Lovely Libra
When the Sun finally moves into his transit of Libra, we have reached the midpoint of the astrological year if Aries is considered as the start point. This is the time of the Autumnal Equinox. Light is once again balanced with shadow and we are now in the waning part of the sun’s cycle, moving into winter’s silence from this point on.
Libra is an interesting energy. Associated with the planet, Venus, first impressions lend themselves to images of lightness, grace, love and peacefulness. Well, as the saying goes, looks can be deceiving! There is a lot more going on in the beauty that is Libra.
Libra is a cardinal air sign. There is implied action here and a mental clarity that is often hidden behind the smiling face of conciliation. Libra’s opposite sign is the fire sign of Aries, also a cardinal energy, and just as Aries seeks to establish its sovereignty and individualism, Libra is avid in its search for dialogue and partnership. However, do not be fooled into thinking that Libra will always concede to someone else’s desires. This is not at all the case. Libra’s ability is best understood when we understand the contradictory image of the iron fist in the velvet glove. Libra knows how to forward its cause while appearing to consider everyone else’s needs and desires. So, though the picture may appear to be one of dialogue and compromise, the back story is all about absolute devotion to the pre-determined resolution that Libra has arrived at all on its own!
Libra has the ability to review and assess in advance, plot out a strategy and then maneuver through the situation, all the while adjusting, finessing and shifting but never, never, never, getting off track. When Libra responds with non-commitment to a query or suggestion, it is merely because it is looking for the temperature of the situation before making the next move.
One of the great skills that this energy can have is the ability to create comfort. This is why Libra type people can be successful as negotiators. They have the mental clarity to keep on track, the emotional equilibrium to maintain balance and the simple sweetness to make everyone feel safe, not threatened, a necessary quality when it comes to finding common ground.
The symbol associated with Libra is the Scales, the only non-living representation of a Zodiac energy. Sometimes, the Goddess of Justice is included in the symbol, holding those scales and weighing out whatever matter is at hand but for the most part, when we think of Libra, we think of those balancing plates, swinging back and forth like a teeter totter. There is a clue in this symbol as to what is actually going on within the Libra psyche. Rather than being in a place of balance, the Libra soul is actually searching for that place of inner balance. Thus, we see Libra’s determination to appear calm, even, peaceful. That which we focus upon is usually the very thing that is in short supply within ourselves!
The shadow side of Libran energy is the tendency to manipulate and manage others. The reason for the manipulation is usually related back to Libra’s need to create congeniality in its environment. Because of the mental clarity that can be associated with this energy, the Libra psyche is a great assessor of situations, able to nail down just exactly what is necessary in order to find solutions and develop compatibility and union. Any manipulative behaviour, then, is derived from this insight and the sure belief that the end—peace and coherence-- must justify the means—seducing others into following Libra’s intention—emphasis on the seduction, by the way! One thing is certain, Libra makes it easy! This energy is so graceful, so accommodating that it is often not evident when coercion is being used. Libra makes us all want to do it! No aggression, no brow-beating, just simple sweetness and lots and lots of cupcakes to tempt us into it!
Libra can appear to be indecisive but again, we need to look a bit more closely at this. Usually, Libra knows exactly what IT wants but is reluctant to commit in case this commitment creates conflict. So, in fact, it is not indecisive so much as it is desirous of maintaining peace within the context of the relationship. Look a little closer and you’ll see that often as not, Libra will manage to find a way to do exactly what it has wanted to do all along and everyone else goes along willingly. Ever heard the term, Passive-Aggressive? Calm down, Libra, we all love you!
A great example of a famous (and, dare I say it, successful!) individual with a ton of Libra energy is Bill Clinton. After all that Mr. Clinton has been accused of, alleged to have done and known to have been involved in, we just can’t help but love him. He makes it hard not to. To this day, his partner is still married to him. How many of us could have gone through such a thorough and public humiliation and then chosen to stay the course? I will let you all think about that! He was also one of the greatest diplomats ever and to this day is called on for his negotiating skill. It was under Clinton’s management that peace talks between Egypt and Israel took place culminating in that famous concord announced on the White House lawn! Clinton’s indubitable Libra ability to bring together diverse and apparently discordant opponents as partners in process, was at work here.
Libra, then, is the energy of coordinated action, measured and appropriate application of the energy of peace and unity. Very fitting for a Venus ruled archetype!
Wherever you find Libra in your own birthchart, this time of the year will bring a focus on issues relating to partnership, inner balance, values and how to attune to them into your life. The Libra part of your psyche is concerned with finding the right words to create dialogue. How do you enter into relationship? What sorts of strategies do you use when trying to establish common ground? Where is your own inner balance point and what forces are at play within your own psyche in this regard?
For all of you Aries people, this is your half birthday, a good time to review how your own birthday year has gone so far. Accomplishments? Realized goals? Non realized goals? And what are you going to do about it? Take some time to sit and think about how you would like the next 6 months to look.
Star Crossings
Venus, Earth’s closest companion in the solar system is the ‘ruler’ of Libra. RULER simply means that this is the planet associated with this energy. Sun in Libra people, Libra rising people or even those with a dominant Libra signature can all be said to be ‘Venus ruled’, not a bad moniker to own!
Venus is the planet that represents our basic value system and how we demonstrate it both internally and internally. She is linked to desire in that it is what we LOVE that we DESIRE or…we desire what we love. Venus is magnetic and a strongly functioning energy in this part of our psyches can result in the ability to draw what one wants (desires, values). Conversely, Venus energy still in development can sometimes encounter a sense of frustration in terms of getting what it wants. Whenever we feel friction, this is an indicator that some refining work needs to be done so don’t cave in if things seem hard to attain. Rather, take a good look at yourself and try and figure out where you can be more focused when going after goals and setting intentions.
The transits of Venus are quick, much like those of Mercury. This planet has an orbital time that is less than the Earth’s so Venus runs through the zodiac signs just slightly ahead of the Sun. In a natal horoscope this can result in a person having the Sun in home loving Cancer but Venus in fun loving Gemini. Such a combination can create complexity within the psyche. Which driver does one serve, the nesting urge or the thrill seeking urge? HMMMMM… For any of you who have read your daily horoscope and felt a strong disconnect from the description of the energy, it could be that your Venus energy is more reflective of some of your actions than whatever the Sun Sign is. The human psyche is multi-layered!
Venus transits can bring up issues related to relationship and desire. Sometimes, a windfall could come your way or long lost friends and lovers may reappear. This is especially the case when Venus goes retrograde so keep track of this cycle and see what co-relates in your own life. During one Venus retrograde cycle, I reconnected with a long lost friend seemingly out of the blue and that relationship has survived to this day, much to my Venusian delight!
Here is a quick cheat list of Venus through the houses.
Through house:
1: What do I really desire?
2: Is this really all mine?
3: I love my friends!
4: I want to go home!
5: I feel sexy…anyone interested?
6: I want to do what I love.
7: Who can I call?
8: Is this really all yours?
9: The pleasure of distant places.
10: I get the respect and adoration I deserve.
11: Let’s have a party!
12: The sweetness of silence; I need a retreat.
When we gaze up into the night sky, we can often see Venus shining brightly in the inky sky. There is comfort and a sense of connection to be derived from this simple experience. No wonder that the ancients attributed such positive characteristics to this planet. She brings us comfort. She gives us hope and she makes us gasp in awe and wonder. Almost close enough to touch and yet just beyond our reach. Ah! The magical, mysterious Venus!
Monthly Affirmation
I align my inner desire
with the path of highest good,
creating peace and grace
everywhere I go
and with everyone I meet.
Poem
Goddess, smile down on me
And let me rest
In your loving arms
I am the dreamer
And this is the dream
You are my keeper
so keep me safe
in the love
of your
infinite heart…
Friday, September 18, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The Virtue Of Virgo
The Virtue of Virgo
Virgo. What an energy! One of the most complex of all of the zodiac signs, Virgo is mutable and earthy. Of all of the Earth signs, it is, in some ways, the least “stuck” on its own position. Though it can go the distance, there is a measure of flexibility here.
Virgo loves the process; loves creating a pattern that can be followed over and over. Order is synonymous with this practical and hardworking energy. This is the energy of analysis.
