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

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.

The lost female figures of Christmas

I don’t want to make a long post about the Full Moon since enough digital ink has been spilled on the subject. Here is a quick debriefing and a beautiful drawing from Vanya Vukelić. I found her on Instagram and I feel like her art is representative of the Cancer symbolism.

Vanya Vukelić

You can find her work☞ here

 

The Moon will be full on Friday, December 25, 2015 at 6:11 AM EST and it is in the feminine and watery sign of Cancer.
Cancer relates to the images of the Mother, the Goddess, our roots and ancestral memory our family and traditions. It is a nurturing and intimate Full Moon and perfect for those who will be reuniting with their loved ones for Christmas.

If you are interested in taking the symbolism of this Full Moon in Cancer a step further, I invite you to read this great article about the Lost Female Figures of Christmas.

Safe and grounding festivities to all!

“What hurts you, blesses you. Darkness is your candle.” ― Rumi

The Moon is in Scorpio.
Pluto, the modern ruler of Scorpio is in a trine with Jupiter and Mars (traditional ruler of Scorpio) who are both in the Earth sign of Virgo at the moment. This is fantastic astrology, if you can direct the martial power at your disposal.

Use your fears and hidden complex to ground you, use them to propel you. There is tremendous power running just under the surface if you can notice what has control over you.  Acknowledging your anxiety loosens up the hold they have over you. By being aware of what controls us, we can have a better understanding of our hidden motivations and direct our power with mindful intention.

”You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.” – Brian Tracy

Here is Bruce Lee showing you how it’s done. Bruce Lee was born with Mercury,Venus, Mars and the Moon in the Water sign of Scorpio.

*Note the intensity of purpose

SUN AT 0º OF VIRGO – TO SHINE AND TO SERVE

Art by Chie Yoshii

The Sun just crossed from Leo to Virgo and is now conjunct the star Regulus (The heart of the Lion). This interesting part of the zodiac is often associated with The Sphinx. The meeting of the lion with the maiden. In more ancient systems these two are thought to have been one sign.

The Sphinx is a symbol of the co-joined male and female energies and the hermaphrodite stage of consciousness. When the ego power and personal desires meet humility, purity and healing power.

Relinquishing the loud voices of personal ambitions to bow down to the earth, the processes of nature and receive initiation into her secrets.

The Sun at 0º of Taurus

The Wild Unknown Tarot

We are now officially in the season of the Bull.
My favorite beasts. Earthy, grounded and sensual.
Come back to the earth. Surround yourself with beauty.
Tend to your garden, build a solid foundation.
Simplify.

Sabian Symbol: ”A Clear Mountain Stream”

Moon in Taurus landscape

Eyvind Earle’s ‘Spring’, 1981.

Building from the ground up : Mars in Taurus: 1 April – 11 May, 2015

Spectacular bull wood carving by Omar and Arely Cruz

Mars in Taurus is heavy, rich and fertile like the water soaked soil of spring, warmed up from the Sun. I imagine the smell of a herd of buffallo trampling the ground and breaking the seeds that will sprout new life. The mixed aromas of animal and earth combined with the warm air; intoxicating and primal. The unique sensual quality of this placement  is a natural consequence of being embodied in the physical experience. Pleasure and beauty are directly felt through the fives senses; the simplicity of a shared meal, the smell of fresh bread, the aesthetics of a curve, the taste of wine.

Mars in Taurus is solid in it’s desire.  It has a fixity of purpose and the purpose grows from a deep rootedeness, strong and stubborn growth that produces the biggest trees. Like the mighty oak: solid, hard wood harvested for its strength and resistance.  You don’t get quick results from Mars in Taurus, there is a slow progress being accomplished and that progress is done by a steady and patient hand working the plow, digging the roots, bulding one experience at a time with the knowledge that summer will come, the promise of future harvest in the eye; calm, tenacious and peaceful.