eclipses

A New Vision: The Pisces / Aries Transition

Hello everyone! Happy Spring!

I apologize for not releasing my usual Lunar New Year article this year —  I have been working on writing for this extraordinarily potent year, but I have been delayed on all projects due to recovery from Hurricane Helene on my property. Fortunately, I came away from the storm with minimal damages to my home, but in the harrowing morning hours of September 27 about 50 trees went down all around my house.  Like most others in Western North Carolina, I have been navigating the stresses of wind, rain and fire continuing to afflict our tenuous infrastructure, hiring workers to complete repairs and help with other aspects of cleanup, as well as attempting to clear some tiny portion of debris myself for the county pickup.  It is like trying to shovel the snow off of Mount Everest, but my problems are small relative to many.  Every day now I am grateful to be alive and in safe shelter — able to continue my work, and be with my loved ones and community.

In addition to those logistical delays, I have also been slowed down by the immense challenge of distilling the astrological influences of this current time due to the sheer quantity and complexity of the factors involved.  Because of this, I have decided to break form and release several articles covering different topics individually.  This is an approach I have wanted to transition to for quite some time but had put aside for the last several years in order to focus on other needs.  Although the reality remains that I do not have a lot of time to devote to writing, it feels important to offer this service in this critical season.

More and more, everything that we do is about following the flow of spirit, and my work with astrology is no exception.  It is my belief that we are in an era where our evolution and growth comes through spiritual integration and inner work.  It is through the alchemy of the inner worlds that we can become stewards of a new creation.

We must learn to perceive beyond the obvious and feel into the currents of the spiritual world.  Only when we hone our skills of inner listening, insight, transmutation and integration, are we capable of proper orientation to the changes we are experiencing. Whether for our own path, work that we are doing for others, or in larger society — learning to see the “invisible” forces at play, and discern natural spiritual impulses from human distortions, is absolutely critical to pass through this crossroads in the best way possible.

The perspective that I am driven to pursue in my studies, which, in turn, I am hoping to impart, is part astrological and part mystical.  I have found over the last 5 years or so, that trying to tie my writing too strictly to astrology tends to be confining.  It is easy for me to observe the tapestry of interwoven factors and their many layers — but not as easy to break down each piece in writing without it becoming excessively complex.  Each factor also has tendency to fractalize once it hits some sort of formal structure, so it can become both unfocused and unwieldy very quickly.

In these last 5-6 years, I have been receiving a lot of information — both through ongoing study and my own observations and insight.  After encountering struggles trying to concretize what I was receiving into writing or other creative formats, I surrendered to the process and trusted that there would eventually come a time when it was meant for me to share again with the public.  After these years of integrating, I feel grateful to start transitioning again into a more active phase with this work.  I understand now that the time with the information was necessary, as I needed to come to a clearer understanding of the energetic dynamics at work in our world, and develop a realistic perspective on how we can become active participants in influencing a positive direction for our society.

In my primary work as an internal martial arts practitioner and instructor, I focus daily on the cultivation of Qi and the embodiment of Taoist principles through mind-body-spirit practices.  This is a form of study that offers direct experience of natural laws in the body.  Such work also gives us greater access to the spiritual streams that exist around us, as well as awareness of those that we inhabit based off of our state of being and consciousness.

Just knowing that we are in a period of change is not enough.  We must also participate in the process through conscious practices that cultivate our spirit and transmute our personal and collective karmas.  This is the responsibility of every individual.  Of course, it is understood that everyone is in a different place in their personal journey and path, and so what this means in practice will look very different from person to person.  Regardless of the method, quantity, or ability, to do an inch of sincere personal growth is worth a mile of theory and talk.  No matter how attractive it is to get lost in the realm knowledge and mind, the power is in the work.  Each and every day we choose our focus.  It is not necessary to exhibit perfection, but rather integrity, sincerity, and authenticity.

With all of that said, my goal for this work at this time is to remain open ended and flexible with regard to both the formatting and the subject matter of each piece.  I expect these articles will involve some degree of astrological timeliness, but the focus is going to be more towards the larger, broader, more timeless themes that I feel are important to highlight.  I don’t want to put designs on it too much beyond that, as I feel it is important to just simply go with the flow and let it be what it is meant to be.  But I also felt it was important to spell out my thinking a bit so that you can understand where I am coming from with this approach.

For this article I will be focusing on what I am calling the “Pisces/Aries Transition.”  In particular, I would like to zero in on some messages that I received in recent months about releasing the old epoch and opening to the new energies.  This is a very important theme for 2025, reflected across the board in the Western astrological cycles, and emphasized further in the Eastern zodiac by the fact that we are in the year of the Snake, a sign that is all about digesting old karma, shedding your skin, and transformation.

For the astrological minded the Pisces/Aries transition includes:

  • Both Neptune and Saturn completing their transit in Pisces and moving into Aries, eventually coming into a conjunction at the World Axis point of 0 degrees of Aries — the first degree of the first sign of the zodiac.  This is a significant and symbolic transition calling forth a new vision for the world.  Neptune dreams and Saturn manifests.  This transitional energy is particularly active from March 2025-February 2026, at which point both planets will remain in Aries for several years.  Neptune makes its first ingress into Aries this month, on March 30, 2025.

  • The North Node leaving the sign of Aries and beginning its transit of Pisces (January 2025 - July 2026) — the transit of the Lunar Nodes brings forward a particular karmic and emotional process for the collective.  In this case, the nodes moving into Pisces/Virgo is about releasing the critical, pre-planned and known, in order to follow the unmapped vision of the soul.

  • The North Node coming into conjunction with Neptune, bringing forward important messages for the world as Neptune prepares to leave this sign (February 2025).

  • Both Venus and Mercury going retrograde over the Aries/Pisces cusp in March-April 2025 — bringing this energy more directly into the conscious mind and mundane reality.  Both Venus and Mercury will encounter Neptune as it moves from Pisces to Aries this month (March 2025), which amplifies the energy of this transition even further.  The tension of the changes will be felt actively through the vectors of these planets:  Communications, Technology, Thought, Mind, Finances, Values and Relationships.

  • The eclipses of September/October 2024 and March 2025, both containing energies from the new Pisces/Virgo cycle and the completing Aries/Libra cycle.  Unlike the planets, the Lunar Nodes travel retrograde through the zodiac as a default.  So we have already been doing some work on the cultivation of healthy Aries energy — releasing codependency and learning to be ourselves more firmly.  All four eclipses have a strong connection with Neptune.  The September/October Eclipse portal truly brought in the Piscean themes of storms and surrender as reflected through the impacts of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.  The eclipses this month will be equally potent, given that they are concurrent with, and aligned with, the afore mentioned Venus/Mercury Retrograde and Neptune Aries Ingress.

From the perspective of many astrologers, March is the most intense month of the year, and you can clearly see why based on the above list of events.  This is an extraordinary confluence of different factors aligning over a very small patch of sky at the point of a major outer planet sign change.  It is a poetic orchestration — almost as if the cosmos is aiding us specifically to make sure we finish our Pisces business completely by 2026, when all of the major outer planet fluctuation settles and we can begin to fully orient in the new energies rising.  Interestingly, this is also mirrored at a macrocosmic level with the shift of the ages from Pisces to Aquarius — however, I will digress on that topic for now, as it is a subject for another article.

As you have likely already felt, the new energies coming in are fast moving.  We are transitioning from a long sit with outer planets in Earth & Water signs (more yin in quality) that are naturally more slow to develop — to quick, impulsive and unpredictable Air & Fire signs (Aquarius, Gemini and Aries respectively).  This new period is not a time where we will get to contemplate and dwell upon all of our problems in the manner that we have perhaps become accustomed.  It is a time of action and a time when thought moves into action much more readily than before.  The sheer amount of change and information coming in from all levels (mundane and spiritual), will be far too much for us to process in this clinging style.  Thus, it is important for us to master a number of the key lessons from the Neptune in Pisces period, especially its most essential qualities — release, intuitive listening and going with the flow.

In Taoist work, the fundamental principle of reality is that change is the unchanging.  Therefore the philosophy, lifestyle and practices that emerge from the Taoist perspective are centered around how to understand and align with change.  At this time, we are moving into a new era that is fundamentally different in its operation from the previous one.  Many are resistant to this change and clinging to the old, dying matrix — attempting to resuscitate what has already passed.

The truth is that we cannot stop this transformation.  It is the cosmic destiny of this time period.  All that is occurring is a natural expression of this process.  Instead of resistance, what is more beneficial is to join with the energy of change.  In this way, we become empowered participants and capable of influence.  This is one of the themes of Neptune in Aries — vision and creation through spiritually integrated individualism.  

With Neptune’s transit through Pisces we have seen the power of influence through Piscean sources — dogmas and thought clouds of all kinds develop instantaneously through digital media.  But it remains ephemeral.  Words and feelings expressed into the world do not necessarily equate actions or change.  Nonetheless, the state of collective consciousness, whether for better or worse, has certainly become more apparent.

What we have gained from this Neptune in Pisces transit is a greater understanding of our psychic interconnectedness.  For the spiritually oriented, this has been an important period for developing greater sensitivity, insight and perception.  On the mundane level, we have observed, through the use of our digital devices, the positive and negative impacts that result from constant exposure to emotionally charged people & situations, as well as the influence of deceptive and manipulative information via social media and traditional media sources.

On the positive side, there is now a greater awareness of spiritual realities and the impacts of unseen forces upon our minds.  This has encouraged more empathy and brought into consciousness the need for discernment and boundaries in all areas of life.  However, even the virtues of the Piscean Archetype also has its excesses.  Collective psychosis and mass confusion have been intensified under these energies.  Too much involvement with the drone of human chatter over natural, simple truths fuels this distortion.  There is no question that all of this creates a drain on our energy that never existed before, and is a factor in declining mental health for many people.

What is needed now is a more conscious and directed understanding of our energetic relationship with life, with nature, and with other people.  For the last 14 years of Neptune’s transit in Pisces, we have been discovering and opening to deeper sensitivity without much direction.  As Neptune moves into Aries, all that we have learned must now be rallied into alignment for us to take the next steps and go deeper.

As a martial artist, it is clear to my mind that the symbolism of Neptune in Aries in its higher manifestations evokes the idea of the Warrior Spirit.  This is a person who is grounded in their relationship with heaven and earth, who embodies peace, but is capable of great strength and courage when called upon to act.  The Warrior Spirit is a state of being where one is deeply connected to natural law and also ready to meet any challenge with unbendable will.  This is a will developed through daily focus, daily discipline, and spiritual self sufficiency.  A confidence that is true, based on hard work and effort.

The Warrior Spirit is not an energy of arrogance, nor is it based on physical abilities.  It is about the sharpening of the will, and the embodiment of one’s highest virtues.  It is about becoming unified in all aspects of self with such perfection that one is able to wield the full expression of universal forces with clarity and precision.

In the fast moving energy of these coming times, personal authenticity and directness are very important. Any disorderly behavior will have stronger ripple effects upon us and others around us.  For this reason, we will find it more imperative to remove inner contradictions and clarify our actions.

Likewise, we will also be navigating a morass of hotter tempers and difficult behaviors all around us in our outer world.  So we have the decision to make:  Are we going to be an agent of peace, or of war?  Do our actions and words today call people together in strength, or drive division?  True strength is holding to peace under the great pressure of war.

It has been my perspective for a while now that the Aquarian age is about finding the appropriate balance between collective and individual needs — and that we need to work first on becoming spiritually sovereign as individuals before we can build healthy collectives.  This is because we need to do the personal work of repatterning ourselves to operate in alignment with our soul’s process and path over our alignment with society’s conditioning.  This is the only way to build a new way forward that does not repeat the same cycles and mistakes of the past.  The new society is one that emerges through us, so we must clear the way for that process to occur.

Neptune in Aries is the genesis of this new creation.  Aries is the beginning, the pioneer — in this phase we should remain open and curious.  Get comfortable with not knowing.  Experiment and enjoy the challenges — embrace breaking from convention.  Have no agenda — only a clarity of purpose to keep discovering your purpose.  The more integrated we are on all levels, the more capable we are to be a part of the positive potential that underlies all of the turmoil we will face in the coming years.  Equally important is to stay in touch with the true self and the grounded reality of natural order, as we will soon be entering a new phase of technological acceleration which will tempt us into further distraction and disconnection.

Neptune in Aries will also likely be a time of collective identity crisis.  The moment that we are in is one of flux between the old world and the new.  All of us will be trying to understand who we are in the changing reality, and this will be highly distressing for many people who have been attached to the old order.  The first step to enduring this process is ultimately to accept that the world is changing — as it is meant to — and that there are many things on the world stage playing out that the average person has no control over.  Attachment to this chaos will quickly become tiring and wasteful.  Observe it, and let it go.  Know that this too shall pass and that nothing is permanent.  We are writing a new story, and there will be flexibility for corrections and further changes down the road.

In the meantime, what we can do is focus on continuously moving the energies of the old matrix into a process of transmutation.  To let go of the old, completely, within ourselves, is the first step to making room for something new to emerge.  The powers that dominate our world today are also attempting to change with the times, so this is not to make light of the real perils that exist, but rather to express the importance of our own power through energy to guide the nature of this transformation in the long term and to overcome the karmas that these problems represent.

For guidance on how to do this, I would like to share what I received about working with change and releasing old energies here.

Working With Change

BE PRESENT

To be present is one of the most common concepts across spiritual perspectives, and one that is more relevant than ever.  In our often noisy human minds, in an increasingly noisy modern world, it is easy to get caught in loops of rumination over the past and projections of hypothetical futures — but not so easy to sit fully in the here and now.  But why does it matter?  What does “Being Present” do for us that is any different from any other state?

The most important thing that we can cultivate in times of change is resilience of our own personal center.  To be present and still each day allows all aspects of the being to come together, which in turn allows us to meet the moment in a manner that is more true and clear.  If we can still ourselves enough for the constant movement of the mind to settle, even for a little while, we can become aware of how easily we get carried away into the many thought streams and mind clouds — and evaluate more honestly the state of our own energy, the nature of energies around us, and what the best use of our focus is in that day.

When we build our own center and tune our awareness in this way, we are more resilient to changes and shifts in direction.  There are a few reasons why this is.  First, because we have stabilized our own center, we are not as easily pulled into chaotic thought storms.  Second, because we have cultivated greater stillness, we are more open to our intuition and can begin to feel when changes are approaching, or receive guidance as to our next steps in the midst of a change.

We live in a time where energy is changing day by day, and chaos is increasing in the world.  To be present is to be responsive and adaptable to the changing conditions.  When we are present we face what is — not what we wish, not what we believe — and as a result we move in closer proximity to reality.  Our visions are less theoretical and more actionable, thus more effective.

When we are present we are also more open and able to access new ideas.  As I have mentioned already, new ways forward will emerge from within us.  To stay in fearfulness and attachment about past and future, is in essence continuing the loop of the past.  To close the loop we need to step out of the loop entirely.  To reinvent the wheel based off of a past paradigm is not true creation.  The new emerges from what we don’t yet know, from what we can’t yet see, and through exploration.  There is no external guidebook telling us the steps.  We have to experiment and find our way ourselves.  And we do this through the journey inward.

All of nature is in a state of constant change.  Some realities are expanding, others are fading away.  The past provides essential frameworks for us to work from, and develop ourselves through — but all is evolving, even our frameworks.  To be present is to be able to listen to the true message of the day.  To take what is perennial, to understand the essence — and then to join with those factors in their evolving process.  If we try to define, we constrict.  But if we stay open to the reality of movement, and of change, we are closer to truth.  And closer, therefore, to right action.

CHANGE IS AN OPPORTUNITY

It is a natural response of our human ego to fear change.  In every major change there are unknown and uncontrollable circumstances and outcomes.  Equally, in every major change — there is an opportunity for a new path.

Certainly, there are forces in our world today that are attempting to guide changes in directions advantageous to them.  The battles fought between the powerful place ordinary citizens as collateral.  They treat us like chess pieces on a game board, with no true regard for nature or humanity.

Truth and malice walk close by to each other.  Although malice may open the door, truth will rush in.  The doorways of the world are opened by many types of forces — some of the light, and some of the dark.  In each opening there is a vulnerability — as change does not discriminate.

In other words, we too have the power to drive change.  By following the true evolutionary principles of the time, each phase of destruction can become the fertile soil for new constructions.

Do not allow fear to lull you into complacent inaction.  The period of stagnation that we were in for many years would have shifted one way or another.  This is natural law.

This time of transformation is why many of us chose to incarnate in this era.  We are meant to be engaged with the new creation by using our ingenuity and adaptability, even in adverse circumstances.  This phase of purification is also a golden opportunity to resolve long standing karmas.  Though the going may be painful at times, the difficulties create growth and inform the way we go forward long term. Nothing new can be created without passing through these trials.  

JOIN RATHER THAN RESIST

I have spoken already about the idea of “joining with change.”  This can also be understood as change through harmonization.  In this way of working with change, you adapt, rather than resist, in order to influence the direction of the energy.  At this time, resistance and opposition is a short path to exhaustion, so learning to flow in the energies is a better strategy.

In terms of bigger picture concerns — there is a greater possibility of achieving ones aims through collaboration among divergent factions rather than opposition.  The joining together must be sincere and based on objectives rather than allegiance to groups or leaders.  Alliances based on truth and genuine interest are more likely to find solutions.  Those focused on tribalism and groupthink are not flexible enough to achieve what is needed and will eventually fail.

In terms of personal concerns — whatever changes may come, to join rather than resist is to accept the change and move into the next phase of your process without fear.  If there is a loss, see the opportunity in loss.  Be open to a new path that leads you to a happier and better direction, looking forward rather than back.

Joining rather than resisting is also about engaging your creativity to overcome challenges that may arise.  Release expectations.  Take unconventional paths.  Where there are limits, create new freedom.  Be self sustaining.  There are always better ways to be found — and they are often revealed at the edges of constriction.  This is important in all matters.

UNDERSTAND NATURAL LAW

Natural or Universal Law is the true order of reality.  All human constructions that depart from this will fail, as they exist in falsehoods.  The only sustainable reality is one in which humans learn to work with nature and its processes.  This is discovered through genuine interaction with nature, and inner work.  Having a holistic understanding of reality — one that recognizes the spiritual world as the basis for all existence — is also important.  Without this understanding, humanity will always be lost in false matrices.

If one can be firmly oriented in natural law, rather than human constructs, it will be easier to discern true from false in the current time and going forward.  All truth is energetically coherent and abides the order of nature.  Falsehoods go against and distort nature — and ultimately create trouble down the road.  Regaining our relationship with the natural and spiritual worlds is an important step to rebalancing what has become disordered in humanity.

The earth is a living system and being that we are all born of.  Our perception that there is a separation between us and her is the great illusion of modernity.  Our process of evolution and change is an extension of the earth’s process.  To move with it is constructive and healthy — to remain in separation is destructive for all.

Healing & Resolving Karma, Processing Grief, Accepting the Past

BEAR WITNESS

On internal, relational and societal levels, an integral part to the healing process is bearing witness.  It is why we have memorials and other types of ceremonies when someone dies, and it is also why there is still an integral function to telling stories rather than simply reporting the news.

In our overstimulating and atomized media environment, it can be easy to become “compassion fatigued” by tragedy and loss — to view events almost as if they are movie plots existing in an abstract reality, rather than something effecting real people.  As often is the case, it can also be hard to know how to relate to survivors of tragedies that you yourself have no first hand knowledge of.  When we are personally healing from a difficult life event, we also know how a weight can be lifted when someone truly listens.  We all have been in different iterations of these roles — the bereaved, the one giving comfort, the person who fumbles, and the one who feels not seen in their pain.

Whether it is a personal or collective event, karma, or trial — to bear witness to everything, every perspective, every feeling, every side is the only way to complete resolution.  Bearing witness is not about what is right or wrong.  It is about hearing what isn’t being heard.  The most stuck parts of ourselves are often the ones that carry negative emotions, mostly stemming from anger, fear, confusion or shame.  These are only resolved when we can observe the true reality of these parts and accept them back into the wholeness of our being.  

In society, we have habituated the glossing over of collective suffering — and have politicized nearly everything in order to conveniently ignore some realities in favor of highlighting politically expedient and preferable forms of suffering instead.  All “sides” do this — and then accuse the other of “misinformation” when the incongruent realities are raised.  The result, inevitably, is further polarization, rage, and escalation of conflict.

It would be impossible for all of us, as individuals, to truly honor and bear witness to all events individually.  However, it is possible for all of us to honor and bear witness to the reality of suffering and be present with the truth and illusion of it all in real time when it arises in our lives.  To sit beside our friends and loved ones and hear their stories.  To be willing to step into each other’s worlds without judgment, placating and distancing.  Without one-upmanship.  Without needing rescue or fix.    Without needing to win.

Until we can do this, there is no answer, no solution, and no way forward.  And so it is more important than it ever has been to be willing to look at what is difficult to see.  To observe every possible layer.  Only once full observation has occurred, accounting for all possible variables and perspectives, can an honest evaluation be made.  On an energy and karmic level — only once this is done can an energy be transmuted and transformed.

The conclusion may be different in every situation.  This process, on its own, is a way to begin to move stagnant and fragmented energy.  Whether that energy simply resolves without a need for further work, or is requiring action is observed on a case-by-case basis.  The next steps are only discovered if we are willing to take the first one.

Often when we whittle down our most complex emotions, we find at the bottom a simpler need.  When a soul feels the truth, it is set free — always.  There is no purpose to division but to perpetuate division.  Perhaps, on a higher level, the fatigue we eventually feel from always fighting is what leads us to the realization that peace is never “won.”

In the Tao Te Ching, Chapter 31, it says, 

“Do not rejoice over victory
With the loss of others
weep with sorrow and grief
After winning the battle
do not celebrate,
observe the rites of a funeral

One who is bound to action, proud of victory,
and delights in the misfortune of others
will never gain a thing
from this world below Heaven.” (trans. Jonathan Starr)

May we all remember this truth.

PRACTICE FORGIVENESS

For injuries large and small, we must learn to practice forgiveness.  Forgiveness of others, forgiveness of ourselves, forgiveness of history.  This unburdens our spirits, releases karmas, and allows us to be free of stuck energies and traumas held by bitterness and anger.  Not forgiving is a form of internal resistance.  And while it may feel appropriate for a time, it is ultimately hindering.

In innocence, we are open to possibilities and unafraid of new ideas.  When we get hurt, we become insular and it is more and more difficult to trust and have faith. We cling to the familiar and the safe, and become uninterested in exploring.  Wisdom is understanding that humans are fallible but spirit is eternal. When we are in the deepest void, spirit is always available to shine a light. And it is this that we must come to trust.

Acceptance and forgiveness can be extremely difficult, especially when the hurt is deep.  It might not feel possible to forgive the other for harm they have caused.  In that case, start by forgiving oneself.

Forgiveness in this case is about being able to let go, release burdens, and have greater freedom moving forward.  This is an internal exercise to work on transforming personal and collective wounds.

PRAY FOR THE HEALING OF ALL

“One who sees himself as everything is fit to be guardian of the world
One who loves himself as everyone is fit to be teacher of the world.”

- Tao Te Ching 13, trans. Jonathan Starr

The transformation of this era is one that effects all who walk this earth.  All are a part of it.  All have their roles within it.  And all are in operation with the cosmic cycles and confluences which are far beyond our personal perception.

The true “revolution” is a revolution of consciousness.  It is an internal shift available to all of us — and in each of us we have the choice:  To continue to feed the darkness of division and war or to choose, through our actions and being, to guide the energy towards peace and stability.

To pray for the healing of all is to pray for the awakening of all — including and especially those who we believe to be captured by darkness.  Why should we not wish for the potential of success and positive outcomes as it pertains to our greater world?  Why should we not hope for the awakening of even the most cold hearted?

Like the forgiveness exercise, this is not about naïve faith in the benevolent intentions of people who may very well never change, nor is it about reinforcing an idea of no accountability — but rather the cultivation of the possibility of a higher path.

We are influencing the reality we live in all of the time with our thoughts and projections.  We do this mostly unconsciously.  The expectation of horror, doom, and complacent negativity is a pervasive outlook in our current society.  Through this, we remain in a state of disempowerment and suffering.

Throughout the world a temple is a place of respite — where all people can congregate in quiet reflection and focus their minds toward a higher power.  Spiritual places, over time, become an empowered energetic structure, where the distinction between the noise of the mundane world and the more harmonic qualities of the temple are felt upon entering.

Likewise, all belief systems and timelines are a type of energetic structure.  The immutable truth is natural law — all else in the human world is dependent on the momentum behind collective beliefs.  Right now we have many paths before us — and not all is decided.  There is a more harmonic timeline that is unmarred by the negativity of most of the others.  We strengthen the path of a more positive outcome by remaining connected to our higher visions, and to whatever degree we are able, returning to and building the energy of peace within ourselves.

This takes discipline, as the power of the negativity is compelling and self perpetuating.  However, if such a force of magnetism can exist in a negative way, such as force can exist in the positive.

Our small acts of hope may seem trivial in a world filled with so much darkness and suffering.  We may think there is no point, and that we should give up.  But what, then, becomes of a world without our small hopes, our small kindnesses, our small gifts?

This world is us and we are it.  There are no quick solutions and not all people are open to a positive direction.  Such work is not about immediate gratification, but having faith in the long view.  The erosion of our communities and relationships was set in place and cultivated over time.  Similarly the return to truth and reconnection can also be cultivated.

The funny thing about life is that we cannot always know the way to the highest path.  Without the pressure of the darkness, we could not truly fortify our lightness.  Without our past errors, we cannot nurture the wisdom for correct choices in the future.  There may never be perfection.  But there can be something better.

Benevolent leadership emerges in a new paradigm, not in the perpetuation of the old.  Those who are inappropriate for the new world will not be able to sustain their power — because power is bestowed by the momentum of the collective.  We will understand this more readily in time.

Even with all this, there is so much more still that can be shared about the nature of these energies that I will continue to share over time.  If you have gotten this far, thank you for taking the time to read this tome.  I hope that this message is of assistance for all who come across it.

Peace to all.


If you are interested in working with me more deeply, one-on-one consultations are available on a limited basis. Please check out my booking page to see my calendar and get in touch.

For Qigong work and energetic development, please see our options at Tao Institute & Tao Institute Online.

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Reinvention & The Vision for Progress: The Astrology of January 2019 / Eclipse Season Report

Hello Everyone
and Happy 2019!

We have a big month upon us already, astrologically speaking, with important eclipses kicking off the new year!

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know that I like to write about eclipse cycles because they are such potent periods of transformation. I am very excited for you to read what has come to me about the January eclipses.

That said, with the new year upon us I have an important announcement to make! 

Starting this year, I have decided, with a leap of faith, to change the format of my blog offerings. Instead of the public, general articles that I have been writing, I will be switching to a paid structure. Within the new structure I will be offering my usual Cosmic Weather transmissions, as well as incorporating more educational materials for you to enjoy. The articles will be provided as downloadable PDF files that you can purchase here on my blog or in my store :)

The reason for this shift is multifold. By offering my content for a small fee, this will allow me to be able to write more frequently, and gives me latitude to begin doing something I’ve wanted to do for years: Teach the practical aspects of astrology as a tool for soul evolution & spiritual transformation. Through this change, I will be able to spend more time exploring the function of cosmological principles in a way that is naturally digestible and assists in developing intuition / energetic relationship to the cosmos.

I believe that we learn best through experience — and what better way to learn more about astrology but through the immediate reflection of the current cosmic weather patterns. The guidance I received from my spirit was that this new format will allow me to work more deeply with a group energy, and create from my passion which is soul process & spiritual cultivation. I am truly excited to see how it all unfolds and receive your feedback. Already there is much I am hoping to share :)

Keep on scrolling to learn more about what this month’s PDF has to offer and to purchase the report!!!


 
 

In this month’s article I share a 12 page in-depth analysis of the Eclipses of January 2019.

This report includes:

  • Perspectives on using Astrology as a tool for soul expansion

  • Discussion of Taoist principle “Wu Wei”/Non-doing when working with Astrology

  • In-depth explanation of the meaning of Eclipses and their function in our spiritual process

  • A full analysis of the energies of the Partial Solar Eclipse on January 5

  • A full analysis of the energies fo the Total Lunar Eclipse on January 21

  • Dates of previous periods that relate to this one

  • A brief note on what to expect for the New Year of 2019 (more to come in next month’s Lunar New Year article)


Excerpts from January’s Cosmic Weather report…

“…In general, the frequency of the planet is increasing so rapidly now that we can no longer hold the old paradigms in place – but these paradigms are so deep that they feel like reality to us, so fear of letting go is extreme.  What this eclipse is saying to me is that we are recognizing how much we are limiting ourselves because of fear, and are readying ourselves for the transition to the next levels.  We see now that the choice is to be imprisoned by our old issues or step daringly into the unknown.  Either situation is uncomfortable – as one feels overbearing while the other feels overwhelming. ” — Read More.

“…The keyword for the New Moon / Solar Eclipse is REINVENTION.  If you are inclined to set New Years resolutions/New Moon intentions, this eclipse is especially potent for reviewing where in your life and your being you need to reinvent yourself so that you can be YOU more fully in 2019.

How can I take better care of myself and my needs, so that I can remain centered with my own truth & feelings?  What negative ideas or habits have I developed that undermine my inner sense of foundation & security?  Where do I equate difficulty & burdens with importance and meaning?  How can I be more supportive of myself, so that I can live in a manner that leaves me feeling restored and balanced? 

These questions (& more in the full article) can assist us in thinking more deeply about how to move forward with changes and improvements in our lives this year. ” — Read More.

“…We have been grappling with the Leo / Aquarius energy since 2017. The Leo/Aquarius node cycle was about identifying “Who am I?” and “What am I here to create as an individual?” The Lunar Eclipse feels very much like a conclusion to that story. Did you discover who you are? Did you learn how to be yourself, even when your social group doesn’t understand? Have you decided your direction – from your own heart? If the answer is yes to the previous questions – this eclipse will bring about emotional breakthrough and a sense of peace with your choice. If there are still questions in this area, this eclipse will bring those up so you can begin to answer them and move forward.” — Read More.


Thank you for your support :)

Sincerely,

Mela


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Astrology of the Summer of 2017 -- The Next Level ... Discussion on the Great American Eclipse, USA Pluto Return & July's Full Moon

Hello everyone!

It has been a little while since I’ve sat down and written a fully in depth post on the current Astrology.  It’s been a time of big structural change for me and so I’ve been taking longer than usual periods of quietness as I make these adjustments and begin developing my next steps.  This month I felt called out of my hibernation to talk a little bit about the astrology of this summer, so I hope that you find these words helpful…

Since the New Moon in Cancer on June 23rd I have noticed a shift in the energy, and it was about this past week when it suddenly occurred to me that this energy shift is a gateway opening to the eclipse cycle that we will be experiencing this August.  Why is it that a whole lunar cycle previous to the eclipses that I feel we are already approaching this gateway?  Of course, anyone who lives in the US, where the eclipse is visible, will be naturally more attuned to the energy, as eclipses are generally more powerful in the places where they are happening.  But it also feels like more than that.  With the dynamic of the Leo North Node/Aquarius South Node at the helm of the current spiritual process of humanity, this summer and the approaching eclipses are creating fast and significant shifts in the consciousness of people.  More specifically, what it seems like to me, is that there is an expansion of the level of consciousness that is available to us – if we choose to tune in to it.

The total solar eclipse will have a profound impact on the United States as a result of it happening here.  The United States itself is in a cycle of change and is teetering on the edge of major turmoil.  As the U.S. moves towards its Pluto Return (2022) the government organization of this nation will continue to be under stress, and most likely reach a breaking point in the coming years.  On a spiritual level the U.S. and its inhabitants are currently facing deep questions about what it takes to make a society functional and positive, and where the most deeply ingrained structures of our current society have become burdensome, unhealthy, outdated, or never really sound to begin with.  Pluto represents the complete dredging of all the darkness that exists within the societal consciousness, and the transit of Pluto to the USA Pluto involves a total and complete overhaul of these elements, and as we have seen in the years since 2008 (When Pluto entered Capricorn, the sign of the USA Pluto), it is not always a pretty picture.

Where we are as a country at this stage is energetically “stuck” – as all of the skeletons in the closet arise & multiply – what is needed, and what is beginning/to come, is a clearing of this old stagnation.  How does that show up?  It can be disruptive, chaotic, destructive and problematic – but it can also be creative, resourceful, inspired and freeing.  In my personal estimation, difficult and painful transitions are unavoidable and much falls within the realm of “things that must play themselves out” – but people still have the power to determine the direction of the changes through the power of consciousness and personal will.

This upcoming eclipse cycle is also the first cycle of eclipses to occur after the North Node (point of fate – focal point of our “spiritual work” at a given time) transitioned into Leo at the beginning of May -- which gives the eclipses an initiating and somewhat “unleashing” feel with regards to the workings of the Leo energy at this stage in humanity’s growth.  Since eclipses occur along the nodal axis, they always amplify the lessons associated with the nodes that are active at the time.  In this case, with the North Node in Leo – we have just left a time where the North Node was in Virgo and unbelievably debilitated by Neptune in Pisces which drew us into a sea of problems with no solution – and entered a time where the North Node is greatly supported by Uranus and Saturn both in fire signs for the entire summer of 2017.  It is a seismic shift in focus, and not just that, it is a shift in how well we are able to motivate, mobilize and materialize.

The biggest energetic shift that I have noticed since the North Node moved into Leo is a pull towards the manifestation of ideas that have been long germinating, and doing so in a manner that is considerably more direct and simple than previously conceived.  However, some rewiring is necessary, as we can tend to overcomplicate things and as a result interfere with our own progress.  The dynamic of the Leo North Node / Aquarius South Node has made me very aware of the subtle difference between acting from the head and acting from the being – that is, attempting to parse through life with logic to determine the correct way forward, rather than simply moving from feeling.  To put it most simply, what I feel is that it is time to take the energetic load off the mind – off the how’s and why’s of things – and just live from a place of trust that motivation arises without force, and problems can likewise be solved by working through the steps.  “One thing at a time.”

What the Leo North Node is all about is understanding that WE DON’T NEED TO HAVE ALL OF THE ANSWERS in order to make progress.  What we need is to take action and show faith in our inner spirit’s guidance.  If we haven’t already established a relationship with our inner or higher guidance, the urging right now is to begin doing so.  If we do have a channel for this guidance – that channel, if engaged with, is growing even stronger.  The reason is because Leo, above all other things, is about the creative impulse – and to truly be at one with the creative, is to be at one with the divine spark – that little thing that inspires us uniquely, and that we have an organic ability to develop and express.  To engage with Leo energy is to BE OURSELVES completely and freely – which means that we need to be embodied and fully present as the beings that we are, without getting hung up on how we are supposed to fit in with everyone else.  Leo encourages us to define reality for ourselves and now allow ourselves to be trapped by social and cultural circumstances.

The technological (Aquarius South Node) world that we live in greatly challenges our ability to be whole and comfortable in our embodiment.  There are so many reasons for this – the obvious physical reason is that when we are sitting on computers and devices, we aren’t moving our bodies, or fully present in them.  But of almost greater precedence is that our information overload world so deeply saturates our mental reality that it leaves us with no room for our own creativity or natural thought processes unless we make efforts to mitigate these effects.  The combination of these factors, of course, can be quite obstructing to the spirit as well as our overall health and well-being.  I am seeing with greater clarity the location of the mind as the defining factor for action and the quality of action.  Am I all in my head, literally, or am I actually present with the physical world?  It may seem like a simple question, but in our go-go-go society, many of us hardly give ourselves the time and space to experience presence fully.

Right now the North Node in Leo is part of a Grand Fire Trine in the sky – this is a pattern of flowing and supportive energy that is especially bright around inspiration and the actualization of inspirations.  The other energies involved are Saturn in Sagittarius (karmic process around one’s journey, one’s philosophy and meaningful contribution) and Uranus in Aries (energy of change, awakening, and breaking new ground).  These energies are greatly supportive of our work with the nodal axis, but they also seem to offer choices along the way.  I believe if we take time to slow down and really observe the energy, the choices are easier to see.  The reason is that FIRE energy moves quickly, and if we get caught up in the energy of fire at this time without taking the time for pause and reflection, it is easy to let our emotions – particularly impatient, aggressive, or angry emotions – make our choices for us.  Situations can flare up quickly and intensely – and due to some of the other aspects involved with the current patterning, we are especially SENSITIVE and may tend to jump to conclusions, or just be reckless in our communications.

Likewise, fire is also an energy of purification, and so what triggers us at this time may be signaling situations that need to be expunged from our life (or at least heavily adjusted) in order for us to step in to our greatest happiness.   What I feel is most important is to recognize these choice-making situations as signals and really listen to what the heart is saying with regards to the best way forward for YOU.

A big part of the Leo/Aquarius process is the constant seesaw between awareness of what I want vs. awareness of what is “correct” according to social standards.  We can start to see where we’ve been trapping ourselves mentally by staying within the confines of a certain group, mentality, or mental subscription that we have made to ideas about reality, society, and other people.  We may find that we have been constantly catering to others – and not even physical people, but the IDEA of others.  What OTHERS want, think and believe…. And our inner assumption that somehow understanding the rules of these invisible “others” will free us from experiencing conflict and disharmony.  But Leo knows that this is a lie and is reminding us that we all have free will, and we can think and act for ourselves without having to play mental gymnastics around it.  We can legitimately “Just do it.”  No asking permission, no inner list of reasons why we’re not qualified/allowed/etc, no need to indulge the critical inner voice, you can actually just make it simple take action on your ideas.  The perfect medicine for this time period is to DO not think.

That might seem like really shaky advice to be giving in a world where the news and social media outlets are basically overloaded with human fallacy, always showing us the ways that people are unvirtuous and unwise – so I want to be clear that what I am suggesting is not blind action, but rather ACTION with INTENT.  Action driven from a space of inner clarity and presence of mind, rather than action driven by habit, association, fear, over analysis, rationalization, assumption of expectations, or any other kind of mental trickery that we are ALL guilty of!  Most of all, it is important to not get lost in mental paralysis – and to find the ways that we can begin putting our ideas to work, rather than just letting them live eternally and always in our own heads.

We sometimes forget that we can also LEARN by doing.  We can learn from being imperfect.  And our greatest growth occurs through the process of making mistakes.  By pushing the edges through action, we come to understand our own personal methodology – and also where we can enhance our skills through practice, further learning, etc.  What’s important right now is that what we cultivate in our lives comes from the heart – have faith in this, take tangible steps towards this, be open, and the rest will unfold naturally.

This, to me, is integral to the “new level of consciousness” that I mentioned at the beginning of the article.  It is a BIG surrender to trust.  What I feel when I really tap in to the energy is that underneath all of the chaos we see on the surface of things is an immense current of flowing “light” energy that we can all tap into.  It is like a river, a flowing and healing force that has the power to purify and distill.  The fact that Leo is a sign that is ruled by the sun, the source of light in our solar system, is interesting with regards to the upcoming total solar eclipse.  Our ego self is going to experience a sort of “black out” – and we are, in essence, getting calibrated/recalibrated for that experience.  It is a putting down of burdens, an opening of space – but not yet we are not fully aware of what is on the other side of that space, simply that it is time to clear out and make room.

What I feel is that we are being asked to surrender more and more deeply into a state of present being, as this is the only way we can experience the expansion necessary to hold the light bright enough to process the great changes coming in a positive, constructive and creative manner.  Basically, it is this energy of light that has the potential to heal the world.  Yes, it sounds lofty, but from a world awakening perspective, there is a distinct sensation of huge energy clearings happening in the midst of all of the turmoil and in return an ability to arrive at a greater sense of presence, and light.  Simply because there is more SPACE for light to exist.

We as individuals are responsible for choosing whether or not we engage with this light energy and do the work to become vessels for it.  In order to develop the space for the energy to flow, and begin moving the old energy of stagnation, we have to actually create the space in our lives to do this process.  Let go of the part of you that thinks holding on to stuff is of any benefit and begin to see those aspects as the very things that don’t allow you to be clear and at peace.  The more we open up space, the more things can move, the more space opens up, the more that we can BE even more deeply.  And the process can continue on and on.

OK, So how do we MAKE the space?  You might now be asking…

All of the suggestions and methods that you might typically see as ways to “find peace” would apply here – meditation, going out in nature, tai chi, yoga, etc…  But with the specific instruction of really taking the time to sink in to the space beyond your thoughts.  This is the space where you realize you are here, in reality, existing, a part of something, a part of nature, alive.  This is the space of the true intent, the true self, and the true will – the space where we can access the deeper currents of light and healing energy that are available to us.

It is so simple, but can be so profound.  To realize, especially that life does not have to come from a place of contraction but can be lived from a space of greater relaxation, deeper feeling, and responsiveness.

The other part of this process is letting the emotions flow…  Whether they make sense or not.  And doing so in wise manners – writing in a journal is one of the best ways.  But any way that suits you is just fine -- listening to/playing music, making art, exercising vigorously, crying, whatever!  Just feeling and being with that experience, and letting it go all at the same time.  You’ll find things come, are expressed, and then are able to leave because they have been expressed… and then it’s on to the next thing!

Working with the emotional flow can also help us with our creative flow at this time.  The type of creativity that we must access is not one that we find through having a specific method – it is a way of creating that doesn’t operate by the rules we put upon ourselves such as timelines, expectations, etc.  It is ORGANIC creation – saying what you feel when you feel it, and then going back to fine tune, structure, and organize it later.  It is respecting the wholeness of the original approach without having to rush to the finish line – appreciating the natural evolution of things in their own time.

In the Tao Te Ching there is a line, “Do nothing and all will be done.”  This line is speaking to a principle that in non-action we are in a state of receptivity and responsiveness, and that all things come in their own time.  Of course sometimes this line is mistaken for “Don’t do anything ever and it’ll all work out.”  But its meaning is actually far from that – when we learn to sink into the flow, we will find we arrive at natural impulses to take actions.  And when we take those actions, we will usually work for a time and then reach a point when we feel complete, or ready to take a break.  The principle of “do nothing and all will be done” also contains the idea of “work when it’s time to work, rest when it’s time to rest.”  Basically, don’t force the process.  This is a way of working effortless, and also a way of MAKING ROOM for RECEPTIVITY – of ideas, of inner guidance, and of blessings!

Sometimes we must allow ourselves to do nothing in order to uncover the treasure and find the answers we’re looking for.  It is from that space we can then take action that’s in full alignment with ourselves.  When we only concern ourselves with work, worry about work, and obsess about productivity, we can lose access to inspiration which is absolutely integral to success.  Even if today we are not where we want to be – even if today we have barely begun our journey, be where you are TODAY, take the steps that inspire you TODAY – and that ultimate vision is bound to become reality.  It’s not foolishness to believe that, it’s simply an alignment of the inner self with the outer action.  This brings a sense of peace and solidity to the process, even in times to doubt, and gradually helps us focus our lives so that we can give our attention to what is needed, undivided.

Feel and flow, allowing, settling, opening, receiving – this is the way we get closer to truth, clarity, and the ability to be of service to the world.

 

Specific Thoughts on the July 9, 2017 Full Moon in Capricorn

Since much of my writing this month is basically an overview of what the energies of the entire summer mean for us on a spiritual level, I do want to get a little bit into the nitty gritty of this weekend’s full moon (and I intend to write something about the New Moon as it gets closer).  Basically, as things come to me, I’ll probably keep writing articles about the eclipses – but for the sake of this article, the energies of the eclipses, the grand fire trine, and the Mars-Pluto opposition are so strong I felt I needed to elaborate on them from the grand view in order to relate them back down into the small view.

A lot has been written about this full moon’s energy.  Aligned with malefics Pluto & Mars, in opposition (the opposition was last weekend, and has been felt for the past two weeks), the energy of the full moon definitely doesn’t have a soft, friendly feel.  Eruptions of anger, rage, violence, arguments, etc. are all a big part of what this energy represents.  The reason I wrote about the USA Pluto return earlier in this article is because on the grand scale, I feel transits like this (along with the “Great American Eclipse” coming through) are also triggering to those greater cycles.  For me, I find it helpful to understand these layers when it comes to looking at specific, more individual concerns.  Especially because we are in a time period where many people are being directly confronted with the issues of these larger cycles in their everyday lives to a much greater degree than previously.

In any case, with that being said, the intensity of the energies will undoubtedly bring up challenges in the mundane world, as well as the potential to bring up interpersonal & internal dilemmas we will have to respond to.  When it comes to the interpersonal/internal, we may have been finding feelings of anger, irritation and impatience arising within us moreso than usual.  These feelings are likely to be triggered by some very deep seated and sensitive parts of ourselves that we have the opportunity to work with to transmute and release under these energies.

If there is anything I would suggest under this full moon is to not approach it with fear, and to receive the experiences of the past few weeks as opportunities for growth, shedding and transformation that allows you go to forward less burdened than before.  If you find yourself mired in interpersonal conflict, TAKE SPACE to diffuse anger.  Try to get to the true feelings underneath the anger – the vulnerabilities that anger is covering.

This energy can also be fruitful for experiences of merging and being more emotionally open and vulnerable, but since we are dealing with Capricorn and Cancer there are quite a few layers of defense to break through.  Lots of emotional processing can be accomplished by one’s self and then brought to a partner for a more calm discussion.  We can really be with our deep feelings right now if we allow it, despite the fact that they might not be easy feelings.  It is productive for us to feel and express our feelings.  LET GO!

 

With that, I hope you all have a good summer.  If this article resonates for you, please share it or consider sending a love offering to my blog at the button below to help me keep these sharings free and accessible to everyone :)

Peace and blessings to all :)


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February 2017 Eclipses -- PATH ACTIVATION

Hello Friends!

I wanted to drop in and make a few comments on the current eclipse cycle, as I have been receiving some insights about it in the past few days.  Due to my own huge life changes, I have been a bit out of the loop – but as that all has begun to settle in I found I was able to make some observations about the energies that I would like to share.

First of all, these eclipses are the final eclipses of the 18 month Virgo North Node transit.  The North Node in astrology is the intersection of the orbit between the earth and the moon, and it is across this point that we have eclipses (when the sun aligns with this intersection of “fate”).  Eclipses have an important impact and show turning points, significant realizations, and many times fateful events or decisions.  We work with their energies for the six months following the eclipses, and sometimes for several years.  Since this the final eclipse cycle for the North Node in Virgo transit, this particular eclipse cycle marks one stage of work reaching completion, while another begins.

What I have felt the most about this eclipse cycle is that we are at an important choice point.  The responsibilities and the problems the world faces have become so numerous that there is no way to take it all on at once – and so each of us must individually determine what our priorities and focus are, and direct our energy towards those things.  This is a time of eliminating distractions and finding the truth of what is really in our hearts.

 

Three things I would say are key themes for these eclipses:

-       PATH ACTIVATION … The effect of the energy is stimulating us all to look towards our North Node path, and let go of our South Node approaches in order to move forward.  (This website can help you find out what your North Node is, and what its general themes are)  -- To explain that more simply, we are being urged to more proactive forms of expression, releasing those tendencies that tend to hold us “stuck in place” even though they feel safe/familiar.  We either CHOOSE the North Node path, which is a path that is energizing and interesting – if at times a little scary – or we get sucked into the energy drain of our South Node.

The choice moments are not vague either – for me, they have felt very black and white, this or that.  A shedding of the old in a definitive way.

-       HOLDING THE VISION …  To quote Astrologer Anne Ortelee in her recent Weekly Weather broadcast:  “We’re in a time of massive change. What is your vision for change?  Hold that vision and work towards it.”

Holding the vision is seeing the desired outcome and trusting that the steps will reveal themselves in time.  So often we can get caught up in trying to figure out the WHOLE PLAN right away when that is not at all necessary.  Faith in your vision is a form of energy preservation.  It allows you to take action when appropriate without force.  There are a ZILLION THINGS flying at all of us right now.  Worry about the immediate concerns while trusting that your steps towards long term goals are meaningful.

Keep moving in the direction of your vision, even if the steps do not have a logical progression.  Sometimes, it might take a leap to R to get to C.  The key is to do what feels right & good from the heart.

-       CHOOSING TO BE HERE, NOW …  PRESENCE is the salve when it comes to this fast, moving, very intense, at times chaotic energy.  Remember to take a breath and give yourself time to get organized.  Prioritize your life so that you are steering the ship, to spite what might come up along the way.

 

Further, more specific notes…

LEO 22 LUNAR ECLIPSE on FEBRUARY 10

The Leo Eclipse was interesting.  It was a fairly soft eclipse in terms of its overall feel and in many ways feels preparatory for the upcoming transit of the North Node in Leo, beginning in April.  Since Lunar eclipses are about emotional revelations, I found that a lot of the energy being presented under the Leo energy was about WHAT WE WANT and WHAT WE DON’T WANT.  A –LOT- of opportunities to say an enthusiastic YES!  Or an emphatic NO.

The Eclipse at 22 is the number of the master builder in the sign of the Sun – the energy of pure & eternal light.  This is a very unwavering, determined number in a sign that has crystal clear clarity about who it is and isn’t.  The prompting here is very much about how we wish to DIRECT OUR CREATIVE WILL by knowing CLEARLY what works for us and what doesn’t and not over-extending our energy.  The Leo fire burns strong and steady – it maintains its glow not by spreading itself all over, but by being firm and resolute in its position.  In a way, you can say the sun conserves energy by staying fixed – but yet, without even trying, it gives life to almost everything on this planet.

This is the lesson I feel most strongly from this eclipse and its hints about the upcoming Leo North Node transit.  There will be many demands made upon us this year that tempt us away from our personal responsibilities (spiritually and otherwise), or try to pull us into the habit of over-doing and exhausting ourselves.  But, we might be finding that we actually don’t have the will to take it all on like we once did.  As such, we are now making the choice to pursue our heart.

We should take heed of the Sun, which hardly moves and barely changes but yet is such a source of nourishment.  Each of us has a part of us that is like the Sun – and cultivating this eternal part of us is what will give us strength in the next phase.  Right now, we are preparing for a process that is focused on what it is we are personally creating to better the world – and so these choices made now or along the way as we bump into them, will effect whether or not we succeed in the long run.  Creativity at this level takes endurance, proper pacing, foresight and will power.

With every choice, choose what enables you to be you most fully – either now or from the long view.  If there is neither an immediate or long view outcome of positive growth from a heart place, let it go.

 

PISCES 8 SOLAR ECLIPSE on FEBRUARY 26

“To stop yourself from evaporating into stardust keep teaching what you know and don't let darkness overcome your light.”  -- A message from my friend, Sienna Van Dunk, Oracle at DemureLyfe

A week or so ago my friend Sienna (Oracle & Creatrix at DemureLyfe) sent me this message she heard from the ethers.  I didn’t really connect the relevance of this message to the recent astrology until an email from a client shortly thereafter gave me an “A ha!” And rather than as a personal message, I asked if I could share it as a Universal message.

Here is the download I received regarding this message and the Pisces Eclipse…

Because we are the end of the Virgo North Node/Pisces South Node transit, this energy is being extremely activated right now and we are being presented with the choice of whether or not we wish to be present and serve (Virgo) or whether we are going to fall into chaos (Pisces).  We’ve had a number of opportunities over the past few years to keep choosing one or the other, and this Eclipse cycle marks the final portal of transition, and so is putting a great deal of pressure on people from a spiritual place as to what comes next.

In the past eras, when people “ascended,” they ascended out of this realm and into another.  At this time in history, humanity is being asked to ascend while remaining PRESENT here.  E.g. we are ascending IN THE BODY, collectively, and as a world.  Many people who have been interested in the spiritual evolution process that humanity is undergoing know this already, but we are in a uniquely pressurized moment with regards to this process.

In the past month or so I have observed MANY people expressing the following things...

1) A fear of being consumed by the craziness that is going on in the world, and generally feeling extremely concerned/overwhelmed/etc.

2) A fear of being pulled into the aforementioned emotional space of others more intensely than usual... feeling worn down, even when not engaging with issues... just bogged down by the weight of mass consciousness

3) A fear of expanding too much / a sense of rapid growth. An all around departure energy -- from a need to make very quick shifts/big letting go to a sense of departing from this realm entirely (“becoming stardust”).

For me these feelings are all arising from the same place -- The pull of that South Node in Pisces. Consciousness itself is going through a transformation and the South Node threatens to either pull everyone into the chaos (Pisces = mass consciousness/mass confusion) or force others to quickly transcend, giving the sense of losing heaviness and connection to 'earth.'

The term “becoming stardust” to me describes times when people die and their essence and spreads through the universe, as if a part of themselves can become a part of those people who were connected with them.  This is usually felt pretty strongly when a celebrity dies – particularly those with a lot of influence and light.

But this happens to be a time in history where many of us have work to do here – and what I sense many people are feeling is a pressure to commit both to the examination and release of spiritual dross (the chaos within, inner conflicts, the illusion/matrix, things that pull us from our purpose, addictions, escapism, fear, smallness, etc.) AND to remaining present, in the body, while this transition takes place.  I sense that the reason why some people are feeling as if they’re about to be blown off this plane and/or sucked into a vortex doomsday reality is partly because the change is so rapid, and partly a cosmic test of will.  Can we withstand this change, and under this pressure, what decisions will we make?

The solution for all of the above conundrums and anxieties seems to remain with the Virgo North Node – Be present for your daily life.  Pass on your knowledge.  Help & serve others.  Stay with what YOU –CAN- do, what YOUR role is, etc.  That is the path through the chaos, and the thing that will keep us grounded through all of the changes AND the only way to ensure that the changes fall in the direction of positivity, inclusiveness, and progress.

The choice we face now can be boiled down to this: Be present -- or fade into whichever layer of the Pisces realm you are currently vibing with.

Service and presence will help overcome the fears, and keep us focused on what it is we must now create.  This is about getting our affairs in order, determining where we are, and preparing for the action packed creative evolution that is ahead.  Our presence will help us in knowing what is really in our hearts.  Know that no role is too small, and that it is the cumulative effect of individuals finding their individual gifts and contributions that makes the world capable of large scale evolution.  We ALL help EACH OTHER.  The urge to serve others in a practical way keeps us connected to this truth and to our individual destiny and purpose.

Will power and endurance are the cornerstones of the North Node in Leo lessons that we are beginning to approach.  What I’m seeing is that we must have the courage to not only face ourselves internally, but to present our truth, our hearts and our shine to the outer world – to uplift others and to remain uplifted ourselves.

Many blessings to all.

Astrology of September 2016 : Stepping in & Becoming // Eclipses, Mercury Retrograde and Jupiter’s Transition into Libra

Hello friends and welcome to my Astrological analysis for the month of September 2016.  This is an incredibly important and eventful month as we will be experiencing two eclipses, a Mercury retrograde in Virgo, and Jupiter’s ingress into Libra all within a short time period.  This is the point that we’ve been running towards all summer and really, for the past several years.  Now is the time to step in, choose the path of truth in your life, and don’t look back!  As we traverse this space, no matter where we are in the process, keep reminding yourself and remember that now is about BECOMING.  And in becoming, there is growth, change, and sometimes growing pains.  But stay with the momentum – because the wind at your back is strong should you choose to run with it.

As a part of this month’s analysis I feel it might be helpful to review the timing process of the current & upcoming cycles to give us a sense of orientation with regards to the events of this month.  (Note:  I strongly encourage you also read or re-read articles from August, July, June & last November if you are interested in further depth because I discuss many elements relevant now in those posts)

 

Mercury Retrograde:

August 10: Mercury enters its shadow
August 30: Mercury Stations to go Retrograde
September 22: Mercury Stations to go Direct
October 6 Mercury leaves retrograde zone.

This Mercury Retrograde is in Virgo between 14 Virgo and 29 Virgo.  This is an excellent Mercury Retrograde for reforming health, reorganizing your schedule, reviewing your life plans and making adjustments/developing new plans, connecting with mentors, and developing/deepening your own services.  This is the perfect time to ask the question, how can I be of greater service?  And to look at places where you have chosen selfishness, fear, or a pattern of belief over service.

This Mercury retrograde is powerful because it is in it’s home sign of Virgo and because it is happening during an eclipse period in the same sign of Virgo – meaning the review process is important, and the past issues that come up will be weighty.  Take it ALL seriously and keep the big picture of the larger process in mind – there is a reason for everything.

 

The Recent Mars Retrograde & Saturn Relationship:

February 17:Mars Enters Retrograde Zone (23 Scorpio)
April 17:Mars went Retrograde (8 Sag)
June 29:Mars Stations to go Direct (23 Scorpio)
August 22:Mars leaves Retrograde zone
August 24:Mars-Saturn Conjunction (9 Sag)

Throughout this summer, Mars retraced the steps of Saturn’s last arduous years in Scorpio, forcing us to have to review that drudgery yet again (this is specifically a review of 2014-2015, but it weighed in as far back as 2012). The Saturn in Scorpio process and subsequent Mars in Scorpio process was about clearing away all of the emotional and psychological gunk that prevents us from being truly powerful.  Saturn has been in Sagittarius since 2015 and in this sign we have been developing our new vision.  However, this dance with the Scorpio energy for the past 2 summers has kept us a bit in limbo between all of our stubborn emotional problems and where we are actually desiring to go.  Mars finally cleared its Retrograde path and crossed Saturn’s current position in Sagittarrius at the end of August -- meaning that we are now OFFICIALLY moving forward at high speed with our inspiring visions & dreams for the future.

 

Three Eclipses:

August 18: Full Moon Lunar Eclipse at 25 Aquarius

This eclipse carried with it a beautiful energy of grace, friendship, acceptance, and openness.  It had a very optimistic and warm vibe, fueling our hopes and visions with a sense of positivity and possibility.  Community surrounds us.  We have a chance to embrace individuality and uniqueness within ourselves and within the other people in our lives without judgment or fear of these things.  Rather, a realization that our power is in what we give from the space of absolute freedom.

September 1:  New Moon Eclipse at 9 Virgo

A major call to action.  Eclipse on the North Node, opposed Neptune on the South Node (our addictions) and square to Mars & Saturn in Sag (The newly motivated force of change in our lives).  Mercury Rx is conjunct Jupiter in this chart also – extremely abundant and productive energy.  Do not underestimate the mind’s ability to create under this eclipse.  Stay with the positive and the constructive.  This is a major choice point about where you’re headed, so choose wisely.

September 16:  Full Moon Lunar Eclipse at 24 Pisces

Releasing, healing, sensitive energy.  We are at the apex of major change – here we will feel both sides of that change on a true heart level.  Nonetheless the cross-over has happened and we can’t avoid the lightning strikes to our self concept.  Go into the pain, shine a light in the dark.  Walk with the scepter of Compassion.  Both for yourself and for the others around you.  Do it because you need it.  Do it because other people need it.  Everyone is deserving of love and healing, and we have the capability of giving that energy to each other in times of trouble, confusion, and loss.  Embodying the unconditional compassion of higher form Pisces in a here and now, day-to-day, face-to-face way is the key to navigating this time period (and life!) in happiness and fulfillment.  Choose LOVE this time over frustration, anger or defensiveness – you will find it a lot more satisfying and there will be a positive return.

 

Jupiter’s Ingress into Libra on the 9/9/9 Portal

August 12, 2015 – September 9, 2016:  Jupiter’s transit in Virgo

The transit of Jupiter through detail-oriented Virgo played an important role in the past year in amplifying the incredible swirl and madness of mutable change energy that swept us under last fall and has been going strong all through 2016. With the nodes of fate in Virgo/Pisces, Neptune in Pisces and Saturn in Sagittarius – this year has been an unpredictable, upsetting, constantly shifting wave of change.  Jupiter’s interaction with this whole combo ensured that the waves would be BIG, SCARY, and COMPLEX.

Jupiter in Virgo made us extra aware of the flaws and weaknesses inherent in the dissolving systems but also in the consciousness -- because Virgo has so much to do with body & mind, and its polarity, Pisces has so much to do with emotional consciousness.  Jupiter in the same sign as the north node was a call to check our physical, mental, and emotional health or else fall face first into the jaws of Pisces suffering.  Jupiter in Virgo in combination with Saturn in Sagittarius reminded us to get real and wake up from our illusions.  Jupiter in Virgo in combination with Neptune in Pisces encouraged grand deceptions – but also encouraged the expansion of grand dreams.

Jupiter is a big picture energy and in the sign of details we may have felt overloaded with WORK – there is just SO MUCH to do to fix up our lives and our world – how on earth are we going to do it all?  It feels to me that the importance of Jupiter here was not to solve everything at once, but to bring these to do & to fix lists to the forefront with clarity.  Keeping in mind the goal is to serve and use managerial capacities to reform the situation, we realized there is a lot that we can do to help each other.  It’s not all out of our hands.

Remember what I said last month about Virgos being expert renovators?  Well Jupiter is the one that says, “Here’s what it should look like in the end.  K.  Now figure out the rest.”  Needless to say, we all had to step it up some to keep up with the demand and in the process were able to learn a lot about function and application in a short period of time.

September 9, 2016 – October 10, 2017:  Jupiter will transit Libra

Accent on RELATIONSHIPS

The shift of Jupiter into Libra is actually going to be a pretty strong shift.  First of all, Libra is a much friendlier sign for Jupiter, and with Libra’s ruler Venus also ruling Jupiter and the majority of the other planets at the time of the Ingress, we should find ourselves feeling more pleasant, amorous, and financially supported almost immediately.  He’s out of the combat zone.  Officially.

One interesting note is that this transit is occurring on the 9/9/9 Portal (2016 is a numerological year 9).  Nine from a numerological standpoint is the end of the cycle and represents completion.  In the Greenwich mean time Ingress Chart for Jupiter in Libra, Scorpio also resides on the Ascendant of the chart – indicating even further that the energy of transformation is the underlying force of this transit.  We have completed a significant portion of our journey and are now ready to move into a new space -- a next level.

The Jupiter-Libra ingress powerfully emphasizes community, cooperative building, and harnesses the strong motivational energy that underlies all of September.  With Mars free of its retrograde phase, we have officially hit the ground running into the manifesting process and Jupiter in Libra will both assist and accelerate this process in a friendly way.  Because Jupiter in Libra has so much rulership dominance in the ingress chart, we should expect a substantial shift in discourse all around as Jupiter offers something of a Midas touch to the whole situation.  Where we are willing to join together we can build together.

I feel there is potential under these influences for a massive shift toward a more collaborative and uniting process than we have experienced for quite some time.  Libra energy emphasizes HARMONY, TACT, and CONSCIOUSNESS OF OTHERS.  These are highly important for the growth of our world in such a period of crisis and devastation.  When we can join together harmoniously, we can accomplish much.

 

The Dance of Saturn & Neptune

Exact Hits:  November 25, 2015, June 18 2016 & September 10 2016

Yep.  You heard right.

All through September:  Mercury Retrograde, Eclipses, Jupiter changing signs AND a big Saturn-Neptune aspect perfecting … all literally side-by-side?

I was not kidding when I said this is a big month.

This will be the last hit of Saturn & Neptune before the two start to part ways.  The collision of the two symbolizes a great clash of consciousness with the hard reality of embedded structures.  Neptune energies persistently erode Saturn’s idea of how it is, creating a lot of drama in the process as underneath the decay the truth is revealed and a new foundation awaits.

In the instance of Saturn & Neptune in this waning square pattern (a conflict energy) our struggles go down to our deepest internal core.  Saturn must prepare to release everything it holds in order to place a support under Neptune’s new truth.  Have things gotten worse, or have the ugly realities just come to light?  Is there so much that you see that you don’t like?  Why ARE things so crazy?  So emotionally extreme?  So bizarre?

Jupiter really made this transit larger than life this past year and as they meet for this final time in the midst of all of the energies of September, we may finally have some bearing on what has been uncovered, and what it is we’re supposed to do about it.  This involves SELF WORK as well as OUTER WORLD work.  We must never forget this fundamental element of transformation, particularly when it comes to the waning square.  Change is inward.  It is a release, a clearing away, a preparing for the new.  So in this case, we must look to history for the answers.  And at the same time, we must let go of that history.

 

And that is precisely the point that we are at this month.  The point where we let go of history in favor of the great adventure.  The possibilities on the horizon are incredible and the momentum is there for us to run right for them.  We must believe in our possibilities AND act upon them with absolute willingness to shed what is unnecessary.  No more drama, no more obligation without heart, no more excuses.  Virgo energy is all about SIMPLICITY, PURITY, and ROUTINE DISCIPLINE.  We are being asked to be absolutely, utterly REAL with ourselves -- our flaws, our weaknesses, our true desires, our real dreams.

How do we keep ourselves from freedom?  Who are you really?  What do you want really?

What is the discipline that helps us feel at ease -- and do we actually practice what we preach?  Whether or yes or no -- HOW can we be as we say we are MORE?  How can we be as we say we want to be MORE?  

How can we be models, helpers and students all at once?  

How can we embrace the ABSOLUTE FREEDOM of our unique, completely personal identity and life path without judgment towards it or towards the absolute freedom, identity and path of others?

Become the path.

Wholly.  Fully.  Really.


Super Cool Announcement!!!

Hello friends!  Thank you so much for reading my astrology blog.  I love to share this information as a part of my service here at MelaLuna Celestial Arts :)  As such, I am SO excited to share that I will be teaching an Astrology WORKSHOP as a part of a retreat I am hosting this October!!!

If you love my blog, and you want to learn more about how to understand astrology for yourself -- you will LOVE the workshop I am offering on Transformational Astrology -- A process to DEEPLY connect with and understand the planetary archetypes!

In addition to this, there is a FULL schedule of wonderful workshops taught by myself and two of my AMAZING intuitive friends.

CHECK IT OUT!

http://www.starspiritretreat.com

(& As always, you may find out more about personal readings here :))

October 2014 Eclipses, the nature of change, and other considerations...

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Emerging from a long silence – I am here! The prevailing internal storms and external frenzies have subsided just long enough for me to share some feelings on the astrological weather of late. My hope is to make a habit of it, as the winter comes in and I have more time to sort through the bits and pieces of writing scattered across journals about this year, 2014. Below are some thoughts on the October eclipses, and overarching themes of the year and the times… Enjoy!

Reflections on the Astrology of the 2000s through the lens of the October Eclipses…

The first thing that immediately strikes me about both eclipse charts is that here on the east coast, they are occurring right at the horizon lines – such that, this morning, as some might have seen, we had the rare event of an eclipse occurring while the moon was setting and as the sun was rising simultaneously. There’s something beautifully symbolic about that – as some large, prevailing emotional current culminates, ends, or finds clarity, the sun rises again for a new day, as if to remind us that the turbulence of the times will pass, that even in moments of confusion and darkness, we have hardly to wait to receive the light of profound transition.

The horizon of a chart, as some may know, is also the realm that refers most immediately to how we interact with the world. And indeed, these eclipses seem to resonate with the idea of profound transition. Swift, immediate, and surprising.

For the past several years we have been going through a time of immense change and turbulence. Since I’ve been learning and practicing astrology, I feel I have been witness to a fascinating, complex and multi-layered process of unfolding occurring across humanity. Since 2008, when Pluto first made its ingress into Capricorn (followed by Uranus into Aries in 2011, and Neptune into Pisces in 2012), the world has begun a marked process of transformation that has effected virtually everything from the most personal and intimate aspects of our lives to the largest institutions under which we operate. In the past several years, I’ve been writing in this blog to “dream the dream!” and telling clients (and myself) to begin to shape their lives and reality around what it is they really deeply believe in and want for the future. As the social constructs that society has built itself upon continue to shift beneath our feet, the dream of the future has an unprecedented opportunity to take root and blossom into something quite beautiful and different from anything we’ve built in the past.

Each year in this process has brought something distinctly different to the table. Pluto’s ingress into Capricorn (2008), for example, shook, eroded, and broke down the very core structure of society as a whole, beginning a 24 year process of destroy, evolve, and rebuild to systems, governments, and other large and powerful societal constructions. Uranus’ ingress into Aries (2011) created an atmosphere of awakening and rebellion against the outdated, the worn down, and the broken, creating demand for new ways of thinking and innovations to greater serve individual rights to freedom. Neptune’s ingress into Pisces (2012) then added an element of spiritual consciousness to the mix, the veil between the seen and unseen becoming quite fluid and malleable, exposing deceptions and other things of that nature more readily… even making humanity more sensitive to pollutants. These influences and subsequent aspect patterns have worked us from the inside-out to evolve our perspectives and clarify for ourselves what the purpose of life here on earth might be and how we want to live it in better alignment to this purpose.

This year, 2014, I feel, is a climatic point in this overarching process. And these eclipses, a time of major breakthrough and decisiveness in regards to the process. A turning point, if you will.

The thing I find tricky and tenuous about this discussion of the world evolving, is that there are always two sides to the coin – there are those that see only the destructive nature of things, and those that see only the positive, friendly, feel-good parts. Within this process of change there will ALWAYS be both, and change itself can feel like the complete destruction of one’s being – and sometimes, it is. With every overtone of higher evolution represented by planetary energies, there is always an undertone of the deep chaos and confusion also represented by these same energies. There are countless extreme examples in world events of recent years that have a twofold resonance of reflecting the horrific, overwhelming and negative impacts of mismanaged powerful energies – yet, these events have also had the effect of bringing sudden consciousness to issues previously neglected by society at large. The extreme pressure of these events seems to have left no soul unscathed or unchanged. On the micro level of our personal lives, these influences have of course been causing the same disruptions and upheavals in our own natal charts, causing countless people to reassess their careers, their locale, their relationships, and even their very identity.

In my other blog, the very first entry is a quotation I chose from a book called “Ta Chuan, The Great Treatise” by Stephen Karcher that discusses the use of the I-Ching (otherwise known as the Book of Changes). In this quotation Karcher explains that the word Change (Yi, or I in Chinese) is primarily translated as “trouble.” I find this definition relevant to the experience of life in recent years. Change is the one “Unchanging Truth” to use another scholar’s phrase. And when talking about major life evolutions, there are two ways it can happen – either from the outside-in by way of events, obstacles, etc, or from the inside-out by way of observation, allowance and early recognition of patterns/problems, etc. Regardless of how it happens, to me, change is ultimately an inner process – and certainly troublesome as there is no way to avoid it, and often it isn’t easy.

The past few years have been unquestionably intense for people on both an internal and external level – as the “dream” cannot be made real lest we make the necessary internal adjustments and commitments to realize it. These internal adjustments can include but are not limited to: shifts in personal belief structure, overall attitude, and even the letting go of aspects of the identity which do not correlate with the inner yearning. All of this stuff can be super scary, because sometimes it means that you also have to alter outer circumstances that are not in line anymore, but by which we have identified ourselves strongly – such as: ways of being or habits that are no longer healthy (having to set new boundaries, or parameters for your activities), shifting, changing or leaving work/environments/relationships that no longer fit, and in light of all of this -- having the courage to adopt new ways of being that might have seemed out of character or too different in the past. Most people, including myself, have to come to this by suffering losses. However, as we become more conscious of change in our lives, we have the power adjust how we experience change – and life itself! By looking more deeply into ourselves and recognizing incoming shifts and prevailing currents, our outer lives will inevitably be more even keeled, emotionally stable and transitions more fluid and easy.

In 2014, the major aspect pattern has been the cardinal grand cross that was exact this April. This was an interesting contrast to the prior years grand water trine – an expression of healing, fertility and growth. The overall feeling and theme of the grand cardinal cross is a major crisis of action. While we were off dreaming our dreams the year before, in 2014 we were propelled to take definitive action – a type of action that was rife with trials and growing pains as we sought to build a solid foundation for something truly new to us in some way, shape or form. Cardinal energy is the energy of creation, and so that is what this year has largely been about – the initial implementation of the vision we cultivated in the previous year. In the coming years, 2015-2016, what we are starting now will undergo a comprehensive test of authenticity, honesty, and integrity once Saturn moves into Sagittarius and forms a complex T-Square between sobering, logistics-oriented Jupiter in Virgo and disillusioning/spiritualizing Neptune in Pisces. This coming time will be plagued with an initial phase of extremes in thinking and idealism that will ultimately be met with hard realizations about what’s real and what’s not real. It is my intuitive impression and feeling that we are being asked now to align our material perspectives and realities with the higher spiritual ideals we all hold near and dear. All of the fallacies in our approach will become more than evident – which may result in some things falling down like a house of cards. Tricky though it may be, this, to me, feels like a time of reckoning and rebalancing when it comes to world politics and social concerns which are reaching/have already reached a point of critical mass and require profound adjustment.

Now, provided all of that context to what is happening here from my perspective – let’s return to the eclipses of October 2014!

Eclipses are interesting and mysterious events. Though they are cyclic, they often present major changes and shifts in consciousness in reference to ongoing situations. Often, during eclipse cycles, there are happenings that totally change our lives, or our approach to a given situation. Eclipses are fateful, extra potent full and new moons – and with them, they bring clarity, endings and new beginnings. On a spiritual level, I see eclipses as being like points of no return – gateways of time and space where things done can’t be undone and thresholds crossed that can’t be uncrossed. Once you see the truth of the matter, you cannot and will not go back to an old way of being. Perhaps propitious, perhaps ominous -- in either regard, significant and profound.

The October eclipses seem interesting to me for a few reasons. The first, is that this month’s solar eclipse is the final eclipse occurring in Scorpio for some time, giving a sense that there is some final conclusion being made in regard to our Scorpio mission these past few years – which has been especially important as both Saturn (Lord of Karma) and the Nodes of Fate transited this sign simultaneously. The second is the very strong sense of the individual and collective truly breaking out and doing something new and different.

Why, exactly, does this set of eclipses seem to me a tipping point over any other in recent history? From what I’ve observed and experienced previously, I feel as if all events leading up to now have been primarily preparatory. We’ve had to do some work in regards to our personal relationships, we’ve had to develop a vision, we’ve had to do a lot of inner seeing and healing, and we’ve had to make sense of some things – the new things – which we’re fumbling to bring forth. But now, at this time, it seems that the bulk of that work (at least in regards to this particular phase of it) is behind us, and now we are presented with a certain clarity of vision about how to take our lives in the much prepared for new direction.

Today’s eclipse is strongly influenced by inventive, innovative Uranian energy and ruled by an out-of-bounds Mars in Sag, which happens to also be in a grand trine with Jupiter in Leo. Though this combination of energies easily has the potential to become fire burning out control, there is also a very powerful vibe of inspiration, faith, courage, and creative expression that transcends ordinary rules and boundaries. To spite some major pitfalls to such an overabundance of fire, it feels to me interestingly auspicious. Being a lunar eclipse, this can be seen and felt as a culmination of the work we’ve been doing to break ourselves free from the inhibiting circumstances presented by the overarching problems of society. The main warning I sense seems to be reflective of what I see coming in 2015-16 -- we must use this inspiration wisely, and not let our imaginations run rampant with optimism, and be careful to maintain control of our impulses. There is a fundamental sense of new horizons, and greater freedom to do as we choose, if we choose responsibly and intelligently.

The solar eclipse of October 23 seems to carry a similar message as Uranus and Pluto sit firmly on the chart’s Ascendant and Midheaven respectively, implying shocking new approaches and great ambition, power and intensity. This is the final eclipse in Scorpio for some years, and lands on the degree of this month’s influential Mercury Retrograde cycle (giving us the opportunity to really reflect on and feel all that’s happening!) The solar eclipse in Scorpio, to me, is like the final call on our Saturn in Scorpio work of commitments. Though Saturn will continue to dwell in this territory for the remainder of this year and some of next year, we have finally become clear about our Scorpio work – issues surrounding deep intimate relationships with others, and our relationship with power – especially our own power.

Saturn in Scorpio has been an interesting phase. Its commitments seem simple enough on the outset, but in practice seem to probe at the deepest, scariest parts of our being – even when we believe we’d come to terms with these aspects of ourselves. What is curious about it, to me, is that the fears can sometimes be very nuanced and layered. Outwardly we might feel we have no problems committing to our partner, having a child, starting a business, joining the circus if that’s what our soul is calling us to do -- and we absolutely WANT to take on a path in life that is empowering for us… but inwardly there are all of this little hitches and hang-ups that seem to say, ‘Oh you want to do that – well then that means THIS – are you really ready for THIS?’ The THIS is the part of your life that you know will never be the same once you pursue THAT. THIS is us claiming our power and being one with who we are (or aren’t) in the face of potential opposition of others. THIS is the responsibility of our decisions, the narrowing of our focus, the shutting out of one thing to favor the growth of another. THIS is the point of no return – the courage to actually believe in ourselves, our lives, and our path enough to truly align with it.

To me, the energy of “breaking out” and "breaking through" that is described by the aspects seems very much tied up in the conclusions we are making about what it is we are committing to, why we are choosing that path, and then having the courage and the wherewithal to actually manifest this path. It’s like we’re getting the ‘in' – the universe is saying to us – OK, people, it’s cool. Be yourself, express yourself – please! Because it’s through the actions and pursuits of each and every one of us to influence and build a world that we all want to share and be in together. Hopefully, with greater harmony within and without.

OK, so that about covers it.  I have evidently been storing away tons of thoughts for this blog post. I hope you enjoyed it... There’s more to come!

Peace and love, Mela

Fall 2013 Eclipse Season Reflections

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This Sunday's Full Moon in Taurus concludes the energy surrounding the very intense season of eclipses that we have just gone through since October 4. This cycle of eclipses, as with the last several (Last April/May and Last November/December), was very profound. For me, personally, this set of eclipses took on a particularly strong INTERNAL quality of transformation and change. As always, an important thing to always realize when eclipses occur is that eclipses always bring events, realizations, culminations, endings, new beginnings, and other sorts of big changes and "Aha!" moments -- in particular when they aspect our natal planets. Reviewing the charts of the past several moons, there seem to be a few main themes, with the major emphasis on Saturnine (e.g. Karmic) decisions or disappointments. Saturn in Scorpio is working our issues with commitment and the charts also suggest, to me, a deep desire to become more in tune with our true inner SOUL yearnings (a theme that seems to have taken prominence in this past year.) In this process of trying to understand our karmic work -- the real project of our lifetime -- many things from our past need to be relinquished and finding a place of surrender within ourselves seems at once tenuous and tantamount. Do we accept the responsibility and hardship of our Saturn work? Can we face the bare bones, no frills truth of what we truly dream to be, and how we may or may not be currently in line?

This eclipses have also had a strong Neptune vibe, as always lending an additional shroud of confusion to the overall picture. Saturn may have shattered our illusions about ourselves, others, or situations around us in a jarring way. Or it's required us to make realistic adjustments to our expectations or plans based off of the new insight. A tendency to avoid the situation and indulge or escape could have been very powerful -- it is so much easier to stay within the confines of our habits, our safety zone, and comfort, but Saturn seems to want to pull us away from these behaviors and remind us that if we really want to play out our higher Neptune (Do good for the world, for example) we need to pull it together, see it clearer, and do the work.

This past month has really been a time of looking more deeply into our lives, facing and healing painful issues originating deep in our ancestry, trying to understand what it is we really want, and, of course, with Saturn and the North Node in Scorpio -- learning to let go of attachments which block our growth and transformation. SURRENDER is the key word, but surrender in these circumstances is also immensely challenging. We have to have the courage to let go of parts of ourselves and things in our lives we perhaps once loved -- but even those we don't. We have to have trust that events in our lives beyond our control also serve some kind of purpose, that there is a lesson to be gleaned that may help us better understand our karmic work. Finally, we have to have faith in the decisions we make every day -- especially when choosing the path of our intuition, following what comes to us -- that stepping into unknown territories and committing to the vision is not something to be afraid of, that we will be taken care of, and end up where we're supposed to.

So much of this year has been about THE DREAM. So much of this year has also been about immense and deeply challenging internal transformation (As can be expected during the Chinese year of the Water Snake!). It's one thing simply to dream... but now we must ask ourselves, seriously, are we willing to work for it? Live it. Be it. That, to me, is the central core of this year's transformational energies. How do we shape ourselves to reflect the reality of the dream? -- And what does it really mean to walk the path as who we really are?

Without going outside, one may know the whole world!

Processing Time

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Wow, what a week. The eclipse this past weekend was unexpectedly intense. Closely aspecting Neptune and occurring just after a jolt from Pluto & Uranus, the unseen elements of our lives were felt much more strongly than usual. Our world was SHAKEN UP in some way, and then the eclipse came in with profound emotional illuminations and processing. We were a lot more sensitive, and with Saturn and the North Node very near the midheaven, we were again reminded of the importance of doing what is right and revising our belief systems accordingly. In effect, we are not only being shown that we must change, we were also given some pretty strong indications of why. Being a full moon, there was a culmination of events that have been in the works for some time -- since the eclipse on November 25, 2011 to be exact! This was a weekend of "reaping what you sow" and sometimes not in the easiest ways. That said, this week has continued along with the busy, busy pace of the past several, but with a sense that some of the intensity is finally waning. We're all getting a chance to rest a bit and do some processing. At the same time, there is a nice shift of energy coming in as Mars moves into Gemini, Mercury and Venus into Cancer this weekend. There will be more time to relax, while at the same time -- more social opportunities and options to expand our horizons. The energy feels to me like the period of substantial adjustment represented by these eclipses is fading and after a CRAZY winter and spring we are finally moving into a period of more productivity and outward progress in general. There is a very fertile and watery summer ahead and I think we'll all get a chance to appreciate it!

Outworn Beliefs

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Much has been going on this eclipse season. The first eclipse saw harsh aspects between Saturn & Mars implying some serious standoffs and major adjustments that we needed to make in our lives. The second eclipse also occurred at the same time the moon occulted (eclipsed) mercury and mars, meaning we had a triple eclipse! Revelations, insights, and new beginnings came to us on three levels -- feeling, thinking, and doing. The final eclipse occurs around midnight on May 25 with aspects reiterating my earlier post about spiritual service and revelations regarding the path to the future. These eclipses have been really powerful and seem to be profoundly karmic. We are being asked to take responsibility for ourselves, rid ourselves of outworn belief systems and structures, and change -- FAST! I see this as a major transitional period and tipping point. Just stand back and watch what unfolds. Do your best to make positive and growth oriented decisions for they will have a lasting impact on your life. Pay attention to messages you receive and the changes afoot -- and enjoy the ride!!!