August/September 2005

Cultivating Relational Intelligence
Nina Simons

Crimes Against Democracy: An Interview with Thom Hartmann
Jim Guiness

Rebirth in the Forest
Will Sears

Right Living, and Surviving, After The Age Of Oil
John Darling

Permaculture and Place
Steve Gabriel

Think of Local Food First
Wendy Siporen

Sustainable Living at Solviva
Anna Edey

Year-Round Gardening in Home and GreenHouse
Jeffrey M. Smith

The Greening of Cuba
Caroline Whyte

A Path of Peace, Kindness and Compassion
Jody Woodruff

From Hurt to Heart
Eryn Kalish

Epictetus' Handbook Revisited
Gay Hendricks & Phillip Johncock

The Sky of Now
Katie Davis

The Complete Book of Raw Food
Reviewed by Rachel Bendat

Whole Foods Companion
Reviewed by Rachel Bendat

Cosmic Calendar
Salina Rain

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Cosmic Calendar

By Salina Rain

At the onset of Leo ruled August we’re tenaciously pursuing fun, all that makes life enjoyable, including a more creative approach to everything. Leo’s playfulness, always emphasized at this time of year, is somewhat confined and less extravagant this year with Saturn traveling close to the Sun at the beginning of the month. Saturn is also known as the Lord of Karma, recording every act and thought, requiring accountability for all we’ve done up to the present moment in time. While this brings a serious influence, it’s showing us where we need to make corrections on our course, possibly make amends for past deeds, and pursue, or commit with more dedication to, our chosen path.

Chiron, bridge between matter and spirit, the wise and knowledgeable mythological Centaur who teaches about wholistic life experience, still in opposition to Saturn, intensifies the karmic lessons of late. The “wounded healer” also offers remedial measures to resolve the debts we’ve accumulated (material, mental/emotional, spiritual) with greater compassion for ourselves and others, while cultivating willingness to dramatically let go of the past and embrace the unknown future. Chiron and Saturn in any stressful aspect also require that we attend to proper alignment in the spine, allowing free flow of energy through all the channels and energy centers. Saturn’s square with Mars at this moment can encourage stubborn and reckless self-absorption (leading only to disaster) or get us moving one-pointedly on a track, guided by our deepest values. Certainly profound love and devotion for the planet that sustains us is indicated as we make our plan of action. For those stuck in the grand delusions of ignorance, greed and hatred, or to the extent we all are, this is an especially trying time for holding our position. Best to be extra wary of digging in our heels when challenged to open our hearts to what’s really going on.

Sun quincunx Uranus also ushers in the last full month of Summer with even more complex and disturbing or disorienting energy. The shift we’re pressed to make here is related to ego and it’s true role in the human psyche. Ego serves as an efficient functional tool when subordinated to the higher self and to the good of the community (or communities) one aligns with, but gets cumbersome and self-destructive when focused on as an all important entity whose every demand must be met, or at least defended. Aligning with the heart and its deeper yearnings helps us make the energetic shift here with speed and ease. Adaptogen and stress relieving herbs are also great support at this turning point; lemon balm, ginger, ginkgo, fo-ti, lycium fruit, tulsi, gotu kola, eleuthero, turmeric, etc. (and depending on what body system is most stressed for you). We need all the allies we can gather to gain and maintain our center.

All the aforementioned planetary influences are in force when the New Moon arrives on the 4th, Sun and Moon at 13 degrees Leo. The lunation is joined intimately by retrograde, therefore ruminating, Mercury, who is not ready to be forthcoming about what she/he really thinks and knows. Neptune opposes Sun, Moon, Mercury softening the instinct for ego satisfaction to include the feelings and welfare of others, but also blurring perceptions, boundaries, different versions of the “truth.” As slippery as this aspect can be it’s usefulness is in immersing ourselves in the imaginary or mystical realms. Self-reflective, automatic, or stream of consciousness writing can be especially revealing as part of a New Moon ritual. Venus opposes Uranus, upsetting the status quo in relationships by refining our tastes and pleasures. Trying something new enlivens the areas that have become stale, opening more to the differences in each partner, while natural spontaneity can keep us from getting too persnickety. Rudhyar’s interpretation of 13 degrees Leo is “An old sea captain rocking himself on the porch of his cottage. The quieted mind’s recollections of crises and joys long past.”

Mercury, shapeshifter and swift traveler, makes its direct pivot on August 15th at 8:51 pm, at 9 degrees Leo, and will not pass its retrograde degree until the 30th. That means the matters under review during the retro period will not likely be resolved to our satisfaction until the later date. Retrograde periods remind us not to be in too much of a hurry as there’s perfect timing for all decisions and actions. Venus then changes signs on the 16th, entering Libra, one of the signs she rules, for three and a half weeks of heightened sensitivity to beauty, harmony, social graciousness and somewhat non-committal romantic involvements. In the air signs Venus loves to socialize and flirt, surround herself with all her admirers, making promises to no one. All forms of artistic expression thrive under this influence, as well as beautifying projects.
Jupiter trine Neptune on the 17th further expands on and promotes the themes of highly refined beauty, social justice, and spiritually uplifting ideals. The danger can be of flying too high, like Icarus melting his wings by flying too close to the Sun. Mars in Taurus, doing his slow, smoldering dance in fixed earth over the next six and a half months, helps us ground the visions and idealistic thinking of Jupiter-Neptune, and in retrograding for a few weeks this Fall, keeps us from charging forward before we’ve thoroughly explored the earthy realm of manifestation possibilities. Something big is brewing in the collective over the coming months in legal systems, and Mars’ quincunx to Jupiter and Pluto as it pivots on Oct. 1st will likely create ongoing problems in the US Supreme Court political power struggle.

Aquarius Full Moon at 27 degrees on the 19th illuminates the contrast between individual and communal experience, and shows us how we can bring the two areas into better harmony with each other as we offer the best of our personal creativity into the collective. Sabian Symbol from Rudhyar for Moon’s degree is “An ancient pottery bowl filled with fresh violets. The importance of traditional skills and artistic values.” Mercury, recently turned direct and eager to share what s/he’s gathered from the inward quest, makes multiple aspects with Uranus, Saturn, Mars, Moon’s Nodes, and Neptune, for plenty of complexity and still questionable information sources. Communications take on a more serious tone, yet great instability is apparent. Self-reflective writing helps us break through old rationalizations, revealing new facets of desire, faith, and perceptual abilities. News is still in the news, the reporting of it that is, or the lack thereof. The relative “news vacuum” in the major US media is under scrutiny with the media under pressure from opposing forces. This is a time of huge impact on our national internal structures and our place in the world. It’s all shifting, and the question is are we moving out of all semblance of a democracy or are we re-claiming that social/political experiment as our chosen national structure?

September’s a bit more sedate with Sun in earthy Virgo bringing us back to the day to day aspects of life, even in the midst of radical changes the Sun’s opposition with Uranus reflects as we enter the mutable earth sign’s month. Pluto changes directions on the 1st, moving direct at 22 degrees Sagittarius, releasing secrets as it turns. We seem to be going about our business, almost as usual, but under the surface big things are brewing, both personally and collectively. The planet of power dynamics is prominent as it pivots, bringing back up to the forefront major issues from late March when Pluto turned retrograde. Maintaining integrity is an important value at this turning. Venus and Jupiter join up in gracious Libra on the 1st—be sure to enjoy without getting carried away with your own or someone else’s charm. Women in the justice system may be highlighted here. Great time for appreciating art and other people’s company.

New Moon on the 3rd brings Sun and Moon together at 12 degrees Virgo in close, and modest, opposition to erratic Uranus and a wide trine to Mars in Taurus. This is our new start for the coming year in Virgo matters—daily routines supporting our goals and desires, health habits and rituals, how we choose to serve, practices that help us evolve as spiritual beings. Uranus’ input energizes the lunation with unexpected solutions and brilliant ways to fix what’s broken, refine old skills, or take on learning new ones. Pallas, Venus and Jupiter conspire in Libra to improve relationships, both working and personal, and still the issues of women and justice and the legal system quite prominent. Use this New Moon’s energy to create a ritual around improving your personal environment and health routines.

Pisces Full Moon on the 17th perfects at 26 degrees with Sun opposing and in exact conjunction with Mercury, empowered by traveling in one of its own signs, Virgo. Pluto makes a tense and conflict-ridden t-square with Sun and Moon, forcing honest examination of specific beliefs and habitual thinking patterns that need to be eliminated before we can happily proceed. Mars quincunx Pluto and Jupiter forms a yod aspect where a double quincunx, shared at the focal point, creates a “finger of god” with the planet. In this case Mars is the divine digit, bringing dissimilar energies to work together in unlikely alignment with each other. Yods always present life situations that require adjustments to the way we’ve been doing things. Mars in Taurus asks that we slow down our pace in order to get more done, and is concerned with the collective problems of environmental destruction, and religious beliefs that keep us in the Dark Ages. Mars is also 1 degree away from the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction of May 2000, pointing to adjustments that must be made regarding institutional changes and restrictive government/big business practices begun then. We’re at the threshold of a journey back into that time where we have the opportunity to change directions. Saturn quincunx Uranus creates lots of tension and brings out fears of repressive controls on one hand and chaotic freedoms on the other. We must work on issues of abandon and control, individually and culturally, to move through this challenging lunation.

Libra Equinox, the beginning of Fall, arrives on the 22nd at 3:24 pm, a time of perfect balance in day and night and in the energy filed of Earth’s atmosphere. Sun and Moon in an easy air trine complete a grand out of sign trine with Chiron, who has slipped back into Capricorn, an earth sign. These three working in harmony at the onset of Fall are a good omen for creating better networks of communication, spr
eading the word from a diversity of perspectives.
It’s going to be an eventful, in some ways distressing, Fall. Take time in this sacred moment of beginning to set your clear intention for contributing to justice and peace.

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 classes, and Reiki Jin-Kei-Do trainings (see the calendar on page 24). Salina may be reached at (707) 668-5408, PO Box 1081, Blue Lake, CA, 95525, astro@salinarain.com. Visit www.salinarain.com for more detailed forecasts.