New Year 2014 brings life into focus

The rising Sun on the first day of the New Year 2014 brings an opportunity to start anew. The movement from one year to the next is a ritual moment in time that acts as the resetting of a speedometer, clearing out the old and beginning something with a fresh start. Like any birth or ritual moment we can look at the astrological chart and see what possibilities and challenges it holds.

ChartThis year we begin the New Year with a New Moon, an auspicious indicator that emphasizes the fresh beginnings that are possible for us, individually and collectively.  As you look to the Sun as it dawns in 2014, what you won’t see are the other planets that accompany the Sun. But in looking at the astrological chart you can spot the Moon, Sun, Pluto, Mercury and Venus aligned in Capricorn. These five planets are in a grand-cross (sometimes called a grand square) with Uranus in Aries, Jupiter in Cancer, and Mars in Libra. This is a very powerful combination of energies that signifies the birth of a powerful and productive year. You can see these energetic planetary connections in the center of the astrological chart. The grand-cross is indicated with red lines making a tension-filled square with lines in the middle of the square creating a cross. The blue lines indicate harmonious energies between the planets. You can see that both tension and harmony are combined in this chart.

These five planets put the emphasis on Capricorn, an earth energy that calls for a tangible manifestation that is visible for all to see. This is not a hidden quiet energy, but solid and strong, like a mountain erupting. Something will change substantially in the physical world, both your personal world and the collective global society of which we are a part.  And due to the conjunction to Pluto, that change will be transformative and take place from the deepest level of our psyche, since the Moon is also involved. It is a change that is essential, but with Capricorn’s influence, this change will take a lot of focus, dedication and hard work. Mercury in Capricorn brings an intelligence and the need for clear communication to all endeavors. Venus in Capricorn adds compassion and a reminder to foster relationships that are meaningful. There is a call in 2014 to develop evolutionary partnerships so you can build a solid network that can support your personal endeavors and the changes our world needs so desperately.  It is time to acknowledge your inner authority and join it to your outer determination to do something that really matters.

This is not a year where things will be given for free and life will flow from a gentle stream. This is a year demanding action. This is clearly seen in the square to Capricorn by Uranus in Aries and by Mars in Libra. Both Mars and Uranus are planets of action. The Uranus/Pluto square has been mentioned repeatedly as a potent, even revolutionary, drive that can be chaotic, since Uranus tends towards chaos, especially when in the sign of Aries. Mars, which rules Uranus, lies opposite and could indicate increased violence and chaos. But there is also the potential that the energy stirred up by the Uranus/Pluto square can to be channeled into fair and balanced (Libra) actions (Mars).

Jupiter in Cancer is also part of this grand-cross and reminds us that love and caring can be found in abundance in all that we do. Keep your attention on what is really important and instead of focusing on the problems evident in life, build on the possibilities. Neptune and Chiron in Pisces continue to bring a gentle healing energy to our inner wounds and remind us that even though this is a year of physical manifestation, that physical form is always imbued and animated by spirit. The North Node in Scorpio sextiles the planets in Capricorn and repeats the theme for 2014 of using our basic values as the foundation for transforming our material world.

New Moon in Leo August 6th

Full Moon at Bermuda Triangle

Full Moon at Bermuda Triangle

This Moon is reminding you that something new is stirring inside of you that wants to come into manifestation. You probably have been feeling it for a while and the latest Full Moon really brought into clarity that it is time to launch out to a new destination. The next Full Moon on August 20th will be a great time to set sail to a new port that you are willing to seek and hopeful to find.

 

There are two main challenges in setting sail for a new port. First, what is the direction and destination of your port? And two, believing that you have what it takes to make the journey.To counter the first challenge, imagine yourself in the future and see clearly what it is that you want to be doing and feeling. You don’t have to be specific at this point, but can see yourself happy, loved, secure, safe, joyful, adventuresome, and so on. Or you can be specific and see yourself on the author’s circuit at a book signing, opening day of a new business, getting your graduate degree, walking down the aisle with your beloved, holding your new child. So, once you have a clear sense of what you want you need to see it clearly. Imagine yourself  in the future being and doing this thing.

