February/March 2007

Creating Green-Collar Jobs
Van Jones & Ben Wyskida

Bringing Democracy to Life
Frances Moore Lappé

The War Within Islam: Interview with Reza Aslan
Arnie Cooper

US Gas Tanks and Iraq's Hydrocarbon Law
Stan Goff

Restorative Justice: The New Hope for Reviatlizing Community
Pip Cornall

A Unique Model of Green Architecture
Jody Woodruff

Exploring Uncertainty and Paradox
Marla Estes

The Energetic Properties of Crystals
Robert Simmons

The Storm Hasn't Stopped: A First Person Account of the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Rita
Carol Hwoschinsky

Healing Energy: In a Vibrant Field, Energy Medicine Flowers
Gaea Yudron

Intuition and Heart
Swami Dhayana Giten

Walking Meditation
Thich Nhat Han & Nguyn Anh Huong

Mixed Media Reviews
Debi Weiss

Cosmic Calendar
Salina Rain

BACK TO TOP

Cosmic Calendar

By Salina Rain

February starts off dramatically with Full Moon in Leo on the 1st, 9:45 pm PST, at 13 degrees of the fixed fire sign. Sun in opposition at 13 Aquarius is joined by asteroid Pallas Athene, imparting wisdom and refined intellect, as well as Chiron and Neptune, with Mercury a more distant participant at the last degree. Saturn makes a wide conjunction with the Moon creating a face-off between the old and new order, illuminating where the current power structure isn’t working. This overall dynamite combination of planets assures a good look at how we suffer from an increasing isolation from each other and separation from Gaia, natural time, the cosmic order. Our communities are fractured, torn apart by the onward march of big business in service to the god of corporate profit and the government installed by big business to do its bidding. We may at times feel powerless to create change, but this is one of the crisis points where we see solutions and are prone to have more dedication to effective action. A yod is formed by Moon, as the “finger of god” point of the long triangle, with Mars and Uranus-Ceres as the arms. This configuration creates tension and pressure among the planets involved to work together, with the Moon as the pivotal point. Divine restlessness, self-disciplined action and creative strategies to bring family, tribe community together in a dance of common goals describes this lunation’s yod aspect, with strong emphasis on what’s nurturing and supportive for all. Jupiter trine the Moon, sextile Sun, square Uranus encourages creativity, innovations on a grand scale, while at the same time tempting us to go way overboard if we don’t stay grounded. Imaginative, intuitive and mystical expression are part of this frequency where we sense our interconnectedness with all creation. Sabian Symbol from Rudhyar for 13 degrees Leo reads: “An old sea captain rocking himself on the porch of his cottage. The quieted mind’s recollections of crises and joys long past.” The wisdom gained from experience and the value of self-reflection are the emphases.

Aquarius, where Sun travels in the first two and a half weeks of February, with plenty of company this year, is the sign most enabling us to find our individuality in context with, and dedicated to, the larger community. Technology and science are ruled by the fixed air sign, along with phenomena like crop circles and UFO’s, utopian ideals, and the process of inventing new solutions to problems. While Aquarius’ influence can lead us further toward our ideal of mutually beneficial co-existence within the context of the larger group, it can also encourage a taste for the bizarre accompanied by eccentric behavior. It’s an “electrical” energy that can vibrate at a high frequency or, in its denser aspect simply cause disruption and mayhem. This month Mercury will turn in the first of its three retrograde passages of the year, pivoting on the 13th at 10 degrees Pisces in close orb to Uranus, ruler of Aquarius, also in Pisces. Sounds confusing, but what it means is the usual order of things will be further disrupted, through the 7th of March, especially in the realm of day to day routines, communications, vehicle and electronic equipment rebellions. This will be a particularly chaotic Mercury retrograde if we’re not surrendering to internal processes, self-reflection, the intuitive aspect of the mind. Good ways to use this three week period are listening to or making music—especially sacred music (whatever is sacred to you); meditating, engaging with inner vision, dreams and imagination more than usual; working in film, photography or any expressive form utilizing ephemeral images; writing fantasy, poetry or on spiritual themes. Of course be extra patient with the usual delays, mix-ups and unexpected shifts in schedules, and check out your vehicle before driving any distance. Mercury will re-cross 10 degrees Pisces on March 28th, the timing for moving ahead on all we’ve been reviewing during its “backwards” journey.

New Moon on the 17th is at 29 degrees Aquarius a few days after Mercury’s pivot, bringing some of the uncertainty of the winged messenger’s current state into this new beginning, especially with Uranus so closely involved. Saturn’s opposition to Sun and Moon still offers some stability and sobriety to the ultra dynamic, vibrating with change, atmosphere. Again the luminaries join in the new cycle’s lunation in a late degree of the sign, indicating the wisdom gained from this sign’s lessons is available if we make some effort. Jupiter square Moon’s Nodes and Uranus widens the “crack in the cosmic egg,” with the great awakening in collective consciousness that’s unfolding dramatically this year. The health and well-being of communities—the necessity to work and play together in mutual respect and harmony—is still a prominent theme, and this is the year’s beginning in those matters. Time to create our intentions about our own part in the community dynamics, where we choose to participate and where we need to be away from the group energy. Pluto square Venus makes sure we cleanse the darkest corners of the heart, bring to light our fears, shame, feelings of inadequacy to be sacrificed to the greater good along with our own personal healing. Let go and give in to your true divine nature. Pluto-Venus will bring out all the stuff in relationships and financial arrangements that we’ve been trying to avoid. Best to look head-on and be courageous in our resolve to transform what terrifies us into our strength. Sabian Symbol for 29 degrees Aquarius: “A butterfly emerging from a chrysalis. The capacity to utterly transform the character of one’s consciousness by radically altering the structural patterns of everyday living and the types of relationships one enters upon.”(Rudhyar)

As March begins retrograde Mercury has slipped back into the latter degrees of Aquarius on its way to reviewing and re-working our group involvements, friendships, and most innovative creative projects. The first Lunar Eclipse of 2007 occurs on the 3rd, Full Moon at 13 degrees Virgo near the South Node, opposing Sun, Uranus, North Node and Ceres in Pisces, all lined up like intensely luminous pearls on a strand. There is incredible magic in this pattern, a call to look with love and optimism toward the future, and to have the heart to act on our visions. This eclipse resonates intimately with one on March 3rd, 1988 which was also at 13 degrees Virgo. What was going for you then that’s now moving to the next level of exploration, fulfillment or resolution? Eclipses bring great shifts as the light is interrupted in its emanation from Sun or Moon, creating a break between past and present/future. Virgo-Pisces axis gives us the opportunity to integrate the sacred into our lives more on a daily basis—realizing the sacredness of all we do and all we are. Mercury, Pallas, Neptune, Chiron and Mars all journey through Aquarius together still working on the themes of strategies and solutions for living more in tune with each other and the cosmos. A grand fire trine with Jupiter, Saturn and Venus emphasizes the emerging power of the feminine creating new and more effective structures in society. Rudhyar’s Sabian Symbol interpretation for 13 degrees Virgo is “A powerful statesman overcomes a state of political hysteria. The focusing of the collective need for order and structural interdependence into a personage who incarnates the answer to this need.”

Solar Eclipse in Pisces, 29 degrees, on March 18th, initiates the new cycle with another big shift, another break with the past that enables us to move forward free of self doubts or regrets. Pluto’s in a tight square to Sun and Moon ensuring even more intensive clearing out of past issues, delusions, hidden agendas that have been causing great pain and obstructing our progress. Saturn-Neptune are again close in their opposition where spirit and matter must be integrated as the whole rather than experienced as opposing aspects of our lives. Old structures and cultural institutions are dissolving as we work on our vision for a more gracious, humane way of living. North Node of the Moon is approaching conjunction with Uranus providing a collective experience of awakening involving realizations about the Earth’s water resources, possibly an event of massive global impact affecting the world’s waters. Look back to March 18th, 1988 when there was a Solar eclipse at 28 degrees Pisces. What sorrow can you release at this lunation that frees you to experience more of the joy of your existence? Vision is prominent with Pisces lunations, especially this one. Listen and look internally for what’s being unveiled to you. “Light breaking into many colors as it passes through a prism. Unity will always break again into multiplicity. There is no absolute unity; if anything could be called “abolute” it is the relationship between the One and the Many.” (Sabian Symbol, Rudhyar, 29 Pisces)

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.