August/September
We
Need a Mass Movement of People Like You
Bill Moyers
Is
Fox News Biased?
The Center for American Progress
In
Praise of Unruly Women
Arianna Huffington
Returning
From War: A Family Affair
Shri Estes
Healing
Our World From the Inside Out
Carol Hwoschinsky
From
Hurt to Heart: Healing Conflict at its Roots
Eryn Kalish
Are
We In Danger Right Now?
Peter Moore, MFCC, CGP
Our
Clean-Energy Birthright
Jeane Manning
The
Organic Foods Movement
Paul Cienfuegos
Genetically
Engineered Foods May Pose A Health Risk
Jeffrey M. Smith
Sacred
Menstruation
Julie Gauss, CCH
Shifting
Into a New Era of Peace and Harmony
John Darling
Cosmic
Calendar
Salina Rain
Cosmic Calendar
By Salina Rain
As August begins a highly potentized Venus—representative of the female perspective, High Priestess of love, pleasure, values, social awareness, and aesthetics—returns to the powerful point where she pivoted in mid-May at 26 degrees Gemini, opposite the Galactic Center. Astro-physicists believe the Galactic Center, or center of the Milky Way Galaxy, is a black hole. It used to be thought that black holes were objects of such density that nothing could escape from them, not even light. Galactic Astrologer Philip Sedgewick (The Galactic Times) points out that “Stephen Hawkings, black hole theorist, recently revised his view of black holes. Sure x-rays and gamma rays radiated at us in the cosmic currency exchange of sorts, but now it’s even better. It seems ‘information’ comes out of black holes.”
The ancient Maya indeed seemed to view the Galactic Center as a Creation Place, a cosmic womb, having much influence on the evolution of human life. (Jenkins, Maya Cosmogenesis 2012). This information begins to lay the groundwork for understanding the intensity and significance of what’s brewing with this Venus Transit, from mid May to early August, then back again in June 2012, the end date of the Mayan Calendar’s Fourth World.
As patriarchy began to bury the potent and sacred aspects of the feminine thousands of years ago, the astrological information shifted to an almost all male pantheon. Venus was one of the last female vestiges in our cosmology until the 4 major asteroids were introduced into horoscope delineation over the past 25 years or so by Astrologer Demetra George. With Venus’ current transit we are reclaiming vast lost resources from the Divine Feminine, as well as reclaiming the fragmented and lost pieces of our own lives. The female model for working together is gaining validation as an effective one for solving the big problems. And the overworked, carried-to-outlandish-extremes male model is crumbling from pure dysfunctionality. Obviously we must find a balance between them as we incorporate the cooperative model more and more, and Venus is promoting this in her communication mode as she moves onward, completing her Gemini passage. Articulation and communication are everything now, and will continue to be of prime importance into the near and distant future.
Cross quarter day, Lammas, was celebrated on August 1st, at the halfway mark between solstice and equinox, and is the quintessence of the Summer’s sweet gifts. Our connection with Nature is part of the reclamation process we’re undergoing as we bring Heaven and Earth, body and spirit, back together with equal importance and in harmony in our fractured and chaotic lives. There can be no order, no healing, no moving forward into the future with hope without this harmonizing and balance. Sun in Leo’s territory, for its annual journey in its own sign, is emphasizing play, self-expression, drama, and healthy ego or overblown focus on self.
Mercury stations retrograde on the 9th at 9 degrees Virgo, one of the signs the winged messenger rules. Planet of communication, interaction with one’s environment, travel, vehicles, mechanical objects, and daily routines, Mercury turns around to take us back over the territory we just covered during a much needed review time until Sept. 2nd. The details we’ve overlooked or minimized in some way are what Mercury helps us to zero in on, as well as assisting us to refine existing skills before we take on learning new ones. A lot of fix-up jobs will be going on since anything that’s going to break down will most likely do it now. Be prepared by checking things out before the retro period begins. Mental attitudes are also under review as this seems like it will be an especially powerful period for demonstrating how form follows thought. How can we change our thinking to get better results?
Saturn opposite and Jupiter trine Chiron on the 12th, while Uranus aspects the Moon’s Nodes, all offer opportunities for using the mistakes of the past to create workable solutions for the present and the future. It’s painfully clear what the problems are, as government and big business spin more out of control in their voracious quest for increased control over the masses. These are only reflections of where we have given up our own responsibilities. Saturn’s inclination toward fear and despair is offset by Jupiter’s optimistic, yet practical input. On the personal level, keep your focus as on target as possible to be in a receptive mode for this day’s highest, and somewhat magical, potential, and be willing to take accountability for your past actions.
Leo New Moon on the 15th at 24 degrees trines Pluto and quincunxes Chiron still in close aspect to Saturn and Jupiter, extending and intensifying that combination by adding the generosity, courage, arrogance and bravado of the fixed fire sign. This new cycle starts off with growing tensions around leadership and the need for huge shifts. Mars, Mercury, Ceres join Jupiter in Virgo to aid the current analysis, and with an opposition to Uranus are subject to major insights, inspiration and heightened intuition. Rudhyar’s Sabian Symbol for the Sun and Moon reads “Totally concentrated upon inner spiritual attainment, a man is sitting in a state of complete neglect of bodily appearance and cleanliness.” We can easily miss the mark when going too far emphasizing some aspects of life over others. Self-absorption does not equal spiritual attainment just as too much focus on materiality does not create a fulfilling life experience. Use this reflective New Moon energy to sort through old stuff, both in your mind and in your environment, re-visit goals and connect completely with the Leo heart energy that burns within.
August 29th brings the Full Moon at 8 degrees Pisces, joined by Uranus, with Sun, Mars, Ceres and Jupiter in Virgo opposing, pitting the wildly bizarre and ungrounded against the practical, down to earth components of our lives. This is a hyper Full Moon with Uranus in on the action, with great potential for losing our balance one way or another. Information can be quite unreliable, but the Virgo planets help us with discrimination. Pluto and Mercury are both getting ready to pivot around to direct motion soon, signaling green lights for transformation of old beliefs and decisions for moving on with projects in whichever areas of your horoscope these planets are currently traveling through. Mercury has slipped back into Leo to remind us that we must include our heart’s desire in all decisions now. Venus and Saturn join in opposition to Chiron for accountability and limits in relationships and resources, as we experience consequences of past actions. Instead of reacting, stay present for the lessons you’re learning and keep focused on a beneficial outcome for all. Sabian Symbol according to Rudhyar for the 8th degree of Pisces is “A girl blowing a bugle: A call to participation in the service of the race, as an evolutionary crisis approaches.”
September begins with Mercury’s pivot on the 2nd at 26 degrees Leo, marking a time to go forward as the trickster planet retraces its steps back to where it went into review mode at 9 degrees Virgo in August. Sept. 16th is the day Mercury crosses that degree again, a great goal date for completing cleaning and clearing processes of our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual realms.
The Virgo New Moon on Sept. 14th at 22 degrees is joined by Ceres, Mars, Jupiter, and square Pluto, trine Chiron, opposing Vesta. Mercury at an early degree of the mutable earth sign opposes Uranus again, encouraging us to include intuitive perceptions in all our thinking processes for a more complete picture. A super-Virgo lunation such as this one requires precise attention to details including those concerning health issues, but cautions us not to go overboard on our critical analyses of ourselves and others. Pluto’s impact assures further transformation of old religious, cultural and personal beliefs that are creating nothing but pain and angst. This is a wonderful time for a clearing ritual in home, work place, body/mind/spirit. The female asteroids bring in extra supportive energies for this type of work. Rituals can be as simple or as elaborate as your own personal taste or time allows and can effectively move old, stuck energy patterns. You can also use the ritual space to call forth new ways of being—be bold and authentic to your own heart’s desires while remembering the impact you have on others around you. The Sun, Moon and Mars are at the 23rd degree of Virgo, interpreted by Rudhyar as “A lion tamer displays his skill and character: The need to tame one’s vital energies in order to fulfill one’s destiny.”
Fall Equinox arrives on September 22nd at 9:30 AM Pacific time as the Sun enters 00 degrees Libra, joined by Mars and Jupiter in late Virgo with more of that “clean sweep” energy influencing the entire Fall season. Mercury and Pluto form a tight square to bypass the normal Libran graciousness and get right to the important stuff, helping to keep us on track with the gigantic clearing out we’re doing collectively and individually this season. It’s crucial to stay focused on what we want to create to avoid the tendency toward harsh blame and criticism that can accompany this potent line up. Step back for a time today to honor the sacred turning of the seasons and the Earth’s bountiful blessings. It’s human consciousness that created the idea that there isn’t enough for everyone, but that’s certainly not the innate consciousness of the great and gracious Gaia. By envisioning a belief in abundance for all at these sacred times we will begin creating that reality.
September winds down with the Aries Full Moon on the 28th at the 6th degree, opposed by Sun, Mars, and Jupiter in Venus ruled Libra. Aries and Libra bring into focus the dance between self needs and the needs of our relationships and social persona. With such strong Libra influence at this lunation we’re surely attending to these matters with extra emphasis on balance, harmony, and peace, but also prone to paint a pretty picture without delving deeper into what’s really going on. “A square with one of its sides brightly illumined” is Rudhyar’s image for the Moon’s degree, an image of inner stability. We must allow ourselves to individuate (Aries) in order to become a fully functioning, creative participant in our communal experience. Venus in Leo trines Pluto intensifying her influence, her quest for beauty, love, prosperity, and more compassionate, heart-centered leadership.
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 and consultations, and Reiki Jin-Kei-Do classes, (707) 668-5408, PO Box 1081, Blue Lake, CA, 95525, astro@salinarain.com. Please visit www.salinarain.com for more detailed forecasts.
