Full Moon in Virgo March 8, 2012

Things are really jumping! Last night I happened to be watching a DVD of "Through the Wormhole", hosted by Morgan Freeman. In one segment they spoke about the effects of Solar Flares and how they could totally wipe out our electro-magnetic system, shut down all electricity and communication systems. Apparently they now have a way of predicting when they will happen, so they can prepare for it somewhat. I went to bed thinking about how our world would be affected if this happened. How would it be if all the electricity and communications were down all over the world..even for a few hours? To read about it click here.

I turned on the computer this morning to see that we did have a huge one! One of the benefits of no TV, no newspaper and very little contact with 'media' is that I don't know what's happening. I do feel things, but I don't always know what the feeling is about.

I really had a hard time sleeping last night, which is common for me during Full Moons. But this one was more difficult as I tossed and turned. My cat had strategically placed herself so that I had little room to move and when I would turn over, I would lose my blankets, so I was irritated throughout the night. Now I see why. I must have felt that flare. I am getting more sensitive with Neptune in Pisces.

About a week ago I went with friends to Mevlevi zikr. I have been a semazen (whirling dervish) for 17 years. After my mom died in 2005, I went to Konya for Rumi's Urs and after that trip, even though it was wonderful and I loved Turkey, I turned away from my Sufi groups. I felt that I needed to see what had 'stuck'. That is, what had I gotten from all the hours of teachings, practices, prayers etc. Had it changed me? Had I grown? Was any of it in me...or was I just in a habit of going? At Rumi's tomb surrounded by fellow pilgrims, I heard his words about not looking for him in the tomb but in the hearts of his followers. For me that meant it was time to move away from the teachers and groups and spend my time with 'regular' people.
To learn more about the Mevlevi Order of America, click here.

I did not 'burn any bridges,' so I always knew I could go back anytime I wanted. Last Saturday, the Mevlevi teacher from Turkey was in town and I wanted to see him and my old friends. I thought of it as a family reunion, which could include both painful and joyful moments. Now that my mother is gone, I have felt I had no more family. I have many cousins and one aunt left on my mother's side, but compared to the huge extended family I grew up in...I feel alone. These Mevlevi brothers and sisters are part of the family I created and chose for myself and I had not seen them in years.

It was more than wonderful to go back. I was able to turn despite years of not doing it. It was blissful.

I felt so much gratitude and appreciation for the teacher. What he had accomplished with Americans. The most precious things I learned from him were learned by watching and feeling. Few words were spoken, yet he guided us into a practice in which we could totally entrain with each other. Where we could begin to breathe as one, our heartbeats in sync. He taught us to see with the heart. It took being away to fully appreciate it; to spend all my time 'in the world' to truly know the difference. When I went all the time, it became second nature, but now I realize what I have been hungering for since I left.

I am not sure of my next move - whether I will get active in the group again. Right now, as Mars is still retrograde, I just want to experience things, then make my moves when out of the shadow of the retrograde.

So what does all this have to do with the Full Moon in Virgo?

Well for one thing, it is conjunct to Mars retrograde and thus emphasizes that theme of slowing down, taking time to think and feel. Time for evaluating, rather than acting. Out here on the West Coast, it feels like Spring just can't wait to burst forth, although the daily shifting from sunshine to freezing cold tells us all that we are still in winter, such as it is. Little rain, freezing temperatures.

It is important to take the time to evaluate what you're doing now while you still can. This is a time for big changes. It can be seen from many perspectives, I vote for the positive. It can only be positive, however, if you take the time to do your inner work. Then, no matter what happens, you will be fine. The key right now is to develop Resilience. That includes keeping the physical body hydrated. With Uranus in Aries, we all need to make sure we do not dehydrate. One of the effects of dehydration is that the dendrites in the brain cannot effectively function. Water conducts electricity, dissolves toxins, washes them out of our system and keeps everything lubricated. DRINK LOTS OF WATER. Try to get clean pure water, but don't obsess about it. If you think the water is less than perfect, pray over it - bless it - thank it and ask forgiveness for your role in polluting it.

