Amelia’s Blog – Page 80

Pluto and Uranus

“As we move into the dark of the Moon, it is important to honor this time of darkness, this liminal time. It is a time for being, for dreaming and for reflection — not a time for clarity or for action.” Gail Byrne

As Halloween approaches we are in a place of mystery and magic – when the veils between the worlds are thin and the presence of those on the other side – friends, family and ancestors – may be felt more strongly. On Halloween the Pluto/Uranus square is exact as the Moon opposes Uranus and squares Pluto . This can create a volatile atmosphere as well as the eruption of deep feelings. It is wise to observe this time – through the New Moon/Solar Eclipse on Nov 3 – as a journey of exploration through hidden realms. Carl Jung and others have written about the importance of owning the shadow – those parts of ourselves we do not acknowledge consciously that, as a result hold great power. Use this time period leading up to the Solar Eclipse on Nov 3 to develop more conscious awareness of this side of life.

Gail Byrne can be reached at www.gbharmonia.com

Solar Eclipse in Scorpio

“Transformation comes from a place of looking deeply within, to a state that exists before fear and isolation arise, the state in which we are inviolably whole just as we are.” Sharon Salzberg

One of the symbols for the sign of Scorpio is the phoenix rising from the ashes and one of the great gifts of the sign – if actualized – is transformation. The upcoming Solar Eclipse on Nov 3 is at 11 degrees of Scorpio – conjunct Saturn and the North Node. This eclipse is very much about the soul’s evolutionary journey. It is a good time to think deeply and wisely about heeding the desires of the soul and creating steps – however incremental- forward to do that. With the sign of Scorpio there is also a need to let go of what is outgrown or no longer useful. The soul must feel free to dream unimpeded. As Alberto Villoldo so perceptively wrote, ” We must let go of perceptions of ourselves as being bogged down by a problem or trapped in a role, and envision ourselves as free from what we are identifying with or clinging to.”

Salzberg quote from Divine Sparks by Karen Speerstra, Alberto Villoldo’s quote from The Four Insights
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Mercury Conjunct Saturn

Once I lived on a working farm where occasionally farm hands would come and stay in exchange for room and board. Once a couple stayed who had recently come from Stephen Gaskin’s intentional community in Tennessee, The Farm. The couple would say a simple grace before dinner and then end it by saying, “Let us think to the origins of our food, ” meaning to think about and be grateful for all the things that had contributed to the dinner that lay before us.
This morning I was reading a book about the history of the Tarot ( a hypothetical history at best). It speculated that the Tarot had originated as the result of an ancient ritual performed in the Temple of Thoth. The Temple’s walls were covered with elaborate paintings which symbolized the “major forces governing the patterns of life.”* The Querent ( the person asking a question) would toss a loose bundle of rods and the priests would interpret the meanings based on which images the rods were facing. Later some speculated, the Tarot deck was made so that the images could be transported and readings could be done elsewhere.
With Mercury conjunct Saturn in Scorpio heading towards a solar eclipse on Nov 3, the timing is good to think about origins – particularly origins of behavior or thought patterns you would like to change. Often these patterns were not chosen freely as an adult but was taught to us by the many influences around us or developed as a coping mechanism. Under the transformative energy in effect now, it is a good time to rethink the origins of things you would like to change and set clear intentions about how you are going to do that.

Quote from Juliet Sharman Burke’s The Complete Book of Tarot

Mercury Stations Retrograde in Scorpio

“The highest magic is that which lies within ourselves.” Anodea Judith

Mercury stationed retrograde today at 18 degrees of Scorpio. This is an intriguing retrograde period (through November 1) as during this time Mercury will conjunct Saturn and then play a significant part in the upcoming eclipse on November 3. It is a good time to deepen awareness as information that has been hidden over time may be revealed – information that can enable you to unravel limited perceptions and understandings. One of the Sabian symbols associated with the retrograde is,
“A Woman Drawing Aside Two Dark Curtains That Closed the Entrance to a Sacred Pathway.”

