Chinese Medicine and Serpent Symbolism: The Element of Metal by Christina Bjergo

By Christina Bjergo

The basis of health and wholeness from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective comes from our innate correspondence with Nature. Everything within us (microcosm) is reflected in the world around us (macrocosm). The universe and our bodies are synchronized from this holistic approach with everything composed of five elements. The elements of Wood (plants), Fire, Earth, Metal (stone and mountain) and Water make up our physical, psychological as well as spiritual aspects of who we are.

The element of Metal is associated with the West direction in Chinese Theory and is one of my favorites. It represents the time of sunset and the season of autumn and has an energy of lessening activity (yang) and growing introspection and quiet (yin). The color attributed to Metal is white. White is a symbol of death and purification in Chinese as well as Indian Hindu culture and is the color worn at funerals to symbolize the inherent link with this quality of Metal.

Metal in the body primarily governs the respiration of the lungs and the cycle of breathing. Moving in a continuous flow, the exhalation of the breath allows for the intake or receiving of fresh clean air necessary for the healthy oxygenation and operation of the body. The Large Intestine as the secondary organ system corresponding with the Metal element also helps maintain health through the elimination of waste and reinforces the letting go quality of this element. Inherent in our bodies, therefore, is the aspect of death leading to purification and wellness.

Similarly, the serpent has been a powerful archetypal symbol in dreams and meditations of many cultures around the world. Snakes will periodically eliminate the old by the shedding of their skin and emerge larger, stronger and healthier (the molting keeps the parasites off). Our ancestors who gained insight about life from observing animals in Nature believed there was great knowledge in the snake for here was an animal that knew the secrets of death that leads to rebirth. Nature was the link to the archetypal world of the Dreamtime explaining the spiritual significance of serpents in archaeological artifacts found among diverse ancient cultures from as early as the Paleolithic period.

The spiral as a metaphor for the serpent is also found in many ancient sacred sites and is believed to have facilitated initiations and marked critical periods of growth and change in life (coming of age, spiritual awakening, etc.). As a ritual aid many labyrinths have been based on the spiral shape. The serpent spiral in the labyrinth represents the transformational quality of the cycle of life - the moving inward or returning aspect of the cycle allows one to let go of perceived challenges or limitations on the journey to the inner sanctuary or center of the Self. From this center comes the expressive movement of the spiral stretching itself outward. Having transcended the old it can expand it’s trajectory wider than ever before. This demonstrates the serpent and the spiral’s power as a symbol for evolutionary change. This highlights the ancient mysteries of past eras – one needs to allow death to have space to welcome new life and grow.

Spiritual traditions around the world have communicated this Metal and serpent/spiral symbolism through the language of myth placing significance on Metal and the aspect of death leading to rebirth. In Hindu mythology, the popular Shiva is known as the destroyer god. His skin is ash white and he is often depicted in sculpture and printed art with snakes around his neck meditating tranquilly up high on his sacred mountain. Other times he stands upon a dwarf of ignorance in his cosmic dance of purification. In one story, he helps purify the poisons of the world with the assistance of his female consort Parvati and in so doing helps create the elixir of life and immortality. Seeing through the veil of Maya Shiva is not disturbed by the illusions of evil/sin in the world as he has transcended duality and found serenity and calmness (his transcendence of suffering is comparable to the enlightenment of Buddhahood). Shrines where Shiva continues to be honored throughout India include the sacred lingam - a phallic shaped stone.

T

he Queen of the West in Chinese mythology (later linked with Kwon Yin as a compassionate deity or aspect of Buddha) was sometimes seen as a white tiger which is the corresponding celestial animal to the element of Metal. The Queen of the West is known for being the destroyer though she also demonstrates an aspect of creation weaving her manifestations among the stars. She sits atop her sacred mountain (sometimes called Snake Shaman Mountain) where the peach trees of immortality grow. The Queen of the West is talented at whistling demonstrating her knowledge of Metal and ability to work with the breath. She comes to earth on her dragon drawn chariot (dragons are the sacred serpents of China and much of Asia) to help humankind transcend mortality and ignorance. She used her powers and knowledge to guide the Emperors of ancient China (who have demonstrated worthiness and virtue) to the afterlife, welcoming them to a place of Paradise.

Comparatively, modern spiritual traditions including Judaism, Christianity and Islam express their own concept of Paradise as the spiritual destination for eternal life and bliss. Religious texts reference divine guidance of Yahweh/God/Allah communicated to prophets who climbed mountains or slept on stones. In Christianity, post-crucifixion, the dead body of Jesus of Nazareth is placed in a cave and emerges reborn as Jesus Christ the Savior, the Son of God. And through Jesus Christ humanity can have peace with God. The Hebrew word Saraph translated means “fiery serpent” and is the root of Seraphim, the highest and holiest of God’s angels. Furthermore, when God expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden he sent them to the East placing the angelic Cherubims and a flaming sword (Metal) to keep the way of the tree of life. Symbolically, to take the journey of purification Westward and pass the spiritual test of the sword humankind can return to the Garden of Paradise and the blissful state of union with God.

Similarly, the ancient Egyptians refer to Westing as Deathing and link the god of Osiris who is Lord of the Duat or underworld to this direction. Osiris was the first to undergo mummification after being cut up (knife is a metal tool aiding elimination and purification) into 14 pieces by his brother and later returned to wholeness when resurrected with the aid of his sister Isis. Osiris is sometimes depicted elderly, stiff and dressed all white in his death-like state on hieroglyphs in Egyptian temples. Completing the cycle of rebirth, however, he can be found depicted in the stone masonry looking renewed and virile with green skin representing the fertility and new life that comes with the floods of the Nile. Furthermore, in physical death the ancient Egyptians believed an individual traveled to the Duat where Osiris sits on his throne overseeing the weighing or judging of the heart. If the heart of the deceased is light as a feather (having cleared away all heaviness) the individual can move onward to join the gods and goddesses as a star in the heavens, the ultimate destination of the soul.

Here in the Northwest one can visit Horse-thief Lake and see the famous pictograph of She Who Watches. Her image painted on a natural stone cliff is an area of spiritual significance thought to have been used for vision questing by a number of local tribes of an ancient time. She Who Watches is painted with white representing death and red representing life. This correspondence with the colors red and white is also found among many indigenous tribes of Africa and Australia and in the artwork of early Europeans. She Who Watches has a visage marked by large owl like eyes (another symbol of death). Her swollen death-like tongue protrudes from her mouth and is a prominent feature to her countenance. She sits up high overseeing the Columbia Gorge below and is a sign of promise and protection, some believe, for those whom her gaze rests upon.

From a psychological perspective, Carl Jung would say the second part of our lives is a spiritual odyssey - a search for the holy grail within ultimately leading to the realization of the Higher Self of the integrated psyche. Carl Jung knew that by working with the unconscious through dreams and body instincts we could resolve and release our shadow side and access the unacknowledged parts of ourselves we have unknowingly delegated to the dark and hidden corners of the unconscious mind. Yet through work with the dreamtime and the body connection (keeper of unconscious influences) we can slowly let go of limitations and dualistic thinking and embrace more of ourselves on our journey to wholeness. And as we symbolically move from dark to light we literally experience greater joy, fulfillment and health in our lives.

Confronting the shadowy aspects of our past can be at times a daunting task. The deathing of old negative experiences, traumas, unhealthy thought patterns, limited beliefs and karma can be intimidating without support or a means of help with the process. Sacred Serpent Spiral Qigong is a tool I have found quite effective for myself and others as it helps individuals let go of many things they are looking to clear consciously (such as fears, pain, dissatisfaction, anger, fatigue, anxiety, etc.) as well as the unconscious roots of dis-ease in their lives. Sacred Serpent Spiral Qigong ultimately facilitates the integration of conscious and unconscious aspects of the psyche into a state of oneness. Using ancient qigong theory with movement meditations individuals connect with the Dream time and can remove old stagnant energy or roadblocks from the energy channels or highways of the body. This stuck dense energy of the past that has become lodged, buried or encapsulated within the cells of the body can be freed up and cleared as higher vibrational energies of Nature are allowed to flow. And as more of our blocks are cleared out, we access greater quantities of our own energy as it flows though the body. This is how we experience a resurrection and reunification of our true Selves or a symbolic rebirth of our own.

Going through the cycle of death and rebirth builds and refines our subtle energies, offering the ready initiate a kundalini (dormant cosmic energy compared to a coiled serpent) awakening with great physical, psychological and spiritual rewards. For as we reconnect with the rhythms of the universe we reconnect with ourselves and open to experiencing new depths of spiritual understanding. Through working with Metal we ultimately open ourselves to another aspect of serpent symbolism - Wisdom.

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To learn more about Sacred Serpent Spiral Qigong or the possibilities of hosting a class, see www.wildirisasianwellness.com or contact Christina Bjergo, Qigong Grand Master of Sacred Serpent Spiral Qigong at cbjergo@msn.com. Upcoming classes to begin Wed. and Thurs. evenings at August Moon Community Center, 111 39th Street, Vancouver, WA in late February. Christina is also an acupuncturist, shiatsu therapist, shamanic practitioner and longtime dreamworker. She treats clients in Vancouver, WA.

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Sorry for Theme Changes Around Here

It appears we have a glitch in our wordpress account and our theme keeps changing around.  We will try to have this fixed asap as well, keep an eye out for a totally new website for Beyond Zen along with several channels of writers; Buddhism Channel, Qigong Channel, Sacred Geometry Channel, all from your favorite bloggers.

Namaste,

Kris

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Finding Meaning in Dreams by Kris Vockler

This is for sure a hot topic and always at the top of the list as to what people search for and then find us. We have talked about our take on dream symbols here. Although we feel dream dictionaries only give a small possible sample of what your dream might mean they are a good place to start, we still continue to get hits from those looking for meaning. So, a new project here, we are going to pull out our dream journals and discussions on dreams to give you our take on the meanings, as if they were our dreams. Because dream symbols, in our opinion, only have 100% meaning to the individual and then 90% contextual meaning from the culture one grew up in. The other 10% we feel one might share the same meaning as you would find in a dream dictionary.

So, if you want us to help you with possible meanings, drop us a comment in this post, or any other posts on dreams. If we have experienced the meaning we will tell you what our take is on it. If we haven’t, then we will give you a classical dictionary meaning. But do remember that meanings are personal and one definition might have more meaning to one person and not another.

So, let’s hear it, what symbols are you struggling with?

Gassho,

Kris

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What is the Ego you say? by Kris Vockler

The other day I was trying to explain the ego to a friend of mine, from a Buddhist perspective on what it is. First off, it’s a very complex concept and how I explained it was very good yet there is more to it. Yet, to boil things down to an analogy that seemed to make sense to one who hasn’t studied Buddhism at all, here is my explanation:

The ego is like the spell checker in a word processing program. When you fire it up the first time, it’s blank and has no idea how to spell anything. So, we put a dictionary of words into it so it will know where to start, this is birth to early childhood for the ego. Let’s assume the dictionary we added to the checker is correct and all the spellings are right. Now as you progress through life you will come across a situation or event that shapes how you see the world. Call this event or situation a single word if you will. The spell checker that is your ego won’t recognize it and it puts a red wavy line under it so you know it doesn’t understand it. Once you have lived the event and now see the event through your own lens, you have just defined the word for the checker. If you spell the word wrong, you will forever spell or see the world in that incorrect way. As we go through life we add our own spellings to words and by the time we get older we realize that the way we spelled it is wrong and not true reality. This is where Buddhism comes in, Buddhism shows you where the word is spelled wrong (or where you incorrectly saw the event or world) and allows you to change the spelling.

About as simple as it gets as to how the ego takes an event and defines it, see how one can stray away from the reality of things?

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The Middle Way & eSangha #12

My new friend @ The Middle Way has included our post on the difference between Namaste & Gassho, please check it out. This version of eSangha is fantastic and full of other posts on; Music, Meditation tips, Enhancing Attention, and an eBook on “Small is Beautiful”.

Gassho,

Kris

Links

The Middle Way

Beyond Zen Post: “Namaste or Gassho, Hola or Halo”

The Middle Way Post: “eSangha #12″

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New Class: Awakening to the Dreamtime Sacred Serpent Spiral Qigong

Incorporating the wisdom of the unconscious

through movement and music

for individual growth and wholeness

 

Wednesdays Feb 27 – Apr 9

6:00 – 7:30 pm

Sacred dreaming was an honored practice in the temples of ancient Greece, Egypt, and China and has been revered by indigenous cultures of Africa, Australia, and the Americas for thousands of years. This wisdom of the unconscious is accessible through the body and connection with Nature to promote healing, intuition, a greater understanding of the universe, personal growth and mind/body/spirit balance. In class, we will use qigong movement meditation and music to harmonize with the universe and improve the quality and quantity of dreaming (lucid and sleeping). We will also analyze the symbols of our individual dream landscape to better comprehend their guidance. Connecting with our innate divine feminine wisdom (symbolized as serpents and spirals) helps unlock sexual and creative energies – activating what referred to as Shakti Kundalini in India, Ka soul in Egypt and Po soul in China - for greater vitality, joyful expression, confidence and fulfillment in one’s life. Ancient dreamtime purification techniques, Japanese meridian stretches, acupressure points, drumming, journaling, art and use of crystals will be explored to facilitate sacred dreaming and interpretations.

Students are to record dreams in a journal during the 6 weeks and bring to class each week. Come prepared for fun and positive change in your life!

Christina Bjergo has been actively tending her dreams for over 15 years. She is Grandmaster of Sacred Serpent Spiral Qigong and works as a Licensed Acupuncturist, Shiatsu Japanese Massage Therapist and Shamanic Practitioner. Individual qigong instruction is also available.
Contact Christina at 360-607-7586 or cbjergo@msn.com to register.

This is a 6 week class. Class fee is $60. No class on April 2nd.

Class held @ August Moon
August Moon Center - 111 W. 39th Street, Vancouver, WA 98660

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Inner Smile on a Cold Day

Yesterday was one of those days, you wake-up completely on the wrong side of the bed. Tripping, spilling, cursing the morning away. I thought for sure it was going to be a horrible day. To boot, I’m late and there is ice all over my car. So, after de-icing the car and cranking up the heat I feel the heat of being late. Not that I was going to get in trouble, I just really hate to be late anywhere. So, there I am in my car, driving through my neighborhood, thinking of nothing but being late and how bad of a morning it was.

Freeze……Can you see how the day is shaping? It’s going to be bad and I’m determined to make it so. Ok Go!

As I get to a corner in my neighborhood I notice my neighbor and her grandchild waiting for the bus. This woman always waves to me and I wave back but it will take a huge undertaking to remove my negative thoughts. And then it happend. Although I might have been 20 degrees and ice everywhere, her Grandchild looked up with that pom on top of her knitted cap and her stripped mittens to “smile and wave” at me. I was stuck in my tracks, unable to move.

The moment of seeing a child smile and wave changed everything. I felt that “Inner Smile” blurb up and fill my body. The last thing to hit was the smile on my face. A simple act of joy and a smile melted me, turned everything around.

I couldn’t stop smiling the whole way to work…..then it cascaded to a spring in my step and my humor…….I felt like bouncing to every meeting.

The “Inner smile”, from Lao Tzu to Buddha, a concept of love from the inside.

What I felt was a massive amount of Qi cultivation at that moment, continuing throughout the day, thinking of my Qigong instructor saying “let a smile float up to your face” only brought more Qi. My practice of “Loving-Kindness” as of late came to mind as well and I was again washed in Qi and calm.

Some call it the Buddha Nature or Loving-Kindness and some call it the “Inner Smile”, I called it unexpected.

This just goes to show how much of a quality day we create by just thinking it as well as the power of a wave and a smile from another being.

For meditation and more articles:

Meditation from Yoga Journal

Metta: The Practice of Loving Kindness by Kris Vockler

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Qigong, Dreams & Serpent Initiation

Contributing Author: Christina Bjergo, LAc

Grand Master of Sacred Serpent Spiral Qigong

When I started utilizing and teaching Sacred Serpent Spiral Qigong in November 2006 I had no idea where the journey would take me. By incorporating this unique form of movement meditation into a weekly routine practice, however, so began a period of tremendous spiritual growth beyond my wildest expectations.

One of the main benefits of this form of qigong is that it connects people to their innate body wisdom – allowing movement, feelings, images and impressions to spontaneously arise from the world of the unconscious, from the world of God. This access to divine energy and wisdom is further explored through visual artistic expression and automatic writing. It is a time to have fun, be playful and for many such as myself to experience a newfound sense of freedom and Self.

But the benefits extend outside of the classroom. In addition to increased feelings of joyfulness, peace and vitality I almost immediately found greater clarity and harmony to my nighttime dreaming and began enjoying increased lucid, guidance and prophetic dreams. Flowing with Nature through qigong also shifted my waking life and I experienced heightened positive synchronistic events, greater intuitive hits, and prophetic occurrences in Nature that offered validation and insight. In April 2008, I began having dreams marking the beginning of an initiation - candles being lit around me and being asked by a teacher if I was ready are a couple examples. At first, I interpreted this to mean that I should seek a spiritual program of study. I soon came to realize, however, that I had begun a kundalini awakening and that all the guidance and instruction I needed was already available (though maybe not always consciously) within me. I was facilitating the spiraling serpent rising (with qigong being the primary tool) and it therefore occurred safety and smoothly in steps and stages as I was psychologically and physically ready. In the next several months my psyche (conscious and unconscious working together) went through the cyclical process of death and rebirth leading to the resurrection of parts of myself previously splintered off, the transcendence of old traumas/issues, and the ascension into higher planes of existence and dimensions of myself.

My work thus far had focused on the development and strengthening of my lower dan tian as the physical center of the body that rests in the belly from a Qigong perspective. This area has correspondence with the element of water and shamanic journeying to the Lower World/Underworld. In November 2007 following a spiritual odyssey to Egypt, I experienced an alchemical activation of my Instinctual Soul or Divine Feminine aspect (also known as the Ka energy body in ancient Egypt and the Po Soul in Traditional Chinese Medicine) and have been able to consciously see and work with my Ka energetic double in other dimensions. Marking the completion of this kundalini awakening, I had nighttime dreams of completion such as candles being blown out and seeing myself ritually crossing a snake skin threshold as I stepped onto a new path ahead.

My spiritual development has shifted at this time to my upper dan tian which is the spiritual center of the body that rests within the center of the head according to Qigong Theory. This area corresponds with the element of wind (the breath of God) and shamanic journeying to the Upper World or Heavens. In so doing, I am connecting more fully with my Celestial Soul or Divine Masculine aspect (also known as the Ba Soul in ancient Egypt and the Hun Soul in Traditional Chinese Medicine). As I more fully integrate the masculine and feminine aspects of myself, a unity into Oneness is revealing itself through a Sacred Marriage of the heart. The heart is, I believe, the place where the potential for God realization awaits. It is a place beyond duality, where the Holy Spirit resides, and Paradise awaits.

~Christina

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Update “Spread the Love NOW! Group Writing Project”

Photo Credit

As many of you know we were part of a wonderful project called “Spread the Love NOW! Group Writing Project“. Created by those wonderfully enlightened folks at [The Middle Way], [Zen-Inspired Self Development], and [UrbanMonk.net]. The project was fantastic and led me to a whole new group of enlightened ones to read and be a part of on this crazy path we each share yet walk alone. To read Beyond Zen’s part of the project, check out this post: A Story of Compassion and Dying.

I want all of our readers to also enjoy some of the great writing from this project; stories of compassion, concepts of compassion from many spiritual themes, and discussions on definition of the word “Compassion”. The list is below, enjoy!

~La Boheme

Entries

Ben Lumley at The New Horizons Project.

Kris Vockler at Beyond Zen.

Corinne Edwards at Personal Growth with Corinne Edwards.

Isabella Mori at Change Therapy.

Paula Kawal at Journey Inward Coaching.

Liara Covert at Dream Builders.

David Bohl at Slow Down Fast.

Deb Estep at Deb_Inside.

Swami Nirmalananda Giri and ReddyK at the Atma Jyoti Blog.

Mary Jaksch at Goodlife Zen.

Takuin Minamoto at Daily Action and Natural Expression.

Robin at Reflections on Compassion, posted at Yogini Myspace Blog.

Karen Zara at Abaminds.

Jenny Mannion at Heal Pain Naturally.

Evan Hadkins at WellBeingAndHealth.Net.

Shawn Williamson at do you LIVE or simply EXIST.

Patricia Singleton at Spiritual Journey of a Lightworker.

Alex Blackwell at The Next 45 Years.

Akemi Gaines at Gratitude Magic.

Vitor Bosshard at The Fractal Forest.

CG Walters at Into The Mist.

John Torcello has also contributed an entry by email, I’ve included it in the comments below.

Brightdays at Brighter Days for you and me!

Karen at Loving Awareness.

Krista at Lucid Amphibology.

Karen Lynch at Live The Power.

Andrea Hess at Empowered Soul.

Waters at Waters: The Last Thing I Wanted To Give.

Eric Grey at Deepest Health.

Stephen Hopson at Adversity University.

Em Dy at Pulse: Intention to Treat.

Iain Hamp at Follow Your Passions.

Rahul at Raw Speak.

Stephen Miracle at AltNoise.Net.

Pearl at Interesting Observations.

Mark at My Tropical Escape.

Matthew at Loving Awareness.

Daylle Schwartz at Lessons from a Recovering Doormat.

Charities Link at Charities Link.

Mihaela Lica at Pamil Visions eWritings.

David at Virginia Breeze.

Jerry Summers at Nothing Like Now.

Wishbone at Wishbone.

Arvind Devalia at Make Things Happen.

Samir Bharadwaj at Samir Bharadwaj dot com.

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Interview with Leslie Blackburn

Kris Vockler interviews Leslie Blackburn; Artist, Engineer, and Yogini.

KV: We first met on a Sacred Journey to Egypt in November of 2007, what events prompted you to take this trip and what had you hoped to get out of it?

LB: Egypt called me about five years prior to the trip, as I was opening up to an awareness of a connection with Egypt that’s been reflected in many things during my life. I remember creating a Sphinx out of paper maché in 2nd grade, writing a paper on how I wanted to be an Archaeologist when I was in 5th grade, and a strong connection to cats, especially big cats (pumas, panthers, tigers) which I view as power animals of mine. As I started to piece these things together I consulted with a wonderful psychic advisor of mine asking her why I was feeling this draw to Egypt? What should I be aware of? She knowingly plunked a statue of Sekhmet in front of me, lent me a copy of “Initiation” by Elizabeth Haich, and put me in contact with Body Mind Spirit Journeys. My body lit up with goosebumps (a common sign I get when something really resonates with me!) Immediately I knew the connection was real.

Then I had an interesting twist…a series of synchronicities guided me into a trip to Peru. For a reason that I was not aware of at the time I needed to first travel to Peru. At the time, I thought perhaps it was Peru instead of Egypt. And in fact, when Andrea (director of Body Mind Spirit Journeys, who led both the trip to Peru and the one to Egypt) told me over the phone that many people end up traveling to both places with her – my first reaction was that I would just be up for one such major trip, and that a second to Egypt was unlikely.

