Thank you for being here–present with these words. I’ve made my first YouTube video, where I talk through several points about cosmology, cosmograms, Christ consciousness, and the present autumn equinox. It took me several tries with uploading this video, so I hope you can view it and gain something from it.
For this equinox, I wanted to focus on tracing–questioning which vines are we following and are they fruitful for our journey and constant transformation? As just the sun rises and falls around the cosmogram, Libra season is a time to graph the fall of the Ego into the eternal depths of the Other/the Spirit. I’ve pulled a meditative tarot draw while reflecting on this equinox (This is from the Hoodoo Tarot Deck):
In the cards, the main energy is the ten of baskets, a happy grill master and his family including dandelion-infused moonshine. The dandelion speaks of maintaining Joy through the upkeep of self-reflection. Again, it’s important to examine the sun (our ego) in its fallen state–even if you’re only looking at the reflection. Stability and the laying down of burdens come through reflection. The two of baskets here speaks of gaps of faith, or connections of that past that didn’t serve us, and may still be affecting us. The eight of sticks pictures a Hoodoo woman peeling lightning struck wood from a tree–now is the time for illumination, an electric peek into our own darkness, a trailing of the vines and entanglements that we may have normalized. A recognition of power. The ace of sticks represents an Indian Mound –consciousness over matter–the coming together of our true source. Our looking into the depths of ourselves, tracing the vines of our connection, flourishes the growth we need during the Now.
Leo’s energy has always been challenging for me to articulate because I could never really grasp what it is. Like it’s polarity Aquarius, Leo is very vast, far-reaching, spilling across multiple arenas and boundaries. Leo is akin to the chest, and the heart that circulates blood vitally and repetitiously. After Cancer season has cracked the shells of our chests, Leo is the exposed heart, beating to a lively rhythm.
People often mistake Leo’s engagement with power as cockiness or self-centered, but Leo holds reservoirs of power (power of self as it begins to relate to the other), and Leo also manages the ways power should be displayed. What often seems like superficiality is Leo deciding how they should most efficiently display their power to the outside world, while being conscious of how to show their power in the most efficient, kind manner as possible. Leo rules the 5th house, the area of big hearted, sunshine, children, liking. The 5th is the first articulation away from the 4th house, which is the ancestral root of the chart. In a sense, this is the space where children and ancestors connect, and this rush of power from the ancestral realm begins to be articulated and circulated effectively through next generations. All this occurs in the Leo-ruled 5th house.
But, as for me and my house(s)! Leo serves as the 12th house ruler. Maybe that’s why it’s always been challenging for me to grasp what Leo energy is, because the 12th is the space of subconscious, intuition, dreams, secrets, what Susan Miller references to as “the self-undoing.” I can only speak on this present astrological current through my own understanding of Leo, especially since Leo is my 12th house ruler.
So, during this self-deconstructing season that is Leo, I’ve learned that power is not meant to be guarded. It’s meant to be activated. It’s easy to interpret Leo energy as guarding power and shaping discourse around power in a way that only benefits their Self. Remember that the Leo-ruled 5th is fresh from the ancestral soils of the chart, so Leo is really the articulation of the Self through the Others who have come before me. Once we stop conflating guarding power with activating it, we realize power strives toward unity, a true balance of the Self and the Ones who have come before us, the Ones around us: a literal circulatory eco-system of beings.
Leading with the heart space, we must have conversations about power, how can we all bask in sunlight, without shading the lights of others but also being honest about what makes us feel empowered.
For the readers of this post, I pulled a Card:
Corona Borealis depicts the crown Dionysus gave Ariadne on their wedding day. It represents triumph after sacrifice and new beginnings. Being willing to learning about sacrifice is the beginning of navigating how to use your power. Whatever “new” thing that comes in your life next, lead with your heart space, be willing to be open and honest about how power should be regulated around you. Despite brokenness and heart matters, love finds healing, but you can’t guard your power: there has to be a way for healing to come in.
Approaching astrology through an atmospheric engagement leads to a better understanding of how the heavenly bodies influence present life. As mentioned in earlier blogs, if we can understand how the moon affects human emotion and the sun has an effect on our skin and mood, it’s not an entirely huge step to consider how other cosmic bodies affect our physical existence. Since we are planetary beings existing in multitudes of atmospheric dimensions, astrology, as I see it, is a way to understand and question our existence in these atmospheres.
Summer turns to fall: another view over the forest from the eddy-covariance tower. Credit: Chris Vogel
Here are three major astronomical relations as of today (Saturday, May 4), and what these relations mean astrologically:
Uranus semi-square Neptune
Uranus in Taurus and Neptune in Pisces are currently 45° apart. This distance creates tension between the energetic forces of the two planets. Semi-squares are minor aspects in astrology; but when I think about the pointedness of a 45° angle, I consider the point to be stronger, more persistent and directive than regular 90° squares. Semi-squares are agitations that force us to change our actions so tension can be removed. Astrologically, we should pay attention to the ways in which we engage with food, and think about any dreams we have had with food or intaking things; the energy of Taurus situated in Uranus brings attention to the ways we consume from the Earth and how Earth affects our bodies. Food brings particular energies to the body, so it is important to know how food affects emotional and energetic patterns. However, Neptune brings a bit a restlessness to our sense of stability; a feeling of drifting in a sea of our desires. Whatever the way we move about the earth and plan our steps should not be “impractical”– skipping steps in the process makes us miss out on critical information and resources when building the foundation that leads to our greatest dreams and manifestations. The energy of Taurus here teaches us that much creativity, beauty, and passion is experienced in the process, in steps, through understanding the foundation of progression. A stable relationship with the divine and the environment around us will lead us to our greatest dreams manifested.
Image: NASA
Saturn opposite North Node
When planets are 180° from each other, they exist in polarity, a contradictory tension producing unequal physical effects in the atmosphere. So, this relation presents a type of hopelessness in the directions we should take in responsibility. This oppositional effect combined with Neptune’s influence mentioned above creates an intensified feeling of placelessness. Since Saturn stationed retrograde on April 29th, the recalculating energies of retrogrades help us understand that we have the strength and emotional depth to go through every challenge we face. Ultimately, the North Node connection brings a sense of direction when overcoming our obstacles. And even though the North Node is opposite Saturn, this relation reminds us that we will not always be in the position we are currently in; follow that hope.
New Moon in Taurus
Over the next two days, the new moon in Taurus brings attention to the things that remind us of a different kind of sensuality. As the moon transits over the sun, we experience a sensuality deeply connected to the vessels and the vibrations of the Earth. An inner sense that holds our hopes as well as our open wounds, a place of full body and spirit exposure. It is through embracing the fullness of sensuality that healing and oneness with self come and stay. Allowing healing to stay is an important theme of this new moon; because sometimes we start the work, but we don’t tend to the roots for the work to stay. Staying power is key.
This is my last time talking about my Saturn’s return, I promise. But, now that it has officially passed on by my natal Saturn’s spot, and since it’s Capricorn season anyway, a word about its ruler Saturn would benefit us all right now.
Jon MacNair “The Sea Goat (Capricorn)”‘ India ink and watercolor on paper; 6.5″ x 6.5″; 2011
Capricorn has several strongholds in the heavens as we transitioned into the new year. Mostly potent is the conjunction of the Sun and Saturn both at 11 degrees Capricorn. Usually this transit is difficult on the person’s natal chart, creating issues with health, vitality, and the self. But with this transiting Sun/Saturn conjunction, the themes of health and stability are internalized as a motivating force to help us expand within our bodies.
This is one of the lasting lessons Saturn has taught me during my Saturn’s Return and as I have mentioned several times in other posts: the planet’s effect is material. Period. Some of the choices I made during my Saturn’s Return had a very physical effect on my body. Saturn represents discipline, authority, the fears one must overcome, but also it is where we feel most inadequate. It rules over time – represented by the Greek god of time, Cronus means time- and is called the lord of Karma. Saturn’s lessons are dense and are embedded in cycles of time. It has the power to reward like no other planet. If a person doesn’t get the lesson or if they don’t continuously do a thing to its completion, Saturn brings up the material repercussions until the thing is complete (I know this for a #FACT).
It’s interesting because, astronomically, Saturn has the lowest density of all the major planets. Saturn would float in water if placed in a large enough body of water. Saturn has a very active atmosphere with strong storms, with super-fast winds and a speedy rotation. This reminds me of Ezekiel 37:9, when Ezekiel asked God if dry bones could live again: “Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” The bones (represented by Capricorn’s longevity and Saturn’s materiality) can have new life if Ezekiel prophesies to bones by calling the wind from all 4 directions. In a way, Saturn allows you to weather through the storm to reach new levels of life. Saturn is not only about restriction, but it’s about what can give you the best life, what can make dry bones live again. It is about trusting in the present, material moment instead of fading into the anxious-driven worries of tomorrow.
New Year/Capricorn Season Words:
I think new year’s resolutions are a little…misplaced. I do understand that some people want to believe that time shifts inherently contain the motivations that encourage particular actions, but I think the cycles of the planets have more to do with internal motivations. And, I think one’s birthday is the only “new year” that matters. BUT here is a word for each rising sign to get you through the Capricorn hump that is the new year (check your rising sign):
Aries: the ways in which you communicate needs more optimism, more spirit, more depth; it’s a good time to venture out into the world and establish the things you’ve been dying to try
Taurus: there is a tender balance between knowledge and ethics that you need to consider in matters of love; spend time getting to know your deeper needs
Gemini: devoting yourself to raw creativity is exactly what you and others need right now; your creative vision will aid you in learning the lessons of love and self-sacrifice you need to move forward
Cancer: Cancer, it’s a timely moment to reinvent yourself; burn in your purpose, outside of your comfortable shell, and know that this needed recreation takes daily (even minute by minute) work
Leo: Go ahead and get deep in your emotions, feel the interior parts of your secrets; then you will understand the cycles you’re going through a little better
Virgo: Play and healing are inseparable, Virgo, especially in your private life; you must learn that healing is whimsical and liberated from the rules of this earthy realm
Libra: Subtle observations lead to opportune timing, Libra; and we know how important doing things at the right time is for you. There may be changes in your relationship life, and listening is the best way to prepare for and endure these changes.
Scorpio: There is a more relaxed mindset awaiting you, Scorpio once your vigilance comes from a place of wisdom and freedom, not restriction and distrust
Sagittarius: There are some things that may not be as obvious to you when it comes to your love and your emotions; use discernment more, and try not to be all over the place (you know what I mean…)
Capricorn: Take all the energy from the hardship and struggles you’ve endured and blast it back into yourself this season
Aquarius: Don’t worry so much about the public eye (opinion) or keeping up with appearances (the way you move in public); your vision is really the most important thing for you to focus on right now
Pisces: Burdens, baggage, self-oppression are all really illusions; once you can articulate what you want to do with your life, your spirit guides are ready to make that a reality
If you want a reading about the personal transits in your life right now for the new year, let me direct you to this link here. (On Sale)
Thank you for reading! Happy New Year (a 3 year in numerology)!
In the midst of my (long and recursive) Saturn’s return and my Venus return, I write from a place of deep reflection. I mentioned that I would revisit some points that I’m learning as I go through my Saturn’s return, but Venus’ current retrograde (in Scorpio, so I’m also experiencing a Venus return) has brought up so many things, I feel like I can’t talk about Saturn without including Venus.
In Western astrology, a planet’s return to the place it was when we were born, is important to think about. Because all planets in our solar system revolve in cycles, the circulation of these cosmic bodies causes them to affect us more powerfully when it returns to the exact place it was during our birth. Planets are essentially the embodiment of the environmental atmosphere in which we were born in, and furthermore, we are the embodiment of all cosmic vibrations in the environment during our birth. We engage with our everyday environment in a very physical way, and likewise, the presence and essence of all planets affect us in a very physical way. I want to highlight the materiality of the heavenly bodies; so every material body in our cosmos has some kind of influence on us (we are after all planetary bodies). Just as the sun and moon affects our skin and emotions, a more holistic view of this cosmic effect would include other cosmic bodies and the importance of all astral alignment.
This Saturn return is teaching me the quiet density that Saturn embodies. It is a very physical representation of dense cycles, of the layers of stone, dirt, and soul. Saturn rules the bones, especially the large ones, these are here way after your death. Long lasting, materialistic, dense with time, Saturn embodies the wisdom of past and current life’s experiences, at its very essence. This is why Saturn’s present position in Capricorn is highlighting the need for restructuring the basic elements of life. At a deeper, long lasting, structural level, Saturn signifies the creation of a sturdier system that can hold us better, and longer, with more grounding clarity.
Artwork by Margaret Burroughs, Black Venus, Made of Linoleum cut on imitation Japan paper
This Venus retrograde has taught me the value of money and worth. I see Venus as the giver of worth, and the systems of pleasure and pain we connect with worth. Whatever we give worth to, we value, we lust for, we monetize, we memorialize, we embody. Venus reflects the passion of what we make matter. But most importantly, it represents the urge and guided intention that we use to turn our immaterial (thought) desires into a material (present) reality. So, here is where Venus and Saturn are meeting in my view, they are both centering material. Saturn, in a long-lasting, cyclic way, and Venus in an intangible yet desire-into-matter way.
Right now, Saturn and Venus are in a sextile, about 60 degrees apart. This transit may make us super aware of worth, value, love, and the foundational relationship between these things. Venus retrograde gives us the opportunity to rethink and restructure patterns of communal connection and self-love, along with our value systems that shape those patterns. We should check the systems of love and worth that create our foundation, make it sturdy. While Venus is in retrograde and sextile with Saturn, all our companionships (with the other and with the self) must be tried. They must be fortified, questioned, reconfigured, or disposed of if needed. This re-examination and re-securing (and primarily questioning the systems/people/things that continuously show up in our lives) will give us a great awareness of the things we need to do in order for the soul to grow and for unproductive practices of valuing to end.
The planets are alive. Not necessarily alive in the way that we think about breathing and being on this earthly realm. But alive as in beings that matter, that hold space, and vibrate in a way that affects other beings.
Recently, I’ve researched the Gaia theory, founded by scientist James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis. This theory states that the Earth is basically a living organism, and this has been proven through several test and facts, like Earth’s ability to self-regulate its temperature and chemical composition so that life can happen and sustain itself. Life creates the environment and at the same time, the environment creates life. The Earth is alive because life and the environments that life dwells in, cooperatively exist together, in all of its harmonies, and disharmonies, and regulatory circuits.
There are several oppositional points to the idea that the Earth is alive (some being since the Earth can’t reproduce, it isn’t an organism… reproduction shouldn’t be the indicator of life). If you believe that the Earth is dead or dying, and we have weakened it with our human presence is another topic for another post. I want to focus on the impact of planetary influence on our existence. This, I would argue, should be the basis of astrological studies. We, as Earthbound individuals affected by the composition and atmosphere of Earth, are influenced materially and energetically by the presence and movements of other cosmic bodies in the sky. And instead of approaching astrology in a way that is fear based (i.e. “Ahhhhhh Mercury in retrograde/solar eclipse is screwing up my life!!1!!1!!!!”), by understanding and questioning the interconnectedness of the universe, our astrological engagements should become clearer.
Astrology and astronomy offer various ways of looking at the whole of the universe and its effect on Earth different ways of looking at the systems of control that govern planetary identity and engagement. Our ideas about our personal and collective environment should include the activity of the cosmos and planetary bodies. Just like we think about the weather affecting our daily plans, it is the case that our environment is deeply affected by the environment of the cosmos. Unlike astronomy which examines the physical universe through a scientific lens, astrology studies the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies and interprets this information as having an influence on human affairs and the natural world. Don’t get me wrong, astrology is still mathematical and scientific in ways. Astrology goes several steps further by viewing planetary bodies as having character and intentions of their own. Astrology combines mythology of stars and scientific, material positioning together in a system that examines the entire system of an alive, effectual universe.
Just as the idea of the Earth as a living organism has been deadened in a sense, so has the bodies of outer space been displaced from Nature, removed from what we consider “environment,” and disjointed from effective connection to the very structure of Earth. Astrology’s acknowledgment of the entirety of the universe continuously works to bridge the gap between “outer” space and the inner lives of humans and nonhumans on the planet so that we can make sense of the cosmic space we reside in as cosmic entities. Astrology is based on a practice of ancient humans observing the universe around them; “while in the beginning they only watched, remembered and regulated.” Our ancestors remembered the environmental inputs and outputs for survival purposes in a world that was largely unknown to them. Humans are environmental beings, after all, using our senses and responses to develop from the embryo and stay alive in various environments.
Although astrology can be traced to the ancient Babylonian application of omen astrology, the Greeks focused on certain elements of movements that the celestial bodies appeared to do day in and day out. Looking from the ground, observers noticed that celestial objects revolved in orbits around the earth, all of them together westward in the period of a day, and the (seeable) seven planets eastward (for the most part) in different periods and complex individual orbits. Celestial bodies differed from whatever was happening on Earth, not only in durability but also fundamentally in their very nature. For them, these cosmic bodies are endowed with alien qualities of autonomous circular motion, a motion that ancients gazed at and responded to as they engaged with their environment, and in turn connected to the wholeness of the universe.
It is beneficial that ancient astrology led to a deeper astronomical investigation of the cosmos because it helped answer pressing questions held by people when thinking about the cosmos. Now, it is astrology’s job to convince us that we are actually cosmic beings deeply affected by cosmic bodies in a cosmic multi-verse.
Thanks for reading! Check out my astrological/tarot reading options: https://linktr.ee/kongokosmo7
Understanding of the cosmos runs deep, and it is a recursive engagement that oftentimes takes several lifetimes to journey through. The heavenly bodies travel in circling patterns repetitively, but no exact moment of the spiraling patterns is the same. For example, Venus entering Leo in a few weeks will be under a different set of astronomical circumstances than when Venus entered Leo in 2017. Each astrological body orbits cyclically, but the positions of each body in relation to each other is the core of knowing how the planets’ energies affect us currently. When it comes to matters of timing and positioning, Uranus embodies these elements.
Ouranos, sky deity
Although Uranus has been in the earthy sign of Taurus for almost a month now, its entrance set the mood for the next 7 years of innovation and creativity. Named after the Greek sky deity Ouranos, Uranus was discovered during Pisces season, which makes sense due to its intuitive focus in astrology. It is dimly visible to the naked eye and is known for its widely erratic weather patterns, having the coldest atmosphere of all the planetary bodies in the solar system. Unlike other planets, Uranus tilts sideways on its axis, almost parallel to its solar pathway. With 27 known moons, some scientists are puzzled as to how they don’t crash into one another, another sign of its internal, intuitive recognition.
In astrology, Uranus represents being in tune with the current instant. It is the energy of acute focus on the moment, trusting the flow, and improvisions. Being in the present moment may not fit within the set “rules” in place, so Uranian energy lets go of form in favor of the present moment. Just as Uranus looks lopsided on its axis, with an intuitive system controlling a plethora of lunar sattelites, the icy, gaseous planet breaks away from order by simply existing. Uranus creates the impulse of transformation, the sense of craving change and forward motion. Uranus looks for information and transfers that energy to your life path.
The impulse of Uranus entering the sign which rules Earth (Taurus) positions the need for innovation and impulse on the materiality of this planet. Uranus in this sign is really about environmental intelligence and connectivity. One cannot be in the present moment by being detached from the environment around them. It takes the awareness of the environment to create new roads of doing intuitively. Uranus looks to change forms, and forms are integrated with Taurean motions of structure and grounding. Transforming how we engage with the earth. Being in the present moment involves mind, body, and soul, in all the erratic shifts that occur, knowing that there is always the alternative for change; a way out comes from being in tune with the surrounding environment.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how we as cosmic beings can think of the planets as affective bodies that influence what’s happening on earth and the entirety of the universe. Uranus in Taurus is the perfect time to shift planetary consciousness to include a more cosmically connected universe, one that affects our bodies, emotions, spirits, and consciousnesses. Knowing the astrological climate of the present moment brings us closer to this unified consciousness, and the more we are aware of the planets’ universal effectiveness, the more we know the present moment of our beings.
I pulled a card from ig: artxman’s Manzel’s Tarot. And, I pulled the Ace of Cups:
The card pictures a person walking in a desert-like place, and a golden chalice overflowing with liquid in the background. The Ace of Cups is about newness in relationships with other people and innovation in creative ideas. Now is the time to be involved in the present moment and take advantage of the opportunities around you. If there is nothing new, look at your environment with new eyes and appreciate what is present. Plant new greenery and enchant your environment. As Uranus transits through Aries (retrograde) and Taurus, don’t shy away from risks and opportunities due to the ego’s stance. Let go and trust the flow until your cup overflows.
I’ve noticed the masses nowadays know something about Mercury in retrograde…. realizing that it is a “bad” time for communication and technology along with a host of other things that we blame retrogrades for. Today, April 15, 2018, the new moon is in 26 degrees Aries, Mercury has stationed direct, and we have received the spark of ignition from the divine patterns that craft our universe.
New Moon
The astrological climate has been in a chaotic state ever since the solar eclipse in February, and, as the heavenly bodies transition from the waters of Pisces to the new warmth of Aries, we have chances to restructure our spiritual response to issues in our lives and reposition our thoughts on future steps. With this new moon at 26 degrees Aries, it conjuncts Uranus, bringing the intuitive encouragement we need to move forward, to push up and out of the murky realms of indecision and undefinition. What resources have we learned from others, and how does that apply to our individual lives? This new moon energy is truly wisdom-centered, due to its position in the third decan of Aries which is ruled by Sagittarius. No matter what sign our suns are or how our birth chart looks, this new moon activates the initiator in us and questions how we will focus our passion/flames with intention and purpose. How do we let go of blaming and throwing weight around, so we can move without constraints in our processes of becoming our greatest selves and living our best lives? We acknowledge the pains of the past without becoming trapped in its complex webs. This new moon teaches us about the healing and direction found in working with fire.
Dark Matter?
Galaxy NGC1052-DF2. Image Credit: P. van Dokkum; R. Abraham; STScI, Space Telescope Science Institute.
A huge event occurred in astronomy toward the end of March 2018, and this event is highly significant in how we view and interact with the universe. A team of astronomers discovered a faint smudge of a galaxy called NGC1052-DF2 (or DF2, for short) that may have no dark matter at all; the group’s results show that DF2 has either a minuscule amount of dark matter or none at all. No one has never seen a galaxy like this before. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, has around 30 times more dark matter than ordinary matter. Ordinary matter is all of the “stuff” in the universe made of atoms—animals, plants, planets, stars, gas, dust, etc. Dark matter is much more evasive. No one knows exactly what it is, but there is strong evidence through testing that undetected matter of some kind exists, has mass, and interacts with ordinary matter through gravity, playing a vital role in holding galaxies like ours together. On the other hand, “DF2 doesn’t have a dense central region like most spiral galaxies, or a central black hole like most elliptical galaxies. There are ten bright clusters of stars in the galaxy, but they orbit the center of the galaxy much slower than expected.” This find literally challenges the way we think galaxies function.
Chiron
Astrologically, I think it’s significant that the discovery of DF2 occurred when the sun entered Aries, and as the asteroid Chiron prepares to leave Pisces and enter Aries. DF2 looks like “pinpoints of light” instead of an actual galaxy, and it may be older than the theorized big bang of our universe. In western astrology, dark matter is situated as very Piscean, as this final zodiac represents the immaterial spirit, the esoteric wound of creation, things that cannot be touched. Aries is the birthing of the sun, the facilitator of light as it benefits matter. DF2’s discovery during the Pisces-Aries shift could represent the paradigm shift brought upon us as we gather our energies to come out of unconscious darkness to a head-bright awareness of our own vitality (a vitality that includes success and pain).
Le Centaur Chiron (ca. 1895) by Armand Point
Chiron, over the span of 2018, will exist in that very duality. As the wounded healer shifts from Pisces to Aries, only to retrograde back to Pisces, we learn what psychic damage should be brought from unconsciousness to consciousness. Chiron in Pisces allowed us to dig deep into spiritual mutilations that haven’t seen the light of day; Chiron in Aries will make room for us to use light and fire to examine more clearly what we have uncovered–how do we heal the ego, after the dark matter of our experiences has been made aware to our consciousness? How do we position and interact with our physical bodies now that we have learned more about our spiritual beings?
The way in which the cosmos flows and disrupts has a direct effect on our lives as planetary beings. I love setting written intentions on fire as a new moon ritual. As the flames transform matter, allow Chiron, Uranus and the moon’s vibrations to transmute dark matter into conscious grounding.
Saturn is currently transiting through Capricorn, nice and settled in its home sign. For the first time in my lifetime, Saturn will be in the exact place it was when I was born, in 7 degrees Capricorn. Luckily! For me, I will experience Saturn scrubbing past 7 degrees Capricorn a total of 3 times over the next few months due to Saturn retrograding (April 17th- Sept 6th). Despite all the horror stories said about one’s Saturn’s return, I’m constantly learning and relearning the heavenly bodies’ harmonious (or disharmonious) affect on my life, and I see how Saturn is really about getting to the bare essence of things.
Jupiter’s red eye
According to vibrational astrologist and YouTuber “Astrology Software“, Saturn is more malefic in transits than in the natal chart. Since the goals of this planet are to remove all superficial things, stripping away all that is not important for one’s achievements. Saturn rules the bones, which are inorganic material that brings structure to our bodies and that lasts past death. Bones hold memory and principles of what once was, so this is why certain astrologers say that Saturn holds karma, as the keeper of time and life cycles. Since Saturn holds the cycles of life, the planet knows how we should spend our time and what goals we should strive to accomplish. Especially as Saturn transits Capricorn, its energy may seem somewhat detached, as Saturn ignores any emotional response that may hinder progress to a fully integrated self, a self that is external awareness of the weight of time and the internal call of building foundational legacy. This is why Saturn may seem harsher in transits because he acts as a stripping agent that currently restricts, or takes away, things that no longer serve one’s highest good.
Saturn is exalted in Libra, and as a Libra Sun with a Libra Mars, I know Saturn…on a personal, legalistic level. Libra rules the domain of contracts, unions, and law, as seen by the balancing scales of justice that is the sign’s glyph (⚖️). The energy of Libra unbiasedly weighs both the good and the bad in all things, naturally balancing the burdens and the pleasantries of energies with social agility, prowess, and mental fortitude. It makes sense that Saturn is exalted in Libra because, at the end of the day, Saturn wants the most balanced, smoothly functioning life possible for all of us. Saturn, then, acts as the judge in the courtroom who keeps records of our actions in this life as well as previous ones.
It has definitely felt like I’ve grown up as I approach my Saturn’s return. At the (ripened) age of 28, I sense Saturn’s reach on my bones and my relationships, bringing to mind all that must be tested and shaped or else ousted in pursuit of high structure and character. Since Capricorn lies within my 4th house, it has been a deeply ancestral experience for me to know who I am and to accept the spiritual responsibilities I have in this lifetime while upholding traditional customs of the ones who came before me. Saturn connects with my legalistic Libra sensibilities by materially responding to my internal thoughts…. my negative thinking manifests as quickly as my positive thinking because I’m learning the weight of my principles. Saturn works in a material manner to teach immaterial wisdom that structures our very existence.
Important Current Transit(s):
One of the most important transits I see at the moment is Saturn semi-square Jupiter. A semi-square is a 45-degree angle, similar to a 90-degree square aspect. In my experience, semi-squares can be a much harsher block than squares because semi-squares manifest as material events in our lives. This aspect presents deep, internal blocks that must be dealt with externally. So, with Jupiter currently semi-squaring Saturn, expansion and restriction are in a tense environment with one another. Once balance between growth and removal is realized, then this tension can transform into great achievements, as the ancient knowledge of Saturn gives wisdom to the new expansions of Jupiter. Where can you be more restricted, and how can that frugality lead to a more expansive future? Pisces season teaches us how to flow with the currents of multiple extremities, and will help us reconcile these energies more intuitively.
The vastness of astrology and astronomy makes it overwhelmingly difficult to ground cosmic energy into words at times. But Mercury has gone direct and now Saturn entering Capricorn, so I want to reflect on my journey with the stars, planets, asteroids, and luminaries and how they have several insights in the way I process cosmology. When I engage with the elements of the cosmos, several things come to mind.
✨Tangible vibrations
Through the process of gazing at the heavens, I feel the vibrations of the planetary motion and the totality of the universe has a very physical effect on my body, and it grows stronger. I don’t check transits on a daily basis honestly, but there are certain patterns that have gained recognition through distinction. The distance in which the cosmic bodies moves and aspect each other outlines certain harmonic beats or vibrational pitches that permeate throughout the universe. For example, during my last solar return, it felt like the sun was vibrating on my skin, prickling in waves of light that spilled into the room that on that day. So, in a way, wherever the planets and luminaries are in the universe, they have a tangible expression that affects how energy is articulated at the very moment of contact. This vibrational astrology makes us aware of our material connectedness to the wholeness of the universe. It all depends on degrees and the harmony that the cosmic bodies create as their material bodies vibrate through the solar system.
✨Decans’ Flavoring
Decans are the divisions of each sign equaling 10 degrees. Each zodiac sign is divided into 10 degrees and, and each division signals the intra-elemental progression of each sign. For example, because I was born when the sun was in 13 degrees Libra, the sun was in the 2nd decan of Libra, which is Libra-Aquarius (assumed to be the most balanced of the zodiac since we are right in the middle of the wheel!) Of the Libra decans, the first is Libra-Libra and the third is Libra-Gemini. Notice that the elemental indicator (air) does not change, but the elements work in stages of progression within themselves. Each decan brings a distinct coloring or flavor to the nature of any cosmic body, as they travel through the Libra section of the zodiac. All in all, decans help us read the energy of the sign to know how the cosmic bodies are expressing themselves in our lives. No sign is singular; every part of the zodiacal wheel works in unity through constellated connections. Decans help us see energies below the surface of consciousness because they allow us to understand a deeper level of energetic positioning. So, because my sun is in the second decan of Libra-Aquarius, I understand that Aquarian energy informs my Libra sun through its patterns of otherworldly innovation and collective worldbuilding.
✨Nodes of the moon- Cycle awareness
When reading most Western birth charts, its shape is a 360-degree circle (12 signs x 30 degrees per sign). Right off, the circle represents cycles that occur as the cosmic bodies orbit throughout the zodiacal wheel. So, when gazing upon circular patterns, we gaze upon karmic cycles as well. Most astrologers believe that the soul has lives pasts, and the cycles of karma and dharma attached to it as well. The north and south nodes of the moon are mathematical points in astrology that speak directly to this cyclical awareness. Simply put, the north node represents the present trajectory of our karmic paths and the lessons we came to the planet to learn in this lifetime, while the south node reveals the karmic weight (and benefits) we bring into this life from our past lifetimes. Understanding where the north node falls in a natal chart is key to knowing what energies should open up and what energies should be placed on hold. Cycles from past lives come to stifle growth in the present life due to elements of comfort. We must walk the path of our north node in order to understand or reap the benefits from our past lives. For example, if a person’s north node is in Gemini, their soul’s past life may have been very reclusive and inverted as they sought to understand a deeper philosophy of life. However, north node Gemini energy calls the person to be more open and communicative in this life, bridging social and spiritual realms in a pursuit of collective wisdom. The nodes have a way of revealing the shape of our destiny by informing us of which energies need to grow more freely.
✨Card(s) Pull ✨
I pulled two cards for this post: Caelum (Death) and Telescopium + Reticulum (upside down):
This new year brings to mind tools of creation that must be accessed in order for the right configuration and refinement to take place successfully. Reconfiguration requires a broader perspective, a cracking open of the mind’s eye in order to discover your support. Renounce all unsupportive energies to death. Observe your surroundings with a more discerning eye. Saturn’s transits for 2018 includes a long period of retrograde. This transit is the dominant force that serves a driving mechanism causing major shifts and reconfigurations. In a sense, there are cosmic stairs that must be travailed so that you can understand the building blocks of cycles (and methods of breaking cycles). Boundaries should be placed; build spaces that speak life and that explore the meaning of becoming. A broader picture removes any covering that constricts growth as the cosmos shows us what it means to discover the Self, to become the Self, and to refine the connections of the Self. And when some signs and symbols come before you to assist you in your journey, don’t overanalyze everything. Searching the meaning of every little thing, when sometimes you should simply observe. Allow it to be. The meaning will come; don’t force messages. Open the window and just look, listen, and sit with the energies.
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The stillness that comes
By gazing at crumbling leaves, trees, and limbs
Grounded
In the soiled treasure of mother earthing
Whispers gently with certainty
That I my self
The soul with uprooted, upchanging chaos
Can be planted once again.
The way the trees go every whichaway
Crooked with purpose and presence
Raw
Reaching claws first out of the creating One
Births in my deeper parts
The wisdom of my material body,
My vessel that flows, bulges, jigs, trembles,
My staying power.
Sunlight liquid spilling over all that is present,
Shining on and in, one and inside
Every god created thing that dares to die and become
Reminds me with thick memories of
The warm between my thighs made from moving
Bringing Light to the dim spots caused from friction.
I am the light, the still, the dark parts of the sun.
Libra season always comes in like a mental breath of fresh air. Connections become more laxed as we begin to recognize our social habits and the things that we should shut down and pick up as we balance rest and passion after the equinox. Being a libra has taught me many things about interaction with my environment because the energy is very atmospheric. It’s not just about connecting with people but it’s about the position of objects, the swaying of trees, the beauty of rolling clouds, the way the corners of a lover’s eyes crinkle when they smile- it’s about presence. Because I’ve come to the planet under a libra sun, imbalance is the very thing I must resist and revamp, as the vibrancy of atmospheric pressures could easily lead to disharmony.
I’ve come to see the energy in a way that mainstream astrology tends to exclude. And each solar return my experience is radically different. This year I see libra’s balance with the nodes of the moon as energetically significant. As we know, the sun doesn’t particularly enjoy transiting in this zodiac sign because it is the beginning of its death, autumn’s grip slowly sinks all warmth as this part of earth turns away from its fiery luminary. Libra energy is about the “other,” not the self/the sun, but about the things outside of the self, while seeing the self through the lens of the other, the expression, not the initiation, of growth. This season is the sun’s last inhalation before its energetic rest. Libra is the initial knowledge of the intimacy and beauty of release and transformation.
Since libra is about balance, the sun is beginning its fall in this sign, but the north node of the moon is rolling about in leo. Here is the balance, the mirror of the soul. This node represents one’s soul path, away from the karmic cycles of past lives, and onward to territories and internal space that the soul has never experienced. Because the north node of the moon is in leo currently, our destiny is in the light or in accessible conscious awareness while the sun transits toward the dark, or the depths of the inner self. So, during this particular libra season, the sun and the north node are functioning as a mirror of the soul, striking balance between past and future, death and rebirth, cacophony and symphony.
Saint Michael, detail – Carlo Crivelli (about 1430/5-about 1494)
This year has been drastically transformative for me on many fronts. I have begun a shamanistic journey led by Reverend Joyce of livingjoyfulnow, and I have connected to my dark and light realms in ways I would have never imagined. Being a shaman awakens one to see the things that are in plain sight, things that seem to have been hidden before but are now brought into conscious awareness. The atmosphere becomes enlivened with meaning and patterns that mirror the soul. I feel that I can explore the darkness and light of the balance without fear, a trait that the libra must acquire to find true harmony. All in all, this energy is just that: bringing light to every dark place in your being without fear, without judgment, without hatred. To simply look at the self and to know peace are the lessons that the setting sun brings to mind.
The card pull for this post is: Nebula
This card speaks directly to the darkness of the soul that the libra sun wants you to acknowledge. Made from dust, hydrogen, helium, and remnants of supernova explosion, the nebula is literally the growth after a storm, the incubation of newness and creativity. The same duality that exists in this season is found in nebulous creativity: a dark womb of beginning and the intelligent light of intentional growth. Now is the time to stock up for the journey ahead, as you look into the mirror to see youself as present and sentient and worthy of serenity. From the depths, hope bursts forth, just like a volcanic overflow of being.
Note: For libra season, I am offering special $7.77 readings. You can order here.