The second challenge is really believing that you can be and do your future heart’s desire. This difficulty is because your vision is only an wish and a prayer at this point. You know the person you are today, and that person is not yet the person you will become. Step into the heart and mind of your future self and see your task accomplished and your destination reached. How will you feel? act? live? Start to make your choices today based on who you want to be in the future.

The New Moon in Leo is a great time to believe in new beginnings and brings an extra boost of confidence and creativity to your endeavors. Take some time over this New Moon to write out a vision statement of what your new destination looks like and how you are acting and feeling now that you are there. Write it in the present tense and make it as specific as you can. You can also get an image or symbol that represents what you are manifesting for your future. While the words of the vision stimulate your left logical mind, the symbol will be a clear message to your right intuitive brain. Enjoy the excitement as your prepare for you

Seven planets in Pisces: A Journey to the Underworld

When the New Moon goes into Pisces on March 10th to March 12th to we will have seven of the stellar wanderers in Pisces: Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Neptune, Moon, and Chiron.  This is a tremendous amount of Piscean energy. Pisces has access to the unconscious and I usually write about the mystical, creative, and spiritual essence of Pisces, and that is still true. But the unconscious is also the realm of the Shadow, and with this many planets in Pisces, the door to the unconscious just became thrown open.

The Shadow is made up of the dark and unwanted parts of ourselves that we refuse to acknowledge. In order to not deal with these undesirable parts we reject them by pushing them out of the light of our consciousness and keep them buried in the basement of our unconscious. The Shadow is the reservoir for human darkness that lies deep within ourselves.

The Shadow is scary since it is the part that we don’t want to accept as true. But an awareness of the Shadow is necessary. If we don’t get to know it and understand the weakness it holds, then we project these weaknesses outward and spread our fears into the world instead of dealing with them ourselves. And we can end up making decisions and taking actions based not on our greater vision and higher purpose, but from the Shadow’s unacknowledged influences.

Everyone has a Shadow and discovering, acknowledging, defeating, and integrating the Shadow is an important part of our growth and transformation. The Shadow is found in myths, fairy tales, and religion. We have the Wicked Queen, Evil Witch, Beast, and Big Bad Wolf. Tolkien gives us Sauron the Deceiver, and J.K. Rowling has He Who Must Not be Named. Facing the Shadow becomes a central part of the story, which is why it is so important to see it clearly. The Shadow is the flip side of God. Every light has a shadow, and if there were no light within us, there would also be no shadow. So every encounter with your own Shadow is an opportunity to know God.

For You: This visible presence of the Shadow is actually a real opportunity. Normally the Shadow is down in the dark and hard to see clearly. But now the Shadow, both personal and collective, is up in the light of consciousness and easier to identify. Normally our Shadow is influencing us from down in our unconscious, but now our fears are out in the world in the light of day, and that gives us a chance to examine them and notice their causes and their consequences.  Be willing to face your fears, look at them clearly and they will loosen their hold on you.  This is not the time to be afraid of your own Shadow; this is a time to see it clearly. Take some time to consider: What is my Shadow? What are the qualities that I don’t like about myself? What part of myself have I buried and don’t want to acknowledge? What is it that I fear? What qualities in others most irritate me that might be a projection of myself? Create your own mythic story and have your Shadow be the nemesis. Tell the tale of how you overcome and integrated the Shadow, accepting both dark and light. Since the Shadow lives in the underworld of the unconscious you can learn about it by going down into the underworld through your dreams. One reason working with dreams is so powerful is because it gives you a doorway to explore the unconscious .

