This is a time of intensive mental evolution. A confluence of planetary events &
patterns pushes us to jettison outdated belief systems, and leap forth into new
ways of thinking and perceiving.
As Mercury continues his retrograde cycle in Sagittarius, and as we
adjust our intentions from the Sagittarius Solar Eclipse, we are also preparing
for the cerebral stretching of a full lunar eclipse in Gemini.
Sagittarius represents the vaster reaches of the mind - the
part of us that asks the big questions - What is the meaning of life? Is there a god? Is life a dream, & if so, whose
dream is it? Is time linear,
cyclic or elastic? Etc.
Mercury represents the psychological impulse set of mental
agility & curiosity, and the mundane experiences of commuting &
communicating. As he retrogrades
in Sagittarius, we are encouraged to rethink our set beliefs about the big
questions. Which big
questions? Start with the
questions that come up for you when your communications & travel go awry,
as they often do during a Mercury retrograde cycle. For example, Is fault a useful inquiry, or is there a
more effective, compassionate and honest line of questioning?
Speaking of fault Mercury’s retrograde tends to be,
among the astrologically curious, the scapegoat of all that goes wrong during
the period of his retrograde. If
you feel that way during a Mercury retrograde, and if you dread these three
three-week energetic inversions each year, here are some ideas for you to try
on for size:
1,
It is not Mercury’s fault when things go wrong. More often than not, it’s something that could have been
prevented.
2,
Things are not going wrong.
Rather, events are occurring which are causing you to think
differently. Thinking differently
encourages the use of parts of your brain that normally lay dormant. Isn’t that sweet of Mercury to help you
grow?
3,
Mercury’s influence is on communication & travel, and all of the tools we
use to communicate & travel.
If other areas of your life are going awry, continue to refrain from
blaming Mercury. Instead, consider
what the situation is trying to teach you.
People have been asking me why this particular Mercury
retrograde has been difficult for them.
I have two responses:
1,
Any Mercury retrograde cycle that affects you intensely is likely to be hitting
hot spots in your natal or progressed chart.
2,
This retrograde cycle is occurring in the midst of two eclipses, one of which
will be in Gemini, which is ruled by Mercury, and the other of which was in
Sagittarius, where Mercury is retrograding. Considering that eclipses are new & full moons with
exclamation points, this retrograde adds some steroids into the energetic
cocktail. While Mercury in
retrograde has a wide reputation in popular astrology, eclipses do not.
May I make a motion to change that? Eclipses are a big deal, and
they stir things up like nobody’s
(including Mercury’s) business.
In astrology, the sun and the moon are the heaviest hitters. We feel their effects more intensely
than any other celestial bodies because the moon is so close to us and because
the sun is so huge and powerful - at least in the context of our little solar
system.
And now, finally, after much huffing & puffing, pumping
& priming, here is the scoop on the coming full lunar eclipse in Gemini:
drum roll, please...
This eclipse is aligned with the lunar nodes, and in a
Grand Cross pattern with Mars in Virgo, who is in the shadow of his coming
retrograde cycle, and the asteroid, Ceres, in Pisces. In addition, Saturn and Jupiter - in myth, father & son and
arch rivals - are moving into opposition.
And now the translation into usable information:
This configuration continues the pattern set in motion two
weeks prior to take a risk on yourself, to make a big leap. To do this, you will need to clarify your goals, and increase your
faith in yourself. Feel free to
review the questions posed in the previous entry.
In addition, it is of great importance that you take a good
look at your relationships. It’s
time to release relationships that are not working, and to release what is not
working from relationships you otherwise are happy with. Particularly pay attention to
relationships that interfere with your personal goals, and which have lost
their capacity for joy. There is a
lot of support for making a big shift in the arena of relationships, but this
will require Conversations with a capitol C. Identify & communicate what you are feeling effectively
and accurately. Here is a step by
step guide of how to do this:
1,
Take space. Go off by
yourself. Lick your wounds if you
have any. Be kind to yourself.
2,
Identify your emotions. You can do
it. Just keep at it, be patient
and kind with yourself, and the feelings will make themselves clear.
3,
Identify whether the emotion is fear-based or love-based. For example, anger is fear-based. Identify what that fear lurking beneath
your fury is. Sorrow is
love-based. Identify what the love
you are longing for is.
4,
Acknowledge and then come to peace with your fears and desires. Consider what your ideal outcome of the
conversation would be, in light of these fears and desires.
5,
Articulate (rather than demonstrate) your findings to the person you need to
work things out with. Do this
respectfully and compassionately.
6,
LISTEN to the other person. Be
compassionate, and stay neutral.
7,
Respond honestly and respectfully once you have heard the other person
out. See the conversation through
to a resolution.
Also up for review around this time are questions such as
these:
What
do I need to feel nurtured in my various relationships? How can I offer & communicate
nurturing in my relationships?
Are my skills and how I use them in alignment with my philosophies? If not, what do I need to change to
bring my beliefs, my abilities & my actions into alignment?
Listen to your body.
If you are experiencing any kind of physical illness or discomfort, your
body is sending you a message.
What is that message? It
may be time to increase or alter your self care. In light of the quantum leaps we are being asked to make in
our minds, consider your ability to alter your physical condition through
adjustments in attitude and action.
Replace victim mentality with an evolved mentality of strength,
intention and faith. For those of
you facing serious health concerns, this may sound like new age garbage. Taken on a surface level, it is.
Let’s go deeper.
Answer these questions honestly:
How
is my illness and/or pain protecting me from taking a risk I long to take but
am scared of?
Is
the illness and/or pain actually keeping me from taking this risk, or am I
merely using it as an excuse?
What if I found a way to proceed, in spite of the illness/pain? Remember that Django Reinhardt, the seminal jazz guitarist,
had two partially paralyzed fingers in his fretting hand. Mars reminds us that where there is a
will, there is a way. Identify
your desires that are in greatest alignment with your beliefs, and harness your
will to make them happen. Perhaps
your condition may help you pioneer a new path for others to follow, as
Reinhardt did.
What
if I was free of pain, free of this debilitating condition? What would I do? How would I act? How would I feel in my heart? Can I feel that way now? Try that feeling on for size. Embody it each and every day. Then notice what happens.
Well, that should keep you busy for another couple of weeks
until my Winter Solstice and new moon report. In the meantime, dream big, be utterly, wholly honest with
yourself, and listen, listen, listen to your heart, to your body, to nature,
and to the people around you.
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