Tag Archives: Aquarius

Aug 7 2017

What’s Being Eclipsed in Your Emotional Life? Full Moon Lunar Eclipse Aug. 7, 2017

Lunar-Eclipse-Earth-Between-the-Sun-and-Moon
August is Eclipse Season!
Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius on Aug 7, 2017
Total New Moon Solar Eclipse in Leo on Aug 21, 2017

Eclipse Season is here, with today being the first of two eclipses this month. At 2:11 PM Eastern on August 7, 2017, the Moon is full at 15 Aquarius, which means the Moon is in Aquarius and the Sun is directly opposite at 15 Leo – and we are, Earth is, in-between the Sun and Moon, with the Earth casting a shadow on the Moon. Isn’t that interesting to think about? The Earth casting a shadow over the Moon…

I love the image above that gives a pretty amazing visual of how that happens. This eclipse is a partial eclipse, so the shadow over the Moon will only cover a small portion of her face, a lot like the very cool image below.

Read on with the understanding that the Full Moon is about harvesting whatever you planted before (which certainly smacks of Karma), and that eclipses are disruptive harbingers of change – and that change lasts over a nice little chunk of time, not just on the day of the eclipse.

The Full-Moon is always about culmination – what has been building up to now that’s reaching its fullness – where we are ripe.There may be a sense of closure (or the resistance to a closure), or the need for a transition. When the flower blooms or the fruit is ripe – well, it’s gorgeous, but it is near the end of its beauty and its life. The Eclipse serves to intensify the experience of the possibilities of endings. What’s culminating now is something that possibly began as long ago as 1998/1999, or 2008/2009, or as recently as this past Feb. 2017 if we’re thinking in terms of short term intentions.

Let’s think about what this Full Moon Lunar Eclipse means in your life. The Moon represents your emotions, your instincts, your family and your home – she is all things nurture and mother oriented, and she represents women in general. When she is eclipsed, it’s possible that these are the arenas of life that are coming to fullness, but we have to reach back into the past, or into the dark for answers. The shadow side of who you are in terms of these areas can be intensified and this intensification is the prequel to a letting go or a transition, because whatever the lesson, it is culminating.

With the Moon in the sign of Aquarius, the sign of logic and reason, there’s emphasis on being liberated from something – or on being independent and unique – or of breaking your status-quo, whatever that may be. We are emotionally attuned to that Aquarius type of “individualistic” energy – and since it’s opposite Leo, the sign of the heart, perhaps part of the process here is to balance when and how to step back, with when and how to engage. This eclipse can serve to highlight the difference between logic and heart, and how you may be fostering one of those over the other. With any opposition, and the Full Moon Lunar Eclipse is the mac-daddy of oppositions, the key is balance.

It’s probably close to impossible NOT to know that there is a Total Solar Eclipse coming our way on Aug. 21. You have 2 weeks left to prepare what your new beginnings will be as you’re in the throes of pondering what you’re leaving behind… and those new beginnings revolve around being loving, listening to your heart, and engaging with others (and your inner child) in real way. That’s because the Solar Eclipse is in Leo… So leading with your heart (Leo), yet still engaging the genius in your head (Aquarius.)

If you now your birthchart look to see which houses involve Leo and Aquarius – these are the areas of your psyche and your life that are being powerfully impacted by both eclipses this month – the effects of which will be much longer.

I wish you clarity, balance, and love!

Eclipse Facts:

Eclipses always occur 2 weeks apart, one at the New Moon (Solar Eclipse) and one at the Full Moon (Lunar Eclipse). These 2 eclipses create an “eclipse season.” Sometimes the Solar Eclipse is first in the season, and sometimes the Lunar Eclipse is first.

There is an “eclipse season” every 6 months.

A Lunar Eclipse will not be visible in the part of the world where it is day.

A Solar Eclipse will not be visible in the part of the world where it is night.

 

Partial-Lunar-Eclipse-3

 

Full-Moon-Lunar-Eclise-Chart

Full Moon Lunar Eclipse Chart – from Atlanta GA at 2:11 PM on August 7, 2017

Feb 8 2014

Mercury is Definitely Retrograde…

Mercury-Statue

As most of you know, Mercury is definitely Retrograde.

The Retrograde was initiated this past Thursday with Mercury in Pisces in a tight connection to Neptune... some challenging areas to be aware of during this period of time are self-delusion, understanding what you want to understand rather than what is actually being communicated, excessive sensitivity, and feeling victimized. Areas of strength to operate within are your spiritual practice, allowing your imagination free reign, and connecting to your intuition and your sense of empathy and compassion.

As Mercury moves back into Aquarius on the evening of Valentine’s Day, it will be opposite the Full Moon in Leo. Think about that for a second – the Full Moon in Leo will be trying to come to balance with a Retrograde Mercury. Hhhhhmmmmm. Add to the mix that the Sun, Moon and Mercury are all connecting to Saturn (in a challenging configuration) and to Mars (easy flow) and you get a bit of a interesting mix of energies. My take is that we could get a little fixed in our attitudes and perhaps come up against that same emotional mindset in someone else… perhaps with a few fireworks. The point though may be to illuminate somewhere you’ve been stuck and, one way or another, help you out of it.

For those born between 1957 and early 1962, this Mercury Retrograde is going to transit across your natal Chiron – or get very close to it. If you know the house of your natal Chiron (it’s going to be in late Aquarius or early Pisces) that will help you navigate. Look to that house and how it’s aspected to other natal planets for areas due a bit of mending and restoring.

Wherever Chiron is, it’s to do with your karmic wound – and this Mercury Retrograde trigger could bring stuff up around that wound – maybe offering opportunities to talk about it, heal it, review it – or provide you with chances to help someone else with their wounds. When these issues come up, don’t flinch and push them back down. The beauty of Mercury R is that really fantastic material can arise from the deep psyche and the unconscious self. Take advantage of that.

Remember that Mercury Retrograde is a time for the “1-step back” part of the natural “2-steps forward, 1-step back” process… so take the time to review, reflect, and refine what you’ve already put in motion rather than being in hot pursuit of something entirely new.

Relax! This is nature’s gift telling you to slow down and engage in your internal navigation… there’ll be time for pushing forward again soon!

THE STATS: This particular Retrograde began Thursday, Feb 6, 2014 with Mercury at 3 degrees of Pisces and will run through Fri. Feb. 28, 2014 with Mercury going back to 18 degrees of Aquarius. The shadow period, that 16 to 21 day period after the Retrograde when Mercury is making its way back to the point where it first started its backwards trek, ends on March 21, 2014.

Jan 21 2013

January 21, 2013 – By the Light of the Moon – Today’s Moon in Gemini and lots of exciting energy!

Obama-inauguration-2009-2

That lustrous orb that sweeps our oceans to and fro is also the harbinger who describes and defines our day-to-day fluctuating energy. As the face of the Moon is ever changing, so are the feelings and intuitions that push and pull us through our daily rounds. The sign of the Zodiac the Moon occupies changes about every 2-and-a-half-days and as she orbits she makes different connections to other planets, touching all of them in different ways as she speeds her way through the sky. Each of us will resonate to the energies of the flirting, capricious Luna in different ways and with different reactions according to the energies of our own birthcharts – our own dispositions and levels of consciousness. However, this comes as a guide to help you understand which fickle face our Lady Moon is showing today.

If you know your birthchart, or at least your Sun, Moon, or Rising signs (or better yet – all three – and if you don’t know any of them, maybe it’s time for you to send me an email) knowing where the Moon is playing and who she’s playing with will help you understand how to navigate your day and why you may be feeling the way you are or why you’re having the reactions or responses that you’re having. 

