New Moons are times of new beginnings, but with Mars retrograde in Virgo, this is not the best time to start anything. Rather, it is time to work on things that have already been started and to complete things.
That being said, I think this is a good time to make progress in healing your spiritual connection to the earth. With this New Moon conjunct Neptune and Chiron and other bodies (see below), we have a unique opportunity to heal deep wounds regarding spirituality and the deepest one...that affects all of us and may lead to our ultimate destruction,
our alienation from Mother Earth.
Sometime in our history we severed our connection to Nature, other people, and ultimately to ourselves.
By making Earth an 'it', we thought we could do anything to her and we did. Now we face total destruction due to environmental degradation.
Despite the statement in the Bible: "From dust thou art, to dust you will return", we seem to have forgotten our origins and the necessity to stay connected. In addition, we dismissed those who did not forget: native tribal peoples from every land, as ignorant savages and heathens damned to the fires of hell.
Now we are paying for it.
Depression is one of the most prevalent maladies in the industrialized modern world. Prescription drugs are so common, they are now one of the largest polluters of water, as they pass through the body and end up in the water supply. Some even recommend Prozac for 4 year olds. What's going on?
Alienation from Source and disconnect from our earthly roots.
Rather than following the celestial bodies across the sky, staying in sync with the seasons, knowing the life cycles of the animals and plants that are part of our environment, we follow strangers on Twitter, watch every move of 'celebrities' and take our cues from 'the rich and famous'.
We are shocked by the deaths of these icons from drugs and alcohol, wondering how this could happen, not realizing that they have been unconsciously carrying the weight of our projections. We have been willing to settle for 'the toxic mimic' to use a phrase from Caroline Casey. The illusion rather than the real thing.
This New Moon is conjunct Neptune, Chiron and Pallas Athene. Mercury and Vesta are also in Pisces right now, supporting us in our healing relation to Source, the Earth and each other. The veils are thinning between the dimensions. We may find ourselves with increased access to wisdom keepers of all kinds.
Stephanie Austin in The Mountain Astrologer writes about an additional celestial guardian conjunct this New Moon - Fomalhaut - a fixed star which was the first one seen by the Hubble Space Telescope. It has an extrasolar planet in orbit. Traditionally one of the four royal stars of Persia it was used in navigation for
centuries. It is associated with the Angel Gabriel - the angel of Incarnation and Consolation who instructs the souls before their arrival on Earth. He is also the angel who appeared to Muhammad (pbuh) and urged him to "recite", resulting in the oral teaching that became the Qur'an.
This a sacred time for healing and reconnecting to the deeper aspects of life. Take the time to meditate, pray, or do whatever spiritually based practices you engage in. If you don't have any....find one that gives you peace and helps you connect to yourself, the Earth and others.
Showing posts with label Chiron. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chiron. Show all posts
Monday, February 20, 2012
Saturday, July 11, 2009
The Value of Contraction - Less is More
Pluto in Capricorn is about maximum contraction. Since we have just gone through the opposite, that is, Pluto in Sagittarius, maximum expansion, this is particularly painful. Just like trying to squeeze into those jeans you wore in your 20s after two kids and gaining 20 pounds. Can't be done. Gotta shed some pounds. So that's where we are, all of us. And it feels awful. Depression is 'widely available'.
Liquor and fast food sales are up, even though more and more of us know the dangers of both. People want a quick fix for the psychological pain. People want to 'feel better,' if even for a moment.
I myself am grappling with this daily. Since I cannot go outside to my garden (due to my broken ankle), I have to dig deep into my inner resources. Meditation, chanting, repetition of mantra/wazifa is very useful since it helps you train your mind. Stopping thought is useful at this time, when what we are doing is not necessarily working at solutions with our thoughts, but rather beating ourselves up with self-sabotaging recriminations.
Flower essences, essential oils and tinctures have an incredible ability to soothe, heal and inspire. All very important at this time.
