June/July 2006
God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It.
Mark Karlin interviews Jim Wallis
The Left Hand of God: Taking Back Our Country from the Religious Right
Mark Karlin interviews Rabbi Michael Lerner
New Business Models for a Sustainable Future
Torrey Byles
How the Wealthy Use the Government to Stay Rich and Get Richer
Dean Baker
Will the Major Media Finally Cover the Electronic Election Fraud Issue?
Bob Fritakis and Harvey Wasserman
The Great Turning
Reviewed by Ted Glick
Armed Madhouse
Amy Goodman interviews Greg Palast
Energy Futures
K. C. Golden
Choosing Solar Power Because It's The Right Thing to Do
Jody Woodruff
Reconnecting To Our Essential Nature With Tai Chi
Sean Kelly
Transforming Our Lives and Our Planet Through the Ancient Practice of Qigong
Julia Tucker Interviews Master Mingtong Gu
Rediscovering Who We Really Are With the Persian Sufi Poets
David Fideler
Book
Reviews
Deborah Mokma
Cosmic
Calendar
Salina Rain
Cosmic Calendar
By Salina Rain
June and July are significant months of shifting consciousness this year with Uranus, Mercury and Jupiter all changing directions over this period, each of these planets representing diverse aspects of consciousness, beliefs and perceptual style. All 3 planets also journey through the 3 water signs, Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio, for a full spectrum of emotional complexes infusing our thinking processes, informing our beliefs, extending our consciousness into new territory involving not only our own and our immediate family’s well being, but also the well being of humankind all over this magnificent, suffering planet. This timing marks a juncture for the collective awakening further to the reality of our interconnectedness, including all beings and all ecosystems. Chiron and Saturn still doing their oppositional dance of demonstrating, sometimes cruelly, the need for new structures, both societal and personal, all through June and part of July. The traditional, i.e. patriarchal, institutions are crumbling from their very foundations as we witness the nonsensical palaver and deceptive “reasoning” coming out of the established order. The blind have been truly leading the blind, but that situation actually functioned in some respects over the last few hundred years, having its place in our evolutionary journey as a species. No more. As chaos and confusion become more the norm with the old establishment dismantling itself, we’re increasingly turn-ing inward to find our center and our source, reaching outward to connect with our fellow travelers, and compelled to keep a strong connection with our nurturance, our magical planet-being, Earth.
Sagittarius Full Moon on June 11th at 21 degrees joins with transformational Pluto for intensification of the lunation’s enlightening potential. Sun and Moon also both square electric Uranus with an explosion of insights that can change our world forever. Jupiter square Chiron release even more ideas and beliefs to be sent back to chaos for recycling into workable creations. The truth is definitely painful when we hold onto unequal and unjust power relationships, whether we choose the role of oppressor or oppressed (while most of us fall into both categories). We’re vividly experiencing the negative effects of dysfunctional beliefs, the festering wounds of fundamentalist thinking.
Fundamentalism has been pervasive in the patriarchal, or duality driven, world view where organized religion (and governments) have systematically brutalized people into accepting a human male mediator between themselves and a punishing, controlling male god. Where’s the fun in that? The Moon’s North Node at 00 degrees Aries is poised for a new beginning in the collective experience, a new direction entirely that requires courage in each individual to follow their own path of greatest fulfillment rather than trying to live someone else’s idea of their life. In this way we create a collective of highly effective, happier individuals.
Grand Water Trine with Mercury, Jupiter and Uranus allows for subtleties and nuances of connecting, communicating, mediating rather than, and in spite of, the clobber and subjugate method so wildly popular of late in the “back-to-the-caveman” movement of a dying regime. (Apologies for insulting the social behavior of the caveman). Rudyhar’s Sabian Symbol for the Moon at 21 degrees Sagittarius: “A child and a dog wearing borrowed sunglasses. The use of imagination and make-believe in anticipating higher stages of development.” We are the creators who lost consciousness about our creative abilities. The time is now to reclaim that knowledge and act as if the future is up to us.
Uranus, planet of “sudden” change, electrical in its energetics, turns retrograde on the 19th, an event that will be felt for at least a week before and after the pivot. Restlessness and the urge for freedom from old paradigms are prominent in this time period. Be sure to get plenty of rest within all the excitement and systems breakdowns this will stir up. 14-15 degrees Pisces is the point in your horoscope that’s being vibrated into a higher frequency that may well include some mayhem along the way.
Summer Solstice arrives on the 21st as Sun enters 00 degrees Cancer, one of the 4 cardinal points of the year. The Moon’s Nodes are at 00 Aries and 00 Libra, also cardinal points that square the Solstice Sun, implying difficulty in finding the security, comfort and support we crave, especially at this time. Our collective and personal lessons around war, aggression, peace, willingness to negotiate and compromise for the common good are up for finalizing in one way or another. The season will indeed be one of great challenges as signified by the Fixed Grand Cross with Chiron (Aquarius), Jupiter (Scorpio), Saturn-Mars (Leo), and Moon (Taurus) in the Solstice chart. Explosive situations are at a peak with these planets in this tight, conflicted configuration. We cannot afford to remain stuck in the same old ruts and are being offered this divine opportunity to break through obstinacy into heartfelt, essential values that sustain everyone and every living thing. Wherever these planets are transiting your chart are the areas for you to be focused with attention to letting go, and to exploring deeply the mysteries of the fixed signs.
With the Cancer New Moon on the 25th of June, at 4 degrees, we begin a new cycle of family/tribal relations—finding, creating, renewing our personal nest; nour-ishing ourselves and our loved ones, body and soul; providing support for those outside our inner circle who are most needy and vulnerable. Chiron opposes Juno, Saturn, Vesta and Mars in a T-square with Jupiter, energizing deep and profound inquiry into problem areas, and promoting female leadership and perspective. Sun-Moon trine Jupiter and Jupiter trine Uranus open up new, exciting horizons, expanding our minds, our visionary capacities, and our imaginations while keeping us centered in the heart. Emotions and intuition are highly accurate, richly informative guides in this energy field, and over this entire two month period. Cancer Sun and Moon resonate with the Sabian Symbol for 4 degrees: “A cat arguing with a mouse. An attempt at self-justification.” Put forth your New Moon intention(s) for this cycle using intuition to guide and your sweetest dreams to nourish you. Do this to a drumbeat or sing your intention to the universe, as Cancer’s cycle is about rhythms, heartbeats, ebb and flow of energy.
Mercury makes its second retrograde spin July 4th through the 28th coloring most of this month with the need for internal focus, review of what we’re working on, patience with the misinformation, scheduling mix-ups, electronic and transportation glitches that accompany Mercury’s “backward” phase three times in the yearly cycle. In Cancer for most of this three and half week period, Mercury’s retrogrades in 2006 all emphasize the emotional/intuitive aspects of mind, calling to us to re-examine our innermost yearnings, insights, and to bring more balance and clarity to our loving connections. This will be an especially good time for healing old family patterns and relationships that cause ongoing pain and dysfunction. Meanwhile Jupiter, the greater benefic, turns direct on the 6th, giving us a more optimistic outlook, helping us to zero in on what has most meaning for us through Mercury’s internal passage.
Full Moon at 19 degrees Capricorn on July 10th highlights the cardinal earth and cardinal water signs and all matters they rule. The face off is between society and our obligations in the outer world and the private arena of home, family, and soul family. Sense of place and ancestral lineage are also emphasized with this lunation, along with the ongoing need for more equalization in our work, rest and play cycles. Saturn, planetary ruler of Capricorn, is crossing the degree today where it went retrograde last November, a significant turning point in Father Time’s journey. The projects, commitments, and voices of authority we’ve been reviewing and restructuring over the past months are manifesting more solidly with this passing. Also Jupiter, Saturn and Chiron still form a tense and dynamic T-square, pushing for multi-dimensional approaches to problems with long and painful histories, whether in the intimate circle of family or in international relations. Uranus, Sun and Jupiter are in a wide Grand Water Trine supporting the multi-dimensional perspective, offering reju-venation from a profound sense of spiritual connection—we can more easily release our personal struggles and frustrations to the greater being (creator, all that is, universe, great spirit, god). Rudyhar interprets 19 degrees Capricorn: “A five-year-old child carrying a bag filled with groceries. Rising to the occasion when asked to assume social responsibilities ahead of one’s normal development.” It’s clear we’re being called on during these Summer months to keep working diligently on our personal development.
Leo New Moon arrives on the 24th at 2 degrees, the beginning of the fixed fire sign’s yearly cycle, and the start of the monthly lunar cycle. Opposing Chiron, square Jupiter, Sun and Moon reach for a whole new awareness and experience in the realm of heart, ego, self-orientation and self expression within the collective. Ego is most effective when subordinated to the heart, doing the bidding of our larger being, and is ultimately happier when not in charge. The heart is where our true power lies, which Leo New Moon is here to remind us. Sabian Symbol for Sun and Moon reads: “A middle-aged woman, her long hair flowing over her shoulders and in a braless youthful garment. The will to meet the challenge of age in terms of modern society’s glorification of youth.” We’re encouraged to dive right into life without self-judgment or self-editing, to be ourselves fully, to play the game of life unfettered by what others think. Bring forth your New Moon intention from the heart and without hesitation for the most glorious scenario you can imagine.
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.
