April/May 2004

Peace Candidate Dennis Kucinich Vows to Stay in Race
Interview by Amy Goodman

Winds of Change in Spain
William Rivers Pitt

"House of Bush, House of Saud"
Interview with Craig Unger by Amy Goodman

"Seeds of Deception"
Jeffrey Smith

Genetically Engineered DNA Found in Traditional Seeds

New Findings Show Health Hazards of Genetically Modified Crops

An Evolutionary Conversatoin with Barbara Marx Hubbard
Alan Sasha Lithman

Making A New Declaration of Independence
Michael J. Tamura

Empathic Listening
Holley Humphrey

Intimacy With Self and Others, Earth and Spirit
Loba

2004 State of the Universe Address
Swani Beyondananda

Cosmic Calendar
Salina Rain

BACK TO TOP

Cosmic Calendar

By Salina Rain

You’ve probably been hearing about Sedna, the just discovered 10th planet, or planetoid, in our Solar System. She’s a red object, smaller than Pluto, described as “quite shiny” by one of her discoverer’s, Dr. Michael Brown. Her solar year is about 10,500 Earth years, with a highly elongated, mysterious elliptical orbit, so much so that they think there may be another object that impacts Sedna’s orbit, and a hypothetical Moon. In fact Zecharia Sitchin studied Sumerian cuneiform tablets from 5,000 years ago that reveal a solar system with the Sun and ten planets. Her unusual orbit effectively triples the previously perceived size of our Solar System, a fairly dramatic indicator of the ever-changing aspect of reality.

When a new body is discovered it brings seemingly new elements into human consciousness/experience. Chiron’s discovery in 1977 coincided with a mass awakening to alternative healing methods and wholistic perspectives in general. Though they were not actually new elements of our experience, the mass consciousness was ready to embrace this aspect of existence as part of our evolutionary movement. In 1930 when Pluto was finally sighted after years of speculation the world was beginning one of its darkest phases as the Nazis rose to power. Subsequently the splitting of the atom that led to previously unimaginable destructive power at the same time heightened awareness of the transformative experiences that accompany death and destruction. Humanity had to face its Shadow side as never before—most decidedly Pluto’s realm.

Sedna is mythologically an important Inuit deity, Goddess of the sea, and her myth is a Creation story, speaking of multi-dimensionality, the wise woman archetype, and the chaos that emerges in our lives as we lose touch with our deeper selves. She grieves and rages from the bottom of the icy cold Arctic waters when the human world is out of balance. Her closest subjects are the sea mammals, whales, dolphins, seals and other creatures that sprang from her severed fingers. The sea is symbolically—and in reality for the Inuit—the source of all wealth. She gives and she takes away according to how she feels the humans honor their place in the world. The Inuit fishermen know to honor and pay her homage to avoid the treacherous storms at sea she can stir up in a flash.

We are in a deeply grieving, sorrowful phase in our human experience as a collective, as we face the karma of thousands of years. We have caused untold suffering through our illusions about life, and even now find ourselves still acting out the horrors of war, allowing greed to rule when it clearly has brought only pain and destruction in the past. Sedna comes now, I believe, as an omen of the transformative potential of this time in our history.

I have a very personal experience with this entity/energy, as I found myself spontaneously drawing her image, over and over, 16 years ago when I was entering a period of great personal grieving in my own life. In my spontaneous color drawings this mysterious creature, who I now recognize as Sedna, was crying graceful and voluminous tears that turned into an outpouring of love. This is our opportunity, and the potential for transformation now—we can let go and heal the past, learning the lessons of universal love and respect for all life. Sedna was sighted last November at the time of the massive solar flares and the Grand Sextile open gateway into a new dimension of reality. Scientists are now saying they were “blinded by the light” of the solar flares that closely accompanied that magnificent eclipse, and realize they were twice the magnitude they had thought at the time.

This is a highly Sacred time. May we all open ourselves to the miraculous, allowing in new possibilities for healing and creativity. The world is hungry for the Wise Woman archetype, for the spiritually grounded authority that emanates from this aspect we all have within us, man or woman. She must be honored, validated, listened to. We are each being called to speak our truth from her perspective, gathering our courage from her devotion to preserving life. Her fearful aspect is the raging crone who grieves for the suffering of her creatures and human subjects. We must be fierce in our own dedication, continuing to say no to the destroyers of life wherever they appear, within us or without. We all know what the alternative is.

This will be an important new point in the personal horoscope, its House placement and aspects natally and by transit. Sedna seems especially related to sound vibrations, an aspect of vibrational healing, and could be a key in healing and opening the “High Heart” chakra so many have been activating recently. Of course it will take time to further delineate and sort out her influences, blessings, and shadow aspects. But the timing of her appearance as the Cosmic Gateway opened wide last Fall, inviting—no, propelling—us into new territory, as yet unexplored dimensions of ourselves and our world, is exquisite. Pay close attention to what you hear and perceive from Nature, as our awareness is surely more fine-tuned to her messages. It is no accident that the most important discovery in our Solar System in many years is named for a Native mythological being. It is time in our evolution to turn with more attention and respect to the grounded and sacred wisdom of the indigenous peoples of the Earth.

Sedna is currently at around 17 degrees Taurus, and is consequently teaching us about more balanced distribution of wealth. Note where this appears in your chart, as this transit point, as well as her natal placement, indicates powerful emergence of previously suppressed or vague, but important, experiences and perceptions, and very likely some unresolved grief. Also note: Sedna = Se DNA.

2004 is an important year for retrograde periods, as there is no time in the entire year that one or more planets are not in the review phase. Careful and periodic reassessment is a good model to work with for all important moves, and the universe offers ample opportunities to integrate this lesson.
April 5th brings the Libra Full Moon, at 16 degrees, with a Grand Cross formed by Sun, Moon, Juno and Chiron in Capricorn, and Ceres in Cancer. The perennially perplexing dance of relationships is in focus with the need for balance between self and other emphasized, and encompasses the challenge of creating clear boundaries and dedication to preserving what nurtures us most. Add to this the flirtatious and unsteady condition of Venus in Gemini, planet of relationships, and the challenge gets more interesting. Variety tends to work best in our friendships, but generally adds more complications than satisfaction in the realm of intimacy. Pluto widely trines the Sun in Aries, increasing potential for transforming desires and ego driven impulses into power sources for courageous, unselfish acts. Sabian Symbol for the Sun, from Rudhyar, reads: “Nature spirits are seen at work in the light of sunset. Keynote: Attunement to the potency of invisible forces of nature.” We are all being called to our destinies, it’s time to listen deeply. Symbol for the Moon’s degree is “After a storm a boat landing stands in need of reconstruction. Keynote: The need to keep in operation steady links between the vast Unconscious and the ego-consciousness.”

Check in with the progress on what you put into motion at the last, highly energized and bold New Moon.

Mercury then pivots on the 6th for its retro passage from early Taurus back into Aries over the next three and a half weeks. Check out the area of this backtracking in your chart to understand how to maximize the potential for this slowed down period of reassessment and renegotiation. Values and resources are part of our considerations, with close attention to what actions will be most effective for our purposes as Mercury goes direct on May 1st.

Solar Eclipse on April 19, at the last degree of Aries, marks a bold opportunity for major shifts and new directions. Careful with this aggressive energy field which has great impetus to propel us forward. Sun and Moon joined by retrograde Mercury may create some chaos or misunderstanding around the rationale behind our actions. Be ready for dramatic moves, yet mindful of considering all the consequences before leaping forward. Mars, Aries’ ruler, in Gemini, opposes Pluto, exact in 5 days. The war of words and beliefs is revving up full force with belligerence and intolerance our models from the past. We have opportunities now to transform the mistakes of the past , to listen to each other’s truth with acceptance supported by an undefended stance. Venus in Gemini, close to Mars, enhances the possibilties for tolerance and understanding in our communications. Rudhyar’s Symbol for 30 degrees Aries: “A duck pond and its brood. Keynote: The realization of natural boundaries. Peace and inner contentment with one’s essential destiny (dharma) is required to meet the everyday world.” We all have our individual place in the larger scheme of things which carries equal importance to every other individual’s role. The challenge now is to embody that role with all our heart and soul, free of the delusions of greater or lesser value of one individual, or species, over another.

May begins with the sacred Cross Quarter Day, known to the Celts as Beltane, halfway mark between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice, a time to celebrate fertility, fecundity, all the pleasures of the sweet, warm earth. Scorpio Lunar Eclipse, at 15 degrees, falls on the 4th, empowered further by the ancient traditions that came about through intimate attunement with the cycles of Nature. This Full Moon is joined by the Moon’s Nodes, with North Node conjunct the Sun, South Node conjunct the Moon, highlighting the instinctual, deep beneath the conscious workings of our psyches, on the individual and collective levels. The Nodes’ proximity to the luminaries at this important moment indicate major collective shifts, and with Scorpio-Taurus, our values and priorities are involved.

Note the Moon’s placement in your horoscope for the area where you’re called to let go of the past while the Sun points the way to prioritize. Moon’s degree according to Rudhyar: “Children playing around five mounds of sand.” The reference here is somewhat “cryptic” to put it in Rudhyar’s own words, but is related to the five pointed star and humanity’s link to that symbol. Opening to and developing the higher mind is the theme, and he points out that we are at the kindergarten stage of that process. This lunation offers the chance to take a step further into the unknown as it echoes last November’s eclipse in the same area of the Scorpio-Taurus axis. Jupiter, planet of higher consciousness, has slowed way down and is pivoting to direct motion, further emphasizing the imperative of opening to our greater potential, and in Virgo, Jupiter enables us to find just the right tool, solution, skill, or teacher/teaching to go to the next level. Restrained growth is most sup-ported now.

May 18th New Moon in Taurus at 29 degrees calls for carefully considered re-grouping around our dearest values and security requirements. We’ve virtually come to the end of our experimenting with out of control materialism which has not only proven to be empty and meaningless, but has also created a culture of alienation, brutality and great misery, for the rich as well as the poor, and everyone in between. This new beginning opens the way for instituting, or re-instituting, more humane values, the only kind that lead to happiness. We are re-discovering the wisdom of true prosperity, which almost magically grows in proportion to how we share the abundance. Fishes and loaves is a powerful lesson for this time. We can’t change all at once but the accumulated impact of every little step we take now will be huge.

Both Venus and Neptune, the lower and higher octaves of love, take a rare turn retrograde on the same day, right before this New Moon, adding to the imperative to recon-sider our values, our uses of resources, our commitment to the transpersonal qualities of love, and the fulfillment that comes from sharing the best of ourselves with others. Venus in Gemini wants us to rethink communications and information sources, and bring more love and humor into our interactions. Neptune in Aquarius calls for reconnecting based on humanitarian ideals, and on a massive scale—sounding much like a global peace movement. Mars joins Saturn in Cancer energizing commitment to caring, nurturing activities that can bring out the best of our traditions. Sabian Symbol for Taurus Moon and Sun: “Two cobblers working at a table.” This image emphasizes the theme of cooperation and diligence with the work at hand.

Individually and as a collective we are on a path of coming home to the true heart of our existence as embodied souls. “Phenomena are preceded by the heart, ruled by the heart, made of the heart. If you speak or act with a calm, bright heart, then happiness follows you, like a shadow that never leaves.” (Dhammapada I, translated by Thanissaro Bhikku.)

Salina Rain is a professional Astrologer with a major focus on life purpose and navigating transitions gracefully. She is also at Master level of Reiki Jin-Kei-Do, an eastern lineage of energy healing, transmitted through the ancient Tibetan Buddhist line. Salina is available for astrological readings, consulta-tions, & Reiki Jin-Kei-Do classes, (707) 668-5408, PO Box 1081, Blue Lake, CA, 95525, astro@salinarain.com, or visit www.salinarain.com for more detailed forecasts.