Amelia’s Blog

“Traveling at night
The headlights were bright
And we’d been up many an hour
And all through my brain
Came the refrain
of home
and its warming fires.

And home sings me of sweet things
My life there has its own wings
To fly over the mountains
Though I’m standing still.” Bonnie Raitt

“As adults we often have less confidence in, and are more judgmental about, our art. But when you let go of that, it’s so fun to simply make marks on paper.” Elizabeth Murray

Mercury, the Winged Messenger, continues his travels with Neptune, the planet of dreams, visions and the imagination throughout the week. This is a very creative duo.There are aspects to Mercury , Mars and Saturn that indicate its wise with creative projects to include the pragmatic side of things that need to be done – for instance planning, editing etc.

If you have children at home this is a great time for activities that involve expanding the imagination – reading fairy tales or myths , painting, singing and dancing for example.

Friday Venus will move out of Taurus into Gemini. The sign of Gemini likes a lot of space in relationships- this airy sign values objectivity and distance, unlike the water signs that like intimacy and closeness. Venus is about to enter the territory which will be part of the  upcoming Venus retrograde period which lasts from May 13 to June 25.

There will be two eclipses during the  Venus retrograde period indicating a significant time for reevaluating a number of things ;  our relationships, our means of communicating our feelings, our finances and our values in general. It is also a good time – being Venus – for reevaluating our relationship to compassion and altruism.

One of the Sabian symbols for the Venus retrograde is,”Three fledglings in a nest high up in a tree.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“To know how to wonder and question is the first step of the mind toward discovery.”Louis Pasteur

Mars- the planet of action and desire- is now newly in the sign of  Aquarius. This is a mental sign and can signal of a shift in consciousness.

Aquarius  is the sign of new discoveries. It is the sign which governs taking new approaches to solving problems.

Best to apply this kind of thinking now – to be open to new perceptions that shift the landscape going forward.

It’s also wise to keep strong personal boundaries as Neptune and Mercury travel together throughout the week.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A council of ancestors is called to guide a person.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Fresh activity is the only means of overcoming adversity.” Goethe

The New Moon is Tuesday  at 4 degrees of  Aries at 5:28 AM EDT. Aries  is the sign of new beginnings and this time presents a good time to start something you may have been putting off for awhile –  start a new book, start a new healthier diet, take a yoga class online. There is considerable energy at this time which bodes well for taking action on something new.  It bodes well to get and keep active.

The New Moon is conjunct Lillith and Chiron. the asteroid of the Wounded Healer. This combination can contribute to short tempers and irritability. It’s best to watch that any new intentions are made from a positive point of view rather than fear.

The Sun and Moon conjunct Chiron indicates a good time to grow in a direction of increased inner wholeness. Uranus makes a favorable aspect at this time – encouraging us to seek innovative solutions.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A square brightly lighted on one side.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Today I feel centered and time is a friend instead of an old enemy…We are one, the house and I and  I am happy to be alone – time to think, time to be.” May Sarton

“The way to an ecological way of life is to treat our houses as homes, our communities as homes and nature as home. It is the intimacy in each relationship that serves the welfare of the other; at root ecology is an erotic attitude of closeness, relatedness and care.” Thomas Moore

Once when I was teaching in a small nursery school in New Hampshire, I had a little girl in my class whose family had recently moved from the city to a large sprawling farmhouse on a dirt road out in the country

In class one day we were painting our homes and instead of painting her house- as many of the children did – she painted the sun and sky and green fields and trees. I helped her to write something she wanted to add on the side of the painting and it said,”Happy in the heart, Happy way down deep.” This was an expression of her newly found love for the woods and fields surrounding her home and the joy and the tranquility she felt there.

Mercury, the planet of thought and communication has now re-entered the sign of Pisces. This is one of the watery signs of the zodiac and it’s placement here signifies a good time for deepening our connection to the spiritual and creative side of our lives. It is a good time for being grateful. It’s also a good time to slow down and appreciate our surroundings which we might rush by in the busyness and distraction of  everyday life normally.

Saturn will be entering the sign of Aquarius this week and moving one step closer to its conjunction with Jupiter in this sign in December. This conjunction speaks of the opportunity to build a healthier, more sustainable future through cooperation and collaboration.

Now is a good time to envision it.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is, “A butterfly emerging from a chrysalis”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“I like dreams of the future better than the history of the past.” Thomas Jefferson

Saturn will end his foray through the sign of Capricorn Saturday 3/21 when this stern teacher enters the sign of Aquarius. Saturn is the planet which rules the structures of our world – the institutions, the government, the laws, the roads, bridges and tunnels that form our infrastructure. And wherever Saturn is transiting it exposes weaknesses or vulnerabilities.

Saturn’s move into the sign of Aquarius, the sign of innovation and futuristic thinking, will help us envision the ways that things need to be restructured or redesigned to build a stronger foundation for the future.  Cooperation and collaboration will go a long way in achieving goals.

Saturn will transit this sign for roughly two and a half years –  retrograding back into Capricorn from late May – late Sept.  During the retrograde time, it will bode well to revisit work and family commitments, long terms goals and the means and methods we employ to manifest our aspirations.

Venus has been conjunct Uranus recently and has been associated with a shake up or disruption around issues of security and stability. We are living in times of great change when an old way is dying and a new way is being born. It can present a good time to slow down and think about what provides a real sense of  abundance and security in your life – good health for example –  and how to move more in that direction if necessary.

Neptune’s transit through Pisces through 2026 is associated with confusion, illusion and misinformation. But it also is a reminder of the power of the mind and imagination-  as Buckminster Fuller wrote,”To change something, build a new model that makes the old model obsolete.”

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

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Revelation is as ancient as conscious humanity. All powerful initiators have perceived in one moment of their lives the radiance of central truth, but the light that they drew from it was refracted and colored according to their genius, their mission, their particular time and place.” Edouard Schure

“What is this face, less clear and clearer
The pulse in the arm less strong and stronger-
Given or lent? More distant than the stars and nearer than the eye.
Whispers and small laughter between leaves and hurrying feet
Under sleep where all the waters meet.” TS Eliot

Throughout time Mercury stations have been associated with a culmination of information. It’s wise within two or three days before and after the station to be aware of any information that surfaces that may evolve or bring  more wholeness to your understanding. The station will occur in late Aquarius – the sign of brother and sisterhood and a reminder that we inhabit a small planet and that we “are  all in this together” in terms of solving problems and creating innovative solutions for the future.

Most of the retrograde took place in the sign of Pisces which speaks of the spiritual side of evolution. It may be possible at this time to access information which can bring further resolution to emotional and spiritual questions. It’s a good time for meditation, journaling and creative work.

Mercury will station direct Monday at 11:49 PM EST. It’s better- if possible- to delay taking action on any new initiatives until later next week. Best to wait til all the information is in. And more may well surface given we are moving up to the Full Moon in Virgo, also on Monday.

Best to keep boundaries strong through next week, given the Pisces/Neptune influence which can lead to confusion, misinformation and unclear communication.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is, “A tree felled and sawed to ensure a supply of wood for the winter.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“When  love strikes and fires start to burn
And lonely years melt away and finally it’s your turn
And you say life is good, winter’s blowing cold
And love is forever and never will grow old.” Livingston Taylor

“Well, I’ll be damned
Here comes your ghost again
But that’s not unusual
It’s just that the moon is full
And you happened to call.” Joan Baez

Venus is moving up to a conjunction to the planet of the unexpected this week. Normally this alignment can presage a love -at -first- sight occurrence or the emergence of an unexpected or unconventional love affair. Given the aspect is occurring under the influence of the retrograde Mercury though,  it is more likely there could be a return of a lover from the past.

Neptune is moving up to the Sun indicating a spell -like atmosphere surrounding this. Something might beckon quite strongly one day and dissipate the next.  It is an illusory combination

Venus is squaring Saturn now indicating that it’s best to keep your feet on the ground if anything like this occurs. Saturn is the stern teacher and  it’s a wise to keep in mind what you had learned in the past.

These aspects in general are good for creativity and spiritual growth.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”In a huge tent a famous revivalist conducts his meeting with a spectacular performance.”

An Astrologer or Tarot Card reader should be a trusted ally on your life’s path.

“Today human evolution is at a turning point where an old paradigm and a challenging new awareness are uneasily trying to coexist. We are wedded to an outmoded view of the Universe and yet civilization is pregnant with a new, exciting and optimistic understanding of life.” Lipton & Bhaerman

” ‘It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.” Lewis Carroll

In the ancient writings about the legendary island, Atlantis there are descriptions about how this city- renowned for its innovation and scientific knowledge –  was designed. The Atlanteans were reputed to have very advanced knowledge of the power of thought and the use and direction of energy. One example of this was that large  chimes were strung above the city which,  when the winds came through, would cleanse and regenerate  the energy of the city.

Innovative and futuristic thinking is the realm of the sign Aquarius and Mercury will retrograde back into this sign this week bringing more clarity, direction and stability to the mental process. Venus will enter the sign of Taurus this week also. Venus in this sign is associated with the creation of stability and security. It is a sensual sign and enjoys comfort.  While transiting through the later degrees of this sign, Venus will make a favorable aspect to the Pluto/Saturn/Jupiter conjunction. This speaks of the birth of the new in the realm of the old structures that are facing significant challenges now.

Venus in Taurus is a lover of good food and good times and bodes well for gatherings with friends over the next month or so.

It’s a good week to get more grounded and to ascertain whether the power of your thought process can be used in a more positive and proactive way. With the retrograde Mercury it’s wise to retrace your steps and see if their are ways on your journey forward, you can better support your personal aspirations through innovative thinking. It’s also a good time to energetically support the work of the many people who are creating a more sustainable and healthy future for the planet.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”An ancient pottery bowl filled with fresh violets.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill