August-September 2007For the New
Moon Cycle in Leo:
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It's time to take a serious look at the circumstances and situations in your life. This transit may not exactly be "party time" but it's a
great transit to have when you need to take a dispassionate, objective, clear view of life. You may be called upon to make a decision about something. For example,
you might need to commit yourself to a particular plan of action, or start developing plans toward a particular goal. In either case, it may be necessary to limit
or let go of other options. You might come to the conclusion that something has run its course and it's time to leave it behind -- like an opinion or project or
mindset. It's a time when your perception, thoughts and words may not be exciting, imaginative or entertaining, but you're probably more able to be clear, grounded
decisive and hard working.
Mercury moves into its own sign of Virgo, where it brings an awareness of health, healing, work and service. This is a good time to be
analytical, methodical and focused on improvement. But be careful not to get so lost in details or perfectionism that you can't see the forest for the trees. This
energy is well spent by finding ways to make your work and the pursuit of your goals more efficient and effective. Try organising your activities better and
prioritizing them according to what works well and what needs improvement and how. This is especially true for any health issues that keep getting pushed to the
back burner. Whatever your plans, this transit can help you organise an effective strategy to move you forward.
Your sense of purpose is strong now, as you are able to tap into a deeper level of energy and determination. Your personality is likely to
be more forceful now, which can be great if you need to make a strong impression but perhaps not so much in situations requiring delicacy or subtlety. Your ability
to see below the surface of things is especially clear, and it may be possible to unearth secrets or get at the core of unconscious patterns (yours or others').
This is a time when your personal presence may come across as somewhat "larger than life," so you need to remember that a little goes a long way during this
transit. This could be a time when you suddenly find the strength to stand up and assert your personal power in a situation that has felt overwhelming or
discouraging. On the other hand, if you are still struggling to learn how to own your power, without using nuclear bombs to make your point, you may still feel a
bit overwhelmed or daunted by this transit. In that case, take smaller steps and don't try to push the river.
For a few days before and after this date, you may feel serious, studious, stuck, blocked, committed and/or hard working. It could be a
good time to manifest well prepared plans, or you might have to get real and deal with difficult realities in new ways. You may have business with authority
figures, or you might be called upon to act in a leadership role. It can also be a time to own your own authority -- that is, to BE the authority figure, either to
someone else or just to yourself. It might be a time of decision, when you have to choose one path or option over another. This can feel like an ending, as much as
it is a new beginning, because selecting one possibility means you must let go of the other possibilities (at least for now). This is a necessary part of the
process of manifestation and maturity. Doing closure on the people and situations that are passing out of your life will help to complete the process of growth and
learning they have brought into your life, and can help clear the space for something new to begin growing in their place.
Happy Solar Return to all Virgos! While the Sun is in Virgo, we are all honorary Virgos. You are encouraged to clean out the toxins in
your body and mind. Organise and tidy up your life, in whatever ways it is "a mess." And take stock of the ways you give service and make a contribution to the
world around you. Take some time to pay attention to the details and precision of what you do, and appreciate how much you can do with very little. During this
transit, organisation, useful procedures and practical application come together to form the key that opens the door to effectiveness, efficiency and improvement.
This is a good time to adopt a service-oriented attitude, whether that involves being helpful to someone else or dedicated to your own healing and betterment. You
could volunteer your time. Or, perform some "random acts of kindness." Or, just do something nice for someone. Projects and problem solving may work a bit better if
you take an analytical, methodical approach to them (rather than intuitive or guessing). This is a good time to assimilate and "digest" the results of any
preparation you've been doing toward a project, goal or production. Weed out what doesn't work and what doesn't support your efforts, and then reorganise and
simplify whatever is left. Just don't get so carried away that you throw away something that's important to you or your goals.
Both inspired action and brash overconfidence characterise this transit. For up to a week before and after this date, you may find that
your energy, anger, libido and ability to take action are amplified -- so much so, that you may be pushing yourself beyond what is realistic or unable to deal with
reasonable boundaries to prevent them from getting out of control. What is needed is to find that fine line of balance between ego-based desire and spiritual
inspiration; between will power and focused faith; and between righteous anger and arrogant pride. Strive to bring both your ego's desires and your spiritual
aspirations into what you do, for each has its own validity and won't operate well without the other.
You may be seeing the weak links in your knowledge, understanding or beliefs right now. Your ideas and words might seem to fall short of
what your mind envisions, or you might be unable to convince others of your point of view. As a result, it can be tempting to over-compensate with more
self-confidence, faith or optimism than you actually have. Or, you might give out "too much information" by over-explaining or through nervous rambling.
Alternatively, you might encounter someone else who does this and perhaps have a blaming or judgmental reaction to them. This is an opportunity to learn something
about how you might jump to conclusions or blame, possibly triggered by a situation that challenges your beliefs, opinions or perspective. To learn more about this
part of yourself, try taking some time to think about what is really bothering you or what you really need to say in that situation. There may be a higher truth to
be found if you open your mind to something you're reluctant to acknowledge, rather than looking for a "final truth" around which to close it.
Fiery speech, argument and hot debate characterise this transit. This could come in the form of conflict, or it might be stimulating and
challenging -- or both! One thing to watch out for is that you may have a short fuse for a temper, and the same may be true for others around you. It can be a time
when you blurt out things you later regret, or you might finally find the courage to do something that's long overdue. The problem is that one can easily look like
the other, and what feels like courage in the moment might look more like reckless haste in retrospect. Harsh words can't always be taken back, so keep a grip on
your objectivity and better judgment while you're verbally fighting the dragons. Use this energy to stoke your motivational fires, and use your ideas to generate
positive action. It can help to pace your mental energy like racing a horse, which can harness abundant energy to fuel your decisions, courage and resolve.
Romance, idealism, fantasy and imagination are blossoming into a bright aura right now, which is likely to influence your relationships,
interactions, finances and values -- for better or for worse! Compassion, caring and selfless giving can be good ideals to aim for, as long as you remember that
ideals tend to lose some of their shiny glow when they're translated into hard reality. If you forget this, the end result may be disappointing or disillusioning.
Disappointment may also indicate that there have been hidden hopes or high expectations that no one can really live up to. Aim to balance your innocence and longing
with the judgement of your older, wiser, mature self; and do a reality check with a trusted friend or adviser if in doubt. That said, this can also be a very
creative and inspiring time -- just remember to keep one foot on the ground.
The healing of assertive energy and willpower mark this transit. It is bound to be easier to get past any inhibition you might normally
feel about being assertive, expressing frustration and anger, and putting things into action. Perhaps you are able to reconcile some internal guilt or fear that has
held you back in the past. Or, maybe you are finally able to reach a state of acceptance or resolution that allows you to move beyond a conflict or struggle that
has been keeping you stuck. Applying your willpower to problems has a better chance of succeeding now because you're likely to be more attuned to the path that
leads to peace rather than more conflict. It's possible you might choose to use this energy in the defence of another person, a cause or something else you feel
passionately about. It's possible to focus your energy, intent, motives and actions in ways that are healing, healthy, balanced and constructive.
Pisces 5A church bazaar. This Sabian Symbol ("What's a Sabian Symbol?") depicts an event put on by many churches usually for fundraising. Parishioners are asked to donate items which are sold and the proceeds are put toward church projects or expenses. The spirit of giving is a fundamental part of this activity, for it is the donors' generosity that provides the raw material to make it happen. And yet, it is also the spirit of group cooperation that is just as essential to its success. And the reward is not just the new funds but the valuable social interaction, the fun and the strengthened community that can emerge as a result. As a Pisces symbol, this reflects the self-sacrifice to a higher cause that is so strong in Pisces. As a symbol for the lunar eclipse, it suggests that what has been developed since March 2007 (the last solar eclipse) must be used for "the good of the many," and not simply kept for the "good of the few or the one." It is important to find a spirit of giving�of giving back�so that your gain can begin to return to its source (the community or perhaps just the ideals that inspired it months ago).
Read more about the Sabian Symbols in these recommended books: | |||
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This total Lunar Eclipse is visible from North and South America (just before Moonset and Sunrise) and from Asia and Australia (just after Moonrise and Sunset). A lunar eclipse is a Full Moon (the Moon and Sun are on opposite sides of the Earth), which is so precisely aligned that the Moon actually moves through the Earth's shadow cast by the Sun's light. It's okay to look at a lunar eclipse (although you must never look directly at a solar eclipse or you'll ruin your eyesight). What you'll see is the Moon darkening and at first it may look like there's a bite out of the left side of it. The Moon will darken to an orange or reddish colour for a while and then gradually brighten to its usual extra-bright luminescence. The whole process lasts a several hours, although the most noticeable part lasts only an hour or two.
What does this mean astrologically? A lunar eclipse is a very potent Full Moon, so we have the wide open feelings, desires, fears and hopes that are typical around a Full Moon. Specifically, this is a Full Moon in Pisces. Pisces is about the unseen side of life � spirituality, imagination, solitude and surrender. When these factors merge together, you may experience intense longing for greater meaning in your life. Or, you might be able to tap into inspired creativity and imagination. Or, there may be misunderstandings or disappointments stemming from delusion, deception or over-active fantasy. Whatever is happening in your life right now, look to see if any of these themes are influencing your feelings and perceptions.
However, every eclipse involves the blocking of the light at its brightest. Just when you think everything is fully visible and obvious, suddenly it becomes obscured, blocked or distorted. Whether it's the Sun's light being blocked by the Moon (in a solar eclipse) or the Moon's reflected light being lost in the Earth's shadow (in a lunar eclipse), there is a dimming of the light. We suddenly enter "The Twilight Zone," a mysterious world where the unexpected emerges from the shadows. A bit like the eye of a hurricane, where an eerie calm can descend over the usual Full Moon lunacy.
In that liminal place, unconscious feelings, urges and needs can emerge from the shadows. This can create some chaos and confusion because you probably aren't expecting it. Inconvenient or inappropriate urges, longings, desires and issues can escape from your subconscious like seeds from a ripened pod. This is not necessarily a bad thing! It is from these seeds that positive change grows, as well as potentially misguided or irresponsible choices.
However, it is in that twilight world of the eclipse that we are "flying blind" and may not be in control of what happens to us. With the lunar eclipse in Pisces, you are challenged to call upon your faith, but be careful�too much faith and not enough conscious participation could mean you are merely giving away your power (which may not be in your best interests). A balance between your conscious control and surrendering to the moving current of the Universe is usually wise.
The lunar eclipse chart shows more opposition aspects per capita than almost any chart I've seen! Oppositions call for balance�focusing your centre of gravity so that you can expand and grow in all directions, not just one. We have the Sun opposite the Moon (which is the Full Moon) along the axis of the lunar nodes (which creates the eclipse). There is also Mars opposite Jupiter, Venus opposite Neptune and Chiron, Saturn opposite the Moon and Mercury opposite Uranus. Being challenged to expand and grow in so many different directions at once could bring a sense of letting go and liberation�or it could make you feel a bit fragmented or spread too thin. It can also create a lot of stress, making you feel like you're being pulled in so many directions that you're not sure which way to go.
Some of these opposition aspects form a Grand Cross, which has been hovering in the skies since around Aug.25 and lasts until around Sep.07. The Grand Cross takes place in Mutable signs�Mars in Gemini opposite Jupiter in Sagittarius, at right angles to Mercury and the Sun in Virgo opposite Uranus in Pisces. Mutable signs are about flexibility, adaptability and synthesizing different experiences. The Mutable signs want to find a way to fit the proverbial square peg into the round hole�and they'll do whatever is necessary to succeed (even if they have to bend the rules a little). Be careful you don't try to take shortcuts to success that could get you into trouble later.
Chiron forms a Wedge configuration to the Mars-Jupiter opposition. The opposition brings tension between your instinctive drive to assert your individuality (Mars) and your drive to expand to fulfill your ideals and beliefs in the name of something greater than yourself (Jupiter). The result can be anything from inspired action to arrogant impulsiveness. It's not easy to rein in these two powerful planetary energies when they are pushing you to aspire higher and farther. Chiron steps in and helps to establish a balance between them. Chiron can detach your conscious perspective from your amplified desires and ambitions. Hopefully this doesn't result in swinging between extremes (self-serving ego drives versus righteous hubris). Rather, it can bring healing through humility based on the knowledge that neither extreme tells the whole story. Your perspective needs to expand to include both sides.
