Amelia’s Blog

“Houses rise and fall, crumble, are extended,
Are removed, destroyed or in their place
Is an open field, a factory or a by pass
Old stone to new building, old timber to new fires,
Old fires to ashes and ashes to the earth.” TS Eliot

“When Matisse was asked whether he believed in God, his response was, ‘Yes when I am working.’ Marion Woodman

“If you love your work, everyone benefits.”Whiteside & Egli

Saturn and Pluto made their exact conjunction Sunday and will be a strong influence throughout the week as both heavyweights will conjunct the Sun. These planets together signal change and transformational forces at work both in the world and in our personal lives.

Wherever this duo is transiting in your chart indicates the areas of life undergoing gradual change. For instance in the third house it would involve thinking patterns developed in the early childhood, in the tenth house life path and career, in the eleventh house, goals and aspirations and the community that supports them. The process of change is slow – over a number of years as Pluto, who always operates in the dark, undermines the structures of what has been to -over time-  affect  growth and renewal.

This week with the planets tightly in orb there may be restrictions or delays. It’s a good week to focus on work and tasks that need tending in a disciplined and responsible way while allowing creativity to be at the center.

Later in the week Venus and Mercury will both change signs and form an aspect to Uranus in Taurus. This will be a time for inventive and innovative thinking and when things can move things forward in a more dynamic, free spirited way.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”An unexpected thunderstorm.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each
I do not think they will sing for me.
I have seen them riding seaward on the waves
Combing the white hair of the waves blown back
When the wind blows the water white and black.” TS Eliot

“We cannot wait for great visions from great people for they are in short supply. It’s up to us to light our own small fires in the darkness.” Charles Handy

The Sabian symbols, a system which designates a symbol for each degree of the zodiac,  can be used in an oracular way. This weekend I picked one  randomly   as a forecast for this week with the Lunar Eclipse, Uranus station and very tight conjunction of Saturn and Pluto. The symbol embodying the energy of the week was,”The ocean covered with whitecaps.”

The idea behind the symbol is that at sea, storms can arise suddenly and stir the surface of the water into white caps. Very often things are much calmer when you dive below the surface.

It bodes well to provide extra downtime this week where a deeper level of calm can be reached. It’s wise to remember conditions on the surface are always changing.

The eclipse is on Friday at 20 degrees of Cancer at 2:21 PM EST. Lunar eclipses are a time when the unconscious mind has a more powerful influence over the conscious mind than is normally the case. There is also the possibility of more turbulent emotions with the Moon opposite Saturn and Pluto.  It’s wise to move through these kind of feelings- if they arise – with awareness and avoid getting stuck.

Uranus, the planet of the unexpected will station direct shortly after the Full Moon /Lunar Eclipse.  The influence of both Uranus stations and eclipses can be felt before the actual event as well as after. Uranus in the mix tends to indicate there can be sudden and surprising twists and turns of events. Nurturing the nervous system now and through the week will be beneficial.

Planetary stations can also represent the culmination of information of some kind. It’s wise to be open to any information like this that surfaces now.

This is not a good week to start things. It’s better to tie up loose ends and work towards the resolution of unresolved issues. Most of all it is best to keep your focus on your vision for your life. It also bodes well to envision a healthy, sustainable future for our small planet.

“If we cannot see the wholeness in the world then we cannot take actions which are consistent with the wholeness that exists.” David Bohm

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

 

 

“Oh, spare your heart
Everything put together
Sooner or later falls apart.” Paul Simon

“When I am as it were, completely myself, entirely alone, and of good cheer, it is on such occasions that my ideas flow best and most abundantly.Whence and how they come I know not; nor can I force them.” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

“Any powerful idea is absolutely fascinating and absolutely useless unless we choose to use it.” Richard Bach

It’s wise to note that Uranus is stationary in the sky now – preparing to station direct and there can be sudden and unexpected twists and turns of events.

The Sun aligns with the South Node early in the week. This placement can indicate an important time for moving away from a past identity which has outlived its time and is disempowering or holding you back.   The strong planetary lineup in Capricorn now which  includes  Saturn and Pluto, is indicative of the times of great change in which we are living. It is also an opportunity to take a good look at the outdated patterns and structures in your life, let them go and rise like the phoenix from the ashes. This kind of process is strongly supported this week – the willingness to let go can be followed by inventive ideas, guidance and intuition that opens doors to a new way of being.

Mercury  is activating the beneficent Jupiter/ Uranus trine  indicating it is wise to heed any innovative ideas or ways of approaching things.  Especially  things that herald a new start. Inspired information or breakthroughs in stuck or stagnant situations can emerge. It is also  a good week for information to emerge about how to bring more abundance into your life and how to expand your work and life path.

It is also wise to pay attention to people who are coming into your life now. There can be karmic connections. And there can be out-of-the-blue experiences that move things forward.

One of the Sabian Symbols for this time is,”An angel comes carrying a harp.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

 

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.” Robert Frost

“It is said that what you reap you sow. This is because whatever you emanate you will encounter. You alter your patterns of outer manifestation by altering your inner experience of self.” Martia Nelson

We are now in eclipse season with the first of two eclipses on the Cancer Capricorn axis. The Solar eclipse is Thursday  December 26 at 12:13 AM EST at 4 degrees of Capricorn. This eclipse indicates that old karmic patterns are ending.  It bodes well to let go of outgrown ways of being and acting and clear the way for more positive new directions. This will be supported energetically with the Sun and Moon conjunct Jupiter, the planet of expansion, abundance and hope.

The eclipse in general is about achievement and mastery. There is energetic support for innovation and inventive thinking now in pursuing your aspirations. It bodes well to be open.

It’s wise to to clarify intentions and aspirations at this threshold time of a new era. A good time too, to make friends with the unknown.

The eclipse is trine Uranus. This can indicate seeing yourself in a new or evolved way and can reveal what holds you back from moving in a direction of mastery.

Mercury is conjunct Pallas Athene in Sagittarius which helps broaden horizons and helps with strategy.

This eclipse joins the stellium of planets in Capricorn indicating  it’s wise to have pragmatics in order about how you’d like to proceed.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”Ten logs lie under an archway leading to darker woods.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

 

“Maud Gonne at Howth station waiting a train,
Pallas Athene in that straight back and arrogant head:
All the Olympians; a thing never known again…
A crowd will gather
And not know it walks the very street
Whereon a thing once walked that seemed a fiery cloud. ” William Butler Yeats

“To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.
To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight,
and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings,
and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.” Wendell Berry

The goddess Pallas Athene advocated for justice and fairness and  brought the knowledge of diplomacy to the gods and goddesses. She was known for her expertise in strategy and would work very hard to avoid war and conflict. But when all options had been exhausted and war became inevitable, she was invincible in battle.

.She was always depicted with an owl on her shoulder – as a reminder of what she could not see. And  this time of the Winter Solstice – which is exact at 11:20 PM EST on December 21 – marks a good time for intention setting for the year ahead as well as a time to honor the darkness of what is not yet known.

It is also a good time for ritual – especially involving fire – as we celebrate the return of the Light with many others who light  bonfires to commemorate this time of the return of the Sun’s life giving light and warmth.

The Winter Solstice marks the time of the Sun’s ingress into Capricorn. 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

 

 

 

“The winds of grace are always blowing; it is up for us to raise our sails.” Ramakrishna

‘A grail question is a question whose primary purpose is not to elicit data or information but to open up a situation to a new perspective. It can reveal the sacred in a situation or can bring to light creative possibilities that we otherwise might have missed seeing.” David Spangler

Jupiter continues his beneficent trine to Uranus this week indicating a good time to raise the level of awareness and be open to intuitive insights.  In an individual’s chart this alignment indicates an advanced type of consciousness. It is magnetic – and can provide unexpected options and solutions to dilemmas.  It is a good week to  expand and deepen perception about what you would like to be advocating for in your life and options for getting there. There can be surprising revelations along this path.

Mercury is making some challenging aspects this week. It’s best to delay important decisions for a few days.

Mars will be forming a favorable alignment to Pluto this week – it’s a good time to get active and watch for overwork/overdoing.

It’s wise to remember that we are heading towards the Winter Solstice on Saturday when the Sun enters Capricorn.  Throughout time cultures have celebrated the return of the light at this time – the  Sun’s life giving force which gives heat and light to our small planet.

It’s wise to keep those inner fires of inspiration burning bright this week.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”Natural steps to a lawn blooming with clover.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

 

“John Fowles remarked that his novel, The French Lieutenant’s Woman sprang from a single image he saw for ten seconds in a dream. A woman appeared, her face partially concealed by a scarf, standing at the end of a dock in a storm.” Robert Bly

“In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die:
Ever drifting down the stream
Lingering in the golden gleam
Life, what is it but a dream?” Lewis Carroll

Once when I was driving into Boston, I heard an interview  on the radio with the author of a recently published book about Lewis Carroll’s life . It was interesting because that particular day Neptune, the planet of dreams and illusions, was strong in the sky, and Lewis Carroll’s chart is strongly influenced by  this dreamy planet. This indicates a person quite familiar with the world of the imagination, of  dreams and of illusions.

Neptune has a very strong influence in the upcoming Full Moon also  which is  full Thursday at 19 degrees of Gemini at 0:12 AM EDT. Neptune will be making a challenging square aspect to the Moon  at this time.  Squares indicate the need to take action and the need to overcome something.

There can be a considerable amount of information that emerges at this time including new ideas. It’s best to wait a few days to see how tenable they are.

The Moon will also be inconjunct the Venus Saturn conjunction. Inconjuncts indicate the need for adjustment. It’s a good time to have strong boundaries and stick to the facts about any matters related to relationships and finances and to bolster self esteem if necessary. It’s a bit like sailing through the fog.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A cafeteria with an abundance of choices.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

“The closer we get to Spirit the less energy we need to effect change.” Alberto Villoldo

“The books we read should be chosen with great care, that they may be, as an Egyptian king wrote over the shelves in his library, “The medicines of the soul.” E. Paxton Hood

I was recently watching an interview with Paul Mc Cartney in which he was asked if he’d ever  had dreams about John Lennon. He replied that he had and often does and that they’re good dreams. He was then asked if he ever wrote music in his dreams and he also said yes – that was how his song “Yesterday”  was written.  He said he  had awakened one morning with a tune in his head. He played it on the keyboard near his bed (“it was a small apartment.”) He thought maybe it was a tune his father had played when he was young and he called around to his friends to see if they were familiar with it. Since no one knew of it, he claimed it as his own.

We are in the realm of dreams – of all kinds – now  as the Sun is squaring Neptune  and will be in influence through the upcoming week. It can be a time when there is more confusion and a tendency for more distraction but a very good time for daydreams and nighttime dreams. In general it s a good time for guidance from the higher realms as many spiritual traditions believe we are closer to the spiritual world when sleeping.

The Sun will be in a positive alignment with the asteroid Pallas Athene – indicating there’s help and strategy available for future aspirations. This can be accomplished by broadening your perspective and looking for new information as both are in Sagittarius – the sign of the Seeker. Busy Mercury will move into this sign this week too – Mercury is very good at gathering information.

Also this week Vesta – the asteroid of the Vestal Virgins who kept the sacred fires of ancient Rome alight – is in a beneficial trine with Venus in Capricorn. Vesta is in Taurus and this is associated with investing in things that make us feel safe and secure while keeping ethics high and keeping in mind the long term – as the sign of Capricorn is concerned with solid long term outcomes.

It’s wise at this time – given all the changes on the planet – to factor in the well being of the natural world with any investments.

The Moon waxes Full Thursday at 19 Gemini – more about that later -although Gemini too is about information and this week is likely to be one of unfolding information in both the private and public spheres. So it’s a good time to seek it.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”In a museum a large archaic volume reveals a traditional wisdom.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

“Dawn points, and another day
Prepares for heat and silence. Out at sea the dawn wind
Wrinkles and slides. I am here
Or there or elsewhere. In my beginning.” TS Eliot

“The more uncertain I have felt about myself, the more there has grown in me a feeling of kinship with all things.” Carl Jung

Jupiter leaves his year long stint in Sagittarius and enters the pragmatic sign of Capricorn on Monday.  In the sign of Sagittarius Jupiter has been about expanding horizons and vision – through travel, learning and philosophy.  In Capricorn it marks a time of pragmatically and patiently putting the foundation under any new  visions and moving forward one day at a time. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn – the taskmaster  and Father Time. Much can be accomplished  over the next year under this no-nonsense influence with solid  planning,  persistence and perseverance

Juno in Libra will be squaring the Lunar Nodes this week.  This can bring trouble into relationships – work , friendship, familial , romantic -due to the likelihood that old habitual, unproductive relationship dynamics will  be on the rise. Setting clear boundaries and adhering to them will be helpful as well as keeping an eye on anger management and appropriate assertiveness. Venus will be conjunct the South Node echoing these themes.

Mars will trine the North Node this week – indicating that fate or destiny maybe playing a stronger hand in relationships.  It bodes well to pay attention to who’s entering your life and who may be taking more of a back seat.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”Three stained glass windows in a gothic church, one damaged by war. ”

.

 

This is a brief excerpt from Harry Seltzer’s December forecast based on the recent New Moon chart.

“Uranus moves fast and opposite Mars, we move fast as well. The caution is to proceed with just that; extra slowness and attention to detail is recommended all through the month of December. The upside of all this Uranian emphasis, this “freedom from the known,” is that we can find new ways to think about familiar situations.”