Category: Amelia’s Blog

“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.

 

 

“What seas, what shores, what grey rocks and what islands
What water lapping the bow
And scent of pine and the wood thrush singing through the
fog.
What images return
O my daughter.” TS Eliot

“You are like Rilke’s swan in his awkward waddling across the ground;the swan doesn’t cure his awkwardness by beating himself on the back, by moving faster or by trying to organize himself better. He does it by moving toward the elemental water where he belongs. It is the simple contact with the water that gives him grace and presence. You only have to touch the elemental waters in your own life, and it will transform everything.” David Whyte

Saturn is now transiting through the late degrees of Aquarius, preparing to to enter the watery sign of Pisces on March 7.  The transit of the sign will last through late May 2025 with a brief stint back into late Aquarius.

Pisces is the sign of sensitivity,creativity and imagination. It is a sensitive, dreamy, sometimes other-worldly sign which is sometimes prone to disillusionment.

Saturn is the sign of boundaries, of the law and of rules. When this planet enters Pisces one of the interpretations of it is the dissolution of boundaries. This can have a very positive side to it as old and rigid thought and belief patterns can fade away,seemingly effortlessly, making room for new ideas and solutions.

Venus and Jupiter are conjunct this week in Aries. Jupiter is known as a benefic in Astrology because his influence brings abundance, pleasure and optimism. Because the planets are in Aries, it indicates a time of increased courage and a good time to take on new initiatives. It is widely a triple conjunction with Chiron indicating the ability to overcome obstacles from the past. Look to your chart to see which house this conjunction is transiting and what area of your life will benefit from it.

Mercury will be conjunct Saturn this week indicating a good time for serious thinking and a good time for planning and organization. This can sometimes be a time of mental heaviness or sadness but it should be mitigated a bit by the Jupiter/Venus conjunction.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A flock of wild geese.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Though I am old and wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands;
And walk among long dappled grass,
And pluck til time and times are done,
The silver apples of the moon,
The golden apples of the sun.” W.B. Yeats

The New Moon is Monday February 20 at 2:06 AM EST at 1 degree of Pisces. At this time the Sun and Moon are aligned positively with Saturn.  Also  Venus will be aligning favorably with Pluto. This presents a very good time for organization, for structuring things in an orderly way and for getting rid of clutter. Significant accomplishments  may  come about as a result of managing this next Lunar cycle – through March 21 – with determination and focus.

It is a good time to formalize business agreements, to deepen romantic  relationships and move relationships (of all kinds) in a more committed direction.

One of the Sabian symbols for this time is,”A woman reading tea leaves.”

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill

“Neptune steps up the personal affections to the plane of Universal  Love and Divine Compassion.” Isabel Hickey

“When Matisse was asked whether he believed in God, his response was, “Yes, when I am working.” Marion Woodman

This week Venus, the goddess of love and  pleasure moves up to a conjunction with Neptune early in the week. This ushers in a time that bodes well for romance, spiritual growth and creativity. This aspect is found in the charts of many artists including Michelangelo. It is also in the charts of spiritual seekers. Individuals with this aspect can have a sensitive, dreamy nature, be  idealistic and  sometimes, a bit otherworldly.

The Venus Neptune conjunction will be nearly exact on Tuesday – Valentine’s Day.

The Sun moves up to a conjunction  to Saturn on Thursday bringing in a more serious tone. This is a good time for planning and organizing and getting things done. As Caroline Casey has written,”Saturn lays the tracks for the reality train to follow.”

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

Sabian symbol from Lynda Hill