 The full moon is on Wednesday, December 11, 11: 12 p.m. at 19° Gemini. With the moon in Gemini, there's always trouble with decision making. Often there are just too many choices. This will be added to by the Moon squared to Neptune in the full moon chart. Many of the choices will be nebulous or even non-existent or scams. It reminds me of seven of cups in Tarot, meaning that some of the things you think you really want may not be good for you. Wait a few days before making major choices. Use your search engine to find reviews of products you want to buy. I totally understand that it's shopping season, but just take a deep breath and think through your selection.  Seven of Cups, Rider-Waite deck, Pamela Coleman Smith, artist Moon is Gemini energy is generally very fun and social. With the Neptune square though, it's more likely we'll give in to our temptations and addictions while socializing. Have fun but make sure you have the support you need to get through the next few days without letting go of your goals for health and sanity. Another aspect in the full moon chart is Venus (20° Capricorn) contained by Saturn (19° Cap) and Pluto (21° Cap). For the next day or two, poor sweet Venus (your capacity for love) is held captive by mean old Saturn and seductive Pluto. Wait a few days before making major relationship decisions or commitments. Do your best to express Venus at the highest level with an affirmation of unconditional love. Surround yourself with beauty, maybe art and decorations reflecting the spirit of the season. Scents and fragrances can help us lift our Venus too. Here are two affirmations for Venus:
https://www.louisehay.com/101-best-louise-hay-positive-affirmations/  There is also Jupiter trine Uranus aspect on December 15th, from 2° Capricorn to 2° Taurus. This has an orb of about 5 days on either side of the 15th. This aspect brings a harmonious expansion of creativity. The practicality of the earth signs Capricorn and Taurus can help you take your brilliant ideas from your imagination and make them usable in every day life.
On Sunday, December 15th, 12 noon: Winter Solstice Festival, presented by the Temple of Kriya Yoga at Moksha Yoga Center in Chicago Noon Meditation: "Dealing With the Elementals" Swami Mahashastrananda (Ray Ruffer) Folklore and mythology abound in legends of all cultures. This meditation is about understanding how elemental forces influence our thoughts and actions. "Astrology and Kriya Yoga: Planetary Patterns for 2020." Swami K. Adinadananda (Marcia Sacks) A look at the major transits for 2020 along with key practices to soften your karma and use the aspects for your personal and spiritual goals. You can find me on:
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 There's a lot going on astrologically at this moment of the New Moon which is tomorrow at 9:05 a.m. The New Moon is at 4° Sagittarius making an inconjunct (150°) aspect to Uranus. This combines the upbeat optimism of the sign Sagittarius with the restlessness of Uranus. Many of us will find ourselves trying to go off in multiple directions at the same time. Just as you're focusing on your main priority, you'll find interesting distractions that engage your time and energy. With Sag, the momentum tends to get lost part-way through the project. For some of us, we may find ourselves on an interesting adventure. For others, we may get to the end of the day with nothing of substance completed. This distractedness is aided and abetted by Neptune, which is making a stationary point, going direct on November 27th at 15° Pisces. This affects us for two weeks before and after November 27th. Positive keywords are imaginative and spiritual. Negative keywords are forgetful and spacey.  Mercury is in a trine to Neptune in the New Moon chart. Mercury means the pen is your magic wand. Write (or digitally input) everything down. Write down your list of things to do. Write down your dreams. With Neptune, your dreams at night may be more meaningful, but easily forgotten if not journaled. With daytime Neptune, write down your dreams and goals for the future. Neptune dreams and goals can be unrealistic but may give you insight into what your heart longs for. Don't act on the Neptune goals right away. Just keep the list somewhere you can reexamine a couple weeks from now.
What about Thanksgiving? With the Neptune station point in effect for Thanksgiving on November 28th there are a few things to think about. If you're the guest make sure you know the right time to be there and remember what you're supposed to bring. If you're the host or hostess, there's a tendency to forget to serve something, like the many times I left something in the refrigerator that I meant to put on the table. It helps to be flexible and have a sense of humor. On the other hand, the spiritual connectedness of Neptune at holiday time can make it joyful and meaningful. In the future: Jupiter enters Capricorn on December 2. I wrote several times over the past year that Jupiter in Sagittarius was excellent for learning new things. Jupiter in Capricorn is when you put those new things learned into action. Capricorn is a sign of work and career. Jupiter expands things. Think about how you would like to expand or grow your career. Create a list of ideas, re-do your resume or just focus your goals with an affirmation. Here's a general Jupiterian affirmation you can use: "I am open and receptive to all the good and abundance in the universe." Wishing you many blessings in this holiday season.  The Full Moon is Tuesday, November 12, 7:34 a.m. at 19° Taurus. Taurus is the sign of security and stability. This Full Moon combines perfectly with the Saturn sextile Neptune that occurred on November 9th. Saturn represents our everyday life. Neptune symbolizes our spiritual life. The sextile signifies a harmonious connection then between our inner and outer lives. What can you do with this energy at the Full Moon? Meditation is easier because stillness of the physical body takes less effort. Establishing a good habit is easier because there are fewer blocks and obstacles to achievement. It reminds me, too, of the path of karma yoga. Karma yoga means unselfish service as a path to enlightenment. With this practice, you are dedicating the tasks of your everyday life in service to the Divine instead of expecting earthly rewards or a specific outcome. In some ways it is a form of active prayer. Another similar idea is to take the peace and lovingkindness that you find in your meditation practice and take it with you throughout your day whether it's your work or relationships. Experiment with this path at this Full Moon with the Saturn sextile Neptune to get a feeling if this is a road that can take you further on your spiritual journey.  In the future:
Mercury, which is retrograde now, goes direct on November 20. Things that have gone backward will start to move forward again. Keep in mind that it usually takes a feel days to really experience things progressing. At the November 20 station point, things may feel frozen but in reality things are poised to take off. Northern Illinois NCGR presents: Fixed Stars Beyond the Zodiac - Ptolemy's Great 48, Plus with Demetria Nanos Tuesday, November 12, 7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 7:00 pm.) Des Plaines Elks Lodge, 495 Lee Street, Des Plaines, IL 60016 $8.00 for Members, $12.00 for Guests http://www.chicagolandastrology.com/news.html My article "Tarka: The Spiritual Practice of Reflection" is now online at Yoga Chicago Magazine. It includes some questions for reflection that correspond to the astrological aspects for November and December. You can find me on:  The New Moon is tomorrow, October 27, 10:38 pm CDT at 4° Scorpio. This New Moon is exactly opposed to Uranus at 4° Taurus. In general, the key phrase for Uranus is unexpected changes of plan. Scorpio and Taurus are fixed signs which are resistant to change. This suggests that the more inflexible you are, the more affected you will be by this New Moon. Kriyananda often gave his disciples and students this thought to reflect on: "Adjust, adapt, acclimatize." In part, it means that as the world changes, old solutions may no longer work and we need to think about things differently. One symbol related to Scorpio is secrets or memories hidden deep in the psyche. Uranus is a strike of lightning that can light up a flash of memory in a shocking way. Our advantage is perspective. The things that used to confound us when we were younger are easier to handle now. We may find that information from the past is helpful or insightful.  Mercury goes retrograde on October 31st at 27° Scorpio. For a few days around that station point, be careful in written and spoken communication, read the fine print on contracts, or better yet - don't sign anything unless you are willing to experience delays in whatever you are signing for. Mercury also rules transportation and short journeys. Usually traffic is slower around a Mercury station point. Plan ahead to leave earlier. Do your checklist of things to take with. Mercury goes direct on November 20th.
In the future: Astrologer Lin Ewing is giving a workshop: Saturn-Uranus-Pluto: The Heavy Hitters of the Zodiac http://www.astrologicaldetails.com/saturn-uranus-pluto.html on Sunday, November 3, 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm, Life Force Arts Center, 1609 W. Belmont Avenue, Chicago, IL, $55 ($45 early registration by October 27). For info and registration: 773.327.7224 or info@LifeForceArts.org Online: Your Divine Inheritance: The audio recording of my October 13 noon meditation for the Temple of Kriya Yoga is now on my youtube channel.  The Full Moon is on this Sunday, October 13, 2019 at 20° Aries. Which do you want first - the good news or the bad news? OK, good news it is. This Full Moon is trine to Jupiter in Sagittarius. So a few days before and after the full moon day, there's positive energy for learning, especially for completing reading a book or educational project that has already been started. Of course, if you're like me, there's usually a stack of books from the library waiting to be read. So there's no end to that. But those books give me that feeling of abundance that the planet Jupiter is known for. Most often though, when looking at the planets that comprise the chart of a lunation, astrologers look at the hard aspects to the Sun and Moon. In this case, the Moon and the Sun are square to both Saturn and Pluto. So we're back to the Saturn/Pluto conjunction that's been forming and re-forming over the past year or so. This impacts everyone but the cardinal signs the most (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn). In general, we're looking at the frustrating limitations that we experience and our passionate responses to them.  Knowing astrology, we can usually organize our time around difficult aspects. In the case of this full moon, you can plan to stay out of arguments with people on the opposing side of an issue for 3 days before and after the lunation. If necessary, you can bring the issue up later, at a less stressful time. Because each new moon and full moon begin a two week cycle, if you trigger the aspect right at the lunation, it will most likely play out over the whole two week period. If you feel the triggering influence and refrain from reacting, the impulse to react will tend to release within a day or two. Then, there's the unavoidable karma that no amount of astrological foreknowledge can fix. Here's one example: A few days before the October 3 Pluto station point conjunct my sun, my teeth started hurting. But I didn't want to go to the dentist under that aspect. For those of you who have had a nerve dying in a tooth, you know what that's like. I waited a few days to see if the pain would get better but eventually I had to tell myself not to be stupid and went to the dentist. Of course, I needed a root canal. Saturn rules teeth, Pluto rules drilling into something. So he drilled and numbed the tooth that day (blessed relief). Then I had to come back yesterday at the Full Moon squared Saturn/Pluto and get the root canal completed (more drill down into my tooth). I couldn't change the timing or the event. That's karma. But one of the most important things I learned from Goswami Kriyananda is, whatever the karmic dilemma, you have free will over your attitude. So I started with an attitude of gratitude. I have a great dentist who I've gone to for over 30 years. Very grateful that in modern times they are fixing teeth rather than pulling them like they did in the olden days. Grateful for anesthetics like novocaine. I walked into the dental office with a positive attitude, had a nice time catching up on kids and grandkids with my dentist, and focused in a meditative way while I was being worked on.  So your challenge over the next few days is to see if you can change your attitude under unavoidable challenging circumstances. Practice with simple things like traffic and stop lights. If you are being delayed find a good attitude to hold onto. Louise Hay had this affirmation: "I am in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing."
