In the raggle-taggle race and noise of life, grace seems to be something of a lost art, an increasingly lesser-known virtue. Along with "elegance of movement, manner or design," one dictionary defines grace as "God's loving mercy towards mankind."
It is this latter vein of loving heavenly mercy, this form of grace, that we are given ample opportunity to renew our acquaintance during the month of July. The month begins with Messenger Mercury and Abundant Jupiter already cycling through the maternal, nurturing sign of Cancer to the strains of what could be The Crab's theme song: The Beatles, "Let It Be." When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, Let it be.
Mother and child energy, pure love, infuses our hours like oxygen for the weary and war-torn even as Mercury retrograde underscores that it is best to slow down, measure our words and pace. For the next three weeks, until July 20, messenger planet Mercury cycles backward in nurturing Cancer, inviting us to tune in to our inner worlds, remember, read, review, relax, restore.
Enter grace...if we allow ourselves to slow down and stop ceaselessly marching forward. Grace requires less doing and more being. It is an excellent time to take stock of our proverbial own back yards: to get these in order before we worry about anything else. Focus on the home front, family relationships especially those regarding Mom and children, revisit your attitude and interest in food and cooking, review estate, will and trust concerns, house projects or any real estate ventures. Most of all this period encourages us to take time off to be with family, either on vacation in a distant land or on your patio or porch.
For the entire next year, Jupiter's exalted generosity in Cancer could not agree more, supporting our efforts for less busyness in favor of simple living. Contemplate. Just be. Smell the flowers, float on a lake, photograph memories, dance. Enjoy. Reflect on what what you learn by living a slower life. Because reflection is what Cancer is all about. Cancer is ruled by the Moon, which we see only because of our Sun's reflected light. As the nurturing force of the zodiac, Cancer moves us to take care of ourselves, our interests, of others. Healers all varieties are often Cancer Sun signs or have significant areas of their natal charts in Cancer.
Aligning with Jupiter during all of July is Saturn in Scorpio and Neptune in its own sign of Pisces, forming what is akin to a cosmic life support system. All three planets are in water signs which by nature are emotional, passionate, creative and highly imaginative. Inspiration, hardwork, dreams, nurturing, teaching and learning beautifully collide to smooth the way for any project, business or relationship. In short, you will feel in the flow. Not a coincidence given the amount of planets in water signs! Bask and rely on this tremendous cushion easing our movements, cosmic life lines that will soften dramatic shifts, changes and transitions occurring during this otherwise challenging time.
Such life lines are very helpful in the first week of the month when the lunar nodes are at attention-getting degrees. The north node pulls us toward significant transformation and change while the south node pushes us to leave material thoughts and goods behind. Release what you no longer need...be it psychological baggage or too much stuff in the closet! Fortunately, the Sun's magical alignment with the lunar north node will focus our attention on broader and deeper concerns for our future emotional, mental and spiritual well-being.
We may be even further prompted and prodded toward change as the Sun makes a challenging angle to transformer Pluto and radical Uranus in Aries, ruler of fire and explosives. Expect fiery surprises, particularly in the arenas of home, home-land, and family. The horrific and still unexplained loss of 19 fire fighters in Arizona is one example of how this energy can manifest. Watch for other kinds of explosions too: mind your mouth at family barbecues this week; avoid saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, or just the wrong thing period. Also be careful of what you eat over the July 4th holiday... try not to overeat until you feel you will explode. With Uranus in fiery Aries, allow professionals to handle fireworks. The Sun in homey Cancer warns it is best not to set off any fireworks around your house. Turn off or extinguish any fire-related items: stoves, barbecues, lanterns, campfires, tikki torches, etc. Hopefully Mercury's retrograde phase will thwart any planned surprise attacks on the homeland since such attempts may not be fully effective or realized due to communication snafus. Jupiter's current Cancerian shield will provide extra blankets of protection over any mass gathering.
At the same time, casting a glow on our relationships and projects, radical Uranus makes a helpful angle to Venus, planet of love and money. Highly inventive and ingenious Uranian energy enables us to find new, different methods and paths we have not tried before to break through blocks and obstacles with loved ones or aspects of our lives. Conversely, new people and prospects will enter our lives; or, people and segments of our lives that we've continuously overlooked spark us to take a fresh look. Awakened, you might wonder why you've never noticed what or who has been right under your nose all along, just waiting for you to pay attention...
And July 10th, it will be hard for anyone not to notice what screams to be heard and seen when Venus reaches a critical degree of Leo, saying: look at me! This is a terrific time to change up, re-make old deep-seeded habits that no longer serve us, in our relationships or work. Mercury's pass back over the Sun in careful Cancer will ease any transitions especially pertaining to family, house, food or creative endeavors.
At mid-month, fiery Mars joins Jupiter in Cancer where they will travel together for the rest of the month. Mars ignites the watery alliance between Jupiter, Saturn and Neptune, sharpening our focus and demanding the Cancerian domain of children, home, food and family be dealt with. Just as Mars' activating energy pushes us to get going, Pluto drives the point home. Like a closer in a baseball game, Pluto's opposition to Jupiter-Mars makes sure we peel back that proverbial rug, take a long hard look at what we swept under its cover, aka, what we just didn't want to deal with. No more. Overweight from eating too much? Does Mom need to be moved into a safe environment, ie, a retirement community that can care for her 24/7? Spots on your ceiling from a broken pipe or leaky roof? Take care of it now, say Mars-Pluto. Lob off those extra pounds; find a long-term care facility for Mom; repair the roof before winter sets in. Mercury's alliance with the lunar north node pulls our thoughts toward the direction we need to go to accomplish all of the above.
The final days of the month we can move ahead with plans formed in previous weeks. Mercury turns direct motion on Saturday, July 20. Over the next three days, Venus enters Virgo, easing health and work concerns while the Sun moves into Leo sparking creativity, fun, and risk-taking: leap in and try new ways to tackle what rises up to greet you. Go ahead and sign contracts and documents or make significant purchases. Venus, the very planet of grace makes a helpful angle to work-horse Saturn even as the latter challenges the Sun, reminding us that we are cosmically supported to move gracefully and with dignity while we dig deep to meet life head-on.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Focus on Family!
The forces pushing and pulling us for a while now and for a while yet to come give us a bit of a reprieve at the outset of June. After the latest round of eclipses in May, we are momentarily allowed to come up for air the first week of the month.
Relief is brought to us by a beautiful angle between dream-maker pair Saturn-Neptune pair aligning with messenger Mercury and Venus, planet of love and money. All four planets are cycling through water signs for nearly the entire month. Our imaginations take flight while conversely, deeply seeded matters open up for much-needed cleansing and healing. June gives us a wonderful and somewhat rare opportunity to nurture ourselves and loved ones. Make the most of this cosmic gift and take time out to bask, flow in these gentle waters.
Mercury (how we think and communicate) and Venus (relationships) in the maternal sign of Cancer the Crab focus us on home, family, mom, food, heritage, psychological roots. Have a house project to conquer? Challenging family relationships to sort out? Want to finally change what and how you eat? How and where you live? The next few weeks say get it done. June 5th is especially key for building and stabilizing anything as the moon and transformational Pluto align in earth signs.
At the same time, June 5-15th, prickly family members begging to be confronted or difficult relationship dynamics seeking to have the kinks worked out may very well turn on the emotional water works when fiery Mars bumps up against dreamy Neptune. Where Mars in communicative Geminii sparks arguments, Neptune and Pisces would much rather Let Go and Let God. Be very mindful of your words. Awareness of language is essential through this period particularly with neighbors, siblings and family members.
It is good to note that after an argument, people may not recall your exact words but they will remember how your words made them feel. We can carry hurtful feelings sparked by such words for years. Enter Neptune: take its gentle advice to refrain, re-word or re-frame thoughts into a mindful message. Tune into your audience and how best he/she/they will be able to hear your message that Mars in Geminii so desperately wants to get across. Depending where this combination falls in your astrological chart, it can also incite car trouble, flooding creeks and rivers, or plumbing and gas line issues. Carefully review any contracts or documents to be signed now as Neptunian fog can distort understanding of how you may be impacted later.
