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.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
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.
Monday, December 3, 2012
December 2012: Truth Be Told
As a survivor of last month's cosmic land mine, I hope you were also able to dodge and sidestep yourself to safety. WHEW! We made it to the other side. The likes of such upheaval and scrutiny are rare indeed. Thank goodness. But it is equally good to remember that these periods, as difficult as they feel, are essential to learn what is truly worthwhile and valuable in our lives. Challenge catalyzes growth.
Having come through the dark passage, now what? Lots to clean up and take stock of; in the wake of our lives being held up to Life's X-Ray machine, we can see if there is disease to be rooted out or how to fix the broken parts. And during December the cosmos offers a wealth of resources to accomplish this. In nature's cycle, hard passages are followed by calm and light.
December, then, is a most spiritual month...for the holidays we all know and love, yes; but also for the Sagittarius Sun reigning over most of the month which rules spirituality. Sagittarius is about Spirit with a capital S. Spirit gently guides us toward our highest and best Selves. The beginning of December flows abundantly with remedies of Truth and Understanding, the great "ah-ha!" moments of realization..."now I get it" shining a bright light on the path we are to follow, where to go and more importantly, how to get there.
Aiding us along our way is change agent Uranus making a beautiful angle to the Sun, our will and identity. The effect of this is like having our own personal Steve Jobs on hand to encourage new insights or approaches to complete the work before us while also strengthening our stamina. Additionally, the zodiac's architect Saturn continues helpfully aligning with Pluto and Neptune/Chiron. The combined effort of these is to create a truer you.
First Saturn and Pluto: build baby build! This pair is like no other to foist our productivity into overdrive. Focus on what you need to do and these two will get the job done. For anyone who experienced a total wipeout last month: physically, emotionally, financially, etc., (OR for anyone simply trying to create a solid foundation going forward) Saturn and Pluto are here to pave the way. This is true as well for the Saturn-Neptune/Chiron alignment. That which was torn asunder is now ripe for repair. The healing effects of this cannot be underestimated. For victims of Hurricane Sandy, this period will be especially welcome. Take full advantage of this energy to construct a more accurate, honest, healthier you. Jump at any opportunity for healing: be it something so simple as a massage to restoring difficult relationships to figuring out how to stretch that FEMA check the furthest.
These angles are enhanced by Neptune's friendly alliance with nurturing planet Ceres in the maternal sign of Cancer. Our intuition is heightened now as to how to manage family affairs and matters of house, home and food; when to push and when to let go, how to be helpful and how to nurture ourselves so we can be at our best for others. Trust your gut instinct here, as one snag in this soup is Neptune's challenging angle to the moon's north node. You may find yourself second guessing your internal knowing. A word to the wise now: Don't!
At mid-month, Jupiter in the sign of Geminii opposes the Sun in Sagittarius. Words, communication of all varieties, will fly in abundance. Be aware of situations that curb your freedom, compelling and persuasive arguments/discussions involving spirituality, travel or higher education.
Another two aspects to watch out for involve foggy Neptune: one with planet of love and money Venus and another with Messenger Mercury. Neptune can cause blind spots when it makes difficult angles to planets. It literally can vaporize what it contacts. In the case of Neptune-Venus, be really careful with relationships and money around December 15th. There is a "too good to be true" flavor to this pairing. People, projects, investments might seem very, very enticing. These two are all about GLAMOUR. Lots of shimmery fun...but like ephemeral Glamour, it is an illusion with no substance as you peel back the layers.
This blind spot effect is ramped up by Messenger Mercury's challenge to Neptune. You know you booked that appointment, paid the bill, told your wife so and so was coming for dinner...but the information simply fell through the crack. Disappeared into thin air. Brace yourself. For people who just don't show up, communication snafus and water, water everywhere...the water heater that breaks, the river overflowing its banks, mudslides out West. The upside of both these planetary combinations is how beautifully they coincide with December's spiritual essence. They offer an excellent time to meditate. Cogitate. Seek InnerTruth. Pray and prepare for the New Year.
Fog-laden Neptune may not be such an adverse thing as it will slow us down in response to the lightning fast effects Uranus' generous angles to Venus and Mercury. In the third week of the month relationships, ideas and events can take off like a rocket. Uranus delivers FAST. Talk and you will be heard. Ask and you shall receive. This is a "be careful what you wish for" aspect if ever there was one. So the combined mix of these four planets (Neptune, Mercury, Venus and Uranus) asks us to strike a balance: not to let anyone or anything slip through Neptunian blind spots even as we our intentions manifest faster than we expect. The best means for finding the Middle Path is to concentrate, focus and be very certain of the who, what and how of your desires.
Stop, look, evaluate, listen. Ask: Is he, she, or IT right and true for you? Once you are sure, then hit reply.
Because 2012 ends with a BANG as the Sun conjoins Pluto in practical, pragmatic Capricorn, creating a powerful energy with which to build our lives on the Truth of the matter in the New Year.
Having come through the dark passage, now what? Lots to clean up and take stock of; in the wake of our lives being held up to Life's X-Ray machine, we can see if there is disease to be rooted out or how to fix the broken parts. And during December the cosmos offers a wealth of resources to accomplish this. In nature's cycle, hard passages are followed by calm and light.
December, then, is a most spiritual month...for the holidays we all know and love, yes; but also for the Sagittarius Sun reigning over most of the month which rules spirituality. Sagittarius is about Spirit with a capital S. Spirit gently guides us toward our highest and best Selves. The beginning of December flows abundantly with remedies of Truth and Understanding, the great "ah-ha!" moments of realization..."now I get it" shining a bright light on the path we are to follow, where to go and more importantly, how to get there.
Aiding us along our way is change agent Uranus making a beautiful angle to the Sun, our will and identity. The effect of this is like having our own personal Steve Jobs on hand to encourage new insights or approaches to complete the work before us while also strengthening our stamina. Additionally, the zodiac's architect Saturn continues helpfully aligning with Pluto and Neptune/Chiron. The combined effort of these is to create a truer you.
First Saturn and Pluto: build baby build! This pair is like no other to foist our productivity into overdrive. Focus on what you need to do and these two will get the job done. For anyone who experienced a total wipeout last month: physically, emotionally, financially, etc., (OR for anyone simply trying to create a solid foundation going forward) Saturn and Pluto are here to pave the way. This is true as well for the Saturn-Neptune/Chiron alignment. That which was torn asunder is now ripe for repair. The healing effects of this cannot be underestimated. For victims of Hurricane Sandy, this period will be especially welcome. Take full advantage of this energy to construct a more accurate, honest, healthier you. Jump at any opportunity for healing: be it something so simple as a massage to restoring difficult relationships to figuring out how to stretch that FEMA check the furthest.
These angles are enhanced by Neptune's friendly alliance with nurturing planet Ceres in the maternal sign of Cancer. Our intuition is heightened now as to how to manage family affairs and matters of house, home and food; when to push and when to let go, how to be helpful and how to nurture ourselves so we can be at our best for others. Trust your gut instinct here, as one snag in this soup is Neptune's challenging angle to the moon's north node. You may find yourself second guessing your internal knowing. A word to the wise now: Don't!
At mid-month, Jupiter in the sign of Geminii opposes the Sun in Sagittarius. Words, communication of all varieties, will fly in abundance. Be aware of situations that curb your freedom, compelling and persuasive arguments/discussions involving spirituality, travel or higher education.
Another two aspects to watch out for involve foggy Neptune: one with planet of love and money Venus and another with Messenger Mercury. Neptune can cause blind spots when it makes difficult angles to planets. It literally can vaporize what it contacts. In the case of Neptune-Venus, be really careful with relationships and money around December 15th. There is a "too good to be true" flavor to this pairing. People, projects, investments might seem very, very enticing. These two are all about GLAMOUR. Lots of shimmery fun...but like ephemeral Glamour, it is an illusion with no substance as you peel back the layers.
This blind spot effect is ramped up by Messenger Mercury's challenge to Neptune. You know you booked that appointment, paid the bill, told your wife so and so was coming for dinner...but the information simply fell through the crack. Disappeared into thin air. Brace yourself. For people who just don't show up, communication snafus and water, water everywhere...the water heater that breaks, the river overflowing its banks, mudslides out West. The upside of both these planetary combinations is how beautifully they coincide with December's spiritual essence. They offer an excellent time to meditate. Cogitate. Seek InnerTruth. Pray and prepare for the New Year.
Fog-laden Neptune may not be such an adverse thing as it will slow us down in response to the lightning fast effects Uranus' generous angles to Venus and Mercury. In the third week of the month relationships, ideas and events can take off like a rocket. Uranus delivers FAST. Talk and you will be heard. Ask and you shall receive. This is a "be careful what you wish for" aspect if ever there was one. So the combined mix of these four planets (Neptune, Mercury, Venus and Uranus) asks us to strike a balance: not to let anyone or anything slip through Neptunian blind spots even as we our intentions manifest faster than we expect. The best means for finding the Middle Path is to concentrate, focus and be very certain of the who, what and how of your desires.
