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Bad Behaviors & Their Exit Plans Revealed. Solar Eclipse & Venus in Libra

Recently on a carnival ride, I felt myself settle into the rhythm of the loops up and down, side to side. And after some time, I thought, “Oh that’s enough, they’ll probably stop the ride now.”

The ride continued for a good while longer. I was wrong. Then, I noticed something.

My “enough” wasn’t about boredom.

It was an artifact of my spiritual awakening beginnings when I thought that detachment from worldly pleasures would facilitate spiritual growth.

My “enough” was actually about cutting myself short of pleasure and disconnecting from the present moment of connection with the person I rode with.

Going even further back in my timeline, I probably resonated with this spiritual concept of detaching from worldly pleasures because I witnessed women compromising their pleasure for the sake of others – the children, spouses, friends, etc.

In other words, my frame of reference of what it meant to be a woman was to take in only so much self-interest and there would have to be enough to give others.

I now know that that my most profound spiritual growth is when I let myself go and run through a moment with fullness until it reveals itself as completed. Also, the abundance mentality supersedes all these restraints of finite units we seem to measure everything against.

But that didn’t prevent me from acting like every other human being in a limited resource world on an innocent carnival ride!

Yes this carnival ride was a small example. It could seem insignificant. However, it became a small window to see how I repeat this behavior all over my life.

Saturday’s solar eclipse at 18 degrees Leo 41’ is a sensitive moment that can reveal your bad behaviors.

The eclipse reckons with your past, through many facets. And at the same time, it asks you to start on a new path with lightspeed.

This Week’s Considerations explore some key themes this new New Moon Solar Eclipse. The Day Guides below to navigate your week’s journey. Continue reading “Bad Behaviors & Their Exit Plans Revealed. Solar Eclipse & Venus in Libra”

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When You Feel Like a Prisoner to Circumstance

I once took a job because I felt like it was a more responsible one to take. It was full-time, which was different than my multiple part-time schedule I was used to. Too, it had a salary, benefits, and career progression. It was totally grown-up. Totally corporate.

Like many employee contracts, I started off with a 3-month trial period.

The first month went fine, and mostly the second. On the third, I realized I felt like a prisoner and the lunchtime walking couldn’t alleviate the stress. Too, I didn’t like the way I was talked to by one of my bosses. Being berated for punctuation was something I could not suck up.

When approached for my 3-month review, I was honest. And because it was a human resource firm, my boss of bosses graciously ushered me out of the job without judgment and with a smooth transition.

That’s not the end of the story.

It was at that moment I had no job. Nothing lined up, only the possibility to put on a dirty tux and do some more catering gigs.

I did not want to do that again.

Fears came up about becoming homeless, and shame appeared in many forms. I couldn’t be “normal” and have a “normal” job. I’d always be living on an “starving artist” standard. I’d be dependent on help again from others.

It magnified and spiraled until I thought I’d be hungry and homeless. I was in tears.

Then I remembered something.

My family and my friends would NEVER let that happen to me. It was my own shame that prevented me from asking for help – and from receiving it!

I was determined to not second-rate myself to take a crappy job. Too, I promised I would tell others of my situation if I needed the help, and I would receive it no matter how uncomfortable it’d be.

I went about my life as normal – okay a little more prudently. But only a week or so later, I stumbled upon a conversation in my astrology class.

A classmate was looking for help at her job, and I knew exactly how to do it!

My faith in myself, and my recognition of the supportive environment I did have attracted just what I needed. It was work I could do – close shop and not think about at home. It was part-time. It had benefits. It was a creative environment that stimulated my curiosity. And, I shared a corner office with that astrology colleague that overlooked midtown and the Hudson.

To date, it was the best employment I had outside my own.

***

This week’s astrological conditions can bring unexpected twists to agreements and plans you have set up. It can leave you feeling in the dark, and maybe even a prisoner to circumstance.

Like my own story, I encourage you to put your faith in yourself and the support you have to open up to new possibilities… perhaps even better than you could have expected.

Read the Day Guides below to navigate your week’s journey. Next week, more on the lovely Venus in Libra! Continue reading “When You Feel Like a Prisoner to Circumstance”

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Mercury Retrograde in Leo – Are You Living Up To Your Potential?

You know the value of living life without regrets. Yet, there’s always a little voice that tries to derail you once in a while.

It’s right to hold yourself to a high esteem. If you’ve found yourself on this page, I’ve found that you likely are capable of giving, loving, and sharing more than many in the world. Too, you have unique gifts that want to have an outlet!

You know your potential is great, that’s why you keep working on yourself!

So when you’re not at your best – meaning you’re not feeling at your best – it’s natural to get grumpy. Optimism keeps you going, but in your gut you feel quite unsettled on the inside.

Anger, resentment, frustration all get stirred up – and often internalized because those closest to you know you as positive and not an emotionally dumping personality.

Astrologically speaking, this unsettled feeling of wanting to be more is the context for the current moment.

Mercury is now retrograde through August 18th and has a lingering effect through September 1st.

Mercury’s retrograde happened in the shadow of a lunar eclipse, and he’ll be re-activating some of these old, stagnant sentiments over the next few weeks that the eclipse unlodges.

Cosmos encourage you right now to move through your doubts, demons, and simply said – s*** – to go toward your True North.

These things somewhat happen overnight because all it requires is a simple change of mindset and a firm decision to commit to a higher calling.

In the same vein, the aftermath of such life-changing decisions take practical work and piece-by-piece efforts.

You become what you esteem yourself to be by practicing it, not just preaching it.

This Week’s Considerations helps you move through the necessary uncomfortable shifts (thanks Mercury Retrograde) to realize lasting fulfillment.

When you actually feel like yourself, in your potential, all inner turmoil starts to fade away. You can feel more integrated and complete. Continue reading “Mercury Retrograde in Leo – Are You Living Up To Your Potential?”

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Collaborate & Let Go. Fast-Forward to New Dreams.

I come from a family that collected things. Some might call them hoarders because it seems they never let go of anything.

For over 35 years, my grandparents would schedule regular trips across several states to go to antique auctions, flea markets and garage sales. It fit into my grandma’s dream to have an antique shop. Except the shop didn’t take off, the habit continued, and their inventory became nested tetris blocks in their home.

Those items meant something to my family. They represented the spirit of adventure. They represented dreams. They represented an inheritance of value to leave to the family.

And now, the family is ready to let go of the objects behind those significance leaving years of work to photograph and package everything into an Etsy store.

The questions now are – is this junk? Is this valuable? Is this worth my time? What’s my duty to finish this legacy and what’s my own path?

They’re ready to let go… after decades of holding.

The eclipse in 2 weeks is preparing for you to let go of something you’ve held strongly to, particularly if you have planets at degrees of 0-8 degrees Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius.

This kind of eclipse – because where it’s situated to the moon’s nodes – is about letting go and releasing. That’s how the energy activates the chart.

I’ve observed, the more you collaborate with the energies, the better it usually flows.

That’s why This Week’s Considerations in dedicated to simple way to let go.

Whether your stuff is physical, emotional or mental, it’s time to put in the effort to remove the stack and release the weight.

When you do, flow creates and your true path can illuminate. Continue reading “Collaborate & Let Go. Fast-Forward to New Dreams.”

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Remember the Spirit That Rebuilds

A tornado hit my college town in the Spring of 2006. Some streets were left untouched, left with an eerie silence and a raw smell in the air.

Only a few blocks away, branches had fallen, then trees on cars, and even a downed electric line. Even in the worst destruction, a place could remain unscratched only feet away.

At that observation, I was at once awestruck at the power of nature’s forces and the specificity of what some may call good and bad luck.

It made me see that the times fate intervenes is not random. It is chosen – and executed – with precise and rapid force to those who require it.

It wasn’t just cars, trees, or homes to be repaired and replaced. There was a human spirit to be refilled after the natural disaster.

Volunteers restored that faith in humanity with their neighbors through their commonalities. Physical goods also were replaced. People were fed and housed as needed.

The great events of our time may not happen directly to you – they may only be in your orbit. Yet, you still play a great part to play in the aftermath of when fate intervenes.

In times of change, there are opportunities for rebirth.

Thursday’s solar eclipse has a character that could bring about sudden changes, particularly those with late degree cardinal planets or points in their charts. (See Last Week’s Considerations for a full guide).

The surrounding cosmic conditions of this eclipse, ask you to be in a place in a service. To re-create smartly what a new environment of interaction can look like.

Maybe something in your life will change directly, maybe it will happen to someone you know.

But just like that tornado in my college town, you have the opportunity to rebuild your communities – and the spirit that goes into them.

This week, hold back and be a witness. See what really is going on beyond the surface. From there, put yourself in service to what benefits your circles and environment.

Be an agent of positive change. Continue reading “Remember the Spirit That Rebuilds”

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Your Solar Eclipse Astrology Briefing

A series of 3 eclipses officially begins next week. Yet, the energy always intensifies a couple weeks before. Meaning, we’re in it!

Even if you don’t have planets in the natal or progressed charts near eclipse degrees (details coming below), the cosmos have plenty of shifts this week that can be unnerving.

Like mini-earthquakes in your personal foundation, these changes are in your temperament and your environment.  (Hint: Look to the house placement of the eclipse points and the planetary shifts to know how it might manifest).

Venus is changing signs on Monday the 9th to Virgo – her least favorite placement. She may not even know it, but overwhelm, bitterness, and putting yourself down the priority list seem to happen almost by accident.

Yet, you’ll also feel like working hard and putting your energies behind what you champion.

Just make sure you’re truly supporting what does matter in your long-term vision, and that you change activities often enough to not get into the weeds. (This energy continues until August 6th).

Also, Jupiter is stationing to Direct Motion. Over Jupiter’s Retrograde, you’ve gained secret information that has helped you gain confidence in your path, the people supporting it, and in yourself.

The Direct Motion path says it’s time to apply that strategy and inner-knowing to the world. Be the influence for good, and transform the world and its people around you.

These planetary shifts agitate – and thus intensify – the energies of the eclipse, particularly the first one on Thursday the 12th. The eclipse wants to fast-forward your personal evolution.

However, with a shifting context – aka those planetary shifts and the eclipse happening in oscillating Cancer – the target of change also is moving.

So if it boils down to one thing, I might bet that you can feel bit moody and undecided this week. Call it laissez-faire – that’s probably the best approach to all this anywhere.

This Week’s Considerations helps you personalize this info to understand how it impacts you. Continue reading “Your Solar Eclipse Astrology Briefing”

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Astrological Traffic Jam: Pace Yourself

 

Over here in California, I’ve had to get used to driving again. While the traffic is nothing compared to L.A., I still get really frustrated with stop-and-go traffic at rush hours.

Just when you get out of the gas/brake dance, someone cuts you off and takes advantage of your steadiness.

It’s hard to not to stay angry or upset, but yet that’s probably the best thing to do – especially in a car.

Astrologically speaking, it feels like a traffic jam this week.

There’s plenty of important things to do, standards and accomplishments you want to show off! Principles you want to shove into people’s faces…hmmm??

All this week’s void moons keep putting you back to a place of inward (and not so outward) action. It can be pretty annoying. (The Day Guides below will explain more).

This Week’s Considerations helps you pace yourself and get through the astrological traffic jam.

5 Ways to Decongest Your Life

  1. Express Yourself. Take the void moon outlets as days to vent frustration, anger, or inaction. Do it through exercise, talking it out, or journaling. Don’t let yourself become a volcano by keeping it to yourself and pretending you shouldn’t feel that way in the first place. Accept and express yourself as is!
  2. Buy Healthy Snacks & Drink Water. Food is a magical place to take out stress. Make sure you have healthy alternatives the most convenient for you to grab when you’re bored, annoyed with inaction, or stressed by whatever flies in your face. You’ll need it, especially for the high-energy days through the middle of the week to keep your physical body calm. When the body is calm, it’s easier to run the rest of the emotional, spiritual, and mental components! Oh, and hydration – keep a big bottle next you!
  3. Take AMAZING breaks. Make a list of all the things you can do for 15-minutes that would break-up your current work and train of thought. Make some fun, make some practical. (The multi-tasker in you will feel more accomplished). When you don’t have to spend mental energy on figuring out what to do for a break, it’s a higher quality one! Have your list handy by your workstation. And by golly, take those breaks!
  4. Focus. Start your day with a simple meditation, 5 minutes even! Then write out the top 3-5 priorities for the day. Keep it near you. Revisit the list again after lunch. Stay focused on what matters, and the ruckus outside will seem a little quieter.
  5. Breathe. Yes, I’m aware that your body will automatically breathe for you. But remember to take deeper breaths and calm down once and awhile. Or, if you’re feeling lethargic, try taking quicker ones. Use your body instrument to get you the ends you need. Breath is often a wonderful foundation.


Astrological Day Guides: June 26 – July 2, 2018

Read these guides as a whole to get a feel for the week’s tone. There’s always some overlap of themes. Then read them as you need them, day-by-day.

Tuesday –  Retreat and do some projections for your future, maybe through the autumn even! You’ll also might find yourself in the mood to change your environment and shake up the routines. The mind wants to expand its boundaries today – feed it!
(All day void moon starting at 8:54am EDT).

 

Wednesday – Waking up with a mission, the morning can feel anxious. Lots to accomplish and appearances to maintain. Ask friends for help, or just accept the mess as it is. On the bright side, at least things are moving!
(Sun opposes Saturn. Capricorn Moon trines Uranus and conjoins Saturn before its Full Moon after midnight).

 

Thursday – You can see the fruits of your efforts from yesterday although you might have to look at the back-end. Check out your website stats, what people are saying, etc. Hold value in that!
(Capricorn Moon sextiles Jupiter and Neptune).

 

Friday – Starting today it can be easier to express yourself. Thanks to Mercury’s journey here – extended by way of an upcoming retrograde (!!) – you can practice more productive and honest communication styles. Start today by speaking to yourself in a different way. Maybe you write a post-it affirmation on your bathroom mirror. Maybe you journal about it… start the journey of self-expression with you!
(Mercury enters Leo. Void Moon all day).

 

Saturday – Expect angry protests today. Whether you’re marching or at home, the anger, frustration, and hurt can get out of control. Have your own coping mechanisms to channel the emotion for yourself and extend that to others if needed. (Hint: usually being an example helps others manage themselves better).
(Moon in Aquarius conjoins Mars. Mercury-Uranus square).

 

Sunday – Frustrations linger from yesterday. It can seem like everything is imploding, exploding… Things can get taken personally today, so just back off when it gets too heated. For any necessary friction, try to see things from an outsider’s perspective.
(Aquarius Moon opposes Venus and goes void at 6:56pm EDT).

 

Monday – You may feel like you’re scrambling to get your week started – blame the void moon in the morning. Once the Moon enters Pisces for the afternoon, the shuffle will still be there, but it can be tempered with calming music, aromatherapy and other Pisces tricks for keeping the cool.
(Void Moon morning until 1:31pm EDT. Then the Pisces Moon sextiles Uranus and Saturn).

Photo by Jonathan Pease

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Summer Solstice 2018

Solstices go together. Back up 6-months ago, and you were on the cusp of Winter. I offered Mental, Emotional, Physical and Spiritual Winter Solstice Standards You Can Live By to guide your year ahead.

With these as your value pillars, you could set up traditional goals to something that would better elicit fulfillment. That was the idea, at least!

Now that winter’s pole – Summer – is approaching, it’s time to evaluate and benefit from how this ship is running.

So even though it’s summer, it’s time to make the MOST of these last 6 months and harvest the fruits of your daily life.

YES, still live according to the standards you set up last winter. Revise them a little if they need it. (Or finally, sit down and make them on Sunday when the moon is void all day).

They’re worthwhile.

Listen, I’ve set myself up for some pretty ambitious things this year too. Mine only started to traction with the Spring Equinox (the action pressure to the Winter Solstice).

This self-evaluation part can be a bit challenging. You know it’s important, you know how to do that.  

The next part is really about how you live it.

That’s what This Week’s Considerations is dedicated to – the Summer Solstice and how you might play it out best. Continue reading “Summer Solstice 2018”

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Hold Steady

Some years ago in a job interview, I told someone that when s*** hits the fan, I’m more the person that sees where it lands than freaks out during it.

That same sentiment holds true today, and it often surprises people.

I’ve just taught myself how to hold steady. (And maybe this is too literal a Uranus in Taurus realization, lol)!

Yes, when it’s happening, I feel emotions and my mind is racing about how to fix things. But, I no longer jump the gun. I wait to see the next thing.

Because that next thing is often more indicative of what will happen next than the trigger itself.

Listen – change, especially unanticipated ones, is hard to take.

But if it’s happening, it’s happening.

How are you going to handle it?

For me, it’s best to accept the reality as it’s happening.

This week there in a larger-than-normal change of planetary position. Mercury enters Cancer, Venus enters Leo, and Neptune Stations Retrograde. Too, there’s a dynamic New Moon in Gemini on Wednesday.

That means your communication style and ways you connect things shifts. The things you desire, how you want to relate to the world around you moves. And your vision toward more inward (again).

I wish you grace upon these changes, however they meet you.

This Week’s Considerations helps you hold steady while these pages turn in the stories of your life. Continue reading “Hold Steady”

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Find Simple Pleasures

Over here, peonies have been put on sale at the markets. When I lived in Brooklyn, I would relish the few weeks of the year they bloomed.

Of course, I brought some home!

So now, I cherish the sweet smells I can capture whenever I pass them. They make me feel renewed… and I find I do smile almost every time after doing so. 🙂

What a simple pleasure!

Astrologically speaking, there are sweet and innocent moments to find pleasure in these next few days, especially when the Moon enters Aries.

And there are other aspects of arousal – sexual and aesthetic.

Plenty to look forward to!

Find where you’re drawn to and let a mini-journey deliver you to heightened senses, in the positive way.

You’ve been pushing against walls and been forced to be a skeptic these past weeks.

Now is the time to relax that protection muscle and soften a bit.

For This Week’s Considerations, I ask you to keep it simple and don’t overthink. Be drawn-in like a child to your surroundings and rebirth yourself into a purity that is uniquely yours.


Astrological Day Guides: June 5-11, 2018

Read these guides as a whole to get a feel for the week’s tone. There’s always some overlap of themes. Then read them as you need them, day-by-day.

Tuesday – You may want to retreat and hide from it all, but something inside you is screaming. Listen to what’s incongruent, and make amends.
(Pisces Moon sextiles Uranus and Saturn. Sun-Mercury conjunction. Venus-Pluto opposition).

Wednesday – Listen to your intuition – it will guide you to the right place over the course of the day (thanks to a Grand Trine “translation of light”). You might be challenged, and even moreso, to speak your truth. Catch the little lies you may tell to make things sound better and see what the whole truth could bring.
(Pisces Moon trines Jupiter and Venus, squares Sun-Mercury, conjoins Neptune, and sextiles Pluto. Sun & Mercury square Neptune).

Thursday – Fly through your checklist today and (almost) be in two places at once. Highly energized and favored for going out and making things happen!
(Aries Moon, no aspects).

Friday – Let passion be your throughline today and see how it breaks you out of your routines and patterns. Love life also can be extra creative tonight. 😉
(Aries Moon sextiles Mars and squares Saturn).

Saturday – Stress can manifest on your relationships (or Libra house), looking for another (more positive) expression. You may be ready to blow it all up and start over… maybe just try to see it from a more detached view instead!
(Aries Moon makes a T-Square with Pluto and Venus, sextiles Mercury, and conjoins Uranus. Void Moon from 3:37pm ET until midnight).

Sunday – Appreciate what’s reliable – nature, a loved one, your friend… and pay it forward.
(Taurus Moon trines Saturn and squares Mars).

Monday – Invest in the worthwhile activities that lift you up and nurture you. It’s a path that keeps giving, and therefore, maybe nothing is ever “lost”…
(Taurus Moon trines Pluto and sextiles Venus).

Photo by Annie Spratt