This Blog Has A New Home

Hello,

Thank you for visiting.  I am still blogging about astrology, metaphysics and music.  These days I'm doing it via my site: http://www.elizabethsoracle.co. 

Lots of love,
Elizabeth

Sun Into Capricorn 2012-13: The Valley of the Shadow

    The Sun and Santa Claus may be coming to town, but you better watch out, as the old song says, for Pluto.  This year’s solar trip through sober, provocative Capricorn will see the planet ruling power, death and the subconscious make direct connections with most of astrology’s personal planets.  Closely allied with staunch Saturn in transformational Scorpio, the cycle is set to help us confront blocks and fears. to clear our paths of psychic debris and to lay more ascension groundwork.  But before we can plant the seeds of change, we have to locate our seeds of self-destruction.

    I once was lost
    But now I’m found
    Was blind
    But now I see
            - John Newton


    The Sun will move into determined Capricorn at 3:12 A.M. PST on December 21st and by the 30th it will be conjunct (at the same degree as) Pluto.  Ambitious and assiduous, Capricorn sets its intention and achieves its aims.  In traditional astrology, this Cardinal earth sign is associated with career and industry, and in our heavily materialistic culture they are in turn primarily associated with monetary reward.  In the new paradigm, life purpose may be the more appropriate and helpful term when defining our work, and satisfaction and happiness are equally important indicators of the worth of our endeavors.  Under Pluto’s waxing influence, stated business ethics will increasingly have to match industry practices.  So when the Sun contacts honest, purifying Pluto these days, evolved interpretations of success will apply to our professional lives and surviving institutions.  When Pluto connects with Mercury on January 6th, we may be forced to examine inconsistencies.  Are they based on fearing or trusting life?  When Pluto aligns with Venus on the 16th, we may have to look at our relationships and values.  What have we been sweeping under the rug for the false sake of peace?  What changes are we ready to make?  Plutonium is after all a key component of nuclear power.  We can think of these Pluto connections like coming into contact with internal nuclear energy.  Anything less than our complete authenticity and a commitment to carefully disposing of our accumulated toxins would be like ignoring proper maintenance at a nuclear power plant.  Body work such as massage and acupuncture may be especially helpful at this time.  As Saturn continues its transit of Pluto-ruled Scorpio, the pressure to clean up our acts, systems and planet will only increase.

    On December 26th Pluto will form a sextile to Capricorn’s ruling planet Saturn.  This structuring planet is just getting settled into the shamanic sign of death and rebirth, and this is only the first of the exact sextiles it will form with Pluto over the next three years.  Fortunately for us, the influence of a sextile is astrology’s kinder and gentler cleaning mode.  Still, these forces are intent on fully exposing flaws and falsehoods and washing away blockages and distortions.  Scorpio’s candor will help us see the issues clearly.  It will sextile Mercury on January 6th, under a Scorpio moon, and it will sextile Venus on January 17th.  Conversations shift from image to substance, and substance determines consequences.

    All of the self-exploration and clearing are in preparation for the new Capricorn moon of January 11th.  On that day five of astrology’s ten planets will be in forging, security-conscious Capricorn.  This first new noon of 2013 will make connections with Pluto and the Sun and will receive propulsion from Innovative Uranus in activating Aries.  Capricorn can lay a solid foundation for growth, and its work toward principled goals builds enduring systems and legacies.  Looking ahead, 2013’s full Capricorn moon will take place on June 23rd, when the Sun will be in the Cardinal water sign of nurturing Cancer.  This reference point comes only weeks ahead of one of the year‘s most influential events, a grand water trine.  Exact on July 17th this trine will see Neptune, Jupiter and Saturn merge from each of the three water signs, Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio. 

    The enormous wave of heart wisdom they create is beginning to form now.  This is where and when feelings, language and spirituality begin playing a greater role in determining reality.  This wave will envelop all three of the year’s Mercury retrogrades which will take place under the water signs.  Capricorn is the domain of astrology’s ancient sea goat, so now is when can begin to master navigating between the material world and the watery home of heartfelt intelligence.  Pluto’s transit through Cap lasts until 2023 and Neptune’s voyage through Pisces until 2025.  It is into this larger context that the Sun enters competent, capable Capricorn.  Evolutionary Pluto stands in its path, poised to purge us of impediments to our progress.  Are we ready to face the music and to sing a new song?


When you've seen beyond yourself
then you may find peace of mind is waiting there
And the time will come when you see
we're all one
and life flows on within you and without you

               - George Harrison

Sun Into Scorpio 2012: Eliminate To Generate

“Come to the edge,” he said.
They said, “We are afraid.”
They came.
He pushed them....
They flew.
- Guillaume Apollinaire

    Emotional, fixed Scorpio thrives on intensity and change, and the Sun will dive into its purifying waters at 5:14 P.M. PST on October 22nd.  Material matters will surface courtesy of a full Taurus moon on the 29th and a total solar eclipse conjunct the lunar nodes on November 13th.  A provocative full Cardinal cross will precede the Mercury retrograde that begins on Election Day in the U.S.  Saturn and Pluto will begin strengthening 2013’s evolutionary Uranus Pluto squares.  And, Neptune and Chiron, turning direct in reflective Pisces, will connect us more directly with our intrinsic truths.  In the grand scheme of things, new dimensions and higher levels of awareness are opening up to us.  To access them, we must journey through solemn Scorpio’s passageway.

     October 29th’s full moon in physical, security-oriented Taurus will be opposed by restricting Saturn and the willful Sun in truthful, transforming Scorpio.  This super moon is connected to 2012’s Venus occultation, 2013’s Uranus Pluto squares and the lunar node placements lasting into early 2014.  It is a call to strike a healthy balance between the our spiritual essence and material needs.  It is also an opportunity to examine and release the financial fears that ironically limit us.  Occurring two days before the Celtic holy day of Samhain, it is a summons to look within, reconcile losses and dedicate ourselves more fully to the spiritual work we came here for.  This meaningful moon will receive a friendly trine from evocative Pluto in industrious Capricorn.  Infused with this lunar wisdom and inspired by practical plans for the future, we enter a Cardinal gateway of Light the first weekend of November.

October 29, 2012

     Abundant Venus has two celestial abodes, and she will be residing in her harmonious Libra lair when the moon comes home to its native Cancer from November 3-5th.  With Pluto and Uranus settled into Capricorn and Aries, the cosmic stage is set for initiation.  If the full moon or Samhain/Halloween purging has worked its magic, then new offers and opportunities will begin materializing in early November.  Discouraging unwisely impulsive decisions, clever Mercury will turn retrograde on November 6th.  Lasting until November 26th, this transit will provide ample time for studying details and carefully reviewing facts and figures before moving ahead.  And with the Messenger traveling all the way back to 18 degrees of probing Scorpio, deceit, abuse and deception will be exposed.  Mercury, Saturn and the Sun are intent on clearing corruption and instituting the honesty and integrity now critical for planetary evolution.  

    Mercury re-enters sacred Scorpio on November 13th, the day of a total solar eclipse.  This new moon eclipse in Scorpio is conjunct the lunar North node.  In general terms, the moon’s South node describes the past and its North points the way forward.  The Taurus Scorpio opposition created here concerns resources and power.  In late August the Nodes shifted into Taurus and Scorpio, where they will be in influence until February 2014.  Here they will intensify the current Scorpio directive to fully integrate our spiritual beliefs with our economic practices and the care we give to our physical bodies. 
 
    The “let go to grow” mantra being sounding now will be booming by the time we reach 2013’s Pluto Uranus squares.  They will take place on May 20th, the final day of the Taurus Sun cycle, and on November 1st, in the midst of next year’s Scorpio solar sojourn.  By then stern, structuring Saturn will be adding more of its considerable weight to the equation.  The ringed-planet is after all Capricorn’s ruler, so it supports Pluto’s presence in the sign of pragmatic progress.  Reciprocally, Pluto respects Saturn’s disciplined prowess in its home sign of destructive Scorpio.  In short, Pluto in Capricorn and Saturn in Scorpio understand and mirror each other.  In these placements, their energies are complementary and mutually fortifying.  Mars will amplify their power when it moves through ambitious Capricorn from November 16th through December 25th.  This is the fuel for setting and ultimately reaching conscious goals.  The Sun’s coming placements in Taurus and Scorpio on the exact days of the next Pluto Uranus squares will reinforce the work we undertake now.

    Scorpion change is often dramatic, turbulent and obvious.  By contrast, fellow water sign Pisces works more like waves upon rocks.  It dissolves so subtly and gently that its influence is usually only recognizable over time.  The planet it rules, Neptune will turn direct on November 10th as will healing asteroid Chiron on the 14th.  Both are in holistic, integrating Pisces, the sign that also completes the zodiac.  Thus the planets in these collaborating water signs are on message: release to regenerate.  The Neptunian element here assures us that even in the midst of great upheaval, peace is always available.  The boundless, artistic planet instructs us to turn inward.  There we can center ourselves.  From the void of a quiet mind, inspiration emerges.  Aligned with its clarity, we know precisely which steps to take next.

“And now I see with eye serene,
the very pulse of the machine
A being breathing thoughtful breath
A traveler between life and death”
William Wordsworth

Sun Into Libra 2012: Dare To Care

    The Sun will shift into harmonizing Libra at 7:49 A.M. PST on September 22nd, but this cycle’s main event will take place on October 5th.  That’s when lesson-baring Saturn will move from graceful Libra, where it has been since October 29, 2009, into passionate, purifying Scorpio.  The transit will last until December 23, 2014 with a retrograde revisit scheduled from June 14th to September 16th of 2015.  Before that celestial changing of the guard, we have some ideal aspects for brainstorming and another Cardinal portal of bright beginnings to travel through.  Also during the upcoming Libra cycle, active Mars will move into adventurous Sagittarius, mental Mercury will delve into intense Scorpio and artistic Venus will beautify service-oriented Virgo.  Joining Jupiter in Gemini and Neptune in Pisces, Mars and Venus will form more Mutable squares and oppositions, further encouraging release and renewal. 

    The Libra cycles gets off to a lively start when the moon moves into Cardinal Capricorn on September 22nd.  In alliance with powerful Pluto, the moon will square Uranus, the Sun, Mercury and Saturn through the 24th.  These energies are bound to stir us up and spur us into action.  Aligning our thoughts, words and deeds with high frequencies of awareness, the moon will next head into lofty Aquarius.  There, with the Sun, Mercury, Saturn and Jupiter in fellow air signs, it will beam rays of sheer brilliance to us through the 26th.  The last of Saturn’s transit through balanced, deliberating Libra will lend soundness to the ingenuity coming during these days.  October 8th, with its exact Sun Jupiter trine, is another five-star day for bright ideas.  Putting the wind beneath our wings, or lighting the fire under our arses, a full Aries moon is set for September 29th.  Rambunctious, pioneering and ever provocative, Ram’s irrepressible spirit will inform and infuse us until October 1st.  Much more than the mere turning of a calendar page, October 1st marks a turning of the celestial tide.  That week Venus, Mercury, Mars and Saturn will change signs and generous Jupiter will turn retrograde.  The most significant planetary shift is that of Saturn.

    We are in the midst of a fifteen-year Pluto journey through reforming Capricorn and a three-year series of Uranus Pluto squares.  Their propulsion will be strengthened in 2014 when Jupiter traverses Cancer and forms more major planet Cardinal crosses.  And recently, on August 29th, the moon’s nodes shifted to the Taurus Scorpio axis.  It is into this eventful context that Saturn’s transit of Scorpio occurs.  I’ll be writing more about the implications of the lunar node shift in the Sun Into Scorpio edition of the newsletter next month.  For now, understanding more about the Saturn Scorpio transit is what’s important.  Because it has as many implications as it has interpretations, I highly recommend reading the work of many astrologers about this transit. 

    Its icy rings have been visible since 1610, and they’ve reinforced Saturn’s reputation as the planet symbolic of boundaries, discipline and limitations.  Saturn is astrology’s authority figure, and it teaches us to earn life’s rewards.  Scorpio, represented by the scorpion, snake and phoenix, is the sign of metamorphosis.  Amongst its many gifts are honestly, intimacy and death.  This is a call to truthfully examine ourselves, and to change.   For the next three years, each time an emotional button is pushed or a psychological issue is triggered, resolute Saturn will offer Scorpion medicine.  Blocks to intimacy can be revealed and healed.  Mortality is another Scorpion awakener.  In the gifted hands of the planet governing time, respect for death’s inevitability can help us live on purpose.   Sober, abiding Saturn will help us face and overcome the fears preventing us from living our most cherished dreams.  Immensely connected with the Neptune and Chiron transits of Pisces, this is cosmic transformation of the deepest magnitude.  Indifference is not an option.  For the resistant, this transit will be harsh.  Saturn is as inflexible and it is relentless, and in emotional Scorpio it will be intent on getting to the heart of matters.  For the hearts and minds bravely committed to personal and planetary evolution, this transit is alchemist’s gold.  We can release all heart chakra blockages and experience new levels of awareness and intimacy.  Our first treatment is scheduled on Oct 10th when Saturn trines Neptune.  The challenge for us will be to not deny that we care, but to fully acknowledge how dearly and deeply we do.

October 15, 2012 New Moon

    To gently usher in the beginning of this great change, the cleansing energies of the Mutable signs will be in evidence for the reminder of the Libra cycle.  With Jupiter in Gemini, Venus in Virgo, Mars in Sagittarius and Neptune and Chiron in Pisces, each Mutable point of the zodiac’s wheel will be occupied.  Strong messages about what to let go of will be reinforced by Mercury’s presence in detecting Scorpio.  Dates to watch for these invitations to reflect and release include October 7th, 12th, 16th and 17th.  Saturn’s presence is Scorpio will add resonance to the clarity coming through far beyond this Sun cycle. 

    On the whole, the sweeping shift we are all experiencing is unfolding over many years, and the Saturn transit through Scorpio is poised to play a major role in it.  For now, the Sun is entering diplomatic, instigating Libra to initiate us for the life-altering sojourn.  It arrives here each autumn to start the new season and to remind us of our relationships.  Spiritual growth doesn't happen in a vacuum, and Libra shows us where and how we can evolve through the people in our lives.  Often reprinted at this time of year, the Prayer of St. Francis, elegantly expresses the wisdom and grace of this evocative sign.  This prayer also reminds us to get outside of ourselves long enough to support those we are blessed to have in our lives.  Its essence activates a deep internal shift that moves our Light and love outward.  At a point of such tremendous planetary change, its transformational simplicity is well worth practicing.  Happy Birthday Libra!


The prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace 
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
where there is injury, pardon
where there is doubt, faith
where there is despair, hope
where there is darkness, light
where there is sadness, joy

O Divine Master, 
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console 

to be understood as to understand

to be loved as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
and 
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned 

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life

Sun Into Virgo 2012: Tuning In And Turning On

     Shortly following the Sun’s entrance into rational, discerning Virgo at 10:07 A.M. PST on August 22nd, passionate Mars will move into psychic Scorpio on the 23rd.  There, the planet of drive and desire will be in the highly intuitive company of alluring Venus in caring Cancer and seductive Neptune in perceptive Pisces.  These three planets in the feeling water signs will set an internal, reflective tone that will resonate throughout much of the forthcoming Virgo cycle.  Fireworks and forward momentum are set for mid-September when Cardinal forces mount under the second Uranus Pluto square.  In between, strong full and new moons are on tap, purifying Pluto will turn direct and Neptune, the planet in Virgo’s opposite sign of Pisces, will be exert its indelible influence.

    The Sun’s annual journey through principled, practical Virgo is usually when we consider the balancing of polarities.  The days and nights are becoming equal in length as the autumnal Equinox approaches, and this cycle always features a full Pisces moon.  Under its ethereal pull, the intrinsic, intangible essence of Pisces mingles with the analytical, methodical Virgo Sun.  In 2012 several planets will join the struggle for balance along this axis of sensitivity and sensibility.  On one side of the equation, Neptune and Chiron will be in imaginative Pisces, in resonance with Venus and Mars in fellow water signs.  This group will inform us through gut feelings and intuition. Counterbalancing them, and keeping us connected to our intellectual capacity, will be the Sun and Mercury in mental Virgo.  Pluto in fellow earth sign Capricorn will share a healthy dose of pragmatism with the Sun, Mercury and us.  The dance begins on August 24th when Neptune opposes the Sun.  The planet of artistry and illusion then goes on to challenge Mercury on September 1st, while healing Chiron opposes the Sun on August 30th and Mercury on September 4th.  On August 29th the Sun and Pluto form a supportive, harmonious and decidedly grounding trine.  Finally, on August 31st, the full moon will see thinking Mercury return home to logical Virgo.  The subtle, internal tensions that ebb and flow during this time are inviting us to experience life from a more enchanted and connected perspective.  The planetary powers in the realistic earth signs will help us remain rooted and responsible.  It’s a complex mix, one in which inner guidance, applied carefully, will light the way ahead.

September 15, 2012

    Strengthening our psychic power, aiding our quest for answers and prompting needed change will be Mars in shamanistic Scorpio.  Its presence in the fixed water sign will strengthen Pluto’s influence.  Pluto is after all Scorpio’s ruler, and on September 17th it stations from a five-month-long retrograde.  No life is immune from the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, and no planet is better at forcing us to face, and heal, the pain they inflict than unrelenting Pluto.  Since the start of its retrograde back on April 10th, we have been on the annual hero’s journey through Pluto’s unsettling Underworld.  In this abyss, we have likely encountered people and events intent on reshaping our lives.  If, like ancient Percephone or Odysseus, we’ve wisely summoned our hero’s courage and accepted the challenges, we are now nearly ready to surface.  Aggressive Mars traveling through transforming Scorpio will intensify these final weeks of the sojourn.  If it unearths a few more betrayals, breeches or inconvenient truths, we are richer.  These are precisely the experiences and lessons that shape us most.  If we are willing to change, vast reserves of Neptunian insight and Chiron healing from compassionate, holistic Pisces will be available.  Also lending immense support will be Virgo’s dedication to virtue.  Reformed, we can complete this year’s cosmic quest.

     According to German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, “that which does not kill us makes us stronger.”  As we ascend from the dark realms, the new Virgo moon on September 15th signals a stellar new dawn.  The next day Mercury will move into Cardinal Libra where stoic Saturn is finishing its two-year transit.  On September 18th another of those mammoth Uranus Pluto squares will take place, the second in a three-year series of seven.  Finally, on the 22nd, the Sun will enter instigating Libra.  This sizable and seismic gathering of Cardinal energies is a portal to brighter and better new worlds.  It is a turning point at which we can shift from destruction to creation and from disarray to wholeness.  To prepare us, organizing, ethical and meticulous Virgo has arrived.  It will close the summer of 2012, bestow a little more time for study, analysis and planning and issue its annual call to service.  With authenticity, bravery and consistency, those who heed the call can begin building the future.

Sun Into Cancer 2012: Momentous Times

If the first half of 2012, with its unusual and lengthy Mars retrograde in detailed Virgo, felt like getting stuck on a major freeway during rush hour, with travel reduced to one lane, then the Sun’s entrance into initiating Cancer at 4:09 P.M. PST on June 20th heralds the end of the cosmic traffic jam. Occurring within three days of an historic Uranus Pluto square, the celestial crab season will also see Mercury turn retrograde in fiery Leo and feisty Mars move into Libra on a full Cardinal Cross moon. At the height of the bottleneck in early June, we moved through six of astrology’s ten planets in the completing Mutable signs simultaneously. By the full moon of the dawning cycle, we will experience six planets in the instigating Cardinal signs. The contrast from endings to beginnings is clear, and the Divine Wisdom of preparation for the new through purging of the old is equally obvious. As lanes open, Intuitive, caring Cancer arrives to nurture and prod us, and its 2012 luminary companions are poised to push us far beyond our previous limitations. It’s time to step on the accelerator.

 In astrology much psychological and cultural significance is attributed to the discovery of a planet. The idea is that such findings deeply impact the human psyche and the course of collective evolution. For example, destabilizing, innovative Uranus was discovered in 1781, the time of the American and French Revolutions and the beginning of the Industrial Age. Pluto, associated with death, destruction and the underworld, was discovered in 1930. That decade saw the splitting of the atom, the rise of Hitler and the proliferation of organized crime. On June 24th, Uranus and Pluto will form an exact square, the first of a series that will last until the spring of 2015. Revolutionary Uranus is in provocative, independent Aries, and evolutionary Pluto is in institutional, pragmatic Capricorn. From demonstrators challenging the authority of their rulers in Moscow, Damascus and Cairo, to the battle lines being drawn during an election year in the United States, to continued opposition to austerity measures in the European Union, one need only scan the headlines to see the reforming forces of the Uranus Pluto clash at work. In an increasingly transparent world, we also see Uranian humanitarian beliefs challenging Plutonian deception and despotism at every turn. What if instead of viewing the seven coming squares between these colossal powers from a dualistic perspective, old versus new, right opposing left, or conservative against liberal, we choose to dedicate ourselves to the triumph of Universal Truth?

In this paradigm, Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s recent tour of European capitols would serve as a model for harnessing the Uranian Plutonian dynamic in service of human evolution. She challenged the political status quo (Uranus) and consequently lived under house arrest for 15 years, a sentence that would ultimately make her more powerful (Pluto). Only 19 months after being released, Suu Kyi is now traveling abroad to lobby for economic investment and development in Myanmar, and strengthening a government that once repressed her. Suu Kyi’s extraordinary path can be as instructive as it is inspirational. From a holistic perspective, the Uranus Pluto squares can function more like cornerstones than collision points, and their truths can reconcile, resonate and reverberate. We know that tyranny can only be temporary, for it is innately inhuman. When we heartily accept the inevitability of death, we are awakened. Realizing how little time we have here, we can live fully and vigorously. When we embrace the hurt and trauma encompassing our shadows, with the intention to heal, we no longer unconsciously project them. And when we shed the us against them mindset, our connectivity and collective power increase.

If we’re going to transform our lives and positively change the world, we’ll need a little chutzpah. Offering lessons in confidence and courage, and ample supplies of enthusiasm and stamina, mental Mercury will move into spirited Leo on June 25th and fearless Mars will enter diplomatic Libra under the full Cardinal Cross moon of July 3rd. On June 27th Mercury will hit the shadow point of its forthcoming retrograde at 1 degree of Leo. That is the point it will return to at the end of its July 14th through August 8th retrograde. June 27th is also the day Venus turns direct. What we get to practice throughout the shadow and Mercury retrograde is speaking truth to power and saying yes to the new opportunities being presented. Spontaneous Uranus in unflappable Aries will beam supportive rays to Mercury in a fellow fire sign, and it will be part of the grand Cardinal cross of July 3rd. That full moon will host six planets in Cardinal signs, with at least one at each of its four Cardinal points. Early that day lively Mars will charge into Cardinal Libra, energizing the great forward thrust.

That moon, the start of the seven Uranus Pluto square series and the Cancer cycle now getting underway are a powerful portal into the future. They are part and parcel of the greater sea change we are experiencing here on Earth. On one hand domestic Cancer craves emotional intimacy and security. On the other, emerging from beneath its safe, trusty shell to venture onward is the crab’s cosmic imperative. As brave new worlds are born, we find ourselves in this paradox, wanting to cling and needing to grow. For guidance, nostalgic Cancer reaches back in time (it keeps exactly one copy of everything for just this purpose you know), to the reassuring wisdom of one of its most eloquent natives, Henry David Thoreau. In 1854 he offered the following:

“I learned this, at least, by my experiment; that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary; new, universal, and more liberal laws will begin to establish themselves around and within him; or the old laws will be expanded, and interpreted in his favor in a more liberal sense, and he will live with the license of a higher order of beings."

Sun Into Gemini 2012: Gentle Release

When the Sun enters agile, inquisitive Gemini at 8:16 A.M. PST on May 20th, it will usher in a cycle of review and release.  Venus is already traveling retrograde in the mutable air sign, and preparing for a historic June 5-6th occultation.  Mercury will transit curious, affable Gemini from May 24th through June 7th, and giant Jupiter will enter the domain of astrology’s twins on June 11th for a one-year stay.  The eclipses of May 20th and June 4th fall along the Gemini Sagittarius axis, where the moon’s South and North nodes are also presently positioned.  Add Neptune and Chiron in Pisces and Mars in Virgo to this major mutable mix, and we can see the cosmos making way for the new through clearing and closure.

To every thing there is a season, and nature’s four seasons end under astrology’s four mutable signs: Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.  Adaptable and flexible, the gentle mutable signs teach us how to bend and move with the tides of change.  They also prepare us for the new beginnings represented by astrology’s cardinal signs, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn and Aries, the signs that start the four seasons.  In 2012, the Gemini prep time is leading us right into the first of seven exact Uranus Pluto squares.  The last time we experienced a series of squares between Uranus and Pluto in cardinal signs was during the Great Depression.  Regarded for their ability to facilitate systemic reform, these alignments, which will take place through the spring of 2015, portend great societal shifts.  Uranus, in instigating, revolutionary Aries, and Pluto, in ambitions, pragmatic Capricorn, will be at a relatively early eight degrees when they collide under a cardinal Cancer Sun, at three degrees.  The seismic force being unleashed by this alignment is about initiation and ignition.  What we bring to life and where we land on this evolving landscape will depend greatly on having and holding a clear, integral vision, for ourselves and the world we live in.

Representing what we value, Venus began probing our thoughts under Taurus skies when she began her retrograde on May 15th.  In mental Gemini, her love quest is guiding us on a journey into our hearts.  She is helping us take an emotional inventory of sorts.  Sometimes becoming keenly, if not painfully, aware of what we lack is the key to defining what we want next.  From her review vantage point, Venus may speak to us through the language of yearning and loss.  The longing and desire that emerge may point us in the new directions we need to take.  Some points of inspired illumination ahead include June 1st, when Venus meets up with clever Mercury, June 4th, when the full moon eclipse occurs, and June 5-6th, when Venus crosses the Sun’s path.

