In the dream I am riding a motorcycle, very very fast, racing with another rider who is on my left, but he is unable to catch me. The road is little more than a blacktop path; there are trees on either side, small pines and brush, and it’s as if I can hear people talking, like I’m wearing a headset or bluetooth. I’m flying along and realize there is a river that crosses my path. It runs through the bottom of a very deep canyon, and I know that I have to try and jump, even though as I approach I can see that there is literally no way to land on the other side; the ground is much higher there, with a sheer rock face. I know I must jump, not because I can’t stop (though that would be hard), but because I realize that I want very much to know what will happen. I drive at full speed toward the gorge, and the voices are telling me that there is a way to land successfully; there is a rock extension that juts into the gorge and is invisible until you are practically on it. They say that it’s known as ‘The Hand of God’ and they show me (as only dream voices can!) that it looks like a giant hand, palm up. I think that I will make the leap of faith, just like Indiana Jones when he steps over the abyss and finds a rock bridge. I soar into the air and am able to hang there, searching for the hand, but can’t find it. I somehow seem able to land, though, just short of the other side, without falling into the water, but I’m aware that I don’t really know what happened. The man I’m racing doesn’t fly very far before he tumbles into the river.
I woke up thinking of Neptune, and a quick inspection shows it currently at the midpoint of Chiron and the North Node. It could certainly represent my dream ‘flight,’ perhaps as the inspiration to attempt something that calls for both unique skills (Chiron) and that is part of the destiny, literally the river of life. When I check my own chart for current transits, I find indications that this is about bringing something forward within myself, with Chiron, Neptune, the North Node, the Moon, Uranus, Vesta, and Venus all within my 1st House at present. I also noted, all within one degree orb, Vesta exactly conjunct my natal Moon (the sacred and the emotions/ intuition, perhaps applying to the work, as the Moon rules my 6th); transiting Earth conjunct my Sun (a reverse of my natal axis, offering a Soul and Material Purpose assessment as to how well each is serving the other); Saturn conjunct Pluto (and this is echoed by the transiting trine–best encapsulated by the phrase ‘inevitable change,’ and brings together my 12th and my 9th, the broadcasting of the unconscious, bringing that material out where I can deal with it); Mars square Jupiter (action urge and ego needs conflicting with the requirements of the social arena–this combo also marries my 2nd, 10th, and 11th, bringing together Self-image, income, career, and what I offer the world, with the square suggesting these are at odds); and Ceres opposed the Midheaven, perhaps pitting the internal authority against the public Self.
What does this spell for me? It suggests a rough road in terms of reconciling particular needs, wants, and functions, but I’m thinking the dream is pointing the way out, through the inspired use of skills that move me forward (Neptune, Chiron, NN). Finding new expression that is both personally satisfying and furthers my work or career seems to be the paramount challenge, with some reconciling of the Ceres authority with the public persona–balancing the internal nature goddess with role I play here, on the internet. But what might this dream mean for everyone else? My sense is that taking the inspired course is what a lot of us need right now, trusting that both guidance and the loving hand of God will be there to catch us. It’s not so much that we need to take a leap of faith, as it is that we need a leap of faith centered in our own ability to rise to and meet the challenges presented, that will bring a new level of fulfillment to one personally and publicly. Has anyone else taken a ‘leap’ lately? What special skill did you call forward in taking the ‘leap’? What inspired you? And how did you reconcile the requirements for private, ego, and personal needs with what your public role or career demands of you?
Julie Demboski's ASTROLOGY 
Julie, very interesting dream, thanks for sharing it. I am particularly interested in taking a leap of faith, but am floundering as to what I need to focus on.
Any ideas on herbs to assist with this?
LikeLike
Jeanne Rose’s herbal, HERBS & THINGS, recommends stuffing the pillow with mugwort for fantastical dreams, using a combination of crushed clove, mint, and fresh rose petal in the pillow for melancholy–add rosemary to this to energize yourself and enhance dreams. Mechthild Scheffer’s BACH FLOWER THERAPY recommends Aspen to “enter into more subtle planes of consciousness.” By far the most direct route to enhancing dreams is probably found with vitamins–a good dose of B complex will not only make you aware of more dreams, you’ll be able to recall them clearly in the morning. Sleep well!
LikeLike
Julie,
Actually I meant for focus, not dreams…sorry!
LikeLike
Beautiful dream! Yes, a few leaps, and none of them landed. I’m thinking I’m in a holding pattern or waiting period. Saturn opposite moon until July and square my MC. Pluto is just leaving my tenth house. Like you, I have chiron to vesta transiting the 1st (no wonder I always, always relate to your posts), though venus just slipped into the second. My natal moon is in the 1st too, so i keenly feel that things are happening, but it’s all under the surface for now. In my case transiting vesta is conjunct natal true node. I look better than normal. Isn’t that funny? People keep complimenting me. And I had all this energy and talked myself into getting my stuff out there, but all my attempts to connect in a career sense just withered up and for the first time in months i have nothing in play. All dressed up and no place to go! I often wonder if my faith in my work is just some neptunian fantasy that’ll go poof, so hearing you say that it is the answer reminds me that faith (in yourself, among other things) is a big leap into the unknown. So I’m just going to go back in to my project and fix some stuff I knew was holding it back while waiting for better climes. Thank you, your writing is so thoughtful and thought provoking. You’ve answered many of my own questions while writing about yourself, too. Isn’t that interesting?
