In June I did a webinar talk about June’s Gemini New Moon, Venus retrograde and Venus’ relationship to Quetzalcoatl and the return of the feminine. Click “New Moon Fern”( in blue above right) to hear the MP.3 of the talk.

(For those of you who may just be joining us on this Mercury in Retrograde track, see below the Survive/Thrive section for my summation of this phenomena)

SURVIVE

Back up your computer

Double check directions and appointment times carefully

Think carefully about word choice
And topic when having difficult
conversations

Slow down and drive more carefully

Read the fine print two or three times
before signing contracts or other important documents

Postpone buying major appliances until
Mercury goes direct

THRIVE

Research new computer equipment or software. Maximize time away from the computer.

Reschedule important meetings and appointments for after the Mercury retrograde period.

Rethink your position and be willing to admit your mistakes and apologize when having difficult conversations. Or try to forgive and forget more readily.

Refrain from rudeness and instead kill other drivers with kindness, or minimize driving and ride your bike and walk

Renegotiate current contracts that you want changed and postpone signing new important documents until Mercury goes direct

Repair and fix items that are broken

Remember: Retrograde starts with “re”, so incorporate “re” activities during retrograde periods.

Some Wisestars Words on the Mercury Retrograde Experience

Mercury, the planet of communication (which includes phones, computers, talking, listening, learning, teaching and also all forms of traveling), goes retrograde four times a year for three weeks each time. During this period, we will often notice that communications go awry, that our phones stop working, that computers freeze and travel plans hit snags. Despite all evidence to the contrary, the Mercury retrograde was not designed to make you suffer.

If you allow it to, Mercury retrograde periods can be a time to slow down and take a little break from the high impact, fast and furious information heavy world we live in. Think of it as a three week vacation from the communication of words and thoughts. This is a time when communication of spirit, body and emotion take precedence. Try saying what you need to with tools besides words, using body or sign language, eye contact and dream messages to communicate your meaning. The more you try to force other types of communications now, the more frustrated you might end up……….

(This is a revision of an older Mercury in Retrograde article)

If you’ve been feeling a bit like a fire breathing dragon since Mercury went retrograde in Aries, read on for some Wisestars remedies for not just surviving, but thriving during Mercury Retrograde periods. This particular one lasts until April 23rd, 2011 when the planet turns direct, but give it a week or so to get out of it’s “shadow” period to really start forging full speed ahead back towards that old Western Civilization thing…..

(For those of you who may just be joining us on this Mercury in Retrograde track, see below the Survive/Thrive section for my summation of this phenomena)

SURVIVE

Back up your computer

Double check directions and appointment times carefully

Think carefully about word choice
And topic when having difficult
conversations

Slow down and drive more carefully

Read the fine print two or three times
before signing contracts or other important documents

Postpone buying major appliances until
Mercury goes direct

THRIVE

Research new computer equipment or software. Maximize time away from the computer.

Reschedule important meetings and appointments for after the Mercury retrograde period.

Rethink your position and be willing to admit your mistakes and apologize when having difficult conversations. Or try to forgive and forget more readily.

Refrain from rudeness and instead kill other drivers with kindness, or minimize driving and ride your bike and walk

Renegotiate current contracts that you want changed and postpone signing new important documents until Mercury goes direct

Repair and fix items that are broken

Remember: Retrograde starts with “re”, so incorporate “re” activities during retrograde periods.

Some Wisestars Words on the Mercury Retrograde Experience

Mercury, the planet of communication (which includes phones, computers, talking, listening, learning, teaching and also all forms of traveling), goes retrograde four times a year for three weeks each time. During this period, we will often notice that communications go awry, that our phones stop working, that computers freeze and travel plans hit snags. Despite all evidence to the contrary, the Mercury retrograde was not designed to make you suffer.

If you allow it to, Mercury retrograde periods can be a time to slow down and take a little break from the high impact, fast and furious information heavy world we live in. Think of it as a three week vacation from the communication of words and thoughts. This is a time when communication of spirit, body and emotion take precedence. Try saying what you need to with tools besides words, using body or sign language, eye contact and dream messages to communicate your meaning. The more you try to force other types of communications now, the more frustrated you might end up……….

Having an emergency kit ready to take care of your physical needs may seem like an obvious necessity right now, reeling as we are from a year of earth changes (The Gulf oil spill, Haiti, New Zealand, Japan,). But since physical suffering is only part of the fallout of loss, knowing your emotional needs as you navigate a world in transition can also help you to better cope.
Astrologically speaking, when events occur that are overwhelming, too big for our brains to process and make sense of, the moon comes to the forefront, responding to distress signals and taking over.
The moon is the ancestral storehouse of emotion, holding our deepest needs and instincts. Rooted in childhood, the moon’s sign and house placement indicate what nurtures us, what makes us feel safe and how we react most naturally when feelings arise.

Read your Moon sign and if you know your aspects to the Moon, read the corresponding Moon placement for that as well.

Moon in Aries (or Moon aspects to Mars especially conjunctions, squares and oppositions)

The Moon in Aries will probably feel some anger and a need to act, but even more likely, they will have a completely individual experience that may bring on feelings of both irritation and restlessness. They’ll want to explore how impending events will effect them personally. Moon in Aries may even feel the desire to strike out and attack someone or something, just to feel the fire of being alive.
Physical activity (exercise, sex, work) will help this Moon sign process and integrate feelings. Invoking the opposite sign Libra qualities, Moon in Aries can benefit from seeking balance, other people’s input and a strategic, rather than a reactive mindset.

Moon in Taurus (or Moon aspects to Venus especially conjunctions, squares and oppositions)
Moon in Taurus does not like change. Change is to be resisted, denied and protected against. When faced with the inevitable, this Moon sign will seek physical comfort (food, sleep, sex) and safe, familiar routines. Emotional release will only come when Moon in Taurus feels physically stable and grounded. Nature, massage and cooking can help Moon in Taurus heal when hard times hit.

Taurus can find even greater emotional strength when it draws on inspiration from the opposing sign of Scorpio. Scorpio’s ability to tap deep reserves of power from the well of spirit can remind Taurus that there is more to life than meets the eye.

Moon in Gemini (or Moon aspects to Mercury especially conjunctions, squares and oppositions)
Naturally, the Moon in Gemini is going to want to talk when the going gets rough. Talk, talk and talk some more and if they’re not talking, they’ll be writing. News junky? Oh yes. If Moon in Gemini is not actually in the middle of the action, they’re going to want to know what’s going on, every minute of every day. This Moon will also feel the desire to be busy, constantly.
Finding balance with infusions of their opposite sign of Sagittarius, Moon in Gemini can benefit from taking some time to process and make sense of all the information they are gathering. What does it mean in the bigger picture? Is there a story to tell that may help others to heal? What is the meaning of what is unfolding? The truth hiding out in the facts?

Moon in Cancer (the Moon rules Cancer, so no aspects are possible)
It’s not to unreasonable to expect that the Moon in Cancer will feel the safest hiding away at home, eating, crying, sleeping and taking care of assorted plants, children and animals. This Moon needs plenty of time to sort out the overwhelming emotions that they may experience in the aftermath of a disaster. Any kind of healing water such as a bath, hot springs or the ocean can help Moon in Cancer come to terms with change.
Ultimately though, Moon in Cancer will benefit from drawing on the opposing forces of Capricorn for strength and survival. Setting aside specific times during the day to let feelings out, will help Moon in Cancer to be self-disciplined in taking care of practical physical matters that demand attention.

Moon in Leo (or Moon aspects to the Sun especially conjunctions, squares and oppositions)
Hear that Lion roar? Moon in Leo may need to go through a particular kind of catharsis when hard times hit. Given this moon signs ability to tap into the fun of life, they’re usually able to keep their sense of humor when all hell breaks loose, but first they may need to have a diva moment.
Since this Moon can help others with its innate warmth and the gift of being able to make just about anything more fun, they can enlist their opposing sign of Aquarius to encourage their ability to keep an eye on the big picture by helping out in their community and being of service.

Moon in Virgo (or Moon aspects to Mars especially conjunctions, squares and oppositions)
When the going gets tough, the tough (like Moon in Virgo) clean house. Sure it’s a cliché, but like every generality, there’s a shred of truth in it. Virgo needs to digest and analyze to process emotions and cleaning helps, by physically make sense of chaos. Since Moon in Virgo is rather particularly prone to worry and anxiety, cleaning, organizing or being of service to others can assist this Moon in releasing some of their pent up stress.
Virgo can also take a big load off though by drawing on the wisdom of their opposing sign of Pisces. Prayer, animals and nature will help calm Virgo’s furrowed brow. In fact, escapist activities in general can bring balance to Virgo’s during times of distress.

