Category: Astrology

Cinco de Mayo – Powerful Full Moon

Saturday, 05 May 2012 07:54 0 Comments

There is a very strong Moon coming into fullness at 8:35 pm (PST) on May 5th. The Sun in grounded, earthy, sensual Taurus will shine its light to the Moon in Scorpio. Scorpio is known for its intensity, whether it is deep truth and honesty or wounding transformed into true power. Strong feelings are likely to be evoked in the next hours as we are drawn deep into our shadow material. The gift is the possibility of seeing and transforming our wounded patterns as we opening ourselves to solid emotional comfort and security. The shadow risk is that we fall into our wound more deeply, stubborn and stuck. This Moon is at 16 degrees and 01 minute. If you have fixed sign planets around the mid degrees you will be more strongly affected, yet we are all feeling this powerful build up even now.

I love to meditate with Full Moons, drawing in the energies deeply, consciously co-creating with the power of Light and reflection. This Moon is ‘perigee’ which means it is the closest it gets to the earth and will be large and bright as it comes up over the horizon at dusk, definitely worth looking at.

Although it would be appropriate to meditate any time during the day to connect with the positive energies of this Moon, I would suggest beginning around 8 pm or 8:15 pm through to 8:35 pm. Begin by calling in the energy of the Sun, feeling the solar qualities as you intuitively feel them, but perhaps guiding yourself to feel for strength, earth, sensuality, security, ease and flow to run through you. Then call in the energy of the Moon, drawing in depth, intensity, truth, transformation, integrity and power. Imagine these feelings and energies mixing within you, asking that you be a vehicle for their highest expression. Both signs are related to financial security and wealth. Gratitude for what you have and a wish for security and comfort for all sentient beings might be an appropriate affirmation as well.

Fear of Retrogrades

Sunday, 18 March 2012 18:55 0 Comments

Fear of astrological transits, and especially retrogrades, can be lurking below the surface of our general astrological dialogue, affecting our emotions and behaviors. For this reason, I’m often ambivalent about writing about future transits. It’s nice to know what’s happening astrologically, to feel like we’re in alignment with these symbolic weather patterns, but when we attach seriously to edicts of what to do or not to do, we begin to lose our sense of soul centered power, our ability to simply live in the moment intuitively. It can be challenging to balance the value of living consciously in alignment with astrological cycles and the trust to simply live consciously.

Recently someone asked me about the prospect of beginning a relationship in the current Mars retrograde cycle (January 23rd to April 13th). She had been told that initiating a sexual relationship in a Mars retrograde ‘would end up in disaster’. Followed strictly, that would mean not becoming intimate with someone she’d been seeing for awhile. They both felt ready to take things to the next step. Should they wait for three months? Does that mean every relationship commenced in this time period will end up in disaster? What actually qualifies as disaster?

We’re also in Mercury retrograde, also considered to be an inauspicious time for starting anything. With Mercury, conventional wisdom focuses on communications issues, equipment breaking and problems with traveling, To begin a relationship under Mercury retrograde is associated with problems with communication as if Mercury will somehow ’cause’ the problems.

And let’s not forget Saturn. We are in a Saturn retrograde that began on February 7th and continues to June 24th. Saturn rules business and the structures we create in the material plane. Most would suggest that we don’t begin new ventures during this time period either, but focus instead on working on what we’ve already committed to, setting boundaries to define what works and what doesn’t.

Should we just sit around and watch television for the first half of the year? I don’t think so. When we think of planets causing misfortune, calamities, disasters and problems because we began something in a retrograde time, we can feel paralyzed and then begin to manipulate our way through life feeling disempowered and disconnected from our intuition. This is not the best use of astrology, nor of our life force.

From an intuitive view, I would suggest that we are operating always in alignment with the planetary energies, because we are the planets. Looking at astrological forecasts and charts simply gives us a language to help explain what we’re feeling or what we feel compelled to do, the kind of flow, challenge or complication that might be within at the particular time.

One of the most intense relationships of my life began under a Mars retrograde. It was definitely not easy, nor was it a disaster. I learned about my own Mars and how it operated (or in fact didn’t operate) in my life. Anger, assertion, ego and physicality were highlighted in that dynamic and combustible dance that brought me into another round of therapy. The healing I accomplished was profound. I wouldn’t have been the same person without it. Was it a bad relationship because it happened to start it under the retrograde and would it have been calm and peaceful if we’d waited a couple of months? (I know absolutely not!) … or did the retrograde define the energy I was called to review in that cycle of life?

