April/May 2007

Why Having More No Longer Makes Us Happy
Bill McKibben

Communities Uniting for climate Action
Lesley Adams

Are Big Enviro Groups Holding Back the Anti-Warming Movement?
Megan Tady

Al Gore and the Wedges Game
Kelpie Wilson

Plastic Bottles and Can Liners Under Scrutiny Again
Jody Woodruff

Creating a New Level of Awareness. Interview with Dr. Joe Dispenza
Katie Elliott

Ashland Independent Fillm Festival

Bowing to Fate, Growing to Destiny: A look at Women's Themes through Film
Marla Estes

Awakening to Our Full Potential
Arjuna Ardagh

Life Organizing: A New Way to Flow with Time
Jennifer Louden

Homelessness in the House
Coenraad Rogmans

Dharma Publishing
Karen Egan

Mixed Media Reviews

Cosmic Calendar
Salina Rain

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Cosmic Calendar

By Salina Rain

Jupiter and Saturn change directions in April, greatly emphasizing matters associated with these planets. Pluto’s shift late last March is still affecting us profoundly, and with its retrograde phase through the first week in September we’re in a more intensive process of reviewing personal and collective authenticity and integrity, experiencing what beliefs, both conscious and unconscious, motivate us in order to make more effective choices in our lives. Pluto’s in the last degrees of Sagittarius making this the final phase of our lessons around the transformation of human consciousness. Globally we’re coming to realizations about the universality of core truth in religious, spiritual and philosophical systems and the brutal, destructive consequences of divisiveness based on religious/philosophical fanaticism. This a particularly crucial time as we navigate the end of Pluto in Sagittarius, heading for the intensely rocky and magnificent deconstruction and restructuring period of Pluto in Capricorn starting next year and ending in early 2023. Pluto teaches how to undergo the process of transformation by highlighting situations, people, habitual patterns that we must let go of in order to grow and alleviate our own suffering.

Jupiter and Saturn, meanwhile, are in an extended, harmonious trine aspect through May of this year, helping us to create more beneficial, life-supporting, fundamental changes in society’s institutions and in the areas of life affecting each of  us individually. People born in 1946-1948 and 1976-1977 are especially prominent players in the cultural/institutional changes and are, or have been, experiencing particularly auspicious Saturn Returns because of the Jupiter-Saturn connection. This Spring is an extraordinary period of bridging past and future with more ease and grace than before. Much work is being accomplished right now that’s based on universal truths, Natural Law, aligning with the cosmic order to co-create with Nature/Divinity. Since both planets shift directions this month their influences are also especially powerful as they pivot, with Jupiter turning on the 5th to retrograde motion, Saturn on the 19th to direct motion. Time to get organized, focused, and to cultivate a self-discipline dedicated to moving forward on the most essential goals for your life’s work. Of course making sure we thoroughly enjoy and savor the journey is just as crucial to our success as developing the discipline necessary to achieve goals, and is indeed part of the message of these planets.

Full Moon in Libra, on the 2nd perfects at 13 degrees, trining maverick, healer, teacher Chiron with Sun and newly considered planet Ceres opposing in Aries. This lunation illuminates a new path for us in balancing personal needs and goals with relationships and their requirements, while maintaining compassion and a supportive attitude for all involved. Sun, Saturn and Jupiter form a Grand Fire Trine that can lift us out of our day-to-day mindset, offering broader perspectives, optimistic outlooks, the courage to follow wherever the heart leads us. North Node-Uranus continue their inspirational/upsetting revelations with the additional input of Mercury in close conference with them, broadcasting the message far and wide and wreaking some havoc with communications in its most extreme trickster aspect. Technology’s magic and mayhem at work all at once can show us new ways to use our electronic interconnectedness in highly beneficial ways, and is surely upping the ante as far as just us folks being seen and heard. If you have planets or points around 15-17 degrees Pisces this can be an absolutely exquisite time for you, however unnerving or disorienting it may also be. Rudhyar’s Sabian Symbol for 13 degrees Libra is “Children blowing soap bubbles. The cultural fantasies through which young minds dream of perfect fulfillment.” Pay close attention to dreams and fantasies, surrendering to imaginative play related to your inner visions. Create or update your vision board, treasure map, whatever you like to call it.

Aries New Moon at 28 degrees on the 17th initiates a new cycle in the sign of beginnings, a most powerful initiation point in a highly dynamic year. Sun and Moon trine Pluto in late degrees of  fire signs increase the wisdom available to us to begin anew with eyes wide open, while Jupiter-Saturn continue their personal and cultural manifestations with intelligence and heartfelt idealism. Mars, ruling planet of Aries, is in Pisces, while Neptune continues a fairly long term sextile with Jupiter, sensitizing us more to the need for quiet reflection, honoring inner vision, before we take off on the next part of our journey. We dream our reality before it manifests, both collectively and individually—now is a time to be scrupulously aware of what we’re contributing to the collective consciousness by really attending to what we harbor in our imagination.

Mercury travels fairly close to the Taurus Sun as May begins, heightening the senses even more, enhancing our ability to slow down and enjoy the small pleasures of life. May’s one planetary shift in direction is Neptune’s pivot retrograde for the next five months on the 24th, increasing the watery planet’s influence around that time and well before as it slows down considerably, with further emphasis on the dreamy, intuitive, imaginative and mystical realms still operating as Uranus-North Node in Pisces are also still within a few degrees of each other. The earthy and the mystical blend in perfect harmony this month, with Mars finishing its Pisces journey over the first half of May and Venus entering all-embracing Cancer by the 8th. Jupiter-Uranus square off on the 10th for the second time since January, dramatically increasing the capacity to awaken to new possibilities, release old, dysfunctional beliefs, startling us out of the old dream where we must suffer society’s idea of who we are, projecting us into the new dream where we realize we’re multi-dimensional co-creators. 

Scorpio Full Moon on the 2nd at 12 degrees is opposed by Sun and Mercury in Taurus, advising us to plant our feet on the earth and be present in each and every moment, acknowledging our true desires, owning our shadow. Chiron square Sun and Moon and Saturn in a wider square form a Fixed Grand Cross, challenging us to recognize self-defeating patterns on the individual and collective levels, considering the ways we prioritize time and energy and what the results of that are in our current habits. Traditions can be extremely hard to break through and yet that’s just what’s required if the traditional approach is not benefiting us and those around us. Mars squares Jupiter with an inspirational or chaotic energy dynamic as a prelude to the even bigger Uranus-Jupiter square on the 10th. What is right in front of your nose calling for your attention, what vision must you attend to before going further on your path?
New Moon in Taurus on the 16th perfects at 26 degrees in a tense, uncomfortable quincunx with Pluto and a square with Neptune, challenging beliefs about the physical world we inhabit, pushing us to let go of false belief systems that get in the way of experiencing reality directly. There is mysticism in the mundane that we ignore as we perceive through the lens of rigid religious, scientific and philosophical systems that have become irrelevant through their very narrow preconceptions. Taurus Sun and Moon offer a new beginning in the matters of the fixed earth sign, in our values, use of resources, sense of security and comfort. Mars has reached the 1st degree of its home sign Aries, poised to start off on a new adventure, stimulating us to act on whatever is most essential to us. In the Dark of the Moon time prior to this lunation give yourself space to go inward to confirm what your current priorities are, then put out your intention with the New Moon’s arrival. Don’t resist the impetus of this lunation as it prods you toward your deeper desires, requiring the release of old habits for true contentment. What feels safe and comfortable is shifting along with the shifting nature of reality.

Salina Rain is a professional counseling Astrologer with major focus on life purpose and gracefully navigating transitions. She is also a Reiki Jin Kei Do Master/Teacher, a lineage of energy healing directly from the ancient Buddhist healing practices. Salina is available for astrological readings and classes, with tele-classes starting in Feb.’07, and Reiki Jin Kei Do master sessions and trainings. Salina may be reached at (707) 668-5408, P.O. Box 1081, Blue Lake, CA 95525, astro@salinarain.biz.