AURUM ASTROLOGY Finding the Gold in Life

“The solstice lunar eclipse will be followed, in early January, by a solar eclipse. Many mystics believe that during the time between any pair of eclipses, while the Sun Moon and Earth are aligned in three dimensions... a portal opens up. For a couple of weeks, there's a doorway, through which it is possible to pass into 'other realms'. It could be a very interesting Christmas… This eclipse speaks of doubt followed by certainty, fear replaced by hope. It seems as if, lately, individuals and nations around the world, have been reacting to anxieties and insecurities rather than planning positively for the future. But that may all be about to change.”   Jonathan Cainer I have quoted Jonathan Cainer here because I find him to be ever the optimist and always focused on positive outcomes. In the last blog we looked at the close proximity of Mars and Pluto and North Node in Capricorn … sitting close to the Sun and Mercury on or near the cusp of Sagittarius/Capricorn. This ...

  “Sagittarius is fiery, mutable, changeable, adaptable, and refuses to be boxed in by ordinary thinking. The Sun in Sagittarius shines the light of wisdom on how we must be open to our freedom to explore universal perspectives, and can lead us to a greater spiritual and philosophical aspiration that demonstrates the higher benevolent law of our cosmos.” Robert Wilkinson Aquarius Papers (see sidebar)  Whew, that’s a mouth full. (an appropriate Sagittarian figure of speech). Over indulgence is definitely a manifestation of the expansive, Jupiter ruled, current skies. I know chocolate is full of nutrients and actually good for you, but…  Seriously, it is a powerful time and there's lots going on out there.  Mercury is now going retrograde and will back over the Galactic Core in Sagittarius, increasing the strong emphasis right now on all things Sagittarian (see last blog entry). Although several planets are moving into Capricorn territory (Mars, Mercury, Venus…a...

Today is a New Moon in Sagittarius. In Greek mythology, Sagittarius is identified as a centaur: half human, half horse. This Fire sign is also the sign of the archer, seen aiming high: and is about big ideas, big learning and big visions. It can invoke in us a need for exploration, enjoyment and excess. Sagittarians don’t do small very well. That’s because Sagittarius is ruled by the largest planet, Jupiter, that brings the expansiveness and joviality associated with this sign. Sagittarians don’t see obstacles, they see possibilities. This fiery buoyant nature gives a cheerful tone to this time of year…(the classic Santa Claus image is a very Sagittarian one…full round belly, red fiery coloured clothing…sharing gifts and abundance to all…with a hohoho. So… a New Moon in this sign gives us a positive boost in the midst of a rather daunting and intense year. If you have an expansive vision, this is New Moon can help you shoot for it. Abundance abounds. Sagittarius is also associat...

When the Sun and the Moon aspect each other in a big way (New and Full Moons) they set the tone for the coming weeks. Whatever else is going on, this Sun-Moon meeting will usually highlight the rest of the skye (literally).  Last few weeks, the Scorpio New Moon, combined with Venus retrograde in Scorpio, gave us some juicy, if somewhat inward focused love energy, and a chance to redress unfinished issues in the areas described (sexuality, financial partnerships, control issues) (see last blog entry). Now the Sun is in a critical degree at the end of Scorpio, opposite the Full Moon in Taurus . This is a destabilizing aspect, bringing tension and a double emphasis on the Full Moon. To have a look at where this lies in your own chart, go to www.astro.com and create a chart) The Moon will then be quickly moving into Gemini and opposite the Mercury Mars combo in Sagittarius that may already have gotten a few people into trouble lately with its aggressive, no holds barred expression....

The New Moon occurred round midnight last night...so if you are sending out a wish or intention you have till the same time tonight for its effect to be optimized. The New Moon wish carries through the next month. With the Scorpio New Moon, whatever we wish for will have an intensity and depth to it owing to the transformative power of Scorpio energy. And with Venus retrograde in Scorpio, I suspect there will be some who are wishing whatever drama is going on will go away. I wrote before about Venus retrograde drawing us inward, as well as bringing us back over issues that need to be revisited.  With Venus in Scorpio, we could be dealing with sexual issues, jealousy, or other kinds of experiences that bring up a need to feel in control. We could be holding onto money in some way...especially in regard to someone else...so perhaps holding back an unpaid dept, or there nay be some hurts that need to be addressed. Scorpios can stew for a long time, and old grudges could come...

to be continued.....

"Traditionally, Samhain marked the end of the bright, bountiful summer season and the beginning of the dark, difficult winter season. (The ancient Celtic year was split into two seasons.) On Samhain, Celts would often feast on weak livestock or set this meat aside for later meals, since these animals weren’t expected to live through the winter. Death became associated with the festival, and perhaps most important, Celts believed that the “wall” between the world of the living and the world of the dead thinned on Samhain, so the spirits of the dead roamed streets and homes. Some Celts would dress in costume to scare or appease the spirits; others would leave out food; and still others would carve faces into turnips to ward off evil spirits.   Today, some Wiccans still invite the spirits of the dead to attend festivities, taking the time to honor ancestors and those who have passed on. The traditional colors of orange, black and silver are worn by many Pagans and Wiccans, a...

Saturn In Libra in the current sky brings us lessons in relationships and/or oppositions. Self and other. Although truly we inhabit just one vehicle called the self, when we open our eyes we see the other. What we see and how we see it is often coloured by our own sense of self... the other is often a mirror of our own image. Yet not exactly. In Jungian psychology it is said that everything we experience is a projection of our own inner reality. I personally believe that is partly true. It makes sense that our personal bias colours how we perceive others. Put on rose coloured glasses and everything looks rosy. In Astrology, we can look at how our planets (in our birth chart) are interacting with the other persons. It is quite remarkable how much that describes our interactions. For example, I once knew someone that, no mater what, always seemed to trump me. He always had a better answer, smarted response, bigger insight etc. I felt dwarfed by him and no matter how I tried it just w...

The  Moon is now in Taurus, which is ruled by Venus...the ruling planet of Taurus. The opposite sign to Taurus (and thus the 7th house of relationships ) Venus is in Scorpio right now and going backward. This puts emphasis on going over past issues re our sexuality...as I said last blog. Venus, being the planet of love, is a powerful archetype in all our lives. Who doesn't want love? With this Scorpio retrograde, Venus may bring us down into the depths to explore old issues and go over past trespasses. It may also bring us into contact with the sacred sexuality that Venus in Scorpio can lead to. In his last newsletter Eric Franic(see sidebar) has written a brilliant article on  this subject. He brings in the astroid Vesta...which has just moved into Scorpio as well. The Vestal Virgins (Vesta) were sacred prostitues that had a prominent placement in ancient Rome,and their devotion and care of the sacred fire was at the heart of Roman life.  Francis says th...

 Its so close to the cusp I thought it was Taurus. Interesting. Puts more focus on Mars(aggression, assertion, sexuality) Same as I already said re sexual issues with a little more umph. Asking for what you want? getting what you want? Surrendering when you don't get what you want? Publish Post

This Full Moon in Taurus will accentuate the Scorpio energies I suspect we have all been feeling. I was going to write about relationships...and I will....as so much energy right now is bringing up relationship issues. How we relate to others, and particularly in the sexual arena (ruled by Scorpio) will be in the fore this next week. Unfortunately,  I am very have been sidetracked by some personal stuff. ...probably due to this intense Scorpio energy (conjunct my Ascendant...) Relationships have been accented for a while now, with all the Libra energy floating about recently (Saturn in Libra etc) , and then with Mars and Venus conjunct in Scorpio things  really hotted up. The Full moon is in Taurus and the Sun in Scorpio  is joined by Mercury and Venus. The Venus retrograde will bring up old issues...and Mercury's presence may trigger some necessary conversations to deal with the issues brought up by Venus going retrograde. Retrograde planets encourage us to go back ove...

                                                                  

                                                                Today is a New moon in Libra. This is hitting the infamous cardinal T-Square,  meaning the Moon (and Sun) are hitting Saturn and square Pluto in Capricorn, and opposite Uranus and Jupiter in end of Pisces/Aries cusp. The tension continues….with a special emphasis on Libra and the planets there-in. A New Moon sets the tone for the coming month. That is why it is said if you make a wish at this time it has a greater chance of coming true. This Moon says set your intention for your relationships. The symbol for Libra is a set of scales. Librans are all about balance and harmony. A need for balance implies two of something. Polarity. Libra is all about relationships. With the New Moon hitting Sun, Mercury, and Saturn in Libra, relationships will be up for ...

If we see life as a quest…we must ask ourselves what are we questing for? Do you feel dissatisfied, as though some essential knowledge has been left out? I see myself as an Astrological Educator. The Latin word educare means "to lead forth", and an astrological reading, in this deeper sense, is about inspiring a vision of meaning and order through which we can go out into the world with a greater sense of self. Through discovering the connections between different parts of ourselves we can begin to see how those parts relate to the world/others etc. My job as an Astrological Counselor is to help you discover your own truths and encourage your own learning process. Using the Planets as metaphors for the inner and outer components of the psyche, we can map out patterns and tendencies to gain a clear understanding of how you tend to experience life. I also incorporate Hand Reading into a session, which gives us added verification as well as very physical sense of how patt...

