New Moon Journal

House sold in three days!

Thanks for the many kind comments regarding my extended absence from blogging. What’s been going on? Getting a house ready for sale in a market such as this is an event in itself. One caution...never ever walk into a Home Depot to order appliances right before Mercury goes retrograde. 3 refrigerators and 3 microwave deliveries later (five weeks without a refrigerator!!!) the house is ready for the big reveal.

Then there was the month we sat and debated whether to list the house or stay put, even though my inner guidance said it’s time- heck I was still waiting for the new refrigerator from Home Depot. This indecision after all my "Designed to Sell" efforts felt like I (the house) got all dressed up for the prom (the house being listed) and my date stood us up. (if you are selling a home or plan to sell read my Designed to Sell feedback here).

One evening Dear Husband comes in from walking the dog. He’s so excited..."You have to come see this!!" On the sidewalk in a fallen palm frond he’s found a bird’s nest woven from some wonderful things. A piece of string from the lawn trimmer, strapping tape, a twist tie. And there is the gate key from our wood fence...it’s threaded through the nest. This is a good omen for me, it’s time to move on. At the end of March and Dear Husband and I say "Let’s do this!"

We contact our Realtor to sign the papers, schedule pictures on Wednesday and the first open house is a week away. Within a few hours the house hits MLS. The next day I drive up to Tallahassee to help dear daughter move into her first apartment, thinking I’ll pull the living room in order when I get back. On the road I get a phone call from our agent-someone wants to see the house. That day two people come by, one husband and wife return a few hours later...by Monday we have a contract with solid buyers.

Our house sells in 3 days!

Yikes...Yes!!! No open house. No brokers open. Law of attraction in action. Wham, bam, thank you ma’am the house is listed and then taken off the market. It was a shock to my system. Yet hadn’t I been visioning this all along. What next? Now the guilt driving buy our neighbors house that’s been listed for over a year... we agree not to tell until the details were in order. Except when my sister calls from North Carolina to ask "what happened to your house on the MLS, did you sell?"

We have bought and sold four properties and it’s never felt like this. Now comes the nail biting waiting -dealing with the inspection report, mortgage approval, the Buyer walk-through’s and finally the appraisal.

As a couple we have gone through a myriad of emotions in the last two months and at this Gemini new moon the details are in place. Yesterday our realtor called to say the appraisal was good, start packing, it's a go.

In the process I lost my desire to write. It happened slowly as I removed my meditation room and healing space, my office from the house- packing up the pod, putting away "Me". Finally taking down my astrology calendar I lost track of time and Moon. I trust my desire to write will come back stronger after the move, when we get settled. My blogging here may be sporadic. It’s an exciting time.

So today we greet the New Moon in Gemini, and here’s the astrological aspect of one woman's journey...

Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces form a cross in your birth chart.

Saturn in Virgo

Saturn, ruled by earthy Capricorn is now moving through Virgo for the first time in 29 years. Saturn rules the structure. Capricorn represents your tribe and the social responsibility you bring to the table as a human being. Capricorn represents the archetypal force in the 10th house of work and career birthed from your creative passionate spirit. Work related to your divinity, anything else really are empty promises.

Capricorn represents the skeletal structure- the bones of who you are. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn. In alchemy 1st chakra Saturn is the metal lead before it is transformed and transmuted into gold, bringing deeper meaning to the phrase “Get the lead out.”

In SoulCollage the card would read...I am the One who Builds.

If the 10th house represents our career, the public persona, then know when Saturn travels through that area of your life, expect your job to shift.

Saturn last transited my 10th house in '78-80 (college graduation). It's back again now. Virgo’s energy is asking me to take care of the details, get things in order.

Natal Saturn in Sagittarius in my 1st house represents self- The little ’me’.

Natal Mercury and Sun in the 4th house represents the deepest part of a person, their roots, the home, the ancestors, connection to the past.

Career (writing and blogging) Self, and Home. Do you see the energetic picture. I am building a new structure.

During the house sale transiting Saturn in Virgo (10th house) is opposing my natal Mercury in Pisces (4th house), while squaring my natal Saturn in Sag in the first house. Oppositions bring a release, squares offer up a challenge to the status quo. As things within me and around me shift I am open to the new possibilities of change. I am creating with a blank canvas.

Now may be the time to re-read the Saturn in Virgo information again, it may give you new insights into why and what is happening within you and around you now that Saturn’s been in Virgo since September of 2007.

At this new moon in Gemini now may be the time to look at where Gemini sits in your chart, how is Saturn in Virgo impacting your life and the decisions you are called to make? Gemini ruled by Mercury rules patterns of communication, how you think, how you talk. The black and white thinking of the mind’s chatter. If anything at this new moon in Gemini set your intentions clearly...

Expect change. Now where are we going to live?

Virgo Full Moon-the practical mystic

Last night we interviewed our second realtor in the Designed to Sell campaign to sell the house. Who gets the listing is all about relationship. Who liked our dog...who sees the warmth and charm of the home and the neighborhood. If the broker can’t make the emotional connection and relate how do they communicate that warmth to a buyer, down market or not?

With my background I connect naturally to the soul of a home, the soul of the person. While there hasn’t been much time for astrology or SoulCollage cards since everything home wise was in a state of transformation these last 45 days (or chaos depending on your perspective), the house feels like one gigantic SoulCollage card...and every room tells a story. Overall the place and space is energetically lighter, prettier- sound and solid- ready to show. And just like the people in the HGTV program Dear Husband and I are saying why didn’t we do this work sooner, it’s so nice we could stay.

Home and soul is all about balancing the Practical Mystic within; understanding your connection to place and space-earth and spirit. Earth is home. At this full moon look around your home-do you need to act as if you are moving...what would you do? Virgo is the sign of editing and sorting through the clutter to get to the heart of the matter. Pisces in your chart reflects your relationship to Spirit; we are embodied Spirits walking on earth. Heaven and earth can be one and the same expression, it's deep connection to everything we have  naturally as a child. Your Soul Call is to take the revolutionary ideas birthed in Aquarius, and create a new vision with the help of Pisces. Virgo helps us edit and sort it all out- to ground the energies- make our ideas real.

Today we have a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Virgo at 10:30 pm. This eclipse energy will be working and learning us collectively for many months. Full moons are a time of release, you get to see the results of your thinking and dreaming- those intentions made at the New Moon on February 6th as well as the New Moon in Virgo six month’s earlier.

In earthy Virgo we want things done ’just right’, it’s the sign of perfection. Martha Stewart and her relationship to home always comes to mind when I think of Virgo (that’s the logo from a Martha Stewart stock certificate- so very astrological).

But Virgo also demands that we have two feet firmly planted on the ground while being connected to our inner spirit (Pisces and the Muse) and a higher power. This is the first full moon in Virgo with Saturn present, and it may be triggering things within related to 28-29 years ago. I invite you to do some inward reflection- to connect with the practical mystic within. At this Full Moon you are called to come back into your body (home) in practical ways.

A full moon/lunar eclipse energy will be with us for six months. Mercury’s just come out of retrograde. Mercury rules Virgo and at the time of this full moon Saturn is also joining with the Moon in opposition to the Sun in Pisces. All of this energy is applying itself to my Mercury in Pisces at the doorway of the 4th house. The fourth house rules the mother, the home, the ancestors. Roots. Mercury rules the mind and how one thinks, communicates.

It’s the dark moon time before my birthday. Did you know the month before your birthday brings up your birthing energy...energy much like a new moon. One’s shadow is up and about; energetically this time of year can feel heavy and dark. It’s a time before your birth when you floated peacefully in your mother’s womb (spirit not yet human), when space was getting rather crowded. You were getting ready to make your move out into the world moving from spirit into matter (earth). Last year I went down the rabbit hole around this time and didn’t pop up until May. Interesting. Then this morning I read a description about the energies of transiting Uranus conjuncting my Pisces Sun in the 4th house:

"You are undergoing a dramatic change during which you may feel the urge to break out and embrace new and exciting pursuits. Life may start to feel like a roller coaster ride as new and exciting opportunities enter your life. Life will be exciting if you go with the flow. However, if you suppress your urge for change feelings of restlessness and rebelliousness will unexpectedly erupt prompting sudden and erratic lunges for freedom."

And that statement sums up where I am at. So what’s your story at this Full Moon in Virgo?

The New Possible of Aquarius

There’s banging at my office door together with a steady whine from the machine stripping our Mexican tile floors. Dear Husband and I are living in one room; the dog is boarded in the kennel. Just this morning Salvation Army arrived to take our appliances while I was still trying to empty out the food. We are in the home stretch of our home staging journey; there is light at the end of this tunnel. In the past three weeks I have used physical, mental and emotional muscles of my former interior designer self. It was fun, I know I can still do it, but I am very tired from the process.

Every act of creation is first an act of destruction. - Paoblo Picasso

While we are in a state of chaos, the vision, the plan of action is coming together. Saturn retrograding in Virgo is demanding time to focus on the small details. To have faith, trust and patience that it is all coming together- even when the painter takes our $750 deposit and goes off to the Hard Rock Casino (yes, he did…but he told his truth and in the end did an excellent job).

All of this Aquarius energy is nestled into my 4th house of home, roots, family. Transiting Saturn in retrograde opposes my natal Mercury in Pisces, while squaring my natal Saturn in the first house. Oppositions bring a release, squares offer up a challenge to the status quo. Each and every piece that I touched or moved while decluttering and staging the house has offered up a challenge- keep, toss, or donate? Am I through with this? How am I still attached to the story of this item? Does this have heart and meaning for me? Now or in the past? What do I need to let go of in order to move forward?

And I am proud to share this Thursday will be the BIGGEST bulk garbage pick up in the Lessirard history...

Mars (action, the ability to lead) sits in Gemini, squaring my Sun in Pisces, trining my Neptune (faith, hope and trust). Mars retrograde is over and he now moves back again through Gemini and Cancer. He comes out of the shadow April 6th, so until then it’s a time of recapitulation - a do-over of the past three months, to see and move in a different direction. Energy of action and change that wasn’t available to us in the early fall.

Wednesday, February 6th at 10:44 pm we greet the New Moon Solar Eclipse at 18° Aquarius. There’s much on the net about this new moon/solar eclipse energy in Aquarius for there’s a stellium of planets lined up (Sun, Moon, Neptune, Chiron and Mercury) in Aquarius. Out in front leading the pack is Uranus in Pisces in the 5th house of creative solutions. Dance to the beat of your own drum.

Wake up, take a risk. Now is the time. It’s one of those moments. Did you catch Maria Shriver’s speech?

Uranus rules the sign Aquarius. Bringing up the rear of this long tail of planetary energies is Pluto in Capricorn waiting to see if you have the guts and courage to dismantle the known structure, to move forward with a new vision- for self, your family, in service. Aquarius Represents:

• Inventive Solutions- Understanding how things work.
• Seeing the Future- New trends and unconventional approaches.
• Humanitarian Attitudes- Operating from a larger world view.
• Revelation- Unexpected surprises or results.
• Humor- Objectivity, Tools of Divination
• Friends- Reciprocity, the giving and receiving, networking
• Excessive Attachment- Fear of involvement, inflexible opinions, cold aloofness
• more about Aquarius soulcollage here

Where is Aquarius in your chart? What house does it sit on?

That is the area that has been transformed these past 12 years (the last time we had the Year of the Rat). Aquarius and Leo work to balance each other. Leo is about heart and passion. Aquarius is a fixed air sign representative of the rebel or the individualist.

This is a person (YOU) who knows how to move off from the point and create the new path- the rugged individualist who is ready to shatter the old forms; one who is willing to create and birth the new. This new moon in Aquarius asks you to pay attention to the old ways and methods that are asking to fall away so that the new points may manifest in your life. Leo (Fire) and Aquarius (Air) work as a team. The sign Leo ruled by the Sun represents passion, creativity to manifest what has heart and meaning within you. These creative juices flow from inspiration- that spark or point of light within you. These inspiring points of light are working us as we enter the doorway of this Aquarius new moon. Aquarius is the sign of spiritual rebirth representing Humanity.

Uranus is an electrical force (the blue behind the point), representing freedom from the known. Uranus (Intuition) rules Aquarius (Air) and is the higher octave of Mercury (Mind).

Intuition, Air, Mind, spark of light. Mercury represents communication, logic and function of the rational mind. The way you think has radically changed over the past 12 years- hasn’t it? A person working with awakened Mercury is able to communicate from their heart with love and compassion. One teacher of mine called it a “thinking heart and a feeling mind.” Intellect (rather than ego) meets with Intuition and through right use of mind we are able to think in categories- the matrix of organizing and editing our thoughts into creative inspirational visions. This is the energy availed to us through this months Aquarius doorway.

Embody the New Possibility

Saturn in Virgo: Practical earthy Saturn is now in earthy Virgo for the first time since 1978.

"Earth is a balance of yin and yang, the feminine and masculine together. Its motion is inward and centering, and its energy is stabilizing and conserving. It is associated with the color yellow and the planet Saturn, and it lies at the center of the compass in the Chinese cosmos. It is associated with the turn of each of the four seasons and with damp. It is believed to govern the spleen, stomach, mouth and muscles. Its negative emotion is anxiety and its positive emotion is empathy. Its Primal Spirit is represented by the Yellow Phoenix.

In Chinese thought Earth is associated with the qualities of patience, thoughtfulness, practicality, hard work and stability. The earth element is also nurturing and seeks to draw all things together within the Essential Self, in order to bring harmony, rootedness and stability. Other attributes of the earth element include ambition, stubbornness, responsibility and long-term planning. In pathology, the earth can represent selfishness and self-centeredness. In the controlling cycle earth controls the water and is controlled by wood; while in the conducive cycle earth is produced by fire, and in turn produces metal." Wikipedia

This New Moon celebrates the Chinese New Year of the Earth Rat. Earth (Saturn) and Electricity (Uranus). “Being the first sign of the Chinese zodiacs, rats are leaders, pioneers and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. Rat people are endowed with great leadership skills and are the most highly organized, meticulous, and systematic of the twelve signs. Intelligent and cunning at the same time, rats are highly ambitious and strong-willed people who are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas, which often include money and power. They are energetic and versatile and can usually find their way around obstacles, and adapt to various environments easily.” Year of the Rat

Uranus is connected to intuition. In our bodies intuition sits in the 3rd (power) and 6th (intuition) chakras working in harmony and balance. Uranus wakes us up suddenly- like a lightening bolt, it transforms. Uranus is traveling through watery Pisces- the home of the Muse, the Dreamer within who created magic in this reality. A true transfigured Magician is able to enter the collective unconsciousness within her Greater Self, create a matrix from the points of light and birth new forms that serve humanity.

Are you ready? Where does Aquarius fall in your birth chart? Where is Uranus in Pisces transiting?

This month you are called to cross the threshold. Hey you have been standing at this doorway for a while, it’s time to move!Transfigure. Gather your points of light to you for change; in support of self and the community your serve. Humanitarian pursuits. Networking from a global and universal perspective.

Be open to the outcome. . . be the change you want to see. Shift.

24 hours before the New Moon start to plan out what you want to set into motion for the Aquarius energy within you. From your chart, look at what house is affected. What are you thinking about? What do you want to create?

24 hours after the new moon release those good intentions. Write them down and burn them over a fire (Air of Aquarius). Bury them (earth of Saturn). Dance them (fire of Mars). Release and trust that your prayers have been heard, that those intentions have the strength and will to manifest. Namaste.

