Eclipse Time  

On this morning of Good Friday, I sit down with my hot cross buns & cappuccino and hope to find the words to express the importance of two total eclipses. The total eclipse of the Sun was on the 20^th March 2015 and the total eclipse of the Moon is on the 4^th April 2015 at 12h07 (GMT). I include the March solar eclipse because its influence continues to be experienced over the next few weeks (and because I neglected to write about it earlier).

    March and April brim over with powerful astrological influences. I searched for the essence of the various themes and laid them out in this blog.

Ending Off
The solar eclipse activates a degree of the zodiacal belt that symbolises an ending. The focus is not yet on the beginning that follows the ending, rather on bringing something to conclusion. The manner in which we do this is important because the tone of the ending is woven into the context of the beginning and it would be oh so dreary to carry tired old stuff into the freshness of a new start.

It is a fantastic opportunity to end something that is a drag on personal life force. It could be that same old, same old obligation-motivated behaviour that always seems like a good idea at the time - the honourable act of service or the lending of a helping hand which soon (if inappropriately motivated) deteriorates into self-sacrifice/self-undoing. Avoidance-motivated behaviour has the same effect.

It is a chance to bring an unhealthy situation to an end. It is the kind of situation where we discover that ever so slowly, we floated over a line into compromised integrity. Or it could be a situation in which advantage was taken of generosity, not intentionally with malice but rather in a dreamy unaware drift across the plains of kindness.

    This eclipse marks the end of:

·       A job

·       A project or a part thereof

·       A relationship

·       A way of doing things

·       Self-sabotaging behaviour

The number of endings will depend on how effectively we made changes in the past.  

Dark Intentions & Hidden Possibility

Eclipses have an awful reputation for ill-omened events. This carries some truth in that when the light of the sun is blocked by the moon (in a solar eclipse), or the shadow of the earth blocks out the light of the moon (in a lunar eclipse), we fall into darkness. In this darkness we are exposed to buried fears, dark thoughts, wicked intentions and personal demons. Now, what to do with the sullied elements of our consciousness? Do we give in to dark intentions to hurt those with whom we are angry? Do we give power to our fear? Do we turn dark thoughts into dark deeds?

Or do we face our demons, our fears and wicked intentions (or those of others), acknowledge them and consider them resourceful possibilities? Do we view each wicked thought as creative potential? All very philosophical, I know, but there are not too many options available in eclipse month.

Thankfully, evil is not all that dwells in the darkness but also undiscovered talent and hidden possibilities. When our eyes become accustomed to the dimness we find seeds of pure potential nestled in the shadowy crevices of our consciousness, waiting to sprout in the warmth of love and the light of awareness. During eclipse time we probe the gloom for new prospects and make marvellous discoveries. Life leaps from the darkness.

Redirection

I hesitate to mention the ‘Yod’ word but here it is again, a Double Yod Key gracing the eclipse sky. Fortunately it does not hold its formation for long and dismantles completely before the lunar eclipse.

 As we learnt during 2011, 2012 and 2013, the Yod pushes for a change of direction through loss or giving up something seemingly imperative to a secure life on earth. This particular Yod encourages a small change that leads to enormous gain. Small, however, does not necessarily mean easy. It may take a fair amount of mental and emotional anguish to make the little shift.

After the tumultuous changes of the past few years, we thought we were finally on track, yet this Yod in the eclipse zone has other thoughts.

‘No!’ it emphatically states. ‘Not that way at all. Let go, let it pass, redirect, find a better way forward.’ And things break apart again. Something must be given up. Loss must be endured. It is the way of the Yod.

The anguish of loss automatically stimulates a change in thinking, a change of plan. The pain automatically promotes a change of heart. Then in an ‘Open Sesame’ sort of way, a doorway opens, one that leads to something ten times better than what was lost.

It could be a change in how business is run. An adventure could be re-routed.  A project may need re-designing. A life course could be redirected. Whatever the change, there is the promise of a more prosperous route. The Yod points towards good fortune.

Alignment & Balance & Relationship

As the Earth, Moon and Sun move into perfect alignment, it is in the dark shadows that we see misalignment - with our true selves, within relationships, with our life path.

In a flash of intuition, we know fairness, we find balance, we feel empathy and we see what it is like to stand in another’s shoes. We understand. That elusive, gorgeous, much sort after equality within relationship is achieved. Not forever, but for long enough to appreciate the beauty of another and to see our own beauty, in reflection.

In this brief moment of harmony, we know love. In this place we shine. We find courage to take the risk, to change direction, to be true.

With love for the potential within the darkness and also for Easter eggs,

Sharron.

A Moon Full of Passion

3^rd February 2015

23h10 (GMT)

To listen to the blog, press the play button above.

There is so much to say about the Saturn/Neptune Square and I intend probing its many layers in future blogs. This one is dedicated to the Full Moon on 3^rd February 2015 at 23H10 (GMT), a moon that brims over with passion, love and the aspiration to be exceptional.
 
The brilliant light of the sun bounces off the moon and carries the desire to be successful to the earth. It encourages belief in a project, a dream, a life path that has been tenderly held close to the heart. Suddenly and quite unexpectedly it is possible to fly free of pain, the kind that repeatedly slashes through the heart. Letting go of inappropriate responsibilities and also debilitating guilt, becomes obvious. The silvery light inspires the ability to concentrate, to focus with precision on what is important and to allow all that is inconsequential to fade into the shadows.

As with all full moons there is a challenge; in the case of the February Full Moon in Leo, it is the challenge to strengthen belief in a personal choice, to reinforce belief in a personal life direction, to stand alone if necessary, even against the push of popular opinion. Trust in this choice will be hammered by the strong views of others, so standing steadfast could be tough.

It is necessary to adopt a position – within relationships, the family, the work environment and the community. This position is chosen with care, whether it be on a life path or within a relationship. A balanced stance is taken with both feet placed firmly on stable ground. Then it is crucial to build a solid boundary around the personal position. A boundary that supports and protects.

It is from this safe place that rising anticipation is sensed. Quirky thoughts motivate a different approach to the way forward. The mind searches for novel ways to solve problems. We experiment, we play and suddenly anything is possible. It is passion that drives us to invest time, energy and money in something that matters and it is love that makes it possible.

Under the light of the full moon we yearn for something that is more than who we are or how we live. This something lies trapped beneath the stuff that needs to go. There is an answer that needs to be found, an answer to a question, a question that has not ever been asked of ourselves. The question is likely to burst, from out of the blue, into the mind. Only then the search for the answer begins.

The answer could lie in independence or a new base to live life from. The search could lead to the making of friends that last a lifetime. The answer could be found in discipline, patience and perseverance which leads to freedom. We could discover exactly how to stand firm on a path amidst uncertainty and ever-changing realities.

Naturally, as with all full moons there is a shadow realm to navigate. In this particular realm we feel the unbearable pain of loss or are forced to make a sacrifice or give something up. We have to let go of an aspect of life that we have control over and the thing is, the mere thought of letting go of this control is terrifying. Yet letting go is the only way out of the shadowland.

Other dangers threaten the pursuit of a goal or the belief in a chosen path:

·       Self-sabotage

·       Fear of failing

·       Giving up

·       Laziness

·       Lack of discipline

·       Lack of commitment

·       Lack of follow-through

 

The thirteenth fairy (the one that was not invited to the full moon party) will probably arrive and her pain of rejection will make her behave in an awfully wicked way. She will do her best to trash a boundary or persuasively undermine belief in a dream. She could instil doubt where there was once confidence. She could turn inspiration into cowardice. She could cast an evil spell and take away all the fun, destroy all laughter and worst of all, our desire to love. But this will only happen if we give in to her persuasions.

And yet it is in the pain of her rejection that we see her vulnerability and then we understand. It is the pain of loss that provokes the creating of something new. It is in the fear of an ending that we find a new beginning.

During this cycle it would be wise to lift one’s eyes and look over the shadowland and past the sabotaging actions of the thirteenth fairy. This would be the time to scan the furthermost edges of the horizon and step right out of the comfort zone and into a land that is begging to be explored.

With love for the thirteenth fairy and a promise to invite her next time,

Sharron.

Saturn Squares Neptune

2015 & 2016

As 2014 drew to a close, I glanced nervously at the 90° angle between Saturn and Neptune, a square that provokes the contradictory qualities of these two planets. I worry that I am consistently the bearer of bad news but it is the challenging planetary aspects that are developmental, that provoke progress, that make a difference, they are the ones that demand examination. And so it is that I mostly write about the tough stuff.

Any 90° angle between two planets causes friction and tension that shows up in daily life as obstacles and difficulties, not to be spitefully problematic or deliberately contrary, rather to propel us out of complacency and inertia. It stimulates action. It breaks through lethargy. It breaks down resistance. It makes things happen. It builds and shapes our world.

All through 2015 and 2016 Saturn and Neptune will move in and out of the square aspect. It is well worth scrutinising previous time periods when these two giants were 90° apart on the zodiacal belt.

·       The end of 1978 + all through 1979 & 1980

·       All through 1998 & 1999 + the beginning of 2000

By carefully examining the events that occurred during the abovementioned years in relation to the influences I shall do my best to interpret, hopefully we shall have a better feel for the themes underpinning our lives during 2015 and 2016. Remember that each month the new and full moons will trigger components of the bigger themes.

Saturn and Neptune are by nature vastly different and it is going to be difficult to manage their contradictory forces. Structures built over many years that support knowledge & personal beliefs are weakened with doubt. Truth upon which we built our lives becomes shaky. Understanding that shaped our characters becomes clouded with confusion. Trust that was built into relationships, teeters on wobbly legs. Belief in a life path or career, wavers. Uncertainty creeps into the outer edges of our spiritual beliefs (or non-beliefs), putting what we have learnt about ourselves and life on earth into question.

Saturn's job is to makes us face, with brutal honesty, that which is vulnerable – specifically the weak part of ourselves symbolised by Neptune:

·       Self-defeating behaviour

·       Sabotaging tendencies

·       Denial

·       Deception – of self & others

·       Victim / victimising behaviour

·       Addiction

·       Delusion

·       Betrayal

Neptune’s task is to dissolve that which is weak – specifically the part of ourselves symbolised by Saturn:

·       Dissolves life structures erected out of guilt, fear or obligation

·       Dissolves limitation

·       Dissolves restrictive boundaries or inappropriate ones that are no longer supportive

·       Dissolves misplaced responsibilities

·       Dissolves structures that have become too frail to hold up all we have built in our lives

·       Dissolves patterns rooted in fear

·       Dissolves undermined authority

We are forced to face what we have neglected. Neglect through avoidance or justified distractions, is neglect, whichever way we package it. Responsibilities that were adroitly side-stepped in the past, refuse to be ignored. Lies and secrets pop up and we cringe with embarrassment or turn away in shame. One reaction could be vehement denial but Saturn’s persistent push for the truth makes us squirm until we squarely face the realities before us. If we admit to mistakes or dishonest behaviour, we find inspiration to reshape the harsh reality.

This square whips up crises after crises until we see the truth. It is how we behave in the crises that reveals who we really are. When challenged, our true nature emerges and we stand naked in the truth, with integrity and honour, only of course if that is what we choose. There is always a risk of perpetuating self-deception, betrayal and denial.

With time, we become accustomed to the tricky forces of the Saturn/Neptune square and we get the hang of turning the challenges into something seriously worthwhile, because the purpose of enduring this 90° angle is to overcome undermining weakness, to build stronger and more supportive life structures and to turn dreams into reality.

Saturn restructures, strengthens and builds the parts of ourselves symbolised by Neptune:

·       Strengthens creative ability

·       Builds inspiration

·       Strengthens and makes the best use of talent

·       Builds a stronger connection with the true self

·       Makes dreams come true

·       Makes the best use of the imagination and turns fantasy into reality

Neptune inspires the parts of ourselves symbolised by Saturn and helps us to creatively make the best use of these qualities:

·       Inspires commitment

·       Inspires taking responsibility

·       Inspires the building of healthy supportive boundaries

·       Inspires the defining of goals

·       Inspires the building of supportive relationship structures

·       Inspires the building of a material security

·       Inspires career advancement

In 2006 I wrote an article on the Saturn/Neptune opposition. Research led me to discover that John Lennon, during the previous opposition in 1971, released his song ‘Imagine’. I included the lyrics in that article because it perfectly symbolised an encounter between Neptune and Saturn.

When I looked back at what happened in the world during the previous Saturn/Neptune squares, I discovered John Lennon was shot dead in 1980. So once again I end my article with the words of this musical master.

 IMAGINE

Imagine there’s no Heaven

It’s easy of you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today

 

Imagine there’s no countries

It isn’t hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

 

You may say that I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will be as one

 

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world

 

You may say that I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope someday you’ll join us

And the world will be as one

 

JOHN LENNON

Jogging the Memory

Full Moon – 5^th January 2015 04h54 (GMT) 

Apologies for skipping the last full moon. I gave every minute of my awake time to a crazy busy season which has now slowed to a gentle pace. As we take the first few steps into 2015, in fact, a mere five days into the year, we discover a full moon standing strong in a Cardinal Grand Cross.

