A lot of Pisces have been asking me, “With Jupiter going into Aries later this month, did I miss something?” I think a lot of Pisces have been feeling robbed. The truth is that the passage of Jupiter through our sign (yes, I am a Pisces too), was a whopping disappointment, if you look at it as a manifestation engine. It started out all right, and had a lot of promise, as we were in the middle of a depression. But things got rather complicated and instead it revealed other purposes. Read – train wreck. For a lot of us, we were put through the wringers of our lives. Tossed and turned, mashed and spit out, all in all, it was a tough year for Pisces.

This is how it’s supposed to go, When Jupiter transits any sign, you expect expansion, good fortune, opportunity and well, just good. Sometimes it just feels so good that we don’t DO anything. We just enjoy it.

I think what happened to Pisces was a terrific gift. Instead of a comfy ride, we got pushed to our limits, pushed right in front of our fears and our feet got put in the fire. Not where we really want to go. In the process, our denials got brought up, magical thinking got confronted and we were pushed into places where we had no knowledge. We had to grab our intuition, dig deep and keep digging deep until we mastered letting go and trusting other forces. What a nightmare! What a blessing!

Why do you think this happened? Here is my astrological perspective. First of all Pisces are reluctant leaders. Inspired, but reluctant. So there was Jupiter swimming through Pisces, happy as a clam, but then the big picture started. Uh oh, gotta dance with Uranus, Mr. Unpredictable, Explosive, Innovative, Internet planet. So we had huge floods, volcanic eruptions, social networking (Mark Zuckerberg – Man of the Year), lots of innovation, huge exposure of hidden agenda’s in religion, in the macrocosm, and job loss, back and forth with unemployment benefits, careers disappearing, middle class disappearing, loss of money (flow) on the microcosmic/personal level. In June with the Cardinal grand square Jupiter tiptoed out of Pisces for a look at what is going to be tipped over next and what choices we will face, and then back into the Pisces torture chamber for a little while longer!! Still not free of Saturn – stern task master and teacher of structure, and the one who tears down what needs restructuring, and Pluto, the uncoverer of all of our masks, and hidden psyche. Wham, torn to a humbling naked soul essence. Yikes, no place to hide!

In the process, shy little Pisces were asked to confront things they never thought they’d have to, look at finances in a way they never had, and to find ways for their families to stay afloat. And they did it with aplomb. This is what Pisces learned: how to navigate difficult circumstances, stand up for themselves, speak out, take a stand, re-learn almost everything, be really flexible, radioactively let go of what is not working (people included), and lead from the inside out. And love everyone in the process, love them without gile. Expand the compassionate heart. Pisces learned that the intuitive side of themselves can be really useful, and that it will be the guiding force into the next phase of humanity. Pisces were given a task, learn how to go inside and listen to real guidance, or go down with the ship. And we did it. Now, hard part, we are being asked to do what’s next – show others what we have learned. Again, not an easy task for most Pisces, but one we are being put right in front of. Being leaders and stepping out. And a lot of us will be starting fresh when Jupiter goes into Aries on January 19th…sometime after the full moon at 4:22 pm EST. Which is a very interesting full moon.

So all you Pisces darlings, and those of you with planets in Pisces as well, and well most of us anyway…stay tuned for an interesting new chapter as it unfolds and we take it by the horns. This is a fantastic Full Moon to move into action and do some ritual to help you. To set your intentions. Celebrate the fullness. More of that later!

For months now Chiron, Neptune, Saturn and Mercury have been working their magic on us, propelling us to change, heal the past and evolve and create new structures that work with a new unfoldment of our own true nature. As we find ourselves shedding the past, being present in the turmoil and recreating the future, we have felt unhinged, challenged, relieved, crushed, immobilized and confused. And yet something new is emerging, a new strength, sense of purpose and relationship with the highest in ourselves and humanity is being revealed. Just when things seem their worst, these glimmers of hope come forth. Our outer striving is being replaced with an inner call being sounded from the depths of our despair and helplessness. The inner landscape is so different from what is happening around us. Tuning into this inner knowledge is essential at this moment in time because each one of us hold a piece of the puzzle before us and is needed to set the world right. It was encoded in our very DNA, and we just have to call it forth with prayer and intention to recognize it’s truth.

Tomorrow July 7 is a Full Moon at 5:21 am (at 15 degrees Capricorn) and a Prenumbral Lunar Eclipse at 5:39 (at 15 degrees Capricorn). Although astrologically this event is nothing more spectacular that what has been going on since December, the crop circles in the UK have been pointing to this date and the imagery is of phoenixes, menets, sunspots, solar flares and electromagnetic changes on the earth. Just yesterday the image of Quetzalcoatl appeared next to Silbury Hill near Avebury, Wiltshire UK, where the most crop circle activity of the season is happening, (http://www.cropcircleconnector.com/2009/silburyhill/comments.html). Silbury Hill is a neolithic man-made mound that has a relationship to the great pyramid at Giza (read more at http://www.cropcirclesandmore.com/thoughts/200901sgp.html). It too has the image of the eclipse and within it an eclipse, pointing to the second eclipse that will happen this month. Interestingly enough, a sunspot emerged 2 days ago, from a rather inactive sun. Check it out at www.spaceweather.com. Since we have several new and large openings in our atmosphere, the electromagnetic energy released by the sunspot flares will penetrate our planet in a new way than what we have experienced in the past. Although it will not hurt us physically, it does have an effect on satellites, energy grids, telecommunications and electronic systems. Many of these will recover in short amounts of time…the energy grid is questionable because of it’s interconnectivity. Reading what I have from a number of sources, and taking in the astrological movement of the past few months, I suspect that another effect of this will be on our energy systems and connection with source.

As those of you who study and use Reiki know, our bodies have an electromagnetic energy field that emanates outward in an oval shape several feet around us. This field protects us, senses like antennae, absorbs and mingles with other energies and cleanses us when we meditate and balance our energy. This field also holds our thoughts, attitudes, visions, patterns, and potential. It’s also changing as we work on ourselves and evolve spiritually. It changes in color, size and shape depending on the work we are doing. That’s why working with systems like Reiki, Acupuncture, Tai Chi and Qui Gong are so beneficial at this time, as they balance and restore our energy systems to operate at fullest capacity. Even something simple as meditation causes our energy fields or auras to glow and increase the light that our physical bodies can hold. As we do that work, we can feel ourselves healing and changing. And as humans helping other humans, we can only discharge as much energy as our physical bodies can deal with at this time. So, what if the solar flares and the hole in our atmosphere makes more of this energy available to us that we can give to each other? What if it’s a boost that we need to overcome some deeply ingrained traumas and energies that we humans just can’t dislodge on our own.

It’s just a thought, and I put it out there to all you healers and energy workers, what do you think? We have been doing therapy, working on ourselves, meditating, chanting, studying, intuiting, channeling, and all. We’ve grown and changed and moved through a lot. Yet, there is so much more to release. I sure could use a boost from the universe!!! I just don’t think humans evolve on their own anyway, we are part of a larger living organism, the universe!! Just as the earth is a living organism, so is the galaxy and larger universe we exist it. That vastness is hard to reckon with, but we are relating to things we know nothing about all the time. That is what I call the unseen world, the world of spirit, energy and other dimensions. Just cause we can’t see them, doesn’t mean they don’t exist!!! So the Sun is an organism too. I think it’s no coincidence that we have been coconed by our atmosphere for eons, evolving at our own pace, and now we might be in for an acceleration. Maybe our own stupidity and ecological blindsightness set us up for a big ride that we actually needed to have happen. I don’t know so much, but in my experience, things happen for a reason. From my loss of work, to new understanding about my place in things, to new ways of considering what is going on around me…I have always been taken care of no matter how gloomy the picture. No need to think that what is unfolding on this planet will be any different than that.

My own connection to source has changed radically in the past few months. Like others, it has been an intense year. A job which I loved ended, I lost my Mom to cancer, my husband lost his job and we almost lost our home. I really thought I was forsaken by the spirit world which I have drawn strength from and has nurtured me for many years. I still had the thought that just because I had a strong connection to spirit, that I wouldn’t have to go through anything. I wouldn’t have to feel the desolation and despair that others experienced. Somehow my spirituality and belief in spirit would protect me. I would master it. Well that’s a load of hooey! I was protected, but not in the ways I imagined. We didn’t lose our home. My Mom’s death has opened up entirely new facets of our relationship that I never would have experienced with her living. My job loss has turned into career path opening and a shedding of the past to truly embrace my potential. Our loss of income taught us to lighten our loads and simplify our living. It has taught our children to buck up and to value what we do have. And I learned to make something out of who I am right now, not who I want to be or when I get it right. Being in the present and being who I authentically am.

So with all of that, I look with hope and interest in what may be unfolding before us. It’s exciting to think there is more to know about our universe, that there most certainly may be others out there, and we are not alone. In fact, we are not alone ever, but unless we recognize the interconnectedness to all things, we forget that. It will be interesting to see what our role in this interplanetary change will be. One thing for certain, things never stay the same!! Happy Capricorn Full Moon!!

A Full Moon in Libra asks each of us to sit still, open your heart and mind and listen fully to another without interruption or judgment. The Full Moon in Libra is reflecting to light of Aries sun, which is an opportunity to know our selves in an effort to know others and create a space for others to know us. Because of the position of the other planets, we are compelled to think about the needs of others with determination and focused intent, and we can tackle relationship issues that might seem difficult. Just keep listening and let what you hear settle in you. Your heart will know what to do.
Mercury enters Taurus on the 10th – Mercury’s energy is about communication and Taurus is about security, stability and finances- so for the next few weeks there will be a lot of thought and evaluation of your needs, and whether your best interests are being met, and how you are communicating that to those who matter. It’s also an opportunity to communicate with anyone you owe money to and work out new agreements of repayment, negotiate lowering your rent, and even thinking about relocating if those needs are not being met in your present location.

Last month, Venus went Retrograde in Aries. This month that continuing Retrograde has Venus entering Pisces. Venus Retro is not a good time to make relationship commitments – unless second time around, or change your hairstyle, but you might see old flames popping up out of the woodwork. It’s a good time to look at those old relationships, and old issues, and see how far you have come since then. If it gets a bit emotional, just let it out and have a good cry. Nothing like tears to wash out your system and let go!! Find ways to be grateful for how these relationships and experiences have changed you for the better, be glad for what you have in your life right now, and thank the Universe all the great gifts that are on their way to you right now. Then when Venus goes direct on the 18th you’ll be ready to connect up again and socialize.

The Sun enters Taurus on the 20th, an Earth sign all about building, ownership and possession. This is a time to reflect using the Pluto retro in Cap.. and see that it is not the material that needs building but rather love, courage, compassion and understanding… and believe me the Taurean energy has the determination and endurance to do just that if it sets its mind to it !

Mars enters Aries on the 22nd, bringing our ideas, emotions and dreams into positive actions. Let the energy of the Sun in Taurus ground those big bright powerful urges and take practical actions to make the passion tangible.

A week after moving direct, Venus then enters Aries on the 24th. This will definitely bring the spontaneity and passions back into your life. Now is the time to do something beautiful in your surroundings, or get a makeover!

The New Moon on the 24th, is just begging us to be grounded and in the present. With both the sun and moon in this sign, it is the perfect time to be practical about your life and review what is it you need in order to make your souls physical existence a more comfortable one. As Mercury in Taurus has been prompting us, take your analysis of what wealth and abundance really means to you and write a gratitude list of all that you already have. Look to where you need to expand your thinking in this area and set intentions for creating what you need. When you are taking care of your own security needs, you have much more to share with the world. Make a commitment to share your wealth in whatever way you can. Just by intending to share your abundance, you are you are setting the tone for re-imagining the world as a sustainable, interconnected planet.

Dates and Times to Remember – In Eastern Standard Time

Pluto Retrograde
Sat, April 4, 3:35am

Full Moon Libra & Sun in Aries
Thurs, April 9, 10:55 am

Venus Retrograde enters Pisces
Fri, 10 April, 8:47pm

Mercury enters Taurus
Fri, April 10, 12:21am

Venus Direct
Fri, 17 April, 3:24am

Sun Enters Taurus
Sun, 19 April 19, 6:44am

Mars enters Aries
Tues, April 21, 9:44pm

Earth Day
Wed, April 22

Venus enters Aries
Thurs, April 23, 3:18pm

New Moon
Moon & Sun in Taurus
Fri, April 24, 11:24 pm

Look at what you created from last year. Think about this, even if you didn’t set your intentions in this way, you did bring things into manifestation. What did you create? This will form the ground from which you will create for your new year. It’s where you will plant your seeds. As you honor your creations, see how you were setting yourself up for changes you are heading into this year. Because it has been so confusing (the confluence of planets moving through Aquarius for the past few months has us all ungrounded and disoriented) it’s hard to recognize where we are going. So much has been taken away, and where we are going has not been revealed to most of us. Yet, everything we are creating now is part of the writing of the new story for collective humanity at this critical moment. We are all part of the story and what we create in this new year will be part of a bigger story.

Look at the past year with a fresh eye. By holding the past up to the light and looking at it’s shimmering qualities, you can re-frame job loss as an entry into new opportunity, personal defeat as a chance to become humble and spiritually renewed, financial loss as a way to reexamine your relationship to money, and tightening our belts as a way to become more financially stable.

To explain this astrologically, as we move into this equinox, the sun going into Aries starts to square Pluto, and then goes into an exact square on March 23. Borrowing from Barbara Hand Clow’s analysis “This cardinal square will activate power struggles in the collective mind that will be sourced in your very own creative intentions. I am not suggesting that any of you need to manifest things to aid and abet the collective, since you will do that anyway. For example, if you want to create a financially secure home, then you will be participating in the global housing issue.” So what we are driven to create will have larger ramifications, as we will be contributing to the greater health of humanity by making our lives more passionate and fulfilled.

With Mars in Pisces sextiling Pluto, we will be called upon to use our intuition to guide us rather than our more rational minds. Mars (action, assertiveness, getting things done) is not so happy in Pisces (spiritual, introverted and inner) and it will be hard to get things done in a traditional way. Being guided by our intuition is the way to change the difficult and stuck places we are navigating at the moment. So just let it rip, and ask for guidance!!

Chiron and Neptune have been dancing closer and closer towards each other and we are on the verge of 5 exact conjunctions of these two heavenly bodies into 2012. The conjunction of two great spiritual and healing powers encourages us to heal ourselves from trauma and access our inner sight. It will be hard to resist the impetus to make greater and greater strides to bring health and equilibrium into our lives. It will also work on the collective unconscious to heal the ways we have been traumatized as a species over the past few millenniums. The integration of these two, personal and collective, is what we are going through right now, as we prepare to harmonize with all the energies that are streaming into the planet over the next few years. So this is a very potent time to instigate and accept change.

Mercury in Pisces is very close to Uranus and will conjunct on March 24th. These two coming together will promote clarity and just “knowing” so trust any insights you get at this time. Take your ideas seriously. As we are pushed into alignment with greater possibilities by the square of Sun and Pluto, we will be given the inner tools for taking action.

The interplay between the Equinox Moon in Capricorn, Mercury/Uranus in Pisces, and Saturn in Virgo, which all interact with each other, bodes well for manifestation this equinox. Actions will be grounded, structured, practical and higher minded. Working with your intentions and being able to take the steps to manifest them is a way to connect to the flow that is available right now so take heart and dive in!!

Thanks to my astrological mentor and inspiration, Barbara Hand Clow for her amazing analysis of the world stage and it’s relationship to our lives through astrology. Visit her site www.handclow2012.com and check out her new moon political analysis. Always insightful.

I was living in an ashram in upstate New York and the seva project I was doing was in the Sewing Room with a bunch of Sweede’s who loved astrology. It was all we chatted about as we were working. I was mostly interested in finding Mr. Right. And there were lost of good single prospects all around me. I began by casually asking someone I was interested in to tell me his date of birth and astro particulars. They were happy to comply, wow someone maybe giving them a free reading!! I dove in, and by doing it, I became better. I had a knack for it. People started asking me for more information and voila…I started doing charts.

Why would I want to, or think I could, get 100,000 people to start doing astrology this year? Well, for one, there are a lot of people out there looking for direction. Not only can we help ourselves, we can help others when we look at the way we interact with the energy around us. We can take more responsibility for our choices. We can learn about things that we can do to help our selves. We can learn to be more honest with ourselves about our shortfalls, and our abilities. A whole picture emerges that sometimes is hard to see when we are immersed in our problems.

I also think this technology, yes…it’s a technology, can be used to help our global crisis. It can help us attune to nature and the natural cycles of life that we miss when we are busy Blackberrying and trying to make ends meet. It can help us to find our right place in the world, our true north. I think we all want more of that!!

So this Aquarius new moon on January 26th, I committed to putting it out there, in a way that people can relate to. I will be writing this blog on an aspect of astrology, but tied into world events, ecology and nature spirituality. For me, relationship of spirituality to the earth and to being a part of the bigger global society is VERY important. It’s a must. So it will be a combination of information, opinion, and just plain reporting!!! As a sacred activist, I hope I can get people interested in how we can change the planet by adding what I do well to the mix. And by doing that, maybe you can add what you do well also!!