Amelia’s Blog

“There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands.” Richard Bach

“We cannot solve problems at the level on which they were created.” Albert Einstein

Today I was listening to a podcast in which a  neuroscientist discussed  his  personal and professional experiences with meditation and mystical awareness. He said his studies found there’s a certain group of people who sit down  for the first time and  listen to a how-to- meditate download and after trying it, realize that what they thought was the problem was not the problem.

What he meant  by this is that often when people encounter obstacles, they frame them in a certain way that may not be entirely accurate, making the solution harder to access. This is applies to both problems that occur in the present or ones that are long standing.

This kind of realization – that the problem is not the problem – comes from the expansion of consciousness- a broadening and deepening of the realm of thought and perception. This upcoming week as Mercury forms a dynamic aspect to Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto, this kind of experience is supported and it is a good time to expand your lens of perception.

Tarot and astrology readings can offer illuminating perceptions and solutions in this realm as well. It is surprising to me in my work doing readings how innovative solutions often arise from the symbols – altering the perception of the problem and redefining the journey forward.

One of the Sabian symbols for this transit is, “A child giving birds a drink at a fountain.”

 

“Magic happens when you don’t give up, even when you want to. The universe always falls in love with a stubborn heart.” J.M.  Storm

The Moon waxes new Thursday September 17 at 25 degrees of Virgo. This ushers in a Moon cycle which is mercurial in nature. It is a good time to get organized  and dynamic about plans and intentions for moving forward.

It is also a good time, if necessary, to make commitments to improve your health and adapt your daily routine to support your overall health and well being.

Mars continues  his retrograde trek in the fiery sign of Aries. This transit can sometimes result in frustration and delay. If delays occur  use the time to consider if beneficial adjustments or tweaks can be made. Strengthen your resolve if necessary.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A boy with a censer serves near the priest at the altar.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Under a sky the color of pea soup
she is looking at her work growing away there
actively, thickly like grapevines or pole beans
as things grow in the real world, slowly enough.
If you tend them properly,if you mulch, if you water..
then the plants flourish, but at their own internal clock.
Connections are made slowly, sometimes they grow underground.
You cannot always tell by looking what is happening.” Marge Piercy

“In earlier times and cultures there were two words for power, mana and taboo: the power which creates and the power which destroys; the power which is benign and the power which is malign. Odd that we have retained the word for dangerous power, taboo, and have lost the mana.” Madeleine L’Engel

Patience is key with the upcoming retrograde of Mars  which is this Wednesday September 9 at 6:22 PM EDT. The retrograde period will last through November 13. This is one of the most notable transits of the  year and is about the appropriate use of power. A lot can be accomplished under this influence as it can give drive, ambition and energy to clear sighted endeavors as long as you are willing to be patient. It’s wise to anticipate delays along the way.

It is a good time frame to look at how you implement your power to move towards your aspirations. Anger and irritation can be on the rise during this time period and it’s wise to keep your focus on what is within your control.

This week the Sun in earthy Virgo will be making a favorable alignment with Jupiter and Pluto. This influence bodes well for working on the pragmatic side of projects and on projects that require organizing. It’s also a good time for repairs and renovations.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”The music of the spheres.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

“Intuition connects us to the larger dance of creation and through the agency of synchronicity, keeps us all in touch with each other. Uranus is that electrical current we experience when, just as we are thinking of somebody, the phone rings and that very person is on the line, or when we are in need of a sign and open a book to a passage that provides just the guidance we seek.” Caroline W.Casey

“All spiritual growth requires walking the quiet path of patience.” Rilke

The Moon waxes full at 20 degrees of Pisces on Wednesday at 1:22 AM EDT. At this time the Moon will be making a  favorable alignment with Uranus – indicating a time when intuition is strong. The Moon will also be making a harmonious alignment with Jupiter – the planet of good luck, expansion and wisdom.

It’s a very good time to be open to intuitive guidance and innovative ways of thinking. It also is a time to appreciate and enjoy the good fortune in your life now. The aspects the Full Moon makes are what some people would call,”lucky stars.”

During the week Mercury will be aligning  harmoniously with Saturn and Pluto  providing a good time to see more deeply into areas in need of change and reformation in our lives- areas where old attitudes no longer work and are preventing growth.  It’s a good time to let go of old grievances.

Patience will be key this week  as Mars is slowing down to station retrograde and making challenging aspects to Saturn and Pluto. Mars will be retrograde September 9 through November 13. Mars is in Aries – his own sign – and when in forward motion speaks of action, desire, courage and movement. But when retrograde Mars can feel angry, impatient and frustrated. It’s wise to note that things may take more time, there may be more delays and things may become more heated under this influence.

The Mars retrograde is one of the most important transits of the year. Look to your chart to see where this is occurring and what this means for your life. Or call for a mini reading about it. I have discounted rates now for the Mars Retrograde Readings – $45 for half an hour, $75 an hour.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A table set for an evening meal.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

“Earth that gives to us this food,
Sun that makes it ripe and good,
Dearest Earth and dearest Sun,
We’ll not forget what you have done.”   Waldorf grace

“It’s a small planet, but so very beautiful.” The Green Devotional 

“Earth signs understand patience and strategy, and Virgo is a master analyst. Virgo savors the fulfillment of work completed, which is reached by shutting out the noise, and homing-in on practical achievement in the now.” Victoria Emory

Everyday,  at the end of the day I walk to a hill behind my house where there is a community garden. Two of the plots there are flower gardens – carefully and skillfully tended with brilliantly colorful nasturtiums, zinnias and snapdragons. It is a time at the end of the day that I get to share with butterflies, birds and a baby hawk learning to fly – whistling joyfully on his newly found wings  high up in the sky.

We are moving into a season governed by the Earth element as the Sun enters the sign of Virgo tomorrow  – joining Mercury – making this a particularly good time to visit and  appreciate special places in the natural world.

The Seven of Pentacles in Waite’s Tarot deck depicts a gardener, leaning on her hoe, looking down wistfully at a bush in her garden.  This image is a reminder of the natural cycles of time and that often we wish that things would happen more quickly than they do.

But Virgo is a mental sign that is good with planning and strategy and it wise to take this kind of patient approach now.

It also bodes now  to use and direct energy wisely  as Mars applies to a challenging aspect to Saturn. Mars is about action and Saturn is a planet of restriction. Best to avoid overwork and create a reasonable time line for reaching goals. Watch for impatience. Irritability also can be on the rise. This aspect will be in influence through mid October due to the retrograde period of Mars. And it will be in influence in mid December as Mars transits back in direct motion.

Mercury is moving into a harmonious aspect with Uranus – so watch for innovative and out of the box ideas and solutions. This influence  will prevail through the 29th.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A woman sprinkling long rows of flowers.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“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