Amelia’s Blog

“To move
Frantic, like comets,  towards our bliss,
Forgetting that we always miss,
And so to seek and fly the sun,
By turns, around which love should run.” Gerard Manley Hopkins

Throughour time the appearance of a comet was considered extremely significant to astrologers. Comets were seen as messengers – bringing to light hidden information and signalling energy shifts both personally and for the collective.

The comet 31/ATLAS (You’d think there might be a more poetic name!) made its closest pass to earth on December 19 – in close proximity to the New Moon on the 19th and the Winter Solstice on the 21.

The chart for the Winter Solstice is said to describe the time between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. The comet as is part of that picture – indicating the influence of the comet throughout this time.

Comets herald a time of a new beginning and the potential to move to a state of consciousness which is more appropriately aligned with the time in which we are living. Comets also associated with increased compassion and awareness.

It’s wise throughout this season to provide down time to integrate information which may surface.

 

“Scorates had it wrong. It’s not the unexamined,  but finally, the uncommitted life that is not worth living.” William Sloane Coffin

“Genuine commitment is a journey into the unknown.” Madonna Kolbenschlag

Winter arrived Sunday at the Winter Solstice – when the Sun entered Capricorn. Still, there are several planets and asteroids in the sign of Sagittarius now, including Venus and Juno which are conjunct for the next few days.

The sign of Sagttarius is associated with distant horizons – both inner and outer. Outer horizons in terms of travel and foreign countries and cultures and inner horizons in terms of philosophy and learning  -which also broaden our understanding.

Juno is the goddess of commitment – the kind of commitments we make to ourselves and to others. For the next few days it’s  a good time to open the door to new ideas for the future . What is it you’d like to be committed to working towards in the New Year?

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is, “The sculptor’s vision is slowly but surely taking form.”

Sabian symbols from Lynda Hill

 

 

 

 

 

“In finding peace and recognizing the light within yourself, we say there is a hearth inside your heart where the Creator has given you something very sacred, a special duty, an understanding. And now is the time  for us to to clean out those hearths, to let that inner light glow.” Dhyani Ywahoo

“Who knows what Romance, what Adventure, what Love is lurking around the next turn of the road, ready to leap out at us if we’ll only travel that far?” Jack London

I was visiting with a friend the other day when she received a phone call from her daughter. She  had called because she was ambivalent about a decision she had to make. My friend said to her, “Where do you want to be in ten years? In twenty years?” These are good questions to be asking this week with the strong Sagittarian influence.

The week starts off with a number of planets and asteroids in the adventurous sign of Sagittarius. This sign rules the ninth  house – the house of higher understanding, philosophy, religion and publishing.  It’s a good time for expanding horizons, reframing  obstacles and looking for new solutions to old problems.

Friday’s fiery  New Moon will join the Sun, Juno,Venus, Mercury and the Dark Moon in this expansive sign.

Juno, the goddess of marriage and commitment in general, will be making a tense alignment with Saturn. It’s wise, under this influence to consider commitments. What is it you believe enough to commit to over the long haul?  A good time for questioning and revisiting.

Mars is  newly arrived in Capricorn. This is good for pragmatics and planning. For building a solid foundation for new aspirations.

Venus will be creating a harmonious trine to Chiron. the asteroid of the Wounded Healer. This provides good timing for forgiveness – of self and others.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”The Ocean covered with whitecaps.”

Sabian symbols from Lynda Hill

 

“Behind the overly Yang qualities which have predominated in the mainstream world for a long time, the deep Yin has been quietly gathering strength. Flow and movement return at this deeper level, in time to greet the seasonal ‘Rebirth of the Sun’ at the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.  We are seasonally immersed in both dark and light, a fundamental feature of our life on earth.” Melanie Reinhart

“Still, what I want in 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 Winter Solstice arrives on December 21 at 10:03 AM EDT when the Sun enters Capricorn.  It falls on the heels of the New Moon in Sagittarius on the 19th. In writing about this time,  author and astrologer, Melanie Reinhart wrote, “Could it be an invitation to pause the world of in-formation while we allow ourselves to be informed by the stream of knowing wisdom which resides in the heart?”

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

Sabian symbols from Lynda Hill

“She generally gave herself very good advice, though she very seldom she followed it.” Lewis Carroll.

“Here’s a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished. If you’re alive, it isn’t.” Richard Bach

Neptune, the god of all things ethereal, is slowing down to station direct on the 10th  at 29 degrees of Pisces. Whenever a planet is slowing down to station- either direct or retrograde -its influence is particularly strong. This is a time when Neptune is spreading his gossamer veil over the landscape and things may very well not be what they seem. Best to wait til the end of the week to make important decisions.

It is a good influence for the imagination – for artwork and spiritual endeavors.

All week long it is wise to slow down. Mercury will be opposing Uranus – indicating that plans can change suddenly and there can be unexpected news and surprising events.

Best to make  sure all important info is backed up .

This is a nerrvy combination. It’s bodes well to provide extra down time and nurture the nervous system.

Mars will be squaring Saturn on Tuesday . Astrologers sometimes describe this alignment as driving with the gas and the brakes on. It can be frustrating and  throw obstacles in your path. Extra patience will help.

Later in the week  on the 11th Mercury will make a harmonious trine to Neptune and enter Sagittarius. Venus, the goddess of love and pleasure, will be squaring the Lunar Nodes of destiny and life path,  This is a good time to pursue aspirations with a sense of adventure.

Mercury will sextile Pluto at the end of the week – this gives mental power and depth and bodes well for serious conversations and getting to the bottom of things.

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 have a friend who is an astrologer and he refers to certain people who appear at an auspicious time as, “agents of the planet.” What he means by this is people who appear in our lives – for a moment or longer- who symbolize the influence of a planetary transit an individual is having. I call them “people at the gate” because they can be message bearers in a symbolic sense and point the way forward at a significant time.

In ancient times there were often  statues of Mercury at the crossroads – pointing the way. Throughout time Mercury has been known as a message bearer

Thursday’s Full Moon is at 13 degrees  of Gemini – Mercury’s sign –  at 6:14 PM EST. It forms a square aspect to the Lunar Nodes of life path and destiny which are are 13 degrees of Pisces and Virgo.

They say in the old texts that the influence of the Full Moon is “three days coming and three days going.”  It’s wise to raise awareness this week to information which may come in unusual forms that can provide insight on the path forward.

The Gemini influence this may indicate  a need to alter or update your thinking or the way you communicate.

The South Node is in Virgo indicates a good time to release habits that have a history to them in terms of presenting obstacles to a desired way forward.  This can have to do with excessive worry or perfectionism.

One of the Sabian symbols for  the Full Moon is, “Two people at widely different points, are in conversation with each other by means of telepathy.”

Sabian symbols from Lynda Hill

Tarot Card readings can provide innovative insights to vexing situations. Readings start at $40.

 

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I may be.” Lao Tzu

“Just as the trees shed their leaves, the fall is a time of letting go. It’s a time of personal reflection, releasing negativity and nurturing seeds of what we want to grow in the future.”Lauren Becker

It’s another busy week  in the starry heavens.

In the first part of the week Mars in Virgo will be squaring  the Lunar Nodes, which govern life path and destiny. There is considerable energy here through Wednesday or so, to overcome obstacles from the past that have hindered movement forward.

A square to the Nodes represents a certain kind of gate time when it’s good to look at how you use your power  in implementing with your initiatives.  It’s a good time for reclarifying or resetting this area of life if necessary.

It’s also a good time to strengthen courage and conviction for the journey ahead.

Mercury is conjunct Venus at 22 degrees of Scorpio. This alignment can help with the resolution of differences and for balancing head and heart.

Venus, Jupiter and Saturn form a harmonious grand time. Jupiter throughout time has been associated with good luck and good things. This is a harmonious combination and bodes well for pleasure and enjoyment. Jupiter with Venus can be a very loving alignment.

Saturn stations direct on Friday at 25 degrees of Pisces conjunct Neptune . Now is the time to get to work with stalled out projects and with new initiatives. Saturn is the strict teacher and is about – among other things – responsibility. A lot can be learned under a  Saturn retrograde period but the direct station indicates a time to take what you have learned and  commit to putting it into action.

The Mercury retrograde period ends on Saturday the 29th. Mercury stations are associated with a culmination of information. It’s wise for a few days before and after the station to raise awareness about information may surface at this time..

Venus will oppose Uranus at 29  degrees of Scorpio and Taurus at the end of the week. There can be surprises, sudden changes of plans. This alignment  also governs unexpected and  love-at-first sight  relationships.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,” A fertile garden under the Full Moon.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

“magical night sky
aurora borealis
closest to heaven

gods light show
native to greenland
fairies and pixies”   Caren Krutsinger

“Aurora borealis paints a new vision.” Adrian Harrison

When I first started studying astrology, I wished that I could find a group of friends who would talk like astrologers do – the kind of talk I would hear at astrology conferences. For instance when astrologers were asked a question about an event in someone’s life, one of them would say, ” Well, Uranus was opposing her Mercury”  and the other astrologers would smile  knowingly and nod in agreement.

It wasn’t long before I did meet a group of astrologers and Tarot Card readers who would become fast friends. We spent time looking at our charts and the charts of politicians and prominent people throughout history. It was those  experiences that shifted the way I could think about the meaning of events and causality.

It seems it is no accident that the unspeakably beautiful aurora borealis occured last week – reintroducing us to the beauty, vastness and mystery of space. There is the potential this week- all week long – for the expansion of  consciousness and imagination.

The week starts off with the Sun making a favorable alignment with Jupiter and Saturn. This combination allows for the expansion of vision with practical grounding. Patience and a commitment to “hanging in there” is part of the process. Mercury sextiles Pluto giving depth to the thought process.

There can be shake-ups this week with the  strong Uranus influence.  On Wednesday retrograde Mercury will re-enter Scorpio and oppose Uranus. There can be surprising events and  sudden realizations that can shift old thought patterns.

Juno, the asteroid of commitment is squaring the Lunar Nodes and  is trining the North Node. This offers a good time to revisit commitments- of all kinds – to see  if they would benefit from some kind of adjustment.

Venus is trining the North Node and  moving up to a trine to Neptune – a very good time for imagination, artistic endeavors and increased compassion and forgiveness.

The Uranus influence  this week is a good time for breakthroughs that can  transform old fears.

The New Moon in Scorpio is on the 20th with the Sun conjunct Mercury and Uranus sextile Neptune. Time to plant seeds of new and inspired visions.

The Sun is also moving up to an opposition to Uranus while trining Neptune. Revelations and breakthroughs may come through sudden and surprising events.

The Sun will be sextiling Pluto – This is a good influence for self empowerment and for calling back power from wherever it doesn’t belong.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is, “A quiet path through the woods brilliant in autumn colors.”

Sabian symbols from Lynda Hill

 

 

“There’s a crack in everything.
That’s how the light gets in.” Leonard Cohen

“Footfalls echo in the memory
Down the passage we did not take
Towards the door we never opened
Into the rose garden.” TS Eliot

Jupiter stations retrograde today  at 25 degrees of Cancer joining the array of of other retrograde planets – Saturn, Neptune,  Uranus and Mercury.

The sign of Cancer rules home, childhood, places of comfort and belonging and our roots. Jupiter stations retrograde trining  retrograde Satun. The retrograde transits speaks of a time of an inner journey – revisiting this area of the past, childhood, the place  of belonging  in order to go forward with increased clarity and understanding.

Pleasure comes under Jupiter’s perview and considering  or reconsidering what brings pleasure and happiness into your life is indicated as well as how you nurture and care for your  physical well being.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A harvest moon illuminates the sky.”

Sabian symbols from Lynda Hill

 

 

 

 

” A wise old owl  lived 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 bird?” Edward Hersey Richards

“An adventure Gandolf says, is a ‘there and back again’ affair. A quest is a calling – never one’s own desire. No guarantees.” Ralph C. Westminister

Mercury stations retrograde on the 9th of November at 2:01 PM EST. The retrograde period will run through November 29 and will start in Sagittarius and end in Scorpi0.

Mercury will station conjunct Mars and widely opposing Uranus in an out-of sign alignment. Venus will also square Pluto at the time of the station. It is always a good idea to choose your words more carefully and double check the details during a retrograde period, but especially this month as there’s the tendency towards acting and speaking quickly and impulsively.

In general the retrograde period is a good time for reviewing your sense of adventure, your long term vision of your life and projects related to publishing and education.

It’s best to make sure all important information is secure and backed up as there could likely be more snafus with technology throughout the month. Mercury also rules travel and there can be disruptions in this area as well.

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

Sabian symbols from Lynda Hill