Amelia’s Blog

“Spiritual practice is really about weaving a network of good relationships.” Dhyani Ywahoo

“It later became clear to me that no matter what we do in science or any other area, it will not help if we don’t find a way to be related to each other on a deep level.” David Bohm

Mercury is slowing down to station retrograde on September 9 at 8 degrees of Libra. On September 23  Mercury will back track into the sign of Virgo where it will station direct at 24 degrees on October 2.

This retrograde period in particular bodes well for rest and reflection, given that Mercury will join five planets that are now retrograde.

From the 9 through the 23rd it bodes well to consider relationship and partnership issues.  Libra is a sign that excels at seeing many sides of an issue but often has trouble making decisions as a result.  This is the relationship and partnership sign and bodes well for rethinking  decisions made in the past. It’s best to approach things with a fluid mind and avoid overthinking.

When Mercury enters Virgo on 9/23 through the station on 10/2, it’s wise to reconsider ideas concerning daily routines to see if they can be improved. It’s a good time to see if a better balance can be struck by tweaking  a work or daily schedule so that it supports and builds health. It’s wise in general to explore whether any new and improved ways of doing things may be possible. It’s best to stay pragmatic and avoid perfectionism.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A canoe is approaching safety over troubled waters.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

“What we repeatedly think shapes our world. Out of compassion, substitute healthy thoughts for unhealthy ones.” Jack Kornfield

“Only with winter- patience can we bring the deep-desired, long awaited spring.” Anne Morrow Lindburgh

I had a good friend here who ran a school of natural cooking and philosophy and he created a special recipe for a  morning soup her called “Hang-ger.”  Hang-ger was a cure for hunger and anger – the kind of anger or the kind of irritability you can get from being too hungry.

We all may be in need of some hanger this weekend with the New Moon in Virgo which is at 4:17 AM on Saturday EDT. At this time the Sun and Moon at 4 degrees of  Virgo  will be squaring Mars at 4  degrees of Gemini. This can be a nervy combination and an impatient, critical and short tempered  one.

Best to avoid overthinking.

It’s a good time to think or plan about new initiatives but to watch for impulsiveness. Mars can give the  courage and the desire for action.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is, “A woman becomes aware of nature spirits and normally unseen spiritual energies.”

 

“Life is the only way
to get covered in leaves,
Catch your breath on sand,
rise on wings.

To be a dog
or stroke its warm fur;
to tell pain
from everything  its not,

to squeeze within events,
dawdle in views,
to seek the least of all possible mistakes,

An extraordinary chance
To remember for a moment
a conversation held
with the lamp switched off

and if only once
to stumble on a stone,
end up soaked in one downpour or another.

mislay your keys in grass
and follow a spark on the wind with your eyes,

and to keep on not knowing
something important.” Wislawa Szymborska

The planet of love and abundance, Venus shines brightly this week in astrology with several significant alignments. But first to Mercury and Pluto.

Mercury in Virgo is  now forming a positive  alignment with Pluto – the Lord of the Underworld. Mercury was the only god who could travel between the  worlds – as often he did – in disguise , to conduct business or solve disputes. Mercury will be trining Pluto through most of this week.

Mercury in Virgo speaks of issues having to do with health and work projects and how your work life supports your overall health and well being. This week provides good timing to consider those aspects of life. It’s also a time when significant information may emerge – especially as a result of thinking of things through on a deeper level.

The Sun moves out of Leo and into Virgo on Monday – a good time for getting organized for the upcoming season. This sign, symbolized by the process of separating the wheat from the chaff, is a sign known for its discernment. It’s a good time for detail work. It’s good to watch for a tendency towards perfectionism or being overly critical of self or others. The Sun will leave this sign on October 23, the time of the Fall Equinox.

This week could have its surprises in store as Uranus, the planet of the unexpected, stations retrograde on Wednesday at 18 degrees of Taurus. Uranus is the Great Liberator and can stir things up where change needs to be activated. It is a good time to consider or reconsider attitudes and belief systems that have outlived their usefulness. Uranus is sometimes referred to as the “Great Awakener” – an important component in the fast moving  times in which we are living.

The Uranus station can bring in a time of innovation in ideas now. The key to that is openness to new ways of thinking.

Venus in Leo is forming a harmonious alignment with Chiron, the asteroid of the Wounded Healer. Venus will also be squaring the Lunar Nodes and  Uranus this week. These alignments provide a good time to consider aspirations in the areas of love, abundance and finances. Obstacles may become more apparent but also more courage and clarity about how  to overcome them.

Best to provide extra downtime because this can be a nervy week.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”Brilliant sunshine just after a storm.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Let the river rock you like a cradle
Climb to the treetops, child, if you’re able
Let your hands tie a knot across the table.
Come and touch the things you cannot feel.

Close your fingertips and fly where I can’t hold you
Let the sun- rain fall and let the dewy clouds enfold you
And maybe you can sing to me the words that I just told you
If all the things you feel ain’t what they seem.
Then don’t mind me ’cause I ain’t nothin’ but a dream.” Jerry Merrick

“Strength needs to be redefined not as power-over but as power with.” Matthew Fox

Mercury , the mercurial god of commerce and communication is now opposing Neptune, the planet of dreams and illusions. This can make linear thinking  and communications a bit  cloudy. Best to double check the details. It does provide an excellent time for creative work, meditation and spiritual studies. This will be an influence through the 22nd or so.

Mars is preparing to enter the busy sign of Gemini on the 21st. Mars has a retrograde transit every two years and will station retrograde at 25 degrees of Gemini on 10/30/22 and retrograde down to 8 degrees Gemini where it will station direct on January 12, 2023.

This transit will provide good timing to look at our use of personal power and to carve a better path forward if desired.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A prophet bringing down a new law from the mountain.”

“The Moon is a symbol for psychic energy or for the unconscious that holds the secrets of knowledge and wisdom. The wolf baying at the Moon  can symbolize the desire to connect with new ideas which are just below the  surface of consciousness.” Sams and Carson

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing  model obsolete.”  Buckminster Fuller

The week gets off to an interesting start after last week’s powerful Full Moon in Aquarius.  There is a saying in astrology that much can be revealed or come to light under the influence of the Full Moon and last week’s Moon was a good example of that.

This week starts off with a  harmonious alignment of Mercury with the Lunar Nodes.  With the planet of thought and communication trining the North Node, it bodes well to heed any information that surfaces that  clarifies your path towards the future. With Mercury in Virgo the information may reveal small steps  or provide a better framework through which to view your way forward.

At the same time Mercury is harmoniously aligning with Uranus – this indicates a good time to seek innovative solutions. It’s an alignment of brilliance in thinking – with ahead of its times ideas.

The Sun in Leo is moving up to a quincunx with Neptune this week exact on  Wednesday. The quincunx signals the need for adjustment and with these two signs, indicates a good time to make sure pragmatics are in the mix.

Venus  in Leo will be trining Jupiter this week exact on Thursday. Jupiter brings expansiveness and abundance to whatever he touches. This can open the door to new opportunities. It provides a good time to be out and about socializing and meeting new people.

Mercury will also be forming a quincunx to Saturn – exact later this week. This can indicate the need for attention to boundaries around thinking as things can seem more worrisome or worse than they are. Keeping a balanced perspective in mind this week will prove to be helpful.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A  teacher gives new symbolic forms to traditional images.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

 

“Sometimes life is so startling there is nothing to do but live.”Emily Dickinson

“What shape waits in the seed of you to  grow and spread its branches against a future sky?” David Whyte

Thursday’s Full Moon, at 19 degrees of Aquarius  is conjunct Saturn and square Uranus. There’s an old saying that the influence of the Full Moon is “three days coming and three days going” meaning it is in effect now.

This configuration speaks of  sudden changes and unexpected events. It is an aspect of restlessness and impatience. Uranus likes freedom and with Mars involved there can be  an attempt to break free of things that feel too burdensome and move forward in an unhindered manner.

This alignment can present challenges that can be overcome through Saturn’s  gifts of  pragmatics and patience.

Best to avoid impulsiveness.

People who have planets or  significant chart points in the mid to late degrees of Taurus and  the other  fixed signs (Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius)
are likely to be most affected.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”a large white dove bearing a message.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

 

“The only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.” Albert Einstein

“Love, the Supreme Musician, is always playing in our souls.” Rumi

Mercury, the planet of thought and communication , entered the sign of Virgo today.  Virgo is the sign of discernment. The symbol for Virgo is a Virgin holding a sheaf of wheat. This symbolizes the gathering in of material needs at harvest time. Virgo rules the assimilative  systems of the body. It is the sign of purity and perfection.  With this sign, which is associated with  a high strung nervous system, the mind strongly affects the body and so often there is an interest in health and perfecting the state of health.

This sign is also associated with service to others in order to help create a better world.

This provides a good time to think about being of service to others. It’s also a good time to consider making improvements to your health – whether through diet, exercise etc. Mercury will travel in Virgo through the end of the month and then retrograde back into the late degrees in September.

Venus is now at 21 degrees of Cancer aligning favorably with Neptune. This aspect bodes well for spiritual growth and artistic projects. Michelangelo had this aspect in his chart. It is associated with love of a divine nature as well as love affairs of a knightly kind or love affairs with a  Muse which enable the artist to access higher planes of inspiration.

Venus will also be opposing Pluto. This can bring up feelings of loss  having to do with love or the lack of love. It can also bring up fears of scarcity about financial matters. But Pluto in his most powerful form is about transformation. So in dealing with issues like this it bodes well to go to a deeper understanding of the situation to bring significant change in the outcome.
Venus will enter the sign of Leo on the 11th.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A nature spirit dancing in the mist of a waterfall.”

“The act of perception is always open-ended and unfinished.” David Abram

Today’s New Moon at 5 degrees of Leo ushers in a time (through the August 27 New Moon ) when it bodes well to be open to new and expansive perspectives as the Moon favorably aligns with Jupiter.

Mercury square Uranus indicates new and innovative  ways of thinking  can arise. It’s wise with this alignment, though, to slow down and avoid impulsiveness in speech and actions. There’s a brilliance but also a  restlessness and impatience that can be present when Mercury and Uranus are in a challenging configuration.

The New Moon also conjuncts Ceres indicating the beginning of a new cycle where a sense of excitement about approaching the future in a new and  open way can be present  It’s best to remain open to breakthroughs and innovative thoughts  that can open the door to new opportunities.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”a teacher gives new symbolic forms to traditional images.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

“Juno symbolizes the principle of relatedness. Through the vehicle of committed partnership she strives to realize a balanced union with another.”Demetra George

“All things new must change and only that which changes remains true.” Carl Jung

The week starts off as  Venus in Cancer squares Jupiter in Aries. The placement of Jupiter here tends to exaggerate the qualities of Venus in terms of pleasure. It’s wise to keep moderation in mind and watch for the tendency to overdo.

Juno, the asteroid of marriage and commitment stations retrograde at 21 degrees of Pisces on Monday.  In ancient times Juno was known as the guardian of childbirth and she symbolized the feminine principle of celestial light. She was the birth goddess who led children into the light. Her main function evolved down as the patroness of married women and she presided over all ceremonies related to legal marriage.

In contemporary times Juno is known as the asteroid of commitment and rules over legal agreements related to marriage, business and finance. This retrograde period offers a good time to review your commitments  (romantic, business and financial.) Pisces is a spiritual sign and this retrograde period (through October 22, 2022 when Juno will station at 7 Pisces.) also provides a good time to review how your values come into line  with your partnerships. For instance, in terms of  investments – it’s a good time to look at whether companies you are supporting support your values or perpetuate unhealthy practices.

It’s also in general a good time to review commitments and see if they are in need of updating – given the many changes we are experiencing in the world now.

The big news in astrology this week is the Mars/Uranus/North Node conjunction which is exact on August first but in effect now. This is a configuration of big change and is  likely to affect the fixed signs – Aquarius, Taurus, Leo and Scorpio most strongly. It’s about breaking up resistance to change in order to  move forward in a more authentic and innovative way.  For instance if you are an Aquarius Sun, this can be about waking up to a new sense of yourself. With Mercury in Taurus  or one of the fixed signs, there can be an awakening to a new way of thinking.

It’s wise, as Uranus governs sudden and unexpected change, to assume that whatever occurs at this time, that it  is leading us in the direction of  heightened awareness.  In the sign of Taurus this alignment is related to the earth’s resources, finance and on a personal level, self worth and self love. It can bring events that can shake up awareness and put us on a better path towards the future.

Jupiter stations retrograde on Thursday – the day of the New Moon at 5 degrees of Leo. More on this later in the week,

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”The wonder of the constellations of stars in the night sky.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

“Even
After
All this time
The Sun never says to the Earth,

You owe me.”  Hafiz

“Yours is the light by which my spirit’s born- you are my sun, my moon and all my stars.” e.e.cummings

The week starts off with a Mercury Pluto opposition. This combination is often seen in the charts of private investigators who are adept at getting to the bottom of things. It’s also often in the charts of people who do research of a deep and complex nature. In other words, this pair of planets gives the ability to see into the depth of things below the surface. It also give the potential for great vision and the power to create.

With Mercury’s rulership of speech this aspect can bring emotional intensity to communications. Feelings that are deep and repressed may surface unexpectedly. So it’s wise through the early part of  the week to exercise more care in communication.

Tuesday Mercury moves into the fiery sign of Leo. This ushers in the more sociable and fun loving part of the summer here in the northern hemisphere. The card of the Sun in the Tarot deck is associated with the sign of Leo. The painting on the card shows a small child joyously riding on a white horse. Behind them is a tall stone wall, symbolizing obstacles that seemed very daunting in the past, that they are leaving behind. Sunflowers grow near the wall symbolizing happiness. It is a card of freedom, happiness and moving away from burdens. It bodes well for creative self expression, fun and happiness.

Chiron, the asteroid of the Wounded Healer  stations retrograde on Tuesday at 16 degrees of Aries. Chiron in this sign is very much about healing the wounds of the inner masculine – how we manage anger, aggression, power and how in general we take action and move forward. Chiron is the asteroid which is about moving towards increased wholeness, making it a good time to look at our journey in this area.

The Sun, following Mercury, is transiting through the late degrees of Cancer and will oppose Pluto, the Lord of Transformation on Tuesday. This brings a time of intensity and deep feelings. It can exacerbate power struggles. There is a compulsive side to Pluto which can manifest when in a powerful alignment like this. It’s a good time to look at motives and emotions  that may normally be hidden but that can motivate actions.

Thursday, Eris, the goddess of upheaval, stations retrograde at 25 Aries. In mythology Eris is associated with war as she threw the apple of discord which started the Trojan War. There’s a radical side to Eris- she was enraged about  injustice or shadow issues that people don’t want to look at or acknowledge. She is sometimes associated with the enraged feminine – enraged over issues having to do with power-over by the patriarchy. Eris is associated with much of the chaos, upheaval and discord we see in the world today- empowered more by her recent alliance with Pluto.  Her role, ultimately  is to bring things to light that people don’t want to look at or acknowledge.

On Friday the Sun moves into Leo. This ushers in a more sociable time- a good time for getting together with friends and  making new ones.

The end of the week brings a good time for the expansion of vision as Jupiter aligns favorably with Pallas and Mercury. Jupiter can bring more optimism and a broader perspective on matters both personal and collective. The Pallas/ Mercury alignment gives the courage to take action.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A Greek muse weighing newborn twins in golden scales.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill