February 2010

Creative Renewal :::Conversations with the Moon::: The full moon of February takes place on Sunday, February 28th, at 8:38am Pacific Time. This full moon occurs in the lunar sign of Purva Phalguni, a sign associated with relaxation, rejuvenation, sensuality, and creativity. While the moon is in this lunar sign, the focus is on enjoyment and celebrations. This full moon is known as "Holi Purnima" in India. Holi is a festival of colors that's celebrated sort of like a national paintball day, with people spraying one another with colored water! This day in general also celebrates fire, and light. Even though the current planetary lineup will have many of us plugging away at projects, these next two weeks will be especially good for refueling our creative tanks with inspiring music, lively conversations, delicious foods, and pleasing artwork. This is a great time to feed your senses with the intention of rejuvenation. Consider supporting an artist friend by buying a piece of his or her artwork or music or writing. With Jupiter conjunct the Sun in Aquarius opposite this full moon, the self-healing benefit you receive from your patronage are just as great as the monetary benefit your artist friend receives. Write this day/time into your calendar: Monday, March 15, 2010, at 2:02pm Pacific Time. This new moon occurs in the lunar sign of Purva Bhadrapada. Remember that the new moon itself is a day for introspection, a day for emptying the mind and letting ideas take shape inside the "fertile void." Wait until the day after the new moon to begin the compelling projects that will likely occur to many of us with vigor during this new moon. Also, be prepared for some potentially major shifts in perspective. Image: by Georgia O'Keeffe

Planning & Scheduling :::Living in Accord with the Seasons::: The Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Uranus all transit through Pisces this month, with Venus conjoining Uranus on March 4, Mercury conjoining Uranus on March 16, and Sun conjoining Uranus on March 17. Each of these conjunctions are trigger points for the emergence of new cultural paradigms based on compassion, spirituality, and level playing fields. Mercury conjoins Jupiter in Aquarius on March 8th, breaking ground for new cultural frameworks, and a new kind of discourse. Mercury enters Pisces, its sign of debilitation, with the new moon on March 15. This places Mercury directly at odds with transiting Saturn. Instead of verbal courtesies, we see people and communities and countries hammering away at the issues standing in the way of their cooperation. Because of Mercury's conjunction with Venus, this could actually be a very productive conversation, if everyone involved manages to maintain a respectful tone. Venus moves into Pisces, its sign of exaltation, on March 3rd and stays there until March 27. By itself this placement of Venus brings social grace, compassion, and sweetness into our lives. But Venus is opposite Saturn in Virgo all month as well, changing the Venus hue into a loveliness that wants to experience its usefulness. In this situation Venus gets to work and wants to be productive. This is a transit that can be trying on relationships, but useful for creative manifestation. Mars moved into the sign of Cancer on October 4, and will be staying in his sign of debilitation for almost eight months, until the end of May. Mars resumes direct motion on March 10, ending a highly frustrating two-month period of Mars retrograde. Defensiveness and aggression will have been at a high over these last couple months, and even though Mars remains in Cancer, the productive release of pent-up energy is now a little more possible. Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto keep up their T-square configuration, getting particularly charged in July and August. This setup guarantees global, social reorganization. Notice what doesn't change, even when everything around you does. Coming from this place of what doesn't change - this is one way of apprehending enlightenment. Image licensed under Creative Commons ShareAlike 2.5

Grandmother Spider Steals the Sun A Native American Story as Told by Joseph Bruchac and Michael J. Caduto in their book Native American Stories When the Earth was first made, there was no light. It was very hard for the animals and the people in the darkness. Finally, the animals decided to do something about it. "I have heard there is something called the Sun," said the Bear. "It is kept on the other side of the world, but the people there will not shar it. Perhaps we can steal a piece of it." All the animals agreed that it was a good idea. But who would be the one to steal the Sun? The Fox was the first to try. He sneaked to the place where the Sun was kept. He waited until no one was looking. Then he grabbed a piece of it in his mouth and ran. But the Sun was so hot it burned his mouth and he dropped it. To this day all foxes have black mouths because that first fox burned his carrying the Sun. The Possum tried next. In those days, Possum had a very bushy tail. She crept up to the place where the Sun was kept, broke off a piece and hid it in her tail. Then she began to run, bringing the Sun back to the animals and the people. But the Sun was so hot it burned off all the hair on her tail and she lost hold of it. To this day all possums have bare tails because the Sun burned away the hair on that first possum. Then Grandmother Spider tried. Instead of trying to hold the Sun herself, she wove a bag out of her webbing. She put the piece of the Sun into her bag and carried it back with her. Now the question was where to put the Sun. Grandmother Spider told them, "The Sun should be up high in the sky. Then everyone will be able to see it and benefit from its light." All the animals agreed, but none of them could reach up high enough. Even if they carried it to the top of the tallest tree, that would not be high enough for everyone on the Earth to see the Sun. Then they decided to have one of the birds carry the Sun up to the top of the sky. Everyone knew the Buzzard could fly the highest, so he was chosen. The Buzzard placed the Sun on top of his head, where his feathers were the thickest, for the Sun was still very hot, even inside Grandmother Spider's bag. He gegan to fly, up and up toward the top of the sky. As he flew the Sun grew hotter. Up and up he went, higher and higher, and the Sun grew hotter and hotter still. Now the Sun was burning through Grandmother Spider's bag, but the Buzzard still kept flying up toward the top of the sky. Up and up he went, and the Sun grew hotter. Now it was burning away the feathers on top of his head, but he continued on. Now all of his feathers were gone, but he flew higher. Now it was turning the bare skin of his head all red, but he continued to fly. He flew until he reached the top of the sky, and there he placed the Sun where it would give light to everyone.