    Early this morning, in the first rays of sunlight, a moment with a fish eagle in the Salt River Cove inspired the writing of this blog. So I wound my way up the pass to put thought to paper on this strong and influential full moon.
    Before tackling the significance of the Grand Cross, I shall first look at the relevance of its position in the zodiacal sign of Cancer, the sign it rules with great dignity. A powerful force is felt with profound intensity, a force to build inner strength and security. This force surges through our beings, eliminating insecurity and fear and inspires determination to resourcefully solve personal problems.
    The brightly lit moon brings renewed understanding of home & family matters and with it an instinctual sense of belonging – to a place and/or to the people in our lives. Over-sensitivity and imagined fear cause anxiety and a turbulent mind. Rejection or fear of it lurks in shadowy crevices and undermines the construction of inner security. However, courage drawn from the most unlikely place, allows us to face the unbearable and admit to weakness. Then we find strength in vulnerability.
    Should things get tough, it would be wise to find a sanctuary, a place to rebuild the broken parts of our life, to restore belief after the damage caused by dysfunctional patterns. In this haven we heal the wounds caused by conflict. Then we emerge with strength and the knowledge of how to proceed, how to build, brick by brick, a more secure personal world. When ready we step not just out of the sanctuary but right out of the comfort zone and into unknown territory that holds the promise of adventure and with it huge personal growth.

The Cardinal Grand Cross / Square

Now to look at the importance of the full moon in one corner of the Grand Square, a complicated picture to be sure, one of crises that leads not to failure but to eventual success.

    This planetary configuration installs inner power and amazing strength of will to achieve something great. The achievement usually follows tremendous inner tension, the carrying of a massive burden, facing repeated mistakes and general mayhem. The best way to harness its wayward energies is to carefully find the middle of the Square – a place of calm the centre of a personal world. Instead of dashing desperately to find answers to seemingly unsolvable problems, find the quiet spot and draw the answers in. Truth will flow into the square, not necessarily a comfortable truth, even brutal at times but honest nonetheless. It is in this truth that the way out the Grand Square is found.

The Four Corners

Corner One – occupied by Uranus in Aries

An unusual opportunity to break free from dependence and pioneer a better way forward. Personal needs are asserted differently and a fresh start is made.

Corner Two – occupied by the moon in Cancer   

We build inner strength to support a new vision that better fulfils personal needs. We know with certainty where on the earth our feet walk best and discover the people to whom we belong. We build loyalty.

Corner Three – occupied by the north node of the moon in Libra

After confronting difficult issues, new grounds for relationship are established. The art of balance and healthy compromise is practiced. New connections are pursued – personal and business.

Corner Four – occupied by the Sun and Pluto in Capricorn

We re-build and we re-structure the foundations of our personal and career goals. We bring to an end the out-lived parts of our lives and we birth new ones. We construct a new way, one that has a better chance of success. We re-direct existing projects. We find a new position and construct the appropriate boundaries to protect and support that position.

The full moon’s task in the Grand Square is to jog a memory, to remind us that a year or two back we endured the agony of loss to create a new vision, a new path and a better way to live life. Let us not forget how we struggled through months, even years of Yods and Grand Crosses to let go of people and jobs and patterns and things and how we slowly built the foundations to support a different life path.

    We are reminded of what is important, of what we have to focus on to achieve our goals. We are reminded of who we intrinsically are, which relationships are valid, the place to which we belong and which career or life path is best to follow.

With reluctant love for the Grand Cross,
Sharron.

 

An Exulted Moment in Time

Full Moon – 6^th November 2014 23h22 (GMT)

 

I was going to skip writing a blog on November’s full moon, not because it is torrid or difficult, it just had not caught my attention. Admittedly I have been busy in my gorgeous newly expanded studio making products, preparing for season and lost in story (audio books). Then last night, Raine, a friend who avidly follows my blogs and always puts the monthly influences to good use, sent a What’s App reminding me it is full moon time and as yet there is no sign of my blog. It was in no way demanding rather sent with a teasing tone but nonetheless was still a hint, which I intended to ignore.

    But then just before ensconcing myself in story and product-making for the day, I popped down to my office to tackle a bit of admin and took a peek at today’s full moon. Not minutes past before my pencil was scribbling down thoughts and so thanks to Raine, November’s full moon will be blogged.

    The moon is full in Taurus, a place on the zodiac (imaginary band around the earth) that she absolutely loves to visit, a place where her qualities are beautifully expressed, a time when the light of the sun reflects all possibility for emotional and financial security.

    This particular Taurus full moon encourages us to build further on what we had considered complete. It inspires adding further value to what was thought to be enough. All at once we see how to make profit out of very little, we see how planting a few seeds grows a whole season of food in the veggie garden. When resources seem used up, we find new ones, better ideas, and new potential.

    There will be moments of feeling out of sorts, feeling out of place in the world, yet it is from this scratchy, slightly insecure place that something meaningful can be achieved. In fact, it cannot be achieved without feeling out of place or that sense of not fitting in or belonging. Gallant ideas bring success.

    Now let’s look at the problematic side of this full moon’s influence. It is going to highlight where we are stuck, probably due to a stubborn refusal to alter a position or change a situation, probably because it reeks of fear or possibly because we are trapped in either emotional insecurity, financial insecurity or both.

    There is another element to consider, one offered by Saturn and a star called Agena. It indicates the likelihood of learning something profound and of immense value through rather painful circumstances. Why, oh why, is it pain that prompts the most powerful form learning? Perhaps it is the force of anguish that breaks down obstinacy, unsettles inflexibility and punches stubbornness on the nose. Whatever the shape of the pain, it could very well be the force needed to shift the stuckness (probably no such word but it sounds so good).

    But pain is not the only option on offer, if the will is strong enough to let go of bull-headed stubbornness or possessive clinging to an idea or situation, it is possible to simply float up onto a cloud and from this vantage point, not only is the view spectacular, but we see what is on the other side of the mountain. We see what lies beyond the barriers that have caused endless frustration. We see where to go next and how to get there. We see the way around obstacles or through a maze of complex problems.

    It is from the elevated position that we clearly see what needs to be eliminated (a habit, person or situation) because it is precisely the habit, person or situation that stands in the way of expansion and perpetuates stuckness.

Threats to Successful Growth and Profitable Gain:

·       Stubborn refusal to budge

·       Ruthless and cruel self-serving actions

·       Falling prey to unconscious patterns – victimized

·       Disempowered by old habits

·       Reckless misuse of personal influence

This full moon lights up the dark night and the way to emotional and or financial security.

With love and appreciation for the silvery light of the moon,

Sharron.  

Walking the Tight Rope

Full Moon – 8^th October 2014 10h52 (GMT)

Total Eclipse of the Moon

Ordinarily we are not able to see the earth’s shadow because there is nothing for it to be cast upon and it falls away into deep space. However, during a lunar eclipse, the moon positions itself perfectly between the earth and the sun and it is at this time (two or three times a year) that our shadow darkens the moon.

The lunar eclipse on the 8^th October 2014 turns our attention away from what we know about ourselves and our relationships. It turns our heads to face the earth’s shadow and in this shadow land we see repressed personal needs, repressed anger, and repressed self-assertion. Even if we’d prefer not to look at inappropriate personal behaviour born out of these repressions, unavoidable circumstances will provide the occasion wherein we review ourselves and our relationships. We see with alarming clarity where we stand within our partnerships.

The totally eclipsed moon drags the imbalances between self and others into view. In fact, imbalance in all areas of life is visible in the shadowland:

·       Between work and play

·       Within the family

·       Within love relationships

·       Within working associations

·       Within friendships

·       Between self and all others

·       Between giving and receiving

·       Within eating habits / dietary plans

·       Between busy time and quiet time

 

The influence of the lunar eclipse stirs the kind of passion and creative / sexual tension that holds relationship together. It evokes courage to speak up and ask for what we need, to boldly confront imbalances and initiate proper action, respectfully and with grace, to fulfil personal wishes and restore balance wherever it is required.

We learn afresh when to step forward and when to stand still. Correcting an imbalance within a relationship does not always require pushy demands because sometimes it is better to quietly allow the other person the chance to contribute in the way they can and not in the way we expect.

However, repressed anger could be triggered as a necessary force to break an impasse or an impossibly out-of-balance scenario.  

Alongside the eclipse is a rather gorgeous influence causing the two or three months affected by the eclipse’s influence to be awash with opportunities for huge fun, romance and also gain within business. The promotion of anything new & inventive leads us into the next stage of our future with idealism and foresight. We are to look ahead to new possibilities with courage, determination and focus, even when the adversity of the past tugs from behind and threatens to destroy the dreams of the future. It is time to dig deep and draw from the well of personal talent and to dare to pioneer ways of expressing this talent.     

Mostly the strength of the eclipse is felt in the zone of relationships and it sparks the desire for balance. We learn the art of tight-rope walking, holding the balancing pole of confronting & compromising, of giving and receiving, of demanding & responding, of accepting & rejecting, of communicating & listening as we cross the rope towards those with whom we are suspended in relationship.

With love for the dazzling and breath-taking walk across a tight-rope,

Sharron.