These issues may reach a crescendo at mid-month when challenging angles surface between Mercury-Venus, radical Uranus and transformer Pluto. We may feel as though we are being pushed and pulled, kneaded and rolled over and over like play-dough, against our will, with no end in sight or ability to control our destiny; that we have no choice or say particularly in Cancer's domestic domain. With the Mercury-Venus pair still moving through the sign of the Crab, hearth and home demands our attention and action. Like it or not, our parenting skills may be put to the test...both of children or childlike relatives, elderly or otherwise. House projects can take off now or require fixing. In short, any home and family matters gurgling under the surface must be taken care of. Be careful not to make matters worse by handling these with anger and divisiveness instead of invoking cleansing, healing and repairing.
It is said that all things are difficult before they are easy. Bring on some ease! Such is the passage we now enter as the third week of June brings good news: Saturn, lord of dharma and karma aligns with beneficent Jupiter and the Sun (our will) and inspirational Neptune, forming a grand water trine (triangle of planets). The effects of this magnanimous energy cannot be understated. At once magical and imaginative, this configuration may bestow all kinds of generosity and blessings. Finally, we feel our hard work, (emotional excavation as Scorpio Saturn insists upon), begin to pay off.
The same week, a helpful alliance between Uranus and Mars boosts this energy ten-fold. Our ingenuity and initiative heighten our ability to problem solve where we have encountered obstacles or have been rooted in conflict. Seize this energy to get things wrapped up before messenger Mercury turns retrograde on June 25th. After which, it is best not to start projects or sign significant documents.
The following day, June 26th, Jupiter moves into Cancer joining the Sun, Mercury and Venus. Jupiter is exalted in Cancer. This astrological term connotes the status of a planet when it behaves, and it is treated, like an honored guest in a palace. Why, you might ask, would Jupiter, the eternal wanderer, seeker, teacher, adventurer receive such treatment in a sign about food, mom, home, our roots? Well, if we stop and think about it, our mother is our first teacher, providing food, shelter and essential guidance for us. From our first home, be it a hut or immense estate, we take our first steps into the world. We can never deny where we come from, stray far though we may; deny our heritage try as we might. The seeds of mom, family and home never leave us, or our consciousness. Jupiter takes these seeds and expands all of them, growing, evolving. In Cancer, Jupiter becomes The Great Mother. Generous, benevolent, warm and nurturing, Jupiter exalts teaching all of her children in the luxurious world home, providing a blessed, rich and learned life, excluding no one.
As it cycles through Cancer for the next year, Jupiter invites us into her loving, warm-hearted spirit where we may learn how to become our best self. Jupiter-as-Mother asks us to slow down, remember that life is a journey, not a race, bask in its overflowing care. Especially during Mercury's retrograde phase through July 20th, nurture yourself and others. Vacation without a care in the world. Unplug and tune out. Relax and read a long, great story. Tell stories and sing songs. Reap the magic of silence. Listen to the natural wonders of Mother Earth as she blossoms into full summer flower.
The forces pushing and pulling us for a while now and for a while yet to come give us a bit of a reprieve at the outset of June. After the latest round of eclipses in May, we are momentarily allowed to come up for air the first week of the month.
Relief is brought to us by a beautiful angle between dream-maker pair Saturn-Neptune pair aligning with messenger Mercury and Venus, planet of love and money. All four planets are cycling through water signs for nearly the entire month. Our imaginations take flight while conversely, deeply seeded matters open up for much-needed cleansing and healing. June gives us a wonderful and somewhat rare opportunity to nurture ourselves and loved ones. Make the most of this cosmic gift and take time out to bask, flow in these gentle waters.
Mercury (how we think and communicate) and Venus (relationships) in the maternal sign of Cancer the Crab focus us on home, family, mom, food, heritage, psychological roots. Have a house project to conquer? Challenging family relationships to sort out? Want to finally change what and how you eat? How and where you live? The next few weeks say get it done. June 5th is especially key for building and stabilizing anything as the moon and transformational Pluto align in earth signs.
At the same time, June 5-15th, prickly family members begging to be confronted or difficult relationship dynamics seeking to have the kinks worked out may very well turn on the emotional water works when fiery Mars bumps up against dreamy Neptune. Where Mars in communicative Geminii sparks arguments, Neptune and Pisces would much rather Let Go and Let God. Be very mindful of your words. Awareness of language is essential through this period particularly with neighbors, siblings and family members.
It is good to note that after an argument, people may not recall your exact words but they will remember how your words made them feel. We can carry hurtful feelings sparked by such words for years. Enter Neptune: take its gentle advice to refrain, re-word or re-frame thoughts into a mindful message. Tune into your audience and how best he/she/they will be able to hear your message that Mars in Geminii so desperately wants to get across. Depending where this combination falls in your astrological chart, it can also incite car trouble, flooding creeks and rivers, or plumbing and gas line issues. Carefully review any contracts or documents to be signed now as Neptunian fog can distort understanding of how you may be impacted later.
These issues may reach a crescendo at mid-month when challenging angles surface between Mercury-Venus, radical Uranus and transformer Pluto. We may feel as though we are being pushed and pulled, kneaded and rolled over and over like play-dough, against our will, with no end in sight or ability to control our destiny; that we have no choice or say particularly in Cancer's domestic domain. With the Mercury-Venus pair still moving through the sign of the Crab, hearth and home demands our attention and action. Like it or not, our parenting skills may be put to the test...both of children or childlike relatives, elderly or otherwise. House projects can take off now or require fixing. In short, any home and family matters gurgling under the surface must be taken care of. Be careful not to make matters worse by handling these with anger and divisiveness instead of invoking cleansing, healing and repairing.
It is said that all things are difficult before they are easy. Bring on some ease! Such is the passage we now enter as the third week of June brings good news: Saturn, lord of dharma and karma aligns with beneficent Jupiter and the Sun (our will) and inspirational Neptune, forming a grand water trine (triangle of planets). The effects of this magnanimous energy cannot be understated. At once magical and imaginative, this configuration may bestow all kinds of generosity and blessings. Finally, we feel our hard work, (emotional excavation as Scorpio Saturn insists upon), begin to pay off.
The same week, a helpful alliance between Uranus and Mars boosts this energy ten-fold. Our ingenuity and initiative heighten our ability to problem solve where we have encountered obstacles or have been rooted in conflict. Seize this energy to get things wrapped up before messenger Mercury turns retrograde on June 25th. After which, it is best not to start projects or sign significant documents.
The following day, June 26th, Jupiter moves into Cancer joining the Sun, Mercury and Venus. Jupiter is exalted in Cancer. This astrological term connotes the status of a planet when it behaves, and it is treated, like an honored guest in a palace. Why, you might ask, would Jupiter, the eternal wanderer, seeker, teacher, adventurer receive such treatment in a sign about food, mom, home, our roots? Well, if we stop and think about it, our mother is our first teacher, providing food, shelter and essential guidance for us. From our first home, be it a hut or immense estate, we take our first steps into the world. We can never deny where we come from, stray far though we may; deny our heritage try as we might. The seeds of mom, family and home never leave us, or our consciousness. Jupiter takes these seeds and expands all of them, growing, evolving. In Cancer, Jupiter becomes The Great Mother. Generous, benevolent, warm and nurturing, Jupiter exalts teaching all of her children in the luxurious world home, providing a blessed, rich and learned life, excluding no one.
As it cycles through Cancer for the next year, Jupiter invites us into her loving, warm-hearted spirit where we may learn how to become our best self. Jupiter-as-Mother asks us to slow down, remember that life is a journey, not a race, bask in its overflowing care. Especially during Mercury's retrograde phase through July 20th, nurture yourself and others. Vacation without a care in the world. Unplug and tune out. Relax and read a long, great story. Tell stories and sing songs. Reap the magic of silence. Listen to the natural wonders of Mother Earth as she blossoms into full summer flower.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Sink Your Toes In!
May 1st marks the ancient Celtic festival Beltane. It is the Rite of Spring celebrating fertility and welcoming Summer which may find some of us dancing around the May Pole. Camelot's Queen Guinevere noted how lusty the month of May can be, a time when our "thoughts go blissfully astray." And after a harsh winter season and particularly difficult April, it will do us a world of good to do just that. Take a day off and play. Play like you mean it: leave the electronics behind, toss off your shoes and go running through fields collecting wildflowers. Enjoy and revel in Mother Earth, a living being who endlessly provides us with food, shelter, life.
So it goes without saying then that this lovely month of May is proverbially great for planting anything. Once you've put your shoes back on and placed your gathered flowers in a vase, it will be time to get down to the business of planting. This requires keeping your eye on the ball to manifest your goals. Launching this month, the planets underscore our efforts as our desires (Pluto) align beautifully with our will (the Sun), in practical earth signs Capricorn and Taurus. A few days later, fiery Mars and messenger Mercury align with Pluto to drive us, our quest and messages forward. This is a month of messages and making your voice heard. Continuing to support us are dreamy Neptune and architect Saturn's harmonious alliance with nurturing Ceres. These three foster our future plans through mid-May even as the "dream-maker" pair of Neptune and Saturn continues well into autumn.
Don't be shy, they say: go for it. But be sure about what you are seeking. What you are asking for. Mars will make sure of this, directing our actions in earthy Taurus. Messenger Mercury and the Sun join Mars the first week of May, aligning with Saturn in Scorpio. This energy brings to the surface deep-seeded issues of survival, personal power, shared resources, money and wealth, our identity. All is revealed now. You can run but you cannot hide. Those hard at work and following their true path will find ample support. However, anyone ignoring, avoiding or sweeping matters under the rug won't get away from what must be dealt with. Another way of saying this is: if you've skipped out on the bill, it is now past due. Good news is that there are myriad ways to help you earn money to pay it off. Scorpio Saturn is highly intuitive, psychic really. Its alliances with Mars and Mercury tell us: you know what you should be doing (if you aren't) and how you should be in this world (if you aren't already). The question only you can answer is: will you? A great example of this energy, of someone no longer able to hide his true self is NBA player Jason Collins who stunned the sportsworld by coming out as gay.
Sealing our fate are the two eclipses this month making sure we own up to who we really are: the good, the bad, especially the beautiful person we've been reluctant to acknowledge, and conversely, the stark, raving dark side we've refused to embrace which keeps us from achieving our potential... The solar eclipse on May 10th in Taurus marks a time of beginnings. Think about who you can be, where you've been holding back, what wealth of talents you can spread around to fertilize humanity. Four planets in earthy Taurus at the time of the eclipse, including Mars at an attention-getting degree, draws our focus to beauty, art, material goods, money, what we can touch. But also: our inner talents. Messenger Mercury helpfully pairs with Neptune now inspiring us to fulfill our potential as well as suggesting the methods to get there.
At mid-month, continuing through May, Ceres, radical Uranus and Pluto challenge us to fix things that were broken over the winter around the house or in the yard; and also, to fix aspects of family relationships or ourselves broken over the years, possibly across our lifetime. These demand attention and require repair and healing. Family situations and dynamics that have withered or been outgrown, or never worked in the first place must now be changed or revitalized. Relationship habits need to either be done away with or reinvented. Planting new ways of being with one another is essential this month.
Relationships are based on communication and the third week of May, Venus joins Jupiter in communicative Geminii, gradually followed by messenger Mercury and the Sun. Together these form a powerhouse of news and information that is highly persuasive. You may surprise yourself at how convincing you can be at this time. If you are in a sales career: bonus! Looking for work? It is a great time to impress employers with your plethora of skills. Geminii also rules automobiles so you may find yourself with a new car...
And while that alluring Alfa-Romeo two-seat convertible is calling your name, you might want to think a bit more practically as the flip side of this period offers a word of caution. Mercury challenges Neptune so beware of building castles in the sky, offers too good to be true, siblings making demands on your time or miscommunicating, overbuying items you really do not need... So you may want to opt for a four-seater American made convertible with a trunk instead of that tiny, impractical Alfa.
The month ends with the second eclipse on May 25th. Foggy Neptune challenges this lunar eclipse in Geminii so watch out for misunderstandings, particularly those of an emotional nature. While it is healthy to fantasize and visualize our future, make sure these are grounded in reality. Wait a few days after the eclipse before signing significant documents. This marks the last of three eclipses since the end of April. Like bookends, something, a passage of your life has come to a close and it is time to move on to the next, new phase. Just look at all the choices abounding! Summer awaits.
So it goes without saying then that this lovely month of May is proverbially great for planting anything. Once you've put your shoes back on and placed your gathered flowers in a vase, it will be time to get down to the business of planting. This requires keeping your eye on the ball to manifest your goals. Launching this month, the planets underscore our efforts as our desires (Pluto) align beautifully with our will (the Sun), in practical earth signs Capricorn and Taurus. A few days later, fiery Mars and messenger Mercury align with Pluto to drive us, our quest and messages forward. This is a month of messages and making your voice heard. Continuing to support us are dreamy Neptune and architect Saturn's harmonious alliance with nurturing Ceres. These three foster our future plans through mid-May even as the "dream-maker" pair of Neptune and Saturn continues well into autumn.
Don't be shy, they say: go for it. But be sure about what you are seeking. What you are asking for. Mars will make sure of this, directing our actions in earthy Taurus. Messenger Mercury and the Sun join Mars the first week of May, aligning with Saturn in Scorpio. This energy brings to the surface deep-seeded issues of survival, personal power, shared resources, money and wealth, our identity. All is revealed now. You can run but you cannot hide. Those hard at work and following their true path will find ample support. However, anyone ignoring, avoiding or sweeping matters under the rug won't get away from what must be dealt with. Another way of saying this is: if you've skipped out on the bill, it is now past due. Good news is that there are myriad ways to help you earn money to pay it off. Scorpio Saturn is highly intuitive, psychic really. Its alliances with Mars and Mercury tell us: you know what you should be doing (if you aren't) and how you should be in this world (if you aren't already). The question only you can answer is: will you? A great example of this energy, of someone no longer able to hide his true self is NBA player Jason Collins who stunned the sportsworld by coming out as gay.
Sealing our fate are the two eclipses this month making sure we own up to who we really are: the good, the bad, especially the beautiful person we've been reluctant to acknowledge, and conversely, the stark, raving dark side we've refused to embrace which keeps us from achieving our potential... The solar eclipse on May 10th in Taurus marks a time of beginnings. Think about who you can be, where you've been holding back, what wealth of talents you can spread around to fertilize humanity. Four planets in earthy Taurus at the time of the eclipse, including Mars at an attention-getting degree, draws our focus to beauty, art, material goods, money, what we can touch. But also: our inner talents. Messenger Mercury helpfully pairs with Neptune now inspiring us to fulfill our potential as well as suggesting the methods to get there.
At mid-month, continuing through May, Ceres, radical Uranus and Pluto challenge us to fix things that were broken over the winter around the house or in the yard; and also, to fix aspects of family relationships or ourselves broken over the years, possibly across our lifetime. These demand attention and require repair and healing. Family situations and dynamics that have withered or been outgrown, or never worked in the first place must now be changed or revitalized. Relationship habits need to either be done away with or reinvented. Planting new ways of being with one another is essential this month.
Relationships are based on communication and the third week of May, Venus joins Jupiter in communicative Geminii, gradually followed by messenger Mercury and the Sun. Together these form a powerhouse of news and information that is highly persuasive. You may surprise yourself at how convincing you can be at this time. If you are in a sales career: bonus! Looking for work? It is a great time to impress employers with your plethora of skills. Geminii also rules automobiles so you may find yourself with a new car...
And while that alluring Alfa-Romeo two-seat convertible is calling your name, you might want to think a bit more practically as the flip side of this period offers a word of caution. Mercury challenges Neptune so beware of building castles in the sky, offers too good to be true, siblings making demands on your time or miscommunicating, overbuying items you really do not need... So you may want to opt for a four-seater American made convertible with a trunk instead of that tiny, impractical Alfa.
The month ends with the second eclipse on May 25th. Foggy Neptune challenges this lunar eclipse in Geminii so watch out for misunderstandings, particularly those of an emotional nature. While it is healthy to fantasize and visualize our future, make sure these are grounded in reality. Wait a few days after the eclipse before signing significant documents. This marks the last of three eclipses since the end of April. Like bookends, something, a passage of your life has come to a close and it is time to move on to the next, new phase. Just look at all the choices abounding! Summer awaits.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
A Call to Action
A universal truth is that all things are difficult before they are easy. Such is the transition we find ourselves in this Springtime between March and April. Rarely is there a month where astrologically, so many blessings and opportunities may be found and seized. This month is a very exciting time. It will be hard to be anything but wildly optimistic.
The planets flooding into dreamy Pisces last month have now burst into fiery Aries. Now we are truly awakened, energized and ready to take on our hopes, dreams and challenges. Aries is the sign of the warrior, the trail blazer, great initiator and pioneer. Often visionary and impulsive, Aries energy is fabulous for starting projects and relationships but a word of caution: be sure not to lose yourself to its impulse, rush in tackling more than you can manage. In short, be practical. Try not to bite off more than you can chew.
The first week of the month finds us catalyzed by Pluto's challenging angles to four, yes four, planets. As Pluto moves through pragmatic, earthy Capricorn, we are urged to follow our desires, build a future methodically, step-by-step. The contact between Pluto and radical Uranus, the Sun, Venus and Mars this week sparks us to get a move on. I dare you to resist! You'll have a classic case of "Don't just stand there. Do something!" After the penetrating insights, albeit lethargy, of last month, fresh energy calls us to act and act now. Very few of us will opt to sit out or sit still. The fire lit under our fannies urging us to get things done continues through mid-month. Go and do!
Several forces help us move toward and achieve our goals in April. First, change-agent Uranus conjoins with our Will, the Sun, to make a very beneficial angle to abundant Jupiter springing happy surprises on us. You may very well surprise yourself as this period is all about trying something brand new, breaking out of ruts and molds, traditions holding us back from progress, evolving. Feeding this energy are helpful alignments between Pluto, Saturn and Neptune. This troika asks, "Aren't you tired of the same old, same old?" and hard questions about what is broken in our lives while pointing the way to fixing problem areas. All of this sets the stage for the New Moon on April 10th.
The harsh winter many of us in North America endured gave ample opportunity for introspection. Been there, done that. The door to your future and growth has blown open. Like paratroopers ready to jump from a plane: go, go, go, now, now, now. He who hesitates really will be lost if you don't use the New Moon on April 10th as your own personal Carpe Diem. Plant those ideas, seeds for growth. The fertility power of this month and this week in particular is difficult to underestimate. Wow.
Nurturing and watering our fertile ground the rest of this month is the grand trine alignment of Ceres, Chiron, Neptune and Saturn in the three water signs, Cancer, Pisces and Scorpio, respectively. While Saturn plugs along in Scorpio baring parts of our lives we'd rather keep hidden, healer Chiron and cleansing Neptune wash our wounds clean even as Ceres feeds our souls. These gentle but strong-to-the-core female energies hold us safely now to do our work that must be done. Work we may have avoided or saw coming down the pike. Do not be afraid. All will be well says this combination. Astronomers elevated Ceres to planetary status not long ago and her motherly embrace could not arrive at a better time. Naturally a nurturer, Ceres is completely at home in the sign of Cancer the Crab where she can focus on child-maternal matters, house and garden. Bask and glow in this slow, loving, tender and warm kindness where you can allow yourself to ponder: what is in the best interest of our child/ren? How can we best foster their dreams and/or that of our inner child? What is best for our family and extended clan? How better can we care, feed and nourish ourselves, take care of our elders?
At mid-month, April 16th to be precise, the moon and Uranus challenge each other. Expect the unexpected with this super-charged, explosive pairing. Accidents, or conversely, breakthroughs are likely, especially involving emotions or psychological arenas pertaining to children, our mothers, family, estate matters. Fortunately, the troika outlined above will hold us close.
Toward the end of the month, from the third week forward, love and money planet Venus is at home its earth sign Taurus as it nicely aligns with Pluto. The focus will be on money and finances. Material goods. Beauty and clothing. Pleasure. Investment. Invest in yourself and/or what gives you joy. What has the potential to give you joy, bring rewards. Not just temporarily but for the long-term. Mars and the Sun join Venus in Taurus to hammer this message home with growing intensity. It is a "show me the money" Jerry Maguire sensibility. Mercury and Uranus pair up at the same time in fiery Aries pushing our boundaries and us out of our comfort zones. Job offers may abound now. There is a leap before you look quality to this pair. Be bold and go where no one has gone before. Be fearless and pioneering! Take the offer leading you on the road less traveled, one that provides a stable income and highlights your hidden talents. Where you may stretch and grow. There is nothing like this combination to manifest what you planted last fall, last year, last month.
A lunar eclipse on April 25th's full moon ends this active month, spearheading a spring season of three eclipses. Lunar eclipses mark endings, what needs to be put to final rest. Let go of what no longer serves you. And be mindful to avoid signing significant documents or making major purchases on this or any eclipse day.
The planets flooding into dreamy Pisces last month have now burst into fiery Aries. Now we are truly awakened, energized and ready to take on our hopes, dreams and challenges. Aries is the sign of the warrior, the trail blazer, great initiator and pioneer. Often visionary and impulsive, Aries energy is fabulous for starting projects and relationships but a word of caution: be sure not to lose yourself to its impulse, rush in tackling more than you can manage. In short, be practical. Try not to bite off more than you can chew.
The first week of the month finds us catalyzed by Pluto's challenging angles to four, yes four, planets. As Pluto moves through pragmatic, earthy Capricorn, we are urged to follow our desires, build a future methodically, step-by-step. The contact between Pluto and radical Uranus, the Sun, Venus and Mars this week sparks us to get a move on. I dare you to resist! You'll have a classic case of "Don't just stand there. Do something!" After the penetrating insights, albeit lethargy, of last month, fresh energy calls us to act and act now. Very few of us will opt to sit out or sit still. The fire lit under our fannies urging us to get things done continues through mid-month. Go and do!
Several forces help us move toward and achieve our goals in April. First, change-agent Uranus conjoins with our Will, the Sun, to make a very beneficial angle to abundant Jupiter springing happy surprises on us. You may very well surprise yourself as this period is all about trying something brand new, breaking out of ruts and molds, traditions holding us back from progress, evolving. Feeding this energy are helpful alignments between Pluto, Saturn and Neptune. This troika asks, "Aren't you tired of the same old, same old?" and hard questions about what is broken in our lives while pointing the way to fixing problem areas. All of this sets the stage for the New Moon on April 10th.
The harsh winter many of us in North America endured gave ample opportunity for introspection. Been there, done that. The door to your future and growth has blown open. Like paratroopers ready to jump from a plane: go, go, go, now, now, now. He who hesitates really will be lost if you don't use the New Moon on April 10th as your own personal Carpe Diem. Plant those ideas, seeds for growth. The fertility power of this month and this week in particular is difficult to underestimate. Wow.
Nurturing and watering our fertile ground the rest of this month is the grand trine alignment of Ceres, Chiron, Neptune and Saturn in the three water signs, Cancer, Pisces and Scorpio, respectively. While Saturn plugs along in Scorpio baring parts of our lives we'd rather keep hidden, healer Chiron and cleansing Neptune wash our wounds clean even as Ceres feeds our souls. These gentle but strong-to-the-core female energies hold us safely now to do our work that must be done. Work we may have avoided or saw coming down the pike. Do not be afraid. All will be well says this combination. Astronomers elevated Ceres to planetary status not long ago and her motherly embrace could not arrive at a better time. Naturally a nurturer, Ceres is completely at home in the sign of Cancer the Crab where she can focus on child-maternal matters, house and garden. Bask and glow in this slow, loving, tender and warm kindness where you can allow yourself to ponder: what is in the best interest of our child/ren? How can we best foster their dreams and/or that of our inner child? What is best for our family and extended clan? How better can we care, feed and nourish ourselves, take care of our elders?
At mid-month, April 16th to be precise, the moon and Uranus challenge each other. Expect the unexpected with this super-charged, explosive pairing. Accidents, or conversely, breakthroughs are likely, especially involving emotions or psychological arenas pertaining to children, our mothers, family, estate matters. Fortunately, the troika outlined above will hold us close.
Toward the end of the month, from the third week forward, love and money planet Venus is at home its earth sign Taurus as it nicely aligns with Pluto. The focus will be on money and finances. Material goods. Beauty and clothing. Pleasure. Investment. Invest in yourself and/or what gives you joy. What has the potential to give you joy, bring rewards. Not just temporarily but for the long-term. Mars and the Sun join Venus in Taurus to hammer this message home with growing intensity. It is a "show me the money" Jerry Maguire sensibility. Mercury and Uranus pair up at the same time in fiery Aries pushing our boundaries and us out of our comfort zones. Job offers may abound now. There is a leap before you look quality to this pair. Be bold and go where no one has gone before. Be fearless and pioneering! Take the offer leading you on the road less traveled, one that provides a stable income and highlights your hidden talents. Where you may stretch and grow. There is nothing like this combination to manifest what you planted last fall, last year, last month.
A lunar eclipse on April 25th's full moon ends this active month, spearheading a spring season of three eclipses. Lunar eclipses mark endings, what needs to be put to final rest. Let go of what no longer serves you. And be mindful to avoid signing significant documents or making major purchases on this or any eclipse day.
Friday, March 1, 2013
Water, water everywhere....Wow!
The month of March kicks off with planets seemingly swimming in an ocean of water. Until the New Moon on March 11th, five planets plus the asteroid Chiron are all in watery Pisces. For the record, these planets are: Neptune, Venus, the Sun, Mercury and Mars.
Sometimes known as the sign of self-undoing, it is essential to know the sign of Pisces and its ruler Neptune represent the highest and lowest of humanity. The human condition. Here we find the cloistered mystics and the saints, as well as the jailed pedophiles and thieves. Pisces deals with vast misunderstanding and conversely, pristine clarity, pure insight. This month, enveloped in a veritable sea of planetary water, we are asked to look into its mirror, see what is reflected back to us. I may have also titled this monthly blog: Mirror, mirror in the lake. Take a good, long hard look. What do you see?
March kicks off with messenger planet Mercury in retrograde motion. So there is no better time for re-flection. Until mid-month, we have an exceptional opportunity to clean house in every single area of our lives. Re-work, re-vise, re-pair what needs to be re-done. It's a great time to go into the closets of our lives and get ride of every thing, junk that no longer serves us. Junk that blocks and stunts our growth; junk that falls all over us when we open the closet door to pull something out to wear; junk that other people can use...whether it literally is the closets of our homes or parts of our lives we've kept "closeted", ie, avoided taking a strong look at. Neptune's challenge to immense Jupiter calls us to bring it. Bring it on, bring it up, bring it out into the open. Purge, and purge BIG.
This includes emotional purging. Do not be surprised if you find yourself in tears. In fact, there is a lot about this time that involves surprise. Unexpected shakedowns and shakeups. Life-changing accidents or shifts in direction may occur now. Take us where we did not expect to go but where our souls know we must journey. The smallest incident or provocation may trigger an outpouring of emotion. Looking at "stuff", be it material goods or hidden parts of ourselves, can break the dam open. Talk therapy, meditation, yoga, exercise that makes you sweat, prayer, anything that involves cleansing, inward look-see, inner reflection is the focus from March 1 to mid-month. Remember, this is all for the purpose of deep cleansing. Once the wound(s) are cleaned, healing may happen.
Washed clean, clean house, clean-er life, we can start fresh. Make new. Proceed with life. Jupiter accentuates our efforts as it continues its super helpful angle to Uranus, speeding our efforts, particularly involving communications.
Another aspect of all this water deals with the structural, practical side of life: water issues such as significant rain or snowfall, flooding, plumbing matters, gas leaks, or leaks of all varieties. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So if you were thinking about taking precautionary measures around the house, yes, now is the time to get that leaky dishwasher or water heater fixed before you have a real mess on your hands.
We have a lot of planetary help at our beckon call. Today, March 1, finds a rather magical configuration: 11-11-11, the number of angels is at our service! Wow. The Sun, Pluto and Saturn are all at the 11th degree of their signs (Pisces, Capricorn and Scorpio respectively) making very beneficial angles to each other. Key notes are: dig deep, clean out, build new. This is an exceptional time to gear up for the future. Out with the old, prepare and make way for the new, better, more efficient.
Congress: Take note! This includes Y-O-U!
The concept of sequester we are hearing so much about now in terms of Congressional action fits perfectly with this heavily Piscean/watery time. Sequester means a few things: to withdraw into seclusion, to remove and set apart, take temporary possession of or confiscate. Pisces deals with dissolving, dissolution and hidden realms. So don't be surprised if the government, at least part of it, dissolves. Since Pisces rules that which is removed or set apart from mainstream life, it oversees: jails, prisons, retreats, hermits, monks, anything involving confinement. So it is not a coincidence that the Pope resigned and withdrew from his role at the Vatican now.
Dissolution also applies to us as individuals. Neptune and all this Piscean energy can cause tremendous confusion since the sign rules fog. However, once the fog lifts, crystal clarity swoops in, sweeping away misunderstandings. Clarifies our needs from our wants, how to make our lives (and government) more supportive and streamlined. As for our individual selves as well as Congress (so goes the individual, so goes the collective), if we productively use this time of reflection in the mirrors of life, we will see, learn, that we are not so different from our fellow man; we can find common ground to work together whether as a family, business, community or nation. When we do, we are able to spread our wings and fly. Be free from anything once confining, sequestering us.
Beginning March 7, setting the stage for the New Moon on the 11th, master builder Saturn makes a beautiful angle to messenger Mercury and planet of love and money, Venus. Great effects for strong relationships and communication result. And, the very next day, March 12th, planets start shifting into the fiery sign of Aries. The Warrior. The Initiator. With Mars and the moon at an attention-getting degree of Aries, something or someone will make you stand up and take notice. Or, you may decide at long last that you are the someone who needs to be noticed!
Once messenger Mercury turns direct motion on March 17th, start your engines! This is a tremendously advantageous time for starting anything. Jump on it. The energy is literally akin to a rocket blast off....and we have lift off! Be it a relationship, project, journey, job, lifestyle. The energies now through the end of the month could not be more supportive. Activator Mars conjoins ingenious Uranus in Aries, both of which make great angles to abundant Jupiter in Geminii. Plus messenger Mercury flows terrifically along with Saturn. Take the ball and run with it! This affords a wonderful opportunity for accomplishement. Get things done. The heralds of springtime say: make your announcement, stake your claim in this world, sign the deal, initiate. Go get 'em!
Sometimes known as the sign of self-undoing, it is essential to know the sign of Pisces and its ruler Neptune represent the highest and lowest of humanity. The human condition. Here we find the cloistered mystics and the saints, as well as the jailed pedophiles and thieves. Pisces deals with vast misunderstanding and conversely, pristine clarity, pure insight. This month, enveloped in a veritable sea of planetary water, we are asked to look into its mirror, see what is reflected back to us. I may have also titled this monthly blog: Mirror, mirror in the lake. Take a good, long hard look. What do you see?
March kicks off with messenger planet Mercury in retrograde motion. So there is no better time for re-flection. Until mid-month, we have an exceptional opportunity to clean house in every single area of our lives. Re-work, re-vise, re-pair what needs to be re-done. It's a great time to go into the closets of our lives and get ride of every thing, junk that no longer serves us. Junk that blocks and stunts our growth; junk that falls all over us when we open the closet door to pull something out to wear; junk that other people can use...whether it literally is the closets of our homes or parts of our lives we've kept "closeted", ie, avoided taking a strong look at. Neptune's challenge to immense Jupiter calls us to bring it. Bring it on, bring it up, bring it out into the open. Purge, and purge BIG.
This includes emotional purging. Do not be surprised if you find yourself in tears. In fact, there is a lot about this time that involves surprise. Unexpected shakedowns and shakeups. Life-changing accidents or shifts in direction may occur now. Take us where we did not expect to go but where our souls know we must journey. The smallest incident or provocation may trigger an outpouring of emotion. Looking at "stuff", be it material goods or hidden parts of ourselves, can break the dam open. Talk therapy, meditation, yoga, exercise that makes you sweat, prayer, anything that involves cleansing, inward look-see, inner reflection is the focus from March 1 to mid-month. Remember, this is all for the purpose of deep cleansing. Once the wound(s) are cleaned, healing may happen.
Washed clean, clean house, clean-er life, we can start fresh. Make new. Proceed with life. Jupiter accentuates our efforts as it continues its super helpful angle to Uranus, speeding our efforts, particularly involving communications.
Another aspect of all this water deals with the structural, practical side of life: water issues such as significant rain or snowfall, flooding, plumbing matters, gas leaks, or leaks of all varieties. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So if you were thinking about taking precautionary measures around the house, yes, now is the time to get that leaky dishwasher or water heater fixed before you have a real mess on your hands.
We have a lot of planetary help at our beckon call. Today, March 1, finds a rather magical configuration: 11-11-11, the number of angels is at our service! Wow. The Sun, Pluto and Saturn are all at the 11th degree of their signs (Pisces, Capricorn and Scorpio respectively) making very beneficial angles to each other. Key notes are: dig deep, clean out, build new. This is an exceptional time to gear up for the future. Out with the old, prepare and make way for the new, better, more efficient.
Congress: Take note! This includes Y-O-U!
The concept of sequester we are hearing so much about now in terms of Congressional action fits perfectly with this heavily Piscean/watery time. Sequester means a few things: to withdraw into seclusion, to remove and set apart, take temporary possession of or confiscate. Pisces deals with dissolving, dissolution and hidden realms. So don't be surprised if the government, at least part of it, dissolves. Since Pisces rules that which is removed or set apart from mainstream life, it oversees: jails, prisons, retreats, hermits, monks, anything involving confinement. So it is not a coincidence that the Pope resigned and withdrew from his role at the Vatican now.
Dissolution also applies to us as individuals. Neptune and all this Piscean energy can cause tremendous confusion since the sign rules fog. However, once the fog lifts, crystal clarity swoops in, sweeping away misunderstandings. Clarifies our needs from our wants, how to make our lives (and government) more supportive and streamlined. As for our individual selves as well as Congress (so goes the individual, so goes the collective), if we productively use this time of reflection in the mirrors of life, we will see, learn, that we are not so different from our fellow man; we can find common ground to work together whether as a family, business, community or nation. When we do, we are able to spread our wings and fly. Be free from anything once confining, sequestering us.
Beginning March 7, setting the stage for the New Moon on the 11th, master builder Saturn makes a beautiful angle to messenger Mercury and planet of love and money, Venus. Great effects for strong relationships and communication result. And, the very next day, March 12th, planets start shifting into the fiery sign of Aries. The Warrior. The Initiator. With Mars and the moon at an attention-getting degree of Aries, something or someone will make you stand up and take notice. Or, you may decide at long last that you are the someone who needs to be noticed!
Once messenger Mercury turns direct motion on March 17th, start your engines! This is a tremendously advantageous time for starting anything. Jump on it. The energy is literally akin to a rocket blast off....and we have lift off! Be it a relationship, project, journey, job, lifestyle. The energies now through the end of the month could not be more supportive. Activator Mars conjoins ingenious Uranus in Aries, both of which make great angles to abundant Jupiter in Geminii. Plus messenger Mercury flows terrifically along with Saturn. Take the ball and run with it! This affords a wonderful opportunity for accomplishement. Get things done. The heralds of springtime say: make your announcement, stake your claim in this world, sign the deal, initiate. Go get 'em!
Friday, February 1, 2013
February: Surrender Dorothy!
No, it is not October or near Halloween, nor the in-between seasons of fall and spring. But we are finding tornadoes and twisters blowing in the southern United States, most likely due to global warming. Seeing that news, I was reminded of The Wizard of Oz, where the Wicked Witch wrote "Surrender Dorothy" across the sky with her broom. From an early age, many of us come to believe the definition of the military act of surrender; that surrender is a dirty word.
In fact, one definition of surrender is to "give way to emotion." It is in this vein that February speaks to us. When we will allow for decreasing resistence to everything and everyone, we find ourselves uniquely inspired this month. Having our way for its own sake, seeing things from only our insistent perspective will not feel so vitally important in the next few weeks. How refreshing!
Our firm will and resolve around matters we formerly dug our heels in and refused to budge begins to soften around the edges. We still may not agree with our opponents, but we might just be able to see their point of view. How it could feel to stand in their shoes for a while. Don't get me wrong here: we aren't exactly going to be holding hands and singing Kumbayah. But walls of resistance and obstinacy are slowly being chipped away, allowing holes of light to peek through. And with increasing light comes clarity and understanding.
First, February kicks off with Abundant Jupiter turning direct motion in communicative Geminii just days earlier. Jupiter is the planet of guess what? Higher learning. Its keyword is I understand. Combined with its forward motion, Jupiter makes a greatly helpful angle to change-agent Uranus for the entire month. We can hardly ask for anything more to jump-start projects, ventures, relationships, anything you set your sights on...but wait, there is more! During very rare stretch of days, all of the planets will be in direct motion. Yes, you read correctly. From January 31 to Monday, February 18, every single planet in our Milky Way galaxy is direct. Now is the Time, folks! Plant those seeds and watch them grow.
Meanwhile, Jupiter continues its challenging angle to watery Neptune. Delusions and illusions are associated with this pair; so you can be completely fooled by something or someone. Or, find time to be fully informed. It is worth it to invest time and energy to see what is at stake. Pristine insight can be the result. Jupiter-Neptune can incite tests of faith in ourselves to blindly leap into the unknown. Take risks we might never otherwise would. Remember, no risk, no reward. This aspect is about gambling BIG.
Here's where surrender comes into play. A few days into February, a line up of planets in watery Pisces begins. Activator Mars joins spiritual Neptune, followed by messenger Mercury and toward month's end, by Venus and the Sun. All that water is deeply cleansing, acts as a clarifier and dissolver. Feel your resistance melting away? Let's start with the first two planets and build from there. Fiery Mars is not especially comfortable in a water sign like Pisces, nor partnering with its ruler, Neptune. This pairing can go in a few directions. First the upside: incredible inspiration, insights and accomplishments in art, music, literature and poetry, any humanitarian endeavor, spiritual awakenings and activities. Since Pisces represents the highest and lowest of humanity, the veritable heaven and hell, its down side leads to more mundane, plain yucky stuff: water leaks, burst pipes, accidents involving ice, snow and rain, major winter storms, and yes, tears might flow...
This pair will be joined by messenger Mercury at mid-month and all three make a beautiful angle to heavy lifter Saturn. Can you say breakthrough? Reminds me of the song lyric: I can see clearly now the rain is gone... One word of caution with this troika: think carefully about any message you want to deliver. Say exactly what you mean and mean what you say. Make sure your audience, be it one or one thousand, is left without a doubt as to your intent. With Neptune figuring in this group, clarity can give way to cloudy interpretation; fortunately, Saturn mitigates this effect. Also, be wary of gimmicks or slick sales maneuvers.
This is exacerbated by planet of love and money Venus challenging Saturn during the second week of February. When you go to the store for a few necessities, be careful not to bring home everything but the kitchen sink. How many of us go to replace our beloved lipstick and end up buying the entire line of makeup? Same goes for guys at the hardware store: Ask yourself, do you really need the whole toolbox when you just came in to buy a single hammer? Venus and Saturn struggles deal with deep-seeded relationships: to money, ourselves, to another, or to groups. Much like going to the store, ask, what do I really want and need from my: self, partner, work, colleagues, friends...?
Driving the point home (and ward off Slick Suzy Sales Clerk) is the alignment of Venus, planet of love and money, with Jupiter and Uranus, occuring precisely in time for Valentines Day. Ladies and Gentlemen: start your engines! Wow. Expect communication to take off. (Yet another reason to clearly define your message). Venus is at a critical degree of Aquarius on the 14th. Expect good news. And with Uranus tied into the mix, surprises abound.
From February 20th to the end of the month, five planets join together in Pisces: the Sun, Mercury, Neptune, Mars and Venus. You may find yourself surrendering (NOT giving in) to love, gentle forces infinitely larger than we are. Let go. Do not be afraid. The Sufis have a saying, "The heart keeps breaking until it remains open." Allow those cracks in the walls we've built around ourselves to chip away into holes and fill us with Light.
If you recall, Dorothy did not surrender to the Wicked Witch. Instead, she allowed for something much more precious: to remember that she, her home, contained all the answers she sought. Spirituality doesn't necessarily involve meditating for an hour or going to a house of worship (although that can greatly help!). Walking in the woods, playing or working with animals, any creative activity from cooking and knitting to painting and writing, are all spiritual acts. And yes, physical activity too is spiritual as it means caring for your self, body and soul.
With messenger Mercury turning retrograde on Saturday, February 23rd for the next three weeks, the end of the month is an excellent time for reflection. 2013 started off like gangbusters. So it is OK to stop, take a breath, absorb all that has happened and is about to happen. Sort through all the questions, your history. In the rush of daily living, we forget all we are and all we have done. Remember now.
Saturn and the Sun align nicely during the final week of the month while Mercury makes a very helpful angle to the Moon's North Node. These will point you toward your personal True North and incite you to new thresholds. Leave behind the road most traveled, false paths, and surrender to your true path regardless of what others think. With five planets in humanitarian Pisces, selfishness dissolves. We see ourselves and our fellow man in a better light and discover a willingness to work together. In these times, than can only be a very good thing!
In fact, one definition of surrender is to "give way to emotion." It is in this vein that February speaks to us. When we will allow for decreasing resistence to everything and everyone, we find ourselves uniquely inspired this month. Having our way for its own sake, seeing things from only our insistent perspective will not feel so vitally important in the next few weeks. How refreshing!
Our firm will and resolve around matters we formerly dug our heels in and refused to budge begins to soften around the edges. We still may not agree with our opponents, but we might just be able to see their point of view. How it could feel to stand in their shoes for a while. Don't get me wrong here: we aren't exactly going to be holding hands and singing Kumbayah. But walls of resistance and obstinacy are slowly being chipped away, allowing holes of light to peek through. And with increasing light comes clarity and understanding.
First, February kicks off with Abundant Jupiter turning direct motion in communicative Geminii just days earlier. Jupiter is the planet of guess what? Higher learning. Its keyword is I understand. Combined with its forward motion, Jupiter makes a greatly helpful angle to change-agent Uranus for the entire month. We can hardly ask for anything more to jump-start projects, ventures, relationships, anything you set your sights on...but wait, there is more! During very rare stretch of days, all of the planets will be in direct motion. Yes, you read correctly. From January 31 to Monday, February 18, every single planet in our Milky Way galaxy is direct. Now is the Time, folks! Plant those seeds and watch them grow.
Meanwhile, Jupiter continues its challenging angle to watery Neptune. Delusions and illusions are associated with this pair; so you can be completely fooled by something or someone. Or, find time to be fully informed. It is worth it to invest time and energy to see what is at stake. Pristine insight can be the result. Jupiter-Neptune can incite tests of faith in ourselves to blindly leap into the unknown. Take risks we might never otherwise would. Remember, no risk, no reward. This aspect is about gambling BIG.
Here's where surrender comes into play. A few days into February, a line up of planets in watery Pisces begins. Activator Mars joins spiritual Neptune, followed by messenger Mercury and toward month's end, by Venus and the Sun. All that water is deeply cleansing, acts as a clarifier and dissolver. Feel your resistance melting away? Let's start with the first two planets and build from there. Fiery Mars is not especially comfortable in a water sign like Pisces, nor partnering with its ruler, Neptune. This pairing can go in a few directions. First the upside: incredible inspiration, insights and accomplishments in art, music, literature and poetry, any humanitarian endeavor, spiritual awakenings and activities. Since Pisces represents the highest and lowest of humanity, the veritable heaven and hell, its down side leads to more mundane, plain yucky stuff: water leaks, burst pipes, accidents involving ice, snow and rain, major winter storms, and yes, tears might flow...
This pair will be joined by messenger Mercury at mid-month and all three make a beautiful angle to heavy lifter Saturn. Can you say breakthrough? Reminds me of the song lyric: I can see clearly now the rain is gone... One word of caution with this troika: think carefully about any message you want to deliver. Say exactly what you mean and mean what you say. Make sure your audience, be it one or one thousand, is left without a doubt as to your intent. With Neptune figuring in this group, clarity can give way to cloudy interpretation; fortunately, Saturn mitigates this effect. Also, be wary of gimmicks or slick sales maneuvers.
This is exacerbated by planet of love and money Venus challenging Saturn during the second week of February. When you go to the store for a few necessities, be careful not to bring home everything but the kitchen sink. How many of us go to replace our beloved lipstick and end up buying the entire line of makeup? Same goes for guys at the hardware store: Ask yourself, do you really need the whole toolbox when you just came in to buy a single hammer? Venus and Saturn struggles deal with deep-seeded relationships: to money, ourselves, to another, or to groups. Much like going to the store, ask, what do I really want and need from my: self, partner, work, colleagues, friends...?
Driving the point home (and ward off Slick Suzy Sales Clerk) is the alignment of Venus, planet of love and money, with Jupiter and Uranus, occuring precisely in time for Valentines Day. Ladies and Gentlemen: start your engines! Wow. Expect communication to take off. (Yet another reason to clearly define your message). Venus is at a critical degree of Aquarius on the 14th. Expect good news. And with Uranus tied into the mix, surprises abound.
From February 20th to the end of the month, five planets join together in Pisces: the Sun, Mercury, Neptune, Mars and Venus. You may find yourself surrendering (NOT giving in) to love, gentle forces infinitely larger than we are. Let go. Do not be afraid. The Sufis have a saying, "The heart keeps breaking until it remains open." Allow those cracks in the walls we've built around ourselves to chip away into holes and fill us with Light.
If you recall, Dorothy did not surrender to the Wicked Witch. Instead, she allowed for something much more precious: to remember that she, her home, contained all the answers she sought. Spirituality doesn't necessarily involve meditating for an hour or going to a house of worship (although that can greatly help!). Walking in the woods, playing or working with animals, any creative activity from cooking and knitting to painting and writing, are all spiritual acts. And yes, physical activity too is spiritual as it means caring for your self, body and soul.
With messenger Mercury turning retrograde on Saturday, February 23rd for the next three weeks, the end of the month is an excellent time for reflection. 2013 started off like gangbusters. So it is OK to stop, take a breath, absorb all that has happened and is about to happen. Sort through all the questions, your history. In the rush of daily living, we forget all we are and all we have done. Remember now.
Saturn and the Sun align nicely during the final week of the month while Mercury makes a very helpful angle to the Moon's North Node. These will point you toward your personal True North and incite you to new thresholds. Leave behind the road most traveled, false paths, and surrender to your true path regardless of what others think. With five planets in humanitarian Pisces, selfishness dissolves. We see ourselves and our fellow man in a better light and discover a willingness to work together. In these times, than can only be a very good thing!
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Dare instead of Scared: Power to Change!
The beginning of 2013 offers significant promise: an immense capacity for communication, ideas and ingenuity effectively tied to raw collective strength. Wow. Aim your words right, written or verbal, and you will do well. It is a particularly auspicious time for the arts and sciences. If that weren't enough, the workhorse-powerhouse combination of Saturn and Pluto supports our every effort. This is an exceptionally good time for signing documents, initiating new projects, relationships, ventures of any variety. What more could we ask for?