I’m not saying we should all completely ignore the current triplet of retrogrades and charge forward into projects and relationships. Probably most of us are in alignment with this review vibration internally anyway. I’m saying it’s not necessary to be afraid that planets are affecting us negatively and then putting our lives on hold. It’s a time to rethink, review and restructure the direction of our life force, our relationships and our business affairs. If that includes something that seems to want to start at this time, then start it. There is something you’re learning, healing or understanding here. Follow your gut instinct. Read documents carefully (always good advice!). In most cases, if there’s an problem you can do a re-start later. There are always more retrogrades and more reviews, and there’s never a perfect time in human reality. Life is complicated, messy, delightful.

True Love

Monday, 06 February 2012 07:52 0 Comments

Did you happen to notice a dreamy feeling flooding in around midday last Friday (February 3rd)? Neptune, the planet representing high love, compassion and intuition, moved into its own sign of Pisces, signaling a consciousness shift we will be experiencing on many levels for the next 14 years. This is a powerful shift within us that calls for deeper levels of meditation and retreat, spiritual discipline and connection with nature to be integrated elegantly. As we align with this frequency, our connection to a sense of Spirit in general, our Spirit guides, our High Self, our higher purpose and compassion for all may be heightened. I think of this as the a wild card of love that has been waiting in the wings. Without this infusion of compassion, the current revolutionary energy of Pluto and Uranus wouldn’t be nearly as encouraging.

While spiritual focus might be our best way to align with Neptune, another perfectly lovely response might be to connect to transcendent forms of creativity, from inspirational films that touch our hearts and minds, to music, dance and many forms of art.

The risk of Neptune in Pisces is that we will drift into a confusing fog, content to pursue addictive or mind numbing activities. These include socially accepted addictions such as endless television and gaming, unhealthy food used to stuff feelings, or simply allowing our minds to stay stuck in story lines, denial and delusion. When we find ourselves feeling the compulsion to zone out like this (and most of us do from time to time), it’s helpful to look at how we might be overwhelmed by various external energies. Perhaps we’re watching or reading too much news or mindless superficiality, or we’re hanging out with negative, energy-draining, complaining people — perhaps working too hard or succumbing to other people’s agendas and pressure. Setting boundaries and making new choices, however small, will help us feel centered in our own energy and less inclined to pursue numbness.

One simple mindfulness technique to stay connected to Spirit is to do things in a non-habitual way. The easiest starting place is to use your non dominant hand to eat, to brush your teeth, wash your face, or other daily tasks. Get out of bed from the other side. Change your morning routine. Even small mindfulness changes create powerful rewards.

Combining mindful actions with deep, meditative breaths throughout the day, helps us stay balanced. The gift of Neptune in Pisces is the possibility of boundless joy and bliss as we open our hearts. This true love of the compassionate open heart leads to healing in our personal worlds and in the world at large.

One of the finest gifts of healthy Neptune in Pisces is the ability to feel compassion for those who are ill or suffering, to surrender and trust in the power and perfection of the Universe, and to give whatever we are able to give without becoming a martyr or a victim.

Expect miracles!

Are You Having a 5 Star Day?

Monday, 30 January 2012 08:00 0 Comments

I had an opportunity to preview a charming new film with an astrological theme called ’5 Star Day’. (Details about its release and a coupon discount at the end of this post!) A young man named Jake (Cam Gigandet) reads his horoscope on his birthday and is told that planets are lined up on his Midheaven and he’s going to have a fabulous 5 Star Day. What actually happens is definitely not a good day, by any stretch. And so, to disprove astrology he ventures back to his hometown to find other people who were born on his same birthday, same hospital, within a few minutes of each other, to find out if their day sucked too.

What a great premise! How often do we wonder about all the people born on the same day and exactly the same time in our city, or corrected for location we could look at everyone in the world born with a near identical chart. Are we all the same? Are we all losing our job on the same day, or falling in love? Statistically it can’t be possible, so how can astrology be accurate and helpful and not be reduced to the same predicted events for everyone.

As I watched 5 Star Day I wanted to reach through the screen and grab Jake to explain how it all works so he wouldn’t have to go through the cross country flight and the search that began with a door slammed in his face. But of course if I could have explained to him the nature of sun sign astrology and the way karma, fate and free will unfold we wouldn’t have had an entertaining indie comedy/romance to watch.

