MARCIA SACKS

The Full Moon is on November 22 at 11:39 pm CST in 0° Gemini. It's on Thanksgiving here in the United States.  I learned from Goswami Kriyananda (and personal experience) that astrological aspects are much easier to handle if they occur during your average work week. Then we are supported by our daily habits and life patterns with the usual expectations. Holidays, especially those with big family gatherings and extensive preparations, can throw us off if our time and objectives are too unstructured.  A full moon in general can bring stresses to the forefront. On the other hand, we can use the stimulating full moon energy to help us accomplish tasks if we're one of the worker bees putting things together for the holiday feast.

This Gemini Full Moon is opposed to Jupiter in Sagittarius. There's a wonderful generosity of spirit that can take place around with this aspect: charity given, good deeds done.  It's an excellent time to make a list of all the things you're grateful for. Or start a gratitude journal - write one (or more) things each day that you're grateful for.  On the other hand, this expansiveness of spirit can be "Jupiter gone wrong" where you spend money foolishly without thought for the consequence of debts coming due.

The Moon, Sun and Jupiter are squared (inharmonious) to Mars in the Full Moon chart. Gemini is a sign of communications. Mars is the planet the rules anger/hot-headedness. Mercury, the planet that rules communications is retrograde. Jupiter in an inharmonious position can mean carelessness. Under the stress (and freedom) of a holiday weekend can you communicate without anger and keep yourself from saying things off the top of your head that hurt other people? This is the challenge of this month's Full Moon.

Neptune, the planet that makes things foggy or nebulous is at a station point on November 24, going direct at 13° Pisces. Create lists and stay organized as much as possible. To be honest, there have been so many times serving a big meal like Thanksgiving that I had a dish warming in the oven that I totally forgot to serve. Neptune's like that.  Neptune rules water and as Mars brings its heat to the Full Moon on 11/22, be especially cautious with boiling water.
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[You can read more about this Neptune station in my most recent Yoga Chicago article http://yogachicago.com/2018/10/astrology-karma-and-free-will/ ]
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This is the way astrology can be both symbolic and actual. In reality, dealing with boiling water while you're rushing to serve a big meal is a possible scenario. But boiling water can also be a symbol of your emotions rising with stress. Take time over the next few days to practice relaxation whether it's yoga, meditation, deep breathing, taking a walk or re-watching a funny movie that makes you laugh out loud.

The New Moon is on November 7, 2018 at 10:01 a.m. CST in 15° Scorpio. The New Moon in Scorpio is a time for deep thoughts. Scorpio and its ruler Pluto have a symbolic correspondence with the cycle of life, death and rebirth.

​Last week I went to the Temple of Kriya Yoga for the Annual Ritual for the Departed. It was an opportunity to remember, pray for and send blessings to our family and friends who are no longer on the earth plane. It was also a reminder for me of how short our time is here, and how precious it is to spend time with loved ones. This week I watched the animated film "Coco" about a family celebrating the Mexican holiday Dia de Muertos (the Day of the Dead). There's music, adventure and humor, but so poignant at the end - a really beautiful movie. 

Along with feeling close to those who've passed on, the New Moon in Scorpio is a time when you may find you have greater dream recall and more meaningful dreams. Do you journal your dreams? It is one of the practices my guru, Goswami Kriyananda suggested to his disciples. I take time every morning when I wake up to write down my dreams.

​​Writing down dreams consistently helps us to remember our dreams more clearly, and  to be more aware in our dreams while we're dreaming them. According to the yogis, working with your dreams gives you greater ability to be conscious as you make your transition from one life to the next. 

Jupiter makes its entrance into the sign Sagittarius on November 8th and will be in that sign approximately 12 months. Jupiter in Sag makes the coming year an excellent time for expanding your mind by studying philosophy, religion, foreign languages and the law. The same transit can also open your mind to the potential for traveling outside your own country. 

November 16 there are two stationary points: Venus goes direct at 25 Libra and Mercury goes retrograde at 13 Sagittarius.  Coping strategy # 1: if at all possible, don't sign any documents that relate to financial matters 3 days before and after November 16.  Coping strategy # 2: don't start arguments with your romantic partner/significant other for 3 days before and after November 16.  Try your best to stay awake and aware of what you're about to do or say before you do or say them.

 I like this Zen story called Every Minute Zen. It's from the book Zen Flesh/Zen Bones by Paul Reps:

Zen students are with their masters at least ten years before they presume to teach others. Nan-in was visited by Tenno, who, having passed his apprenticeship, had become a teacher. The day happened to be rainy, so Tenno wore wooden clogs and carried an umbrella.

After greeting him Nan-in remarked: 'I suppose you left your wooden clogs in the vestibule. I want to know if your umbrella is on the right or left side of the clogs.' Tenno, confused, had no instant answer. He realized that he was unable to carry his Zen every minute. He became Nanin's pupil, and he studied six more years to accomplish his every-minute Zen.

Unfortunately, even though I try to stay aware, I'd probably flunk this Zen test every time. During Mercury retrograde, I'm the most likely person to walk to the car, remember I left something in the house, and go back for it. Because astrology gives me that bit of perspective, that bit of detachment, I can laugh about it, as I picture myself as Mercury going retrograde in my orbit.

In the future:

November 24: Neptune goes direct 13 Pisces. You can read about it in my most recent Yoga Chicago article Astrology, Karma and Free Will .

November 13: Astrologer Dave Gunning will be speaking at the Northern Illinois Chapter of  NCGR on "The Economic and Political Challenges for the U.S. in 2019".
http://www.chicagolandastrology.org/news.html

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The Full Moon is on October 24, 2018 at 11:45 a.m. CDT in 1° Taurus.

The chart of the Full Moon shows Venus and the Sun conjunct in Scorpio opposite the Moon conjunct Uranus in Taurus.

This combination indicates disruptions and restlessness in the areas of partnerships, romance, and sexual attraction. Also, unexpected changes in financial endeavors.  Is it possible to slow down your decision making at this time? For a few days before and after the Full Moon, there may be temptations that will seem very appealing but may not be valuable in the long term.

With Uranus involved, use caution with electronic devices and be sure your computer data is backed up. Some of the temptations may involve purchasing a new mobile phone or tablet. Read the reviews carefully and wait to see if the craving for a new toy subsides enough to make a sound decision on the purchase.

I like this affirmation (inspired by Louise Hay):
"I am Divinely guided and protected and I make choices that are beneficial for me."

The sextile from Venus and Sun to Saturn along with the trine from Moon and Uranus to Saturn signifies help and stability from longtime friends. 

Venus Retrograde - October 5 - 11° Scorpio

Yesterday, I was thinking about getting a haircut and was just about to add it to my list of errands for the day. I paused and remembered that Venus is at a stationary point, going retrograde on October 5. So if my question was, should I get a haircut, the answer is no. Why? Because Venus rules everything related to beauty and I probably wouldn't like how the haircut turned out. Also, Pluto is less than a week from its stationary point (it went direct on September 30), so still in effect. Pluto is a higher octave of Mars and Mars rules both violence and sharp objects. I thought, "I don't want a stranger with scissors that close to me right now." I'll wait a week and then go. If I was a really conscientious astrologer, I would look for a really good Venus day to get a haircut. But mostly I just try to avoid trouble :)

Everything in astrology really depends on the question you're asking. If your question applies to art, beauty or romantic love, Venus is one of the planetary symbols you would look at.
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Venus is retrograde from October 5 - November 16. It is strongest a couple of days on either side of the station points. In general, Venus retrograde is a bad time for shopping for fashion. The tendency is buy things on impulse that seem to be a bargain but are not of good quality. Venus rules Libra which is the sign of the new moon so not optimal for starting new romantic relationships or business partnerships.

New Moon - Monday, October 8 - 10:46 pm CDT - 15° Libra

Libra is the astrological sign that relates to partnerships. With the Moon and Sun in Libra squaring Pluto in Capricorn in the New Moon chart there is perhaps an excess of passion in relationships, either bringing people together too quickly or breaking alliances apart.  This is most intense three days before and after the new moon.
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How to make best use of this energy? As an air sign Libra has a lot to do with the mind, ideas and philosophy. Take time to evaluate the way old habits in your thought patterns and assess if changes need to be made.  In particular with Libra, are you too quick to pass judgement on or critique others? How quickly do you judge or criticize your own self? Watch your thoughts. Change judgmental thoughts to blessings for yourself and the world around you.
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I like the following mantra for this Libra New Moon:

In Sanskrit: Om lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu

Or in English: May all beings attain peace and harmony

My Yoga Chicago article has a little bit more about this New Moon.

In the future:

October 9: Astrologer and author Ray Grasse will be speaking at the Northern Illinois Chapter of NCGR on "Decoding the Highest Planet in a Horoscope." More info at http://www.chicagolandastrology.org/news.html. 

Blessings to you as we celebrate the Autumnal Equinox tonight, September 22 at 8:54 pm CDT, the first day of fall in the northern hemisphere and first day of spring in the southern hemisphere. The Autumnal Equinox occurs when the sun enters Libra, the sign of balance. For many people on earth, it’s seen as a balance point in the length of the days between day and night.
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In balance, we pause for a moment to assess our progress in our personal and spiritual goals and determine what we need to do to get where we want to go.

I led a guided imagery for the equinox last Sunday at the Temple of Kriya Yoga as part of the noon meditation. It uses the colors of fall leaves to inspire and heal plus time to visualize your goals for the next few months. Here is the audio recording:

The Full Moon is on Monday, September 24, 2018 at 9:52 pm CDT in 1° Aries.  This takes place just two days following the Autumnal Equinox so both those charts share many of the same aspects.
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The most prominent is the powerful T-square from the Moon in Aries and the Sun in Libra to  Saturn in Capricorn. Success can be found by facing into your responsibilities.  Projects will be challenging in the beginning of the quarter but build momentum with time if you stick with them.

However Sun and Moon in Libra are harmonious (sextile and trine) to Mars in Aquarius: this means that friends and relationships will be helpful to us with our goals. Hanging around positive people will give us energy and motivation. 

With Mars in a square aspect to Uranus, though, you might find some of the people around you to be a bit eccentric and volatile. Caution is advised at this Full Moon with driving, watching out for drivers making sudden, erratic moves. There will be plenty creative and inventive energy - be sure to write down all your wild and wonderful ideas. Wisdom asks you to wait a few days before taking action on any of them.
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Saturn trines Uranus in the full moon chart. Focus on the idea of tradition and creative new ideas working harmoniously together regarding your goals and projects.

September 30:

​Pluto goes direct at 18° Capricorn. This station direct has an effect at least a week on either side of that date. The keyword for Pluto for spiritual seekers is transformation. It's possible to break free from old destructive patterns under Pluto aspects. Can you do this gracefully and skillfully without destroying the good things in your life? Remember the serenity prayer:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference

Pluto, Neptune and Jupiter are in harmonious aspect to each other at this time meaning that both the study of  philosophy and the practice of meditation will give you deep insights into the nature of reality.

The New Moon is September 9, 2018 at 1:01 p.m. CDT in 17° Virgo. Virgo is the sign of the microcosmic, with the focus on the tiny details of day to day life. With Neptune in opposition to the New Moon, the bigger picture can be missed. Take time to look up from your work, take a deep breath and take a look around. Sometimes we know what we're supposed to be doing but we just forget. Don't keep everything in your head - make lists and write reminders.

The chart of the New Moon is filled with earth signs (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn) and water signs (Scorpio and Pisces) with lots of harmonious trines and sextiles between the planets in those signs. Earth plus water equals clay. Think about what you're molding out of this clay, what you're creating each day symbolically.  Bricks to build a house or maybe delicate tea cups to serve tea to your friends? With every thought, verbalization and activity, you are building your future life. In the two weeks after this New Moon, your creation is malleable. If you see the shape of it and you want to keep it, you must energize it -  bake it in the kiln of your devotion or the fire of your passion. 

More about this New Moon in my article in the September/October Yoga Chicago magazine.

As I'm writing this on September 6, Saturn is at its stationary direct at 2° Capricorn. That's an aspect of slowdowns and frustrations for just about everyone for the next several days. If you have planets in the early degrees of the cardinal signs (or born in the early days of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn), you may be experiencing this more intensely than others. If you find that you can't move forward on projects right away, keep going with basic tasks to keep your life in order. Don't give up. Things will lighten up in a week or so and you'll feel more positive about life in general.

In the future:

September 16 - Noon meditation and 1 p.m. lecture at the Temple of Kriya Yoga given by Marcia Sacks, Swami K. Adinadananda

Noon Meditation: Creating Your Spiritual Reality
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1 p.m. Lecture: The Autumnal Equinox: Time Karma and Astrology
Karma is Time. Understanding the cycles in nature and in astrology can help you adapt to the ever-changing nature of life.  This talk will include the chart of the autumnal equinox and discuss the major astrological aspects in effect in the fourth quarter of the year.

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The Full Moon is Sunday, August 26, 2018 at 6:56 a.m. in 3° Pisces. Not an eclipse, but every Full Moon has plenty of energy. In Pisces the Full Moon energy is intuitive and creative. Music and art can feed your soul at this time. If you have an unusual dream be sure to journal it. Wait three days and look at it again. Did that dream have a message for you? 

Mars has been retrograde since the end of June. Have you felt like you've been running in place? Working hard but with few results? Mars goes direct on August 27th at 28° Capricorn.  Give Mars a few days to get moving away from the station point and you may find that everything starts to speed up back to normal.

Side Note on Retrogrades:
Hope you don't think that planets actually stop in their orbits and reverse direction. Retrograde planets are an optical illusion based on the location of the planets and its speed in relation to earth and the earth's position relative to the sun. You know how we humans are … it's all about our life on earth. If we viewed the planets heliocentrically - from the Sun's perspective - you would never see a planet moving retrograde. In most Western astrology, we take the Earth's perspective, or the human perspective, and make a symbolic correlation between the apparent motion of the planets and our life on Earth.

In the future:
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September 6 - Retrograde Saturn goes direct at 3° Capricorn. Keep things simple. Take things slow. Actually things will go slowly a week on either side of a Saturn direction anyway.  Plan to leave early if you want to get somewhere on time.

September 16 - Noon meditation and 1 p.m. lecture at the Temple of Kriya Yoga with Marcia Sacks, Swami K. Adinadananda
Noon Meditation: Creating Your Spiritual Reality
1 p.m. Lecture: The Autumnal Equinox: Time, Karma and Astrology 

Yoga Chicago Magazine
Watch for my article in the September/October issue of Yoga Chicago which will be found in your local yoga and fitness centers around September 1.

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.

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