For an indepth, general monthly forecast of the upcoming cosmic weather, you can receive a CD recording, a copy of your current transit chart, and detailed handouts for $17. See Current Classes page for more information.
July Forecast
SuperMoons generate stronger gravitational pulls on coastal tides, weather patterns, tectonic plates, and our psyches as well. The New Moon forming on July 2 at 7:19 PM PDT at 12º Cancer is the third of five SuperMoons occurring this year, (May 5, June 3, July 2, November 12, and December 12, 2008), when the Moon is both near perigee (its closest approach to the Earth) and syzygy (in a New or Full Moon phase). Though not as strong as an eclipse, a SuperMoon increases the electromagnetic force of both the Sun and the Moon, making it easier for us to recognize and break up old patterns.
Cancer is the sign most concerned with food, family, and the feminine, receptive principle. This New Moon asks us to reflect on what feeds us on all levels—body, mind and spirit. Like a plant, we too grow towards the light. What helps you grow?What are you hungry for? What draws you closer to the light? Sources of nourishment vary at different stages of our life. What was nurturing at one point can stifle us later; what helped us sprout may not foster our blossoming. What in your life is no longer healthy for you?What is blocking your growth?
Ceres at 9° Cancer conjuncts the Sun and Moon. In Roman mythology, Ceres was the goddess of agriculture; her name comes from the Indo-European root ker, meaning “to grow.” Known to the ancient Greeks as Demeter, Ceres played a central role in the Eleusinian mysteries — the sacred rites of birth, death, and renewal — that connect her with both spiritual and physical sustenance. Ceres (now designated a “dwarf planet”) was the first asteroid to be sighted; its association with a goddess rather than a masculine archetype coincided with the expansion of acceptable expressions of the feminine beyond that symbolized by Venus and the Moon. Ceres’ conjunction with this New Moon acts as a reminder of what has been splintered off from our collective psyche--the power of the feminine, the importance of knowing where we came from, and the value of knowing where we bel
Venus at 18º Cancer conjuncts the New Moon and exactly opposes Jupiter at 18º Capricorn, further expanding our views on home and family. Along with Neptune’s sesquiquadrate (135°, a square and a half) to the New Moon, these aspects widen our sense of kinship beyond blood or racial lines to include those we feel connected with as fellow seekers, innovators, and lightworkers. Two days after the New Moon, on July 4, Mars crosses the degree of the February 20 lunar eclipse, reactivating that extra potent Full Moon’s cosmic message of forgiveness and healing. Mars moves on to conjoin Saturn at 5° Virgo on July 10, continuing cosmic support for simplifying, prioritizing, and eliminating or fixing what is not working .
Take time around this New Moon (and throughout this month) to listen deeply. What is your body telling you? What is your heart longing for? What fears and feelings need to be recognized and released? The energies of this New Moon remind us that we all are children and mothers; that we must receive as well as give, and that "Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you love to do, in order to have what you want."-- Margaret Young
What is seeded at the New Moon is ready either to flower or to be weeded out at the Full. This Full Moon, which peaks on July 18 at 12:59 AM PDT at 26º Cancer-Capricorn, offers a reality check, an opportunity to see how far we have come and what we must do to keep growing. The Sun in Cancer illuminates the areas that require greater nourishment and support; the Moon in Capricorn shows where we need to prune and consolidate our efforts.
Cancer represents the archetype of the Mother, who not only bears life but also nourishes and protects her young. Babies need playpens; children must have limits set for them until they are mature enough to understand and cope with the consequences of their actions. Parental guidance, cultural mores, and societal laws provide safeguards for and feedback about the mechanics of civilized life. From the nurturing waters of Cancer to the pragmatic earth of Capricorn, we evolve into responsible adults, able to take care of ourselves and others. If we grow up in a functional family and society, we develop an internalized sense of authority and duty, autonomy and integrity. Capricorn is the stage of stepping into our power, of maturing to the point where we no longer look outside ourselves for approval or validation, but realize that we are the judge and the captain of our life.
Full Moons illuminate the shadow side of each sign, as well as its spiritual tasks. Cancer must learn about receiving; Capricorn, about giving back. The Crab can build too thick a shell; the Mountain Goat may climb the wrong mountain. The fourth sign must develop healthy roots; the tenth must share the fruits of its labor. The more we disregard our own feelings and needs, the greater is the risk that we will violate the rights and concerns of others. The less responsibility we assume, the less power we have. The light of this Full Moon reveals whether our crab shells are too thick or too thin — where we need to shed our defenses or establish better boundaries. We see whether we are climbing the right mountain, or treading someone else’s path.
Ceres, important in the Cancer New Moon, also influences this Full Moon. As the archetype of the mother goddess who creates and supports life, Ceres conjunct Mercury directs our thoughts toward what is life-affirming; her opposition to Jupiter retrograde in Capricorn highlights where our beliefs and laws need to mandate more sustainable economic and environmental practices. Venus in Leo’s sesquiquadrate to Uranus in Pisces and the Sun’s quincunx to Neptune in Aquarius direct us to embrace lifestyle choices that reflect our interdependence and interconnectedness.
What is no longer healthy or viable in your life? What is calling you now? This Full Moon, and this month, reminds us that “Only in growth, reform, and change, paradoxically enough, is true security to be found.”-- Anne Morrow Lindbergh
June
June opens with the second of five SuperMoons occurring this year, (May 5, June 3, July 2, November 12, and December 12, 2008), when the Moon is both near perigee (its closest approach to the Earth) and syzygy (in a New or Full Moon phase). SuperMoons generate stronger gravitational pulls on coastal tides, weather patterns, and tectonic plates. Our psyches are more easily shifted as well; emotions surge and viewpoints change as new shorelines of understanding are exposed. Though not as strong as an eclipse, a SuperMoon increases the electromagnetic force of both the Sun and the Moon, making it easier for us to break up old patterns and spot new pathways.
This SuperMoon helps us to appreciate the differences between looking and seeing. It urges us to use our intuition as well as our intellect, to trust synchronicities in addition to facts, and to share our thoughts and feelings. Not only are the Sun, Moon, and Mercury in Gemini, but Venus is as well. The Gemini Twins were originally depicted as a male and a female; Chinese and Hindu zodiacs still illustrate Gemini with a woman and a man, symbolic of the unity and interplay of all polarities — yin/yang, light/dark, birth/death — within the great wheel of life.
In medical astrology, Gemini is associated with the pairs of the body — our two eyes, ears, hands, sides of the brain — the parts most linked with perception and interaction with our immediate environment. The left hand and side, closest to the heart, were originally associated with the feminine, divination, and wisdom. Images of the Madonna were generally shown holding the Christ child in the left arm. As patriarchal dominance increased, the left side was degraded. The Latin word for right-handed is dexter, the root of “dexterity” or skillfulness; sinister derives from the Latin for “on the left.” To live on the Left Coast, to have two left feet, to receive a left-handed compliment — all imply something not quite, well, right. Venus’s close conjunction with this New Moon in Gemini, along with Mercury’s square to Uranus, asks us to question our customary ways of thinking. Be prepared to receive and exchange important insights during the weekend of June 7–8, when the Sun, Mercury, and Venus all conjoin (17–18° Gemini), and on June 12, when both the Sun and Venus square Uranus (22° Gemini–Pisces).On June 13, Pluto slips back into Sagittarius for one last cleanup before it re-enters Capricorn on November 26, where it remains until 2023. Sagittarius is the sign of optimism and hubris, expansion and excess. Since Pluto began transiting Sagittarius in 1995, we’ve seen major scandals and transformations in education, publishing, religion, and travel. Pluto’s final retrograde in Sagittarius spotlights where we are not walking our talk, forcing us re-examine our ethics and ideals so that real changes can be made when it transits through Capricorn. As Pluto moves retrograde, it again focalizes transmissions from the Galactic Center at 27° Sagittarius, helping us recognize what keeps us in fear, and what opens us to greater truths and realities.
The Full Moon which peaks on June 18 at 27º50’ Gemini is an intense one, with several factors amplifying its galvanizing effect. The Full Moon’s proximity to the Galactic Center challenges us to question our facts and conclusions. What is no longer true? What was never true? Mercury stations direct the day after the peak of this Full Moon. Whenever any planet changes direction, its energy is concentrated as it slows and hovers close to the degree of its station. Mercury’s forward movement signals that it is time to act on what we have learned since it went retrograde on May 26 (at 22º Gemini). Uranus, the higher octave of Mercury, squares this Full Moon, propelling us towards something new. Uranus’s wild-card energy is augmented by its approaching station retrograde on June 26 (at 22º Pisces). While retrograde in Pisces, Uranus encourages us to reassess intuitions and alternatives we may have dismissed earlier this year. Mars’s quincunx to Uranus on June 18 (at 22º38’ Leo-Pisces), and its opposition to Neptune on June 21 (24°05’ Leo–Aquarius) may frustrate some personal desires but supports what is best for all concerned. For inspiring, innovative news stories visit.www.cthings.com, and to receive free “Notes from the Universe”, go to www.tut.com/about_nftu.htm.
The summer solstice occurs this year on June 20 at 4:59 PM PDT, the same day that the Sun in Gemini opposes Pluto at 29º Sagittarius. Gemini deals with perception, what we learn from our senses and surroundings; Sagittarius, with our conceptions, the assumptions we make about reality and the options available to us based on those beliefs. What do we think, and what do we know? What do we need to say, and what do we need to hear?
Use the power of June's alignments to clarify what is no longer true for you, and where you are ready for a leap of faith. It may help to remember: “There are simply no answers to some of the great pressing questions. You continue to live them out, making your life a worthy expression of leaning into the light.” (Barry Lopez)
May Forecast
The Sun and Venus move through Taurus for the first three weeks of May, concentrating our attention on earthly matters: Do we have what we really want? And do we really want what we have? Venus, along with Saturn and Pluto, forms a grand trine in the three earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn), rewarding thrift, focus, and conservation. In effect for the first week of May, this grand trine offers cosmic support for clarifying our goals and revamping what is no longer viable. It provides a productive tailwind, where much can be accomplished with a little bit of effort.
Saturn, the archetype of time and space, manifestation and limitation, ends its four-month retrograde on May 2. When any planet changes direction, its influence intensifies as it hovers around the same degree for weeks. In Virgo, Saturn urges us to fix or eliminate whatever is no longer functional or desirable. The mythic Reaper reminds us that we are the boss, the chooser, the creator of our reality, and that we have the power to change whatever is no longer serving our goals and evolution. Saturn’s station direct at 2º Virgo squares the degree of the February 20 Lunar Eclipse, emphasizing the need for us to move on, up, and out. It’s time to leave behind what we have outgrown, and take a big step forward on our path.
Jupiter, Saturn's complement, is also intensified as it hovers close to its station retrograde at 22º Capricorn on May 9. Jupiter’s transit through Capricorn, the sign ruled by Saturn, emphasizes the need for realistic planning and sensible solutions. Retrograde until September 7, Jupiter calls us to review the rules, laws, and agreements we have made, and abolish what is out of alignment with our principles and beliefs.
Neptune at 24º Aquarius conjuncts the North Node, and remains in close proximity for the rest of this month, supporting innovation and collaboration. The transiting North Node represents the collective spiritual frontier, where we are headed as a species. Neptune in Aquarius represents unity in diversity -- that each one of us is a vital part of a larger whole, and that our shared visions and choices change the world. Neptune last conjuncted the North Node on October 9, 1991 at 14° Capricorn. What were your ideals then? What are your dreams now?
An extra powerful New Moon forms on May 5 at 5:18 AM PDT. This is the first of five SuperMoons this year — a term coined by astrologer Richard Nolle for when the Moon is within 90% of perigee (its closest approach to the Earth) and syzygy (in a New or Full Moon phase). SuperMoons intensify gravitational pulls on land and water, generating more extreme tides and tectonic activity. Our bodies and psyches are more strongly affected as well, undergoing wider swings of emotions and more profound realizations. This New Moon also squares the degree of the last Solar Eclipse (February 6, 2008 at 18º Aquarius), nudging us toward the goals we formulated three months ago. Pluto closely aspects this New Moon, forcing us to examine our shadow and motivations. In Capricorn, Pluto reveals the gap between what we say and what we do, challenging us to be completely honest and accountable. What is your body trying to tell you? What are your job, loved ones, and life showing you? Where do you need to draw the line? Where do you need to take a leap of faith?
The second Full Moon in Scorpio–Taurus this year (see the April forecast) forms on May 19 at 7:11 PM PDT, heightening the contrast between what we want to cultivate and what we need to release. It also peaks at the last or “critical degree”; the 29th degree of any sign marks the ending of a phase and a test of whether we have mastered that sign’s developmental lessons. With the Sun in Taurus, the first earth sign, the cosmic quiz is on matter: How are we doing in the world of form? How well are we taking care of our bodies, our resources, our planet?
This Full Moon highlights the Pleiades, a globular cluster of stars located at the 29th degree of Taurus. The Pleiades have been important to many cultures.The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Maya oriented their temples and pyramids toward them. The Pleiades are mentioned three times in the Bible (Job 9:9 and 38:31; Amos 5:8). Several Native American creation stories identify the Pleiades as their ancestors, who came to this world as Starseeds, bringers of light and knowledge. The English derivation of the name is uncertain, attributable either to the Greek plein, “to sail,” pleos, “full or many,” or peleiades, “flock of doves.” Subaru is the Japanese name for the Pleiades; the automaker’s logo mimics the six visible stars (the seventh is more difficult to see with the naked eye).
The Pleiades are located at one of the nodes (points of intersection) between the galactic and supergalactic planes. Nodes represent stargates, inter-dimensional doorways, portals, and pathways for accessing greater realities. We are very cognizant of the Earth’s path around the Sun, but we are generally much less aware of the immense galactic plane (the path traced by our solar system’s orbit around the center of the Milky Way galaxy) and the even vaster supergalactic plane (the orbital path of our Local Group — the family of 27 galaxies to which our Milky Way belongs). The fact that this Full Moon peaks close to this cosmic portal makes it easier to extend our consciousness beyond our third rock from the Sun. Jupiter’s close sextile to Uranus (22° Capricorn–Pisces) further facilitates spiritual insights and revelations. On May 22, two days after the Full Moon, the Sun squares the degrees of the last lunar eclipse (February 20 at 2º Virgo–Pisces), urging us to live what we know now.
Chiron, Mercury, and Neptune station retrograde just a few days after the Full Moon. On May 25, Chiron stations retrograde at 21° Aquarius; the archetype of the Wounded Healer moves backward until October 25, supporting the reclamation of our hopes and dreams. On May 26, Mercury stations at 22º Gemini; retrograde until June 19, the Messenger breaks up old mental patterning and fosters the reconfiguration of new neural pathways. Also on May 26, Neptune stations retrograde at 24° Aquarius, the same degree of Mercury’s first retrograde station this year (23°53’ Aquarius), adding to Chiron’s cosmic call for dreaming a new dream.
We’ve reached another important crossroads. Focus on what brings you closer to your heart’s desire. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” (Mark Twain)
April 2008
April’s energies encourage us to take a leap of faith, reminding us that the more we hold onto the old, the harder it is to move into something new.
On April 2, Pluto, the archetype of death and rebirth, turns retrograde at 1º09’ Capricorn. Pluto will be retrograde until September 8, when it stations direct at 28º30’ Sagittarius; the mythic Lord of the Underworld again reaches 1º09’ Capricorn on December 28. While retrograde in Capricorn, Pluto demands responsibility, accountability, and maturity, especially with respect to how we handle authority and resources. Pluto’s last pass through Sagittarius (June 13 to November 26) reveals the assumptions and beliefs (such as “might makes right” and “survival of the fittest”) that must change before we can effectively manage higher levels of power.
Mars represents personal desire; Pluto, transpersonal or spiritual intent. Because of their retrospective retrograde phases, Mars and Pluto have been in an extended opposition from last September until now, highlighting issues regarding will and force, anger and assertion. Mars is now moving past where it last stationed (November 15, 2007 at 12º27’ Cancer), fully completing its retrograde phase. When Mars is retrograde we are nudged to resolve unfinished business -- old wounds, old resentments, old flames, anything still smoldering -- so we could move forward. Mars in Cancer teaches us that when we suppress our feelings, we also block our ability to realize what we really need.
As the mythic God of War, Mars represents the archetype of the sacred masculine. Mars’ courage and passion are expressed not only by the soldier in combat, but also by the pioneer, the crusader, the entrepreneur, the athlete, the martial artist, and the hero/ine who battles on behalf of others -- a Robin Hood or Joan of Arc, a Superman or Xena. According to historian Steve Taylor, in his book, The Fall: The Evidence for a Golden Age, 6000 Years of Insanity, and the Dawning of a New Era, the warrior archetype has dominated the Western psyche for most of our recorded history. Competition and individualism are especially revered in the United States, symbolized by a close Mars-Neptune square (21º23’ Gemini – 22º25’ Virgo) in its 7th and 9th houses, respectively (using the July 4, 1776 Sibly chart). The degrees of Mars’ last retrograde phase (24º Gemini to 13º Cancer) represent the areas in our lives where we were forced to question our motives, tactics, and ideals. Now, as Mars transits beyond 13º Cancer, we are challenged to manifest the more skillful expressions of the warrior archetype and the sacred masculine: innovation rather than coercion, strategic action as opposed to impulsiveness, stewardship instead of destruction. If you are drawn to be a spiritual warrior, join James Twyman’s Peace Vigil on April 6 at 9 AM PDT; for more information, visit www.themosescode.com.
Mars plays a leading role in the New Moon that forms on Saturday, April 5 at 8:55 PM PDT at 16º44’ Aries. New Moons and Full Moons are power times when our prayers and intentions are carried farther on the winds of the cosmos. Mars squares this New Moon and is in a waxing opposition to Jupiter in Capricorn (exact on April 24 at 22º Cancer-Capricorn); this forms a cardinal T-square, a dynamic energy configuration propelling us forward. Give yourself extra time around this New Moon to reflect on your life thus far and what you are called to do now. Where do you need to take a risk? What is holding you back?
On the New Moon, we plant new seeds; at the Full Moon, we see what has sprouted thus far. The Full Moon peaking on April 20 at 3:25 AM PDT occurs at the first degree of Scorpio-Taurus. The next Full Moon (which forms on May 19) peaks at the last degree of Scorpio-Taurus. This zodiacal repetition is far more significant than a “Blue Moon”, a term commonly applied to the second Full Moon falling within a calendar month. Two successive Full Moons occurring in the same signs doubles the cosmic emphasis on those archetypes -- in this case, the polarities of acquiring and letting go, satisfaction and discontent, security and transformation.
Taurus’ symbol, the Bull, has long been associated with fertility and wealth. The Age of Taurus (4000 to 2000 B.C.E.) marked the beginning of the great agricultural civilizations on the banks of the Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile rivers. Taurus is the first earth sign in the zodiac and represents the quest for stability, sensual enjoyment, and a balanced relationship to materiality -- to be neither overly attached to nor dismissive of the physical world. Modern urban living makes it difficult to stay in touch with the earth element; cubicles, computers, and caffeine disconnect us from our bodies and from Gaia herself. More money or material possessions doesn’t correspond to greater happiness: A study done a few years ago revealed that the life satisfaction level of the 400 richest Americans was the same as materially poor Inuit in Greenland or Masai cattle herders in Kenya and only slighter higher than slum-dwellers in Calcutta (see www.unknowncountry.com/news/?id=4053). This Full Moon helps us identify what we really want and what we need to do differently in order to have it.
Shifting attitudes and bottom lines are further emphasized by Pluto at 1º Capricorn and Saturn at 2º Virgo linking with the Sun at 1º Taurus to generate an earth grand trine. Grand trines reduce resistance, fostering a heightened flow of inspiration at best, and selfishness or shortsightedness at worst. Pluto pressures us to let go of the downside of earth: isolationism, intransigency, and fixation on materialism; Saturn forces us to “get real” and contend with the consequences of our choices. This earth grand trine invites us to clarify our values (Sun in Taurus), identify what is not working (Saturn in Virgo), and commit to making the necessary changes (Pluto in Capricorn). Mercury is also in Taurus, turning our thoughts toward economic realities and priorities. A little bit of effort goes a long way, especially from April 17 through April 22, the height of the grand trine.
Venus, the ruling planet of Taurus, is in Aries mosts of this month, reiterating the need for daring and initiative. Venus squares Mars on April 23 at 22º Aries-Cancer, requiring us to be sensitive to the needs of others. Mars in turn opposes Jupiter on April 24 at 22º Cancer-Capricorn, generating a dynamic cardinal T-square, similar to the one formed during the last New Moon. The empty leg of this T-square is in Libra; this, along with Mars’ trine to Uranus on April 22 at 21º02' Cancer-Pisces, echoes the cosmic message to act not in isolation, but in remembrance and reverence of our interconnectedness with all life.
Use the power of this month’s energies to identify your deepest desires and highest priorities. Listen to your heart; live your truth. Remember: “Fear is the cheapest room in the house; I would like to see you in better living conditions.” (Jalaluddin Rumi)
March 2008
We are in the midst of a huge paradigm shift. We are being called to be spiritual warriors, to live the St. Francis Prayer (see below). We are being impulsed to surrender what holds us in separation, and live in full alignment with our soul desires. The game of duality is ending; the reality of unity is dawning. We’re going Home.
The ancient Hermetic maxim: “As above so below, as without so within” represents the cosmic truth that the macrocosm reflects the microcosm, that nothing is separate. The external discord we are witnessing is a mirror of the profound internal changes each one of us is experiencing. In astrology the element of earth represents structures on all levels, from the order of galaxies to the form of our government, to the configuration of our ego. With Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto now in earth signs, in concert with the alignments described below, our relationship to matter and Spirit is evolving beyond one of fear and separation into love and unity. Like remodeling a house, things may initially look worse until the new structures are in place. From the last Lunar Eclipse/Full Moon of February 20, through the next Full Moon on March 21, the intensity and magnitude of this cosmic upgrade challenges us to trust that whatever is disintegrating is making way for something much better.
Every New Moon offers opportunities for new insights and intentions, but the one that occurs on March 7 at 9:14 AM PST at 18º Pisces promises a special download. Pisces is the last sign in the zodiac, representing the goal of the spiritual journey — reunion with the Source. From alpha to omega, from stardust to stardust, we are the eyes and hands of God, eternally emerging and returning, adding our experiences to Creation. In Pisces, the twelfth of twelve signs, we realize it's all God, it's all energy, it's all Maya, it's all Love.
Mars exactly opposes Pluto (1° Cancer–Capricorn) just hours before the next New Moon forms. Mars and Pluto represent octaves of the same principle: Mars, our personal will; Pluto, divine intent. Pluto brings light to the shadow; whatever we have rejected or been unable to see before is now in the spotlight. As the mythic God of War opposes the Lord of the Underworld, a profound confrontation, purgation, and transformation occurs. Humanity is being challenged to move from cowardice to courage, from aggression to compassion, from fear to faith. We are rebalancing the masculine and feminine, and reconciling all polarities. This is the third of three exact oppositions; the first occurred on September 21, 2007 at 27° Gemini–Sagittarius; the second on January 2, 2008 at 29° Gemini–Sagittarius. When there are three alignments like this, the first represents a wake up call, the second initiates a process of detachment, and the third symbolizes our readiness to move in a new direction.
All three Mars-Pluto oppositions (which extend from September 21, 2007 to March 21, 2008) are highly potentized, as they align with the Galactic Center, the hub and heart of the Milky Way located near 27º Sagittarius which pulses titanic amounts of electromagnetic energy. This generates tremendous pressure and support for owning our projections, reclaiming our power, and embodying our divine essence. Mars’ and Pluto’s last conjunction occurred on January 13, 2007 at 28º Sagittarius; their next conjunction occurs on December 28 at 1º Capricorn, still near enough to the Galactic Center to once again amplify its evolutionary imperative and our transition towards the new paradigm of unity, equality, and peace.
Uranus at 19º Pisces closely conjuncts this New Moon, opening dimensional doorways, and increasing opportunities for big breakthroughs in consciousness. Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius, functions as the Awakener, the liberator from conformity and illusion. In the 1960s, its cosmic message was “Question Authority”; this decade, as it moves through Pisces, it’s "Question Reality." Neptune, the ruling planet of Pisces, is in Uranus' sign of Aquarius, conjunct Venus on the day of the New Moon, opening our heart and crown chakras, the energy centers which link us with each other and with our higher selves. Like Morpheus in the film The Matrix, Neptune’s mutual reception with Uranus offers us the choice of the red pill of truth or the blue pill of somambulence. Mercury, Chiron, and the North Node in Aquarius are all close by, helping us connect with like-minded souls and stimulating mass awakenings. How inspiring to know that Oprah Winfrey and Eckhart Tolle are offering a free 10 week online class based on his book A New Earth; Awakening to Your Life's Purpose starting on March 3. (For information, visit http://www2.oprah.com/obc_classic/webevent_registration.html)
Revelations and the rewiring of human consciousness continue as the Sun conjuncts Uranus on March 8 and Mercury conjuncts Neptune on March 9. Venus and Mercury move into Pisces on March 12 and 14, respectively, further widening the doors of perception. Time spent in prayer, meditation, and inner work is extremely productive and rewarding for the next few weeks. Healing and intelligence from Nature is more accessible as well; the mineral, plant, and animal kingdoms are already in the unified state, so readily support our transcendence of duality. When in doubt or difficulty:
1) Remember who you really are. Ground on your core, your essence, your divine light.
2) Remember you are not alone. Call upon your guides, angels, friends--your spiritual support team.
3) Connect with the center of the Earth and the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. Open your root and crown charkas. Breath into your heart.
4) Pray to be shown how to walk the path of truth and love.
5) Look at everything as an opportunity to learn and heal. Ask: What is the lesson here? What can I learn from this? What would Love do?
6) Process and shift challenging circumstances and relationships through meditation and tools like Leslie Temple Thurston’s squares technique (http://marriageofspirit.com/excerpts/chap11/index.html) and Byron Katie’s The Work (http://www.thework.com/thework.asp).
6) Use vibrational tools like flower essences, gemstones, color, and sound.
7) Walk in the woods, sit by water, garden, commune with Nature.
8) Smile. "We humans are all cells in the body of one humanity, here on earth to regrow the Garden and have a heaven of a time doing it."—Swami BeyondanandaPrayer of Saint Francis of Assisi
From: http://www.st-francis.org/prayer.htmLord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred let us sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is discord, union
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
Where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
AmenAt the New Moon in Pisces, we were called to strengthen our connection with our higher Self and follow our inner guidance. The potent Full Moon, which forms on March 21 at 11:40 AM PDT at 2º Aries-Libra less than two days after the spring equinox (March 19 at 11 PM PDT), pressures us to let go of whatever blocks us from manifesting our visions.
In Aries, the first sign, everything is new and everything is possible. Many cultures considered spring to be the true New Year, because it was the season for planting new crops and the birthing time for lambs, foals, and calves. Mars, the ruling planet of Aries, is barely past its third opposition to Pluto. How we use our will and power is once again being redefined. Mars stationed retrograde on November 15, 2007 at 12°27’ Cancer; it returns to that degree on April 4, signaling our readiness to take another big step around that time. Watch for important clues and revelations around March 24, when Mercury conjoins Venus at 14° Pisces; March 27, when Mercury conjoins Uranus at 20° Pisces; and March 28, when Venus conjoins Uranus at 20° Pisces.
Mars also squares the Sun and Moon, forming a cardinal grand cross, or cardinal square — a dynamic energy configuration generating two oppositions and four squares. Oppositions call for balance and integration; squares represent turning points. A grand cross is somewhat like a Zen koan; its intention is to stop us in our tracks and direct us back to our center. This grand cross mandates that, for us to take the next step on our path, we must resolve four different areas of our life. Something has reached a breaking point. Are you finished with a job, a relationship, a belief, a way of life? Where the Sun at 2º Aries falls in your chart is where you are ready to take a risk and take the initiative; where the Moon at 2º Libra lands represents an area where you must consider the needs of others. Where Mars at 6º Cancer activates your chart is where you have to confront your feelings and fears; where Pluto at 1º Capricorn transits your chart represents the area where you are being forced to reclaim your power and authority.
This Full Moon, and this March marks an important crossroads and a summons for courage and commitment. We can’t go back; we must try something new. "Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
February 2008
Februare, in Latin, means 'to purify". Cross-culturally, this is a time of prophecy and purification. Midwinter was celebrated in many cultures as a fire festival, symbolizing the return of the light. Ancient Celts observed the ritual of Imbolc, the Irish commemorated the feast of St. Brigid, the Aztecs and Iroquois ceremonially extinguished their hearth fires and relit them at this time. Renamed Candlemas by the Catholic Church, this time was celebrated as a feast of the Virgin Mary, continuing the association with fire and the promise of hope and renewal.
Mercury and Neptune make their second of three conjunctions around 22ºAquarius on February 2 (the first was January 22, the third will be March 8), facilitating creativity, visioning and collaboration. Because of Mercury’s retrograde phase (January 28 to February 18), the Messenger’s transit time in Aquarius is doubled this year (January 7 to March 14), emphasizing the importance of redefining priorities and networking with like-minded souls. Pay special attention to your intuition around February 10, when the Sun conjoins Neptune, and for messages relating to your soul’s mission around February 20, when the Sun conjuncts Vesta.
A Solar Eclipse forms on February 6 at 7:45 PM PST at 17º44’ Aquarius. During an eclipse, electromagnetic streams are disrupted; matrices dissolve, new pathways open, consciousness reconfigures. The Aquarius Water-Bearer stands for our baptism into collective consciousness. Whether we're privileged or poor, young or old, liberal or conservative, we are all members of the human race. The eleventh sign instructs us to be inclusive and progressive. Each one of us, along with the Earth and the Cosmos itself, is participating in a grand experiment. We are in the midst of a huge paradigm shift, transitioning towards a new age of unity, equality, and diversity. Each one of us has an important gift to share and role to play. What is your vision, your hope and dream for the world? Chiron, Mercury, Neptune, Vesta, and the North Node are all in Aquarius as well, stressing the importance of embodying our ideals.
A Lunar Eclipse, an extra powerful Full Moon, peaks on February 20 at 7:31 PM PST at 1º50’ Virgo-Pisces. This eclipse starkly illuminates the shadow side of both signs as well as their evolutionary goals. Pisces’s quest is transcendence from duality to unity consciousness—realization of our inherent divinity and interconnection with all of creation. The shadow side of Pisces slips into helplessness, victimization, or martyrdom. Virgo’s spiritual task is to progress from judgment to discernment, from humiliation to humility, from servitude to service. It’s shadow falls into worthlessness and shame, believing that everyone else is God except us. Eclipses occur in 19-year cycles. On February 20, 1989, there was a lunar eclipse at 1°59’ Virgo–Pisces. What was important back then? What is your primary goal now?
It’s time to face the truth, live our truth, and share our truth. Where do you want to make a difference? What is your part, your role to play at this momentous time on Earth? For inspiration and allies, visit www.wiserearth.org, www.bioneeers.org, and www.culturalcreatives.org; these Web sites provide links to thousands of humanitarian and environmental organizations. “Be the change you wish to see.”--Mahatma Gandhi
January 2008
What will 2008 bring? The real question is: What do we want to create? With Jupiter, and soon Pluto, moving through Capricorn, it will be harder to ignore the direct correlation between intention and manifestation, power and responsibility. Energy follows intention; what we are thinking, we are praying for. Power is inseparable from responsibility; when we disown responsibility, we abdicate our power as well.
Capricorn is symbolized by the mountain goat; one of the primary challenges of the 10th sign is to climb the right mountain, i.e. to follow its path, its soul aspirations. We must decide for ourselves what success is, what "making it" means. Capricorn reminds us that we are the boss; we are the authority and judge of our lives.
Both Capricorn and its ruling planet, Saturn, are concerned with time and space--the willingness to be “in sync” and to birth new forms. In Greco-Roman mythology, Saturn ate his children in an attempt to maintain the status quo. What wants to come through you? Are there some creations you have been swallowing? Question “reality” or “the way it is”. Conventional wisdom does just that — keeps us mired in convention, stuck in the same old ruts. Although Saturn will not exactly oppose Uranus until November 4, 2008, the planet of form and the planet of reform will be in opposite signs throughout this year, impelling us to break out of limited mindsets, old boxes. If you need clues for your next step, watch your daydreams, your night dreams, and synchronicities for messages from your higher self.
Mars, the archetype of passion and assertion, plays a big role this month, as it makes the second of three oppositions to Pluto on January 2, and then turns direct on January 30. Although technically past the Galactic Center at 27º Sagittarius, Mars' second opposition to Pluto at 29º Gemini-Sagittarius is close enough to still amplify the transmissions from the galactic core, providing insights and momentum for quantum leaps. Mars stationed retrograde on November 15, 2007; if we’ve cleaned out our emotional closets, we feel ready to take a giant step forward when Mars turns direct on January 30th.
The New Moon on January 8 at 18º Capricorn invites us to take a thorough inventory of our lives. This is an excellent time to set new intentions; write them down and post them where you will see them daily. Jupiter’s trine with Saturn on January 21 at 8º Capricorn-Virgo makes it easier to see how our visions can become reality. This month's Full Moon, which peaks on January 22 at 2º Aquarius-Leo, shows us whether we wish to continue onward or try something else. During this Full Moon, the Sun, Chiron, Vesta, Mercury, Neptune, and the North Node are all in Aquarius, highlighting Albert Einstein’s maxim that a problem cannot be solved at the level at which it was created. Mercury conjuncts Neptune at 21° Aquarius twelve hours after the Full Moon peaks, fostering intuitive and collaborative efforts. Mercury’s retrograde period (January 28 to February 18) generates three Mercury–Neptune conjunctions this year, making Divine Intelligence more easily accessed around February 2 and March 9 as well (the second and third conjunctions). Mercury’s retrograde passage doubles its time in Aquarius (January 7 to March 14), encouraging us to reconsider alternatives and reinforce alliances. Answers will come, if we ask and pay attention.
Venus conjoins Pluto on January 23 at 29°56’ Sagittarius, exposing new truths and new prospects. A few days later, on January 25,Pluto enters Capricorn, initiating a new era. Except for a final retrograde period in Sagittarius later in the summer and fall, Pluto remains the 10th sign until January 21, 2024. As the archetype of death and rebirth, Pluto represents the evolutionary imperative; its transits coincide with the eradication of whatever has outlived its purpose. In Capricorn (the earth sign which deals with collective resources and structures), Pluto focuses its transformative energy on governments, corporations, organizations, and institutions of all kinds. Borders, laws, property and resource rights will be redefined. Traditions and societal norms will change as patriarchal dominance is challenged; issues of wealth distribution, the environment, recycling, civil rights, marital rights, and aging will be reassessed and reformed. With an orbit of 248 years, Pluto has not been in Capricorn since November 1762 to December 1778, the period that saw the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution, the confiscation of church lands in Russia and the murder of Czar Ivan IV, the abolition of the Inquisition in France, the first circumnavigation of the Earth, and the beginning of a worldwide industrial revolution fostered by burgeoning free trade, civil liberties, and technological developments.
Pluto reveals the shadow of whatever sign it transits; the dark side of Capricorn is the victim/tyrant archetype, which are two sides of the same coin. Pluto’s passage through Capricorn will challenge our social ideas and legal standards around blame and liability. There’s no free lunch with Pluto in Capricorn — and zero tolerance for victim consciousness. Pluto teaches us that we always have a choice and are accountable for the consequences of our choices.
It's time for a change, a big change. Be prudent and proactive. If we don’t like what’s happening, we can change it. Remember: “It is your choice as to what you decide to create, but you do have three grand purposes in life — to love yourself, love others, and love what you do.” (Archangel Michael through Orpheus Phylos and Virginia Essene)
December 2007
New horizons. New truths. New realities. This month's offers more big tailwinds for transformation.
At the heart of our Milky Way Galaxy lies a super-massive Black Hole, four million times larger than our Sun, which not only absorbs but also transmits enormous amounts of electromagnetic energy. On December 5, Jupiter conjoins the Galactic Center (GC), amplifying the activations generated by Pluto's GC alignments, which began last December. Pluto, and now Jupiter, aligning with the GC provides tremendous energetic support for releasing old patterns and beliefs and coincides with an even greater evolutionary change that has been identified by many as the Mayan End Times, the Hopi Fifth World, the Turning of the Ages, Timewave Zero, the Ascension, and the Great Awakening. These prophecies signal that humanity is in the process of making a dimensional shift, from the limited perception of duality to a collective awareness of our inherent divinity and interconnectedness. When any celestial body lines up with the GC, it focalizes the radio, infrared, and other electromagnetic rays streaming from the galactic core, making it easier to erase old programming and remember who we really are. Possibilities for quantum leaps continue as the Sun makes its annual alignment with the GC on December 18.
The New Moon on December 9 reminds us of the power of belief and the power that lies within each of us. This New Moon at 17º16' Sagittarius is potentized by at least four different factors. Not only are the Sun and Moon in Sagittarius, but Mercury, Jupiter, and Pluto as well. Sagittarius is symbolized by the Archer, aiming for the heavens, for the point and purpose of life. Why are we here? Where are we going? What really matters? The Sun's conjunction with the Galactic Attractor (a quasar-like anomaly with titanic gravitational forces at 14º Sagittarius) on December 6 and square to Uranus at 15º Pisces on December 7 adds to the impetus to “think different” and live our truth. Just two days after this New Moon, Jupiter, the planetary ruler of Sagittarius, forms an exact conjunction with Pluto at 28º24' Sagittarius. The mythic Sky God and the Lord of the Underworld rendezvous only once every thirteen years; their last conjunction was on December 2, 1994 at 28º26' Scorpio. Jupiter promotes optimism and abundance, as well as hubris and overindulgence. Pluto stimulates obsession and fear, as well as profound understanding and transformation. Their conjunction sparks major revelations and reformations as fundamental assumptions are challenged, hypocrisies exposed, and priorities reordered.
On December 17, the transiting lunar nodal axis shifts from Pisces/Virgo to Aquarius/Leo, where it remains until August 21, 2009. The transiting North Node symbolizes our current spiritual frontier; the South Node, what is ready to be recovered, released, or revamped. The transiting lunar nodes spend 1.5 years in each polarity; the last time they were in Aquarius/Leo was from May 22, 1989 to November 18, 1990. Leo is the sign of the individual; Aquarius, the sign of the group or collective. The transiting North Node in Aquarius calls us to celebrate diversity and create community; the South Node in Leo prods us to release self-centeredness and inequity. Since eclipses occur close to the transiting lunar nodes, five of the next six eclipses will be in Aquarius/Leo, further highlighting these signs. Eclipse degrees remain sensitive for some time; this New Moon squares the last solar eclipse (which occurred on September 11 at 18º25' Virgo) and urges us to take further action on what was initiated three months ago.
On December 18, Jupiter enters Capricorn, where it will remain until January 5, 2009. The last time Jupiter transited Capricorn was from January 3, 1996 to January 21, 1997. That period saw limits placed on nuclear weapons testing, welfare reform in the United States, the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, the Kurdish campaign for independence from Turkey, and peace in Bosnia. Jupiter in Capricorn often coincides with changes in ethics and government: During its previous passages through Capricorn, "moral majority" conservative Ronald Reagan was elected U.S. president in 1984, and the Watergate investigations began in 1972.
On December 19, Saturn, the ruling planet of Capricorn, stations retrograde at 8º34' Virgo. Saturn remains retrograde until May 2, 2008, when it turns direct at 1º41' Virgo; its shadow point, when it again reaches 8º34' Virgo, is August 8, 2008. Saturn's retrograde phase in Virgo supports simplifying, improving, or eliminating anything that has become unessential and unproductive. Less can be more these days ó less hassle, less expense, and less stress. Saturn represents the principle of concentration, definition, and manifestation. The mythic Reaper also reminds us of the importance of responsibility and maturity. We are the masters of our fate and accountable for our actions. Saturn is approaching a trine to the Sun (exact on December 30 at 8º27' Virgo), so it extends its sobering restraint through the holiday season.
On December 20, the Sun makes its yearly conjunction with Pluto (at 28º44' Sagittarius, close to the Galactic Center at 27º Sagittarius), enters Capricorn on the 21st, and then forms an exact conjunction with Jupiter on the 22nd (1º Capricorn). These three shifts amplify and prolong the powerful effect of the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction. A Jupiter-Pluto combination can generate either egomania or philanthropy, galvanizing tremendous personal drive or the redistribution of wealth and power. Billionaire Bill Gates has the conjunction in his natal 2nd house; Mahatma Gandhi, who led India to freedom from the British Empire, had a close Jupiter-Pluto conjunction in his natal 7th house.
The December Full Moon highlights Cancer and Capricorn, the two signs most concerned with our personal life and our contribution to society. Cancer deals with our inner child; Capricorn, with our inner adult. What do we need? What must we have in order to grow? And what is our dharma? What were we born to do and be? Like this month's New Moon, the influence of the December Full Moon is also intensified by several factors. That fact that the Full Moon forms just after the Winter Solstice adds to its potential for important revelations and shifts. The Full Moon period (which is not just the peak of the Full Moon, but several days before and after) is further energized by Mars' conjunction with the Moon and by Mars' oppositions to Mercury in Capricorn (December 22, 3º25'), the Sun (December 24, 2º36')), Jupiter (December 26, 1º49')), and Pluto in Sagittarius (exact January 2, 2008 at 29º12' Gemini-Sagittarius). Mars aspects shorten fuses and sharpen tongues. While retrograde (November 15, 2007 to January 30, 2008), Mars is at perigee, its closest approach to the Earth, increasing the impetus for courage or bravado, assertion or aggression. Retrograde in Cancer, Mars advises us to examine our motivations and our tactics closely before taking action. What do we really need? Are we sidestepping the real issues? What must be faced, felt, and resolved?
During this holiday season, give yourself the gift of being extra kind to yourself. Respect your body's needs and limits. Do what is meaningful to you, not just what is expected. Question and process whatever causes your heart to shut down. Judgment closes the heart; gratitude opens it. Be grateful for the many blessings in your life, and know that your thoughts and actions are blessing the universe in turn.
Stephanie Austin, MA
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
Washington State
Puget Sound Area