Stop, look, evaluate, listen. Ask: Is he, she, or IT right and true for you? Once you are sure, then hit reply.
Because 2012 ends with a BANG as the Sun conjoins Pluto in practical, pragmatic Capricorn, creating a powerful energy with which to build our lives on the Truth of the matter in the New Year.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
November: No easy time
I'm a true believer in silver linings. November is one of those months where believing and having faith that good ultimately prevails will really help. This month actually kicked off at the end of October with the full moon on the 29th.
Not all of us have been affected by the events that this unusally strong full moon delivered, namely Hurricane Sandy which made landfall near New York precisely at the full moon high tide. Still, like ripples on a lake, the collective One feels the impact to the pool of individuals.
We are always given blessings to assist us through challenges. And November has its share of both. However, this month is simply not an easy time. Obstacles are more than likely to tip the scales in the next few weeks. Your life may not have been turned inside out and thoroughly inconvenienced by Sandy. But each of us will have our load to carry and for many, these will be heavy as November launches a cosmic juggernaut. So strap yourself in and gird your loins, here we go:
The first week finds us still reeling from the powerful full moon at the end of October. Many folks in the Northeastern United States are living without power. The rest of us may find ourselves somewhat powerless or in power struggles. You may feel as though you are backsliding with every few steps taken forward. Take heart. You are far, far from alone. As Mercury, planet of communication slows down and turns retrograde motion on Tuesday, November 6th, effects of trudging through sludge will persist. And November 6th is Election Day. Confusion, miscommunication and misunderstandings are the key note for most of this month. We may very well be in for another presidential situation a la 2000. Romney and Obama are locked in a dead heat leading up to decision day. Let's just pray the Supreme Court does not have to determine who wins the race! And as with all Mercury retrogrades, avoid major purchases (cars, homes, appliances) and signing significant contracts.
Meanwhile, planet of ingenuity Uranus, is making a very helpful angle to Mercury, beckoning us to think outside of the box. Reach for radical solutions, or solutions that feel radical; that in any other time or place we could never imagine making, reaching beyond our deep divides to those we perceive as enemies. Like ranting toddlers, we may not way to but November will not give us much choice. Difficult angles between relationship planet Venus, transformer Pluto and planet of surprise and upheaval, Uranus, catalyze us into action. It will be extremely hard to keep blindly boxing ourselves in. Translation: you will find yourself making some very tough choices; otherwise, your situation will only get that much harder. As foggy Neptune persists in its challenge to the moon's north node, our true north, we may try to keep up pretenses.
However, November's Scorpio Sun says if we do not bend, we will break. Or be broken. This combined with two, count 'em two, eclipses this month drives the intensity of these effects home. Such is the weight placed on our shoulders now. It is not for the faint of heart. The first eclipse is a total solar eclipse on November 13. Eclipses turn up the heat, fling open life's window so wide that no one escapes the glare pouring in. Any facade we may try to maintain will be ripped right off revealing the seamy underside of situations and people. It will not be pretty. Attempts to get away with anything, stick to tricks or rote routines, what worked in the past will simply crumble.
The time is nigh to make good on a cherished lesson from Sesame Street: get along. Find new solutions to age old problems. Set aside ego and pride. Do what you never thought you ever would. Cooperate. New Jersey's ardent Republican Governor Christie learned this lesson and quickly. Hurricane Sandy forced him into reaching out to gratefully accept the helping hand of Barack Obama now extends. The lesson: it is time to work together folks. Cooperate or bust.
Often it takes such massive upheaval and mess to push us in the right direction. Enter the silver lining: heavy lifter Saturn makes an immensely helpful angle to power broker Pluto. This pairing will continue for quite some time. Nothing less that the Lord of Karma and Dharma, Saturn makes himself available with Pluto to show us what is real and what is not; what is worth letting go of and what is worth pursuing; who we really are, who we desire yet to become.
At mid month, agressive Mars enters Capricorn at a critical degree, gradually conjoining Pluto. Like lower and higher octaves, these two are about Power. Who has it, who doesn't and who wants it. And no one shows us what is truly significant like Mother Nature. Lest we forget, she holds the reins of power. We do not Although we have tried, for oh so long, to kid ourselves into thinking we control life. That we're in charge. When we finally submit to her with humility and grace, cooperating instead of fighting against the laws of cause and effect, life has a way of falling into place. The more we resist forces bearing down, the harder the road in front of us becomes. This might make you feel as though you are giving up or giving in. But surrendering inevitably reveals the honest path to travel.
