New Moon Journal

Full Moon in Leo-Designed to Sell

This is short and sweet because there’s not much time for writing or soulcollaging at the present moment... you see I am getting our home Designed to Sell. The sooner I move, the sooner I can get back to doing what I love. Part of my studio and all of my healing room needed to be erased from the house. We converted an office back into a guest bedroom, and my healing room back into an office. Dear Husband loves his new space.

In the last four weeks I donated used goods (four truckloads to Salvation Army), sorted every closet and packed over a 100 boxes and moved furniture into the POD. After 15 years of life in this wonderful home, going through the memories of space and place is just intense, but depersonalizing our home is part of the letting go and moving on process.

Full Moons bring a release and at this Full Moon, like the HGTV show, I feel proud to share my task is 90% complete. Get ready for the big reveal in two weeks at the New Moon, Solar Eclipse in Leo. Leo sits at the doorway of my 10th house- career, public self; Aquarius sits at my 4th house doorway- home, roots and family, the timing of it all is just right. And bottom line, it’s all about trust.

Being occupied on home matters, I forgot about Mercury’s retrograde period; going backward to move forward in the sign of Aquarius, the Visionary. To complete interior projects prior to Mercury’s retrograde in Aquarius(1/28/08) means multiple installers arrive this week- bathroom tile painted, new granite counters, floor finishes, crown molding, painting and new appliances. Organized chaos. Dog tethered to my side, phone ringing, people knocking, selecting colors, problem solving, scheduling and coordination are all things my interior design self thrives on as we enter the final phase of a process that began 18 months ago for our family at the New Moon in Leo.

At a Full Moon there is a release. You may find yourself dealing with issues or intentions (conscious or unconscious) created at the new moon (January 8th) and six months prior (New Moon in Leo August 12). What did you intend or set into motion at the New Moon in Leo six months ago? You are seeing the results of that thinking and actions now at this full moon.

For more about this Leo Full Moon visit these sites:
Lynda Hill’s Blog
Astrological Musings by Lynn Hayes

Repelling

August 12, 2007, 7:02 pm est, there is a New Moon in Leo at 20 degrees of Leo. Leo is about fire, taking a risk. Light. Repelling into the unknown with faith and courage. The Sabian Symbol for 20 degrees of Leo-ZUNI INDIANS PERFORM A RITUAL TO THE SUN. "Natural man links himself consciously to the source of all life on earth....Identification through worship. After ruthlessly destroying the First Nation people we come back to the tribe as an exemplar of peaceful and harmonious group living."-Dane Rudhyar Again take note of this happening-the Global Elders . Because of my schedule I invite you to look again at this post.

24 hours before the new moon set your intention for the next 29 days. What do you want to create this year? Celebrate this intention at the New Moon in the form of a ritual. Because Leo is part of the fire triad…light a candle, or start a small fire in a safe place outside in the night sky. Watch for omens…signs from the smoke, the animals around you. Stay aware for the next 24 hours.

24 hours after the New Moon surrender the intentions. Allow.
Many blessings on this Leo New Moon.

Tell them nothing

I am the One who is a Pinhead. There is a Full Moon at 7 degrees of Aquarius on Sunday July 29th at 8:48 pm est. Full moons offer a release. What you have been working on since the Aquarius New Moon six months ago? Do you know who you can trust to share your inspirations with?

Since Aquarius rules that creative, original thought you came to share with your fellow man, your ideas may not look like someone else. In Aquarius you are called to be the rebel, you are called to step away from the status quo. In the Aquarius area of your chart you come to serve humanity. To serve in a healthy way I must have a strong connection to Spirit- know thyself. It’s a four step process:

• I know my true value (Taurus)
• I am brilliant and let others shine as well (Leo)
• I let go, I know how to surrender what isn’t working for me in my day-to-day routines (Scorpio).
• I am unique, I serve through my original gifts and talents. (Aquarius).

And that leads me to my Aquarius Full Moon SoulCollage® Card about surrender...

I am the One who is a Pinhead.

I am the voice of your inner critic.
The voice that derails your creativity and success....
   born from a society of doubters.
   born from the One who wants to stay safe
   born from fear, and doubt and shame
   born from those voices that shout and whisper....

Listen, that won’t work.

You’re not good enough.
you’ll fail
your house won’t sell in this market
why bother
you can’t earn a living that way!
What will people think?
Who do you think you are?
It’s never been done like that before.
You’re dreaming!
You can’t write that!
You're not a writer.
Get your head out of the clouds.
Nobody’s ever been able to do it before,
what makes you think you can?
Maybe later, but not now.
It’s easy to talk about it, but to do it... well, that’s another thing.
Better to be safe than sorry.
Other people do that, not us.
You’ll look stupid.
No one will like you if you do.
yeah...right. Go back to the drawing board.
If that would work, everybody would be doing it, don’t you think?
Daydreamer.
What about all the other stuff you didn’t finish?
Come back to Earth.
Other women do it.
Other men do it.
You and your wild ideas.
That’s crazy.
Lazy. Quit daydreaming.
We can’t afford it!’
You can’t make a living doing that.
It’s so hard!
There’s not enough in the world.
Not everyone is happy at their jobs.
You need a degree to do that!
I don’t have time!
I don’t have money!
I can’t
I won’t
I’m not smart enough,
good enough, (fill in the blank) _____.
What’s the point?
Maybe if you started this when you were young, now you are way too old!

blah, blah, blah!

Naysayers and doubters in front of me in,
in back of me...
and finally
inside of me!!

What have I come to teach you? Compassion. I feel grateful for my awareness.

I run into a lot of "Doubting Thomas’s" who ask "what do you do?" Healer, spiritual coaching, astrologer, shamanic practitioner...these things I am passionate about are not the 'status quo'. I usually say housewife. **big smile**

Those same people may ask "what are you working on?"

Barbara says "Lie or tell them nothing." A decade ago Barbara Sher kept me company on my morning walks around Heritage Park, giving me how to tips on Live the Life You Love: In Ten Easy Step-By Step Lessons. Well it wasn’t really her, it’s her audio series from Sounds True on my Sony Walkman.

Dear Husband is away on business...what to do on a Sunday afternoon with no one around? I took a Barbara Sher’s Scanner teleclass. Have you read Refuse to Choose!: Use All of Your Interests, Passions, and Hobbies to Create the Life and Career of Your Dreams ? It’s out on paperback now. I read the book last year and it changed my perspective on living a creative life.

Are you a Scanner? Do you have projects you start and stop? If you have lots of creative ideas then you’re probably a scanner. Leonardo Da Vinci was probably a Scanner. Scanners manifest ideas to create things, work on multiple projects and then tend to get bored. Scanners are visionaries who get no respect according to Barbara. No one teaches a Scanner how to manage all this creativity effectively. So then Pinhead steps in and takes over....

I have Pluto conjunct Jupiter at 29 degrees of Leo (Power and expansion) in my 10th house. Right now Saturn’s there demanding a new structure and urging me take responsibility. There's resistance (Pinhead energy) even so I showed up to listen in to today’s teleclass.

Since we are in a creative throw-down in Leo this month and with Venus going retrograde you may run into a pin head or two-naysayers who go around bursting your creative bubbles. You may have an internal critic that seems to be running riot in your head (residuals from past relationships). I created a SoulCollage® card for this energy..

I am the One who Surrenders...
I lovingly give Pinhead over to Spirit-my Guides and Angels.
My fears and doubts quiet down...
I now allow my mind
to be clear and focused.

If someone asks "what are you working on." Barbara advises "lie or tell them nothing." Your creative ideas are to be cherished ...naysayers (non-creative types) and doubters are lurking around with straight pins waiting to do quasi-acupuncture on your head and heart.

Rather than wearing a sign that says "insert pin here" I decree "I now allow Spirit to gently guide me." As we head deeper into the month of Leo, the urge to splurge is all around us...you may have a creative project or two (or three) that just wants attention. Watch out for people carrying pins and remember "tell them nothing".

If you want to learn more about being a Scanner visit here.

Create a Leo SoulCollage® Card

The Sun enters Leo on July 23 at 1:00 am est. Do you have a *SoulCollage® to share for the Leo energies? Each month you are invited to make a New Moon SoulCollage®. It’s a creative process to find the mystery within bits of paper and glue- it reveals the magic of what is working and learning you at this time. You don’t have to know astrology or be an artist to embrace this method.

Leo is a vibrational energy. It creates, it shines. We all have Leo in our birth chart. While I am not Leo ruled, there are many mirrors of this Leo energy in my life.

Dear Husband is a Leo rising full of joy, passion, wit and grace. We married during the last Saturn in Leo cycle. My Leo mother-in-law’s courage and fortitude (grew up in Nazi France, immigrated to America at the age of 19, became a single working mom). She is a french version of Marie Barone without a Frank **smile** who teaches me humility. Our Leo daughter’s brilliance teaches me how to polish up my own inner light and shine.

Who are the Leo mirrors in your family or community- those people born in the sign Leo? How do they rub you? How do they love you? Now is a great time to create a SoulCollage® community card to honor that Leo presence in your life. Send me your Leo SoulCollage® and I’ll post it here at the new moon.

Leo is about heart and soul. Leo the Lion. What has meaning for you NOW in your life? The quest? It’s all about your inner muse, your creativity. If you’d like to join in the SoulCollage® process here’s a bit more about the Leo energy.

• I am the One who....
  • Seeks personal heart connections- romance, children, dating, intense love relationships, giving and seeking approval.
  • Embraces the artist within. Leo rules all forms of creativity including enthusiasm, artistic expression, total subjective involvement, self-actualization, passion.
  • Gives over to the power of love through loyalty, generosity, bringing joy, encouragement, kindness.
  • Plays. I seek pleasure and celebration- fun, play, games, parties, vacations, recreational sports. I balance home, family and work by finding time for play that nurtures my inner spirit.
  • Is a Risk-taker. I am willing to gamble, roll the dice to make things happen.
  • Expresses dignity. I desire recognition, being the center of attention, self-confidence, manifest powerful individual expression, radiance, benevolence.
  • Leads. I exclude determination, leadership, concentrated focus, follow through, strength of purpose, resoluteness and stamina. Through the power of my presence I inspire others.
  • knows my Soul’s purpose, I have a unique gift to share and trust in the process. I bring my unique talents and gifts in service to humanity through my Sun sign (ruler of Leo). Read about the Global Elders.
  • Fiery and stubborn. Leo is fixed fire, are you the trauma/drama queen of life. In the Leo area of life many of us want to be recognized as the King or Queen, we want to feel special. Have you carried your being special too far?
  • Shouts look at me. I am the King. I am the Queen. Here is the shadow side of your Leo energy, here I can be willful, boastful, arrogant, prideful. You’ll find me being overly dramatic, self-centered, extravagant, bossy. This shadow side of Leo may be the addict out of control, using power, money and sex for selfish or manipulative means. (Myss, Sacred Contracts, page 116). I suggest you read Your time as a lone wolf is over.
  • Restores health to your back and spine, manifests exhaustion, heart inflammation.

Pick any of those "I am the One" statements and create a Leo SoulCollage® card. Where is Leo in your own birth chart?

What house? That is where the action is.

Do you have any planets at 23-29 degrees in the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius). That area of your chart and life are impacted by the planetary line up in the Leo month ahead.

Keep in mind that what you planted at the New Moon in Aries, those decrees and intentions are now showing up in your life. Full bloom. What were you wishing and dreaming of back in late March? How is the Universe responding to your quest?

Hello my name is ...there’s an planetary Meet-up in Leo. After grounding yourself with a home base in the sign Cancer, there is a planetary meetup in Leo that says "let's create".

In Leo we find the inner resilience to make things happen. Leo rules creativity, sexuality, passion, fire, joy related to the creative intelligence and imagination of your 6th chakra married to the heart’s joy, grounded on earth. Intuition with intention made manifest.

July 23- August 25 Here comes the Sun (7th chakra) in Leo. The Sun rules Leo and now he does his yearly dance as he moves through Leo.

July 29, 2007 8:48 PM est Full Moon in Aquarius at 7 degrees of Aquarius. Leo and Aquarius work together. You may want to read what was happening at the New Moon in Aquarius six months ago.

August 12, 2007, 7:02 pm est, there is a New Moon in Leo at 20 degrees of Leo. The Sabian Symbol for 20 degrees of Leo-ZUNI INDIANS PERFORM A RITUAL TO THE SUN. "Natural man links himself consciously to the source of all life on earth....Identification through worship. After ruthlessly destroying the First Nation people we come back to the tribe as an exemplar of peaceful and harmonious group living."-Dane Rudhyar Again take note of this happening-the Global Elders.

August 4- 19 Mercury (5th chakra) in Leo. Speak your passion. Mercury calls each of us to speak our truth, without blame or judgment. Now is the time to communicate your purpose, your passion, your creativity. Mercury rules the 5th chakra, represented in the body by the will centers in the back of neck and throat. Pay attention to that area of your body.

July 28-Sept 9 Venus (4th chakra) Retrogrades: Venus entered Leo on June 6th, moved into Virgo July 14th and then moves back into Leo on August 10th. She comes out of her shadow finally on October 12th.

Venus is the attracting principle in your chart. She magnifies your heart’s desires. In the body Venus represents the archetype of the 4th chakra, the cave of the heart. In the body her energy mediates the lower instinctual centers of the chakras 1-3 (where our desire nature manifests) with the spiritual forces of chakras 5-7.

Venus represents love, purification and protection. In her 8 year journey she creates a path in retrograde motion that forms the sacred star- a pentagram. Every 18 months Venus retrogrades systematically through Aries to Scorpio to Gemini to Virgo to Aquarius. Five sacred points within that form the star in your chart. As above, so below.Venus is the principle of love, the law of attraction. She holds the key to your desires with compassionate wisdom. Read more about Venus here.

July 16, 2005- September 2, 2007. Saturn (1st chakra) in Leo (7th Chakra). Saturn represents the tribal conditioning of the past (1st chakra) that holds us back from living our dreams. The call is to break down to break through to build a new structure. Saturn is finishing up his journey through Leo.The last go for Saturn in Leo was 29 years ago (1977/78). Reflect back on those years, especially the year 1977/78- 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 leaves in September 2007. Oh my. Saturn is highlighting these issues, bringing them out of the dark closet you stuffed them into- back into the light. Click for more information about Saturn in Leo.

Retrograde Venus has made two conjunctions (meetings) with Saturn in less than 2 months. When she goes direct, she will head for Saturn a third time. There is a lot of Saturn energy now. Saturn rules what is concrete in our life. We are craving something concrete, and something we can build, and put our own signature on. We need something to believe in, so we can build on that foundation.-Brenda Brush, astrologer

The Meetup August 13-18, 2007 ~The Sun (Your soul’s Purpose, how you are called to shine), Mercury (speak your truth), Venus (law of attraction), and Saturn (how you create the structure) are all meeting up in Leo the week of August 13th. And they oppose Neptune (Spirit) in Aquarius. Many of us are a generation born with Pluto in Leo (1939-1957) This is the generation of power. We have the ability to use power both positively and negatively. World power and leadership are important issues for us. Pluto takes us to hell and back, giving us the power to create new forms once the old ways are discarded.

Saturn’s been cleaning up the clutter in your Leo House (29 years of clutter) for the last two years, and well it’s time. Time for what??? That depends on where Leo sits for you in your birth chart. Venus energy brings the strength to attract what you want (desire), once her dance in Leo (retrograde period) is over expect a shift. Expect a burst of creativity.

Now you know why this month is an excellent time to work with the Leo energies in your life through the SoulCollage® process. Allow that inner knowing a voice and place in the here and now. I am so looking forward to seeing what you create. Thanks for stopping by.

Be glad of life...
it gives you
a chance
to love
to work
to play
to look up
at the stars.
-Henry Van Dyke

*Michele is a teacher trained facilitator in the SoulCollage® process. Readers of The New Moon Journal are creating collages representing the energy (archetypes) of astrology. If you join in each month then by years end you’ll have twelve New Moon SoulCollage® cards to work with, journey to for guidance. Then join with others who work with the SoulCollage® process as developed by Seena B. Frost, M. Div., M.A., author of the book SoulCollage an intuitive collage process for individuals and groups. Click here to read The Principles of SoulCollage®.

Retrogrades-move backwards to go forward

Were you born between January and May of 1956? Then the transpersonal planets in your chart- Uranus in Cancer, Neptune in Libra and/or Pluto in Leo were retrograde at the time of your birth.* Any planet, when retrograde is operating against the normal tides of social trends. Plain and simple, you don’t fit in with the norm.

• Cancer represents feelings, security, roots, motherhood.
• Libra is about partnering, relationship and balance.
• Leo represents our ability to take a risk, live your passion and creativity- you may be asking yourself what has heart and meaning for me now?

At the moment Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are all retrograde!

Yesterday Robert’s post over at Aquarius Papers caught my eye "With all three outer transpersonal planets retrograde [Uranus, Neptune and Pluto], we’re reviewing "spiritual" forces at work since March that have us at threshold states of doing and being... Due to the Solar Eclipses of the past 7 months square Pluto [squares offer up a challenge] while the Lunar Eclipses conjuncted or opposed Uranus, we’re in a future oriented tide of evolution that is closing life chapters and opening new ones where we can become inspired, enjoy ourselves more, and light up our world in ways everyone can appreciate."

Retrogrades move us all backward in order to go forward.

It’s a do-over, a time of reflection, a time to make changes. I was born in March of 1956- Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto together with the Nodes were retrograde. Whew!! Joanne Wickenburg writes in her book Your Hidden Powers-intercepted signs and retrograde planets:

"retrograde periods intensify the energies, and because these planetary forces are so close to the Earth it creates confusion for the person [child. Those born into these Transpersonal retrograde energies] are called to meet the challenge and view life from a larger than ego perspective. To define how you make a difference in the world and how or if you are contributing to social and global evolution and survival." (Wickenburg, p. 185)

Time of renovation.

That just nails it for me. It’s been a year of transformation for me personally and professionally, although I don’t see where exactly I am going as yet, I know it intuitively. In January of 2006 my Helping Spirits shared that by June ’06 I would stop seeing clients. At the time I questioned it all, but by June I found it was time to devote myself to home and family. For a year I have gone inward getting ready, allowing myself to just be a Mom, grieve the change, get our home in order.

And I have been contemplating what is my next step? As a goal oriented woman, it’s been both confusing and interesting for me personally and professionally. I am grateful for my awareness and know I am just where I need to be. In less than 30 days Dear Daughter graduated from high school and left for college. Bam! My role as a mother changed overnight. I knew this was coming, but wow.

Time to transition back to Me. The Sun is now moving through Cancer highlighting my issues with roots, feelings and security; the Sun is getting ready to meet up with my retrograde Uranus in Cancer at 29 degrees. Expect an awakening. Suddenly I am thrown into “Where do I belong?” "What do I want to do now that gives me joy?" It’s cool and scary at the same time. And I know from reading other women’s blogs that they are experiencing something simular. I wrote about these Cancer energies at the Full Moon in January:

"Where do I belong" is a major theme where Cancer is in your chart. . .the challenge is to develop security by nurturing experiences rather than clinging to, depending on the strength of others. Cancer needs to say; “I feel.” - I feel secure. I feel safe. I feel content. I feel at home with myself. “In order to release Cancer’s creativity, we must first cut the umbilical cord which binds us to family karma; leave the safe womb of the home and choose our own direction in life.” (Burt, p. 113)

Now the Sun is in Cancer, there will be a New Moon in Cancer on July 14th. Jupiter conjuncts Pluto at 27 degrees of Leo at the mid-heaven of my chart. Saturn will be there in the next two weeks and stay until September. And that is what I love about astrology..it’s all about cycles and right timing. I have a roadmap of what is happening and a clue how to work with these energies intentionally.

The 10th house represents career, Saturn in Leo is asking me to restructure my professional self. Public image. Reputation. How I respond. My standing in community. Power and strength of my goals. Legacy to mankind. Now with this shift I expect more will be revealed to me over the next year. My task is to focus on what does give me joy- writing, SoulCollaging, art, building.

Opposite the 10th house is the 4th house...Fourth house represents the hearth-home, roots, ancestors. The task is to dance between Home and Career, seek the middle way. Saturn represents the structure, Leo rules heart energy-passion, children and creativity. Saturn in Leo is passing over this mark for the first time since 1977/78 asking me to look back and review the "Michele of 77/78" and Michele of 2007. Did I abandon any soul essence back then? What do I want to create now in my life’s work? What are my goals, now my role as a Mom has shifted?

What is happening for you?

Were you born with any of the Transpersonal planets- Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, in retrograde? (*see note below). What houses are affected? Look at the Zodiac Cheat Sheet and read the description of each house? Can you see the story?

Were you confused as a child about the adults and the energies around you? If you share these retrograde energies with me, you have a unique gift to share and be in service...how are you standing apart from the norm? Did you suddenly wake up in your 40’s? Did your life shift? If you have these retrograde conditions at the time of your birth, it’s a clue to deeper insights. Did you abandon yourself back in 77/78? It’s time to bring yourself up to date. Create a new story and intention. Can you make sense of it all now? Forgive and forget? If not why not?

See the bigger picture. You are a Transformer!

References Cited:

Joanne Wickenburg. Your Hidden Powers . 1992.
Kathleen A. Burt. Archetypes Of The Zodiac. 1988.
Robert Wilkinson. Aquarius Papers. Article- Spiritual Astrology in July-August 2007 Pt. 1 - Uranus, Neptune, Pluto Retrograde Coming In From the Unknown

* I am looking at these times in the late 50’s because we have reached (or are about to reach) the age of our Chiron return (50 year cycle). Here are some times when all the transpersonal planets were retrograde:

• Feb-May 1955
• Mar-May 1956
• Mar-May 1957
• March- May 1958
• March-May 1959

For exact days you may want to consult an astrologer or look in an ephemeris at your birthday.

Galactic Center Meditation, the Full Moon in Leo

Our new frontier is the world behind our eyes that brings problem solving solutions and healing to our communities, to the planet..by exploring the space betwixt and between.

 

And the survey says  “Everyone’s on the list!”

 

Each one is born with a gift to share in our families and communities. There is no better time to meet, greet and embody this energy than when the Sun crosses over 13-15 degrees of Aquarius (as well as Taurus, Leo and Scorpio). That is happening this week and I invite you to join in. 

Full Moon in Leo with a Galactic Meditation
February 1, 2007

Teleconference call 7:00 -7:20 pm Eastern Standard Time (NY)

Meditation 7:30 pm to 8:00 pm est.

 

How To Place the Call:

1. Dial 1-866-945-2255 Wait for prompt.
2. Enter Participant Code 791625 #
 
International participants: please call 01-315-579-6022 to join the call. All Participants are responsible for the long-distance telephone charges.

 

Call from a land line for clarity, cell phones should not be used for this type of call. 

Who should join this call? High functioning, motivated people who are ready to move forward into spiritual action with purpose, passion and heart at home, work and into their community.

This meditation is soul based, a collaborative effort between you and your Spiritual Allies; focusing on the skills needed to bring your passion out into the world in a deeper and richer way. You are the architect of your own Power.

 

During the call I’ll share briefly about the Full moon in Leo, the Galactic center and the journey/meditation process.

 

Before the call: print out the Triad healing worksheet that describes the process of working with the Triad Healing symbol prior to the meditation. You don’t have to know astrology to show up and be present. Your heart’s desire will create the container for this experience to unfold.

 

Prior to the phone call: Let us meet at the appointed hour to journey to the Galactic Center. You may want to journey with a question. Set the intent, vision what you want to create, ask to let go of what is no longer working in your life in a gentle and loving way.

 

If you created a New Moon SoulCollage…get your Aquarius New Moon SoulCollage card with pen and journal ready, set up your sacred journey or meditation space prior to the call, pick up the phone and let’s collaborate.

 

For the SoulCollagers: Don’t be surprise if you start to get a deeper understanding of your SoulCollage messages. These New Moon SoulCollage cards are working us and learning us long after they have been put together, bringing us opportunities to take the healing to a new level.

 

Click here to read about the Galactic Center Meditation. Now this is all you need to know but if you are curious…I wrote this more:

 

The real 12 days of Christmas-a year in review and the WABAC Machine

“As far back as I can remember, I’ve always been a strong believer in the importance of cycles. You’d better try to understand them, because all of your timing and often your luck is tied up in them.”  Former Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca

After holiday cheer with family and friends we collectively turn our attention to the New Year. Dear Husband is busy as we speak writing a business plan and finishing up CE credits. Me I am creating cartoons and making collages. What do you plan to create in 2007? Did you know that the 12 Days of Christmas really starts on December 25th lending support for building the new year…

After presents and holiday cheer comes clean up in more ways than one.

Business cycles: A cycle involves shifts over time between periods of relatively rapid growth of output (recovery and prosperity), alternating with periods of relative stagnation or decline (contraction or recession). Business cycles require the providence of Jupiter and the right timing of Saturn. The archetype of Saturn could be called “The Planner”:

• one who commands discipline, clarity and focus
• one who lays the foundation to build a new structure in the coming year.
• one who knows how to work with stagnation and contraction periods.
• Saturn rules business cycles and your career. Saturn is still moving through the sign Leo (for the first time in 28 years -1977/78).

From the WaBac Machine of Mr. Peabody and his boy Sherman* : over the next 12 days take time to reflect on those years & the last 12 months, what happened? In September 2007 Saturn moves into Virgo and this Saturn in Leo energy won’t be active again until 2034.

How are the current conditions in your life related to the Fractured Fairy Tales of that 1977/78 time period?

These 12 days after Christmas* are a time of renewal…a 12 day year in review, a time to recapitulate to seize the coming year. Was there a month your creativity soared? Was there a month your creativity soured? Where do you sit today?

At the time of the Full moon in Cancer on January 3rd we’ll be well into the energies that "really exist outside of linear time. [These days] are in a sense, the fruit of the past year, and one day for each month that has past." (Mathews, p. 173)

January 6th celebrates Epiphany in the Christian faith, the day the three wise men- The Magi- arrived to see the Christ child after their long journey. Expect your own Epiphany. The Wise Men represent the shaman and priests of their tribes coming to honor a new King.  By the time we get to the New Moon in Capricorn on January 18 you’ll be cooked in these Capricorn energies. Saturn rules Capricorn. Saturn rules responsibility and right timing. Saturn rules business cycles. I build. 10th house career issues.

If I want abundance in my life then I need the archetypal force of my inner Magi (Sun and 7th chakra) and Planner (Saturn and 1st chakra) as the vehicle to drive those hopes, wishes and dreams home.

For the next SoulCollage® challenge we’ll drive this energy home by actively engaging the energies of Saturn and Capricorn. Leo and the Sun is about creating your heart's desire. Saturn brings you the structure, the support to create with.

I am the One who....

Here are some of the themes for a Capricorn and/or Saturn collage:

• Fire and Earth. Leo in Saturn.
• 1st Chakra, tribal conditioning, father issues- good father, bad father
• Future Security- time, decisions, maturity, Social Security i.e. - retirement and old-age.
• Handling responsibility- self-discipline, adult behavior, keeping commitments, competency, and public image.
• Goals- ambition, defining goals, using opportunities, professions, hard work.
• Success- accomplishments, recognition, social status, achieving goals.
• Management- following protocol, delegating responsibility, being in charge, respect.
• Authority- issues with authority, people outside of our self where we give our power away.
• Fathers, bosses and other authority figures, tradition, reputation.
• The Shadow energy: obsessive, excessive CONTROL- lack of joy, sternness, fear of new approaches, pessimism, inflexibility, self-justification, obsession with power, status and appearance, fear.
• Restoring health of the bones and joints, Arthritis and rheumatism, gall bladder and gallstones, Knees, Skin- psoriasis and itching.

The SoulCollage® challenge for the next new moon is due January 8th. Online you’ll see I opened up the New Moon Yahoo group as a community to talk about this process- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/newmoonjournal . You are invited to join in, share your SoulCollage® cards,upload images, ask questions and take these new moon teachings deeper.

Find out where Saturn in Leo is in your chart and then read this from the archives.

WANT MORE: To read the rest of this story click here to print out Part 2 from the PDF- Saturn retrograde, shamanic journey and more....

* The WaBac Machine of Mr. Peabody and his boy Sherman: The WABAC was a time machine which Peabody and Sherman would use to travel back in time to witness various historical events. However, on each visit, they would discover that things didn't happen the way they were supposed to (such as Paul Revere not being able to make his ride due to only having a statue of a horse instead of a real one), and would subsequently wind up working to fix whatever the problem was (using Peabody's great intellect to do so), so that history would be accurate.

**  Following the 12 days of Christmas: Aries New Moon/March on December 27th I plan to be reviewing March 2006 energy in my journal. One day = 1 month of 2006. 12 days = 12 months.

If something happened to you in June of 2006 then on December 30 you have the opportunity to look at the experiences again with a fresh perspective. Do you see how this tracks with the 12 days of Christmas?

Was there a month your creativity soared? Was there a month your creativity soured? Check in and relate it to the New Moon energy of that month:  Aries– I am, Taurus– I have, Gemini– I think, Cancer– I feel, Leo– I will,  Virgo– I analyze, Libra-I balance, Scorpio– I create,  Sag– I perceive,  Capricorn– I use,  Aquarius– I know, Pisces– I believe.

RESOURCES:

John Mathews quoted from his book The Winter Solstice: The Sacred Traditions of Christmas (Paperback) ISBN-10: 0835608344

Mr. Peabody image from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Peabody

Here is a Christian perspective about the symbology of the 12 days in the Christian Mysteries http://www.crivoice.org/cy12days.html

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"This article is 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. The New Moon Journal © 2001-2006. All rights reserved. Author retains all copyright privileges. This journal is published monthly at http://www.newmoonjournal.com. Please subscribe through Feedblitz http://www.feedblitz.com/f/f.fbz?ListHTML=40628.”

Part 1. Refuse to choose - everyone's a Rembrandt at this New Moon.

At this new moon decide you are a Rembrandt. In the Leo area of your life you want to shine. Each of us has come to share our unique spark. As with each new moon cycle we have the opportunity to tap into the energy at hand. Saturn is moving through Leo for the first time in 28 years. This energy is redefining the structure and form of how you create. The creative process for you, not someone else, or someone else’s expectations.

New Moon in Leo Tuesday, July 25, 2006 12:31 AM est, at 3 degrees of Leo.

The zodiac is a sacred mandala representing the 12 fold way of healing the lower self and integrates a deeper soul force from the archetypal realm. The Sun is your CEO, it’s the leader in the chart. This Astro~Mandala represents the journey of the ‘whole’ potential of you. In the zodiac we have the dance of duality represented by the opposing signs such as Aries/Libra, Taurus/Scorpio, Gemini/Sagittarius, Cancer/Capricorn, Leo/Aquarius, etc.

In the Leo area of your life one needs to see themselves reflected through the creative modes of self-expression. What can I create with my passionate nature that gives me joy? And more important how do I share this heart expression with the world?

Leo ruled by the Sun, represents our sense of personal importance within family and community. In the Leo area I need to feel confident and in charge of my creative gifts so I move out into the world and share with Humanity. Leo represents recognition and the need to take pride in personal accomplishments without getting caught up in the egoic self.

Think of a paint by numbers kit. I loved those kits as a child-the little jars, the brush, the smell of paint, the excitement. Someone designs the canvas or structure and you fill in the blanks. You are directed where to place the paint and through a step by step process you create  the picture.  Now this is fine in the beginning but at some point you are called to step off the known path and work the design out yourself. Become the Rembrandt. Usually this creates a pushing force as well as resistance.  This lunation, this 29 day cycle will highlight issues you have with being creative. Getting pushed around to set down the creative form. Pushing through.  How are you shining your light?

Saturn is the task master we all push against…there is always an obstacle to push through or up against. This is life.  Saturn demands that we respond. You may become aware at this new moon what you are pushing through and/or coming up against. Saturn has been in Leo since July 2005. He leaves next September in 2007. This month you get to see how this Saturn cycle is playing itself out. Where is Leo in your chart? What house? That is where the energy is. The last time Saturn moved through Leo was 1976 through 1978.  What did you create back then? How are you responding today?

Pushing Through. Think of a baby floating in the mother’s womb, and then pushing through the birth canal to be born. In life this is the first energy you meet. Psychologists have found that this birth imprint  colors your life both in negative and positive ways. Your mother’s long labor may mean that things manifest in slow and methodical ways. You may think things are not happening yet in reality they are, you just can’t see it as yet.

Your mother’s short labor may mean that you manifest things in life very rapidly and then find the spark is gone, you or they are ready to move on.  And C-section babies are a whole other story. Once I understood my own birth experience, embracing the healing journey it required I started manifesting differently. My creative spark re-ignited, and that is what this lunation- the New Moon in Leo is all about. Becoming a Rembrandt, the artist you are by…

Finding and igniting your creative spark. Think about your creative babies, projects you start, projects you abort…then do some journaling– see how your birth experience is still effecting your life.  What was happening for you back in 1977-1978?

This New Moon in Leo rules:

• Personal heart connections- romance, children, dating, intense love relationships, giving and seeking approval.
• Creativity including enthusiasm, artistic expression, total subjective involvement, self-actualization, passion.
• Giving attributes of love- loyalty, generosity, bringing joy, encouragement, kindness.
• Pleasure and celebration- fun, play, games, parties, vacations, recreational sports and taking risks for excitement.
• Dignity representing recognition, being the center of attention, self-confidence, powerful individual expression, radiance, benevolence.
• Determination including leadership, concentrated focus, follow through, strength of purpose, resoluteness and stamina.
• Arrogance- pride, being overly dramatic, self-centeredness, extravagance, bossiness.
• Restoring health of back and spine, exhaustion, heart, inflammation.

I was born with Leo in the 9th house. For those astrologers Pluto conjunct Neptune there at 28 degrees of Leo. Uranus sits in the 8th house at 29 degrees of Cancer. This is a lot of raw power. From 1974–1978 I was studying interior design.

I wanted to go into commercial building construction but was afraid of heights. Sending me to a large commercial project and traveling up open construction elevators just put the fear of God into me.

I wanted to be an architect, but felt I couldn’t ‘do’ the math (later I found out architects don’t do the math, engineers do). Instead I opted for interior design with a minor in graphics.

Back in 1978 it was time to put together my Senior Design Portfolio- then I could go out into the world and get a ‘real’ Interior design job. One of the assignments was the Lessirard Residence for my future husband and I. I conceived and designed the floor plan, furniture and finishes for our dream home. I put my heart and soul into that plan and design and I can still see it clearly today.

After graduation I wanted to learn more than what school taught me. In December 1978 I set out to learn how everything in a building was constructed (behind the walls and in the ceiling). If I was going to design something then I needed to know how it came together and communicate that to the contractor on paper (blueprints). I worked for a cabinet shop, spent a lot of time in the field observing and asking questions. Nothing pisses me off more than an interior designer who doesn’t know how to communicate what they want to build- that’s the difference between a designer and a decorator.

My field work served me well when ten years later and seven months pregnant I qualified to sit for the State of Florida contractor’s exam (one of the hardest in the nation). I passed it in August 1989. On the day of our daughter’s birth, I was licensed to build homes in Florida. Three years later I walked away from that aspect of my life…

Currently I am reading four books:

• Barbara Sher’s Refuse to Choose a Revolutionary Program for Doing Everything That You Love
• Moving On by Sarah Ban Breathnach on creating a home that truly reflects your spirit
• The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live by Sarah Susanka
• A Whole New Mind-why right brainers will rule the future by Daniel Pink.

For me Saturn in Leo in the seventies was about building. Is it any wonder that my creative juices are in building and renovation. There is a inner drive to complete the plantation house and get it de-cluttered. There is a drive to get our lake house built so I/we can get out of the city and just be. Here are some pictures from my design of the Lessirard Lake House to be built in 2006/07.

I cannot tell you how strong this need is for me right now. How Saturn in Leo is working me, pushing me backwards and forwards. Two years ago we bought a stock plan from Coastal Living Magazine (they have great plans by the way).  Of course being the ‘interior designer’  the plan had to be tweaked. But what surprised me in April was the huge amount of fear that came up as I stepped into the tweaking process. It was a moment that took me by surprise…the clarity of it all so sweet.

I recognized that my fear had stopped me dead in my tracks for the last three years. Plans in hand I consciously faced this fear and pushed through it, slowly at first. Then in May I found the right CAD software program. This new software woke me up creatively and I burned through the fear and started to play. I created a new plan and went in a different direction. Going from paint by numbers into schematic that works for our family. Along the way these wonderful books came into my life. I pick one up read a bit, it inspires me and then go create. The process is affirming and joyful.

It’s not the linear thing to do, but hey it’s the way I process things these days. I know now that I was always trying to fit myself, and creative people just don’t fit the norm. My life is heading in a direction I did not anticipate (that’s the refuse to choose part of the equation). My creative process does not look very ‘normal’ for someone looking in (inspired by the books Moving On and A Whole New Mind).

I am sharing my story and naming my creative process. I may start something, go great gusto on it and then the energy burns out for a time. Something I started years ago may suddenly be back ready to manifest. I now know I multi-task creatively in a right brain way, that leads to disorder to create order. Some of the projects are viable and some are not. What I am learning to do is to hold onto those I love and let go of the rest. Trust myself and this process.

These projects may manifest in another time, another way, just don’t let me get bogged down by the weight or responsibility. There is such a thing a right timing, and your projects reflect that. Your project and those creative juices may be a blip that moves you into and onto something bigger and better.

And don’t expect to be understood. Quite frankly my creative process drives my husband crazy sometimes, but it is also the reason he fell in love with me. And this energy has picked up speed once again as I step back into areas of my life (interior design, architecture, construction)  I abandoned back in the early 90’s. I joyfully see myself taking things on in a new fresh way. Playing. That is the creative process of us building a ‘not so big’ house together that started with my dream house back in 1977. I feel guilty for the detour I am taking from the healing practice, yet I know when I return I will be better for it. I’ll shine brighter.

Where this is headed I do not know, and that in itself is fun and scary at the same time as I refuse to choose.

Stay tuned for Part 2– I’ll share how these books are informing and inspiring this creative process. Have a wonderful Leo New Moon! Shine brightly for all the world to see!!

 

Mercury Retrograde- come on baby light my fire!

On July 4, 2006 at 3:34 pm Mercury goes retrograde at 2 degrees of Leo. Fireworks to boot! These are the times to laugh and dance your way through. If you have been working on something, like a project, and it’s been in the works now before June 18th, please don’t fret. Go ahead with your plans…go with the flow. If you started the project/process after June 18th, then go slow, check out the facts.

During this time you’ll “discover the truth of a situation and be able to act accordingly.” (Hill, 2002). Mercury goes retrograde every 115 days. The Universe asks all of us slow down and stop a moment- relax, renew, restore. Mercury rules all forms of communication- it’s your day to day mind chatter that you either create through or get distracted by. Re-think. Re-focus. For those who have a chart in hand, you’ll want to see where 2 degrees of Leo to 21 degrees of Cancer is- that’s Mercury Retrograde’s territory for the next 30 days. Keep in mind you don’t see the bigger picture until the full moon in Aquarius on August 9th.

Mercury rules the ‘RE’ factor in all of our lives. This Mercury retrograde (July 4- July 30) period starts in fiery Leo and then moves into watery Cancer. Fire and water don’t mix. You may find yourself mad and/or passionate and then emotional about the whole experience. Have a good cry reminding yourself “if I can’t laugh at it, it isn’t healed.”

This energy started officially on June 18th on Father’s day. Maybe our issues with Dad and Mum are at hand. Whose voice is driving you to distraction? The goal of this energy is to help you clean up the affairs of the past two years since the Venus retrograde (June 2004–February 2005).

I won’t bore you with the details of that Venus retrograde period, just suffice it to say you now have the opportunity to do some rich deep inner renovation work related to feeling secure that moves you out into the world in a new way. What you have been putting off is now here in your face wanting attention.

The caution according to Lynda Hill in her book The Sabian Symbols as an Oracle is that the stories (mind chatter) get out of control. This is not the time to gossip about others.

How is this energy manifesting in my life? Well after two intense hurricanes seasons Mr. and Mrs. Lessirard are tired of hauling out and bolting down the aluminum panels three and four times in a three month period; then living like moles in the darkness with each hurricane that threatens (Francis, Jeannie, Katrina, Wilma). The Lessirard Home is getting impact hurricane windows…windows rated for ‘large missile impact’. Think about that statement. We are ‘retro-fitting’- ‘re-ing’ the place. In writing this I am reminded it was two years ago when the Hurricanes began pummeling Florida in a fast and furious way. ***sigh***

Don’t blow this opportunity. No just kidding, I sense you have been working like a dog trying every which way to make things happen, when in essence there needs to be a level of trust that all is in divine order. That’s the relax part. Your pushing energy isn’t’ working at the present moment. That’s why I am asking you to relax, renew and restore. Mercury retrograde is a time to stop the pushing, stop the controlling and ruminating on why things just aren’t going your way. Not a time to whine, it’s just making others angry. Play…get outside instead of checking email. Get a massage, read a good book, sit in that chair and veg. That’s the renew part.

The cosmic clean up crew are doing double duty behind the scenes and by August 1st you’ll be in a much different space and place mentally, emotionally and physically.  That’s the restore part. Come on baby light my fire!

Some key ‘re’ words for a Mercury Retrograde:

recess, relax, reframe, restore, renovate, revoke, rebuild, rebuff,  restructure, restyle, review, reveal, remove, rethink, revise, remember, relinquish, relish, relapse, rejoice, reject, reinforce, relate, relent, relieve, reach, reap, receive, reciprocate…..

Care to add you own?