| MARCH 17, 2008 This week poses to be an intense one, so I thought some astro-advice was in need... WHY is it intense? To sum it up first before we dive into details: � We leave sensitive Pisces and head-butt our way into the new astrological year starting with Aries the ram on March 19 with the Spring Equinox. � We have a Cardinal Grand Square this week with the Full Moon bringing some serious lessons. � Jupiter squares Saturn making work goals and personal needs harder to balance. � Saturn opposes Mercury, Venus, and the North Node of the moon this week; making it harder to communicate our hearts and emotions. � Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto are all void of course, bringing discord in groups, ill-faith in leadership and drastic actions and cleansing. Some of these trends will last for some time, but affect this week even more so. � And during this week the moon transits through: � Sunday: Leo, energy is buzzing and emotions can be dramatic, tone it down if you can. � Wednesday: Virgo, so clean house and get organized � Friday: FULL Moon in Libra, bringing a need for balance � Sunday: Scorpio, bringing back some emotional charge, with sensitivity and intuition. So the DETAILS? I�ll keep it brief, as we had a lot to digest with the last one, darn that Pluto! Spring Equinox brings newness and a need for out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new. The beginning of a whole new year astrologically, the equinox is a landmark time for us to focus on what we can get rid of, as the energy clears a new slate, and we are able to finally digest what has happened both energetically and personally since the calendar new year. That means finally integrating the grounding new Pluto energy, finally waking up out of our three-month slumbers we�ve all been reveling in, and finally moving into the New. But it may be too quick for some- you earth signs might be slower than the fire signs at this. If this month brings your birthday though, watch out! You Aries folk will help whollop this new energy into action with a punch! Be honest with yourselves with what you have held on to, go through your closets (both through in your room and in your hearts!) and let go of anything that no longer �fits� you. You know those things you think will fit you eventually? No. They won�t; so let them go. (Things get outdated, remember!) More about the Grand Square: The major lesson here will be learning (Pluto in Capricorn) to set personal limits and boundaries (Sun in Aries) with relational interactions (Moon in Libra) while maintaining an attitude of care and compassion (Mars in Cancer) for all involved. I know that�s a breath-full, but remember not to let the opposition of these planets work us into a frenzy; as usual, go with the flow and everything will set itself right in the end. Don�t forget the Full Moon either, the end of this week definitely will bring some upsets in energy, both exciting and perhaps disrupting, depending on what needs to be cleared for you; look back to what you were going through when the moon was new in Libra six months ago, (September) and let those lessons finally be done. For myself, I am doing a Master Cleanse this week in order to align my body up with the new energy, and as many of you know, am cutting my hair, as well as attending two weddings and reconnecting with visiting friends� so do something drastic, energizing, or rejuvenating for yourself � even as simple as taking a bath and meditating on the future - and remember to LET GO! You deserve it! February 22, 2008 Pluto has been traveling through Sagittarius (fire, grrr) since 1995, bringing with it wars over religion and ideology. Sagittarius rules the media and entertainment, notice the compulsivity in celebrity journalism since Pluto entered Sagittarius, with the internet spawning a huge new gossip market. Sagittarius also carries with it a nearly relentless optimism; ruled by Jupiter with its expansive need for growth, Pluto in Sagittarius has seen soaring home prices and a burgeoning stock market that seems to have no end. Pluto transits typically include a breakdown phase, where structures that no longer serve us are dismantled to make room for new structures that are more in line with our spiritual evolution. If we understand the process and can surrender to it with trust, this can be an exhilarating time of transformation and empowerment. If we resist and hold on to the past it can be full of tragedy and pain. Capricorn is the sign of the builder, the achiever. Capricorn is rooted in the material world and understands that life on earth requires a practical approach to the matters of earning a living. There is also a drive for success; to climb the highest mountains like the goat which is it's symbol. For Capricorn, the ends justify the means and achievement of one's goals is the important thing and it is able to maintain a powerful focus. When Pluto goes through Capricorn we can expect the transformation of all things ruled by that sign - our religious institutions, halls of government and political structures, the way we take care of our elders, construction techniques and buildings, and how we handle ownership of property. While Pluto takes 244 years to orbit the Sun, its elliptical orbit means that it doesn't spend the same amount of time in each sign. For example, it only took twelve years to travel through Scorpio, but it took 26 years to get through Cancer and 19 years through Leo. Pluto will be in Capricorn until 2024, and this occurs at a time when our Capricornian structures are ripe for transformation. Industry (Capricorn) in developed and developing countries as become a major source of carbon emissions which threaten the survival of life on earth. The Catholic Church (Capricorn), rocked by sex scandals, is struggling for survival. The very way we do business (Capricorn) is being forever changed by the globalization of politics and the economy. Pluto will be enter Capricorn for the first time January 25, 2008 and will retrograde back into Sagittarius one final time on June 14. Be sure I will report to you during this time as it too will be rough, watching ourselves digress for several months back into the firey planet of Sagittarius. We will see flare ups during this time for certain before we enter the stretch of peace. It will journey back into Capricorn on November 26, 2008 and remain there until January 21, 2024. For sixteen years, Pluto will engage in a process of breaking down and then rebuilding the structures on which we depend for a successful experience in the material world. Pluto causes endings and new beginnings - it forces us to surrender as it rebuilds us from the inside out. I suspect that throughout next year the intense optimism of Pluto in Sagittarius will battle with the necessity for realism of Pluto in Capricorn, and it will be a while before the economic problems really hit home. Mars will oppose Pluto in early March, which will create some fireworks of aggression and confrontation, and Saturn will make its second trine to Pluto in April which will ease the challenge of the new requirements of Capricorn Pluto which wants to tear down and rebuild the structures of our life and planet and intensify the power bases that govern society. Once Pluto is firmly entrenched in Capricorn beginning in December 2008, we will begin to really see it at work. This of course will follow the US presidential election in November 2008. Pluto seeks to focus and intensify as well as break down and regenerate. The structures of our world keep societies in order and functioning: churches, governments, buildings - all of these are ruled by Capricorn. But so are bridges and tunnels, and the entire infrastructure upon which we live, particularly in urban areas, are likely to experience a severe breakdown while Pluto travels through Capricorn. Underground transportation, under the domain of the god of the underworld, could become a battleground as Pluto often brings warfare or death in the areas of the sign through which it passes (such as September 11th during Pluto in Sagittarius, where air travel became a conveyance of death and total world transformation). During the passage of Pluto, we see extremes and compulsions in the area of life associated with the sign through which Pluto travels, and with the Capricornian association with governments and government buildings I would expect a worldwide attempt to solidify a global government and minimize individual liberties. Pluto deals with issues of power - on a personal level such as personal empowerment as well as with the power structures that govern all of humanity that fall under the rubric of the Capricorn theme. When Uranus enters Aries in 2010-2011, there will be a fervor as the pendulum swings back towards individual liberties. By the time Uranus forms a square to Pluto in Capricorn in 2012-2013 there will be tremendous cultural, social and political upheaval which will further transform governments and political structures. COMPARE: Pluto was last in Capricorn from November 1762 until December 1, 1778. Pluto deals with transformation of the political and economic realities of our world, and its entry into Capricorn marked the end of the Seven Years' War in which France ceded Canada to Britain, but political unrest was felt throughout Europe as well as in the Colonies and this period marked a reconfiguration of many of the nations in the world. Catherine the Great acceded to the throne after the murder of her husband, perhaps at her own hand, and presided over wars with the Ottoman Empire that resulted in Russian acquisition of much of the Turkish lands. The first partition in Poland occurred during this period which split Poland into three sections owned by Russia, Prussia and Austria. Britain traded Cuba to Spain in exchange for Florida; Parliament passed the Stamp Act to pay for the wars that began the Colonial rebellion that resulted in the American Revolution. The thirst for revolution in France, England and Russia of the Pluto in Aquarius period that generated an obsession (Pluto) with liberty and equality (Aquarius) stemmed from a reaction to the breakup and reconfiguration of world nations (Capricorn) that followed the colonial expansion (Sagittarius) that preceded it. Pluto's previous passage through Capricorn back in 1516-1533 was preceded by the original exploration of the New World that gave rise to the later Colonial ideals. Once the original explorers had returned to the courts of Europe, under Pluto in Capricorn those countries set out to conquer the New World and create new colonies that were subservient to the European rulers. The rise of anti-Catholic sentiment that brought about the rise of Protestants under Pluto in Sagittarius gave way to Martin Luther's formalizing his revolt with his nailing his Thesis to the door of the Church in 1517 under Pluto in Capricorn, founding a new structure of worship, the Lutheran Church. |
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| October 10, 2007 I�ve had many reminding me we need to get in touch, so here�s the latest update, and I�ve got good news! Hope this finds you all well, abundant, and ready for fall! We�re coming into a much smoother flow of energy, that will slowly approach between now and November! After all the chaotic challenges accompanying that last New Moon solar eclipse, a positive optimistic Libra New Moon is being born, woefully right in front of Mercury Retrograde this Friday. So although we all may have much work to get done, spend the next three weeks reflecting on your relationships and your life so you can take some chances and create some harmonious new beginnings. Despite the Retrograde however, Neptune (dreams and magic) and Jupiter (expansion and exploration) are making lovely aspects to the Sun and Moon giving a real leg up to anyone who's looking for the opportunity to make a dream come true, but don�t launch that dream just yet. Give yourself time to get in touch with your imagination... three weeks to be exact!... and then welcome the changes you wish to see and need to make now. In fact, FREE yourself from uninspiring situations, and know that something better will surely take its place. Remember, you Geminis will feel this Retrograde more than most, so if you feel like being slow, be slow. But back to relationships > this month is a good time for some real heart-to-heart exchanges so you can set some new objectives that establish more understanding with partners, friends, and associates. Don�t concentrate on those big projects � save them for November � and instead, focus on yourself, your dreams, your heart�s wishes. Venus rules this Libra New Moon and its currently traveling though Virgo underscoring healthy relationships and healthy finances as you find ways to work smarter rather than harder through teamwork. So it�s a romantic New Moon, in an idealistic sort of way. But it can exacerbate any situation that feels unfair; for that we�re willing to fight. Because this New Moon spotlights partnership, it can make us lonelier, even if we're in a relationship, if we compare our love life to the perfect dream. But we don't have be passive, we can choose to break out of a rut, reach out and connect, to melt the loneliness of another and to celebrate all our contacts to our muse, to one another in compassionate action, to Spirit. Enjoy romance if it�s there, but don�t ask it to live up to an ideal; we are truly partnering with the One when we look with love in another�s eyes. This New Moon lines up with a major Jupiter square Uranus, and may catalyze some major change or complete a major change we began on the first pass last January, may have worked on as it activated again in May, and now moves towards the next step. We can use this in a good way, it further any change we want to make, to loose weight, seek a new job, break a bad habit, experiment with new relationship skills or renovate our house. On the larger scale, expect to see the momentum for change pick up around the globe though each may be steeped in conflict. For the big issues look the end of this chapter and the beginning of the next in 2010-22 when Jupiter and Uranus hit a freedom-loving conjunction. You ought to be feeling as though some of the over stimulated mental craziness has abated (although emotions could seem super-charged), because Mars has entered creative, nurturing, security-oriented Cancer. His chaotic energy will further dissipate as he too goes Retrograde on November 15. Wherever this is happening in your natal chart you'll be blessed with some extra motivation until May of 2008, for most of us it will be financially-concerned. During this time, speak your truth with openness, honesty and compassion... bear in mind that the blame game blocks progress, but forgiveness restores the flow. Remember that you're in relationship with everything and everyone on the planet, but your first and prime relationship... the one that gives you the perfect go-juice for all the others... is your relationship with spirit. After all, the peaceful world you seek begins within. As October begins, our energy turns inward and our minds sharpen as the air grows crisp and Mercury progresses in introspective, investigative Scorpio, while Mars enters nurturing, domestic, self-protective Cancer. Macho Mars in the maternal sign of Cancer can be paradoxical, but as it will be here on and off until May of 2008, we might as well learn to work with it now. Mars in Cancer can make us as protective as a maternal grizzly bear; nurturing on a good day, but not something mess with. Our emotions