Capricorn-the Choir of Many

At the Aries new moon in April of 2007 you planted something; it’s a nine month birthing process. The results are in at this New Moon in Capricorn, what you set your intention too nine months ago is now here. If you planted weeds in the spring, then you are dealing with the weeds in your life’s work. How are you doing? What did you set into motion at the Aries New Moon and what are you now ready to birth?

The New Moon in Capricorn
Tuesday, January 8th, 2008 at 6:37 am est.
18° Capricorn

Law of Action- the path before us

We meet the 10th House, Capricorn and Saturn, The Builder. Earth.
Cancer is the gate in, Capricorn the gate out into the world.

What do I want to say about these times. In my journey and meditations this year’s theme is Light; embodying Spirit and bringing forth our Light at each new moon. The Power of your Presence is called forth in your family and the community your serve. The keyword at this lunation: Transcendence.

In everyday language, "transcendence" means "going beyond" and "self-transcendence" means going beyond a prior form or state of oneself. Mystical experience is thought of as a particularly advanced state of self-transcendence, in which the sense of a separate self is abandoned. "Self transcendence" is believed to be psycho-metrically measurable, and (at least partially) inherited.- Wikipedia

The Law of Attraction is all well and good, but if you don’t act then you’ll still be sitting here another year later wondering what’s wrong. The key at each lunation is to transcend the apparent limitations and express myself more fully, not behind the scenes but out in the public eye, in my community, in the corporate world. Duality, black and white thinking has no place to sit in the Essential Self. One knows she is part of a divine tribe called Humanity and from this place you accept your divinity; then there is peace from within, the gate is open, there is no need for defense. There is harmony. There is balance.

Capricorn represents your tribe and the social responsibility you bring to the table as a human being. Capricorn represents the archetypal force in the 10th house of work and career birthed from your creative passionate spirit. Your divinity. Anything else are empty promises. Capricorn represents your skeletal structure- the bones of who you are. In shamanic terms- your ancestors (Cancer) and You. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn. In alchemy Saturn is the metal lead before it is transformed and transmuted into gold, bringing deeper meaning to the phrase “Get the lead out.”

The artistic muse doesn’t discriminate. Creativity has nothing to do with income level.-Mary Engelbreit

Saturn and the Capricorn energy calls each of us to show up and be the adult, be responsible. Create and Act. Capricorn’s energy takes us out into the world through our career, our work; we see the results of the creative muse birthed from the 5th house (the Leo New Moon), manifesting in the 10th house where Capricorn sits. In Capricorn you want to be seen; it’s the wise one within- you know what you know and now you are called out into the world to stand in that knowing.

Pluto is about to change signs and move into Capricorn, staying for the next 16 years. Expect a dismemberment. That makes this New Moon in Capricorn a bit different this year. A new guest is about to arrive and everyone’s been put on notice.

Where Pluto sits in your chart you are called to carry your generations power. The theme here is E Pluribus Unum-"Out of Many, One". The One Heart of each generation brings their collective power to bear on the Earth:

• Pluto in Leo (1937-1958)
• Pluto in Virgo (1956-1972) (Saturn in Virgo there now, helping your Pluto in Virgo along).
• Pluto in Libra (1971-1984)
• Pluto in Scorpio (1983-1995)
• Pluto in Sag (1995-2008) and now
• Pluto in Capricorn (1762-1778, 2008-2024).

Pluto brings forth the power to transform and transmute. The last time Pluto was in Capricorn? The American Revolution, we collectively manifested the United States of America in 1776.

Yes, there is a rendering energy to Pluto that some people just want to hide under the sheets until he goes away. Sixteen years is a long time to hide and that’s not going to work. Capricorn represents the structure, the bones, the foundation; it’s an earth action energy. Two feet planted firmly on the ground, 1st chakra standing up energy or kneeling in prayer. Saturn in Capricorn represents our tribal conditioning, how we shed the past to move into the future. Can you get the picture?

The shadow - this shedding energy brings up unconscious fears- fear’s of the past, fears of our parents, fears of society...no wonder things are feeling a bit intense. The first response to this energy is to contract, hunker down- try and keep things the same, but it won’t work. Pluto’s here. Think of Monty Python and the Holy Grail- "Run away, run away."

Now Pluto comes along and says there are changes that need to be made. Your foundation (government, social security, corporations) isn’t looking so good, and well we have to take things apart to make the changes. Pluto is a transpersonal energy that dismantles the old to make way for the new. If the Capricorn energy is all about building a strong foundation, then you have had a lifetime to get ready for this new energy. Expect a shift. Are you ready?

A moment of discontent:

Collectively we view things with such a limited narrow focus. What about me? Why is this happening? The bottom line? We are creating change for future generations- as astrologer Carolyn Casey shares "laying the foundation tracks for the reality train to follow". Al Gore and his body of work- Inconvenient Truth- is the manifestation of seeds thoughts he sowed in college, and through his public service he is now taking action. Not react, but act. Law of ACTION. Each of us is called to act in some way.

Yes there is rumbling within the collective human psyche about the changes that are taking place. But Pluto entering Capricorn has been a long time in coming; you’ve been getting ready (body, mind and spirit) for a very long time. It’s a choice you made to be born at this exact moment in time, to be present at the birth of this energy, so why hide from it? Embrace it, ask Pluto in for some coffee.

The only way is through it- can’t jump it nor pretend it isn’t here. As an empath I am sure you are already feeling it. Now how to manage it, play with it?

At this new moon I suggest we all act like George Costanza in Seinfeld- do the opposite; rather than contracting, expand. Love the apparent chaos within and without. Merge with the energy. Become light filled. Give Pluto’s energy a voice and a presence in your creative work this month. Dialog with it. Play with it. Meet it. Don’t know how to fill yourself up with light? Click here for instructions.

Yes you are going to feel things, but this is the moment we have been waiting for, it’s what you decided to take on when you met with your angels right before birth. "Send me in I want to do my part!" This is the time for you and I to shine brightly, stand up and be seen.

I send bright blessings at this New Moon.

Shamanic journey for this New Moon in Capricorn- Create your sacred space. Set the intention. Go to your Helping Ally, ask to be dismembered. Then go to Light. I use the image of the Starship Enterprise going into warp drive. Feel your light body. Really embrace the feeling, the knowing of it, come out of the journey and walk outside in that Light body. Experience nature and your surroundings in that light filled state. How long can you hold the space. Practice this on a daily basis. Tune yourself to a higher frequency. To learn about Shamanic Journeying- read Shamanic Journeying by Sandra Ingerman.

If you have a question or want to share your experience use the new form I created Ask Michele.

Let's Paste Capricorn-one astrologer’s guide to the New Year

Start the new year by using the moon’s cycle to live your best dream. This New Moon TeleClass grounds in the skills you need to move through a lunation in creative ways using the SoulCollage® process. I’ll talk about the astrology of the moment and what it means for you; how you can use the collage process to support your souls journey into the new year.

This is astrology for non-astrologers- the basics of understanding how the Moon’s monthly journey affects your life through story and art using the SoulCollage® process.

Let’s paste the New Year!
Let’s paste! Capricorn
TeleClass with audio
Sunday, January 6, 2008
7:00 PM EST (New York)
Cost $15.00"

Pluto’s entering Capricorn, Saturn’s in Virgo, there’s a new moon in Capricorn on January 8th, 2008.

• What does this mean for you?
• What do you want to create this year?
• How are you going to do it?

Before Sunday’s TeleClass go through some magazines and gather 2-3 images that capture the look and feel of the New Year for you. More information about SoulCollage® can be found here. A pdf link with further instructions will be sent out to class members on Friday.

This is the second in a series of monthly New Moon TeleClasses I am offering in 2008, I hope you can join us.

The entire spectrum of life is essentially an archetypal playground. Everything in the universe is symbolic. The planets are named for their symbolic power, not their location in the solar system. Myths, folklore, and teachings from all spiritual traditions and all great literature credit the profound significance of the symbolic truths that are carried within and through the themes and characters of those planetary stories. -Carolyn Myss, Ph.D.

Note: The teleconference number is a toll call. I recommend using USA Datanet for "talk as long as you like for $1.99." This Meet-up is being held via your phone through a teleconference...you’ll be able to attend from the comfort of your home. If you have never participated in a teleconference, it’s very easy...you just dial in at the appointed time and listen.

Being stalked at this new moon

At this new moon in Sagittarius on December 9th, 2007 a stellium of planets [Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter and Pluto]¹ are stalking my first and second houses [this is me and this is what I am worth, self-worth]. Can I share it is not a good time to aggravate me, yet that is apparently what the Universe has in store. Oh my.

In the news there are stories of people losing their tempers in a flash and saying something they regret. Imus on steroids. One shamanic friend set some much needed boundaries in her community, she blew her fuse and at the exact same moment the power went out in her neighborhood. Good news- there was a healing. Like her I am finding it increasing difficult to hold back and not mince my words. Here is my New Moon SoulCollage® for Sagittarius:

Jupiter’s Shadow
I am the One who Consumes
Buy this and that
fill up with this and that.
Spend too much,
Eat too much.
All because I feel
Not enough.

What do I want?
What do I need?

No more she shouts
quietly to herself,
I’ll sit here
Let myself be.
Discoveries...
I will not run myself
ragged this holiday.

Superwoman
is just a costume
I use to wear.
It doesn’t fit me
any longer.
For today, silence and faith
in myself and my God
that is my
this and that.

Saturn in Sagittarius Looking for your truth in all the wrong places

Saturn moved through Sag from January 1956 through January 1959 and November 1985 through February 1988

Pluto has been in the sign Sagittarius since 1995 and leaves to move into the sign Capricorn next month. Pluto transforms us from within, the Cosmic garbage collector, rules death and rebirth. As an agent of transformation he doesn’t just go away. Pluto is our collective get out of Hell ticket so we can share our story through transformation. Pluto is the change agent for our rigid black and white thinking; our shadow issues, those things we want to hide. Pluto is the task master over the crap of our shame represented by the seven deadly sins- pride, wrath, greed, envy, lust, gluttony, sloth. The offenses against Love.

“Pluto burns away the conditioned voice of family and society that limits our vision of what is possible for us and for the world.” (Casey, p. 99)

Read the rest of this post via the New Moon Journal pdf

New Moon in Sagittarius Teleclass

SoulCollage®, the holidays, and the new moon in Sagittarius; on December 3rd I am offering a free teleclass and you’re invited to join in.

Together we’ll explore the astrology of the moment, and the mystery of you found in bits of paper and glue through the SoulCollage® process. During the session I’ll share about what’s unfolding energetically in the next 30 days and how you can use SoulCollage to support your journey through the holidays and into the new year.

Here’s to manifesting your hopes, wishes and dreams. I call this teleclass Holiday Hoopla!

Holiday Hoopla SoulCollage® Meet-up
Monday, December 3, 2007 at 7:00 PM (approximately 45 minutes long)
Cost: no charge
Where: Take this meeting in the convenience of you own home.
Conference Phone # and details posted at Meet-up; see the full listing here http://collage.meetup.com/93/calendar/6688127/
Please RSVP so I can send you email instructions prior to event; you can RSVP ’No’ or ’Yes’ on Meet-up.

Know that it is not necessary for you to have a working knowledge of astrology or SoulCollage. All you need to bring to the session is your openness to the information presented- your heart’s desire creates the container for the experience to unfold magically in a deeply sacred way.

Rev. Michele Lessirard, C.Ht. is a shamanic practitioner, astrologer and SoulCollage® Facilitator providing healing, counseling and instruction since 1993. You can get in touch with Michele through the ’Contact Organizer’ feature on the Meetup.com website: http://collage.meetup.com/93/suggestion/

New Moons, Mercury Retrogrades for 2008

Here are the upcoming New Moons and retrograde periods for 2008. Pluto enters Capricorn in January for the first time in 230 years. Expect a shift and track your energy at each lunation.

Each New Moon is a conception point for planting seed thoughts-a new idea or stating a decree. There is an energetic doorway present at the new moon, we stand at the threshold wondering and dreaming. Some go to sleep, numb out and forget to dream. Sometimes it's hard waking up from this deep sleep. It can be scary. I honor that. What I suggest is just play with the SoulCollage® process, one new moon at a time...

Don’t worry about ’knowing’ astrology and the signs, feel into the energies. The New Moon SoulCollage® process is about soaking up the energies on an intuitive level. Finding the mystery of you in bits of paper and glue. To stay informed subscribe [on the left hand sidebar] to the New Moon Journal.

PERMISSION TO REPRINT: Share and share alike means that you give Michele Lessirard credit. You may reprint this post from "The New Moon Journal" but please include the following paragraph in it's entirety with the links back to this site:

"Reprinted from The New Moon Journal, an online e-zine featuring astrological coaching tips, tricks and techniques for using the sky energies for personal empowerment written by Michele Bailey-Lessirard. Subscribe at http://newmoonjournal.com

Revised: 12/05/2007, 12/31/07

The New Moons in 2008:

Jan 8, 2008 06:37 am est at 18° Capricorn
Feb 6, 2008 10:44 pm est at 18° Aquarius*
Mar 7, 2008 12:14 pm est at 18° Pisces
Apr 5, 2008 11:55 pm est at 17° Aries
May 5, 2008 8:18 am est at 16° Taurus
June 3, 2008 3:23 pm est at 14° Gemini
July 2, 2008 10:19 pm est at 12° Cancer
Aug 1, 2008 6:13 am est at 10° Leo*
Aug 30, 2008 3:58 pm est at 08° Virgo
Sept 29, 2008 4:12 am est at 07° Libra
Oct 28, 2008 7:14 pm est at 06° Scorpio
Nov 27, 2008 11:54 am est at 06° Sagittarius

*denotes a New Moon/Solar Eclipse
All times are calculated to Eastern Standard Time (est) using NY, New York. If I made an error please be kind in your comments.

For more information check the right hand sidebar on this page under Categories, click the appropriate sign link in the listing to review that month’s energy on The New Moon Journal®. This is a great way to check-in 6 months later at the full moon to see what you set into motion. It gives you insights into how you are managing your energies-body, mind and spirit.

2008 Planetary Station Points
Note: S/R denotes Stationary retrograde motion
S/D denotes Stationary direct motion.

Mercury
Jan 28 S/R    24° Aquarius        Feb 18 S/D    09° Aquarius
May 26 S/R   22° Gemini          June 19 S/D    13° Gemini
Sep 24 S/R   23° Libra             Libra Oct 15    S/D 08° Libra

Mars
Nov 15, 2007 S/R 13° Cancer
Jan 30, 2008 S/D 25° Gemini

Venus

Jupiter
May 9 S/R 23° Capricorn
Sep 7 S/D 13° Capricorn

Saturn
Dec 29, 2007 S/R 09° Virgo
May 2, 2008 S/D 02° Virgo

Uranus
June 26 S/R 23° Pisces
Nov 27 S/D 19° Pisces

Neptune
May 26 S/R 25° Aquarius
Nov 2 S/D 22° Aquarius

Pluto
Pluto enters Capricorn on January 25, 2008 at 9:38 pm est.
Apr 2 S/D 02° Capricorn
Sep 8 S/D 29° Sagittarius

Scorpio-react to the whack.

The urge to merge, Scorpio’s energy and The Way of the Shaman. We meet these Scorpio issues in all of our relationships, especially in love and fear. What part of me had to go to sleep to be in relationship with you? How do I react to the whack?

My SoulCollage® card for the Scorpio energies.

I am the One who
Merges
Urges
You to find
connection
Within
the Dark
to find
the Light.

Who do you think you are? One of my life’s lessons- to learn how to speak up and tell my truth. When I started healing, broke my silence there was a time Dear Dad told people "she’s crazy." It’s a very painful place to be in for there is nothing like being cut off for telling one’s truth. It’s truly is a hero’s journey and so very Scorpio.

The memories poured through and off me like sweat in the early 90’s; there was no stopping it and no therapist could tell me the road I was walking. My dreams were rich and deep, things started to make a whole lot of sense, why I could read the energy in a client’s home, why I knew when someone close was ill or dying. That talking with Nature was a gift I had as a child, and that everything speaks it’s own language. From the abuse I knew how to move into that space (the Void) to hear the messages and communicate that spiritual energy in wonderful ways through healing songs and art.

Shamanism¹⁾ teaches us that everything in existence is alive and has a spirit. We are connected to the earth and all of life, through consciousness…the web of life…and we can contact and relate to all there is through this web. Scorpio’s energy in your chart and the Way of the Shaman teaches one how to live in harmony with the web.

In Scorpio one tempers the creative fire of Leo. During the time when the Sun moves through Scorpio we get an opportunity to see what is out of whack [fall harvest], how we are merging but not getting fed creatively. This urge to merge comes to a head at the New Moon in Scorpio- you’ll see pretty quickly what needs attention, and what you need to let go of to move forward.

Letting go of the old way to move into the new is the gift of Scorpio’s transformation. The key word here is TRANSCENDANCE.

"We spend a tremendous amount of psychic energy looking for lost parts of ourselves. We do this unconsciously, and we do this in many different ways-generating dreams, experimenting with numerous spiritual paths, creating relationships that mirror back to us our missing parts...Whenever we experience a trauma, a part of our vital essence separates from us in order to survive the experience by escaping the full impact of the pain. If a part of our vital essence has fled, how can we bring it back? Trauma is controlled by the body. Talking about trauma does not resolve it. [In a healing session] can the person absorb the light from the returned soul essence into every cell of the body?"-Sandra Ingerman in her book Soul Retrieval: Mending the Fragmented Self

This is my Scorpio journey...recently Dear Dad, who spent his summers on the Jersey Shore life guarding, called to say he was finally going in for surgery on the skin cancer that was so bothersome. Obviously worried, he went on and on about getting a skin graft, how the cancer may have moved into his bone, the wound wasn’t healing. How could they operate with an infection. Why was it all delayed.

All I heard was fear, fear, fear in a man who so loves Christ and what his Church offers him. I took a risk and said "Dad, have you asked the people in your Sunday School class to pray for you?" There was a long silence. Dad replied "No, why would I do that?" In that moment I had to make a decision. Speak up.

How could I language this so he understood that his fear, not trust, was driving the outcome? This from a "crazy" daughter who embraces a spiritual path [shamanism] he doesn’t understand and denies; born from a moment he created for me.

I quietly explained the task at hand, the issues of fear and offered a solution "maybe you can ask your Sunday school group to pray, and to allow that prayer to fill you up." I asked him to allow people to touch him with prayer, fill the wound with the light of the Holy Spirit. "Dad, I’ll work long distance, sending you love and healing."

Meanwhile I hear mom’s voice in the background telling us both "that won’t work". For a moment once again I am lost in my parent’s dynamic. Merged. I hear the One who is the skeptic in my own head "Who do you think you are telling your Dad about this?" I push through the fear and the doubt because this can work. I am used to the skeptic. In a few hours I get Dad’s email, he’s done an internet search on laying on of hands, and decides this is spiritually okay and that his asking is what is needed. God bless him.

Dad goes to Sunday School and asks for help. He lets go of his resistance. Two days later the surgery happens, he doesn’t need the dreaded skin graft he’s fretted about for two months, the wound is stitched and the surgeon got clean margins. A few days later Dear Dad’s email arrives thanking me for the long distance healing. He’s also sent along a USA Today article on Healing Touch in the operating rooms, how he would have never thought to ask for spiritual help and ends "I’m proud of you and after my last experience with this skin cancer I realize that prayer and touch are healing powers." I am filled on so many levels.

Walk your talk...

What does all this have to do with the New Moon in Scorpio today? Scorpio’s energy demands transformation- this watery sign is ruled by both Mars, Pluto and some say Chiron. Where Scorpio sits in your chart you are called to shape shift by letting go and surrendering. Holding onto your pain and suffering, trying to remain in control or becoming controlling [usually related to a unconscious fear] is related to a lack of trust and thus creates more soul loss. Walk your talk.

Mars, the ruler of Scorpio, goes retrograde in the sign Cancer at 12° from November 15- January 30. The New Moon in Scorpio on November 9th is at 18° of Scorpio. At the time of the lunation on November 9th, Neptune in Aquarius squares the New Moon. Neptune represents, the dreamer or the addict. It’s time to tap into the Visionary within. Your Higher Self is knocking on your door asking "do I trust a higher power to help build my Vision?

Then Mars goes retrograde in Cancer, and moves back into the sign of Gemini in December bringing up emotional communication regarding heart and home issues related to that vision.

Do you have a vision? If so, what are you feeding- the fear or the vision?

Here is a SoulCollage card created by Melissa Thompson, a SoulCollage Facilitator in Sarasota, Florida:

I am the one who transforms myself
through surrendering to the flames of release.
I am the one who lets go
of that which no longer serves me
so that I may create from a higher level.

Mars is stationing in Cancer getting ready to go retrograde. Mars rules Scorpio, so look for the deeper meaning in your day-to-day experiences. Since Scorpio rules issues with power and transformation, you are called to step into your power. Merge.

Mars rules fiery Aries and watery Scorpio- fire does not like water. Reflect on that [fire and anger with water and emotions] for a moment.

Mars, Pluto and Chiron brings the forth the ability to recognize and understand our pain [Mars usually shows up through anger, sadness, guilt], transform the negative emotions [Pluto demands you take out the garbage] and then create from it [Chiron shows you the wound, gives you the tools to heal it, allowing more light and creativity back into your life]. Let me talk about creativity, power and shamanism from my perspective….

There are components to shamanism that speak to the Scorpio journey. It doesn’t mean you are a shaman or even have to journey, but there are classic shamanic experiences people miss relative to the 8th house-dreams that render you, the helping ally (animal speak) who shows up in dream or life with a message, dismemberment, soul loss, extraction all speak to the 8th house Scorpio energies.

So at this New Moon in Scorpio how are you stuck? What emotion is still present -anger, sadness, guilt, fear?

How is your pain urging you to merge, yet you are not moving? This Scorpio New Moon will reveal a pattern, dredge up the past, so stay aware. Watch your dreams and what is showing up [omens] in your waking life. It may be related to the last time Saturn was in Virgo (1977-78).

I’ll repeat this again- it is time to really commit to the Saturn in Virgo journaling piece. And if you have a question please email me or use the comment link below.

Walking the path of the shaman within this Scorpio realm we are called to transcend our issues with death and rebirth. There are no shortcuts, the only way is through it.

The House in your chart shows you where the action is at this lunation. Where does 18° of Scorpio fall in your birth chart? Where is Mars in Cancer retrograding in your chart? What is needed in that part of your life? You can go to AstroLabe insert the details and print out your birth chart. Do the journaling exercise for Saturn in Virgo. Create a SoulCollage around the feelings and vision.

24 hours before the New Moon go within and connect to what is needed in that area of your life. 24 hours after the New Moon write it down, verbalize it, collage it and send it out. You’ll see results by the Full Moon in Gemini on November 23rd or by the Full Moon in Scorpio on May 19, 2008.

I invite you to take a look at all the New Moon SoulCollages® via Flickr:

www.flickr.com

¹⁾ Shamanism in a Contemporary Society-I am a teacher and practitioner of shamanism. The practice of shamanism is not bound to one culture or tribe, and has been in existence for thousands of years. It is not a religion, but a way of life. There is no certification process. Just because one is indigenous by blood does not make one a good shaman or a great shamanic practitioner. There are many factors involved, one being the person’s psycho-spiritual integration and whether they have been ’called’ by the Spirits and the tribe. No one tribe or person has a right to claim the ‘shamanic path’ as their own, that is spiritually arrogant.

In the cotemporary shamanism and the shamanic journey one learns how to come and go through the doorway safely with respect, there are three worlds- upper world, middle world and lower world. Shamanic journeywork is natural; I did it as a child. My blessed wound was not wanting to be seen or heard, yet I wanted to be seen and heard. Called to be seen and heard after my recovery, to not share around this work would be spiritually arrogant, but I still do not call myself a shaman.

Today there are a lot of ungrounded, unhealed people who jump on the shamanism bandwagon and put out their shingle. Too often "shamanic" is being used as an all purpose term for anything metaphysical and/or new agey. It’s irritating. It makes me feel sad. One friend called it "spiritual pole vaulting" which is a good way to describe it. I call it Glamour. You can learn how to shamanic journey in your own life for healing and problem solving, you may take classes but please remember this does not make you a shaman.

Dancing with the Stars

Just a friendly note the New Moon in Libra begins at 1:01 am Thursday morning and Mercury goes retrograde at 12 midnight on the October 12th at 9° Scorpio. Libra represents the fine art of relating. I created this SoulCollage for the Libra New Moon.

I am the One who dances, in sync with my sacred Other.

This SoulCollage® card is full of that rich juicy vibrant 2nd chakra energy, spinning with vitality.

24 hours before the New Moon look to see where Libra sits in your chart, what is necessary in that area of your life. What’s been in your face? Set three intentions [wishes] you want to manifest based on the Libra energies in your life.

24 hours after the New Moon release your intentions through a ritual. You could write them down and burn them. Dance your intentions-put on some music and swing them into being. Become the Manifestor. Create a SoulCollage image around the desired outcome- what do you want to create- aka The Secret.

Expect a shift.

First expect to see what is holding you back from living these intentions. Become the Observer. The first 10 days of a Mercury retrograde you’ll see what needs fixing[October 12-23], the rest of the Mercury retrograde [October 23-November 1st] get down to business and take action to balance the chaos and bring order. It’s a do-over. You’ll get insights especially by the Full Moon in Taurus on October 26th.

Remember you are harvesting seeds for planting next Spring on the Full Moon in Libra on March 21st, 2008.