Sun into Cancer 2009 Domestic and Emotional Tranquility

With news of North Korean threats to launch its most advanced ballistic missile at Hawaii as one of its naval vessels sets sail in that direction, House Democrats outlining healthcare reform with a $1.6 Trillion price tag in an era of historic deficit spending, 7,000 Marines dispatched to Helmand province along with increasing numbers of N.A.T.O troops to begin staging what is likely to be the decisive battle with the Taliban in the nearly 8-year-old war in Afghanistan, the World Health Organization elevating the Swine Flu/H1N1 virus to pandemic status, the mental activity of Gemini gives way to the intuitive, calming, introspective energies of Cancer, and not a moment too soon. If there are two things Cancer, America’s birth sign, craves, they are domestic stability and emotional security.

To achieve its end, Cancer walks a fine line of vulnerability and self-protection while practicing some of the Cosmos’ most immense nurturing and care-taking of others. With its favorably-aspected eclipses and annual cluster of retrograde outer planets, 2009’s Solar journey through the sign of the crab offers a chance for cooler heads, and hearts, to prevail. After the nerve-racking Gemini journey, nationally and privately, we could probably all use a collective chill pill. But Cancer is not asking us to retreat into our shells. It asks us to be of this world, to accept its complexities and atrocities, and to trust and love enough to overcome our challenges until peace is restored.

Intoning an appropriately more enigmatic resonance than usual, 2009’s Summer Solstice/Sun into Cancer movement occurs during the dark moon (Cancer’s ruler) on the 20th at 10:46pm PST. A new Cancer moon arrives on Monday the 22nd at 12:36pm PST, marking the beginning of our journey toward 2009’s next lunar eclipse which will take place on July 7th. On July 3rd the rapid-fire intellectual energies of Mercury move from Gemini into contemplative Cancer. Mercury in Cancer is much more likely to convince us to get in touch with how we feel about what is going on around us rather than what we think about it. The intellect’s natural tendency is to dissect, label and divide, so it can make rational sense of its world. By contrast, Cancer is all about creating compassion, understanding and appropriate protection by feeling its way through life, as it reaches toward tranquility.

That full Capricorn moon eclipse on the 7th, is in Cancer’s 7th house of partnerships, and features a trine with Saturn. Eclipses can bring sudden and unexpected changes as well as powerful insights. Surprises are not Cancer’s strong suit, but intuition is. With Saturn’s disciplined influence, a sensible resolution to whatever may rear its turbulent head at this time is very possible, and relationships will play a key role.

Echoing the universal chorus to choose hope, wisdom and good will over fear and over-reaction (Cancer can be a little paranoid) is friendly and benevolent Jupiter floating through Cancer’s 8th house of intimacy and transformation. “It is safe to love” is its quiet mantra. As if to hammer the message that old thinking will not solve new problems home, innovative Uranus trines the dark Cancer moon right before the solar eclipse on July 21st.

In the background, Uranus joins retrograding outer planets Neptune, Jupiter and Pluto, as well as Chiron on July 1st. Those large outer planets may be thought of as good and caring parents who lounge around on rafts in the deep end of a swimming pool while keeping a vigilant eye on their children at play in the shallower waters. It is highly unlikely that they will be called upon to rescue anyone, but their loving presence exerts a great sense of safety and well-being. In that space, their children are free to play and explore their watery paradise. The retrograde patterns of these planets will last until early November when they begin turning direct. Saturn, the only large planet now moving forward, moves into Libra at that time. What that means in practical terms is that the results of what is in play and at stake now may not be fully resolved until late Autumn. We saw this pattern last year with the November 4th U.S. election.

So what can you do right here right now to create a sense of trust when the headlines mirror a world in such distress? Gandhi wisely recommended being the change you want to see in the world. I suggest making your home your sanctuary. Having plenty of whatever makes you “feel” secure at hand, along with gurgling fountains, aromatic candles, color therapy tools, herbal bath salts, and long meditations (12Academy is offering many excellent ones) is a viable way to access Cancer’s maternal gifts. With your sense of tranquility amply restored and your inner Guidance system re-attuned to love and Light, you may emerge from the mother ship fully prepared to brave the outer world.

Magnolia Sun Bathing

It's so gorgeous here today that I just had to share. The sky is clear and blue, the temperature is in the low 80's and the birds have been singing all day. This morning it was so nice that I had my coffee out in the backyard beneath the two magnolia trees who stand there. The tress are so old here in Carolina. You look at them and their trunks stretch up forever into the blue sky. On the way in, I saw this flower on the magnolia tree. The sunlight was lighting her up so perfectly that I just had to take a photo. I can't wait until one is low enough on a branch for me to sniff. In the meantime, enjoy.

With love,
Elizabeth

What's Up Doc?

Now and again I have these exasperating moments when I seriously wonder about the world. I think, “Am I oversensitive or out of touch, or has our culture lost its collective mind?”

The last time I went to the eye doctor’s office in Beverly Hills the Israelis were bombing the Hell out of Lebanon and in their coverage the Fox News team was cheerleading for the Israelis. They simply didn’t cover the human side of Lebanese experience. I couldn’t believe that in a “health profession’s” office anything like this would be on in a waiting room. Remember, in waiting rooms patients are stuck there until their appointments. Patients are there for anything from routine exams, such as my case, to very serious illnesses. Illness or uncertainty about it creates a level of stress to start with. So who in their right mind would subject people with health problems to a military offensive into an urban center? Sure, I know that the Israelis will say that their violence was targeted at terrorists. And I hope it was. But really, the images of large buildings crumbling to the ground (remember that ten-story apartment building?) in an urban center was reminiscent of the Twin Towers on 9/11. But this isn’t about politics and the Middle East.

Today I accompanied my dad, who is having serious tests, to the doctor in a small town in North Carolina. The entrance to the waiting room had a candelabra which gave me false hope about the experience. As soon as we were inside the TV blared at us, rotating the following scenes from a network soap opera. In one a woman was undergoing regression therapy for being gang raped (with flashbacks), in another a man held two women hostage at gunpoint, having already shot one in the arm, and in yet another there was some scenario or other about a murdered baby who may have only really been kidnapped. Not sure on that. The volume level was set so loudly that my dad and I could hardly hear each other talk. Horrible acting aside, we noted how completely disturbing this was for a doctor’s office. He became so agitated that he went outside a few times before he was called in. Luckily, unlike the multi-story facility my old eye doctor was in, this office was on the ground floor so we could walk out to the parking lot. When he was finally called in for his appointment, we said something about the content on the TV to the nurse.

Her response is what floors me. “You’re the first one to ever complain,“ she said. “We just put it on in the morning and people watch whatever is on.”

My local Wal-Mart (it is the only place to shop here for 30 miles) has a wellness section. I found DVDs of nature there just last week and bought one with arial photography of Ireland. The really cool thing I had found the week before at a New Age trade show were DVDs of nature and sacred mandalas by an artist named Robyn Nola. Her work is based on Angels (in a nonreligious way) and is simply exquisite. She photographs nature and works with color to create images that are soothing to watch. She in fact healed herself of kidney disease and strongly believes in nature’s healing properties. I was telling a friend in medical sales last week that I’d love to walk into a doctor’s office and see work like Robyn’s playing. After today, I’d gladly settle for the Wal-Mart DVD of Ireland.

I don’t guess that this will be part of the Obama healthcare industry reform we’re hearing so much about. It’s too woo-woo I suppose and he has enough on his hands. But really, the content in waiting rooms should be examined. Democrat or Republican, we all go to the doctor. Subjecting people to violent images cannot be healthy. And isn’t health/healing the whole point of going in the first place? We have to go to the hospital for surgery next week. In case they’re playing the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” I’m bringing my iTouch w Robyn’s DVDs loaded into it.

Sun into Gemini

The Gemini mind runs nonstop. This mutable air sign is ever changing, always on the quest for something new and likes to simultaneously place its attention on as many people, places and things as humanly possible. 2009’s solar trip through this inquisitive, effervescent sign might just satisfy Gemini’s seemingly insatiable appetite for experiences. That’s because this Sun’s trip through the sign of the Twins serves up a bevy of intriguing, thought provoking and rapidly shifting planetary activity.

It all kicks off Wednesday when the Sun enters Gemini at 2:51pm PST. The 20th is also the start of what can be called the main course of this year’s Gemini journey, a very special 21 day alignment of Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron at 26 degrees of Aquarius. If you’re up for delving into the Divine, clearing out old vibrations and any other work to enhance your spiritual life, this is a beautiful window. This celestial combination of planets reflecting optimistic growth, the transformation of wounds into wisdom and the soul’s urge to merge with all things dreamlike and spiritual meets in the sign of vision and collective unity. Yum! The 23-27th host some of the strongest aspects of this blissful and delectable alignment. Dig in.

Next up on the 2009 Gemini menu is the new moon in Gemini on the 24th, an excellent time to make nice with your inner journalist, documentarian or writer. May 24th happens to be Gemini’s Bob Dylan birthday, a stellar and stunning example of the communicative gifts lavished upon humankind by this sign. The 27th sees Neptune turn retrograde. Neptune moving backwards is always an interesting dance. By the time the planet of the unknowable goes direct on November 4th many an illusion, or delusion, will be shattered. That’s always a good thing because it brings us closer to our Truth. If we take care when it comes to the dreams and ideas (Neptune in Aquarius) we invest ourselves in all summer, our worlds will arrive at early November in tact. If instead we choose to disregard that nagging little voice that warns us that this or that is indeed a dangerous dance with destruction, our fantasy will likely come crashing down under Scorpio’s dark skies. Either way, we learn something. Giving us the chance to think things through very carefully, for a few days at least, will be Mercury in its retrograde, or review, stance until the 30th when it goes direct (Alleluia!).

May 31st marks Mars’ entrance into earthy Taurus. This dose of energized stamina is an excellent influence for working toward and accomplishing goals. If the Jupiter, Chiron, Neptune lineup gives you some deep Guidance, Mars in Taurus offers the inspiration and the fortitude to put your vision into action. On June 3rd Chiron turns retrograde, offering us perhaps deeper insights into turning the hurting into healing, on the 7th we get a healthy dose of enthusiasm with the full moon in spirited Sagittarius, and on the 15th Jupiter joins the retrograde planets. As you can see, this Gemini season gives us plenty of food for thought.

And for dessert? Astrologer and author Mark Husson will be teacing a series of online classes based on his new best-seller "Lovescopes." This live online companion to the book is the official “Lovescopes” webinar and your opportunity to go beyond the bookt o learn even more about your love life. Dates and details will be announced shortly. And that brings us full circle, to the start of the Gemini season, May 20th.



On that day if you buy a copy of “Lovescopes,” Mark will send you five free minutes for a reading at either 12Listen or 12Angel. He’ll be posting a special email address on both sites that day where you can send your proof of purchase. Whether you want to catch and keep a Capricorn, lose a Leo or seduce a Scorpio, “Lovescopes” has the how-to. This delightful and insightful guide goes through every possible astrological combinations to let you know the weaknesses and strengths of each match. More importantly, Mark explains each sign’s motivation, an invaluable tool for understanding yourself, your partner and your relationship. Free minutes and an indispensable guide to your love life? Those are excellent reasons to come celebrate love with the 12Family on May 20th. Hope to see you there!

Sun into Taurus - Let Love(scopes) Rule

The 2009 Taurus season dawns on Sunday afternoon at 3:44 P.M. with Mars and Venus set to enter Aries during the week. Love is indeed in the air. So is “” Lovescopes ”, Mark’s new book, but we’ll get to that in a minute.

Author John Gray wrote the famous “Men are from Mars and women are from Venus” book series which offers some great insights into relationships between the sexes. In astrological terms we think of Mars as the ruler of our masculine aspects and Venus as the ruler of our feminine. How much sweeter can our love lives be when the two of them travel the Cosmos closely aligned? We’re about to find out over the next several weeks as the planets of desire and love move through instigating Aries side by side. This infatuating combination presents us with the opportunity to start new new relationships and to liven up the love lives we already have. The only day posing a challenge to the bliss-fest these two can conjure up is May 2nd when Venus squares Pluto, asking us to be totally honest about our relationships. The trouble with the truth is that it’s often a very subjective call. Fortunately Mercury will be in Venus-ruled Taurus at that time, to temper our thoughts, and more importantly our tongues. See what I mean about Love ruling?

Speaking of Mercury, 2009’s 2nd Mercury retrograde begins on May 6th and lasts through the 30th. With the Sun also in Taurus, this retrograde presents us with the chance for some “do-overs” in our finances and beauty and physical fitness. If that New Year’s resolution to exercise regularly has fallen by the wayside or that vow to have your taxes organized for next year has already gone by the boards, this Mercury retrograde is your best new friend. You can harness the grounded, determined energies of this patient and loving earth sign to make a new start, one that will give you long lasting results. Venus will guide us to act from a place of self-love, instead of the dreaded "should" space, which will help make reaching those goals a pleasure.

Taurus time is also when many of us plant our Spring gardens. Nature’s regenerative gifts abound in every shade imaginable. And the sheer volume of flowering wonders is a constant reminder of the Abundance and beauty of the Universe. So be good to your Soul by spending some time outdoors, in a garden if at all possible. The full moon during Taurus is also a time of planting, on energetic planes. It will be in Scorpio, bringing depth and intensity to the mix, so mark the 8th on your calendar for any meditations and rituals involving increase and long term objectives.

Adding to the collective Spring forward will be Saturn turning direct on the 16th. This is the one I’ve been talking about for months, at least since December 31st when it went retrograde. The most difficult aspects of the hard times brought by this Saturnian journey through the discerning and discriminating earth sign of service, Virgo, are over at last. On the 16th Saturn stations and prepares for its late October exit from Virgo. News stories have already begun surfacing about slight improvements in the economy and hopeful signs, and some political leaders, including President Obama, have begun expressing cautious optimism that the worst may well be behind us. With this aspect, more encouraging news is very likely to continue trickling into the headlines over the next several months. That doesn’t mean that our challenges go away overnight. Some of these messes were years in the making. Still, we should see and feel a lift. And that will play very favorably into the incredible alignment we’re heading into on May 20th.

On the 20th, the Sun enters Gemini, and Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune begin a 21 day placement at 26 degrees of Aquarius. I’ll be writing much more about this in next month’s column. Suffice it to say that this is a Cosmic glimpse into Nirvana. We get to connect compassionately with the collective consciousness. That’s huge. So get ready to feel some genuine awe and to marvel at the positive actions a few individuals are willing to take to benefit others. It’s going to be inspiring to see how this manifests on the world stage.

In our 12Family community the 20th is the official launch day for “Lovescopes.” On that day we will be running an all-day sale, and everyone who buys the book on the 20th will get some free minutes. Mark will post a special email address on the front page of the site where you can send your proof of purchase. We’re hoping to get “Lovescopes” on the Amazon charts that day. So come join us for the fun and be part of the party.

In the meantime, remember that the 22nd of this month is Earth Day, Friday the 24th is the new moon, and Mark is presenting the first “Lovescopes” seminar on Sunday, May 3rd in San Diego as part of the prestigious Hay House “I Can Do It” event. Several of us from 12Angel and 12Listen will be in attendance, so come out and meet us in person if you’re in town. With so much love and Spring abuzz, a great time will be had by all. Come celebrate with us.

With love,
Elizabeth

Insider's Guide to April 2009 and All things 12Listen.com

Happy April,

I hope that this note finds you well. If you’ve been reading astrologer C.A. Brook’s column in the Power Peek, you no doubt know that Spring 2009 is off to a subdued start with Venus, Mercury and the Sun striving to move forward in gung-ho Aries while Pluto in stern and serious Capricorn squares much of the enthusiastic energy. Saturn is still retrograde in detail-obsessed, skeptical Virgo, and fiery and feisty Mars finds himself in the incompatible waters of nebulous Pisces. So if you’ve been feeling like despite the very best of intentions to jump start your life things are just not lining up and falling right into place, well, those are some of the astrological reasons. And did I mention the Venus retrograde that we have until the 18th, which has had more than a few people calling in with relationship crises?

But this post isn’t to bum you out or to discourage you; my co-workers and I are here to help you navigate these tricky astrological tides successfully. So here is the insider’s guide to April Specials at 12Listen.com. Keep it handy.




Those full and new moons are excellent times for your meditations, prayers and petitions. Speaking of which, if you need assistance with your Spiritual Spring cleaning, I’m co-moderating the Violet Flame board at 12Listen.com on April 15th and 29th. So drop by and post, and I’ll get right to work on helping you transmute those sluggish energies into inspiration and Light. I'm a huge fan of the VF.

April 30th ends the month with the beginning of Hay House’s “ I Can Do It ” conference in San Diego. Dr. Doreen VIrtue is in fact giving the keynote address to the conference that evening. In other exciting news, our very own Mark Husson will be holding his first presentation of “Lovescopes” on Sunday, May 3rd. I’m flying clear across the United States to be there for that! Please introduce yourself if you're attending.

May will see Saturn turn direct, the release of "Lovescopes" and the Grand Opening of my newly revamped website which has been "under construction" since January. See what I mean about progress being possible and hard won in April? Until then, thank you so much for your love and support.

Affirming evermore love and Light,
Elizabeth

Ps: Last week I rented a movie called “The Five People You Meet in Heaven,” and I cannot recommend seeing it or reading the book enough. I have no promotional affiliation with it, only a heartfelt desire to help you stay plugged into the Love and Light we all truly are. This film is a wonderful reminder.

Postcard from North Carolina

Wow, it’s already been 2 weeks in the new digs. I just thought I’d post to let you know how Nicholas and I are doing. So far, so good. It’s pretty, peaceful and oh so quiet here. I’m renting the entire top floor of an old house which has windows in every room. Wherever I am, I see the sky, trees and the houses that are scattered around this one. This house also has a tin roof. I can’t begin to describe the magnificent lullaby passing bands of rain make when they fall upon it. When that happens, no matter what time of day it is, I make room for a nap, and sleep like a baby, thank you very much. There are also train tracks somewhere in the distance. The far off sound of train horns somehow adds to the quaintness of the place. On two mornings I’ve gotten up to discover thick patches of fog slowly rolling through. I love those.

The other day my dad pointed out a cherry tree to me. I had no idea that they had white leaves. It’s really nice to have the time to notice. Another type of tree called the Bradford pear tree has already stopped blooming since I’ve been here. It was a reminder of how quickly time passes and how important it is to seize the moments while they’re here. The email and phone calls from friends in LA and Denver remind me of how much I love these people and how lucky I am to have them in my life.

The shipment of nine pounds of coffee from the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf arrived yesterday. Feehw, the Foldgers thing was getting ugly. Hello, my name is Elizabeth, and I have a caffeine problem: I’m no longer in walking distance of a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. Other than that, it’s all going pretty well. There’s a mountain of paperwork and work work piling up on my desk as I contemplate assembling the new desk chair, computer cart and bathroom shelf, let alone organizing 2008 tax receipts, yikes. But one thing at a time. I watched the most amazing movie the other night. It’s called “. The Five People You Meet in Heaven ” Maybe it was the dark Pisces moon, maybe all the transition of moving cross-country, but boy did I cry. I’m watching it again before sending it back to Netflix for sure.



Nicholas is doing well. He’s now completely on his up with me in the morning to pilfer butter, nap all day, get up to play and cuddle at night schedule. I think he’s forgiven me for the plane rides. We still miss Boris.

And before I have a chance to get bored with rural NC, I’ve already bought plane tickets for my first trip back to CA. I’m heading to San Diego to be at Hay House’s I Can Do It conference. It will be so good to see my work mates, best friend D., and boss Mark Husson give his first presentation there. His new book Lovescopes is coming out on April 15th. I’m so excited and happy for him, and grateful to work someplace where I love my boss, work and clients. So, it’s all happening so fast it seems. Still, I’ll take the time to notice the cherry trees.

With love,
Elizabeth