Amelia’s Blog

“Spring is like a perhaps hand
(which comes carefully
out of Nowhere) arranging
a window, into which people look (while
people stare
arranging and changing placing
carefully there a strange
thing and a known thing here)and

changing everything carefully.” e.e. cummings

Mercury stations retrograde Friday April 21  in the wee hours at 4:35 am EDT at 15 degrees of Taurus. The retrograde period will last through May 14 when it will station direct at 5 degrees of Taurus.

Mercury will station conjunct the Moon indicating that this time period will be good for developing psychic and intuitive abilities.   Mercury will be also be conjunct Uranus, the planet of innovation and the unexpected. This can lead to sudden  flashes of insight and original thinking.

With Pluto squaring the Sun there is transformative energy throughout the retrograde period -making this a good time to get things done.

It’s wise as always with Mercury retrogrades, to make sure important  information is backed up and to take more care with communication and travel.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”On the beach, children play while shellfish grope at the edge of the water.

“To see things in the
seed, that is genius.”Lao Tzu

The New Moon – when the two luminaries, the Sun and the Moon are conjunct, provides an excellent time for renewal and for an inspired, energized new start.

A Solar Eclipse is like a very powerful New Moon and while the influence of the New Moon is said to last for four weeks, the influence of a Solar Eclipse is said to last for six months.

This month’s Solar Eclipse is April 20 at 29 degrees of Aries.  Isabelle Hickey refers to people born under this Mars-rules sign as “the pioneers of the zodiac.”  Aries are good at starting things and are known for their courage, their strength and their leadership abilities. The sign of Aries is symbolized by the ram and people born under this sign have the ability to look at obstacles as a challenge and move through them in a courageous and highly determined  way.

The days leading up to the Eclipse provide a good time to explore new ways to move forward when facing attitudes, habits and beliefs that you’d like to change.

At the time of the Eclipse the Sun and Moon are squaring Pluto. This indicates the possibility of getting drawn into power struggles and strong feelings. It’s best under the influence.though, to focus on your goals instead and take advantage of the hope, optimism and expansion offered by Jupiter’s close proximity to the Sun and Moon.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”The music of the spheres.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Relationship is a cold word. It has no vibrancy, like, for instance, kinship, which immediately stirs something in the blood, or like love with its infinity of overtones.” Irene Claremont de Castillejo

The week starts off with Uranus, the planet of revolutionary changes conjunct   Juno, the asteroid of marriage and commitment. This pair has been traveling together for awhile now and reflects the  desire for more authenticity and freedom in relationships and the push back against it.

Uranus in Taurus also  brings the desire for freedom from traditions that have outlived their time. This can open the door to new opportunities in relationship and can also signal the need for more distance in others.

On Tuesday Venus moves out of the sign of Taurus into Gemini. Venus in this sign likes space in relationships. It’s a good time for getting together with friends and socializing. It’s also a good time for pursuing intellectual interests.

Venus at 0 Gemini will make a favorable alignment with Pluto on Tuesday as well, ushering in a good time to look at  any changes you’d like to make in the relationship sphere related to self empowerment. Pluto is the god of transformation and this provides a good time as well to look at any financial changes you’d like to make that could move things in a better direction.

The Sun moves up to favorable alignment with  Jupiter on Tuesday – bringing optimism, luck and a sense of expansion. With both planets in the adventurous sign of Aries, this provides a good time to take action on projects you would like to get started.

Venus will move up to a square to Saturn later in the week bringing a more serious time or a time when a sense of lack may be present.

We are heading into an Eclipse period now with the first Solar Eclipse on April 20 at 29 degrees of Aries. In a nutshell this is an eclipse that heralds a time of beginnings with a strong focus on courage, independence and action.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is.”A new continent is rising out of the ocean.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“I like it better here where I can just sit quietly and smell the flowers.” Ferdinand the Bull

The fleet- footed god of thought and communication, Mercury enters the earthy sign of  Taurus on Tuesday this week. This can usher in a time when thinking and communication can become more focused and grounded.

It also is a good time to get out into nature and appreciate all that the natural world provides for us.

Mercury will travel direct  through much of April and then station retrograde on April 21 at 15 degrees of Taurus. The  retrograde period will last until May 14.

The Moon waxes Full this Thursday April 6 at 16 degrees of Libra. At this time the Moon is opposite Chiron and Jupiter, making this a good time to think about bringing more balance, diplomacy and harmony into relationships.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is, “After the storms of winter a boat landing stands in need of reconstruction.”

“We cannot suspend our values during the workday and think we will have them when we get back home. We’re all inter-connected. There is a spiritual dimension to business just as to individuals.” Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield

“Beauty awakens the soul to act.” Dante Alighieri

Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, is now aligning with Uranus, the planet of the unexpected. There can be surprises under this influence and also inspirations that seem to come out of nowhere. It provides  a good time to think about bringing more beauty and pleasure into your life.

This is also a good aspect under which to evaluate or reevaluate personal values and what is most important to us on a deep level. Venus rules finances and it’s a good time to explore innovative financial ideas but best to avoid risk taking -under this influence.

Mars and Saturn are in a favorable alignment now and provide a good time to accomplish things that may have been put to the side.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A symbolic battle between the disciples of might and the disciples of enlightenment.”

 

 

“Come with me into the woods where spring is
advancing as it does, no matter what,
not being singular or particular, but one
of the forever gifts, and certainly visible.” Mary Oliver

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” Goethe

The Spring Equinox, when the Sun enters the dynamic, fiery sign of Aries is Monday March 2o. The New Moon follows shortly thereafter on Tuesday the 21st at 1:23 AM.

This New Moon is at 0 degrees of Aries and is particularly powerful.  It offers a good time for a new start with determination, focus and drive. The Sun and Moon are  squaring Mars and forming a harmonious alignment with Pluto. Pluto and Mars are the powerhouse planets of the zodiac and this alignment  provides  the  power, energy and courage to move forward with desired initiatives and overcome obstacles.

Mars and Pluto are in a quincunx alignment indicating a good time to focus on how you use and direct your energy.  People born with the Sun in Aries are often able to accomplish their goals due to their energetic, single minded focus and clear goals.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A woman has risen out of the ocean, a seal is embracing her.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

 

“Healing seeks to balance the inner and outer worlds, to connect and to integrate. Healing is the reuniting of the body, mind and spirit.” Diane Mariechild

Jupiter and Chiron have been traveling together for a few weeks and are now starting to separate. Jupiter can bring wisdom and illumination to the fragmentation and limitation old wounds can cause.  Chiron’s journey of wounding and healing – which lasts throughout a lifetime -can lead to an increased sense of wholeness and personal evolution.

It’s wise to provide some downtime during the next few days to integrate any perceptions like this that may be surfacing.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”An empty hammock hangs between two lovely trees.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

“The dream image planted in the body acts as a magnet attracting the energy, transforming it and releasing it as healing power.” Marion Woodman

“Dreams are always urging us towards greater wholeness.” Jack Maguire

This is a good week for dreams and for creative and spiritual endeavors with Mars – the planet of dynamic action forming a challenging aspect to Neptune, the planet of dreams and illusions and the Sun moving up to a conjunction to Neptune .

It’s wise to heighten awareness about personal boundaries as this week’s  aspects – in addition to Saturn in Pisces – can lead to weakening or erosion of them.

It bodes well too, to make time  for rest and rejuvenation as we move towards the fiery Spring Equinox on April 21 when the Sun enters Aries.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is, “A harvest moon illuminates the sky.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

 

 

“Newness is the place where the familiar and the unexpected meet; the place of life and emergence.” David Spangler

“No one can give a definition of soul. But we know what it feels like. The soul is a burning desire to breathe in this world of light – and never to lose it – to remain children of light.” Albert Schweitzer

The Moon waxes Full Tuesday at 7:40 AM EDT  at 16 degrees of Virgo. At this time Uranus is making a harmonious alignment with both the Sun and the Moon. This brings spontaneity and a sense of emotional freedom into the picture. It can heighten intuition, lower inhibitions and create a sense of excitement and a willingness to explore new opportunities and possibilities.

The Moon and Venus are in a challenging alignment making this a good time to be open to new ideas and perceptions about self love and self esteem.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A fine lace ornamental handkerchief.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“A gift of any kind is a considerable responsibility. It is a mystery in itself, something gratuitous and wholly undeserved, something whose real uses will probably be hidden from us.” Flannery O’Connor

“The fragrance always remains in the hand that gives the rose.”  Gandhi

Yesterday I went into town to a local cafe to get a cup of cappuccino.

I stepped up to the counter and placed my order with a young woman. And as I was reaching for my wallet, I looked up and she, holding up a handful of dollar bills, said,”I have cash.”

I looked at her quizzically, not understanding what she meant and she said again,”I have cash. Your coffee is free. There is a little boy who comes in here with his father sometimes and he always leaves money for someone to have a free drink.”

The Jupiter/Venus was exact last week but is still widely in effect. This planetary duo is known for good luck, generosity and abundance.

Also on another note  in terms of numerology there is a Major Arcana card for every year. The card for 2023 is The Chariot – card about moving forward with focus and determination. In the Sharman/Caselli  deck  the card  depicts a Charioteer driving a cart pulled by two horses – one black and one white. The horses represent polarities or forces that must be kept in balance in order to keep moving forward. The horses wear blinders to avoid distraction and stay focused. The Charioteer wears a breastplate with an emblem of the Moon, signifying this card’s association with the sign of Cancer – a sign  symbolized by the crab with its hard outer shell – a reminder of the need for strong boundaries when moving towards goals or aspirations.

In general this indicates in 2023 it will be helpful when moving towards goals to keep distraction at bay, maintain equilibrium and overcome obstacles with focus and  determination.

A lot can be accomplished with  this approach this year.