Well, we are human. And ask for plenty more we do, without fully understanding how we are already helped and steered for our highest and best well-being.
In short order, between January 4 and 9, we won't have much choice when messenger planet Mercury aligns with powerbroker Pluto in practical Capricorn. This is the sign of big business and government. This planetary pairing comes to deliver strong medicine: time to wear our big boy/girl pants. Act like grownups. There is no more time for pretending.
This is underscored by Mars' challenge to Saturn in the deeply rooted signs of Aquarius and Scorpio. No less at stake is the health of the collective good. Demands for power and control greet us at every turn. Super stubborn roadblocks persist only because of our ego. Take Congressional egos playing politics with the Disaster Aid to victims of Hurricane Sandy. All because New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie had the audacity to embrace and thank President Obama for the help he offered in the wake of the storm. Financial support has evaded Christie's constituents while the Governor is shunned and punished by his own party for simply expressing well-placed gratitude.
Like our "do nothing" Congress, to dig our heels in, bury our heads in the sand and refuse to budge (grow), only turns up the heat. In the case of the US government, increase our national debt and have more innocent civilians killed by guns. On an individual level, refusing to change our habits, lifestyle, relationships, work situations, etc, only punts opportunities for growth that much farther down the road. Eventually, the bill comes due.
The great news is that there continues to be significant healing energy if we can get out of our own way and allow ourselves to tap into it. Giving ourselves permission does not involve Herculean tasks: climbing Mt. Everest or bungie jumping into a gorge. Although for some of us, simply allowing will feel akin to these excercises. For it means surrendering our ego. For some, this is a lot to ask, too tall an order. But for those willing to try something every child does automatically, it will feel radically new: opening up. This involves the heart, not the mind. The Revolution of the Heart is the hallmark of the New Era. For the collective (government and business especially), opening the heart center simply means trying. A willingness to engage.
Just try meeting with the opposition: sit across the table from them and look them in the eye, see that they are, like you, human; hear their words, listen to what they have to say. On a personal level, the "opposition" can be the negative voice in our head that says we can't or shouldn't. Scares us into submission. This year, try something new: be dared instead of scared. Acknowledge that negative voice. Suppressing it only makes it stronger, louder. Address it directly, "I hear you." Then move on with your day.
Striking a balance between our hearts and mind is supported at mid-month by Messenger Mercury's alliance with the Sun, our will. This collaboration supplies us with a highly practical approach to problem solving and navigating the new order, a landscape that surely feels strange to many of us. As native Capricorns can tell you, they despise losing face more than most. So when Venus conjoins Pluto in Capricorn challenging Radical Uranus, many will feel that they've fallen flat on the ground. Prepare for upheaval. Expect the unexpected: catalytic shake-ups in established, taken-for-granted relationships while highly unusual alliances will be formed. This will range from business firms to families. Strange bedfellows will find each other this year, in Congress and elsewhere. And don't look now, but those stable, married-forever-neighbors down the street might just file for divorce.
One thing is for sure, mid January will catch all of us blindsided in some regard. Surprise! With Mars squaring the lunar nodes (our directional compass) we'll feel as though we're spinning our wheels, unless we harness the impetus to change and how many of us really want to do that? The lunar true north node remains in Scorpio still for a good long while yet, calling us toward those deep dark places we've denied, hidden away and shunned for our whole lives. So spinning our psychological wheels will actually propel our encounter with these deeply embedded blocks, obstacles (ie, belief systems) we are loathe to part with.
"Why do I have to change?" the patient asks the therapist. It is an age-old question heard time and again by healers the world over.
"Because," says the therapist, "the (fill in the blank: person, object, situation, etc.,) is not going to change. So if you want a different result, the only way to achieve it is for you to change."
The week of January 20th a shift does occur. Both Abundant Jupiter and Radical Uranus make helpful angles to Messenger Mercury and the Sun. If we can Let Go and Let God, communication breakthroughs are a sure thing during the last ten days of January. Remember: the whole is greater than the sum of individual parts. When we embrace all of our being: heart, mind, body and soul, we function at maximum strength. As goes the individual, so goes the collective.
Well, we are human. And ask for plenty more we do, without fully understanding how we are already helped and steered for our highest and best well-being.
In short order, between January 4 and 9, we won't have much choice when messenger planet Mercury aligns with powerbroker Pluto in practical Capricorn. This is the sign of big business and government. This planetary pairing comes to deliver strong medicine: time to wear our big boy/girl pants. Act like grownups. There is no more time for pretending.
This is underscored by Mars' challenge to Saturn in the deeply rooted signs of Aquarius and Scorpio. No less at stake is the health of the collective good. Demands for power and control greet us at every turn. Super stubborn roadblocks persist only because of our ego. Take Congressional egos playing politics with the Disaster Aid to victims of Hurricane Sandy. All because New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie had the audacity to embrace and thank President Obama for the help he offered in the wake of the storm. Financial support has evaded Christie's constituents while the Governor is shunned and punished by his own party for simply expressing well-placed gratitude.
Like our "do nothing" Congress, to dig our heels in, bury our heads in the sand and refuse to budge (grow), only turns up the heat. In the case of the US government, increase our national debt and have more innocent civilians killed by guns. On an individual level, refusing to change our habits, lifestyle, relationships, work situations, etc, only punts opportunities for growth that much farther down the road. Eventually, the bill comes due.
The great news is that there continues to be significant healing energy if we can get out of our own way and allow ourselves to tap into it. Giving ourselves permission does not involve Herculean tasks: climbing Mt. Everest or bungie jumping into a gorge. Although for some of us, simply allowing will feel akin to these excercises. For it means surrendering our ego. For some, this is a lot to ask, too tall an order. But for those willing to try something every child does automatically, it will feel radically new: opening up. This involves the heart, not the mind. The Revolution of the Heart is the hallmark of the New Era. For the collective (government and business especially), opening the heart center simply means trying. A willingness to engage.
Just try meeting with the opposition: sit across the table from them and look them in the eye, see that they are, like you, human; hear their words, listen to what they have to say. On a personal level, the "opposition" can be the negative voice in our head that says we can't or shouldn't. Scares us into submission. This year, try something new: be dared instead of scared. Acknowledge that negative voice. Suppressing it only makes it stronger, louder. Address it directly, "I hear you." Then move on with your day.
Striking a balance between our hearts and mind is supported at mid-month by Messenger Mercury's alliance with the Sun, our will. This collaboration supplies us with a highly practical approach to problem solving and navigating the new order, a landscape that surely feels strange to many of us. As native Capricorns can tell you, they despise losing face more than most. So when Venus conjoins Pluto in Capricorn challenging Radical Uranus, many will feel that they've fallen flat on the ground. Prepare for upheaval. Expect the unexpected: catalytic shake-ups in established, taken-for-granted relationships while highly unusual alliances will be formed. This will range from business firms to families. Strange bedfellows will find each other this year, in Congress and elsewhere. And don't look now, but those stable, married-forever-neighbors down the street might just file for divorce.
One thing is for sure, mid January will catch all of us blindsided in some regard. Surprise! With Mars squaring the lunar nodes (our directional compass) we'll feel as though we're spinning our wheels, unless we harness the impetus to change and how many of us really want to do that? The lunar true north node remains in Scorpio still for a good long while yet, calling us toward those deep dark places we've denied, hidden away and shunned for our whole lives. So spinning our psychological wheels will actually propel our encounter with these deeply embedded blocks, obstacles (ie, belief systems) we are loathe to part with.
"Why do I have to change?" the patient asks the therapist. It is an age-old question heard time and again by healers the world over.
"Because," says the therapist, "the (fill in the blank: person, object, situation, etc.,) is not going to change. So if you want a different result, the only way to achieve it is for you to change."
The week of January 20th a shift does occur. Both Abundant Jupiter and Radical Uranus make helpful angles to Messenger Mercury and the Sun. If we can Let Go and Let God, communication breakthroughs are a sure thing during the last ten days of January. Remember: the whole is greater than the sum of individual parts. When we embrace all of our being: heart, mind, body and soul, we function at maximum strength. As goes the individual, so goes the collective.
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