I’m going to try to write this everyday for you – or at least, most days. No promises being made here, but I hope the days I manage it, that you’ll find some peace, and maybe even gain a little edge, in knowing. I want to dedicate this effort to Kat. She told me that she missed my posts. So Kat – this if for you. If any of you enjoy this lovingly crafted energetic gift – please let me know! It will help to keep me motivated to continue…

(The above 3 paragraphs will be repeated each “By the Light of the Moon” post, so if you’ve read it before and know it by heart, just skip to the stuff just below.  All times given in this column are Eastern time. )

About 9AM Eastern (6AM Pacific) this morning the Moon moves from earthbound Taurus into heady Gemini, and because both the Sun and Mercury moved from Capricorn into another bright air sign, Aquarius, over the weekend, the heavens and our intellects could feel a bit clearer – a bit lighter. Mercury and Uranus connect honing our minds and sharpening our tongues as well, so this seems to be a pretty high energy day, especially for folks with lots of air signs represented in their charts (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius). The fire signs will be at home with this energy as well (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius).

Today should prove to be one during which our ideas flow easily and we feel the need to trample the box we’ve been living in to get a breath of fresh air outside it.  Expect a bit of the unexpected…

However, challenges may come from Neptune, particularly earlier in the day. Our emotions are being pulled toward optimism and the search for meaning, the need to expand and express via a very close connection to Jupiter, but simultaneously Neptune insists that we not let go of our fantasy, our addiction, our yearning or our loss – whatever the case may be. The Aquarius and Gemini influences want us to use our logic and mental fortitude, Jupiter wants us to learn and grow, but Neptune wants us to experience the spiritual, the psychic, the nebulous. There may be confusion and there may simply be daydreaming to take the edge off of our genius. It will be interesting to see how all of these combine together and what will result. 

It seems to me that Jupiter and the Moon in Gemini, and Uranus in Aries, will drive the day despite the either visionary or escapist tendencies of Neptune, and that means a restless spirit, clever action, and the wheels of the mind working smartly. It also means that we’re emotionally attached to putting our message or our mission out into the world with the certainty of our right-ness (rightousness?) – that’s the Jupiter part. And we could certainly be feeling the need for independence and freedom. 

Speaking of independence and freedom – today is the public inauguration of President Obama! The planets are really set up beautifully with his birth chart for this event, and it should be fun to watch how he uses these really positive energies. The Moon and Jupiter are triggering his Chiron/Pluto opposition though, so we should watch for any woundedness from the past and possibly some emotional power plays that could emerge. But I think for the most part we’ll see a very confident face and lots of optimism.

And again, speaking of independence and freedom – what a great sky we have for honoring one of our nation’s greatest heros, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We’ve got Neptune for his dream, Jupiter for his vision for the future, and Uranus symbolizing his life as a catalyst for new paradigm. All connected to the Moon – our emotional selves and our country. Perfect. 

For most of us, this can prove to be a very social day – so don’t sit still somewhere alone if you can help it. And enjoy! 

Hey! If you want to be sure not to miss any of the future posts of “By the Light of the Moon” please find the box on the right of any page on this site that says “Follow Astrology with Michelle Gregg via Email” and click “Follow Me!”  

OR

Go to my Facebook page, Astrology with Michelle Gregg and give me a like! Then anytime I post, the goods will show up in your Facebook Home scroll. 

Jan 12 2013

January 12 & 13, 2013 – By the Light of the Moon – Moon in Aquarius!

That lustrous orb that sweeps our oceans to and fro is also the harbinger who describes and defines our day-to-day fluctuating energy. As the face of the Moon is ever changing, so are the feelings and intuitions that push and pull us through our daily rounds. The sign of the Zodiac the Moon occupies changes about every 2-and-a-half-days and as she orbits she makes different connections to other planets, touching all of them in different ways as she speeds her way through the sky. Each of us will resonate to the energies of the flirting, capricious Luna in different ways and with different reactions according to the energies of our own birthcharts – our own dispositions and levels of consciousness. However, this comes as a guide to help you understand which fickle face our Lady Moon is showing today.

If you know your birthchart, or at least your Sun, Moon, or Rising signs (or better yet – all three – and if you don’t know any of them, maybe it’s time for you to send me an email) knowing where the Moon is playing and who she’s playing with will help you understand how to navigate your day and why you may be feeling the way you are or why you’re having the reactions or responses that you’re having. 

I’m going to try to write this everyday for you – or at least, most days. No promises being made here, but I hope the days I manage it, that you’ll find some peace, and maybe even gain a little edge, in knowing. I want to dedicate this effort to Kat. She told me that she missed my posts. So Kat – this if for you. If any of you enjoy this lovingly crafted energetic gift – please let me know! It will help to keep me motivated to continue…

(The above 3 paragraphs will be repeated each “By the Light of the Moon” post, so if you’ve read it before and know it by heart, just skip to the stuff after the … All times given in this column are Eastern time. )

I’m posting today for both Saturday and Sunday, Jan 12 and 13… just because I don’t want to write tomorrow. 🙂 A day off after 5 on will feel good. 

The Moon is in Aquarius both days as of 4:01 AM Eastern time today. The feeling is quirky, upbeat and erratic. It’s time to tune into yourself as unique, and tap into what you have to offer that is original – whatever is yours and yours alone to give. The more your gifts are intended for the greater good the better. The need to be independent and free could pervade the weekend… particularly for those of us who are naturally geared that way; those of us with planets and points strongly associated with Uranus, Jupiter or Mars, or in the signs Aquarius, Sagittarius and Aries. It could be easy to detach emotionally these next couple of days – or we could notice others near us pulling away, needing some space. Just know that it’s not you… it’s that energy of Aquarius that asks us to detach for the long-view perspective. 

The Moon is approaching Mars today and will make direct contact early, early tomorrow morning, so I’d say that there’s a chance that tempers could rise. Things could get pretty heated. Alternatively, there could simply be an abundance of high energy to tap into. The need for something new, exciting – some fresh air – is pervasive. With Venus squaring Uranus – expect the unexpected when it comes to relating with those you’re closest to, and with what you’re willing to spend your money on. You might find something out of the blue, think it’s absolutely irresistible and make an impulse buy. ‘Course, you could do that with a lover as well! Sudden splits and sudden attractions… that’s the feeling. Just bear in mind that these impulses are TEMPORARY and don’t make any outrageous decisions unless a catalyst is what you’ve been waiting for. 

For the majority of us, it’s a great time to simply take advantage of some bright, happy, upbeat energy that offers a much needed lightness of being. Intelligent discourse is a possibility as well as unexpected dazzling new ideas from your emotional genius. Give them space to breathe and take life!

Oh! Keep in mind the Moon is Void-of-Course ALL DAY on Sunday – 3:37 AM until 8:20 AM Eastern time on Monday, a couple of hours after the Moon moves into Pisces.  During a Void Moon it’s best not to jump whole heartedly into left brain activities. The right brain – our creative side – is much more comfortable at these times!  Expectations are likely not to be met during a Void, and it’s easy to “miss the boat.” Don’t plan important practical, logical, linear, or legal stuff during this time, and don’t push a situation expecting to get what you want. That might be a challenge with that challenging Venus/Uranus connection this weekend, so just be aware! And logical, linear stuff is the stuff of Aquarius, so enjoy that irony. (For more on the Void-of-Course Moon click here.)

Have fabulous weekend! See you on Monday!

Hey! If you want to be sure not to miss any of the future posts of “By the Light of the Moon” please find the box on the right of any page on this site that says “Follow Astrology with Michelle Gregg via Email” and click “Follow Me!”  

OR

Go to my Facebook page, Astrology with Michelle Gregg and give me a like! Then anytime I post, the goods will show up in your Facebook Home scroll. 

Oct 5 2012

New Energy! Venus in Virgo and Saturn in Scorpio…

There are some new energies afoot!

On Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012 Venus moved from Leo into Virgo. With this shift your attention moves from valuing yourself at the center of your awareness to valuing what you can do in service to others.

Venus was in Leo from Sept. 7, 2012, so you’ve  had a month to focus on whatever magnificence comes from your heart, your creative efforts, how your resources can benefit them or what you receive as a result of them. This was the time to love for fun for and pleasure. 

With this shifting of Venus from the 5th sign of the Zodia to the 6th (Virgo) comes an emphasis on becoming practical in the way you interact with the people closest to you and with those with whom you work on a regular basis. In what way can you offer something of benefit to them? In what way can you contribute to the smooth functioning of your primary circles. Venus in Virgo is love on purpose! 

Another shift we’re experiencing is the movement of both Mercury into Scorpio. 

Mercury in Scorpio (coming from Libra) is a fairly brief visit, as Mercury orbits so quickly. It was in Libra from Sept. 17 until today, Oct. 5, 2012. Mercury in Libra put the focus on thinking and talking about relationship and how to keep them in balance. Now your mind, with Mercury in Scorpio, turns more toward thinking and communicating in depth – from your core – with a desire to expose the truth. Mercury in Scorpio is the natural placement of the detective, so this is a fantastic time for research projects that need laser beam mental prowess. Mercury is in Scorpio until Oct. 28. Focus on what your can reveal and uncover during this time. Watch out for obsessing about what you know or what you need to learn – or inconsistencies in your thoughts or the communications of others. 

And the biggie – Saturn is also in Scorpio as of today at 4:34 Eastern time. When Saturn makes an ingress into a new sign, it’s a big deal. Saturn has been in Libra fully since Oct. of 2010… so for almost 2 years Libra and all the Cardinal signs – Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn – have been learning Saturn lessons. Now it’s time for the fixed signs – Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius – to have their Saturn moment. If you have any planets in any of these four signs, then at some point over the next couple of years – until December of 2014 (it does Retrogress back into Scorpio for a good part of 2015 ) – you’ll have your lesson with Saturn to learn as well. And please don’t jump to negative conclusions. Without the lessons of Saturn, honestly, we’d all be floating around in chaos. 

Saturn lessons are lessons of resistance – and where you feel resistance there is probably fear. Saturn also lets us know when it’s time to balance karma in a particular area. It also brings the opportunity to mature and make practical progress somewhere. The beauty of Saturn lessons is that we get to grow up, get something accomplished and really find our authority somewhere. So, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius – pull on your big girl panties and let go of resistance. 

Saturn in Scorpio is a penetrating energy that asks us to get real with overcoming our deepest fears and darkest, most taboo places. Saturn is all about testing the strength of your structure and in Scorpio it will suss out any weaknesses. There is an emphasis on power, on transformation and on merging. There may be an impact on your resources – and depending on whether your foundation and structure are strong or not – there may be limits places on your resources or you may reap the rewards of your practical progress and good planning. Becoming comfortable with limits is one of the keys to successfully navigating any Saturn transit. 

Don’t let the heavy sound of this energy put you into a negative space or a pity party… throughout our lives we experience challenges. It is the way we meet those challenges that determines the outcome. Meet this time of maturing with the best that you have (I’m mostly talking to those with planets in Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius). Understand that resistance, digging in your heals or blaming others, will probably create suffering on some level… and be thankful that you’re entering a very important time of change and growth. Of course the intensity of these changes will ebb and flow… right now it’s those with planets in the very early degrees of these signs who will feel this energy most. As Saturn moves forward the middle-degree people will come more into the light of this energy and as more time passes within the 2 year period, those with planets in the later degrees of the fixed signs will be feeling it more prevalently. 

It would be wonderful to hear from some Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn folks on what their experiences have been with Saturn impacting them over the past 2 years. Please feel free to comment with a story if you feel moved!

The Saturn Ingress into Scorpio – Oct. 5, 2012 – 4:34 PM Eastern

Aug 1 2012

Full Moon in Aquarius on August 1, 2012 – Be Unique and Expansive!

The gorgeous Full Moon! Be unique and allow your originality to shine during the next 2 weeks!

Tonight’s Full Moon is looming and the energy is UP! Nervy, initiating, expansive, original, rebellious, optimistic, and dare I say – possibly a bit combative?

The Full Moon occurs in Aquarius at 11:27 PM Eastern Time on this first day of August 2012. A Full Moon in Aquarius means that the Sun is in Leo and these two luminaries are playing in the sky exactly opposite to each other. We can look at that in a couple of ways – either we see it as Ego vs. Emotions; or we see it as an opportunity to balance the desires of the Ego with the pull of our Emotions. The latter is win-win if we can manage it. The former is a battle.

As is true for all Full Moons, this is a period of culmination – of flowering and illumination. Did you begin anything, plant any sort of seed, near the Cancer New Moon on July 19, 2012? Today marks halfway through that cycle, so consciously take note of your circumstances now to establish how to proceed. Alternatively, this could be a culmination point of something you began around the time the Moon was last New in Aquarius, just over 6 months ago on Jan. 23, 2012.  Perhaps it’s time to take stock of how those New Year’s resolutions are panning out? (Remember those?) That cycle resolves just before Feb. 10, 2013, so again, this is a great mid-point to see what’s being shown in the light either to let go of, proceed with, or change.

With the energies that are present right now (huge influences from Uranus and Jupiter on just about everything) I’m thinking CHANGE and expanding your awareness to include the new and exciting is what to be open to (note I did not say “act on.”) Here’s a potential mantra that is quite apropos: “I must risk disapproval from others and be true to my own unorthodox ideas in order to develop the deeper and more satisfying feeling of self-approval and to broaden my worldview and the way I live within it.”  Risk. That is classic Uranus/Jupiter ideology right there. Everyone who can get down with that say “AMEN!” If you have planets in Aquarius or Leo, or both, think deeply about this mantra. Let it go to work inside you. Again, I said “think.” I didn’t say do. 

Mercury is still Retrograde until August 8, so taking direct action on new, fresh and exciting ideas isn’t advised, though you must CERTAINLY be having them. Researching those ideas, collecting them, ruminating on the best possible new directions – that’s all good! This is a very mental Full Moon with a great emphasis on the Air signs which stimulates the mental processes. And admittedly there is emphasis on Fire as well and Fire wants to move… but Uranus IS Retrograde in Aries with Mars in close proximity to Saturn. That’s to say that some restraint is called for – some grounding due to make the most of this part of the Moon’s cycle. I get the sensation of chomping at the bit, or being ushered into the starting gait waiting for the shot to sound. A little more waiting is in order and this can make the most patient of us edgy and uncomfortable. 

Possibly the best parts of this Full Moon are the Jupiter connections. Jupiter is in happy conversation with the Moon, the  Sun,  and Mars lending, on the up-side, a level of generosity of spirit, nobility, optimism and self-assurance. True feel-good stuff. There is wisdom to be gained and our ethics are stretched wide to push our boundaries farther abroad. But we must also take a look at the down-side potentials as well: overextending, promising what can’t be delivered, soap-boxing and self-righteousness. So be aware of these tendencies in yourself and if they emerge, look realistically at what you can accomplish, council yourself wisely and open to other opinions around you that may be just as valid as your own. 

The bottom line here is to allow your high energy to come out to play, but try to stay grounded and don’t embark on new ideas just yet – and keep your temper in check. Enjoy the positivity that’s in the air and be social! And please, come out with your unique-ness, your originality. There are opportunities to be had through them! I’ll restate that in case you slipped right past it – there are opportunities to be had by being your original and unique self! Just remember that today is NOT the day (nor are the next two weeks) to let others tell you how to be –  just as it IS the time to allow others to be who they uniquely are and to be accepting of them. In this way, by wearing our own uniqueness proudly while allowing others the same due, we can best use this Full Moon’s energy.

(Didn’t say this above, but communications with folks might not go as expected. A bit blurry, and can be irritating – Mercury quincunx Neptune. And if you can do romance – Venus trine Neptune – without too much talking, all the better.) 

For you students of astrology, here is a line-up of the aspects in the Full Moon in Aquarius chart:

Planetary Aspects in the Full Moon in Aquarius Chart.
August 1, 2012 at 11:27 PM Eastern.

The New Moon in Aquarius Chart.
Aries wheel drawn for Aug. 1, 2012 at 11:27 PM Eastern.


