MARCIA SACKS

Today, as I'm writing this Uranus is in 2° Taurus making its turn retrograde.  Stationary points concentrate the energy of a planet in that position.  Uranus is high energy, the energy of a lightning bolt or live wire.  It's accident proneness and sudden unexpected changes of plan. Stay flexible and ready for adventure over the next several days.

Generally, I say to clients, "Don't stick a fork into the toaster." This is a symbol to keep you conscious of the potential for household electrical issues.  You should apply this to your own circumstances. Turn off the light before you change the light bulb. Pop off the circuit breaker before you repair an electrical socket. If you see the people around you are on edge, calm yourself down first before speaking. And as I said a couple weeks ago, take a deep breath and bless your car before you drive.

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​With all the excitement, we need some inner peace. The mantra calling on the Universe to help us find peace at every level of our being is "Om shanti, shanti, shanti".

You can listen to it on the Mantra: Sounds of Transformation album - it's the last track:
https://kriyau.com/music/mantra-sounds-of-transformation/
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(Just FYI, I'm one of the voices in the chorus on this album.)

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This same week, we have the Solar Eclipse on August 11, 2018 at 4:57 a.m. CDT in 18°Leo.  The Sun represents your outer life and the Moon represents your inner life. So the inner and outer parts of you are aligned but intensified in the glow of Leo.  In my article for Yoga Chicago magazine I describe this intriguing aspect to the eclipse:

"the finger of God" (yod) aspect from the transpersonal Neptune and Pluto to the Eclipse Sun and Moon … reminds us that we are infinitesimally small in proportion to the universe, whereas our pride and ego are galactically large." 

What I mean to say is that Leo as a zodiac sign is symbolic of leadership and creativity.  With the eclipse in Leo everyone needs to watch their motivations. Are you a servant leader or dictatorial leader? Are you playful and generous in your artistic endeavors or are you a diva? Over-inflated egos may get deflated by circumstances outside of their control at this time.

Saturn in Capricorn is still in that favorable trine to Uranus in Taurus. Keep steady toward your goals. Your hard work will pay off, first when Mercury goes direct on August 19th and even more so after Mars ends its retrograde on August 27th.

Coming up:

Astrologer Lyn Ewing with be speaking on Tuesday night, August 14 at the next NCGR meeting on:
A JOURNEY THROUGH THE HOUSES OF THE HOROSCOPE: THE CREATION OF IDENTITY
http://www.chicagolandastrology.org/news.html
​I'm a member of this NCGR chapter and enjoy hearing different perspectives on astrology each month.

We're still in eclipse season.  You may find that your life has been transformed by the time this season is over. Can you choose to be transformed? Or are you a passive experiencer of transformation?  Here's the eclipse list:

Solar Eclipse: July 12, 2018 9:47 p.m. CDT 20° Cancer
Lunar Eclipse: July 27, 2018 3:30 p.m. CDT 4° Aquarius
Solar Eclipse: August 11, 2018 4:57 a.m. CDT 18° Leo

I think it helps if you have an over-arching goal or a set of key spiritual principles that inform all the choices of your life. That will give context to all your life experiences. When you have a happy transformation, you can appreciate it more deeply.  When you have a "challenging" transformation, you can extract a life lesson.

​During the Lunar Eclipse on July 27th, It will benefit you if one of your key principles is "Be Here Now" like the title of Ram Dass' popular book from the 1970s. It means, in part, to be awake and aware in your life, being more here and now than spacing out or walking through life without paying attention.

The Lunar Eclipse occurs on July 27, 2018 at 3:30 p.m. CDT at 4° Aquarius. It is conjunct Mars and squared to Uranus. Mars rules fighting and arguing, sharp objects and driving a car. Uranus rules accidents. Does that mean everyone in the world is going to have a car accident while they're having an argument in the car? No - it's a symbol to assist you in paying attention.  But it couldn't hurt to say a prayer, bless your vehicle, and calm down if you're rushing, before you get behind the wheel over the next few days. It's the same thing if you're chopping veggies in the kitchen. Pay attention. Slow down.

It's the same thing when you want to slam someone with words that are clever but cruel and cutting. Take a moment to think it through and if you really want to start a war just to prove how brilliant and correct you are.

More about the Lunar Eclipse in my Yoga Chicago article.

We do have two nice trines in this eclipse chart. Saturn is harmonious to Uranus, so channel your creative and inventive energy into your long term goals.  Jupiter in Scorpio is trining Neptune in Pisces which is good for art, poetry, music and also attunement to the Divine.
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The Mercury in this eclipse chart is at a stationary point (Mercury goes retrograde on July 26th at 23° Leo). Not good for new beginnings. Be careful of errors within written documents and contracts you sign over the next several days. Mercury retrograde periods (7/26 - 8/19) can be good for research and study.  Be awake and aware and careful about what you say and how you say it as I mentioned above - Mercury rules communication.

It's eclipse season.  "An eclipse season is one of only two periods during a year when eclipses can occur, due to the orbital inclination of the Moon." -Wikipedia  Many times just two eclipses occur - one solar and one lunar - but there can be more, like this season, with two solar and one lunar eclipse across July and August. Here are the dates:

Solar Eclipse: July 12, 2018 9:47 p.m. CDT 20° Cancer
Lunar Eclipse: July 27, 2018 3:30 p.m. CDT 4° Aquarius
Solar Eclipse: August 11, 2018 4:57 a.m. CDT 18° Leo

If you want a clearer understanding from the science side about solar and lunar eclipses, try this video.

If you want a brief description of each eclipse from a spiritual/karmic perspective, check out my article in the July/August issue of Yoga Chicago magazine.

Let's focus on the July 12th eclipse for now.  The key aspect is the opposition to Pluto at 20° Capricorn. In my article I point out briefly that "life transformations and letting go of the past are the symbols for this eclipse."  Do you have a transformation or change that needs to be made in your life?  A well thought out plan for change could be very powerful when enacted right now.  If you don't have a plan, use the energy of the eclipse to formulate one (don't just think about it, write it down!).  Take some steps forward. Create momentum. If it seems like the changes are slow to implement, persist and the results will begin to show when Mars goes direct at the end of August.

With the Pluto in such a strong position, add a touch of gentleness to all you do. Changes you're trying to implement under Pluto can feel intimidating or threatening to others.

There are two grand trines within the eclipse chart.  The first harmonizes the energy between Venus, Saturn and Uranus. This symbolizes the ability to take your creative plus practical skills and make something beautiful and long-lasting.
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The other grand trine harmonizes the Sun, Moon, Jupiter and Neptune. Strong intuition and depth of meditation are possible for a few days before and after the eclipse. If your plan is to further a goal that is in the field of music, poetry or religion this is a beneficial aspect.

The primary energy of the eclipse is strongest 3 days before and after the eclipse. However, the changes made at an eclipse can affect your life for years into the future.

You can find me:

The Full Moon occurs on June 27, 2018 at 11:52 p.m. CDT (so it's on June 28 Eastern Time and further east). In 6° Capricorn, it's conjunct Saturn at 5° Capricorn.  Here are some keywords for a Saturn influenced Full Moon: Delays, Depression, Duty.

Delays are the easiest of these to deal with.  Affirm that what is delayed to you is not denied to you. Saturn is the planet of hard work, and that hard work will pay off, just not on the timetable we'd like.

Depression is the hardest to deal with.  Emotions override reality and we are convinced under this aspect that limitations we're experiencing now are permanent.  For most of us, things will lighten up within a few days.

Duty is the responsibilities that are ours to deal with. The good thing is that they're obvious, no mysteries involved. The challenging thing is that they're tough. Saturn issues can be long hours at work, caretaking for elders, home improvement projects that are more time-consuming than imagined at first.  The key is to take care of what is right in front of you and not add on extras. 

On the positive side, the Full Moon is trine Uranus. This means modern technology may be able to modify the issues above.  Check for traffic times and alternate routes on the internet. Google for lifehacks, shortcuts and gadgets for your tasks. Reach out to others for help, support and ideas through email and social media.

Attitude is all.  I like this affirmation from Jack Canfield: "I am loving and capable." 
This is a good affirmation to acknowledge that you are coming from an open-hearted, unselfish place while you easily accomplish your tasks. "It's knowing I can handle anything life hands me," Jack Canfield says.

Ganesh mantras are beneficial at this time because Ganesh is the remover of obstacles.  Here's a meditative chant by Deva Premal and a lively version by Jai Uttal. ​

​You will find me at:

The Temple of Kriya Yoga retreat on Friday and Saturday, July 6 & 7 giving a talk on Pathways for Spiritual Living: https://www.yogakriya.org/retreat-days
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The Second Sunday Tarot Meetup on Sunday July 8.  I'll be leading the creation of a group oracle deck and everyone will have a reading from it.  Fun!
https://www.meetup.com/tarot-336/events/249837981/

The New Moon is June 13, 2018, 2:43 pm CDT in 22° Gemini.  With this New Moon we feel flooded with data, input from the internet, email, social media, books, magazine, news sources, recipes, things to do, and lots of ideas for the future. The problem is that we find ourselves lacking the ability to make a decision.  It's like a delicious restaurant menu with lots of choices. If you know your goals, it's like knowing what you have a taste for when you look at a restaurant menu.  If you don't know where you're supposed to be going, it's easy to get lost. Gemini energy is restless and wants to go somewhere quick but can't always decide where to go.  Wisdom may be making decisions that take you in some way toward your life's purpose.
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Gemini is ruled by the planet Mercury and they both rule communication.  I hate to keep saying the same thing over and over again, but Mercury is the trigger for so much of our karma in relationships - what you say and how you say it. At this New Moon the tone of your voice can reveal to others how you feel as much as the words you say.  Be kind and patient and take time to think before you speak.

The Neptune station point (retrograde) is on June 18 at 16° Pisces.  Neptune is nebulousness, which in everyday language is spaciness. How do I know the Neptune is in effect now.  Example one, I almost forgot to write this blog post. It sort of slipped out of my mind as the days went by in a fog.  I like to write and post a few days before the lunation and now it's tomorrow - yikes!  Example two, I plugged my cell phone into the charger overnight. In the morning it was still close to zero battery.  I stood and looked at the phone for awhile until I realize that I'd unplugged the charger at the wall the day before when I was vacuuming. Duh!

The moral of the story is pay attention over the next two weeks, in particular to things that can trip you up, like making appointments (sync all your calendars) or signing contracts (read and understand the fine print).  

Planning ahead:  Mars goes retrograde on June 26 at 9° Aquarius.  Mars only retrogrades every two years. Mars rules the engine of your car, so pay attention to weird noises around June 26th and get them checked out. Not the best time to buy a new car though.  If you can wait until the end of August (when Mars goes direct) you'll be happier with your purchase.

​On the personal level, Mars rules your life vitality so if you feel low energy use the tools of yoga, tai chi, or chi gong to stretch and get the chi/life-energy moving.  Deep breathing exercises, such as pranayama in yoga, can be very helpful - especially if you are out in nature with lots of fresh air. Walking and other exercises that use right/left (i.e. stepping each leg with the opposite arm swinging forward) will help balance Mars whether you feel a lack of energy or an overabundance.

Classes and Consultations

Classes
Consultations
Lectures and lessons on youtube

The Full Moon on May 29 is at 9:19 a.m. in 8° Sagittarius.  Full moon in Sagittarius has upbeat, enthusiastic energy and can find you ready for adventure and travel.
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Within the Full Moon chart, you'll find Mars separating from Uranus, the aspect I wrote about at the New Moon.  Did you have car problems (electrical systems) or driving incidents at the New Moon?  It could be somewhat similar at the Full Moon so I'll repeat: "Driving is an activity ruled by Mars.  Pay attention. Take your time.  Go with the flow.  Don't give another driver an angry honk or gesture!" 

In a Full Moon, the sun is in the opposite sign on the zodiac from the moon, so with this Full Moon , there's an emphasis on the Sagittarius/Gemini axis.   This polarity has to do with the everyday mind of Gemini and the philosophical mind of Sagittarius.  It also has to do with learning something and teaching it.

Here's a passage from the Taittiriya Upanishad
(translated by W.B. Yeats and Shree Purohit Swami):

Do your duty; learn and teach.
Speak truth; learn and teach.
Meditate; learn and teach.
Control the senses; learn and teach.
Control the mind; learn and teach.
Kindle the sacred fire; learn and teach.
Feed the fire; learn and teach.
Be hospitable; learn and teach.
Be humane; learn and teach.
Serve the family; learn and teach.

Everything you learn, you teach.  This is a type of spiritual discipline. Learning and teaching bring the everyday life and the spiritual life into unity.  Sometimes we do this in structured ways by being the teacher at the head of the classroom. Sometimes we do it spontaneously out of the joy of learning something absolutely 'cool' and gain the pleasure of passing it along.

Take a moment during this Full Moon time and find the joy in learning and teaching.

My friend Eric Klein is always learning and teaching.  Here's an article he wrote for this month's Yoga Chicago magazine: "Let go. As you do, something startling is revealed."

​Pyschic Abilities and Your Horoscope

 My new video " 10 Quick Tips on How to Learning Astrology Fast"
Click through to view it on youtube if you want the reference links in the info section.

The New Moon in Taurus this month takes place on the same day as an important astrological event, the ingress (or entrance) of the planet Uranus into the zodiacal sign Taurus.  Uranus changes signs approximately every seven years.  More on this later.

The New Moon occurs on May 15, 2018, 6:48 a.m. CDT in 24° Taurus.  New Moon is Taurus is good for projects that take your creativity and bring it into form, especially painting and sculpture. You could apply that same symbol to decorating your home or creating a lovely garden. 

With the New Moon trine to Pluto, it can be a good time to start a harmonious transformation.  I believe that when you wish for or affirm something, that including the word "harmonious" helps emphasize the trine.  For example, instead of outright asking the Universe "Give me more money!", try something like "I gratefully accept Life’s gifts of wealth and prosperity, which flow into my life in ways that are balanced and harmonious."  Or instead of saying "I'm going to cut out junk food" try, "I instinctively choose the most healthy and harmonious foods for my body."

Another pattern within the New Moon chart is Mars squaring Uranus and Mercury.

The exact dates of this combination is Mercury square Mars on May 12th and Mercury conjunct Uranus on 5/13.  These aspects converge at the New Moon with Mars squaring the conjunction of Uranus and Mercury in the chart of the New Moon.  Let me translate:

Mercury = communication and short journeys
Mars = aggressive energy
Uranus = chaos; accidents; unexpected changes of plan
Square = difficult combination of energy between these planets
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I've probably mentioned this before but Mercury - the way you communicate - is often the trigger for karmic events to occur.  Focus on thinking before speaking during the next week. 
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Driving is an activity ruled by Mercury and Mars.  Pay attention. Take your time.  Go with the flow.  Don't give another driver an angry honk or gesture!

Uranus ingress into Taurus, May 15

The symbol for the next seven years of Uranus in Taurus is the Wizard of Oz:  a cyclone (tornado) picks up your house and takes you to a land entirely difference from your own.  Reflections for the entrance of Uranus into Taurus:

What gives you security?  If it's material things, can you be flexible about your possessions?
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How is your flexibility in general?  Are you able to initiate the changes that need to be made in your life?  If not, when Uranus goes into Taurus, the changes could be made for you.  It's much more harmonious to make changes for yourself than to have Uranus make them for you in its unexpected and chaotic way.

More about Uranus and other major aspects for the year in this lecture:

Jupiter trine Neptune

Also in the New Moon chart Jupiter is forming a trine to Neptune which will be exact on 5/25/18.  This is good for meditation, spiritual study, and travel to places by water.  Take a walk near water to relax.   Even recorded water - the sound of ocean waves, rivers running, raindrops falling - can be especially relaxing during the end of May.

Save the Date!

I will be speaking on Psychic Abilities and Your Horoscope at the June meeting of the Northern Illinois Chapter of NCGR.  Each individual has the potential for intuition, telepathy, clairvoyance, astral projection and other forms of expanded awareness.  Your horoscope holds the key to the discovery and harmonious development of extra-sensory consciousness.  Bring your own horoscope and compare them to the charts of Edgar Cayce, Nostradamus, and others.
Tuesday, June 12, 7:30 - 9 p.m., Des Plaines, IL

The Full Moon occurs on April 29, 2018, 7:58 p.m. CDT in 9° Scorpio.

For many people I know, the past two weeks have been filled with challenges.  The Full Moon is Scorpio is an excellent time for reflection, to think about how we handled those challenges, what resources we called on, and what core values sustained us. 

And here's a happy thought:  In terms of the general "Astro-Weather" May will be a much gentler month than April. (Your mileage may vary - a lot depends on the aspects in your own natal and progressed charts.)

The Full Moon in Scorpio can also give us a deeper glimpse into our subconscious mind and make us aware of the energies within us that move us to action before we've made a conscious (or wise) decision.  The Mars/Pluto conjunction, although separating, is still in the chart of the Full Moon.  Look within at the things that irritate you, frustrate you and make you really angry.  With Jupiter trining that Mars/Pluto conjunction we can use our higher mind to assess those situations, release them, turn them over to the Divine, and finally relax back to peace.

There's a lot going on astrologically over the next couple of weeks:

• Mercury Direct April 15, 4:21 a.m. CDT  in 4° Aries
• New Moon Sunday, April 15, 2018, 8:57 p.m. CDT in 26° Aries, conjunct Uranus 28°
• Saturn Retrograde on April 17 at 9° Capricorn
• Pluto Retrograde on April 22 at 21° Capricorn

With the New Moon conjunct Uranus,  for several days on either side of April 15, the energy is volatile and high voltage.  Situations change quickly.  As Mercury makes its station direct in Aries, once again the key to handling extreme people and uncertain situations is what you say and how you say it. Stay awake and aware of your environment.

Being mindful in general is always a good practice.  Here's a Zen story that I meditate on frequently.  Like the author of the blog, I am rarely successful in maintaining more than a few moments of real mindfulness at a time.  And like the author, I recommend the book Zen Flesh, Zen Bones by Paul Reps.  The same lightning strike energy of the new moon that can be so difficult to control may be the same energy that gives us those flashes of insight from Zen stories and koans.

The combination of the Saturn and Pluto station retrogrades both in Capricorn (with Mars contained between them) reminds me of two symbols from nature.  The earthquake and the volcano.  The ground shakes and trembles in an earthquake - the foundations of life and faith are called into question.  With the volcano, emotions that seethe below the surface are ready to erupt.  Self-control puts a temporary cap on the volcano but it creates a pressure that can explode for miles like Mount St. Helens or  Eyjafjallajökull.  

Plan ahead: if you experience the symbolic earthquake, what resources do you have that can sustain you through a challenging time?  If you are prone to being a volcano, what can you do to constructively to let off steam?  At the same time, perhaps it's best to avoid others that remind you of a volcano.

Used wisely the energy of Saturn and Pluto together can bring focus, concentration, self-discipline, and steadiness of purpose to build something that can transform your world.

​On Sunday April 29th, I will be giving a talk on "Astrology and Kriya Yoga: Predictions for Your Spiritual Path" as part of the Babaji Festival at The Temple of Kriya Yoga in Chicago. There will be music and chanting, talks by the temple swamis, and more.

For more information:

http://www.yogakriya.org
kriya@yogakriya.org

The Full Moon takes place on March 31, 2018 at 7:36 a.m. CDT in 10°Libra. 

This Full Moon forms a T-square with the Moon in Libra, the Sun and Mercury opposing in Aries and Mars and Saturn conjunct in Capricorn.  This is a difficult but temporary aspect lasting several days before and after the full moon.

The Sun amplifies things external to you and the Moon amplifies things internal to you, so the Full Moon always has some conflict between what you're experiencing internally compared to externally.  Mars and Saturn conjunct symbolizes anger and frustration.  Linked to the lunation, you may find you are experiencing this anger and frustration internally and may also see it acted out by other people and situations.

What to do? Keep steady toward your goals and dreams, don't quit. 
“If you get tired learn to rest, not to quit.”  ~~~ Banksy

Some more advice about the Mars/Saturn conjunction (which is exact on April 2):​

Don't put a bowling ball on the top shelf of the closet!  This is a symbol of many other types of situations. Saturn represents things that are heavy. Mars rules the head. Be really careful.

If you do hatha yoga (or really any type of exercise) don't push to pain or past your limits at this time.  Don't try new postures or movements.  Move slowly, with proper placement and conscious awareness.  Saturn rules the knees.  Mars the muscles. Not a great time for weight-lifting in general, whether exercise or chores.

Difficult Mars/Saturn aspects often leave scars.  Physical scars are a possibility so be careful with sharp objects (Mars).  But remember that sharp, angry words are also Mars and scars from words said in anger can be even longer lasting than physical scars.

Positive keywords: Self-discipline; focus; steadiness of purpose.

Mantra:  Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti

Om is the sound of the oneness of the universe.  Shanti is the Sanskrit word for peace.
Let there be peace on every level of our being: body, mind and spirit.
You can listen to this mantra here.

In the future: 

Looking forward to attending this conference! It's a wonderful opportunity to learn from some of the world's best astrology teachers, researchers and authors.