Amelia’s Blog

“Life is simple and gay
The bright sun rings with a quiet sound
The sound of the bells has quieted down
The morning light hits it all
The footlights of my head are finally lit again
And the room I live in is finally bright.” Pierre Reverdy

“Let the sunshine
Let the sunshine
Let the sun shine in.” from  the musical Hair

The Moon waxes new on Tuesday August 18 at 10:41 PM EDT.  The Sun and Moon in the fiery sign of Leo bring hope, clarity, courage and support for new and creative ideas.

There is a joyousness contained in this sign which is illustrated on the Sun card in the Tarot Card deck. In this painting there is a young child riding bareback on a white horse. The child, symbolizing innocence and trust in the universe,  is smiling radiantly as they ride away from a wall. The wall represents the obstacles which had prevented progress. Brilliant yellow sunflowers tower over the grey wall symbolizing happiness.

This New Moon is a time for planting seeds for future hopes and aspirations – there can be big and bold plans now which can be tempered later in the week as the Moon, Mercury and Sun move into the pragmatic, organized sign of Virgo.

This is an excellent time for rejuvenation and for restoring and strengthening your inner light. We are living through challenging times which have provided  opportunities for personal and spiritual growth along the way. This is a good time to acknowledge them.

As I was taught when studying the symbolism of the Tarot, the light of the Sun shines in and illuminates all the dark corners of the room – things we haven’t been aware of can become more visible now.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”Daybreak- the luminescence of dawn in the eastern sky.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Mars, Pluto and Eris in combination seems to be like a quest for embodiment: for the real thing, the necessary thing, the one that is actually expressive of human experience, need, and desire.” Eric Francis

“Mars describes the energy source in the human personality. It’s about desire, self-awareness, assertion, and the drive to conquer. It describes one’s desire nature as well. Mars can express itself in ways that are peaceful or violent, frustrated or flowing or somewhere between, though with Mars, there is always the urge to become.” Eric Francis

“Normally we don’t
So much look at things
as overlook them.” Alan Watts

There is some powerful astrology right now – much of which is encouraging us to grab the moment and move powerfully in the direction of our aspirations for the future. It is wise to have very clear intentions and fortify  them with determination and strong will forces.

In a certain sense it’s time to move on from the attitudes and plans that have not panned out.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is, “A carrier pigeon fulfilling its mission.”

Sabian symbols from Lynda Hill

“To be responsible means to be capable of giving a response. Those of us who write are responsible for the effect of our books. Like it or not, we either add to the darkness of indifference or we light a candle to see by.” Madeleine L’Engle

“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed.” Antoine de Saint Exupery

This week Mars in Aries makes a challenging aspect to the Jupiter/Pluto/Saturn conjunction in Capricorn. Pallas Athene, the asteroid of diplomacy and strategy is also involved. This indicates a good time to be very clear on what it is you would like to advocate for in your life amidst the many changes around us.

The Mars/ Pluto configuration  is often seen in the charts of professional athletes. It gives ambition, power and the will to succeed – with responsibility and discipline being key players.

These two planets add warrior- type energy to the mix and its wise to take into consideration the  right use of power in interactions.  Pluto and Mars together can result in self sabotage as the result of insisting one’s own agenda without the appropriate input of others.

It’s best to harness the energy and put it to work with needed projects. Considerable progress can be made.

Mercury will be aligning with Uranus indicating a “life comes at you fast” type of week. There can be surprising communications and information and  there can be revelations which break up stagnation and bring new perspectives.

Best to nourish the nervous system this week and provide extra downtime for the integration of information.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”The gate opens to the garden of all fulfilled desires.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“As part of an introspection, I find myself reviewing where I came from, how today is  a lot like living in the 1960’s, like the only way you could make it out of that time in one piece was to be bold, brave, find your tribe (family) in your expanded generational discovery of one another
and hold onto a sense that a new age was unfolding, and you and your circle of adventurists were co-creating this brave new world. Current events were dark, just as today, but our visions for a brighter future and a world of peace and beauty were strong, which is something we need today. Ray Merriman

“The end of a cycle is always the most challenging time. The beginning of a new cycle is usually awesome and inspirational, filled with new ideas and new leaders. “Ray Merriman

The end of the cycle that Ray Merriman was referencing will end  Dec 21 of this year when Jupiter and Saturn both enter the sign of Aquarius. This is general speaks of  ushering in a  time of increased inspiration, hope and much needed reform.

Monday’s Full Moon is at 11 degrees of Aquarius at 11:59 AM EDT. This is a good time to focus on personal authenticity and what needs to happen in your life to evolve more in that direction.

Venus is conjunct the North Node at this time bringing to light the importance of self love and love as a force in the world. I was driving past a general store in a country town here the other day and on the blackboard outside was written,”Spread Love.” A good message to keep in mind in these times of change.

There is a Mystic Rectangle formed by the Sun, Moon, Chiron and Jupiter at the Full Moon indicating an opportunity for new and wise perspectives to arise which can improve relationships and commitments.

It can be a nervy time and best to stay focused and open about an opportunities for new perspectives as the old models no longer apply. There can be increased irritability and impatience with Mars in Aries (this transit will last through December ) and it’s wise to factor that in now.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”An old sea captain rocking on the porch of his cottage.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“In my dreams
I can see
I can see
A world that could be.” Crosby, Stills & Nash

“We need our spiritual life intact every day.” Yeye Luisah Teish

This is a week  where the energies support creative and spiritual aspirations. It is a good time for the expansion of dreams and visions of the future. The only caveat is to be committed to building a strong foundation for them and leaving the ones behind that have led to or likely will end in disillusionment.

This somewhat ethereal time comes as Jupiter sextiles Neptune and Venus squares it.

Mars is squaring Mercury indicating a more critical time in thinking and speech. Best to avoid impulsive behavior and speech. A good use of this energy is to harness the energy for projects that need to be moved forward.

Disillusionment can easily be on the front burner this week – also a good time to process it.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A materializing medium giving a seance.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

There is a lot of fiery energy in the sky now with the Sun in  Leo and Mars, Chiron and the asteroid Lillith are all in Aries.

Mercury is making a challenging aspect to  Mars now  through August 1. It’s best under this influence to avoid impulsive action and go for the long game. It can be a frustrating time when nerves can be frayed,  tempers can be short and patience  in short supply.

Mercury is in Cancer now and continues to make a challenging aspect to Chiron. This can bring up issues related to family, ancestry and the past in general.

Mercury continues to make a favorable aspect to Uranus indicating that there can be breakthroughs in awareness. Uranus’s magical touch indicates it’s a good time to heed innovative ideas and solutions.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is ,”Brightly clad nature spirits dancing in the warm dying light.”

“Genuinely loving people are, by definition, growing people.” M Scott Peck

The Moon waxes new on Monday July 20 an 1:33 PM EDT at 28 degrees of Cancer. This provides a good time to set intentions about the direction you’d like your life to take. Best to be pragmatic and envision a strong foundation for any future endeavor. Be creative  in your approach. Look at what habits, beliefs and attitudes need to shift in order to make room for new growth in your life.

The Sun and Moon are opposite Saturn indicating the stern taskmaster is about. And Saturn, as Caroline Casey has written, “lays the tracks for the Reality train to follow.”

The Sun will move into the sign of Leo next week, providing a lighter atmosphere.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is, “A Greek muse weighing newborn twins in golden scales. ”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Humanity is at an important crossroad. The most important thing you can do is hold the light.” Great Grandmother Mary Lyons

Mercury is slowing down in preparation to end the retrograde period and station direct  Sunday, July 12 at 4:26 am EDT at 5 degrees of Cancer.  It’s wise now through the middle of next week to heed any thoughts or intuitions that surface that represent the culmination of information.

Mercury will station direct making a challenging aspect to Mars in Aries. This signifies a good time to start a new project that requires focus, commitment and determination. The energy will be supported throughout the Fall with an energized Mars in Aries making aspects to Saturn, Pluto and Jupiter.

The Mercury Mars alignment can make communications more testy and contribute to a more irritable time. So it’s wise to direct the energy to a good purpose.

Chiron is conjunct Mars at this time indicating a good time to look at how you implement your power to move forward with your aspirations and to see whether improvements can be made in that area.

I was recently listening to a lecture by Michael Mead about the global pandemic. His belief is that it is very much akin to a ritual of initiation – with the initial stage involving the walking away from routine life  as we know it, followed by time spent alone while facing challenges to one’s courage,  and the final stage, the return to life transformed on a deeper level. One of the questions he asked about this time was,””What is trying to be born through us?”

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”Two fairies (nature spirits) dancing on a moonlit night.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“To change something build a new model that makes the old model obsolete.” Buckminster Fuller 

“A vision carries the personal responsibility to carry out its directive.”Marie Baptiste 

The Lunar Eclipse this week is Sunday July 5 at 13 degrees of Capricorn in the wee hours at 12:44 AM EDT.  At the time of the eclipse Mars in Aries will be conjunct Chiron, the asteroid of the Wounded Healer. This can be a weakening aspect and can challenge courage and vision. It is associated with fragmentation.  If needed it’s a good time to reaffirm and fortify aspirations and visions for the future. Keeping them simple is a good idea.

I read a good example of this in Ray Merriman’s column this week. Ray Merriman is an astrologer and  stock market analyst and when discussing current state of affairs in the US  put it this way,”Happy birthday America! It looks like (another) wild year ahead. Let’s also pray that it is a year of healing, greater understanding, and tolerance of one another and of our relations with the rest of the world.”

Mercury is squaring Mars now and opposing the Moon at the time of the eclipse.  Mars is the Warrior planet indicating communications may become more heated. It’s wise to use extra forethought and discernment when communicating with others this coming week. Mars in Aries is impatient and inclined to be impulsive and aggressive.

It’s wise to put aside some time around the eclipse to create a temenos – a sacred space – where you can put fear aside, shut off the news, the phone and social media and affirm or reaffirm your vision for the future – both your personal aspirations and your hopes for the world.

Approaching the week with equilibrium in mind will be a good strategy.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A white triangle is seen. It has wings.”

Sabian symbol from Linda Hill

“Here are the years that walk between, bearing
Away the fiddles and the flutes, restoring
One who walks between sleep and waking,
wearing
While light folded, sheathed about her, folded,
The new years walk, restoring
With a new verse the ancient rhyme. Redeem
This time. Redeem
The unread vision in the higher dream
While jeweled unicorns draw by the gilded hearse.” TS Eliot

“If faith puts us on the road, hope keeps us there.” William Sloane Coffin

It’s another very busy week in the starry heavens.

Mars the planet of action, courage and desire just entered his home sign of Aries. The transit through  this sign will last through early January. The long stay in Aries is due to the Mars retrograde period from early September through mid January. A lot can be accomplished during this time.

The Pluto /Jupiter conjunction in Capricorn will be exact again on Tuesday.  This is the second of three conjunctions – the first in April this year, the second on June 30 and the third, November 12. Under this influence it is possible to understand things in our lives that underlie our thinking but we previously were unaware of. It can deepen thinking and provide a broader perspective about inner and outer issues.

Pluto represents the  natural cycles of life,  death, rebirth and regeneration. Jupiter is associated with religious or spiritual systems and the kind of wisdom and guidance with which they can inspire and guide life. Mercury  is retrograde  now providing a good time for review this area and to look for what is being born or reborn in the midst of these rapidly changing times.

It’s a good time for spiritual growth and renewal. It’s also a good time for catharsis – and letting go of old emotional patterns that no longer work from a spiritual perspective.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,” A woman reading tea  leaves.”