New Moon Journal

Virgo SoulCollage®

Friday we greet the New Moon in Virgo. This is the LAST time Saturn sits with the New Moon in Virgo until 2038. That's a long time. The Universe is clearly telling me don't drag your tired old @#$ Virgo issues into the next sign. It's funny and it's not- more to come but first digest this...

The last time Saturn moved through Virgo? August 1978 through September 1980- you can read more about this in the Saturn in Virgo pdf. Another good Saturn in Virgo post here and five alchemical steps for Saturn in Virgo.

Or if you are a glutton for Virgo energy all the Virgo posts are here.

While Saturn/Sun/Moon keep company in Virgo this week Mercury retrogrades back into the Virgo energies from Libra just before he turns direct on September 29. Libra is the sign of relationship, healthy balanced relating not from the 3rd chakra [force] but from your heart's energy [love]. Who am I in relationship to you? Do I have good boundaries? Do I merge too much? Put up walls?

The Flipping Out side of these Uranus in Pisces energies? Sticking your finger into a light socket, getting shocked and then yelling at the light socket. Okay I've done that...

Saturn/Sun/Moon/Mercury opposes Uranus in Pisces...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 creates magic in this reality. The Flip Side of Virgo.

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.

The keyword for is renewal.

Mercury retrograde covers old territory to give us all a do-over. Mercury rules our thinking, speaking, the day-to-day thoughts that keep us separate...this week look for what's out of balance. You've had strong indicators since mid-August when Mercury moved into his shadow specifically in relationships and "truth-telling without blame or judgment". (Angeles Arien's Four Fold Way).

This week as we approach the New Moon in Virgo look for the aha's especially at the Mercury retrograde ten day mark - September 16 and 17.

Here are the basics of Virgo's energy relative to the New Moon SoulCollage® process. What you planted at the New Moon in Aries, those decrees and intentions set forth in vision boards earlier this year will have manifested. What were you wishing and dreaming of back in late March? It's harvest time!

How is the Universe responding to your quest? What needs attention? To be edited and sorted?

Here are some themes to Virgo's energy. Virgo is solid, grounded earth energy, the higher octave of Gemini. In Virgo I am the One who....

I am the One who brings you Order. I bring the ability to pay attention to the small details, getting my paperwork completed and showing up on time [punctuality].

I am the One who is clear thinking, I understand my black and white issues and safely navigate the emotional waters of telling my truth to others.

I am the One who is a workaholic. I miss the mystery in life because I am so focused on the mundane.

I am the One who is healthy. In order to create one needs a well body, physical well being. Health/diet/exercise, healers and healing.

I am the One who is the Healer. I bring you the ability to bridge Spirit (Pisces) with Earth (Virgo). I am a bridge builder to Spirit.

I am the One who serves others. I bring a willingness to adapt-practical helpfulness with purity of intent.

I am the One who desires perfection. I process your clutter and bring order out of chaos.

I am the One who is the Critic. The inner critic seeks to focus your attention on worry, criticism, blame and judgment that creates barriers in your life. I seek control.

I am the One who Mentors. I rule all forms of mentorship related to the Ancestors, Aunts and Uncles. Who are you mentoring? Who mentors you?

I am the One who is the Goddess Vesta. I seek to infuse your life through sacred rituals and ceremonies that bestow magic.

I am the One who Restores. I bring up ways your hold yourself back up into your consciousness and out into the light of day for healing; I am the One who frees up your creative energy, the keyword is renewal.

Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before, how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever...-- Isak Dinesen

Sisterhood, soul loss and healing

All at once last week three birthday notices landed in my email in box for January 15- my sister, my good friend/chiropractic/healer Bob and my shamanic deposession teacher Betsy, - all born on January 15th (Sun is at 26 degrees of Capricorn). This made me pay attention. Three birthday’s for January 15, what do these people represent in my life?

Sister/Healer/Depossession

Do you ever have one of those times where you just know this is an important day/time/place?

Well this is one of those moments for me. What follows is my journey related to these Capricorn energies. Jupiter changed signs and moved from Capricorn into visionary Aquarius on January 5, 2009. Jupiter holds three meet-ups with quicksilver Mercury:

• December 29, 2008 at 29º Capricorn
• January 18, 2009 at 04º Aquarius
• February 23, 2009 at 12º Aquarius [post to follow 2/16/09]

Last month after a long hiatus I felt the drive to 'breath'. First two important power animals showed up in present time on our property- Owl and Mole. Owl is a power animal for my 6th Chakra, moon and mother. Mole is a 1st chakra totem and represents a connection to Saturn and to my mentor Ellen. I paid attention to these omens and started journaling.

I was in a state of grief, and stuck. Call it Ennui. Call it empty nest syndrome, selling the house, the move, the stock market, whatever it is, I was in it. The mantra I heard was plan now for clarity later. [If you want to read more of my journey click through.]

Mercury and Jupiter's 2nd Meet-up

Sunday Mercury started retrograding. It's an opportunity to see what's wrong, out of whack. Today, I handed my debit card to the cashier in the bead shop, she runs it once, she runs it twice, then a third. At this point I say "Let me write you a check." She shares the store's debit card machine is kapooey, the system needs to be rebooted. I suspect there's a whole lot of rebooting going on! *smile*

How are you dealing with uncertainty and the fear it brings?

Are you ready for the Mercury/Jupiter's 2nd Meet-up? Mercury retrograde meets up with Jupiter [expansion] on January 18, 2009 at 4º Aquarius. [remember this post December's post]

What's been tweaking you? What's been inspiring you? Pay attention.

Do you have any planets in your chart at 4º of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and/or Aquarius? Those areas are being triggered by the Mercury/Jupiter Meet-up.The Sabian Symbol for 4º Aquarius

A HINDU HEALER GLOWS WITH MYSTIC HEALING POWER.

Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius are fixed signs in astrology, considered the cornerstones of your chart. Cornerstones are responsible for holding up the structure. In these signs we become fixated and rigid in our thinking. I can't, I won't. "I can't do that because____." You fill in the blank. Mercury rules the mind, your thinking process. Jupiter expands us.

This is a time to really dig in, figure out the thoughts that are holding you back. And cliche as it is, trust the process. Pluto in Capricorn is kicking our butts collectively. Saturn in Virgo is demanding a new healthier structure. Saturn is a contracting energy, it's hard to expand into new territory until the fear is managed. Saturn is retrograde now as well, it's time. Get some magazines, cut out pictures and make a soulcollage. Call a friend. Share. Please DO SOMETHING!

"We’re being shown that our well-being resides in increasing our trust in ourselves, our resiliency and our ability to return to our centers, over and over again...We can learn to meet whatever arises with curiosity and not make it such a big deal. Instead of struggling against the force of confusion, we could met it and relax. When we do that, we gradually discover that clarity is always there.”- Jennifer Louden from the Uncertainty we've all been waiting for.

Mercury Retrogrades are do-overs. It's all about transmutation of fearful thoughts and the ability to transfigure. Go to Light! Be light. Because Mercury/Jupiter square the Moon in Scorpio, you'll see how deep the fear resides, and how it challenges you. Be gentle with yourself. Scorpio represents fixed rigid forms, fears, old ways and habits that need to be let go to move to the next level. Scorpio shows up to show us what's holding us back.

"Fear is something we all experience—it’s part of the human condition. The only way to dispel fear is to look it in the face and utilize courage. Courage is not the absence of fear, it’s the triumph over it, revealing to you what you’re truly capable of."- Tony Robbins

Because the Moon is involved "How were you fed fear as a child?" Lunar energy relates to your issues with food, how you feed yourself, eating disorders. What is your relationship to fear and food. This is the time to embrace the healing of your emotional body..lunar energies represented by negative mothering issues.

Do an inventory of life events from the years 1961, 1973, 1985 and 1997 when Jupiter moved through the sign Aquarius. What happened? Divorce, siblings born, marriages...really dig into the meat of the issue. The urge to move forward always brings fear and trepidation, because it's new. Baby steps. It's a good time to do a SouCollage.

We each bring a responsibility to let go of the past. Paradigms, the old way of thinking are being dismantled by Pluto in Capricorn. Dismantling old structures is not fun, the process of dismemberment makes people- especially the older people very nervous, and at times downright nasty. *sigh*

How are you shaped by your mother's fears? How are her issues holding you back from creating a future? What messages are you still carrying around that don't serve your path. Transfiguration is the key to healing. Forgiveness is in order. Love yourself and mom for the lesson learned.

THE GOOD NEWS: At this 2nd Mercury/Jupiter meet-up on January 18th... Venus/Uranus in Pisces opposes Saturn in Virgo. The Law of Attraction is governed by the Venusian energy. Venus attracts like a magnet. This is a good omen. The key is to let go of old outdated forms. Structures that no longer serve you. You've had two years to make revisions. Now do what you came to teach. Plan now for clarity later.

To learn about the process of transfiguration and transmutation I suggest reading Sandra Ingerman's book Medicine for the Earth: How to Transform Personal and Environmental Toxins

Jupiter enters Aquarius printable pdf.
Here's a zodiac cheat sheet Aquarius through the Houses.

Images are from Michele's SoulCollage cards which can be found on Flickr.

Jupiter enters Aquarius-Yeah!

What's my prediction for 2009? Those who plan now while actively working with their fears will reap the benefits by June. This morning I listened to financial advisers talk about the severe contraction in the money markets. Saturn rules the energy of contraction in astrology; Jupiter rules the energy of expansion. They work together as a planetary pair governing the 1st and 2nd chakras in the body. Why pay attention to this astrology stuff?

What goes on within me, goes on around me. Saturn moves into retrograde this week until May 2009. Saturn brings your dreams into form, so there is a time out to gather up the energy needed to move forward. Re-organize. Saturn and Jupiter work in tandem, Saturn contracts and Jupiter expands- in breath- out breath.

Fear can cause you to hold your breath in, trust allows you to release the breath out. If I get in balance and manage my energy, then I can ride the waves of contraction and expansion. Manifest my intentions. That requires planning and focus.

Plan now for clarity later. Everything is Aquarius.

Capricorn New Moon, Mercury retro and the 12 days of Christmas

What do I long to create in 2009? Plan now for clarity later. There’s a new moon in Capricorn, Mercury goes retrograde and Jupiter enters Aquarius. So much happening in the next thirty days.

Mercury moves into its shadow on December 26… time to start tracking what’s tweaking and throwing you off balance- it’s fuel for change. Rather than live with a split self who feels separate and disconnected connect with your Essential Self. The Essential self is both human and divine, a Spirit that is larger than the sum of her problems and limitations. It all comes down to thinking and Mercury.

In astrology Mercury rules all forms of communication: speaking, thinking, neighbor and sibling issues. Mercury retrograde represents do-over period to transform our everyday fear and doubt. How can I move into 2009 with a cleaner slate? Are there any debts I need to negotiate, repay or make amends? Holidays, siblings and relatives bring us emotional messages...remember:

"A calm sea does not make a skilled sailor."
-Fortune Cookie

In essence Mercury shows us where we live in fear, how we defend from being loved-the good, the bad, the ugly. Becoming a healer means stepping into all parts of this split self with brutal awareness. What better time to become aware than the Holidays! In the body Mercury rules the 5th chakra [throat]. Here we are called to hold our words harmless by truth telling without blame or judgment.

The 12 days after Christmas represent the last 12 months. One day=one month. What have I learned? Mercury retrogrades January 11, 2009 at 8 degrees of Aquarius. Before starting to retrograde Mercury moves into it’s shadow at 22 degrees of Capricorn, December 26, 2008 and will be back at this point on February 1st.

 

We are entering the 12 days of Christmas leading up to an epiphany January 6th. One day = one month of 2008. Oh the holidays, let the insights begin.

How am I living in integrity, how am I living with a split self? This year taught me new skills, how to sail through disappointment, fear and doubt-both mine and others. As a child my stockbroker father took risks with our family’s money, and the 2008 economy stirred that pot bringing up old fears and aha’s- issues of trust, self-worth and judgment. What is your truth?

The New Moon in Capricorn: There is a new moon in Capricorn on December 27, 2008 at 7:22 am. In Capricorn we want to build something tangible and long lasting. It’s all about your first chakra, foundational energy you need activated for manifesting those intentions and resolutions in 2009.

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 demands you 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.

As a little girl I wanted to hide and not be seen. When I first started doing energy work on my adult body, my 1st chakra was not very defined. Because of the childhood traumas my first chakra was small like a child-I was more comfortable living in my head. In order to manifest we take our intentions through the body into manifestation. That means a healthy 1st, 2nd and 3rd chakra.

I became conscious of when I wanted to leave my body and started walking to feel my feet hitting the ground. Expressing feelings, sometimes stomping my feet when I was angry gave the energy a place to sit in my body and ground. Slowly the first chakra opened-I became more present as a healer. Grounded, my intentions started to manifest more quickly. That is why Saturn and the Capricorn energy is so important in helping you manifest your hopes wishes and dreams. It's the place of manifestation.

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 is empty promises.

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 set the intention and then meet each New Moon energy and transcend the apparent limitations offered.

Capricorn place in your birth chart asks each of us to express the Essential Self 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. Look at this new moon in Capricorn chart:

Pluto in Capricorn is there for the first time in 248 years, demanding out dated forms be released and surrendered. This is creating chaos in the collective psyche, how are you dealing with this chaos in your life? At the time of the New Moon in Capricorn look at the chart:

• Uranus and Saturn (ruler of Capricorn) are out in front leading the energy...Uranus and Saturn has a strong say in 2009. Saturn goes retrograde December 31 until May 16th, 2009. Uranus [the ruler of Aquarius] in Pisces stands opposing Saturn in Virgo for the first time in 42 years.
• How old were you in 1964-66? Uranus relates to outside events that force change and transformation, and Saturn creates new forms. The soul’s call as we enter 2009? No matter what is unfolding, cut through the fear, manifest my Essential self into the practical day-to-day routines. There is a need to restructure what is not working, allowing the energy to be released or be renovated in some tangible way.
• Mars/Pluto sit at 2 degrees of Capricorn at the back of the pack in the 12th house, time to find that unconscious fear, hidden anger, untapped passion that still works us in some way. Deal with it; heal it by moving consciously through it. Do I trust, how am I living a split life?
• Mercury/Jupiter at 28 degrees of Capricorn. Mercury rules our thinking, Jupiter wants us to be responsible for our expansion into new territory. Change is good if the foundation can support it. There is a lot of restructuring going on. Everything manifests on the spiritual plane before it meets matter- our thoughts create the reality we see. How am I dancing effectively with this concept?
• Venus/Neptune in Aquarius is a good omen, Venus rules the Law of Attraction, Neptune the dream state. Have a good vision, collage it. Then during the Mercury retrograde period [Jan 11-Feb 1, 2009] be ready to see how your sabotage the vision. Plan now for clarity later.

Jupiter moving through Capricorn this past year felt like I was slogging through mud. The good news is the Aquarius area of your chart sees a lot of action in the first quarter of the New Year as Jupiter enters Aquarius for the first time in 12 years. Jupiter in Aquarius makes way for the weird and unorthodox people to move into the mainstream. Those that ’think’ differently, it’s time to shine brightly.

It’s time to shed the concrete boots of Jupiter in Capricorn. By March, the spring planting, the New Moon in Aries there is an opportunity for clarity to move stalled projects forward. "Right thought" meets "right timing". Release this year’s baggage. Plan now for clarity later.

Mercury goes retrograde in Aquarius to fine tune things a bit. The coming attractions start on December 26th as Mercury moves into its shadow. Stay aware between December 26th and January 11th to what is knocking you off balance- journal it, dance it, drum it…work with the energy. Plan now for clarity later. The Mercury retrograde in Aquarius on January 11, 2009 is an opportunity to witness and transmute long held patterns that have held you back from creating your dream- life, job, home, relationship.

The state of your presence
in any one given moment
is your intention.
- Barbara Brennan

December 27, 2008 7:22 AM EST
New Moon in Capricorn at 7 Degrees
The house in your chart shows where the action is:
Where does 7 degrees of Capricorn fall in your birth chart?

24 hours before the New Moon in Capricorn connect to what is needed in that area of your life. 24 hours after the New Moon Write it down, verbalize it, and send it out. Let the intention go and watch what unfolds.

Fear of faces

"Do you struggle with knowing what to do with your whispers?" - Kelly Rae Roberts

During Mercury retrograde my whispers started shouting, in your face, get started NOW energy. I found myself merging with a HUGE ache to create again- maybe it was born from the writing seminar, maybe from the powerful intention set at the September Teacher’s retreat (thank you friends!), maybe it’s just time to create again.

Mercury retrograde gave us all a chance to do something over again. Mercury rules the mind, the ability to focus on a task. Retrograding in the sign Libra, something in your life wants balance. Mercury moved out of retrograde October 15th; Mercury now reveals what the last few weeks were all about- your problems come with solutions. Saturn in Virgo is still knocking us around asking for a new structure in the way we edit and sort our life.

During the journey I tapped into an underlying sadness for the old way of life. The studio in our Plantation house was to die for, large bright airy room painted a soft shade of periwinkle blue that I love, facing the pool and backyard.

Last November all these goodies were packed into a storage Pod so I could ’stage’ the house for sale. Packing my creative, shamanic self away in the Pod left a void in my life; shuttered away my writing and creativity slowly ground to a halt. Having the "right" space to create, setting the intention has always been part of my journey.

Yet after two months in this new house I can’t figure out where the studio wants to be. Like Goldilocks I’ve wandered from room to room "too cramped", " too dark" "too small" waiting for a place to feel ’just right’. Maybe it’s me that had to feel ’just right’.

What to do with the hungering energy? My studio and supplies are still locked in PODville back in Fort Lauderdale. I was waiting to get the house renovated (those plans are now on hold).

My theme for this Mercury retrograde? Frustration. I feel frustrated when I put things ’on hold’ waiting for this or that to happen. I feel grateful for the awareness and the courage to make changes. Enough of that!!

I am the One who creates-studio or not (It is rather expensive to have to purchase supplies all over again).

Then the book "Taking Flight" by Kelly Rae Roberts arrives in the mail (aren't the colors delicious). Reading through the pages of her book my hungering goes into overdrive.

"Well enough procrastinating Michele, just do it already!" After a couple trips to Michael’s for some paint and medium, I haul a folding table in from the garage and unpack a few more boxes.

"Okay I can do that."

Cramped as it is everything sits there ready to go, all except me. Fear of starting; for two days I waked by the table and canvas. Baby steps- just paint the Gesso on to he canvas. "Okay I can do that." Now just start pulling papers to collage. "Okay I can do that", before I know it I am sitting there just gluing and painting. Oh the joy!

Face of Fear

Now my BIGGEST FEAR pops up. It’s not the crisis in the economy...it’s a fear of drawing faces. An old demon from college days when I took a nude figure drawing class and failed miserably. At one point the energy got so intense I thought I needed a soul retrieval.

Drawing the human form has always been a challenge, the lines I draw on paper don’t make much sense, certainly not the human body. The first face is horrible- out of scale, the fear shows up in the drawing. Then I realize that drawing a face scares me, and it shows because the face I draw on my beautiful collage ends up looking like she just sucked on a lemon. oh my.

Okay I give myself permission to just paint over it and start again. Determined I found this site, How to Draw a Head that broke down the shapes for me. Keep in mind none of my college art professors ever broke it down this way- they just threw us into the mix and said draw.

Inspired by Kelly’s book "Taking Flight" here is what I created..a SoulCollage card in a different form. The background are techniques from the book Taking Flight. The collage is created from scrapbook paper and printed paper napkins I bought at Target last spring. I love the how the paper images peak through the dress. I am ready to start another one.

For today you’ll find me sketching faces, breaking down the shapes, looking at the contours of eyes, seeing how the light plays on the face. Pushing through the face of fear is both challenging and exciting. I am busting through this fear of faces.

This week I spring my studio out of Podville, and set up shop. It’s time. I've decided to take over the Living Room (great light, beautiful views and who uses their living rooms these days when there's a big family room). I re-commit to the journey of my creative self. Here's a snapshot-on the wall- buckets of oil crayons, watercolor pencils, markers hang from a simple pegged shelf; a whimsical wooden house from the local thrift store, together with one of Kelly’s original paintings "journey toward the answers"...

Maybe you’ve become aware of your own whispers as Mercury reveals what your heart longs to do.

Fear or not, I commit to the journey.

The Standstill and your shadow

Early one morning walking into Home Depot I saw rows and rows of orange lumber carts stacked two deep on the sidewalk. At this time of day those carts are taken by local tradespeople. The image of those carts is still with me six months later. Trickle down economics. It was a standstill moment for me.

When the housing market slows to a stop, contractors don’t need to go to Home Depot for building supplies. Inventory rises. No building, no orders, no jobs. Read any Craig’s list to see good quality tradespeople looking for any type of work. This has been going on for months, is it happening in the rest of the country? I don’t know.

Florida is in a recession. BailOut or not, Floridians already feel the pain. After reading this article on trust in the New York Times When Trust Vanishes, Worry I wanted to share from my life experience.

The Market, the Dow Jones, S&P has been part of my day-to-day life since childhood. Events going on seem so complicated, but it’s really simple. How much do I trust myself and the sacred other [Libra] to make the right choices. Faith, hope and trust that translates to self esteem and self worth issues on a global level.

How can they expect to hammer out a deal in the middle of a Mercury retrograde? It leaves me scratching my head and wondering. As a stock broker’s daughter, sister of a financial planner, wife of a sales executive in the financial services business I know The Market goes up and it always goes down.

My father lost his shirt in a 1969 market correction and for two decades I watched him struggle. It’s hard to see a loved one come home from work on one of the worst days of trading to hit the financial markets. It happened on Black Monday in 1987, again in 2000, and then again last week. During the Reagan era we saw trickle down economics, S&L banks failed [banks, yes I said banks!!], corporations like AT&T deemed a monopoly then broken up by regulators into little Bells (BellSouth).

Today AT&T now is merged with BellSouth again, banks are failing again. Cycles.

Astrology helps me understand where I am in the various cycles, personally and collectively. SoulCollage is helps me work with the cycle’s energy in a proactive way, rather than reacting, to be in the world not of it. Cycles spiral in four stages- a time of hope, a time of growth, a time of completion and a time of standstill.

How do you deal with those standstill moments in your own life? Pluto entering Capricorn is forcing us to deal with the death of the old structures. That means change. It’s a time when the shadow wants to be acknowledged; so Pluto delightfully stirs the pot so the Shadow can be seen. Too often we discount the richest part of the journey...the death of the old ways, the death of the old self. The moments of stand still. We may procrastinate, stick our heads in the sand, yell at another person, trying to keep things the same. We may project these unconscious fears onto another. This type of resistance doesn’t work, and eventually we get on the bus. That is what I see unfolding now.

SoulCollage "I am the One who chases the money"

Chaos and how to deal with it: With so much talk of greed and ’fat cat’s’, them versus me attitudes; I am wondering about yours, mine and our shadow issues relating to money. What are my values as a person and how do I label others as greedy? How am I greedy? How does this money relationship advance or negate my Spirit self. We are entering a time of spiritual economics and this current drama is calling each of us to task.

When one is in fear (contraction) around money, you project that unconscious fear onto the other person, be it in marriage, business and Presidential candidate. This fear is like a hot potato no one wants to hold onto for very long. If you have the same issue/vibration you are in a shadow dance with the other person [be it spouse, media spokesman, politician].

Wall Street versus Main Street then takes on a whole new meaning.

Where is Pluto in Capricorn in your chart? Pluto transforms us from the outside in. Outside events shake us up. Pluto’s been traveling through Sagittarius since 1995 and moved into the sign Capricorn earlier this year. Pluto is in the sign Capricorn for the first time since the Revolutionary War. The Revolutionary war was some change.

Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a bumpy decade!

Pluto as a change agent is known as the Destroyer, he renders the old ways, takes out the garbage that no longer works in your life...even though you are kicking and screaming about it. He just doesn’t care. Hey look we all survived Pluto in Scorpio, then Pluto in Sagittarius. You're older and wiser. When I hear doom and gloom I gently remind myself-no one knows exactly what this next Pluto cycle will reveal.

It is a time to watch my own shadow dance, and observe how others are reacting [seeing the truth of their shadow issues] with a dose of faith, hope and trust.

The Capricorn area of our life path, the area in the birth chart where Pluto is moving into, is about to undergo deep transformation. Rock and roll. Transpersonal in nature, it's both personal and global. In the beginning it may feel like life and death, but then the energy all evens out. Just get ready.

Capricorn is an action energy, so it’s not 'a sit around and do nothing" experience. Saturn in Virgo (Earth) since last fall, has been turning the ground, making it ready for Pluto in Capricorn (Earth). We are in the season of harvest, this month you’ll see new insights into how you relate to others; your issues with money, social security, the structure that is in place. Father issues. That laundry list deals with Capricorn issues, 1st chakra, earth, survival skills. How the standstill is hindering or empowering you!

Where is Taurus in your chart? Taurus asks you to value yourself, shadow issues, warts and all. Remember way back to May of 2000 Jupiter and Saturn conjuncted in the sign of Taurus starting a new 20 year business cycle. Taurus represents your relationship to money, law of attraction (Venus). Saturn contracts, Jupiter expands. Saturn and Jupiter’s meet-up started a 20 year cycle in which we collectively come to a new understanding about what has heart and meaning for us. Greed and hoarding is one of the sins of Taurus. Now is the time to understand your Taurus energy, because that shadow self is lurking, wanting to share her gifts. Here is a post to help you understand the Taurus energies.

So where are you at in this standstill moment?

Good enough and Libra's New Moon

Today we have a new moon in Libra- the sign of relationship, the sign of balance. Libra calls us to let go, to harvest seeds from last spring’s planting. If you planted corn you are harvesting corn, If you planted weeds then you are now harvesting weeds. It’s that time of year we gather seed thoughts for manifesting [planting] in Spring of 2009. Mercury is still retrograding in Libra and while you may find the energy within and around a little sticky/cloudy, it’s still time to do some inner work.

This New Moon in Libra rules:

• Marriage including partnerships, agreements, sharing, interdependence
• Fairness including balance, equality, appreciation of opposite views, negotiation, counseling.
• Harmony- peace, beauty, art, decorations
• Teamwork- giving and receiving, collaboration, supportive relationships, cooperation.
• Social ability- being companionable, tact, getting along with others, one on one interactions, diplomacy, affinity for others.
• Refinement- luxury, elegance, pampering, good taste, grace.
• Loss of self-identity- co-dependency, appeasing behaviors, indecision, aimless discussion.
• Restoring health- adrenal glands, buttocks, diabetes, kidneys.

A keyword for me at this time of year is balance. How am I balancing the 12th house Muse (Neptune sits at the doorway of my 12th house in the sign Libra) with the mundane work of the moment? How am I lost in the fog, or muddled down in matter that is not serving me? 24 to 48 hours before a new moon is always a great time to get insights around what the issues are. Me? I ran around gathering items to bring for Saturday’s workshop "Jump start your writing" with Suzanne Fox at the Vero Beach Museum of Art.

Frustrated because I can’t find a dang thing since the move. The luscious colored pens, my fabulous journal for taking notes are still packed away in some u-haul box. And yes I am mentally beating myself up for not taking care of this sooner. In one box I manage to find a few blank sheets of card stock, four colored pens and some grey markers. It’ll do.

Before I head out the door I open up the wooden box of SoulCollage cards sitting on my desk, Let’s pick three to bring to the writing session!" My hand moves instinctively over the stack...what is the message of today’s work?

First card: I am the One who observes. I love this card. It’s one of my favorites.

Second card: I am the One who is not good enough. When I see this card, my heart sinks into my stomach, "oh my not her again. will I never be done with you!?! ARRGH! I am the one who lives with the angry mother. I am the one can’t do anything right. I am small and vulnerable and no one is taking care of me. I am the One who carries the shame." I take a moment to breath, gathering up the third and last card still wondering what the little one is ready to share today about writing?

Third card: The Gift... Christmas candles. "I am the One, the Unseen who Lights the Way."

Out the door I fly, heading to a place I don’t know, to sit with unfamiliar people in a class called "Jump start your writing." How I need this, its been a struggle this last year, to find the time and the space to write, with getting the house ready, then the move. I literally packed up my creative self, books and studio into the storage POD to stage the house; in hindsight putting away the mystical side of me has not been good for my Work.

The museum is charming. The tall windows offer an inspiring view to the courtyard beyond. Taking a seat near the door, I lay pens and paper out on the table. The three SoulCollage cards sit in front of me while the teacher speaks. Suzanne’s describing the right and left sides of the brain, the aspects of each and how to marshal those energies in service to your writing muse. Me? I am busy doodling notes and listening, observing... the aha’s come in filing out the evaluation form, writing about the challenge of writing that the "One who is not good enough" comes through with her message.

"I am the One who is not good enough" offers up the gift of seeing beyond the smallness of my inner child’s pain to a greater story. She reveals a bit of wisdom I hadn’t considered before. I leave the session with a clear and brighter spirit, inspired.

Sorry I won’t share the exact nature of the message here, because that is part of my problem/process. I share too much before its time and for today will let the new insights cook a bit. What I will share is this...This week I commit to finding my art supplies and setting up a decent studio space to create SoulCollage cards and write again.

I am in love again with the SoulCollage process; in awe of the wisdom and magic, that a card created over five years ago is still be offering up gifts.

And you dear friends?? How are you living an artful life? Creating SoulCollage cards is easy and inspiring... and now at this new moon in Libra is a great time to start. Find out what is holding you back, harvest the Soul messages so in the Spring you are ready to plant new seeds.

Where is 7 degrees of Libra in your birth chart. Look at what is out of balance in your life, what calls for attention -body, mind and spirit? Write three intentions you would like to manifest in the next 30 days. 24 hours after the new moon release this energy to the Universe. See what unfolds in the next fourteen days. Journal about the insights. Make some art.

Instructions on SoulCollage cards can be found here.
And if you know what needs to be created in your life, why not create a treasure map to harvest the Fall gold - Vision Board.

A random selection from Michele’s SoulCollage deck:

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Mercury Retrograde- stop pushing

After Monday’s financial crisis on Wall Street I am reminded the SoulCollage card I created for Pluto entering Capricorn. Pluto renders old outdated forms to create the new. Pluto rules death and rebirth. Capricorn’s energy represents the structure...we are collectively building new structures.

Mercury moved into it’s shadow on September 3rd getting ready to go retrograde on September 24 at 23 degrees of Libra. The archetypal force of Mercury rules thinking, the day-to-day consciousness one brings to their relationships. When Mercury retrogrades (a backing up energy) it is said that your conscious mind out to lunch for the first ten days, until Mercury meets up with the Sun and then the second ten days of the retrograde period we collectively see, feel, sense things differently. It’s a universal do-over.

Stop Pushing

The action energies of your birth chart are affected by this Mercury retrograde. The action to get things done, push and control. Do you have any planets in your chart at 21-27 degrees? In the signs Libra, Capricorn, Aries and/or Cancer? If so expect some aha’s. The keyword here is 'to understand'. Over the last three weeks what has come up for you (financially, emotionally, spiritually, physically) prior to this retrograde period and ponder this~

• How have I been challenged?
• Have I been heard?
• Have I really listened?
• Have I asked the question in a clear and concise way or was I muddled?

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.- Anne Frank

Mercury goes retrograde in the sign of Libra- fair and balanced Libra- the blindfolded Venus (intuitive person) who holds the scales of truth and justice. She also wields a sword to cut through illusions, to get to the 'heart' of the matter. Venus rules the sign Libra asking "how do I value me, how do I value you in partnering, in all my relationships?" At the time of the Mercury retrograde Mars sits with Mercury.

Mars rules war, anger and aggression, it also rules passion and action. Since Mercury rules the mind, our thinking and the ability to focus I am left wondering which candidate is going to put his or her foot in her mouth. The call is understand, the response to stop and breath before talking, think seriously before exploding, choose to be kind to one another.

Now how do these energies affect you and I on a personal level?

It’s a time to create...it’s not a time to be on the computer or be watching endless television.

It’s a time to go out into nature, its not the time to sit by yourself in a dark room or argue with friends over which candidate is right or wrong.

It’s a great time to move energy (or get rid of) things in your house/body. In Feng Shui just rearranging ten things begins a shift in one’s energy.

Expect stop and starts. In other words let go of control to make something happen, pushing is not a good energy during a Mercury retrograde. **smile **

Let go...Expect a shift.

First expect to see what is holding you back from living your intentions. Become the Observer. The first 10 days of a Mercury retrograde you’ll see what needs fixing [September 24-October 4th], the rest of the Mercury retrograde [October 4th-15th] get down to business and start to take action to balance the chaos and bring order. It’s a do-over. Bide your time/energy and you’ll get insights especially by the Full Moon in Aries on October 14th.

Here are several suggested places to read:

April Kent writes "Everyone take a deep breath, and step away from CNN. Close down your internet browser. If only for a single day, eschew the steady diet of divisive nastiness that the media delight in dishing up. The breathless reporting of vicious gossip, lies, and slander are toxic projections of trickster Mercury/Virgo energy at its ugliest and least productive. Enter the Full Moon in Pisces and an opportunity to move toward higher ground." read more of this article here...

Lynn Hayes on Astrological Musings writes about Pluto in Capricorn.

Or check out the blog Mercury Retrograde -The cosmic art of driving in reverse gear while looking through the rear-view mirror.

Guardian of the South

Trees are sacred, their presence grounds me. Lack of trees is one of the reasons we are leaving the South Florida area. Most trees here were cut down for development, many were lost during the last hurricane. I need trees because I am a Jersey girl at heart, to feed the need we planted flowering trees that would remind me of the seasons.

Many of our trees go dormant in the winter and then roar into color in early June. When Hurricanes Katrina, Jeanne, Wilma hit South Florida in 2005 we thought this tree was a goner...especially when we found her stripped bear naked and limbs all askew (100 mph winds will do that) after Wilma. Our gardener Jerry said he could save her-thanks Jerry!. This week I started a nature journal for the new homeowners so they know what each tree looks like in full bloom. Hopefully they’ll be good stewards of the land!

This year our Guardian of the South is putting on a magnificent flower show, it started in late May and she just keeps getting better and better... my husband feels the tree is saying good-bye to us. **sigh**

I am busy packing up the house and scheduling things for the move. Mercury retrograde has been especially challenging in terms of paperwork, and getting information from both the Sellers and Buyers.

I'd have a good closing if it weren't for you....

As an astrologer I know Mercury is retrograde, but it’s the other people in my day-to-day life that don’t know. Realtors, bankers, sellers, buyers, home inspectors...

I can’t very well go up to the person and say (or shout) "you know Mercury, the god of communication, is out to lunch people...we need to be on top of this! So please lets double check the work and get back to me, sooner rather than later."

The Full moon in Sagittarius at 28 degrees on June 18th is aligned with Pluto and Venus, that means there’s a release of this pent up energy! A mind fart ready to happen?

Everything will even out. Mercury in Gemini goes direct on June 19th (just 24 hours after the full moon). Yeah! But let’s also remember that Mercury doesn’t leave it’s shadow until the 4th of July (at the time of fireworks on the east coast) when it reaches 22 degrees of Gemini.* This is the time things start to move forward that you felt were at a standstill.

Do you have any planets in your chart at 22 degrees? In the signs Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces? If so expect some aha’s. The key is to look back over the last three weeks and ponder this~

• How have I been challenged?
• Have I been heard?
• Did I ask the right question in a clear concise way or was I muddled?

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.- Anne Frank

Let’s all go outside with our journals and sit under a tree. Happy full moon!

_{* Mercury retrograde: Mercury Retrograde started on May 26, Memorial Day Monday, turns direct on June 19th and comes out of its shadow on July 4th 2008.}

More Flowers:

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