system that can lead to illness. Conversely, happy memories can positively effect how we feel about life and ourselves. Mother MeditationSit comfortably and allow your breath to slow down and your muscles to relax. In your mind's eye, create a blank slate. Reflect back on what smells you associate with your mother. Did/does she smell of a distinctive perfume or particular beverage or food? Do you associate your mother with scents from the garden or odors associated with a hobby? When you think of her, what colors come to mind? Was there a particular book she read to you or song she loved? What was/is your favorite thing about your mom? If you are a mother, then ask yourself the same questions about your own mothering experience. What smells do you associate with being a mom? What smells do you remember from your child's babyhood? His/her childhood? Young adulthood? Which colors? What books did you read to your children? Which songs did you sing? What do you remember about their touch? Honoring and Releasing RitualCounter and heal any bad memories with forgiveness. Where is the pain from the memory located? Send healing light to the area. Do a releasing ceremony for any negative memories. Thank your mother for the lessons learned, and light a black candle to absorb the dark energies. Light a white candle of equal size so the candles burn for the same length of time. Envision healing light radiating from the white candle and filling any empty spaces left behind by the removal of the dark memories/energies. Releasing and forgiving rituals bring healing energy and help us move forward with our lives. Embrace the fond colors, scents, sounds and tactile memories you have of your mother. If she is still living, write her a story about what you remember or paint a picture or create a collage for her. If your mother is no longer on this realm, then choose a candle in her favorite color or scent and light it in her honor. Or raise a glass of her favorite beverage and speak aloud a toast. Know that your honoring ceremony will reach her spirit. Honoring rituals boost the mind, body, and spirit, and promote wellness. What Will You Nurture or Birth?What lies within you waiting to be birthed? A song? A book? A painting? |