Sun into Capricorn - Quiet Passion

In Winter’s silence lies the voice of inner truth, beckoning us to calm down, sit still and be quiet long enough to glean its ageless wisdom. In Winter’s stillness lies a dormant world of possibility, one intent on embracing solitude, reflection and rest. The absent birds will return and the bare tree branches will again flourish, but not now. This is the time when energy operates on levels so subtle that they are barely perceptible. On December 21st at 9:47am PST the Sun moves into stoic, conservative yet ambitious Capricorn where Pluto, Mercury and the North node are already positioned. This solar cycle will see Venus voyage through this cardinal earth sign, a Mercury retrograde, two eclipses, the onset of a Saturn retrograde and Jupiter’s entrance into Pisces. It sounds action-packed and it is. The action however, is taking place beneath the surface. To those focusing on the external world, the inevitable delays inherent in retrograde periods (Mercury, Mars and Saturn) along with Capricorn’s cautious pace will feel frustrating and consternating. To those honoring this Universal offering of time for review and reinvention and the call for measured movement, this cycle will be illuminating and liberating. The key for unlocking this Capricorn cycle’s gifts is quiet passion.

Capricorn is a cardinal sign which means that its purpose is to initiate, to spur us onward. Capricorn is also the most conservative sign of the zodiac. The dance of taking action and remaining reserved is a intricate one. In it each step is carefully considered, deliberate and finally animated. This year five planets will come under pragmatic Capricorn’s influence simultaneously, along with the North node (our future direction), so a heavy dose of this impressive energy is at hand.

Venus joins the Sun, Mercury and Pluto in Capricorn on December 25th where she will be in residence until January 18th. Mercury will begin its retrograde on December 26th and will turn direct on January 15th. Mercury in grounded Capricorn can help us get ahold of our thoughts when we’re being overrun by them or allowing them to take us too far out there. It is also a tremendous aid for coming up with down to earth solutions and realistic plans for realizing our dreams. Also assuring us of reliable Guidance during this cycle will be Pluto in Capricorn.

Pluto above all else brings a deep abiding truth to all matters. Think about the energies of the recent Scorpio cycle to recall Pluto’s unrelenting intensity. Pluto in Capricorn offers us the chance to get real about our dreams and aspirations and the ability to completely transform our lives in very concrete, measurable ways. Capricorn offers us the drive and stamina to reach those goals. To attain that success, this duo demands that we dedicate ourselves to our desires by taking very practical, consistent steps toward them. Like no other sign Capricorn extolls the virtues and accomplishments of hard work. With Mars, ruler of passion, recently turning retrograde in Leo, the energies of ambition, drive and desire will only be amplified (see C.A. Brooks’ recent articles) during this cycle. Mars turned inward manifests as resentment, rage and bitterness. Mars combined with the honesty Pluto in sober Capricorn brings to our lives now can unravel the unpleasantness and get us back on track to enjoying life and reaping its richest rewards. We only need to follow the truth of heart’s desire and wisdom and act accordingly.

Like some sort of Cosmic check and balance, or conspiracy depending on your viewpoint, Saturn, Capricorn’s stern ruler, is sitting in Libra 90 degrees away from all things Capricorn. If we’re way off track or trying to get by with shortcuts, fuzzy math or excuses, the challenges will be formidable, disagreeable and unavoidable. If on the other hand, we are listening to and following our Guidance and doing the work required to achieve our objectives, Saturn’s waves will be favorable, supportive and encouraging. Doors will slowly open As if to underscore his point, the taskmaster will be begin his retrograde motion on January 13th.

Adding a little more fuel to this slow burning awakening of our passions will be two eclipses, one on December 31 with the full moon in Cancer and the other on January 14th when the moon will be in Capricorn. Saturn’s alignment squares both eclipses, and these eclipses will be in those provocative cardinal signs. To soften the blows or perhaps to enlighten us as to the spiritual reasons for what’s showing up, loving Jupiter enters mystic Pisces on January 18th. The unspoken language of creativity available throughout Jupiter’s sojourn through Pisces offers both retreat and intrinsic guidance. Delving into otherworldly Piscean realms through dance, music, writing and art may well be the master key to understanding the messages now being transmitted from the Cosmos. With that esoteric meaning found, the Capricorn conspiracy will help us put it to use and into form. Happy Winter Solstice!

Sun into Sagittarius 2009 - Keeping the Faith

On Saturday, the 21st, the Sun enters irrepressible, inspirational Sagittarius at 8:23pm PST. Like the gleaming dawn after a harrowing night, Sagittarius banishes Scorpio’s menacing phantoms and lingering shadows with a hopeful, adventurous outlook. Symbolized by the archer’s bow, ever aiming toward a new horizon, Sagittarius wants us to see beyond our current limits, to take chances and to believe that things will always work out for the best. Native Walt Disney was probably Sagittarius’ greatest ambassador. Every one of his stories sends the uplifting and comforting message that no matter what the odds or obstacles, for those who are nobel, everything will work out fine in the end. Ruled by expansive, exuberant Jupiter, this friendly mutable fire sign strives to renew that kind of faith in the future. A confluence of planets in fire signs will fuel Sagittarius’ excitement in 2009, while large planets in air signs will fan the enthusiastic flames. That Sagittarius sense of possibility is heightened even more by the final alignment of Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron in visionary Aquarius which will be exact from December 7-21st. Memo from the Universe: it’s officially time to lighten up.

In between the dark, intense waters of Scorpio and the conservative energies of Capricorn lies Sagittarius, an annual bright spot just waiting to energize and enliven us. In astrology the water and earth signs are said to exhibit a negative, inward or yin polarity while the air and fire signs are said to have a positive, outgoing or yang polarity. In the ebb and flow of the Cosmos the two polarities follow one another around the astrological wheel. When you think about the outgoing qualities of Aries, Gemini and Leo for example compared to their yin polarity counterparts Taurus, Cancer and Virgo, the positive and negative polarity concept makes sense. In 2009 the inward Scorpio cycle was more intense than usual due to that dramatic square between planetary heavyweights Saturn and Pluto on November 15th. During the upcoming yin Capricorn cycle Mars will have just turned retrograde in Leo on December 20th, Mercury will go retrograde in Capricorn on December 26th and 2009’s final solar eclipse will take place on December 31st with a lunar square to Saturn. Those challenging aspects on either side of this year’s (yang sign) Sagittarius cycle make it an even more important window of cosmic opportunity than usual. So let’s take a look at some specific highlights.

Mars is already in the willful fire sign of Leo heating up our motivation. With the Sun and Mercury now in warm, congenial Sagittarius, instead of brooding Scorpio, Mars’ drive finds the fuel its passionate fires demand and he finds that the harsh squares that were zapping him have given way to approving trines. Mercury in Sagittarius until December 5th brightens our thoughts and forms a harmonious sextile to benevolent Jupiter on November 29th. Sweet Venus joins the jubilation when she enters Sagittarius on December 1st, the same day when eccentric Uranus turns direct. All of this tees us up for a lively full moon in Gemini on December 2nd. In between Mars in Leo and the gathering of Mercury, Venus and the Sun in Sag sits Saturn in Libra. Hardly regarded as the Cosmos’ party goer, stuffy Saturn in this affable air sign sends favorable winds to the festivities. This cycle’s most exalted point however is likely to be the final lineup of generous Jupiter, dreamy Neptune and healing Chiron in the unifying air sign of Aquarius from December 7-21st. The energies generated by this trio are ideal for healing, finding deeper connections with Divine energies and aligning ourselves with greater inner peace. In short, this is a stellar time to meditate.


If you need some help getting your meditation on or if you enjoy meditating with an advanced facilitator, mark December 6th on your calendar. On that night at 12Academy instructor Kristina Walsh will host a meditation specifically designed to help us integrate the energies of this Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron alignment into the Age of Aquarius. Whether you meditate with a group like this one or on your own, what this final alignment, unlike its 2009 predisecors, offers is Sagittarius’ buoyant, spirited and optimistic influence. This promising combination of planetary energy is bound to reawaken our sense of wonder and to point us toward our possibilities with a renewed sense of hope. But before setting out on that new course, notice what autumn business is still incomplete. Like all mutable signs, Sagittarius concludes one season and prepares us for the next. This is a good cycle for both tying up loose ends and allowing a vision of the future to form. On Winter Solstice Capricorn will arrive with the energies needed to give our new aspirations structure. For now, enjoy the warmth of the season and glean the insights in those magical Sagittarius dreams.

A Regular Post, what a concept

So, I usually write about astrology, for work. Don't get me wrong; I enjoy it immensely. I have a fabulous ritual in fact whereby each month I gather up my growing collection of astrology books, pile them onto my bed along with my ephemeris (astrology calendar) and soak up all I can as I make notes reading through the stack of them. Then over the next day or two I put it all together and then edit what becomes my monthly post. I also help my co-workers with marketing and have been encouraging them to blog to help promote our business. Ours is an online company, so it's up to us to get out there to promote it. But some days, sometimes, I just want to write about nothing important or weighty.

I've been feeling like this all week long. So I thought I'd start posting about regular stuff. We'll see how it goes. Right now it's getting cold outside, into the mid 30's. I'm planning on watching a movie with my cat Nicholas. He seems to want more attention lately. I can't figure out if it's the fact that his brother passed nearly a year ago, that we've moved across the country from California or if it's my frugal use of the heat. 68 degrees is my limit! It's practically a sin. I reason that I have lots of warm clothes and blankets and that he has a very thick coat. I hope one day to own a home in which I can set the temperature in each room individually. I can't believe how much energy goes to waste heating and cooling space that's not in use. I've heard that new smart houses allow you to moderate the various rooms from one point. Glad some scientist had the same thought I had ages ago and figured out how to do it. Technically speaking, I could get off of my butt and close and open the vents each day and night, but honestly, I'm just too lazy for that. This place is an old Victorian home with 10 feet high walls, so reaching the vents requires a ladder. It's so not going to happen. I'm content to send love, Light and sincere gratitude to everyone who works for the power company and their families. I'd be pretty screwed without them.

Earlier today Congress extended the tax credit for new home buyers. Even though I was approved for a loan this year, I just wasn't ready to take the plunge - way too much responsibility. But, with more time to save and this extension, we'll see. And it will definitely be an energy smart or green home.

Well, I guess that's it for tonight. Twitter felt too confining for my "inner-writer" and this has been nice. Let me know if you read this..lol.

Sun into Scorpio 2009 - It's a Plutonian Thing

A passionate solar cycle commences on October 22nd at 11:44pm PST when the Sun moves into the fixed water sign of Scorpio. Plutonium is the chemical element used to fuel nuclear reactors and the namesake of Scorpio’s ruling planet Pluto. Reputed for the death-defying intensity it brings to the Cosmic world, Scorpio puts us squarely in touch with our deepest, and sometimes darkest, desires. Its motive is transformation, the kind we can only achieve by accessing Scorpio’s extreme clarity. During this Scorpio cycle, square is the operative term, and the word fixed is another one to have handy. Communicative Mercury and lusty Venus will join the willful Sun in Scorpio, where at one point or another during this cycle they will each square with aggressive Mars in fiery Leo. Jupiter and Neptune in Aquarius will form a few squares of their own to the planets in Scorpio. And that is only the backdrop to this season’s main event, uncompromising Saturn moving into Libra where it will form an exact square to Pluto in Capricorn at the time of the new Scorpio moon.

For those new to astrology, a square is when two planets form a hard right angle to one another, and a squaring off or push comes to shove effect is produced. What makes 2009’s solar journey through Scorpio so gripping is that most of the planets squaring (and opposing) one another will be in fixed signs. To review, there are only three modalities for all twelve signs: cardinal, fixed and mutable. Cardinal signs are the initiators who literally kick off each of the four seasons, and mutable signs close out each of those seasons. Fixed signs fall between the two, they sustain the energies underway and they are infamous for their no budging stances. This year agitating Mars in fixed fire sign Leo will square the Sun on October 29th, Mercury on November 1st and Venus on November 19th. Jupiter and Neptune are in fixed air sign Aquarius. Jupiter will square Mercury on November 8th and the Sun on November 10th, and Neptune will square Mercury on the 11th and the Sun on November 15th. Notice what conflicts arise around you on these dates, remembering that Scorpio’s waters are ultimately for healing the issues involved.

Other points of intensity in this cycle concern the planet most influential upon our emotions and moods, the moon. The full moon of November 2nd comes on the heals of both Saturn’s movement into Libra on the 29th and the first two Mars squares, and it falls in the fixed earth sign Taurus. All of the fixed signs get into the act this cycle. The new Scorpio moon of November 16th occurs under the influence of the Sun’s square to Neptune and more significantly Saturn’s square to Pluto.

 

The last time Saturn traveled through the sign of Libra while Pluto was in the sign of Capricorn was from September 27, 1774 through December 6, 1776. For those born outside of the United States, that might not ring any bells. But Americans will instantly recognize the historic significance of those dates. “The shot heard ‘round the world” was fired on April 19, 1775 and the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. On October 29th of this year Saturn will move into Libra where it will stay until October 5, 2012. For the first time since the 18th Century, Pluto is once again in Capricorn. What makes 2009’s lineup all the more interesting is that the two astrological heavyweights immediately move into an exact square on November 15th. This is the first of three exact squares, the next two occurring on January 31st and August 21st of 2010. Saturn and Pluto last squared while in Libra and Capricorn respectively in late 1776, very close to the time when a then beleaguered General Washington initiated the audacious Battle of Trenton, and turned the momentum of the Revolutionary War irrevocably in America’s favor. Saturn tests the soundness of our structures and is renowned for its unyielding nature, while Pluto’s purpose is evolution, even if the cost is destruction. Now on a 15-year journey through Capricorn, Pluto’s influence is effecting our major institutions such as government and business. A few of the ways the impending square with Saturn could manifest in our outer world are a major H1N1 flu outbreak, an international incident involving nuclear weaponry or an all out national meltdown over healthcare reform. The key to navigating whatever happens globally or personally is staying in touch with our instincts and intuition and following our emotional guidance vigilantly.

With so much fixed energy clashing around us this year and the battle royal of Saturn and Pluto at hand, this should as the saying goes, be one for the books. So now is the time to truthfully check in with “our story” and to come to terms with what we really want. That is not a decision the intellect can make. Scorpio brings emotional honesty to the table, and it implores us to process our true feelings, especially the unpleasant ones lurking in the shadows of our subconscious. Getting in touch with our deepest desires is the critical step to healing whatever ales us, clearing away obstacles and having what we want. The Sun will move into optimistic, mutable fire sign Sagittarius on November 22nd. Spending some quality time in the Cosmic Underworld between now and then will go a long way toward enabling us to really “let the sun shine in” when the skies lighten up.

 

Happy Birthday to 12Listen and 12Angel

Our websites are having their birthdays in November. 12Listen will turn three and 12Angel will turn two. And while I truly don't know all of the details yet, I predict that we'll be giving you some very special reasons to celebrate with us. Thank you so very, very much for your support and patronage during this most remarkable couple of years.

 

Some days you just have to laugh

So I got up eager to embrace this my 3rd day in a row of Jillian Michaels exercise DVDs. It's part of my new fitness plan and I'm really committed to exercising at 11am every day. The first 2 DVDs I bought by her were super hard for me. I could follow along, but hardly do the exercises to the extent intended. The third one was the charm. Even though I clearly couldn’t do it all, hard core, it worked well enough to challenge me for now and give something to aim for. Yesterday was the Autumn equinox, and during my workout I was winded nearly to the point of feeling self-defeated. But I rallied through, reasoning that if I do this 5 days a week from now until Winter solstice, this is as out of shape as it gets and there’s only room for improvement. So I made my way through the 40 minute DVD. I felt good afterwords, we had a great day at work and I was even more encouraged and motivated to exercise before work this morning.

I'm old school when it comes to exercise, trained to not do anything crazy when my heart rate gets up into something we used to call the training zone. It meant 70-90% of your maximum heart rate capacity. The new generation says that this is an archaic fitness myth. Still, I'm quite reluctant to get my heart rate soaring and then say, go right to the mat to do ab work or suddenly stop moving at all. My enthusiasm had me really pumping it up this morning, until I went from jumping jacks straight down to the mat for, you guessed it, ab work. Bad move. My heart rhythm went so far off of the charts that I had to stop immediately, breathe and then slowly and carefully get myself up and onto my bed where I could prop myself up on pillows and re-center my heart rate and let slow it down. It's kind of scary when that happens and I'm fine now. BUT I KNOW BETTER in the first place. Love Jillian, but no more cardio/circuit straight to the mat. The mat circuit will be done after all of the standing work and my heart rate comes down a bit.

Even when lying on my pillows, feeling my heart rate stabilizing, I was proud of myself for trying to exercise today. That didn’t go so well I thought, but tomorrow I’ll try again and just change the sequence. I’m still going to have a great day I enthusiastically resolved. On the agenda? Uninstall and reinstall Adobe Dreamweaver. What was I thinking?

This was once an amazing program. I used it back in 2004 when it was owned and run by Macromedia, and it worked like a charm. It is a website design program and it worked well with Macs, something most other web design software wouldn’t work with at all. Since this past May and the last Mercury retrograde, when I downloaded Adobe’s version, it has been “The Program from Hell.” Not a session goes by without it locking up and freezing my entire brand new Mac. This Mac has tons of power, memory and free space, and has not had one single problem with any other software. And I have lots. After four months of calling Adobe’s Tech Support, usually to be told to go to their website and read complicated manuals that are undecipherable to the non-geek, I had decided to throw the baby out w the bath water and uninstall and reinstall the whole damn thing. What the Hell, right? Mercury is retrograde again. This is the ideal time to revisit and correct technical issues, right? Why waste more time trouble shooting and having those oh so special conversations with India? I backed everything up, got my serial number in order and only wanted to download Dreamweaver again, in case the errors came as a result of a corrupted file in the original download back in May.

So it takes ten years to reach someone, ok 20 minutes and seriously like another 30 minutes to download the new program file from Adobe. I do so only to find out that the moron, sorry, but, in CS sent me a Windows version of the .... software. I call back, again, for the 3rd time now, only to be informed that they’ll send me a CD of the program. That actually suits me just fine right about now. The site was just updated yesterday. My files are on both my external drive and on Yahoo’s server. And now I’ll have seven to ten working days before I deal with anymore technical nonsense. By then Mercury will be direct. I’m relatively sure that it will all be fine.

In the meantime, I’m decided to not try to accomplish anything else today. My workout gave me heart palpitations and the software won’t be here for ten days. Clearly God wants me to vegetate. So, I’ll hang out with some of my new astrology books, and be glad that they’re not on a Kindle!

Sun into Libra - Keeping Love Real

The current Mercury retrograde cycle is sure to go down as one of the most entertaining in recent memory. South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson kicked off the season of gaffs and laughs with his now famous, “You lie!” outburst during President Obama’s health care address to Congress. A few days later at the U.S. Open, tennis icon Serena Williams expressed her displeasure with a line judge’s call by shouting, "If I could, I would take this ... ball and shove it down your ... throat." The very next day Kanye West got into the act at the MTV Music Video Awards by butting into Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech, only to be inadvertently admonished on the following day by none other than President Obama, who mistakenly thinking that his comments were not being recorded, referred to the rapper as “a jackass.” And we won’t even start on the mischief Mercury is merrily making with the ACORN federally funded housing for prostitutes and pimps debacle. If you never quite understood why this planet is the famed Trickster of the zodiac, now you know.





Diplomatic, impeccably mannered Libra comes to town on September 22nd when the Sun enters the sign of relating and balance at 2:19pm PST. Ruled by the planet of beauty, Venus, the sign regaled for its tact and decorum will likely put a stop to the unwitting lip slippage, especially after the 29th when Mercury goes direct. Libra’s aim after all, is to see things from all points of view, to weigh them carefully and to then act harmoniously in the cause of peacemaking. Rude behavior of any sort is simply unacceptable to Libra sensibilities. In 2009, the Sun, Mercury’s entry into the sign of the scales on October 9th and Venus’s on the 14th will aid Libra’s lofty mission. We will be given the chance to think about and move towards our desires through Libra’s loving and laudable perspective. While we know the inherent truth and wisdom of parables such as love thy neighbor as thyself, walk a mile in another man’s shoes, and whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them, like no other sign, Libra challenges us to walk their walk. That’s because by its very definition it must relate to other, what or whoever that other is. So before us is an ideal opportunity to try on unfamiliar opinions and to try to see the things we believe in the most through the opposite point of view. The awareness gained from doing so can be transformative.

What’s so funny about peace, love and understanding? Namely Pluto set to square the Sun on September 23rd, Mercury on October 10th, Venus on the 15th and Saturn on the 29th. In an effort to please everyone and maintain a semblance of serenity, Libra can sacrifice its true feelings, compromise its core values or become indecisive to a debilitating degree. Pluto, 90 degrees away from Libra in matter of fact Capricorn, will keep the peace and love fest real. The energies of the Sun, Mercury and Venus squares with Pluto are a good precursor to the building Saturn square to Pluto. That Square will last until August of 2010 while Saturn’s overall journey through Libra will last until October 5, 2012.



These first three alignments, involving the personal planets, will give us a glimpse into the places in our lives where being pleasant is at odds with our true beliefs in matters. They ask us to negotiate and reconcile the distance between the two, and now is the time to get some mediation practice in. Learning how to honestly and constructively balance our conflicts and contradictions will prove to be an immensely valuable tool for the Saturn Pluto Square and long Saturn in Libra cycles ahead. Venus ruled Libra injects an (overdue) air of civility into our internal, personal, national and international debates. When personal or political arguments arise, we can try take the opposing view to see if a new insight is gleaned that helps the situation or our understanding of it. The Libra caveat simply insists that peace cannot come a the expense of what we hold sacred. So, contradictory as it sounds, we will have to fight for what we believe in. What can make the critical difference is how we fight. When upsetting the apple cart seems uncomfortable and un-Libran, it may be helpful to remember that this is also a cardinal sign which means that its true nature is aggressive, agitating and instigative. Two of the best examples of Libra’s ability to both disrupt the status quo and strive for a higher good for the majority are Libra natives John Lennon and Mahatma Ghandi. The seemingly incongruous and conflicting aspects of our lives and world must be confronted, integrated and balanced, like Libra’s symbolic scales.

Other points of interest along this year’s Libra solar journey are the full moon in Aries on October 4th, harmonious solar trines to Jupiter on the 10th and Neptune on the 16th and a new Libra moon on the 18th. If you want to learn how to harness and apply the energies of Libra, the upcoming Saturn Square to Pluto or Saturn’s transit through Libra to your life, have a reading with one of the professional astrologers at 12Listen.com. Julia Stonestreet Smith. C.A. Brooks, and Neil D. Paris can read a chart like nobody’s business. But an article about the Sun through Libra would not be complete without huge Happy Birthday wishes to Jungian Astrologer and 12Listen bedrock John Joseph, who is also available for readings. Sharing the Libra birthday limelight is Louise Hay, the woman who has changed so many of our lives in profound and countless ways. Happy Birthday Louise! On that note, remember to tune into Hay House Radio every Tuesday morning at 9:30 PST to get the latest on astrological conditions on Mark Husson’s Power Peek Hour - which will actually be going back to an hour long show beginning in October!

Sun into Virgo - Back to School at 12Academy.com

When last we met, our boisterous flamboyant friend Leo the Lion was giving a commanding performance from center stage and contemplating the purchase of luxurious new lair. On August 22nd at 4:39P.M. PST, the spotlight fades, Leo takes his final bow and the clear-thinking, grounding energies of the sign of Service emerge. The observant and practical eyes of Virgo carefully read every line, including the fine print, of all loan documents, have a heart to heart with the calculator and bank statements, and then endeavor to make the final determination based on the financial substance of the matter and Virgo's other bff, fiscal responsibility.

Bookshelf neatly alphabetically arranged by subject, then author, then title? Check.
Foodstuffs meticulously organized in the pantry with packaging uniformly aligned and clearly displayed? Check.
Checkbook balanced to the penny? Check.
Toilet paper and paper towels, dish and laundry soap, sandwich and trash bags purchased in economy-sized, cost-conscious bulk packs? Check.
Vacation bags packed with lysol, aromatherapy oils, detailed itinerary, bed linen from home, and at least three bottles of hand sanitizer? Check.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Virgo. To the rest of the zodiac, Virgo's hyper-organized and extra-tidy way of life seem overly rigid and positively exhausting. But in earthy Virgo's territory, these labors yield that sweetest and most treasured of states, Order. This year's solar journey through Virgo however, with the next Saturn opposition to Uranus, a solar opposition to Uranus and a Mercury retrograde, will insist that Virgo tap into its mutable qualities. High degrees of detachment and flexibility will be necessary to successfully navigate the conflicting skies ahead. Then again, Virgo loves to plan.

According to renegade astrologer Antero Alli, to understand a sign, or style as he describes them, we must know its opposite sign, for the two are polarities expressing a totality. The 2009 Virgo cycle offers a superb laboratory in which to test this theory. On September 4th the full Pisces moon will oppose the Sun, on the 15th Saturn which is also in the sign of Virgo will oppose Uranus, now in Pisces, and on the 17th the Sun will oppose Uranus. On the Virgo-Pisces axis, order must be reconciled with chaos, logic with intuition and form with essence.



Since Saturn, the planet of lessons and discipline, entered mindful Virgo in September 2007, the scales have been decidedly tipped in favor of the tangible, rational side of this equation. Saturn's stay in Virgo has brought quite the comeuppance to Ponzi-scheme based financial markets and the world economy. Between Virgo's exactly analysis and Saturn's uncompromising vigilance, the unsound business practices of the banking, real estate and insurance industries and Wall Street have been brought to light, and many a mere mortal has had some form or other of a financial reckoning under this influence. This is all serving a Higher Order of truth telling on our material plane and is helping us purge our systems of ill-gotten goods, or "earnings" that never really existed in the first place. Pluto, the ultimate planetary force of Truth, picked up the torch late last November when it settled into Capricorn for a 15 year tenure.

To bring balance to the mix, beginning on Election Day 2008, mighty Saturn entered into a series of oppositions with the planet voted must likely to consternate him, unpredictable, rule-breaking, provocative Uranus, placed in that most unfathomable and illogical of places, Pisces. The stability Saturn in like-minded Virgo craves began meeting the innovation imposed by Uranus in Pisces. For example, last November 4th, the date of the first Saturn Uranus opposition in this series, conservatives couldn't conceive of a Barak Obama presidency, yet the Uranian winds of change prevailed.

This time the two sides meet on the battlefield of healthcare reform. Uranian proponents with Piscean compassion for the sick, argue for a radical overhaul of the entire system. At the other end of the spectrum, Saturn hard-liners with a keen Virgo eye on the cost of such colossal reform resist. One only need view a town hall meeting to see how the acrimonious workings of a Uranus Saturn opposition play out in the human drama. What President Obama may have working against him this time out is that Pluto shift from fanciful, optimistic Sagittarius into sober, pragmatic Capricorn. In 1775, during Pluto's last sojourn into Capricorn, the slogan "Don't Tread on Me" emerged and ingrained itself deeply into the self-reliant, hard-working and ruggedly individualist psyche of the birthing American nation. In 2009 "Don't Tread on My Taxes or Medical Decisions" may be the new battle cry.

Throwing the Devil straight into the details, and the fray, of this monumental debate will be Mercury in retrograde orbit. The thinking planet will go retrograde from September 7th through 29th, crossing both deliberating Libra and discerning Virgo terrain on its quest. No stone will go unturned in this one. Piscean dreams of utopia with a free liver transplant for every alcoholic and a government funded triple bypass for every overeater will be brought right down to earth by the Pluto-Saturn-Mercury formation. The president will have to explain how such sweeping reform will be paid for. In Obama's favor will be the visionary voice of the Jupiter (benevolence)-Neptune (spirituality)-Chiron (healing) alliance in Aquarius calling us to a higher consciousness about the collective. Some reform, on things such as unscrupulous insurance company practices are practically assured. But to make it work across the aisle, creative ideas such as a pay-it-forward fast food or junk food tax could also emerge as ways to fund the single payer system Obama envisions. Even arch conservatives have been known to support so-called "sin" taxes. Either way, you can count on a heated debate from September 15th through 17th when Saturn and the Sun will directly oppose Uranus. Fortunately the Virgo cycle winds down with some sweet aspects. Loving Venus enters Virgo on the 20th and Mercury conjuncts the Sun on the 20th and Saturn on the 22nd, when the Sun enters peace-making Libra.

Internally and externally these Uranus Saturn oppositions are asking us to come to terms with life as we wish it to be and the reality of where it is, and the Universe is offering up some new tools to help us bridge the chasm between the two. Synthesis of the ideal and the practical is precisely what the this Pisces-Virgo axis is all about. For the past two years Saturn's influence has been giving us an unflinching dose of reality with the loving and most earnest intention of reshaping our lives for the better as it has asked us what we are prepared to do to bring ourselves closer to our visions of perfection. Perfection is after all Virgo's ultimate aim. Uranus has come onto the scene to generate new ways to problem-solve.

The Sun's journey into Virgo also marks the beginning of the school year. In keeping with the cosmic design and annual pull to learn something new, the 12Family of websites proudly launches its newest member, 12Academy.com. 12Academy.com is an online University of Metaphysics of sorts, offering an array of classes on everything from Animal Communication, to Angel studies, to tarot and A Course in Miracles. With the integrity and renown of the 12House brand, this loving endeavor promises to take self-empowerment to a new level by teaching students the fundamentals of various spiritual disciplines, as well as offering courses for advanced practitioners. As Saturn leaves Virgo it begins a ten-month long square with Pluto, while 2012 and a 2013 exact Uranus square to Pluto build in the background. This online resource of Spirituality, dedicated to self-development and Light could not be in better alignment with the needs of our time and the days ahead. Hats off to founder Mark Husson whose vision for the metaphysical community continuously amazes me. You make me proud to be part of your world. Happy Sun into Virgo 2009!

Sun into Leo - The Show Must Go On

    
     The Sun moves into Leo on July 22nd, and being the Leo birthday girl that I am, I would like to announce the release of my new CD single at iTunes and at Amazon's new MP3 store.  I am so elated and excited about this that I can hardly sit still.  "In A Moment" is the title track and its recording was my absolute happiest musical experience in Los Angeles.  Not only did I get to work with amazing musicians such as Peas (whose credits include work with Kitaro, the "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" soundtrack, and scores of major TV shows), Rachel Leslie (a J-Lo backup singer) and Kathleen Keane (who has worked with Martin Hayes and other Celtic music luminaries), but we had a great time in the studio.  This song was written in honor of the wedding (about time!) of my lifelong friend Diane Ray who is the Producer of Hay House Radio.  Congratulations to her and her new hubby Barry.  I hope you feel the love in this track and won't mind dropping $5 to buy a copy of this 5-track CD. 


                               


   
     To hear the music and to find out more about my Celtic music project, Awakening Queen Maebh, just visit the Musician Page of my website. Now to this month's feature article.



Special thanks to astrologer C.A. Brooks for her emergency assistance with Chiron’s activity. You demonstrate the generosity of heart for which the Leo season we are ushering in is famed. Hats off to you!

Following the dark moon solar eclipse at Cancer’s conclusion, on July 22nd audacious, royal Leo struts right onto center stage. Instantaneously kicking lingering Cancerian worries to the curb, Leo boldly reflects our own abilities to shine, to live fearlessly and to thrive. In the face of another full moon eclipse on August 5th, squares, oppositions, incessant scenarios of global disaster, oh my, self-assured Leo enthusiastically beckons us all to follow the yellow brick road. Sure, the prophesied year of 2012 approaches, in the blink of an eye Pluto’s quest through uncompromising Capricorn has abolished yet another of our stagnant, once-cherished institutions, and according to the mainstream media anyway, there’s plenty to be afraid of. So what in the world is Leo doing up there, merrily prancing and dancing around as if there’s no tomorrow? And what on earth, in our “perilous times” is Leo up there singing?

“You’ve got to ac-cent’tchu-ate the positive
E-lim-in-ate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative,
and DON’T mess with Mr. In Between.”

And most importantly, how does he/she look so damn good doing it? From July 22nd through August 22nd the answers are obvious, Leo lives life in the present, and Leo lives life in style. Best of all, you are cordially invited to Leo’s extravagant celestial soire.

In order for some of the magnanimous magic to rub off on you however, you’ll need a pair of Leo-tinted glasses. These highly-prized designer shades come with purple-heart bravery and amber-golden optimism colored lenses. Let’s take a peek at the upcoming planetary trends with a pair on.

The Sun moves into Leo on July 22nd on the heels of the second eclipse in an usual series of three. Eclipses can disseminate shocking and intense energies as they bring hidden issues to light. For example, the recent full moon eclipse of July 7th while the moon was in the earth sign of Capricorn brought a bevy of health issues to the surface for many. Capricorn, ruled by Saturn, teaches us the limitations of our physical systems, our bodies. Pluto is also now in this stern and serious sign, making the truth about the gravity of these situations pretty much unavoidable. The dark moon eclipse while the Sun and moon are in Cancer on July 21st will likely bring domestic issues to the fore. In either case, the Universe is bringing our attention to matters needing to be addressed. Leo considers what is being presented through the prism of courage. He then looks to the pending full moon eclipse on August 5th at 5:55 P.M. PST, in visionary and unifying Aquarius, where Jupiter, Neptune and Chrion are positioned, and he sees the perfect occasion to heal whatever the preceding eclipses have revealed.

Leo also notices three special groupings of planets around 2009’s exalted trio, Jupiter (gifts, the Lion’s absolute favorite!), Neptune (dreams and spirituality) and Chiron (healing). On July 27th Venus (in Gemini) trines Jupiter and Chrion and on the 28th it trines Neptune, on July 30th Mercury (in Leo) opposes Jupiter and Chiron and on the 31st it opposes Neptune, and on August 14th Leo’s ruler the Sun opposes Jupiter, on the 15th Chiron and on the 17th Neptune. Leo looks at those Venus trines and lunges for his day planner to schedule spa and beauty treatments, and maybe some time to meditate. For that matter Leo reckons, anytime after after July 31st when loving Venus lands in nurturing Cancer is a great time to be pampered, as if an astrological excuse was ever necessary. The oppositions, however, are a little trickier. Leo knows that they represent polarities, but his hopeful outlook sees them as opportunities to bring balance and synthesis to competing agendas and viewpoints, With Chiron’s assistance, he decrees that all will be made well in his kingdom. This solar cycle. like all others, brings the often dreaded squares, Venus to Uranus on July 28th, the foreboding Mars to Saturn on August 10th and Mars to Uranus on the 18th. (Mis)use the words Mars, Saturn, Uranus and Squares in astrology, and you can scare the pants right off of a lot of people. Not Leo. As the coolest of cosmic cats he calmly and clearly recognizes the powers of formidable forces, so he marks those days on his calendar with the words “beware of tension” and “chance for resolution” in big bold letters. And really, even if temporarily panic-stricken by the misguided musings of fearful astrologers and TV anchormen, would Leo ever display his inner terror to the entire world? Not on your life.

If you really want to know where the Leo heart lives, look for the dates he’s circled to apply for that historically low mortgage rate, after clever, clear-thinking Mercury has moved into grounded and discerning Virgo on August 2nd perhaps? Maybe he’s set his gigantic heart on August 17th, when Mercury conjuncts Saturn, because he knows that Saturn’s sober influence under sensible Virgo will guarantee him of a very realistic evaluation. His ruler also sextiles Mars that day, giving his audacious move a heavenly green light. Leo doesn’t care if there’s an entire Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing “The sky is falling, the sky is falling.” He wants to live in the plushest of lairs and is poised to pounce on that $15.000.00 first time buyer’s credit. Why he’s already working on the guest list for his star-studded housewarming party.

Vein, bossy, arrogant and childish the nay sayers project on the regal spirit of Leo. They miss his point entirely. It takes guts, first-class showmanship and sometimes a little exaggerated self-confidence to play the role of leader. Who better than the hard-working, loyal Lion with his heart of pure gold to help cheerlead us out of times of doubt and Depression? When he wins, he lavishes the gifts and goodies on everyone holding court, inviting all to dream big and to know it is entirely possible to succeed. And if he doesn’t, instead of sitting around sulking - that would make his eyes puffy - his improvisational gifts go right to work on the next big adventure.

So with those fab-u-lous new spectacles Leo has graced you with this year, watch the proud gorgeous spirit of this fixed and feisty fire sign toss his commanding, luxurious mane, along with fear and caution, to the wind. Leo asserts to one and all that life is just marvelous, and if it is not, we possess the ability to make it so again.

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

Doreen Virtue on w Audra & Angela

If you're into Angels, make sure to catch Dr. Doreen Virtue's appearance on Soul's Journey Radio Monday night. 12Angel website host Audra Garcia along with Angel Therapy Practitioner (and outstanding psychic reader) Angela Hartfield will host this very special one-hour broadcast beginning at 7pm PST. As all of this is happening within hours of the full moon, this event promises to be magical.







And on Tuesday night, come join us at 12Listen.com and 12Angel.com where we will be running our Full Moon Specials on readings from 7:38pm PST - 10:38pm PST.

Sun into Pisces - Keep on Swimming

In early 2009, we find ourselves swimming the tempestuous seas of high unemployment, record rates of foreclosures and seemingly daily announcements of corporate collapses. So the Sun’s annual sojourn through the gentle mutable spiritually conscious water sign of Pisces is most welcome. Pisces represents the completion of a cycle, in this case that of the zodiac. Its strongest attributes are compassion, an acute desire to create, deep and genuine empathy, and an innate connection to Source. This year it’s as if these sweet cosmic waters have arrived just in time to calm and sooth the aches of uncertainty, to redirect collective and personal anxieties about the external world to a state of inner awareness and peace, and to wash away all that will not be needed when the Sun enters Aries and the start of the next turn of the Wheel.

If mystical Pisces has a theme song, it’s “Atlantis” by 60’s flower power troubadour Donovan. If it has a philosophy, it’s “Can’t we all just swim along?”. And if it has a message, it’s that of Disney’s seafaring protagonist Nemo: “Keep on swimming.” Why venture into those intangible, illogical and unfathomable Neptunian realms to problem-solve? Because going “way down below the ocean” to the very depths of our natural psychic insight and creativity is precisely where the answers are hidden.





Here are some of the planetary highlights of this year’s Pisces cycle. The serene energies of the new Pisces moon on February 24th make it an ideal time for meditation. When that moon moves into Aries a couple of days later however, be prepared for an astrological bumpy patch from the 26-28th due to this Aries moon not being particularly well aspected. Staying aligned with peaceful Pisces energies is the key to a smooth ride here. March 6th marks the onset of a Venus in Aries retrograde giving all a chance to reevaluate both relationships and possessions. The time to act on the insights gleaned during this retrograde will come after April 18th when the Sun is in Aries and Venus is direct. On March 8th Mercury (ideas) enters Pisces where it will be joined by Mars (desires) on March 14th. With the Sun and innovative Uranus already in these imaginative realms, the 14th-20th portal with four planets in Pisces offers us a lovely and downright groovy invitation to the dreamy and insightful worlds of the fish.

On March 20th the Spring arrives when Sun enters Aries. Much like a loud alarm clock rousing us from the Winter’s slumber, Aries will demand action and give us plenty of energy to take it, which in my book, is all the more reason to hit the cosmic Pisces snooze button now and enjoy the sublime dreamtime presently on hand. In this subterranean splendor you can experience profound acceptance of whatever is changing in your life, and you just might be given the keys to your future.

Sun into Aquarius - Embracing Liquid

In order to become a butterfly, a caterpillar must undergo chrysalis, the portion of its evolution in which its form turns completely into liquid. How apt a metaphor this is as we enter the Sun sign of the water bearer or “carrier” Aquarius in 2009. During this cycle of Aquarius we will experience the year’s first set of eclipses, work through the rest of Mercury’s retrograde and have another Saturn Uranus opposition. And all of this will be taking place while Pluto churns through conventional Capricorn and conservative Saturn retrogrades in Virgo, while Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron amplify the innovative and futuristic energies of Aquarius. We’re in pupal territory.

The Aquarius season starts on Monday, January 19th at 2:40 P.M. PST when the Sun will be greeted by newly arrived and generous Jupiter, spiritually minded and dreamy Neptune and Chiron, the force dedicated to healing our wounds. Aquarius’ quest for the common good, fellowship and Universal love and understanding will set the stage for the inauguration of President Obama, who’s rising sign is also Aquarius. With a Cabinet of wise advisors, we should see a hopeful and sober agenda set by this Administration.

In terms of policy, Jupiter’s expansive outlook will want to add billions to the next stimulus package, Neptune’s unrealistic perspective will consider resources bottomless and Chiron will seek to heal the wrongs of the previous Administration. Those lofty ideals are well and good, but Saturn being retrograde in detailed Virgo and truth demanding and revealing Pluto in cautious Capricorn will constantly question rosy assertions. Add Mercury’s retrograde stance during the first twelve days of the new Obama Presidency, and we’ll likely see numerous revisions to initial proposals.


As I noted in early November, when our first Saturn Uranus opposition occurred on Election Day, themes of conventional wisdom being challenged by new ideas will be the order of the days ahead. And on February 5th we have the second of these cosmic confrontations. Perhaps the vote on the latest stimulus package will take place about that time. If not, the debate will likely be in full swing. Liberal Uranians will call for a New Deal of unprecedented governmental spending while Conservative Saturnians will earnestly question how much more can be added to the $47 trillion public and private debt America has amassed without total economic collapse. And in your own life, expect to feel the drive toward the new and pull from the old hit an intense point in early February.

Adding to the Universal prompt to change will be two eclipses, on January 25th and February 9th. As the sun rises in the morning, we can count on eclipses to change our lives. The degree to which any given set effect your world largely depends on your individual chart. To get your personal bearings, I highly recommend a reading with my talented colleague and top-notch astrologer C.A., especially if you are an Aquarius or a Leo, Aquarius’ opposite sign. At 12Listen and 12Angel change will take the form of a completely remodeled pair of websites that will be introduced during these eclipses (and Mercury retrograde).

As you can see, the Universal chorus is singing of “change” and clearly asking us to envision the future, to scrutinize ideas and aspirations for their soundness, and to do so from a point of inspiration and community. This is the cosmic call to “keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars,” as Casey Kasem used to say. So as you navigate the push and pull of the coming cycle, see the multi-colored wings of butterflies fluttering about majestically on a warm Spring day. A much greater sense of where it all landed will be yours by mid May when Saturn turns direct during the Sun sign of grounded earthy Taurus. In the meantime, embrace the inevitable liquid.