February 2009

Vitriol as Virtue Conversations with the Moon The full moon of February takes place on Monday, February 9 at 6:50am Pacific Time, in the lunar sign of Ashlesha. A lunar eclipse is occurring at this full moon, which exacerbates at the same time as scatters its power. The power of this constellation is "the ability to inflict with poison." It is linked with transmutation of negative energy. The next six months (until the next eclipse) will be highly productive for individual, psychological transformation. On an outer, social level, these next six months may contain more contention than usual. Negative energies rise to the surface seeking release. Met with acceptance, negative energies can be neutralized. A good example of a productive use of Ashlesha energy is Mohandas Gandhi's revolutionary form of non-violent protest. (Gandhi's Moon was in Ashlesha.) His civil resistance employed skill, wisdom, self-restraint and personal charisma/influence, against oppressive forces. He is credited for bringing about sweeping reform in the areas of India's untouchability laws, women's rights, and freedom for India from colonial rule. The levels of controversy in Gandhi's life also give an idea of the kind of controversy we will all be grappling with in these next six months. And for another good example of putting vitriol to good use, re-read Thoreau's essay "Civil Disobedience" (a.k.a. "Resistance to Civil Government".) Write this day/time into your calendar: Tuesday, February 24 at 5:35pm Pacific Time. This new moon's job is to uncover attachments and addictions. Also, it will stimulate people coming together in groups to discuss large problems in order to find solutions.

Planning & Scheduling Living in Accord with the Seasons Venus spends an extended stay in the sign of Pisces - until May 31. For most of the remainder of this lunar cycle, Venus brings some padding to the national economy, as well as a dramatic increase in artistic energy and a general social interest in beauty. For the rest of the month of February, we will experience four planets in the sign of Capricorn: Mars in Capricorn lends us energy to plow ahead and get things done effectively and efficiently. Mercury conjoining Mars in Capricorn brings advances and discoveries to science, warfare, and travel. It also brings brusque communications favoring expediency. Jupiter in Capricorn begins as a "sapping of confidence," but posited as it is with Mars, shows that we will gain courage and hope through action. With Rahu in Capricorn, we are fascinated by the whole spectacle of leadership reform. (i.e. the changeover in administration.) Saturn and Uranus continue their opposition by sign until April. We continue to witness a reshuffling of power between the old and the new .

Ah Sunflower by William Blake Ah Sunflower, weary of time, Who countest the steps of the sun; Seeking after that sweet golden clime Where the traveller's journey is done; Where the Youth pined away with desire, And the pale virgin shrouded in snow, Arise from their graves, and aspire Where my Sunflower wishes to go!

February 2007

Double Helix Watching the Vedic Moon The Full Moon of February 2007 happens on Thursday, February 1, at 9:45pm, Pacific Time, (that's 15 minutes after midnight on Feb. 2 Eastern Time,) in the lunar sign of Ashlesha. Ashlesha represents serpent energy in it's full range, from the secretive, wily and coldblooded, to the spiritual force of evolution and positive transformation. We get to choose where on the spectrum we'll act from. During this full moon we all get a taste of our most basic, primordial urges - urges that arise from a sense of separation from the other. This includes things like, the urge to protect what is ours, the urge to re-unite with the 'apparent' other, and the urge to have a situation turn out in our favor at all costs. These urges can appear as subtle patterns of thinking - ones that are perhaps even encoded onto our DNA. When seen from the vantage point that all life *Is* our life, then these very same urges turn 'back around on themselves' in a spiraling pattern, allowing our behavior to stem from Love divested of personal interest. With Saturn's placement also in Cancer during this Full Moon, we're likely to feel the spectrum of clinging versus aloofness in relationships - the key may be finding the middle ground which is neither of these extremes. A good contemplation might be, "Am I going for short-term pleasure, or long-term contentment within myself?"

Planning & Scheduling Living In Accord With The Seasons The (Sidereal) astrological landscape includes: Venus enters Pisces, a placement where love, beauty, romantic inspiration, artistic vision, compassion, and enjoyment all do well, from February 17 until March 12. Rahu and the outer planet Uranus are both moving through the sign of Aquarius for over a year, creating massive technological innovations, social revolutions and increasing open-mindedness. We may see the internet become what it was foreseen to be in the 90's - a revolution in the way we live and interact and do business - the global village. Rahu and transiting Uranus are traveling along with Mercury and Venus until mid-February. Internet dating services are popular during the approaching Valentine's day holiday. Also, internet greeting cards, blogs, and internet marketing all go through heightened mass-market appeal, development, and innovations. Mercury goes retrograde from Feb. 14 until Mar. 7; initiate projects before that time. Use the Mercury retrograde period to refine and distill those projects. Try to sign important legal agreements before Mercury goes retrograde.

I Died For Beauty by Emily Dickinson I died for beauty, but was scarce Adjusted in the tomb, When one who died for truth was lain In an adjoining room. He questioned softly why I failed? "For beauty," I replied. "And I for truth,--the two are one; We brethren are," he said. And so, as kinsmen met a night, We talked between the rooms. Until the moss had reached our lips, And covered up our names.