Ah, divine guidance, I’ve learned now over the years to trust it and go for it. And sure enough, the trip to Peru was life changing! I believe I needed that trip first, to prepare me for the next phases of my life. Peru was immensely heart opening, at a time in my life when I had been reconnecting with my creativity and the divine feminine. Years in an engineering career in corporate America had squashed some of these aspects away, and it was time to reconnect. That trip to Peru is another whole topic in itself!

Finally, after more synchronicities, the means to make a second major trip presented itself. Shocked, but also recognizing the guidance for what it was, I signed up for Egypt as soon as Andrea posted the details. I headed into it knowing there was a great deal of healing and releasing I had yet to do. I feel that I was meant to be there to not only experience these healing aspects for myself, but also as a lightworker to help raise global consciousness. I was drawn there to learn these aspects and to share with and teach others.

KV: Were your expectations met or did the trip make any turns you didn’t expect?

LB:Both! There were aspects of the trip that I expected, but so many that were new and wholly necessary. At times I expected certain things to happen that didn’t, then I wondered why, then I realized…there I go again with the mental “thinking” process, the checklist. When I opened my heart to let the experience unfold as it may, that’s when I felt the most fulfilled. Now mind you, I say this with the utmost love and respect of list-making, it’s one of my strengths (I should buy stock in Post-its)! But I’ve come to recognize and honor both the logic side and the intuitive side…and there are times when I need to rely on my heart center. I found in Egypt that this was particularly demanding. This brings me back to my reason for heading to Peru first. Peru, being the feminine psychic center of the Earth, is naturally a very receptive, juicy, warm and open place and the people there reflect that. Egypt, being the masculine psychic center of the Earth, is a bit more harsh, dry and structured. So I believe the resistance I felt, or the tendency to kick-in to my logic self, was heightened while I was there. And all the more reason I needed that trip to Peru first, to help me with the necessary opening and receptivity that was harder for me in the past but proved to be critical for my healing and learning in Egypt.

KV: From your website it would appear that the Engineer was the first to come out in you, then art, then yoga. Is this how it unfolded? Was art a part of your younger life?

LB:Yes, art was a part of my younger life. Drawing was a love of mine from an early age, Mom even saved a coloring book picture from when I was 2 ½ yrs old, red was definitely my favorite color! As I grew, I was encouraged by teachers to learn more and had the opportunity to attend an honors art class at the University of Cincinnati when I was a high school student. However, when it came time to decide on a college major, an inner self, likely fueled by adult “shoulds” about money, won my internal debate between graphic design and engineering. As I proceeded through my degrees and career, what remained of the artistic side was funneled only into structured drafting and computer aided design (CAD), the creative side was subconsciously tucked away.

So as an adult, the engineer came first. I’ve led a highly successful career in the engineering field at a major corporation. As I’ve mentioned before, I was drawn to reconnect with my feminine/creative in recent years and picking up my art again has been a major aspect of that…both as a catalyst for and a result of connection with the divine feminine. I took some classes, and one in particular, “Intuitive Painting”, helped me open up my work into new realms.

Meanwhile, yoga became a part of my life close to 10 years ago when I was heavily in engineering career mode, along with being an endurance athlete (both very “type A”). I was training and competing in triathlon (swim/bike/run) and headed into my first Ironman race (2.4 mi swim, 112 mi bike, 26.2 mi run). The training took a tremendous toll on my body, and I turned to yoga to add flexibility and balance (strengthening the tiny muscles that provide stability and injury avoidance). I immediately enjoyed my practice for it’s physical benefits…and over time I realized the mental and spiritual benefits. Eventually, I added a regular meditation practice as well. Now, I enjoy the great depth of the yoga principles, in many aspects of my life.

KV: As for becoming a Yogini (an accurate description of you), when did spiritual seeking come into your life and what triggered it?