Rather than feeling disappointed, Uranus' alignment with the moon's north node and messenger Mercury points us in new directions, encourages us to think of ourselves as being sculpted by the Universe. Chipped away by a cosmic Michelangelo. Wouldn't you rather be a marble masterpiece beheld by all with wonder than stubbornly remaining locked up in a big block of stone? If we cooperate, we are on our way to becoming the masterpiece our soul intended. Planets of divine and earthly love, Neptune and Venus align with Saturn and Pluto at Thanksgiving to underscore our highly powerful potential, and most decidedly, the blessings in our lives.
The second eclipse, lunar, on November 28th, calls us to remember: what we fear most is that we are powerful beyond measure. Let's step across the caverns of fear. Embrace our power. As change agent Uranus aligns with our will, the Sun, we are invited toward ingenious frontiers allowing us to break free of stifling, worn out mindsets and patterns, charting a meaningful and creative new course to grasp; while Mercury turns direct at month's end telling us it is OK, time for fresh ventures and adventures.
Not all of us have been affected by the events that this unusally strong full moon delivered, namely Hurricane Sandy which made landfall near New York precisely at the full moon high tide. Still, like ripples on a lake, the collective One feels the impact to the pool of individuals.
We are always given blessings to assist us through challenges. And November has its share of both. However, this month is simply not an easy time. Obstacles are more than likely to tip the scales in the next few weeks. Your life may not have been turned inside out and thoroughly inconvenienced by Sandy. But each of us will have our load to carry and for many, these will be heavy as November launches a cosmic juggernaut. So strap yourself in and gird your loins, here we go:
The first week finds us still reeling from the powerful full moon at the end of October. Many folks in the Northeastern United States are living without power. The rest of us may find ourselves somewhat powerless or in power struggles. You may feel as though you are backsliding with every few steps taken forward. Take heart. You are far, far from alone. As Mercury, planet of communication slows down and turns retrograde motion on Tuesday, November 6th, effects of trudging through sludge will persist. And November 6th is Election Day. Confusion, miscommunication and misunderstandings are the key note for most of this month. We may very well be in for another presidential situation a la 2000. Romney and Obama are locked in a dead heat leading up to decision day. Let's just pray the Supreme Court does not have to determine who wins the race! And as with all Mercury retrogrades, avoid major purchases (cars, homes, appliances) and signing significant contracts.
Meanwhile, planet of ingenuity Uranus, is making a very helpful angle to Mercury, beckoning us to think outside of the box. Reach for radical solutions, or solutions that feel radical; that in any other time or place we could never imagine making, reaching beyond our deep divides to those we perceive as enemies. Like ranting toddlers, we may not way to but November will not give us much choice. Difficult angles between relationship planet Venus, transformer Pluto and planet of surprise and upheaval, Uranus, catalyze us into action. It will be extremely hard to keep blindly boxing ourselves in. Translation: you will find yourself making some very tough choices; otherwise, your situation will only get that much harder. As foggy Neptune persists in its challenge to the moon's north node, our true north, we may try to keep up pretenses.
However, November's Scorpio Sun says if we do not bend, we will break. Or be broken. This combined with two, count 'em two, eclipses this month drives the intensity of these effects home. Such is the weight placed on our shoulders now. It is not for the faint of heart. The first eclipse is a total solar eclipse on November 13. Eclipses turn up the heat, fling open life's window so wide that no one escapes the glare pouring in. Any facade we may try to maintain will be ripped right off revealing the seamy underside of situations and people. It will not be pretty. Attempts to get away with anything, stick to tricks or rote routines, what worked in the past will simply crumble.
The time is nigh to make good on a cherished lesson from Sesame Street: get along. Find new solutions to age old problems. Set aside ego and pride. Do what you never thought you ever would. Cooperate. New Jersey's ardent Republican Governor Christie learned this lesson and quickly. Hurricane Sandy forced him into reaching out to gratefully accept the helping hand of Barack Obama now extends. The lesson: it is time to work together folks. Cooperate or bust.
Often it takes such massive upheaval and mess to push us in the right direction. Enter the silver lining: heavy lifter Saturn makes an immensely helpful angle to power broker Pluto. This pairing will continue for quite some time. Nothing less that the Lord of Karma and Dharma, Saturn makes himself available with Pluto to show us what is real and what is not; what is worth letting go of and what is worth pursuing; who we really are, who we desire yet to become.