Susan Seddon Boulet

Into the Mystic: Neptune will stay in Pisces for another 10 years, so we will have plenty of time to get to know the Piscean energy much better. And Pisces is the sign that connects us to the mystical and spiritual aspects of ourselves. Mercury, the messenger between heaven and earth, is diving into the mystical realms of Pisces from February 5th to April 13th. This gives us nine weeks to deepen our connection to the divine and open up the portals of our imagination. This will be a particularly potent time since Neptune is also in Pisces and will give extra depth to our insights and help us with integrating these mystical connections into our daily lives. Pay attention to synchronicity and signs. There will be longing for mystical, intuitive, and spiritual experiences during this period. It will be a wonderful opportunity to begin the meditation practice you’ve been thinking about, or deepen the one you already have. Go back to church, or spend time in nature, especially near water. And since your creative juices will be flowing, make a special effort to set aside time for creative endeavors. Be sure to pay attention to your dreams over this period since you are especially open to receiving messages from the unconscious.

Align Yourself at this New Moon

Welcome to all 5 planets in Capricorn!! To be our most powerful and effective agents for change, we need to be engaged in something greater than ourselves and function at our best. During my meditation on the 2012 Winter Solstice I received the message to “Be a sparkplug in the engine of God.” Now, I admit that I was hoping for something a bit more profound! But, then I started thinking that an engine works best when all its sparkplugs are fully operational, and that if I was going to be a sparkplug in the engine of God, I needed a tune up. Fortunately, I also received instructions for the tune-up, which I now share with you.

To do: Take a few deep breaths and center yourself. With your imagination, see a column of energy running from the top of your head to the base of your spine. This is the column of the seven main chakras, your energy centers, as you can see in this picture. Take a moment and scan your chakras beginning with your Crown chakra at the top of your head, and moving down each chakra until you get to the Root chakra at the base of your spine.  Now that you are centered and aware of the position of each chakra, you can begin the alignment.
Align your Crown chakra to the sacred world of the transcendent. See your Crown chakra as the doorway opening to your spiritual energy and your connection to the divine. Once you have a clear sense of that connection, move the energy down to…
Align with your Third-eye chakra and see your spiritual self now aligned to your intuition. Once you have a clear sense of that connection, move the energy down to…
Align with your Throat chakra, bringing your voice and your communication in tune to your intuition and spirit. Once you have a clear sense of that connection, move the energy down to…
Align with your Heart chakra, bringing love to all your communications. Once you have a clear sense of that connection, move the energy down to…
Align with your Solar Plexus chakra, bringing forth your power and confidence. Once you have a clear sense of that connection, move the energy down to…
Align with your Belly chakra, bringing in creativity to all your endeavors. Once you have a clear sense of that connection, move the energy down to.
Align with your Root chakra to bring your physical manifestations into total alignment with your creativity, power, love, communication, intuition, and spirit.
Breathe deeply up and down your fully aligned column of energy. See each chakra connected to the next. See yourself connected to the heavens through your Crown chakra, and see yourself connected to the earth through your Root chakra. See yourself as the link between Heaven and Earth, a full charged and well tuned sparkplug in the engine of God.  Repeat as necessary.

New Moon Solar Eclipse & Venus

Annular Eclipse from 2010

The New Moon will be at 7:47 pm EDT at 0 degrees of Gemini. It will also be an annular Solar Eclipse. This eclipse occurs when the Moon passes in front of the Sun, but instead of covering it entirely, like it does during a Total Solar Eclipse, it covers the center of the Sun, leaving a ring of fire around the Sun’s edges. Annular comes from Latin and means “little ring.” The Sun will be 88% covered, but that 12% of solar light can still damage your eyes, so if you are fortunate enough to be in the path of the Eclipse, please use protective covering.  The Eclipse will be seen in the western United States, but not in the Eastern part, nor in Western Europe. Here is a great site, Earth/Sky that shows the path of the Eclipse and the times when it will be occurring near you. SOLAR ECLIPSE PATH . Plus check out SHADOWANDSUBSTANCE for more details of viewing.  There is much being said about this particular eclipse. It is the first Solar Eclipse in the mainland of the US in the 21st century. It is the first annular eclipse in the US since 1994, and the next one won’t be until 2023.

Even if you can’t see the eclipse, you can still tune into the energy through meditation and ritual. Ac Tau, a Mayan elder, is holding a 2 day gathering of shamans in Mexico to bring in the energy of the 2012 transformation using the connection to frequencies and sound. He believes that this date is more important than 12/21/2012. And while annular eclipses occur with some regularity, people have noted that this particular alignment of the Sun and Moon hasn’t occurred for nearly 26,000 years. This is because the Sun and Moon are also aligned to the star Alcyone in the Pleaides constellation. Check out this link by Jo Dunning as she discusses how this moves our earth through a photon belt. And check out this link by Carol Ann Ciocco has quite bit to say about the importance of this eclipse to Alcyone and the Pleaides.  You can read these materials and see what resonates to you. With this eclipse in Gemini it points towards how we communicate and understand one another. Any eclipse is a connection between the yin (Moon) and yang (Sun). In this eclipse the Moon is creating a mandala on the Sun, covering most of it, but still allowing the bright illumination of the Sun’s fire to shine forth. Maybe that is what we need on this planet. 88% yin and 12 % yang!!  Focus on the connection between your yin and yang, and notice how you communicate and share your essence. What is your balance, and what do you think it needs to be, at least at time time in our collective lives.

Another important sky event occurs during this New Moon. On May 22 and 23rd it will be the last time this year that the Moon and Venus will be seen together in the sky. These two goddess lights have really been a powerful combination this Spring, and I will really miss seeing the lovely light of Venus so brilliant in the western sky. In June she will shift from the evening star to the morning star, and have a powerful eclipse of the Sun herself on June 5t-6th. I will write more about that in the June Moonletter. Suffice it to say, the Goddess energy of feminine divinity (which abides in men and women) has been very strong, and the feeling of love and compassion, as well as fierce protection, have been radiant in the sky.

Bold Actions on the Spring New Moon

Susan Seddon Boulet

BE BOLD!! That is the message of this New Moon in Aries on March 22nd. Spring began on Tuesday when the Sun entered the sign of Aries. Aries is the first sign in the zodiac and represents bold action and new beginnings. Now with the Moon also in Aries, it  doubles the urge within to begin something new.  Taking this Spring energy to absolutely new heights,  Uranus, the planet of rash and unpredictable action, joins in to make this New Moon even more exciting and intense. Then toss in Mercury, also in Aries, and it time to take flight.

Perhaps you have been feeling an onrush of energy, like you are about to jump out of your skin. It may be coming out as anxiety, irritability, or a generalized funk. This is because there is a major change in the air. This is a powerful rush of energy in the world, like a change in frequency that is pushing our ability to download information to a new speed. We are feeling overwhelmed right now with how fast everything seems to be going. Its as if the solar flares that reached their peak a few weeks ago have short circulated not only our satellites and technology, but also our inner wiring. There is a sense of being jangled, on edge, as if there is too much caffeine in our system and we are stuck in high gear.

To Do: Sit down, take some deep breaths, and close your eyes. Turn your senses inward and feel the frequency of your energy. You can do this by pretending you are sitting in your car and the motor is running. How fast is it running? Is it just humming along, quiet and in the background? Or do you feel like it is reved up, ready to take off?   Or, to use another analogy, imagine that you are a powerful eagle like the one in this image. You are charged with the energy of the sun and your wings are flapping as you leap to take off. But you realize that your feet are bound, so you flap and flap and flap your wings trying to break your binds and take off. Faster and faster you flap, but all that does is heighten your sense of frustration and limitation, leaving you exhausted and discouraged.

This energy of the New Moon in Aries conjoined Uranus is an opportunity to look within and see what it is you really, really want to do right now in your life. Do you want to travel? write? have children? get a new job? run around the block? Whatever it is, this New Moon is saying to Just Do It! (I think Nike must have been inspired by a New Moon in Aries…) And if you are feeling held back, don’t fight against that which limits you. Instead, look at it clearly, make the changes you need to set yourself free, remove the binding from yourself. You are the only one who can do it. Ah…. set free…take flight… You will have time to ground and center this energy when the Sun goes into Taurus, which is on April 19th. Until then, put your attention and your energy to cutting the cords that bind you and set your vision on a new horizon.

Winter Solstice, New Moon, 2012

Most people think of the Winter Solstice, also known as the first day of Winter, as the shortest and darkest day of the year. This is because the Sun’s light has been decreasing since its peak six months ago at the Summer Solstice. But it is at this depth of darkness that the Sun is reborn, bringing with it an increase in light and illumination. This yearly cycle of the death and rebirth of the Sun has been celebrated for millennium, and represents the birth, death, and rebirth that marks the dance of life on earth.

The celebration of Christmas was linked to the Winter Solstice since Jesus represented the birth of the Son that promised to bring the Christ light on earth. And it was the Magi, Astrologers from Persia, who recognized the Star of Bethlehem as heralding the time, place, and importance of his birth. It may be dark and cold outside, but the Winter Solstice and Christmas point to the knowledge that the seeds of life are alive under the hard earth, ready to rise up when the days become warm again. Life, like the Sun, is never ending and always renewing. Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is also around this same time. This year Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 20th and commemorates the re-dedication of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Lighting the candles of the Menorah over the eight days of Hanukkah is a very special ceremony of remembering the light.

During this holy season remember your internal light, the light of the Son/Sun. Winter gives us many opportunities to remember the light within and to find a way to give it birth. Houses are illuminated with tiny lights during the dark winter nights. In our homes we build fires that bring warmth and comfort to the coldest part of the year. Every time you light a candle this winter, take a moment and remind yourself of the light within all life. This is a good reminder that no matter how dark it may look, that the light will come again.

NEW MOON December 24th

The Winter Solstice occurs when the Sun moves from the zodiac sign of Sagittarius into Capricorn. The Moon also moves into Capricorn on December 24th. When the Sun and Moon are together in the same sign, an event that occurs every month, it is known as the New Moon. The New Moon is a time of new beginnings. Since the New Moon takes place in Capricorn, a solid and practical earth sign, take some time on December 24th to think about what you want to bring forth in the area of real, practical, concrete actions. Consider what type of structure you need to create in your life to bring you success in some physical aspect of your life: exercise, job, healthy eating, cleaning your house, fixing up your home, changing your career, and so on.

NEW YEAR 2012

These questions are the perfect thing to ponder as you head into the New Year, one of my favorite rituals of new beginnings. This New Year Eve be a bit reflective and think about what the last year was like. What were your successes, challenges, accomplishments? Then on New Year’s Day, take some time to think about the upcoming year, 2012, and set some broad visions for what you want this new year to be. Then develop some concrete action steps to bring those visions to action.

In Mexico many Mayan cities are starting a year long celebration leading toward December 21st, 2012. They are seeing that date as a time of renewal, not an ending. Popular culture and the media have hijacked the end date on the Mayan calendar as a time to spread fear. But most Mayans and archeologist see that date as referring to the end of one age, and the beginning of another. Much like the end of the Age of Pisces and the beginning of the Age of Aquarius. Many Mayan priests will burn incense, chant, and offer prayers for the new era that will begin very soon. Imagine the world you want to see at this time next year. Think about what you want to be celebrating on December 21st, 2012. Keep a positive vision for the world and take practical actions to manifest that vision. Doom and gloom  forecasts only create more doom and gloom. Resist the power of the dark side!! Bring the light into your heart and let the force be with you. Let this year of 2012 be the year that you step out fully and bring all your gifts, no matter how big or how small, into the world. We all need each other doing all we can in order to make this new era one of peace, justice, and unity. Just for starters, Egypt just had the largest women’s demonstration in their history as thousands of women marched through Cairo on Tuesday calling for an end to military rule. You go girls! Let’s all step up to the call like we never have before in order to bring a wise and caring feminine vision to the world so clearly in need of a new way.

New Moon in Scorpio Wednesday 3:56 pm

Scorpio by Eric Williams

Today is a New Moon, and what a New Moon it is!! Not only are the Sun and Moon in the water sign Scorpio, but Mercury and Venus are also swimming around in the deep mysteries of the psyche. The New Moon each month is a reminder that you can always begin anew. With all this Scorpio energy charging things up, this new beginning might seem connected to something in your past that no longer serves you. It is a time to begin looking deep within to find the root causes of things that are bothering you. It is a time to delve into your psyche, remember incidents from the past, and recall memories from childhood. Look particularly at how you communicate (Mercury) with those you love (Venus). Pay close attention to your dreams over the next few nights. You may gain an insight into some old pattern that you have been repeating that has been holding you back. I know for me, I am working on being less critical of those I love. I am working on keeping my mouth shut and my heart open.  You may discover that changing old patterns from your past will bring an opportunity for you to move more fully into your future.

New Moon/Solar Eclipse

Cancer by Eric Williams

July 1, 2011 at 4:54 am EDT. At every New Moon, the Sun and Moon are in the same sign. This month it is Cancer. New Moons are great times to begin something new, and since it is in Cancer, the sign of the home, it is a great time to do something new with your home. Notice how the symbol for Cancer is the crab, who carries its home with it wherever it goes. This New Moon is a fantastic day to move into a new home, since you start your new nest surrounded with Cancer’s love, comfort, and nurturing energy. But if you’re not moving into a new home today, you can buy something new for the home, or clean your house, or bring in flowers. It’s a wonderful day to remember how lucky you are to have a home, especially during these challenging times when tornadoes, flood, and fire are leaving many people without the comfort of a place to live. The symbol for Cancer looks like two arms circling and protecting. Do something today that makes you feel warm inside, and gives you a feeling of protection and safety. You can lay in the arms of your beloved, or hold your child to your breast. All of these things are part of the energy of Cancer. Or maybe, like the crab, you are carrying your home on your back, carrying a suitcase and cellphone as you explore the world. Just remember that home is where the heart is, and you can find love wherever you are. And since this New Moon is a partial solar eclipse, the energies are even strengthened and deepened.

Don’t worry if you don’t see this partial solar eclipse. No one else will either! It will only be visible if you are in an extremely remote part of the world, an uninhabited region on the coast of Antarctica, where the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. Still, the symbolism is significant, and the energy will still be available if you take the time to meditate or tune in.  A solar eclipse happens only at the New Moon and occurs because the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth, blocking the light of the Sun. This is an image of a partial eclipse taken in January 2011.

This solar syzygy, is a perfect union between the Moon, your Soul, the Sun, your Spirit, and the Earth, your body. It is a good reminder to live this  life (Earth) in alignment with your greater purpose (Sun) and in connection with your intuition and deeper knowledge (Moon).

New Moon in Taurus

by Eric Williams

May 3rd brings a New Moon in the lovely earth sign of Taurus. We really need this solid stable energy of earth right now to counterbalance all the fiery energy created by so many planets in Aries. And here in the South, after the destruction created by multiple tornadoes, the focus for everyone is on the very basics, like food, water, and safety of family. The newspaper today called for donations of nails, hammers, and tarps. People need beds to sleep in, clothes to wear. Taurus energy is about grounding to the earth, taking care of the essentials. Everyone is re-building. Hopefully you aren’t rebuilding from destruction. But even so, maybe you can help someone who is, or take stock of your own foundation and take time to solidify the basic requirements of your life.

This Thursday, May 5th is the 60th annual National Day of Prayer. You can find out more about it at their Website, and see if there are any events near you. It’s nice to join in with thousands of others as a way to strengthen the power of your prayers to earth and heaven.

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