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Navigating By The Stars

12/21/2020

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Happy Solstice!

As I shared last week today during the Solstice, December 21 at 11:20 a.m. MST, we will experience a moment in time that has not occurred since 1226 - being lauded as a Bethlehem Star. The fact that this is taking place on the Solstice, a time of opening that heralds the return of the Sun’s light over the next few months, indeed signals a unique moment in time. The Jupiter Saturn alignment as it moves into Air, the Great Mutation, is truly a once in many lifetimes event(every 800 years). For millennia this conjunction was seen as a sign of someone or something powerful being born...what within you is moving into consciousness?  What  dream is waiting to be born?


For more a quarter of a century I have worked to consciously harness the energies symbolically represented by transits and progressions to my own chart.  I view it as participating in an intricate dance with the Universe.  

I have learned a lot, particularly by falling on my face when I just didn’t want to really step forward into the moment.  When I resisted, usually because I was comfortable where I was sometimes because I was a bit intimidated by the next step forward, I still ended up where I needed to be, but, if I am honest, the transition was not even remotely what could be termed graceful.  And it was often very painful. 

On the other hand, when I trust the pattern being revealed in my chart, trust the moment in time(Can you see my back ground in improvisational theater here?), even when it is hard and bravely step forward miracles happen.  Frankly, I remain awestruck at the precision with which this shows up in our charts. I've had the honor and privilege of working with many of you to interpret the breathtaking composition your charts. It never fails to amaze me.  The unfolding mystery of our relationship with the divine is intricately displayed in an enchanting play of mathematical exactitude.

This moment in time offers a powerful invitation to step forward no matter where it falls within your own natal chart.   It is just the beginning of a cycle, Saturn will be in Aquarius until March of 2023 and with Saturn things take time.  But when you focus your energy in the area of your chart that is being transited the rewards will be many, particularly in 2021 when Jupiter is traveling alongside.  

I will highlight each Sun sign below. I invite you to take some time, today if you can, even over the next few days to inquire deeply within through mediation or journaling.  Take a deep breath  light a candle and then ask yourself what is it time to let go of?  What is beckoning you forward?  And then just take the tiniest step.  Take one tiny, and I do mean tiny nothing is too small, action a day and watch the Universe respond over time. In particular over 2021.  

Saturn was last here from 1991-1994.  Try to look back and see what was occurring in your life.  You will see a similar theme repeating over the next two years.  

Aries:

This falls into your solar 11th house where we are connected to tribe, to community, to expressing ourselves through joining with others who have mutual values, beliefs and ideals.   In the 11th, we conceive of a perfect world and try to wake others up to our visions.  It’s the house of the outcast and the rebel, the freethinker, the humanitarian.  Where we build things with others.  The 11th also rules dreams, so what you’ve long envisioned in your heart can now materialize if you work towards it, particularly if you align with others around you.   Find your people.

Taurus:

With Saturn transiting your 10th house, you are being invited to step forward into a place of authentic authority.  Now, this may be a time of apprenticeship as you move toward your place in the Sun.  This is Saturn’s natural house and Saturn moves slowly, building over time.    It is a period of initiation in the arena of how you show up in the world .  Career-wise it is a time of great opportunity but Saturn  demands accountability.   In essence ,you are being asked to show up and get to work.  If you do this consistently there will be many new opportunities available.  Often ones you’ve never imagined.

Gemini:  

This moment in time is inviting you to explore new horizons, to fully engage in what holds deep meaning for you. Saturn and Jupiter are sojourning through your solar 9th house of belief, calling on you to take a leap of faith and step into the world that is beckoning - whether through travel, education or simply sharing something of yourself/beliefs with the world. If you are interested in publishing a book or creating podcast now is the time to set it in motion This is a house of sowing seeds and then taking the leap into the great unknown.

Cancer:

Your 8th house in being activated, the arena of personal intimacy, of inheritance, of what we share with others.  It is deep psychologically-directed house, where our most intimate vulnerabilities are exposed, or it can be primarily about how we use our resources. Ruling both life and death, it is about our ability to burn to the core of our known selves and come back to ourselves renewed.  Here we are focused on what we hold onto beyond it’s lifespan and what we need to let go of in order to boldly step into the future.  On a mundane level shared resources, financially 2021 could bring big gains.  Venture capital, insurance claims, bonuses, prize winnings all fall in this domain.

Leo:
Over the next two years relationships are being put to the test, both personal and professional. The 7th house can represent everyone out there who is close to us and with whom we have to deal on a day to day basis (outside of close relations and family, who are covered by other houses). Close relationships will take on greater importance and many powerful alliances can be created but it will be a learning process.  On a certain level this is the house that might be best characterized by Jung’s statement “What we don’t integrate on the inside shows up on the outside dressed as fate.”  Where have you been giving up your personal authority to someone or something outside of you?

Virgo:

The area of your solar chart being highlighted is your 6th house. It is connected with work, health, daily habits and pets, an earth house  at its core it is about taking our inner world and doing the work of making it real.  It is an arena of discrimination, choice, separating the chaff from the grain. You are being asked to make a choice about  what is truly nourishing to you and  then to set up a daily routine around it.   Strength comes from working out our priorities and then working on them. You are being asked to move on from habits that no longer serve your life.

Libra:

Jupiter and Saturn are taking up residence in the house of true love, children both literal and creative, and learning to enjoy yourself. Your work, particularly in 2021, is to refine  the ability to take up space and receive love. Here you are being asked to take an unabashed risk on yourself.  To let yourself be the beloved, to have fun, to play.    To enjoy yourself and others and to share yourself and let them enjoy you.  In this arena you are being asked to take center stage.   Think of the next two years as an invitation into the art of play.
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Scorpio:

This alignment is lighting up your 4th house which  represents where we live both literally and metaphorically, including our family of origin.  This will be your area of focus.  Your foundation and sense of security are going to be shifting. In essence you are being asked to move. This might be literal, it might be metaphoric.  How have you been rooted in a “home” that no longer fits?  You might find yourself buying a new home, or renovating.  Essentially, you are recreating where you dwell.

Sagittarius:

Saturn is now beginning a tour of your 3rd house.  On a surface level this is the arena of communication, writing, short trips, your neighborhood and all of these activities might be highlighted.  On a deeper level, the 3rd house contains the seeds of our inner background noise, the attitudes and beliefs that are just there and we take for granted.  If this alignment falls here you are being asked to bring unconscious beliefs that have been essentially holding you back to the forefront and release them so that something new can be born.    Look at where you feel contained or stuck in your day to day life for clues.  Journaling/morning pages can be a great tool.   

Capricorn:  

Saturn has been traveling in your sign for a little more than that past two years and you may have a sense of things lightening up just a bit as this transit begins.   He is now entering your 2nd house, and the question becomes, “What is truly important to me?’  This area is about what we value, and our self worth.  It also rules our personal income so you may find yourself considering a new line of work. The next two years present an optimal time for this.  A balanced 2nd house enhances our feelings of security and belonging.  Taking a stand for yourself, for what matters to you, is the foundation of future possibility.  Where have you been rejecting yourself?
Aquarius:

You are the sign that is being called upon to make deep changes over the next couple of years. If there is a siren song within that has been singing now is the time to listen and boldly step forward. This is hitting you at your core and you can expect a powerful evolution to take place between now and 2023.  It is a time of initiation, for something that has been incubating within to be born.   Step into the spotlight. 
Pisces:

Jupiter and Saturn will be traveling through your 12th house through most of 2021, with Jupiter briefly moving into your sign from May13- July 28th before he speeds fully into Pisces in 2022.  The 12th house is often considered to be a place of rest, of going within.  Ultimately it is about connecting to something larger than ourselves, connecting to the divine.   It is great time to reflect, to do research, to work behind the scenes on any project (writing a book for example) before launching it in 2022.  The real secret of the 12th house is that we are being asked to look within and confront any “ghost” that has been haunting us so that we can release it fully and move forward. 

For all of us it is a time of initiation, an opportunity to create a new sense of value, meaning and purpose within our individual lives.  When we consciously harness this time, this energy we help the trajectory not only of our own lives but the lives of those around us and the planet. 


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Look to the Western Sky!

12/18/2020

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 “If you are healthy, if you are happy, then other forms of life can profit from you. If you are sick, if you suffer, then other species will have to suffer with you. That insight of inter-being helps you see that you are linked to everything else.”   Thich Nhat Hanh 

I took this photo, fuzzy as it is, with my iPhone yesterday evening when I was mesmerized but the beauty of this alignment moving ever closer.  On the 21st, those two planets, Jupiter and Saturn will appear as one in the Western Sky right around 6pm.  For now they grow closer each evening. 

In the Ancient world they experienced a soulful sky, poetically brilliant and full of signs.  At that time everything was seen as intimately connected, we weren't separate.

On December 21st we will experience a moment in time that has not occurred since 1226 - being lauded as a Bethlehem Star.  Every 20 years Jupiter and Saturn align, every 200 years the element they align in changes.  For the past 200 years, with the exception of 1980, the Jupiter/Saturn conjunctions have taken place in Earth Signs.  Next week on they  align and move into Aquarius, an air sign. For the next 200 years each conjunction of these powerful archetypes from now on will take place in one of the air signs Gemini, Libra ad Aquarius.  The last time this happened was 800 years ago in 1226 and yes, it was indeed in the sign of Aquarius. 

Throughout history Jupiter Saturn cycles correlate with changes to the structure of societies and civilizations. These changes follow the pattern of the elements, with the events of one cycle seeding developments in the next and building over time.   These cycles and connections apply to all of us on an individual level.

It is a time of initiation, an opportunity to create a new sense of value, meaning and purpose within our individual lives.  When we consciously harness this time, nourishing this energy, we help the trajectory not only of our own lives but the lives of those around us and the planet.   Our lives are intimately woven together, we are all an instrumental part of the fabric of life. When we heal ourselves we are contributing to the whole. One healthy cell can change the body's trajectory in response to illness. 

Our lives are essentially an expression of evolving consciousness in action.  We are in an ongoing intimate dance with the universe and this gorgeous patterning can be seen through the patterning in our astrological charts. 

This Saturday, December 19, 10-11:30 am MST via Zoom join Mindy for Exploring the Great Mutation. Learn how to harness its energy personally as we head into 2021. The cost of the webinar is $20.  All attending will receive a recording of the class and slides of the material so you do not need to attend in person. We will cover some of the archetypes, energies and stories associated with Aquarius, (in particular through the eyes of Jupiter and Saturn) and how to use them to foster change within your own life.  There will be a brief Q & A session at the end of the session.  To register please reach out to me directly at SedonaAstrologer@gmail.com.


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From Earth To Air Re-envisioning What's Possible

12/14/2020

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2020, a dramatic year of change that we will all remember, is now speeding to a close. Given how intense it has been for all of us on a global level it is no surprise that we have a breathtaking climax approaching. Today’s solar eclipse in Sagittarius might be seen as its opening act to be followed exactly one week later by the astrologers refer to as the Great Mutation of Jupiter and Saturn into Aquarius.   


Solar Eclipses, which always take place at the New Moon,  are symbolically seen as creating new beginnings and this one in particular offers an energetic gateway to begin truly re-envisioning your own life. In lively Sagittarius we are urged to look within and ask what has been feeling like it has been slowly dying over the past year?  And conversely what dreams and yearnings inside have been waiting to be born?   Now is the time to begin to breathe life into these yearnings.  To fire up your inspiration, harness the brave optimistic journeying quality of the Archer, muster up the courage to expand your horizon and take a leap of faith that has been beckoning.


Eclipses always take place near the nodal axis (for more information about the nodes and in particular the nodes in Gemini/Sagittarius here is a link to my previous blog).  This eclipse aligns with the South Node indicating that it is the for something to end in order to make room something else to start anew. We may be called to release something in order to move forward and enter a new chapter in our lives. It is important to allow the necessary surrender to the unknown to make space bravely move forward towards new frontiers whose vistas may have been beckoning for some time.


Onto the Great Mutation.  


Many of you have seen the articles referring to the “Bethlehem Star” and have asked me what it symbolizes astrologically. Every 20 years Jupiter and Saturn align, every 200 years the element they align in changes.  For the past 200 years, with the exception of 1980, the Jupiter/Saturn conjunctions have taken place in Earth Signs.  Next week on the 21st they move into Aquarius, an air sign. For the next 200 years each alignment from now on will take place in one of the air signs Gemini, Libra ad Aquarius.  The last time this happened was 800 years ago in 1226 and yes, it was indeed in the sign of Aquarius.  


This is an immense shift.  Simply consider the physical difference between earth and air.  Earth might be seen as the Red Rocks of Sedona,   Air could be represented by the currents of the wind from a gentle breeze to a more forceful gale.  The rocks shift and change slowly over time  whereas even a breeze creates movement much more swiftly.   We are being called to swiftly reimagine ourselves and our lives.


The song “Let There be Peace on Earth” has been running through my head as I consider this period we are collectively moving into.  In particular the lyric “let it begin with me” rings true. 


Our charts are the map, our lives the territory.  


When we work with our chart as a guiding spirit we harness its power.  We  are moving along with the current and can use its energy to more easily carries downstream. 


From this space of personal authority I believe we can actively participate in creating magic transforming ourselves, our lives and the lives of those around us. 


From my point of view Saturn and Jupiter need each other.  In essence these two work hand in hand together.  Jupiter dreams and Saturn builds. 


On a very basic level Jupiter represents our beliefs from faith to philosophy.  Jupiter often reminds me of The Fool card (here we are back at Sagittarius whose domain is Jupiter’s) in the Tarot.  Representing the beginning of a journey, the person pictured is about to step off of a cliff.  Essentially he is taking a leap of faith. Wherever Jupiter lays within our chart we will find ourselves again and again being asked to take leap of faith.  To expand and move forward. 


Saturn on the other hand, and he receives far too much bad press in my mind, symbolizes moving to adulthood.  Admittedly where Saturn lies in our chart we often have a sense of fear or inadequacy and he shows  perceived limits both conscious and unconscious.  


But consider this: Before there were telescopes Saturn was the furthest visible planet.  Metaphorically, Saturn describes the visible and invisible boundaries we put on our everyday reality.  The outskirts of the reality we perceive with our inner vision.  The “story” of our limits, not our actual limits.  To own our Saturn is to move into our power to create our own lives and move past these invisible boundaries and traverse into untried territory.  In other words to move beyond our current limits and build something new. 


Jupiter thinks this is all great fun, Saturn on the other hand? He knows there is a lot of work involved.


The word disciple and disciple come from the same root.  What ever action you are taking is actively saying to the universe I am becoming a disciple of of my inner vision.  In essence I am apprenticing to my dream. This is a very powerful thing.  


Aquarius is known as the sign of the visionary, the humanitarian and the rebel. Aquarius’ job is to challenge authority, tear down existing structures, and replace the outdated with something better.  We all have Aquarius somewhere in our charts.


There is simply too much material here for a blog or email post.  With this in mind I am offering a class this Saturday, December 19,  from 10-11:30 am MST via Zoom on the Great Mutation and how to harness its energy personally as we head into 2021. The cost of the webinar is $20.  All attending will receive a recording of the class and slides of the material so you do not need to attend in person. We will cover some of the archetypes, energies and stories associated with Aquarius, (in particular through the eyes of Jupiter and Saturn) and how to use them to foster change within your own life.  There will be a brief Q & A session at the end of the session.  To register please reach out to me directly at SedonaAstrologer@gmail.com.



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An Invitation To Follow The Path of Desire:                                                Mars Direct and a Scorpio New Moon

11/14/2020

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It is finally time to move forward!“Shed down a kindly ray from above upon my life, and strength of war, that I may be able to drive away bitter cowardice from my head and crush down the deceitful impulses of my soul. 
- Homeric Hymn to Ares (Greek version of Mars)

It has been a year of planetary retrogradation and in many ways it has reverberated across our lives.  To me it has felt almost as though time stood still.  I was walking close to sunset the other evening and was struck by the Christmas lights that were up and twinkling at the resort near my home.  Inside myself in many ways energetically it felt as though I was still in March and so those lights were startling to me. How had this year passed so quickly?  

The astrological events this weekend in many ways symbolize an energetic turning point for 2020 as we head towards the Jupiter Saturn conjunction in Aquarius at the Winter Equinox. (This is happening in an air sign for the first time in 400 years but more on that in December)   Yesterday Mars the planet of action turned direct after having been retrograde in Aries since September and today we are graced with the annual New Moon in Scorpio.   These two events share the archetypal energy of Mars.  It is finally time to move forward!

Mars is the guardian of two signs astrologically: Aries, the sign it is currently moving through and in traditional astrology, Scorpio the sign of this potent New Moon.  

Both faces of Mars have to do with initiation and desire: Aries is the beginning point, the first sign of the zodiac,  that calls the world into being and asks us to take our rightful place. In Egypt Aries the Ram was associated with the God Amun who was said to be the force behind the invisible wind who initiated, fertilized and then maintained the continuity of life.  Scorpio is connected to the underworld,  to death and rebirth. Full of passion,  Scorpio calls us us to be willing to make a commitment to something deeper within ourselves.  Scorpio asks what we are willing to fight and die for and is associated with the elimination of what is no longer nourishing.  Visions  of Inanna, the ancient Sumerian Goddess of love, sensuality, fertility, procreation, and also of war, spring to mind; her journey through seven gates of the underworld, each representing an initiation where she had to literally remove one of her royal garments at each gate until she finally entered the underworld naked and vulnerable. 

Wherever Scorpio lies in our chart, and all of us have all of the signs contained within, a profound  invitation is being offered into the mystery of life itself. In order to enter the underworld within ourselves, the deep subconscious from which our soul’s secret yearnings often spring, we have to dig beneath our safe and familiar ideas and be willing to feel our way through unfamiliar territory contemplating both the things we hold onto and the things we need to eliminate. 

In the Qabalistic tradition, the Path of Desire, it is taught that our desires are the voice of our soul speaking to us and therefore they are sacred. That desire magnetically draws us toward our destiny.  

This New Moon offers an invitation to connect with your heart’s desire and to begin to eliminate what is no longer serving you. 

Where are you been battling yourself,  your dreams, your desires?  What parts of yourself do you reject or deny because they aren’t convenient or safe?  Where in your life do you long to be bold, to take risks?  Now is the time to take the first steps towards any inner desire that has been waiting to be born. 

Tonight during this powerful and empowering  Scorpio New Moon I invite you to create a conscious ritual to initiate and bring into being what is waiting to be born.  Light a candle, put on some inspiring music and journal exploring what your Mars, your desire, craves. He’s our inner hero after all, he needs an inspiring quest. And it’s easy to get busy with life, the practicalities of adult life and forget about this part of ourselves.  What would set your soul on fire?  

Harness the New Moon’s energy by allowing yourself the time to explore this and create an intention around what you have discovered.  Write it down and then take one tiny step a day in the direction of your heart’s desire.
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Forward Through The Eyes of The Transiting Nodes Of The Moon

9/21/2020

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Our experience of the world has changed greatly over the past few months.   We are undergoing a collective experience in a manner that most of us have never encountered within our lifetime.   Never has it been so abundantly clear that we are all connected, everything is connected. 


As we consciously work to evolve, to experience more coherence between our inner and outer worlds, our unfoldment implicitly and explicitly nourishes others and offers sustenance to to the world on a collective level as well. 


The concept of the butterfly effect, that when a butterfly flutters it wings in Japan it essentially affects the air currents thousands of miles away, is part of what is known as Chaos Theory.  An interdisciplinary idea that spans both science and mathematics, Chaos Theory holds that that within the apparent randomness of chaotic complex systems, there are underlying patterns, interconnectedness, constant feedback loops, repetition, self-similarity, fractals, and self-organization.  


In essence Chaos Theory explains the core of astrology.


Astrologers use the practice of astrology to see through the moment to something more. We look at patterns reflected in the chart experienced that are experienced  both physically and psychologically by the individual. The intricate mathematics used to erect astrological charts unfailingly reflect the interconnectedness both within the  microcosm of the individual and the macrocosm of the collective whole with the breathtaking accuracy.  You would recognize this as predictive work.  


Those who work with me doing depth work using their chart in a process I like to call Alchemical Midwifery know that I am all about the embodiment of the energies symbolically represented in the chart.  It is after all the map(personalized alchemical compass) not the territory of your life. 


We work to experience their chart as living entity that mirrors their experience, a sort of alchemical compass that is their companion on this journey.  A Daimon (guiding spirit) of sorts that reflects both the inner and outer landscape.  We explore uncharted territory together bringing  the subconscious and unconscious world to the surface of awareness where we can harness the energy and reimagine the path available enabling them to more fully live the lives they desire.   In essence we are working to actualize more consciously the potentialities expressed within.


I deliberately use the word Alchemical because we are always changing and transforming, in the actual process of alchemy nothing ever stayed static. It was a dynamic process that began with the Nigredo, the blackening, which Jung referred to as the dark night of the soul.  In other words to symbolically go from lead to gold took something and involved a lot of soul work.  The process of transformation is beautiful and intense but it certainly isn’t just pretty vistas along the way.


The journey of life is the ultimate Alchemical process for us both an individuals and as a collective.  2020 has been deeply discussed by astrologers for years as there was so much happening from a planetary perspective we knew it symbolized a time of great change. The implicit invitation of the present moment being offered is abundantly clear when we examine the transiting Nodes of the Moon.


The Nodes represent the point where the Moon, representing the entire repository of our past experience in the material world (in many lifetimes, if belief accepts it) crosses the ecliptic, or path, of the Sun in relation to the earth.  It is, in essence, the conjoining of two pathways, the material (represented by the Moon) and the spiritual (represented by the Sun) as viewed from the earth.  The Nodes symbolize the experience of life crossing with the infinite potential of the life path.  


In our individual charts the the Sun and Moon, known as the luminaries,  are more than planets; they are the lights of our inner sky, our inner universe.  Most people know their Sun Sign, yet it is the moon with its more reflective light that we live much of our life from on a daily basis. Acting as a mediator between our inner and outer worlds it contains our experience. It illuminates our sense of belonging, our sense of safety, our instincts, our body both physical and emotional.  Often operating unconsciously, it acts as the repository of our past experience in the material world both in this lifetime and others.  


When I was a baby astrologer in my 20’s  I often was willing to play the skeptics game of “Guess My Sign” and I would inevitably be wrong only later to find out that I had correctly guessed the sign of their their moon. This is because while we may think we know our selves though Sun in its beaming brightness, we live our day to day lives from our Moon and this is reflected in our unconscious habitual behavior. 


The Sun on the other hand, represents the spirit’s way forward.  It the present moment the here and now.  It is the new energy, the path our soul is sojourning on.  The luminaries are both essential in this pilgrimage we call life.  


Also known as the Dragon’s head (North Node) and the Dragon’s tail (South Node) are profoundly revealing both individually in our Natal chart and also as they move though the various signs.  They illuminate both the past and the pathway forward thus providing a guiding light in the present moment.


This year at the beginning of April the transiting Nodes changed signs, moving from Cancer/Capricorn to Gemini/Sagittarius symbolically meaning that as a collective for the next 18 months the conscious path forward has shifted. 


Now, what does that mean on a personal level?   


The South Node, now in Sagittarius,  is more connected with the Moon, the habitual response AKA unconscious, our past. 


Ironically a sense freedom is very important to Sagittarius at its core and on a collective level as the Node shifted signs we found ourselves on lockdown which is a very literally experience of the node in this sign.  


To be able to use this energy we need to examine the invitation it extends. From my perspective as it moves through Sagittarius we are being asked, both personally and collectively,  to let go of unconscious patterns of belief, ways of seeing, of imagining our world, that are no longer serving us. 


Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, meaning symbolically Jupiter is the guardian of this particular area of the Zodiac.  Jupiter,  the principle of expansion, is connected to our beliefs. When Jupiter is afflicted we lose confidence and have to work to reclaim it.   Certainly we can all see this currently reflected around us in a myriad of ways on a collective level.  


One of my favorite Carl Jung quotes is “What we Don’t integrate on the inside shows up on the outside dressed as fate.”   


To be able to personalize this moment and consciously use the energy of the transiting nodes I offer these these questions as a leaping off point.  I invite your o use them as  them to  as a means of contemplation whether though journaling, meditation or though any activity that helps to assist you in exploring the uncharted territory within.


Where do you consistently find yourself stuck in life?  What happens again and again?  How is the external world acting as a mirror of your internal assumptions of what is possible for yourself and your life?   What are you afraid of or what triggers your anger?  What are you clinging to even though it hasn’t really nourished you for some time?  


There is a hidden belief underneath any  pattern that is deftly helping to shape the outcome of your experience. It filters everything you perceive.  It’s not about recrimination or blame.  We developed these beliefs, these defenses, in many cases as children or even young adults in response to a very big world we couldn’t control or we were conditioned to believe certain things about ourselves. 


The path forward, the North Node,  now lies in the Gemini.  The clue to this lies in Gemini’s planetary ruler Mercury, the God of communication, travel, thresholds and the crossroads. He literally could be dubbed the God of reinvention.  This is a period of exploration, of discovery, a fork in the road. This is a moment to try many new things.  A  time reinventing yourself and reimagining what is possible for yourself and your life.  A metamorphosis.


In Greek mythology Mercury was known as the way finder, the God who was always sent in to move the story forward when the hero or heroine had become mired in their circumstances.  


Explore what thresholds are beckoning you to enter or are you already standing at one in your life?    What new curious horizon is calling you forward? What urge might be hovering just below the level of conscious awareness?   Most importantly, what may have worked in the past,  “what you know” isn’t going to work the same way right now.  Just look at what has happened for most of us in our work life, everything changed in a moment.  


Whether it is emphasized or not we all have the Gemini/Sagittarius polarity somewhere within our natal chart.  


Aries and Aries Rising:  


The nodal axis is moving through your 3rd and 9th houses until January of 2022 so the transit of the North Node in Gemini’s overall message of letting go of what you know and being willing to discover and explore is tantamount right now as it is being doubly emphasized in your solar chart.  Aries is always  up for a challenge so this should be an exciting period as there will be a lot of movement both in your inner and outer worlds during this period. In other words, boredom should not be a problem.  The 3rd house is connected with communication, our neighborhood and siblings.  You might find yourself moving to a new area or getting a new job which would be a new work neighborhood from an astrological point of view. Listening is going to be key through this period.  Don’t make assumptions that you know what someone is thinking. In a similar manner don’t make assumptions about your own life and listen deeply within.  Seize the moment to initiate the changes you have been hungering for. Use your experience but approach everything from the perspective of beginner’s mind. 


Taurus and Taurus Rising:  


The nodal axis is moving through your 2nd and 8th houses until January of 2022 when the transiting Node moves into Taurus and it will be a personal time for  new beginnings.  On a certain level the insight for Taurus echos Scorpio’s message of letting go as the 8th house rules elimination.   But in your case it is South Node in the 8th.  The North node, the path forward, is in the 2nd so much of your focus will be rediscovering, or perhaps truly discovering for the first time on a conscious level what profoundly matters to you. Taurus more than any other sign appreciates the comfortable and familiar so it can settle in long past the time to move along and thus you might find this period a little discombobulating. The invitation, the opportunity now if you want to harness the energy for your own benefit is to dig below the surface and find what  treasure is buried below.   The 2nd house rules money and possessions but at its core it is all about self worth and value. Questions that might be helpful to ask yourself are: What do I own literally, or metaphorically what can I take ownership of that gives me a sense of value?  Where am I undermining my sense of self worth by just surviving?  How am I devaluing myself? If you listen within the answers you receive may surprise you. 


Gemini and Gemini Rising: 


For Geminis, more than any other sign, the period between now and January of 2022 when the nodes move into Taurus/Scorpio heralds a  time of  new beginnings. Whether it is a new relationship, new vocation, new home you are very personally being impacted by this period.  This is the moment to prepare to launch what you’re going to do next from the small to the more significant.  The nodal axis is moving through your 1st house (North Node)which rules you personally, from your body to your personality and your 7th house which rules committed relationships, which can be anything from romantic to people with whom you have a contract.  People will be moving in and out of your life.  Those that you have outgrown will move on and  those that arrive will more reflect who you are becoming.   Ask yourself what new horizon to I want to take a step towards? 


Cancer and Cancer Rising:  


The nodal axis is  moving through your 12th house(North Node) and 6th House ( South Node).  The path forward currently is in the 12th which on the positive side rules our unconscious mind, and intuitive abilities. On the more challenging side rules escapism and addiction.  It is a house of letting go. Keeping a dream journal during this period could be particularly rewarding. Meditation also will be especially gratifying.   This is a gestation period, pay attention to signals from your unconscious mind. It might be that  there is a lot going on behind the scenes, this could be a very creative period but it is important to ground yourself and expect the unexpected.  Don’t try to control the uncontrollable by holding on to what is no longer serving you so you will feel more secure. 


Leo and Leo Rising: 


The nodal axis is  moving through your 11th house(North Node) and 5th House ( South Node) which means the 11th house of Tribe (community/friends) and goals is being highlighted.  It’s time to reach out and connect or reconnect to close friends. Getting involved with people in your community, even virtually (the 11th rules the internet) will bring great rewards.  Look to the big picture.  Shake the dust off of your dreams and reimagine what’s possible. If you are a creative type or have creative aspirations now is the time not just to o plan but to take action by being in the area and connect your vision with the world.  








Virgo and Virgo Rising: 


Your professional life and who you are in the world is in the spotlight.  The big question to be asking yourself is does my outer world reflect my inner world?   In other words am I living authentically?  There is a line in a sacred Hermetic document known as the Emerald Tablet that almost everyone knows “As Above so Below.”  Symbolically that is a reference spiritually in the natal chart to the 4th and 10th houses, the 4th being below, our roots, foundation and innermost self and the 10th which represents how we are known in the outer world, our reputation, what we are known for.  This is a time of opportunity, between now and January of 2022, to harness the energy and align your inner and outer worlds creating a seat of power that transforms your place in the world.


Libra and Libra Rising:  


Yours is in interesting conundrum right now.  The 9th and 3rd houses of your solar chart are being activated.  With the North Node in the 9th, You are being asked to expand: to expand your beliefs, your territory, in essence to journey from knowledge to wisdom. To explore what gives you life meaning.  This could take many forms. The 9th house rules long distance travel, higher education, publishing.  It’s time to sojourn, hold the attitude of a pilgrim, one who journeys a long distance to a sacred place as an act of devotion though they don’t know what they will encounter along the path..   In the Tarot this would be resented by the Fool card, someone taking a leap of faith as they set out.




Scorpio and Scorpio Rising: 


With the transiting Nodes activating your 8th and 2nd houses.  The North Node, the path forward, is moving through the 8th a house of transformation.  It literally rules elimination.  This is a profound time of letting go of what is no longer serving you or your life.  Where have you put off moving forward in order to “stay secure?”  This won’t work any longer, and if there is anything I have learned from my own experience is that it is better to move forward into the unknown even if it is scary, or the universe will “help” you take the steps you know must be taken through a series of circumstances.  What are you trying to make work that really has outlived its time? The 8th house, ruling death, reminds us that everything in our lives has a cycle. If you have been considering therapy or some type of inner work it will be particularly rewarding currently. The 8th also also rules inheritance and other people’s money, including wealth, debts and taxes.  


Sagittarius and Sagittarius Rising:  


The North Node is traveling through your 7th house of relationships, which means the South Node is moving though the 1st house of self.  Now is the time to cultivate your relationships with others whether a more committed romantic relationship or a business partnerships.  Remember the north node is in Gemini; work on discovering your partner anew in each moment rather than “knowing” who they are. Let go of your preconceptions and really be present with the people in your life as you continuously become in your journey together.   Practice the art of deeply listening. 




Capricorn and Capricorn Rising:  


The North Node is moving though your 6th house, the South through your 12th.  The 6th house is connected to our day to day life, our work, our habits, our health, our diet, our digestion. It is the house of mastery and devotion. It asks us what we serve.   Use this time to focus on the smallest details of your day to day life and explore them to build habits, or rather rituals, aka conscious habits, that serve your daily existence. That danger, so to speak, lies in the fact that the south node is traveling through the 12th in your solar chart, which can be the house of self undoing, our blind spot.  The more you discover things you simply hadn’t noticed before and then consistently consciously practice actively taking care of what needs to be taken care of the more your world will open up.


Aquarius and Aquarius Rising: 


The North Node is traveling through your solar 5th house which in Hellenistic Astrology (ancient Greek) was the house the Venus the Goddess of love and creativity found her joy.  It is the house of pleasure.  It is the house of children, both literal and creative.  It is the arena of self expression.   Make Love, dance in the rain or under the full moon, paint, reclaim your creativity and break your inner child out of jail.  Allow yourself to be a beginner and try a new form of self expression.  Rediscover your sense of play.  Call on the muse for a creative project.  Have a love affair, revamp your social life.  Not networking, not saving the world.  Your social life.  Cultivate the joy of simply being with people you love.



Pisces and Pisces Rising:  


Since the beginning of April your inner world, roots, physical home and family are all being highlighted with the transiting North node in the 4th house.  A certain type of movement is being called for, this might be literal as in a physical move or you might finding yourself metaphorically looking for where you feel you belong in the world.  You might be feeling  a great push and pull between the inner world and the outer world. With the South Node in the 10th house the universe is asking you to put your career on the back burner if it is not in alignment with who you really are.  You will feel  pushed to make sure the two are in closer alignment. Authenticity is the word of the day.  Letting out your deeper expressions of feeling to another can make things especially intimate right now, but make sure you express yourself clearly and are not misunderstood. The perfect time to feel “at home” with someone, either literally or figuratively. Where you stand is sacred ground, now is the perfect time to reclaim it. 


​Click here to download the slides from the Day of Pace Music Festival 

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Fireworks With A Full Moon Eclipse in Capricorn

7/3/2020

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This weekend on Saturday night (9:44pm PDT) or early Sunday (12:44am EDT), depending on where you reside,  a lunar eclipse in the sign of Capricorn takes place making this a supercharged full Moon.  Amplifying  the full Moon’s power, emotions might run high as unexpected things occur.  This eclipse is the end of a cycle that began two years ago in July of 2018.  It is a time to remember that nothing is quite as it seems and to look below the surface.  Eclipses often bring unexpected messages and events, seemingly occurring out of the blue. Lunar eclipses tend to be associated with endings, are more emotional, and ultimately focused on creating change from within.

Though they are infamous for “eclipsing something out” most of the time endings will not happen immediately, they are more a preview of what develops over the course of the next six months.  A lunar eclipse is a time to let go of what is no longer serving you.  And keep in mind that though they end something, they also mark the beginning of  something new as well.

Among many other things, the Moon symbolizes our sense of belonging, our sense of home.  A time of mystery and magic, a lunar eclipse often brings to a head issues which have been simmering beneath the surface of our individual consciousness for quite some time. Revealing what has been previously hidden from our view, it is a time to be gentle and nourishing with ourselves, to accept of parts of ourselves that we may have banished into an unknown region of our unconscious mind.  As with any planetary movement that directly impacts us the key is to move with the flow rather than resist the tide of change.  

Though the overall interaction between the planets is fairly friendly for this eclipse the bulk of the planets, including this eclipse’s ruler Saturn, are still moving in retrograde motion urging us all to slow down and take a deep breath. As much as we might be yearning to move full steam ahead, everything has a cycle and it things won’t really begin to move until both Saturn and Jupiter begins to move forward again in September, though there will be some relief on July 12 when Mercury goes direct.

Mercury and Jupiter are both strongly involved with this eclipse, with Mercury making a friendly aspect to Uranus suggesting the possibility of unexpected good news.  However, the Sun and Moon are in a tough angle to Mars cautioning us to get more information before we take action. The involvement of Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto add to  the sense that all is not what it seems. 

In the sign of Capricorn we are being asked to look at our boundaries, take responsibility and ownership.  The adult of the Zodiac, at its best Capricorn is about building something of value, something lasting.  Not in a rush to get to the next moment, Capricorn waits for a moment of knowing, of wisdom.  Capricorn likes a plan, it wants a strategy. The plan can change, but the foundation provides something solid to stand upon in a world that is ever shifting.   No matter where this eclipse hits you aka your chart personally it is a time to reassess these issues.  The power lies in consciously doing so, the universe will call your attention to them whether you are actively working with the energy of the eclipse or not.  

The Cancer/Capricorn axis, where this eclipse takes place, is connected with both parents and children and who we are at home vs who we are out in the world.  

The eclipse will be felt most deeply and directly  by those who have something in their chart from 12-14 degrees in any of the Cardinal signs: Cancer, Capricorn, Aries and Libra. 

Aries

This eclipse is directly impacting your professional life. You may have been focused on shifting either your career or your public image but have felt like it was one step forward and two steps back. The universe is asking you to try to bridge the gap between who you present yourself as and who you feel like you truly are inside that you may have been hiding from the world. Remember to slow down where you can and reorient yourself, even thought this may feel foreign.  It is justas important to listen at this time as to act

Taurus

For a while now you have been slowly working away, essentially rearranging the way you see the world.  You patience  should begin to really pay off one the next six months.  Here are the questions to explore: What beliefs do you have that are in the way of you moving forward?  Ask yourself if something seems impossible is why does that seem so fixed? Try to be open minded as you explore what new vistas might be fun.  Work to get a sense of the big picture because if you try to establish the pattern now it will shift down the road.  Open your eyes to the opportunities that you've been overlooking in your own neighborhood.

Gemini

Brace yourself for a period of deep transformation. Like a caterpillar who enters its cocoon, you're undergoing some serious growth with the North Node in Gemini for the next year and a half. With this eclipse taking place in the 8th house this is a profound time of letting go of what is no longer serving you or your life.  Where have you put off moving forward? What are you trying to make work that really has outlived its time? The 8th house reminds us that everything in our lives has a cycle. The 8th also also rules inheritance and other people’s money, including debts and taxes. Keep an eye on your spending, double check your taxes if you haven’t sent them in already.

Cancer

You may find a flood of emotional intensity coming your way and how you utilize it could largely shape the direction of a relationship. It is a time to be particularly understanding and realize that though feelings may be overstated at this time and emotions running hot, the message underneath is sincere and needs to be taken seriously. Don't assume anything before you see the full picture.  Embrace balance as the eclipse could shake the foundations of your closest relationships bringing new information to light.

Leo

Now is the time to get your head out of the clouds and deal with the nitty gritty details of everyday life.  The eclipse takes place in your 6th house which rules your health, job and the daily grind. Take care of yourself, eat healthily, go for a walk, take a deep breath. Take this time to plan and focus on the next small step in front of you.  Something may be calling to you but choose your new path well before you embark or it will be a flash in the pan.  Literally, listen to your gut and trust your instincts.  

Virgo
Make love, dance, anything you do for enjoyment will seem twice as good right now. Reclaim your creativity and break the inner child out of jail.  If you call on the muse for a creative project, she will definitely show up and you’ll find that your juices flow faster and easier than usual. Throw a spontaneous dance party.   Pay attention to your creative urges right now and you will find yourself richly rewarded love the next six months.   Allow the energy of the eclipse to inspire you to find new ways to beautify the world around you using your creative vision.

Libra
Roots, home and family will be affected.  Your work-life balance is coming to the forefront  and you might feel a great push and pull between who you are at home and who you are out in the world. More of you will be pushed to make sure the two are in closer alignment. Consider authenticity to be the word of the day.  Letting out your deeper expressions of feeling to another can make things especially intimate right now, but make sure you express yourself clearly and are not misunderstood. The perfect time to feel “at home” with someone, either literally or figuratively. Where you stand is sacred ground, now is the perfect time to reclaim it. 