At mid month, agressive Mars enters Capricorn at a critical degree, gradually conjoining Pluto. Like lower and higher octaves, these two are about Power. Who has it, who doesn't and who wants it. And no one shows us what is truly significant like Mother Nature. Lest we forget, she holds the reins of power. We do not Although we have tried, for oh so long, to kid ourselves into thinking we control life. That we're in charge. When we finally submit to her with humility and grace, cooperating instead of fighting against the laws of cause and effect, life has a way of falling into place. The more we resist forces bearing down, the harder the road in front of us becomes. This might make you feel as though you are giving up or giving in. But surrendering inevitably reveals the honest path to travel.
Rather than feeling disappointed, Uranus' alignment with the moon's north node and messenger Mercury points us in new directions, encourages us to think of ourselves as being sculpted by the Universe. Chipped away by a cosmic Michelangelo. Wouldn't you rather be a marble masterpiece beheld by all with wonder than stubbornly remaining locked up in a big block of stone? If we cooperate, we are on our way to becoming the masterpiece our soul intended. Planets of divine and earthly love, Neptune and Venus align with Saturn and Pluto at Thanksgiving to underscore our highly powerful potential, and most decidedly, the blessings in our lives.
The second eclipse, lunar, on November 28th, calls us to remember: what we fear most is that we are powerful beyond measure. Let's step across the caverns of fear. Embrace our power. As change agent Uranus aligns with our will, the Sun, we are invited toward ingenious frontiers allowing us to break free of stifling, worn out mindsets and patterns, charting a meaningful and creative new course to grasp; while Mercury turns direct at month's end telling us it is OK, time for fresh ventures and adventures.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Falling into October
No month is without its challenges; but if you felt as though you were hanging on to the edge of a cliff by your fingernails at the end of September, you were hardly alone.
The full moon last week combined with three, count 'em three, planets preparing to shift gears into new signs, made the end of last month particularly edgy. Some of that edge has carried over into the beginning of October. The Sun, Pluto and Uranus are very prickly until the second week of the month. Your Will may be challenged every time you turn around. Parents beware! Anyone in a supervisory position, at work or home, pause and take a breath. Measure your words carefully.
Not helping matters is Venus squaring off with Mars. This is raising the ante in relationships, particularly of the male-female variety. The challenging angle can certainly add spice to long-term relationships; but for those having any kind of difficulty, this week could serve to heighten rather than calm underlying storms. Mercury (how we think and communicate) conjoins titanic Saturn at the end phase of Libra, calling further attention to what needs to be clarified and/or corrected in relationships.
However, by the end of this week, Saturn, Venus and Mars make their next move. In addition, our galaxy's heavyweights, Saturn and Pluto take a turn for the better by creating a complimentary angle that will last for quite some time. All this means terrific news for launching new initiatives and getting things done. Hooray!
She might not be at her best in the earthy sign of Virgo, but Venus is super responsible and matter of fact here. She lines up with Pluto in Capricorn and gets down to brass tacks. Whatever requires cleaning up and analyzing, now is the time to take full account and inventory in overlooked areas of our lives. Once you take stock, you'll have a better handle on things and find it easier to make realistic, sound decisions about moving forward. This power is significantly boosted by two planetary pairings: the Sun with Jupiter, and Uranus with Mars.
First, the Sun and Jupiter. This is "your wish is my command" duo. The energy usually created by these two will be somewhat diminished as Jupiter turns retrograde on Thursday, October 4th. Nonetheless, there is power to latch on to here; so focus your Will to cosmic abundance, particularly in the arena of communications where Jupiter is in talkative Geminii.
The fiery alignment of Uranus with Mars further strengthens any message we're trying to get across. Mars moves into freedom-loving Sagittarius on October 7th. Its powerful energy with Uranus enables us to think out of the box and find new solutions to old problems or where we are stuck. This can be a time of breakthroughs, at work, interpersonally, and awakenings within our own selves. If you have hesitated taking a leap of faith, bringing hidden talents out into the open or adventuring into unknown territories, now is an excellent time to go for it!
