There’s
a heated poker game going on between the universe & its many
consciousnesses (that’s us - the wee mortal humans). The universe, as it does every so often, is upping the
ante. In cosmic time, such things
can take months or millennia, or several timeframes at once. Regardless, the questions in such cosmic moments are:
Do you
have the resources to ante up?
If not,
are you willing to fake it &/or borrow until you do?
If you
are not willing to ante/fake/borrow, are you willing to fold, give up this
particular game, & move to another table for a more appropriate game -
perhaps you’re actually more of a Blackjack or Go Fish type?
If you
do have the resources to ante up, do you have the courage & clarity to do
so?
What’s
your winning strategy - once you’re in the proper game, & do chip in?
To
frame this metaphor more bluntly, it’s time to commit on a deeper level to the
truest next maneuver in your life, & to let go of anything you’re not
willing to commit fully to. Your
motto for the next month could be any of the following: Do it or lose it. Use it
or lose it. Commit or
release. Hoka hey.
And now
for the astrological breakdown:
The Sun enters Taurus on April 19th, in the 9th house, conjunct Mars, Venus &
Pallas, all moving into opposition with Saturn in Scorpio, & moving into a
sextile with Neptune in Pisces.
Simultaneously, Mercury & Uranus are nearing conjunction
(4/20). Hence, the energetic
imperative of the Taurus solar month (4/19/13 - 5/20/13) is release -
specifically mental release - that enables truer commitment.
Neptune’s
influence encourages compassion & forgiveness. His/her (Neptune’s gender is obscure) placement in the 6th
house cautions against judgment & expecting perfection from oneself or
others, & stimulates generosity of action. Do something selfless for someone this month, but ONLY from
a place of love & non-attachment.
Acting in someone’s behalf with any shred of guilt, or any attachment to
how your gift/service will be received or utilized will only backfire. Check in with your values & your
heart before you act on someone’s behalf.
Generally,
the Sun’s transit through Taurus is a good time to commit to something you want
to see through in the long haul.
You determine what such things are by getting clear about your values,
& then committing to those activities that align with your values &
also help you to obtain & enjoy what you value (the good things in life, as
defined by you). This year, make
sure these actions, experiences & possessions are also in alignment with
your philosophies.
You may find these questions helpful throughout the Taurus solar
month (4/19/13 - 5/20/13):
What do
you value now?
What do
you believe & believe in?
Are
your values & beliefs in alignment?
If not, how can you bring them into alignment?
Are
your values in alignment with your actions & decisions? If not, how can you bring them into
alignment?
Do you
value what you own? If not, why do
you own it (i.e. What’s your fear?)
How
might letting go of what you do not value (relationships, possessions, skills,
jobs, etc) create more space for what you truly value?
Do you
trust that the vacancy created by letting go will be filled? If not, why?
What
risk is it time to take? (Hint: this
is a risk on yourself, though it may show up in an outer-world action)
How
might issues of self-esteem or faith be getting in the way of your taking this
risk?
What
new, revolutionary insights are coming to light for you at this time?
How can
you integrate these ideas into your consciousness & into your actions?
How
& to whom might you be of service this month?
Does
that service align with your values, beliefs, & joy?
If not,
what is your attachment with this person or their outcome?
How can
you let that go, thus allowing them to face their own karma & take
responsibility for their own evolution?
This imperative of release & commitment is further
strengthened by the lunar eclipse (full moon on steroids) in Scorpio on 4/25. The
Moon is then aligned with Saturn in Scorpio, while the
Sun continues its alignment with Mars, all directly on the chart’s vertical
axis. Neptune in Pisces adds some
emotional momentum through a trine/sextile with the Moon/Sun, strengthening a
need to let go, release what’s not yours, & forgive. Watch out, however, for overwhelm &
escapism. The tightrope to walk
here is to let go appropriately.
See below for questions to help you define what that is. With this configuration, we are offered
emotional insight into what our true commitments are & are not, but we have
to be willing to DIG. Scorpio has
no interest in surfaces.
These
commitments may feel big & even overwhelming, but they should ultimately
have that feeling of RIGHTNESS.
The sense to look for is, “Well, it may not be easy, but it’s the right
thing to do.” If it’s familiar, if
it’s easily & quickly accomplished, it is unlikely to be right at this
time. With the Sun conjunct Mars
in Taurus on the Midheaven, it’s time to roll up the sleeves & get to work
out in the world. With the Moon
conjunct Saturn on the Nadir, opposite that Sun/Mars/MC, it’s time to be honest
with & responsible to what we truly feel in our heart of hearts. Those solar actions will be
strengthened when they come from the heart, & will only backfire if they
stem from a sense of duty, guilt, fear, &/or judgment.
Questions to help you evolve through the Scorpio lunar eclipse
(4/25):
How
have you allowed your roots (parents, family, tribe, ethnicity, nation,
personal history) to shape you?
How can
you redefine yourself within the constructs of those roots so that they empower
you?
How can
you bring your career &/or place in society into truer alignment with your
values?
Are you
taking steps that, though difficult, in the long haul feel RIGHT to you?
What decisions
are you currently facing?
Are you
willing to do what feels more difficult, arduous & truer to your heart,
rather than what feels easy, familiar, & deep-down like a cop-out (i.e. a
betrayal of your heart)?
Are you
holding yourself to the same standards as you hold others to?
If not,
do you hold yourself to a much higher standard than others, or vice versa?
What
would happen if you leveled that playing field? How might that transform you, your relationships, & the
people you are in relationship with?
On 5/9, we have the second of this spring’s three eclipses - a
Taurus solar eclipse (new moon on
steroids). Although none of these
eclipses are particularly strong, the planetary energy throughout this time is
dense. This solar eclipse begins
the lunation that culminates in a Sagittarius lunar eclipse on 5/25 - the last
eclipse in the Gemini/Sagittarius axis until the end of 2019 (more on that in
next month’s posting). Also
occurring within this lunation is another exact square in the ongoing square dance between Pluto & Uranus (2012 - 2015) on 5/20/13.
This
Taurus solar eclipse closely aligns the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Mars, Pallas
& the Dragon’s tail (karmic release point) in the 7th house. Any new moon, but especially a solar
eclipse signifies a time to retreat into oneself in order to locate & hit
our personal reset button. With
all this activity in Taurus in the house of relationships, suggested reset
activities are gardening, hiking, or a picnic & heartfelt conversation with
a loved one. Basically, do
something rejuvenative & either contemplative &/or intimate out in
nature. Whatever it is, make sure
it’s something you enjoy, & enjoy it fully.
We are
also, in this solar eclipse chart, under the influence of a Grand Water Trine
between Saturn in Scorpio, Neptune in Pisces, & Vesta in Cancer. This is a prelude to this summer’s
Grand Water Trine fugue, so take note of the emotional momentum that is coming
up for you now. Consider the
energy of water: reflection, cleansing/release, the ability to fill any vessel
& take any form. With this
configuration, either (high road) you work with your emotions, or (low road)
they work you into overwhelm &/or cruelty to yourself or others - your
choice.
Questions to help you evolve through the Taurus solar eclipse
(5/9):
Review
& realign yourself with your values yet again, & see if they’ve shifted
since the Scorpio lunar eclipse.
What do
you value in relationships? Which
current relationships most align with your values?
Which
relationships do you value the most, & why? Do you act in alignment with that hierarchy?
Do you
feel valued in your relationships?
If not, how can you discuss this with those you are close with?
Do you
value those you are in relationship with?
What actions can you take that would clearly communicate that to your
partner/s?
Do you
have unhealthy attachments to anyone?
How can
you evolve those relationships into interdependency rather than codependency,
or let go of those relationships that are beyond salvation?
What do
your relationships teach you about who you are (& who you’re not)?
What is
the current state of your emotional momentum (do you tend towards anger,
depression, grief, overwhelm, etc)?
If you
are unable to access or work with your emotions, what sort of help would you be
willing to try (therapy, hypnotherapy, EMDR, NLP, weekly acupuncture, support
groups, regular exercise, etc)?
Do you
have any addictions (substances, food, TV, internet, social media, work, etc)?
What
are you willing to do to help yourself evolve out of those habits?
That
should tide you over until the Gemini solar month’s report on the Sagittarius
lunar eclipse & the next installment of the Pluto/Uranus square saga. This Taurus month is a preparation for
next month’s crack-your-mind-wide-open imperative. Good luck with this time of density, release, right risk,
& transformation.
For
more personalized insight, you may go here to schedule a private astrological
consult, or - if you’re feeling out of whack - an Alithesis
healing session. Until next
month’s posting, happy digging & delving, releasing & committing. Thanks for reading,
Rae Diamond
rae13diamond {at} gmail.com