Scorpio
Highlighting all of the neighborhoods in your life; from the one you literally reside in to your work “neighborhood” as well,  this full moon eclipse is likely to shake up the way you interact with your surroundings. Just remember that in order to get the  day to day details in order, sometimes you have to look at the big picture. What are your bigger goals and ideals?  Survey your surroundings and take in the terrain before taking your next steps. It’s definitely a time to look before you leap.  
Sagittarius
This eclipse falls in your second house of money, value and self worth making  this is the perfect time to shine a light on the recent darkness within that you may have  been  experiencing. Explore what is deeply meaningful to you, hell, grab a torch and run straight toward the darkness. Shine a light on the monsters under the bed  that have been running the show and they will vaporize.  For many, many years…essentially since 2008, you have been working on issues of self worth and finally it is time to give up the ghost.
Capricorn
With the eclipse happening in your sign, and as it’s the last eclipse that is happening in Capricorn for many years, everything you’ve been personally working on since July of 2018 is coming up for reexamination. You like being in charge, but this luminary has the potential to shake the ground underneath your feet. With everything that has been touring your home sign for the past few years  you might be wondering  when it will ever end.  Once the eclipse passes you’ll have a better idea of the lay of the land. Remember the strength of your sign lies in the wisdom of not rushing to judgement. Take a deep breath and have some compassion for yourself you have been undergoing a massive transformation.
Aquarius
Over the past few years you have been hard at work reexamining the depths of your psyche and the statement let go and let God has taken on new meaning.  All of the work you have been doing will pay off in 2021, use this time to rest and reassess.  You’re caught up both in your head and your heart right now so it might feel hard to think clearly about anything.   Allowing yourself to retreat a bit, no matter how strong the urge is to leap forward, will pay off in the months come as you are more fully able to assimilate everything you have been discovering. 
Pisces
Your 11th house of tribe is being highlighted.  As challenging as it might be during this time, reach out and connect or reconnect to close friends. The 11th house deals with our community, our aspirations and making our dreams real within the light of day.  Shake the dust off of your ideals and imaginings and  select one small doable goal that you could take a step towards after Mercury goes direct on the 12th. New opportunities might be coming up or something on the back burner suddenly makes a new appearance as you set the course for the  the next six months.  Remember the seeds of what you initiated in 2018 and give them some much needed watering. 



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Mercury The Magician and Guardian of Thresholds Goes Retrograde

6/17/2020

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Once again here we are in Mercury Retrograde period.  The planetary messenger stations and turns retrograde early today.  Often filled with inconveniences and misunderstandings from the banal and trite to the more aggravating, it is a time that even the most astrologically unaware have come to dread.  And believe me, I understand.  This particular one is dancing across a very sensitive part of my chart and every time I turn around something is breaking down or falling through the cracks.  
This Mercury Retrograde is in the sign of Cancer so the Cardinal signs – Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn are going to be particularly affected.  But even if you are not one of those signs you have all of them somewhere within your chart. For example, I have Jupiter and Saturn in Capricorn in the 10th house and Mars in Cancer in the 3rd house.   In short the areas of career and parents (10th), siblings, my neighborhood (daily environment) and communication (3rd) are all affected.  And because any chart could easily be compared to a beautiful spider’s web, those areas are link to many other places within my chart.
Below I will list the areas affected for each sign but I wanted to share a little about Mercury first because I have to admit, as much as the swirl of daily details not going as expected can drive me a bit crazy, part of me always looks forward to Mercury Retrograde because I have learned understand his secrets and listen to his signs.  
Also, I need to note that we have an eclipse at 0 degrees Cancer this Sunday the 21st and as Mercury is in Cancer the same part of your chart is affected by the eclipse.  
Mercury is a mischievous archetype and in the modern lexicon greatly underestimated and misunderstood.  He is the God of communication and travel but there is so much more depth to him.
In Greek mythology he was known as the way finder, the God who was always sent in to move the story forward when the hero or heroine had become mired in their circumstances.  

When you are at an impasse and don’t know which way to turn Mercury is your guy. 
Need something negotiated?   Again, Mercury is who you would send in to get the job done.
He rules over the crossroads and thresholds.  He rules magic and healing.  “As Above so Below” literally was his song given to mortals in the Emerald Tablet.  So revered as holding secrets tot the universe countless “scientists” translated it including the illustrious Issac Newton.    In alchemy he was represented by the Unicorn and the alchemists were intent on fixing the elusive Mercury Spirit so that they could understand birds, creatures and the secrets of the universe itself.  He rules birds and the ancient Roman practice of  Augury - divination from interpreting the flight patterns of the birds.  
He created language and the alphabet.  Looking for an omen? Mercury is your guy. 
The Caduceus now associated with medicine was the magical golden staff that he always carried.  And he alone among the Gods was the Psychopomp able to travel between the worlds, including to the underworld without paying a price. 
Mercury, the Magician,  helps point the way forward and moves us in the right direction but we have to slow down and take the time to pay attention and listen to what he is trying to communicate.  How is he trying to get your attention?   If we listen maybe he won’t reset to something like a flat tire or in my case a dishwasher refusing to drain.  Water rules emotions, thus I have actively taken a breath and asked what have I been avoiding feeling?   

So while I don’t recommend signing a contract, closing on a house or booking a plane ticket here are the things I recommend looking at between now and July 12:  At his core Mercury is all about remaining curious and open, about enjoying the journey and noticing the vista along the way rather than getting caught up in the destination.   When he is retrograde Mercury reminds us to slow down, pull over and enjoy the view.  While our goals are important it is each small step that gets us there and life is full, oh o full, of much beauty along the way.
 
Explore what thresholds are beckoning you to enter or are you already standing at one in your life?    What new curious horizon is calling you forward? What urge might be hovering just below the level of conscious awareness?  This is a great time to do some inner work via meditation or journaling to listen deeply to the voice within.  

​Go for a walk and notice what appears in your path.  A dove? That’s a bird sacred to Venus the Goddess of love, beauty and the arts.  A dog or coyote (sacred to Mercury in his role as trickster)?  Dogs were sacred to Artemis who can be seen in part as symbolizing our connection with the wild within.  Maybe your life has felt a little too tame lately and Mercury is urging you to re-connect with your playful side. 
Activate the psychopomp and get rid of what is metaphorically dead in your life by clearing some clutter to make space for something new to arrive.   
It is a time to look back, reassess, re-organize and reflect.  You will be richly rewarded with inner revelation that sets the stage for the time to follow.  
Aries and Aries Rising:  Roots, home and family will be affected.  You might feel a great push and pull between who you are at home and who you are out in the world. More of you will be pushed to make sure the two are in closer alignment. Authenticity is the word of the day.  Letting out your deeper expressions of feeling to another can make things especially intimate right now, but make sure you express yourself clearly and are not misunderstood. The perfect time to feel “at home” with someone, either literally or figuratively. Where you stand is sacred ground, now is the perfect time to reclaim it. 
Taurus and Taurus Rising:  The area of your chart associated communication and social activity is highlighted.  It may seem as thought the phone is ringing off the hook, or that you are bursting to the brim with new ideas. Lots of opportunities might be coming your way.   And it may just be that you are bursting at the seems and eager to get out into the world again.  
Gemini and Gemini Rising:  This Retrograde is highlighting your 2nd house of money and values.   It may feel like unexpected expenses pop up or, on the bright side, it may also be that money that has been owed to you unexpected returns. Either way keep an eye on your bank account and more importantly ( money issues pass) use this time to explore what’s really meaning fun and matters to you that yo can move forward on after July 12th. 
Cancer and Cancer Rising:  This Mercury Retrograde ( and eclipse) heralds a time to prepare for a personal beginning.   This is the moment to prepare to launch what you’re going to do next from the small to the more significant rather than pulling back into your shell.  Ask yourself what new horizon to I want to take a step towards?  Gather your forces and move forward with Mercury at your side in mid-July.
Leo and Leo Rising: This retrograde is moving through your 12th house which rules our unconscious mind, and intuitive abilities.  Keeping a dream journal during this period could be particularly rewarding. Meditation also will be especially gratifying.   This is a gestation period, pay attention to signals from your unconscious mind.  Or it might be that  there is a lot going on behind the scenes and you have plans to launch.  It ’s not time to make your plans public yet, if you can, wait until after the new Moon in Leo on July 20th.  
Virgo and Virgo Rising:  Your 11th house of tribe is being highlighted.  It’s time to reach out and connect or reconnect to close friends.  Shake the dust off of your dreams  during this retrograde and select one small doable goal that you could take a step towards after Mercury goes direct. New opportunities might be coming up or something on the back burner suddenly makes a new appearance.  If you can try to put off doing anything concrete until after Mercury goes direct on July 12th.  If you can’t wait just double check all of the information and make sure that the details are clear to all involved parties.
Libra and Libra Rising:  There are new developments your professional life that  may have you quite wound, particularly around the eclipse on the 21st and the pressure to produce can be intense. Remember to slow down where you can and reorient yourself.  It is as important to listen at this time as to act. What people are saying to you and about you very much reflects your personal and professional status and you will want to make sure that you are being represented authentically.  
Scorpio and Scorpio Rising:  As much as you may be itching to get out in the world, it’s a great time for planning, cooking up new schemes, or rearranging the way you look at things. What beliefs do you have that are in the way of you moving forward?  What new vistas would it be fun to explore?  Work to get a sense of the big picture because if you try to establish the pattern now it will need to be reworked after Mercury goes direct on July 12. This is the planning period that will take flight  after things begin to move forward again.
Sagittarius and Sagittarius Rising:  With Mercury Retrograde in the 8th house this is a profound time of letting go of what is no longer serving you or your life.  Where have you put off moving forward? What are you trying to make work that really has outlived it’s time? The 8th house reminds us that everything in our lives has a cycle. The 8th also also rules inheritance and other people’s money, including debts and taxes. Keep an eye on your spending, double check your taxes if you haven’t sent them in already.
Capricorn and Capricorn Rising:  Mercury is retrograde in your 7th house of partnerships.  Old flames may come back into you life, or perhaps old business opportunities.  The 7th house is the house of contractual relationships. There are a particularly ripe couple of days around the eclipse on the 21st for finding a new partner or turning over a new leaf with an old partner. Just take your time with Mercury Retrograde, slow down and really listen.  You may find a flood of emotional intensity coming your way and how you utilize it could largely shape the direction of the relationship. It is a time to be particularly understanding and realize that though feelings may be overstated at this time and emotions run hot, the message underneath is sincere and needs to be taken seriously. Communication is key.  
Aquarius and Aquarius Rising:  Now is the time to get your head out of the clouds and deal with the nitty gritty details of everyday life. As an Aquarian myself, I know details aren’t necessarily your thing. You like the big picture but Mercury is retrograde in your 6th house which rules your health, job and the daily grind. Take care of yourself, eat healthily, go for a walk, take a deep breath. Take this time to plan and focus on the next small step in front of you.  Something may be calling to you but choose your new path well before you embark or it will be a flash in the pan.
Pisces and Pisces Rising:  Mercury is retrograde in your 5th house of play.  This is a time to let loose and have some fun.  Make love, dance, anything you do for enjoyment will seem twice as good right now. Reclaim your creativity and break the inner child out of jail.  If you call on the muse for a creative project, she will definitely show up and you’ll find that your juices flow faster and easier than usual. Throw a spontaneous dance party.  Put on some music and do some automatic writing asking Mercury to divine messages from your angels.  Pay attention to your creative urges right now and you will be richly rewarded.

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Retrograde Alchemy

5/22/2020

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The core of my astrological practice  comes from the place that everything is connected, that your natal chart truly is a symbolic reflection of “As above so below”*** and that ultimately we are all heroes or heroines of our own epic story that is unfolding.  That we both experience and creatively participate in the telling of our personal tale.  

Whomever’s chart I am gazing at always provokes questions such as how can we use the chart to more fully foster in daily life the potentialities reflected? What secrets is this map trying to reveal? How do we breath life into the dreams and harness the power  that lives in our inner worlds both conscious and unconscious? 

Questions like these, provoked by the chart, infuse me with a sense of mystery at the marvel of our lives. With each chart I work to unravel its secrets and listen to its song.  When I do this, with any chart, my own  or a clients,  it always feels like we are working together to act in alignment with the universe.

When we work with our chart as a guiding spirit we harness its power.  We  are moving along with the current and can use its energy to more easily carries downstream. 

From this space I believe we can actively participate in creating magic. 

With this in mind I thought I would put forward a series of blogs that tackles retrogrades.

As an astrologer it has been both fascinating and frustrating to watch  Mercury Retrograde become common in the lexicon over the past 20 years.  On the one hand I am excited that people are paying attention, on the other I find it sobering that it is tossed about on only the most superficial level because a profound opportunity is being missed. Wouldn’t it be great  and a lot more fun to actually harness at least some of the potential available during a retrograde?  

When astrologers say something is retrograde we are referring to what is called a transit, a movement in the heavens above.  This is one of several techniques used in predictive work.  When we use them we are actively engaging with the rhythms of the universe. We are essentially consciously acting in partnership, we are dancing together.  

When a planet as viewed from the earth (i.e. where we stand literally and psychologically in the universe) appears to go backwards it is called retrogradation.  

Currently Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto are all in retrograde with Mercury set to join the party on June 17 to July 12.   

So what does all this signify? In other words, what do retrogrades represent from a psychologically creative level and perhaps most importantly how can you work with this particular flow of energy?

First of all on a mundane every day life level numerous things will simply slow down, and we are already seeing this even with the spread of the Covid-19 virus.  Pluto, which rules viruses and Jupiter which expands everything it touches have been closely traveling together since the middle of March and now they are both retrograde.  We are seeing infection levels slow.  

Secondly, this  psychologically (the root of the word psyche means soul) reflects  a time of reassessment not only personally but collectively.  Retrogrades represent a gift from the Gods for your development, this slowing allows you time to catch your breath and realign before life takes off one again at it usual hectic pace.  

Today I will look at Jupiter and Saturn.  If you are interested in reading more about the Venus Retrograde I discussed it here.  The much misunderstood and underestimated Mercury gets it own blog to follow shortly:)

From my point of view Saturn and Jupiter need each other.  In essence these two work hand in hand together.  Jupiter dreams and Saturn builds. 

On a very basic level Jupiter represents our beliefs from faith to philosophy.  Jupiter often reminds me of The Fool card in the Tarot.  Representing the beginning of a journey, the person pictured is about to step off of a cliff.  Essentially he is taking a leap of faith. Wherever Jupiter lays within our chart we will find ourselves again and again being asked to take leap of faith.  To expand and move forward. 

Saturn on the other hand, and he receives far too much bad press in my mind, symbolizes moving to adulthood.  Admittedly where Saturn lies in our chart we often have a sense of fear or inadequacy and he shows  perceived limits both conscious and unconscious.  

But consider this: Before there were telescopes Saturn was the furthest visible planet.  Metaphorically, Saturn describes the visible and invisible boundaries we put on our everyday reality.  The outskirts of the reality we perceive with our inner vision.  The “story” of our limits, not our actual limits.  To own our Saturn is to move into our power to create our own lives and move past these invisible boundaries and traverse into untried territory.  In other words to move beyond our current limits and build something new. 

Jupiter thinks this is all great fun, Saturn on the other hand? He knows there is a lot of work involved.

In Evolutionary Astrology retrogrades represent an opportunity to reclaim some aspect of yourself when they appear in your Natal Chart.  In particular Jupiter represents an evolutionary imperative to reclaim your confidence, and Saturn retrograde symbolizes the need to reclaim a sense of authority, as in authorship of your own life. As I said above, on a certain level both planets are about going beyond boundaries.  They ask they question where have you limited what’s possible for yourself and your life?  

Their current  retrograde is the perfect time to catch your breath, recenter and set the stage for your next horizon. 

You can begin to use the energy of Jupiter retrograde to reclaim your sense confidence in an area of your life where you feel stuck by looking at your beliefs.  Of course this sounds easier than it is…because most of the time unconsciously some of those beliefs feel like “the way it is.” 

So start small, choose just one area.  Where have you been playing small and holding yourself back?   My suggestion would be to journal in this area, allowing yourself to openly explore this arena of your life.  Or go for a walk and ask Jupiter for guidance as you stroll along.  If you are visual create a stream of consciousness collage by holding the issue lightly in your mind’s eye and spend 20 minutes literally ripping through magazines, grabbing any image that you linger on for more and a second or two.  It’s not about liking the image, If you are lingering on an image your unconscious mind is responding to it so it is important to include as it is speaking to you from a deep place. Then with your stack of images assemble a collage.  Use it as a type of reading, a visual revelation of sorts.  What does it unmask and bring to light?

The important thing is to be light and play with this, because Jupiter loves play and adventure.  How can you reimagine what’s possible?

One question to ask yourself is what small leap of faith could I take? 

Then utilize Saturn who loves a good plan.  He is the ultimate master builder.  He wants to take those ideas, those possibilities of Jupiter, all that potential and make it real.  In other words harnessing the power of Saturn is about moving past your fears and manifesting your dreams in a concrete form.  See what I mean about bad press?   Sure there is work to be done, but he is all about making it real.  What daily discipline, one of Saturn’s favorite words, could you incorporate that would be a concrete action towards the new territory?   It doesn’t have to be logical.  A year ago on June 1 I began walking each morning as a way to center myself.  Over time, another thing Saturn is in charge of, mountains have moved in my life.  

