Amelia’s Blog

“A person is alive when she is wholehearted, true to herself, true to her own inner forces and able to act freely according to the nature of the situation she is in.” Christopher Alexander

When I first looked at the astrology chart this morning,  it reminded me of a scene from the film The Accidental Tourist.  The scene is towards the end of the movie and the character played by William Hurt has suffered a flare up of lower back pain  which pretty much confines him to bed where he has been fed painkillers by his  ex-wife.

Lower back pain in holistic circles can be related to feeling unsupported emotionally and in the case of the character in the film, he was trying to return to a life that emotionally no longer worked for him and which he had outgrown.

In the last scene he pulls himself out of bed with great pain, gets dressed and picks up his suitcase to leave the hotel.  As he is struggling to walk down the street, he suddenly sees  what he needs  to do, leaves his bag behind and  starts limping rapidly in the new direction.

The reason this scene reminded me of the current astrology is that there definitely has been a need to leave baggage behind and through a shift in awareness, move more freely in an updated, authentic direction. In the film he says, “This woman has given me another choice to decide who I am.”

This is the prevailing astrological weather now.  It is related to Saturn conjunct the South Node (this is starting to separate now) and a difficult aspect of Mars to Chiron last week  (which is waning.)  With this duo, there has been a  tendency to get drawn back into a familiar place of dis- empowerment related to the past.

But now with  Juno- the asteroid of commitment- conjunct the North Node, there is the  opportunity to commit to the path forward  in a way which leads in a more clear and  positive direction.

The North Node is in Cancer so more healthy directions related to self care – physically, mentally and spiritually  are on the front burner as well how we more appropriately  nurture and care for  others. The sign of Cancer is related to family issues and so new perspectives may be on the table there as well.

The astrologer Nadia Gilchrist suggested a combination of courage and empathy provide a good approach now.

One of the  Sabian symbols for this time is, ” The seed grows into knowledge and life.”

 

“In dreams begins responsibility.” William Butler Yeats

“Soul is what connects to you to everyone and everything else. It is the sum of all the choices you make. it is where your beliefs and values reside. Soul is at the center of our relationships to others and for me it is the center of the business enterprise. They don’t tell you this in business school.” Tom Chappell

This week the Sun moves into the mercurial sign of Gemini on Tuesday. Some astrologers call this sign the butterfly of the zodiac. Gemini is a lively, changeable sign that can move from thought to thought quickly as a butterfly goes from flower to flower. The symbol of this sometimes illusive and unpredictable sign is the Twins due to its dualistic nature. The sign of Gemini can often see two sides of a situation clearly without weighing in opinion-wise. It is a mental sign and like the mercury found in old thermometers, it has a glittering but sometimes scattered nature. The sign of Gemini can bestow a fluidity with the use of language and imagery akin to a magician who can make illusion seem like reality. There is a theory that people who excel in the realm of advertising are reincarnated magicians for this reason.

Mercury in mythology often traveled in disguise.

The shadow side of this sign is related to evasiveness, lack of commitment, overthinking  and being un-grounded.

The Sun and Mercury have been  traveling together in the sign of Taurus and will this week both ingress into the sign of Gemini. This bodes well for communication, traveling and exploring new ideas. It ends a lively mental landscape.

Saturn, the Lord of Karma and Taskmaster, is exactly conjunct the South node now for the first of three times this year. This brings forward the voices of the ancestors and whether the talents that have  descended down  through the ancestral lines are being used or squandered.

One of the gifts of astrology is that when looking at the charts of people in previous generations of a family, you can see these inherited  gifts and challenges. Often the most challenging issues in life can be related to the karmic inheritance.  The ancestors often  lived in times or places which prevented the evolution of their life work or aspirations and that work is left to the generations that follow.

With a strong Neptune in the charts through time you can see strong  gifts of creativity which  could be expressed in artistic pursuits  but often come with challenges of addiction. With a strong Uranus in the family lines, there can be strong willed , “know it all” natures and a desire to live an unconventional life with a lot of freedom which has its own set of rough landings along the way.

