On December 22 Saturn finally completes two and a half years of drowning our ego in the deep waters of Scorpio. Most of us are stronger for it. None of us escaped without our fair share of pain. We've had to humble ourselves and look at our shit. When the sun begins its ascent toward spring, it also marks the moment that Saturn ventures into the world of Sagittarius. This will be a time of integrating the higher mind. Phrased brilliantly by Bill Herbst, "We organize the abstract environment in ways that increase the sensibility of the larger world - how it works, how it can work, and how it might ideally work if we better understand its underlying principles. The ninth is the first truly cultural house. Here we seek to discover the concerns that link human beings together. It's an intellectual realm, where we use the mind as a conscious instrument, entering fully into its own natural realm, creating patterns of understanding, as opposed to accumulating information. It is the pursuit of wisdom at the collective level."
Liz Greene, in her book Saturn: A New Look at an Old Devil, offers deep insight into Saturn's current transit. "It can often be the entire shell of the ego which is destroyed so you can develop a new center for your consciousness. The personality, with its confused mixture of warring components, some conscious and some unconscious, must go through the process of purification and death before it can yield the inner integration, the inner self, of which man's various god-figures are symbols. It is probable that in order for an individual to possess the sensitivity which can contribute to genius, he must therefore open himself to the possibility of madness for the initial sensitivity of the instrument is the same."
The writing's on the wall. We see the steps that need to be taken, the lessons that need to be integrated and the unwavering commitment it will take to sustain right alignment with our truth, especially as it relates to the collective. Saturn's journey from Scorpio into Sagittarius encourages us to look beyond what we think we know. Explore beyond the edge of everything we believe. Expand beyond the limiting notion that you exist only as a separate self.
“The whole universe is contained within. A single human being - you. Everything that you see around, including the things you might not be fond of and even the people you despise or abhor, is present within you in varying degrees. Therefore, do not look for satan outside yourself either. The devil is not an extraordinary force that attacks from without. It is an ordinary voice within. If you get to know yourself fully, facing with honesty and hardness both your dark and bright sides, you will arrive as a supreme form of consciousness. When a person knows himself or herself, he or she knows god.” ~ Shams Tabrizi
Sending warmth in blessings as winter marches on...
Ryan
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Mercury Retrograde with a Lunar and Solar Eclipse...
The mere mention of “Mercury Retrograde” sends most people into agonizing memories of dropped calls, forgotten appointments and other bizarre hiccups in how we communicate. While electronic blips and assorted communicative misgivings do seem to amplify during this three week transit, there’s a great deal to appreciate about this sudden shift away from business as usual.
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
~ Ferris Bueller
Take Mercury’s function in the larger pantheon of our planetary archetypes. This tiny planet negotiates the boundaries between the solar self (our natal Sun) and the world. It’s like a messenger, translating the Sun’s raw will into intelligible action. When Mercury is direct, the solar force of life is unimpeded. We’re oriented toward our worldly endeavors with little space for self-reflection. In her book titled Mercury Retrograde, Pythia Peay writes "Mercury retrograde presents us with the golden opportunity to look back over the experiences of the previous three months, and to process and digest our feelings.” Drop in and let yourself feel all the changes happening within you and around our world. Whatever your mind's been chewing on, take to heart the lessons and digest the experience. Much can be completed during this time. With Uranus still squaring Pluto, you may be surprised by what has to be let go. All that matters is what you choose to create with the new found space and available energy.
Since December 21 of last year we’ve seen some of the most explosive astrology I’ve ever studied. From the back-to-back-to-back retrograde transits of Venus, Mercury, Mars and Saturn, mixed in with the uber powerful grand cardinal cross, to a host of other events that served to rattle our cages, we’ve been forced to look at who we are and what we’re doing on this planet (see previous posts) with increasing awareness surrounding the consequences of our actions. On the microcosmic level that translates into each of our unique narratives. On the macrocosmic level there is no shortage of examples; Climate change, corporate corruption, resource consumption, etc.
Mercury retrogrades out of Scorpio and into the constellation Libra, where Mars spent the first eight and a half months of this year teaching us how to assert our will in a balanced way that's in right alignment with the highest of all. With the autumn equinox well underway, it's harvest time. Caveat emptor, the assorted lessons of 2014 could recycle once again if we refuse to let these old patterns die.
With Saturn rounding out two and a half years in Scorpio (complete on December 23, 2014), transformation of our tired old ego structures is essential. While old habits die hard, the intensity of the upcoming eclipses will light a fire under our asses to create a more balanced discipline in all areas of our lives. With a full lunar eclipse (exact at 3:55AM PDT on October 8) and a partial solar eclipse (exact at 2:25PM PDT on October 23) sandwiched between Mercury’s retrograde transit, your old stories, thoughts and fears may tug at your awareness. Remember your true nature and let old identifications burn up in the wildly creative Grand Fire Trine formed by Jupiter, Mars and Uranus.
Back in April and May these masculine planets joined Pluto to form the highly combative grand cardinal cross. Now these heavy hitters are playing harmoniously with one another. In other words, where we once felt beat down by all the resistance, now we embody our strength in resilience. The atmosphere is ripe for extremes in every direction, so beware. If we recognize our self-grasping tendencies and transmute them as they arise, in favor of altruism.
“The only cause of happiness is an altruistic mind. The only cause of suffering is self-grasping.”
~ the venerable Garchen Rinpoche
Pay attention to what comes up for you this month. Bring your awareness to your center as often as you can. Journal your thoughts, ideas and feelings. Wait to share or act on them until Mercury goes direct. If what you wrote/discovered holds true come November, feel free to act on it. In many cases you may just need to exorcise your thoughts or feelings through the written word, without projecting it on to your loved ones and engaging the world in your process.