Anodea Judith quote from Wheels of Life, Sabian symbol quote from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom

Lunar Eclipse in Aries

A full cup must be carried steadily”…old saying

We are in eclipse season now and the effects of eclipses can be felt before and after the actual event. There can be a sense of emotional instability as well as increased psychic sensitivity. The first in the series is a Full Moon Lunar eclipse on Friday October 18 at 25 degrees of Aries.

Eclipses are evolutionary in nature and are as astrologer Eric Francis has said, “pattern setting events.” In addition to the many transformative aspects at play now, this eclipse has come along to help break up rigid patterns of thinking and to encourage us to question the nature of certainty in the midst of rapidly changing events. It is a good time to become more aware of unproductive assumptions and beliefs and look to opportunities for growth and expansion. One of the Sabian symbols associated with this eclipse is, “A man possessed of more gifts than he can hold.”

Another is, “Through imagination a lost opportunity is regained.”

All times mentioned are EDT. Eric Francis is an Astrologer and investigative journalist whose work can be found on planetwaves.net.
Sabian symbol quote from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom

Michaelmas

“When evening shadows fall
I’m waiting for the dawn.” Van Morrison

The tiny purple daisies that bloom this time of year are sometimes called Michaelmas daisies because they bloom near the feast of St. Michael or Michaelmas.

Michaelmas falls midway between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice and for centuries celebrations have been held commemorating the triumph of the lowly peasant, George over the fearsome dragon who was terrifying his village.

Many others before George had in vain attempted to fight and slay the dragon and had lost their lives as a result. But it was because of the intervention of the archangel Michael- the mightiest of the archangels, known as the protector of humanity and protector against darkness- that George was able to succeed.

The symbolism of Michaelmas has to do with the battle between the forces of Light and Darkness in both our outer and inner worlds. The darkness symbolizes fear and doubt – and the Light represents hope, faith and inspiration – the qualities which protect us during the dark night of the soul and during times like the Fall when the power of the Light wanes and the forces of darkness grow stronger.

It is a good time to strengthen will forces and cultivate faith and courage in the face of doubt, fear and uncertainty.

Quote from Van Morrison’s cd Down the Road

Friday’s New Moon

“We must look at the lens through which we see the world, as well as the world we see, and understand that the lens itself shapes how we interpret the world.” Stephen Covey

The New Moon is Friday 10/4 at 11 degrees of Libra. Particularly in areas where your life can feel problematic, look to underlying thought patterns, perceptions and assumptions that create a sense of limitation. This New Moon with its powerful aspects is an excellent time to break free of outgrown mental and emotional patterning through the use of intention and heightened awareness.
Astrologically many of the powerful aspects in play now are opening the door to personal and planetary evolution through the conscious use of the untapped powers of the mind.
One of the Sabian symbols for this placement is “A professor peering over his glasses at his students,” a reminder that knowledge is a process.

Stephen Covey quote & Sabian symbol quote from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom

October ’13 Astrology

“may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living…” ee cummings

This morning as I drove up into the color drenched autumn hills, a flurry of tiny birds flew out from behind a stone wall right in front my car – leaving me no time to stop. Their swift wings carried them under the car and out to the safety of the tall grasses on the other side. I looked in the mirror to double check I had not injured one and something fluttered in the road behind me. I tried to convince myself it was a brittle leaf but when I went back- to my dismay – I saw a little bird lying on her back in the roadway – her eyes open and her claws in the air. I thought she was dead.
But by the time I walked up to her I was surprised to see that she had righted herself. I placed a cloth gently around her wings to lift her to safety. But as I did her wings fluttered and as I gently released her, she flew to the high grass and lighted on a branch.

Symbolically birds are messengers and when I saw the bird lying still in the road I assumed the message was of one kind- about an ending – and then when she fluttered and suddenly flew the message seemed about an opportunity for a new start or rebirth.

This is very much the kind of story to keep in mind during the times in which we live. It may be difficult to understand the significance of events as they occur and the meaning will become clearer over time.We live in powerful times of transformation and however unclear or uncertain the path ahead may appear, it is best to look for breakthroughs, opportunities and unanticipated outcomes.

Early in the first week the volatile Uranus/Pluto square is activated by the Sun. Squares indicated conflict and the need to overcome something. This aspect applies both personally – in our inner worlds – and collectively in the world at large. It is a good idea to keep thinking fluid, have patience and look for breakthroughs or opportunities that present themselves in stressful circumstances.

On the 7th Venus moves into the sign of Sagittarius – this can make a better time for social interaction. Venus will move up to a square to Neptune boding well for spiritual growth, fantasy and imaginative pursuits – but watch for the rose colored glasses in romance.

Also during this time Mercury is moving into the very serious Saturn/North Node conjunction. The North Node, now in Scorpio- is associated with fate, destiny and life purpose. This is a good time given Scorpio’s ability to access deeper knowledge – to envision or seek knowledge about your life path.

The Sun squares Jupiter in the early part of the month too- keep moderation in the picture and avoid excess.

We enter eclipse season in October with the Lunar eclipse at 25 Aries on October 18th. Eclipses are evolutionary in nature and this one concerns how we remain authentic to ourselves in the context of our relationships with others and the status quo.Check the area of your chart in which this eclipse falls – it offers an opportunity for increased awareness of the changes going on in your life now.

Mercury stations retrograde on the 21st at 18 degrees of Scorpio and will travel retrograde until early November. We live in very fast paced times and this time frame provides an excellent time to review and integrate recent events. It is also a good time to access wisdom and deep inner knowing.

All the regular Mercury retro rules apply – if it is necessary to sign documents or make agreements during this time frame, pay extra attention to the details and look out for blind spots, make any repairs before this time if possible, take extra care with communications and double check problematic communications before jumping to conclusions.

Mercury will retrograde down to a conjunction with Saturn again on the 29 but there will be a third pass in November when Mercury moves forward again. The third pass is the time that all the information is in.

Towards the end of the month looks like a good time of more energy and accomplishment.
Patience with yourself, your endeavors and with others will be helpful all month.

Fall Equinox

“You can’t embrace the new paradigm until you let go of the old one.” Marilyn Ferguson

The Fall Equinox – when the Sun enters the sign of Libra – is this Sunday 9/22. The chart for the Equinox has 11 degrees of Aquarius rising with Mars in Leo on the Descendant. These placements speak about how we approach conflict with others and while Mars in Leo can be assertive and aggressive, the sign of Aquarius encourages us to follow the path of the peaceful warrior – to seek and work to create enlightened solutions both personally and globally.
It is notable that recently Pope Francis asked the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics to pray for a peaceful resolution to the use of chemical weapons in Syria rather than military strikes – which he said would only increase the suffering there. In addition to the US public’s insistence to find another way, we are witnessing a perilous, but hopefully more peaceful outcome in the short – and perhaps the long term – as a cease fire may become necessary to the process.
It is a good time to stay out of fear and to be in touch with the higher aspirations for your life and the life of the world in a very positive way.

Full Moon in Pisces

“What makes the desert beautiful,’ said the little prince, “is that somewhere it hides a well…” Antoine de Saint- Exupery*

I have been so fortunate – most of my life – to have lived near a hidden spring which bubbles up from the earth or an old field stone well surrounded by towering pines deep in the woods. With thunderstorms and blizzards and their subsequent power outages, we would trek with buckets and sometimes sleds out to the well or the spring house for our water. Throughout time places like this – wishing wells and healing springs like Lourdes – have been considered places to reconnect with our spiritual and emotional origins and experience rebirth and the renewal of our hopes and dreams. Thursday’s Full Moon is such a time and place.
It is a watery, dreamy, visionary Moon- at 26 Pisces.
One of the Sabian symbols for this Moon is, ” A Harvest Moon Illuminates the Sky.”
Carl Sandburg expressed it well – “Write your wishes on the door. Stand outside in the pools of the harvest moon.”

Quote from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint- Exupery*
Sabian Symbol & Carl Sandburg quote from Lynda Hill’s 360 Degrees of Wisdom