Sagittarius New Moon

December 16th brings us the New Moon in Sagittarius at 24 degrees, the very same degrees of the Sun. Venus is also in Sag at 18 degrees in trine to Mars in Leo. The fires are burning high and we are fueled by the warmth Sag and Leo are radiating this holiday season.

The Moon and Sun sextile Neptune, Jupiter and Chiron in Aquarius and forge a Yod aspect, made up by three points, one sextile and two inconjuncts. This finger of God, another name for Yod, converges at the south node in Cancer. The new moon, Sun and Venus easily relate to the the Aquarian planets, opening our minds and hearts to let go of excessive emotions, overly maternal attachments, overeating, and overt protection of the homeland (shadow of Cancer). Even if we don't see the correlations between all of these aspects, they are there. A Yod aspect has to be consciously integrated or nothing necessary comes of it.

Sag is optimistic, ready to explore new horizons and philosophies seeking honesty, freedom and humor. Aquarius is friendly, humanitarian, and loyal (if it's unemotional and perverse shadow is not in charge). Together they merge our higher minds and consciousness with new inventions and vision of the future. The north node in Capricorn forges ahead urging the collective towards total reform, restructuring, and purging of all unstable structures ruling our world, thus the forms we have know ourselves to be, along with holiday traditions and business as usual is up for honest appraisal and reinvention, birthing us out of old paradigms which no longer apply to the evolution of our times.

Happy Birthday Sagittarius!!! Happy Birthday Cherie!!!

Astrological Mandala Class

Journey into a four-day, two weekend organic and creative process of astrological soul exploration to discover the deepest meaning of your soul's intention, and to create a mandala shield as a means to embody your current or desired state of soul evolution as it relates to your natal birth chart or progressed chart.

We will merge the use of mandala art, conscious body movement, breath, guided imagery, astrological symbolism and astrological language as a means to integrate and transform the most poignant areas of your life as we collectively approach and enter the Zero (0) Point Cardinal Birth Canal of 2010 (a grand cross with Saturn, Pluto, Uranus and Mars), a rare evolutionary turning point.

Based on evolutionary astrological principles, as well as creative metaphor, students will learn the basis of the astrological house system, the 12 zodiac signs and correlating planets, basic planetary aspects, and the student's Pluto Polarity-Nodal Axis relationship and the planets and planetary archetypes they most have an intimate appointment with in this life.

This class is a means to comprehend the intention of one's soul purpose, to awaken to it's unique intention set forth for this exact time and space on planet earth, and to design an Astrological Mandala as a creative metaphor for honoring and claiming that destiny with art, courage, beauty, and compassion.

Class open to 5 participants max.

Location in private home, close to downtown Silver Spring.

All participants must have Natal Chart session prior to class.

Drawing in Pencil. Painting with Acrylic and Watercolor.
All supplies other than Gesso board and brushes are provided.

$290 for early registration (by January 9th), $320 thereafter. $360 for Class plus in-depth session with early registration, thereafter $390

Second weekend to be scheduled in late February, early March

Mars in Leo for 8 Months

How blessed we are! Mars is in Leo for 8.5 months, from mid October-June 7, 2010! Already progressed to 19 degrees Leo in just two months, Mars still has six and a half months to go in Leo--hahoooo!!! A truly a fabulous time for creativity and taking action towards the heart's true authentic passions.

Mars extended stay in one sign is due to its retrograde motion from December 20th through March 10th. Mars only goes into retrograde motion every 26 months and this time it is in the sign of the Lion.

For those with the North Node, Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars and the asteroids (Isis, Magdalena...) in Leo or Leo prominent in your chart (natal or progressed) it is an especially auspicious time:

for getting in touch with what is truly heart-centering
for following your heart rather than your head
for and designing, choreographing, painting

ushering in creative motivation geared to inspire action towards bringing your passionate artistic gifts of creativity, courage, generosity, leadership, and the channeling of light, love and beauty into your life and into the world (just to name a few).

Five-cent astrology describes Leo as self-centered, selfish, excessive--and there is that. The shadow of Leo comes to life, when Leo's heart is not honored by self and others. Leo suffers and creates melodrama if the heart isn't given a stage to express its creative energies through (by parents, culture...). And not all Leo's are built alike ither, some are more extroverted than others. House placement and planetary aspects all factor into the energy of any Zodiac sign. Overall, Leo needs to express radiant heart joy, igniting the heart fire in themselves and others.

For those with Leo Moon, and strong Taurus and Scorpio, Mars transit will be especially intense, initiating opportunities for creative conflict via the emotions, the body, primary relationships, money and deep sexual and psychological issues. Leo is a fixed sign and opposes Aquarius, the fourth fixed sign. Most likely Mars will fuel loads of creative energy into Aquarians' depending on the planets particularly aspected in your chart.

Collectively, Mars in Leo will conjunct the Pluto in Leo Generations (1941-1957) planet of death and rebirth...especially for those born in the 40s...additionally the heart energy Mars is Leo is generating will hopefully bring an end to the war within the next six months.

Overall, Mars is Leo is a blessing from the universe as we head into the season of winter, the winter solstice, the season of Capricorn, and Saturn retrograde (January 13-May 30), an internal quite time for renewal and rest. Mercury also goes retrograde the day after Christmas at 21 degrees Capricorn.

Mars turns retrograde, December 20th. The forward energies we have all been feeling will slow a bit. For some this will be frustrating and irksome, depending on how Leo is aspected in your chart. As the fires turn towards the internal, it gives us time to redefine our course of actions. To reassess our personal ambitions and affairs as they relate to our purpose, and to the heart. The heart signifies our literal heart,cardiovascular health, children, the inner child, and our creativity. And children may require more attention and love.

This is an important time to relinquish the patterns which have blocked creative movement and action, so a new course of action can occur. The new cycles will manifest when Mars goes direct in March.

To learn more about where Leo is in your chart and how all the transiting planets influence you schedule an in-depth natal reading for yourself this winter.

Gemini Full Moon & Goddess Circle 5

December 2nd ushers in a Gemini Full Moon, Sabian Symbol: "Newly opened lands offer the pioneer new opportunities for experience." Keynote: The power and joy of new beginnings.

Sabian Symbol for Sagittarius Sun at 11 degrees: In the left section of an Archaic temple, a lamp burns in a container shaped like a human body." Keynote: The value of the "return to the body" advocated by modern thinkers in order to balance the stress on intellectuality and objective consciousness.

We are right on time ladies. As we prepare for our performances and dedication to the Divine Mother I am filled with delight, excitement, and awe. I went shopping this afternoon and came home to the full moon with a cloudy red ring around it. We dance on Sunday just the the moon begins to wane.

The full moon is right on my nodal axis and illuminates the Holy Cross and five-pointed star within my natal chart. The Mountain Astrologer Magazine mentions that, "the Sun is quintile to Jupiter-Chiron-Neptune in Aquarius. A quintile is generated by dividing the 360 degree circle by five, a number long associated with the five senses and the human figure. In numerology, 5 relates to freedom, experimentation, and change. A pentagram, a five-pointed star, represents spiritual forces..."

WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE MY DANCE!

"The quintile suggests that, if we enlarge our point of view (Sagittarius) to embrace our common needs and interdependence (Aquarius), we can transform a potentially catastrophic situation into one that helps to boost us into a new age."

Mars is in Leo at 17 degrees (right on my sun) and shines brightly on our courageous hearts. We are rising to the occasion and I am grateful to be part of Angel's Goddess Circle and Sanctum.

Blessed Be.

JUST AN ADDITIONAL NOTE:
There seems to be a lot of chaotic energy out there today! Moon in Gemini, folks tend to be talking about their feelings or disconnecting from them all together. Mutable Full Moon disrupts the norm to make way for change...so become flexible and allow change to flow through and definitely have a centering practice of some sort.

Scorpio New Moon

Scorpio new moon chart for the 16th of November. Venus, Ceres, the Moon and Sun are in Scorpio (11-24 degrees). Venus and Ceres square Mars in Leo and square Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune in Aquarius. Mars opposing Jupiter creates lots of creative initiative to move forward in expansive ways. These creative energies in square to the Maiden & Mother require that the feminine be included in those initiatives in every way, and that we are surrendered to the highest octave of love (Neptune) and healing (Chiron) otherwise disillusionment, challenges and conflict are likely to arise.

Kali's presence here on this post reflects the deep transformation we are all in now. Without understanding Kali's true function we may assume she is not our friend, yet Kali's energy of destroyer and creatrix perfectly reflects Scorpio's mission to dive deep into the abyss of the life, death, and rebirth, into the cycles of the feminine. It is here, within the cauldron of transformation that we will birth our creative gifts to humanity. If we bypass the Maiden and Mother's gift of our deep power, our deep commitment to the beauty of embodiment, we may feel Ceres wrath as Kali the destroyer, but if we embrace our bodies, our need for nurturance via wholefood, embodied sexuality, and our spiritual and creative impulses we are free to die to what must, and rebirth into our deepest soul containment.

The Sabian symbols for:

Sun/Moon 25 degrees Scorpio tells us to look beneath the surface of current events: An x-ray photograph--the capacity to acquire a knowledge of the structural factors in all existence.

Ceres 15 Scorpio: Encourages us to take a leap of faith. A girl's face breaking into a smile--the fervent reaching out on the part of the young of heart to new experience.

Venus 11 Scorpio: Reflects our ability to develop relationships outside our our normal routine. An official embassy ball--group-consciousness, as it flowers at the highest level in cultural interchanges between representatives of the elite of the ruling class.

Mars 13 Leo: Self-explanatory. A human soul seeking opportunities for outward manifestation--the yearning for self-actualization.

Jupiter 19 Aquarius: Don't give up! A large white dove bearing a message--the answer of spiritual agencies to thorough, sustained and victorious individual efforts.

Chiron 21 Aquarius: An open heart encourages growth! A rug is placed on the floor of a nursery to allow children to play in comfort and warmth--the warmth of understanding which comes to those who, early in life, are open to new possibilities.

Neptune 23 Aquarius: A man [woman], having overcome his [her] passions, teaches deep wisdom in terms of his [her] experience--the constructive use to which difficult past experiences can be put as examples for those who are still striving to overcome their passions [compulsions].

We are in the deep mystery of Scorpio now, the deep feminine, fixed in the well, gathering our resources and power to come forward and rise up as the Lady of the Lake in late November as we move into Sagittarius.

Live Juicy my Friends!

Taurus Full Moon

It never fails, what we behold during the new moon comes to fruition at the full moon. This past new moon I prayed for a new part-time job and presto, I have one!

The leaves are falling now as the colors of Autumn fill our senses with hearth fires, Halloween, and the approaching holidays. I have always enjoyed this time of year. It represents the beginning of our descent into the mystery of life, into the depth of our souls and our psyches, into Scorpio.

As the sun moves through the early degrees of Scorpio, we celebrate a full moon in Taurus, Sunday, November 2nd, just as we approach the initiation of a Cardinal Grand Cross with Saturn's ingress into Libra. The Scorpio sun is conjunct Ceres and Mercury in opposition to the moon and square to Mars in Leo at 7 degrees, shy of an exact square to Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune, all within later degrees of Aquarius.

These fixed signs.

The Sabian Symbol for the Moon and the Sun at 10 degrees Taurus: A woman watering flowers in her garden. Development of the powers of the mind on which ego-consciousness is based. In essence, it is our ego functions which drive our desires, yet our attachment to how our desires are fulfilled must be fertile enough to allow for flexibility.

It is not length of life, but depth of life.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Bewitching Season

Welcome Autumn and Happy Birthday Libra/Scorpio!

My favorite time of year (or one of them anyway) when the feminine fills the air and the mystery of the bewitching season guides us on. Our collective energy hunkers down: to focus (Virgo) on harvesting our gifts; to balance (Libra) our relationships with self and other; and to cultivate and generate (Scorpio) magical life force--psychic, financial, and sexual, so we may greet the Solstice light in December ready for the sacred death phase (Capricorn) of our seasonal soul cycles.

October is especially mysterious. The days grow shorter and the nights longer, leaves fall, and we celebrate All Hallows Eve, when the veil between this world and others thins so we may commune most directly with our ancestors, familial and archetypal. It is important, now, more than ever to follow the mystery of the Feminine as we personally and collectively venture forth into deep universal change. New paradigms are coming forward and the old is falling away. The Feminine will lead the way, so the more in tune we are with her the better off we will be.

On October 30th, Saturn ingresses into Libra. Saturn is exalted in Libra, yet Saturn squares Pluto this time around. This means, that the deepest recesses our our souls are called forward to responsibly uncover ancient secrets and fears (karma) keeping us from living in balance, truth, beauty and grace (Libra). The Dark Eros disguise which authority (patriarchy) has been utilizing for the misuse of resources, power, and will, will rise to the surface and for good reason. We cannot move forward without dispelling and dismantling the toxins in our selves and our environments. Saturn is the Keeper of keys at the Gate. The Dweller at the Threshold, guarding our entry through the doorway of maturation and responsible earthy living. Pluto is the Keeper of the Underworld, of our souls. She is the guardian of physical and psychological death, rebirth, and reincarnation leading us to rise out of the ashes of whatever needs to die in our lives, so we may live transformed and empowered.

For the next two and half years Libra will be in the forefront of our collective and individual restructuring, so Libras, Cancers, Capricorns and Aries (planets and angles) hold on to your seats. We are all in for an amazing ride. The last time Saturn was in Libra she brought equality, justice, and progress to the world: admitting the first female students to Cambridge; voting the first US Supreme Court female Justice into office; and employing the first black male astronaut.

Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.
--Albert Einstein

This time around, Saturn in Libra in square Pluto in Capricorn, something even more dynamic and profound will occur. What has been suppressed and "forbidden" will come to pass. The feminine will be restoring balance and she will not be forsaken, and neither will we when we follow her guidance.

The archetype of Justice will herald in a whole new dimension for us to step through. More will be revealed as Uranus (transmutation) moves into Aries (Mars-masculine archetype), in 2010, inviting the masculine to participate in ways most of us have not even contemplated that could occur within the masculine gender.

This Autumn work with the mysteries of your magical power to wield your way forward, to channel the Feminine Light, and facilitate our collective birth into a new world. Stir your personal cauldron and stir the pot of collective ingenuity too. We are on our way!

Blessed Be!

To learn more about the Divine Feminine contact Wendy

October Dramas

We are now in a rather tumultuous astral zone...to be more precise planet Mars in Cancer is about to Conjunct the South Node in Cancer at 26 degrees (Exact on Oct 9)...as this event closes, Mars in Cancer gains more and more power, often destructively so. With all the natural events in the South Pacific, Indonesia, and now the Philippines are partially related to that.

Beyond natural events, we may also experience violence (Mars), perhaps domestic dramas (Cancer). Then you have the bombing of the Moon that day (LCross mission)...those who do not know this, the Moon rules the sign of Cancer where this conjunction occurs.

Generally, emotions are bound to errupt; people are more reactive, moody, and insecure. A lot of relationship shakeups--in short, these earthquakes are not only happening inIndonesia, but within our psyche too.

Vat tou dou?

Are we doomed to instability, strife, and frustration? yes...well...no...perhaps!

I forgot the best part: planet Saturn is in its last degrees of Virgo and about to move into Libra (end of October) Nice...except it is greeted by a square to Pluto, which is already in the making.

To summerize Saturn/Pluto angular aspects...the last one happended in 2001 (a year to remember). This is one of the most challenging aspects there is... shaking structural systems and geological ones. Natural and political events will rock our world (what else is new?)

I will write more about Saturn in Libra, but the last words about Saturn leaving Virgo...where it has made us more aware of inefficiency, of health-care deficiency, of emplyoment ciency, Saturn is requiring maturation and development--failing that, it causes stagnation, and even depression. We have to step up!

Going back to our question: Vat tou dou?
First, become conscious of these energies and do not get carried away when you see negativity knocking at the door. Reflect and observe if the conflict is worth it, if you need to put more fuel to the fire...Shake-ups are not bad, but pick your fights.,..those really worth fighting!

And then respond to the need for change. If you realize your life is not what you want it to be, you will have the opportunity now, and also later (2010) to make the necessary changes. Political systems need to change and they will...but it is always a demanding process, a consuming one. Yet, while the path is steep, reaching the top is gratifying.

If emotions fly out, see what they have to tell you...any truth you have been trying to hide for too long? (Poor Letterman...what a fool...)

Importantly, contribute to raise positive vibes...meditate, pray, protect yourself, greet people lovingly, and plant trees! You are also invited to protect the Moon as it will be aggressed on Oct 9.
Keep peace in your prayers and keep those Israeli and Iranians away from each other...

AND last and not least, as these challenges are potentially causing stress, our immune system weakens, so here are remedies for a healthy body and spirit:
Cold showers, raw garlic, cayenne pepper, green magma, and some yoga! (Yeah!)
>>>no need to become a swine with a flu!

Rights and Credits to Maurice Fernandez, Evolutionary Astrologer

High Vibrational Essences

Last week while searching for Mary essences, I found two websites offering vibrational/gemstone/flower essences which I totally resonate with: Mary Essences and Galactic Grace.

Essences work on a vibrational level within the entire psyche (mind, body, soul, spirit). I feel these essences will help stabilize me (us) with grace and ease while I (we) progressively evolve and birth into the new age of rapid higher frequencies of light. Our collective evolutionary impulse is among us now, and the quest to increase our capacity to hold more and more light in our bodies, minds, and souls is not only increasing, it is imperative.

If you would like to be imbued with help from Mary and the Galactic Grace of our universe, I invite you to visit Elizabeth Chandler's website. She offers free consultations to help select which essences are best. I am really drawn to several, particularly, Physical Body Shift (get description from Elizabeth), Infinite Heart and Awakening II, Sweetness of Solitude, Terra Firma , and Mary's Invisibility Cloak.

It is best to talk with Elizabeth before ordering, unless your guidance is totally clear. The essences are made fresh and do not sit on a shelf. Their quality is among the highest vibrational energy I believe I have ever felt in essences. Elizabeth shared with me that, "It is rare that someone need take the essences over and over. With right intention and dosage, the issues are cleared and we do not need to revisit them."

The Secret Teachings of Mary Magdalene

This is the best book I have ever read about the many faces of Mary. The book is filled with information about Mary's mother, Mary Magdalene, Mother Mary, and more...such as astrological definitions seen through the lens of the Divine Feminine, and about the light Mary is bestowing to us now.

The book is literally answering many questions I have had, confirming the beliefs and insights I have had about the Virgo and Capricorn archetypes being repressed under patriarchal guise. I have been very focused (Virgo) on developing the layout of chapters in my book, and furthering my writing about the Divine Feminine this entire month (lucky me).

Thank you Mary, I am always reminded of your divine presence here on Earth and Heaven above and everywhere in-between.

Virgo Planets squaring late Degree Gemini/Sag

Well, I am really feeling this upcoming new moon. Or am I feeling Saturn/Sun/Mercury squaring my natal Jupiter, in square to transiting Pluto. Yes, I am feeling the T-square, big time. Very intense for me.

Solution? This too shall pass. I need to remember that all I have is this moment. Projecting now is not going to help. I began a deep cleanse this week and I realize now that the timing is not really appropriate. Too much pressure on my physical energetic body. The planetary influences are enough.

Powerful Virgo New Moon

September 18th brings us a power-packed New Moon in Virgo just before the Autumnal Equinox on September 22nd. The message of Virgo now with Saturn, the Moon, the Sun and Mercury in Virgo is simplify, focus, and consolidate our things, our thoughts, our emotions, and our time.

Additionally, Uranus opposes all of the Virgo planets. The opposition of Saturn and Uranus only occurs every 40 years throughout a period of time. "These planets stand for entitlement vs. equality, entrenchment vs. progress, hierarchy vs. grassroots initiative. The generations of Uranus in Virgo, Neptune in Virgo, and Pluto in Virgo have especially significant gifts to share at this pivotal time in history." (Stephanie Austin, Mountain Astrologer)

This new moon also highlights the last pass of Saturn before his ingress into Libra in late October. Two and half years ago Saturn ingressed into Virgo from Leo. All this expansiveness fire brings (Leo) has been scrutinized by detailed Virgo, cutting our excesses down to size.

more to come...

Mercury Retrogrades

Mercury is now in retrograde motion at 6 degrees of Libra and will continue to move backward in the sky over the next three weeks until it reaches 21 degrees of Virgo on September 28th.

As Mercury sojourns backwards through Libra, it squares Mars in Cancer, thus it is a good time to check in with ourselves about balance in our actions with family, our own self-care and nurturing, as well communicating with a Venusian perspective in mind, such as with grace, beauty, mindfulness.

During this time, we can ask ourselves a few questions: Am I in balance in my relationship to myself? Am I spending quality time with myself so I am truly available for interdependent relationships and relating, or am I acting from codependency? Am I angry about anything? Am I allowing myself to express it? If not, now is a great time to reassess the equilibrium of our inner and outer relationships. Where are we overly concerned in others affairs? What areas of our lives do we need to create more beauty in?

By September 18th, Mercury gains in aspect to the New Moon where he joins a few other friends too. Namely, Mercury conjuncts Saturn, the Sun, and the Moon in Virgo and squares Pluto in Capricorn in opposition to Uranus in Pisces. This new moon is really powerful!

All those with early degree Cardinal planets and placements (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) and late degree Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagitarrius, Pisces) will feel this retrograde time and the upcoming New Moon the most.

The Health Care Reform issue will be at the forefront of the news. Virgo is the health sign and with the sun, moon, Saturn and Mercury all in Virgo significant changes are bound to come forth. Virgo is also the sign of service, healing, and devotion. So, personally, we can ask ourselves: How and where am I of dedicated service in the world? Where have I been underestimated or devaluing my greatest gifts? Where do I need to focus my life force, my emotions?

Mercury also reaches a trine aspect with the Node Node in Capricorn just before the new moon and all throughout the retrograde and direct period. This heralds a time of significant structural reform within ourselves and the collective.

On September 29th Mercury moves direct again and passes over the degrees it is now retrograding through. Thus, whatever we feed during this retrograde time is what we will be harvesting when Hermes goes direct.

Enjoy the rest, relaxation, and renewal!

Celestial Timings

As we move forward into the last quarter of 2009, the evolutionary galactic vibration speeds up. Throughout September and October, Saturn opposes Uranus. By October 30th Saturn moves out of Virgo and ingresses into Libra for the next two and half years. Uranus has been stationed retrograde at 26 degrees Pisces since early July, basically, hanging out, waiting for his partner in the alchemical dance of change and stabilize to arrive.

These two planets build into an exact opposition by September 10th, temporarily, as Saturn continuee to move direct into the early degrees of Libra by January 4, 2010. At that time Saturn will station retrograde and begin building into another exact opposition with Uranus, as Uranus moves direct December 1, at 22 Pisces.

November 1st, Saturn makes an exact square to Pluto, kicking off the necessary friction to bring true balance and transformation into our collective partriarchal mis-managed and finances, government, and conventional business models.

Uranus and Saturn will do this dance throughout 2010. Eventually their encounter builds into an exact T-square aspect with Pluto, the first occurring in July 2010. So please remember our souls were called forward at this evolutionary leap in time to experience a Renaissance in Consciousness. If we haven't learned how to navigate our way in balance by now, now is the time, because its time to dance. Please jump on board because the chaos vibe will be increasing. Maintaining and living from the vibration of grace, love, and peace are of primary importance if we prefer to ride on top of this wave of change.

If there are areas of your life that have been underfed, the time is now to address them. If we are giving our power to our jobs, our boss, our partner, our fears, we are in for a big wake up call. True power comes from a deep willingness to meet our soul and dance its song, all the way home. And home and how we get there is different for each one of us, therefore it is important to know your inner and outer operating systems so to speak.

September 4th brings us a full moon in Pisces at 12 degrees. The moon will trine Vesta, a great time for sacred devotional meditation, sacred sensuality, sacred dreaming, and building the inner hearth. Mercury turns retrograde, September 7th, in the sign of Libra at 6 degrees. Hermes journeys all the way back to 21 degrees of Virgo, squaring Pluto by the third week of September, and passing by the Sun and Saturn and opposing Uranus along the way.

Mercury's square to Pluto will demand serious transformation of our ability to communicate our deepest truth in all of our relationships. This includes the collective's relationship to the infrastructures which run our country.

Then September 18th brings us one power packed new moon in Virgo. The moon conjuncts Saturn, the Sun, and Mercury, all in tight opposition to Uranus. Virgo's eye of scrutiny will force us to clean house and change the furniture around too. A definite recipe for crankiness and irritability. Choosing mindfulness first is the balm for this configuration.

Happy Birthday Cancer!

June 21st officially delivers us into summer and brings us the Summer Solstice and Father's Day. The following day, June 22nd, brings us the New Moon in Cancer!

The summer solstice chart collectively brings much emotional and mental tension about security and stability, therefore it is best to focus on what is present. Tangible projects, business ventures, and relationships already at hand which bring pleasurable satisfactory nourishment, income and vitality are best now to embrace. These avenues are anchored by the stabilizing energy of Saturn in Virgo and the generative energy of Venus and Mars in Taurus. All ventures already in motion most likely will be committed and enduring, especially if they include sustainable, practical, life-enhancing, earth-centered, empowering activities in building business and community, and in formal personal relationships.

As we approach the solstice, patterns of fear and insecurity are rising to the surface to be siphoned off. If we don't make room for these patterns to be released we will feel immense pressure or we will project our feelings onto someone or something else. Remember, the Apocalypse that we collectively entertain as real, is really an internal transmutation/transformation that wants and is to take place, not an external one. "We are the ones we have been waiting for," therefore we must have the courage to continually refine ourselves into the diamond light that we are.

If you are feeling pressured emotionally and mentally, whether internally or externally, it is best to move in the direction of receiving nourishment so the feelings can be released. I had a massage this past week, and because it has been so long since I had one, lots of stuff had built up and I was in pain. As Mardi massaged me the energies that were trapped in my mind-body were released and the inner conflicting voices within me had room to express. The voices were saying two different things. One said, "YES divine grace, love, peace, financial, emotional, sensual embodied abundance is my worthy cause, and the other said, "Why bother the WORLD is going to pot anyway."

After the massage, I was still in pain. My inner self still needed to express. Anger really began coming to the surface and I really didn't want to feel it. From experience, I know that allowing the emotions to rise, rather than stuff them down with food, or whatever, makes way for the relief so sought. Grief came to the surface the following day and emptiness. With acceptance and surrender I allowed the inner voice out, and I was able to move forward in balance, rather than split inside.

Cancer is the sign of Mother. She wants to nurture herself and her personal family. Taurus wants to provide. How can I nurture myself during this new moon phase, and how can I provide sustenance to make that happen? Good food, family, and down to earth healthy emotional bonding and relating, rest, and embodied sensual expression are all symbolized now. Cancer and Taurus call us to nurture and provide for our earthen families, and the ongoing Aquarian alignment of Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter, ensure that we make our hearts big enough that we include our entire global family in our desires.

If our Cancerian and Taurian natures are out of balance, the solstice and new moon energies bring us the opportunity to see where we need to make adjustments. Cancer can overprotect itself and others, leading to codependency and emotional suffocation, while Taurus can run right over others to accomplish what it feels it needs to in order to survive, leading to self-absorption and the bombardment of others opinions.

The New Moon in Cancer mixed with the solstice energy adds further juice for our collective soul transformation. By following our deep feminine natures and desires we will ignite the sacred flame within, fueling ourselves, our families, and the world with the healing balm of the earth and water elements.

The Sun and Moon in Cancer are in direct opposition to Pluto in Capricorn, and the polarities are in square to Uranus in Pisces. In other words, our collective emotional aliveness expresses a tug-of-war with the bureaucratic shadow, or our emotional imbalance attempts to disregard the underworld of the deep feminine. Either way these polarities force the issues at hand to be awakened into the supreme consciousness of ONENESS, to know we are more than our emotions, our bodies, and our money.

Happy Summer All!

Check back for New Moon postings each month or sign up to follow Astro Weavings.

Gemini New Moon

Happy Birthday Gemini! Sunday, May 24th brings us a Gemini New Moon. The Sun and Moon are at 3 degrees Gemini in trine aspect to the north node in Aquarius and in square to Ceres in Virgo, while Mercury,the planetary ruler of Gemini is in retrograde motion in the first earth sign, Taurus, which is in square aspect to Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter in Aquarius. A mouth full, huh?

This awesome configuration changes the direction of the wind, offering a breath of fresh air into fixed right-brained collective thinking inviting us to mindfully contemplate and come up with solutions for nourishing ourselves, the earth and all of humanity, and to then begin the process of bringing them into form, especially after Mercury goes direct on May 30th.

Retrograde Mercury in Taurus asks us to rest our minds and to get grounded in the body to enjoy the pleasures of life; food, family, financial abundance so the sun and moon in Gemini may bestow upon us the know-how to achieve such fulfillment. Taurus wants results, tangible stable results with the assets to back it up so it can live pleasurably. Ceres in Virgo wants to bring the harvest. Gemini is dexterous, clever and swift in gaining information, and Aquarius wants to leap forward so trust the bodymind knowledge coming to you as you enjoy the pleasant breezes blowing your way this memorial day weekend.

The shadow side of these signs goes for stubbornness, hoarding, over-analysis, fleeing, elitism, and emotional coldness just to mention a few. Issues which pertain to Venus, the ruling planet of Taurus, are up now, such as stabilizing our bodies and our income. One may ask, how can I (we) create stability in times such as these while unemployment rates are skyrocketing and the economy is in turmoil?

One thing to remember as we courageously venture forth in the new millennium is that this is one of the most exciting times to be alive. So much creative energy is available to us now, meaning our thoughts, choices, and actions come to reality in the blink of an eye which is very exciting if we are aligned with our highest good. If we are dreaming of lack, fear, and difficulties they too are heard by the universe and brought forth into physical manifestation. Our minds are powerful tools which can be mastered, harnessed and directed towards creating success and sustainability.

Yes, there is enough abundance for us all, we just have to believe it and build stable and steady containers for it to flourish in. The Sabian Symbols for this Gemini new moon state, "Holly and mistletoe reawaken old memories of Christmas--A longing for the pre-intellectual state of consciousness".

Aquarian Age Update
During 2007-2008, Neptune and Chiron have been in a loose conjunction, and now they are in a very close conjunction along with Jupiter which will continue throughout 2010. In February 2010 Neptune and Chiron with be in an exact conjunction, then over the next four years, throughout 2014, they will slowly separate. These planetary configurations are leading us directly into the formation of a new world--into the Aquarian Age. "They only meet up every 57-80 years, sparking quantum leaps in medicine, technology, and social change. Add Jupiter to the pair and idealism, philanthropy, and mysticism are join into the new age matrix too". (Mountain Astrologer, May 2009 Issue)

Just for a little evolutionary taster, think back to the Jeston's cartoon (robots, monitor conversations) of thirty some years ago. Now people all over the globe are using their computers to "Skype" each other, and do what the Jetson's did not so long ago. Within a very short period of time we will see a new world folks.

Mantra for Saturn and Pluto

Mantras originated in the Vedic religion of India, and the word Mantra derives from the Sanskrit root word, man, meaning to think, and tra meaning, tool. A literal translation would be instrument of thought or projection of the mind.

Mantras are primarily used as spiritual invocations spoken in devotion to a specific deity or Bodhisattva, a divine source of sacred embodiment, for the purposes of enlightenment, healing, transformation, protection, and pure divinity. Deva Primal sings mantra's, and on her CD Embrace, she invokes the essence of Tara, Shiva and other divine Gods and Goddesses into energetic aliveness as she repeats the mantra phrases over and over.

The use of mantras is now widespread throughout various spiritual movements which are based on, or are off-shoots of, the practices in the earlier Eastern religions. Even the Rosary is based on the use of mala beads from mantra chanting.

I use them as instruments of refinement for my lower self (lower thoughts), to transform, devote and align myself with my most sacred and highest self. This alignment allows me to be a focus on the polarity point of my soul's signature (Virgo), and aligns me with the highest expression of love within my chart (Pisces) while also being embodied.

When two forces are consciously married, a union is created, and this union of the sacred and the divine, "as above, so below", flows through my being as heaven and earth, Pisces and Virgo. With this marriage, I am transformed out of chaos, while on this earth plane, and into the central cosmic collaborative principles of the sacred and divine feminine and masculine.

As Saturn is retrograding over my natal Venus-Pluto conjunction, and opposing my natal Saturn, the deepest layers around fear and lack and victimhood are coming up to be transformed. Not fun for sure. It has been excruciating. Double death is quite an art. Saturn transiting natal Pluto in Virgo, ouch! What an experience. This is where mantra comes in. The last time Saturn transited this natal position, I became completely and totally devoted to disassociation, disembodiment, and dis-ease. This time I have tools, mantra being one of them, which I am utilizing as we go around the wheel one more time.

There are so many mantras to choose from.  I was focused on reciting Hail Mary's as part of my Goddess Circle practice along with numerous other meditation techniques and it worked for sure.  See my Ancient Mary-Ancient Venus post to see how it all turned out--it was a culmination of this entire Saturn cycle.

Aquarius, Aquarius, Aquarius!

Wow, the age of Aquarius is upon us. February 14th, Valentine's Day brought us the exact planetary alignment the 1960's song, Aquarius sang about with the moon in the 7th house, and Jupiter in alignment with Mars.

 The photo of this man standing inside of a crystal cave gives us literal insight into the phenomenal energy all the Aquarian planets are pouring onto the planet now, and how powerful planetary energy and the cosmos are.

Ganesh & Uranus

Today's Virgo Full Moon is conjunct retrograde Saturn and opposing Uranus. Right on my Virgo-Pisces planets, ugh!

This morning after doing my mantras, I was contemplating Ganesha and realized that Ganesha is an Uranian God. Praying to Ganesha via mantra asks for obstacles to be removed and Uranus certainly removes obstacles, sometimes in bizarre and shocking ways, which is very much the energy of Ganesha too. I have been adding "Shrim" to the typical Ganesha mantra to soften it a bit, bringing the Goddess into his workings and more consciously into my prayers.

I am included Ganesha in this full moon update because the Moon conjunct Saturn in Virgo can be harsh, especially on mid-degree Virgo and all the other mid-degree mutable planets too, Pisces, Gemini and Sagittarius. Having just come through the solar and lunar eclipses in February, and receiving all the powerful energy the Aquarian planets are bringing us, a full moon on the Virgo-Pisces axis definitely requires some deep prayer, if we want to be on the empowering side of this full moon.

Health, heaing, sacred devotion, practicality are our best friends right now, all the while receiving the all loving energy of the universe, Uranus in Pisces. During my mantra time, I have been seeing specific patterns which are up for transmutation now while the mantra are deeply being written into my energy body. This is probably because I have mid-degree Virgo and Pisces planets which transiting Saturn and Uranus are aspecting.

Uranus & Saturn--Intense!

But hey, look at Quan Yin, she is calm, cool and collected, and very contained. If we take direction from the Goddess we can make it through these transformational times.

The ongoing oppositional aspect between Saturn in Virgo and Uranus in Pisces is bridging us between two very different energies now. One says stabilize and the other says change, asking us to be grounded in our centers and our lives and to be very open minded at the same time.The last time these two planets were in opposition was in 1965-1966. Which is when I was born, meaning I have had plenty of practice bridging the nature of oppositional energies. Intense to say the least.

The last time Saturn was in Virgo was in 1976. I had just entered junior high school, and wouldn't you know it, now once again, as Saturn transits Virgo I am connecting with all my friends from junior high school on Facebook. Totally cool! I love facebook. It is a great forum for socializing and it makes me laugh a really good belly laugh.

Okay, back to planetary stuff.

Uranus-Saturn went into an exact opposition again in February, while six planets and the north node also moved into the sign of Aquarius. The world is one large mocha java cup now, brimming with collective healing and awakening which is awesome, because many changes which have been needed for a very long time are coming down the pike. I'm sure you can feel it, I certainly can. These planets are breaking up all the stagnation which has over-ruled and over-stayed its welcome. Aquarius is strong and six planets plus the north node in this sign is like the sky gods sending 500 tons of crystalline energy onto the planet constantly.

All of this Aquarius trines my Gemini/Libra natal planets and my north node, so I am electrified most of the time, especially as Mars trines my natal Mars and trines my natal Jupiter and rising sign.

Anyway, all the Taurus, Scorpio, and Leo folks (fixed signs) are receiving intense stress from the Aquarian planets now. Its sort of like constant sand in your shoes. Aquarius wants you to see the big picture, and therefore creates stress in some aspect of your life which needs enlightenment, completion, or transformation. Let go of the small stuff and be sure to incorporate some kind of spiritual practice into your daily routine so you can build and sustain the change being brought forward in your life, rather than have it forced upon you.

Happy Birthday Aquarius

Happy New Year All!
So far this year has been filled with deepening and awakening aspects. At the new year I felt a deep desire to rest into the stillness and depth of Capricorn which I haven't felt for a long time, and in early February, the solar and lunar eclipses awakened me to continue to evolve and make changes in my inner and outer life, to follow my heart ever more, even in the midst of economic strife, and to continue to be a change agent for consciousness.

February brings change, that is the essence of Aquarius. With two eclipses in Aquarius and Leo, humanantarian and heart-felt change is palpable, and knocking on our collective door. If you were working during the eclipses and did not find time to rest, you may feel exhausted. Eclipses bring heightened awareness, they raise the blanketed veil allowing us to feel and see beyond the mundane. There can be a sense of fear as well, but only if we are out of touch with our true natures.

After the eclipses, the moon in Scorpio squared the Aquarian team of Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Chiron and Neptune. I felt this intensely. This morning the moon is now in Sagiatarrius and will square Saturn later tonight through the early morning.

Cancer Full Moon