One word of caution, though, as Mars challenges Neptune; reminding us to check all the facts (the positions of Venus and Mercury will really help you here) before committing to anything. Read all the fine print before signing on the dotted line. A hallmark of Mars being out of kilter with Neptune is disillusionment; things sounding too good to be true usually are. It can also mean water troubles, ie, flooded basements, tears and crying, excessive rain, leaky appliances or roofs. Children, house and home might really demand your attention around October 18th when the Moon and Mars join together. Another aspect of this pair will be that both may insist on complete and utter freedom. Time to walk away from a person, job or problem that is just not serving you; or conversely, break free of that rut you are in and dive into a new relationship or avocation that feeds your soul. Spirit is at the heart of the matter here: taking care of your own soul and spirit, as this is a time of religious and spiritual concerns.
As Saturn settles into the deep waters of Scorpio for the next two years, one thing is for certain. Each of us will be required, yes required, to thoroughly examine and establish a working order in our lives. Do not for a minute think that you can play cosmic hooky. The Universe has a way of making us show up for duty, paying the bill. With the delicious Sun-Saturn alignment to Neptune at the end of October, we should be able to walk in the light that we seek in our lives. A bit of work on ourselves now ensures very deep healing at the root level. From there, all things are possible.
The full moon last week combined with three, count 'em three, planets preparing to shift gears into new signs, made the end of last month particularly edgy. Some of that edge has carried over into the beginning of October. The Sun, Pluto and Uranus are very prickly until the second week of the month. Your Will may be challenged every time you turn around. Parents beware! Anyone in a supervisory position, at work or home, pause and take a breath. Measure your words carefully.
Not helping matters is Venus squaring off with Mars. This is raising the ante in relationships, particularly of the male-female variety. The challenging angle can certainly add spice to long-term relationships; but for those having any kind of difficulty, this week could serve to heighten rather than calm underlying storms. Mercury (how we think and communicate) conjoins titanic Saturn at the end phase of Libra, calling further attention to what needs to be clarified and/or corrected in relationships.
However, by the end of this week, Saturn, Venus and Mars make their next move. In addition, our galaxy's heavyweights, Saturn and Pluto take a turn for the better by creating a complimentary angle that will last for quite some time. All this means terrific news for launching new initiatives and getting things done. Hooray!
She might not be at her best in the earthy sign of Virgo, but Venus is super responsible and matter of fact here. She lines up with Pluto in Capricorn and gets down to brass tacks. Whatever requires cleaning up and analyzing, now is the time to take full account and inventory in overlooked areas of our lives. Once you take stock, you'll have a better handle on things and find it easier to make realistic, sound decisions about moving forward. This power is significantly boosted by two planetary pairings: the Sun with Jupiter, and Uranus with Mars.
First, the Sun and Jupiter. This is "your wish is my command" duo. The energy usually created by these two will be somewhat diminished as Jupiter turns retrograde on Thursday, October 4th. Nonetheless, there is power to latch on to here; so focus your Will to cosmic abundance, particularly in the arena of communications where Jupiter is in talkative Geminii.
The fiery alignment of Uranus with Mars further strengthens any message we're trying to get across. Mars moves into freedom-loving Sagittarius on October 7th. Its powerful energy with Uranus enables us to think out of the box and find new solutions to old problems or where we are stuck. This can be a time of breakthroughs, at work, interpersonally, and awakenings within our own selves. If you have hesitated taking a leap of faith, bringing hidden talents out into the open or adventuring into unknown territories, now is an excellent time to go for it!
One word of caution, though, as Mars challenges Neptune; reminding us to check all the facts (the positions of Venus and Mercury will really help you here) before committing to anything. Read all the fine print before signing on the dotted line. A hallmark of Mars being out of kilter with Neptune is disillusionment; things sounding too good to be true usually are. It can also mean water troubles, ie, flooded basements, tears and crying, excessive rain, leaky appliances or roofs. Children, house and home might really demand your attention around October 18th when the Moon and Mars join together. Another aspect of this pair will be that both may insist on complete and utter freedom. Time to walk away from a person, job or problem that is just not serving you; or conversely, break free of that rut you are in and dive into a new relationship or avocation that feeds your soul. Spirit is at the heart of the matter here: taking care of your own soul and spirit, as this is a time of religious and spiritual concerns.
As Saturn settles into the deep waters of Scorpio for the next two years, one thing is for certain. Each of us will be required, yes required, to thoroughly examine and establish a working order in our lives. Do not for a minute think that you can play cosmic hooky. The Universe has a way of making us show up for duty, paying the bill. With the delicious Sun-Saturn alignment to Neptune at the end of October, we should be able to walk in the light that we seek in our lives. A bit of work on ourselves now ensures very deep healing at the root level. From there, all things are possible.
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