Amelia’s Blog

“The goal of alchemy is to transmute whatever is heavy and leaden into something light, alive and liberating, which is why its practitioners referred to it as the ‘redemption of matter.’ Sharon Seivert

“Alchemy is one way of imagining the release of spirit from the thick of matter.” Thomas Moore

There are many significant celestial bodies in the sign of Capricorn now including Saturn and Pluto which are moving up to an exact conjunction in 2020.  This planetary pair is associated with the breakdown of old structures and it is similar to the naturally occuring breakdown phase described by the alchemists. The alchemists knew that the breakdown phase was a necessary part of any cycle and like the autumn, contained the seeds of new life for the spring.

Vesta – the asteroid which governs what we are invested in – including beliefs- is now in Capricorn squaring Venus is Libra. This is a good time to look at beliefs and assumptions you are invested in. Perhaps they have supported your evolution up to this point but are in need of updating.

Perhaps they have become unnecessarily rigid and are unintentionally limiting options for the future. Perhaps things which were burdensome can now become less so. It is also a good time to look at the amount of responsibility you carry – and whether it needs to be adjusted or tweaked. Life can require so much persistence and perseverance and with these planetary influences it bodes well to pause and revisit the assumptions you carry on your way.

With Venus involved it bodes well to look at issues of self esteem, self worth and what represents joy, happiness and abundance to you. This things can change and evolve over time.

The Full Moon today – Friday  11/22 is in Gemini – is a lighthearted sign and known for its curious nature. Isabelle Hickey says this sign is represented by,”the light changeable breezes of early summer.”

The Sabian symbol for Venus now is, “An airplane sails high in the bright clear sky.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“All journeys have a secret destination of which the traveler is unaware.” Martin Buber.

“Proceed from the dream outward.” Carl Jung

In astrological circles there is a saying that the Full Moon is in influence “three days coming and three days going” – in other words, three days before and after the event itself.

This month’s Full  Moon occurs at a time of significant planetary changes. The Moon waxes full Friday shortly after midnight following closely on the heels of the Sun moving into Sagittarius on Thanksgiving Day in the US – 11/22 and followed by Neptune stationing direct on Saturday the 24th.

The Full Moon is at 0 degrees of Gemini opposing the Sun conjunct Jupiter and forming a challenging aspect to Mars. This indicates that there is the opportunity to expand dreams and aspirations now. There may be a rush to make a sudden advance in that direction with Jupiter squaring Mars but it’s best to avoid an impulsive action on this front. Things can fizzle out without adequate forethought and planning now with Neptune’s influence. And Mercury is retrograde indicating not all the information is in.

Jupiter will be in Sagittarius for the next year or so and with it bringing increased optimism and vision. It bodes well for education and travel as Sagittarius rules both inner and outer journeys.

One of the Sabian symbols for this Full Moon is, “A glass bottomed boat reveals undersea wonders.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill.

“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” Alice in Wonderland 

“Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly.
“I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone, “so I can’t take more.”
“You mean you can’t take less,” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.” Alice in Wonderland 

It’s another very busy week in the starry heavens as Thursday Mars will enter Pisces, Friday Venus will station direct after a roughly 6 week retrograde period and Mercury with station retrograde. The Mercury retrograde period will last through Dec 7.

Mercury will station retrograde at 13 degrees of Sagittarius in a challenging alignment with Neptune. This  calls for increased discernment with information. This Mercury/Neptune  duo has been with us often at significant moments since late 2016 and is a heads up about the need to pay  closer attention to information and communication which can be confusing and/or misleading.

Do be extra clear in communication as misunderstandings can more easily occur and the Trickster is about where technology is concerned. Do make sure all important files are backed up and don’t jump to assumptions when a text or email isn’t returned.Best to double check.

The Mercury retrograde period will end with a  Mars /Neptune conjunction indicating the mists of confusion will continue to be with us.

One time when Neptune was prominent in the sky I heard a radio interview about the life and writings of Lewis Carroll. He had Neptune and Mercury together in Capricorn. Mercury /Neptune aspects lean towards poetry and fiction and provide a great time for creative work and spiritual growth.

At the time of planetary stations it is always wise to be aware of information which represents a culmination of information. This week and into early next week provides good timing for that. With the Mercury station at 13 degrees of Sag look for information about what you are learning  and your ideas about broadening your opportunities for the future. With the Venus station look to matters of self love, relationship and creating abundance and pleasure in your life.

One of the Sabian symbols for this retrograde period is, “Children in Halloween costumes indulging in various pranks.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Somebody placed the shuttle in your hand.. somebody who had already arranged the threads.” Dag Hammarskjold

The starry heavens are a busy place this week. On Tuesday, Uranus the planet of sudden change retrogrades back into Aries – the Mars ruled sign of energy and drive. Uranus will be at the 29th degree – often called the “fated degree “in astrology. This degree (in any sign) can represents a time of culmination or fruition but also a time of uncertainty if loose ends linger.

Uranus is the planet of the rebel and the innovator and gives a wake up call about taking charge of one’s own destiny.  There can be sudden revelations and realizations that come under this influence.

Uranus transits can be taxing on the nervous system so it bodes well to provide extra downtime to rest, rejuvenate and access intuition to discern the meaning of events.

Uranus will  travel  retrograde in Aries until March of 2019.

Jupiter will enter his home sign of Sagittarius on Thursday.

The New Moon is Wednesday  this week with the Sun and Moon together at 15 degrees of Scorpio. The New Moon makes harmonious alignments to Neptune, the planet of dreams and visions  and Pluto, the planet of transcendence , providing an excellent time for creativity, intuition, spiritual growth and intention setting.

One of the Sabian symbols for the New Moon is, “A silvery moon shining across a beautiful gem of  a lake.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“What is not brought to consciousness comes to us as fate.” Carl Jung

“Karma is a complex dynamic involving the molding of the past, present and future. We should never reduce it to a simplistic concept of reward and punishment. Karma is the law of action, of change. We can create and are creating ourselves at every moment. Our power is in the present.” Diane Mariechild

Venus retrograde is now at the 29th degree of Libra. The 29th degree is considered “the fated degree” in astrology. The Lunar Nodes of destiny and life path are squaring Venus now. It bodes well to heighten awareness for any information that brings more clarity about relationships and particularly, formative relationship patterns of the past and how they affect relationships in the present. These aspects speak to karmic relationship patterns or those that have evolved down through ancestral lines.

It is a choice point of sorts and and  a new or deeper understanding of the formative effects of past relationships  can have a freeing effect  in the present and result in more empowered decisions going forward.

Juno, the asteroid of commitment is opposite Mercury and  Jupiter. It is a good time to review the nature of commitments you have now- commitments of all kinds- and  to think about what kind of commitments you would like to make moving forward. Jupiter and Mercury together can bring a sense of expansion and optimism to this area of life.

One of the Sabian symbols for Venus now is,”A person alone in deep gloom. Unnoticed, angels are coming to his aid.”

“Thinking is the talking of the soul with itself. All thoughts begin in wonder.” Plato

“To love is not a state. It is a direction.” Simone Weil

Mercury moves up to a conjunction to Jupiter this week making it a very good time for expanding your thinking, for exploring, learning and travel. The favorable alignment occurs at 27 degrees of Scorpio adding the depth of perception and expansion to big picture thinking.

Mercury is also making a favorable aspect to retrograde Chiron in Pisces. This bodes well for revisiting and rethinking any healing endeavors. . Chiron is the asteroid that, with conscious awareness, can contribute to the healing of what is fragmented. It is a good time to look for what might have been overlooked or missing pieces to the puzzle. This is a metaphysical duo and with a number of planets in Scorpio,  it is a time of mystery – a  good time to pursue what is mysterious to you.

Venus the goddess of love and abundance is squaring the Lunar Nodes now. It’s a good time to think about self care going forward. It is a crossroad of sorts where new people enter your life and others can become more distant.  It’s a good time to consider the kinds of people and relationships you would like to be drawing into your life now.

Venus will oppose Uranus this week. There is considerable upheaval in the relationship between the Masculine and Feminine now (in both men and women)  which is calling for new models of relationship and more consciousness in relating. This aspect  is likely to heighten the atmosphere around these issues.

The Sabian symbol for Venus squaring the Nodes is, “A broken bottle and spilled perfume.”

Saian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Though my soul may set in darkness,
It will rise in perfect light.
I have loved the stars too fondly
To be fearful of the night.” Epitaph of Galileo

“Attraction is an organizing force of the universe.” Margaret Wheatley

The Sun moves out of Libra and into the sign of Scorpio Tuesday ushering in the dark time of year in the northern hemisphere in which the focus turns inward.

This week relationships are on the front burner. It’s a good time to look at  whether you are satisfied with your relationship dynamics and whether the balance of giving and receiving feels authentic and in line with your current evolutionary trajectory.

The Moon waxes full Wednesday at 1 degree of Taurus conjunct the planet of the unexpected, Uranus. The sign of Taurus governs values and what we value including things that represent material security. There may be surprising developments now related to  the house (area of life) this Full Moon is falling in your chart. Uranus is known as the Great Awakener.

Juno, the asteroid governing relationship commitments retrogrades back into the sign of Taurus this week. This is an echo of the Venus retrograde which will with us through Nov 16. It bodes well to review, revisit and reconsider what you value in relationship and what you would like to be creating in terms of a sense of security and wellbeing in your life. It’s a good time to review commitments of all kinds and see if updating or reprioritizing  is called for.

The Sun will move up to a conjunction with retrograde Venus this week – indicating there can be revelations about self respect, love, finances and security. Do consider any intuitions that surface in this area.

It is wise to remember we are living in times of great change, Providing extra downtime bodes well.

One of the Sabian symbols for the Sun’s ingress into Scorpio is, “A youth holding a candle in a devotional ritual gets a sense of the great ‘other world.'”

Sabian Symbol Lynda Hill

“As you know, any plain person you chance to meet can prove to be a powerful immortal in disguise come to test you.” Maxine Hong Kingston

“Women’s spirituality is wild and free, matured, earthy, relational, mystical, embodied, intuitive, sensuous, compassionate.” Joan Borysenko

I recently watched an interview with a Catholic nun working with Catholic Relief Services in the southwest US with the many refugee children held in detention centers without their parents.

The  reporter interviewing her kept asking her leading questions that could easily have resulted in her criticizing government policy or government officials. Instead, each time she was asked a question like that, she would  calmly say,”We came here to take care of each other.”

The Moon, which governs mothering and nurturing, waxes full the 24th of October at 1 degree of Taurus. The configuration at this time speaks of the re-emergence of the Divine Feminine and the considerable push back it is facing on the planet at this time. The Moon is conjunct Uranus opposing the Sun conjunct retrograde Venus – the Moon and Venus govern  aspects of the feminine in both men and women.

The Moon/Uranus in Taurus speaks very much of a break for freedom from limited emotional programming and beliefs of the past – beliefs that may have come down through ancestral or family lines, or through cultural or religious systems. It can be a time when you have sudden breakthroughs about emotional patterning that has kept you feeling trapped.

It bodes well to provide extra downtime and to nurture the nervous system heading into this time.

Teilhard de Chardin has written,” Evolution is an ascent towards consciousness” – a good thing to keep in mind at this Full Moon.

The Sabian symbol for this time is,” An electrical storm illuminates the heavens and the forests.”

“Here in the Northern Hemisphere, it is the season of letting go – a time when we make choices of how we will focus our power, how will we set a place at the table for change in our lives and welcome it.” Pat Lilies

Ceres, the goddess of the harvest, is strong at this time and is speaking of nourishment. It’s a good time to think about what you find nourishing in your own life as well as your interactions with others.

New Moons are a good time to take action on things that move your life in the direction of increased  inner wholeness and balance.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”After the storms of winter, a boat landing stands in need of reconstruction.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill