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and positive, and where the most deeply ingrained structures of our current society have become burdensome, unhealthy, outdated, or never really sound to begin with.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 :)
