Goals & Daily Life

“I see that I’ve become a really bad correspondent. It’s not that I don’t think of you.
You come into my thoughts often. But when you do it appears to me that I owe you a particularly grand letter. And so you end in the “warehouse of good intentions”:
“Can’t do it now.” “Then put it on hold.” This is one’s strategy for coping with old age,
and with death–because one can’t die with so many obligations in storage.
Our clever species, so fertile and resourceful in denying its weaknesses.”
― Saul Bellow

 

The week begins with the Sun in Virgo and the Moon void of course in Libra until it enters Scorpio late Monday evening. Monday is a (parenthesis) before the week officially begins and an opportunity to sharpen our tools for the work that lays ahead of us. A necessary period of inner refinement, adjusting our compass and vision as we find ourselves oscillating between our instinctual-desire-nature and our rational-pragmatic-intellect.

Constructive actions in tandem with inspired insights permeates this week. There is a lot of juicy momentum and it could even feel as if things are moving waaaay too fast for you to catch a break. Productivity is high on the list right now, and as a result procrastination hangs like a shadow over our game plan.

The soul craves synthesis while the mind dissects every aspects of existence.

The Moon will travel in Scorpio until late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning when it enters Sagittarius. The Moon in Sagittarius all day Thursday (Jupiter’s day) applies to a conjunction with Jupiter. The First Quarter Moon happens at 13º Sagittarius this month when it squares the Sun at 13º Virgo.

The First Quarter Moon is a time of action or crisis when the plans that were laid at the New Moon in Virgo on the 30th of August are being challenged or are starting to gain traction. This First Quarter Moon brings attention to our big idea or vision and the execution of this particular vision or idea. We have to trust that we will get there but we also have to put in the efforts required to get there.

Perspective gets lost when we spend too much time on the details (Virgo). However it can also be hard to execute a big idea if we don’t delineate a practical way to get there (Sagittarius). You could feel overwhelmed by the amount of preparation necessary for the execution of your idea/goal, losing perspective on where you were going it in the first place. Or it could be that you are so taken by your big project that you totally brush over the details and neglect some important steps in the process.

The Moon in Sagittarius will be next to Jupiter at the time of the First Quarter Moon on Friday September 7th – giving us a huge boost of confidence and faith that ”everything will turn alright”. We KNOW what we have to do, but it doesn’t mean we have the discipline to do it. It’s one thing to know, it’s another thing entirely to repeat the process day after day to install a new routine, a new program that will lead us to a new helpful habit. There is a conflict between knowing and executing, between an idea and the implementation of that idea into a tangible process. Time and patience is required as nothing is born overnight and it’s a good idea to keep that in mind as you navigate Virgo season and find yourself going over everything that remains to be done. Be patient and be happy for the process, because every step of the process is what eventually leads you to the desired result.

The Moon enters Capricorn Saturday morning, and here we are again, back at the working bench, at the drawing table with our plans and our to-do lists, and the burden of all that remains to be done. Time is slipping away so fast, and there are still too many details to deal with. We are not quite as healthy, productive, efficient, and successful as we could be, and it could all be too obvious next weekend. The Moon travels in Capricorn next Saturday and Sunday, convincing us that there are vegetables to harvest and preserve, fire wood to split, renovations to do, and all kinds of work left to be done. Not the most relaxing weekend but a productive one I hope.

Most planets traveling in the Earth element (Taurus – Virgo – Capricorn)  means it’s a great time to get stuff done, but terrible for anxiety around status, work, income, discipline, and habits. Don’t compare yourself too much. You are exactly where you are suppose to be; trust your process.

“You have to believe. Otherwise, it will never happen.”
― Neil Gaiman

WEEK OF AUGUST 26, 2019

JON KOKO – KARESANSUI

 

Out of perfection nothing can be made.
Every process involves breaking something up.
Joseph Campbell

And just like that, Virgo season is here, and this is definitely one of the most grounding time of the year when we can see the results and the reasons of the past. Not only do we have a stellium in Virgo (stellium: 4 or more planets in the same sign), the New Moon on Friday August 30th is positively supported by Uranus in Taurus. It is a time of traction and implementation for what is being birthed in your life. The new structures that are emerging on the horizon are starting to make sense and you can begin to see the tangible manifestations of your long held visions, the birth of a new awareness, a new reality.

The wish you whispered half consciously under your breath while sleeping is surrounding you. The faint light that guided you through the storm is now your illumination. There is a clarity about the events in your life and a reason for everything. Nothing is perfect but you might be able to accept that all the imperfect decisions has led you exactly where you are.

Witness your powers of manifestation for better or for worst.

Pixelated wood sculptures by Hsu Tung Han

Until the new moon in Virgo on Friday, we stand in the liminal darkness of the waning Moon, the dark of the Moon. Slowdown your pace, reflect, contemplate, clean, cleanse, purge, stretch, create space for the wisdom to enter, collect the strength from the Earth, lay low.

Monday: Moon in Cancer
Tuesday: Moon in Cancer – Moon enters Leo at 21:23 NDT
Wednesday: Moon in Leo
Thursday: Moon in Leo – Moon enters Virgo at 21:27 NDT
Friday: New Moon in Virgo 8:07am NDT
Saturday: Moon in Virgo – Moon enters Libra at 20:37 NDT
Sunday: Moon in Libra

The New Moon in Virgo takes place on Friday August 30th at 8:07am NDT/6:37am EDT. The New Moon signals the beginning of the work, a time of creation and implementation, of ”to-do” lists, of tangibility and manifestation, a time of taking advantage of the resources available to you, utilizing your space and body properly and efficiently. All the small actions that leads to the whole, it’s happening now. Your breath, the way you chew your food, your digestion, your posture. The superfluous will seem extra superfluous while you find a purpose for everything. Each little things in their place, there is a place for everything, and no space wasted.

The New Moon is linked to the revolutionary ways in which you approach the ordinary. Set your intentions, but don’t set them to high as to be discouraged. Plant your intentions in the realm of the possible, the tangible, the practical, something that will yield a satisfactory result down the road, every step counts, every action has meaning.

Wood sculpture by Yoshitoshi Kanemaki

“Your thoughts, become your words;
your words, become actions;
your actions, become habits;
your habits, become your character;
your character,  becomes your destiny.”

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.

This week in Astrology: Sorting out the essential from your heart

Monday opens with the Moon in the last degrees of Taurus on the Fixed star Algol or the Head of Medusa; don’t lose your mind. We are building towards the Jupiter/Uranus opposition that will be exact on the 27/28 of September. This is a revolutionary aspect which is excellent for visionaries and artists and for people who have the ability to see the silver lining in chaotic  circumstances but also have the guts to do things differently. On a mundane level it can feel destabilizing if you are holding to the status quo at all cost or need predictable outcomes. Small and large shifts are happening in our awareness and in the world at large and intuition is at an all time high. Flashes of insights and new bold ideas are available if you adjust your vision. With Uranus in Aries closing in on its opposition to Jupiter in Libra there is an urge to liberate ourselves while also searching for ”the other” to reflect us. It can feel polarizing to oscillate between our need for freedom and liberation versus our need for feedback, fairness and equilibrium.

The Moon enters Gemini at 15:30 EDT on Monday which will accentuate the current Mercury/Mars conjunction building up in Virgo. The next 2 days are excellent for analyzing, editing, and cutting through the superfluous. The mind can have a tendency to race and anxiety will be higher than usual. Finding the right measure of applied diligence and focus is possible as long as we don’t scatter ourselves. Mindfulness and disconnecting from the media, the internet and the constant chatter is one of the best remedies for this kind of astrological weather. Difficulties with communication, getting our message across, misunderstandings and harsh words are possible with the Mercury/Mars conjunction building up and, so are fried phones and electronics.

With the last quarter Moon in Gemini we can feel stimulated, talkative, and curious but there is also the tendency to get lost in chatter instead of being productive. Basically, don’t fry your brain with coffee and stress and find the right balance of intellectual work and simple manual or physical work. We could have the urge to communicate in many directions at once but essentially we can only do one thing at a time. Give your brain the right intellectual food and remember that words and symbols can be very powerful in shaping our experience of reality; use them wisely.

The last quarter Moon in Gemini supports finalizing the details of a project or idea that began at the New Moon/Solar Eclipse in Leo on August 21st.

Venus in Leo trine Saturn in Sagittarius on Tuesday and this is a supportive but also sobering aspect in regards to relationship. We could feel serious and more realistic about our desires. Long-term commitments and maturity could feel more important at the moment and feelings could be reserved and controlled. Venus trine Saturn is beneficial for artist and creators who are looking to structure and give shape to their muse. This can be a productive time for creative work, social engagements, and public relations.

On Wednesday night the Moon enters her own sign of Cancer and this should help ease the mental tension creating a fluid and intuitive rhythm until Friday night.

Even though we are in the darkest of the Moon (before the New Moon in Virgo on September 20th) the weekend will feel quite dynamic with the Moon entering the Fire sign of Leo late on Friday night and Mercury and Mars perfecting their conjunction in Virgo on Saturday, September 16. Conversation around pride, identity, the need for acknowledgement and having  the courage to express oneself truthfully and courageously will all be aroused.

SOLUTIONS AND DISSOLUTION

FOR WHEN THE SUN IN VIRGO OPPOSE NEPTUNE IN PISCES AND
THE MOON IN AQUARIUS CONJUNCT THE SOUTH NODE:

Can you discriminate between omens and wishful thinking?
Between poison and medicine?
Delusion and honesty?
Between a ghost and your own shadow?
Do you know your boundaries?

Still from the film ”The Dance of Reality” by Jodorowski

FORECAST FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 8 to AUGUST 14

SOBRIETY, DISCRIMINATION & EXPECTATIONS

Who are the happiest people on earth? A craftsman or artist whistling over a job well done. A little child building sand castles. A mother, after a busy day, bathing her baby. A doctor who has finished a difficult and dangerous operation, and saved a human life. Happiness lies in a constructive job well done. Get your happiness out of your work or you will never know what happiness is. -Elbert Hubbard

        ☿

There are a few different ways in which the astrology will reveal itself to us this week. The mind will turn its focus to the practicalities and logistics of our lives. Attention to the necessities and demands of our obligations and the need to face responsibilities head-on will have a sobering effect. This thorough assessment of what we are doing with our time and where we want to invest our efforts is an essential process and doesn’t have to be daunting. There could also be a need to purge and simplify what has become cluttered whether it’s the body, the mind, a physical space or a project. Keep it simple at the risk of loosing your footing.

The hard and the soft collide while we juggle the many projects and never-ending to-do-list. We might be dreaming of a wireless-free space where we can regroup our thoughts, but the buzzing might actually be coming from the multitude of ideas and voices generated within our own mind. This is not a totally negative influence and much can be accomplished if we tame these monkeys into performing their designated routines.

The temptation will be to multi-task but simplifying and finding a structured way to divide our time could help productivity. This is a great week to get things done but there might also be a tendency to saturate the mind. Filtering the essential from the trivial and staying away from fear, guilt and worry will be half the battle. Resist the urge to backtrack into unsuitable scenarios and keep moving forward.

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MAJOR  ASTROLOGICAL ASPECTS FOR THIS WEEK

Mercury in Virgo conjoins the North Node of the Moon on August 8th which will amplify Mercury’s qualities for better or for worst. Since Mercury is considered strong in the sign of Virgo this remains a great time to carry out projects connected to writing, editing or any work that requires focus and analysis. Some new information, ideas or methods could come to light and help you move forward. If not well utilised, this period could be marked by anxiety exaggerated expectations and or disenchantment.

The First Quarter Moon on August 10th is in the sign of Scorpio fuelling the will and prompting us into action.  Since both the Sun and the Moon will be in Fixed signs, there could be a tendency for obstinacy and inflexibility.

Saturn goes direct in the early hours of August 13 while in a square from Venus in Virgo. The next few weeks could be characterised by the cementing of relationships and alliances or it could bring the sobering realisations of unsuitable situations or partnerships and their ensuing difficult disintegration.We will start to see the result of our efforts and the dissolution of some cherished misconceptions. Although this retrograde has been a challenging process the changes will bring growth that will require considerable readjustments in the next few months.

READ YOUR HOROSCOPE FOR THE WEEK RIGHT HERE ☞ ☞ ☞

SUBSCRIBE TO THE 9th HOUSE ASTROLOGY  MAILING LIST  ☞ ☞ ☞ 

 

 

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The Art of Dying: Until the New

“We may idealize freedom, but when it comes to our habits, we are completely enslaved.”
―Sogyal Rinpoche

Dedication and Destination

Uranus going direct at the end of December really got us all fired up about the upcoming possibilites in our lives in the New Year. Saturn in Sagittarius ruled by Jupiter in Virgo is offering the possibility to have an organised outlook on the horizon and a good idea of the work that is required get beyond our current situation. Our faith is turning towards the satisfaction that comes with the dedicated attention of working and being useful. We could feel ambitious and work hard to see concrete results down the road. This is a great time let go of instant gratification and integrate systems in our lives that can bring a lasting legacy.

2016 starts with Mercury retrograde at 1º of Aquarius tantalising us with a glimpse of the possible future. Mercury going backward in the sign of Capricorn is like the mountain goat walking the treacherous path of a mountain side: every steps are carefully calculated. With the Sun also in Capricorn and a recent conjunction to Pluto, we could feel extremely ambitious and ready to tackle pretty much anything. Mars in Scorpio is also supporting us with the staying power and resilience needed.

The year 2016 starts with an opportunity to review our values and what we consider important. There is an emphasis on all the little things that makes up the whole. Our attention is on analysis and perspective. The small but important details and the patience required to achieve mastery. The idea here is not to become a martyr but to find greater satisfaction through dedicated awareness in our everyday actions. Negotiating a chosen path requires a little give and take at every moment as we learn to develop a more efficient strategy. Success demands effort, commitment and nerves.

NEW MOON IN CAPRICORN ☾♑︎

The New Moon is at 21:31 EST on January 9th at 19º Capricorn and is carrying with her clues about our role and responsibilities and the place we want to occupy in the grand scheme of things. There might have been some difficult realisations brought up in the recent days around our relationships and habits that no longer serves you. Since this New Moon is ruled by Saturn she brings with her an awareness of time passing and our own or others mortality.

Saturn is currently conjunct Venus which confuse work with pleasure, labour with leisure. Even more so with the square to Neptune which can act as a distraction and a desire to avoid reality all together.

Jupiter just started its retrograde motion through the sign of Virgo and will only turn direct 5 months from now. *Special attention to the nitpickers and perfectionists out there, the possibility to get lost in the never good enough labyrinth is real.

Those planetary aspects, can indicate that we are aligning our work and our beliefs into a more unified version. If only we could find the simple formula that would allow us to combine the obligations of our reality with our inner truth. There is great need to adjust what we do on a daily basis with our beliefs and vice versa. This can create a sort of cognitive dissonance if our words do not match our actions. We are learning to walk the talk and we need to let go of certain habits, situations or people who might be holding us back.

The New Moon in Capricorn supports fresh ideas and concepts that are grounded and achievable. Since Mercury is retrograde for most of January, I would suggest focusing on restructuring the systems you have in place that will allow you to become more efficient.  Favour concrete, step-by-step approach and let-go of time-wasting habits without becoming too obsessive.

Modern Vanitas by Kalico the Kat

 

We are weighed down, every moment, by the conception and the sensation of Time. And there are but two means of escaping and forgetting this nightmare: pleasure and work. Pleasure consumes us. Work strengthens us. Let us choose.
-Charles Baudelaire

 

 

 

Moon in Virgo

Georgia O’Keeffe, by Alfred Stieglitz, 1930, gelatin silver print

The Moon is in Virgo today.

There are many planets in mutable signs at the moment.
Meaning there are a lot of changes in the air and you could feel scattered.
A great way to stay grounded would be to use this time to de-clutter and organize your space.
Nourish and exercise your body well-to move through these times.

Native born under the Virgo Moon live with an ideal of perfection that can be hard to reach.This feeling of never being good enough can be a real hindrance if not kept in check.
Health can also be of great concern and they can go from being extremely strict with themselves, to total indulgence. With their sharp eye for details, the Virgo Moon individual can be an excellent craftsmen/craftswomen. They are dedicated and patient workers and love to feel useful.

Moon in Virgo meditation

One principle we must grasp,
Otherwise no development will be possible in our crucial time.
Seek the truly practical life
but seek it in a way
that does not numb you towards the Spirit that is working in it.
Seek the Spirit,
but do no seek it out of greed for the supersensible,
from supersensible egoism;
but seek it, because you want to apply it
unselfishly in practical life, in the material world.
Make use of the ancient principle:
“Spirit is never without matter, matter never without Spirit.”
So that you say:
We intend to handle all material matters in the light of the Spirit,
And we shall seek the light of the Spirit in such a way
That it will kindle in us a warmth for our practical deeds.
Spirit that is led into matter by us;
Matter that is shaped by us until it reveals the Spirit it contains;
Matter that receives through us the Spirit revealed;
The Spirit that is brought by us to and into matter;
All this will build that active and vivid substance
Which can take humanity into real development;
Into that kind of progress that the people of today
In the deepest and most worthy longings of their souls
Can only but yearn for.

– Rudolf Steiner