I suggest you eat a little honey everyday. It will help with resilience. You can put it in tea or on toast or just eat it. About a tablespoon is enough. Eating it just before bedtime is best, since I heard that one reason we wake up in the night is that our body needs fuel. The honey can help you sleep through the night. Try it and see. Honey has many health benefits. The more natural the better.

We need to remain flexible during these times of change.

One woman I know whose landlord decided to sell the house she was renting considers herself 'home full' because she has so many friends who want her to visit or house sit, she is having a great time being free to move around. In the 60s, people bragged about being 'on the road', traveling, street people. We might think about a new form of nomadism. As Janis Joplin once said, "if you have nothing, you have nothing to lose."

In a materialist society like ours this sounds like a disaster, but if this is happening to you...think of the freedom you now have to create a totally new life for yourself. Reframing is another key word now. Change your attitude about what's happening. Try to see things from a completely new perspective. What else can you do? If you feel stuck...maybe you are. But the one thing you can do, is change how you think and feel about your circumstances.

When I was a young girl my mother used to read every book that came out about the Holocaust and concentration camps. I don't know why, we were not Jewish, but somehow she was obsessed about trying to understand what happened and why. I read the books too. One book that I read during this time made such an impression that I would have to say, it served as my spiritual teaching throughout my life. "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl. It tells of his life in a Nazi concentration camp and how people coped, died, survived. He believed that it was the mind that often kept people alive, despite circumstances and saw how powerful our thoughts can be. For me, just knowing that people could survive and then when free, thrive, even though they had lived through unimaginable horrors, showed me that probably nothing in my life would be unbearable.

 

Caroline Myss talks about developing a 'backbone' rather than a 'wishbone'. For years, we have lived in a fantasy, fed by Hollywood, media, advertising, TV, the consumer economy. We have bought into it. But just remember, all of this comes from the mind of man/woman. Someone created all these things. It is not part of nature. It is only as real as you allow it to be.

 

This is the perfect time to plan and strategize. Dream a new world into being. Develop your imagination then use it to see that new world manifested. Don't worry about how....think only of what and why. Focus on what is meaningful, beautiful and inspiring. With Vesta conjunct Uranus right now.... what you focus on, you can manifest. Vesta the Goddess of the Hearth. In Roman times, the hearth was the center of the home - the focal point of family life. The Latin word for 'fireplace' is 'focus'. So...Vesta is the Goddess of Focus. She was the one who kept the sacred fire going. Her followers, known as vestal virgins, kept the fires in the temples. Put another way, they kept the attention focused on the sacred aspects of life.

 

Some say, that Vesta should rule Virgo rather than Mercury, because of its emphasis on the sacred nature of service. Rather than wallowing in your own misery....go volunteer somewhere. They always need people to put books away at the library, pet cats or walk dogs at the shelter, distribute food or clothing at foodbanks and homeless shelters. There is plenty to do. How can you be unemployed when there is so much work to be done? Don't worry, "Dios le pagaré," (God will repay you) Spanish. Trust me.

Full Moon in Virgo - March 19, 2011

Many of us will be attending the International Astrology Day events in San Francisco this coming Saturday. It is the day before the Spring Equinox and the day of another Power Full Moon.
The second of six SuperMoons this year, it will exert a stronger pull on the Earth's oceans, tectonic plates and energy grids than 'normal' Full Moons. Not exactly what we need right now!

A psychic I know said the west coast of California could have a huge earthquake between March 19 and 27. Apparently, California is on the other side of the same fault that caused the recent earthquake in Japan.

Another element of this upcoming Full Moon is that the alignment of the Earth's equator with the Sun at the equinox causes a reduction of the Earth's magnetic field, which according to Stephanie Austin, "facilitates switching channels and increasing access to higher dimensions and new information".

Since this Full Moon (opposition of the Sun and Moon) is square the nodal axis (currently in Sagittarius and Gemini), we have a Grand Cross - the the Sagittarius NN conjunct the Galactic Center. The Galactic Center is a black hole at the center of our galaxy. It is a super transmitter of energy and radiation which effects the electromagnetic field of the Earth. So we have two conditions which could shift our magnetic field, not to mention whatever effects were caused by this recent huge earthquake.

I have discussed the meaning of the Galactic Center a bit here and on my 2012 blog.

Equinoxes are considered cosmic gateways by many ancient cultures. Spring and Fall Equinoxes are when the Cosmic Serpent at Chichen Itza moves down the sides of El Castillo and slithers off to his home in the Underworld via the portal of the Sacred Cenote. Hope to be there this September.

This Full Moon occurs at the final degrees of Pisces and Virgo, potent degrees as we are challenged to 'get the message' of the sign before the planetary body moves on.

So what are we to do? Nothing. There is nothing to DO. It is time to BE! Rather than be a human doing, become a human being. Being occurs when live in our hearts. As we get better at staying in our heart, then no matter what happens, it will be okay.

The Sabian symbols for this Full Moon are potent.
Sun 29 degrees of Pisces - "Light breaking into many colors as it passes through a prism."
Moon 29 degrees of Virgo - "A seeker after occult knowledge is reading an ancient scroll which illumines his mind."

Kim Marie of the Evolutionary Astrology Network suggests that we pray for all those who have passed due to this earthquake and tsunami so that they can realize their situation and move on to the Light. Whenever there is a mass trauma like this with a huge loss of life, souls can be trapped because they get confused.

Now that we are moving towards Pisces in Neptune (April 4) the veils will be thinner. Perhaps these large numbers of people who have passed in the last couple of years are actually 'immigrants' to the new world - going ahead to prepare the next level for the rest of us. Maybe their soul contract included being emissaries to the new dimension.

It was a tragedy from our perspective, but we may not know the whole story. Because we are unable to accept a concept such as 'ascension', we have to have 'an earthquake' so that a large number of people could leave and their departure would fit into our paradigm.

If we shift our consciousness, we might just be able to ascend without blowing anything up first. We can leave without trauma. It's a naughty child who destroys his toys before he leaves so that no one else can play with them.

Full Moon in Pisces - August 24: The Darkest Hour is Just Before Dawn

As we approach the upcoming Full Moon in Pisces on August 24, I'd like to tell you about the astrology conference I went to last week in Denver, Colorado. Last time I was there in '08 was for the UAC conference. I guess it is a desirable place for conferences as it is situated in the heart of the U.S.


Sponsored by the Evolutionary Astrology Network, the theme was Astrology, Reincarnation and the Soul. Pretty deep stuff! And it was. The speakers were: Kim Marie, who spoke about The Shifting Reality of the Soul (Pluto and Saturn); Mark Jones, who spoke about Trauma and Healing (Uranus); and Patricia Walsh, who spoke about Understanding Karmic Complexes (Pluto and the Nodes). We learned about three sign/house combinations a day for four days.

The material, as you can guess from the titles, was both intense and transformative.

One night Patricia demonstrated her method of past life regression and working with past lives, known as Deep Memory Process/Regression Therapy created by Roger Woolger PhD. All of us were deeply affected by watching her work with the brave soul who volunteered. Some were so triggered by it that they had to leave the room. Many were crying. It stayed with us throughout the conference.

Mark Jones spoke about the Aquarius/11th house/Uranus relationship to Trauma that Jeffrey Wolf Green brought through in his Pluto: The Evolutionary Journey of the Soul books I and II published in the '80s, and in his many workshops and seminars.

JWG said that 85% of the population is born with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome due to past life trauma, trauma in utero or at the time of birth. This is reflected in the astrological chart by Aquarius/11th house/Uranus and planets in hard aspect to these archetypes.

This is a radical idea but can be explained briefly like this. Society (Saturn) seeks stability and security for its members. In general, change is seen as disruptive, so there is a desire to restrict change. At the same time, the souls of the individuals living in a society seek evolution. If there is no way for people to grow and evolve, or if the natural impulse is constrained or restricted, there will be a build up of pressure leading to revolution. In a sense, revolution leads to evolution.

The same thing occurs at all levels from the individual to the collective. Evolution is the natural impulse and it either occurs at a slow but constant rate, like growth of a plant, or it occurs suddenly and precipitously and is interpreted as a crisis. Crisis - sudden radical action forces change. This can cause trauma to the psyche.

