Author: Amelia Shea

“Go,”  said the bird, for the leaves were full of children,
Hidden excitedly, containing laughter.
“Go, go, go” said the bird: human kind
Cannot bear very much reality.
What might have been and what has been,
Point to one end which is always present.” TS Eliot

“What is now proved was once only imagined.” William Blake

This is a very active time in the starry heavens. Mercury and Mars are hovering around the degree of the recent Solar Eclipse in late Leo and Mercury will resume his direct motion there on Tuesday.

When Mercury stations direct it can represent a culmination of knowledge. It is wise for a few days before and a few days after to consider what has led up to this threshold time and any new understandings you have as a result. The recent Solar Eclipse in late Leo represented a fiery new start and a new door of opportunity in your life depending on which astrological house it fell in your chart. The doorways represented by eclipses are evolutionary in nature and the effect of eclipses affects the past as well as the future.

The Mercury station is followed quickly by the Full Moon in Pisces on Wednesday. This Full Moon will be conjunct Neptune – the planet of dreams and spiritual journeys as well as illusions and addictions. The veil between the worlds is very thin now throughout this time. It is a time of increased psychic ability and the voices of the ancestors may make themselves  heard.
For this reason it bodes well to approach this time with appropriate boundaries in place and moderation in mind. It is good for creativity, dreaming and meditation  and there is likely to be a strong tidal pull towards addictive patterns of behavior or addictive tendencies which evolved down through the ancestral or blood lines.

It bodes well to imagine the life and world you are striving to create and improve. It is best to tie any aspirations for your own life with your aspirations for the wellbeing planet as we are living in times of rapid evolution here on Planet Earth. And as poets over time have noted, it is a very small planet but such a beautiful one.

One of the Sabian symbols for the Mercury station is,” Many little birds chirping on the limb of a large tree.”

Aspects Venus is making to Uranus, Neptune and Chiron indicate there could be jarring events related to love or finances now. If so look to a tendency to look through rose colored glasses which can undermine or derail the path forward.

One of the Sabian symbols for the Saturn station is,”A group of immigrants fulfilling the requirements for entering a new country.”

“We must create an environment in which change enlivens and enriches the individual, but does not overwhelm her.” Alvin Toeffler

We are now entering the age of Aquarius – which offers us the opportunity to usher in a more egalitarian and enlightened world. The world as we know it now is in a struggle related to the use and abuse of power. The Aquarian Age is an evolution from the Age of Capricorn with its hierarchical  structure – change coming from the top down  – to change occuring more on the local level which reverberates upward. Throughout time eclipses have been associated with the downfall of powerful rulers or kings. This does not necessarily mean a specific leader will fall, but that the power structure in general is in the process of change and several possible directions are on the table.

This theme is echoed in the upcoming Solar Eclipse at 29 degrees of Leo as it falls on the fixed star Regulus – making it a very strong influence at this time. In ancient Persia the four fixed stars- Fomalhaut, Antares, Aldebaran and Regulus were called “The Watchers”. The fixed stars were said to govern kings and powerful leaders and each star indicates the rise to power – with one specific caveat. Any natal planets falling on these points in a personal birth chart are important.

The first, Fomalhaut, at 4 degrees of Pisces – speaks of the importance of noble ideas  and indicates  that a downfall would come through the loss of integrity in thinking. The second, Antares, at 10 degrees of Sagittarius indicates success will be achieved through maintaining equilibrium and the downfall would be brought on by obsession. The third, Aldebaran indicates success through integrity and the downfall would come through the corruption in actions. The fourth – and the one being highlighted at this eclipse is Regulus – at 29 degrees of Leo which governs the ethical use of power or bringing about one’s downfall through the misuse of power.

Much of the talk we hear now about “keeping it local” – supporting local farmers and CSAs, supporting local power sources – community solar or home solar hooked into the grid, involvement in local government and community,  investing in credit unions and  food coops rather than big banks or supermarket chains – are way that help build a stronger foundation for rebuilding the structure at the top.

One of the Sabian symbols for the upcoming eclipse is,”An unsealed letter has vital and confidential information.” Another is “In a portrait, the best of a man’s traits and character are idealized.”

Sabian Symbols from Lynda Hill

“The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.” Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was born under the unworldly or otherworldly sign of Pisces and could often be seen wandering -seemingly confused or lost- on the streets of Philadelphia. The unworldliness of the sign can often indicate imaginative, creative or spiritual brilliance although it sometimes does not interface well with mundane affairs. Einstein wrote,”Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited whereas imagination embraces the whole world, stimulating progress and giving birth to evolution.”
He deeply regretted that his discoveries led to the invention of the atomic bomb.
The Sabian symbol for Monday’s Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Aquarius is, “A big business man at his desk, ” indicating it is a good time to get organized and take action in areas of your life or your work you might normally tend to resist.

Saturn has been trining the North Node for awhile now indicating that taking a step by step approach to long term goals will pay off in the long term. Best to break things down to the nuts and bolts level. There is a lot of fiery, passionate energy now which can lead to highly charged actions but avoiding impulsiveness and taking  a more moderate approach is likely to result in success.
In general this eclipse in the sign of Aquarius indicates a good time for bridge building and collaboration given appropriate boundaries are in place. It can be a more sensitive time with Venus in Cancer. The Sabian symbol for Venus is, “A small naked girl bends over a sparkling pond, trying to catch a small fish.” It speaks of innocence as the young girl tries to contain something of a fleeting or elusive nature. It is a reminder that although you might not fully understand some events in your life it is wise to keep a sense of play or mystery as events unfold. But a young girl obviously can also be naive and inexperienced about what life might bring so it is wise to keep appropriate boundaries in appropriate settings – not unnecessarily walling yourself off of by being paranoid, but protecting yourself in a savvy way given the circumstances.

Another symbol for this time is,”Children on a swing in the safety of an old oak tree.”

Sabian symbols from Lynda Hill.

Paul Hawken, author of The Ecology of Commerce, has written and taught extensively about eco-commerce, sustainable and holistic business models and the impact of business upon living systems. He has noted:
“The most unrealistic person in the world is the cynic, not the dreamer. Hope only makes sense when it doesn’t make sense to be hopeful.” Paul Hawken.

“Behind our existence lies something else that becomes accessible to us only by our shaking off the world.” Arthur Schopenhauer

“The feeling – I won’t call it a belief- that I had a sudden opening, had seen through a window, as it were, distant realities that incomprehensibly belonged with my own life, was so acute that I cannot shake it off today.” William James

Jupiter made its third and  final square to Pluto on Friday 8/4. This influence has been ongoing since November of 2016 and will continue to be widely in influence through the beginning of September.  In general this aspect can indicate a time when there can be a need for an “attitude adjustment” or a need to  deepen or update the philosophy, belief system or spiritual system that provides meaning, inspiration and guidance in your life.

Beliefs over time can become crystallized to the point of rigid dogma which no longer allows room for mystery, change or growth.

We are now in Eclipse season – the first of which is Monday August 7 – a Lunar Eclipse at 15 of Aquarius. Eclipses are evolutionary doorways and under their influence there is always the opportunity to overcome no longer needed influences from the past and to move forward in a new, expansive  or evolved direction in your own life.

Aquarius is the planet of the future and in some systems has two rulers – Uranus- the futuristic, innovative, and humanitarian planet and Saturn- the planet of tradition and the  status quo. It’s a good time to look at how these two elements are balanced in your life. One of the Sabian symbols for this time is, “A  big business man at his desk” and another is, “Two lovebirds sitting on a fence and singing happily.”

The second eclipse – a Solar Eclipse on August 21 is at 28 degrees of Leo. There is a great deal of buzz about this eclipse as the path falls directly across the continental US – a rare occurrence. The Sabian symbol for this time is “The storm ended, all nature rejoices in brilliant sunshine,” with the keynote, “The surge of life and love after a major crisis.”

Sabian symbol from Dane Rudhyar

“The storm ended, all nature rejoices in brilliant sunshine,” with the keynote, “The surge of life and love after a major crisis.” Dane Rudhyar

“Epiphany is an unveiling of reality. What in Greek was called ‘epiphaneia’ meant the appearance, the arrival, of a divinity among mortals or its recognition in the familiar shape of a man or woman. Epiphany thus interrupts the everyday flow of time and enters as one privileged moment when we intuitively grasp a deeper more essential reality hidden in persons and things.” Czeslaw Milosz

The ancient Romans had a  saying: “Vocatus atque non vocatus deus aderit.” It meant called or not called, the god will be there.

There is an ongoing transit which will continue to be in and out of influence for some time – Uranus – the planet of sudden awakening aligning with  Chiron, the asteroid of the Wounded Healer. Uranus is the planet of illumination, sudden realization and the planet of futuristic vision. Chiron is the asteroid related to the process of growth and evolution which occurs as a result of the pattern of wounding and healing throughout our lives.

This aspect is exact this coming Saturday and with Uranus in Aries and Chiron in Pisces there can be a sudden awakening to a more profound perspective about the mental and emotional patterning from the past that can keep us trapped in the present. How you deal with things depends on the way you think about them and what your beliefs are about them and if they have become too crystallized they can inhibit growth and opportunity.

Uranus governs lightning – and lightning breaks up the crystallization of form – for example when it hits a house and burns it to the ground. It is a good time to revist and rethink where your perceptions and emotions may have become overly rigid – and be aware of the possibility of a shift in the paradigm.

Often a good tool for dealing with anger or wounding from the past is forgiveness of self and others. As John O’Donohue so eloquently wrote,”When you forgive some deeper, divine generosity takes you over… When you cannot forgive you are a prisoner of the hurt done to you.”

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is, “The Music of the Spheres”

“I am on a lonely road and I am traveling,
Looking for the key to set me free.
Oh the jealousy, the greed is the unraveling,
It’s the unraveling
And it undoes all the joy that could be…

I want to have fun, I want to shine like the sun
I want to be the one that you want to see
I want to knit you a sweater
Want to write you a love letter
I want to make you feel better
I want to make you feel free.” Joni Mitchell

In the Tarot deck the sign  of Leo is associated with the card of the Sun. It depicts a small child happily riding bareback on a white horse. The overall feeling of the image  is one of joy, trust, innocence and freedom- as the horse and its little, smiling rider move away from a wall, which embodies rigidity and restriction. In the background there are sunflowers – symbolizing warmth,  joy and happiness.

As the Sun moves into the sign of Leo it joins Mercury, Mars and the North Node as well as the upcoming eclipse. Leo is the sign of re- creation, of creativity (taking a creative approach to life), romance and fun. It is also a sign of leadership and courage. It is a good time to consider your passion, your purpose and what you have been putting your energy into in this realm

In astrology Leo is associated with the fifth house and romance – the beginning of relationships – which often is the most creative, fun and romantic part. It is wise as we enter the Age if Aquarius to factor in the need for innovation in relationships as rigid roles often call for updating to a more egalitarian model.

Leo is also associated with gold,  warmth and with light. In some anthroposophical formulas for healing certain conditions, gold is added to increase inner warmth and inner Light to aid in the process.

Leo is the sign of royalty and appreciates respect and likes to feel appreciated and special. Look to the house in your astrology chart to see where this planetary activity is taking place – a new chapter is opening here for you if you are open to it.

One of the Sabian symbols associated with this time is,”An unexpected thunderstorm.”

Sabian symbol reference from Lynda Hill.

Dior’s new Resort Collection is inspired by Vicki Noble and Karen Vogel’s feminist Tarot Card deck. Vicki Noble is one of the innovators of the feminist spirituality movement in this country.. The deck she designed is round and evolves the mostly patriarchal and Christian archetypes of the Waite deck to images of women of diverse backgrounds and spiritual beliefs. She has taught on the undergrad and grad levels about various aspects of female shamanism and goddess/female archetypes which expand the roles for women and womens spirituality in contemporary life. I had the good fortune to meet and work with Vicki at Rosemary Gladstar’s Women’s Herbal Conference when she was the speaker and I was the Astrologer and Tarot Card reader.

http://www.vogue.com/article/dior-resort-2018-motherpeace

“To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else.” Emily Dickinson
“When anger arises, think of the consequences.” Confucius

In general the planet Uranus holds sway in our time and it is a particularly strong influence in the sky this week – as it aligns with Mars and the Sun in a fractious way.

In the old texts they would caution to “expect the unexpected” when there is a strong Uranian influence. Uranus governs lightning and electricity. There can be a very erratic nature to Uranus – as there is with lightning strikes or electrical current running through the frayed cord of a lamp which unpredictably turns on and off. The potential for trouble is described in the lyrics  of the Joni  Mitchell song, “Electricity” – one verse being,

“We once loved together
And we floodlit that time
Input, output, electricity.
But the lines overloaded
And the sparks started flying
And the loose wires were
Lashing out at me.
She’s not going to fix it
too easy.”

Entering this week it bodes well to factor in more patience than usual as nerves can be frayed, tempers short and behavior impulsive  – all of which can lead to a more accident prone time.

Mars will leave the sign of Cancer this week and enter the sign of Leo. The Sabian symbol for this time is,” A person is under emotional stress and blood rushes to their head.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill