WEEK OF AUGUST 19, 2019

He, who every morning plans the transactions of the day, and follows that plan,
carries a thread that will guide him through a labyrinth of the most busy life.
Victor Hugo

The week begins with the Moon in Aires. The Moon enters Taurus Wednesday at 00:38 EDT and will travel though Taurus until Friday morning when the Moon enters Gemini at 10:34am. The last quarter Moon happens at 0º Gemini, officially initiating the mutable Earth season with the Sun having just entered Virgo. The Moon travels through Gemini until late Sunday afternoon when it enters Cancer at 17:05 EDT.

This week, with 3 planets moving from Leo to Virgo we are getting a good glimpse of what the next month has in store for us. Mars left the sign of Leo for Virgo early Sunday morning and Venus follows suit on August 21st, leaving the brazen fires of Leo for the humbling pastures of Virgo. On August 23rd, the Sun leaves its domicile of Leo to enter Virgo, officiating the Mutable Earth season. However, with Mercury (ruling planet of Virgo) still in Leo, we are holding onto the golden rays and royal ways, and not entirely dedicated to the practical applications of our vision until Mercury enters Virgo on August 29th.

Mars →Virgo: August 18 – 1:17am EDT
Venus →Virgo: August 21 – 5:06am EDT
Sun →Virgo: August 23 – 6:01am EDT

THE PROCESS
With the Sun’s ingress into the Earth sign of Virgo, we begin the process of sorting out what needs tending. Virgo season brings our attention and focus on the many task that lays ahead of us, illuminating what needs to be organized, smoothed, resolved and eliminated for us to find proper footing. With the heavy influence of the Earth element in the next few weeks, our attention will be on the practical and tangible ways in which we can establish order in our daily lives and in our bodies. Simplifying, streamlining, and putting back the tools in their proper place, becoming aware of all the little ways in which we are not yet fully efficient, proficient and perfect. Anxiety is a shadow that looms large over Virgoan-type people, for there is always ways in which one can improve themselves, and this process is never done. Quality resides in the critical eye for better or for worst. Perfection is not a burden for the artisan, but a guiding principle informing his repetitive actions which over time becomes the perfect object. Practice makes perfect as they say.

THE MATERIAL
This year, we have a tight alignment of planets in the sign of Virgo which does not happen every year. This should greatly intensify the influence of the sign on our daily lives. Virgo is one of the three Earth signs considered in astrology to be primarily focused on the tangible and the practical necessities of material reality, the other two being Taurus and Capricorn.

Since we already have Uranus transiting in Taurus and Saturn/Pluto/South Node in Capricorn, the ingress of Mars, Venus and the Sun into the sign of Virgo this week will saturate the skies with planets in Earth signs. During the next few weeks, our attention will turn towards our material reality and how to improve it. We could find ourselves busy creating order out of the chaotic and disparate parts of our lives in order to improve it and be more productive. Productivity will be high on the priority list and you could find yourself overwhelmed with the work load while juggling all of your responsibilities. Procrastination will create more anxiety and I have seen many Virgo-type characters driving themselves mad with anxiety and stress while procrastinating. Don’t shy away from the work you have to do as this will surely release some of the inner tension.

This week, the transition of three planets from Leo to Virgo will be quite obvious as we find ourselves moving from the Fixed Fire season to the Mutable Earth season. In the Northern Hemisphere, Virgo season announces the end of Summer and the transition towards Fall. The preparation required for the return of the cold and the waning of the light prompts us to organize ourselves, and it is a time of movement and busy-ness. The structures in our lives will be vitalized and it’s a great time to organize your space and make it more functional. In the next couple of weeks, the emphasis is on our physical reality and tending to the smaller details of our existence like our body and our environment. However, the possibility of scattering ourselves through too many projects/avenues or being overly critical and preoccupied with perfection is a tendency to watch for during the next few weeks. It’s a good idea to temper the critical voice within you, and use this time to get ahead.

The Zodiac 1925 Ernest Procter 1886-1935

“If death meant just leaving the stage long enough to change costume and come back as a new character… Would you slow down? Or speed up?”
–Chuck Palahniuk

EMERGENCE

EMERGENCE. Sculpture by Buddy Jackson. Hartman Park

The Sun entered Virgo a week ago and we can already feel the beneficial and grounding influence of this Earth sign after a VERY intense retrograde/eclipse Summer season.
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We also have a trine between Saturn in Capricorn and Uranus in Taurus right now and this is an aspect that will permeate much of September. Trines in astrology are considered supportive aspects between planets in the SAME ELEMENT. In order to benefit from trines, one must be willing to actively take part and to consciously work with it. In other words, you don’t sit on your ass and wait for things to happen.
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Saturn entered Capricorn in December of 2017 and will be there for another 2 years: Saturn in Capricorn is all about the tearing down of old structures that are not sustainable anymore. (on a personal level but also a collective one). It’s also about time management – meaning you don’t waste it on people and scenarios that do not support you. Saturn in Capricorn is your opportunity to simplify your life, be pragmatic about your trajectory, and invest where it’s worth it.
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Uranus will be in Taurus for the next 8 years (with a short stint back into Aries at the end of this year but officially back in Taurus in March 2019). Uranus in Taurus will most likely bring many disruptions on a societal level. Uranus is associated with rebellions and change. Taurus is a Fixed Earth sign and so we will most likely see more and more ecological crisis. On a personal level, Uranus in Taurus is your opportunity to revolutionize the way you relate to your comfort and the way you manage your resources and energy. Flexibility will be a major asset in the next 8 years.
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Uranus in Taurus will see more and more people interested in self-sufficiency and a return to DIY ways of living as the Earth continues to be damaged by the crumbling and unsustainable systems of consumer culture.
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You might start to get a hint of what it is that you want for your future, and perhaps even the opportunity to start moving in a new direction. Simplicity, flexibility and health IS the new wealth.
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With the Sun in Virgo for half of September, it’s an excellent time to implement or get back to healthier habits. The Moon is in Aries and will enter Taurus (the sign of her exaltation) later tonight and will be there for the next few days. This is your cue to root down in your body, go into nature and move with your natural rhythms.
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September is the recovery phase after a stressful and powerful Summer battle. Take this opportunity to get back to basics and reconnect with your medicine.

Moon in Taurus – Sun in Pisces: Sweet Indulgence

The Moon is in Taurus for the next few days with almost nothing in its way except for a sextile from the planets in Pisces and a trine from Pluto.

It’s a good time to take a breather and rest from the intensity of the last few weeks. A good opportunity to reset, take care of your body and relax your mind. Slow down your pace and indulge a little. A good meal, a nice massage and a walk in nature can work miracles.

The Moon in Taurus will sextile Mercury, the Sun and Neptune in the sign of Pisces later today. This is a nice imaginative aspect that can help us find concrete ways to realize our visions.

Self-indulgence is very likely under theses aspects and we could be tempted to completely surrender to our cravings. Since Venus (the planet of pleasures) is just about ready to turn retrograde it is best to find a balance approach.

To work the next few days to your advantage, make sure your indulgence are restorative. Release stress with bodywork and nourishing meals and make the pleasure last.

When the Moon is in Love with the Earth

The Moon just entered the sign of Taurus and will graze here for most of the weekend.
This is a great opportunity to come back down to earth and into our bodies. With the recent eclipse in Pisces and many planets in mutable signs, a bit of Fixed Earth can help us find some grounding and stability amidst the waves of March.

Regroup, stabilize, simplify and root down. Experience life through your five senses slowly and deliberately.

Exalted

The Moon is in Taurus for the weekend where she loves to be. In this Earth sign, the Moon helps us filter our experience through the five senses. Am I comfortable? What do I need to feel relaxed and at peace? This is an opportunity to find ease and a deep satisfaction in the simple pleasures of life. Take advantage of this beautiful weekend to nurture yourself.

 

 

Tarot Monday

It’s #tarotmonday!

The card I picked for this week is from the beautiful Motherpeace Tarot deck.

The Four of Wands: A time to pause for celebration after hard efforts.

The Four of Wands heralds celebration, good times, a happy and harmonious home environment and good news. In numerology, four symbolises stability and firm foundations, and in the case of the Four of Wands, heralds a period of happiness and stability.

This card indicates a sense of harmony and balance as well as completion, and thus symbolises a time of peace and joy in life that come as the result of often difficult and challenging effort.
The Four of Wands is one of the most positive cards in the Tarot deck and indicates general good fortune, satisfaction, and fulfilment.

The work can be put away for awhile, so that the biological and spiritual growth happening in your life can be acknowledged.
We can see a hummingbird flying overhead, blessing the girls with messages from the divine realms at this joyous celebration.

Surveying the land

The Moon is in Taurus today, the sign of her exaltation and she is ruled by Venus in Sagittarius which is in turn applying to square Jupiter in Virgo.

In the last few weeks, the soil has been tilted not without difficulties revealing some buried treasures but also many rocks. We are now walking on an exposed landscape and we can see clearly where the foundation needs to be set.

The Moon in Taurus for the next few days can help us survey our assets. What are the resources available to you at the moment that will help you carry out some of the big ideas you have? We are still very much in the planning phase and it is not time to sit on our laurels.

The Moon in the Earth sign of Taurus helps us filter our experience through the five senses:
Am I comfortable? What do I need to feel relaxed and at peace? There can be a desire for ease and an ability to find a deep satisfaction with simple pleasures. The downside of this indulgent Moon is that we can become complacent not pushing further and becoming somewhat self-satisfied.

The hard aspect between Venus in Sagittarius (the ruler of the Moon in Taurus) and Jupiter in Virgo denotes a carelessness or perhaps missing out on some important details. Since Jupiter is retrograde in the sign of its detriment we might be overwhelmed with everything that needs to be accomplished and get lost in the various details of our daily existence. It could also be that we do not attend to the nitty-gritty stuff and we skip out on some important steps.

While the Moon is in Taurus for the next few days we might notice a need to find the balance between work and rest. If we become mentally overworked, we can become careless. If we only indulge in our passions we can become lazy. There might also be a tendency to become stuck in our views making it harder to keep an open mind. The back and forth is between broad visions and microscopic perspectives.

Know when it is time roll up your sleeve and know when it is time to stop. Do not bring your work in the bedroom and don’t let your lower instincts override your judgment. But most important of all with the Moon in Taurus: cook a delicious meal and enjoy!

Swedish illustrator Carl Larsson

Windy Skies

Paulus Potter: ‘Cattle and Sheep in a Stormy Landscape’

This week promises to be quite volatile. We have a Full Moon in Gemini coming up on Wednesday, as the Saturn/Neptune square becomes exact. Venus opposing Uranus will deliver some surprises in your relationships. A lot of unexpected twists, bubble bursting moments and restless energy is in the air. Anxiety can be a manifestation of this type of mutable weather, so relax the mind. Stay away from drama if you can, and find some grounding within your body.

The Moon will be in Taurus for the next 2 days so root yourself to face the winds. Be realistic in your appraisal of what you can do, and simplify where possible.

Peace

Moon in Taurus landscape

Eyvind Earle’s ‘Spring’, 1981.