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

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!

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Mercury Retrograde in Capricorn: Observations

It is officially "that time of year" again -- Mercury Retrograde time!

Since I did not cover this in my previous article, I thought it would be helpful to share my observations about this cycle thus far.  As of December 1st, Mercury entered it's "shadow zone" at 28 degrees of Sagittarius, and on the 19th of December it will begin its journey retrograde in the sign of Capricorn, goes direct again on January 8, and will clear it's shadow on January 27, 2017, completing the retrograde process.

So what does this all mean?  During the LAST Mercury retrograde in Capricorn (earlier this year) I actually wrote a fairly in-depth explanation that you can review here -- but the short version for today's purposes is that basically starting December 1st we began receiving the "story" that is going to undergo a review process in the coming weeks.  We are in a fiery, quick moving time as Saturn & Uranus come to meet in a trine formation -- manifestation is happening rapidly, often suddenly, and the energy is very difficult to control.

Mercury moving retrograde in the earth sign of Capricorn is causing us to have to confront physical-reality problems in the midst of all of this quick action.  The coming year is going to be more of this fast-fast energy, with a strong emphasis on getting out of the head and into the heart, so I have a sense that this getting-down-to-the-details Mercury Retrograde, if worked with properly, will be helpful preparation for the adventures and whirlwind of here-and-now concerns that 2017 is going to bring.

So, in light of that -- Here's a bit of what I've noticed arising...

1) Since Capricorn rules authority internal and external... I have observed many people dealing with experiences that clash against their typical ego-comfort modus operandi. In general, I feel it is causing us to have to face a need to revise or change how our inner authority thinks about itself. In particular the part that thinks it's immune to a need for constructive criticism and adjustment that goes against our perception of how we are/need to be. It's really touching people in tender and resistant spaces.

Think of the Capricorn archetype -- every Sun-Capricorn I know has a strong sense of "image" and an innate desire to be on top of their respective worlds. It is a sign that carries a lot of hidden judgment and insecurity in its shadow. If you go into battle with a Capricorn, you can be assured that they will not let you see them vulnerable.

Each and every one of us has this archetype within us, somewhere in our chart. This Mercury retrograde really feels like it's triggering the contrast between the "image" we carry of ourselves and the actual truth of what would actually make us stronger. Vulnerability and openness is basically essential to transformation, but this is a sign that HATES THAT and wants to change on its own terms, in its own way, and would rather keep doing things the hard way than accept an outsider's opinion.

Capricorn's strength is its wisdom. Wisdom comes through the experience of hard won battles, mistakes, and at times, the ability to listen and consider the value of an unpleasant truth. Whatever story has come up in the past week or so since Mercury crossed into its shadow, this Retrograde feels like a good time to listen and evaluate that resistant part of ourselves. Sometimes doing something different from the norm is wise.

True strength is in an open mind. It sounds good on paper, but does that Capricorn part of us really believe it? Skepticism is Capricorn's idea of strength... a valid skill -- but does it always serve your highest and best?

Just a few questions to consider.

2) Capricorn being an earth sign will bring up physical, hard reality, logistical challenges. In my own life, the phrase "Major Repairs" has been a basic theme of several life situations. The no fun, bank account draining, ultimate drudgery type of repairs. The kind that involve taking the whole machine apart and putting it back together again. Quite literally.

Capricorn is also a very financial sign. Sure we think of Taurus as finances -- but the Capricorn archetype is one that tends to desire success and recognition -- which includes financial achievement and class. The Capricorn "look" is like a modern NYC penthouse apartment with skyline views. Everything is angular, granite, etc.  Even if a Capricorn individual is not a person who strives in this way, they are at the very least extremely thrifty.

For Capricorn, money is a form a security and power -- not in some kind of messy, emotional battle way like you might find it in Scorpio -- but from a purely shrewd business-like outlook. Capricorn doesn't want to be a lowly minion, they want to be the BOSS. It values SUCCESS and ACHIEVEMENT over emotional matters.

So another effect I've noticed with Mercury Retrograde is a lot of money matters coming to the fore. WISDOM IN INVESTMENTS is very important under this Mercury Rx...

I think strengthening the financial foundation and checking for "leaks" and "need for repair" of the bank account is also coming up right now for many. For me, Capricorn presides over my 2nd house of finances, so I have been going over and observing a LOT of oversights in my financials that I had no idea about, and learning a ton of new things about money management. But I have seen very Capricorn-like financial situations appear around me as well.

Also important, I feel, is clearly understanding the motivations behind the striving for success and checking yourself for whether or not you are in the best possible position to be properly aligned with your greater vision -- and this includes looking at your various sources of financial support (particularly around work, because Capricorn is all about WORK and MANAGEMENT), and adjusting for changes, repairing leaks, etc... so that you can be standing in line with the stream of financial flow, success, and strength rather than just-missing it.

This also goes back to an inner-authority relationship that requires knowing who you really are and making a critical analysis of what is truly functional and dysfunctional in your business exchanges -- then addressing those things.

This is also a good time to consider some new, out-of-the-box ideas that make you stand out from the crowd, and be more recognized and demanded for what you offer as an individual, not just what you offer as your job description, business umbrella, etc.

3)  In general, I've noticed communications to have themes of a) Needing to be recognized  b)  Focus on details and fixing errors ... a requirement for absolute and quite literal clarity.  c) Struggles for control.

This is a time of delineated thinking, noticing mistakes or vagueness that you did not see in the previous months with all of the super-foggy, watery energy that has been afoot.

It's a time to be clear and to the point.  Be wary of ego battles, and aspire for truth but keep the peace -- or, if it is appropriate, and the situation is not useful, helpful or serving any kind of purpose, direct your inner authority to disengage completely.

So those are just a few of my thoughts and observations with reference to what has been reflected towards me.  How have you been feeling about this round of Capricorn Mercury Retrograde?  Let me know in the comments :)

The Vision Going Forward // Astrology of December 2016 // New Moon in Sagittarius, Full Moon in Gemini

Hello friends and welcome to my analysis of the Astrology of December 2016.  This month I am discussing the energies of the Sagittarius Lunar Cycle:  The New Moon at 7 degrees of Sagittarius on November 29, at 7:18AM EST and the Full Moon at 22 degrees of Gemini on December 13th at 7:06PM EST.

I like to discuss the monthly weather in terms of the lunar cycles from new to full because I find it a helpful way to present archetypal themes.  I find that the lunar charts neatly summarize the general vibes of the month as they represent both what we are looking to sow (new moon) and what is culminating/being reaped (full moon).  Every year we experience new and full moons in each sign – and so if we choose to follow the lunar months, we can become more attuned to the energetic rhythm of life in general.  Working with, deepening, and understanding the natural flow of things.

So looking into the chart of the New Moon set for Washington, D.C. the new moon is sitting very near to the ascendant which refers to the outer self or image we present to the world in the 12th house, the realm of the subconscious, self undoing, and karmic release.  Its closest aspects are to the nodes of fate and Neptune, points that just began separating after two solid months traveling together.  Neptune for these past two months has been on the south node of past life habits and addictions in Pisces, the sign of disillusionment, confusion, escapism, etc.  Neptune is extremely amplified in the sign of Pisces and has been a dominant force in the world psyche for the past several years.  On the highest level – these energies represent the soul visions, spiritual growth, the dropping of the veils, compassion, understanding, and the unearthing of gifts that direct us towards more empathetic and heart focused relationships.  This is between people as well as the relationships we have with other aspects of our life such as our work, the “world” as an entity, oneself, etc.  On the negative side – Neptune energy increases emotionality, is receptive to a fault (it represents illness both psychic and physical), and shows where we can be blind to ourselves, where we lie to ourselves, and where we can become completely enveloped by and lost in an illusion.

One of the things associated with Neptune is film – so think of when you go to see a film, how easy it is to become lost and engrossed in the action and emotion of the characters – so that you almost feel as if you are there and that the characters themselves become familiar and real.  That is the power of Neptune at work – through this enveloping characteristic it can show us the highest beauty and truth and also pull us into a deception, a fog.  As Neptune has lingered near the South Node in Pisces – where these themes are greatly amplified – the world at large has been grappling with its handle on reality in a big way.  Much has been revealed in the discourse of the past month that has been shocking and upsetting to the world consciousness, but what has also been evident is that the things were ALREADY PRESENT, and were simply hidden, obfuscated, etc.  There is a strong tone within the USA national politics at this time of intense public deception.  And this deception is occurring at many, many levels – from money mongering political agendas that have existed since time immemorial to the most basic level of how we receive information in this age of technology.  We live in a world that is increasingly connected and unified, one that is increasingly aware of our interconnectedness – but yet at the same time there is an unprecedented heavy influence of perception in almost all information that we receive.  What it seems like, to my eyes, is that in many situations, it matters not whether a piece of information is true or false, but whether or not it succeeds in conveying a specific psycho-emotional message.  As with anything – this goes just as powerfully for positive messages as it does for negative messages.

As such, we have been living in times where clarity and straightforwardness have become elusive.  The correct path is the path of Virgo – current resting place of the North Node, which upholds integrity, virtuousness, and simplicity.  But the energetic patterning that we are coming upon is very much suggestive that the darkness comes before the light.  These shocks and revelations to our consciousness is a part of our collective emotional shadow work.  In the past it has been easy to talk a good talk and do little else, but it seems that we find ourselves now faced with a critical situation – something major has culminated – and now our job going forward is to figure out WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NEXT?

And that question is very much central to the function of this New Moon in Sagittarius, which lingers in that liminal time just after dawn on the East coast.  The consciousness of the collective and our personal consciousness is VERY enmeshed at this time.  We all feel in touch with issues that affect humanity in the big picture, and we all feel the impulse to do something about it.   In a way, it feels very much like we’ve opened a collective Pandora’s box, and things have felt fast, and out of control – but the link between the personal consciousness and the collective consciousness can also be utilized to direct the clean up process, and the vision of the future.  In short, FEAR is the Pisces Achilles heel – but clarity comes when we devote ourselves to how we can help, as individuals, in our daily lives to make our world a better place.

Before I even looked at the chart for this new moon, I felt that this article would be about “The Vision Going Forward.”  This year we have come to completion with many large thematic arcs of consciousness.  From the Chinese perspective, 2016 was the year of the Fire Monkey – an almost impossible to control, compulsively mischievous creature paired with the most difficult to control element in the Chinese Zodiac.  The shifts have been rapid, often surprising, and usually unwelcome.  Predictably unpredictable, the Fire Monkey has also exposed fallacy and weakness in our social system in a way that perhaps no other sign could.  And in the wake of this, what was unclear has become clear, what is unclean can become cleansed, and what is feared can now become conscious.

Who are we now?  And how do we inspire change?

There is a strong suggestion in the chart for the New Moon that part of how we actualize change is through embodying our radical qualities.  So that it is not so much an idea of how we would like to be, but to work towards fully BEing in the flow of our own personal freedom, growth, and individuality.  This is a way that the personal consciousness can affect the collective in a positive manner.

With the connection of this new moon so close to the nodes of fate – our intentions this month will be supercharged and important for progress going forward.  Sagittarius is an inherently joyful, hopeful sign that ceaselessly quests for higher knowledge and looks at the big picture of every situation.  Utilize this energy from the space of hope, and feel what is truly important for your growth and mission on a personal level and how that fits in to the collective.  There is so much that we can offer as individuals that can serve others in a positive way.  Knowing that change on the large scale does not happen overnight, but living as if change is here and continuing to feed the energy of connection over division, distraction, or escaping.  We have the power to transmute things in the collective consciousness through our presence and personal journey to truth and clarity.

Wherever we are on the spectrum in that process, there is always another precipice, and a deeper revelation to meet us.  In fact, we may even come to the same realization repeatedly with new wrinkles and layers.  But each step is necessary, as each step is basically a further integration of our higher self – provided we are aspiring to connect with this aspect of ourselves. 

The Full Moon at mid-month brings with it the “work” part of the vision that we are setting in motion now.  At least, it will show us with stark clarity where the work within us really lies, in particular, how our ego self tends to operate against our softer ideals.  At the time of the full moon the Sun will be separating from a conjunction to Saturn and a square to Chiron – both energies which represent lessons, repercussions, and the karmic process of going from our raw, most animalistic qualities to the more refined, integrated and human version.  If we actually work with Saturn (representing our Karmic inheritance and mission) and Chiron (Chiron represents our soul wounds/the force of healing within us), two planets that tend to create a big “ouch” effect for many, we can start to come into contact with this more refined version of ourselves.  But because as a society we are so indoctrinated with fear, we tend to resist the lessons and experience these energies as mostly painful.  As a result of this, many of us stay in our fear and survival urges without ever graduating to our human self in a fully integrated sense.  Somehow I sense that this will be a reminder that we can be so much greater if we can stop getting so hung up on the little things and resist the urge to constantly overreact.

The Full Moon is also strongly supported by the progressive energies of Mars in Aquarius, Jupiter in Libra and Uranus in Aries.  So while it is challenged and burdened by Saturn, et. al. both a Kite formation and a Mystic Rectangle in the chart (both aspecting the full moon) suggest positive synchronicity.  This is a MIND to ACTION energy.  The emotional process serves as a maturity gauge and is a source of great soul searching.  The potential is for a lot of haywire energy if one is not careful – but it is a great energy for manifestation of thoughts into reality, or at least thoughts into motion.  Thus, it is important for us to be measured in the thoughts that we choose to set into motion.

Even as we are breaking out in new directions there is still emotional subconscious processing that is very present.  The full moon is going to be powerfully illuminating of collective thought forms.  I’ve been seeing it for a long time and saying it for a long time, but I can sense the power of the collective mind continuing to grow under these influences – and as the month progresses we’ll go from “seeing” what it is to feeling it in real time.  The tangible reality creates pressure – and people either succumb to it or shift it.  As much as we can, when things come up within us – especially reflections that come to us from the outside – it is most beneficial if we FACE and SHIFT the afflicting energies.  They may feel quite numerous, heavy, and difficult, but this is how to more rapidly transmute the discordant vibrations out there in the world.

What we are dealing with is a sort of spiritual battleground.  The energy is running hot and fast, but within us we need to remain vigilant, centered and grounded.

As we wrap up the nodal transit through Virgo in the next several months, the keys will be to stay focused on Virgos virtues – participation, bringing order to chaos, creating routines, focusing on the here and now, being of service to others, moderation, grounding ourselves through experience (read up on Virgo North Node here).  Now that Neptune, Saturn, and Jupiter have all separated from the nodes, we have weathered a massive onslaught of psychic information and shifting and it feels like we now have the opportunity to integrate this experience and fully arrive at the ultimate lesson of the Virgo North Node this time around, which is also one of the anchoring lessons of these times that we are in.  Staying with the simple, the humble, the natural way – this is the path to the clarity we are seeking and the ultimate truth of how positive change is to be created at this time.

Keep the momentum of change going, stay positive and hopeful – this is the Sagittarius perspective.  What you believe becomes your will.

Well wishes for a happy December – may we all use this time to direct the will of humanity for the greatest good of all.

Peace.

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The Astrology of November 2016 – Scorpio/Taurus Moon Cycle & Reflections on October

Hello everyone, and welcome to my analysis of the 2016 Scorpio/Taurus lunar cycle & astrological overview of themes for both October and November.

Last month in October I did not have the chance to write a full article due to hosting the Star Spirit Movement Retreat (which was awesome, by the way!!!)  But October was a super-charged month – brimming with much change and action!  The Libra/Aries lunar cycle that encompassed the New Moon on September 30 and the Full Moon on October 16 was highly social, transformative, and a powerful initiatory point for the year-long transit of Jupiter in Libra.  In October we saw the arrival of many long-awaited but nonetheless quick shifts and an abundance of social-connection oriented activity.

In the energy of October, we got a full dose of Jupiter in Libra’s influence and primary message for 2016 & 2017:  To honor our RELATIONSHIPS and CONNECTIONS as the measure of truth.

In the whirlwind of October, no matter what was happening in any interaction I was having -- positive, negative or neutral -- the message from spirit kept going back to “the relationship.”  Remember the relationship, was the whispering.  The situation doesn’t matter.  It’s about the relationship.

This came up again and again when considering the one-to-one relationships in my life -- from business partnerships, to family, to students, clients, visitors, and beyond.  It was a consistent, gentle reminder that at the central core of all that we do and all that we exchange of others (money, knowledge, love, etc) the thing that holds it together in the end is not the transaction of goods, time, or even kindness – but the quality of the bond between two people.  And in that, we each have a responsibility as individuals to recognize the value of harmonious interactions with others in our life as GREATER than momentary quibbles or grudges.  It is the RELATIONSHIPS and our efforts to harmonize with and care for one another that determine positive outcomes and govern the genuine health and happiness of daily life.

To succeed in relationship is to recognize fluctuations and work with them – knowing when a boundary might need to be set, yet in the same moment, when to back off and allow.  So often in our current cultural paradigm we are hung up on the policing and commanding of other people in our lives and we lose sight of the necessity to let things rest & reset.  Without intending it, we add fuel to the fire and get lost in a war we didn’t mean to start fighting due to our impatience and desire for instant gratification.

There are many things that can be resolved through peaceful allowing.  Every negative emotion that is directed towards us by another person is not necessarily a call to arms.  Sometimes, it is a time when we need to be still and allow the other to ventilate.  Sometimes, harsh behavior is a hidden call for attention and help, a veiled concern, a defense mechanism, an expression of isolation or frustration, etc… I feel that the energies of the times are asking us to become more sensitive to the true emotion underneath our day-to-day interactions.  What rises to the surface is only one layer of truth, and often the most superficial.  What people show first are usually responses that arise from conditioning, past experience, and expectations.  Dig deeper.  Feel what is really being said.  Respond to what lies beneath, not just what you hear with your ears.

Harmony in relationships from a Libran perspective is truly an art form.  It requires the ability to perceive and work from a nuanced space.  It is knowing that every action need not evoke a response – and that a response need not be direct to be effective. 

Consider this example:  Let’s say someone in your life approaches you in an intense way – they might even be putting you in the line of their fire whether or not you are the culprit for this upset energy.  If we respond from Libra’s opposite archetype, Aries -- the warrior energy – we might be inclined to immediately demolish this person out of impulsive anger and irritation.  If we respond from Libra’s shadow – where we feel at odds with ourselves and uncertain how to choose sides – we might even take a passive-aggressive approach – smiling on the outside while crafting a devious revenge plot on this inside.  Wearing the façade of being “cool” while internally seething.

But there is something to be gleaned from the fact that the planet that is in its exaltation in Libra – meaning a planet which has special strength in a sign – is Saturn.  Yes, Libra’s ruling planet is Venus – the planet of relationship, romance, refinement & luxury – but with the subtle connection of Saturn here, we can understand that inherent to the archetype of Libra is also a sense of wisdom, control and dignity.  Libra, in its most pure quality, teaches us how to receive, redirect, diffuse and dissolve adversity with loving kindness.

We might ask ourselves:  Why is this person upset?  Am I really the one they are upset with?  If so, what offering of peace can I make?  If not, can I remain calm enough to offer reflection?  Can I step aside and dodge the force of their attack while remaining unaltered in my own integrity of truth?  Can I suggest another perspective in a non-forceful manner, with no expectations?  Can I allow myself to relinquish the any need to control others – their reactions, behaviors, etc… and seek a peaceful solution?  And the absolute key to it all – Can I be controlled enough in myself to understand and respect the value of grace & good timing – Waiting for the right moment to act or speak.  In the meantime holding no emotion (allowing them to pass through … not encouraging their festering) or negative expectation?

Honor that honing the skills of peacekeeping in our personal lives is important right now.  The influence of discord, upheaval, and anger is strong and it is easy to allow ourselves to be triggered.  But we must always ask ourselves – is it worth it?  What is gained (and lost) through angry exchanges, emotional dramas, etc?  It’s high time we start acknowledging our desire to fall into these snake pits for what they are:  distractions from what it is we know deep down we should be doing with our mind energy – which is to be creative, evolutionary, and inclusive.  We do not need permission, or even the “on-board”ness of others to achieve this.  In fact, to the contrary – those that walk in the path of their truth will find true partners.  It need not be a fight, or a demand.  And so the irony of the Libra archetype is that in order to harmonize with others we must first recognize our individuality.  Our interdependence is one that stems from individuals in their strength operating together.  The need to “agree” is not the first step or always necessary.  If we can let go of that, we might find a greater capacity for compromise and our needs more fully met by others.  True partnership is the authentic union of two whole individuals in freedom and trust.

Anyhow – that was a pretty long reflection on the October energy, but it was a reflection that I feel is of perennial importance and will be relevant for the year as our journey with Jupiter in Libra continues to unfold.  This is a time to strengthen ourselves through CONNECTION and LOVE.

Now -- diving into the realm of the Scorpio phase, the energy of the autumnal release and drift into darkness is upon us.  What I see/feel is that this is a time to consolidate the forces that drive us, to move forward with the plans we hold dear, and let go of our grievances in the process.  We must look forward towards the health of our lives with foresight -- going beyond primal impulse urges and striving toward a deeper evolution.  We actually have a great opportunity in this moment to work positively with the subconscious, and untangle the roots of our addictive behavior patterns, no matter how they manifest.  This is the season that is celebrated in Western esoteric traditions as the time when the veils between the spirit world and the human world are the thinnest, thus this is also a time when we can receive great insight from the spiritual realms regarding our forward progress.

I write over and over in this blog about how letting go is the key to productive development at this time.  Scorpio is a sign that, at its highest level, embodies the concept of letting what is destined to be, to be.  Scorpio is empowered by the killing of the ego’s control-oriented survival urge – which is often the most difficult thing for the Scorpio aspect of ourselves to grok.  Scorpio archetype grips, and controls, and strives for power over something in order to ensure its life-force… but in this gripping and controlling, we also limit our capacity.  The Scorpio well is actually bottomless… which is frightening if we’re concerned about falling into it.  But if there is no ground to hit at the bottom, what is there to fear, really?  Must we always know everything to be secure? Can we embrace the mystery of life?  And accept the possibility that if we surrender, we may have the chance to experience life in a new way?  That a narrow tunnel is not our only destiny?

When we open to the broader vision of our life – we might later have the opportunity to understand the structure we desire to put around things.  But if we obsess over every detail of the planning, and attempt to micromanage every outcome, we may be undermining the greatness that is trying to come towards us!  This is the time of visioning and building… but it is a process that ebbs and flows.  It does not arrive all at once.  There are steps, detours, and rest stops.

What we are doing this month of November is assimilating meaning and applying the knowledge that we have gained to the situation.  The dynamics of control vs. no control underlie our present perspective and subconsciously direct us if we are not careful.  I am feeling it is important to remember that the master is within us – and to consciously seek the higher wisdom that is available to us.  If we open ourselves to hear, we are in a position to create deep and lasting change – and develop a more personal relationship with the nature of spirit and our true self.

We live in a time of restructuring and repatterning.  This is very much visible in the chaos of the outer world – but the true work of repatterning begins with us as individuals.  During this time we vacillate between feeling like “we got this” and feeling like everything is completely out of our hands -- and many people, in my observation, are subconsciously leaning towards the latter.  A hidden quality of Scorpio is highlighted by its opposite sign, Taurus – and that is a deeply felt need for security and reassurance.  Taurus finds these things through the physical world (am I fed?  Do I have shelter?  Do I have enough money?  Am I comfortable?) – but for a Scorpio this must be found through trust in self on a primal, pure instinctual level.  What I am sensing is that the consciousness of people has not fully embraced that a repatterning/restructuring is possible.  There is a great deal of uncertainty and hesitation, though the desire for change has been well established.  What I feel is that November is an opportunity to go full on into divine trust and see what we are made of.

The sense of "security" that is found within the Scorpio archetype is the unflinching knowledge that no matter where we are and what is happening, we are, at our deepest core, unshakeable and undamageable.  In order to arrive at this space we must be willing to unhinge ourselves from the many subtle grips of fear and sink into a deep trust and knowing that all is well and all will work out as it should.  We can have control of ourselves and our lives without needing to BE IN CONTROL.  There is a subtle but important distinction between the two.  The dance of November will be finding that delicate balancing point between determining where change and structure is needed while still remaining free.   Know where you are, and respect the sovereignty of the dynamic wheel of fortune that surrounds each of us in collective and individual ways.  Do what is necessary, and also heed the greater governing intelligence of mystery.  This energy is about anchoring INWARD in order to direct & manage (not control or try to drive) the outward.

The Full Moon in Taurus is to occur at 22 Taurus, the degree of the master builder.  The energy of this moon has an unrelenting and somewhat confrontational feel.  Alliances have strong relevance and will speak a great deal into the processes underway at this time.  Heed the input of October’s flow and maintain dignity, composure, and acumen.  This is the time to APPLY all the philosophy, compassion, and beliefs that are passed around and spoken about, in a steadfast, even, and determined manner.

I can’t seem to emphasize enough that it is all going to come back to our personal integrity and self development.  What I feel very strongly from this particular cycle through Scorpio is that we must empower ourselves through self discipline when it comes to how we respond to the world around us – recognizing the subtle differences between emotions rising up from hidden doubts or conditioned expectations – and those that are truly “straight from the gut.”  This is a time to really work on crystal clarity in alignment between mind & spirit, because when we are in integrity here, our consciousness has much more power of focus to create the substantive shifts that we are making at this time.  So, if nothing else, it is a good time to get to know your psychological distraction patterns really well and aspire towards greater clarity of thought and action.  Really explore the possibilities of the inner will…  With it, you might find yourself able to move previously immovable mountains.  This is the true power of our integrity, as it is integrity alone that can cause true transformation.

We are in for a very interesting time this coming month, and I am curious to see how it all plays out in the worlds inner and outer, and look forward to the opportunity to go in and go deep.

Much love.

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September 30: New Moon in Libra Quick Update

Hey y'all -- the new moon is tonight at 8:11PM EDT. The eclipses are finished, the shadow of Mercury Retrograde is almost finished, Jupiter is in Libra -- life is good again! Yay!

This is a very relationship-focused moon, for many reasons! Since this moon marks a sort of initiation point of Jupiter's ingress into Libra -- it may feel right to direct our intentions towards what it is we wish to cultivate, grow, or shift in the realm of partnerships. Romance is always implied with Libra, but this can also relate to business partnerships, friendships, client relationships, and even our relationship to certain aspects of our lives. Jupiter is a very beneficial energy in the sign of Libra -- as it brings a feeling of luxury and social pleasure -- but the shadow energy of Jupiter can sometimes expose where something is TOO much. Since it is the sign of the scales, we will get a chance to rebalance our social orientation throughout the next year.

Within this energy we are still dealing with the aftermath of the Saturn-Neptune square, as these points are still very close to the nodes of fate (with Saturn in an exact square aspect to the nodes at the time of the new moon). This means that there is still very important work being done with regards to breaking down the false or weak structures in our lives and the development of the new. This past month there was a BIG wave of releasing energy, and so in a sense we are still reeling from all that. There were a lot of changes that really were surprising, and had a big impact.

This fall season equinox on September 22nd happened to fall on the day that Mercury stationed to move direct in Virgo. When a planet is in a stationary mode in a chart, it always has more of an impact, and the fact that this transition happened on the Equinox implies that this season (September, October, November & December), we will still be carrying out the process that has begun under the eclipse cycle and Mercury Retrograde's influence. So there is a weaving of the old and the new structures -- an entering and exiting that seems to be happening simultaneously. We might feel that we're still "making room" in the way of letting go, but at the same time we have to continue moving forward to keep up with the changes that are here and demanding attention.

This new moon energy is a good time to really explore all the layers of what has shifted in the past several months -- and to see where you might be shifting your relationship to certain aspects of yourself, your life, and other people. Get to know the new you, as well. Always remembering that we are constantly changing -- even to ourselves. The way we felt yesterday doesn't need to be the way we feel today! Libra, the sign most often accused of indecisiveness, inherently understands that our self concept is more-often-than-not relational. It is Libra's ability to see all sides and engage with many perspectives that actually allows for harmonious adjustment. What sometimes comes off as wishy-washy is just Libra's way of maneuvering all of the factors until a firm conclusion can be agreed upon. Because the truth is in the sussing out of influences. What to store, what to keep, what to throw away, what to increase, what to decrease, etc.

With that in mind -- enjoy the delightful fall weather! And have a relaxing weekend!!!

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 :))

Astrology of August 2016 - Becoming Real

Hello again my friends, and welcome to August’s monthly forecast!  In this article I will be discussing the astrology for August based off of the charts cast for this month’s new moon August 2nd at 4:45PM EDT and full moon eclipse on August 18th at 5:26AM EDT.  Yes, you heard right, the sun is coming back to meet the nodes of fate, which means this month begins another eclipse season!  It will be a long cycle of eclipses, too, as there are three eclipses occurring from August to September, rather than the usual pair.

For simplicity’s sake, I will be discussing only August’s astrology in this particular article and will go into greater depth about the subsequent eclipses in another article.  However, I do go into detail about the overarching influence of the nodes at this time, which does apply to the eclipse season as a whole.

Last month I wrote a great deal about the indications within the chart that we were officially making the transition from established status quo territory into the reality that we’ve been working to build – for ourselves personally as well as for our community.  The energies of July were so powerfully aligned with the long-standing Uranus-Pluto square that there was a very profound sense of “now is the time.”  The most distinct image I had received during the creation of that article was one specifically of racial and religious harmony and integration.

I am sure that it goes without saying that July was a powerful month in so many unexpected ways.  A rash of violent events struck the consciousness of Americans to our core and there has been a sense that we can no longer remain numb to that which has divided us and caused undue harm to innocents for so many years.  These events sparked a great deal of widespread introspection about why it is our American culture has supported such behaviors for so long, and how we must go about changing this unfortunate situation.  I was surprised, myself, at how apt the article I wrote about the month ended up being – the prevailing message was, of course, How do we undo the webs of conditioning and so-called tradition that keep us bound?  How do we really allow ourselves to push the boat from the shore and fully commit to the mysterious, unformed vision of reality that so many of us have been striving to develop?

My feeling at the beginning of last month was that this commitment comes from simply realizing that we are ALREADY past the point of no return.  If we were to turn back, there would be nothing to go back to.  All has changed.  We are in the active process of CHANGING.  So the truth is, we have no other choice but to see this journey through, as a people, together.  It is our individual participation and our willingness to step into a space of service that will determine the ultimate outcome of these changeful times.

I am feeling the need to recap this because we are entering into an eclipse cycle where the Sun will be crossing the North Node – illuminating the way to get where we are going.  Back in March we had an eclipse series in Pisces, passing over the South Node of our default mode, habits and addictions, which over the past six months has made the problems within the collective consciousness increasingly apparent.  Since last fall, the nodes have been traveling through the axis of service & compassion – with the North Node in Virgo and the South Node in Pisces – arousing the collective fears & anguish, as well as our desire for simplicity and an unperturbed daily life.

The function of the nodes is always a polarity to be worked out – a reckoning of the soul.  The North Node indicates the area where we refine and channel the situation of the South Node.  The South Node position usually operates like a stuck, over-exaggerated version of the sign of its placement’s shadow until it is able to be harnessed and utilized effectively through the channel of the North Node.  In the case of Virgo/Pisces, we are looking for practical, real world solutions to problems that are massively confusing, complex, and are so because they are emotionally based.  Pisces’ shadow side is one of delusions, illusions, religious/emotional fervor, addiction – particularly to any substance or idea that brings about an ‘altered state,’ a tendency to see things how one wants to see them without discernment, and guilt/martyrdom/victimhood patterns.  Under the vibes of the Pisces South Node we are dealing with a storm of emotionality with no real grounding.  This is one of the reasons, astrologically speaking, that we have been finding 2016 to be so chaotic.  To spite an ever-growing consciousness of spiritual awareness – there also seems to be an ever-growing reality of unrest, violence, and bigotry.  How could this be possible?

Recently, I received a blog post update from one of my mentors that stated, “Earth is holding more light frequency now than it ever has. Are you finding that hard to believe?”  And as I am writing about this, I am seeing that paradox at work in the charts.  Yes, there is more light – but what happens when light is shone in a dark place?  We suddenly become aware of all that is falling apart and rotting away.  While this discovery is usually horrifying (THAT’S what has been living in my basement all these years?) we also have the opportunity to cleanse, purify and restore (Virgo’s specialty) now that these things have come to our awareness.  And – as painful, as disturbing, as upsetting as it is – this is our process at the moment -- to CLEAN UP and PURIFY our consciousness and perception of life.  These shadows we now see in flying colors are not new.  They have been there for quite some time – and their appearance in this moment is not a sign of our descent into chaos, rather it is our impetus to keep deepening our work.  Virgo’s urging is for us to awaken to our service in life, and to utilize all of our tools to assist each other in the process of creating the new framework.  Virgos are expert renovators.  I have watched Virgos transform structures that are dilapidated and falling apart into beautiful dream spaces time and time again.  A project that seems utterly hopeless (Pisces shadow) to most people, is just something that is waiting for Virgo’s fastidious attention and care.

So as we enter into August & September, and eclipse season, it would behoove us all to remember that in the midst of trying circumstances – now is a time when we have the great opportunity to create real reform.  But I must stress that it starts with the INDIVIDUAL first – why?  Because it needs to be REAL (Virgo Earth).  So whatever it is you are dreaming on, whatever it is you see that’s wrong with the bigger picture, wherever it is you would like to go and give in life – how can you do your OWN work to heal?  How can you really EMBODY your ideals deeply and authentically?  This is how we can utilize Virgo North Node’s practical nature to channel the positive energy of Pisces – which is the deep and unconditional love for all things and our connection to the universal.  The ideals we carry need to PASS THROUGH the process of embodiment in order to be effective.  Otherwise they’re just ideals.  But if we have embodied the ideals?  If we’ve made them real for ourselves?  Well THEN we can effect change!  The difference is that it’s not just a thought anymore, now it is a vibration that we carry in our being, something that has passed through the alchemical fire, stood the test of time, and now can be transmitted to other people through our actions.

Of course, I know in some ways it sounds like the same old trope, “Oh yeah, be kind to others, golden rule, yeah yeah yeah…”  But understand that what I am professing and where the energy is gearing us towards is well beyond that.  How can we be EFFECTIVE and create RESULTS in our reality?  What is our ROLE?  How do we help?  Until we have very seriously grappled with these kinds of questions and been able to create shifts in our own consciousness and reality reflection, no effective change can come to pass on a large scale.  It will be fleeting and temporal, as it often is.  It will be emotional and momentary, as it often is.  Think bigger.  Think not just in actions/non actions, language and emotions (how should I feel, how should they feel, what should I do? Etc.) – think how do I channel the vibration of a certain kind of CONSCIOUSNESS?  And then notice how when you broaden the question the “What to do” starts to answer itself.

In my weekly Qigong class I was speaking to the students about the distinctions between different martial arts and our own specific practice, which is, at its heart, a Taoist alchemy practice.  What came to me as I was speaking on this was that the Qigong (energy work) is naturally understood as the alchemy – but it is not in itself the alchemy.  The true alchemy is in the self knowledge acquired through practice.  It is the integration that occurs when we move and look inward.  It is the understanding of how to access and then utilize the essence of the true mind, and live from there, shedding the layers of the thinking/egoic mind or shadow self.  The shedding of the layers is and is not conscious – actually, it is more just a natural result of the increased embodiment of self.  And by self, I mean of our natural, pure, unblemished spirit.  The energy work – the alchemy if you will – is to create the fire of purification within the self to transmute all of the internal resistance to this authentic experience.  In Tao this is referred to as “becoming real.”

It is a fact of our world that society is deeply out of sync with nature.  The structure of our society does not remember our connection with nature and each other and is instead caught in a web of public perception and ideology.  If we are not aware, we can also become engulfed by the waves of the prevailing consciousness, and in the midst of it all, completely forget ourselves and our true purpose in life.  For a long time, the vast majority of people simply went with the current.  In this moment, we are understanding that perhaps this mentality has gone too far, that we must strive to regain our sovereignty as individuals and use our power to direct the flow of consciousness by awakening the inner self.  Each and every day we must awaken the formless self, and carry our own current.  In the process, we help others – through direct service and even without words.  Nothing changes until we grasp this.  Nothing changes until we see with clear eyes, and can awaken in others the ability to do the same.  This is the alchemy that sheds the coat of conditioning.

So in looking to August & September’s astrology, understand that we are working with the archetypes of Leo & Aquarius in August, and then Virgo & Pisces in September, which will greatly intensify the energy and paradox that I have been speaking about. 

For this month, the energy directs us to become clear in who we are and what we want to achieve through this process.  Leo is the energy of the heart and inner illumination – the unflinching, unfiltered glow of the sun that never leaves no matter what clouds might obscure it for a time.  For August 2nd’s new moon – we are being compelled to activate the heart.  To find that illuminating nature deep within ourselves – and to utilize the light of Leo to see clearly the dark spaces.  What clouds obscure our true light?  What subconscious programs keep us from being a force of creative evolution?  How do we subvert our own power or perhaps misuse it?  What is the example that we set?  How can we SHINE in our example?

This is a fantastic new moon to set intentions around overcoming blocks related to creativity, effectiveness, and inspiration by example – as well as meditating upon and clarifying our understanding of what, precisely, we WANT.  Define it.  Intend it.  And set the process of creation in motion – because this is a month when we will be especially inspired to do so.

The full moon eclipse in Aquarius helps us identify our role in the community and our needs in relationship to community -- who WE are (Leo/1st House in USA Chart) and our awareness of the others in the big picture (Aquarius/7th House).  There will be a great deal of focus during this eclipse around understanding and implementing personal values and cultivating self worth with integrity.  I see an emphasis here around the idea of nourishment – how do we care for the collective in a personal, heart centered way?

The month of August will continue to bring up many of the challenges that are surfacing – especially around how we relate.  There is a pretty strong ping-ponging of energies that tends toward the easily offended/overly sensitive and on the other side unnecessarily picky and critical.  Try to stay with the big picture because this can be a very productive time, to spite the disagreements and constant emotional negotiation.  Unity comes through mutual agreement to overcome differences for a common purpose.  Start to define that purpose in clearer terms now – first with yourself, and then with those close to you – and then further out into the community.

Remember the common purpose – the essence.  It is your essence, and the essence of all humanity.  In the space of essence there is tolerance, cooperation, and peace.

Love.

Astrology of July 2016 – Finding the new Home

This past week in my internal martial arts class, Sifu (Chinese title for master-teacher) went into great depth on the topic of spirit, and how one must learn to move through the will of spirit.  Not just in training and practicing our forms, but in life.  His final instructions to the class were ones that felt quite relevant for the astrology of July:  “Know who you are and what your destiny is – and fulfill it.”

July’s astrology encourages us to really take the leap – to go against the grain -- and find, discover, and be who and what we are at a deeper and more complete level.  The moons this month are a new moon in Cancer on July 4, and a Full Moon in Capricorn on July 18.  This is the axis of creation and represents our innermost foundations and outer identity.  These are the vibrations traditionally associated with mother and father.

One interesting aspect of the July astrology is that we are passing through the space of the now separating Uranus-Pluto square that has been the central force of revolutionary change for the past five years.  At the same time we are also still working with the energy of Mars in Scorpio (now direct) throughout the whole month of July, putting a strong emphasis on completion around the Saturn-Scorpio story that has been ongoing for us since 2012 (but most particularly March 2014 through September 2015).  These elements seem to be operating in tandem this month – with Mars passing through a trine to Chiron (the point of deep wounding) -- and the implication that I sense is a sort of face off / show down between the sacred path and those things that interfere with or pull us from it.

Cancer and Capricorn can be understood as carriers of tradition.  Cancer is the archetype of the nurturing mother and the comfort and safety of home.   Capricorn is the archetype of accomplishment and success through the intelligent maneuvering of society.  But these realms have been shifting in recent years – for all of us.  Everything about what makes home, what makes a career, who we are and how we partner (all of the cardinal archetypes), have been turned on their head under the intense power of the Uranus-Pluto square – and for most, it has not been an easy process.  Social unrest, financial instability, homes and jobs lost, broken systems of government, human rights violations (and wins) – have touched ALL of our lives in some way these past several years, forcing the collective to seriously reevaluate what is real in this world, and what changes need to be applied towards future structures in our lives and society at large.

Yet, to spite the obvious disarray and apparent need for change, our internal programs and feelings of expectation still hold strong.  Even if we’re confident that we are on the right path for us, the territory can still feel unfamiliar, treacherous, and leave us filled with doubt.  At times, we may be inclined to turn back, but when we turn around, we find that there is no “back” at all!  We are essentially stuck in between – the web of the past and the knowledge of the future.  How do we figure it all out?  How do we fix it all?  How do we forgive (ourselves, each other)?  Is it possible to work together?

Mars Retrograde brought us back into the territory of our deep psychological obstacles and wounds through the past two months.  On a higher level, we know we must face these aspects of ourselves, these shadows of our being, in order to do what it is that we are called to do.  But while it sounds good on the surface, there’s a level at which this is actually quite a terrifying proposition – one that we might find ourselves resistant to embrace.  The small self feels protected by the layers of identity that once formed us.  If we let go of “home” – even if “home” is a place rife with dramas and struggles – who the heck are we?  And if we do make this shift into the being of our self that is our future self – our higher self – how can we know if it is authentic if it appears to be so different from where we came?

It is natural for us to now be considering these questions – but important to rise above these concerns and recognize what we are really being asked to focus upon at this time – and that is finding the home within the self.  The New Home.  Home is not where we’re from anymore.  It is not even the long lines of our ancestry.  Home is something entirely different – something beyond location, association, and culture.

What I am sensing is that the evolutionary promises of July’s astrology are a threshold into embracing a higher frequency of the Cancer archetype of unconditional love and the Capricorn archetype of divine authority.  We must all create sacred space and take sacred time in our lives as individuals so that we may transmute the anxieties and fears that befall us, and face the obstacles before us with courage.  The courage arises when we have established our inner anchor and we begin to see ourselves as sovereign.  Everything about who we are culturally is not our true identity – for we have all of us lived in many cultures, many times.  So it is up to us as individuals to make the effort to establish our own roots, and see beyond the veils of expectation and assumption.

We need to heal our wounds and fears around the unseen world.  This has been the hidden undercurrent of the past several years, represented by Chiron’s travels through Pisces – for when we can look at the truth in its many layers with clear eyes, we will see much, much more than we currently are able to, and only then can we actually have the change of heart and mind necessary to realize the deeper possibilities inherent within ourselves and humanity as a group.

“It is so much to sort through – an impenetrable knot of endless conditioning – how can it all be done?”  I hear myself protest.

The answer lies within each individual’s efforts to transcend their own conditionings (e.g. the ideas of how life “should be” that have been told to us by Mom, Dad, society, and even our own karmic self) and take an active part in the creation of those new things and new spaces that are left behind by the wounds of failed or failing structures.

There is a new world beyond this.  A more cooperative reality.  What it needs are different things – different ideas, different approaches, people who are willing to take those gifts that have felt like curses and utilize them in service of the collective force.  Why do you want to let your life be limited when you could be so much more and give so much more?  The fear and resistance we feel, the trepidation – it’s not there to encourage our hiding under the same ol’ same ol’ – it is there to propel us towards our destiny.  It is the discomfort necessary to inspire change.

Surrender to the process in this year of fateful turnings.  It may seem slow, other times it may seem like we’re moving at light speed – but the important part is that we keep going, keep integrating, and continue to be willing to shine our light out to the world – and to always, always hold close to the uncovering and exploration of what is the truth, and who is our true self.

When we practice these things – and come to know our sacred self – we will always find the way.  Without trying so hard!  It is there for you as it is for me, and for all of us.  Remembering this, we can see our fear for what it is and dissolve its influence.

Whatever it is, wherever you are – if it’s in your heart – keep going.  See it through.  Have faith and appreciate.  Your destiny will never desert you.  Only you can desert it.  We are all a part of the bigger picture – and it is incumbent upon us to fulfill our roles – knowing that these roles are not like the ones we’ve known.  Celebrating the awesome ability to be a part of collective creation and evolution.

Honor and embrace the past for what it’s been.  Embrace and honor the future – for what it will be.  Embrace and honor now, with openness and faith that there is something beautiful beyond the veil.  Be confident that the sphere of your abilities and your interests is enough.  It can all be done – if we all stop looking outside, and come back in.  Back home.  To who we really are.  And trust in it.  Because the true self knows the cosmic design, the web of connection, and the plan for your life.  We do not need to strive for what already is.

Sink in.  Just be.

SURRENDER GRACEFULLY ... Summer Solstice Sagittarius Blue Moon

I feel called to begin writing about this relatively rare full moon on the Summer Solstice by first acknowledging that this is the second Sagittarius Full Moon of the year.  It is what qualifies as an astrological “Blue Moon.”  In my personal world, since the last Sagittarius Moon until today’s, I have been in the midst of an arduous and seemingly never-ending moving process – which is my excuse for being so cyber aloof – and one of the reasons why I feel compelled to look at today’s astrology through the book-ends of these moons.  So though this post is about the present astrology (I haven’t quite mastered the art of writing blog posts with a great deal of advanced timing) with a bit of a recap of the past month, I hope you will find it informative and helpful to spite my tardiness.  I expect to do some writing on July sooner rather than later – but felt that June was too important to let it pass by without comment!

The energy of the past month has been intense, to put it lightly.  The key factor at work in the cosmos has been the massive, omnipresent Mutable T-Square between Jupiter, Saturn & Neptune.  This formation has been especially tight the past few weeks (including an exact hit between Saturn & Neptune) – and highlighted by the lunations in mutable signs – Two Sagittarius full moons very much emphasizing the themes of Saturn in Sagittarius – and of course the super whirlwind of the Gemini New Moon which landed right smack dab in the middle of all of the action – rounding off the T-Square (a stressful configuration of three points) to create a full on grand cross (a stressful configuration of FOUR points).  I usually feel the New Moon as a quieter time of the month – but this was absolutely not the case with the Gemini Moon that we just had.  The energy has been extraordinarily volatile and unpredictable. 

The factors here are numerous, so I feel it might be best to break them down a bit.

Two Sagittarius Full Moons and Our Vision

As I mentioned already, the past two consecutive full moons have both been in Sagittarius, the sign of the prophet, truth speaker, and traveler.  This is interesting to me for two reasons – 1) Of course, because it emphasizes the influence of Sagittarius and 2) Because this “Blue Moon” phenomenon happens to also be occurring during Saturn’s transit of Sagittarius – a transit that lasts approximately 2 ½ years that we won’t see again for another 28!

No matter what, Saturn always has a strong influence on what is happening with the collective – because Saturn essentially governs those aspects and structures of society that are more or less agreed upon by the collective.  Saturn in the sign of the truth speaker is really giving us a great deal of feedback surrounding our beliefs.  Sag is an extroverted sign that is known for being bluntly opinionated – and everywhere we look, we are surrounded by “truth” reflections.  In the most prominent news stories, in U.S. politics, in the stream of endless dialogue that is the online social media landscape – beliefs – and their fallibility, their veracity, their quality, etc. – are dominating the conversation.

Full moons have a culminating effect.  And there are a number of stories that have come up recently that seem to be asking us to really look long and hard at some of the beliefs held in the collective subconscious, and how these beliefs are actually quite caustic to the health of our society as a whole.  Though there have been many people concerned about the many human rights & political issues that are currently at the fore of the collective consciousness – I have felt this lunar cycle bring those issues and discussions to a much more central position.  Ultimately this carries with it the potential for a genuine shift.  For Saturn in Sag, it must happen in the heart before it later comes to form.  Our lessons on a personal and societal level under this influence are experiential.  Each and every one of them is informing what it is we need to DO to arrive at the vision that we’ve been striving towards, cultivating & developing.  What’s missing?  What needs to shift?  Be removed?

Sagittarius operates through the journey.  Nothing can be set in stone because we’re still traveling through the layers of ourselves and learning how to get out of our own way.

Mars Retrograde in Scorpio

Also very influential throughout this month of Sagittarius Moon-ness has been the Mars retrograde.  It first dove back into Scorpio territory just a few days before May’s Sag. Moon and go direct at the end of June to finally leave Scorpio on August 2nd.  This transit of Mars through Scorpio connects directly to the Saturn transit of Scorpio that we just recently finished.  Many of us are likely even revisiting an aspect of our life that we thought we had been liberated from only to realize, rather rudely, that there is still a bunch of super un-fun stuff left to do.

Mars in Scorpio is very much connected to our most primal emotions.  As a result the influence cannot be overlooked or underemphasized with reference to the volatility of the recent charts and many of the events that have been brought to public attention.  Scorpio governs issues of power, sexuality, psychology & shared resources – basically all the conversation topics that you try to avoid at the dinner table.  The stuff with complex emotional layers and hidden motives.

For what it’s worth, Mars’ retrograde journey back into Scorpio does give us a chance to really unload some of those persistent hang ups, once and for all.  Both on a personal and bigger social sphere level.   The sooner we can start to embrace the dive back into spaces we’d hoped we were done with, the sooner the shadow work actually gets done.  At the root of it all is access to our place of personal power.  The events of our lives and the reflections brought to us by society all contain the potential for us as individuals to deepen our perception and see beyond the interference.  Empowerment is an inside job.  Always.  But it often involves facing unpleasant truths and exploring what the reality is amidst complicated and conflicting emotions.

Saturn-Neptune Square

This influence has been active since approximately last fall.  Just last week these two had an exact hit right around the time that Neptune was stationing to go retrograde super-fueling the impact.

This combination is very intense, because by nature Saturn and Neptune are basically opposites.  Saturn represents form -- Neptune is all about what is formless.  Saturn is rigid and authoritarian – Neptune is imaginative and spiritual.

On the positive end, Neptune really helps Saturn free itself from its own prison and ultimately put to form the spiritual vision of Neptune.

On the negative end, this influence is EXTREMELY confusing, extremely emotional, and very turbulent.  Why?

Because when you introduce the shadow of Saturn in Sagittarius (self righteous preachy-ness) with the shadow of Neptune in Pisces (deception & illusion) – you have a stew of very unseemly situations that are difficult to see with adequate clarity.  It is also seeming to have an amplifying effect on the deceptions themselves – making deceptive rhetoric more obvious.  Yet to spite this, more insurmountable.

Yes, insurmountable is a word I would use to describe how this influence can feel!!!  For those who are feeling lost or stuck right now, like you can’t see the future and you don’t know why you’re suddenly so down in the dumps, Saturn-Neptune could very well be your culprit, especially if it is making a strong aspect to your chart.  The effect will pass and clarity will return.  One of the absolute best ways to cope with the transit if it is affecting you personally is to allow yourself to remain still and let things settle within.  Even if it means moving a slower pace than you prefer.

Saturn can assist Neptune – but first you have to see through the fog and understand that the erosion or outright collapse of certain structures is a necessary loss in this case.  The purpose of it is to make room for the greater things that are coming.

Mutable T-Square, The Nodes of Fate & Mutability in General

Now add Jupiter to the mix with the Saturn-Neptune square we have the full fledged Mutable T-square.  Currently and throughout the next two or three months, the nodes of fate will also be tightly involved with this Mutable T-square.  What does that all mean?

Well – for one, Jupiter expands things.  So whatever else is going on, Jupiter is over there INTENSIFYING everything.  It can be all the negative scary stuff I mentioned, but it can also be instrumental in manifesting the miraculous – because Jupiter is a beneficial planet that tends to thrive on that sort of thing.  It happens to be traveling through Virgo right now, so the focus is really on getting one’s mundane world straight.  Not Jupiter’s best realm, but an important one nonetheless.  Eat right.  Get a good routine going.  Devote yourself to something -- and you will find everything else much easier to bear.

At the same time, Jupiter is exactly conjunct the north node of fate during today’s Sagittarius full moon.  The nodes also tend to have an amplifying effect – usually of a karmic or inspired sort of nature.  Both of these points traveling together are asking us to grow in the direction of simplicity in order to understand reality – because the collective shadow is in all of the lofty and distant concepts that we cling to but hardly hold water in a real life test.  In so many ways, that’s what this whole cosmic battle of energies boils down to – What is it that WORKS?  What is it that MAKES SENSE?  How do we adjust our lives, our thinking, EVERYTHING according to simple truths and simple human values?

Now I want to talk also about mutability.  In astrology there are three modes of expression… Cardinal which is initiating.  Fixed which is building.  And Mutable – which is transforming.  So if you understand nothing else about any of this understand this:  Right now, in the sky, we have a very large majority of planets and configurations happening in mutable signs – the signs that are most reflective of change.  Everything is changing!  Rapidly!  And there’s not much we can do to try and control it.

In your own life, I recommend really working on staying centered in order to guide the process.  But holding on is totally futile, so try not to do it.  If you feel like you’re barely keeping up, the best thing to do is surrender to the flow of things.  Surrender will save a lot of pain and strife, not to mention help you conserve your energy for when it is most important.

 New Moon & The Venus Star Point

As I spoke of earlier, in the midst of all of this came the Gemini New Moon on June 4. It was a SUPER CHARGED New Moon that was connecting to all of this potent change energy – and also happened to coincide with the conjunction of Venus & the Sun – referred to in Astrology as the Venus Star Point.  This is a moment when our desires (Venus) are directly in line with our ego self.

The recent New Moon in Gemini was one of the biggest moons of the year BECAUSE it packed some serious mind-to-reality manifesting power.  It brought with it an acceleration of the energies and has thrown us full force into the change alchemy that is represented by the mutable T-Square.  It was kind of like a point of no return.  A jumping off point. 

Gemini is a sign of choices.  And so I see this New Moon also as a sort of choice point.  There are a lot of possibilities, and then also some firm decisions.  Plenty of options in current situations – but it seems like the fundamentals have been made clear.

Full Moon on the Summer Solstice

And – at last!  Today.  The Summer Solstice.  The Full Moon.  Moon & Sun at their height of power on the same day.  The summer season beginning.  The second Sagittarius full moon of the year.

This is a moon that contains all that I wrote about already and has a specific emphasis on healing.  This is the healing of what it is unseen, invisible, and quite unconscious.  It is the healing of what is harbored in the collective, and in many ways beyond our scope of even knowing.

One thing I have noticed during this year is that we’ve been seeing a lot of cultural icons pass whose lives were oriented towards integrity of self.  I feel this is reflecting to us a reminder and review of how truth and authenticity really show up when embodied.  In this time where it is so easy to get sidetracked, distracted, confused, or lost in complexities – we need these reminders.  The transmission of these figures is to utilize the lessons left in the wake of others to courageously awaken our own authenticity and create ourselves in the image of resilience, transparency, discipline – and absolute self honesty.

Self honesty is really the bottom line here.  That is the key to the Sagittarius quest.  Who are we really, and will we have the all out gumption to be that person – to spite all obstacles, to spite our fears and misgivings, to spite danger, to spite expectation – but to do right and be righteous because it is right and righteous to be so.  Because we are an example for other people, and because the health of our world depends on the integrity of each and every one of its inhabitants.

So we must heal this confusion within ourselves that prevents us from stepping fully into our divine power.  We must find a way to transcend all of the masks we wear and have worn… to step out of the habituated patterns… and keep tabs on our “big vision.”  We were who we were.  We live where we live.  We don’t need to do all that the same way next time.  The fear that cycles repeat themselves inevitably & forever is among the countless purposeless fears that our entire collective has invested in.  We need to reach further – not because of some kind of grandiosity – but because of necessity.

Because it is so appropriately perfect, I wish to conclude this essay with Ellias Lonsdale’s passage on the degree of 29 Sagittarius – the degree of this full moon.

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SAGITTARIUS 29
The ritual slaughtering of a lamb. 
It is so hard to give up your fondest notions. It is so testing and trying to be asked by universal spirit to surrender your privileges, to renounce your claim upon your own life. And it is even an extreme act of self-transcendence to come to terms with the position you find yourself in as it really is. Ego-busting comes as a rude shock, even when the time is at hand to leap beyond your own shadow. The very idea draws out to the surface every resistance imaginable. The mind goes crazy with this edge. If only you could control it, manipulate it, relativize it. But excruciating self-awareness accompanies this edge--in particular no sentimentality towards your own excuses and reasons. For you are at that point where there is no place to hide and nothing to do except surrender gracefully, when you have exhausted every other option and found them to be null and void.

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Surrender gracefully – to who you are, where you are going, and to your higher mission.  Your service is needed here. 

Much love.

Taurus New Moon

New moon tomorrow 5/6 at 3:30EDT. Moon goes void of course at 10:10pm EDT conjunct Mercury rx. If you miss the window for intentions, wait till the moon is in Gemini on Saturday 5/7 at 12:34pm EDT.

It's a great moon cycle for focusing on growth and productivity, and is also the most powerful moon of the year for cultivating one's finances. The Moon's last aspect to Mercury rx says to me that it's a great moon to make improvements -- especially with Virgo rising on the Washington, D.C. Chart. So if there are areas of your physical reality where things have been lacking, you can really start to create some movement in those areas. Health, routine, money -- anything pertaining to the body, pleasure, relaxation, luxury -- are all great areas to focus upon. Live like a Taurus -- you know you can do it!! Ha ha!

This month is a good time for reevaluation with both Mars and Mercury retrograde. With the Taurus moon, I'm feeling it is an especially good time to create space for the "slow down" amidst the chaos, as the Gemini half of this month is going to be significantly more crazy. Taurus is a firm believer in the good life, and so there is a pull right now to access that level of being, and remind ourselves of it very well, so when life starts pushing us around, we can always find our emotional / mental safe space. Taurus is also about the fundamentals of things, and so we can use this period to firm up our life foundations in order to create more stability for ourselves down the road. Mars rx is going back over the path of Saturn the past two years, so we are doing a final sweep of clarity around our vision, and then moving into June, revisiting the psychological processes behind it all. So all around, we're really in a phase of making stable all that has been in development for the past several years.

This Taurus moon is very oriented toward action -- but not in a crazy, running around, mania sort of way... It is very deliberate, thoughtful action that keeps the long range view in mind. What level of comfort and peace would you like to attain? What does it take to get there? How can I start something today that will lead me towards that goal? And remember, Taurus processes are cumulative. It's not about doing it all at once... It's about focused consistency. So be practical about it. Choose pathways that are realistic, something you are ready to commit to, but still stretch and expand you in a healthy way. Since Taurus is also about value -- as in what we value and our own self worth -- it's also a wonderful time to practice treating yourself well by honoring your goals.

All in all, remember that Taurus is a sign that's a big fan of quality over quantity. Whatever you do, whatever your visions are at this time, keep it simple and be abundant.

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Here is Astrologer Ellias Lonsdale's write up on the degree of 16 Taurus, where our new moon is this month:

TAURUS 16
A young girl and boy explore a perfume counter. 
Weaving polarities adroitly with alchemical awareness of what can come from the right combinations. You are fascinated and awestruck by all the various combinations, facets, and ways the life-force distributes itself and plays itself out. The rapt admirer of the wisdom and beauty of nature, transfixed by what happens around here. Coming at things always from yet another side, yet never feeling it is enough. There is more to be done, infinitely more to partake in and enhance. The world is an open book. And it magnetically, almost hypnotically draws your attention and interest to what is needed next, to what is emergent and outstanding as life matches dreams and dreams encompass fantastic variety and vivid spectrum to lose yourself in and discover everything through, from one end of the Earth to the other.

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Love and peace.