The Sun, Venus, Mercury and Jupiter in the sign of travel, communication and technology support dialog, open-mindedness and the exchange of ideas.  These transits encourage us to think about and express what we want individually and globally.  As our visions become clearer, what we need to release also becomes evident.  Several contentious points, especially amongst the planets in mutable signs, arise during the forthcoming cycle.  Neptune and Chiron are transiting holistic Pisces, and Mars is gaining momentum opposite them in meticulous, detailed Virgo.  While they engage in an argument about the nebulous and the intuitive and the precise and analytical, they will form squares to the planets transiting Gemini and to the full Sagittarius moon.  That full moon itself presents a challenge.  Gemini loves to meet, mingle and learn.  Sagittarius needs to find the deeper meaning behind all of that information.  The South lunar node in Gemini and North node in Sagittarius intensify this struggle, and the June 4th eclipse is the final one taking place with the nodes along this axis.  We are being asked to strike a balance between frivolity and taking life too seriously.  Mercury squares Neptune on May 25th and Mars on the 30th, the Sun squares Neptune on May 23rd and Mars on June 7th, and Venus quarrels with Mars on the full moon.  If we look at the issues that surface on these occasions as matters asking for peaceful resolution, then we will see how to bridge divides or completely let go of unproductive situations and patterns.

The Gemini cycle of course concludes when  the Sun moves into aggressive Cancer.  What immediately follows this year is that Pluto Uranus square on June 24th and Saturn and Venus turning direct on the 25th and 27th.  This is a cosmic thrust forward, one intent on progress.  We get to chose its application.  To decipher what’s ahead and what to shed, we need look no further than the evening sky.  There resplendent Venus will be shining like a beacon.  If we bathe our spirits in her intrinsic beauty, attune our ears to her celestial songs and behold her gracious majesty, friendly, brilliant Gemini will mapquest us our directions.

Sun Into Taurus 2012: Love And Money

    When the Sun moves into sturdy, dependable Taurus at 9:12 A.M. PST on April 19th, it initiates a cycle abundant in earth sign resources, and one that includes a full Scorpio moon and the beginning of a Venus retrograde in thinking, communicative Gemini.  This cycle is also preparing us for a set of powerful eclipses on May 20th and June 4th, the Venus occultation of June 5-6th and the Uranus Pluto square of June 24th.  As more systemic change approaches planet Earth, the patient, powerful Bull arrives to share its enduring wisdom.  Its ruler Venus is traveling close by and urging us to make love our guiding principle, a choice that will make all the difference.

    Astrology’s earth signs are associated with nature, finances, health and the physical realms of reality, and Taurus is renowned for its capacity for construction.  Whether a personal chart is heavily aspected by planets in earth signs or not, the cycle ahead is loaded with ample opportunity to turn thoughts into things.  First and foremost, the new Taurus moon of April 21st. with Its trines to Mars and Pluto in fellow earth signs Virgo and Capricorn, sextiles with Neptune and Chiron in Pisces and conjunction with expansive Jupiter, now also in Taurus, offers a sound and inspiring foundation for building.  The Sun follows suit and bolsters our enterprises with a Neptune sextile on the 22nd, Mars and Pluto trines on the 23rd and 29th and a Jupiter conjunction on May 13th.  Those harmonious angles to indelible Neptune and healing Chiron in holistic (water sign) Pisces are important. Taurus’s easy going style agrees with Piscean gentleness, and this combination helps us access our creativity and intuition.  On May 8th, our minds also acquiesce to the Bull’s calm assurance when Mercury enters centered Taurus.  From there it sextiles Neptune on the 10th and trines Mars the 13th and Pluto on the 14th.  On May 16th Mars and Pluto trine, and on May 18th the Moon returns to Taurus.  The earth sign stamina, solidity and stability available throughout this cycle provide especially fertile ground for seeding our immediate and long-range goals.  They can also instill a sense of security that will prove useful as 2012’s larger events (the 99% Spring, earthquakes and changes at the Fed?) unfold.     

     To counteract an unhealthy emphasis on the material side of life, every Taurus cycle includes a full Scorpio moon.  Destructive and transformation, Scorpio demands honesty and necessary change.  This year the annual battle between the tangible and impermanent takes place on May 5th, the same day Mercury, still in independent Aries at the time, will oppose unyielding Saturn in arbitrating Libra.  Our Taurus quest for sensual pleasure and gratification is accountable to no less than the truth, and individual desire must be reconciled with communal concerns.  Part of a larger global trend, these aspects remind us that the exploitation of resources via our economic and environmental practices must be brought into line with our values and balanced with our impact on others.

    In case anyone misses the memo from the full Scorpio moon, pleasure-seeking Venus turns retrograde on May 15th.  Transiting Gemini, this retrograde will ask us to reflect upon what we value and to speak and act from a loving place. Lasting through June 27th, this extremely significant retrograde includes the solar and lunar eclipses and occultation.  Long before cherubic depictions of romantic love and Victorian notions of femininity, Venus was a Roman Goddess associated with sex, fertility and military victory, along with her familiar roles in love and beauty.  Similarly, the full scope, power and meaning of the planet Venus has been understated over time.  However, giving us time to review our resources and priorities through alluring Venus is only part of the 2012 mission.  

     Occurring roughly six months prior to the culmination of the Mayan calendar, this Venus retrograde is a proverbial return to love, with self-love as its starting point.  If we enter this retrograde with a willingness to shine the Light of unconditional love onto our shadows first, completely forgiving and embracing all of our being, the healing begins. Call it Bull medicine.  Call it the Power of Love.  Call it evolution.  The cosmic message is clear; love is the alchemical solution to all that ails us and our planet.  Aligned with its transformative truth, we and the world will shift. If we do the internal work during this retrograde, by the time Venus goes direct in late June, we will emerge lighter and brighter, with a much greater capacity to give and receive love. In the meantime, the celestial Bull is here to ground and nourish our dreams. Happy Birthday Taurus!

Sun Into Aries 2012: New Pathways Emerging

Typically when the Sun enters bold, inpatient Aries, it initiates a cycle that brings us a renewed sense of drive and dynamism. As the days lengthen, flowers bloom and temperatures rise, the invigorating energy of this Cardinal fire sign fills us with the annual impulse to forge ahead. With Mercury, Saturn and the Ram’s ruler, Mars, already retrograde, and a Pluto retrograde and some Mutable crosses in the immediate forecast, the action will be much more subdued in 2012. In the bigger scheme of things, a set of eclipses, a Venus retrograde and occultation, and the first of some massive Pluto Uranus squares will occur during the coming three months. The decidedly more cautious pace of this Aries cycle is signaling a season of discerned development. The careful application of Aries firepower can help us make mindful and meaningful progress as the game-changing variables in the offing unfold.

Irrepressible and indomitable, enlivening and enthusiastic, Aries starts the spring and inspires us with confidence and courage. On March 19th at 10:14 P.M. PST, when the Sun enters this initiating sign, that sense of possibility and provocation will be heightened because the Sun will meet up with thinking Mercury and inventive Uranus already in Aries. On the 22nd, the new Aries moon will add more fuel to the inextinguishable fire, and activate some Cardinal cross energy. Like intersections, astrology’s crosses represent perpendicular points of planetary collision. One force must yield to another in order for one to progress. By March 29th the Sun and Pluto will be in such an alignment. The Sun in Aries signifies personal will with an emphasis on individuality and independence, and Pluto in Capricorn represents a sober assessment of available resources. One of this cycle’s key yellow-light dates. this square is advising us to take a long-range look when making significant decisions about how we use time and money. The Mars retrograde in rational, methodical Virgo will help quell our passions long enough to weigh the options carefully, and Mercury’s backward movement into integrating Pisces, where dissolving Neptune also is, will support holistic solutions. By the way, Mercury will go direct on April 4th and Mars on the 13th.

The placements of Mercury and Neptune in Pisces and Mars in Virgo point to another important feature of this Aries sojourn, the Mutable influence. The Mutable signs, Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, end their respective seasons and are generally associated with closure, completion and change. On April 3rd, Venus moves into inquisitive, talkative Gemini. From this position Venus will square Neptune on April 5th, Mars on the 7th and Chiron on the 12th. The Sagittarius moon of April 9th through 11th will create another series of Mutable squares. With much less harshness than their Cardinal and Fixed counterparts, the adaptable Mutable crosses teach us flexibility and gentle release. 2012’s spring cleaning can be literal and physical and biological and neurochemical. The Mutable crosses support freeing ourselves from the past, and the Cardinal crosses endorse sowing the seeds of our desired new realities.


Like music behind our intentions, Venus can play a major role in shaping those new paradigms. The implications of the planet of love, relating and possessions in the sign of information, communication and technology are enormous, and this transit is a unique one. It will last for four months and includes a retrograde and occultation. Venus will reach the retrograde shadow point of 7 degrees Gemini on April 12th, and by May 15th it will be at 23 degrees when the retrograde that will last until June 28th begins. During the retrograde, the Venus occultation and next set of Gemini/Sagittarius solar and lunar eclipses will take place. Similar to an eclipse, during the occultation, Venus will appear to pass in front of the Sun. Venus occultations occur in pairs separated by eight years, but these pairs only take place every 121 years. The June 5th event is the second half of the 2004 set. Though I’ll be writing more about the eclipses and occultation in the Gemini edition, their influences will start during this Aries cycle when Venus enters Gemini.

The squares Venus will make to Neptune, Mars and Chiron in April are part of a larger spring trend. One possibility is that they will expose some of the fault lines in our psyches, the uncomfortable corners where the intent to change meets the old, internal resistance stored in our habitual negative thinking and emotional bodies. The presence of Venus in Gemini will beam constant reminders of life’s intrinsic beauty. The more often we recognize it, the more often we experience the Venus effect. As this template upgrades each individual operating system, the greater the possibility for collective planetary evolution. Excitable and unflappable, Aries is arriving to point the way forward and to cheer us up and onward. Though a few retrogrades may cause some pause, it’s time to celebrate this invincible force of spirit.

Sun Into Pisces 2012: Resolve To Evolve

Within hours of its arrival into sensitive, otherworldly Pisces, the Sun will merge with oceanic Neptune for an exact conjunction. Luring us further into the vast, multi-dimensional realms of psychic Pisces will be Mercury and Chiron, the communication planet and healing asteroid, already transiting the mutable water sign. Completion, integration and wholeness are themes often associated with this the final sign of the zodiac. Before forging ahead into the next turn of the wheel, holistic Pisces gives us an annual pause for reflection and release. To make sure that we don’t wander too far off into the worlds of fantasy, this year Mars will be opposing all things Pisces from analytical Virgo, Mercury will snap out of the celestial dreamtime for a breath of invigorating Aries air, before turning retrograde, and a cantankerous Cancer moon will stir things up on March 2nd and 3rd. But none of that should deter us from swimming to the deep end of 2012’s Pisces pool. After all, any upset we perceive is merely some place in our being asking for compassion and closure. Finally, a Grand Earth Trine coming late in the cycle will fortify the insights, Angelic messages and healing energies emerging during the dreamy and daunting days ahead.

The voyage begins at 10:18 P.M. PST on February 18th when the Sun moves into boundless, artistic Pisces. At 12:41 P.M. PST on the 19th, its conjunction with dissolving Neptune will be exact. Much more than a good time to meditate, this is a stellar invitation to venture far beyond the limits of reason. It’s the chance to wade into the waters of our wildest imagination where nothing is impossible. We can emerge from their depths with solutions to complex problems, a sincere desire to heal old grievances and inspired strategies for the path ahead. Even a Mars opposition to thinking Mercury in feeling Pisces on the 23rd will be no match for the exceptional creativity, empathy and sense of Oneness that will abound through the new Pisces moon on the 21st and a Sun Chiron hookup on the 24th. Like returning from a weekend retreat, early March will bring some aspects that may road test our new found state of Zen.

On March 2nd Mercury abandons spiritual Pisces for spirited Aries, and later that day the moon heads into Cancer where it will form contentious angles to Mercury, Uranus, Venus, Saturn and Pluto through the 3rd. Also on the 3rd, Mars and the Sun will form an opposition, as will Venus and Saturn on the 4th. Mercury, Uranus and Venus in agitating Aries are probably indicating where we need to be more self-advocating and assertive, and that emotional Cancer moon is up to its own form of instigation, say on behalf of our inner needs. At first glance, this may not seem like the woo woo world of “love and light” espoused by the spiritually inclined. However, when we view any conflict and discomfort that arise at this time through evolved Pisces, we can see a kind of metaphysical acupuncture at work. In this scenario, the Aries needles and Cardinal provocations may be precisely the medicine we need to feel and experience for awareness and growth. After all, that Mars retrograde in Virgo that began in January is also still uncovering old wounds and encouraging healthy expression of our needs. As the toxins emerge, we can look to the Sun, Neptune and Chiron connections in Pisces for messages of understanding, forgiveness and release.

On March 5th Venus moves home to grounded Taurus, heralding the way to a Grand Earth Trine. Whether the goal is physical or financial, medicinal or material, earthly abundance arrives between the 12th and 16th. On the 12th, powerhouse planets Jupiter in fertile Taurus and Pluto in industrious Capricorn form a constructive trine, the final one of a series of three that began last July. The earth sign support continues on the 13th when Venus trines Pluto and lines up with Jupiter. On the 14th Venus trines audacious Mars in fellow earth sign Virgo, and then Mars trines Jupiter and Pluto. Finally, the moon moves into hardworking, ambitious Capricorn on the 15th to close out this highly productive week.

The Mercury retrograde that begins on the 12th, amongst this confluence of planets in earth signs, signals new opportunities to showcase the gifts we already possess. So often we believe that happiness is something to seek out there. This retrograde is a celestial reminder of the gold within. In our most excruciating pain, lies our most profound healing, in our greatest adversity, our greatest strength and in our most formidable challenges, our most meaningful lessons. Under perceptive Pisces care, this retrograde can help us see the hidden treasures buried in our experiences and recognize our talents and resources. As we clear away old blockages, embrace the good and prepare for the new astrological year that will dawn on March 20th, the path to living more peacefully and creativity will be revealed. Dream big, and move gently.

For a sample of the Pisces energy happening at this time, please join Elizabeth and Angel Therapy Practitioner and author Kristy Ayala for a guided meditation with Archangel Sandalphon on Wednesday, February 22nd, at 11:00 A.M. PST on Blogtalk Radio. Archangel Sandalphon is the Angels of Musicians, and Elizabeth will play harp accompaniment to Kristy’s meditation for healing the artist. The show will be archived as well.

Sun Into Aquarius 2012: Walking the Line Into the Mystic

During the cycle ahead Mars, the planet of passion, aggression and battle, will turn retrograde in orderly, detailed Virgo. Saturn, the planet of limitations, authority and discipline, will also go retrograde. While those two go into review mode, creative, deceptive and intoxicating Neptune will return home to Pisces for a 13-year stay. To launch our journey, the Sun arrives in original, detached and progressive Aquarius at 8:10 A.M. PST on January 20th. This time out, the celestial emphasis is on conflict resolution, and the eccentric perspective and brilliant ingenuity of this fixed air sign can help us weave the seemingly disparate planetary threads of Mars, Saturn and Neptune into cosmic coherence.

Synchronistically enough, Mars turns retrograde on the new moon of January 23rd. That new moon initiates the Chinese Year of the Dragon. The mightiest sign of the Chinese zodiac, the Dragon, like Mars, is associated with ambition, strength and dominance. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with any of these forms of power in and of themselves, the challenge lies in finding healthy ways to express their key ingredient, aggression. According to psychological astrologers Liz Greene and Howard Sasportas, for aggression to be healthy, it must meet the following criteria:

“Healthy aggression (1) serves as protection against predatory attack, (2) is a positive impulse to comprehend and master the external world, a force deep inside us which provides the impetus to learn new skills, (3) is the basis for achieving independence and breaking away from those who would dominate or overprotect us and (4) endows us with the will to unfold more of who we are and grow into what we are meant to become.”

While road rage, domestic violence and murder are obvious examples of unhealthy expressions of aggression, the greater danger may lie in repressed aggression. Metaphysical teachers theorize that, in the larger context, projections of collective aggression into the mass conscious result in everything from threats of nuclear warfare, to suicide bombings, to full scale war. In personal terms, Mars will be retrograde until April 13th in Virgo, the sign of service. In the context of serving our evolutionary needs, this transit can help us uncover the true sources of our internal struggles, and outward behaviors. With that understanding, Martian aggression is transformed from the lead weighing us down and holding us back into the Alchemist’s gold that fuels our development.

February 7th marks the full moon of this Aquarius cycle and is also the day of another important retrograde. Like Mars, Saturn is known as a malefic planet. In modern astrology these can be thought of as forces that help us see, and heal, our shadows. When Saturn turns retrograde at 29 degrees of Libra, it will be only a half degree away from Scorpio. The later degrees of each sign are considered the most potent. So it’s interesting to note that rather than progressing on to the next astrological sign, the planet of lessons, restraint and responsibilities will have to travel back through Libra’s most intense territory. On June 25th when its retrograde is complete, Saturn will be all the way back to 22 degrees of Libra. Retrograde in the sign of partnerships, balance and deliberation, Saturn will encourage us to weigh the effects our actions have on others.

