New Moon Journal

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:

www.flickr.com

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.

Libra New Moon, Mercury retrograde

Dear Clarence, I thought we were through and it was over between us but your face is back on TV and you’re talking about it again. The comments you made on 60 minutes about Anita Hill just brought it all back up. I hadn’t thought about you and those dang hearings for a very long time. Well it was no coincidence that I just happened to tune in at the exact moment you slipped into your own denial to say “she’s lying.”

I fumed about it for the next 24 hours, mulling it over, wondering why. Why am I reacting? Ah it brought up my own journey with the joys of being stalked. You mirrored for me yet again how people spin their shadow back into the dark so they can’t be seen, and deny, deny, deny.

One too many men in my life wore their lies like a truth. It’s crazy making at it’s best for women. When we allow the energy in those lies negate our power, dull the senses and dumbs down our intuition. Destroys creativity. Quite frankly sir with the war, the environment in chaos and the children suffering I have had enough. I am grateful though, another layer is revealed reminding me how far I have come. I appreciate that.

From the expression on your face while driving that RV you’re having some anger issues, a good dose of therapy might be in order. Ditch the book tour, book a session with your therapist, go put your robe on and get back to work, there are problems that need solving. Yours truly, Michele

"If I am not laughing at it, then it’s not healed."

I was not laughing Sunday night. In the early eighties when I entered the business world no one did anything about sexual harassment at work. Professor Hill and I are the same age. Most of us were numb to the psychic abuse and tolerated a ’boys will be boys’ mentality that ruled the business world. Glass ceiling.

For you youngsters just watch a few episodes of AMC’s Mad Men to get the flavor that energy. On a personal level I witnessed my sister get a great internship and become a news producer at the NBC station. One day she innocently answered the apartment door and there stood her boss in his underwear ready to get it on; he harassed her for months and nothing was done. She wanted to work in her industry, get paid a fair wage and not be stalked. In the end she filed a lawsuit, went to court, the case got dismissed. They said versus she said. Dear Sis walked away from television. I have other stories but I won’t bore you with them. Who do I believe? You got it.

Libra is about the fine art of relating. Last month while clearing clutter I found this book left over from my teenage years (that’s a 1970 baby blue eye-shadowed Cheryl Tiegs on the cover). And strange enough there aren’t any chapters that read...

When a boy is interested in you, he’ll make all sorts of unwanted advances while you play coy, but the ultimate compliment is he’ll get up from the table at which the two of you are working, go over to his desk to get a soda and ask, "Who has [put a] pubic hair on my Coke?" Now you know he’s available and interested.

What it does say- "Grown men seldom gab this way. Adult guys know they’re men. They don’t have to show it off or talk it up." This whole historic incident is so what happens when Libra and Scorpio collide.

Time to put out the welcome mat for the New Moon in Libra and Mercury retrograding in Scorpio. The keyword for this lunation is Sovereignty- a woman’s right to self-govern.

Mercury retrograde in Scorpio October 11- November 1, 2007 Just after the New Moon in Libra Mercury retrograde begins at 10 degrees of Scorpio at 9:00 pm est. We are already in it people. Two weeks prior to any Mercury retrograde the call is to become aware of what is tweaking you, that is where the learning is. It’s a time to de-clutter your toxic thoughts. This transformation of thought is what The Secret and The Law of Attraction speaks to. A Mercury retrograde offers us both a challenge and an opportunity to slow down, figure out the internal chatter- is it serving or diminishing my life plan and make the necessary changes to get back on track. For more about Mercury retrograde in Scorpio -there you’ll find a ritual to help things along.

Mercury, the alchemical change agent, asks how do I digest the information I take in? Mercury retrograde gives us a do-over period, it’s the Universe’s way to say stop the car and look at the map- am I heading in the right direction. While Mercury is retrograding our conscious mind is out to lunch and collectively we are not operating at full steam- it’s a time of "introspection and investigation." (Wickenburg, p. 123) There’s a reason why you don’t start projects or sign contracts, or start a book tour. And why it gets a bit chaotic, everyone’s unconsciously checking their road map.

New Moon October 11, 2007, 1:01 am est at 18 degrees of Libra. Read more about Libra here. In the Libra Mysteries we are called to balance even though things seem out of balance. Balance related to truth telling. A woman’s truth is hardwired into the practical and mystical, the intuitive. The seat of those intuitive powers lie within the three archetypal waters of Cancer[home/mother], Scorpio [death/rebirth] and Pisces [Spirit, the Muse].

< Here’s my SoulCollage for Libra-I am the One who Partners. First wed Self to Spirit then to the sacred other. In my own birth chart watery Neptune sits at 29 degrees of Libra in the 12th house square Uranus in Cancer at 29 degrees both retrograde. Inward before going outward.

Any of you come from a dysfunctional family? Then your truth meter is out of whack and it may be up for some re-adjustments at this new moon. Within every family children are finely attuned to the energies at play...they know what others deny. The mind and heart get conflicted, and the inner balance goes out of whack. Not good for a girl trying to "get a boy" or entering a marriage.

How do you distill truth in your body? Watch for power leaks this month and frauds being unmasked. Be prepared for your own mask to come off. We’ll see this play out in the media and with people in authority being spotlighted. How is this tweaking you? Embodying spirit invites sovereignty- the inner authority to co-create with Spirit, a holiness that recognizes truth and follows the mystery.

The Libra mysteries speak to the importance of all our relationships within and without. Libra is the seventh sign of the zodiac. It is an air sign and it is cardinal. Air signs are intellectual and social. Cardinal signs are action oriented, with Mercury retrograding action may be a bit premature. So sit a moment before you react. Libra’s energy invokes your shadow for healing; we see the illusion of someone else’s projection [shadow] and fear [ego] in relationship. Libra offers the sacred mirror. When I come from my lower nature, and the energy is blocked I find myself picking up a sword [words, actions, deeds] for self-protection.

What sword are you holding? To experience this sit quietly a moment and tell yourself a truth. Breathe into that truth and see where the energy flows and how the truth affects you. Make a note of this experience.

Now get up, move around and sit down again. Tell yourself a lie . . . where did the lie hit you? How did it affect your energy? Play with this. Begin to understand the balance of this energy and truth in your body, and how truth communicates with you.

Truth. This energy comes into the fifth chakra [throat] from the forces of the lower natures- 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th chakras. Self expression in the fifth chakra is counterpart to the sensate reception coming in through the second chakra. In the second chakra we open to allow the world in through our senses. If this journey was negotiated [as a child] with love and compassion, the second chakra speaks to the 5th and our inner self is expressed outward to the world. -Anodea Judith.

Not defended, we merge. We forgive. Our creativity soars. What messages did you get as a boy or a girl that no longer serves the Divine Self. At this new moon we greet those messages in partnership with someone else. Mercury rules our thinking mind while retrograding through Scorpio our initial programming around sexuality and creativity is coming forward for clearing/renewal. The urge to merge.

Libra’s trait’s- harmony, beauty, wisdom, truth, balance is the etheric template formed in childhood from patterning and programming, conscious or unconscious. We bring that template into all of our relationships for healing, growth and empowerment. Marriage of the self as it relates to the other. We call the sacred other by various names- my colleague, my husband, my daughter, my father/mother, friend and lover. Who and whatever I meet reflects of my essence, it’s part of the "One and the many" Seena Frost discusses in her book SoulCollage®.

Here is Diane’s SoulCollage for Libra "I am the One who is balanced between heaven and earth, between night and day and on the edge of infinity."

It’s time to walk the razors edge, the balance of opposites with faith, hope and trust; like the Goddess of Justice [Pallas Athene] in the Tarot deck who can stand blindfolded. She depends on her intuitive inner sight to weave truth within and without; balances the polarity of light/dark, good/evil, rich/poor with compassion, wisdom and grace. The Goddess of Justice represents the Libra energies, the energy of Order and Harmony expressed at the threshold of one’s divine consciousness and one’s personality [ego]. Then again Libra also represents war.

"How can this energy be associated with war and be considered a Goddess of Order and Harmony? Because divine order, the first law of the universe, can only be achieved through destruction of that which is in disorder. . . .the ego says- don’t express your truth or inner knowing, just go along with the insanity in the name of peace. However, peace at any price is not the way of this Goddess. She is a warrior and she will not accept chaos, confusion and turmoil. She doesn’t think twice about blowing away these problems in a very positive and powerful way. When Christ said that he does not come to bring peace but a sword (right thought), he proclaimed a great truth. No one can have peace until she reaches a state of balance, a state of equilibrium, in which her spiritual process is not hindered by any physical, emotional, mental, personal or social problems."- John Price

How are you currently defended? Have picked up your own sword for protection through your words, emotions and/or thoughts? Force calls for offense. Power calls for nothing- it knows the best defense is no defense- because there is no fear of merging, no loss of self. Surrender. Trust. Love. Compassion. Hope and joy.

Carpe Diem- seize the day. People born or influenced by the Libran urge are the people that seize an opportunity. They are in the moment. A person moving through their fears, understanding their own duality and shadow can see the truth in both their inner and their outer worlds. The power to relate to others is this sign greatest concern.

Beauty, balance, harmony, equality and justice are important where Libra is in your chart. All lessons of Libra involve the realization and integration of opposites, particularly those contrasts found within personal relationships.

The primary purpose of this sign is one of sharing ideas, experiences your life-with others. The house that Libra is on in your chart is where you need to develop a healthy balance between personal goals and respect for the goals of others. Libra shows where you need relationships, which offer feedback, which, in turn, help you develop into a more objective, "other-oriented" individual. Where is Libra in your birth chart? Venus rules Libra and this lunation along with Mercury.

Cooperation is required. Compromise is necessary. Change is inevitable.

Venus rules Libra, she represents beauty and harmony, the law of attraction, ruler of the Greater Mysteries representing love and compassion. In Libra rules the love nature- of sex and passion from an ego [Aries] and a soul level [Libra]. Through the art of relating she brings the ability to both imagine and vision, to change things for the better.

Where does Venus sit in your birth chart? Where is Virgo? At the time of this New Moon Venus and Saturn are holding a meeting in the 2nd house. Edit and sort through your own issues of Self-worth and making money. Take responsibility. Remember Saturn’s there demanding change. Ground the lessons in and respond.

What do you still battle? What has been slaying you for the last 29 years that now calls for order? What is seeking balance that first appeared in the late seventies?

For more information about your chakra system and healing I suggest reading Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System as a Path to the Self by Anodea Judith. This month focus on the 5th and 2nd chakras. Our chakra system is a computer system within our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. Start tracking these energies in sacred relationship- new insights are born. I walk the middle way through Libra (any sign) and "poof" your own Magician appears!

Remember to laugh loud and full from your belly because you now know

"If I am not laughing at it, then it’s not healed."

And Clarence certainly isn’t laughing.

Thanks to all who shared their SoulCollage® for the Libra energies:

www.flickr.com

Mercury retrograde-Febreze for your mind

A Mercury retrograde is like Febreze for your mind, and now’s a time to be INSPIRED. Wet blankets step aside.

Mercury’s moved through the waters of Cancer for the last 60 days, bringing up issues of survival, security and nurturance. Intense feelings. The connection between Cancer and water is vital to our creative juices. Just as the physical birth process involves the breaking of womb’s waters, so do our creative processes call for the breaking of the emotional waters within. In the last 60 days (May 30 - July 25) Mercury in Cancer has asked us all to breakdown to break through!

Here’s a pdf about 2007 Mercury Retrogrades

Emotions and feelings (the water) run deep when I take a risk, step out of the boundaries created by my family and culture to create new forms. While it is a scary place to be, it is the death of the old and birth of the new. After a Mercury retrograde it’s a time to feed your passion, not the fear. Take note of your inner urgings.

Where is Cancer in your chart? That area of your life was renovated the last 60 days.

Pre-retrograde period: People think Mercury starts on the day it goes retrograde. Nope. Two weeks prior we start down Mercury’s yellow brick road, we find ourselves in the thick of things. That period started May 30th-June 16th. What was happening for you during that time?

Two weeks prior to any Mercury retrograde the call is to become aware of what is tweaking you, that is where the learning is. It’s a time to de-clutter your toxic thoughts. This transformation of thought is what The Secret and The Law of Attraction speaks to. A Mercury retrograde offers us both a challenge and an opportunity to slow down, figure out the internal chatter- is it serving or diminishing my life plan and make the necessary changes to get back on track.

Mercury the alchemical change agent asks how do I digest the information I take in? Mercury retrograde gives us a do-over period, it’s the Universe’s way to say stop the car and look at the map- am I heading in the right direction. While Mercury is retrograding our conscious mind is out to lunch and collectively we are not operating at full steam- it’s a time of "introspection and investigation." (Wickenburg, p. 123) There’s a reason why you don’t start projects or sign contracts. And why it gets a bit chaotic, everyone’s unconsciously checking their road map.

Color me brilliant!

We are now in the post retrograde period: People think once Mercury goes direct, it’s done. Wrong. Two weeks after the insights and inspirations really start kicking in (July 9-July 25th). Stay aware, grab your journal.

We come full circle back to the starting point. We are not out of the mercurial waters yet because there was a Cancer New Moon on July 14 that lasts for 29 days. Insights may be surfacing especially at the full moon in Aquarius on July 29th.

What measures do I have in place now to nurture/mother my critical thinking that leads to greater forms of creativity? With Saturn in Leo and Mercury in Cancer it’s time to create. Inspiration is the keyword:

"Allow your mind to open, to be inspired by Spirit. Look around you, are you living the life you want? Become inspired to make positive, creative changes. Ask for new direction and be open to new ideas. This is the time let go of the past. Divine assistance is clearly trying to guide you in new directions. Follow your inner promptings. The Universal energies are there for the taking. Ask for help from the other dimensions. Let spirit move through you, guide you and protect you. Inspire freedom of choice in yourself and mirror this for others."- Universal Cards: Angelically Inspired

After a Mercury retrograde there is a clean slate and room for new inspirations, it is a highly creative time that can offer up breakthroughs to chronic long standing problems. Mercury retrograde is like the Febreze for your mind. You’ve cleared the air!

1. What challenges have you faced since May 31st?
2. What did you let go?
3. Today what is inspiring you? Pay attention to those new ideas.
4. It’s time to move forward, and be creative.

Thanks to Diane and Chandra for joining in the New Moon SoulCollage process.
Universal Cards: Angelically Inspired created by Juliet Hubbs and Nora Monaco.

Get a Mac

What’s it like to send your child off to college* during a Mercury retrograde? It isn’t easy!! They are in a mood, you’re in a mood. It’s like oil and water, shake well, try to mix. Duh! Let’s talk about computers. Laptops. I know nothing about Apple... I’m a 20 year PC veteran- doofy guy versus the cool guy "Why you’ll love a Mac" commercials.

Dear Daughter decides she wants a MacBook Pro from Apple for college. Went to Apple store in our local mall to check out the goods...Like what I hear. However the way we want to configure the computer it needs to be ordered through the Apple website. Leave store, order computer through Apple’s online store. Mercury enters it’s shadow.

Computer arrives- just beautiful. One more thing checked off my to-do list. Not quite.

Dear Daughter joyfully uploads 10,000 pictures and songs to her new Mac. Two days later I read on Yahoo News that Apple now offers a new MacBook Pro with a faster processor, bigger hard drive and better graphics card. Same price, better product. Dang. Why didn’t Apple email me and ask if I want the upgraded machine? Why couldn’t the Apple store guy tell us- "hey wait a few days before you order there’s going to be an announcement we are upgrading that machine to a better processor and bigger hard drive." Come on no one knew? No that didn’t happen. Mercury rules computers, networking and all forms of communication. Mercury went into it’s shadow on May 29 and...

In less than 24 hours of building/shipping Dear Daughter’s MacBook Pro it became old technology. Now I am on the phone with an Apple representative for an hour. Finally a supervisor shares "I am sorry for your inconvenience. We can refund $200 or Ms Lessirard you can ship the computer back, but its now considered used goods, there is a 10% restocking charge." Dang. Is this my dance with this Mercury retrograde. You betcha!

Now what? I make the executive decision to pay Apple’s restocking charge, ship the dang thing back... Out $239. Before I can order the New Mac the Apple website goes down for maintenance. When the site comes back up there’s a new screen saying Apple is now running a new promo, we get a free $200 I-pod with a purchase of a Mac. Now the cursed restocking fee is a almost a wash. It’s a good thing. Blessings. Father’s Day is covered. Thanks Universe. Now I go into Dear Daughter’s bedroom to tell her good news, bad news.

Have you ever tried to pull a teenager’s hands off their brand new Mac computer? They get snarly. I’m already snarly from dealing with Apple. Godzilla’s in the room.

Next day go we go back to Apple store to buy Office 2004 software, pay for goods walk out of store. Walk into AF store (off to college clothes), alarms start blaring....the Apple bag is setting off security alarms. Yowsir! Hustle back over to Apple store to have sensor removed. I explain the problem and Apple sales guy gives me a blank look telling me"I can’t deactivate the sensor."

"Are you joking??? How am I to shop, I’ll set off security alarms in all the stores." Another blank look. Am I not communicating or something? Now I am peeved "You can’t deactivate the sensor. You can’t tell me your product is being upgraded. You know after two weeks this PC person is tired of dealing with you people at Apple, you are completely clueless to making things convenient for your customer!!" Stomp out of the store. Remember Michele, Mercury is retrograde.

Fed-EX is scheduled to deliver the Mac this morning. Apple’s pre-signed signature release is taped on the front door [like Apple rep told me to do]. Everything’s covered. We are running errands, and upon return Dear Daughter asks "is my computer here yet?" No, form is still hanging on the front door, somethings not right, I can feel it, so I go online to check status of package. Seems Fed-Ex guy came at 8:22 am but DOES NOT leave New computer- no one home. WHAT! Fed-Ex representative shares yes Apple has a pre-release customers can print out, but Apple’s agreement with Fed-Ex disallows all it. Dang. Note to self- do not order a computer while Mercury is retrograde.

*Thousands of harried Florida parents are taking their recent high school graduates off to college for summer session this week.

When does Mercury retrograde in 2007?

Mark your 2007 calendars because here are the Mercury Retrograde Periods for 2007:

• February 13- March 7 2007 Mercury retrograde begins at 11 degrees of Pisces.
• June 15-July 9 2007 Mercury retrograde begins at 12 degrees of Cancer.
• October 11- November 1, 2007 Mercury retrograde begins at 10 degrees of Scorpio.

Notice that these retrograde periods in 2007 all occur in water signs. The element of water in astrology relates to emotions- the emotional body. Mercury is an air sign. Water and air. Mercury is the mediator. One good solution for a Mercury retrograde is to download and watch this video The Secred-to you. I wonder...

What if...at this Full Moon in Gemini

This Full Moon in Gemini calls for intense focus. Leading up to this full moon you have seen what needs to be corrected, what problems are revealed to you? What direction you are headed? Me, when I went to publish a Blurb book this week I found out I am running out of space on my hard drive.

I can’t have a phone conversation longer than 15 minutes because the batteries in our three cordless phones in the house won’t take a charge. My Platform headed in a whole different direction- bigger and bolder- and some ghosts from my past showed up to try and scare me out of it. There is a message at this Full Moon in Gemini. I am filled up with ideas, things to share. I feel grateful and very full of energy, creative energy…my batteries are so charged from the revealing Jupiter Challenge. (are you cutting and pasting yet??)

New Moons, Mercury Retrograde and Mars Retrograde for 2007

New Moons are conception points for planting a new idea or stating a decree. You can see the results of your intentions at the Full Moon six months later– ie, an Aries New Moon in April yields tangible results in October at the Aries full moon.

Here are the dates (eastern standard time) for the New Moons in 2007:  Click here for 2008 New Moons and Mercury Retrogrades.

Capricorn Jan 18, 2007 11:01 pm est at 29 Capricorn
Aquarius Feb 17, 2007 11:14 am est at 29 Aquarius
Pisces Mar 18, 2007 10:43 pm est at 29 Pisces*
Aries Apr 17, 2007 7:36 am est at 28 Aries
Taurus May 16, 2007 3:27 pm est at 26 Taurus
Gemini June 14, 2007 11:13 pm est at 24 Gemini
Cancer July 14, 2007 8:04 am est at 22 Cancer
Leo Aug 12, 2007 7:02 pm est at 20 Leo
Virgo Sept 11, 2007 8:44 am est at 19 Virgo*
Libra Oct 10, 2007 1:01 am est at 18 Libra
Scorpio Nov 9, 2007 6:03 pm est at 18 Scorpio
Sagittarius Dec 9, 2007 12:40 pm est at 18 Sagittarius

Capricorn New Moon 2008 January 9, 2008

*denotes a New Moon/Solar Eclipse

I invite you to look at the side bar under Categories and click the appropriate sign link in the category listing to review that month’s New Moon Journal. This is also a good way to check-in 6 months later at the full moon to see where the energies were at, what you set into motion. How you are managing your energies- body, mind and spirit.

Mercury Retrograde Periods in 2007

February 13- March 7 2007 Mercury retrogrades begins at 11 degrees of Pisces
June 15-July 9 2007 Mercury retrogrades begins at 12 degrees of Cancer
October 11- November 1, 2007 Mercury retrogrades begins at 10 degrees of Scorpio

Mars retrogrades in 2007 November 15 at 19 degrees of Sagittarius, oops make that 13° of Cancer. Corrected 10/23 Thanks ashley!

Sitting Pretty- Mercury goes retrograde in Scorpio, Part 2 of 3

Knowledge of who you are emerges the way a Polaroid develops: it takes time to see the image clearly and know what you are working with. Every single one of us at birth is given an emotional acre all our own. You get one, your awful Uncle Phil gets one, I get one, Tricia Nixon gets one, everyone gets one. And as long as you don’t hurt anyone, you really get to do with your acre as you please. You can plant fruit trees or flowers or alphabetized rows of vegetables, or nothing at all. If you want your acre to look like a giant garage sale or an auto-wrecking yard, that’s what you get to do with it. There’s a fence around your acre, though with a gate, and if people keep coming into your land and sliming it or trying to get you to do what they think is right, you get to ask them to leave. And they have to go because this is your acre. – writer Anne Lamont in her book Bird by Bird.

This is a story of my acre and sitting pretty. If you click the image on your right you’ll see the words- pretty, prey, pride. A couple of weeks ago the JCrew holiday catalog came to our home. On the cover was this young woman kneeling in a beautiful dress. The taffeta skirt with all its rich green folds and shades kept calling to me. I couldn’t bring myself to throw the image away…so I cut it out. Then she sat on our kitchen counter. It’s homecoming time and our daughter’s [M] last year of high school. M had bought a dress on her own with some friends…and I thought well that task is taken care of.

Sitting Pretty- Mercury goes retrograde in Scorpio, Part 1 of 3

This is part one of a three part series I am sharing this week leading us up to the New Moon in Libra on Sunday, October 22rd.

Mercury, the communicator goes retrograde at 25 degrees of Scorpio on October 28th. Because Mercury rules both Gemini and Virgo, and we had an eclipse in Virgo at 29 degrees on September 22 it’s time to make yourself comfortable. Our thinking processes are undergoing a deep transformation over the next 60 days (October 2– December 8th).

That leaves me asking are you sitting pretty? Scorpio is a deep, dark transforming energy. Power versus Force. Scorpio rules the 8th house, the house of the Shaman, the place of letting go. In the sign Scorpio we want to control things. Scorpio is ruled by both Mars and Pluto. The negative aspects of this energy are anger and aggression-bottled up emotions that explode chaoticly everywhere on everyone. Or are you a silent sufferer and turn the Scorpio waters inward, wounding yourself? For the past year Jupiter has been moving through Scorpio, asking us to face our fears and expand into new territory. Sit pretty, get comfortable, take a risk. The last time Jupiter was in Scorpio November 1993– December 1994. What was happening to you at this time? You had 12 years to learn the lessons Scorpio in Jupiter offered up. What’s next?

Scorpio rules life’s death/rebirth process. Time to dance with those family skeletons! Death of the old ways to move into a new way. Ruminate. Eliminate.Transform. Scorpio is the keeper of the toxic waters and wastes within your body. On an emotional level it is the water that sits and goes stagnant, emotions that don’t get expressed that suddenly explode all over another person- friend or foe…emotions fueled by a thinking process too controlled. Scorpio energy is a fixed sign. In the Fixed Cross- Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius – we want to hold on, hold up, hold back in an effort to control life. Life lessons learned very early in childhood– especially around the age of two and potty training (so very Scorpio). Sometimes this control energy is a good thing, if our emotional body is clear (our wounded inner child is healed). Healthy righteous anger can move mountains- transform. You become a change agent. There is a difference about being in control (power) and being controlling (force).

Where does this 25 degrees of Scorpio sit in your own chart? On October 28th when Mercury starts the retrograde process– habits, patterns and routines that no longer work for our body mind and spirit are up for renewal- time to renovate. Mercury goes retrograde with Jupiter at his side. Jupiter asks you to take a risk, trust what you couldn’t trust 12 years ago. It’s a wonderful opportunity to do the inner work and make positive changes in your life. When we follow the rhythms of these sky energies, we become more grounded and better able to manifest our hopes wishes and dreams. This is a time where you’ll face some demons that have been knocking at the door. Where is Scorpio in your chart? Leading up to this event you may have found clues or omens the Universe has sent your way to introduce you to what’s in store over this next 60 day period. Stay Aware.  As Angeles Arrien’s states so clearly in her book the Four Fold Way– all we have to do is show up, pay attention, tell the truth and be open to the outcome.

Suggested Shamanic Journey: For those who are trained in shamanic journey work, now is the time to journey to your Teachers and Spirit Helpers to ask “what is necessary at this Mercury retrograde period?” I suggest that you frame your question based on the omens and insights that have been presented to you in the last 20 days. This may be related to the House in your birth chart where Scorpio sat for you at the moment of your birth. There is a sweet story to be shared and I invite you to comment below.

After the journey create an image of what you want to release, bring this object to a fire ceremony and ask the Spirit of the Fire (Jupiter) take the burdens, transform the water within you. Focus on harvesting the Power, the God force within you. Focus on Loving yourself. Embody as much Light you can and then send that light out into the Cosmos. Track you own inner dialog as much as possible, watch for omens- signs that you are connected to a Loving God and Universe.

Look for Part 2– Pride, Prey, Pretty– how this is working moi in your mailbox tomorrow...