grow more private, but with larger capacity, like a river that�s been rushing noisily over the rapids, but now widen in a quiet, deep and swift stream, deceptively calm on the surface. With Mars in Cancer we�ll tend to be more self-protective and territorial on both a personal and a political level. Expect more talk of home and homeland, with hopefully more care for our primary home, earth itself. We�ll value peace in our domestic situation, want a haven to come home to, but our very self-protective edge can make that a bit of a challenge. It�s easy to crack down and crack the whip in the name of security, and cause the very unrest we�re afraid of. Best to take a softer approach and remember that under Mars in Cancer, we are nurtured most by what we nurture. But, over the next few months, when an argument comes out, or if we feel unsafe in love or politics, we�ll loose our sense of humor in a heartbeat and armor up quickly unless we remember that others may get mean because they feel unsafe too. This escalation of defenses can hit both couples and countries; it�s too easy to accidentally wound those we love, or end up in a war, unless we cut back on hair-trigger defenses and think carefully before we speak. Another turn is Venus entering Virgo, turning our attention to health and the mind-body connection. We need to pace ourselves, little health complaints increase, or energy levels run low if we over do it, but we respond quickly to living foods, fresh air and a real rest. This reminder asks us notice what encourages our health and make sure we weave more of this into daily life. |
| JUNE 7. 2008 I bet you�re ALL wondering, WHAT IS UP WITH THIS ENERGY? It�s been over a week running now (well, barely noticable, but longer really) that we�ve been misunderstood in communication and struggling with our technology- as Mercury twists backwards in the sky reaking unseen but intensely felt havoc. But as if that wasn�t enough, Jupiter went retrograde May 9, Neptune went retrograde May 26, and Pluto has been retrograde since April 2. Not all of it is bad, like Mercury�s nasty little pull, but it�s enough to make us wonder, �Wht the hell is going on around here?!� So a brief summary of them is all I can offer for now, to at least let you know you�re not alone� Mercury, as I�ve said, twists people�s words and makes you say things you don�t mean, fires up computers so they suddenly don�t work right, but the computer guy can�t pinpoint the issue, and plays with phone lines, cable and satellite connections, oh- and if that�s not enough- travel. Flights are dropped (hence United announcing the grounding of something like � its fleet), and even weather patterns are disturbed (like I needed to tell you that?!). Luckily we only have until June 19 for that. 3 weeks of havoc every three months, one of these days you�d think we�d get used to it. One thing I must note is that if you were born when Mercury was retrograde, it doesn�t affect you as bad; opposingly if you are a Gemini, and Mercury rules your sign, it affects you worse. This goes for all the planets below as well� know your ruling planet, and your chart to know these effects on you. On to Jupiter� which doesn�t go direct until September 8th and is currently in the grounding sign of Capricorn thankfully, as bad as Mercury, but it does affect society as a whole on a magnanimous level as Jupiter is larger than all of the other planets combined. Representing optimism, tolerance, ethics, loyalty, self-indulgence and other social aspects, its retrograde motion, in Capricorn no less, is making us second guess these subjects, throw up our usual organization, and see things in an entirely new light. Similarly to Mecury however, Jupiter retro affects travel, and plans are likely to fall apart during this time. Neptune, which goes direct Nov 2, is the planet of dreams and passivity and is perhaps the planet of highest vibration, bringing heightened intuition, but just the opposite when its retrograde. Our intuitive sides are dormant right now, and we�re avoiding reality all together it seems, daydreaming, slacking on work, and generally fantasizing about random fancies. Responsibility may slack during this time, but creativity soars, so pull out your drawing sticks and create something. Pluto, goes direct Sept 9, is the tiniest little thing I�ve ever seen� some say it�s not even really a planet, so its effect on us is debatable� we were just at the famous and gorgeous observatory in Hollywood hills, and saw first hand just how miniscule this little guy is, perhaps a comet stuck in our gravitational pull, it wasn�t discovered until this past century. But ironically, it still packs a whollop on ends and beginnings- the planet of change, wee pluto brings transformation and rebirth. Beings cross over during this time, and projects stop or start. In addition, it affects weather like Mercury, bringing destruction and yet also the rebuilding that follows, rejuvenation and regeneration. Forces beyond our control are affected, and there is usually some kind of government upheaval during Pluto�s retrograde. Also beware Uranus, the wild card,; which goes retrograde June 26-Nov 27, and brings explosive results, unexpected events, and turning personalities opposite from normal. Fun! Remember to stay in the FLOW, breathe through struggles, and laugh. Above all, laugh. |
