uranus

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


Personal readings & gift certificates are available and you can book online anytime!  Just click below for more information :)

2017 Year of the Fire Rooster // Lunar New Year & New Moon Report

2017 Year of the Fire Rooster / Fire Phoenix

2017 Year of the Fire Rooster / Fire Phoenix

Hello Everyone!  Welcome to my Astrological outlook for the 2017 Lunar New Year which occurs on the New Moon in Aquarius Friday, January 27, 2017 @ 7:07PM EST.

Though it is not super common, as a practitioner of the Chinese arts and Western Tropical Astrology, I like to observe the thematic elements of the Lunar years from both the Western and Eastern perspective.  I find they both reflect each other, and the container of the Lunar year is an effective one for analyzing the overall themes of a given year.  Though I consider myself more of a dabbler in Chinese Astrology than an expert, I have spent enough time with it to make observations about the character of the energies.  I hope that my readers find this perspective useful, as I do.  To keep it organized, I’ve broken this article into sections to make it a little easier to digest the breadth of information.

 

 

The Fire Rooster, in brief:

2017 is the year of the Fire Rooster, in Chinese Astrology.  The Fire Rooster is a proud, courageous, opinionated and noble creature.  This energy’s pitfalls are being overly-critical, intolerant, impatient and arrogant.  Expect a year of opposition, ego clashes, and frustration over the details.  A lot will get done.  There will be loads of unexpected surprises (Fire element), and plenty of arguments, explosions, and uproars.  Stay grounded.  Remind yourself of what’s REALLY IMPORTANT at every turn, not just what your ego is getting all emotional about.

Fueled by what is showing up in the planetary movements from the Western perspective, this may be a year where we can feel like we’re running around like a “chicken with its head cut off.”  Pad your schedule and expect rapid shifts in plans.

The political upheaval USA society is experiencing will continue to accelerate and intensify as the year progresses.  It is not likely that there will be a lot of people seeing eye-to-eye because the Rooster will prefer to stick to its agenda and perspective in the face of adversity rather than show any kind of humility or admission of guilt.  EVERYONE will feel like fighting and the energy favors it.   Try to seek positive outlets for the energy of Fire – such as creativity & inspiration.

This is a good year for taking action and for manifesting new structures from creative new ideas.  The biggest challenge that we face will be how to work from the HEART and not just the mind… but being heartfelt will be rewarding in the long run.  The appropriate motion of the energy at this time is to be heart-based (North Node in Leo for the majority of the year), even though it will be very easy to fall into rational-argumentative mode.

We have to learn that pain is sometimes a part of growth.  We can’t reason our way out of everything – and being reasonable often doesn’t actually address suffering.  Love is what helps and heals.  Authentic, brave, fearless love.

Utilize Rooster’s courage for positive ends.  Do not fall victim to false bravery – which is a product of the divisive mind.  Pay attention to the ideology you subscribe to and ask yourself, “Is this in full alignment with my heart?”  Don’t be afraid to stray from the flock, but keep the larger perspective of connection.  This is a naturally independent energy, but we run into trouble if we are TOO headstrong, or TOO mob-oriented.  Show tolerance, flexibility and authenticity with self.

Rooster is a very resourceful creature.  Typically this is a sign that is good with money, and gathering resources.  The Fire element may challenge this for 2017… possibly making spending a bit more reckless and resources a bit more uncertain than they usually might be under the Rooster’s attention – but with inspiring causes, I sense that people are willing to financially invest now more than ever.  Like most things under this energy -- money will come fast and go as quickly as it arrived.

 

 

The Fire Rooster from the Western Perspective, Themes According to the Aspects:

So, naturally I feel there is already a lot of synergy to the planetary flow that is contained within the above explanation – but I would like to cover certain aspect patterns more specifically – both that are thematic throughout the year (e.g. they are in the sky for a long period of time), and also that show up strongly in the chart specifically for the chart of this New Moon/Lunar New Year.  For ease of organization, I will break those down one-by-one.

 

·      “Hammer of Thor” pattern between Pluto, Uranus and the North Node / Notes on the North Node’s 2016 Transit in Virgo:

This is a pattern that is active during the month of January, primarily, but stands out to me because it is such a powerful energetic formation, with the North Node (point of fate, the direction of the soul’s work) of the chart sitting very near to the ascendant set to Washington D.C. time.  The North Node is nearing the end of its transit in Virgo, which has been riddled with trials challenges.  A “Thor’s Hammer” pattern in astrology indicates a “do or die” situation of great consequence and fate.  We NEED to work on the North Node lessons, or we will be struck, unpleasantly, by Uranus (rude awakenings) and Pluto (destructive change).  Basically, we are being forced to focus on how to create FUNCTIONAL, CONSTRUCTIVE evolutionary change – or else.

This is a difficult pattern, but one that I believe can be the saving grace of this chart – as it shows the karmic need to SEEK SOLUTIONS AT ALL COSTS to the on-going crisis created by Uranus & Pluto for nearly a decade… and also is functioning to pick up the pieces where last year’s astrological conditions were unfavorable for this growth to occur in real time.

Why is this important?

Last year, in the year of the Fire Monkey, the biggest astrological theme was oriented in a mutable T-Square – a stressful configuration involving Jupiter, Saturn, the North/South Node & Neptune – all in Mutable (change-oriented) signs.  This energy was EXTREMELY CHAOTIC, especially because of the influence of Neptune in Pisces very near to the South Node, also in Pisces – the illusions, fears, and subconscious stuff was UP big time, and all systems were eroding under this force.  This was fitting for the Monkey year, because Monkey is a creature known for its unpredictable, trickstery ways.  We were basically all collectively caught in a stream of consciousness spiraling out of control.  There was no telling where things would go next, and from a certain perspective almost everything just seemed to go from bad – to worse – to even worse than that.

But it also served a very important purpose – and that is to reveal what is hidden, to dissolve what is broken, and to witness the extent of demagoguery (very much ‘Up’ for correction under the transit of Saturn in Sagittarius).  If nothing else, it has been an extraordinarily revelatory time – inwardly and outwardly – that has called many of us to deeper action, discernment, contemplation, and as a result – unprecedented evolution and transformation.  The Fire Monkey was not so much an energy of pressure, per se, but one where things moved so strangely, so unpredictably, we had to practice being nimble on our feet, flexible, and yielding.  If we did not move with what happened (no matter whether we wanted to or not), we were forced to through the sheer instability caused by all involved factors.

In a way – it was a year where everything fell apart.

In a way – it was a year where we got a LOT of transformation done in a short period of time … BECAUSE it was all falling apart.

What we were dealing with, really, was a wild, maddening, dissolution of a paradigm.  Saturn (the structure & belief system) was overtaken by the influence of Neptune & the South Node in Pisces (illusions, deceptions, and an oceanic force that tends to make it hard to “see”) – and this process was empowered by the expansive qualities of Jupiter, making it all the more intense.  But the beauty of it is that it was also a time of great VISIONING – and when things fall apart we have the great opportunity to rebuild something better in its stead.

The Virgo North Node, so powerfully placed in the USA chart at the time of the Lunar New Year, is like the guiding force of how to best orient ourselves in the wake of the disaster.  Simplification, structure, routine, organization, planning, staying grounded, and tending wisely to daily life are all virtues that will assist us TREMENDOUSLY during this year.  While last year this message got largely overshadowed by Neptune’s overpowering pull over the South Node in Pisces (leading us collectively more to a place of disillusionment and confusion than to solutions) – this year we have a chance – and an obligation – to correct the situation and to implement these skills for the betterment & health of our basic daily lives, and also the face of society as a whole.  Not saying it will be easy (it won’t) – but I am saying that persistence is key.

·      Uranus/Pluto/Jupiter T-Square

Building upon that point, one of the major aspect patterns for the first 10 months of 2017 is a challenging T-Square formation between Jupiter, Pluto and Uranus.  At the time of the Lunar New Year, Mercury is also involved in mix, making it a year where our thoughts tend to be more intense and serious than usual.

Jupiter being involved in the mix here will have a tendency to accentuate and increase volatility & unrest for the majority of the year.  It will also keep us on the move and accentuate the unpredictability of our overall schedule and responsibilities.  Jupiter-Uranus tends to make things VERY extreme and extra busy and Jupiter-Pluto can make us overly ambitious.  With all of the “fire in the sky” Jupiter may serve to exacerbate the issue and create a lot of over-doing, over-active, over-stressed energy.  With Mercury involved we’ll feel that it’s all VERY IMPORTANT and NEEDS TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELY – but it may or may not be so.  Pick your battles, and definitely make sure you account for the mishaps, accidents, and annoyances due to having a poorer than usual attention for detail.  It can be an overwhelming time, give yourself permission to step back when necessary.

·      Saturn Trine Uranus (& Nodes) / Grand Trine in Fire

Another aspect pattern which will be active for the majority of 2017 is a trine (flowing) pattern between Saturn in Sagittarius and Uranus in Aries.  Once the North Node moves into Leo in May, there will be a full GRAND TRINE IN FIRE.  What does that mean?

Basically, this is a fast manifesting energy.  Saturn creates things, Uranus awakens, invents and evolves.  Saturn in Sagittarius is all about ideals and philosophy, Uranus in Aries is all about independence and absolute freedom – so it’s definitely a feisty energy.  The nature of a trine is one that flows easily, so we may find that we speak and act before we think.  Once the Leo node joins the mix, incorporating the influence of pure stamina & will power, this Fire trine will be an unstoppable force.

The positive of a grand fire trine are the qualities of leadership, inspiration, illumination, etc…  but the negative is reckless action, aggression, etc.  All of the intensity I have already spoken of will only be fueled by this energy – for better OR worse!  This also adds to the lightning-fast flow of events that we will undoubtedly observe throughout the Rooster year.

·      Saturn Square Chiron

Active on and off throughout 2017, this combination of energies will cause us to remain feeling sensitive and vulnerable to situations, regardless of all other factors.  There will be a tendency to be defensive and act out / feel easily triggered.

Chiron shows where we are wounded and feel weak, and is in the sign of sensitive Pisces.  Saturn represents AUTHORITY inner and outer.  A blatant metaphor for this is that authority figures will attempt to prey upon weaker, more vulnerable individuals.  But there is also another important meaning and it is that we must recognize tendencies to feel victimized and reclaim the INNER AUTHORITY to overcome martyrdom complexes.

Dialogue around victimization is one of the major thematic currents of our time, and is actually one of the root causes for the situation that the USA has found itself in today.  There are people on one end of the spectrum that believe strongly in holding everyone and everything delicately – using the correct acronyms, hearing everyone out, and just generally CARING A LOT and people on the complete opposite end that seem to have no interest in acknowledging the evolution of social issues what-so-ever and find the afore-mentioned movement distasteful.

For me, the square between Saturn & Chiron illustrate this issue perfectly.  On one hand we have Saturn, the side that feels the past beliefs were fine and we all need to stop being so soft and on the other side we have Chiron, the side that feels EVERYONE must be saved, converted, and showered with unconditional love.  The thing is that both Saturn & Chiron represent a need for refinement.  They are aspects of life that have become a little too extreme in their expression.  There is a place in between that can open up the possibility of more tolerance on the whole, but it requires us all to really overcome our addiction to victim mentality.

The solve here seems to be in taking real time action.  Chiron in Pisces will find the most healing through active service to those in need, and Saturn will feel motivated by putting ideals into real time action.  If you walk your talk, and aspire to take control of your destiny -- then you’ll find out the truth of the matter sooner.  “Healing reality checks” is what this aspect seems to suggest.

Venus in Mars are also both in Pisces, very near to Chiron & square to Saturn at the time of the Lunar New Year, which to me implies that this is going to be a very real struggle in our daily lives, not just in our abstract thoughts.  We will meet with situations that make us feel victimized and out of control through people we interact with daily, and will be given the opportunity to choose whether we become frustrated and reactionary – or whether we can gather the inner strength to take a stand, and claim our position wisely and tactfully.

·      New Moon in the 6th House in Aquarius

The Lunar New Year often (if not always) seems to fall in the sign of Aquarius which relates to hopes, dreams, friends, community, shared purpose & humanitarian ideals.  Perhaps this in itself represents the energy of the lunar new year’s influence as one that reflects the overall social & emotional (moon) flow of a year.

Since the New Moon is falling in the USA’s 6th house for 2017 issues surrounding work, our environment, health, routine, etc. are going to be very important.  Structural change is a given – and so with it also happening to be a “1” year numerologically – the feeling is that this is a year to establish a new structure, routine, and perspective for the health of all.  Since the 6th house can refer to mentors & students… we might also be learning some important lessons in the process.  It’s all about learning by doing and constructive development.

I’ll also note that the New Moon falls exactly on the 4th house cusp for the Universal Chart… which indicates a new cycle around the deep inner identity of the planet.  So this year may mark a significant new beginning worldwide, as the power paradigm in the USA shifts.

 

 

Working with the Energy – Understanding the Flow of  Chinese Astrology and How to work with the element of FIRE:

In Chinese astrology, there are twelve animal signs and five elements.  Each year we go through one animal sign paired with an element (and yes, like Western astrology, this does also break down more specifically into the month, day and hour as well).  The animal signs have elements attached to them innately (e.g. Rooster is naturally a Metal sign) in addition the element of the particular year (in this case, Fire).  The interaction of these elements indicates a lot about whether or not it can be considered an auspicious or troublesome year.

Each element runs for two years – first with a yang version and then a yin.  This year is the YIN Fire Rooster, while last year was the YANG Fire Monkey.  Both Monkey and Rooster are metal element which is unfavorably effected by Fire (Fire controls Metal).  This year, being a Yin year, means the energy is more inwardly projected.  Last year, being a Yang year, means the energy is more outwardly projected.  But although the Yang Fire of last year was extremely intense (unpredictable and uncontrollable, as both Fire and the Monkey can be), we should definitely not underestimate the Yin Fire – since, as I have mentioned, the dominant energy themes in the Tropical charts are also very FIERY!  Yin fire is symbolized by the illuminating light of a candle.  But how easy it can be to knock that candle over and set the whole house ablaze.  Fire is an element that requires extreme care.

What is useful about the Chinese system is that the same principles function the same across disciplines.  So what you can understand from astrology can also be practically applied to things like Chinese medicine, feng shui, philosophy (Book of Changes), and all other Chinese arts.

One of the things I have been speaking about quite a bit in my Qigong classes since the time of the Winter Solstice has been about the nature of the Five Elements in the Chinese Cosmology.  The Fire element is the most difficult element to manage – it is the element of the heart and of passion – and in doing spiritual work it is so important to learn to CONTROL OUR FIRE by gaining control over our emotions and our more extreme traits.  This how one develops wisdom and balance in their life – learning how to take action accurately and intelligently.

People born during fire years can have boundless energy – and also can exhaust themselves with their unrelenting movement.  The beautiful thing about Chinese cosmology, is that we can work with the other elements to create balance when one element is very strong.  Because FIRE is so dominant this year, I thought it might be helpful to provide this guide to utilizing some of the other elements to balance Fire.

 

Strengthen EARTH – The Stabilizing Element

In Chinese medicine theory, EARTH is seen as the central element – the one which connects all of the other elements, and absorbs excesses.  Connected to the spleen & stomach, the element of earth must be in balance before other areas of imbalance can truly be addressed.  During a year where one element is very strong, it is especially important to tend to our earth in order to keep balanced.

Earth energy in Chinese Cosmology is nurturing, grounded and compassionate.  It is connected to the planet of Saturn.  Saturn can be understood as the STRUCTURE of our being and of our lives.  Knowing that earth is the central element, and that Saturn is the structure – we can basically understand that the health of our entire lives depends on the health of this structure.  The health of our body depends on remaining grounded and keeping natural rhythms and flow throughout our body with appropriate diet, exercise, and time spent alone, in nature, digesting our emotions and life experiences.  The health of our lives depends on Saturn, our inner authority, remaining strong and firm, but never too rigid.  Weakness in our inner authority causes most of our energetic leaks.  Rigidity here basically just causes us to make more effort than is necessary – from the perspective of the body, we can see this as over-thinking, over-doing, worrying, excessive mind function.  Thus, the basic advice is that in order to be STRONG in life, and anything within it, we must strengthen our foundation of self.  This means DEEPLY connecting to, understanding, and respecting the needs of self.  When we have our energetic form in good working order, we can DIRECT our will as necessary with less wear.   It is helpful then to practice grounding exercises – to spend time in stillness, or simply walking outside – in order to INTEGRATE.

Earth is also the element of RECEPTIVITY.  The action of earth is to STABILIZE.  Stability is ESTABLISHED through RECEPTIVITY – being in a receptive state vs. a doing state, at least once a day, is a way to strengthen earth, the inner authority, and correct imbalances throughout the energetic and physical system.

 

Cultivate WATER – Water CONTROLS Fire

Water is the element associated with will power – this is precisely what is needed to manage the emotional fire at times when we feel we are on the brink.  It is stated in some Taoist books that “One moment of anger can destroy 3 years of practice” -- rage and anger can be destructive, and it is so easy for these emotions to become habitual if we do not consciously employ our will power to redirect ourselves before a spill over begins. 

Water energy is associated with the Kidneys – this organ is the source of our essence (jing) and is associated with the dantien (lower energy center), or sacral center in the body.  We can think of water energy in the body like a water wheel – we want it to be flowing steadily – not dried up, frozen, or torrential.  The emotions associated with the Kidney are fear and anxiety – but when in balance we can be courageous, persevering and overcome obstacles.  To maintain the health of the KIDNEYS it is important to REST adequately, keep the creative flow going evenly, and be aware of not over-exerting ourselves & our creative juices.  Work when inspired, take a break when not.  Quiet introspection is very helpful to cultivate water energy, as this helps return our spirit to our being, and strengthens our essence.

If water energy is weak then the propensity for emotional outbursts is much higher, because anxiety can easily trigger the fiery energies.  I am sure we have all experienced feeling totally upset about something – but all we really needed was a good night’s sleep.

Water is also connected with the planet of Mercury – using flexibility, wisdom, and yielding energy, we can regulate and strengthen this element – utilizing a soft, flexible approach can be helpful.  There is power in yielding.

 

Cultivate Metal – Metal SUPPRESSES Fire

Metal is an element of structure, ethics, and discipline.  Metal is an element of great inner strength and integrity of being.  During the Fire year Metal can become more fluid and become too lax or weak… so it is important to maintain its strength without being too rigid.  Metal is associated with the Lungs and the emotions connected to the lungs are grief & sadness or conversely – openness and the ability to relax, let go, and be happy.

It’s important to maintain a positive attitude and create a sense of order.  This should help mitigate depressed emotions and insecurity that might arise if too much fire has created an excess of activity & exhaustion.  Metal reminds us to remain INTEGRAL in all that we do… so if we believe in being givers of light and bringers of positive change, we must make the conscious concerted effort to maintain OURSELVES accordingly – to keep ourselves in a place of balance and lightness through self honesty and character.  We need to DO the work that keeps us healthy, and develop routines that encourage a greater sense of well-being.

Breathe in the fresh air and work towards creating a life that cultivates inner harmony.

 

Conclusion:

It is safe to say that it is going to be a very intense year.  This is one of the longest articles I have put out on my website, but I hope that it serves as a useful guide for the whole year of 2017.  Definitely take the time this New Moon to set intentions for the 2017 Lunar Year – and what shifts you would like to make in your life in order to live a life of more balance, happiness, and peace overall.

Many blessings to all and Happy New Year!


One-on-one personalized Astrology readings are available!  Please visit my readings page to book an appointment or order a written report!


There are only a few 2017 Calendars remaining and they are now officially ON SALE!  Be sure to get yours before they are gone!

12 months of beautiful original artwork, daily lunar phases and astrological cycles!  A practical tool for any person who follows cosmic cycles :)

Wood Horse Exits -- January 20 New Moon in Aquarius: Radical Release & The Sheep Year Ahead

100_3050.jpg

Tuesday's new moon at 0º Aquarius marks the last new moon of the lunar year of the Wood Horse as well as the first of the 2015 calendar year.  The feeling of one phase ending and another beginning is really emblematic of the Aquarius New Moon chart, as well as the energy of this winter season, and in many respects, 2015 as a whole. When I look at the charts for this winter season and observe the development of current and incoming astrological trends, there are a number of immediate standouts.  Working from the most obvious to the more subtle:

  1.  The Uranus-Pluto Square which was exact for the 6th of 7 times around the Winter Solstice, a major astrological cycle that has been working us in profound ways since 2012, are sticking close to each other and having their final joust just as the winter season closes on March 17, 2015.  We feel an increasing sense of urgency as this call for revolutionary change in our personal lives and in the world bears down on us in these final months.  This winter season is like laboring for the gold of the alchemical fire.  We've been working this energy for a long time, and in a big way during the 2014 year of the Wood Horse.  Deeply threaded beliefs are being worked out and unraveled in society at large and within ourselves.  The true impact of this alignment will continue to unfold for years to come.  Nonetheless, we remain in the final clutches of the deep, ongoing cooking process -- anxiety, uncertainty, and instability are real and unavoidable.  Change is upon us, and the best thing we can do this season is direct our minds, wills, and hearts toward positive and evolutionary directions.  Have faith in their significant and positive outcomes -- and know that the stress will abate considerably in a few months.
  2. Saturn's Sagittarius Ingress and dip back into Scorpio this summer -- Saturn represents structures and material matters and therefore his travels through the signs often impact cultural feeling in a big way.  This year of 2015 receives Saturn's first messages from his more optimistic, hopeful, idealistic Sagittarius transit.  This ingress is about the ideas we want to build our life around and our process of hearing, telling, receiving, and giving THE TRUTH.  These are the truths, of course, reflected upon and revealed through our deep passages in Scorpio, the sign of death, rebirth, and profound merging with intimates, family skeletons, and mystery itself.  In 2015, we will return to meet Scorpio for a few months before uniting completely with our Sagittarian visions.  In the current and coming months before the retrograde cycle, we are working quite a lot on developing our initial ideas about moving forward, but we won't have the official go ahead until later in the year after we've finished our Scorpio work once and for all.
  3. Exit Wood Horse, Enter Wood Sheep -- The Wood Horse has come and gone with swift intensity!  Last year's energies from both an Eastern and Western astrological perspective were profound, changeful, and chock full of huge life events, and spiritual growing pains.  Whereas previous years, the changes were felt profoundly within, this past year was jammed with action -- and it hasn't really relented as it normally does come January.  This coming New Moon feels very much like the Wood Horse's last labor of love.  With Uranus meeting the south node and Pluto squaring the nodes last week there is a sense of deep, emotional, profound, BIG release.  The Wood Horse year has had us working!  No matter what area of our life we looked at, we have worked our butts off!!  And for what grand purpose?  If we follow the perspective of the Horse, it was so we could have greater freedom, self expression, and independence in our lives.  This remains true, even if we still feel shackled or that the past year was burdensome -- sometimes it's beneath the shackles and burdens that we are able to find the seed of true freedom that we would have never known existed otherwise.  This New Moon is that seed.  The "Firing" process I spoke of with reference to the Uranus-Pluto square and deep Saturn Scorpio work with commitments are starting to crystallize.  Let go, in a BIG way, to clear the deck for the softer, more creative, nurturing and developing vibe of the sheep.  The barrier between what we deeply want and what is possible has become a lot less stable.  Take your work horse, and march right through that big ole pile of bull ;)
  4. Energetic Preview of the Mutable T-Square -- For me, a big game changing piece in the coming Sheep & Monkey years (end of 2015-2016), is the mutable T-Square that is to form between Jupiter in Virgo, Saturn in Sagittarius, and Neptune in Pisces.  This is the next BIG phase of energy adjustment coming in, and it will provide a totally different feeling from the past few years which have been about discovery, awakening, development of consciousness and taking initial action towards change. Through this, there have been very real, physical, psychic, and emotional trials.  My initial feelings about this coming formation are that they bring with them a test of the mind's ideals and the struggle between practicality and spirituality.  Logistics, thwarted implementation, discovery of false truths, intense & prolific confusion, and the dissolving of previous beliefs.  Our readiness for the incoming time is dependent on our willingness, now, to unhinge ourselves from any aspect of our lives which negatively suppresses our individuality and openness to new and resonating information.  This month Mars in Pisces makes its aspect to Saturn (last week) and Neptune giving us an initial hint of the struggle to make the elusive, beautiful dream world a reality.  It is an interesting image, actually, to think of normally energetic Mars ambling through the slow, undecided watery sign of Pisces (as he does every two years) -- the reminder here is that not all things are gained by doing.  Some, are gained through surrender, through receiving, and through insight.
  5. 0º Point of Potency / 29º Point of Conclusion  -- The new moons this winter season are falling often on the 0º and 29º points.  The 0º and 29º points of signs are considered especially significant as they denote the most powerful and most weak points in the sign -- the vibes of beginnings and endings.  The new moon on the Winter Solstice landed at 0º Capricorn -- indicating a huge season of creating new foundations and also a season of sweeping away deep parts of our past, as Saturn was still at the very last degree of Scorpio.  The January new moon is of a similar essence, landing at 0º Aquarius with both moon and Sun residing in the EST Chart's 12th House of the deep, profound, & subconscious karma.  Moving into the Lunar New Year, the new moons start the year falling at 29º of Aquarius and then a new moon solar eclipse occurs at 29º Pisces on the Spring Equinox, March 20, both of these moons setting the tone for the season of Spring and the remainder of 2015.  With Saturn moving into its retrograde cycle around this same time, we can expect the Sheep's new years resolutions to be centered around cleaning up after some of the eruptions left behind by the horse, healing, reevaluating, and completing unfinished tasks in preparation for the spiritually trying expansive phase to come towards the end of the year.  The peaceful sheep will want to make sure things are in order before chaos returns.
  6. Mercury Retrograde -- The Aquarius moon cycle will also be occurring in stride with Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius.  Since the rising sign of this New Moon chart is also Aquarius with other Aquarian elements strongly thematic (Saturn aspecting the chart's Midheaven, Uranus aspecting the south node) I see this also as a moon that is really working our Aquarian ruled realms -- Our unique fingerprint, intuition, genius, Our connection to community, groups, friends, tribe-members, Social equality issues, technology, science & innovations.  Mercury retrograde simply re-emphasizes the energy of this evaluative moon cycle -- the paradox of planting outer seeds for new growth through a process of inner work and deep letting go.  Allow yourself to be called to your revolutionary new visions, and really feel the one-of-a-kind you -- how we all individually contribute to the people around us is the mainstay of Aquarian ideals.  Being our authentic selves and knowing our authentic selves IS our service to the community.

Working within the context of all of the above, through January's new moon we see the new creation with such depth, that we are left with no choice but to make profound soul-level decisions to radically release impediments, obstructions, and obfuscations that hinder absolute freedom.  All of this being done with the knowledge that it is a necessary part of our evolutionary course -- that loss and karmic release is only a temporary state.  This new moon is REALLY about seeding intentions for our hidden spiritual visions and unique quest, voice & individuality, while sloughing off the uniform.  We still have more to change, more to review, more to settle before we're quite ready for the complete development of our ideas... but we're starting to come into full alignment with these ideas and full knowing of what exactly we will need to address in the coming months.  Right now, we're remodeling our inner home -- brilliantly envisioning exactly what we want it to look like, with an old structure falling down around us.  The new foundation is being laid, but there's still some old dry wall that needs to go to the dump before we can start building.  Now is the time to go crazy, be creative, and joyfully throw out the crap.  Don't think about the logistics, just express yourself (that's for later anyway!)

And most of all, don't let the old house dictate what the new one must look like.

Processing Time

etsy2014-26.jpg

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!