Tuning in to Hermes-the God of Soul Talk
By Pythia Peay

It's a magnified Gemini new moon, with the two major luminaries joined by Saturn, Jupiter, and Mercury. The opposition from Pluto, Chiron, Mars and Juno in Sagittarius further intensifies the cosmic theme around issues of communication and ideas. One way to look at this line-up in the heavens is that Mercury-the trickster god of small talk, idle speculation, and airy fantasies-is being urged to sober up, go deep, and get real. Soul talk, not small talk, is the direction indicated in the heavens above.

Out spirit guide for this new moon journey is Hermes, the Greek counterpart of the Roman Mercury. The ancient god of occult magic who speaks the logos or "word of God,"  Hermes' sacred function is that of Psychopomp: the guide who conducts souls to the underworld and back. He is the ancient god of the crossroads, whose spirit appears to lost wayfarers and points them in the right direction. Hermes is also the patron of alchemy, symbolized by his 
staff, the cadeuceus, which transforms everything it touches into gold.  Too, Hermes is known as the son of the moon, symbolized by the crescent moon atop the astrological symbol for Mercury. These traditions tell us that Hermes' sacred task is that of journeying to the depths, then returning with the life-giving message of truth and wisdom.

To tune in to the voice of wisdom embodied by Hermes, begin by filtering out the static that fills the air waves of our information-age era. Then imagine that you have returned to a time when the only sounds are those of nature-the wind blowing, water splashing, crickets chirping, and the deep solitude of a forest glen.  Creating such a space is like stepping into a sunlit clearing in the midst of the overgrown forest of your life. 

Hidden within this sacred chamber of nature, you find that your ability to hear grows more keen.  As you listen, scattered bird calls begin to sound like a musical arrangement. The rustle of tree branches seem to be whispering words in your ear. The wind sighing sends signals that penetrate the deepest layers of your being.  All of nature is like a holy being seeking to impart meaning.  The universe, it seems, is trying to communicate with you. 

Then, imagine that you hear a voice speaking directly to your soul.  Like the voice who spoke to Job through the whirlwind, or the Greek oracle who, possessed by the spirit of Apollo, uttered parables of wisdom, the voice that speaks is the intelligence of the universe seeking to give you a message.  You are the question; the voice is the answer.  Whether in words, or an implicit sense of wordless knowing, this voice articulates truths to a question you have long pondered. Suddenly, you understand; understanding, your mind becomes transformed-clear as a light dawning, a sun rising. 

As you sit within this chamber, continue to savor the wisdom imparted to you by the universe. Immerse yourself in the echoed reverberations emanating from the voice that has spoken. Like a precious keepsake, you vow to keep its imprint within your heart-a holy text to contemplate when life makes no sense, or you are lost at a crossroads. Then, you will know to grow still and listen to the voice of wisdom that speaks both within and without to the listening ears of your soul.