Moon in Libra (or Moon aspects to Venus especially conjunctions, squares and oppositions)

Since disasters in generally usually bring the opposite of beauty, balance and justice, Moon in Libra can find it hard to reach an even keel when times of trouble arise. Coming back to center is possible though, through joining together with others to create a more harmonious environment. Relationships will be key for Moon in Libra when chaos reigns, so having a friend or loved one to join forces with is important.
Taking lessons from the opposing sign of Aries, Libra Moons can also benefit from taking courageous action, without first weighing every possible outcome, strategy or decision.

Moon in Scorpio (or Moon aspects to Pluto especially conjunctions, squares and oppositions)
The deep emotional strength of Moon in Scorpio comes in handy in a crisis. Because powerful waves of emotions may first keep this Moon sign out of action, it’s important that Moon in Scorpio has a private and safe place to process feelings. But this Moon sign innately understands the changing cycles of life and knows how to courageously hang in there when things get tough. Not only that, but Moon in Scorpio can help to guide others through bad times with compassion and fortitude.
Moon in Scorpio benefits from the grounding effects of Taurus, which can help bring this moon much needed physical comfort. Eating, sleeping and touching are good medicine for Moon in Scorpio when they run low on their considerable emotional reserves.

Moon in Sagittarius (or Moon aspects to Jupiter especially conjunctions, squares and oppositions)

Moon in Sagittarius will want to find a meaning in disaster or hard times. What’s the story behind it all? This Moon needs to believe that out of trouble and hardship, growth can come. This optimistic and hopeful energy can ultimately be helpful, but Moon in Sag may need to take some time to let others have the hard feelings first, before presenting the “sunny side of the street”. This Moon can help itself by seeking to understand the diverse beliefs involved in challenging situations and striving to find a way to present this to those around them.
Gemini’s opposing energies help the Moon in Sagittarius to stay open to other people’s ideas and thoughts. It can be helpful for Moon in Sagittarius to remember to invoke the “student mind” and learn what they can from unfolding events as they arise.

Moon in Capricorn (or Moon aspects to Saturn especially conjunctions, squares and oppositions)

Moon in Capricorn may not let on to others that they’re having an emotional reaction, feeling the need to preserve their “tower of strength” reputation. This Moon sign probably will need plenty of time alone to process and come to terms with any changes that have occurred. Their natural reserve helps them to get in touch with their innate strength and instinct towards survival.
Cancer’s opposing energies can help Moon in Capricorn remember to stay in touch with the need to show some vulnerability from time to time in order to receive the natural human comfort that everyone needs in the midst of disaster.

Moon in Aquarius (or Moon aspects to Uranus especially conjunctions, squares and oppositions)

Moon in Aquarius, like it’s ruling sign Uranus, tends to react somewhat surprisingly during “big” emotional times. You’ll never know exactly how this moon sign will feel, but chances are it will be a little bit offbeat. Detachment and a bit of removal from the intensity of deep emotion are one thing that it’s probably safe to predict, but other than that, all bets are off.
Moon in Aquarius does well in the realm of symbols, so taking refuge in tarot, astrology and other esoteric, metaphysical pastimes can be comforting.
Leo’s counterbalancing m.o. can help Moon in Aquarius return to the planet by infusing life with a bit of fun, humor and creativity.

Moon in Pisces (or Moon aspects to Neptune especially conjunctions, squares and oppositions)

Moon in Pisces can quickly become emotionally overwhelmed when bad things happen. The emotional sponge capabilities of this sensitive Moon take on more than they can deal with alone and they then head towards “Planet Escape”. This is fine if drugs, drink and other physically destructive substances aren’t overly involved, but otherwise Moon in Pisces can sink in the swift current of their emotions.
Energetic protection like flower essences (particularly Yarrow and Red Clover), sea salt (and Rosemary or other purifying oils) baths and psychic tools can help Moon in Pisces not only stay sane, but also enable them to be a compassionate beacon of light for others.
Virgo energy can help to bring Moon in Pisces down to earth. List making, cleaning, attention to diet, exercise and other health and wellness routines will all keep Moon in Pisces functioning more smoothly on “terra firma”.

Sitting at their round, glass-topped table, I’d happily munch on my toast, crunching blackberry seeds between my teeth, safely immersed in the predictable comfort of a familiar breakfast ritual. Smelling my dream smells, those cozy moments from my childhood returned in sharp focus, and for a moment I was once more surrounded by the nurturing warmth of my grandfather in an early morning kitchen.
There’s nothing like having Venus in Cancer to bring back nostalgic moments from the past. Since Venus in Cancer rules my own Libra rising chart and is amplified by sitting in the power point of the tenth house, I’m particularly prone to sentimental feelings for times gone by. When I began studying astrology in my 20’s, I wasn’t too surprised to discover that I shared this placement with my beloved grandfather, an army cook and later a representative for the food and restaurant union. Two Venuses in Cancer, unique in a family of air and fire Venus’, we happily bonded over our deep love of food, family and tradition. These admirable traits co-existed with a few more troublesome Venus in Cancer tendencies: moodiness, possessiveness, and a penchant for sweets. But at least in my family of origin, there was someone who truly understood my heart of hearts, one crabby water Venus to another.

As the Full Moon in Cancer approaches (exact January 19, at 1:21 pm pst), our attention, whether we have planets in Cancer or not, is drawn to “memories, dreams and reflections” ala Carl Jung. Opposing the Capricorn sun, which demands a pragmatic, realistic approach, the moon in its ruling sign of Cancer calls us to dig deep down inside, taking some time and space to immerse ourselves in our own process of remembrance. The polarity and pull of these two opposites, one, earthy Capricorn, pulling our attention outward to the external world of achievement and accomplishment, and the other (Cancer), demanding that we feel our feelings and let our imaginations drift, may create some tension, but this lunation also has the potential to reveal where there are imbalances in our lives so we can self-correct.

Jupiter in Pisces trines this Full Moon, lending us the ability to be more compassionate and forgiving. We can draw on the “big love” vibe of Jupiter in Pisces now to soften and smooth over any rough edges that may separate us from others.

Full Moon in Cancer

This Full Moon calls on us to integrate the water and earth energies of Cancer and Capricorn, bringing heart into our work and applying a practical “can-do” attitude to our dreams.
Without Cancer, Capricorn is dry, lifeless and lonely, concerned only with success and achievement. Without Capricorn, Cancer is lost in a sea of emotions, helpless to act in the world and forever childlike.

January’s Full Moon occurs as the transiting nodes of the moon live out their final days in the signs of Capricorn and Cancer (the transiting nodes move into the Sagittarius/Gemini polarity in March). The North and South node of the Moon are like compass points, directing us all towards the energies that we need to grow, and helping us understand where we’ve just come from.

The North Node, which is currently in Capricorn, directs our collective attention towards hard work and survival. As a group, our evolving story now is to move away from the dark side of Cancer: nostalgic impressions, immature emotions and blood ties that bind us to destructive, rather than life affirming, tribal loyalties. The South Node in Cancer represents the past, or energies that have been developed to a peak and are now dying away. If we cultivate the more negative Cancerian qualities, we can grow weak and helpless, like fish trying to swim against the current.

The Full Moon helps us to acknowledge and see more clearly how the archetypes of these signs play out in our personal lives.
We’re reminded of Cancer’s positive qualities: the life giving nurturance of the Great Mother, the lush bounty of imagination that is available to us all, family memories that sustain and nourish us. But we’re also cautioned to stay focused on the Capricorn mission of conserving our emotional energies so that we can do the work necessary to reach our goals, without being distracted by emotions that may leave us shipwrecked.
So whether you experience your own Proustian Madeleine moment, reveling in the remembrance of things past; or, you decide to set forth with determination towards the future, digging in like the Capricorn mountain goat, this Full Moon promises to shine light on where you stand in the cycle of time, calling to you “like the wild geese, harsh and exciting–over and over announcing your place in the family of things.*
*From “Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver

“We’re half man and half horse, and we got a license to shit in the streets.” Sagittarian Keith Richards on his zodiac sign.

I’ve been keeping the dark days of winter at bay by reading “Life” Keith Richards memoir of his checkered past. “Keef”‘ tells his story with the brash humor and boldness so common in the sign of the Centaur, so I wasn’t surprised when it came alight in the book that he was a Sagittarius. I was surprised at how oddly inspiring the book is, realizing as I read how much the Rolling Stones altered our collective consciousness, ushering in a Dionysian frenzy that had previously been suppressed. And who better to help lead the rites of Pan than a Sagittarius with Venus in Scorpio?

