Author: Amelia Shea

Mercury Stations Retrograde in Scorpio

“The highest magic is that which lies within ourselves.” Anodea Judith

Mercury stationed retrograde today at 18 degrees of Scorpio. This is an intriguing retrograde period (through November 1) as during this time Mercury will conjunct Saturn and then play a significant part in the upcoming eclipse on November 3. It is a good time to deepen awareness as information that has been hidden over time may be revealed – information that can enable you to unravel limited perceptions and understandings. One of the Sabian symbols associated with the retrograde is,
“A Woman Drawing Aside Two Dark Curtains That Closed the Entrance to a Sacred Pathway.”

Anodea Judith quote from Wheels of Life, Sabian symbol quote from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom

Lunar Eclipse in Aries

A full cup must be carried steadily”…old saying

We are in eclipse season now and the effects of eclipses can be felt before and after the actual event. There can be a sense of emotional instability as well as increased psychic sensitivity. The first in the series is a Full Moon Lunar eclipse on Friday October 18 at 25 degrees of Aries.

Eclipses are evolutionary in nature and are as astrologer Eric Francis has said, “pattern setting events.” In addition to the many transformative aspects at play now, this eclipse has come along to help break up rigid patterns of thinking and to encourage us to question the nature of certainty in the midst of rapidly changing events. It is a good time to become more aware of unproductive assumptions and beliefs and look to opportunities for growth and expansion. One of the Sabian symbols associated with this eclipse is, “A man possessed of more gifts than he can hold.”

Another is, “Through imagination a lost opportunity is regained.”

All times mentioned are EDT. Eric Francis is an Astrologer and investigative journalist whose work can be found on planetwaves.net.
Sabian symbol quote from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom

Michaelmas

“When evening shadows fall
I’m waiting for the dawn.” Van Morrison

The tiny purple daisies that bloom this time of year are sometimes called Michaelmas daisies because they bloom near the feast of St. Michael or Michaelmas.

Michaelmas falls midway between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice and for centuries celebrations have been held commemorating the triumph of the lowly peasant, George over the fearsome dragon who was terrifying his village.

Many others before George had in vain attempted to fight and slay the dragon and had lost their lives as a result. But it was because of the intervention of the archangel Michael- the mightiest of the archangels, known as the protector of humanity and protector against darkness- that George was able to succeed.

The symbolism of Michaelmas has to do with the battle between the forces of Light and Darkness in both our outer and inner worlds. The darkness symbolizes fear and doubt – and the Light represents hope, faith and inspiration – the qualities which protect us during the dark night of the soul and during times like the Fall when the power of the Light wanes and the forces of darkness grow stronger.

It is a good time to strengthen will forces and cultivate faith and courage in the face of doubt, fear and uncertainty.

Quote from Van Morrison’s cd Down the Road

Friday’s New Moon

“We must look at the lens through which we see the world, as well as the world we see, and understand that the lens itself shapes how we interpret the world.” Stephen Covey

The New Moon is Friday 10/4 at 11 degrees of Libra. Particularly in areas where your life can feel problematic, look to underlying thought patterns, perceptions and assumptions that create a sense of limitation. This New Moon with its powerful aspects is an excellent time to break free of outgrown mental and emotional patterning through the use of intention and heightened awareness.
Astrologically many of the powerful aspects in play now are opening the door to personal and planetary evolution through the conscious use of the untapped powers of the mind.
One of the Sabian symbols for this placement is “A professor peering over his glasses at his students,” a reminder that knowledge is a process.

Stephen Covey quote & Sabian symbol quote from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom

October ’13 Astrology

“may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living…” ee cummings

This morning as I drove up into the color drenched autumn hills, a flurry of tiny birds flew out from behind a stone wall right in front my car – leaving me no time to stop. Their swift wings carried them under the car and out to the safety of the tall grasses on the other side. I looked in the mirror to double check I had not injured one and something fluttered in the road behind me. I tried to convince myself it was a brittle leaf but when I went back- to my dismay – I saw a little bird lying on her back in the roadway – her eyes open and her claws in the air. I thought she was dead.
But by the time I walked up to her I was surprised to see that she had righted herself. I placed a cloth gently around her wings to lift her to safety. But as I did her wings fluttered and as I gently released her, she flew to the high grass and lighted on a branch.

Symbolically birds are messengers and when I saw the bird lying still in the road I assumed the message was of one kind- about an ending – and then when she fluttered and suddenly flew the message seemed about an opportunity for a new start or rebirth.

This is very much the kind of story to keep in mind during the times in which we live. It may be difficult to understand the significance of events as they occur and the meaning will become clearer over time.We live in powerful times of transformation and however unclear or uncertain the path ahead may appear, it is best to look for breakthroughs, opportunities and unanticipated outcomes.

Early in the first week the volatile Uranus/Pluto square is activated by the Sun. Squares indicated conflict and the need to overcome something. This aspect applies both personally – in our inner worlds – and collectively in the world at large. It is a good idea to keep thinking fluid, have patience and look for breakthroughs or opportunities that present themselves in stressful circumstances.

On the 7th Venus moves into the sign of Sagittarius – this can make a better time for social interaction. Venus will move up to a square to Neptune boding well for spiritual growth, fantasy and imaginative pursuits – but watch for the rose colored glasses in romance.

Also during this time Mercury is moving into the very serious Saturn/North Node conjunction. The North Node, now in Scorpio- is associated with fate, destiny and life purpose. This is a good time given Scorpio’s ability to access deeper knowledge – to envision or seek knowledge about your life path.

The Sun squares Jupiter in the early part of the month too- keep moderation in the picture and avoid excess.

We enter eclipse season in October with the Lunar eclipse at 25 Aries on October 18th. Eclipses are evolutionary in nature and this one concerns how we remain authentic to ourselves in the context of our relationships with others and the status quo.Check the area of your chart in which this eclipse falls – it offers an opportunity for increased awareness of the changes going on in your life now.

Mercury stations retrograde on the 21st at 18 degrees of Scorpio and will travel retrograde until early November. We live in very fast paced times and this time frame provides an excellent time to review and integrate recent events. It is also a good time to access wisdom and deep inner knowing.

All the regular Mercury retro rules apply – if it is necessary to sign documents or make agreements during this time frame, pay extra attention to the details and look out for blind spots, make any repairs before this time if possible, take extra care with communications and double check problematic communications before jumping to conclusions.

Mercury will retrograde down to a conjunction with Saturn again on the 29 but there will be a third pass in November when Mercury moves forward again. The third pass is the time that all the information is in.

Towards the end of the month looks like a good time of more energy and accomplishment.
Patience with yourself, your endeavors and with others will be helpful all month.

Fall Equinox

“You can’t embrace the new paradigm until you let go of the old one.” Marilyn Ferguson

The Fall Equinox – when the Sun enters the sign of Libra – is this Sunday 9/22. The chart for the Equinox has 11 degrees of Aquarius rising with Mars in Leo on the Descendant. These placements speak about how we approach conflict with others and while Mars in Leo can be assertive and aggressive, the sign of Aquarius encourages us to follow the path of the peaceful warrior – to seek and work to create enlightened solutions both personally and globally.
It is notable that recently Pope Francis asked the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics to pray for a peaceful resolution to the use of chemical weapons in Syria rather than military strikes – which he said would only increase the suffering there. In addition to the US public’s insistence to find another way, we are witnessing a perilous, but hopefully more peaceful outcome in the short – and perhaps the long term – as a cease fire may become necessary to the process.
It is a good time to stay out of fear and to be in touch with the higher aspirations for your life and the life of the world in a very positive way.

Full Moon in Pisces

“What makes the desert beautiful,’ said the little prince, “is that somewhere it hides a well…” Antoine de Saint- Exupery*

I have been so fortunate – most of my life – to have lived near a hidden spring which bubbles up from the earth or an old field stone well surrounded by towering pines deep in the woods. With thunderstorms and blizzards and their subsequent power outages, we would trek with buckets and sometimes sleds out to the well or the spring house for our water. Throughout time places like this – wishing wells and healing springs like Lourdes – have been considered places to reconnect with our spiritual and emotional origins and experience rebirth and the renewal of our hopes and dreams. Thursday’s Full Moon is such a time and place.
It is a watery, dreamy, visionary Moon- at 26 Pisces.
One of the Sabian symbols for this Moon is, ” A Harvest Moon Illuminates the Sky.”
Carl Sandburg expressed it well – “Write your wishes on the door. Stand outside in the pools of the harvest moon.”

Quote from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint- Exupery*
Sabian Symbol & Carl Sandburg quote from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom

Saturn Conjuncts the North Node

“When you forgive, some deeper, divine generosity takes you over…When you cannot forgive, you are a prisoner of the hurt done to you.”
John O’Donahue

Saturn is now conjunct the North Node making this a good time to commit or recommit to serious life endeavors and to the work required to bring them to fruition. It is a karmic doorway of sorts and a good time to implement the alchemical powers of forgiveness – to let go of the past and move forward in a more loving, less burdened way.

Quote from Divine Sparks by Karen Speerstra

Thursday’s New Moon

“The best way to avoid responsibility is to say, “I’ve got responsibilities.” Richard Bach

The New Moon Thursday is at 13 degrees of Virgo. As Saturn approaches the North Node use this time to re-evaluate responsibilities – which ones you would like to commit or recommit to and which burdens are no longer yours to carry. It is also bodes well to set clear intentions about adjusting daily routines in order to build increased strength and overall wellness.

Juno, Saturn and the North Node

“Socrates had it wrong; it is not the unexamined life but finally the uncommitted life that is not worth living.” William Sloane Coffin

For much of the Fall Juno – the asteroid of commitment – will be squaring Saturn and the North Node. In mythology Juno kept her vows in a marriage where her notorious husband Jupiter, did not. Although Juno for that reason is sometimes associated with jealousy and revenge, I think the basic meaning of the asteroid has to do with the commitments we make and keep because they are important in our individual lives from an ethical standpoint. As with Juno these personal commitments may not make sense to others and can at times be at odds with traditional family, religious or societal values. A good example of this is commitments made to a higher law – such as conscientious objectors who refuse to fight in war because it violates their personally held spiritual beliefs.

Juno is in Aquarius now – indicating a time of more courage, individuality and authenticity in making commitments. When Saturn and the North Node are involved it indicates that it bodes well to seriously consider commitments now and not enter into any lightly as Saturn the taskmaster will have lessons to teach that very well may have been avoided with appropriate forethought.The North Node indicates that it is important to consider the future seriously and how any commitments make now will affect your life going forward

No matter how compelling it is best to slow down, set clear boundaries and avoid illusions and projections.
Quote from Credo by William Sloane Coffin