Let this retrograde take you all the way in and guide you to the balance you seek. Get up close and personal with the cognitive dissonance of this human condition in such a way that you don’t use it to identify your Self with the story of your life. Where this dissonance once validated and perpetuated your story, there’s no better time to let that story die a ritual death (a wonderful time to create a ritual around completing old patterns is on or around the lunar eclipse) and reconcile the resistance and use it as the fuel we take into the winter months.
Whatever you're creating, producing, designing in a good way will be vastly supported by the transits to come in November and December. What we digest this month will open us evermore to the creative shakti of this universe. After all the thoughts and emotions we processed this year, much can be gained by letting the mind rest and dropping into the natural great peace of your heart's imagination. What can you create with all the energy previously spent fixating on your old thought forms and ego identifications...?
"It All Starts Now" ~ Alan Watts
http://cryptik.squarespace.com/home/it-starts-now-alan-watts.html
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
~ Ferris Bueller
Take Mercury’s function in the larger pantheon of our planetary archetypes. This tiny planet negotiates the boundaries between the solar self (our natal Sun) and the world. It’s like a messenger, translating the Sun’s raw will into intelligible action. When Mercury is direct, the solar force of life is unimpeded. We’re oriented toward our worldly endeavors with little space for self-reflection. In her book titled Mercury Retrograde, Pythia Peay writes "Mercury retrograde presents us with the golden opportunity to look back over the experiences of the previous three months, and to process and digest our feelings.” Drop in and let yourself feel all the changes happening within you and around our world. Whatever your mind's been chewing on, take to heart the lessons and digest the experience. Much can be completed during this time. With Uranus still squaring Pluto, you may be surprised by what has to be let go. All that matters is what you choose to create with the new found space and available energy.
Since December 21 of last year we’ve seen some of the most explosive astrology I’ve ever studied. From the back-to-back-to-back retrograde transits of Venus, Mercury, Mars and Saturn, mixed in with the uber powerful grand cardinal cross, to a host of other events that served to rattle our cages, we’ve been forced to look at who we are and what we’re doing on this planet (see previous posts) with increasing awareness surrounding the consequences of our actions. On the microcosmic level that translates into each of our unique narratives. On the macrocosmic level there is no shortage of examples; Climate change, corporate corruption, resource consumption, etc.
Mercury retrogrades out of Scorpio and into the constellation Libra, where Mars spent the first eight and a half months of this year teaching us how to assert our will in a balanced way that's in right alignment with the highest of all. With the autumn equinox well underway, it's harvest time. Caveat emptor, the assorted lessons of 2014 could recycle once again if we refuse to let these old patterns die.
With Saturn rounding out two and a half years in Scorpio (complete on December 23, 2014), transformation of our tired old ego structures is essential. While old habits die hard, the intensity of the upcoming eclipses will light a fire under our asses to create a more balanced discipline in all areas of our lives. With a full lunar eclipse (exact at 3:55AM PDT on October 8) and a partial solar eclipse (exact at 2:25PM PDT on October 23) sandwiched between Mercury’s retrograde transit, your old stories, thoughts and fears may tug at your awareness. Remember your true nature and let old identifications burn up in the wildly creative Grand Fire Trine formed by Jupiter, Mars and Uranus.
Back in April and May these masculine planets joined Pluto to form the highly combative grand cardinal cross. Now these heavy hitters are playing harmoniously with one another. In other words, where we once felt beat down by all the resistance, now we embody our strength in resilience. The atmosphere is ripe for extremes in every direction, so beware. If we recognize our self-grasping tendencies and transmute them as they arise, in favor of altruism.
“The only cause of happiness is an altruistic mind. The only cause of suffering is self-grasping.”
~ the venerable Garchen Rinpoche
Pay attention to what comes up for you this month. Bring your awareness to your center as often as you can. Journal your thoughts, ideas and feelings. Wait to share or act on them until Mercury goes direct. If what you wrote/discovered holds true come November, feel free to act on it. In many cases you may just need to exorcise your thoughts or feelings through the written word, without projecting it on to your loved ones and engaging the world in your process.
Let this retrograde take you all the way in and guide you to the balance you seek. Get up close and personal with the cognitive dissonance of this human condition in such a way that you don’t use it to identify your Self with the story of your life. Where this dissonance once validated and perpetuated your story, there’s no better time to let that story die a ritual death (a wonderful time to create a ritual around completing old patterns is on or around the lunar eclipse) and reconcile the resistance and use it as the fuel we take into the winter months.
Whatever you're creating, producing, designing in a good way will be vastly supported by the transits to come in November and December. What we digest this month will open us evermore to the creative shakti of this universe. After all the thoughts and emotions we processed this year, much can be gained by letting the mind rest and dropping into the natural great peace of your heart's imagination. What can you create with all the energy previously spent fixating on your old thought forms and ego identifications...?
"It All Starts Now" ~ Alan Watts
http://cryptik.squarespace.com/home/it-starts-now-alan-watts.html
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Full Moon in Scorpio conjunct Saturn, Mars going direct in Libra...
Quick caveat. There's a lot happening in the stars. Please read previous posts if you care to know more about the eclipses that preceded this full moon and the grand cardinal cross that, while still very much in effect, has moved just enough to give us all a bit of breathing room. I'll use an analogy for what I mean by "a bit." As April progressed into May, it was like a balloon was being inflated to the point of almost bursting (inside my head). Now, as Mars and Jupiter transit (slowly) out of their square (i.e. frictional) aspect, it's as though a pin has pricked the balloon. Only the balloon didn't pop. It's slowly letting out "a bit" of air. The pressure remains, but it's softening.
The Moon waxes full in Scorpio, exact in its opposition to the Sun at 12:14 PM PDT on Wednesday May 14. This full moon will be conjunct Saturn, the planet of limitation, integrity and discipline. The sign of Scorpio is known for, among many things, intense emotions and transformation. In a nutshell, this transit is like our emotionally sensitive inner child is seeking solace from a rigid disciplinarian who scoffs at our tears and belittles our fears. As a card carrying Scorpio (with the moon in Capricorn, the ruling planet of which is Saturn), I feel a bit of inside information on this one.
