Year: 2014

More on Venus Retrograde

This morning after a big snowstorm and record breaking frigid temperatures I took a drive to the grain store to pick up some supplies. I pulled into the drive- thru section of the building and shut the car off in front of the service window.

As they signaled me to move forward so they could load, I tried to fire up the car but it wouldn’t start. I tried several more times to no avail. The two guys in charge of loading came over, told me to put it in neutral and pushed the car out into the parking lot.

“Your battery needs to be charged, “one said.They pulled a pickup next to me and hooked up the battery cables. After a bit of charging the car still would not start. They tried brainstorming –“ Maybe it needs to charge more…maybe the starter is frozen.”

One of them experimented with dashboard components and shouted to the other , “When you turn on the lights it makes the radio cut out. It needs to charge more.”

They pushed the car back towards the building and hooked it up to a super charger with a gage to indicate when the charge is complete. When the gage reached that point and we tried to start it again the car fired right up. One of the young men shouted to me,” Don’t shut the car off! It won’t start if you do. It won’t hold a charge- it needs a new battery.” They told the name of an auto parts store close by that installed batteries.

I was so struck by their willingness to help, their kindness and expertise and I thanked them again.

Proceeding on I pulled into a snowy parking lot with a storefront sign which read in big red letters , ”We install batteries for free.” The mechanic at the counter was friendly and assured me there would be no problem. I walked outside with him and noticed he was wearing his lightweight uniform and sneakers.
“Do you want to go inside and put on your jacket?” I asked.“ It is so cold.”

“Oh no,” he assured me,” I am fine. Yesterday was the coldest day of the year and we were outside all day installing batteries. The worst part of it was,” he said,”no one said thank you.”

I didn’t know what to say – arctic temperatures, vehicles that won’t run and mechanics fixing them outdoors with no thanks?

Undaunted he cheerfully resumed, “This is a great car you’ve got here. I love Subarus. This thing will last forever.”

I was on the road in no time after expressing my very sincere thanks. This is rural NH after all – a vehicle is a basic component of life here and must run well in cold weather.

When Venus is retrograde as it is now it is a good time to look at how we treat others – in whatever role they play- and see if there is room for improvement. So often people often express the sentiment that they feel overwhelmed by the problems in the world and feel powerless to do anything. Bringing more love and friendliness into the world is always something worthwhile to do.

January’14 Astrology

“What makes a fire burn is
space between the logs,
a breathing space.
Too much of a good thing
Too many logs
Packed in too tight
Can douse the flames
Almost as surely
As a pail of water would.

So building fires
requires attention
to the spaces in between,
as much as to the wood.” Judy Brown

Once when I was in a time of significant transition a wise friend said to me, “Why don’t you stay home this winter and put logs on the fire?”

It is wise to provide times of reflection and retrospection especially in transformative times and the cycles of the planets in retrograde phase provide such opportunities. Venus is retrograde now in Capricorn through the end of January. Being able to see clearly what is of value to us on a deep level is important.

This transit provides excellent timing to review how we relate to others and how with our actions we impact upon the wellbeing of the planet and the interconnectedness of all life. Capricorn governs resources and it is wise to revisit how money is spent – does money spent or invested contribute to a cleaner, safer more equitable future?

As Meister Eckhart pointed out,” Relation is the essence of everything that is.”

It bodes well to contemplate how we provide for ourselves and how we love others and put plans in motion to make improvements if necessary. It is also a good time to review the structure of your life – whether it is set up to provide for personal growth and evolution or whether it is based on an old model which has outgrown its usefulness. If so consider how you would make improvements. Make a list and set plans in motion in early February.

Relationships can experience strain under the influences this month. Moving in a direction
of personal authenticity can bring conflict in long standing friendships and intimate relationships. It is wise to consider how to effect change in situations like this in a diplomatic and empowered way.

Some significant dates in January:

Mercury enters Aquarius on January 11 – This transit encourages us to see ourselves as
part of the larger world. Take a cooperative, collaborative approach. The challenges we face on the planet now are best approached through cooperation rather than competition. Practice how to hold on to your authenticity and integrity as you collaborate with others to find solutions. Allow more for innovation and out of the box thinking in your approaches.

The Full Moon is on January 15 at 25 degrees of Cancer. This Full Moon is a time when issues of scarcity can arise. It is best under the influences to consider and shed underlying beliefs that can cause a sense of disempowerment or victimization in areas of love, finances and resources. Very often feelings of scarcity are based on old programming and this Full Moon provides an opportunity to take another step away from the direction with growth in conscious awareness.

The Sun enters Aquarius on the 19th. One of the Chandra symbols for this placement is,” A woman strolling in a garden. She is unaware she is being watched by elves. ”

The New Moon is at 10 degrees of Aquarius. This is the second New Moon this month – very much a month for envisioning new beginnings and initiatives. Be open to progress through cooperation and collaboration.

On the 31st Venus stations direct – a good time to put intentions into motion with concrete steps. Mercury enters Pisces on this day also – a good time for creativity and spiritual growth.

“The day I saw beneath dark clouds
The passing light over the water
And I heard the voice of the world speak out,
I knew then, as I had before
Life is no passing memory of what has been
Nor the remaining pages in a great book
waiting to be read.
It is the opening of eyes long closed.
It is the vision of far off things seen for the silence they hold.” David Whyte

Friends – I have gift certificates for special occasions.
Amelia Shea specializes in issues of relationship, family and children as well as life path and career. She can be reached at 603 654 1043, amelia.shea@comcast.net. Her readings start at $30.
All times mentioned are EST. Chandra symbol quote from Inside Degrees by Ellias Lonsdale. Judy Brown and David Whyte poems from Leading from Within by Sam Intrator and Megan Scribner