THE SHADOW-MAN

© 2017 - Reprinted with permission from Shining Lotus Metaphysical Bookstore newsletter April 2017

by Mario C. Veo

The early days of railways were times of great change, fortunes were made, and some people grew to great importance… and one of these was the Train Conductor… this is his story (maybe).

Ah, how good is the life of the Train conductor, who runs the iron-horse with great skill, and is shown much respect by all who ride with him.
For some this even grows into small friendships, especially if you’re a regular – there is the young schoolteacher who, tired after a long day, always offers him a small smiles… but sits alone, staring out the window… there is the bombastic young man who loudly declares him prowess of the day to any who care to listen… and, sometimes, there are manual laborers who, tired as they are, seldom make any conversation. rather preferring to nap until they get home…
These are his people, and he looks after them with benign contempt (for, after all, he is the Conductor).

Each day he leads the mighty train along the tracks, while great scenery flies by… and, as the sun is about to set, he crosses the small station almost at the end of his run… but there’s never anyone there, so no need to stop or even slow down…

As days and weeks and months go by he begins to notice a shadow under the mighty oak that grows near the lines…
At first he thought it was his imagination, tired from his vigilant work… but no, there is someone there barely visible…
And  so he started paying closer attention, and could just discern a shadow… perhaps in the shape of a man… “Umm, I wonder who he is…?” he pondered. “Maybe some tired soul, who’s just catching his breath before continuing home…? Well, he can’t be a respectable man, for he would take the train if he was… after all, look how clean, and nice this train is… Humph, I certainly would not want some ‘vagrant’ aboard my train!” And as much as he tried to ignore this Shadow-man, still his mind would not let him. At first he slowed down as he passed him by, wondering if, by chance, he could see more than this mere smear of a man… but to no avail.

“The train is too powerful a beast to simply ‘slow down’… and for what? This poor excuse of a being, who’s not even good enough to stand in the waning light… He must be up to no-good… Ummm, maybe he’s a robber who is waiting to jump aboard… or maybe he’s looking how best to derail this beautiful train… or maybe… maybe… he’s a ghost looking to possess me…”

With each day and each thought his imagination grew darker and darker, until he was sure that this ‘evil being’ was up to no good… so he chose the only wise thing to do – go faster, and faster… as fast as his mighty steed would carry him… zooming past the forgotten station, praying to his long ignored deity to keep him safe “I am the Conductor… keep me safe from this evil…”

And so he speeds off into the night, chased by his own imagination… and his self-created ‘demons’.

And as he flies by, the Shadow-man begins to walk away… slowly, for in his old age his bones creak with each step… and a deep sigh escapes his parched lips… the train is now too fast for him to catch even a glimpse of his estranged daughter…

And so even this small little pleasure is denied him… yet what else can he do but hope… (even if it’s in vain).

Mario C. Veo is a teacher of Spiritual Science and a Healing Arts Practitioner. He teaches classes and individuals on Personal Transformation and the Expansion of Consciousness. Mario is available for personal guidance and consultations every Tuesday and the last Sunday of each month at the Shining Lotus™ Bookstore.

PLANETS AND POSSIBILITIES: A LOOK AT THE ASTROLOGY OF APRIL 2017

© 2017 - Reprinted with permission from Shining Lotus Metaphysical Bookstore newsletter April 2017