More importantly, however, is the relationship of Virgo to healing. When I meet someone with a load of Virgo energy, I listen very carefully to the words that they use when communicating. Invariably, I have found that in that particular and attentive soul, lies the need to serve, to heal, to nourish. Think about the time of year that the Sun transits this section of the zodiac. In the Northern hemisphere it is a time of fruition. The air is full of the scent of the full and ripened earth. The fields are ready to yield their harvest. And what is more healing than freshly harvested food and the ability to enjoy a warm and pleasant outdoors?
On the highest of levels, this is Goddess energy, pure and simple. Virgo understands ritual and, in order to connect to spirit, we need ritual and those who can work the ritual. Come on in, Virgo. We have all heard the cliché, “God is in the details”. Well, guess who gets the details right? Virgo!
The shadow side of Virgo is, for sure, the tendency to sink into criticism, to nit-pick, nag and chew away at something until everyone else runs out of the room screaming. Enough already, Virgo, they shriek. But, here’s the thing. Virgo has an innate sense of what works and if it is confronted with something less than this, it is a challenge to maintain detachment and allow mistakes to be made. Have you noticed how tight lipped some strongly Virgoan folks can be? That’s them clamping their mouths shut to prevent those words from slipping out! The real reason that anyone falls into criticism is because they strongly desire everything to be …PERFECT. This longing for perfection can then lead to discontent whether expressed externally or nurtured within the self. The solution is, as always, to focus on what does work even when there is lots not working. Life lesson? Acceptance, of course.
If you have Virgo prominent in your birth mandala, this could well be a crazy time for you. The planet, Uranus, has been transiting Virgo’s polarity sign, Pisces, since March, 2003. Uranus is the archetype of shift and change and usually associated with a degree of fracture. For Virgo, with its need for order, systems and regularity, this ‘rebel without a cause’ energy must feel overwhelming and discombobulating. Here are some of the ways that you may be feeling at this point in time & simple solutions you can try:
--Nothing seems to make sense & when it does settle down, something happens to skew you off course yet again
solution: detach from outcome & focus on developing trust
--Your emotions are like a roller coaster and you can’t find your ground
Solution: make a cup of herbal tea & take a salt bath
(A good combination of herbs to promote calm is: mint, lemon balm, catnip, sage & a bit of honey. Be mindful of catnip as it is a strong sedative in humans. One cup before sleep can do wonders for your system.)
Secondary solution: Pour this stress energy into a task like purging & cleaning.
--Your head is full of ideas but you can’t always make sense of them or you may feel like you have lost your mind
Solution: carry a tiny journal to jot down flashes as they occur
Focus on the immediate concern; resist obsessive compulsive thinking
--Nothing feels secure in your relationship life
Solution: love the one you’re with & don’t over think the future
--You keep running into obstacles and even having accidents
Solution: take time out to do breath work (10 minutes as needed).
Pause before running head on into whatever you think needs doing.
Uranus is a slow moving planet so he will be activating Virgo by opposition until March 2011. At all times, the key to integrating Uranian energy is to move into a place of detachment from outcome. Trust that once the earthquake is over, you will still be standing and you may even be aware of things that needed to be brought out into the light.
Star Crossings: What’s the deal, Mercury?
Every Zodiac sign has a planet (celestial object) associated to it. Last month we explored the Sun as it is the ‘planet’ associated with Leo. This month we will take a peek at what that pesky little fellow, Mercury, is up to as this is the planet associated with Virgo.
Mercury represents the mind within the persona. How we think, reason and communicate are all aspects of the mental body. No one part of the psyche or entity is more important than any other. We cannot forfeit our reasoning ability just so that we can experience love. On the other hand, we cannot turn our back on emotion just because our head cannot logic its way through the experience. We cannot deny out spiritual needs just so that our physical body is nourished. On the other hand, denying our physical body does not always lead to spiritual illumination. The integrated personality is one that honours all parts of the energy system and provides itself with what it needs on all levels of existence. No wonder that when we block or deny on one level, we can feel the effects on other levels. Things like depression, anxiety, denial, dislocation are all potential side effects when we do not acknowledge truth. In the personality matrix, the condition of our individual Mercury placement can reveal a lot about the way we get our ideas across, how we interconnect with others and our general thinking process.
The transits of Mercury are rapid and he is either catching up to the Sun during the orbital year or running ahead of him, but never by more than about 2 signs either way. However, since he moves so quickly, we may only mildly feel anything energetically unless we are strongly ‘mercurial’, that is Mercury ruled or with a highly accentuated Mercury energy.
One exception to this is when the little fellow decides to ‘go retrograde’. Obviously, he is not actually moving backwards literally but because of the relationship between the Earth and the other planets in the solar system, we have the experience of backward motion from our vantage point here on the earth.
So what’s the deal with Mercury Retrograde? Firstly, let’s understand that Mercury is a mini-activator within the energy field. When he transits points within the psyche, you can have something like the experience of a light-bulb being turned on. Or you might get a message, either literally or figuratively within yourself. A Mercury transit could signal a time to make a deal, form a partnership or do some data work. When this planet appears to be ‘moving backwards’, all of these sorts of things are either up for review or perhaps just take a pause. Example: you are in the midst of signing a contract, maybe for a home purchase. Suddenly you realize that Mercury will be turning retrograde. Do not panic. Just do your do diligence and carefully and meticulously review all aspects of the deal. You may find that the deal dies but it may be in your favour for it to do so. When you review, you may notice a major oversight and thus have the opportunity to correct it. It is true that everyone has a story about the mini disasters that they have experienced when Mercury was retrograde but I feel that mindfulness can allay much of the chaos. Remember, Mercury is connected to logic and order, reasoning ability, so doing a bit of prep work in advance by ensuring that everything is in order can be very helpful. So, rather than being victim to the slings and arrows of fortune, keep track of the retrograde periods of Mercury ( 3x/year) and make preparation. Ensure that your computer is backed up. Keep your desktop clean and tidy. File your important papers properly and always in the same way. Creating pattern and order within your daily life will go a long way when dealing with ‘backwardness’. So, when is Mercury’s next retrograde period? The last three weeks of September.
Mercury will be moving through the last few degrees of Virgo and then into Libra over the next month period. Once in Libra, he will turn retrograde for three weeks. At the time that I send out the Libra e-letter, he will still be retrograde, back in the sign of Virgo and ready to turn direct, get back into Libra and gallop away.
Wherever these energies are located in your own birth mandala, is where you could feel any of the things that I described above in your life. If you have Mercury either in Virgo or Libra, this is a time of mental renewal for you. You could take the time to reflect on some of your mental goals and make any adjustments to your actual thinking process. Maybe you have let things slip organizationally. Use this opportunity to make adjustments in this area.
One thing that I have noticed with the transits of Mercury is that I have often received some sort of news when he was transiting either my 1/7 house pair and even sometimes my 3/9 house pair. People have told me secrets, old friends have resurfaced, relatives have suddenly reappeared! But, for the most part, this is a pretty innocuous little fellow, more of a nuisance than a trauma. And, even if the news is not so great, the transit is quick and the discomfort, if any exists, passes rapidly. To track this transit more specifically, dig out your birth chart and locate where, in that chart, Virgo and Libra fall. Here is a quick cheat sheet list for strategies to enact for each house.
When Mercury transits through house
1: enact plans
2: analyze resources
3: intellectual curiousity is heightened; stay open
4: increased activity at home; enjoy (hopefully)
5: potential focus on fun; be ready to play
6: opportunity to pay attention to the details
7: perspective can be gained through dialogue
8: tackle those deep, intensive projects
9: plan ahead
10: step into the limelight and be heard
11: the brilliance of networking
12: a good time for a retreat
Next month, I will focus on Libra and the celestial object associated with this energy, Venus.
Affirmation for the Month
I use my ability in the service of others.
Poem
Devoted
And
Diligent
I am determined
To create
Peace
And prosperity
For the healing
Of the peoples
Of the earth
Virgo. What an energy! One of the most complex of all of the zodiac signs, Virgo is mutable and earthy. Of all of the Earth signs, it is, in some ways, the least “stuck” on its own position. Though it can go the distance, there is a measure of flexibility here.
Virgo loves the process; loves creating a pattern that can be followed over and over. Order is synonymous with this practical and hardworking energy. This is the energy of analysis.
More importantly, however, is the relationship of Virgo to healing. When I meet someone with a load of Virgo energy, I listen very carefully to the words that they use when communicating. Invariably, I have found that in that particular and attentive soul, lies the need to serve, to heal, to nourish. Think about the time of year that the Sun transits this section of the zodiac. In the Northern hemisphere it is a time of fruition. The air is full of the scent of the full and ripened earth. The fields are ready to yield their harvest. And what is more healing than freshly harvested food and the ability to enjoy a warm and pleasant outdoors?
On the highest of levels, this is Goddess energy, pure and simple. Virgo understands ritual and, in order to connect to spirit, we need ritual and those who can work the ritual. Come on in, Virgo. We have all heard the cliché, “God is in the details”. Well, guess who gets the details right? Virgo!
The shadow side of Virgo is, for sure, the tendency to sink into criticism, to nit-pick, nag and chew away at something until everyone else runs out of the room screaming. Enough already, Virgo, they shriek. But, here’s the thing. Virgo has an innate sense of what works and if it is confronted with something less than this, it is a challenge to maintain detachment and allow mistakes to be made. Have you noticed how tight lipped some strongly Virgoan folks can be? That’s them clamping their mouths shut to prevent those words from slipping out! The real reason that anyone falls into criticism is because they strongly desire everything to be …PERFECT. This longing for perfection can then lead to discontent whether expressed externally or nurtured within the self. The solution is, as always, to focus on what does work even when there is lots not working. Life lesson? Acceptance, of course.
If you have Virgo prominent in your birth mandala, this could well be a crazy time for you. The planet, Uranus, has been transiting Virgo’s polarity sign, Pisces, since March, 2003. Uranus is the archetype of shift and change and usually associated with a degree of fracture. For Virgo, with its need for order, systems and regularity, this ‘rebel without a cause’ energy must feel overwhelming and discombobulating. Here are some of the ways that you may be feeling at this point in time & simple solutions you can try:
--Nothing seems to make sense & when it does settle down, something happens to skew you off course yet again
solution: detach from outcome & focus on developing trust
--Your emotions are like a roller coaster and you can’t find your ground
Solution: make a cup of herbal tea & take a salt bath
(A good combination of herbs to promote calm is: mint, lemon balm, catnip, sage & a bit of honey. Be mindful of catnip as it is a strong sedative in humans. One cup before sleep can do wonders for your system.)
Secondary solution: Pour this stress energy into a task like purging & cleaning.
--Your head is full of ideas but you can’t always make sense of them or you may feel like you have lost your mind
Solution: carry a tiny journal to jot down flashes as they occur
Focus on the immediate concern; resist obsessive compulsive thinking
--Nothing feels secure in your relationship life
Solution: love the one you’re with & don’t over think the future
--You keep running into obstacles and even having accidents
Solution: take time out to do breath work (10 minutes as needed).
Pause before running head on into whatever you think needs doing.
Uranus is a slow moving planet so he will be activating Virgo by opposition until March 2011. At all times, the key to integrating Uranian energy is to move into a place of detachment from outcome. Trust that once the earthquake is over, you will still be standing and you may even be aware of things that needed to be brought out into the light.
Star Crossings: What’s the deal, Mercury?
Every Zodiac sign has a planet (celestial object) associated to it. Last month we explored the Sun as it is the ‘planet’ associated with Leo. This month we will take a peek at what that pesky little fellow, Mercury, is up to as this is the planet associated with Virgo.
Mercury represents the mind within the persona. How we think, reason and communicate are all aspects of the mental body. No one part of the psyche or entity is more important than any other. We cannot forfeit our reasoning ability just so that we can experience love. On the other hand, we cannot turn our back on emotion just because our head cannot logic its way through the experience. We cannot deny out spiritual needs just so that our physical body is nourished. On the other hand, denying our physical body does not always lead to spiritual illumination. The integrated personality is one that honours all parts of the energy system and provides itself with what it needs on all levels of existence. No wonder that when we block or deny on one level, we can feel the effects on other levels. Things like depression, anxiety, denial, dislocation are all potential side effects when we do not acknowledge truth. In the personality matrix, the condition of our individual Mercury placement can reveal a lot about the way we get our ideas across, how we interconnect with others and our general thinking process.
The transits of Mercury are rapid and he is either catching up to the Sun during the orbital year or running ahead of him, but never by more than about 2 signs either way. However, since he moves so quickly, we may only mildly feel anything energetically unless we are strongly ‘mercurial’, that is Mercury ruled or with a highly accentuated Mercury energy.
One exception to this is when the little fellow decides to ‘go retrograde’. Obviously, he is not actually moving backwards literally but because of the relationship between the Earth and the other planets in the solar system, we have the experience of backward motion from our vantage point here on the earth.
So what’s the deal with Mercury Retrograde? Firstly, let’s understand that Mercury is a mini-activator within the energy field. When he transits points within the psyche, you can have something like the experience of a light-bulb being turned on. Or you might get a message, either literally or figuratively within yourself. A Mercury transit could signal a time to make a deal, form a partnership or do some data work. When this planet appears to be ‘moving backwards’, all of these sorts of things are either up for review or perhaps just take a pause. Example: you are in the midst of signing a contract, maybe for a home purchase. Suddenly you realize that Mercury will be turning retrograde. Do not panic. Just do your do diligence and carefully and meticulously review all aspects of the deal. You may find that the deal dies but it may be in your favour for it to do so. When you review, you may notice a major oversight and thus have the opportunity to correct it. It is true that everyone has a story about the mini disasters that they have experienced when Mercury was retrograde but I feel that mindfulness can allay much of the chaos. Remember, Mercury is connected to logic and order, reasoning ability, so doing a bit of prep work in advance by ensuring that everything is in order can be very helpful. So, rather than being victim to the slings and arrows of fortune, keep track of the retrograde periods of Mercury ( 3x/year) and make preparation. Ensure that your computer is backed up. Keep your desktop clean and tidy. File your important papers properly and always in the same way. Creating pattern and order within your daily life will go a long way when dealing with ‘backwardness’. So, when is Mercury’s next retrograde period? The last three weeks of September.
Mercury will be moving through the last few degrees of Virgo and then into Libra over the next month period. Once in Libra, he will turn retrograde for three weeks. At the time that I send out the Libra e-letter, he will still be retrograde, back in the sign of Virgo and ready to turn direct, get back into Libra and gallop away.
Wherever these energies are located in your own birth mandala, is where you could feel any of the things that I described above in your life. If you have Mercury either in Virgo or Libra, this is a time of mental renewal for you. You could take the time to reflect on some of your mental goals and make any adjustments to your actual thinking process. Maybe you have let things slip organizationally. Use this opportunity to make adjustments in this area.
One thing that I have noticed with the transits of Mercury is that I have often received some sort of news when he was transiting either my 1/7 house pair and even sometimes my 3/9 house pair. People have told me secrets, old friends have resurfaced, relatives have suddenly reappeared! But, for the most part, this is a pretty innocuous little fellow, more of a nuisance than a trauma. And, even if the news is not so great, the transit is quick and the discomfort, if any exists, passes rapidly. To track this transit more specifically, dig out your birth chart and locate where, in that chart, Virgo and Libra fall. Here is a quick cheat sheet list for strategies to enact for each house.
When Mercury transits through house
1: enact plans
2: analyze resources
3: intellectual curiousity is heightened; stay open
4: increased activity at home; enjoy (hopefully)
5: potential focus on fun; be ready to play
6: opportunity to pay attention to the details
7: perspective can be gained through dialogue
8: tackle those deep, intensive projects
9: plan ahead
10: step into the limelight and be heard
11: the brilliance of networking
12: a good time for a retreat
Next month, I will focus on Libra and the celestial object associated with this energy, Venus.
Affirmation for the Month
I use my ability in the service of others.
Poem
Devoted
And
Diligent
I am determined
To create
Peace
And prosperity
For the healing
Of the peoples
Of the earth
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