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

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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 ☞ ☞ ☞

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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

 

 

 

Structure and Change

The Moon is in Capricorn for the rest of the day and just left a conjunction with Pluto triggering the recent cardinal t-square between Mars, Uranus and Pluto. Those of you with personal planets in cardinal signs (Aries-Libra-Cancer-Capricorn) could be especially sensitive to the changes that are trying to occur.

The image: Tectonic plates are shifting. There are significant structural changes happening with far reaching results which might be invisible to the naked eye. Tectonic plates moving around can also cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. This is part of a bigger process.

There is a desire to move in a new direction. We can see all the work that needs to be done and we are willing to roll up our sleeves. We could feel serious and determined as we take on new responsibilities. We also have to collaborate with others in the process. Finding compromises that work for both parties involved.

The spirit is moving forward seeking change and renewal.

A view through the narrow Nes Canyon, near Husavik, north west Iceland. This canyon is formed by a fault in Iceland’s volcanic landscape that has filled with glacial spring water. Photo taken by Alex Mustard.

 

Begin by picking up the pebbles, one by one.

Saturn is in Sagittarius for the next few years and this gives us a desire to reshape our lives to be in line with our brazen visions.

The ruler of Sagittarius is the expansive and unrestrained Jupiter who will remain in the sign of Virgo until September 2016.

Virgo is concerned with approaching a project with humility, working patiently on every details to ensure the quality of its outcome.

This means that in order to achieve our vision, the need to stay humble and use our creative fires with moderation is needed.

It is perfectly ok to have a large scale dream, but we have to be willing to put in the effort that is required to materialise it.

Artist Michael Grab

” When you work within the limits of your capabilities and gifts, you are likely to succeed, and that success will bring you increased confidence. But if you launch out on some vast undertaking, you run the risk of failure, and your confidence will diminish. Would you like your confidence to become stronger? If you would instead of trying to move mountain, begin by picking up pebbles, one by one. If you work at this every day you will gradually gain the strength to move a whole mountain. Of course, this metaphor needs interpretation.

It is a human failing to want to plunge with far too much haste into huge ventures, but this is a mistake. We must begin with little things. Supposing you are a singer: to make your debut, you would not apply to sing at the Metropolitain Opera House, because you would be booed off stage and would only end your career in some backwater, singing to an audience of a few gawking bystanders. You would do best first to choose a chicken coop as your concert hall and sing to an audience of hens, and then, if the chickens stop pecking to listen to your songs, you will know that you are talented and will one day be capable of some recitals in some lovely opera house.” –Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov

Faith and Practicality

The Moon is in Sagittarius applying to conjoin Saturn at 5º Sagittarius and sextile Venus in Libra. Jupiter, the ruler of Sagittarius is in Virgo, and the Saturn/Neptune square is intensifying. A call to bring focus and humility to our vision and work patiently and diligently towards it.

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The image is one of a student apprentice, on a mission to collect herbs he will need for his work. Perhaps he stops for a moment to contemplate the landscape, but he will not get lost in his meditations. His attention turns towards finding the plants, and all the work that still needs to be done.

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The time has come to direct our inner fire towards some sort of bigger accomplishment.  We know that to get there, we will need to hold the image in our mind’s eye. There is no time for meaningless activities. We are either looking for the path, or we are well on our way. Anxious to move ahead, there is a concentrated effort and our gaze is on the horizon.  Between the desire for something meaningful, and our ideal, we can find the inner resourcefulness we need to keep going.

Like a pilgrim guided by his prayers, we are now imbued with the faith needed to move forward. There is still a long road ahead but each step is an offering to our vision.

Cosmic Push

It might be Sunday, day of rest for many but the Moon is in Aries and                                               Mercury opposing Uranus at the moment screams inspiration.
Plus Venus and Jupiter are at an exact conjunction in Virgo.
There is great momentum to get s*** done so get out and do it!

The Visitors by Andrea Kowch.

God is in the details

FULL MOON IN PISCES-SATURDAY AUGUST 29 2015 @ 2:35 PM EDT.

This weekend’s full moon makes me think of the boat builder who finally gets to bring his boat on the ocean to see how it will sail. What happens once he goes out and launches his boat on the big open waters? Well first of all, there is an element of surrendering.  After the work is done, each step carefully followed: stem. keel, moulds, battens, timbers, and planking, the builder is relying on his faith.  Faith in his work, faith in the techniques used and the knowledge passed down from generations. Something else is at work here, and even though the boat builder is a skilled artisan, ultimately once he puts his boat on the water it doesn’t matter how much he knows about buoyancy because the ocean has the last word.

Aran Islanders, Martin Driscoll

How does an object of art comes to be born?

It starts with a flash of insight, a vague image, a sensation of the shape to come. Inspiration, like the ocean has its own will. It is not controlled easily and in order for the artist to create, he must surrender to the process. The role of the artist is to translate the vision into form. We all have access to the realm of the intangible through our imagination, at night through dreams or through artificial paradise. But to bring back these visions and put them into forms takes a lot of hard work!

Sometime you look at a painting and you say:  ”I could of totally painted that!” Why is this artist getting praise for something that is seamingly so easy to do?

Well the answer is simple:  Because he did it and not you.  He took the vision and brought it into  form. It’s a very simple idea but the hardest step, because it takes practice. To materialise, to pull out the dream, out of the void and make something tangible you need to do it often. To be good at something you need to do it every day.  In order to actually materialise the vision, you must try and try again, day after day until it becomes like a second nature. Until you become a passage for the dream to pass through.  Until you become the voice for the soul of the world, a translator of the intangible: that is the role of the artist.

I really like this quote from Terence McKenna:

“The creative act is a letting down of the net of human imagination into the ocean of chaos on which we are suspended, and the attempt to bring out of it ideas.”

Fritz Hegenbart

This weekend’s full moon is illuminating the paradox between our imagination and reality. Between what we would like our life to be and the daily rituals we do to get there. What you do, day after day and how it shapes your destiny. The master piece is your life and the balance between surrendering to it and shaping it takes skills. You don’t want to be a total control freak,  but you also know that drifting aimlessly is a sure way to feel sorry for yourself. Go with the flow but where is the flow going?

God is in the details expresses the idea that whatever one does should be done thoroughly. When you pay attention to the details, the whole becomes a masterpiece. What you do with your days, how you fill them, the work, the habits, the rituals is how you shape your life.

So what are you creating?

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Go to the spring where the fairy lives

Fill your cup with the magical waters

and sing with them in praise of the absolute

And when you come back to the city

where the cynical man dwells

remember the song that filled you with joy

and sing it.

Art by Forest Rogers