LB:Motherhood. The birth of my daughter, that is. What really cracked me open was my pregnancy and the birth of my daughter. Life for me has changed so immensely during that period and the years after she was born. My new infant taught me lessons that, for me, could not have been learned by reading a book or taking a class. She continues teaching me new things to this day.

As I awoke to a new reality, it was wonderful in many ways but painful in many others. I recognized my marriage wasn’t working, and made one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made. Wow, it sure is hard to wake up…you no longer have the option of just going back to sleep and ignoring your life! I had to face up to making a major change. As I ended the relationship with my husband, my daughter’s father, I questioned myself over and over again. The guidance I received kept reassuring me I was on the right path, and for the first time in my life I had to “let go of the steering wheel” as a dear friend and advisor told me. Reflecting on my relationship with my ex-husband that spanned half of my life to that point, I honor and respect the time we had together as it was exactly what I need through those phases of my life, even though it was time for it to end.

KV: You speak of the “Flower of Life” on your site and we talked about it on the trip as well, we symbols in Abydos. How did you discover this and what prompted you to study sacred geometry?

LB:Another wonderful outcome of my trip to Peru! But first, a bit of background from childhood:
In addition to drawing, one of the other aspects of my childhood was a huge interest in and proclivity to all things geometry…shapes, colors, lines, 3D objects, puzzles. I remember being very drawn to a topic in an honors class I took in 6th grade called “topology”…it still intrigues me to this day. Per Wikipedia, Topology (Greek topos, “place,” and logos, “study”) is a branch of mathematics that is an extension of geometry. Topology begins with a consideration of the nature of space, investigating both its fine structure and its global structure. I remember reducing the alphabet to only 5 or 6 basic topological elements, and drawing them on a balloon to illustrate how they can be stretched and shaped into all 26 letters. Also, I recall setting up mirrors into a triangular pattern and gazing, as if meditative, into the infinite field created by them.

So, fast-forward once again to Peru. While there, I connected with 3 amazing new friends. Although we had only just met (in this lifetime that is!) we felt a very deep connection. As we discussed all matters of spirituality and life, one of the people (Ed Spina, author of “Mystic Warrior”) gave me some recommendations on books. Two of these resonated right away, since Melchizedek & Sacred Geometry had come up twice before, and sure enough I got those goose bumps again! So the first two books I read once returning from Peru were “The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life, Volumes 1 & 2”, by Drunvalo Melchizedek.

Drunvalo’s work was so familiar to me, in a subconscious yet “knowing” sort of way. I was able to recognize so many aspects, for the first time pulled together in one place, and with new information that made my heart sing (and more goosebumps!). This launched a whole new field of my reality, and I followed up by attending his workshop on the Flower of Life in addition to scouring other books and references.

Sacred geometry is the language of creation. It is a fundamental truth, a oneness that exists beneath all the formalized religions and beliefs. Practicing it has been very eye opening for me. By practicing I mean actually creating the shapes, forms and images using the tools of sacred geometry – a compass and a straight edge. Just seeing the images or reading about them doesn’t have the same effect as the action of recreating them. This is the central premise I use as I teach and learn about sacred geometry, it’s a hands-on experience!

KV: What’s next for you on this path you are following? What focus has you right now?

LB:My intention for the year is to continue to move into this new space, integrating the divine feminine and masculine and sharing my gifts with the world. This includes continuing with my art, teaching and learning through One Space. I am working with some wonderful people to create a workshop series on Embodiment, the first of which, on awakening the divine feminine, is planned for March 2008. Sacred sexuality and tantra are my current focus, my partner and I are planning tantra instructor certification later this year. Also, I would like to explore the integration of sacred geometry with sacred sexuality. I believe there’s a connection and would like to research this area more fully to be able to harvest and share this information.

I embrace continuing on my personal path which has been the integration of the ever-unfolding feminine in body and psyche with masculine direction and purpose - Love in action!

KV: Thank you so much for your time Leslie.

LB:Thank you so much for this opportunity to share - Leslie.

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