LikeLike
Thank you, Amy–it’s so good to hear that you can relate–a kindred Soul! It seems the leaps of faith many of us are being confronted with right now are pushing us to hold tighter to one part of our lives and let go of (or change signifcantly) another–and of course the part we’re to pursue is never the part we think is the most important! For both of us, I’m thinking that a lack of resistance to what is happening is vital, even as we don’t presently understand it. Saturn opposite Moon and square MC suggests to me a very strong dynamic of hidden developments and activity for you, as well as a possible see-saw effect, where sometimes the experience is one of taking risks at making solid (but hard won) accomplishment (or at least the products that can lead to this), and then this is contrasted with a feeling that progress is impossible, with emotional stasis as a side effect. Accomplishment may indeed be possible right now, specifically in matters of the House the Moon rules–but don’t expect emotional clarity, and consider that things might be emotionally incoherent (or even buttoned-down) right now so that your emotional reactions and interpretations don’t get in the way of what this period and its events are leading you to do–a kind of vocational guidance by the unconscious! Always a pleasure, Amy!
LikeLike
wow, that’s so interesting. i love that phrase, vocational guidance by the unconscious. I’m open! speaking of which, i just noticed uranus is a degree away from my north node. I think it’ll be right on it in May. sounds relevant to the discussion! i’ll be curious to see what that feels like!
see-sawing back to emotional clarity, or lack thereof–i have a yod in my chart. the apex is the moon (pisces/1st house), and the base planets are the sun (leo/6th house) and jupiter (libra/8th house). could you speak to that? i hear good, bad, and in between about yods. I think of my (real) work as piscean, but it’s taken me awhile to figure that out.
thanks again for your generous and insightful input. i’m fairly new to astrology and it’s been a great help to find your site. i’ll definitely get your books soon.
LikeLike
Hi, Amy–with Uranus coming to the North Node soon, I would look to a couple of areas, including Uranus’s natal situation and House rulership, for clues as to what may be involved in ‘sudden, fated life steps’ that may manifest with this aspect–but my strongest focus would be on possible changes to, rebellion from, or a higher knowledge approach to interaction with, or the internally held influence of, the mother or mother figure–the NN has a lot to do with the ways she’s steered your energy, particularly in the way you use any of the placements involved natally with the Nodes.
The Yod is a very interesting config, especially when the Moon is the apex planet–and with it sited in the 1st, this becomes an even more personal, and hard to differentiate from other influences, aspect. In this situation, the Sun and Jupiter will not be fully realized until the Moon is thoroughly understood. There’s nothing bad about this aspect–it simply requires one to really apply oneself to understanding, accepting, and then positively utilizing the apex planet, and this is generally an ongoing process. The Moon in this instance will permeate who you are and what you do–it will be essential to your Beingness, but will not be directly the ‘star of the show.’ I too have a Pisces Moon in the 1st as the apex of a loose Yod–and I know from experience that the apex planet is usually the least consciously understood, most poorly integrated, but also most important energy to sort out, as we move through life. Thanks for participating, Amy!
I almost forgot to add: I’m preparing an article now called ‘The Quincunx and the Finger of God as Keys to Success’ The material is too focused, lengthy, and in-depth for the blog, much closer to a typical (long) article, so I’m experimenting with new venues. If all goes well, it will be available for download through Amazon Shorts in the near future.
LikeLike
Amazing, truly. Can’t thank you enough! I look forward to the article. I ordered The Astrology of Intimate Relationships last night. can’t wait! You were right about the Moon/MC hidden developments, as well, as I just found out today. Interesting times! Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
LikeLike
Thank you, Amy!
Terri–the same sources I listed above can provide info–I’d recommend a Bach Flower remedy as these are quite specialized (you’d have to talk with someone who knows that system well). There is also ‘dream intent,’ if you want to focus on receiving material while asleep–this involves stating and concentrating on what you’d like to know as you fall asleep, and trying to foster lucid sleep so that you can address it while dreaming (!) Finally. focus in any venue is usually lost when we are avoiding seeing or dealing with a peripheral issue–sometimes we don’t have to stare intently in one direction, so much as that we need to look at something nearby that’s draining our energy instead. Lastly I would say that leaps of faith are situations presented to us in the course of living, rather than something we find, focus on, and then take–that’s why they require faith, as they challenge us in a way we never would have chosen!
LikeLike