The theme seems like an agreeable one to integrating Aquarius, a sign also concerned with fellowship and cooperation. Where the Sun and Mercury (transiting Aquarius from January 27th through February 13th) may beg to differ from Saturn, and Mars in perfectionistic Virgo, is on the subject of “the rules.” Saturn and Mars will want to enforce them, while Mercury and Sun in freedom-seeking Aquarius will want to break them. Fanning the revolutionary flames with provocative angles to Saturn and Pluto in conservative Capricorn will be Uranus and Venus in instigating Aries. Amid these conflicting energies, understanding the origins of our aggressive impulses, courtesy of the Mars retrograde, will go a long way towards causing healthy rebellion and conscious change.

It blurs, dissolves and dilutes, and it will infiltrate the cosmic conversation on February 3rd when it returns to holistic Pisces. Generational Neptune’s influence is anything but obvious and its impact is indelible. One tiny sip from its enchanting chalice can be the gateway to addiction, delusion and loss or the nectar of visionary creativity. When Mars completes its retrograde on April 13th, it will have traveled all the way back to 3 degrees of Virgo where it will be only one degree away from a direct opposition to Neptune. As that opposition builds, illusion, glamour and escape lure us to one side of this tricky axis, while practicality, logic and organization hold down the other. Is this a message to accept our imperfections so that we are less judgmental of others? Even the Laws of Physics make allowances for bends and inconsistencies in the four known dimensions. Or, have we been shrewdly enrolled in the precarious and unprincipled agendas of others? Radical and inexhaustibly inventive, Aquarius can rationalize the most outlandish schemes, sometimes tragically to the point of total alienation. Seductive and nearly imperceptible, Neptune can make fast matchstick girls out of those who fail to recognize its influence. Listening intently to our intrinsic truths, even when they speak to us in the uncomfortable language of anger, conflict and contradiction, is one way to decipher. At the oracle of the temple of Delphi the great axiom “Know Thyself” is written. For 2012’s celestial mavericks, its wisdom is their ancient bridge to the future.

Sun into Capricorn 2011: Collisions, Decisions & Visions

When the Sun enters conservative Capricorn on December 21st at 9:30 P.M. PST it will usher in the cycle that will bring us into auspicious 2012.  Much of the astrological world is already abuzz about two of 2012’s biggest events, the exact Uranus Pluto squares taking place on June 24 and September 15th.  These are the first in a series of seven occurring until March of 2015, and their influence is widely anticipated to be a major source of the great societal, cultural and institutional transformation ahead.  While those seismic events are building on the cosmic horizon, the immediate Capricorn solar journey before us will give us a sense of their essence. It will also offer some creative strategies for staying on track during changing times. In part that is because Pluto is already transiting sober, pragmatic and dedicated Capricorn, and on January 7th Mercury will enter this Cardinal earth sign.  The full moon of January 8th in Cancer will contribute to the Cardinal crossfire.  It will also nurture empathy, trust and security.  In addition to the squares they form with Uranus in Aries and Saturn in Libra, the planets in Capricorn will form supportive earth trines with Mars in Virgo and Jupiter in Taurus.  This cycle will also host innovative air sign trines, mainly courtesy of a Venus transit through inventive Aquarius.  In short, momentous 2012 is dawning under a Capricorn sky that will bring issues to the fore as quickly as it serves up ground-breaking solutions. The art of working toward the realization of our dreams while sea-change abounds is the gift of austere, determined Capricorn, and the cycle ahead will offer many occasions to master it.

Shortly after the Sun enters conventional Capricorn, it will collide with Uranus in spirited, independent Aries in the form of a square.  The disruption unleashed by squares presents opportunities to address nagging issues and to release ourselves completely from unsustainable situations. Venus, newly arrived in original Aquarius, will offer some objective insight and ingenious ideas, and benevolent, expansive Jupiter will form a supportive trine to the Sun. In astrology planets travel from zero to twenty-nine degrees through each of the zodiac’s twelve signs.  Zero represents a starting point is associated with moments of infinite possibility. At the start of this Capricorn cycle Uranus and Jupiter will be at zero degrees, and the faster moving Sun and Venus will move from zero forward. This signals a time to find new ways at looking at old problems or the right time to make a fresh start by clearing the slate altogether.

   The initiating energies are bolstered on the 24th under a new Capricorn moon, and on the 25th another force of renewal is activated when Jupiter turns direct. The plentiful planet has been retrograde since August 30th. In constructive earth sign Taurus, its forward motion will breathe life back into shelved projects and give weighty momentum to new endeavors. By the 29th the Sun will be conjunct (exactly aligned with) Pluto at seven degrees. Capricorn’s long-range perspective fueling the Sun and Pluto makes this a stellar time to work on big-picture ventures. To only think about New Year’s resolutions under these influences is to be shortsighted. This is Capricorn’s most industrious power and it can sustain the enterprises to which it is applied for years to come. Marking the days from December 22nd through New Year’s Day with the phrase “Life Vision” and spending some quality time contemplating its meaning wouldn’t be a bad idea. To underscore the point, a motivational Aries moon arrives on December 31st, kicks off 2012 under its bold, brave influence and stays through January 2nd. Happy New Year!

The Cancer Full Moon of January 8th creates a Grand Cardinal Square involving six of astrology’s ten planets. Mercury, Pluto and the Sun will be roughly 90 degrees away from Uranus in Aries which will be about 90 degrees away from the moon in Cancer. It will in turn be 90 around degrees from Saturn in Libra which will be approximately 90 degrees away from the planets in Cap. Of course oppositions are formed along the Cancer Capricorn axis as well as the Aries Libra line. Symbolized by the mountain goat, ambitious, resourceful Capricorn sets its goal and takes one deliberate step after the next to attain it. Dutiful, responsible and relentless, its standards are high and uncompromising. The confrontational aspects occurring while this moon reaches its zenith, under a complete Grand Cardinal Cross, suggest the unmasking of those unprepared to walk this exacting walk. After all, Pluto is a major part of the eventful equation. Cancer’s mission is to provide protection and safety and to foster emotional security, Uranus in Aries signals an awakening and Saturn in Libra champions fairness. As the cosmic waves crash over the weekend of January 7th, the true architects and custodians of the New Age will emerge as those committed to dispelling fear and competition with stability and trust.

Beaming brightly throughout this cycle will be a nearly exact trine between powerhouse planets Saturn in fair-minded, harmonious Libra and Neptune in progressive Aquarius. Also traveling through broad-minded, humanitarian Aquarius will be loving Venus. Aquarian airwaves of brilliance, originality and mental electricity in her care will be especially clear on January 13th when she trines Saturn and conjuncts Neptune. This air-sign trio will ring the bells of freedom and justice from higher octaves throughout the Capricorn cycle. If we tune in, we’ll be able to view all arising challenges from a wiser and wider perspective. As the Capricorn season closes, Venus moves on to holistic Pisces. This too is a harbinger of an important aspect that will be in effect far beyond 2012, Neptune’s transit through Pisces. Pisces is dedicated to unity and integration and Neptune offers a pathway into our innate creativity. Neptune will reach its watery home on February 3rd where it will remain until 2025. Artistic Venus will lead the way, showing us how to begin tapping into these vast and visionary reserves now.

It's Day 6 of the 12 Days of Giving

Hello,

I hope that your holidays are going really well. I just wanted to post a quick update on the 12 Days of Giving Promotion. First of all, thank you to everyone who is participating. It has been so much fun catching up with so many of you. It has also been my pleasure to give you readings as we all prepare for momentous 2012. So far my daily winners have picked a wide range of great causes, and I am completely honored to donate to them.

The contest details are all spelled out in the two previous posts below, so please read those for details. Finally, it's Friday and that means that the Hay House Book Club will be on at 11AM PST on Hay House Radio. Today's edition is our interview with Scott Blum from the DailyOM, whose book "Winter Moon Rises" is one of the books contest winners can choose from the 2011 Hay House Book Club Collection. I hope you will tune in for this show. With the Hay House Radio App, you can listen anywhere. It's free and a great resource. Lastly, our 2011 rewind show has been moved to the 23rd.

There you have it! Thank you again for your likes, calls, retweets, etc. Happy Holidays!

With love,
Elizabeth

It's Day 3 of the 12 Days of Giving!

Hello,

Just wanted to post a list of the books from the 2011 Hay House Book Club. Each day's winner of my 12 Days of Giving promotion will be able to select one of these wonderful, inspiring and empowering books and a favorite charity for a $50 donation. Each winner also gets 12 free minutes toward another reading and a beautiful Robyn Nola bookmark. Just got those yesterday and they are gorgeous! Thank you Robyn! Here is the book list.

May 2011: Married to Bhutan with Linda Leaming
June 2011: Peace from Broken Pieces with Iyanla Vanzant
July 2011: Ravenous with Dayna Macy
August 2011: The Angel Therapy Handbook with Doreen Virtue. September 2011: Shift Happens! with Robert Holden, Ph.D.
October 2011: You Can Create an Exceptional Life! with Louise L. Hay and Cheryl Richardson
November 2011: Winter Moon Rises with Scott Blum

To be entered into the daily drawing, come have a reading with me today or any of the designated 12 Days of Giving and be sure that you are a member of my personal email list. You can listen to the Hay House Book Club at Hay House Radio every Friday at 11AM PST and in the archive. Please join us on December 23rd for our year end rewind show. It's going to be a lot of fun and we'd love to have your with us. Happy Holidays!

Love,
Elizabeth

12 Days of Giving Begins Now

Happy Holidays!

Ok, Mercury is retrograde, so I'll blame that for getting my annual contest started a little on the tardy side. In any case, it’s time to celebrate! 2011 is winding down and the auspicious energy of 2012 is awakening. That means that it is time for my annual 12 Days of Giving promotion. I hope that year’s gifts will serve as a mutual affirmation of abundance, compassion and the sharing of wisdom.

Here’s how the 12 Days of Giving Promotion works. I will hold 12 drawings in total throughout December. To enter, you must be a member of the Elizabeth’s Oracle mailing list and have a phone or chat reading of five paid minutes or longer with me. I will announce each of the 12 contest days from my website, my app and via social media, and draw a daily winner from each day’s readings. There will be 12 winners in total. To sign up for my mailing list, please visit my website.

Each of the 12 winners will receive the following:

One book from the 2011 Hay House Book Club collection, winner’s choice.

A Robyn Nola Bookmark for that new book. Thank you Robyn!!

A $50 donation to a charity in the winner’s name, winner selects the charity to benefit.

and

12 free minutes toward another reading.


To find out more about this year’s Hay House Book Club selections, be sure to visit Hay House Radio and join me for the year end show on December 16th at 11AM PST. We’ve talked to Louise Hay, Doreen Virtue, Cheryl Richardson, Iyanla Vanzandt and Robert Holden amongst others during the past year. These gifted sages and teachers offer a perspective that is sure to Light the way into 2012 and keep us inspired. And more great authors will be joining us in 2012.

In closing, 2011 has given me many gifts, some obvious public successes, others deep, internal experiences, and all tremendously valuable. I thank you with all of my heart for being my customer this year. Your loyalty, support and especially your kindness are the most gratifying part of my work, and I very much look forward to sharing the many blessings ahead with you. Now come win some goodies and let’s help others!

With love,
Elizabeth

Sun into Sagittarius 2011: New Balance

The Sun’s entrance into spirited, optimistic Sagittarius usually signals a welcomed atmospheric shift from Scorpio’s dark, plutonian intensity to the bright, buoyant lift of astrology’s Archer. At 8:08 A.M. PST on November 22nd the Sun will move into Jupiter-ruled, affable Sag, but don’t expect the transformational energies to subside just yet. Sagittarius is one of the zodiac’s four mutable signs. These signs end their respective seasons and represent culmination and closure. In 2011, the completion theme will be amplified by aggressive Mars traveling through mutable Virgo. His assertive force will clash with Solar and Lunar eclipses in Sagittarius and (mutable) Gemini, as well as the moon’s Nodes which are presently on the Gemini Sagittarius axis. Simultaneously, vivacious Venus will make her way through materialistic Capricorn where she will fortify a Grand earth trine and activate those initiating cardinal signs. Throw in a Mercury retrograde in fiery Sag, which will also be at odds with feisty Mars, and destructive and regenerative Scorpio would feel right at home. But the zodiac stipulates that we emerge from the Underworld into enthusiastic Sag’s imaginative realms and embrace the happy changes Zeus’s favorites are intent on ushering in.

To that end, the action gets underway right at the start of this cycle. Mercury turns retrograde late on November 23rd, November 24th sees a new Sagittarius moon and Solar eclipse, and Venus enters Capricorn on November 26th, where she immediately squares erratic Uranus in provocative Aries. Clearly the Cosmos is committed to shaking things up and unearthing the obstacles and impediments to progress in our lives. If resistance is futile, then rigidity is insane. Flexible, friendly Sag instead champions inspiration as direction. For instance, its Mercury retrograde, which lasts until December 13th, offers us the chance to reconnect with the innocence of our unconditioned selves and to create each day from a Sagittarius sense of positive possibility. That new Sag moon and Solar eclipse further encourage us to see life as an adventure, believe in magic and take gigantic leaps of faith. If that sounds like a precarious way to pay the rent or to get results in the “real” world, Sag’s benevolent ruler Jupiter is beaming exuberant and practical rays our way.

The giver of gifts and largest planet in the sky is flexing its expansive muscles in sensuous, constructive Taurus, and has formed solid alliances with the planets in fellow earth signs. Together Jupiter in Taurus, Mars in Virgo and Pluto in Capricorn comprise a Grand earth trine. This is some of astrology’s must fertile ground for seeding, growing and manifesting our intentions. It blesses principled endeavors and hard work and showers us with patience and endurance. On December 1st, Venus joins Pluto in industrious Capricorn presenting us with even more opportunity and abundance. There is plenty to go around, and no need for greed. In fact, those bent on attaining fame and fortune at the expense of others will continue falling from grace, favor and power. In part that’s because Venus, one of the money planets, is not only aligning with the productive earth signs, but also stimulating the Cardinal Cross.

Since Pluto entered austere Capricorn in December of 2008, we’ve seen one corrupt leader or institution after the next come tumbling down. Next, stern Saturn entered fair-minded Libra in October 2009 where it has been on the same page as purifying Pluto. Finally, earlier this year, unpredictable Uranus joined the cardinal call to initiate systemic reform. Venus moving through ambitious Capricorn will revitalize these seismic forces. Add mischievous Mercury in review mode and the inherent revelations of eclipses, and something or someone is bound to go viral. That and the mutable and cardinal crosses occurring throughout this cycle are simply exposing what needs to be healed or released. Spontaneous, philosophical Sag is here to point the way to our new dreams and visions and to help us adapt to these changes. Its lucky, irrepressible essence invites us to renew our faith, dream big and make a wish.

Follow up on Carlos and Military Working Dogs.

Dear Readers,

OK, first of all, thank you to friends like Solange and Caroline who were willing to take the time to contact our government to express their concerns about the treatment of bomb-sniffing dogs used by our military. It is my firm belief that our democracy is of, for and by the people, and that means that “we the people” are compelled to participate when "we" want something done. In my mind, that means writing letters, making phone calls and taking to the streets every now and again.

As my fb friends know, I’ve been well, like a dog to a bone, since mid September when I read an email from two Air Force officers that stated the following:

“"You might be shocked and dismayed to learn that when these dogs are retired, they are snuffed out for their service. It is cheaper to euthanize them than transport them back. “

Thankfully, that is not exactly true. It seems that many Americans, like my friends and I, were outraged by such treatment. To that end, in 2000 a law called “The Robby Law” was passed unanimously by Congress and signed by President Clinton. It requires the military to put “military working dogs” up for adoption. The dogs can only be killed if they pose a threat or to prevent undue pain and suffering. There is a program in Lackland, TX that helps place the dogs with their handlers, law enforcement agencies and families willing to adopt them.

So, was that original email from Air Force officers an urban legend? No. Unfortunately dogs used by contractors are not protected by the Robby Law. Sadly also, that law was not enacted in time to save Robby's life. Of course I’m not happy about this side-stepping of U.S. law, or any done by contractors as they are de facto representatives of our interests. I’m also not too happy that the Public Affairs office never got back to any one of my four friends who called about this issue back in September, even though their message states that they return all calls within five business days. Ultimately though, that did not deter me one bit and I am glad that I have gotten to the bottom of this story. I am also very pleased that there is a way for ordinary citizens to adopt these dogs. My lease prevents me from doing so at this time, but at some other point the adoption site is the first place I will look for a dog. These posts may also help connect eligible dogs with new homes. I am grateful that Americans flooded the DoD, Congress and the President with their concern, and that the fate of these wonderful animals was changed by the people. It would be great to see the contractor loop hole closed, but I’ll leave that fight for someone else. Thank you again to those of you who got involved. It really does make a difference.

Sun into Scorpio 2011: Truth and Transcendence

Pluto-ruled, emotional Scorpio is typically associated deep-seeded change. The conventional wisdom has been that Scorpio reveals our true feelings, and they in turn send us soul searching. We recognize what we no longer need and what we desire next. Then Scorpio’s transformative power goes to work. In 2011, the Sun, Venus, Mercury and a new moon will issue the annual ticket to journey beneath the surface of what’s happening in our lives. But this year’s voyage to the underworld will urge us to delve much deeper than usual. It wants us to uncover and begin repairing the programming, filters and perceptions operating beneath our emotions. Chiron and Neptune turn direct on November 9th, the day before a full Taurus moon that will see Mars move into analytical Virgo. If the Higher Self always knows the path back to our innate perfection, then purifying Scorpio is here to clear away the emotional roadblocks we’ve constructed.

When the Sun enters Scorpio on October 23rd at 11:30 A.M. PST it will meet up with Venus and Mercury who are already traveling through the fixed water sign. The new Scorpio moon of October 26th is an ideal time to pause and listen to our internal voicemail. Venus will be squared by Mars on that day and Mercury by Mars on the 28th, a day when the Sun and Jupiter will also be at odds. Mars will square Neptune on the 31st and Mercury will square Neptune on November 1st. Paying careful attention to what disturbs or distresses us during this time can ultimately prove as enlightening as reflecting on what delights us. After all, discomfort often signals needed changes. The critical distinction to make here is this. Are these messages coming from a habitual story of unhappiness or have people and situations in our lives served their evolutionary purpose? Scorpio, the zodiac’s most adept detective, is on the case and intent on getting to the bottom of things. Can we handle the truth?

On November 2nd Venus and Mercury bid heavy Scorpio adieu and head into optimistic Sagittarius. Uranus in fearless Aries and Mars in lionhearted Leo strengthen and encourage Sag’s enthusiasm. The general fire sign trine these four planets form offers the alchemy that can turn insight into inspiration. Are you ready to sing your heart song? Providing rich celestial soil for seeding our renewed sense of possibility will be the full Taurus moon of November 10th. Healing Chiron and metaphysical Neptune station on November 9th, thus bringing their forward momentum to the full moon.

Fixed earth sign Taurus represents stability, peace and fertility. Expansive Jupiter is already in the sign of the Bull where it is in harmonious accord with regenerative Pluto in industrious Capricorn. Adding the third and final earth element will be Mars entrance into Virgo on the full moon. Jupiter, Pluto and Mars form a supportive earth sign trine that will hold through June of 2012 when Jupiter moves on to Gemini. The full moon marks the end of our lunar elemental journey from intuition, to inspiration to implementation or water, fire and earth. True to its phoenix form, the full moon of the Scorpio cycle is of course really only a beginning.

This cycle’s insights and evolutionary intentions can only be fully realized through practice. After all, we didn’t grow those negative neural pathways overnight, and the genetically downloaded ones have been with us throughout this incarnation. For the next eight months aggressive Mars will be our self-help personal trainer and lead thought analyst as it transits astrology’s top thought editor, Virgo. Is our thinking undercutting or serving our growth? When we find ourselves believing anything other than that life loves us, uncompromising Mars will tell us so and go to work on our neural plasticity. We are talking about an actual physical metamorphosis as Mars works with its earth sign inhabiting counterparts. Lastly, Louise Hay says that it is better to dissolve a habit rather than to try to break it. Traveling together, Neptune and Chiron are the best cosmic forces for dissolving problematic patterns, and they will be doing their finest work beginning in late February when they re-enter gentle, compassionate Pisces. For now, intense, complex Scorpio is asking one simple question: Are we really ready to let go and let God?

Louise Hay joins Elizabeth and the Hay House Book Club this month on Hay House Radio. Catch one of the many broadcasts of this very special Book Club edition and join the Book Club discussion on Facebook. To keep up with Elizabeth, download her new free app at here.

Sun Into Libra 2011: Breakdown to Breakthrough

According to popular author Robert Holden, Ph. D., “If you are alive, you need help.” In his book “Shift Happens” he asserts that defenses are the work of the ego, that unwillingness to ask for help is an invitation to struggle, suffering and loneliness, and that while independence looks desirable from the outside, it is really based on a deep fear of intimacy. He uses the term “dysfunctionally independent” to describe this mindset. The idea of extreme independence also runs counter to the truth of Oneness, that we are all connected and interdependent.  As Holden’s premise seemed intriguingly appropriate for the Sun’s entrance into collaborative Libra, gifted astrologer and writer Aleta McClelland has joined me for this article.

When the Sun enters Libra at 2:05 A.M. PST on September 23rd, it will join Saturn and Venus who are already transiting the sign of cooperation, relationship and beauty. On September 25th Mercury will also move into this mental air sign and prepare us for a transformative new Libra moon on the 27th. On the one hand, five planets (the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus and Saturn) in diplomatic Libra will make harmonious trines to Neptune and Chiron in fellow air sign, visionary Aquarius. They will also receive supportive sextiles from Mars in courageous Leo and fuel from the presence of a total of eight planets in signs with active yang polarity (Mars in Leo, Neptune in Aquarius, Uranus in Aries and the five in Libra). On the other hand, or side of that famous Libra scale, squares from Pluto and oppositions from Uranus to the Libra bunch are in store. These aspects promise to bring important issues to a head and matters to the fore, especially around that powerful new moon. Lastly, this period will host seven planets in Cardinal signs, marking an auspicious cycle of new opportunities, beginnings and growth. Here’s Aleta on the Aquarian aspect.

  “When we see Neptune and Chiron retrograde in Aquarius, a call to liberate through healing has begun!  The retrograde is here to assist by intensifying our spiritual depth while maintaining the stamina to get the job done. This combo is nothing like sweet dreamy Neptune or wounded Chiron.  These are power players who have come to get to the root of things, heal and move on to their true objective; making the new dream real.  Placed in the fourth house of core foundations, there is an almost plutonian penetration to this event, which is a nice way of saying, the chaos is sincerely on our side.  Neptune and Chiron are compelling us to externalize and collaborate about our healing needs individually and collectively.   Not coincidentally, with the Sun, Venus, Saturn, Mercury and finally the Moon lining up in Libra, there is a ground swell of energy around broad based and quite idealistic community.  We need our peeps right now and we know it! Although these planets are emphasizing the collective energy there is nothing general about it. The Sun and Venus play off of each other to create a feeling of warmth and affection, but not the amorous kind!   Here, we see Venus in her most diplomatic persona, urging us towards a down to earth version of universal love.  It’s the epitome of universality, updated and matured as Saturn conjunct Juno chime in. Saturn wants to insure that what we dream has a practical form so it can become real. The planets in Libra trine with Neptune and Chiron cause us to (often through disruption) reevaluate what we think are core relationship necessities, values, health, and even sanity; however it is not interruption for its own sake.  They are calling in the transpersonal, a new definition of the collective, Oneness…..a taste of the actual qualities of the Aquarian Age wrapped in Libras iron butterfly commitment to balance and harmony…..and none of them are afraid of a little radical housecleaning and healing before creating anew.  Just see what Pluto is doing in Capricorn!”

September 25th-28th is one of this cycle’s hottest spots, and it may will offer some defining moments. Destructive Pluto transforms and it will form squares to the moon on September 27th and the Sun and Mercury on the 28th. Progressive Uranus in independent Aries will oppose the Sun on September 25th, Mercury on the 26th and the moon on the 27th. During this time individual needs will be pitted against collective ones and the call for release will be intensified. At its best, Libra values fairness, partnership and grace. At its worst, it fails to make critical decisions. With the pressure from Pluto and Uranus, indecision will not be a viable option. Paths are being cleared for new beginnings. In fact the new Libra moon will bring the total to a stunning seven planets in the instigating Cardinal signs. With them, we can redefine how we experience life. It’s not so much about acquiring new stuff or starting new ventures. It is all about embracing an enlightening new perspective.

Holden asks us to consider which filters we are viewing our lives through. Do we see endless struggles, grievances, anger and stress? Are we running on fear and lack? Or can we see the negatives as signals to change course? Can we empty our bowls of yesterday’s rice and access our personal alchemy to heal our lives? How often do we recognize the clarity, happiness and trust that are always available to us? Libra Louise Hay’s motto is, “Life loves you.” Astrology’s Libra celebrates the colleagues, friends, partners and family members who have journeyed all this way to remind us.

Elizabeth has just released an exciting new app! It’s free and available in both iPhone and Android formats. It features music, oracle messages and upcoming appearances such as her date with C.A. Brooks on “Simpletales” on 12Radio, and her interview with Robert Holden on the Hay House Book Club this Friday, the 23rd, also at 11AM PST on Hay House Radio. For all the details, download her app now.