All Saturn wants is the facts. Irrational emotions have no place in the eyes of this rigid law maker. Pragmatism, impeccability and authentic truth matter most. Saturn's most important lesson is that spiritual growth occurs through the fulfillment of earthly responsibilities and obligations. Saturn governs the need to learn lessons on the physical plane. This earthly plane is one of duality, which dictates that every action produces an equal and opposite reaction. Hence the reason Saturn is called the "Lord of Karma." It occurs to me that our earthly responsibilities have to do with reconciling within ourselves the multitude of paradigms that are in desperate need of change. I'm positing that the macrocosm of Earth's imbalances are a direct reflection of the imbalance that's happening inside each and every one of us. While I can't stop the outer climate from changing, my inner climate is my domain. I've written in past posts about the dynamic tension inherent in duality, the oscillating frequencies that give this three dimensional world form. Black and White. Yin and Yang. Lunar and Solar. Left and Right. Good and Bad. Lack and Abundance. Sonny and Cher. Self and Ego. The list is endless. When we lean away from one polarity in favor of its opposite, tension arises between subjective and objective reality.
What does that mean?
It means that we're perpetuating the separation we feel. In a world full of seven billion people, with the web of technology and globalization connecting earth's population like never before in human history, people are conversely more distant, more diseased and more desperate than ever. The rate of increase in pharmaceutical prescriptions from year to year is astounding. While I could rant on about the industrial machine behind this trend and the utter dehumanization systemic in capitalist economics, that would only beleaguer the point I'm trying to make. I'm not separate from that. If I'm in reaction, it's mirroring an imbalance or a judgement in me that is mine to reconcile. It is incumbent upon each and every one of us to look deeper within when we're in reaction to what we perceive to be imbalanced in the people and the world around us. It is imperative that we find and remain in our center, and relate with it from that place. This has nothing to do with passivity, mind you. It has to do with Power. More on that in a moment.
I feel the Scorpio full moon implores us to go deeper within. Go all the way in. Feel what you have avoided feeling. Deconstruct the identity structures put in place to conceal or avoid feeling vulnerable. Be honest with yourself about the addictive behaviors that mask your pain and cover up your trauma. This isn't easy. In fact, being this vulnerable may be the most difficult thing a human being can do. As well the most rewarding. Oy vey, the duality!
A personal story to illustrate this point... I had a traumatic accident a few years ago that required some intense and invasive treatments to bring back to balance that which was knocked out of balance. While receiving bodywork from my teacher and mentor, as I was writhing in pain, crying my eyes out and genuinely feeling as raw as I'd ever felt in my life, he checked in and asked me how I was feeling. I answered "Vulnerable". He replied, in his characteristically compassionate and humorous way, "You know, Ryan, there's two sides to vulnerability. It's the point at which we're at our greatest weakness, which is also our greatest strength." I'm tearing up as I write this, as I did when he said it. This place in me that has no walls, no barriers, no masks to conceal the essence of who I AM, this is my greatest strength. To get there, I had to break it all down. Equal parts difficult and rewarding. The phoenix on his pyre...
With Saturn retrograding through Scorpio (it goes direct July 20), an assortment of outdated ego structures will continue to be exposed. So too the structures of our world will likely continue to show signs of collapse. Rather than identify with the fear of what's to come in these precarious times, address consciously and course correct the internal imbalance that puts your faith in question. Awaken your inner alchemist. Transmute the toxic thoughts of the egoistic mind. Much of this Mars retrograde cycle has been about seeing and (hopefully) giving up our traditional ways of using our force, in favor of accessing a higher power. This aspect in our psyche is exemplified by Mars (force) opposing Uranus (power), and their greater influence in the Grand Cardinal Cross.
To understand more clearly the distinction I'm trying to make, here's an excerpt from Power Vs. Force, by David Hawkins M.D. Ph.D.
"On examination, we see that power arises from meaning. It has to do with motive, and it has to do with principle. Power is always associated with that which supports the significance of life itself. It appeals to that part of human nature that we call noble--in contrast to force, which appeals to that which we call crass. Power appeals to what uplifts, dignifies, and enobles. Force must always be justified, whereas power requires no justification. Force is associated with the partial, power with the whole.
If we analyze the nature of force, it becomes readily apparent why it must always succumb to power; this is in accordance with one of the basic laws of physics. Because force automatically creates counter-force, its effects are limited by definition. We could say that force is movement--it goes from here to there (or tries to) against opposition. Power, on the other hand, is still. It's like a standing field that doesn't move. Gravity itself, for instance, doesn't move against anything. Its power moves all objects within its field, but the gravity field itself does not move.
Force always moves against something, whereas power doesn't move against anything at all. Force is incomplete and therefore has to be fed energy constantly. Power is total and complete in itself and requires nothing from the outside. It makes no demands; it has no needs. Because force has an insatiable appetite, it constantly consumes. Power, in contrast, energizes, gives forth, supplies and supports. Power gives life and energy--force takes these away. We notice that power is associated with compassion and makes us feel positively about ourselves. Force is associated with judgement and makes us feel poorly about ourselves.
In looking for the source of power, we've noted that it's associated with meaning, and this meaning has to do with the significance of life itself. True power emanates from consciousness itself; what we see is a visible manifestation of the invisible."
In one week Mars will go direct after nearly three months retrograde. The aspect of us that asserts ourselves in the world will finally get some forward momentum. Where we've felt a certain lull in our ability to do what needs to be done, we'll have some of that mojo back. It's all in service to relinquishing the old ways of using our personal force in favor of accessing the power than emanates from our collective consciousness. This reminds me of the Gayatri Mantra, and a translation of it that has always resonated with me...
Earth, Atmosphere, Heavens,
We meditate on the sacred light of the effulgent source.
Let that inspire our thoughts.
When Mars enters Scorpio on July 25, just after Saturn goes direct, we'll be playing on a whole new level. The key to upleveling your game when Mars goes into Scorpio, is tapping into the dark waters of this Scorpio full moon. In my humble estimation, the more we take dominion of and bring back into balance our inner realms during this time, the more in service to the outer world we will be. Intensity appears to be on the menu throughout 2014, and just as vulnerability is both our point of greatest weakness and our greatest strength, so too this intensity is both our point of greatest challenge and our greatest opportunity.
In gratitude for your unique contribution to our collective awakening.
Stellar blessings,
Ryan
namaste
www.bodyworkastrology.com
The Moon waxes full in Scorpio, exact in its opposition to the Sun at 12:14 PM PDT on Wednesday May 14. This full moon will be conjunct Saturn, the planet of limitation, integrity and discipline. The sign of Scorpio is known for, among many things, intense emotions and transformation. In a nutshell, this transit is like our emotionally sensitive inner child is seeking solace from a rigid disciplinarian who scoffs at our tears and belittles our fears. As a card carrying Scorpio (with the moon in Capricorn, the ruling planet of which is Saturn), I feel a bit of inside information on this one.
All Saturn wants is the facts. Irrational emotions have no place in the eyes of this rigid law maker. Pragmatism, impeccability and authentic truth matter most. Saturn's most important lesson is that spiritual growth occurs through the fulfillment of earthly responsibilities and obligations. Saturn governs the need to learn lessons on the physical plane. This earthly plane is one of duality, which dictates that every action produces an equal and opposite reaction. Hence the reason Saturn is called the "Lord of Karma." It occurs to me that our earthly responsibilities have to do with reconciling within ourselves the multitude of paradigms that are in desperate need of change. I'm positing that the macrocosm of Earth's imbalances are a direct reflection of the imbalance that's happening inside each and every one of us. While I can't stop the outer climate from changing, my inner climate is my domain. I've written in past posts about the dynamic tension inherent in duality, the oscillating frequencies that give this three dimensional world form. Black and White. Yin and Yang. Lunar and Solar. Left and Right. Good and Bad. Lack and Abundance. Sonny and Cher. Self and Ego. The list is endless. When we lean away from one polarity in favor of its opposite, tension arises between subjective and objective reality.
What does that mean?
It means that we're perpetuating the separation we feel. In a world full of seven billion people, with the web of technology and globalization connecting earth's population like never before in human history, people are conversely more distant, more diseased and more desperate than ever. The rate of increase in pharmaceutical prescriptions from year to year is astounding. While I could rant on about the industrial machine behind this trend and the utter dehumanization systemic in capitalist economics, that would only beleaguer the point I'm trying to make. I'm not separate from that. If I'm in reaction, it's mirroring an imbalance or a judgement in me that is mine to reconcile. It is incumbent upon each and every one of us to look deeper within when we're in reaction to what we perceive to be imbalanced in the people and the world around us. It is imperative that we find and remain in our center, and relate with it from that place. This has nothing to do with passivity, mind you. It has to do with Power. More on that in a moment.
I feel the Scorpio full moon implores us to go deeper within. Go all the way in. Feel what you have avoided feeling. Deconstruct the identity structures put in place to conceal or avoid feeling vulnerable. Be honest with yourself about the addictive behaviors that mask your pain and cover up your trauma. This isn't easy. In fact, being this vulnerable may be the most difficult thing a human being can do. As well the most rewarding. Oy vey, the duality!
A personal story to illustrate this point... I had a traumatic accident a few years ago that required some intense and invasive treatments to bring back to balance that which was knocked out of balance. While receiving bodywork from my teacher and mentor, as I was writhing in pain, crying my eyes out and genuinely feeling as raw as I'd ever felt in my life, he checked in and asked me how I was feeling. I answered "Vulnerable". He replied, in his characteristically compassionate and humorous way, "You know, Ryan, there's two sides to vulnerability. It's the point at which we're at our greatest weakness, which is also our greatest strength." I'm tearing up as I write this, as I did when he said it. This place in me that has no walls, no barriers, no masks to conceal the essence of who I AM, this is my greatest strength. To get there, I had to break it all down. Equal parts difficult and rewarding. The phoenix on his pyre...
With Saturn retrograding through Scorpio (it goes direct July 20), an assortment of outdated ego structures will continue to be exposed. So too the structures of our world will likely continue to show signs of collapse. Rather than identify with the fear of what's to come in these precarious times, address consciously and course correct the internal imbalance that puts your faith in question. Awaken your inner alchemist. Transmute the toxic thoughts of the egoistic mind. Much of this Mars retrograde cycle has been about seeing and (hopefully) giving up our traditional ways of using our force, in favor of accessing a higher power. This aspect in our psyche is exemplified by Mars (force) opposing Uranus (power), and their greater influence in the Grand Cardinal Cross.
To understand more clearly the distinction I'm trying to make, here's an excerpt from Power Vs. Force, by David Hawkins M.D. Ph.D.
"On examination, we see that power arises from meaning. It has to do with motive, and it has to do with principle. Power is always associated with that which supports the significance of life itself. It appeals to that part of human nature that we call noble--in contrast to force, which appeals to that which we call crass. Power appeals to what uplifts, dignifies, and enobles. Force must always be justified, whereas power requires no justification. Force is associated with the partial, power with the whole.
If we analyze the nature of force, it becomes readily apparent why it must always succumb to power; this is in accordance with one of the basic laws of physics. Because force automatically creates counter-force, its effects are limited by definition. We could say that force is movement--it goes from here to there (or tries to) against opposition. Power, on the other hand, is still. It's like a standing field that doesn't move. Gravity itself, for instance, doesn't move against anything. Its power moves all objects within its field, but the gravity field itself does not move.
Force always moves against something, whereas power doesn't move against anything at all. Force is incomplete and therefore has to be fed energy constantly. Power is total and complete in itself and requires nothing from the outside. It makes no demands; it has no needs. Because force has an insatiable appetite, it constantly consumes. Power, in contrast, energizes, gives forth, supplies and supports. Power gives life and energy--force takes these away. We notice that power is associated with compassion and makes us feel positively about ourselves. Force is associated with judgement and makes us feel poorly about ourselves.
In looking for the source of power, we've noted that it's associated with meaning, and this meaning has to do with the significance of life itself. True power emanates from consciousness itself; what we see is a visible manifestation of the invisible."
In one week Mars will go direct after nearly three months retrograde. The aspect of us that asserts ourselves in the world will finally get some forward momentum. Where we've felt a certain lull in our ability to do what needs to be done, we'll have some of that mojo back. It's all in service to relinquishing the old ways of using our personal force in favor of accessing the power than emanates from our collective consciousness. This reminds me of the Gayatri Mantra, and a translation of it that has always resonated with me...
Earth, Atmosphere, Heavens,
We meditate on the sacred light of the effulgent source.
Let that inspire our thoughts.
When Mars enters Scorpio on July 25, just after Saturn goes direct, we'll be playing on a whole new level. The key to upleveling your game when Mars goes into Scorpio, is tapping into the dark waters of this Scorpio full moon. In my humble estimation, the more we take dominion of and bring back into balance our inner realms during this time, the more in service to the outer world we will be. Intensity appears to be on the menu throughout 2014, and just as vulnerability is both our point of greatest weakness and our greatest strength, so too this intensity is both our point of greatest challenge and our greatest opportunity.
In gratitude for your unique contribution to our collective awakening.
Stellar blessings,
Ryan
namaste
www.bodyworkastrology.com
Monday, April 28, 2014
Solar Eclipse in Taurus
With the Solar Eclipse in Taurus at 11:14 PDT, conjunct the south node of the moon, this is very much a time of completion and new beginnings. Death and rebirth. The challenge with Taurus is the desire to hold on will be STRONG. If we surrender our long held attachments, a wealth of abundance can be opened in all areas. If you put action behind the intentions you set during this time, six months from now you'll be harvesting the fruits of your labor. First you have to clean up the mess and clear out the excess. We’re all in the midst of a cleaning up operation, going through a very real process of dying to an assortment of outdated structures (in our lives as well as our ego-structures). So too planet Earth and her ecosystem continue to show a desperate need for clean up. There's plenty of fear and conspiracy theory surrounding what's happening and who's to blame, but that's not the point of this blog. The point is what to do with the energy that becomes available when old structures fall.
The intense pulse from the cosmos (see previous post regarding the Grand Cardinal Cross) has been stirring what lives deep in the annals of our unconscious. As Mars continues its retrograde transit through the sign of Libra for one more month (goes direct May 19), what was once a sense of force, of making things happen, of asserting ourselves in less than conscious ways is giving way to a fierceness, a power that's greater than our personal will. Whatever you're stepping into or perhaps reclaiming, your innate capacity to reconcile all obstacles as they arise and instead use them as the energy you need to achieve your aim is the name of this awakening game.
Uranus is pushing this agenda with a lot of fire in Aries. We're reminded of the importance of finding a balanced way to work with our rebellious nature. Instead of rebelling against your own higher/inner authority, remember your capacity to consciously co-create. Relate with what's arising instead of react. Mercury is also conjunct the Sun and Moon during this solar eclipse. The great cosmic storyteller is handing us quell and ink. The time is now to rewrite our story and take authorship of our lives, as well as the life of our planet.
With Neptune in its ruling sign of Pisces, and Venus still moving through the dreamy sign of its exaltation, the stars are inviting us to live into a new dream. Any beliefs maintained that are incongruous with our true nature will stagnate this powerful energy. Let go of your social conventions, your cultural bias, and be who you are.
Also in a retrograde transit is Saturn in Scorpio and Pluto in Capricorn, adding all the transformational energy we need to release what has been... even that darkest of the dark demons. Eat that shit for breakfast and harness the energy it represents. Rebirth into the new structures you need to fulfill your dharma, your purpose, and give yourself the freedom to step into (and enjoy) the ways in which you can make this world a better place. The time of our healing, for our ancestors and all future generations, is as ripe as its ever been. The planets, the information, the ancient practices are at our disposal. All we have to do is listen and be guided. And most of all trust in our ability to relate with everything that's arising.
In summary, get clear on your intentions. Plant them in the fertile soil of mind free from doubt, disillusionment and fear. Take the courage you bring to the table to the next level. Bring fierce conviction to all your dreams, visions and what you feel called to create. Take advantage of this window in time. Let's make this the most magical year of our lives...so far!
In gratitude to all for your contribution to our collective awakening.
Stellar blessings,
Ryan
The intense pulse from the cosmos (see previous post regarding the Grand Cardinal Cross) has been stirring what lives deep in the annals of our unconscious. As Mars continues its retrograde transit through the sign of Libra for one more month (goes direct May 19), what was once a sense of force, of making things happen, of asserting ourselves in less than conscious ways is giving way to a fierceness, a power that's greater than our personal will. Whatever you're stepping into or perhaps reclaiming, your innate capacity to reconcile all obstacles as they arise and instead use them as the energy you need to achieve your aim is the name of this awakening game.
Uranus is pushing this agenda with a lot of fire in Aries. We're reminded of the importance of finding a balanced way to work with our rebellious nature. Instead of rebelling against your own higher/inner authority, remember your capacity to consciously co-create. Relate with what's arising instead of react. Mercury is also conjunct the Sun and Moon during this solar eclipse. The great cosmic storyteller is handing us quell and ink. The time is now to rewrite our story and take authorship of our lives, as well as the life of our planet.
With Neptune in its ruling sign of Pisces, and Venus still moving through the dreamy sign of its exaltation, the stars are inviting us to live into a new dream. Any beliefs maintained that are incongruous with our true nature will stagnate this powerful energy. Let go of your social conventions, your cultural bias, and be who you are.
Also in a retrograde transit is Saturn in Scorpio and Pluto in Capricorn, adding all the transformational energy we need to release what has been... even that darkest of the dark demons. Eat that shit for breakfast and harness the energy it represents. Rebirth into the new structures you need to fulfill your dharma, your purpose, and give yourself the freedom to step into (and enjoy) the ways in which you can make this world a better place. The time of our healing, for our ancestors and all future generations, is as ripe as its ever been. The planets, the information, the ancient practices are at our disposal. All we have to do is listen and be guided. And most of all trust in our ability to relate with everything that's arising.
In summary, get clear on your intentions. Plant them in the fertile soil of mind free from doubt, disillusionment and fear. Take the courage you bring to the table to the next level. Bring fierce conviction to all your dreams, visions and what you feel called to create. Take advantage of this window in time. Let's make this the most magical year of our lives...so far!
In gratitude to all for your contribution to our collective awakening.
Stellar blessings,
Ryan
Friday, February 28, 2014
Spring Equinox, Mercury and Jupiter Direct, Mars and Saturn retrograde, Grand Cardinal Cross...
For many of us, clarity on what steps to take on our path has been in short supply. The Sun’s journey through Pisces, the final sign in the zodiac, is traditionally a groundless, watery exploration of the core feelings we’d rather not feel, the nebulous realms of our unconscious motivations and the delusions they perpetuate. Adding to the uncertainty of it all is a host of planetary transits, some going retrograde and others going direct. To better understand what it means when a planet goes retrograde, let’s use a basketball analogy. It’s like a star player taking the court with an injury. In many ways his game suffers. In other ways he overcompensates and rises to the occasion when called upon. Taking a seat on the bench isn’t an option. It can be messy in moments and exceptional in others. Consistent it isn’t. Conversely, when a planet goes direct it’s like he’s just come off injured reserve. Where he was once limited, his mojo is now in full effect. With the game on the line, we want the ball in his hands.
Preceding the upcoming Spring Equinox (March 20) we have two planets going retrograde and two more going direct at roughly the same time. Mars and Saturn entered their retrograde transits (on March 1 & 2, respectively), while Mercury and Jupiter moved out of their retrograde transit and went direct (on February 28 and March 6, respectively).
Mercury and Jupiter rule over the lower and higher faculties of the mind. From our day-to-day cognition, communication and associative thinking (Mercury), to our broader vision of reality and expanding our awareness of the divine perceiving and communicating through us in a more altruistic, benevolent and creative way (Jupiter). These two moving direct offer us the timely insights we need to better perceive and recognize our path and our truth, something that was largely obscured for much of the last few months.
Mars rules over our assertive power, our creative impulse and our sexual drive while Saturn rules over our discipline, responsibility and sense of limitation. We’re called now to take stock in where we’ve been over-asserting our power, and conversely where we’ve been giving it away. Where we've been side-stepping our responsibilities and perpetuated a false sense of limitation. The energy of winter is one of going within to appreciate the stillness of what's true as well to acknowledge the commotion created in our lives by maintaining what isn't. This is the stuff we need to reconcile once and for all, because the last thing we want is to carry last year's paradigm into the action-packed spring to come.
How we "do" the world (Mars and Saturn) is likely going to be truculent and challenging. The upcoming transits will bring another wave of shaking up old patterns. It will break down outdated structures. It will require resilience and trust. How we "perceive" the world (Mercury and Jupiter) is likely going to be fluid and expansive. We will find in ourselves a faith in our capacity to create with all the energy that arises from these falling structures. Rather than play victim, we will see all too clearly that one door closing opens another of even greater potential. One thing is for sure, the growth will be substantial. How we orient to the growing pains, that's where choice comes in.
Ask yourself a simple question; What resonates for me? Act not out of consistency, but out of truth. I realize this is easier said than done, but the astrology of our time demands it. It occurs to me that what resonates for me may not be consistent with the cultural memes and habituations perpetuated by my ancestors. Remembering the words of G.I. Gurdjieff, "Culture is your enemy," it appears that disentanglement from the unconscious narrative of my ancestors is the order of the day. Assorted transits have been bouncing Earth around like pin ball of late. Shaking loose our grip on outdated habits and belief systems. I'm reminded again and again, the more I hold on, the harder the shaking gets. The path is different for each one of us, but the process undertaken is shared by all. For those of us ignoring the natural leaning of our consciousness, in favor of perpetuating unconscious patterns, the approaching wakeup call will be particularly loud.
The final lunar cycle of the year urges us to tap into my capacity to create with all that's arising. How? A friend's bumper sticker comes to mind: BEGIN WITHIN. Thought forms arise. I identify in order to dis-identify. I say no, so that I can say yes. I am not my perception. I simply am. I bear witness to what feels resonant. As well I take heed in that which is dissonant. I remember to choose to lean toward the resonant, for in the gap between my thoughts is housed conscious choice, and I am mindful that I am at choice with how I relate to all that's arising. Forty years ago, while forecasting humanity's upcoming challenges (i.e. our present day reality), Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche said... "I have no doubt the challenges will be considerable, but I never question human being's capacity to relate with whatever is arising."
The month of March will have its share of challenges and opportunities. There will likely persist a sense of imbalance and injustice. In early April, when Mars retrogrades into direct opposition with Uranus, these two powerhouses will be in a super-charged Grand Square (or Grand Cross) with Pluto’s opposition to Jupiter. This will place Earth smack in the middle of some intense friction. When we have four planets with very different agendas, each unwilling to yield to the force of the other, the charge will be unrelenting. This is where we bring the aforementioned expansive perception to the fore of our experience.
Let's examine all the archetypal dynamics at play during this transit:
The Warrior (Mars) who asserts, defends and fights for our personal desires will be operating with limited mojo while he's retrograde in Libra, a sign he's already extremely uncomfortable in. In essence, how we normally assert ourselves will be muted in favor of tuning in to something higher, more transpersonal in nature. Keep in mind that planets in retrograde act out in extremes as well. What may feel diffuse on one hand, might compensate in excess on the other. It will be imperative to take responsibility (the ability to respond) for our reactive tendencies, especially in areas you feel injustice or a sense of imbalance. We react from instinct. We respond from intuition.
The Awakener (Uranus) in Aries, opposing the weakly stationed Mars, gives our intuitive faculties exponentially more power than our instinctual nature. Our capacity (along with our need) to deviate from the expected in order to recognize and embody our individuality is at full throttle during this transit. When confronted by your thoughts, or by someone or something in our external environment, take a breath. Pause. Ask yourself, how can I relate with this differently than I normally do? The quote most applicable here... "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." Like never before we will best be served by thinking outside the box and approaching moments of confrontation or challenge from a different, more intuitive perception.
Squaring both of these planets is The Benevolent (Jupiter), who expands our horizons, instills faith and bestows abundance in all areas. The friction of the largest planet in our solar system squaring the aforementioned Uranus/Mars opposition will be substantial. The expansive nature of Jupiter, in the sign of Cancer, augments our intuitive and creative faculties immensely. Jupiter will also be in a harmonious trine aspect with Venus as it transits from Neptune to Chiron in Pisces (April 7 - 21st) . Let the linear mind rest. This will be an exquisite time to listen to the abstract creative flow of the feminine, heal and be nurtured by this connection and create anew our perception of the world.
Rounding out the Grand Square is The Transformer (Pluto) in Capricorn. He burns up the useless, transmutes the poison and grants us rebirth. Arguably the most intense player in the game ("dwarf" planet or not), his transit through Capricorn began in 2008. Since that time we have seen a great deal of instability in every structure built on false pretenses and lies, both within ourselves and with one another. The last time Pluto transited Capricorn, the upheavals we significant (See: The American Revolution and The French Revolution, among other substantial structural transformations). Pluto will also go retrograde (April 14) during this transit. The house of cards built on our unconscious projections will likely give way to Jupiter’s mission to expand our conscious awareness. It occurs to me to look at the unskillful side of Capricorn most in need of transformation within my self and in this world. The pundit.
Webster's definition of pundit: "a source of opinion; a critic." We each have our own unique version. When I ponder the origin point of this inner-critic, I suspect it's part and parcel with the human condition. Upon further examination, I realize the inner-critic generates a narrative of my life based on my beliefs. I then remember the words of Alan Watts (a Capricorn)… "You cannot escape in all matter of belief from opinion...," which leads to the realization that my perception is indelibly shaped by my opinions, while my beliefs architect the foundation of my reality. With Saturn retrograde in Scorpio, the time is now to restructure this critic to be constructive as opposed to limiting.
"Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end up really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Pay no mind to the demons that fill you with fear. How we relate with what's to come is something we are at choice with. The more objective we remain in our perception, the more creative we will be with whatever arises. Align your thoughts with what resonates with your true vision, regardless of whether it's congruent with your current cultural paradigm. This will align you with the rainbow bridge of the realms within your heart, your subjective and objective awareness, filling the gap between the unconscious mind and the flowering of human consciousness.
Remember... Pain is but one among a myriad of inevitable human experiences. Suffering is a choice. In the words of the venerable Garchen Rinpoche; "There is only one cause of happiness and one cause of suffering. Only one. The only cause of happiness is an altruistic mind. The only cause of suffering is self-grasping."
As we continue to let go of (or have ripped out of our hands) the old identifications we know in our hearts to be relics of a self we’ve outgrown, we're provided a wonderful opportunity to bring altruism and compassion to the fore of our interactions, within ourselves and with others.
Stellar blessings,
Ryan
www.bodyworkastrology.com
namaste
Preceding the upcoming Spring Equinox (March 20) we have two planets going retrograde and two more going direct at roughly the same time. Mars and Saturn entered their retrograde transits (on March 1 & 2, respectively), while Mercury and Jupiter moved out of their retrograde transit and went direct (on February 28 and March 6, respectively).
Mercury and Jupiter rule over the lower and higher faculties of the mind. From our day-to-day cognition, communication and associative thinking (Mercury), to our broader vision of reality and expanding our awareness of the divine perceiving and communicating through us in a more altruistic, benevolent and creative way (Jupiter). These two moving direct offer us the timely insights we need to better perceive and recognize our path and our truth, something that was largely obscured for much of the last few months.
Mars rules over our assertive power, our creative impulse and our sexual drive while Saturn rules over our discipline, responsibility and sense of limitation. We’re called now to take stock in where we’ve been over-asserting our power, and conversely where we’ve been giving it away. Where we've been side-stepping our responsibilities and perpetuated a false sense of limitation. The energy of winter is one of going within to appreciate the stillness of what's true as well to acknowledge the commotion created in our lives by maintaining what isn't. This is the stuff we need to reconcile once and for all, because the last thing we want is to carry last year's paradigm into the action-packed spring to come.
How we "do" the world (Mars and Saturn) is likely going to be truculent and challenging. The upcoming transits will bring another wave of shaking up old patterns. It will break down outdated structures. It will require resilience and trust. How we "perceive" the world (Mercury and Jupiter) is likely going to be fluid and expansive. We will find in ourselves a faith in our capacity to create with all the energy that arises from these falling structures. Rather than play victim, we will see all too clearly that one door closing opens another of even greater potential. One thing is for sure, the growth will be substantial. How we orient to the growing pains, that's where choice comes in.
Ask yourself a simple question; What resonates for me? Act not out of consistency, but out of truth. I realize this is easier said than done, but the astrology of our time demands it. It occurs to me that what resonates for me may not be consistent with the cultural memes and habituations perpetuated by my ancestors. Remembering the words of G.I. Gurdjieff, "Culture is your enemy," it appears that disentanglement from the unconscious narrative of my ancestors is the order of the day. Assorted transits have been bouncing Earth around like pin ball of late. Shaking loose our grip on outdated habits and belief systems. I'm reminded again and again, the more I hold on, the harder the shaking gets. The path is different for each one of us, but the process undertaken is shared by all. For those of us ignoring the natural leaning of our consciousness, in favor of perpetuating unconscious patterns, the approaching wakeup call will be particularly loud.
The final lunar cycle of the year urges us to tap into my capacity to create with all that's arising. How? A friend's bumper sticker comes to mind: BEGIN WITHIN. Thought forms arise. I identify in order to dis-identify. I say no, so that I can say yes. I am not my perception. I simply am. I bear witness to what feels resonant. As well I take heed in that which is dissonant. I remember to choose to lean toward the resonant, for in the gap between my thoughts is housed conscious choice, and I am mindful that I am at choice with how I relate to all that's arising. Forty years ago, while forecasting humanity's upcoming challenges (i.e. our present day reality), Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche said... "I have no doubt the challenges will be considerable, but I never question human being's capacity to relate with whatever is arising."
The month of March will have its share of challenges and opportunities. There will likely persist a sense of imbalance and injustice. In early April, when Mars retrogrades into direct opposition with Uranus, these two powerhouses will be in a super-charged Grand Square (or Grand Cross) with Pluto’s opposition to Jupiter. This will place Earth smack in the middle of some intense friction. When we have four planets with very different agendas, each unwilling to yield to the force of the other, the charge will be unrelenting. This is where we bring the aforementioned expansive perception to the fore of our experience.
Let's examine all the archetypal dynamics at play during this transit:
The Warrior (Mars) who asserts, defends and fights for our personal desires will be operating with limited mojo while he's retrograde in Libra, a sign he's already extremely uncomfortable in. In essence, how we normally assert ourselves will be muted in favor of tuning in to something higher, more transpersonal in nature. Keep in mind that planets in retrograde act out in extremes as well. What may feel diffuse on one hand, might compensate in excess on the other. It will be imperative to take responsibility (the ability to respond) for our reactive tendencies, especially in areas you feel injustice or a sense of imbalance. We react from instinct. We respond from intuition.
The Awakener (Uranus) in Aries, opposing the weakly stationed Mars, gives our intuitive faculties exponentially more power than our instinctual nature. Our capacity (along with our need) to deviate from the expected in order to recognize and embody our individuality is at full throttle during this transit. When confronted by your thoughts, or by someone or something in our external environment, take a breath. Pause. Ask yourself, how can I relate with this differently than I normally do? The quote most applicable here... "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." Like never before we will best be served by thinking outside the box and approaching moments of confrontation or challenge from a different, more intuitive perception.
Squaring both of these planets is The Benevolent (Jupiter), who expands our horizons, instills faith and bestows abundance in all areas. The friction of the largest planet in our solar system squaring the aforementioned Uranus/Mars opposition will be substantial. The expansive nature of Jupiter, in the sign of Cancer, augments our intuitive and creative faculties immensely. Jupiter will also be in a harmonious trine aspect with Venus as it transits from Neptune to Chiron in Pisces (April 7 - 21st) . Let the linear mind rest. This will be an exquisite time to listen to the abstract creative flow of the feminine, heal and be nurtured by this connection and create anew our perception of the world.
Rounding out the Grand Square is The Transformer (Pluto) in Capricorn. He burns up the useless, transmutes the poison and grants us rebirth. Arguably the most intense player in the game ("dwarf" planet or not), his transit through Capricorn began in 2008. Since that time we have seen a great deal of instability in every structure built on false pretenses and lies, both within ourselves and with one another. The last time Pluto transited Capricorn, the upheavals we significant (See: The American Revolution and The French Revolution, among other substantial structural transformations). Pluto will also go retrograde (April 14) during this transit. The house of cards built on our unconscious projections will likely give way to Jupiter’s mission to expand our conscious awareness. It occurs to me to look at the unskillful side of Capricorn most in need of transformation within my self and in this world. The pundit.
Webster's definition of pundit: "a source of opinion; a critic." We each have our own unique version. When I ponder the origin point of this inner-critic, I suspect it's part and parcel with the human condition. Upon further examination, I realize the inner-critic generates a narrative of my life based on my beliefs. I then remember the words of Alan Watts (a Capricorn)… "You cannot escape in all matter of belief from opinion...," which leads to the realization that my perception is indelibly shaped by my opinions, while my beliefs architect the foundation of my reality. With Saturn retrograde in Scorpio, the time is now to restructure this critic to be constructive as opposed to limiting.
"Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end up really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning." ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Pay no mind to the demons that fill you with fear. How we relate with what's to come is something we are at choice with. The more objective we remain in our perception, the more creative we will be with whatever arises. Align your thoughts with what resonates with your true vision, regardless of whether it's congruent with your current cultural paradigm. This will align you with the rainbow bridge of the realms within your heart, your subjective and objective awareness, filling the gap between the unconscious mind and the flowering of human consciousness.
Remember... Pain is but one among a myriad of inevitable human experiences. Suffering is a choice. In the words of the venerable Garchen Rinpoche; "There is only one cause of happiness and one cause of suffering. Only one. The only cause of happiness is an altruistic mind. The only cause of suffering is self-grasping."
As we continue to let go of (or have ripped out of our hands) the old identifications we know in our hearts to be relics of a self we’ve outgrown, we're provided a wonderful opportunity to bring altruism and compassion to the fore of our interactions, within ourselves and with others.
Stellar blessings,
Ryan
www.bodyworkastrology.com
namaste
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