New Moon Journal

Artistic hot flash, hey I'm cooking something here

My period was never a problem or curse...I loved the deep inner connection to the Moon and tides, the psychic waters within. I feel grateful for this awareness and that I was regular all my life, 27-29 days it cames, and went.

In the early days I'd get weepy/snappy for no reason and a couple times a year sick as a dog. When I finally healed from the traumas and connected my menstrual cycle to the divine feminine within and around me the weeping made sense, the snappiness abated. The 'time of the month' became an incredible oracle experience, I'd tune into deeper aha's for myself and clients. It was all very cool.

Three years ago when I turned 50 I declared on my birthday I was through with 'having a period' and almost immediately the process slowed to twice a year...and well that was alright with me. Until a few weeks ago in the middle of setting up my new art studio, I felt a longing to bleed again on a regular basis, this longing came on very strong and deep; along with some grief I didn't know was in me.

Within a few days I experienced a migraine that knocked me off my feet for eight hours, and I ovulated (I get a ping as the egg drops). Talk about power of intention. No surprise yesterday my period came back for the first time in six months.

It's also taken me a six months of living in our new home to decide where to put my art studio, which has been a slow methodical process. More turtle than rabbit, of course when I was full of self-doubt this power animal crawled up on land. I love turtles!

Being in menopause the psychic energy shifts, and so with the artistic flash of a period I am aware of how this impacts my emotional and creative bodies. Who knew?

Today, Friday March 6th, 2009 Venus goes retrograde in Aries until April 17th. Venus is all over my natal Moon in Aries in the 5th house. The 5th house represents creativity, risk taking and children. Duh! Venus wants real value in what I create now [you too], and this retrograde period is giving me some time to reflect, build new. Send the old demons to the Light.

The Moon and Venus are considered the only feminine energies in our birth charts. Venus ruling Taurus and the 2nd house makes you and I aware of our self-doubt and inner critics. Venus demands self-love. The shadow aspect of the inner Taurus can be rigid and fixated on what's not working; we become the judge and jury. Venus in Taurus rules the heart chakra.

Positive Taurus is reflected by a person who embodies "I know my true value (Taurus) and self worth." She inspires others to do the same, by her actions, not her words. Because Venus relates to having money, holding money you may become more aware of your unconscious abundance issues related to you making the money [not someone else]. Poverty consciousness.

Venus is retrograding through the sign Aries. Aries is all about being authentic and taking the lead. Aries is also about out of control egos, shame and anger- yours, mine and the collective psyche. Past dates Venus retrogrades in Aries [April/May 1977, April/May 1985, April/May 1993, April/May 2001].

If you have a chart find out where that is, house and any planets involved. Venus retrogrades at 16 degrees and moves back into Pisces at 29 degrees before turning direct on April 17. Let the dance begin. I promised pictures of my new studio so here we go...

Where Michele Creates
[love the where women create and studios magazines!!]

Michele's vision sketched on an index card before ...

and after a one day trip to the 'big city' Orlando's Ikea for Expedit bookcase... installed on top of buffet I picked up at used furniture store for $89 [new it sold for $4,000]. It's a Baker, Knapp & Tubbs piece with all this primative flower carving. There are pull out linen drawers for storing paper. I love it!

Created a wall for pin tacking projects- interior samples, soulcollage and works-in-progress...take 2 ceiling tiles, some fabric and a glue gun. So Martha!

 

Hang carved antique mahogany mirror [another find for less than $50 bucks], pair with great-grandmother's walnut dresser [it stores all tissue paper and linens]. Fill the bookcase. Finally my library's back, it feels so good!!!

 

Venus now what do you and I want to create this go round in Aries? I'll keep you posted.

The journey from POD to Studio:

Part 3 - Sitting Pretty -the New Moon in Libra

Fall is about harvesting the seeds for planting next spring. What you planted in March 2006 is now ready for harvesting. If you planted weeds then you are harvesting weeds. If you planted corn you are harvesting corn. Cycles and rhythm and balance are what this astrology stuff is about. Bringing the sky and the earth together and honoring the rhythm of the seasons, the rhythms of the day and the night forces. This rhythm around you is mirrored back within you. In that regard issues we may be dealing with are ready to be taken to the next level, released and surrendered too (Scorpio) based on the way you think (Mercury).

Are you asking yourself why am I in this funky place again?

New Moon in Libra
October 22, 2006 at 1:14 AM est
28 degrees Libra 40 minutes

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.

This lunation requires some serious action, Saturn in Leo is demanding it. Libra an air sign ruled by Venus seeks balance, harmony. She rules law, justice and fair deals. Fair play. When we are out of alignment, then the scale swings to one side or the other.

• Libra is about our relationship to other– siblings, parents, partners– marriage and friends.
• Libra represents 7th house of relationships.  Marriage. At this new moon relating is highlighted.
• Who am I in relationship to you? Where do I get lost?
• Where do I hold back? Am I in balance?
• Is this my truth or your truth? Where do I stand and what do I stand for?
• What truth am I telling myself about this relationship?
• A paradigm is truth concretized. Do I need to shift my thinking, reevaluate my relationships? Compromise?
• A paradigm is a truth we hold as real. What truth am I vested in? Is it mine or someone else's?
• What you planted at in the Spring March 2006 is now ready for harvest. What seeds are you reaping through your emotional, spiritual, mental and physical body?

When I was a kid at the Jersey shore we went to the 34th Street playground. It was always fun to find the balance on the seesaw. That’s the way I think of Libra’s energies – we are called to balance body, mind and spirit like a seesaw. In partnering with another the goal is to stay within yet merge- there is always a dance with balance issues. Relationship issues are up- how you partner with another, how you balance your needs versus your husband, children, work. ***smile***

At this New Moon VENUS/SUN/MOON/MARS are all lined up at 27-29 degrees of Libra. These are personal planets, energies related to the chakra centers within your body:

• Venus rules the Heart- the 4th chakra. How are you in harmony with others? What relationships past or present still get you? Who are you holding hostage? You may want to work with Byron Katie's book– Loving What Is.
• Moon rules the 6th chakra- the seat of intuition. How do you access that divine wisdom within on an intuitive level? How secure am I with my own knowing, seeing, hearing? If this chakra is wanting you may want to read the book Divine Guidance by Doreen Virtue.
• Sun rules the 8th chakra- your connection to Spirit, the God Force. Bringing Spirit's energy down into your body. How do you make that connection real in everyday matters? Grounded Spirit. If this chakra needs building, you may want to read Sacred Contacts by Carolyn Myss.
• Mars rules the 3rd chakra- the seat of power. If this chakra is wounded you may want to read my friend Colleen’s new book: Energy for Life: Connect with the Source and Inner Power: Six Techniques for Increased Energy and Self-Healing. If you haven’t got a clue what I am talking about, then go for a walk, ask for a healing dream. This is a time to show up for yourself.

For the past couple days I have stirred the pot talking about Scorpio. At the time of the New Moon in Libra Jupiter and Mercury are holding court at 22 degrees of Scorpio. Mercury (the communicator) meets up with Jupiter, moves off then comes back to meet with Jupiter. This happens three times during the next 30 days. Jupiter’s energy asks us all to take a risk.

The Call: You might remember that in May of 2000 there was a planetary lineup of Jupiter and Saturn at 22 degrees of Taurus. The Call: a new global structure to be built on practical values, based on heart and soul. Everyday Matters. Jupiter and Saturn left a mark- personally and globally.

The Response: Now these energies are at a crossroad called a square – Jupiter in Scorpio, Saturn in Leo. What did you want to create back in Spring of 2000? What opportunities occurred to build something new. How did you join forces with the right people? Issues of relating– you are called at this lunation to bring long standing problems to an end. Don’t drag your ratty old bag of trash deeper into this cycle– leave it at the door.

That’s the letting go part of Scorpio– in the fixed signs we want to hold back, hold on, hold up because it’s routine, we feel secure in those routines. Scorpio demands we surrender. Did you know that the New Moons until Spring of 2007 all occur at the late degrees. This time is fated, the energy presenting itself is finished, time to move on, move through. You have the tools in hand to make the changes. Push out of your comfort zone.

Where is 21-24 degrees of Scorpio in your chart? That is where the action is. The cycle back in 2000 asked you to create something of value. Practical value. You had six years to build a new foundation. The things that don’t work in this cycle are up for revision. That’s a challenge –mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Libra is about balance. Libra at 29 degrees acts more Scorpio.

So if you are a healer, you can’t be all woo-woo with it. Someone (you) must pay the bills. Come out of your shell. Do a dismemberment journey.

On the other hand have you been called to be a healer??? Maybe you approached this with so much practicality, driven by your need for security that now you find your life and things in a tizzy.  Have you been too practical, too rigid? Stuck. Break out of the shell. Do a dismemberment journey.

I am talking about the Taurus/Scorpio polarity- the seesaw. Finding that centerpoint of balance. Last May many of my readers graduated from Sandra Ingerman’s two year training. What did you shout out into the Ring? What you are facing now is part of that declaration. Look to the chakra’s I have referenced. Any insights there? Now is a good time to journey to your Teachers in non-ordinary reality. Since Fall’s harvest is about separating the wheat from the chaff a dismemberment journey may be in order. Check in, frame the question…we are all letting go to build anew next Spring.

The sky energies of Taurus and Scorpio’s work together on the seesaw of life to balance out practicality with power. Holding on, holding up, holding back related to your thinking. Jupiter has been moving through Scorpio this past year getting you ready to take a different path…maybe the road less traveled. What you are noticing is the an inner resistance. And I celebrate this with you because you are right on target. Cry, fret, beat some pillows then move on. This lunation in Libra is stirring the pot, asking you to look again and face the fears.

Where is 29 degrees of Libra in your chart?  Where is 22 degrees of Scorpio? 24 hours before the New Moon go within, connect with what is working and learning you. Journey on it.

24 hours after the New Moon- write down your intentions, verbalize it, and let it go.