Saturn is conjunct the South Node now. Look to the house in your chart where Saturn is transiting  as this is where some of these issues may be making themselves known.  This duo is conjunct in Capricorn which is about how we structure our lives and work towards our aspirations. It  can bring up for review experiences from the past that have influenced our relationship to authority , the role fear and resistance play in our lives and the role of dogmatic beliefs. The opportunity of this is to clear away old debris that can keep us from fully living in the present and accessing our power in the present.

The Sabian symbol for the Sun and Mercury entering Gemini is, ” A nervous gentleman, dressed in an elaborate Santa Claus costume, is filling Christmas stockings secretly.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

 

“Perception is an ongoing interchange – a silent conversation I carry on with things. The act of perception is always open-ended and unfinished.” David Abram

“And all the obstacles along the way
Sometimes may feel so tremendous
There are guides and spirits all along the way
Who will befriend us.” Van Morrison

Perception is very much on the front burner over the next few weeks as Mars enters Cancer and aligns with several outer planets. As the astrologer and investigative reporter Eric Francis noted, these aspects signify the potential for ,”a blending of two levels of awareness.” This indicates that things that have been difficult to see or feel may become more accessible over the next few weeks.  It’s a good time to heighten awareness for breakthroughs.

The Moon waxes full Saturday at 27 degrees of Scorpio.The Taurus/Scorpio axis is about what we hold on to – in terms of beliefs, feelings and possessions and what we need to let go of in order to evolve. This Full Moon provides good timing to look at what you are hanging onto that is outgrown and may be blocking forward evolution. One of the symbols for the sign of Scorpio is the phoenix rising from the ashes – signifying the powers of regeneration and rebirth.

The Sabian symbol for this Full Moon is,”The king of the fairies approaching his domain.”

Sabian symbols 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,
if you provide birds that eat insects a home and winter food,
if the sun shines and you pick off caterpillars,
if the praying mantis comes and the ladybugs and the bees,
then the plants flourish, but at their own internal clock.” Marge Piercy, The Seven of Pentacles

The Sun in Taurus moves up to a trine with Pluto in Capricorn making this is a very good week for creating and implementing pragmatic plans for your journey forward. Look to resources  you don’t normally consider – inner or outer – that you may have developed as the result of previous endings or transformations in your life.  Venus moves into the earth sign of Taurus this week as Mars moves into the sign of Cancer. This brings the quality of nurturing into the picture – as a gardener cares for her plants to help them thrive.

The Moon waxes full in Scorpio on Saturday as Venus aligns with Uranus. This can indicate abrupt endings or realizations that can bring sudden clarity to a situation. This is the aspect of love- at -first- sight. It’s wise to heighten awareness for experiences of synchronicity and where they might be leading you. If you have questions about the meaning of an event like this or if there is a mysterious dream you have had that would like to shed light on, a Tarot Card reading can often be a good tool for this landscape.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is, “A bridge being built across a high,narrow gorge.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

“What shape waits in the seed of you to grow and spread its branches against a future sky? ” David Whyte

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Peter Drucker

Today and for the next few days Mercury in Taurus will be meeting up with Uranus, the futuristic planet of innovation and sudden knowing. Uranus governs inventions that are ahead of their time and often out of reach of the legal system, like the internet. It also governs lightning and can bring sudden flashes of intuition or inner knowing that clear the tension of the mental landscape.

Uranus can speed things us and when teamed up with Mercury, words can have unintentional consequences and there is a strong tendency to speak first and think about it later. So it’s wise to heighten awareness around how you communicate for the next few days.

Nerves can be more on edge as well.

Uranus is strong in the sky as a general ongoing influence in our time bringing with it the tendency to think about the future. It’s wise to take extra downtime with this influence, to nurture the nervous system and to envision a healthy future for you and for the life of the planet going forward .

Venus is making an beneficial trine to  Jupiter bringing more of a sense of abundance, pleasure and enjoyment into the picture.

All of this takes place with the backdrop of Venus forming a challenging aspect to the South Node, Pluto and Saturn conjunction. This aspect indicates that old fears or concerns about security and stability or issues having to do with a scarcity of love and money may be on the table. In the Tarot deck this is akin to the Five of Pentacles which shows two despondent  people walking in the darkness near a church with a stained glass window which is illuminating the night. They look hopeless. The idea behind the card is that what they need to do is look up at the stained glass window – bringing light and illumination  to the problems they are facing. This is a good perspective to take on old – sometimes ancestral issues- if they arise now. It’s wise to keep a balanced perspective on anything like that and be open to innovative thinking that can break up old patterns from the past.

And do take time to tap into the pleasure and beauty around you. I was reading something recently and it said,”don’t miss the beauty of the present moment.”

“I look into the world
In which the sun is shining
In which the stars are sparkling
Where stones in stillness lie
Where living plants are growing
Where animals live in feeling
Where humans within their soul
Give dwelling to the spirit.” Rudolph Steiner

Saturday’s New Moon in Taurus forms a harmonious aspect to both Saturn and Pluto , making this a time to reaffirm or commit to your values – what it  is that is important to you now on a deep level . We live in a time of great change here on planet earth and often people remark that they are passionate about things or doing things they could not have anticipated  before – in order to contribute their energy to creating a better world.

This has to do with a shift in values.

Taurus , being an earthy sign, governs, among other things, gardening and agriculture. At one time I lived on a farm and a couple came to live with us who traded their farm chores for room and board. When we sat down for dinner at night they would say a simple grace, “Let us think to the origins of our food,” which would  then be followed by a moment of silence. This simple grace was a way for us to become more aware and more grateful for our connection to the earth – to the sun, and rain and plants and animals and all the earth provides to make life possible.

This New Moon is about our commitments to what sustains us. It’s wise to rethink daily routines and see if they can be moved in a more healthy direction with diet, exercise and quiet time and set intentions at the New Moon. Factor in your determination to follow through and persevere.

It’s also a good time to spend time in nature – to take a trip to a place in a park or garden or forest that is special to you.

 

“Your words and actions are magical- they create waves of energy that travel out into the world and nature.” David Spangler

“The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
Where the two worlds touch
Don’t go back to sleep.” Rumi

The Moon waxes new Saturday at 14 degrees of Taurus at 6:46 Pm EDT. The Taurus New Moon provides excellent timing for new initiatives and for  the renewal of  energy  and vision for financial and material matters.

It is a time for the enjoyment of the sensual side of life and to grow in persistence and perseverance. The downside of Taurus is obstinacy or unwillingness to budge from a rigid position.

Other aspects indicate it’s not wise to hang onto things too tightly that are no longer working. Better to create a new, more vibrant and renewed vision for your life.

Pallas the asteroid  goddess of diplomacy and planning is strong in the sky at this time and can be helpful with strategic thinking in creating long term plans.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A woman airing an old bag through a sunny window to give it air and sunshine.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

“Be like the fox who makes more tracks than necessary, some in wrong directions. Practice resurrection.” Wendell Berry

Last week Pluto stationed retrograde and this week Saturn will. When Saturn is stationary in the sky as it is now, things can feel more serious and sometimes burdensome.

This duo in conjunction with the South Node  is a caution about clinging to things that no longer work. This includes things like jobs or financial strategies as well outgrown patterns of thinking and feeling.

Pluto will travel retrograde through early October making this a good time frame for considering how to restructure your life in a way that feels more up to date, effective and in line with your soul’s purpose.

Mars continues to aspect Neptune this week and it bodes well to focus on what makes you feel empowered. Do keep in mind a positive view of the future.

Mercury makes a positive aspect to Mars this week indicating a good time for concentration and for working independently. It’s wise to keep doubt and self criticism at bay and focus on what needs to be done.

Do be aware that with Uranus in Taurus there can be a shift in what you value in your life  – in terms of work,  finances and relationships.

There is a powerful New Moon on Saturday at 14 degrees of Taurus.  There is wind at your back for setting new intentions related to work, home and finances with at this time. Do take advantage of it.

One of the Sabian symbols for the Saturn station is,”A hidden choir singing during a religious service.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Uranus’ transit of Taurus is redefining security, resources and values by abruptly shaking what’s been set and stagnant.” Nadia Gilchrist

“So as I learned from my journalism teacher and as I now teach others detachment is essential to accomplishing an accurate evaluation.” Carolyn Myss

“There are no problems, only solutions.” John Lennon

Uranus, the futuristic planet of innovation recently entered the sign of Taurus. This earthy sign governs values (what we own)  and what we value – materially, emotionally and spiritually. Depending on which house in your chart Uranus is transiting for the next seven years, there is likely to be a shift or change in what you value in that area. Uranus is also the planet of detachment. It is wise in these rapidly changing times, to stand back when things get heated and reevaluate them from a different perspective.

The powerful transformative alignment of Pluto, Saturn and the South Node is calling for restructuring. We can see this influence in the disruptions to established structures in the outside world and it also has an influence on the inner life. It is wise to focus on what no longer works and creating a system that functions more effectively and appropriately for your current circumstances.

The Sun has been traveling with Uranus – do be open to innovative ideas and new directions for your life that open up a freer path.

Venus enters the sign Aries this week. Aries is the go- getter sign of the zodiac, likes to start things and has courage and drive to accomplish them. This week Venus conjuncts Chiron in Aries which can bring us in touch with longstanding or inherited  wounds  related to self esteem, finances and love. If this occurs it’s wise to take a detached view of the situation in order to see more clearly what needs to be done to move in a new direction. Sometimes it is a matter of a shift in perspective. There is a lot of courage available now for this kind of process with this duo.

Illumination, Breakthroughs and wake up calls are on the table now!

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

“It later became clear to me that no matter what we do in science or any other area, it will not help if we don’t find a way to be related to each other on a deep level.” David Bohm

“I like it better here where I can sit just quietly and smell the flowers.” Ferdinand the Bull

This weekend I attended a workshop led by Lynn Bell who teaches at the Centre for Psychological Astrology in London.  The workshop was about the Pluto/Saturn conjunction and the cycles of these two planetary power houses throughout history. In the course of her lecture Lynn Bell spoke about JK  Rowling’s chart and the publication of her first book about Harry Potter. When originally she was writing the story, JK Rowling heard a voice tell her that if she could manage to get the book published it would be very successful. She was rejected by publisher after publisher but persevered until she  finally found the one who would put her book out into the public and lead to its wide recognition and success.

Monday and Tuesday are a good time to heighten awareness to receive  intuitive messages with Mercury semi-sextile Uranus in Taurus. Do be open to messages related to the higher visions in your life – information which can point the way forward in a way you may not have anticipated.

Mercury enters the sign of Aries on Tuesday. This sign is associated with direct speech that can  at times be  unaware of its influence on others. It is wise to take extra care in communications now for this reason and also because we are entering into a Full Moon phase which is very much about relationships and the strains and stresses that can be encountered in that realm.

The Moon Waxes Full on Friday at the karmic degree – 29 degrees of Libra. The Moon will be making a challenging aspect to Venus -almost at that degree- at 28 degrees of Pisces which can make this a testy time for relationships of all kinds – romantic, work, friendship etc. The Moon is opposing Uranus at this time as well indicating the likelihood of sudden endings or beginnings and separations as well as revelations or breakthroughs  about relationship issues. Hidden information can come out.

This theme is also emphasized by Mercury moving up to a conjunction with Chiron in Aries. Best to be open to the possibility of breakthroughs that enable your to move on more freely.

Saturday the Sun moves into Taurus the sign of the bull.

The Sabian symbol for the Sun’s entrance into Taurus is,”An electrcal storm illuminates the heavens and the forests.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill