Amelia’s Blog – Page 79

Venus and Self Love

“Love doesn’t just sit there, like a stone; it has to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made new…” Ursula LeGuin

One of the gifts of retrograde transits is that they provide specific time frames to review and revisit certain areas of life which might we might not otherwise do. Venus reached the half way point her the retrograde transit over the weekend. Through the end of January is a good time to review self love (how we care for and nurture ourselves) and how we relate to and treat others. There is always room for improvement in aspirations and actions.
Venus in Capricorn speaks concretely about how we provide for ourselves financially and materially and is a good time to review this aspect of self love also.
It is a also good time to reconsider and remake old dreams which may need some couse alternation or updating.

“Without love we are birds with broken wings.” Mitch Albom

All times mentioned are EST. Qoute from Divine Sparks by Karen Speerstar

Venus Conjuncts the Sun

“There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.” Michel de Montaigne

Today Venus conjuncts the Sun at 21 degrees of Capricorn. As Venus continues on her retrograde journey pieces of an emerging puzzle can become more visible. Venus governs values and what we value and often our priorites in this area are determined or strongly influenced by ancestry, family of origin as well as by religious and cultural influences. Venus retrograde offers a good window of time to revisit this area of life into order to become more clear that our values
are our own.
One of the Sabian symbols associated with the Venus/Sun conjunction is, “A general accepting defeat gracefully.” Letting go of old values which no longer serve you may feel like a defeat – as if you were operating in error or misconception for some time.
But evolving values to represent your authentic self and what you know to be the truth at this time, opens doors to new perceptions and opportunities.

“Last night as I was sleeping,
I dreamt-marvelous error!-
that I had a beehive
here inside my heart.
And the golden bees
were making white combs
and sweet honey
from my old failures.” Anthony Machado

Sabian symbol reference and Montaigne quote from 360 Degrees of Wisdom by Lynda Hill

More on Venus Retrograde

This morning after a big snowstorm and record breaking frigid temperatures I took a drive to the grain store to pick up some supplies. I pulled into the drive- thru section of the building and shut the car off in front of the service window.

As they signaled me to move forward so they could load, I tried to fire up the car but it wouldn’t start. I tried several more times to no avail. The two guys in charge of loading came over, told me to put it in neutral and pushed the car out into the parking lot.

“Your battery needs to be charged, “one said.They pulled a pickup next to me and hooked up the battery cables. After a bit of charging the car still would not start. They tried brainstorming –“ Maybe it needs to charge more…maybe the starter is frozen.”

One of them experimented with dashboard components and shouted to the other , “When you turn on the lights it makes the radio cut out. It needs to charge more.”

They pushed the car back towards the building and hooked it up to a super charger with a gage to indicate when the charge is complete. When the gage reached that point and we tried to start it again the car fired right up. One of the young men shouted to me,” Don’t shut the car off! It won’t start if you do. It won’t hold a charge- it needs a new battery.” They told the name of an auto parts store close by that installed batteries.

I was so struck by their willingness to help, their kindness and expertise and I thanked them again.

Proceeding on I pulled into a snowy parking lot with a storefront sign which read in big red letters , ”We install batteries for free.” The mechanic at the counter was friendly and assured me there would be no problem. I walked outside with him and noticed he was wearing his lightweight uniform and sneakers.
“Do you want to go inside and put on your jacket?” I asked.“ It is so cold.”

“Oh no,” he assured me,” I am fine. Yesterday was the coldest day of the year and we were outside all day installing batteries. The worst part of it was,” he said,”no one said thank you.”

I didn’t know what to say – arctic temperatures, vehicles that won’t run and mechanics fixing them outdoors with no thanks?

Undaunted he cheerfully resumed, “This is a great car you’ve got here. I love Subarus. This thing will last forever.”

I was on the road in no time after expressing my very sincere thanks. This is rural NH after all – a vehicle is a basic component of life here and must run well in cold weather.

When Venus is retrograde as it is now it is a good time to look at how we treat others – in whatever role they play- and see if there is room for improvement. So often people often express the sentiment that they feel overwhelmed by the problems in the world and feel powerless to do anything. Bringing more love and friendliness into the world is always something worthwhile to do.

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.