Category Archives: Consciousness Explored

23 September 2010 Full Moon: Glimpsing Intentions of the Soul

22 Wednesday Sep 2010

Posted by in Aries Point, astrology, Cardinal Activity, Consciousness Explored, current events in the sky, ECLIPSE magazine, Full Moon, Juno, T-Square

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Olaus Magnus 1555 'On the Activities of People at Moonlight' {{PD-Art}}

The women were like beings made of moon milk, and their skin shimmered with little silver dots like those of the salmon in springtime, and the women’s feet and hands were long and graceful.

Clarissa Pinkola Estes Phd,  WOMEN WHO RUN WITH THE WOLVES

The Full Moon for September occurs at 2:17 AM PDT on the 23rd at 00 Aries 15–the Aries Point! In the most straightforward terms, the Aries Point is the slice of space/ time where spirit enters matter, the collision point of  all that is real and unseen with discernible material form. So, a big deal, as for the individual, this point in the flat chart of the natal horoscope designates the point at which the individual meshed the spirit and the physical as we know it; it’s the place where the Soul entered active engagement with the present lifetime. What does this mean for us when the transiting Full Moon coincides with what we might see as a doorway between spirit and material?

The occurrence of the Full Moon at the Aries Point may open a doorway to our origins, to the most fundamental expression of who we are, at that moment when we both took material form (birth) and still retained full consciousness of the Soul essence. The Sabian symbol for 0-1 Aries is: ‘A Woman Just Risen From the Sea; a Seal is Embracing Her’ This image brings to mind the Archetypal story of the Seal Woman who mates with a human male, has a child, and slowly loses her health–all because as she celebrated herself, a hunter saw, and took the sealskin she wore as her ‘true’ identity. The story is given form in ‘Sealskin, Soulskin,’ in Estes’ marvelous ‘Women Who Run With the Wolves.’ She divides the story (which is told in many cultures in many forms) into parts that I know  I can’t improve on, so we’ll look at each part and how it might relate to the Full Moon experience.

Since this is a Full Moon, we know we’re speaking of culmination, the rounding out of some part of our own story. First, there is a kind of initiation that comes through a loss, in one form or another, of the Soul. I think this can be equated to birth, represented by the Aries Point as the doorway; we can’t help but become disoriented, losing a bit of ourselves in the process. Then one ‘loses one’s pelt’ in earnest–we are trying to enjoy our new human form, but in celebrating this we set aside the Soul connectors we still retain, in order to fit in to the earthly realm. We substitute the values of the culture and our tribe, and though these are not completely alien, they do represent the values of consensus, and that means we lose our awareness of those things that make us unique; this loss is represented by ‘poor’ choice (and by that I mean the kind of choices we inevitably make in an attempt to regain that part of ourselves we sense we’ve forgotten) and the way we are lured by the things we think will provide our lack. So we are, like the Seal Woman, left naked and shivering as we search for our eternal Beingness.

Next there is communion with the hunter, the individual who has ‘taken’ our skin–of course, we don’t know that we are facing the thief. This is represented by any animus oriented energy to which we succumb: our own interior animus, our ego, or an external animus: a man, ambition, society’s definition of ‘making it.’ Note that though this story is told as a woman’s loss, this tragedy happens to men, as well; they lose their unique ‘Soul skin’ in an attempt to be the kind of man society (and perhaps the partner) demands, rather than the kind of man they are naturally. The ego and its particular form of vanity promises to fulfill us, to return to us that missing Soul piece, if we will only do its bidding–but this is just not true–it cannot return what it does not possess.

The woman, the entire time she has spent on dry land, has been hearing the call of the sea (her true environment) and has been conscious of her vibrational connection with her child, her spiritual ‘home,’ in a sense. This spirit child in the story is the child of the Seal Woman and the hunter who captured her by stealing her skin. This is representative of the pure, inner connection we retain to the Soul (it can be ‘the inner child,’ though I think it’s something much purer, the experience of the Soul rather than just the seed-manifestation of it), and it’s this element in the story that, agitated by its mother’s distress, stumbles out into the night and trips on the mother’s wrapped up Seal skin, finding and delivering back to the woman her true identity.

So, in all this we are seeing an Archetypal journey in miniature; the Full Moon presents us with the ability to re-acquaint ourselves with that moment when as Soul we slipped into flesh–and this is a vital point, as it is the one time in the incarnation experience (other than the moment of death) in which we can be fully aware of the enormity of who we are, and can re-connect so directly with it.

Using our strict orb, we see that the Sun/ Moon/ Earth makes only one aspect, a T-square with Pluto in Capricorn. Ah ha! Besides being able to glimpse in its purest form the Soul and its intentions on incarnating (in the Sabian, this is the seal embracing the woman, a return to the natural sensibilities), this Full Moon also offers the power (Pluto) to transform (Pluto) our own manifestation in the material (Capricorn). Since the inner is the outer, and the outer the inner, this means we can change anything on any level, with corresponding changes visible (or felt or realized) in the opposite venue.

In ECLIPSE I called this Full Moon “the true birth point of fated Cardinal action,” and outline the other influences in effect at the moment of Full Moon fulfillment that will act on our transformational choices. If you’re planning on getting this issue and you just haven’t yet, now’s the time http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com/new-summer-2010-eclipse/  The life long journey to empowerment is closely related to  the mini-empowerment we will be instituting with this Full Moon; see more on that here http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com  in my new book on Juno. Thank you!

And have a wonderful Full Moon transformational experience!