The word disciple and disciple come from the same root.  What ever action you are taking is actively saying to the universe I am becoming a disciple of of my inner vision.  In essence I am apprenticing to my dream. This is a very powerful thing.  

There is great wisdom unfolding for you and for your benefit during these retrogrades but it is going to take time.  Jupiter goes direct on September 13th and Saturn follows on the 29th.  If you work with it this juncture can act a gestation period for you to begin to give birth to something new. 

***As above so below comes from the Hermetic Emerald Tablet that was used by Alchemists as they worked at what they dubbed “The Great Work.”  More about that to come.


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Selah: To Pause In Contemplation

5/4/2020

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In the past two years the word selah has often dominated my thoughts. Occurring between verses or paragraphs in parts of the Hebrew Bible, it is a mysterious word of enigmatic meaning at the end of verses in the Psalms: sometimes viewed as a musical direction(the Psalms were originally sung), to indicate a pause for contemplation.

Right now both personally and culturally through the courtesy of a pandemic we have collectively been put on just such a pause. 

A selah.  



I have deep personal experience with this, you might even say I have become a professional.  Recently, when asked by a friend how I was doing in quarantine I sort of sheepishly laughed and said that most of the time life didn’t feel any different for me with the exception of when I headed out to the store once a week all trussed up in a mask and sporting gloves. 
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Since early 2014 my life increasingly has become commandeered by the care of my aging parents.  So much so that by early 2018 much of what had been my daily reality prior to 2014 was now entirely eclipsed by the experience.  Essentially my version and vision of life had been put on pause. 

In the early part of this odyssey, even as I tried to view it as part of a greater spiritual journey,  I was often full of frustration, overwhelm and resentment. I was also terrified as it increasingly felt like my life was falling apart even as I knew somewhere deep in my soul that the choice I had made was absolutely the correct one for me.   

As an astrologer I had been watching this period approach for years, but even as I viewed it through this lens the twists and travails of the voyage were often beyond my imagining.   Life became a moment to moment practice of trusting my inner knowing to find my way out of the inner darkness that was often emerging as I became more isolated. I really didn’t share most of this even with close friends simply saying when asked how I was surviving that I was doing fine and finding meaning in the experience.  

By the time 2018 arrived for the most part I had embraced what was occurring in my outer world  as an opportunity to embrace a deeper change I had been called toward like a siren song for many years.  It was just about that time that I stumbled upon the word selah.  It seemed to perfectly capture the greater transformation that was echoing across my life and became a mantra.

The caterpillar’s metamorphosis from caterpillar into the majestic flying butterfly is a frequent metaphor for total transformation. It’s a breathtaking mechanism developed by nature, yet while it may seem beautiful from the outside, this transformation looks pretty gruesome deep inside the chrysalis. In short, for a caterpillar to turn into a butterfly, it digests itself using enzymes triggered by hormones. Then, sleeping cells (similar to stem cells) grow into the body parts of the future butterfly.  This can only happen during a pause in what previously had been the caterpillar’s life.   

Right now both personally and culturally through the courtesy of a pandemic we have collectively been put on just such a pause.  A selah.   So on this Monday morning I offer the wish of a good selah.  The possibility of us being able to use this time to re-envision how we are both with ourselves and each other.   

Selah also appears in music, believe to be a cue to hold a holy silence for a few moments to pause in reverence between the notes.  Right now, in this moment,  there is a unique opportunity to listen to our lives from this profound space.  An invitation to use this brief pause from the frenetic pace that life often moves along to deeply reconnect with ourselves and hear the melody of our heart.   

The last  interpretation of selah I will share is “a blessing meaning forever.”   May each of us find the blessing in this time and emerge as a butterfly reborn.  






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Venus Retrograde: Reclaiming What We Love and Value

5/2/2020

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May is chock full of retrogrades.   Pluto went into retrogradation at the end of April. Saturn goes retrograde on the 11th to be followed quickly by Venus on the 13th and then Jupiter on the 15th.  Mercury joins the group next month in June.  Symbolically this is a time of restoration and reclamation. 

Most of you are familiar with the dreaded but misunderstood Mercury retrograde (more about that at the end of May) but Venus is where I want to focus. 

Venus retrogrades more rarely than any other planet approximately every 18 months.  The retrogradation lasts approximately 40 days  which is considered a sacred number in many traditions.


The Mayan’s saw great significance in her cycle.  So much so part of their calendar reveals a detailed understanding of the cycles of the planet Venus.. The retrograde portion of her cycle mythologically had profound  significance as they envisioned it as Venus’ journey to the underworld.  


In all of mythology, journeys to the underworld always symbolize periods of transformation, of death and rebirth.  In order to leave the underworld, something must be left behind in order to arise again into the conscious world.  


Symbolically Venus represents what we value, how we connect, She is the Goddess of Love. Intertwined with the arts and our creativity, Venus shows where and how we take pleasure in life. She is an intrinsic  part a road map to what gives us the experience of being fulfilled.  Where she is in your chart shows how you approach relationships of the heart and how you can develop a health sense of self esteem and self love.  


Venus is retrograding in the sign of Gemini which is most known as a sign of communication but I would suggest that on a deeper level Gemini is about connection.  How we connect with others, how we connect with the world around us.  We all have Gemini somewhere in our chart whether it is heavily emphasized or not.  


Venus retrograde presents an invitation to reclaim a part of ourselves. And in the sign of Gemini specifically an invitation to reconnect both with ourselves and others.  The possibility of  rediscovering what’s truly important on a very personal level.   I admit I both marvel and find it ironic that this particular retrograde is taking place essentially during the global pandemic.  I keep seeing posts on Facebook saying that it isn’t about getting back to normal but about the possibility of getting back to something better.  Consciously or unconsciously the macrocosm and the microcosm are always dancing together.


On some level, we are searching for the missing piece we’ve always pretended wasn’t there. Wasn’t necessary. It’s that one piece that would make our picture complete: your picture and my picture, different for each of us and different for each individual, even astrologically.  At its core we are looking  for buried treasure.  


To make the most of this Venus retrograde we must work at curating an inner sense of appreciation both for ourselves and others.  The Goddess Venus went to war when she didn’t feel valued.  And most often we do the same.  This is a period for revisiting old creative projects, taking long baths and walks in nature. Morning pages or journaling which are essentially an inner walk with or to your wild nature  are called for.  Take a class that  you’ve been longing to take.  Self Care will bring deep rewards.  


From the point of view of a  psychological journey to the underworld the Venus retrograde offers an opportunity to leave behind something that is no longer serving us so that we can rise again with our inner values realigned to powerfully create our world.  Or perhaps for others it is a time to reclaim a part of ourselves we had set aside simply because we were busy elsewhere.  Most importantly it s a time to deeply listen to your heart’s song.  What is it longing for?  What is your heart secretly whispering to you?


Venus Retrograde in Gemini May 13-June 25

Through the signs:

Aries and Aries Rising:  Finding your voice and facing your fears of putting it out into the world. 

Taurus and Taurus Rising:  Making peace with money and getting over any shame about having what you want.  

Gemini and Gemini Rising:  You are essentially being asked to stand nakedly in front of a mirror and embrace your uniqueness.  To understand that personal power comes from reveling in who you are.

Cancer and Cancer Rising: Surrendering to a higher power, letting go of control.  Trusting the deep voice within and following it to take the next step forward.  

Leo and Leo Rising: To participate in your community,  essentially it is time to reclaim your tribe.

Virgo and Virgo Rising:  Pondering your position in the world and your issues with being fully seen and visible. 

Libra and Libra Rising:  Explore what deeply ingrained beliefs you have about yourself and life that prevent you from living the life you imagine.

Scorpio and Scorpio Rising:  Where are you clinging rather than accepting life’s impermanence?  What are you trying to control in order to feel safe?

Sagittarius and Sagittarius Rising:  Who in your life are you trying to fix rathe than focusing on yourself?  As Carl Jung said:  What we don’t integrate on the inside how up on the outside dressed as fate.

Capricorn and Capricorn Rising:  Your physical health and well being are highlighted.  What daily rituals can you follow to bring more balance? Ho can you nourish your body?

Aquarius and Aquarius Rising:  How can you be in emotional integrity with yourself?  Where and how can you add a sense of play and joy? 

Pisces and Pisces Rising:  How can you create an inner sense of security and foundation for yourself.  In other words how do you create both roots and wings?



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