Amelia’s Blog

January’14 Astrology

“What makes a fire burn is
space between the logs,
a breathing space.
Too much of a good thing
Too many logs
Packed in too tight
Can douse the flames
Almost as surely
As a pail of water would.

So building fires
requires attention
to the spaces in between,
as much as to the wood.” Judy Brown

Once when I was in a time of significant transition a wise friend said to me, “Why don’t you stay home this winter and put logs on the fire?”

It is wise to provide times of reflection and retrospection especially in transformative times and the cycles of the planets in retrograde phase provide such opportunities. Venus is retrograde now in Capricorn through the end of January. Being able to see clearly what is of value to us on a deep level is important.

This transit provides excellent timing to review how we relate to others and how with our actions we impact upon the wellbeing of the planet and the interconnectedness of all life. Capricorn governs resources and it is wise to revisit how money is spent – does money spent or invested contribute to a cleaner, safer more equitable future?

As Meister Eckhart pointed out,” Relation is the essence of everything that is.”

It bodes well to contemplate how we provide for ourselves and how we love others and put plans in motion to make improvements if necessary. It is also a good time to review the structure of your life – whether it is set up to provide for personal growth and evolution or whether it is based on an old model which has outgrown its usefulness. If so consider how you would make improvements. Make a list and set plans in motion in early February.

Relationships can experience strain under the influences this month. Moving in a direction
of personal authenticity can bring conflict in long standing friendships and intimate relationships. It is wise to consider how to effect change in situations like this in a diplomatic and empowered way.

Some significant dates in January:

Mercury enters Aquarius on January 11 – This transit encourages us to see ourselves as
part of the larger world. Take a cooperative, collaborative approach. The challenges we face on the planet now are best approached through cooperation rather than competition. Practice how to hold on to your authenticity and integrity as you collaborate with others to find solutions. Allow more for innovation and out of the box thinking in your approaches.

The Full Moon is on January 15 at 25 degrees of Cancer. This Full Moon is a time when issues of scarcity can arise. It is best under the influences to consider and shed underlying beliefs that can cause a sense of disempowerment or victimization in areas of love, finances and resources. Very often feelings of scarcity are based on old programming and this Full Moon provides an opportunity to take another step away from the direction with growth in conscious awareness.

The Sun enters Aquarius on the 19th. One of the Chandra symbols for this placement is,” A woman strolling in a garden. She is unaware she is being watched by elves. ”

The New Moon is at 10 degrees of Aquarius. This is the second New Moon this month – very much a month for envisioning new beginnings and initiatives. Be open to progress through cooperation and collaboration.

On the 31st Venus stations direct – a good time to put intentions into motion with concrete steps. Mercury enters Pisces on this day also – a good time for creativity and spiritual growth.

“The day I saw beneath dark clouds
The passing light over the water
And I heard the voice of the world speak out,
I knew then, as I had before
Life is no passing memory of what has been
Nor the remaining pages in a great book
waiting to be read.
It is the opening of eyes long closed.
It is the vision of far off things seen for the silence they hold.” David Whyte

Friends – I have gift certificates for special occasions.
Amelia Shea specializes in issues of relationship, family and children as well as life path and career. She can be reached at 603 654 1043, amelia.shea@comcast.net. Her readings start at $30.
All times mentioned are EST. Chandra symbol quote from Inside Degrees by Ellias Lonsdale. Judy Brown and David Whyte poems from Leading from Within by Sam Intrator and Megan Scribner

New Moon on New Year’s Day

“Happiness is not a passing emotion,but a life of activity of unfolding spiritual, intellectual, sensory, physical and emotional potency.” Mary Daly

January’s New Moon is on New Year’s Day at 10 degrees of Capricorn. There is a powerful planetary line up that day as the Sun, Moon, Mercury and Pluto are conjunct – all squaring Mars and Uranus and opposing Jupiter.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is ” Pheasants Display Their Brilliant Colors On A Private Estate” – an image of abundance and the sensual pleasure and inspiration it can create.

With Venus retrograde throughout the month of January is a good time to review what it is that brings happiness, love and a sense of abundance into your life and to take steps to actualize new intentions in the beginning of February.

This New Moon with its potent, transformational energies is a good time to shed underlying beliefs which hinder evolution in this area. Clarify the vision of the life you see yourself evolving towards. Evolution can occur at a quickened pace with these aspects.

With the volatility in the sky it continues to be an accident prone time due to rushing or impulsive actions. Leave extra time when going out, be more vigilant when driving and moving around. Avoid dangerous situations. The likelihood of emotional volatility is ramped up as well.

Mary Daly quote from Divine Sparks by Karen Speerstra. Sabian Symbol reference from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom. All times mentioned EST

Uranus Stations Tuesday

“Albert Einstein once said that the problems we face in life cannot be solved on the level at which they were created. To that end being able to shift to a higher level of perception can help us find solutions to our problems, resolve conflicts and experience oneness with all of creation.” Alberto Villoldo

The influence of Uranus is strong now as it stations direct Tuesday shortly after the Moon waxes Full. Uranus is the planet of instantaneous knowing. It can be associated with sudden awareness or breakthroughs to a higher level of consciousness.
Uranus governs lightning and it is said that when St.Paul on the road to Damascus was struck by lightning and thrown from his horse, he received a vision of Christ. It was then that he received the entire body of teachings of Christ instantaneously and stopped persecuting the Christians. What we have today of the teachings of Christianity is based largely on St. Paul’s illumination. This theme of instantaneous knowing runs throughout many of the world’s religions.
The powerful aspects in play at the Full Moon and throughout the rest of the month of December offer an opportunity for breakthroughs to higher knowledge. It is likely that volatility will be part of the process and there may be sudden events or occurrences whose meaning is difficult to discern initially but will become clearer over time. Uranus is the planet of the future and shows us how we need to be moving forward.

Friends – I have gift certificates for the holidays and other special occasions- get in touch for more info.
St Paul reference from a lecture by Alberto Villoldo, quote from The Four Insights, Wisdom, Power and Grace of the Earthkeepers.

Full Moon in Gemini

“Let us love winter
for it is the spring of genius.” Pietro Aretino

One of the Sabian symbols for Tuesday’s Full Moon 25 degrees of Gemini is.”Winter’s frost in the woods.” This symbol reminds us of the frozen nature of winter and of dormancy – part of a cycle in which nothing appears – on the surface – to be happening. It echoes the idea of this time of year when people throughout time have lit bonfires, put candles in the windows etc to brighten their way through the darkness to the rebirth of the light on the Winter Solstice.
It bodes well to provide times for quiet, reflection and illumination especially during this Full Moon and through the end of December. During this time frame there is likely to be increased volatility. Tempers can be short and rushing and impulsive behavior are more likely to result accidents. Slow down and take extra care when traveling.
In general we are entering into a time of complex planetary activity.
In an online discussion of the Venus retrograde station on the Winter Solstice, one of the astrologers spoke of the love nature of Venus and that it is related to how we make love manifest in our lives and in the world.
Among other things she said, ” Look into the eyes of the bank teller you are dealing with. Think about the people in your life that you love and make sure that they know it.”
More to come on the Venus Retrograde soon.

Sabian symbol reference and Arentino quote from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom. Online interview was the December forecast on cosmicintelligenceagency.com

December 2013 Astrology

“You are not the oil, you are not the air – merely the point of combustion, the flash point where light is born.” Dag Hammarskjold

Energy runs high throughout the month of December this year. It is wise to enter the month with projects and plans in mind in order to implement the energy in a positive way.

December gets off to a fiery start with the New Moon at 10 degrees of Sagittarius on the 2nd. Use the energy of this time to fire you visions and aspirations with passion.

Mars will enter the sign of Libra on the 7th and transit this sign throughout the month. Under this influence it is wise to keep interactions with others diplomatic and when challenged, to respond in a formal, well mannered way. Avoid impulsive reactions as hostilities can more easily escalate all month long – particularly as the month proceeds and more volatile aspects come into play. Tempers can be short and nerves frayed.

Mercury in Sagittarius will move up to a trine to Uranus in Aries early in the month ( exact on the 10th.) This aspect is known for its off the grid brilliance, it’s instantaneous knowing, its out the box approach to thinking. It is a good time to heed intuitions and information that come as groundbreaking perceptions can occur under this influence. Uranus governs lightning which was called, “the hand of God” in the old texts. It may take awhile to integrate new information which may not make pragmatic sense initially.

Jupiter will make a harmonious aspect to Saturn early in the month as well (exact on the 12th.) Use this influence for laying out long term plans and taking them step by step.

Uranus stations direct on the Full Moon at 25 Gemini on the 17th. Mars will be moving up to an opposition to Uranus at this time making this a volatile time. Avoid rushing, watch for unpredictable behavior on the part of others and make an extra effort to stay calm as tempers can run high and impatience can be rampant. One of the advantages of heeding the heads up from astrology at times like this is that it gives you the opportunity to facilitate calmer, more reasonable outcomes than might have occurred otherwise. This volatile energy will be with us through the end of the month.

On the Winter Solstice (12/21) Venus will station retrograde at 28 degrees of Capricorn. Retrograde periods are like a retreat – providing good timing to review whatever area of life is indicated. This time frame ( through Feb 1, 2014) provides a good time to review personal values as well as financial matters and matters related to relationships and aesthetics.

December 25 the Mars/Uranus opposition is exact as Mercury and the Sun enter the Pluto/Uranus square. Let’s hope cooler heads will prevail and that 2014 will bring more peace on earth and good will towards all.

Friends – I have gift certificates for the holidays or special occasions – get in touch if you would like more info.

New Moon in Sagittarius

One time I heard an online lecture by noted anthropologist and writer Alberto Villoldo which was delivered on the Winter Solstice a few years ago. He explained that on this night shamans and indigenous people throughout the world would be gathered around the fire, gazing into the flames and envisioning the new, healthier, more vibrant world that they were bringing into being with their focused thoughts and intentions.

Fire is an inspirational force and is associated with passion, adventure and clarity of vision.

On the upcoming New Moon on December 2 the Sun and Moon will be together in the fiery sign of Sagittariius

In preparation for this time (New Moons are powerful initiatory times for setting intentions) it is wise to clarify your visions for your life, what you feel passionate about and your hopes and wishes for the evolution of a healthier planet.

At the end of the lecture Alberto said, “Throughout the world we will all be together tonight as we gather around the fire,” a reminder that the desire for a healthier , more vibrant planet is shared by many people throughout the world – whose desires were aligned that night around the fire.

All times mentioned are EST.

Mercury And Saturn

“Perception is an ongoing interchange – a silent conversation I carry on with things. By perceiving (really seeing) I enter into a sympathetic relation with the perceived…The act of perception is always open-ended and unfinished.” David Abram

Today is the third conjunction of Mercury and Saturn in Scorpio related to the recent Mercury retrograde period. These contacts provide fertile ground for significant realizations over time. In the sign of Scorpio these insights can relate to an evolved understanding of emotional patterning as well as an evolved understanding of empowerment.

Mercury and Saturn together also remind us of the conscious use of thought and speech and as we approach the holiday season this is a good area of life to consider. There are good aspects for conviviality as well as communication over the next week – particularly if expectations are pragmatic and appropriate boundaries are in place.

All times mentioned are EST . David Abram quote from his book The Spell of the Sensuous.

The Sun enter Sagittarius

“Healing is a process, a movement, a transition towards balance, connectedness, meaning and wholeness. Healing is a movement not an outcome.” Richard Katz.

The Sun enters Sagittarius November 22. The Sun’s journey through Scorpio, the predecessor of Sagittarius, has been particularly significant this year with Saturn, the North Node and Mercury all transiting through that sign as well.

For much of the month these planets were aligned in favorable aspect to Chiron – the asteroid of the Wounded Healer- in Pisces. In mythology Chiron brought the knowledge of homeopathy to the gods and goddesses. He was renowned for his healing abilities. But in the end Chiron died of a wound he could not heal.

The symbol in Astrology for the asteroid Chiron is a key. It associated with missing information or fragmentation related to the ongoing process of wounding and healing that goes on in the course of everyone’s life. With Chiron in Pisces it is a very good time to pay attention to information from dreams, intuition, spiritual guidance etc that speaks of missing information – particularly associated with areas of life that feel challenging or problematic. Very often there is a need to heal some aspect of that part of life and Chiron can help us to see how to do that.

All times mentioned are EST Richard Katz quote from Divine Sparks by Karen Speerstra

Full Moon in Taurus

“No one can give a definition of the soul. But we know what it feels like…The soul is a burning desire to breathe in this world of light and never to lose it – to remain children of light.”
Albert Schweitzer

The Moon waxes full Sunday 11/17 at 25 degrees of Taurus. At this time Pluto is conjunct Venus on the Ascendant and Mercury is conjunct the North Node on the Midheaven. Consciously engaged the energy of this Moon lends great strength and power to endeavors actively involved in transformation – particularly endeavors related to self esteem, identity, identify in relationship & partnership and issues related to abundance.

Use the energy of this Full Moon to review how far you have come in these areas and to recommit to the discipline, focus and work required in the journey forward.

It is a time when passions may be running high and a good time to be in touch with what needs to be transformed in your life in order that you may live more authentically and passionately – more closely aligned with your soul’s evolutionary purpose and with what you came here to do.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is, “A silvery moon shining across a beautiful gem of a lake” – making this a good time for quiet contemplation and reflection.

Amelia Shea has advised clients in her Astrology and Tarot practice since 1990. She specializes in issues of relationship, family and children as well as life path and career. She can be reached at 603 654 1043 or amelia.shea@comcast.net Her readings start at $30. All times mentioned are EST. Sabian symbol reference from Lynda Hill’s
360 Degrees of Wisdom. Albert Schweitzer quote from Divine Sparks by Karen Speerstra

Venus enters Capricorn

“People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.”
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Venus is now in Capricorn and one of the Sabian symbols for this early degree is, “Three stained glass windows in a Gothic church, one damaged by war.” As we head towards the Winter Solstice, this symbol speaks about the need to cultivate courage, wisdom and insight as we face increasing darkness or the waning of the light.
Venus is about values and as she enters the transformative Pluto/Uranus square it provides good timing to get in touch with what it is we truly value – those values that underlie and motivate all sorts of interactions with the world – which contribute one way or another to having an impact – and to make space for improvement if necessary.

Sabian symbol quote and Elizabeth kubler Ross quote from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom.