une/July 2008
My Mother’s Garden
Muktha Jost
Getting A Grip
Frances Moore Lappé
The Documented Health Risk of
Genetically Engineered Foods
Dr. Jeffrey Bland Interviews Jeffrey Smith
The Emerging Significance of Urban Agriculture
Jody Woodruff
Our Food Future
Scott McGuire
We Need A New Generation of Farmers
Zoë Bradbury
Soft Intentions, Hard Results
Peter Moore
Fitness Training For The Brain
Jim Brown and Molly Brown
Improved Health Through Detoxification
Daniel Smith, ND
Awakening and Embodiment
An Interview with Judith Blackstone
Randall Keller
Reclaiming Our Attention
Guy Finley
Cosmic Calendar
Salina Rain
Cosmic Calendar
By Salina Rain
June of 2008 starts off with the reverberations of May’s Full Moon which emphasized the Pleiades star system and its central star Alcyone, around which our entire Solar System revolves in the greater galactic drama which holds the whole “show” together. As a species we’re beginning to remember our part in the evolutionary spinning of the planets and stars, something lost in the last few thousand years of human amnesia. Indigenous people committed to holding and carrying forth the memory of the human species, as well as prophecies of what is to come, are where who need to turn to, sooner or later, for the tools to navigate these changing times.
Saturn has recently turned direct and Jupiter, Pluto, Neptune are retrograde, or in apparent backwards motion from the Earth’s perspective. Uranus will next spin around in the heavens the last week of this month, completing the outer planet review conference over the Summer and partly into Fall causing humanity’s higher motivations, purposes, interconnections and transformations to be subject to a slowing, deepening process while offering us an opportunity, collectively and individually, to review, recall, reorient and recommit on a higher plane of consciousness. The outer planets have been joining in their retrograde passes in the Summer months since the early ‘80s, around the time of our Solar System’s 1st contact with the golden nebula known as the Photon Band or Photon Belt. This cloud of electromagnetic particles is encountered by our Solar System twice every 25,000 years or so. How this enormous influx of cosmic light will affect us is the source of much speculation. Our full encounter, or immersion, in this intense field of super galactic light will be complete around 2012, the much anticipated end date of the Mayan Calendar.
Loosely coinciding with the Pleiadian influenced Full Moon last May was the announcement of a super nova, a mysteriously rare event within our Milky Way Galaxy. This star system exploded 26,000 years ago (the exact length of the Mayan Calendar’s ages, and timing of the astrological/astronomical precession of the equinoxes) and its light is only now visibly reaching the Earth. This super nova occurred, or is occurring, near the center of our galaxy, a point in space known by indigenous people around the planet to be a place of death and rebirth, and only recently discovered by astronomer’s to be a black hole, or galactic center. This big stuff at work in our galactic neighborhood also translates into big stuff in the works on our exquisite little jewel of a planet. Even as we face the ultimate destructive consequences of our amnesia-driven behavior, the new manifestation, or incarnation, of our essentially creative species is being born.
Although this Summer may seem stagnant on the surface, at least as far as our progress in making change, have no doubt that the powerful forces of change are simmering, preparing for the next stage of the birthing process, just below consciousness. Paul Hawkens writes about “the largest social movement in all of human history” in his book Blessed Unrest: “What does meet the eye is compelling: coherent, organic, self-organized congregations involving tens of millions of people dedicated to change.” This is a spectacularly vivid example of the newly emerging and highly effective feminine model of creating and improving communities and the quality of life for all. The phenomenon Hawkens writes about also reflects the evolutionary thrust of the current outer planet patterns, and the predicted renewal and flowering of human culture in the cosmic age we’re entering.
Gemini New Moon on June 3 at 14 degrees is the second of five Super Moons this year. Labeled by astrologer Richard Nolle, these Moons are at perigee or closest approach to the planet and have extra gravitational pull affecting all life on Earth with extremes in tidal movements, weather conditions, electrical storms, earth movements, as well as an especially strong affect on the human psyche/emotional body. Inner planets Mercury and Venus both hold court with the luminaries in close conjunctions, assuring more input and information from diverse sources, inviting us to approach the new cycle with open minds and hearts. Trickster Mercury is ruler of Gemini, intensifying its influence and still making mayhem, but ideally turning inward, in its retrograde condition. Start the new cycle of intentions and goals being conscious of the probability that things will shift in a couple of weeks. We have to rely more on our intuition at this seeding moment with Mercury square Uranus, the diviner, and be willing to leave some things up in the air for now. Chiron joins the North Node in an alchemical trine with backward spinning Mercury, describing extra windy conditions and heightened awareness with collective, probably painful, revelations and exciting news concerning technology, energy medicine and alternative solutions in general.
“Bridging physical space and social distinctions, two men communicate telepathically. A time comes when the individual can still transcend the limiting boundaries of culture and ego.” Rudhyar’s delineation of the New Moon’s degree speaks of the potential inherent in this moment to awaken to our culturally unacknowledged wholistic capacities of perception and interaction, balance our left and right brain, and remember who we really are.
Full Moon in Sagittarius at 28 degrees perfects on the 18th, conjoining Pluto and Juno, and opposing Sun, Venus and Ceres. This lunation stimulates and develops further the much larger and multi-dimensional perspective that opened up for us in the December ‘07 Jupiter-Pluto conjunction (very near Galactic Center) at the same degree as this Full Moon. What’s being illuminated for the next level of action from the events and ideas of last December? Sun and Moon-Juno all square Uranus, a high tension T-square aspect compelling us to pay attention to the most uplifting futuristic visions, while Moon-Pluto-Juno trine Mars calls for courage, generosity and an open hearted approach in all our actions. This is a time of startling realizations helping us to move past the old paradigm systems of fear, authoritarian controls, separation from each other, from the Earth and from our true selves that has kept us living with self-doubt and a negative world view. Meanwhile Mercury, ruling planet of this lunation, is almost at a standstill, stationing to turn direct on the 19th and vibrating at an intensified frequency as a result. We’re getting ready to move forward with the things that were placed on hold on May 26th when the Winged Messenger began its inward passage, ready for more action on the New Moon’s intentions. Decisions are easier to make now and are supported by more information, clearer thinking, more cooperative allies. Rudhyar’s Sabian Symbol for Moon’s degree reads is “An old bridge over a beautiful stream is still in constant use.” Lynda Hill’s version of the Sabian Oracle (360 Degrees of Wisdom) degree expands the theme with “A splendidly built bridge, a heritage of unknown ages, still spans the beautiful and wildly primitive stream.” Both images speak of cultural links between past and present, between people and places, that have been separated.
Cancer New Moon on July 2 at 12 degrees is especially nurturing and nourishing, connecting new beginnings as the Sun and Moon are joined by Venus and planetoid Ceres, all emphasizing the cultivating, caring and supportive energies of the cardinal water sign. The 3rd Super Moon of the year assures more tidal activity, extreme weather, and certainly stronger emotions from the intensified gravitational pull of the Moon in her closest proximity to our planet. Insecurities and concerns for our safety and for those close to us will also be prominent themes, and as the US as a nation is highly influenced by the sign of Cancer there will surely be events bringing out our national tendency to become defensive or be the aggressor over the next couple of weeks. Individually we need to focus on what nourishes us body, mind, spirit, and put forth, with all that extra magnetism available in this energy field, our New Moon intentions for fulfilling those needs. This makes us much more effective in all our endeavors, personal and professional, feeding ourselves with the highest frequency substances, ideas, emotions and relationships possible. Venus, exactly opposite Jupiter, extends our experience of loved ones, family/tribal groups, with whom we feel connections and commonality. As new and exciting work with DNA emphasizes the family of humanity is the only distinct family that exists. Mars and Saturn quite close in Virgo caution us to soften the critical edges, to be discerning and discriminating without falling into hypercritical or harsh judgments of ourselves or others. These two planets will conjoin exactly on the 10th, be extra aware of the need for precision and clarity free of all negativity. Cancer’s influence concerns us with our heritage and ancestry, both as individuals and as groups, pointing ever deeper into the essence of who we are, where we’re from, to make sense of where we’re going.
On July 18 Capricorn Full Moon perfects at 27 degrees widely joined by Jupiter, opposing Sun in Cancer and with Mercury-Ceres in a close conjunction also in the cardinal water sign. The Capricorn-Cancer axis creates tension between the obligations and time constraints placed on us by our work, careers, public persona, and the need for a fulfilling private life where we give and receive support, acceptance and love. Jupiter expands on the theme of responsibility for meeting commitments, accounting for time and energy spent each day toward achieving cherished goals. Of course we need a balance between these two areas of our lives, especially in this time of intense uncertainty. Instead of succumbing to the unskillful expression of Capricorn where fear and self-doubt predominates, we can choose the cardinal earth sign’s capacity for discipline, clear focus and dedication to higher purpose. Instead of getting lost in Cancer’s tendency for neediness, insecurity and defensiveness we can tap into the all-embracing love and acceptance of the Divine Mother archetype. Sun trine Uranus helps us to experiment with new ways of achieving greater harmony while further revealing the extent of our interconnectedness and interdependence.
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, Reiki Jin Kei Do master sessions and trainings. She may be reached at (707) 668-5408, PO Box 1081, Blue Lake, CA 95525, astro@salinarain.com.
