February/March 2008

Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Ted Glick

A Better World is Possible
John Cavanaugh & Jerry Manders

Cultivating Wholeness and Community in a Fragmented World
Kim Corbin interviews Bill Plotkin

Relearning What We've Forgotten
Chris Maser

The Welcome Home Project
Jody Woodruff

Diabetes: Inherently Treatable and In Many Cases Preventable
Daniel Smith, MD

Riding the Age Wave
Gaea Yudron

Radient Mind: Intervuew wuth author Peter Fenner
Carrie Grossman

Cosmic Calendar
Salina Rain

BACK TO TOP

Cosmic Calendar

By Salina Rain

After twelve years in the mutable fire sign, Sagittarius, Pluto has begun a close to sixteen year passage in Capricorn as we enter February ‘08. We’ve experienced the effects and consequences of our beliefs during this last twelve years, and awakened to the fact that what we believe—consciously and unconsciously—creates the reality in which we exist. While this idea that we create our own reality may have recently become oversimplified and packaged to sell in a highly materialistic marketplace, and sometimes in ways that seem to promote over-consumption and greed, it still holds profound truth for us.

The Sanskrit term for this power is Kriyashakti, and we will surely need compassion and the deep wisdom of Pluto in Capricorn to practice it consciously. We need to bypass, to some extent, the message that we can create bigger homes and more outlandish lifestyles, and embrace the more essential message of abundance and fulfillment through living our truth, joining with others to improve quality of life for all.

During the Pluto in Capricorn era there will be extreme hardship ahead if we continue to operate on the premise that we are isolated individuals, especially as the road forward requires collaboration, cooperation and an increasing sense of community. We’ll create far more satisfying and joyous experiences of abundance by joining together to solve the many difficult challenges of the next sixteen years and beyond. Surely we all need and deserve a certain level of comfort and ease in the material world to be happy, healthy and productive in our chosen work. But Capricorn brings us right up against the Earth’s limitations and reminds us we must shift our focus to collective solutions and sustainable energy technologies, pointing to the realization that true abundance springs from the principle of shared resources. 

A catastrophic scenario is not inevitable. If we continue on our individual and collective paths on the evolutionary spiral with dedication and optimism we can create islands of community here and there where idealistic human endeavor is supported by the cosmic energies, even as the ways of the power-hungry and greedy collapse and disintegrate from the weight of their own density. Governments and big business are vastly influenced by the Pluto transit, and the next generation to exercise power in the world arena can come forth with startling new ideas, skills and tools to enact change. Control and authority are big Capricorn issues with Pluto exposing the shadow of humanity’s issues around these themes in the coming years. Bottom line here is an outer planet reaching the 1st degree of any cardinal sign is a particularly powerful indicator of absolutely huge new beginnings, especially when it’s the great Transformer. Along the way in this time of extraordinary change it’s imperative that we let go of regrets or missed opportunities from the past to alleviate and solve the problems we’re now faced with, personally and collectively. It’s very clear there have been many innovations and inventions in the past that would have supplied cheap, safe energy, better transportation, more equitable and rewarding models of business. We must grieve our ignorance and perceived powerlessness of the past and move on, forgiving ourselves for the missed opportunities, in order to move forward. Pluto takes no prisoners, leaves no room for regrets. 

The first two eclipses of 2008 occur in February, with a Solar Eclipse on the 6th and a total Lunar Eclipse on the 21st. Eclipses eject us, in a sense, from past into future, and the two this month will be extra surprising, shocking and filled with elements of the unknown as they unfold over time due to Aquarius being especially represented in both lunations. This suggests in part that new technologies, accompanied by a major shift in mass consciousness, are in the forefront and will at least point to freeing us from our extraordinary, and cultivated, dependence on oil. Of course anything that beneficial to the collective will be fought tooth and nail by those in power since big business is dedicated to keeping us on the wrong track, even to the last drop of extracted oil. Dancing within our limitations always seems to be the most effective way of coming up with innovations and brilliant solutions. This time around we won’t be so naive as to allow the greediest in our free enterprise system to grab all the power and profit. 

