Amelia’s Blog

“I grew up in the patterned silence
In the cool nursery of the young century
And people’s voices were not dear to me
But I could understand the voice of the wind.” Anna Akhmatova

“I believe deeply that we must find, all of us together, a new spirituality.” Dalai Lama

Neptune stations direct today – Wednesday December 1. The veils between the worlds are very thin for the next couple of days as this ethereal planet starts to move forward. The Neptune station bodes well for spiritual and artistic endeavors but it’s best if possible to put off  serious decisions until after the Eclipse. It’s a good time to clear a path for the new dreams and visions of your life.

Neptune is in the mystical sign of Pisces and at other times in history when this was the case there was an increased interest in spirituality and  growth of spiritual awareness on the planet.

Neptune rules illusion and addiction but it also governs redemption. If  necessary it’s a good time to  consider where it would be best to to take off the rose colored glasses or work to end the repetition of unproductive habits that have an addictive nature to them.

Mercury and Uranus are aligning indicating that for the next few days important information can emerge or there can be “out of the blue” revelations or  breakthroughs in thinking.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A prophet bringing down the new law from the mountain.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“A wise old owl sat in an oak
The more he saw the less he spoke.
The less he spoke the more he heard.
Why can’t we all be like
That wise old bird ?” Proverb

“You are not the oil, you are not the air-merely the point of combustion, the flash-point where the light is born.” Dag Hammarskjold

The Sun is conjunct the South Node this week and Mercury will soon be joining the party. This is a culmination of sorts of the time that the Lunar Nodes have been travelling in Sagittarius and Gemini The Lunar Nodes will move into the signs of Taurus and Scorpio in late January.

The Nodes have been transiting Sagittarius and Gemini since May of 2020 with the South Node in Sagittarius and the North Node in Gemini. AS the Sun and Mercury move up to conjunct the South Node this week it’s a good time to look at where views over time may have become too rigid and would benefit from updating. The North Node in Gemini points in the direction we want to go- with more  openness, communication and learning.

Thursday the Sun conjuncts the asteroid Vesta. This asteroid was named after the Vestal Virgins of ancient Rome who were the priestesses of the goddess of the hearth. The Vestal Virgins kept the sacred fires alight and presided over all state and government ceremonies.It was believed that Rome would fall were the sacred fires to go out.

The Vestal Virgins were freed from the normal social obligation to marry and have children. Their duties included tending to the perpetual fire in the temple of Vesta, getting  water from a sacred spring, caring for sacred objects within the temple and officiating at public events.

This is a nice asteroid to preside over the holiday many celebrate as a day of gratitude, Thanksgiving.  Very timely too, as we head into the darker days before the return of the light on the Winter Solstice.

One of the significant transits of 2021 -the sextile between Saturn and Chiron , makes it’s final aspect this week. A herald of the Age of Aquarius, Saturn in this sign is about awakening to the importance of community both locally and globally and the need to work together to create a brighter future. Chiron’s journey of wounding and healing in the sign of Aries is associated with misuse of masculine energy (in both men and women.)  It offers an opportunity to move in a direction of a more balanced use of power.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”An old owl perched high up in a tree.”

“Still what I want for my life
is to be willing
to be dazzled-
to cast aside the weight of facts

and maybe even
to float a little
above this difficult world
I want to believe I am looking
into the white fire of a great mystery.” Mary Oliver

“The world will change less in accordance with men’s machinations as with women’s divinations.” Claude Bragdon

We are in the realm of mystery -particularly now- as we are in between two eclipses. The first Full Moon Lunar Eclipse was on Friday November 19 ET and the upcoming Solar Eclipse is December 4 at 12 degrees of Sagittarius.

Eclipses are associated with destiny and  personal evolution and the time around eclipses bodes well for raising awareness about your soul’s evolutionary journey.

Friday’s Lunar Eclipse had the potential to stir things up. It could make visible limiting  habitual, cultural or ancestral influences which we might not normally take into account. Lunar Eclipses are about the past and can provide guidance about what we need to acknowledge and let go of in order to clear our vision for the path forward.

It’s a time of rapid change and evolution now – now only for our small planet  but in each of our personal lives.

The Solar Eclipse on Dec 4 opens a new chapter. It’s a good time now to plan and get clear on  intentions.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A widow’s past is brought to light.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Varnished weeds in window jars
Tarnished beads on tapestries
Kept in satin boxes are
Reflections of love’s memories

Letters from across the seas
Roses dipped in sealing wax
Valentines and maple leaves
Tucked into a paperback

“Love is STILL the answer.” a bumper sticker in VT.

“Everything wants to be loved…You ever notice that trees do everything to get attention we do, except walk?”Alice Walker

Venus, the goddess of love and beauty enters the earthy sign of Capricorn today. Venus will have a long foray in this sign as she moves up to 26 degrees of Capricorn on December 18 when she will station retrograde. Venus will then backtrack to 11 degrees of Capricorn and station direct on January 28, 2022.

Venus in Capricorn reminds me of the Tarot Card the Nine of Pentacles. In A.E. Waite’s deck this card portrays a woman standing in her garden which is flourishing. There are grapes growing behind her signifying abundance. This is a card of well- being and being connected to the pleasures of earthly life in a balanced way. A hawk is resting on her arm indicating she has tamed forces within herself which could disrupt her tranquility. It is a card of peace and  contentment.

Venus in Capricorn is a lover of tradition and of the past.  Because Venus rules affairs of the heart and love in general, the retrograde period can provide a good time to assess these matters in your own life – how would you like to grow  in this realm, for example, or do you have appropriate boundaries in place to make relationships thrive? This applies to the work space as well as the personal.

It’s also a good time to review financial matters and a time when finances can grow.

If you have been waiting for things to manifest, January looks promising for that.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”The human soul, in its eagerness for new experiences, seeks embodiment.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“In that open field
If you do not come too close, if you do not come too close,
On a summer midnight, you can hear the music
Of the weak pipe and the little drum
And see them dancing around the bonfire
The association of man and woman…
Round and round the fire
Leaping through the flames, or joined in circles,
Rustically solemn or in rustic laughter
Lifting heavy feet in clumsy shoes,
Earth feet, loam feet, lifted in country mirth
Mirth of those long since under earth.” TS Eliot

“God is alive and magic is afoot.” Leonard Cohen

Samhain, the ancient Celtic holiday,  which falls at the midpoint between the Autumn Equinox  and the Winter Solstice is on November 7. Significant things can happen on these cross quarter days – it’s wise to heighten awareness for information that surfaces at this time.

The veils are thin between now and November 7. It is a good time to honor and celebrate the ancestors.

It’s also a good time for intention setting  with the New Moon in Scorpio kicking off a mystical time-frame.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”The silvery moon shining across a beautiful gem of a lake.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Every beginning
is only a sequel after all,
and the book of events
is always open halfway through.” Wislawa Szymborska

“Do you think that the grass is growing so wild and thick
for its own life?
Do you think the cutting is the ending, and not also
a beginning?
This is the world.” Mary Oliver

November’s New Moon is on Thursday Nov 4 EDT. This New Moon in Scorpio, the sign of transformation, provides a good time to “shed the old skin,” and to invite new ways of being  and living into our lives.  It’s an excellent time to set intentions about improving health and well being. Given the penetrating nature of Scorpio, it provides good timing to ascertain what your personal needs are on a deep level now.

The Sun and Moon oppose Uranus at this time indicating  a lunar cycle (through Dec 4) that is  likely to include some surprises and unexpected events . The influence of Uranus indicates a good time to assess personal needs for freedom and independence. It bodes well  to take extra time with decision making as this combination of planets tends towards the impulsive and erratic. There can be surprising outcomes.

Mars is now in Scorpio and both Mars and the Sun are forming a T-square with the Saturn /Uranus square. This indicates a time of hard work – Mars and Saturn in square aspect are sometimes described as driving with the gas and the brakes on. It can also be a time which can be more accident prone as actions can be more impulsive and erratic with the Uranus influence. In negotiations, agreement may be harder reach. This aspect will be in play through the middle of the month. Patience, kindness and respect for the opinions of others will go a long way under this influence.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”The ocean covered in white caps.”

“And it was at that age … Poetry arrived
in search of me. I don’t know, I don’t know where
it came from, from winter or a river…
I did not know what to say, my mouth
had no way
with names,
my eyes were blind,
and something started in my soul,
fever or forgotten wings,
and I made my own way,
deciphering
that fire.” Pablo Neruda

“Redeem
The time. Redeem
The unread vision in the higher dream
While jeweled unicorns draw by the gilded hearse.”TS Eliot

This week Venus, the goddess of love and beauty will be aligning with both  Jupiter and Neptune. This lightens things considerably from the heavier, more challenging aspects of last week.

In the early part of this week, Venus in Sagittarius will be aligning with  Neptune, the planet of dreams. This is an excellent time for creative work as well as spiritual growth. What are your creative aspirations ? This is a good time to muse about them and experiment in the creative realms. Let the pragmatics come later.

In Vedic astrology both  Jupiter and Venus are considered benefics – planets that bring good  fortune. When they are aligned favorably, as they are  throughout this week, this influence brings pleasure, optimism and a sense of abundance. It brings a time when there is more openness to kindness and generosity. This can also add confidence to moving forward with relationships and financial matters. Best to keep pragmatics in the mix in these areas with the influence of Neptune.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A bluebird, a sign of good luck and happiness, is standing at the door of a house.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“I saw you standing with the wind and the rain in your face.
And you were thinking ’bout the wisdom of the leaves and their grace.
When the leaves come falling down
In September when the leaves come falling down.” Van Morrison

“They’re both convinced
That a sudden passion joined them.
Such certainty is beautiful,
but uncertainty is more beautiful still.” Wislawa Szymborska

There’s a powerful Full Moon  Wednesday October 20 at  10:57 AM EDT at 27 degrees of Aries. It’s wise to create an outlet for the considerable amount of energy  at this time. Best to keep active physically and  work on projects .It bodes well too to keep optimism in mind and avoid conflict which may be easier to get drawn into with these influences.

Just a note that Venus in Sagittarius is now out of bounds through  December 8. Venus is out of bounds once or twice a year. During this time there can be a lessening of normal restraint around attractions and people can tend to act more impulsively in this area. If you are drawn to someone during  this time (October 11 – December 8)  who doesn’t fit your normal frame of thinking,  it might be wise to delay making any decision about it until late December or early January.

It is a good time to think about how to bring more beauty into your life and act on it.

Check your chart to check which house has Sagittarius on the cusp. It is wise throughout this time to keep moderation in mind in this area of life as well.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”An old owl perched high up in a tree.”