Another way of looking at it is that if we refuse to 'do our soul's work' something in our life will happen to 'force' us to do it or die.

Other sources of trauma include war, natural disaster, violent death, etc. These things leave resonances in the soul and are re-experienced in the current life.

Traumas that occur in the current life get replayed and thus re-experienced, in the mind and can affect us in all areas of our life. They, in effect, create 'buttons' that can be triggered in any number of ways.

Uranus is associated with long term memory and includes memory stored in the soul over lifetimes.

I was so intrigued by Mark's teaching that I had a reading from him the day of departure. I have had many astrological readings by numerous people over the years. Since I have been a student of astrology for nearly 40 years in addition to doing readings for other people myself, I have studied my own chart a lot. Mark's reading explained the core challenge of my life. It totally shook me up. His words touched me deeply. No reading or interpretation of my chart has ever had such a profound effect on me.

I'm sure you have had people say 'you have to get out of your own way'. What does that mean? Or - 'you always sabotage yourself.' Great! But how? Why? What can I do about it?

Sometimes others see the effect that trauma has had on us, but cannot help us understand what the trauma was, nor how to heal it.

Looking for the 'trauma signature' in a chart, if there is one (and remember 85% of people are born with PTSD according to this method), we can begin the process of deep healing.

This brings me back to the upcoming Full Moon in Pisces.

Jesus brought in the Piscean Age. The Pisces/Virgo axis has to do with victim/perpetrator consciousness. Through lifetimes, we have been on one side or the other.

When we look around at the world today, we see both. On one level, there is an incredible amount of suffering going on. The daily news is full of catastrophes, wars, disasters etc. All these victims, all these perpetrators. It's constant.

At a higher level, there is no trauma. This is all illusion, since it has to do with life on the planet, and not the soul level.

Have you ever heard the expression, 'the darkest hour is just before dawn'? We are on the verge of the Aquarian Age. The paradigms are about to shift radically. New archetypes are manifesting. But just in case you didn't get the message about 'victim consciousness,' the gods want to give everyone one last chance to experience it. This is the message I get from all that is happening.

If you wish to stay in victim consciousness there is ample opportunity. But if you are ready to ascend to the next level of evolution, you can. Understand that there is a higher purpose for the Earth and all life on it.

As Caroline Casey says.... the gods are conspiring...that is, breathing with us.

Mercury went retrograde yesterday in Virgo - another player in the victim/perpetrator game. When your computer breaks down, resist the impulse to feel victimized by technology. Instead, go outside and feel the Earth beneath your feet and thank Mercury for 'forcing' you to take a walk!

See the opportunity rather than the restriction.

I am thinking a lot these days about Nelson Mandela. Imagine a man in prison for 27 years who was released and later became President of his country! What if he had been swallowed up in anger and self-pity about his circumstances? What if he had 'believed' that his life was over? At the same time, how could he possibly know the outcome of his life? What sustained him through all those years of imprisonment? Then ask yourself what you would do in similar circumstances.

To assist you in doing your 'Pluto work,' I have developed a set of flower essence blends called: 'Pluto Through the Houses.' A blend of flower and other essences deliciously flavored with Pomegranate and Hazelnut liqueurs (to make the medicine go down easier) formulated to work with the issues of each house. See the picture in the sidebar.

You may want to work with your natal house placement of Pluto, the house it is currently transiting, or both.

There is also an Aroma-essence Spray which includes the Pluto Blend I developed scented with essential oils to use as an environmental enhancer or cologne.
If you decide to sign up for the correspondence course offered through the Evolutionary Astrology Network (Kim Marie's link) please mention my name so I will get a commission.

Solar Return in the Underworld

I'm coming to my solar return (Saturday, May 30), and just ran my chart to see what's ahead. Turns out my Sun is in the 12th house and my Moon and Saturn are in the 4th house! Now try and tell me astrology does not work. Hidden Gemini stuck in the house with a broken bone.

I broke my ankle a month ago and have not been out of my house for a month. House bound, I rely on friends to bring food, do my laundry and my dishes. I am hobbling around on crutches. Since I have been very sedentary for the last couple years, my physical stamina and strength are minimal, so I am having a lot of trouble getting around.

All my activities have been affected. I have not been out at all. All my club and group activities have been halted. I have had to miss the fairs that I signed up for to sell my herbal products (see my herb blog).

I am not my usual 'bubbly, talkative' Gemini self. Or rather, I am going through a metamorphosis. Sun now conjunct the ascendant (also now in Gemini), I am completing a cycle of transformation and will come out a different person. Well, that's for sure. I feel like I went into the Underworld a month ago. I know that when this is over, my life must change.

Friends have suggested 'there is something to learn from this.' Boy, have I heard enough of that! Actually, this time it made me angry. I feel like my entire life has been nothing but lessons. When do I get to just have some fun? I might become a total hedonist after this.

In fact lately, I find myself unable to analyze or even think for that matter. I feel I am totally living in the NOW. I have to. My day is about survival, that's it. Of course, this will not be permanent, but it has been making me think about how dependent I am on others.

Meanwhile, with no cable available, I watch Netflix. I got the series Jericho and it is affecting my consciousness as well. I dreamt about Jake last night. But....the show is a metaphor for what we all face. Not nuclear destruction or terrorist attack, but the end of services, the lack of supplies, power etc, that we all face with Global Warming, Peak Oil, the End of Food, pollution of water and air etc.

I have become even more aware that in one moment one's world can change completely. While I am not a vegetarian, I normally eat a very healthy diet. Now, since I can't cook, I have to eat frozen pre-prepared meals, (full of bad stuff), heated in the microwave. I get pre-made salads which cost a fortune, just to get my veggies. Meanwhile all the seeds I started in my greenhouse are way beyond ready to transplant. None of the people who are coming to help me are into doing this, so the veggie garden I planned will probably not happen. I realize how vulnerable I am. But I know that we all are.

We must begin to grow our own food! Grow what we can, trade with others for what we need. We must find ways to get around without gasoline. We must learn to do with less, be happy in the moment and be more flexible.

If you want a reading send me a comment and we will make an appointment.

Full Moon in Virgo - March 10-11

As if Venus retrograde weren't enough, this Full Moon is conjunct the Saturn/Uranus opposition. Yikes! Hold on to your... or is it better to let go?

According to Stephanie Austin in The Mountain Astrologer, this is one of the most importantFull Moons of 2009 because it amplifies the Saturn/Uranus opposition which she calls an 'evolutionary imperative.' Ah, that's what they are calling it. I thought it was 'my life falling apart.' This so-called imperative is operational until 2010 folks, so I guess we have no other choice but to evolve or .....?
Austin suggests we 'embrace inventiveness.'

What we see is the breakdown of of outmoded structures and rapid cultural change. The retrograde Venus can be useful here since it assists us in determining what is of value and thus what we should keep or at least work on rather than just totalling tossing it.

As you may have read in my 2012 blog, I am really getting into Nassim Haramein and it just happens to relate to this Saturn/Uranus thing. Saturn representing the laws of classical physics and Uranus the 'quirky' realities of quantum mechanics.

Other contrasts that Austin makes that relate to this Saturn opposing Uranus transit are: hierarchy/democracy, status-quo/progress, and fear/freedom. Duh, I wonder which to choose? The difficulty is that there are few models out there because we are being called to create new ones.

But on to the Full Moon. The Sun will be at 21 degrees Pisces conjunct Uranus at 22 degrees. The Moon will be at 21 degrees Virgo with Saturn at 19 degrees Virgo. Austin says that each moment we have a choice between standing in love or collapsing into fear, between staying asleep or waking up. She says that where the Sun at 21 Pisces is in your chart is where you must trust your intuition and do something out of the ordinary; where the Moon at 21 Virgo activates your chart is where you need to discern your priorities and honor them.

Those with Uranus in Virgo and Pluto in Virgo are being given an especially loud wakeup call to own and express their power. Austin suggests we all use the power of this Full Moon to take the next big step on your path and remember: If we are facing in the right direction, all we need to do is keep on walking. (Buddhist proverb)

As for me, lately I have a lot of trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. I am filled with an intense energy but must really focus to accomplish anything. I feel there is something really important I must do, but don't always know what it is. When I am focused, I can get a lot done in half the time. I can be very efficient. But when I am not focused, I feel I am spinning my wheels.

One way I ground myself is by literally saying: "Stop! What are you doing?" This can snap me out of the whirr of my mind. I also need to go outside a lot and smell the flowers or work in the greenhouse. I am learning to listen to my intuition and act on it.

Over the years through meditation and other spiritual practices, I have learned how to distinguish between my intuition and other 'voices' that pass through my mind. My work with flower essences (see my herb blog) has moved up to another level. I can feel it. When I am with a client, I get 'downloads' from the plant spirits and find staying grounded both essential and extremely difficult. It is definintely an interesting time and I feel excited about what is happening.

Full Moon in Pisces - September 15

This is traditionally called the Harvest Moon, because the light of the Full Moon allowed farmers to work into the night harvesting the bounty of the summer growth season. Also, it is the Full Moon closest to the autumnal equinox. We are reaping now what we sowed at the spring equinox and have been cultivating since then.

This is a most interesting Full Moon for a number of reasons. First, the moon is conjunct Uranus, second, the Sun and Moon form a wide T square to Pluto and third, Neptune is semi-sextile to the Moon and quincunx the Sun. In short, all the outer (transpersonal) planets are involved in this Full Moon.

The intensity of this Full Moon is enhanced due to the influence of Pluto and extends the effects for at least 8 days - from Sept. 12 to Sept. 20. At that time, the square between the Sun and Pluto will be exact. Pluto offers two options: change or be changed. We are directed to release what is dead or dying. Since it retrograded back to Sagittarius, what needs to go is our beliefs and limiting views, because they are holding us back.

Uranus, the great awakener, shows us where we have fallen into deadening conformity and where we are primed for a great breakthrough. Uranus urges us to march to the beat of our own drummer.

Neptune, whose realm is dreams and the imagination, can either inspire us, or lead us to despair and addiction. It takes courage to dream and follow your dreams. But think of the alternative. Without our dreams, our lives can be dull and not worth living. Sometimes we fear taking chances that may make our lives change. We may say we want change, but on our own terms. We fear we will end up alone, if we venture out and follow our bliss. But when you really think about it, what do you have to lose. What do you really have? As we see more and more everyday, nothing is permanent. People are losing homes, jobs, retirement packages they worked for their whole life. The effects of fires, floods, storms, earthquakes all over the world also show us - here today, gone tomorrow. It is frightening. What do we have to hold on to? From one angle, nothing. From another, our inner life, our consciousness, our connection to God. Increasing our trust in God and the Divine Plan is always available to us. We don't know how all this will turn out. So.... we might as well be ready for the best possible outcome. What would that be?

The transpersonal planets are affecting the collective right now. It is a powerful time for change, growth and increased awareness and compassion. We are all being asked to dream big because 'we create our reality.' If we settle for limitation and fear (lower octave of Saturn) that is what we will have. If we want a world where understanding, acceptance, compassion and caring abide, Saturn's higher octave will assist us in building that. Saturn is the planet which mediates the personal planets and the transpersonal planets. Whatever is imagined, dreamt, inspired etc. via the influence of the outer planets, is made manifest through Saturn.

Another facet to this complex kaleidoscope is that the Virgo/Pisces axis is concerned with service and sacrifice. As we come to the end of the Age of Pisces, symbolized by Jesus Christ and his sacrifice on the cross, our beliefs are being challenged all the time. One big question is: Is the Christian God the same as the Muslim God, the Jewish God - you name him/her/it. If there is only one God, then.... fill in the blank.

Do we have to give up our lives to take care of others? What is the nature of service to our fellow human beings? What does real aid look like? With so many opportunities to give these days (there is always a disaster fund to send money to), what can we do day to day to change things so that there aren't so many disasters? Maybe changing our shopping habits can help prevent some of the problems. Just a thought.

The gift of this Full Moon is an enhanced ability to connect head and heart, effort with faith and dreams with reality. May your dreams come true.

Witchy Mama has an beautiful blessing
prayer for this Full Moon