This lunar eclipse brings fruition and emergence of what was begun at the solar eclipse in Pisces back in
March 2007. Look back on the changes and developments that have happened in your life since
then, and you may see the thread of a developing theme that is now reaching a turning point. It is time to change expansion of these themes into a more focused,
concise and concentrated form which can be used like a tool toward a greater goal. You have the ingredients; it's time to bake the bread!
Discover your best potential for the year ahead!
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This is a wakeup call! You are asked to open your mind so that you can see something about your life, yourself or your situation that has
eluded you until now. It might be a shocking revelation that changes your whole perspective...or it might also be a delightful surprise that adds a new dimension
you hadn't thought of. However it manifests, you are in a position to see your situation more clearly and objectively -- although this can also make it seem like
this energy is outside of you and happening TO you. However, if you look closely inside yourself, you may see thoughts, perceptions and impressions that correspond
to the external events and participate in the interchange. Emails, Internet chats, and interaction with technology may be part of this transit as well.
Communication may be a bit erratic or unpredictable, so be careful not to speak thoughtlessly or carelessly. However, you may find that words and perceptions come
to you intuitively and spontaneously.
Saturn enters Virgo on this date and stays there for about two years. There are many implications to this combination of energies! Read
the new article about Saturn in Virgo.
You are faced now with a challenge to empower your communication and perceptions, although this may not come easily. It could involve
having to face some rather difficult truths that might be a bit disturbing or hard to accept. However in doing so, you gain a deeper understanding and acceptance of
yourself, your situation and your role within it. Obsessive or persistent thoughts that are morbid or paranoid are possible, which could be helped by finding
something more positive to focus on or a creative outlet. Communication (from others or yourself or both) could be intense, intimidating or even downright damaging,
since it may be tempting to get caught up in power struggles and domination. But communication can also be used now to heal, by cutting through hypocrisy and
insincerity in order to reach a deeper authenticity and truth -- like lancing a boil so that healing can take place.
Erratic action and unpredictable impulses can surface under this transit. Active energy is more available now, but it can be very hard to
control its direction, speed, intensity or predictability. Under this volatile atmosphere, unconscious or suppressed emotions (like anger, frustration, fear or
desire) can jump out when you least expect them. Being accident prone is not uncommon. This can be great if you're trying to release inhibitions, find courage to
sprint forward or break out of an old habit. Unfortunately, there's no guarantee that your actions won't turn out to be destructive, counter-productive or too much
of a good thing. You might be tempted to take greater risks than is wise, but this risk-taking impulse can also break you out of a rut too. It's important to use
your best judgment when faced with this kind of potent yet volatile energy.
It is possible now to take a balanced approach to conflict, problems and projects that require effort. This can combine both a gentle
touch and firm action; sensitivity and forcefulness. Negotiation and interaction with others could be aggressive and determined now, but also balanced with
sensitivity and style. Any expressions of anger, frustration or discontent are more likely to be tempered with fairness, moderation and composure. You'll have to
apply some effort to get these opposite energies working in sync together, but the potential and opportunity are there more-so than usual now.
You may be inspired to expand far beyond your usual boundaries during this time, although this may or may not work in the way you hope it
will. It can be a time of challenge, when you decide that now is the time to move beyond your current horizons and make the ultimate push for something you believe
will bring you happiness, fulfilment and prosperity. How successful you are will probably depend on how prepared you are for what comes next. Your judgment and your
ability to see things objectively and realistically can be a little "off" during this transit, since your hopes and ideals might distort what is actually possible.
It can be easy to overestimate the envisioned results, or you might underestimate the amount of work necessary to sustain your dream and prevent it from being just
a flash in the pan. Try to avoid being overconfident and making promises you can't keep (including to yourself).
Mercury glides into Libra, bringing awareness and new ideas about your style of interaction and how you communicate with others. It may be
easier to speak (and listen) with gentleness, fairness and diplomacy during this time. Thoughts, ideas, communication and negotiation could reach a state of
increased balance and harmony, and you may be especially sensitive to other people and your environment. You could be more motivated to balance criticism or anger
with gentleness and diplomacy. On the other hand, interaction could also become a carefully crafted game in which truth, honesty and facts are replaced by
manipulative strategy and "white lies" designed to avoid hurt feelings. Indecision and "fence sitting" are possible under this transit, since you are able than
usual to see many different sides of a situation. It might help to bounce your ideas and thoughts off someone who can be a good sounding board and give you
feedback. It may be easier now to reach a win-win solution to conflicts, which is fair to all concerned -- but be careful you don't make incorrect or self-serving
assumptions about what the other side wants.
There is an opportunity for healing in this transit. This could be a kind of spiritual healing in which you gain understanding that gives the hardship in your life a new and elevated meaning. Or it might be an opportunity to improve your physical healing by increasing your knowledge about good health. There is a chance of glamorizing or idealizing hardship as a way of justifying or enduring it (the noble sufferer). This transit encourages you to take a creative, innovative and transcendent approach to the difficulty in your life, but be careful about over-idealizing it or you may find it hard to let go of it later.
This is the third and final pass of this transit: Dec.28.2006,
May.31.2007 and Sep.07.2007.
For about a week before and after, you may experience energy that is intense, compelling and transformative, as Pluto changes direction to
its normal forward motion. If you've been going through deep, cathartic changes in your life over the last 6 months to a year, you may find that this station brings
a shift in how you are able to approach those changes. This might be a time when you feel the weight of power struggles or loss in your life, but it can also be a
time when you find empowering strength in yourself that you didn't know you had. Above all, it is a time when your deepest, most authentic Self can start to emerge
and be reborn anew.
Venus has been retrograde since July 27, urging us to renegotiate how we handle finances, relationships, resources, love, pleasure and/or balance. Situations in these areas may reach a turning point now, as these energies shift from internal/introverted to external/extroverted. The learning you�ve collected in the last 6 weeks can be applied and put into practice over the coming month or so.
While Venus has been retrograde, you may have found that your usual experience of relationships or finances have changed, perhaps becoming
either more or less plentiful or cooperative. Venus turning direct again can sometimes mean this new situation changes back to what it was before, often as
mysteriously and abruptly as it first changed. If something you want fades from your life, it can be helpful to regard the retrograde increase as a window that
shows you what you can achieve with more time and effort. (Remember, Venus was conjunct Saturn for a long time, and will catch up to it again in October.) If the
retrograde took away something from your life during that time and brings it back with the direct motion, you can approach the situation with a fresh perspective
and choose whether to keep it or work toward letting it go.
This transit can bring a mystical, imaginative, compassionate aura to Mars' normally direct, fast, aggressive, self-focused energy. You
may feel inspired to act on faith, confront with compassion, and react gently. On the other hand, it can be much easier to be motivated by something that turns out
not to be what you thought it was. Much can depend on how impulsive your actions are and whether they are based on preplanning and research. We may tend to see our
actions as righteous and justified. Creative energy is usually strong, whether this is used literally in the arts or in finding creative solutions to conflicts and
problems. Our anger and aggression may be expressed in a way that is compassionate and intuitive, although our assertive edge might also be blunted a bit too much.
It might help to think of the snake in the old parable -- even if you choose not to bite if someone steps on your tail, it doesn�t mean you can't hiss.
This transit brings an encounter with the Awakener! This could come in the form of another person or outside situation that shakes you out
of your habitual routine and pushes you to try a new approach to your situation. Life may be very unpredictable right now, requiring you to be spontaneous,
innovative or independent in the way you respond to it. This could be stressful or exciting! It is actually showing you a new path in the darkness, like a
lightening flash in the night. If you feel startled or caught off guard, or confused about what to do next, find your internal centre and try to be open to what the
situation is illuminating for you. You now have a chance to shed some old habits and ways that you are stuck, if you can stay centered in the middle of the
whirlwind. You may experience revelations -- that "ah-ha!!" feeling -- which could open up new possibilities and opportunities for you. However, it might feel like
you have little choice but to try these new things (rather than freely choosing them). You could find yourself reacting to others with a powerful impulse to throw
off the shackles of anything that feels restrictive, to reclaim your independence -- although this could also be motivated by a fear of commitment or responsibility
too. It is wise to check your own inner motives, feelings and assumptions before automatically dismissing, rejecting or rebelling against other people.
Next Update: SOLAR ECLIPSE ~ NEW MOON in VIRGO. Check back September 11, 2007.
� 2007 Wendy Guy. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied without the author's written permission. Moon picture courtesy of NASA