 The Full Moon is on Monday, September 20 at 6:54 pm CDT in 28° Pisces. We have moved from the New Moon in Virgo with its emphasis on the details of every life to the wide open ocean of Life that Pisces symbolizes. Pisces energy can be "spacey" but it's full of imagination and dreams. Take a look at the day or night sky to feel a sense of expansion and the infinite. Louise Hay often used this affirmation in her book "You Can Heal Your Life": “In the infinity of life where I am, All is perfect, whole and complete … " When the Moon is in Pisces, it is easier to connect with that feeling of optimism and of faith in the goodness of life.  There is also some strong Mercury influence in the Full Moon chart, as Mercury is square (inharmonious) to Pluto and trine (in harmony) to Jupiter. An excellent time for a deep dive into the study of something meaningful. With the Libra Mercury to the Aquarius Jupiter, you might find yourself in a big discussion about religion, politics, philosophy or law with another person who has an intriguing viewpoint. You may gain knowledge or a new viewpoint. The Pluto square from Capricorn suggests that you keep things light before a congenial talk turns into a verbal battle. The Mercury, Pluto, Jupiter dynamic is also in the chart of the Autumnal Equinox which takes place on September 22 at 2:20 pm CDT with the Sun at 0° Libra. It's a time of balance, a moment's rest, and a new beginning into the new quarter year. With the strong Mercury, projects that relate to writing, speaking, teaching and other communication areas will be highlighted. Mercury goes retrograde on September 27th at 25° Libra. This is exactly when you should stay out of discussions about religion and politics. Mercury at this point is square to Pluto which has its own station point (going direct) at 24° Capricorn on October 6. During those times, it would be wise to watch the things you say and the tone of how you say them. Not a good time to begin new things, but can be good for researching information needed for projects that begin after October 18th when Mercury goes direct. 
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 The New Moon is on Monday, September 6, 2021 at 7:52 p.m. CDT in 14° Virgo. The New Moon will be exactly trining Uranus in Taurus. This creates the opportunity to combine the analytical power of Virgo with the 'genius' of Uranus along with the Taurus ability to sustain long-term projects. This New Moon in Virgo is also good for starting holistic health related projects, especially those that involve changing food plans to include more natural unprocessed foods, more fruits and veggies plus drinking plenty of pure water.  Virgo is a sign that has to do with managing details and organizing data. In the days before this New Moon, I find myself reading another book on de-cluttering and watching the new Marie Kondo show on Netflix. There's a yearning under a Virgo influence to be neat and tidy. This is not something I was born with per my natal horoscope. I'm taking advantage of this New Moon by energizing and activating the organizational skills that are not my natural strength. The past few days, I've been cleaning out closets and files of old papers. Here's an affirmation I like for this activity: As I clean up and clear out my physical space, Virgo is also a Mercury ruled sign that has a lot to do with learning and being a good student. If you feel your interest piqued by a topic at the New Moon, give yourself a little quiet time to read or study further.
Coming up: Tuesday, September 14, 7:30 p.m. CDT via Zoom The Northern Illinois Chapter of NCGR "Election Basics: The Art Of Choosing The Best Time" Speaker: Elizabeth Hazel http://www.chicagolandastrology.com/news.html Start anytime: The Professional Astrology Course Temple of Kriya Yoga Distance Learning/Self-Paced https://www.yogakriya.org/professional-astrology.html You can find me on:  The Full Moon is on Sunday, August 22 at 7:02 a.m. CDT in 29° Aquarius. Having just made a conjunction with Jupiter a few hours earlier, the Moon is imbued with an expansive feeling of fellowship and connection with all Life. Good energy for social and humanitarian efforts. Intensify the positive Jupiterian spirit by sharing stories with others that include hopefulness for the future. The influence of Aquarius is all about ideas. Aquarius is by element an air sign which signifies thoughts and communication. But by modality, Aquarius is a fixed sign which means resistant to change. At this Full Moon take some time to reflect on the ideas that you hold about life (or your life). Are there any thought patterns that are not working for you but you feel a resistance to changing? Try this simple "neti, neti" meditation technique to separate your true self from your thoughts. Sitting with your back straight and eyes closed, watch your thoughts. As each thought arises say, "Neti" or "I am not this" or "I am not this thought." Then, let go of the thought and return your focus to the center of your mind. Repeat with the next thought. Enjoy the quiet spaces between the thoughts.  If you are still feeling mentally restless from the Uranus station retrograde on August 19th, try using music with some brainwave entrainment to relax. Here's one from Steven Halpern:  The New Moon is on Sunday, August 8 at 8:49 a.m. CDT in 16° Leo. Lively social energy and new ideas are at the forefront. The New Moon squares Uranus whose capricious energy suggests that it's wisest to write down those bright ideas and wait to review them at the Full Moon to see if they're worth pursuing. Uranus also rules electronics, so online social events might benefit you at this time. (More on Uranus below.) Venus opposes Neptune at the New Moon. It puts Venus the planet of beauty, love and desire in conflict with Neptune the planet of intuition and subtle connections. Watch out for both deception from others and self-deception in relationships. Take your time moving from first contact to romance. On August 19th, Uranus goes retrograde 14° Taurus. The effect of this stationary point is a week on either side of that date. If your Sun or other planets are in a fixed sign (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) it could last a little longer. In general, Uranus stationary points signify unexpected changes of plan. It can help to be flexible in mind and also mindful as you go through your day. There's an accident prone component of Uranus that can be softened by moving slowly and paying attention to your surroundings.  This Uranus station point will emphasize its square to Saturn in Aquarius that has been forming and reforming throughout the year. Saturn is an urge for limitation. Uranus is an urge for freedom. Saturn is tradition. Uranus is rebellion. Watch your relationships at this time to see if you are the person limiting someone else's freedom which causes them to rebel. Or are you the rebel, straining against convention? Look back to previous Saturn square Uranus dates this year to help you understand this square: February 17, May 22 and June 14. Remember that Uranus also represents the genius of creativity. Saturn is the hours of mastery that anyone in the arts or sciences puts into their craft. These two forces can be used together to produce something amazing.  Coming Up: If Uranus is making you too jumpy, try the Sunday Noon Meditation at the Temple of Kriya Yoga. This Sunday, the talk (via Zoom) will be on using breath and sound to find stillness. https://www.yogakriya.org/sunday-services.html Tuesday, August 10, 7:30 p.m. via Zoom The Northern Illinois Chapter of NCGR presents "Transits and How They Work in Our Lives" with Grace Morris (timing/trends specialist, president of Astro Economics, Inc.) If you have planets or angles at 22 – 24 degrees of Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) in your chart, then chances are that the year 2020 turned your life upside down and changed your life forever! How do the transits of planets effect your life and how can you identify them before they happen? See how to recognize a repeating pattern in your life throughout the years. This can help you make decisions in the future, based on your past choices. Find the information for this event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/343826637374262 Or contact janetberres@gmail.com to RSVP and receive the Zoom link Online: If you are into history + astrology + Jewish mysticism, here is a super fascinating discussion that includes the foundations of western astrology and how it was seen in Jewish scripture and scholarship.  The Full Moon is Friday, July 23, 2021 at 9:36 a.m. CDT in 1° Aquarius. Full of positive energy for fellowship type get-togethers whether it's friends, clubs you belong to, prayer circles, or professional associations. Aquarius also resonates to science, science fiction and all types of metaphysical studies. So whether it's going into outer space with a billionaire, going to inner space with meditation or settling in with a book sparkling with interesting ideas, you will be in the Aquarius zone. Did you "plant a seed" with an intention or affirmation at the New Moon? Has the seed sprouted or your wish has come to some sort of fulfillment at the Full Moon? Keep in mind that you don't have to wait for the New Moon for a new beginning. Every day is a new beginning. My guru, Goswami Kriyananda said, "Every breath is a new beginning." You can affirm and visualize yourself healthier, wealthier and wiser right now.  Coming up:
August 4, 7:30 p.m. CDT Free talk on Kairomancy with Robert Moss: The Art of Navigating Life Through Synchronicity I enjoy studying both the signs and symbols in my dreams but also the omens found in everyday life. Robert Moss teaches it via a shamanic perspective. Kriyananda taught it from a Kriya Yoga perspective (check out his course Dreams - How to Study Your Symbols). My two favorite books on this are: The Waking Dream by Ray Grasse Sidewalk Oracles by Robert Moss You can find me on:  The New Moon is Friday, July 9th at 8:16 pm CDT in 18° Cancer. Mothers and nurturing people in general are highlighted at this time. Family concerns and connections are important. Water sign New Moons also emphasize intuition and dreams. It's always a good practice to write down your dreams. It can be an interesting experiment to see if New Moon and Full Moon dreams have more vibrancy and meaning than at other times. Many have found this to be so. It is often said that "what the New Moon promises, the Full Moon fulfills." You can either watch the people, events and emotions that come into your life at the New Moon and observe if they come to a conclusion or fulfillment at the Full Moon. OR, you can be more self-actualizing and "plant a seed" at the New Moon by affirming your goal. You might even take a small step that moves you forward toward your goal. Then see what happens at the Full Moon. Cancer is a cardinal sign. Cardinal in astrology means an outgoing force and the energy of initiative. So a new moon in a cardinal sign (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) is even more positive for these type of new beginnings. What if you don't have a clearly formulated goal? Try this general purpose affirmation at the New Moon: "I am open and receptive to all the good and abundance in the Universe."  Coming up: July 13, 7:30 p.m. Free Astrology Lecture (via Zoom) A Legacy Of Marc Edmund Jones: Planetary Patterns (aka Temperament Types) With David Perloff Presented by the Northern Illinois NCGR http://www.chicagolandastrology.com/news.html RSVP: janetberres@gmail.com Online: Yoga Chicago Magazine has links to the videos for Song of the Avatar: Riffs on the Bhagavad Gita by Gary Whitney. This is a very accessible way to learn the principles and philosophy of yoga as taught in this sacred text.   The Full Moon is on Thursday, June 24 at 1:39 pm CDT in 3° Capricorn. This lends itself to a focus on responsibilities, from big plans and projects to your daily task list to family concerns. The nature of this Full Moon is influenced by three planetary directions:
 I'm always watching the symbols in my life to see how the planetary patterns play out. Yesterday, I saw the Mercury and Neptune play out in a mild way. My husband and I drove 45 minutes to meet up with a friend for lunch at a favorite restaurant that we hadn't been to since pre-Covid. (Mercury rules short distance journeys. So any trip that you take where you're home the same day is considered a 'short distance journey' in astrology.) We pulled into the parking lot at the same time as our friend. But the restaurant was closed! We had checked the website that gave the restaurant hours and it should have been open. We were able to ask at the take-out door and found out that the restaurant hasn't been able to hire enough employees to open full-time. They stopped being open for lunch two weeks ago. They just hadn't updated their website (this is the hidden or obscured information of Neptune). Fortunately, we knew of another favorite restaurant nearby and had a pleasant lunch anyway. Why did I tell you this story? To help you pay attention to your own symbols this week and take time to review your most important projects to see if some piece of information needs to be verified or re-verified. For example, if you make travel reservations under a Mercury and/or Neptune stationary point (or you travel then), you should make a phone call before you leave to make sure everything is in order. My guru, Goswami Kriyananda, often said "attitude is all." He meant that no matter the aspects or situation, if you keep a positive attitude, it softens your karma. Or laugh. Finding the humor in a predicament is an instant karma softener. Also keep in mind that humans are excellent problem solvers, so we have the ability to face any difficulty with the skill and experience we've gained through our lives.   Solar Eclipses signify both the start of a new cycle and the potential for change. There is a solar eclipse on Thursday, June 10th, 5:52 a.m. in 19° Gemini. Create an intention for the year ahead. Affirm that it come into your life in the most harmonious way. With the eclipse in Gemini, there is a tremendous urge to communicate and be listened to. If you want to get the most out of this eclipse, listen, read and reflect carefully before you speak. You will be doing a "good deed" to listen to others and let them know they are heard. You don't have to agree but it will be helpful to refrain from appearing to be judgmental. For your own self, try to share your ideas with those who will be supportive of your dreams, not those likely to squash them. This is a great time for brainstorming. Often people feel they are bursting with ideas at a Gemini eclipse. Write all these creative concepts and visions down. Like a dream these ideas will be ephemeral and you will lose them if you don't write them down. Then, wait a few weeks and look over the ideas with a clear eye for what is truly practical. In the chart of the eclipse, Neptune is squared to the Moon, Sun and Mercury. This indicates mental fog and difficulty with decision-making. If you can put off a decision, do that. If you must make a decision, write down the pros and cons in order to approach it in the most logical way.  More on listening: It can be really helpful to look to your horoscope to find out what kind of listener/communicator you are. In astrology, we most often look to the sign your Mercury is in. (You can get your horoscope calculated for free by going to alabe.com or astro.com or just Google "free horoscope calculations".) Mercury in cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) are impatient listeners. They want to get the highest priority information from you quickly, and get going to take action. Mercury in fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius) are generally patient listeners but will need you to lay out your thoughts in an organized way, and especially Taurus will need you to slow down. It's harder for them to parse a 'mile a minute' speaker. Mercury in mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) love to hear new ideas and what is happening in your life but because they have many of their own thoughts swirling in their heads, they may not remember what you said later on. Obviously these are generalizations and are modified by other planetary configurations in the natal horoscope. Just something to observe in your conversations with others over the next week.   The Lunar Eclipse on Wednesday, May 26 is at 6:14 a.m. CDT in 5 ° Sagittarius. How well you are handling the current Saturn stationary point will have a lot to do with how you experience the Lunar Eclipse. If you are staying calm despite Saturn's limitations and frustrations, the extra emotional surge of the Lunar Eclipse will not throw you off base. Then you can enjoy the Sagittarian energy which is upbeat and optimistic. Relax and allow yourself to enjoy the moment without a particular agenda toward achievement. Tips for staying calm under difficult Saturn aspects, including station points:
 On May 29th, Mercury goes retrograde at 24° Gemini. For several days around this date be cautious in all communications. Think before speaking. Re-read emails and texts before sending. Don't sign anything without closely reading the fine print. Make sure your calendar/planner is up to date and look at it (instead of using your memory) when making appointments.
Coming up: NORWAC - The Northwest Astrological Conference is this weekend, May 28 - 30th. Lots of excellent speakers. It's virtual, so no travel required. You can find me on:  The New Moon is tomorrow, Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. CDT in 21° Taurus. With this symbol of new beginnings in an earth sign, it's often a time of planting a seed. This can be a good time for planting seeds in the actual earth in your garden. It can also be a good time for planting a positive thought or creative idea into your consciousness. You can write your own positive thought or try this expansive affirmation: The Divine plan of my life now takes shape The sign Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus in astrology. So this New Moon is also a good time to start projects related to the arts. Jupiter moves out of Aquarius and into the sign Pisces on May 13th. Jupiter moves through each sign in about 12 months. The symbol of Jupiter in Pisces is an open heart of generosity and compassion. I talk about “The Heart of Compassion and the Blessings of the Divine Mother” in my Mother's Day meditation for the Temple of Kriya Yoga. Coming up:
Astrology Workshop Chicagoland astrologer Lynn Ewing is presenting a workshop via Zoom on The Ascendant and the Midheaven on Sunday, May 16th - Information and registration here: https://lifeforcearts.org/events/the-ascendant-and-the-midheaven-with-lin-ewing/ End of May Planets The end of the month lineup of Saturn retrograde (May 22), Lunar Eclipse (May 26) and Mercury retrograde (May 29) suggest that extra responsibilities may pop up then, so getting important tasks and projects finished in the next seven days will benefit you. I'll write more in my next post. You can find me on: |
AuthorMarcia Sacks is an astrologer in the Kriya Yoga tradition. Archives
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