Astro Tips: Full Moon in Gemini December 3, 2017

December 3, 2017.  Full Moon in Gemini at 11 degrees.

This full moon is not a mere invitation.  It is a high frequency siren piercing through the night. Rumi says in his poetry, Wake up Wake up. Remember that old saying, “I was asleep when I thought I was awake”? Here it is again.

The Sun in Sagittarius forms a wide conjunction with Venus and both oppose the full moon in airy Gemini.  With the Sagittarius/Gemini polarity, the Gemini collects information. Gemini is forever curious and likes to share what it learns. The opposite sign, Sagittarius, is the part that integrates and finds meaning in the information.  With this full moon we might lay out bits of information and attempt to understand and find meaning in the puzzle before us.  Our ability to make sense and find meaning is complicated by planet Neptune. Neptune sits in between the Sun and the Moon, challenging us to choose the high road to Neptune or slide down the low road.

Astrology associates Neptune with all that lies beyond the veil, with things that are hidden and with attributes that are less concerned with the material plane.  A person who chooses compassion over self-interest might be described as someone on the high Neptunian path.  Neptune is also associated with the mystical realm, metaphysical thought, and sublime forms of art (music, poetry, photography and filmmaking for example).  There are many misty clouds surrounding Neptune, giving the suggestion that Neptune hides reality from easy view. What is real?  What is a lie? What is truth?  How can I know myself? Why do I sometimes sabotage myself? Why do others take advantage of me? What is my truth? How did I manage to be so blind sighted? Why am I so sensitive? Where am I fooling myself?

The dark side of Neptune brings lies and deception, confusion, distortion of reality, delusion, manipulation, depression and sensitivity to alcohol and drugs. The solar vitality and the ego are weak under the influence of Neptune. Self-doubt is a problem.

On the other hand, glorious Neptune brings insight into all possibilities for a healthier life, a better tomorrow and a more beautiful world.  Neptune allows us to visualize the next steps for ourselves and for humanity. For every nasty thing that happens right now, there are dozens of beautiful life events unfolding everywhere on planet earth…. new inventions, solid resolutions to serious problems, new treatments for healing that surpass conventional medicine, babies being born who already have some genetic coding for living differently on our planet. Neptune is that small still voice that keeps saying: “We are one, don’t be afraid!”  Everything is connected; the web is holy. (Marcus Aurelius)

This Full Moon in Gemini gives us a chance to find peace in our own truth.

We are living this Neptune challenge to the Sun and Moon right now.   How can we face our illusions?  Can we be open? Can we be unafraid of our hidden agendas? How do we bury our fear of those who are different from us? Can we be at peace with our complexity? Can we allow ourselves to be set free? Confronting the truth in our lives is scary but it is also liberating. This full moon gives us a chance to find peace in our own truth.  Everything that is pretend and not based in integrity will be shown to us if we allow it to be. Insincerity in self and insincerity from others, it will be shown.  If we are hypnotized by life, by another person, by avoidance, it’s time to wake up. 

It’s hard to believe the level of deception and lies in the collective arena. It’s hard to comprehend the degree of suffering and injustice that we are living in. It’s hard to swallow the disregard for all life that expresses through violence and criminal behavior.  But of course, we need to look at our own behavior as well. It’s time to be kind. Resist the urge to be cynical, sarcastic, sneaky and mean. Be charitable and forgiving with self and others.

This full moon is not a mere invitation.  It is a high frequency siren piercing through the night. Wake up. Wake up.  Remember that old saying, “I was asleep when I thought I was awake”? Here it is again.

If I wanted to write about this full moon in Gemini all night long, I would digress into the Maya Calendar and what it means. Maybe I should!  We are sorting out what to let go of and what to take with us on the next evolutionary journey.

The Maya Calendar contained an understanding of the history of planet earth and the evolution of life and human existence.  The end of the Maya calendar in 2012 was not the end of time. According to those who have studied the Maya Calendar in depth,  the end of the calendar was the end of the evolutionary unfolding of all that has occurred on planet Earth since the beginning of the Tree of Life—the beginning of time.  Right now, we are living in the midst of everything that has ever happened.  Everything is happening at one time. It’s all right here in front of us. Even the dinosaur park in Kentucky is a nod towards all of existence being present here at one time (dinosaurworld.com).  A dinosaur world park does sound a bit odd if you know who Charles Darwin is. But how many dinosaurs are living in our minds, old stuff we still believe that has been extinct for a long, long time?  We are sorting out what to let go of and what to take with us on the next evolutionary journey. I don’t know how long this process takes and no one knows if Homo sapiens will continue the earthly journey or if they will fade away as other species have done.  Maybe we have fulfilled what we were supposed to do and it’s time for the next species to appear.

On a more practical level, Mercury is retrograde right on Saturn in Sagittarius.  Too much worry is not a good thing.

Mercury went into its retrograde phase on December 3 early in the morning while the moon was on its path to being completely full. Saturn is currently finishing its travels through the sign of Sagittarius. Mercury and Saturn have been sitting together for several days. Now, at 28 degrees, Mercury turns retrograde and Saturn, at 28 degrees, prepares to move on to complete its two and one half years of activity in the sign of Sagittarius.

The hardest part of this Mercury period is the presence of Saturn. We worry too much. The two energies together can be depressing.  Troubles seem more troublesome when these planets connect.  Hard times seem harder. The Tax Reform Bill presented by Congress suggests hard times ahead for many Americans. However, Mercury retrograde might mean that, before the month is over, the whole Bill will be scrutinized and possibly edited in many ways.  However, Mercury conjunct Saturn can also mean that whatever we are trying to build, we stick to the job and get it done! It is a suggestion of prevailing no matter what.

Mercury retrograde does not mean we stop living and breathing.  Carry on!  Old issues or problems might be up for review. Some people will have medical treatments under Mercury retrograde. There is no reason to be fearful.  If something new presents itself, then try to slow down--if possible--and postpone big decisions until after December 22.

Jupiter is on good terms with Neptune. This is a good thing.  The emerging energy on our planet invites us to envision abundance for everyone, not just for ourselves.

Jupiter being on good terms with Neptune (they are in a trine configuration which means ease and opportunity) counters the pessimism of Mercury retrograde with Saturn.  This aspect instills a spiritual quest for truth.  We should rely on our own inner teacher and guide(s).  Psychics do not have all the answers at this time. Neither do priests and preachers. Open that door that says:  Be your own Guru.  Jupiter and Neptune together provide good dreams and visions and sweet meditations.  

As I studied this chart for the December Full Moon in Gemini, I thought about Arnold Patent. He wrote a book titled, You Can Have It All (1984). He says, stop the worrying; there is enough to go around.  That means you and the other person can have it all, can have abundance—physical, emotional, mental, spiritual abundance. There is enough for everyone to have abundance on planet Earth. It is a matter of distribution.  All our species has to give up is fear and greed. The emerging energy on our planet invites us to envision abundance for everyone, not just for ourselves.

This full moon on the Gemini/Sagittarius axis is also about thought and words and beliefs.  What we think and believe has enormous influence on our bodies and on our life experience. As we look at the magnificent supermoon in the sky, let’s be at peace and ask Neptune to dissolve our fears as we greet a new day.

“We don’t create abundance. Abundance is always present. We create limitations.”  Arnold Patent

Astro Tips. Full Moon in Taurus November 2017

This quick snapshot of the full moon turned out to be a bit of an oracle image for full moon in Taurus. Note the roses!  I did not see the flowers when I took the picture. I was gazing at the moon.  Venus has domain over beauty and rules Taurus.  Roses are not only exquisite . . . they smell so good! Taurus is the sign of the senses and earthly delights.  Taurus is the sensate experience of physical life.  Venus and Taurus also connect us with what we value and with money. The snapshot has shiny vehicles reflecting the moonlight. We like nice things. Taurus is about acquisition. The opposite sign, Scorpio, is about complexity and transformation. The dark spots of the photo (the nightscape) are the Scorpio part of the polarity. Scorpio contains mysteries and hidden information.

Every month we welcome a full moon in the sign opposite the Sun. This month the Sun sits in Scorpio and the moon is full in Taurus.  Taurus helps us stay grounded by connecting us with our physical body and our sensual experiences. Scorpio pushes us into complexity and uncertainty. Is everything exactly as it seems? Is everything ok?  Is life a concrete experience? Hardly. Life is a magical essay, full of beautiful experiences and painful losses. Taurus rules holding on, Scorpio rules letting go.

During this full moon period we are faced with the polarity of having what we want and not having what we want. Sometimes we experience this through relationship.  We think we know a person because we have tangible experiences of that person. Then something happens and we realize we don’t know that person. For some people relational exchange is more complicated than sharing a good meal.  The Taurus full moon experience wants to focus on the fine wine and chocolate while the Scorpio Sun is questioning what it all means.  Staying balanced in this polarity is the trick. Honor the sensate and be grateful for the physical manifestation of beauty, love and abundance. Also, honor the Scorpio mystery, but don’t drown in the mystery.  Don’t fear the loss so much that you miss the breathtaking beauty of the night and of the day.

Total Solar Eclipse 29 degrees of Leo August 21, 2017

Astro Tips by Linda Sprague

Total Solar Eclipse August 21, 2017

28/29 degrees of Leo

“Darkness within darkness—the gateway to all understanding.”  Tao Te Ching

During a total solar eclipse, the Moon passes over the Sun creating darkness and shadow. Solar eclipses are very much about shadow material. What is waiting to be revealed in the shadow?  There is a special kind of landscape when the sky goes dark.  They say Venus and Mercury are visible in the dark sky (in the path of a total solar eclipse).  A total solar eclipse, according to some reports, causes a kind of shock and awe.  Goosebumps! Darkness and silence in the middle of the day.  No wonder the ancients considered eclipses serious events. 

Make friends with the darkness

During a total solar eclipse, the Sun and Moon form a perfect conjunction. The Moon lines up with the Sun, then appears to be the same size as the Sun, and then passes in front--or eclipses--the light of the Sun.  The Sun is our life force as well as our ego identity.  The Moon darkens the life force and identity.  We get quiet and look to the shadow for more information.  Perhaps we will see or understand things that eluded us before.  We can face our shadows and grab some understanding. The important thing is to face those parts of ourselves that we wish didn’t exist, e.g. resentment, jealousy, fear, nasty thoughts, unresolved anger, confusion, greed, and maybe suppressed memories. You know, those “deadly sins” we talk about.  If all we do is be conscious of our dark material, that’s a good step.  There is also gold to be found in the dark recesses of our individual cellars. Go on down and see what’s there, dig up the gold.

How long does this go on?

Meanwhile, keep in mind that eclipses have a time span of up to six months. The energy of the eclipse has already begun and will continue throughout the fall.  The eclipse has been in its active state since August 7^th, when the Full Moon eclipse occurred in the sign of Aquarius.  The solar eclipse takes us into the intense time now through the middle of September. We can expect to uncover secrets of our own or hear news that reveals hidden information regarding other people and our leaders.

If you have a connection with this eclipse—the Sun, Moon, Ascendant, Mercury or other planets at 28 or 29 degrees of Leo--then you may experience huge life altering events during this eclipse period.  This isn’t meant to be a dire prediction. The eclipse can also bring good news like a better job, a windfall, or a new relationship if you need one!

Leo:  the Sun, warmth, love, loyalty, leadership, ego, and kings

One positive aspect of Leo is love.  Leo rules the heart.  When the heart is open, we feel love.  During this eclipse period, we are advised to extend our energy (Mars) in a loving manner (Sun/Moon Leo) and communicate with love.  The eclipse in Leo opens us up to know and love ourselves more, and to love others as well.  This Leo eclipse also invites us to realize and know our own unique leadership qualities. We all have important, unique qualities to offer to our families and community.  The hidden trap of Leo is distortion of ego.  We need self-worth and self-respect. Both are components of a healthy ego. However, Leo ego can sometimes want to be the exclusive center of attention or has an exaggerated opinion of self.   These exaggerations will be exposed during this kind of eclipse.  Another shadow trait of Leo to look for right now is childish ego.  Even the more mature person can revert to the childish ego and throw a tantrum when he or she doesn’t get what he/she wants! Needless to say, our focus right now will be not only on our own life, but on the leaders “out there”—bosses, managers, CEO’s, the clergy, Congressmen, the President.  We associate Leo with kings and leaders.  How are they and their egos affecting us?

Planets Mercury and Mars are also connected with this eclipse. There is a bundle of Leo energy.  Mercury is communication and gathering information and Mars is assertion.  Leo, sign of the leader, the king, and the commander-in-chief, is ruled by the Sun.  There is enormous energy directed toward leadership and especially towards any hidden information about leadership.  We are saturated with news about leaders and we are waiting for any hidden news yet to be revealed. Again, during this eclipse, we are drawn into the darkness, not just our own dark corners, but the dark material of other people and the collective body of our nation.

The American Eclipse and President Trump

President Trump is intensely affected by this total solar eclipse.  His ascendant is 29 degrees of Leo, the degree of the eclipse.  The fixed star Regulus is located at 29 degrees of Leo (this eclipse point).  Regulus watches over kings and rulers.  Mr. Trump comes by kingship/leadership easily because this star that creates kings sits prominently on his ascendant! (This same star is on Bill Clinton’s Sun.) If you have wondered how Trump came to be our president, this news about Regulus gives perspective.  Whether or not Mr. Trump keeps his position as “king” remains to be seen.  Can he look into his own dark cellar and reach new levels of consciousness? What Regulus gives, it can also take away if the king lacks integrity. How President Trump handles the current issues our nation is facing will affect his position.  How he addresses the shadow material of our country will show us what kind of leader he is.  Issues like racism, plutocracy taking over democracy, the struggle to move beyond our patriarchial system, global migration, climate change issues, reproductive rights, and separation of church and state, to mention a few, are up for examination and overhaul. Basically, our nation’s struggle to upgrade our democracy and at the same time preserve that democracy is on the line.  Everything that our nation is struggling with will challenge Trump’s leadership abilities. We are fortunate to live in this great country AND we are pushed to make our country better. Both things are true: On the one hand, we have a beautiful system designed by our founders based on freedom of speech, equality, fairness and justice.  On the other hand, there are inequities in our collective shadow that must be faced and attended to.  At the very least we must be conscious of our country’s shadows and not be afraid to heal the shadows.

Be .your own leader

The total eclipse at 29 degrees of Leo urges us to be our own leader with regard to our beliefs and behaviors. Beliefs and behaviors based on a small heart and a closed mind will not generate positive, creative change. This eclipse can guide each of us to a new level of personal responsibility and integrity if we open our hearts to a bigger love and we open our eyes to as much truth as we can take in.  One of the lessons of Leo is the realization that the individual is NOT the center of the Universe.  Child development 101:  eventually the child learns he/she shares his world with family, classmates, friends, organizations, city, state, nation, world, solar system, cosmos, universe!  We don’t have to lose our uniqueness in the process. That’s the extraordinary magic!  We are all unique and we are all connected.  Hopefully this eclipse will fill us with Leo courage (the heart of the Lion) to explore our individual and collective darkness and find gifts to take us forward.

Astro Tips: Mercury goes Direct!

Mercury ended its retrograde phase yesterday Wednesday, May 3.  What a relief.  This particular retrograde period seemed very tedious and difficult. I moved from Texas to Arkansas in early April while Venus was retrograde.  Then Mercury went retrograde on April 9^th.   If it wasn’t one thing, it was something else!  Will we ever get unpacked and organized?  It hasn’t happened yet!  Mercury retrograde was so frustrating I was ready to spit!  Car problems, misplaced items,  and AT&T put my new customer installation payment into the wrong account and almost turned off my internet….yes one thing after another.  Well, we can relax, kind of relax.

Mercury has been transiting through the sign of Aries.  At the end of April, Mercury made an alignment with planet Uranus, ruler of upsets, surprises and revolutions. If this twosome affected your chart, you had days like I had:  unpredictable and aggravating. Hopefully you didn’t lose your lease or have a car wreck.  The nerve wracking, out of control energy of Mercury and Uranus continues until mid-May. 

The energy of Mercury and Uranus doing tricks together demands that we pay attention to what we are doing.  Mercury and Uranus are a little too prone to accidents. I am living in a new area. I have yet to talk on my phone while driving.  Whatever we are doing, we need to give it our attention and not try to multitask as much as usual.

On May 15, Mercury steps into the sign of Taurus. Hopefully this will have a calming effect. Taurus is down to earth and takes one step at a time. Until then, don’t blame yourself if you feel like a nervous maniac.  If you feel powerless over all the upsets in your plans, try to relax and breathe. This too shall pass (I hope).

The next Mercury retrograde period begins in mid-August.  Hopefully I will get all my boxes unpacked before Mercury whacks me again.

Mercury Retrograde April 9- May 3, 2017

"Where does a thought go when it's forgotten?" Sigmund Freud

Fun quote for Mercury retrograde. Planet mercury entered its second retrograde phase of 2017 on Sunday, April 9. Time to give our attention to unfinished projects. Be ready for forgetfulness! Mercury retrograde gets a bad rap, but actually, the energy of any retrograde planet invites us to do things differently. It may also trigger intuitive insight and responses. Mercury rules thinking and communication and travel. While Mercury is moving slowly and appears to go backward in the sky, we can slow down our thinking and re-think how to do things. We can change our plans! We can gather new information and change how we do things. We can tune in to a different frequency that snaps us out of some fixed way of thinking. Of course Mercury also brings upsets (printer finally dies or car finally needs new tires). And Mercury brings reconnections with people from the past. If someone from your past is on your mind, reach out and find them. Mercury slowed down at 5 degrees of Taurus on April 9. It will go back into Aries by April 20. Later in the month Mercury will join up with Uranus (bringer of surprises). Shocking information may rattle our worlds between April 20 and May 15. This could be political/collective events or it could be in our personal lives. Try to stay centered and find a mantra that works for you to calm your mind during this Mercury retrograde period. It will be too easy to get scattered and/or distracted by external mental overload. Breathing in........Breathing out........

Since Mercury will be in the sign of Aries during much of this retrograde period, please watch for hot tempers in self and others. Aries is associated with Mars, planet of war. Here's hoping we don't go down that road.

New Moon Solar Eclipse February 26, 2017

The Solar Eclipse today, February 27^th, in the sign of Pisces was not visible in the United States or in the northern hemisphere anywhere.  Nonetheless, we may feel the impact of this event.  The New Moon and Sun are in Pisces, along with Mercury and Neptune.  Neptune, the planetary ruler of Pisces, is a big player in the eclipse because it sits in between the Sun and Moon.  When I speak of Pisces, I’m also speaking about Neptune.

This is a day to imagine how we want our lives to be.  What is my life to become?  If I daydream (good Pisces/Neptunian pastime) what happens?   If I stop for a moment and forget about all the troubles, does it look pretty in my dream?

Pisces is the last sign of the zodiac.  It encompasses just about everything:  The deep blue sea, the vastness of space and Universe, sensitivity to the ugly and the hurting, compassion, rapture for the beautiful in music, art and nature, karma and grace.  Pisces is the mystical sign. Pisces longs to leave this physical plane of man-made complications and live in utopia.  In fact we need to seek moments of utopia through meditation, play, love, movies, sound, poetry, cats and dogs, horses and dolphins. (the list is endless). Other moments of utopia include wine, liquor, and alternative realities!  Maybe the ultimate altered state is induced by shamanism. Shamanic ceremony walks us through the veils separating us from our oneness with life and all dimensions of existence.

These matters all pertain to planet Neptune and its symbology with the veil between all dimensions.  Neptune brushes us lightly and we long to find the divine.  We see something, we hear something, and we feel ourselves shift into wholeness. Neptune shifts us to the right brain and we find ourselves doing something creative/artistic.  Neptune throws a net over us and we are suspended in love glue and can’t get out.  Intoxication, infatuation, love and faith are good Neptune words.

This eclipse gives us a glimpse of our Neptunian urges.  For some it is spirituality, for others, it is longing to do something to make things better for all sentient beings.  Some seek the alternative reality in beauty. . . music, the arts, nature, and in shamanic realms.

With this New Moon Eclipse in Pisces, allow the Neptunian portals to open.  Step into your own personal paradise. Dream a new life and let it unfold.

Of course, there is a dark side to Neptune.  Seeking love and happiness in all the wrong places is a sad manifestation of Neptune.  In addition, deception and lies are dark daggers of Neptunian misuse that permeate everyday life.   We need to be alert to the manipulation of Neptune’s energy.  Neptune is not concerned with ultimate truth. Neptune gives us experiences about our soul.  What do we believe?  What utopia do we seek? What happens if we believe every salesman who offers us our utopia?  Do we realize that utopia is a symbol of something and not a real house or building?   When we begin to think that Neptune is a thing it becomes dark.  We can never really touch something that has the energy of Neptune.  We can feel it though. And we can make something to represent it . . .  a poem, a movie, a song, a home, a relationship, a costume, a family, a garden, a society.  What do you want to create that will represent your utopian Neptunian dreams?

Astro Tips for January’s Full Moon in Cancer. 2017

Full Moon in the sign of Cancer is Thursday, January 12^th.  There is a big bad square in the sky.  Think pressure cooker. Overwhelm. Anxiety.  Think being inside a box and you can’t get out and you are suffocating.  Think jack-in-the-box. Scary.  Some of the planetary players have been doing some of this dance for a while:  Uranus (change, chaos, upheaval) opposing Jupiter (bigness, extravagance) while Pluto (executioner, Lord of the Underworld) sits in between those two and harshly pulls the chains to get our attention.  This has been a period of severe power pushing, bragging and serious fighting to win.  Jupiter has added some flamboyant ego parades. What makes this irritable trio more intense at the moment is the involvement of the Sun and Moon.  The Sun is sitting with Pluto, amplifying hubris.  Moon in Cancer is opposing Pluto.  Expect emotional outbursts and irrational whining. When your anxiety level starts to affect your quality of life, it’s time to turn off the news and take the chill pill.  If the drama is in the personal life, same thing, take the chill pill.  If your work place is full of irritation or family dysfunction is out of control, it’s time to chill.

Fortunately this Full Moon period offers a good dose of chill. Neptune, Venus and Mars are sitting snuggly together in the sign of Pisces.  Watch a movie. Dance. Meditate. Make music. Make love. Go help somebody. Turn off the TV and focus on your surroundings.  Take a scan of your own energy field. Are you nervous? What do you need to do to relax and return to a place of centeredness?  This full moon is perfect for mindfulness meditation.  It’s a fine time to contemplate the value of love and the mystical manifestations of our collective existence. 

Meanwhile, the big planetary tension in the sky pushes us to take a stand and to be prepared to participate in civic matters and collective troubles.  Our society is involved in a great transformation.  Maybe the transformation is a serious make-over. Maybe it is a totally new direction. Astrologically, the transformation has been unfolding for a number of years and it is still in process. Numerology gives us perspective for this particular New Year. 2017 is a number that adds up to 10 and reduces to 1.  We are entering a new nine-year cycle, and we are all responsible for what happens in the next nine years.  What can we do to secure the safety and viability of our planet and our species?

This month there in an dynamic interplay of extreme weather, extreme societal tension, extreme entitlement on the part of plutocrats, surreal human behaviors, traumatic manifestations of brutality against all of nature, and shocking disregard for the search for truth.  So this is what we as a people have created. Surely we have the intelligence and emotional spark to create something magnificent that honors our planet and the unity of all sentient being.

This is where the Pisces trio can help us.  Neptune is illumination and inspiration; Venus is beauty and also relationship; while Mars is the desire to survive and thrive. With this Pisces package of cosmic energy we can join together and dream a New World.