| October 3, 2008 It�s that time again where Mercury went retrograde, the skies are flustering, and we�re all a little confused as to what�s going on, what our purpose is, and who we truly are. I�m being asked to throw out an update to everyone, and I realize it�s been way too long since I�ve done so, but that�s the nature of summer�s intense lessons- we fall behind in our backlogging of boucoup lessons in order to have enough to think about through the introspective winter months. When last I visited, it was early June, and we were forecasting a summer of shifts; between retrogrades abound and Pluto changing signs, juggling and throwing up as many balls as we could not caring if they fell or if we caught them. Now those last balls have fallen, and slowly we�ve come out of the storm of confusion, only to realize that we are simple just tired of catching. But September was a very important months, so before we get into Mercury Retrograde, let�s digress�. Jupiter went direct on September 8th and Pluto went direct the following day. Righting these planets who had been throwing hard lessons at us all summer seemed to make September fly by smoothly; we had some good weather, some relaxing weekends, and generally not as much tumultousness as we did the previous two months. With the Fall Equinox on the 22nd, we reduced our activities further and started to take care of ourselves and our hearts thanks to a lot of Libra influence (3 planets as well as the Sun). But Venus entering Scorpio brought some familiar issues with self assuredness and confidence, so if you felt like that last week of September wasn�t as smooth as the rest, you weren�t alone. Mars joins Venus in Scorpio this week, as well, bringing introspection, suspicion, and retribution. Beware of extremes, discouragement, and engagement- choose your battles carefully and wisely. Then enter Mercury Retrograde on the 24th/25th. This one doesn�t feel as bad as the other two, and it usually isn�t. Libra tends to balance balance balance, and if your travel and technology hasn�t been affected this time around, your communication has. Our wods have been twisted or we�ve just been unable to get them out this week; our typos have increased, and mailing addresses jumbled. Open mouth, insert foot, as they say. But again, Libra has indeed been on our side and will continue to be so for another month. The New Moon in Libra on the 29th started this trend, encouraging us to heal, eat better, work on our health before the long winter, and welcome understanding, love, and cooperation. Mercury goes direct October 16th. But this week is the most important despite the Suns residence in Libra� The Sun goes through an eleven year cycle of solar storms, and like the Moon, it affects our realm as well. When the Sun is calm, it is actually not as good for us, change slows, and we grow complacent. When the Sun grows more active, so do we, and peak cycles of this have shown us the French and American Revolutions and the 1960s. Our last Solar flare up peaked in 2001, bringing the Iraq war and some heavy political lessons. We are entering a new momentus time with the Sun, and our first major flareup occurred with this �economic crisis,� and is expected to continue to do so through the next 6-12 months. Look for big political change and reform. Have faith, and please vote. We too need to focus on Pluto, who although went direct in September, will not enter Capricorn finally for its 12-year turn until the end of November, marking a time of immense change again, death and rebirth, reorganization of how we build and structure business, government, and our foundations. Again, have faith, and please vote. We have some help during this time from Saturn and Jupiter, both in earth signs, encouraging us to work together to handle the earth and our material world. We will buckle down and put our noses to the grindstone, we will manage our finances more acurately and, as you likely have heard it before, �cut big spending.� But these two planets will certainly make that happen as they are strengthening and opposing each other; the last time they did so was 1965. Next week the Sun trines Chiron the Wounded Healer, and we will continue to work on ourselves and heal what has been wounded. We�re all in a time of transition and transformation, new beginnings of all kinds. My advice to you is to SLOW DOWN. That mantra has come up for three days in a row now, and I have no chioce but to share it. Slow Down includes breathing, thinking, staring off into space, and letting yourself be in the Flow. If you are drawn to something, engage it, look at it, study it intuitively, there is a message there for you. Be it a website, a person, a book, or music, let Libra�s love for beauty fill your soul as you ponder this new item. Pull out your journals and write, sit on your deck and sip your tea slowly, take a bath and rejuvenate. Do not let fear fill you with political or economic doubt. Know the Universe will provide, and that everything happens for a reason. Find the lesson, and learn from it. |