tarot – Kongo Kosmo 7

01/02/201901/02/2019

Capricornian New Year

Saturn’s Form

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.

Image result for capricorn sea goat — 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)!

12/29/201712/29/2017

Cosmological Reflections

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

Image result for decans in astrology 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.

Check out my store: everything 50% off for the new year until the first week of January!

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Peace and light ✨✨✨

06/29/201706/29/2017

Mars and Mercury in Cancer Conjunct: the Armor of God

06/21/201706/21/2017

Dreaming of Cancer Sun 🌙

Oh cancer season. I want to share a few scattered thoughts about this energy.

Planets behave as we behave. The emotional nature of the moon is manifested most openly through cancerian energy. The birth of the emotional element of the zodiac brings to mind the things required of us to be whole, knowing the inner and outer layers of consciousness and subconsciousness. The sun casts its shadow on the surface of the moon, so our conscious awareness is ultimately connected to our emotional responsiveness.

What instantly comes to mind when I think about cancer energy is that scene from Belly (1998) of Keisha (Taral Hicks) laying across the bed in utter comfort and deep dark blue aesthetic:

This! Pure cancer aesthetic right here. The fittedness of the blue wavy texture. The darkness of the room, the snugness of the bed, the feeling of sinking into comfort. The sensation of slipping into a place of faithful stability. The depth of durability of uncovered skin.

The summer solstice of 2017 began with the moon in Taurus, waning crescent, in the sign of its exaltation. Powerful, adorned, relieving, like the exhalation after an emotional moment, the moon’s season commences with a discernment of the soul. The dream-like state we feel when gazing at the moon. We gaze at this liminal space between the sun and the moon, murky as a trance.

PIA12663_hires — Saturn’s moon Dione | The Cassini spacecraft | Jan. 27, 2010

I had a dream last night about being in a new house. The ideas of warmth and centeredness made me feel secure and whole. Cancerian energy is just that: the protection and security of arguably one of the most vulnerable parts of your composition—the soul. A house warming gathering of souls. The impression of pushing your heel downward into soft soil. Where wounds go to find healing salves.

The cardinal creator of the embryonic fluid. The stark awareness newborns have when they have learned how to control their necks. The elongation and celebration of the sun, knowing that emotions within rules the actions without.

Soul lurking Cancer.

The card I pulled for this post is: “Pictor” (Temperance) Air.

This card represents the artist’s easel, a small tool used to make their work. Cancer season/summer solstice is the time to create. Whatever creative project or work that defines the self should be initiated during this season. The card speaks to love and support in the atmosphere from people around. If there are any negative energies stunting creative growth should have been cut off during Gemini season. Now is the time to create from whatever state one is in, and the very act of creation will bring the emotional balance needed to feel secure. The card has a small canvas and a simple paintbrush stroke in the center. The summer solstice is a time of regeneration, a blank canvas to create a personal masterpiece. Opening the heart to unknown opportunities, although it feels vulnerable at first, will be met with divine assistance and prosperity, only when the movement to create begins. Creation is a practice of healing and being the full self.

05/13/201705/28/2017

Words are Spells

To begin, I am thinking about words, and my love for them, and their power to bring life and deadness to our realities. My journey as an English professor and astrologer has brought me close to the weight of words. Our psychological connection to language is the very foundation of our existence here on earth. People are looking for that one word, uttered from their depths, that would shake their foundation and grant them the freedom (or control) they desire. In my experience, I notice how folks interact with words and use them to define their persona, hide their insecurities, and feed their demons. Students worry about finding the correct language to fulfill a prompt. Astrology clients are concerned with the cosmic word, language to define their astrological body. The foundation of our cosmological and physical manifestations quite literally rests within the word.

Not to make this post to English teacher-y, but I want to define a term that has led me to believe that words are spells (prayers, a beckon to manifestation, a constant definition of desired reality) and that words have a very physical presence when we speak. And it is with this understanding that I teach, I read the astrological charts of others, and I work my own magic. Coming from a “name-it-and-claim-it” Pentecostal church background, I think there is a wealth of information concerning words and manifestation embedded in Black American spiritual discourse already. I want to tease the fact that speaking words is the same as casting energy and calling desired forces into your purview.

The term I want to define is “metalinguistic awareness.” It is the ability to objectify language as a process as well as an artifact. Simplified, we use a different lexicon of words depending on the audience who receives them. We are aware of how we speak, and we change our language according to our audience. Some of us would never speak to a parent the same way we speak to our friends, so we are aware of the impact words have. We indeed have the ability to objectify language, or make words into physical objects that alter reality. Words then become objects that we use, play with, transform, and silence in order to receive the desired result. Language is always evolving (process), but it can be recorded as a historical document (artifact).

So, how do we get “words are spells” from metalinguistic awareness? It is the very act of prayers/spell casting/incantations/meditation that our metalinguistic awareness is employed and heightened. We know the prefix “meta” means to “go beyond”- so in metalinguistics we are going beyond linguistics (language). The speaker knows that words are indeed mean more than the words themselves. Spells and prayers are nothing but our ability to speak meta-vibrational patterns into our present narrative and co-create (co-writing with vibrational patterns around you) speaking into the objectified structure of everyday reality. Words are vibrational patterns that have a metaphysical effect on our narrative. Once we realize that we are not stuck in our present situation (we are not disconnected from the words that define our existence nor from the words that other objects radiate), then you can speak the language of higher vibrational patterns to change to present waves. You are now objectifying surrounding vibrational patterns into the objects of language (language as the system we use to give meaning to this earthly experience). By knowing that words that are structurally defining your energy, we must begin the process of choosing which words we are allowing to define us.

With the kind of upbringing I had, I can’t get away from the bible when it comes to making sense of spirituality (I’ve literally tried running to atheism, agnosticism, and many belief systems, but I’ve settled on a pantheistic version of spiritualism). John 1:1 reads, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The word has the foundation of creation. Logos, information, and the Divine were intertwined with and in each other. There was an original word that sparked consciousness. As Zora Neale Hurston said, “six days of magic spells and mighty words and the world with its elements above and below was made.” We have the power to use words in manifestation because words are the very mechanisms for such actions.

I’d like to pull a card from my lovely Cosmos tarot deck to go with this post. Here is the card I shuffled and chose:

Lmao, of course, the deck would bring up the “Gemini” card for this post. How original… Who else would understand the deep magic of words and lilt-like connectivity than the energy of Geminis, ruled by the planet Mercury (the God-messenger, wing-footed owner of our ability to fix things in our minds mentally only to manifest those thoughts into words)? But, this air sign card makes sense since this post is about words and manifestation. The Gemini twins represent the duality that exists when using your metalinguistic awareness in this realm to create higher vibrations in the spiritual realm. On the card, the man on the left has sparks of light coming from his head: that’s a divine connection to the metaphysical. The man on the right has a strong back and a darker appearance: that’s grounding our words on earth in manifestation and building a solid foundation. We must have both because words lead to materialization. The phrase “words are spells” is just a mystical way of letting you know that your words manifest your own reality.