It is not about 'not feeling'. Among the tasks of Saturn and Capricorn is to evaluate what works and what does not work. To have the courage to admit that we don't like our life and then to change it. This requires feeling the pain. Pain is a message. Something is wrong. Don't mask it (of course if it is overwhelming and paralyzing, you have to manage it). Take the time (Saturn/Capricorn) to review your situation.
The next step which is so aptly put in the Serenity prayer adopted by AA.
"God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference."
Attributed to the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr.
This is one of the most useful messages that has been delivered to humanity in the last century.
About 18 years ago, while working at a domestic violence shelter, I was doing research on addiction. I read a series of books by Anne Wilson Schaef about the addictive society. Her best known one, When Society Becomes an Addict, opened my eyes to the role our culture has in making us all addicts in some way, so as to encourage consummerism.
Before we can stop our addictions we must 'admit we are powerless'. We must stop thinking that we can live forever, do anything we want, anytime. In a sense, the New Age Movement that expanded in the mid 80s, and promised us that we can have it all as we create our own reality (which usually included more stuff), has been co-opted (as the 60s were). Yes, even Michael Jackson died. Didn't you think for a moment that if anyone could figure out a way to live forever, he would? He could certainly afford to pay for whatever technology could come up with. For those who consider themselves 'spiritual' there are now millions of books, DVDs, CDs and catalogs full of all the accoutrements required to be 'on the spiritual path.' "Have you seen the latest yoga mat?"
Among the gifts of my recent 'confinement' is seeing what I actually NEED. Now that my ankle is nearly back to normal, I see that I am beginning to WANT again. The wanting is what causes me discomfort. About halfway through this confinement, I arrived at a state of contentment. A time when just being was all I could do and it was enough.
I hope to retain the lessons I learned. The gift of a broken bone (bones ruled by Saturn/Capricorn, ankle ruled by Uranus/Aquarius). Currently Chiron, shot in the ankle, is in Aquarius (natally in my 6th house of health). In my Solar Return chart for this year, it is at my midheaven (conjunct the 10th house cusp. The 10th house traditionally ruled by Saturn/Capricorn. Try to tell me that astrology does not work.
If you are feeling depressed right now, take it as a sign that you are alive and awake. You are not numbed out. Take the time to review your life. Feel what is not working anymore and try to understand why. Change what you can. If you can change nothing about the external situation, do an attitude adjustment.
One way this can be done is to invite the 'problem area' to tea. With friendship and kindness, ask it what it wants from you. What it wants you to know and learn. What is the lesson in this? is an extremely useful question to ask yourself on a regular basis.
Try to avoid 'why me?' because that is a victim stance. Instead I suggest you look for the lesson. I have found that when I can do this, I may come to value the 'problem' for the gifts it has brought - the 'virtues' of patience, humility, compassion, surrender etc. As soon as I 'get it', the 'problem' often goes away.
We can use plant guides and messengers in the form of flower essences and essential oils to support us in our own process. They work on a subtle level. They don't do the work - we still have to do it, but they can help us focus and have more clarity. They can take the panic away so we can think. See my herb blog.
If you wish assistance, I am available for astrology readings and flower essence sessions. Leave your contact info in a comment.
Liquor and fast food sales are up, even though more and more of us know the dangers of both. People want a quick fix for the psychological pain. People want to 'feel better,' if even for a moment.
I myself am grappling with this daily. Since I cannot go outside to my garden (due to my broken ankle), I have to dig deep into my inner resources. Meditation, chanting, repetition of mantra/wazifa is very useful since it helps you train your mind. Stopping thought is useful at this time, when what we are doing is not necessarily working at solutions with our thoughts, but rather beating ourselves up with self-sabotaging recriminations.
Flower essences, essential oils and tinctures have an incredible ability to soothe, heal and inspire. All very important at this time.
It is not about 'not feeling'. Among the tasks of Saturn and Capricorn is to evaluate what works and what does not work. To have the courage to admit that we don't like our life and then to change it. This requires feeling the pain. Pain is a message. Something is wrong. Don't mask it (of course if it is overwhelming and paralyzing, you have to manage it). Take the time (Saturn/Capricorn) to review your situation.
The next step which is so aptly put in the Serenity prayer adopted by AA.
"God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference."
Attributed to the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr.
This is one of the most useful messages that has been delivered to humanity in the last century.
About 18 years ago, while working at a domestic violence shelter, I was doing research on addiction. I read a series of books by Anne Wilson Schaef about the addictive society. Her best known one, When Society Becomes an Addict, opened my eyes to the role our culture has in making us all addicts in some way, so as to encourage consummerism.
Before we can stop our addictions we must 'admit we are powerless'. We must stop thinking that we can live forever, do anything we want, anytime. In a sense, the New Age Movement that expanded in the mid 80s, and promised us that we can have it all as we create our own reality (which usually included more stuff), has been co-opted (as the 60s were). Yes, even Michael Jackson died. Didn't you think for a moment that if anyone could figure out a way to live forever, he would? He could certainly afford to pay for whatever technology could come up with. For those who consider themselves 'spiritual' there are now millions of books, DVDs, CDs and catalogs full of all the accoutrements required to be 'on the spiritual path.' "Have you seen the latest yoga mat?"
Among the gifts of my recent 'confinement' is seeing what I actually NEED. Now that my ankle is nearly back to normal, I see that I am beginning to WANT again. The wanting is what causes me discomfort. About halfway through this confinement, I arrived at a state of contentment. A time when just being was all I could do and it was enough.
I hope to retain the lessons I learned. The gift of a broken bone (bones ruled by Saturn/Capricorn, ankle ruled by Uranus/Aquarius). Currently Chiron, shot in the ankle, is in Aquarius (natally in my 6th house of health). In my Solar Return chart for this year, it is at my midheaven (conjunct the 10th house cusp. The 10th house traditionally ruled by Saturn/Capricorn. Try to tell me that astrology does not work.
If you are feeling depressed right now, take it as a sign that you are alive and awake. You are not numbed out. Take the time to review your life. Feel what is not working anymore and try to understand why. Change what you can. If you can change nothing about the external situation, do an attitude adjustment.
One way this can be done is to invite the 'problem area' to tea. With friendship and kindness, ask it what it wants from you. What it wants you to know and learn. What is the lesson in this? is an extremely useful question to ask yourself on a regular basis.
Try to avoid 'why me?' because that is a victim stance. Instead I suggest you look for the lesson. I have found that when I can do this, I may come to value the 'problem' for the gifts it has brought - the 'virtues' of patience, humility, compassion, surrender etc. As soon as I 'get it', the 'problem' often goes away.
We can use plant guides and messengers in the form of flower essences and essential oils to support us in our own process. They work on a subtle level. They don't do the work - we still have to do it, but they can help us focus and have more clarity. They can take the panic away so we can think. See my herb blog.
If you wish assistance, I am available for astrology readings and flower essence sessions. Leave your contact info in a comment.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
July 7 Eclipse - Portal Between Worlds
As we approach the upcoming Full Moon eclipse on July 7, we may feel contraction. For some, this will be experienced as fear leading to panic.
The circumstances of the outer world which seem real - money issues - may cause us to put the focus of our energy in the wrong place.
While a contraction is called for, it is not a 'bad' thing. Since we live in a world where only expansion and growth are valued and sought after, we feel something is very wrong with contraction and must be 'forced' into it. Rather we should submit to this contraction willingly for it is part of the cycle. Observe your breath. It goes in and out. Observe the tides, they go in an out. All of it is a rhythmic cycle. Neither can exist without the other.
With Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron conjunct right now, I feel that after the contraction, the 'in-breath will bring more healing, greater intuitive capacity and an increase ability to manifest our dreams. But we must first be willing to let go and release on a grand scale.
Have you ever been told to take a deep breath? What is the first thing you do to prepare to do that? Breathe out more than ever. So, now, get ready to take a deep breath.
Rather than clenching up in fear which is usually accompanied by holding your breath, let it all go. Don't try to hold on to whatever goes with it. Don't grab on to anything. Before we can manifest the new life we want, we have to make room for it. Right now we also have access to creative imagination on a grand scale. Dream big. Dream into reality the next phase of your miraculous life.
The Moon in Capricorn 10th house and Sun in Cancer 4th forming this eclipse, open the portal between birth, death and rebirth.
The ancient Maya saw 'life' as starting with death. Life comes out of death. The 4th house is both the house of death (where we come from) and the house of birth. The 10th house is the life in between. This eclipse has the Moon (the ruler of Cancer) in Capricorn. To me this means that the nurturing energy of the Moon/Cancer is on both sides of the portal.
Go to your emotions to see what needs to change. My doctor recently advised me to "let pain be my guide" in regards to the physical therapy I must do after my broken ankle. At first I thought "what? Why would I want to do that?" But after thinking about it I saw the wisdom in it on a larger scale. To determine what is not working anymore in your life, let pain be your guide.
Often in order to continue to function, we avoid the pain in any number of ways. Distraction, medication, numbing out, sleeping, staying busy - are common ways. But in order to see what needs to be changed/healed and when we are not going in the right direction, we need to experience that pain.
Remember that game where someone hid something and the other person had to go look for it? We said warm, hot, boiling when the searcher approached and cold, freezing when they were far away? Well, be sensitive to the subtle emotional changes that accompany different parts of your life. Pay close attention to your stomach, your aches and pains, your mind, your energy. Does your body respond positively or negatively as you go through your day. Your own body can give you clues your rational mind hides from you.
Let emotional or any other kind of pain, be your guide to what is no longer working in your life and what needs to go. Then, imagine the new life you want. Get ready, breathe out, then breathe in deeply and move through the portal into your new life.
The circumstances of the outer world which seem real - money issues - may cause us to put the focus of our energy in the wrong place.
While a contraction is called for, it is not a 'bad' thing. Since we live in a world where only expansion and growth are valued and sought after, we feel something is very wrong with contraction and must be 'forced' into it. Rather we should submit to this contraction willingly for it is part of the cycle. Observe your breath. It goes in and out. Observe the tides, they go in an out. All of it is a rhythmic cycle. Neither can exist without the other.
With Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron conjunct right now, I feel that after the contraction, the 'in-breath will bring more healing, greater intuitive capacity and an increase ability to manifest our dreams. But we must first be willing to let go and release on a grand scale.
Have you ever been told to take a deep breath? What is the first thing you do to prepare to do that? Breathe out more than ever. So, now, get ready to take a deep breath.
Rather than clenching up in fear which is usually accompanied by holding your breath, let it all go. Don't try to hold on to whatever goes with it. Don't grab on to anything. Before we can manifest the new life we want, we have to make room for it. Right now we also have access to creative imagination on a grand scale. Dream big. Dream into reality the next phase of your miraculous life.
The Moon in Capricorn 10th house and Sun in Cancer 4th forming this eclipse, open the portal between birth, death and rebirth.
The ancient Maya saw 'life' as starting with death. Life comes out of death. The 4th house is both the house of death (where we come from) and the house of birth. The 10th house is the life in between. This eclipse has the Moon (the ruler of Cancer) in Capricorn. To me this means that the nurturing energy of the Moon/Cancer is on both sides of the portal.
Go to your emotions to see what needs to change. My doctor recently advised me to "let pain be my guide" in regards to the physical therapy I must do after my broken ankle. At first I thought "what? Why would I want to do that?" But after thinking about it I saw the wisdom in it on a larger scale. To determine what is not working anymore in your life, let pain be your guide.
Often in order to continue to function, we avoid the pain in any number of ways. Distraction, medication, numbing out, sleeping, staying busy - are common ways. But in order to see what needs to be changed/healed and when we are not going in the right direction, we need to experience that pain.
Remember that game where someone hid something and the other person had to go look for it? We said warm, hot, boiling when the searcher approached and cold, freezing when they were far away? Well, be sensitive to the subtle emotional changes that accompany different parts of your life. Pay close attention to your stomach, your aches and pains, your mind, your energy. Does your body respond positively or negatively as you go through your day. Your own body can give you clues your rational mind hides from you.
Let emotional or any other kind of pain, be your guide to what is no longer working in your life and what needs to go. Then, imagine the new life you want. Get ready, breathe out, then breathe in deeply and move through the portal into your new life.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
New Moon in Gemini May 24
New Moons represent beginnings. It is a unique New Moon because it squares a rare triple conjunction of Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron.
While Jupiter and Neptune are conjunct every 12-13 years, and Jupiter and Chiron conjunct every 13-20, Neptune and Chiron conjunct between 57 and 80 years! Thus they may conjunct only once in a lifetime.
Perhaps this explains my recent accident, where I slipped, fell and broke my right ankle. Prior to the accident, which occurred while I was attending a Plant Spirit Healing Apprenticeship workshop, I had been slightly spraining both ankles for about a month. It was very disturbing and worrisome. I couldn't understand what was going on. Each time it happened, it was worse than the last. I live alone in a semi-rural area, with only one neighbor, who would never hear me if I were screaming for help. So, instead, I was among a group of healers-in-training when I fell and sprained my ankle so badly, it broke.
The significance was not lost on me. Nor was the 'luck' of being with a group of wonderful people, who were prepared to help me in so many ways. Thanks to the healing that was given to me by my friends.
I had just returned from communicating with a plant and talking to the chickens in the garden. The workshop was definitely operating on the Neptunian principle of the Unity of Creation. We were learning to enhance our relationship with the natural world by opening up to a different way of perceiving it. It was a shamanic journey. I got to be 'dismembered.'
Chiron was wounded in the ankle and because he was immortal, could not die, but rather suffered endlessly until a bargain was made among the gods so that Chiron could die. He became the constellation Sagittarius.
This triple conjunction is occurring in my 6th house, the house of healing, work, talents, and service. I feel that Chiron has given me the 'nod' and accepted me as a healer. I got initiated by Chiron.
The triple conjunction will go retrograde in the next two week period. Chiron will go retrograde on my 61st birthday, May 30!
Of course, the 'gift' from Chiron is not always appreciated. I am somewhat immobilized, since I can't drive or go outside. I must rely on others to help me. I must accept whatever help anyone can offer. Since I like my independence, this requires Surrender (another attribute of Neptune.)
When I had my Chiron return several years ago, it was just prior to being ordained as a minister of the Universal Worship. My mother took me on a trip to Crete where we went to an incredible tour called "Chiron, the Wounded Healer." She had no idea what that meant, nor did she know it was my Chiron return, but she thought it was something I would like. We had some incredible mother/daughter healing occur on that trip.
We also have a square to the triple conjunction from Mercury! It will station direct on my birthday as well. Now, there must be a message in all this for me. Since, as a Gemini with Virgo rising, Mercury is my significator planet and Pluto is opposing my natal Mercury.
The way I see all this? It is time for me to define, refine and then put out my message. The intention I stated at the beginning of the Plant Spirit Healing workshop was Surrender. Surrender does not mean 'giving up' or 'giving in.' It is setting the course - orientation to one's true purpose in life. It is more like Allowing What is Real and True to manifest.
I have a lot of time to think about what is next in my life. With the help of this New Moon and the influence of the powerful squaring planets, I see a path unfolding.
While Jupiter and Neptune are conjunct every 12-13 years, and Jupiter and Chiron conjunct every 13-20, Neptune and Chiron conjunct between 57 and 80 years! Thus they may conjunct only once in a lifetime.
Perhaps this explains my recent accident, where I slipped, fell and broke my right ankle. Prior to the accident, which occurred while I was attending a Plant Spirit Healing Apprenticeship workshop, I had been slightly spraining both ankles for about a month. It was very disturbing and worrisome. I couldn't understand what was going on. Each time it happened, it was worse than the last. I live alone in a semi-rural area, with only one neighbor, who would never hear me if I were screaming for help. So, instead, I was among a group of healers-in-training when I fell and sprained my ankle so badly, it broke.
The significance was not lost on me. Nor was the 'luck' of being with a group of wonderful people, who were prepared to help me in so many ways. Thanks to the healing that was given to me by my friends.
I had just returned from communicating with a plant and talking to the chickens in the garden. The workshop was definitely operating on the Neptunian principle of the Unity of Creation. We were learning to enhance our relationship with the natural world by opening up to a different way of perceiving it. It was a shamanic journey. I got to be 'dismembered.'
Chiron was wounded in the ankle and because he was immortal, could not die, but rather suffered endlessly until a bargain was made among the gods so that Chiron could die. He became the constellation Sagittarius.
This triple conjunction is occurring in my 6th house, the house of healing, work, talents, and service. I feel that Chiron has given me the 'nod' and accepted me as a healer. I got initiated by Chiron.
The triple conjunction will go retrograde in the next two week period. Chiron will go retrograde on my 61st birthday, May 30!
Of course, the 'gift' from Chiron is not always appreciated. I am somewhat immobilized, since I can't drive or go outside. I must rely on others to help me. I must accept whatever help anyone can offer. Since I like my independence, this requires Surrender (another attribute of Neptune.)
When I had my Chiron return several years ago, it was just prior to being ordained as a minister of the Universal Worship. My mother took me on a trip to Crete where we went to an incredible tour called "Chiron, the Wounded Healer." She had no idea what that meant, nor did she know it was my Chiron return, but she thought it was something I would like. We had some incredible mother/daughter healing occur on that trip.
We also have a square to the triple conjunction from Mercury! It will station direct on my birthday as well. Now, there must be a message in all this for me. Since, as a Gemini with Virgo rising, Mercury is my significator planet and Pluto is opposing my natal Mercury.
The way I see all this? It is time for me to define, refine and then put out my message. The intention I stated at the beginning of the Plant Spirit Healing workshop was Surrender. Surrender does not mean 'giving up' or 'giving in.' It is setting the course - orientation to one's true purpose in life. It is more like Allowing What is Real and True to manifest.
I have a lot of time to think about what is next in my life. With the help of this New Moon and the influence of the powerful squaring planets, I see a path unfolding.
Monday, September 1, 2008
First of the Month Give-away
Starting a new feature: First of the Month Give-away. To the first person to comment and leave "a name" birth time, date and place, with contact information (which will not be published) I will send a free Sky Within Report by Steven Forrest.
This is a comprehensive astrology report covering all major features of your chart. I must have the birth data, but you can use a psuedonym. I will send it to you as an email attachment. For those who do not 'win', you can view a sample of the report without purchasing, by clicking the Sky Within graphic. If you decide to purchase, you can go through PayPal. This is a very interesting report and a great way to learn more about astrology.
I have several other reports available and will be adding them to the site in due course. They make great gifts as well. Besides the general reading, Sky Within, I have one on Asteroids (the four feminine asteroids plus Chiron), Your Spiritual Path, Opportunities (career), Friends and Lovers (for two people), and Sky Log which shows the transits and progressions for 3 months, 6 months or 1 year. In addition, I offer the Day Watch Calendar see ad on sidebar.
Currently I have two reports available in Spanish: The Sky Within and Friends and Lovers.
This is a comprehensive astrology report covering all major features of your chart. I must have the birth data, but you can use a psuedonym. I will send it to you as an email attachment. For those who do not 'win', you can view a sample of the report without purchasing, by clicking the Sky Within graphic. If you decide to purchase, you can go through PayPal. This is a very interesting report and a great way to learn more about astrology.
I have several other reports available and will be adding them to the site in due course. They make great gifts as well. Besides the general reading, Sky Within, I have one on Asteroids (the four feminine asteroids plus Chiron), Your Spiritual Path, Opportunities (career), Friends and Lovers (for two people), and Sky Log which shows the transits and progressions for 3 months, 6 months or 1 year. In addition, I offer the Day Watch Calendar see ad on sidebar.
Currently I have two reports available in Spanish: The Sky Within and Friends and Lovers.
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