If the cold, grey days are giving you a little wintertime blues, you can pick up a copy of “Life”, or just make the most of the New Moon happening tomorrow morning. Sagittarius season kicks into full swing at t 9:36 am pst, on December 5, bringing with it the blunt, raucous, wild spirit of the centaur.

Expand your mind and your consciousness now-following the arc of the archer’s arrow as it shoots into the night in a blaze of light. Strange lands beckon, books are waiting to be read and ideas call for exploration.

Without change and movement, the Sagittarius energy grows stagnant. Ever met a Sag who sounded like a “know-it-all”? The arrogant, fundamentalism of Sagittarius arises from a lack of flexibility, a refusal to learn something new or to listen to others ideas. The “dark” side of the archer is a single-minded devotion to their own “truth” which can become dogmatic and harsh. Sagittarius as the hunter searches out new prey, pursuing with an intensity that is almost fanatical.

Like every sign, the two faces of Sagittarius can co-exist in the same form, introducing us to both the possibility and the pitfalls of the energy involved.

As we head towards the dark days of the Solstice, we can keep our hearts, minds and bodies active. Stretching our boundaries and expanding our horizons will help us to re-ignite the Sagittarian sparks of hope and optimism, supporting us through the Capricorn season of practicality and survival.

Last week I had a dream in which I danced an unusual version of a square dance. Surrounded by others, twirling and whirling in circles, my partner and I danced. I felt confident and happy even though I didn’t know the steps, because the man who I danced with led me with such skill and grace.

When I described this dream later at my dream group and mentioned how effortless my dream dance had been, someone made the point that there is an art to following as well as leading, and suggested that part of the reason our dance went so smoothly was because I knew how to follow.

The Fall Equinox and the Full Moon in Aries that occur tonight (September 22nd 8:09 pm pdt) and tomorrow morning (Full Moon exact September 23 at 2:17am pdt), perfectly highlights this interplay between leading and following. Now, as day becomes perfectly balanced with night, we transition from enjoying the bright light of the sun, to embracing the growing darkness that peaks at the Winter Solstice. The leader (light) has now become a follower and the follower (darkness), has stepped forward to lead.

In astrology, Aries is the sign of leadership. Bold, brave and confident, the ram faces life head on, stepping off into the adventure of life without doubt or hesitation. Libra, Aries’ opposite sign, is a natural follower. Effortlessly attuned to others moods and needs, Libra is the perfect helpmeet, ready to accommodate, negotiate and mediate.

Combine the energy of the Equinox, with the Full Moon and add in transits to Pluto and Saturn this next week and the final result may see us all engaged in a crash course in leadership, with some of us leading and others trailing close behind.

Though the Aries archetype certainly plays a part in this planetary story, Saturn’s prominent placement in Libra especially highlights our need to pay greater attention to the art of following. Saturn solidifies and adds weight to whatever it touches, grounding us in the lessons of whatever sign it happens to be transiting through. In this case we will be growing more and more aware of the particular Libra attributes that we each need to develop.

Following is one Libra quality that may appear to come naturally, without much thought or effort. But when Libra becomes Saturnized, it may be necessary to take another look, to get serious, to “grow up“ in regards to the issue of following. Pluto’s transit through Capricorn also squares the Sun in Libra now, adding even more depth to our awareness and forcing us to ask questions that may uncover the more shadowy parts of our Libra nature:

“Do we resist following others lead, or do we instead mindlessly go along with whoever seems to be in charge?How do we hand over our decision making power to others, letting them set the pace, rhythm and timing of a dance we’re not sure we even want to do?

What does it mean to gracefully yield to life? Is it hard for us to let go of control (Capricorn) of a project, relationship or problem and hand it over to someone else to deal with? Or how do we fight against a leader who we intuitively know is doing a good job,but whom we resist simply because we‘re having a hard time changing and letting go?“

Learning how to follow means knowing who or what we want to follow and also making choices about what kind of dance we want to be engaged in. To follow well, we must be receptive and open, ready to respond and yield with grace. To follow well means sticking with the commitments we‘ve made and seeing them through to the end.

The planetary square dance that has been taking place all this year changes steps now, as the Saturn/Pluto square eases off. But this Full Moon, which comes so closely on the heels of the Fall Equinox, is a potent reminder of the lessons we’ve learned. We have a chance now to not only integrate and understand the changes we’ve experienced, but also to make last minute adjustments and emergency repairs to our plans.

As the scales pause in a breath of perfect balance tonight, take a moment to meditate on your own dance of life. Is it square or is it round? Are you leading, following or dancing alone? Maybe it’s time to change the steps or learn new ones. Or perhaps you even need a new partner and a different beat.
The Fall Equinox offers us the chance to stop and notice how we move into the approaching darkness, feeling gratitude for what we have and taking stock of what we might need to gather before winter approaches.

“Never, never give up”, said Winston Churchill. Saturn, like Churchill, is a planet that at its best, believes in patience, persistence and fortitude.
Recently, as Saturn completed a quincunx aspect with Neptune (the planet of letting go, release and surrender), we may have experienced a strange juxtaposition between forces encouraging us to “Never give up” and other pressures which told us to “let go” or “surrender”. This paradoxical pull between different cosmic energies makes for a starry soup that is a bit hard to swallow.
Why? Blame it on the quincunx. The quincunx as an aspect is confusing precisely because its hard to see the parties (planets) involved clearly. There’s a disconnected feeling between the two energies as they try to make sense of each other’s differences as well as their places of understanding. We have to gently wear a groove with the quincunx, taking time and building trust. This is a slow aspect that works better over time, as we grow comfortable, or at least more understanding, about the wedge that it forms.

Currently, we are moving into a whole new wave of Saturnian energies as the ringed planet moves into its place of exaltation in Libra and forms another opposition to Uranus, now in Aries.

Unlike the quincunx, the opposition is bold and obvious. We know exactly what’s involved with an opposition: conflict, tension, challenge. Call it projection, love, or hate, the opposition stirs up strong feelings that are designed to help us experience the extremes in life. With the opposition it’s always black or white, hot or cold, left or right. There are no shades of gray, no uncertainty. The truth, (at least on one side of the equation), is obvious. Oppositions offer us lovers or enemies, but rarely anything in between.

The Saturn/Uranus opposition which began under the Virgo/Pisces regime and has since moved into Libra/Aries, brings us into a place of stark awareness of the places of polarity in our lives. This opposition, like all oppositions, asks us to learn how to integrate two seemingly different paradigms and find a place of understanding somewhere in the midst of it all.

The Aries/Libra theme fits the relationship oriented nature of the opposition aspect perfectly, carefully enhancing the planetary pattern already so nicely laid out. These two cardinal signs evoke the energies of self/other, peace/war, justice/corruption, beauty/ugliness, etc.

Where will this drama play out in your life? Look to the houses of your chart with the signs of Aries/Libra on the cusp for further understanding of how these themes will effect you.

Below are listed a few brief tips about some of what you might expect during this Aries/Libra time:

Aries/Libra on the 1st house/7th house-Defining your own identity in the context of a relationship, or defining your relationship in the context of your identity.

Aries/Libra on the 2nd house/8th house-Defending and asserting your values, skills and resources, while finding balance with shared resources, or finding balance with your own resources while courageously exploring the resources you share with another.

Aries/Libra on the 3rd house /9th house -Bravely speaking your own truth while diplomatically learning to listen to others truths, or, learning to defend your beliefs and philosophies with balance and moderation.

Aries/Libra on the 4th house /10th house -Forging new territory at home, while keeping the peace at work or out in the world, or, blazing trails out in the world, while keeping the peace at home (or within yourself).

Aries/Libra on the 5th house /11th house -Acting on your creative breakthroughs and new inspirations for self-expressing and using these to seed beauty out in the world for others to share, or, bravely taking action on behalf of others while continuing to make time for yourself to have fun and relax.

Aries/Libra on the 6th house /12th house -Blazing new trails in your health routines, or taking risks to serve others while you maintain a sense of inner peace, or, having spiritual adventures while keeping your body in balance.

“Henry! Henry! I can’t find Dorothy! She’s somewhere out in the storm!” from the Wizard of Oz

Pluto shows us the underbelly of life. The deep, shadowy places that we can’t see clearly, the reality that is hidden from plain sight. Though this realm can be hard to understand, the power of Pluto’s depth and the call of his murmuring voice draw us closer. There is an authenticity and raw energy to this intense planet that is hard to resist, even if we try to cover our ears and look away, towards some more acceptable, “nicer” version of the truth.

Saturday’s Full Moon Eclipse in Capricorn makes several important aspects to other planets, but Pluto is the star of the show. We’ve seen the signs of this eclipse coming over the recent months, most dramatically and tragically in the Gulf Oil Spill. As Pluto comes round to conjunct the Moon in Capricorn this weekend, the spotlight shines on the underside of the bureaucracy, the “system”, the structure. The hard Capricornian stone crumbles and we watch the bricks fall.

Painful? You bet. Powerful? Yes, that too, for Pluto symbolizes the strength and intensity that we gain through suffering and letting go. This god of the underworld demands change and release as the price of entry into his realm, but Pluto doesn’t want to keep you down there, flat like a scorpion at the bottom of the earth. For the other part of this magnetic planet’s intention is birth and regeneration. The price of exit from the land of the dead is new life and growth. If you can keep from getting stuck in the first half of the cycle, transitioning out of the land of the dead when the time is right, you can then rise like an eagle, powerful, free and strong.

Since we’re now at the beginning of Pluto’s thirteen year transit of Capricorn, collectively we’ve just began an initiation. This is the time of letting go, release, and paying witness to the secrets hidden deep underground.
Pluto rules over all things that arise from the depths of the earth: oil, metals, coal.

So it’s a magical, comi-tragic twist that oil is the star of the biggest show on stage these days as we head towards this Full Moon eclipse. Pluto’s got something we need to hear now, a message that there’s no way of avoiding. We’re asked to pay attention to what it is that is dying, take note of what is being released and to listen to the undercurrents of life.


Mercury’s joins this eclipse line-up, as do Uranus and Jupiter. Mercury in Cancer allows us to grasp the magnitude of what is happening in an emotional way, going beyond the “just the facts ma’am” practicality of Capricorn. Mercury in the sign of the Crab is intuitive, and imaginative, gently opening us to the secrets of our dreams: the oceanic nocturnal waves in the sea of life. Uranus’s influence brings us these sleeping and waking messages from strange and surprising places, making us speak the truth , no matter how shocking it might be. This planetary trickster, like Bugs Bunny, is hard to catch and good at creating chaos. Jupiter expands the desire to forge ahead, joining Uranus in a wild two-step, that urges onwards, towards new adventures and experiences.

So what’s our role in all of this?Some of us might want to hide under the bed during the passing storm, waiting for the trouble to pass, for Pluto’s heavy gaze to move away from our direction. Others may need to confront transformation directly, moving boldly towards the next round in the spiral of life. This eclipse brings topsy-turvy change like Dorothy swirling in the eye of the hurricane, in between two lands and two realities. Our work may just be to spend a little time in Oz before we find our way home.

The first Aries new moon of the year is traditionally treasure map time in the Wisestars World. This great idea is borrowed from Jan Spiller’s New Moon Wishing book (and she in turn borrowed it from another astrologer….)

This year’s Aries New Moon takes place on April 14th at 5:29 am pdt

A sextile to Neptune at 12:23 pm, just before the Moon goes void of course makes this Moon an especially good one for dreaming and visioning your future.

Try to do your Treasure Map between 5:29am and 12:23pm if possible, or wait until 3:55 pm when the moon moves out of  void of course and into Taurus.

See below for instructions………
I can help you fine tune your treasure map work by doing a reading
focusing on the Aries areas in your chart. Contact me at fern@wisestars.net for a short 15 minute reading or a longer more in-depth look. We can highlight the possibilities that are most likely to manifest and give them some super-charged energy to get things moving in the right direction.

Happy Rainy Spring!

Spring Equinox Treasure Map

(done on the New Moon in Aries following the Spring Equinox. Can be done up to two days after the New Moon.)

Materials needed:

Good Music

Friends can be nice to do it with, one year I had a party….other times it’s better alone-you decide….

Magazines

Scissors, glue, cardboard or posterboard

Leaf through the magazines, cutting out pictures and words that catch your eye and set them aside. Arrange the images however you want on the board. Create your map with words and images that feel happy to you and that look like what you want to manifest this year.

Hang in a place you will see it regularly. Enjoy observing the map coming to life in suprising and unexpected ways. Be patient, it may take more than a year for some of the biggies…..