So, dear Jake and others who wonder, here’s the cosmic truth:

1. Sun sign astrology that you get in the newspapers and magazines is based on the Sun sign and the rising sign being the same. There is a level of validity to this approach, but it suggests general trends and influences, not like your own personal astrological reading where you have your actual rising sign degree and the current transits of planets are definitely in the right house, or area of your life. When Sun Sign astrology says planets are on your Midheaven that is really only strongly true if your Sun and Rising Sign are the same… you were born around sunrise. Planets on the Midheaven indicates energies that affect your reputation and how you are seen by the world. Normally this is positive, but not always, especially at first.

2. The influences of the planets are energetic; in fact what is happening in the sky is a symbolic picture of what is happening inside of each of us. Depending on our level of consciousness, own personal karma and the exact way these energies interact with our exact natal horoscope, these energetic influences might affect us psychologically, spiritually or emotionally — or they may indicate events we will experience so that we grow and evolve. There is no way through Sun sign astrology to predict everyone born on a certain day is going to have a great day, but we can predict the types of issues and concerns that may be triggered — a forecast of the astrological weather.

3. As they say, you generally have to break an egg to make an omelette. Often in order to experience the fabulousness of an astrological transit you first have to let go of what isn’t working in your life. And if you don’t let it go willingly, it will generally be ripped from you, like that tired old stuffed bear no one could stand to see another minute (ah the trauma!). We humans don’t like change much, even when the letting go of the bad will allow the space for our dreams and wishes to come true.

Each of the endearing characters in 5 Star Day wasn’t ready for their new and highest visions and dreams to manifest because they were hanging on to at least some aspect of their old lives. Bad jobs, terrible relationships … when we learn to transform or let go more willingly we tend not to suffer the unexpected pink slips of life. Astrology tells us when it’s time for a change; we get to choose how by our level of inner preparation and the choices we make.

It’s a matter of perspective. We usually have to get a bit of distance from the losses of our life to see how a wave of destruction swept away our shattered dreams and castles built on shifting sands — to make way for not only a 5 Star Day — but actually to create a 5 Star Life.

I love to support art that supports astrology and metaphysical topics. You can purchase this film direct from Breaking Glass Pictures by going to their website and using the promo code 5starastrology to get a $5 discount. Or you can go to iTunes and prepurchase for the February 7th release or rent the film through iTunes too!

Snap out of It! Aquarius New Moon

Monday, 23 January 2012 01:31 0 Comments

I’ve been pondering how people change. And whether we should even focus on change. Sometimes total acceptance and gratitude for every moment are really the answers.

Yet most of us are not completely in acceptance. We have issues and challenges we’d like to change, transform, or address in some way. We work on these ‘problems’, talk about them, process and perhaps debate whether they’re even changeable. The issues might be quite personal, like wanting to change jobs, lose or gain weight, find a relationship, have more money, eat more healthily. We might want to transform the glaring issues we see in our community or in another part of the world. We donate money; we volunteer.

What I notice is that most people circle around issues for quite a long time before they change. Most of us don’t change much at all in key areas or we change quite slowly. We end a relationship because we don’t feel it’s the right one only to pick another person, soon finding ourself in a similar relationship dilemma. We go on and off diets for various reasons. We donate money to a cause and then feel frustrated and dejected about its potential to really help. Intention becomes action and then fades to inaction.

And then it changes. Something happens and we snap. The friend we’ve been thinking about letting go of disappoints us just one time too many. We see a photo and are shocked at how we actually look. We see a community problem that hasn’t been fixed for years but we snap into an awareness that it really can be transformed.

One woman described her relationship snap. She had put up with several long relationships with men who weren’t really committed or present. Leaving the last one after several years of therapy and workshops, she was dating and feeling discouraged about ever finding a life mate. Then a man she was interested in called at the last minute to finalize details of a previously planned date, having left her wondering for days whether it was on or off. That was her snap moment. She told him she wasn’t interested in the date or in seeing him at all. That moment crystallized her sense of self worth to know she deserved and wanted a mate who would be reliable and committed. Weeks later that mate showed up and they are still married many years later.

We have a new Moon in Aquarius today. Aquarius is the sign of snap! Fast, unpredictable, lightning bolt change is possible when we tune into Aquarius. New Moons represent new starts. Aquarius is about authentic freedom and the ability to evolve rapidly.

What would you like to change? It may be that you’d like to not actually change anything, that your evolutionary goal would be to accept what you have and snap into gratitude and faith. That’s fine too. But if there’s something you’ve been thinking about changing, this Moon might provide a bit of an extra push.

Truthfully though, the potential to snap out of what we don’t want and snap into what we do want is always within us.

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