 

Jul 9 2012

Current Weather: Mercury Is Retrograde in Leo…

Mercury and Paris by Annibale Carracci
Ceiling of the Farnese Gallery. 16th/17th Century Baroque Italian Art.

 

Just a note to you as a reminder that on July 14, 2012 we’ll be in a Mercury Retrograde phase once again.

Mercury is already slowing down a bit in preparation for its 3-week back-track, so I thought you’d want to start thinking about ways to prepare. This coming Retrograde is in Leo – so all of you who have a strong emphasis on Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius in your birthcharts will probably experience the strongest effects.

To prepare, begin to explore ways to still your mind, particularly around your creative ideas and heart attachments. Set aside some time in your calendar to have quiet introspective moments every day between July 14 and August 8, 2012… and then plan to use that time to review, revisit, and revise the following Leo ruled areas of life:  ego attachments, career in terms of your creativity, where you want to shine in life, your convictions, your self-confidence, your children and any creative progeny, where and how you are generous and giving, where you find and offer joy, how you respond to criticism, and your actual heart health.

Read that list again slowly and visualize each area of your life as you do… check to see what needs a do-over and then commit to spending some down town ruminating and mulling it over. 

The time you set aside for introspection doesn’t have to be excessive – a few minutes a day will do.  But as always, anytime you work with an energy you benefit tremendously – whereas if you work against the energy (refusing to slow down and reflect, pushing through with projects rather than letting them breathe, making large purchases, signing contracts – those are all “don’ts” during Mercury Retrograde) you will feel the more negative side of its impact… and those are really not pleasant. Some for instances are:  mis-communications, technology devices that break and need repairing, car break downs, contracts back-firing, flubbing speeches and the traditional favorite, travel troubles. 

Mercury Retrograde can be a very positive and restorative experience… just be willing to slow down and breathe, rather than forcing your way forward. In that way you get the benefit of some well-deserved down time. 

So get ready to put your check book, your debit card, and your signing pen away for a few weeks… see what you can put on the back burner for a little while to free up some space, and get comfortable with the idea of going inside. This is your chance to rest and restore your mind… take it! Have fun introspecting!

Please read my article “Mercury Retrograde, The Unlikely Healing Gift”… it’s a great read and covers everything from mythology and history to what to expect. Enjoy!

Jan 1 2012

The Birth of the New Year – 2012

Happy, Happy New Year!!! Welcome 2012!!!

Happy New Year One and All!! Birth chart for 2012 - Aries Wheel at midnight.

Intensity of Spirit, Purpose and Emotion welcome us in the first moments of 2012… There’s plenty of fiery enthusiasm and exuberant communication in the air in this New Year and the necessity to balance practicality, strong resolve, perseverance and commitment with high spirits, new ideas, unexpected change and polarized perspectives.  Soul healing is possible if you watch for the opportunities… Happy 2012 Everyone!!

Aug 20 2009

Today’s New Moon in Leo – Express Yourself and Feel the Love

 

New Moon - Dark of the Moon

New Moon - Dark of the Moon

heartThis is a special New Moon indeed. It lets us know that despite all that’s awry right now in our world, despite all the challenges that we face both personally and collectively, we are still a world filled with love. Leo is the ruler of the heart – both the actual physiological pump and the feelings that are stored and emitted from that wondrous organ of life. And the sign Leo is ruled by the Sun – that burning orb of expression. What we have then is our expressive selves becoming love through our emotional awareness. Mmmmm. Lovely.

If we’re becoming love, it stands to reason that we become loving of ourselves. And that’s perfect, because if we love ourselves, we express ourselves without guilt or fear, just as does the Sun. We love, we express, and then we are loved in return via the expression of others. The New Moon in Leo can bring out a win-win love fest for all of us if we a) let it happen, and b) express it!

And that’s not all. This New Moon in Leo is opposite Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter in Aquarius. Now we’re talking BIG UNIVERSAL love. We’re talking feelings that take us out of ourselves and into a higher dimension. Agape, an ancient Greek word has several meanings. It’s translated into English as “love”, but our love has too many meanings to do this word justice. It’s not “eros” or intimate, erotic love; it’s not “philia” or brotherly love. My favorite definitions of “agape” are “unconditional divine love” and “wide open”.  Take this New Moon and allow your love/heart center to be wide open, and to express what’s coming up and out of it in a universal, unconditional way.

 

Sliver of a New Moon

Sliver of a New Moon

Start something from your newly wide open, self-loving and unapologetically self-expressive heart today. In 14 days at the Full Moon, see if something loving comes to fruition as a result and then blossoms to fullness just before the next New Moon. And remember too that whatever you begin today and in the next couple of days, has both a six-month and 1-year cycle that’s being put into play. When you see the slightest sliver of the Moon in a day or two, remember what you’ve read here, and commit to a new start in self-love. Be wide open with your heart and accepting of universal, divine, other love, be expressive of your heart – your deepest desires and most wondrous joys.

Start love.

Aug 5 2009

Eclipse Season Ends with a 3rd Eclipse and New Birth

Lunar EclipseWednesday, Aug. 5  at 8:55 PM in the Eastern Time Zone we have the 3rd eclipse in one month’s time. Did you catch that? A 3rd? you say. Yes. Quite unusual. This entire Eclipse Season has been a very intense one – perhaps fitting that we end it with an extra Lunar Eclipse!

A Lunar Eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon during a Full Moon. Symbolically speaking, we are cutting off our emotions from our egos, and have for a short space of time the ability to stand clearly in our place without such strong pulls from these two powerful forces in our lives. Eclipses herald the end of something and the beginning of something new. This particular Eclipse is like an exclamation mark at the end of an astronomical/astrological proclamation that a new era has begun, and things will no longer be as they were before. We’re in that space of knowing that change is upon us, and just for a moment we’re allowed to feel that space without being pulled from the past or pulled by our attachments to what we believe should be.

Taken singularly, this Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius (the tail end of which will be visible in Eastern North America), has a buoyant, almost happy feel to it. With Jupiter rising over the Ascendant (in Atlanta and places nearby) and Mars agreeing with both the Sun and the Moon, and Mercury and Venus communicating nicely, we have a pleasant Full Moon indeed. It’s quite a social energy, encouraging us to mingle in groups, pool our creativity, share beliefs and visions for the future. Thinkers and creative types can come together and inspire each other toward new social trends that just may translate beyond the social, and fly us closer to our unified dream of a better future for all humankind.

Taken as the kite tail of the astronomical events (including the 2 Eclipses in July) we can see this Eclipse as an inspiring moment on a string of some seriously transformational developments. Here’s the line-up:

June 21 – Powerful (!) Summer Solstice with Pluto as the herald of Death, Transformation and Rebirth.

June 22 – An equally powerful New Moon in Cancer, almost intoxicating us with the power it leant to the Solstice the day before, encouraging us to begin a new way to nurture on every level. The pangs of a new birth begin.

July 7 – Lunar Eclipse in Cancer intensifying and accelerating the energy of change and a profound new nurture, for our Mother the Earth, our country as Mother, and in our personal lives as well.

July 21 – Solar Eclipse in Capricorn, making sure we know that the status-quo will not be maintained – regardless of those of us who want to dig in our heels.

August 5 – Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius – letting us know that all that’s dying and all that’s being born are expressly to serve the greater good. We will usher in a new paradigm that insists on equality and a new values system, even as the forces of tradition and “the new way” battle around us.

We’ve had some shocking news during this short 6-week period. Many of our icons have died, health care reform is being pushed and pulled furiously, Sarah Palin suddenly quit her job, the financial crisis and lay-offs have accelerated – all of which I view as the contractions before the crowning of the wonder that’s coming.

We have had some good news too – several AMAZING environmental leaps have been actualized, and just today, to put a halo all around today’s Eclipse, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, journalists who were sentenced to 12 years of hard labor in N. Korea, were granted amnesty and brought home!

Hold the power of this time with the energy of transformation, the gratitude of the better way that’s coming, and ask what creative role you can play to actualize it. Such is the energy at hand.  Happy Lunar Eclipse!