Amelia’s Blog – Page 71

New Moon in Aquarius and Chinese New Year

“Redeem the time.Redeem
The unread vision in the higher dream
While jeweled unicorns draw by the gilded hearse.”
from Ash Wednesday by TS Eliot

The New Moon at 29 Aquarius falls on Ash Wednesday, February 18, the first day of Lent in the Christian/Catholic tradition and on the eve of Chinese New Year. Many Catholic bishops in East Asia have granted Asian Catholics a special dispensation from traditional Lenten fasting in order to celebrate the Chinese New Year. This special dispensation shows a willingness on the part of the Church to adapt in order to interface in a reasonable way where religious views and cultural differences appear to be at odds. We see this theme manifesting in many ways in our time as we struggle to find an appropriate and respectful balance between the two. The Sabian symbol associated with this time is, “A crowded marketplace,” a reminder that we live in an interconnected global community.

Over the next few weeks Mars and Venus will be traveling together in Aries – a good time for increased energy, assertiveness and courage. The New Moon is part of a cycle of beginnings and endings. It is a threshold time – good to clarify what is ending, what is new and what your aspirations are for moving forward.

Mercury Direct at 1 Degree of Aquarius

“If you have insight you use your inner eye, your inner ear, to pierce to the heart of things, and have no need of intellectual knowledge.” Chuang- Tsu

Mercury stationed direct on Wed 2/11 although it may not feel like it is out of its retrograde phase until it picks up speed next week. Always a time that is ripe for revelations through a process of review an revision, this Mercury retrograde period was no exception. The Sabian symbol associated with the 1 degree Aquarius station is, “An unexpected thunderstorm.” Lynda Hill, author of a book on the symbols writes, “Thunderstorms are powerhouses of energy and can often unleash incredible levels of tension and release. Thunderstorms often clear the air after an extreme buildup of energy.”

When re thinking the meaning of this retrograde period for you it is wise to heed ideas or intuitions which although perhaps unexpected or unanticipated- symbolize a similar trajectory – a build up of tension, then release followed by clarity and a sense of relief.

Amelia Shea specializes in issues of family, relationship and transition as well as life path and career.She can be reached at 603 654 1043, amelia.shea@comcast.net Her readings start at $30 and can be done by phone, email and in person. Chuang-Tsu quote from Divine Sparks by Karen Speerstra, Sabian symbols quotes from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom.

Tuesday’s Full Moon in Leo

“One is always surprised by awareness, for everything is always new.” Peter Balin

One of the interesting things about Tuesday’s Full Moon in Leo (6:09 PM EST) is that it falls halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox – one of the cross quarter days celebrated throughout time in many cultures.
Mercury is still retrograde until Feb 12 making this Full Moon not only a time of broad vision but also a time to review and rethink. Venus and Neptune are conjunct now in Pisces and one of the Sabian symbols associated with the conjunction is, “Illuminated by a shaft of light a large cross lies on rocks surrounded by sea and mists.” This symbol speaks of the need for the renewal of faith and trust after a disillusioning or challenging time – disillusionment that may have been caused by setting the bar unrealistically high, putting trust into untrustworthy people or as the result of misplaced priorities.
It is a good time to sort through information of this nature now and there is support from the universe to do so. Chiron is now at 13 degrees of Pisces and the symbol for that is,”In a quiet moment, a creative individual experiences the flow of inspiration.” Mercury recently passed over the 11th degree of Aquarius and will go over it again when direct. The symbol for this degrees is,”During a silent hour a person receives a new inspiration that may change their life.”

Amelia Shea specializes in issues of family, relationship and transition as well as life path and career.She can be reached at 603 654 1043, amelia.shea@comcast.net Her readings start at $30 and can be done by phone, email and in person. Balin quote from Flight of the Feathered Serpant, Sabian symbols quotes from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom.

Venus and Neptune in Pisces

Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.
Let me keep company, always, with those who say
“Look!” and laugh in astonishment, and bow their heads. Mary Oliver

The other day I was waiting in line at the health food store when the cashier asked the woman in front of me if she had her rewards card.

” I am sure I have it here somewhere – just wait a minute,” she said as she nervously dug deeper and deeper into the recesses of her bag.

After a moment the cashier said, “Wait, I think I have found your account in our records.”

She continued to struggle and then finally putting her hand on it said rather wistfully ,”Here it is. Isn’t it always the way- you have to surrender first – it’s that way with everything.”

Venus is conjunct Neptune in Pisces now and Neptune is the planet of surrender. It is also that planet which governs addiction. Very often what stands in the way of moving forward is the unconscious repetition of thought and behavior patterns which have been shown over time to be non productive. This is expressed clearly in the quote about addiction – continuing with a pattern that doesn’t work and expecting a different outcome.

As Venus transits in this area (through 2/5) it bodes well to make a list of what it not working in your life now and what customary thought and behavior patterns need to be surrendered to make room for new opportunities to appear.

These two planets in Pisces also concern faith, inspiration, redemption and surrendering to higher powers for a higher vision.

Venus Moves into Pisces

“We tend to over explain and over interpret which separates us from astonishment.” Eugene Ionesco

Venus recently moved into the otherworldly sign of Pisces – the sign of the mystic and the dreamer. Venus will transit through this sign through the 21st of February. This time frame bodes well for spiritual development, for creative projects and for creative to visualization.

Through the 4th Venus will be squaring Saturn. Under this aspect issues of scarcity can arise – related to self worth, self esteem and finances. In astrology squares are a challenge to overcome something so this time frame provides a challenge to improve your life in these areas.

Pisces is also the sign of illusion and during the Mercury retrograde period it is good to reevaluate dreams or endeavors that may have gone awry or evolved differently than they initially appeared. Best to postpone taking action on anything like this until after Mercury stations direct on Feb 12. Mercury Retrograde periods provide very good timing for growing in wisdom with the opportunity of starting anew when it stations direct.

It also bodes well to revisit dreams that have not yet come to fruition to consider whether revitalization – perhaps in a new form – is a worthy pursuit.

Thoughts on this Mercury Retrograde

“Perhaps synchronicities, like dreams and symptoms, are happening all the time and we simply don’t notice them until they reach a certain level of explicitness… Maybe they have to shout and wave flags, splash their perfume around, put on sequins and dance a hootchy- kootchy. In the Age of Information a lot competes for out attention.” Greg Levoy

The chart for Mercury’s station last Wednesday holds some very good aspects for synchronicity with Uranus sextile the Moon and Mercury.The aspects suggest that in addition to the wisdom available during this retrograde period – through rethinking and recharging – there can also be somewhat magical moments that occur quite unexpectedly. A component of this is good timing – but probably not the timing that you had planned.

It bodes well to be aware that The Trickster is about and that he may be pointing the way in surprising ways.

New Moon in Aquarius and Mercury Retrograde

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” Buckminster Fuller

Tuesday’s New Moon (8:14 am EST) is at 0 degrees of Aquarius. This is the last New Moon in a series that occur on the day the Sun changes signs- this time into Aquarius. Be innovative about your life’s direction now and look for open doors. It is best to set intentions which come from a place of evolving inner wholeness.
Mercury stations retrograde on Wed the 21st at 17 degrees of Aquarius. I was listening to a lecture by the astrologer Rick Levine who mentioned that the three largest internet outages in history all occurred on a day when Mercury was stationing. So not that it is necessarily going to happen this time but do make sure important info is backed up pronto. Mercury will station direct Feb 12.

Mars Squares Saturn

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

Mars is moving up to a square to Saturn – exact on Thursday the 15th and in influence through the 25th. This is a time which bodes well for work and a lot can be accomplished. Approach projects with moderation, avoid overwork and overdoing. Take breaks to allow for windows of creativity and inspiration. Mars is near Neptune now – best to bolster the immune system and provide plenty of down time.

With the final upcoming Uranus / Pluto square in March and a Solar Eclipse on the Vernal Equinox at 29 degrees of Pisces, this is a significant time and a time when there can be heightened tension. Moderation, spiritual development and regular restorative times will be very helpful.

Full Moon in Cancer

“People could see Artemis standing in the doorway…she helped people across thresholds.” Buffie Johnson

Throughout time rituals have been performed at powerful initiatory thresholds and this weekend’s Full Moon in Cancer is such a time. The Sun is conjunct Pluto opposite the Moon and squaring the Lunar Nodes and Uranus. It is an important karmic doorway – harness the powerful energies by defining clearly your intentions for where you are going and what is necessary to leave behind in order to make that happen.

Old emotional programming is highlighted here – any unproductive thought patterns which lead to self pity, blaming and lack of personal empowerment should left behind. Watch the amount of energy you waste fighting old battles. Saturn and Pallas Athena are together in the sky now and will assist with serious long terms commitments as long as there is the requisite commitment to patience and perseverance over time.

There are volatile energies about and conflict can arise suddenly. If this is the case for you, raise the vibratory level – focus on gratitude, stay out of self pity and avoid interpreting the present through an unproductive lens of the past.

It bodes well to practice moderation and focus on the future.

This Full Moon is about using the tools of higher consciousness to evolve your life in the direction of your karmic purpose. Chiron’s placement in Pisces indicates the need to integrate a higher level of consciousness in solving problems. On a global level it encourages us to take a “global community” approach – to move away from the use of violence and instead to consider the other myriad options and tools available.

Notes:
The Moon waxes full at 14 Cancer at 11:53 PM Sunday Jan 4 EST.
Venus and Mercury are conjunct in early Aquarius.

Amelia Shea specializes in issues of family, relationship and transition as well as life path and career.She can be reached at 603 654 1043, amelia.shea@comcast.net Her readings start at $30 and can be done by phone, email and in person. Quote from Buffy Johnson in her book Lady of the Beasts.

Saturn and Pallas Athene

“Pallas Athene symbolizes the principle of creative intelligence giving birth to thought forms.” Demetra George

Saturn recently entered Sagittarius and will transit through this sign for roughly the next two and a half years (with the exception of a brief foray back into Scorpio this Spring.) Saturn is also now conjunct the asteroid Pallas Athene through January 9.

It bodes well under the influences to look at the structure and form or your life now and entertain ideas and opportunities for the life you would like to have in the future. Take a creative approach, think optimistically and in terms of broad horizons.

If your creativity feels blocked you might ask yourself why. Pallas was a wise defender of justice and was a feminist. Often the value of creativity can be undermined or undervalued as the result of assumptions based on patriarchal thinking.