Tomorrow the Moon will be Full. Of course you all know this means the Sun and Moon are opposite. Oppositions accentuate each planet's qualities and create a polarized energy. They highlight relationships, agreements, partnerships etc. The push-pull of the two 'lights' is always a powerful time... tides are affected, more babies get born and werewolves come out of hiding....(sound of howling in background) (just kidding about the last one...)(though with Venus and Mars close together in Scorpio...anything is possible..) This Full Moon falls almost exactly on the Autumnal Equinox. It is smack at the beginning of Libra and opposite the Aries point that I have spoken about in previous posts....(the beginning of the zodiac and thus the yearly cycle).  These are potent points alone and are also part of the ever present T-square (and sometimes Grand Cross) we have been dancing around all year. The Full Moon is hitting Jupiter and Uranus, who are also dancing very close tog...

 ( see past posts for discussions on the Grand Cosmic Cross that has been going on all year) We are at a major juncture in time between our past and our future. Ok...we are always at a major juncture in time between our past and future. That juncture is called NOW. It is the only reality there is. The past is gone....and  the future ain't here yet. Yet sometimes that juncture of NOW is so squeezed that it feels particularly intense; pressured; fraught. This is definitely one of those times. This pressurized Grand Cross energy (which actually began in 2008)....has been building all year. Sharp angles  between very powerful planets are manifesting in extreme tensions in us and around us. Some say time is speeding up. Some say its the end of time. The 2012 Mayan prediction is.... that all  we know...(or think we know)  will end. This is not a doomsday report don't worry.  The main thing is that the planets, as archetypal reflections and embodiments of...

I am still in transit (as in moving from lace to place)(like the planets!)  so my time on here is a bit patchy. My Uranus conjunct Sun is fully active as my life continues to be ever changing and unsettled. Not easy for a Cancerian yet great fun for a Sagittarius Moon. Adventurous to the core. Sigh. With Mercury now direct and Pluto as well... things should slowly be moving forward.  There are still a few retrograde planets and it will take a while for energies to really get going again...(end of Sept) but any stalled plans or communications should finally begin to resolve. We are still being affected by the Grand Square/Cross...and though it too is slowly waning in influence,  it will be with us for a while yet. This means there is still great tension in the air as old systems and structures are resisting the change and movement that both Pluto and the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction are pushing us to create. Yesterday the Moon was in Capricorn and set off the cosmic Cr...

Tomorrow , Wednesday, is a New Moon in Virgo. Remember to make your New Moon wish or intention...as the Moon/Sun combination gives a blast of new energy to whatever we focus on. And as Virgo is ruled by Mercury, what we think about , or say, has special impact now (even more than usual). Details and perfectionism are hallmarks of Virgo energy, so beware of any critical tendencies. You may  feel a need to tell the truth about something...either to yourself ....or to someone in your life. Now's the time to do it...with care. With the Sun, Moon and Mercury so close together, our thoughts and words are emotionally charged, while Moon opposite Chiron/Neptune brings our vulnerabilities to the surface, making us all a bit defensive.  Be careful what you think and say... is the message of the day. Eric Francis says that Virgo is about "applying reason and rationality to our sometimes muddled perception of the world". The current Mercury Retrograde (going back...

I have  been away from this blog a lot  lately due to a variety of family activities : weddings visits etc. I have been travelling and visiting and basically preoccupied with a lot of stuff. It's been good to take a break and step back from constantly looking and analysing the planets and what they are doing. Writing this blog has been a new experience and has brought up a lot of thoughts, insights etc re how I want to relate to Astrology. I began writing to provide some introduction to Astrology and also to myself ... for people who come to me for readings.  I was also writing an article for 'In Touch'  Reiki magazine and needed to do a more daily type astrology report...so began using this blog to practice. I resisted this somewhat as I am more interested in personl birth charts and/or relationship charts, and tend to avoid getting bound up in the day to day sky. Not saying I am not looking, but I don't want my decisions and /or actions to be...

I am late for this blog... the Full Moon was yesterday... in Pisces. That's actually a very Piscean thing... to be late. In Pisces, boundaries are blurred and nothing is particularly solid. It's ruler, Neptune, rules the deep seas...and the uncounscious. What did you dream last night? Moon in Pisces will call  to our deepest longings; our need to connect to the ineffable; our most hidden wishes. Neptune can signify great illusions as well as Divine Love (higher love). It is said to be the higher aspect of Venus, the planet of love and relatedness. So  Neptune calls us to our higher selves and our soul's inspirations. It also can lead us down a path of fantasy and illusion. Its ilusiory misty veils can blur our vision and cause us to wander far from our path.  Drugs and escapism are a result of its siren call. So listen carefully to what your heart truly desires. What is the true love vs the illusiory one?  What is your true longi...

I am moving about a lot right now as I travel across Canada. I was late in my last post so the Moon is now already halfway through Gemini then tomorrow later in the day  it moves into Cancer. It's hard to keep up!  That's the thing about the Moon...it keeps moving. And it's also why Cancerians are said to be so moody and changeable...because they (we) are ruled by the Moon... (that's my story and I'm sticking to it...). Anyway, the main think I thought I might point out is that yet again we will be experiencing  the current cosmic Grand Square. It is increased in potency yet again by the presence of Mars and Venus joining  Saturn's  opposition to Uranus and Jupiter and exactly squaring Pluto. Yikes!!  Might be some fireworks. So....more of the same pressure, intensity, drama, pressure(did I already say that) choices, oppositions, surprises, push/pull, relationship issues....  lots of dynamic, creative energy. Out with the old in with the new. Bu...

Today is a good day for emotional healing. Tense aspects to Mercury (communication) and Chiron (wounds, vulnerability) conjunct Neptune(healing, dreams, illusions, divine grace) as well as a trine and sextile to the powerful T-square currently in the sky...means vulnerabilities may come to the surface to be healed.  There is a deep longing for  loving kindness in all of us and also sometimes a hidden belief that we don't deserve it. Watch what you say. Try to listen...to yourself and to whoever you deal with today. Even if it appears that they want to hurt you, they are probably acting out of their own hurt. Be gentle on yourself and each other. Let compassion rule the day. The Moon  in  Taurus  is about our need for security and safety. It is sensual and tactile so perhaps a massage today will help ease the fears and vulnerabilites that are rising to the surface. The profound energy of the T- square gives tremendous transformative power to whatever arises t...

Someone described Mars and Saturn working together driving with the brakes on.  I said it is like throwing a spear at a brick wall. Same result. No result. Mars is the planet of action, and Saturn insists on  delays.  Both are in Libra where both side of any options seem equally good. Help. Mars is very impatient and Saturn wants to go SLOW.  And Mars in Libra is also considered weak. That's because Libra wants harmony, while Mars wants a fight.  So in Libra Mars tends to go underground and passive aggressive activity is the result. So be sure to say what you mean, mean what you say. I have already had two confrontations in the last few days...and it has been a real challenge to stay clear and not play games. Mars in Libra can be like that. And, with Jupiter and Uranus opposing Mars and Saturn, everything gets lit up and  intensified.  Talk about pressure.   We crave change, action, movement, yet we hesitate, prevaricate, resist. T...

During this recent Full Moon in Aquarius, I was in the countryside at a beautiful house on a Lake in the Gatineau hills Quebec Canada. The Moon  hung in the air with such majesty...I felt its shimmering beauty deep in my being. It was  hitting my Chiron (wounds, vulnerabilities..the wounded healer). Good time to be on retreat and sit with myself.  It was exactly full at 2 degrees Aquarius on Sun July 25th. Aquarius relates to freedom and brother (sister) hood. One thing about Full Moons: because they are caused by an opposition they involve some kind of polarity. A push and pull of forces. The Sun  in Leo  can be very self centered and demanding.  The opposition between Leo and Aquarius emphasizes the call of humanity vs our personal ego. As the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, the Moon invited us to serve the greater good for the collective benefit of humanity. With it aspecting my Chiron, I have been really feeling the wounds of the wo...

When planets are affecting me, I often know it before I know it...if you know what I mean. I didn't used to know it, I just felt something was up...but couldn't quite put my finger on it. Now I can usually sense when planets are playing with me, and when I look up my chart...sure enough... I am better at spotting some planets influence than others...partly because some come round more often and have a more pronounced effect. One of those is Mars. Mars is the planet of aggression. Its our passionate, fiery nature and how we act out in the world. A masculine warrior planet; it helps us get going and get to it. It also can make us impatient and a bit feisty...depending on where it lies in our chart. My Mars is in Pisces...not the most aggressive of signs, to say the least. Mars is supposedly afflicted here....which means its is less effective. I have a Grand Trine between Mars. Saturn. and my Sun ...which gives it some pretty good energy, but they are all in water signs, wh...