BY SALLY SHOTWELL
The month begins with the Sun (our consciousness) and Uranus (the unpredictable) in vital, fiery Aries. This is the sign which initiates the astrological new year and is associated with spring and rebirth. It is ruled by assertive Mars and is designated to be cardinal, along with watery Cancer, airy Libra, and earthy Capricorn, who all usher in the seasons. This requires a lot of energy and right this forcefulness is being tapped by Pluto, God of the Underworld, in Capricorn and Jupiter, King of the Gods, in relationship-oriented Libra. All this cardinality creates rivalry when astrological events take place which require these plants’ paths to cross as is the situation now.Let’s keep in mind that we have strategies which keep us centered (like conscious breathing) when we start feeling iffy.
Are we taking care to limit our exposure to sensationalism?
Keeping ourselves calm also help us as we sense that we’re receiving mixed messages as to what the expectations are in our interactions. This situation is explained when we check out this month’s plethora of planets going retrograde and changing signs willy nilly. The movement alters the vibrations they’re supplying us to work with. Let’s first look to Venus, Goddess of Beauty, love and money, who we count on to guide us in recognizing what we most treasure in our lives. This is tricky for us right now because, as we evolve, we’re re-evaluating all that we’ve traditionally been able to rely on for emotional shelter. She is now traveling backward in watery, otherworldly Pisces between April 2 and 15 which emphasizes our introspection. Feelings of Universal Love as well as True Love may capture our imagination but Pisces is notorious for feeding our illusions which can morph into delusion and disappointment. Fortunately, April 8 Saturn, Father Time, in belief-oriented Sagittarius is acting as a restraining influence and encouraging us to employ common sense in our decisions. He himself is going through a period of regrouping since his backward movement of April 5. Let’s moderate our fantasies and arrange for quiet time to all this in.
What messages are we receiving from our musings?
On April 8 the Sun and Pluto are not seeing eye to eye since one basks in the light and the other finds treasure in what is buried. If we play our cards right, we may gain the information previously concealed which gives us a new understanding of the subtle forces which surround us.
New insights serve us well as we immerse ourselves in the activities of April 9/10/11. First, mental Mercury retrogrades in earthy , Venus-ruled Taurus, internalizing our appreciation of the beauty and practicality manifested in our physical world. This, in turn, helps us to be sensitive to the April 10/11 Full Moon (culmination) in Libra opposite the Sun in Aries. With patience, we are able to incorporate the best qualities of these signs and Libra is all about balance.

The Sabian Symbol states “A child giving birds a drink at a fountain: the concern of simple souls for the welfare and happiness of less evolved beings who thirst for life renewal.” We are blessed when we show reverence for the life which Nature bestows on us; it opens our heart.
April 13 the Sun and Uranus combine energies getting our juices flowing in anticipation of Venus’s forward movement April 15 and her happy contact with Mars on the 16. They’re considered the Cosmic Lovers and he’s in Taurus, which she rules, so let’s take advantage of the atmosphere created by this fortuitous rendezvous. The 16^th is also Easter Sunday and brings great joy to those of us who observe it.
April 9 the Sun moves into Taurus where his newly gained earthy energy may now act as a vessel for converting into materiality what has been introduced by Aries’s urge to create new life.What seeds have we planted that we need to be nurturing now for the future?
April 20 we may feel as though our heads are spinning as transformative Pluto starts backtracking in Capricorn at the same time Mercury starts retracing his footsteps back into assertive Aries. He’s the planets of communication so let’s be aware of the impact of our words. April 21 the musical chairs motif continues with Mars (our vitality) entering airy, curious Gemini while Venus makes a stressful connection with Saturn. Let’s detach from this whirlwind action, take care of business, and wait for the dust to settle. Time is on our side.
April 26 the New Moon (new beginnings) in sensuous Taurus encourages us to truly participate in our own life and appreciate the blessings currently available to us, the source being traced back to what predates us. The Symbol is: “The woman of Samaria at the ancestral well: the meeting of the creative spirit pointing to the future.”Are we able to integrate our release what we’ve experienced in our past?
April 28 Venus finally forges ahead into Aries and she’s ready to avail herself of the warmth awaiting her. She’s still getting her bearings for future adventures and going through a period adjustment. Let’s also take time to evaluate and assimilate the material we’ve accumulated during this period of introspection. Mercury is simultaneously palling around with inventive Uranus in Aries and there’s a lot of inventive for us to pay attention to imaginative ideas which come to mind. This is promising!
Blessings.
Sally Shotwell is a life-long student of esoteric spirituality whose focus on studies in Astrology have spanned decades. She has entertained and informed our readers with her articles for a few years now.