This Sunday, October 13, I'll be giving the noon meditation for the Temple of Kriya Yoga at Moksha Yoga Center in Chicago. The title is "Your Divine Inheritance". We have come into this lifetime with many gifts from the past. This noon meditation will highlight ways to experience both abundance and contentment.  The new moon is on Saturday, September 28, 1:26 pm CDT in 5° Libra. Projects that have to do with working in partnership with others are highlighted. As an air sign Libra has to do with interpersonal communications, so it could be a good time to catch up with people through phone, email or social media. Frame your written thoughts carefully so that they are tactful and diplomatic. Pluto is going direct on October 3 at 20° Capricorn. This Pluto stationary point is in effect at least a week on either side of that date. Pluto intensifies our ambitions and may make us aware of our hidden motivations or deep desires. In Capricorn, this planetary placement can make us or the people around us "bossy". In other words, everyone is certain their ideas are right and that their "suggestions" will be well received.  You can balance this by being a considerate and respectful listener but stand your ground (politely) if necessary. Not a good time to initiate a fight or argument. Pluto in Capricorn energy is perfect though for applying new systems of organization or doing a Marie Kondo style clean-out. Coming up:
The Northern Illinois chapter of the National Council for Geocosmic Research (NI-NCGR) will be featuring a lecture "2020 - The World in Transition" by financial astrologer Grace Morris on Tuesday, October 8, 2019, 7:30 - 9 p.m., Des Plaines Elk Lodge. More info:http://chicagolandastrology.com/news.html For Fun: Halloween Costumes by Sun Sign https://www.llewellyn.com/blog/2019/09/halloween-costumes-for-each-sign-of-the-zodiac The Professional Astrology Course This online self-study program enables you to start wherever you are in your astrology studies – novice or experienced student – and gain the skills necessary to become a practicing astrologer. Goswami Kriyananda draws upon his 60 years of experiences as a master astrologer to share the skills, knowledge, insights and deep secrets of the science of astrology. More info: http://www.yogakriya.org/professional-astrology.html My article "Learning and Teaching" can be found in Yoga Chicago Magazine. It includes upcoming aspects for September and October. If you would like to receive this blog as an email, message me on my contact page.  Tomorrow's (Friday's) Full Moon is in Pisces (21°) at 11:32 p.m. CDT. The Full Moon is conjunct Neptune which can mean spaciness and forgetfulness. To be honest, I almost forgot about the Full Moon (I thought it was Saturday - not tomorrow - yikes!) Be super careful driving: Mars which rules cars and driving is opposite the Moon-Neptune conjunction. It means there will be people out there on the expressway going 80 miles an hour and trying to read a text. Neptune rules alcohol and drugs. Mars is driving. Watch other drivers carefully tomorrow. Alternately, you might be the one driving and miss the sign that informs you that the speed limit is lower now, and there's a state trooper with his radar gun pointed at you. Stay awake and aware. Saturn is in a harmonious aspect to those planets and can be helpful. Saturn brings focus, structure, and organization. Follow the rules, write everything down that you want to remember, focus on one thing at a time. Saturn rules the sense of smell. Use essential oils or aromatherapy to create balance and clarity of mind.  Am I writing too many things to be careful of? Sorry, here's one more: Mars/Neptune oppositions can indicate food poisoning. Don't eat at any questionable places and "when in doubt, throw it out" if you find mystery stuff in your refrigerator.
Neptune and Mars when used with Saturn focus can be wonderful for visional states that lead to artwork, poetry and other forms of creativity. Write down your dreams, draw or paint them. Try listening to "new age" music or sacred chanting with eyes closed (not driving!) and observe your state of awareness. Upcoming aspects: Saturn goes direct on September 18 at 13° Capricorn and the Autumnal Equinox is September 23, 2:50 a.m. CDT. I wrote about both these important aspects in my article "Learning and Teaching" in the latest Yoga Chicago Magazine: http://yogachicago.com/2019/08/learning-and-teaching/ Audio recording: Look to This Day I gave the noon meditation for the Temple of Kriya Yoga on August 25. Here are the links to the audio recordings on youtube. I broke out the 45 minute talk into three parts: Look To This Day - Part 1 - Prayer and Mantra Message Look To This Day - Part 2 - The Moment of the Now Look to This Day - Part 3 - Rebalancing Each Evening You can find me on:  The New Moon is tomorrow, Friday, August 30, 5:37 a.m. CDT in 6° Virgo. In this position there's a big line-up of planets in the sign of Virgo: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Mars. They are all in a harmonious position to Uranus at 6° Taurus.
Wonderful energy for a holiday weekend especially for spending time in a natural setting and enjoying nature. Feeling nurtured by earth energy. Appreciating the cycles of life. Going to farmers markets and savoring the ripe fruits and vegetables. Learning about herbs and herbal remedies. Reflecting on life over a cup of tea. With Uranus, both creative thinking and computer work can align to help you accomplish your everyday projects. "The day of fortune is like a harvest day, We must be busy when the corn is ripe." Torquato Tasso Here's the poem I based my talk on last Sunday for the Temple of Kriya Yoga. Goswami Kriyananda gave it to us in a class many years ago and I meditate on it often. The Dawn of Truth Look to this very day, for it is life-- the very Life of Life itself. In its brief course lies all the realities of your existence: the bliss of growth, the glory of action the splendor of achievement the ecstasy of love Yesterday is but a dream, And tomorrow is only a vision; But today well-lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness And every tomorrow a vision of victory. Look well, therefore, to this very day! ....Such is the salutation to the Dawn of Truth. (author unknown, often attributed to Kalidasa, Indian author, 5th century) Look for my latest article "Learning and Teaching" in Yoga Chicago Magazine. It includes upcoming aspects for September and October. The paper copy should be at your local yoga studio, health food store or metaphysical center on September 1. And online a few days after that. If you would like to receive this blog as an email, message me here  The Full Moon is on Thursday, August 15, 2019 at 7:29 a.m. CDT in 22° Aquarius with the Sun, Venus and Mars in the later degrees of Leo. This opposition is between wanting to care for yourself and your immediate family versus compassion for the world as a whole. Both situations have value. But it can help your inner growth to be aware of scenarios as they come up. Sometimes it's enough to help just one person. Like the starfish story:  Jupiter just went direct at 14° Sagittarius on August 11, along with Uranus going retrograde at 6° Taurus. Two weeks ago I wrote about this aspect: "The energy pattern is upbeat and creative but erratic/unconventional." We're still within the orb of these two planets changing direction (which is two weeks on either side of the station date). Uranus going retrograde can symbolize issues with electrical and computer digital equipment. Jupiter going direct can influence our spending. For example, when my computer monitor totally died, I had to spend the money to buy a new one last week. I love my new monitor which is bigger than the old one. (One of Jupiter's keywords is expansion.) Don't forget - Jupiter in Sagittarius is excellent for learning new things. Now that Jupiter is going direct again it's a great time to take class in person or online. Follow an interest. Travel to an historical site. Read a book or research your topic on the internet. There's a glorious generosity of people sharing their expertise online. Days when Jupiter is strong often bring a sense of well-being. When you recognize that feeling this week, intensify the Jupiter by consciously enjoying that feeling. See how long you can stay balanced and sustain that feeling before you get distracted by other things.  In the future:
I will be giving the noon meditation on August 25th for the Temple of Kriya Yoga, meeting at Moksha Yoga Center in Chicago. "Look to This Day" will focus on spiritual practice and mindfulness in everyday life. This meditation is open to all. No registration required. If you would like to receive this blog as an email, message me here If you would like an astrology or tarot reading, in person or by phone, read about my consultations or message me here . You can find me on:  Did you notice that there was a second New Moon in July? It's tonight at 10:11 p.m. CDT in 8° Leo. Is a second new moon in a month significant? Not at all. The western calendar that we use, the Gregorian Calendar, is not a lunar calendar. The lunar cycle of approximately 28 days can fit entirely into a long month like July. The last new moon was July 2, and here we are again on July 31. Leo is ruled by the sun. It's interesting to me that the sun can represent both the ego in astrology and higher consciousness in yoga (i.e. the sun center, ajna chakra). How will you use this energy? You can strengthen your sense of self in many positive ways. Try looking at yourself in the mirror, smile, and say, "Hi there, I like you." This may sound silly or naïve but it is truly a deep spiritual practice. Send gratitude to your physical body for its vitality and ability to carry your mind and spirit through life.  Mercury goes direct tomorrow August 1st at 24° Cancer. Wait just a few more days after this to sign contracts or start important projects.
Jupiter goes direct (14° Sagittarius) and Uranus goes retrograde (6° Taurus) on August 11. Watch for news involving scientific breakthroughs in travel and electronics, especially space travel. The energy pattern is upbeat and creative but erratic/unconventional. Decisions made too quickly can lead to financial loss. Do the math to uncover the reality of a situation. Coming up: Second Sunday Tarot, August 11, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Calibre Coffee at the Arboretum in South Barrington, Back to School: This is the annual meeting where newcomers are encouraged to come and learn Tarot from the beginning. Bringing your own Tarot deck will be helpful. https://www.meetup.com/tarot-336/events/njcgfpyzlbpb/ Northern Illinois NCGR, Tuesday, August 13, 7:30 - 9 p.m., Des Plaines Elks Lodge, 495 Lee Street, Des Plaines, IL 60016, Members: $8.00 Non-members: $12.00 Stock Market Tops, Crashes and Elections with financial astrologer Susan Gidel For more information, contact Janet Berres, President at 847-965-9916 or janetberres@gmailcom/ If you would like to receive this blog as an email, message me here, |
AuthorMarcia Sacks is an astrologer in the Kriya Yoga tradition. Archives
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