Michele Lessirard is a trained SoulCollage® Facilitator and shamanic teacher.
SoulCollage® cards are not to be sold, traded, or bartered; they are to be reproduced only for the personal use of the maker of the card. SoulCollage® cards may be shared as examples to illustrate the SoulCollage® process, but it is a principle of SoulCollage® that SoulCollage® cards are not for sale, trade, or barter. [from “The Principles of SoulCollage®]
SoulCollage® is a registered trademark of SoulCollage®, LLC. The SoulCollage® process is described in Seena B. Frost’s book, SoulCollage®. More information about SoulCollage® can be found at www.soulcollage.com.
Thank you to all the wonderful photographers and artists whose images inspired us to recreate and discover our inner and outer worlds.
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You may reprint any items from "The New Moon Journal" in your print or electronic newsletter, but please include the following paragraph in it's entirety:
"Reprinted from The New Moon Journal, an online e-zine featuring astrological coaching tips, tricks and techniques for using the sky energies for personal empowerment written by Michele Bailey-Lessirard. Subscribe at http://newmoonjournal.com
Who in your life was born under the sign of Taurus? At this New Moon in Taurus what lessons does that person have to share? How have they inspired you, tweaked you, challenged you? I wonder...
My Nana, still going strong, is 101 years young in a couple of days. Today I made a SoulCollage® card to honor her birth (1908 what was life like back then?) and presence in my life. Over a decade ago while in BB school of healing I needed family members to practice on between sessions; Nana was the first one to volunteer. *smile*
In this healing method, of laying on of hands, one starts at the feet and moves sequentially up the body...it's intimate, it's awkward for a newbie who has to take notes. At some point we both merged, the room became infused with the scent of roses and in that sacred moment I woke up to the wisdom my Nana's body and spirit held; a gift that even now remembering leaves me humbled. She healed, I healed as the Ancestors sang.
A SoulCollage® Card to honor Nana
I am the One who is strong and stands proud. I am Grace, affectionately known as Nana and Nanny As a daughter I was deeply loved Today I am surrounded by the love of family… my children, my grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren.
Born April 27, 1908, I am 101 years young, I once dreamed of being a teacher. Then fell in love, married at sixteen and birthed three sweet babies In a time when young women were told To stay home, to keep quiet, To just put up with the things men did, I didn’t. Why should I? Strong willed... I do things my way.
Though divorce took my children; another sweet baby came my way. I am forever a Mother of four ~ Carl, Betty Anne, Myrna and Janie.
In the world I worked I played I loved. I traveled I dined I wined I shopped I lived.
As young adults my sweet babes came back. Making up for time lost, we mended wounds, forgave and loved each other even more. So while I endured great sorrows, I found great joy. My presence in your life teaches many things...
Life gives you a bit of everything, I leave a legacy of strength, determination and faith to persevere in times of trouble Keep your head held high, things will turn around. You’ll see.
While the earth shall soon dissolve for me, As an Ancestor remember my legacy I am the One who is Amazing Grace, with you always in heart and spirit. Smell the roses as you carry on.
The Sun enters the sign Taurus on April 19. If you are facing issues with
finances and money this is good information to read whether you follow astrology or not. It's your opportunity step into the energy and step up to the plate so you can shape-shift negative thinking no
matter what is going on in the outer world. When the Sun enters the sign Taurus each April we face issues with abundance, resources related to self-worth and self-esteem. How do I value me?
Create a New Moon SoulCollage®:
Earthy Taurus is ruled by the sign Venus. The key phrase for Taurus is "What do I have?" Money, personal resources, security, survival skills and self-esteem.
In Taurus we like to have things around us that give us comfort and reflect who we are. We are concerned with getting results. This signs builds. In order to build one must have a firm foundation.
It's hard to build a dream on a garbage pile of low self worth.
Shadow dance- it's time to look for hidden pockets of Shame. How do you chase money? Do you catch it? Can't hold onto it? In your birth chart this sign's energy brings up your sense of value, self-esteem and of course self-worth issues. Yee Ha!
Taurus and the 2nd house represents our early childhood experiences/programing. Keys to unlocking the Taurus door may be related to the energies of SHAME:
Holding in from shame and humiliation. (I won’t be seen)
Holding back from lack of trust/safety. (I won’t surrender)
Holding up from being told to submit. (I won’t submit).
These early childhood lessons are tied to self-esteem, self-worth, and value. Energetically stubborn we carry this wounded child energy into adulthood, unconsciously. Asleep at the wheel we don’t surrender thus we sabotage our dreams.
My response? Engage in the positive aspect of what the Taurus energy offers...trust me the shadow stuff holding you back/up/in will quickly surface, embody the Light and the dark shadows are revealed. It's a dance between both/and...not either/or thinking. Do so consciously and by the New Moon you'll be digging deep. Be Luscious! Sprout.
Here are some themes then for your Taurus SoulCollage® Card:
I am the One who Attracts and Magnetizes. When we are in harmony and balance with our self (Venus in Taurus) we create from deep love for self and nature- we are able to give and receive. We plant a tree when we cut one down. We recycle. We create seeds of intention and plant our gifts in the world. We open our mouths and gloriously sing our song.As the archetypal force of Venus I come from the heart-center. Keynote- Inner beauty, friendliness, sensuality, love, earthy Goddess energy.
I am the One who is Somebody. I recognize my No-body issues and bust through them. In the news Susan Boyle's YouTube video is a fine example of this nobody to somebody energy. Read this New Moon in Taurus post for more explanation, when you step fully into your talent it doesn't matter what the naysayers think.
I am the One who is Worthy and Self-assured. Relates to self-esteem and Self-Worth issues. In your Taurus house and energy you are keenly aware and meet your own personal needs, setting appropriate boundaries, strong values, determination and self-acceptance.
I am the One who is Reliable. I am resourceful and comfortable with my abundance. Represents the energy of accumulation such as wealth, material comforts, ownership, possessions.
I am the One who Creates Art. In the sign Taurus we develop the physical arts (sculpture, pottery), singing (Taurus rules the throat), and art appreciation.
I am the One who is Sensual. Energy related to the senses- Sensuality, massage, physical comfort, aromas, taste.
I am the One who is the Earth Goddess. Grounded and connected to all things of the earth. Enjoyment of Life on Earth-contentment, appreciation, gratitude, simple pleasures, rapport with nature, satisfaction.
I am the One who Builds. Through my resourcefulness I create a solid foundation, persistence, progressing step-by-step, thoroughness, perseverance.
I am the One who is reliable- patience, dependable, trustworthy and steadfast.
I am the One who Speaks. Taurus in the body relates to 3rd, 4th and 5th chakra. Solar plexus= power, heart= love and throat= will, speaking truth. If I know who I am with a healthy sense of self, then I can clearly speak my truth without harm. In this sign you face issues with restoring health- look to the chakras. coughs, throat, chin and neck, thyroid gland, voice and vocal cords.
Shadow Issues of Taurus
I am the One who Hoards. I hold a "just-in-case" mind-set of there is never enough______. I am the One who Obsesses.
I am the One who Posses in relationship. Again a hoarding mentality with jealousy Issues of possession and lack of trust in relationships and material wealth. Issues of control.
I am the One who is stubborn, fixated and rigid in my thinking. Look for patterns of Inflexibility- stubbornness, attachment, resistance to change, possessiveness, holding dogmatic opinions, stagnation.
You don't have to be an astrologer or an artist to work with the New Moon SoulCollage®
process. Get a couple of magazines, a glue stick and some blank paper.
Create a card. If you have any questions please use the comment form below. Let me know how this practice is working for you. Thanks so much!
Namaste,
Rev. Michele Lessirard, C.Ht. is an artist, inter-faith minister, shamanic practitioner and teacher. Since 1995 she has preformed hundreds of Soul Retrievals, teaches through out the United States and is recognized for her ability to communicate the visible elements with the invisible- the spiritual aspects that are mirrored through one’s day-to day relationships with family, home and work. She holds degrees in transpersonal psychology and interior design; is a Florida licensed interior designer (fl id4753).
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...
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.
This is a follow-up post to BrokeBack Healer. Now is the time we establish our financial plans for the year at the Taurus New Moon. The key phrase is “I have. I value.” I have abundance and wealth in all areas of my life or I serve to protect my status quo…I’m right, you are wrong.
In the energy of earthy Taurus there is a drive to manifest something real and tangible. The Call is to respond in both directions-downward and upward-like newly planted seeds putting down roots while also pushing up through the earth, heading towards the Sun. It’s a time of expansion, pushing out. Unless we are caught up in the past. In the Taurus area of your chart one can be stubborn, fixated and rigid.
Unconsciously along the way of living life we gather experiences that become stagnant energy which blocks our creativity and growth– we strive to keep the status quo, we resist change…You’ll know this phase because you can’t push up or down, in or out– your trauma or drama, the shadow self has you. This time of year there is an invitation to honor this Self, warts and all.
You may experience the energy or see it in other people at home (spouse or children) or at work. If you recognize a pattern in another, know that pattern is also operating within you (healed or unhealed)…all relationships offer up a sacred mirror for our shadow issues (Scorpio).
Each new moon is an opportunity to explore this shadow self. If something tweaks you on the list, I suggest working with the energy for 29 days. Journal about it, create a SoulCollage® card that expresses its energy. Observe and give witness to the feelings so the energy transforms; remember if a pattern is operating within us, it will come up until it is healed.
At the same time if you recognize a pattern(s) that you have healed in your life's journey this is the time for nurturance... give yourself a big pat on the back, honor that "Greater You" at this New Moon.
Are you in contraction, expansion or stasis? Sometimes the key is to do the opposite. To actively engage a contracting energy give it an outward creative expression- put some great music on and stomp around…walk it, paint it, collage it. Call up a friend, share it. If you have been out and about, going, going, going then plan some down time. Whatever unfolds if the energy is intense reach out, be compassionate with yourself... call your coach, therapist or shamanic practitioner. Taurus is about I have, I value. I value myself to become real- warts and all.
PDF Version or Word Version – As promised in last Fridays post here’s “A Key to unlocking patterns that block my abundance.”
Are you a Brokeback Healer? How are your finances? Once upon a time I went to the local American Express office, I needed to buy Travelers checks for our summer vacation.
Distracted Amex Lady behind the glass: I need your credit card to do the transaction.
Michele: I have my drivers license. Can I give you the card number and you look up my account in the system?
Amex Lady: No, where’s your card?
Michele: “My card is in the freezer,” now I have her attention “I froze my Amex card in a zip lock bag of water. If I want to buy something I have to wait for the baggie to thaw to unlock the credit card. I’ll be back in an hour. As I walked away I heard the Amex Lady laughing. It made her day, I suspect she knew my drama…
Ten years ago this action step helped me deal with my money issues. Let’s talk about value, hoarding, money and Taurus.
Are you a Brokeback healer? Do you give away the store and then wonder why your bank account is dry? Do you long to attend a retreat at places like Omega Institute or The Crossings, but never seem to have the time or the cash to do so? Do you give away your services at a reduced rate because the person calling doesn’t ‘have the money” or you are so spiritual? If so, you are a brokeback healer.- Inspired from an article– 7 Ways to Spot a Brokeback Entrepreneur by Leesa Barnes
Taking a risk and starting your own business: Creating your Healership may come in many forms but bottom line we are all operating a small business. Sometimes we don’t act like we are in business; you are the entrepreneur taking a risk, offering something of value. My best friend Shilo is a shamanic practitioner, a gifted, talented artist and sacred toolmaker. In a down sizing layoff five years ago she lost her computer programming job. What next? Through a series of miracles, and a lot of courage she stepped into her power and started living the life of the artist she always dreamed of being. Read her Dreamweavingstory here.
Claiming her entrepreneurial artist self Shilo presented her beautiful hand woven Dream Amulet bags at a retreat six months after the layoff. Many Dream Bags sold right away and she took several custom orders. One particular Dream Bag held a woman’s interest. Shilo channels divine energy into each and every piece that she creates, the objects are imbrued with a sacred story, one that resonates with the person’s Higher Self. Healer Woman wanted that one bag really, really bad. Yet when she heard the price she exclaimed “that’s way TOO much money for that!” and a rant of other complaints spilled forth. It wasn’t nice. From across the room I watched both women go into energetic contraction.
An unconscious competition for energy underlies all conflicts. By dominating or manipulating others, we get the extra energy we think we need. Sure it feels good- but both parties are damaged in the conflict.- 4th Insight Celestine Prophecy.
How is your Life Pulse around money, are you in a:
Contracted state– fight or flight, how are you moving money in your life? Are you constantly where it all goes, there’s never enough. Do you feel the need for silence/contemplation or just plain “I want to stop reading because she’s tapping a nerve.” An energetic contraction may bring up “I need to get out of my body and numb out” This is mud may be related to the earth of Saturn, 1st chakra.
Expanded state, merged with spirit, mystic…feet off the ground “I am merged and the physical doesn’t matter.” Or the flip of this there’s never enough so I need to hoard or get things for free. Expanded states bring on creativity, growth, building…expansion also translates to greed, cruelty, and hoarding. Mud related to the fire of Jupiter 2nd chakra, earth of Taurus. (Taurus rules hoarding and we saw a lot of that negative intent while Saturn moved through Taurus in 1999).
Stasis– balanced, heart centered, loving. Can also represent the inner state of stagnation, putrefication and inertia. Muddy water of Mars in Scorpio/3rd chakra, power issues, don’t worry here’s where Pluto steps in.
At the age of ten Dear Daughter [DD] spent evenings at her best friend’s house eating dinner. The reason? Dear Daughter acted the Fool- for at dinner she was doing a dead-on impression/comedy routine of Rosie interviewing Martha Stewart. One day while driving I asked her about the ‘Martha/Rosie’ routine, within seconds Dear Daughter dropped into her Rosie/Martha persona– a dialog ensued as I heard Rosie and Martha conversing while walking through K-mart …I almost crashed the car from laughing so hard. It is a sweet memory.
I love Martha Stewart, and I love Rosie. No matter where you stand on the ‘issues’ I will miss Rosie on The View. Yes, I confess since Rosie joined the show I’d tune in for the first 15 minutes of The View; for a work-at-home writer it offered up a mid-morning break that made me laugh, made me angry, made me think. Joanne Ostrow, the Denver Post writes:
“By dragging social and political issues into the usually controversial free zone of cooking demos, book promotions, and innocuous chitchat, she was fresh like a snout full of amyl nitrate. I didn’t always agree with Rosie but I welcomed her boat-rocking. Think of it this way- She proved again TV’s role in furthering the national conversation. She made a brassy woman’s voice at least as prominent as the dry daily official news release.”
Rosie is an Aries. I won’t go into her chart- don’t need too, check out this astrologer and this one. Rosie is brash, bold and feisty, she has a tender heart. Remember we are all still operating under the Aries New Moon ruled by assertive fiery Mars.
Rosie’s a truth slayer- passionate about life and issues. She’s angry and not afraid to say why, and what for especially in a time when most sit back quiet. She once was named the “Queen of Nice.” What strikes me is her ability to weave emotions (her Neptune in Scorpio), photos and art into soul searching collages. She’s making noise about issues that are important to her and us, using her craft. The most sacred archetypal force in a Tarot deck is the Fool. Comedians are Fools. A Fool humbles me, a Fool reminds me to keep quiet when I don’t know what I am talking about.
The Fool is an alchemist who holds fire in one hand and the upside-down cup (emotions) in the other, She unifies feelings (water), with energy and vision (fire) to create original and innovative ideas (steam). Fools use their multiple talents to generate abundance and frutifullness…bringing creativity into useable matter. Arrien, page 25.
Being a Fool then is a good thing. It takes courage. It demands a state of no fear. Whether you like her politics or not, IMHO Rosie’s creativity is just awesome, check out her studio, she’s making SoulCollages in truest form…she paints with abandon, she stitches news events into the pictures that are intense…evoking our collective soul loss…in more ways than one.
Today, Wednesday, May 2nd at 6:09 am we have the Full Moon in Scorpio at 12 degrees. Scorpio is ruled by Mars, Pluto and Chiron.
Mars is anger/passion- yours, mine and ours
Pluto’s archetypal energy plunges us into the depths of this anger, pain, sorrow- our collective despair- to shed the old skin that no longer serves us.
Chiron is there giving us the balm and tools to heal our wounds.
Pluto has traveled through Sag since 1995, next year he moves into Capricorn. Sagittarius is about truth, wisdom, understanding.
This Scorpio Full Moon brings intense transformative water energy. A dissolving energy. A time to surrender. Like the Beatles song…Let it be.
Full moons bring soul energy to bear on the problems at hand. Big Ones (Soul) and little ones (ego). This is the time of the year when the veil is thin, you can reach out to the God/Goddess of your understanding and connect. The Nature of God is in all things, all beings, great and small. Your guardian angels, your helping allies are showing up in support. This Scorpio Full Moon is known as the Wesak energies offers up Compassion and Wisdom as Robert shares “how to be productive as the storm swirls.” How are you expressing your own compassionate nature? First within you that then translates to your family and your community? Scorpio cleanses, Taurus renews. Earth and Water. Scorpio and Taurus work together to balance the energies within. We plant seeds in the rich dark earth, it’s a time of rebirth.
What are you moving through, what is on your plate? Get out your journal, your glue and images and track your energies. What is your soul trying to say?
Friday I’ll post about patterns that block our growth. In two weeks we’ll greet the New Moon in Taurus. Get ready, watch how you are tweaked, discovery why. Taurus represents “I value”, it brings up issues of self-esteem and self worth– your warts and all. This New Moon helps you manifest what you need in your life through the Laws of Attraction, The Secret. It brings up issues of soul loss from a shamanic perspective
This month’s New Moon SoulCollage card focuses on these Taurus energies. Earthy Taurus is ruled by luscious Venus. Venus is the first feminine energies we meet in the new year. While we need the action and assertiveness of Mars in Aries, it must be tempered by the beauty of Venus.
“Mars opposes all emphasis placed on the importance of integration and wholeness. He aims at destruction in the way fire cauterizes a wound. Venus is just the opposite, she is warm, cooperative and loving. She endows the spiritual essence of love to the physical body.
You’ll find Mars in rage, combat and battles at the home and/or office. Rather than condemn him [the archetype of Mars, the mirror], you might consider marrying him to the Venus within you. In myth, this is exactly what happened, and out of the union between Mars and Venus, a new child was born, named Harmony.” (Cavalli, page 120).
The Sun entered Taurus on Friday April 20th, there is a New Moon in Taurus on May 16th. Now what does that mean for you? Along the way you’ll be facing issues of “worthiness”. Am I worthy to have joy in my life? Am I worthy to have abundance in all areas of my life? Do I have the mind set, how’s my thinking? What am I attracting?
This month is bringing up issues of self-worth- awareness of personal needs, setting appropriate boundaries, strong values, determination and self-acceptance.
Within yourself or in others you may meet up with a stubbornness or fixed rigidness. Shadow issues of Taurus may be marked by inflexibility- stubbornness, attachment, resistance to change, possessiveness, holding dogmatic opinions, stagnation. There is a push/pull, an inner resistance. Hold in, hold back, hold up. Taurus energy relates to inner child issues with authority specifically around the ages of 3-5 and "I want" energy that translates to your 5th Chakra. Do I have to scream with my rage or suffer in silence for you to hear me?
Can I speak my heart to you, can I be open, can I trust you’ll hear me? Heart matters versus head matters; an inner struggle between head and heart that manifests at your throat. Mercury at the time of this Full Moon in Scorpio is conjuncting the Sun at 12 degrees of Taurus. There is also a square to Saturn in Leo/Chiron in Aquarius. Grand Cross in the the Fixed signs, highlighting the Galactic Center.
Sun in Taurus represents my Soul Force- Big Me- I value myself and others, I know my true worth. I embody compassion versus my ego- the ‘little me’ petulant, stubborn and fixated>
Mercury in Taurus -how the Soul is communicating, standing next to the Sun opposing the Moon– emotions/dramas may be high>
Chiron In Aquarius represents the wound! How are you called to rebel, to be an individual who separates from the pack? Are you feeling angry, sad or depressed about this, why? You are unique, you are a Lightworker…Like Neo in the Matrix you swallowed the pill to wake up. Do you stand there fussing, fuming about it, preening about it? Now is the time to get over it and on with your service to humanity.>
Saturn in Leo is demanding a new structure be born- based on the present from lessons learned and healed from your past.
Saturn is moving through Leo for the first time in 28 years (1977/78). Reflect back on those years, especially the year 1977- what was happening for you then? How are the current conditions related to that time? Saturn rules responsibility and timing. Ever get caught up in being responsible and lose sight of what gives you joy? Saturn’s been working us for over two years in Leo, and there are only four months left of this Saturn in Leo cycle. Oh my. Saturn is highlighting these issues, bringing them out of the dark closet you stuffed them into- back into the light. Oh the places you can go now…
What has heart and meaning for you NOW? Ponder on this…
What images call to you, what collage is your soul longing to share at this Full Moon in Scorpio? I wonder.
Discernment is the ability not to be held prisoner by your own fears, and to recognize the wisdom in change, because change is constant and includes the ongoing stream of new ideas and people into your life.- Carolyn Myss
We have a Full Moon in Taurus on Sunday, November 5, 2006, right before the US elections. In the Taurus area of life we want security, we want value, deep meaning. It’s the home of your inner child who wants Daddy and Mommy to show up make everything okay. Practical and possessive. Stubborn. Earthy and lush.
Read Part 1 here. Headlines read "In concert Streisand snipes at Bush and the audience snipes back!!
A Taurus/Scorpio rant about dancing with these energies and the Diva that is Streisand…. I was born with Taurus at the 7th house Doorway– land of partnerships-relating. My Venus is natally in Taurus– life lessons on partnering… “who am I in relationship to you.” Being a partner. Showing up. Every so often I am called to show up and play the part of ‘company wife’- these times I attend gatherings with my oh-so corporate husband, a conservative strong-minded lovable Republican who works in the financial industry. Events like this leave me feeling a little out of control, a part of me I feels scared to be outside my element, not feeling secure because I have to watch my p’s and q’s yet at the same time I feel grateful for my awareness and recovery… “Hello I am a shamanic astrologer” leaves people scratching their heads…it is not the norm. Intolerant people can be a challenge and one never knows just what is going to happen. My spiritual practices are certainly not mainstream and not corporate. I have learned to go with the flow… be discerning. ***smile***
This event we head to Barbra Streisand’s last concert in Fort Lauderdale. For several weeks Dear Husband and I have been playing off each other singing “I am going to see B-A-R-B-R-A” in a drawn out wacky voice. Truth be told, my husband doesn’t like Streisand much, definitely not her politics. I like her music, the power of her voice, her movies. This is going to be fun, 'cuz I am heading down memory lane…
Walking into Fort Lauderdale's Bank Atlantic Center Monday night I am greeted at every turn with a corporate sponsor’s logo or product staring me down. Leaving me feeling yucky. Branding like this is the negative form of Taurus’s materialism. Psychicaly it is a bit much for me. Then we enter the private WIC Private Club, where food and drinks are included and flowing…buffet lines, feeding frenzy... people balancing plates of food and free drinks, no where to sit. DH and I make our appearance at the client’s reserved suite and return to our $500 dollar seats (kindly sponsored by DH’s clients) to enjoy the show. We have a dead on view of the stage. I feel very blessed that I am here able to experience this.
The arena is packed with Barbra lovers. Many Floridians are transplanted New Yorkers who grew up in her neighborhood (NYC) and know her life and her music intimately. She’s one of them. With anticipation we are all waiting for the Diva to appear. Just being in this energy is exciting. How often do I get to see a Diva from the ‘60’s? A wonderful live orchestra plays in the background- strings, violins, piano… music that touches my heart and soul, Memories.
As a teenager I loved Barbra’s movies and her music; must have seen Funny Girl 10 times in the summer of 1968. The Way We Where with Robert Redford in high school spoke to the feminist within…Hubbel Gardner-oh la-la. Prince of Tides- drama and music that infused my healing– heart and soul. I am sitting remembering… this is one excited fan even if she has to play company wife. Funny Girl.
I sit and make a conscious decision to fill up with Light, expand and connect with the energies present. It’s all so lovely. Even my fear of heights has left. What happens next is just exciting. Carolyn Myss's newsletter talked about people being intolerant and stressed. Pissed off. I wondered ‘what does that look like?” Myss talks about how in one workshop a spiritual teacher was beaned in the head by an audience member’s cell phone. Oh my.
Monday night I watch Babs bean the audience and then watch the collective crowd give it right back to her verbally and energetically. Floridians are known to do that. A wonderful concert event turns into a three hour political statement interspersed with great singing. Barbra starts her first act with ILL Divo, and pokes fun at the audience, teasing us about Floridians not knowing who we are voting for back in the 2000 elections (this AGAIN!!!). The audience laughs. There is give and take banter. I never saw a performer do this with their audience. The flow of it all is not working, the venue seems choppy...
10:10 pm After a twenty minute intermission I expect to hear more wonderful songs. WRONG. Barbra brings the George W Bush look-a-like up on stage in a dull repartee [it wasn’t even funny]. Here is the glory of Mercury retrograde in Scorpio is now conjunct Jupiter. This same comedian joined her on stage at Madison Square Gardens... where Babs dropped the infamous f-bomb on a heckler. Back on October 9th when Mercury wasn’t retrograde. ***Ha-HA***
At the same time a protester rushes down and silently hurls a drink at her on the stage. Babs you handled this very well. At this point I am disgusted…I want to throw water on her too. There is another song dedicated to the Democrats theme song ‘Happy Days are Here Again”. It is late, I want to go home…it is obvious she isn’t going to sing any more of the ‘good old’ songs I know. "Peeople needing other peeeople are the luckiest peeeople in the world." It just isn't happening and I want to leave...
As we leave our seats, respectfully between songs Barbra now decides to now talk about Teddy Roosevelt being a Republican…as the exit door closes I hear and feel the energy of the whole audience turn on her. Imagine thousands of people who pay to see you, the Diva, uniting together screaming and chanting over and over
“Sing your f@#$#king songs. We didn’t come to hear this!!!!!” Now Babs argues with the audience and the audience is arguing with her. Whole lot of sniping going on. Give and take of Mercury retrograde. This certainly didn’t happen to her four weeks ago in NYC. Is this going to be in the DVD and Showtime special? I think not. Is she going to say that Florida audience was so rude, I have the right as an artist to stir things up. I am the Diva that is Streisand. Okay but Oh my. A Mercury Retrograde, Libra/Scorpio New Moon heading towards Taurus moment.
Collectively we are heading towards the crossroads, can you feel it. Deal with it. Merge with it. The next morning I wake up feeling a bit slimed. I need a good dose of discernment. The experience is working me this week. Than I wonder when Barbara was born??
No surprise that Babs is a Taurus [April 24, 1942]; that this event stirs up her 8th house Scorpio. She is a true Aries rising- an arrogant leader and/or brash visionary. On stage she talks about integrity and truth. Told her audience she stayed in Fort Lauderdale but then traveled to Miami Beach to visit a relative. LIE. The truth is she stayed in Miami Beach at Rosie’s O'Donnell's home, and traveled to Fort Lauderdale for the concert.
I am left with this… that in talking about speaking truth, it also pertains to promoting ticket sales Babs.
Streisand, 64, a longtime liberal activist, said she is coming out of retirement to raise money for her foundation, which supports a range of causes related to the environment, education, health care and other issues. Reuters
Barbra Streisand IMHO you are not in integrity; your audience expected one thing and was fed another. I learned a lot. That when Babs says she is giving a music concert it's her forum to raise political awareness; her agenda…buyer beware. I learned in the future I need to be more discerning about these things. Who would've thought?
Barbra Streisand-The Tour is a political fundraiser and forum for her causes like Clinton’s Global Initiative [which I support], to oust Bush. While I don’t mind spending the money for a concert please give me what I came for, the music and song.…Take that you Hydra, Diva, Vixen!!! When you shove your truth down people's throats– fans who expect songs then get rhetoric we will turn ugly and get angry. Snipe back at you. The audience got possessed, just as she is possessed by the anger of it all. What a wonderful time was had by all.
[Babs remember] Before you spend a lot of time cursing the people who won’t embrace your next big idea, thank them first. Without them, you’d be ordinary.– Seth Gordon from his book Small is the next big.
It’s up and it’s good. In her arrogance maybe she couldn’t see that 90% of her audience agrees with her; that she is preaching to the choir. In the end it feels like a child being talked down too, shamed by a parent. This makes concert goers really mad and spew- that’s the slime. Scorpio slime. In order to slay the three headed Dragon [Hyrdra*] Hercules had to kneel in the slime then rise up.
Hydra– Upon reaching the swamp near Lake Lerna, where the Hydra dwelt, Heracles covered his mouth and nose with a cloth to protect himself from the poisonous fumes and fired flaming arrows into its lair, the spring of Amymone, to draw it out. He then confronted it, wielding a harvesting sickle in some early vase-paintings; Ruck and Staples (p. 170) have pointed out that the chthonic creature's reaction was botanical: upon cutting off each of its heads he found that two grew back, an expression of the hopelessness of such a struggle for any but the hero, Heracles.
Today "Hydra-like problem" or "hydra" refers to a multifaceted problem that seems incapable of step-by-step solution, or to one that worsens upon conventional attempts to solve it, for example, attempts to suppress a particular piece of information resulting in it being disseminated even more widely. Second Labor of Hercules
We all need a bit of kneeling at this Full Moon- no matter what party, who one supports. I am humbled. Collectively the Hydra’s up it's a Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio during a Taurus Full Moon. It is an amazing time…I am looking backwards and forwards, singing…
Memories Like the corners of my mind Misty watercolor memories Of the way we were Scattered pictures Of the smiles we left behind Smiles we gave to one another For the way we were
Can it be that it was all so simple then Or has time rewritten every line If we had the chance to do it all again Tell me - would we? could we?
Memories May be beautiful and yet What’s too painful to remember We simply choose to forget
So it is the laughter We will remember Whenever we remember The way we were
So it is the laughter We will remember Whenever we remember The way we were
Babs I wish you well, but this Funny Girl won’t be seeing you in concert again. I choose to remember the way we were. Thank you for reading my New Moon Journal. Have a wonderful Full Moon in Taurus!!
What is a Diva? Are you a diva? How many Diva’s are left from the ‘60’s? Can you name them? What house is this Full Moon at 13 degrees of Taurus fall? That's where the action is.
What are you called to say "Yes!" to now in service to the Earth within you and around you?
Thursday, May 4th, 2006 at 7 pm est (New York) Shamanic Journey to the Galactic Center Brief 15-20 minute discussion via phone then journey/meditation Teleconference Number to call: 605.990.0300 Access code: 796818#
On Thursday Michele will share briefly by phone (15–20 minutes) about the Taurus energies and how they affect each of us at this time of year. Then we’ll journey (15–20 Minutes) with intent using the healing triad symbol– instructions are given in this pdf.
In light of the new moon in Taurus I wanted to give you writings to ponder about healing your Self and the Earth:
Restoring Nature, Restoring Yourself: Given months to live and told to find a hobby, a disabled Vietnam veteran turned to restoring the polluted creek behind his house. The effort saved his life. For a man broken by war, John Beal found himself an unlikely place of refuge. Hamm Creek was an open sewer, plugged up with garbage.
The disabled Vietnam veteran hadn't known where to turn. Told that he had less than four months to live and advised by his doctor to find a hobby to take his mind off his pain and suffering, he wandered down to the stream behind his house to contemplate his future. He stood on the shores of a backwater tributary of the Duwamish River, a dredged shipping channel on the outskirts of Seattle, edged by concrete factories and laced with toxic waste.
He was still recovering from bullet wounds and haunted by flashbacks. Besides suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, he had gone through three heart attacks, followed by a serious motorcycle accident. Click here to read the rest of the story…
Sandra Ingerman’s Transmutation News for May: True shamans have always worked on the fabric of the invisible worlds by weaving new patterns of harmony through the use of art, song, dance and ceremonies.
In this great time of change we must continue to do our work. I have been outlining key practices the last few months and I hope you will continue to do them. click here to read the rest of the story.
plans for the year at the Taurus New Moon. The key phrase is “I have. I value.” I have abundance and wealth in all areas of my life or I serve to protect my status quo…I’m right, you are wrong.
Full moons bring soul energy to bear on the problems at hand. Big Ones (Soul) and little ones (ego). This is the time of the year when the veil is thin, you can reach out to the God/Goddess of your understanding and connect. The Nature of God is in all things, all beings, great and small. Your guardian angels, your helping allies are showing up in support. This 
Saturn is moving through Leo for the first time in 28 years (1977/78). Reflect back on those years, especially the year 1977- what was happening for you then? How are the current conditions related to that time? Saturn rules responsibility and timing. Ever get caught up in being responsible and lose sight of what gives you joy? Saturn’s been working us for over two years in Leo, and there are only four months left of this Saturn in Leo cycle. Oh my. Saturn is highlighting these issues, bringing them out of the dark closet you stuffed them into- back into the light. Oh the places you can go now…
This event we head to 
Barbra Streisand IMHO you are not in integrity; your audience expected one thing and was fed another. I learned a lot. That when Babs says she is giving a music concert it's her forum to raise political awareness; her agenda…buyer beware. I learned in the future I need to be more discerning about these things. Who would've thought?
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