The Solar Eclipse at 18 degrees Aquarius on the 6th of February coincides with the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Rat (an especially resourceful creature), and is a particularly auspicious time for beginning exciting new ventures. Chiron, retrograde Mercury, Neptune and North Node are all joining up with Sun and Moon to vibrate us into the next level of consciousness, one which requires an especially receptive state of mind with intuition and imagination highlighted as important elements of our most brilliant breakthroughs. Chiron pushes us to the outer (or inner) limits of whatever it’s touching, as our multi-dimensionality bursts through into our earthly experience. Chiron is now vibrating at a very high frequency in company with the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Neptune, Vesta and the North Node, the point of collective destiny. Jupiter and Saturn, still in their pragmatic and supportive Earth sign trine, continue to reward careful, well thought out work toward long term, or difficult, goals. A possibility in this potent eclipse is in beginning or continuing to form community however large or small, joining together to share our visions for the future and sharing resources in order to achieve those visions. Each of us has a unique role to play in this drama of transformational passage and it’s time to let that shine forth.

The Total Lunar Eclipse at 2 degrees Virgo on the 20th places emphasis on the split we’ve created between matter and spirit—as if they could actually be separate—and the path leading back to wholeness from this deluded world view. South Node and Saturn join eclipse Moon for extra attention to how badly the structure functions, indicating continuing collapse of traditional institutions and ways of relating to authority. North Node and asteroid Vesta join the Pisces Sun illuminating spiritual wisdom, with faith based on individual experience of the Divine rather than deferring to intermediaries between us and our Source.

A spiritual practice of our own choosing is an increasingly essential component of day to day life if we’re to navigate the changes with clarity and optimism. Venus, Mercury, Chiron, Neptune and North Node constitute the Aquarian lineup at this crucial turning point. Refer back to February 20, 1989 at this lunation as it resonates with the lunar eclipse at the same degree of Virgo-Pisces then. What was significant for you at that juncture that’s unfolding to another level over the next few months? Rudhyar’s interpretation of 2 degrees Virgo Moon is “A large white cross dominates the landscape. The wisdom and compassion which only the experience of suffering and isolation can bring.” Our inner sense of what’s happening and what’s important to validate and cultivate is especially timely.

The March 7 New Moon at 18 degrees Pisces initiates the annual cycle for all matters ruled by the mutable water sign as well as the new monthly cycle. Uranus conjoins Sun and Moon setting up an extraordinarily dynamic energy field for this lunation, bringing breakthroughs and important changes in direction accompanied by individual and collective experiences of awakening to new dimensions of reality. Dreams, imagination, intuition, psychic vision are all prominent features of our experience now while the most outlandish and seemingly bizarre scenarios are the most likely to be “real.” This is a mystical gateway opening into realms beyond what we dare to dream—be prepared for the magic as well as the exposure of long held lies and deceptions. Chiron, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, North Node still line up in their ultra high frequency Aquarian conspiracy of positive, inventive, brilliant and benign future scenarios where all living beings are revered as part of Creation. If humanity is to be part of that future the time to act on ideals and visions is now. Mars is direct in the 2nd degree of Cancer, tightly opposing Pluto in Capricorn, and together these two planets intensify the clearing process, shaking the ground beneath our feet, pushing us to let go of our old belligerent ways of trying to solve problems. Personally this aspect gives us great impetus to act with renewed discipline, focus and effectiveness toward our goals. Be willing to believe at this powerfully mystical and revolutionary lunation that that the old order is frantically clawing for control—even as it disintegrates into oblivion—and plan accordingly.

Full Moon at 2 degrees Libra on March 21 points out the obstacles we must get around, or dissolve, in order to move forward as retrograde Saturn quincunxes the Aries Sun. The Libra-Aries axis is about the dynamics between our own needs and ambitions and the needs of our relationships and other cooperative involvements. A potent Cardinal Grand Cross is formed with Sun, Moon, Mars and Pluto indicating a turning point in matters needing resolution or completion. The planets create the four arms in the cross, stressing the four areas of our lives involved in this decisive moment. Instead of being pulled in four different directions by forces outside us we need to center ourselves, focusing on how to balance our relationships. We must also be clear and ethical in the use of personal power, aware of our desires and motives, and be willing to act with courage. Mercury, Venus, Vesta and Uranus are aligned in Pisces for clarity of vision and a strong sense of empathy for other beings. We’re ready to distill the essence of our experiences into deeper wisdom, and have courage for the path ahead.

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, classes, 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.com.