Chaos.

It’s generally defined as a state in which things are out of order and in which confusion then ensues.

We often associate chaos with things feeling erratic and discordant. A perceived sense of stability, of thinking we know how things are connected and what will follow something else, seems non-existent in moments of chaos. Boats feel rocked, apple carts appear upset…and we surmise that we are without wayfinding devices.

And yet, there are other layers to chaos worth exploring, as they may be able to help us to relate to and work with it.

The first comes from physics. As it turns out, chaos may not as unpredictable as we perceive it to be. In fact, chaos theory is based upon the notion that the seemingly random states of disorder are not only not random but also are not without order—at their foundation are underlying patterns and laws that govern them. One of these is the principle that future outcomes are related to initial conditions, the way things are set in motion.

If we want to dive in and understand chaos, another avenue we can take is looking to its mythic roots. Greco-Roman cosmology notes that before anything else there was Chaos, depicted both as a feminine god and an existing space. Consisting of emptiness, Chaos was the origin of everything, the primordial generative force. Not only did Chaos give birth to Nyx (night) and Erebus (darkness), but she was also thought to be the ‘mother’ of Tartarus (the abyss), Eros (desire), and Gaia (earth). If we hold this to be archetypally true, then all living things, all of life, derives from chaos/Chaos, reflecting them its power not just to cause disarray but catalyze creation. That’s a powerful notion!

So why all this talk of chaos? Because this week features the first of three Saturn/Uranus Squares that colors the kairos of 2021 (the exact alignments this year occur on February 17, June 14, and December 24). And given that Uranus reflects a revolutionary, go-against-the-grain, shake-it-up invitation and Saturn both demands accountability and creates structure, it feels like it’s a year in which chaos may ensue—and therefore getting to know what it is, and how to relate with it, and the power it has can be very helpful.

We will likely experience chaos in the form of surprises, the unexpected, and the out-of-the-blue this year. With a galvanizing cry that many may feel to champion for freedom, it may appear that that requires an innovative shift of relied-upon structures. Things will likely be shaken up, and that may cause us to feel shaken up.

So how to get more comfortable with chaos? Remember, on many levels “chaos” isn’t really “chaotic” per se – it’s actually normal, the fundamental principle upon which creativity resides. And while it may feel like the “wild west,” remember that there are principles that underlie it. I’m struck by the physics principle how even while things seem to be without order that future outcomes are derived from initial consditions and the way that things are first generated. This has me reflect upon the power of intention during chaotic times. Even if things are seem to be manifesting in a sequence different than expected if we hold on to our intention as to what we want to create, how we want to live, what visions we want to champion, that perhaps it will give us more confidence that the outcome, even if it has an unexpected route, will still be as we intention and envision.

Another way to find a new orientation to chaos is to remember its creative potential. Look to your life to see places that appear well-ordered but which have you feeling stuck, stifled, and less vital. See then how you can inject a bit of chaos into it by shaking things up, moving the pieces around, re-ordering the sequence of something, and/or approaching a situation from a different angle.

Invariably, we can more readily move with the creative power of chaos if we discover a new relationship with one of its components—confusion. When we change things up, there’s often periods in which we just don’t know what to do, or what will come next, or how to put the pieces back together in a way other than they’ve been. Instead of rushing through the confusion, perhaps we need to sit with it, trust it, know that it itself may be the pathway that allows us to invite in new possibilities that we haven’t yet encountered. Instead of having confusion have us feel lost at sea, we can perceive it as a space that offers a host of possibilities, a map that connects us to a more vast terrain with inspiring destinations.

All said, chaos may still feel uncomfortable at points. Flower essences can be a helpful ally as we encounter it. Some examples include:

Rescue Remedy or Five-Flower Formula which be a handy thing to have on hand to tamp down struess that comes from surprises.
Impatiens can help you have more patience to stay a course, even if you don’t yet know the destination.
Cerato can enhance our inner listening so you can turn up the volume of the wisdom that resides within to help you move through situations with more awareness, no matter how chaotic they may appear.

(There are others that may be even more powerful for you, depending upon your astrology chart and what you are moving through right now—including what the Saturn/Uranus Squares is lighting up for you; write me if you’d like a Stellar Guidance Session that includes flower essence recommendations.)

OK, there are many more things that can be said about chaos, and feeling more centered in chaos, and using chaos creatively, but i feel that this is a good place to start. Plus, we we will have lots of time—all year—to explore this subject and other Saturn/Uranus Square themes.

I’ll just leave you with this: Investigating, exploring, and getting curious about chaos, including how it may sometimes be an ally that can help us liberate aspects of ourselves that want to be further expressed, may not only be an orientation that is liberating but one that allows us to proactively discover a new sense of center should the world around us feel chaotic in an erratic and discordant way.

Exploring Chaos: The Saturn/Uranus Square