APRIL/MAY 2009
Creating Community Prosperity
Crystal Arnold
Re-Localizing Capital
Jeff Golden
How Unlimited Interest Rates
Destroyed the Economy
Amy Goodman interviews
Thomas Geoghegan
Honoring the Duh-Design Principles
Shaktari Belew
Stimulating Local Agriculture
Jody Woodruf
Fresh Food From Small Spaces
R.J. Ruppenthal
Small Farm Renaissance
Chuck Burr
Where Are the Seed Growers?
Don Tipping
Try it On Everything!
The Healing Power of EFT
DVD Review by Jill V. Mangino
A Naturopathic Perspective
on Vaccination Choices
Michael H. Shuman
Safety and Protection
Peter Moore
Cosmic Calendar
Salina Rain
Cosmic Calendar
By Salina Rain
In April and May this year we’re still under the influence of Venus in her warrior (Aries) aspect as she passes through the remainder of the shadow degrees crossed in the retrograde phase and beyond. Collectively we’ve all been processing—consciously or unconsciously—a tremendous amount of psychic pain and angst. As we reach the point of no return in our collective denial of ecological holocaust in the works, the extraordinarily dysfunctional global economic system (a reflection of human greed gone berserk) and all the other social issues that have unfolded as a result of plutocracy gone wild, we are pressed to release old patterns forever. Just because so many of us want more than anything to release the old structures and beliefs does not mean it’s an easy process. So Venus’ kick ass input has been helping us to awaken further to the point of taking powerful action, as individuals and as a collective. Venus has been touching on our righteous rage, urging us to express our truth through any and all means, from art to asserting our individuality in relationships, to taking actions toward the most effective and fair uses of resources. A major archetype of the feminine principle and sister planet to Earth, Venus has been demeaned and trivialized by overemphasis of the masculine for the last five thousand years. Remember the old bumper sticker from several years back, God is coming and She is pissed? As the power aspects, wisdom and ultimate strengths of the feminine continue to emerge and re-define our whole reality, we’re compelled to further refine the balance between masculine and feminine within ourselves and within our societies, institutions, and global structures.
The beginning of both April and May have strong emphasis on the old, hidden rage intensified to the point of extreme action as Venus squares Pluto in Aries at the start of both months, while toward the end of April Mars squares the planet of powerful transformations. We must use these energies with mindfulness and clear purpose as they can be volatile and dangerous, to say the least, as well as profoundly creative.
Other female archetypes are stirring up new business as well in April as asteroids Pallas, Juno and Vesta all change signs during the first phase of Spring ‘09. The principles of intelligence combined with wisdom, honoring relationships (either intimate or friendly, personal or professional) as sacred contracts worthy of our best efforts, and devotion to preserving life in all its forms are joining in Venus’ “war” on ignorance and passivity. Ceres, archetype of the ancient grain goddess, continues her journey through Virgo, sign of the “perfected feminine,” and focuses on bringing health and well being to all through abundant, nutritious, ethically grown crops, a big feature for us through July this year. Of course the issues around changing the broken-down, elitist health care system in this country is a major focus in this phase as well, we can finally get somewhere as Ceres supports this kind of progress.
Two planets change directions in April, with Pluto turning retrograde on the 4th at 3 degrees Capricorn, and Venus turning direct on the 17th at 29 degrees Pisces. Watch these degrees in your own chart for intensification of the energies in these areas of your life. It’s time to begin moving ahead with relationship, financial and creative decisions as Venus pivots, but remember optimal timing is around May 20 when she re-crosses her retrograde degree. Venus and Mars will travel very closely together in firey, bold Aries from the last week in April through May, energizing and activating us in love and money, male/female balance, with the caution not to act too impulsively.
Full Moon at 20 degrees Libra April 19 trines Jupiter, along with Chiron and Neptune giving us a preview of what these three will usher in at the end of May when they align at 26 degrees Aquarius, a massive enlightening and awakening combination. Moon’s also exactly quincunx Mars, a tense and confusing aspect where we may question our own or others’ motivations, and requiring caution, inner focus and devotion to personal integrity. Moon’s degree in Rudyhar’s Sabian Symbols reads: “A rabbi performing his duties. The ability to draw on the power of an ancestral tradition in order to serve and inspire one’s fellow men.”
The Taurus New Moon on the 24th, at 6 degrees, squares the Moon’s Nodes as well as the Jan. 25 Solar Eclipse degree, challenging us to continue getting our values and priorities worked out to serve ourselves and the common good. Sun and Moon trine Pluto, sextile Juno encouraging collaborative work and ensuring big accomplishments for all our efforts over the next 6 months—if we’re taking advantage of the tremendous discipline and focus available to us now. Choose your New Moon goals with great care and consideration to optimize the possibilities and avoid wasting this precious opportunity for real change. Simplicity and more real connection to those around us are a good part of these humble, but powerful, New Moon’s energies. “Cantilever bridge across a deep gorge. The conquest of separativeness through group cooperation.” (Rudyhar)
Mercury changes directions twice in May, while Saturn and Neptune each shift around, direct and retrograde respectively. We’re right in the vortex of all the passionate, creative, evolutionary energies stirred up by Venus, Mars and Pluto, the main culprits in this drama. Restlessness to act is an intense challenge since we’re likely to move too quickly for our own good. The stability and slowed down quality of the Taurus lunation just passed can help keep us grounded. Mercury turns retrograde on the 6th of May at 2 degrees Gemini, one of the signs it rules, in an especially eccentric spin for the Trickster planet in its ultra tricky mode. Watch out for all the electronic, messaging, conversational and travel glitches Mercury throws at us during this phase, actually begun to some extent around the last week of April, and extending to the 30th of May when the Winged Messenger turns direct. Most of the retrograde phase will blessedly be in the latter degrees of Taurus, much easier to deal with as we engage in our internal review at a slower pace, emphasizing even more the issues of priorities, how we use resources. June 15th is the date for Mercury re-crossing the retro degree when we get a clearer green light to go ahead with projects and plans.
Scorpio Full Moon perfects at 19 degrees on May 8 illuminating the difference between what we need to feel stable, grounded, supported, functional, and what we think we need. Scorpio always leads us into the deepest parts of the psyche, the places we’d just as soon ignore, deny, and/or demonize. However this is only because our narrow cultural view/consensus is uncomfortable with the mysteries of sex, death, money, power, all the fixed water sign’s realms. Being in touch with our deepest desires and motivations is essential to becoming fulfilled human beings within, capable of living in harmony with others. We’ve been getting intensified lessons about our true, and false, values over the past two months, and now we’re getting closer to some resolutions. Rudyhar’s interpretation of 19 degrees Scorpio is “A parrot repeats the conversation he has overheard. The capacity to transmit transcendental knowledge.” Time to seriously clear out the extraneous and rededicate ourselves to what’s essential.
Saturn spins to direct motion at 15 degrees Virgo on the 16th, for a big hit on the weight and influence of the planet of structure, commitments, self-responsibility. Saturn has great impact on society and its institutions, and in Virgo is particularly concerned with health care structures. We can be quite effective over the coming months as Saturn moves forward, giving us greater resolve and persistence for the hard work ahead. Wherever this planet turns in your chart is an area receiving emphasis on clearer commitment and self-discipline.
May 24 marks the Gemini New Moon at 4 degrees, an outrageously magnificent new beginning point with the line up of Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron at 26 degrees Aquarius, the start of a whole new era in humanity’s awakening. Sun and Moon are in a fairly tight and difficult quincunx with Pluto. Our thinking is necessarily changing. Though we may be quite reluctant to let go of old, tired mental approaches, let go we must or the consequences are somewhat immediate and fully unpleasant. This is our new beginning for the year in all things ruled by Gemini—communications, networking, writing, interacting with the immediate environment. The presence of Jupiter, Neptune, Chiron assure massive developments in community based, cooperative projects—in the realization that spirituality is about direct connection and communication with the divine rather than with intermediaries, in a greater sense of interconnection with each other and all of life. Chiron helps with bringing the idealism into reality, making it functional, opening up to the multi-dimensional truth of who and what we are. This lineup will powerfully influence the Summer. New alliances will be made, our galactic neighbors will be featured one way or another, and our reality will finally begin to mirror our visions.
As Swami Beyondananda says, “Remember, we are now living in a world gone sane. Change is ahead, change is afoot, and everything is changing from head to foot. Like it or not, we are destined to have heaven on earth. Might as well get used to it.”
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.