A Moment of Meditation

18 Wednesday Aug 2010

Posted by in Consciousness Explored, current events in the sky, Spiritual Considerations

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Rembrandt Van Rijn ‘The Philosopher in Meditation’ {{PD-Art}} Wikimedia Commons

Though I’ve already covered the Moon’s movement for today (please see previous post), I ran across this and thought it was worth pointing out, as the idea’s timeless: a deliberate, periodic need to remove oneself from the influences of technology, which seems to demand a form of shallow and artificially urgent attention. Astrologer Verena Donath discusses it and shows some of the NYT article here http://verenadonath.wordpress.com/2010/08/16/astro-notes-on-august-16-2010-let-the-light-inspire-you/ Even though this was first posted a couple of days ago, I found it perfect for today, as the mood seems to call for mild, semi-withdrawal from the usual information and technology onslaught.

We’re at the beginning of a dynamic period I’ve already discussed in ECLIPSE that centers on those five Libra energies (Saturn, Vesta, Venus, Mars, and Zeus) and it’s one we should attend to carefully, as it will affect relationships and, for some, artistic and aesthetic expression (the Venus influence)–but it also pulls in the past, rules and boundaries, Self-discipline, and achievement of goals (Saturn) and all of it, relationships, reality, and desires (especially the ambitions and passions–Zeus), will be affected in the extreme by these energies. Understanding, harnessing, and using the push is what this period is all about, and today you may want to take a moment of solitude, a brief time for meditation, that will help you handle the rush of energies, especially in light of the upcoming retrograde of Mercury, which will be even more disorienting than usual (again, see the mag–I’m not a big Self-repeater!) http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com/ If you really want a more detailed take on events, it works out to less than $7.00 per month–or browse the blogroll at right for a wide variety of forecasts and opinions!

Also: the Juno book is almost here! I’m getting some beautiful cover art from someone new on the scene, and finishing up on odds and ends, bits and pieces, adding examples that help explain how she works in the chart. Expect it within about 2-3 weeks at most (yes, I’m aware that would put its emergence in the midst of the Merc retro–still haven’t decided if I must avoid it at all costs or not–likely may drag it out to direction)–I’ll keep you updated!

Taking some time today for introspection is truly important–the optimum point might be 12:30 PM-ish today PDT/3:30 PM EDT–in fact, it might be a good idea to dedicate the whole day to deliberateness of Being–movement, thought, attention, choice, intent all becoming very much ‘on purpose.’ Don’t think of it as retreat, and don’t think of it as a patch of time that must be stolen from ‘real’ life–instead, think of it as what it really is, time management in the Universal sense, where we are one with Time and events, where there is complete control and complete submission, creating harmony in perfect proportion and form.

The ‘Why’ of Things

16 Monday Aug 2010

Posted by in aspects and placements, astrology, Consciousness Explored, ECLIPSE magazine

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There seems to be a trend of late wherein what’s often being said (or expressed in some form) is dressed up with what we want it to mean, rather than with the words or expression having a decent relationship to the facts that are evident. This is likely due to Mercury’s relatively disconnected status at present, which leaves us searching for meaning, looking to attach something to our words and thoughts that give them depth–it’s probably why I’m writing this, even, putting my own spin on what comes to me.

The suicide of alleged ‘Craig’s List Killer’ Phillip Markoff brought forward lots of commentary on the news like this: ‘He couldn’t face his future, therefore he ended it all.’ When I heard this extrapolation, the kind of assumption rooted in a personal viewpoint (and rooted in the assumption that the rest of the world thinks as the commentator does), I had to take a look at this man’s chart, and see if that’s really the likely impetus behind his demise. And my conclusion was: absolutely not.

Markoff (12 February 1986 no time known Sherrill New York USA) had a strong ego, particularly intellectually; if anyone could rationalize Self-serving action, it was this Sun/ Jupiter/ Venus conjunct in Aquarius (and with Venus at 29 degrees, Self-worth would’ve been a front-and-center issue).

But my thought was that his suicide was actually a final expression of power: taking the power to direct his fate out of authorities’ hands, power to take some measure of justice/revenge from the families of the victims, and exacting some revenge of his own, by killing himself on the anniversary of the date he and his fiancée had planned to marry–could this last be any more angry, any more determined to exact a toll from a major figure in his life?

So I looked to Pluto, the main symbol of both rage and power in the chart. Pluto is trine Mercury (‘smooth talker,’ powerful words, and a likely ability to influence others), semi-square to Uranus (a constant, subtle irritation to be different, be unique, to express the individuality), sextile to Neptune (like most everyone for the past hundred years! enhances the ability to visualize power situations and outlets–but is highly dependent on House rulerships, which we don’t have here), a quincunx to Chiron (power expressions may be driven by hurt–more on this in a moment), a square to Vesta (power expressions are in conflict with what’s sacred in life–likely driving him under pressure to choose one or the other–to honor vital areas of life or to express personal power–a seductive quandary), a sesquiquadrate to Pallas (more irritation–he knew his power expressions weren’t wise), a conjunction to the South Node (roots in the past) and to the Vertex (fated expression of the energies–coupled with the South Node, we may be seeing something compulsively acted out, driven by distant events). Pluto is also opposed the Sedna/ North Node conjunction, suggesting that he was unable to see how his power-needs might drive his life path.

But Pluto/ Vertex is quincunx Chiron, suggesting that the primal hurt continually stimulated the fated power needs–and through Chiron we see something else: the asteroid opposes Juno, Saturn, Mars, all conjunct in Sagittarius. This suggests that he may have seen women, especially those seeking to empower themselves (Juno), and those looking to find that empowerment through marrying a god (himself, in this scenario), as a source of extreme pain, and perhaps as entities who sought to suppress him as a man (Saturn conj Mars), and he may also have seen authorities and ‘the rules’ (Saturn) as suppressive to the masculine Archetype on which he modeled himself, in this case a Sagittarian one of active ‘bachelor’ and seeking behavior. This Chiron is also sextile Vesta (the wound is sacred) and square Ceres (conflict with Woman as a force of nature–may see women in general as something to be controlled, resisted, and perhaps treated as a threat). Here we may have the source of both his extreme aggression toward women and his choice of death date, lashing out a final time at the fiancée, a woman he likely saw as carrying a Juno/ Ceres Archetype, and thus believed by him to be a very powerful Being.

I know I’m in good company when I say that, like many of my colleagues, I’m finding more and more of my material stolen and published elsewhere. I’m given credit, listed as a ‘contributor,’ or the material is otherwise presented as if I’m a willing participant. Apparently, I’m supposed to be grateful and pleased, as my name is still associated with my work. Somehow these individuals fail to see that, as they reach into my pocket and help themselves, they are depriving me of control of my work, and in some instances, they, not I, profit from it. I think the reasoning goes: it’s already on the internet, you should be flattered that someone wants to read it! Just to let my readers know, any authorized sale or presentation of my work will be announced here, and anyone who claims to be authorized to sell my books or ECLIPSE, or who presents an article, in whole or part, has bootlegged them–they’re only available through me http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com with a Juno series available through http://sasstrology.com

Speaking of unauthorized access, yesterday morning, after awaking from what felt like a coma (and truth be told, it was already noon), I was sitting near the garden window when suddenly a man appeared, wanting to know if he could take flowers from my yard. Normally I would’ve said, ‘Take some,’ but it struck me that this man had not come to the door, but had instead crossed the yard from the road and was in essence on the verge of helping himself when he saw me. I have some real issues with boundaries–my Pisces Moon symbolizes my life-long challenge, and I’m repeatedly reminded that to claim what is my own, and to do with it what I will (whether it’s my work or a flower in my garden) is bound to attract those who will be angry because I don’t allow them to take. This may especially be an issue now, for many of us, with Mercury poised as it is, and relatively isolated. Even if someone tries to make you feel bad about it (and users will), don’t hesitate to claim what’s yours.

Support the blog and get three or six months worth of forecasts, special sections on events, and more! And many Thanks to those who’ve been so supportive, and especially to those who’ve purchased the mag, visited the page and taken the polls, and who say such nice things in comments, tweets, and ratings! And to those who say not such nice things, or who rate things poorly, I thank you, too, as I value the feedback–but of course I hope you’ll find another astrologer who serves you better–no one should be unhappy!

The Last of July 2010

29 Thursday Jul 2010

Posted by in Astrology of Careers Vocations and Callings, Consciousness Explored, current events in the sky, forecast, future events in the sky

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We get a late start to the day (at least, sleepy West Coasters do!) with a mid-Pisces Moon-what is it we all seem to be waiting for? I think it’s mostly the Mars/ Chiron quincunx at 29 degrees–it makes an atmosphere where it feels like we may need to get up and run any second (or where something might run toward us, and hurt us!) There’s a pressure on to act, to heal, and to access the unique skills, and no matter what we’re doing, it feels like we’re sitting around on our duffs doing nothing. Saturn opp Uranus in the Cardinal 00 degree epitomizes a very similar energy, this time with a more ‘should I stay or should I go?’ (or is it ‘should I sit tight or totally disrupt the party?’) feel, but in any case the energy is one of restlessness and even compulsion, and this gets worse for late July as on the 30th Mars comes to conjunct Saturn at 00 Libra and the Moon moves to conjunct Uranus at 00 Aries, this latter beginning at 1:41 PM PDT, also on the 30th.

Juno quincunxes Neptune=imagination, creativity, and ideals can empower, if we’ll make the needed adjustment; otherwise we could take a wrong turn trying to feel we have command of things.  By the 7 PM hour PDT of the 29th the Moon will oppose Venus, bringing some vital awareness to the love or finances situation, and this is all positive in the sense that what we see is what we need to see and accept in order to make the situation better–use this event to your advantage, as by the 5 AM hour PDT of the 30th Venus is trine Sedna in Earth and love or money may be nowhere to be found; that’s the impression, as love won’t have fled so much as be so cunningly camouflaged that we can’t see it–and if it’s in the financial area that this occurs for you, the feeling of being poverty-stricken, or suddenly not having the required assets for the task, may deal a big blow to the ego and the emotions via the sense of security that will have vanished. Know that this is temporary, with the effect gone in no more than a day or two; know, though, that you’re not seeing reality so much as getting a glimpse of what could be if . . . .

By the 31st the Moon in Aries will trine the Sun in the 6-8 AM hour PDT–if you have placements 8-ish Sag this could be a fulfilling day for you, with the Sun and Moon co-operative spirit offering balanced completion or revelation in matters related to the body involved. Also on this day the Sun squares Pallas, lighting up what’s smart (and also how we may be avoiding the wise course in favor of something less so).

The aura of generalized tension that pervades the last of July appears to each of us to have particular, personal sources–and yet if it exists for all, it’s more likely we’re under a mass effect that we are as individuals choosing to accept as unique and assign to what looks like an upset in our lives. This should tell us two things: that it’s not what we think it is that’s bothering us, and that it’s not all about us! This should be freeing, if we can let go of that compulsion to attend to and fix and meddle that we are convinced will finally allow us relief, because it won’t. Take it easy, do your best, but know that nothing will change the current atmosphere–and then vow to relieve the tension harmlessly, gently, with acceptance of things as they are.

I’ll be taking a short break in August, but a nearly daily forecast is available in ECLIPSE http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com/new-summer-2010-eclipse/ If you like the forecasts here on the blog, you’ll love the ones in the magazine, as they’re more detailed, with special notes on the upcoming retro Mercury, the direction of Pluto, and the once-every-18 months retrograde of Venus, what it means and how to handle it + ‘What You Won’t See on the Blog’ for New and Full Moons, as well as articles on Pluto, the 6th House, the Creative Complex, and much more! Only $4.95 http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com/new-summer-2010-eclipse/  Thank You!

Thoughts on 29 May 2010: The Serious Beauty of Nature

29 Saturday May 2010

Posted by in astrology, Consciousness Explored, current events in the sky

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Well, I almost went to NORWAC http://www.astrologyetal.com/NORWAC/index.htm; a couple of weeks ago I was totally up for it. I was ready to contact some people, buy tickets, and socialize. It certainly would’ve been great to hear, and perhaps meet, so many people I admire, and surely there’s a lot I could’ve learned. But then I hesitated, and when I hesitate I assume that it’s some part of me that knows better, that is telling me there’s something more suited to me–and though I’m enjoying the Twitter reporting, I’m really glad I didn’t go, as my day here at home has been wonderful, and all I really did was sleep in (dreaming about teeny tiny babies the size of eensy, shiny, white-curled shells, a human spiral) and then sit in the dining room where we have a big pine table and big windows that face the gardens, where I’ve watched the smallest hummingbird I’ve ever seen, a small, black-headed finch that lives somewhere in this corner of the yard–I see him all the time, and he even goes around there when I’m there, too–and the big black crows that love to bring bread to the stone bird bath and leave soggy bits in their wake. For me all this, the choosing of what seems illogical and even unproductive, over the logical and expected, is an example of how, even though there was something before me that seemed absolutely right (going to a professional conference), following my instincts was personally the ‘right’ thing to do. I try to follow my prompts every time they come forward, and I hope you will, too–it’s one of the most useful and Soul-supporting skills I ever developed.

Maybe my morning’s experience is just symptomatic of the Capricorn Moon’s contact to Ceres, offering me a chance to connect with Mother Nature. This contact, at 2:30 PMish PDT and lasting about two hours total, also brings a trine to Vesta, suggesting to me that this was my time of worship–and that others too have a chance to meld with what’s sacred to them, to enjoy home, or sex, or deep communion–not a bad way to kick off the weekend at all!

The evening Pacific time belongs to Pluto. In Capricorn this might bring forward intense but enjoyable times, as the emotional outlook of Moon conjunct Pluto is balanced by the Cap energy. Some serious (in the best sense) progress can be made in whatever area the conjunction occurs for you. A quincunx to the Sun 3 AMish PDT on the 30th (and see excerpts from ECLIPSE, below) suggests that the evening’s events will ask for some emotional reckoning via a reality check.

Starting around 8 AM PDT we have, in quick succession, the Moon square Zeus, conjunct the North Node and opposed Venus, then trine Mercury. This sets a tone of perhaps being presented with the obstacle to our ambition (or at least, being presented with how thwarted ambitions and desires make us feel), an emotional bellwether that gives a glimpse into the direction we’re headed, and just precisely what this may cost us if we continue (or bring us as a reward), and finally we may receive information or communicate ourselves concerning the life path, our options, and what we want. Could be a seminal moment in terms of re-defining ourselves to more readily express true intents and purpose. The rest of the day is dominated by this emotional scenario; use the knowledge that’s come forward, and the intuitions that have been offered, to make the most of things.

It’s not too late! Get your forecast for June and July, including commentary on the coming eclipses, in ECLIPSE! http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com/new-eclipse-spring-2010/ Every purchase supports this blog and my work–Thank You!

Aries Mobilized

14 Wednesday Apr 2010

Posted by in astrology, Consciousness Explored

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A selection of Aries-themed pieces that may inspire your use of the Aries New Moon; that warrior energy needs someplace to go!

http://lunarreflections.blogspot.com/2010/03/aries-2010-rebirth-renewal.html

http://ravenesque.net/2010/04/its-a-new-moon-and-its-in-aries/

http://www.skyscript.co.uk/aries_myth.html

This is from last month but the warrior theme is here http://mooncircles.com/blog/2010/03/take-the-warrior-to-the-temple/

And a dollop (a very Taurean word! so food-y) of, what else? Taurus http://planetaryapothecary.com/2010/04/astrological-insights-for-15-april-2001/

I don’t know about your world, but this New Moon has released a LOT of energy, in and around me. Two things happen when the energy flows so strongly: I work like a madwoman, and no matter how much I do, it feels like I’ve done very little. This can mean that accessing successfully that highly Self-motivated current can lead to what we least expect, when we’re on a productive tear: depression and discouragement. The perception that we’re not doing enough, not filling the landscape with ‘I am’! energy, can play havoc with the spirit; we can’t forget, Aries can speak through the ego, and the ego is a merciless task master, denying everything that may seem weak (from the Aries viewpoint, of course) in the Self. It’s unwarranted Self-criticism that is guaranteed to stop our expression in its tracks.

Another result of this energy mis-directed can be where we take on the mantle of leader, offering advice. There’s nothing wrong with putting the opinion or experience ‘out there’ for others; but we must first take a look at the life we’re living: that’s the true advice, the true example. It’s really a ‘listener beware’ situation: it’s up to us to recognize that the unemployed advising on finding a job, the unpublished telling you how to write successfully, and the many-times divorced advising you on relationship all have one thing in common: they’re speaking according to where they want to be, and the reality is, if they knew what they were talking about, they’d be there! What they know is what they’re doing–Just sayin’

These energies call for acceptance of our constructive urges shorn of their ego expectations; every time we feel ourselves thinking, ‘That’s not enough’–good enough, big enough, whatever–we need to pull back from judgment and acknowledge that we’re doing, motivated, and that that’s enough–period. We don’t need the ego’s approval to be productive, we need simply to express true to who we are. And when we’re seeking to ‘learn how,’ we must take instruction from those who’ve lived their words, because they know the path to take.

One more thing: if you’re feeling drained today, please consider that you may be resisting the Aries flow and where it may lead you. It takes a lot of energy to refuse the beckoning current–and that can take the life right out of us.

http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com/eclipse-in-depth-astrology-for-the-21st-century/ The Winter issue, on Zeus, interceptions, and a question of history

Revisiting the Neptune/Chiron Effect

13 Tuesday Apr 2010

Posted by in Chiron, Consciousness Explored, current events in the sky, future events in the sky, Neptune

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Martyrdom of Saints Crispin and Crispinian by van den Bossche 1494 {{PD}}

The long-lasting Neptune/ Chiron conjunction has put us all through the wringer, and will continue for some time yet. They come close to connecting precisely once again in Fall 2010 but manage, only minutes apart, to never quite meet; once both are direct, Chiron takes off with nary a backward glance for his one-time dance partner. We may see a slowly, steadily, insidiously building tension between the two energies through that November time frame, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to reprint an article first published in May of 2009 (with slight modifications-read the original with comments here https://juliedemboski.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/neptune-chiron-projection-hurt-and-ownership/), to remind us all of where we’ve been, and where we still, for a while, might have to go. The Dark of the Moon is the perfect time to consider things we might want to absorb as much at a subconscious level as a conscious one, so that the ideas will work subtly to shape our attitudes and interactions. Here it is:

When Chiron and Neptune entered each other’s orb, we began to experience an ongoing test of our connection to reality. True, everyone has areas they’d rather not look at too closely, places in our lives where we keep our perceptions in soft focus around the edges. I’m not speaking of those things we accept or let pass or don’t inspect too minutely, out of an already full life plate, or the simple reluctance to admit something isn’t perfect–that’s not only human, it’s probably vital to healthy functioning, as we could be easily overwhelmed by too much detail, too many things to ‘fix.’ I’m talking about those few of us with a relational disconnect in the overall world view, where the individual’s idea of who they are, and who others are, is deeply and fundamentally off.

This conjunction was early on imbued with both a spirit of Self and aggression and a mentality that framed dissonance as a personal power struggle, with the transits of both Mars and Juno to this combo (Feb-Mar 2009).

The energy became more prominent as Jupiter neared the conjunction of Chiron/ Neptune; its presence boosts the need to project, to broadcast, related ideas and concepts as a means of expressing one’s belief in them, and thereby, at least to the mind that’s confused, proving their validity–it’s a Self-righteous energy that feeds on belief/ faith in an ideal that does not correlate to the reality picture. Jupiter also brings in the social element, the possibility of reaching out and imposing the ideas in the social sphere, again as an expression of their ‘truth’–“I wouldn’t be able to say this publicly if it weren’t true!”

The big problem with all of this is, Chiron and Neptune both hold expression pitfalls for those who are prone to fantasy, delusion, obfuscation, as the conjunction marries the urge to embrace illusion with the primal wound, the sense of hurt that, if left unclaimed and unexplored by the individual, becomes ripe for projection, and that is essentially what we’ve been seeing the past few months, an insistent sense of victimhood which has taken (temporary) hold of a dispiriting few.

How do we sort ‘true’ victims (as there are those who suffer legitimately at the hands of others) from those who have simply taken the worldview that they are victims, fueled by the easy Self-empathy of a complete mis-perception of role, actions, or intents? One easy way is to ask, where does this person ‘live’? Is their sense of Self seated in a me (or us) v. them mentality, where they are ‘done to,’ where others have bad intent, where they are a crusader for good and right in the face of those who are insensitive bullies? In this regard, anyone who disowns the potential to be the aggressor themselves becomes a candidate.

This is not, on its own, definitive, as there certainly are bullies, insensitive louts, and those who mean us harm, and sometimes the world does divide up into sides. There are other factors that distinguish those who are suffering under this transit (and suffer they do, as the pain they feel is real–the problem comes with their clear misunderstanding of where it originates). One distinguishing trait is, they are the aggressor–they pick the fight, typically based on an indignant reaction to what someone else has said or done that violates their delusional sense of Self. Often this has been sought out–the Neptune-challenged individual goes looking for a savior, or at least someone to support their fantasy Self, and when the mirror the other person holds up doesn’t show them the illusion they expect–well it must be that person’s fault, right there–the reflection is wrong, the mirror is wrong, and the person holding the mirror is wrong–because, they firmly believe, it couldn’t be them–in fact, that’s a basic assumption they enter the situation with, that in no way are they misguided, or have anything to learn–a real irony when the situation is a teaching or guidance one.

It’s also common that the person they choose to blame is someone ‘safe,’ someone who will likely not reject them, or who is not involved in the real problem. It’s almost a form of scapegoating, the ancient practice of designating someone or something as the carrier of all the village’s problems and sins, and then driving the bearer out of town–in this case the ‘village’ being the Neptune-influenced individual, who does not recognize the internal schism that prevents acknowledging the problem as their own.

How do you know when you are dealing with someone thus afflicted? “You think” may be the first words of many of their sentences–they speak as if they’re psychic (Neptune, again!) and yet what you’re hearing has no relation to what’s actually in your mind or heart–and you quickly discover that contradicting them brings out the emotional flood, anger or hurt, one and the same. They come at you claiming a wound, blaming the hurt on you, and yet this doesn’t make sense–it’s like they’ve set off huge emotional smoke bombs, deflecting attention from the real source of upset, determined to extract energy, attention, and penance from the accused–and if you’re the accused, you may think they have a point–until you realize that you are not reacting from emotion, or a need to Self-defend, and that even offered apologies or clear explanations as to your intent are ignored–the individual has a stake in taking a stance that demands you accept their indignation, and that you be responsible for their hurt, even if it doesn’t make sense, and it’s the one-sided, punishing nature of the interaction that is your biggest and best clue that this person is under the Neptune/ Chiron spell, using you as a screen for projection and Self-justification. Even those who claim to speak for the oppressed can be subject to this–for just as likely that they are correct in their remarks is the possibility that they are taking a passive-aggressive tack toward judgment and blame, typically engaging in precisely what they accuse others of.

It’s a sad situation; it can bring to ruin perfectly good relationships, as the Neptune individual does not, will not, cannot allow themselves to see the imperfection in their reasoning–as that would require a release of the illusion of victimhood–and right now, for them, that just feels too good, too safe, and perhaps is the only way they can feel right.

And to those who may feel injury at the hands of others, it’s good to remember, that no one can injure you without your consent.

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See my book on Chiron here http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com

Today’s Link: On healing http://www.kathryncassidy.com/articles/unhealed_wounds.cfm and this on Chiron/ Neptune/ Jupiter http://content.yudu.com/Library/A182p1/TheTripleConjunction/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.yudu.com%2Fitem%2Fdetails%2F57651%2FThe-Triple-Conjunction-of-Jupiter-Chiron-and-Neptune-2009-Explained both by the great Kathryn Cassidy.

Kreativ Kool

17 Sunday Jan 2010

Posted by in Consciousness Explored

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I’m the lucky recipient of a Kreativ Blogger Award, bestowed by dear friend and colleague, artist and astrologer Jude Cowell http://www.starsoverwashington.com/ Thank you, Jude! I don’t feel especially kreativ, but I like being told I am, so I’ll embrace my fate and pass the love on to seven fellow kreativ bloggers as requested. Here are the rules of the game, so to speak:

1. Copy/paste the Kreativ Blogger Award picture onto your blog
2. Thank the person who awarded it to you and post a link to her/his blog
3. Write 7 things about yourself we do not know
4. Choose 7 other bloggers to award
5. Link to them
6. Notify your 7 bloggers of their award

Seven Things You (Probably) Don’t Know About Me:

1. I can’t sing or dance. Literally, so don’t put me in your show.

2. I speak several languages (badly!)

3. I have synethesia; as a child I assumed everybody did!

4. I’ve spent the night in the wilderness, alone, with just a sleeping bag, water, and a couple of energy bars–it’s okay, I wanted to.

5. I’m an avid gardener. I like to grow vegetables but do much better with flowers, disappointing my Saturn and delighting my Venus and Moon!

6. Since Jude brought up chocolate, I have to vote for Dark Chocolate, no question.

7. One of my biggest regrets is that I didn’t take a job as a cook on an Alaskan fishing boat when I was 19 and had the opportunity.

There, now you know way more than you ever wanted to. As to my nominees, I’m trying for the most part not to duplicate those to whom I gave a Lemonade Award last year–I’m trying to focus on a new set of interesting sites–so I still like all those, and adding to them these :

1. I can’t help it–must go with Jude Cowell! But instead of talking about the eclectic ‘Jude’s Threshold’ http://judecowell.wordpress.com/ or the wittily perceptive ‘Stars Over Washington’ http://www.starsoverwashington.com/ I’d like to draw your attention to ‘Two Hours You’ll Never Get Back’ http://2hrsyulnvrgetbck.blogspot.com/ It’s always a surprise what you’ll find there, with a wonderful mix of the the personal and the global, and follow the links to Jude’s art and stores, one of which is here http://www.zazzle.com/cowelljude.

2. Emergent Culture http://emergent-culture.com/ is a wonderful resource focusing on the contrasts between the globe’s rapidly changing cultural aesthetic, our place in things, and the ways in which the past still lives and influences us. I couldn’t find anywhere on the site who is responsible for the content, but there’s a wide variety and I assume it must be a collaborative effort.

3. Again, with the surprises-http://wildmonkeysects.posterous.com/ offers a grab bag of wisdom, nurture, wit, and nonsense–kind of like what’s in my own head!

4. This is a charming spot for the jewelry and vintage lover http://capricornonevintage.blogspot.com/ The narrative is always fresh and personable, and the aesthetics of the content hold a wide appeal, as it’s as much about the experience of her work as it is the items themselves.

5. This site by Dipal Desai is serenity on a page. The visitor is enfolded in an almost palpable sense of love, acceptance, and nurture. The narratives read like the soothing voice inside your head–and that’s a very good thing! http://mysticfire.wordpress.com/

6. I’m a big fan of altered books and ephemera, and Karen Hatzigeorgiou does beautiful work (and has also shared a trememndous storehouse of public domain images with her readers-thank you, Karen!) See her work here http://karenswhimsy.com/

7. This is a personal blog that has both visual interest and thoughtful content http://veronnicawolpendz.blogspot.com/ Veronnica discusses whatever’s on her mind; it’s very much like a conversation with a calm, intelligent individual, making it a rare commodity.

Now, I’m off to notify the recipients. Complaints about no astro diary for today should go directly to Jude at  http://www.starsoverwashington.com/ Just kidding!

On Purpose

06 Sunday Sep 2009

Posted by in astrology, Consciousness Explored, current events in the sky

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I was listening to Dr. Wayne Dyer (http://www.drwaynedyer.com/) speak this morning on Purpose; how we as individuals are prone to continually ask, ‘What is my Purpose?’ (at least, those who have reached the stage of considering such things–though I tend to think even those who are totally unconscious in their Beingness are ‘working the Universe’ the same as everyone else, with the same goals and intentions, though their true goals are much more likely to remain unknown to them!) and Dr. Dyer says that the asking of the question is our Purpose trying to re-connect with us; and in tandem with this, he quoted a teacher of his (the name escapes me– apologies to this individual) who, when queried on how he could experience peace when others suffered all around the globe, replied, in essence, that nothing in his life was an accident. Together, these two ideas, that our Purpose is at every moment trying to connect to us, and that nothing is unintentional, combine to suggest that, even in our darkest, most misguided, or confused moments we are seeking to make contact with our Purpose, and that nothing we do is without point, without an opportunity to express who we are and why we’re here.

So, we can approach the idea of Purpose in a very simple, straightforward way: the Purpose for each and every one of us is this: to add to the World. That’s all. The term ‘Purpose’ is almost useless when we look at it this way, as the inclination is to believe that purpose itself comes from the outside, like being cast in a role in a movie, or as if it’s something with almost magical properties for happiness (possibly that we chose pre-birth) and that now, if we can just discover it, all elements of our life will fall into place–no more problems, serenity NOW!–while if we see it as ‘what we add to the World,’ we see that it consists of literally every thought, word, and deed, and that all of these are a matter of personal choice, with total control and responsibility (the ability to respond) falling squarely to ourselves.

And now, a bevy of excellent contributions to the World:

Enlightened discourse on the state of our union  http://starsoverwashington.blogspot.com/2009/09/falling-romes-and-americas-us-sec-full.html

The joy of Saturn/ Uranus in action http://lucywatchthesky.com/2009/09/02/hands-up-who-wants-to-die-a-cardinal-t-square-a-saturn-uranus-opposition-and-one-exhausted-lucy/

Fun with maps http://questionofmindfulness.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/relocation-charts/#more-1730 

Lessons in love http://laurenlesko.com/7939 

And a few notes on upcoming influences:

Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune are all paddling in reverse right now as fast as they (figuratively) can, which I anticipate means it’s a form of ‘every energy for itself’! Expect these to seemingly pop up on the grassy knoll of your life like a lone assassin (though of course we know they really aren’t working alone), with each bringing to matters of the House transited and/ or the natal energy contacted the following: Jupiter bringing the tendency to exaggerate or overdo (or perhaps broadcast indiscriminately), Chiron struggling to control the sense or possibility of wounding, and Neptune making it at least as tough for you to see clearly as it was for Michael Jackson’s kids when they were still veiled, masked, or, like the little one, wearing a blanket, translated as your own private sense-muffling Idaho, which of course only confuses us all the more with the onset of Merc retro. Just take it easy, would be my admonition.

Venus is sextile Ceres (love, relationships, finances, or values must be negotiated, and/ or nature takes a gentle, season-changing swing at our assets or what we love); Venus then sesquiquadrates Juno the 7th and 8th (this demands adjustment of assets, relationships, or values to accommodate the needed empowerment position); and then Venus quincunxes Earth, and they travel in aspect together now through the 15th (we can’t avoid rearranging or modifying Venusian subjects as required either by our current material circumstances or by what we must seek in order to create a more copacetic material environment).

Thanks, everyone–you’ve all been incredibly supportive and encouraging as I ease off online engagement–though as you can see, I’ll still be back plenty–have a great week!

Just in case you’re wondering, I used hitchhiker’s screen name in the tags only because, though I know her actual name, it’s not even hinted at on her site–so I thought discretion was in order.

Alice’s Matrix, Logos, the Upcoming Merc Retro, and ‘In Consultation’

03 Thursday Sep 2009

Posted by in astrology, Consciousness Explored, future events in the sky, Mercury retrograde

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It seems you can take the astrologer off-line, but can’t stop her from thinking about astrology (and life, and synchronicity, and people) with any reasonable ease; so I’m back with a few odds and ends that have been rattling around in my brain, and this is where I want to thank everyone who sent me such wonderful good wishes for my cyber pseudo semi-retirement–your kind expressions, encouragment, and support give me excellent incentive to (eventually) return.Alpine hare

Last week my husband, John, and I were walking along a street in Seattle–and this is an especially cement-y and high rise-y street–and suddenly we spot a rabbit as it scoots across the sidewalk, out into traffic, and safely to the other side, where it disappears down an alley. John said, “Hey, there must be a glitch in the matrix,” meaning we’ve seen an inconguity that suggests there is a reality that is more ‘real’ than the one we’re experiencing, that there is a bleed through, a glimpse of what does not belong but, somehow, does; apparently it’s an Alice in Wonderland world, filled with bunnies. We laugh a little at this, a facetious, ‘oh yeah, we’ve just seen something we weren’t supposed to’ moment, when the pay phone just to my left rings. Now, for those of you who aren’t familiar with the movie ‘The Matrix,’ which is a story that proposes the world we are experiencing is simply a mental construct, as our true reality is that our bodies are sitting in a gelatinous soup, hooked to multiple obviously uncomfortable hoses, acting as human batteries for the evil . . .well, you get the picture. And the way the enlightened, freed people who are trying to free the rest of humanity from their liquid captivity move ‘between the worlds’ is by means of a ringing telephone which must be answered in order to facillitate the move from one consciousness to the other.

So here I am, after just seeing something totally out of place (and in the movie the implication is that incongruities and deja vu are indeed signs of glitches, which means you are being given a ‘hint’ toward consciousness) and there is a ringing pay phone, and no one else nearby, not even on this block. The first ring and we both stop in our tracks; the second and we look at each other; the third and I reach over and answer the phone. Somehow I assumed I should be the one to answer, either because I was closer to it, or because I’m an ego maniac who believes the Universe is always trying to communicate with me (which means I should probably ditch my aluminum foil hat).

I lift the receiver and put it to my ear; I’m really, strangely, excited, believing that I am going to get some kind of synchronicitous message. I don’t speak, and neither does the caller; then I say, “Hello?” and there is a very gentle but deliberate sound of hanging up. I’m disappointed; I was expecting a revelation of sorts–but maybe I got one after all, if I look at this episode in the context of the way I’ve been hearing the term ‘logos’ frequently–it seems to stand out in bold relief against the background of my life–and the unlikely synchronicity caught my attention, as I’m just not acquainted with a lot of Greek speakers or theologians. Whenever some idea, word, or phrase suddenly crops up in venues and conversations unrelated to one another, I look at it with the idea that there’s something for me to become aware of in the concept, something I need to think about, ruminate on, and sometimes write about, because I’m assuming that this idea contains a message from the Universe, a whisper that carries a world in a single word; and ‘logos’ does.

Typically translated as ‘the word,’ ‘logos’ carries a meaning both deeper and having a wider compass than does our concept of ‘the word,’ even when we use it to designate a creed, philosophy, or rule of law. If the intellect had a spirit, we might describe it as logos, as there is referenced in the term the concept of intelligence and reason applied to and embodied as a life energy. Logos is a living philosophy, and in some cases a philosophy of living. My attention, then, has been drawn to the very thought-fabric of life–an awfully big subject.

The ringing phone, though, may have narrowed the focus for me. I had a choice: ignore the call, or take it. And I took it, so perhaps the message, that revelation I was waiting for in words, is coming in logos: pick up (or maybe become) the receiver, be willing to hear the message, be open to life’s conversation. 

And this leads us to what is traditionally seen as a rough time for communication, the upcoming Mercury retrograde, on Monday 7 September at 9:45 PM PDT at 6 Libra 10. Almost immediately Merc will contact Vesta by sextile, suggesting that our mentality will be poised to consider what’s truly sacred to us, what we need, particularly companionship-wise (Libra) on the home front, and the sex life may be featured as well. We will become aware of what we want to change, transform, or perhaps destroy (square to Pluto), then Merc’s opposition to Juno makes us actually want to move forward, with the change from Air to Earth, and 29 degrees of Earth for Merc, at that–as we know, big decisions or the instigation of something important shouldn’t be undertaken during the retrograde (and this has only a few exceptions). We feel the urge to rearrange the material reality even more with the stress inherent to 29 degrees, and Juno at 29 of Pisces only serves to point out our ideal empowerment situation, likely making us feel we mustmake the considered changes; but no! Even with the trine to the North Node that follows, Mercury is still in retrograde, and so are our capacities for reasoning and judgment–and remember, in the early part of Merc’s retro period we are particularly clueless, cast adrift from our usual ways of processing and perceiving. This cautionary chain of events takes us through to the Inferior Conjunction of the Sun and Mercury, which is a ‘seed’ time, perhaps literally with the conjunction falling in earth; in any case it will be one corner of a Mystic Rectangle that includes the Nodes and the Earth/ Juno conjunction. This may allow us a very special extended moment within the retrograde cycle, beginning in terms of inclusion of Mercury energies, on the 18th of September. The Mystic Rectangle can act as its own energy matrix, pulling energies together, and reconciling opposites, in a surprisingly harmonious mix. We all may get a tremendous boost in terms of material empowerment, and we’ll possibly see the light at the end of the tunnel regarding the direction we’re currently headed. Is there a chance we’ll have to course-correct, that everything won’t be rosy? Yes, there is, but the best thing about the Mystic Rectangle is that it musters the energies for our use; so the real question is, will you step up and take what’s revealed at this point under advisement, with an eye to improving your material situation, or will you pretend that destiny is already laid out, and you’re at the mercy of forces greater than yourself? Your choice.

For a while now I’ve wanted to address some issues with consultation as they play out for both astrologers and clients, and I’ll be doing it through a once-in-a-while feature called, ‘In Consultation.’ I used to wonder, when I’d look at astrological offerings on the Internet (this was back in the day, well before I had a presence here) at the way astrologers were very strict in their time allocations, and very adamant in saying, “You’re buying this, and that’s all.” I just didn’t have their problems; my clients were all co-operative, sessions were always face-to-face, no boundaries were ever crossed. Now I know what they’re talking about; there’s something about the nature of contact in cyberspace that can definitely cause some problems. My thought is this: if you value an astrologer’s advice, then you should be willing to pay for it–there is no such thing as “just a quick question”–and you must recognize boundaries. Would you waltz into your physician’s office and insist on a quick rundown of your symptoms “just because you’re curious”? No, you would regard this person as busy, with a schedule, and you would expect to have to make an appointment and to pay for his or her expertise and experience, which is reasonable considering you expect to benefit from it. All this applies to approaching an astrologer, as does the idea that you are contracting to receive specific services; asking for, pressuring for, or angling for more is a little like going out to dinner and asking them to throw in an extra entree, just because you want it–we love our jobs, but we expect to get paid for them like everyone else. Would you show up at work, do lots extra, and then be okay with only getting paid for some of it? I thought not.

As for astrolgers, we must remember that no matter how friendly we become with someone (and it’s true, we often develop friendships that flourish after consultation) we are the ones who have the responsibility to keep things professional any time we are in consultation–and everyone involved must make the distinction. And please, if your astrologer says, “No calls after 9 PM my time,” or “one question at a time,” don’t think you’re the exception! If rules are stated for the consultation, the expectation is that you are an adult and can follow them. Does that sound harsh? The tendency is for all of us to play a little fast and loose when we’re not seeing each other in person–and that means that some who wouldn’t think of being inappropriate in person feel safe doing so by computer. Long ago I had a client (not actually a paying client, but someone I volunteered to help with a situation) and this person, after receiving the promised material, wouldn’t stop asking for more–going on and on about “my gift.” When I pointed out to her that this was not a gift, but the result of years of hard work and study, she became angry–because she told me, if it was a gift, I was obligated to give it away for free to anyone who asked for it–and it was clear that if she were forced to recognize that it took work, then she would recognize she needed to pay, as she would for any other service. Both sides of the consultation should keep this in mind: the client needs to remember he or she is paying for expertise that took years to develop, and the astrologer should remember that too–we aren’t hooked in to some special ability that elevates us to guru, prophet, or cult leader, so we shouldn’t pretend we are–we’re just hard working professionals who want to be treated that way.

Now, back to my cave!

See my books here http://dogandsunflower.wordpress.com