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.

Sun into Capricorn, Change Taking Root

Snow covered cars stranded on white roads in the Midwest, icy tree limbs buckled across frigid streets in the Northeast and even a roaring fireplace to stave off the unusual cold here in Los Angeles herald the onset of winter.  Though the Solstice is still a few days away, on December 21st at 4:04A.M. PST, the annual pull inward into stillness is at hand.  And given that the Sun’s journey through somber Capricorn marks the ending and the beginning of the year and the return of Light, some quiet reflection on the past and the future is wise.  What have we learned during the past year?  What will we create in 2009?   Capricorn offers ambition, pragmatism and stamina, and this year six planets will gather in this cardinal earth sign.  We have a rare opportunity to experience the fullness of this enterprising dedicated energy and to harness its industrious and long-ranging powers.  

December 27th offers a new moon at 4:22A.M. PST and is the day on which six planets will meet in Capricorn.  This is an extraordinary day for contemplation, prayers or ritual for what we want to see manifest in the short and long term.  Remember that now that Pluto is in Capricorn our deepest drives and dreams can meet reality, or reality checks.  This Pluto cycle is 15 years long, so the plans you activate internally or externally at this time can have very long lasting effects.  Assisting this down to earth magic will be Capricorn’s ruler Saturn in fellow earth sign Virgo.  

While the hefty economic changes the world has undergone since this Saturn transit began in September of 2007 may have given it a bad rap, it has been such a crucial and necessary journey.  This has been an exceptional time to get our business in order, to learn money lessons and to consider the impact of our materialism.  And in case we have more to understand or refine, Saturn goes retrograde December 31st through May 16th.  We’re going over the facts and figures, and the books, thoroughly, one more time.  By the time Saturn goes direct we should begin to see the light at the end of this economic downturn tunnel, and 2009 will see Saturn move into Libra in late October. In the meantime, with Pluto now firmly lodged in Capricorn, and Mercury (January 1st) and Jupiter (January 5th) heading into humanitarian-minded, innovative Aquarius where they will join spiritual Neptune and healing Chiron, the higher good that these sea changes are ushering in is in evidence. 

Have you ever turned on the “news” and wondered what entity could possibly describe our world with such vulgarity and distortion?  You’ve likely tuned out the unyielding stream of war, human depravity, suffering and division.  You’re not alone.  Last week the Tribune Company, owner of 12 major daily newspapers and 23 television stations, filled for bankruptcy.  The story behind the story is that on a very large scale, we the people are rejecting this appalling and unbalanced view of ourselves and our lives.  We’ve migrated to the Net, to our social networks, to images of hope, help and connectivity.  And have you been noting the appointments to the incoming Obama cabinet?  This will be the greenest administration in U.S. history, and it will be greeted by a welcoming world eager to heal the planet.  While the fount of fear and violence was being turned off, European leaders were formally embracing the 2020 initiative.  This is a comprehensive plan to obtain 20% of all energy from renewable sources by the year 2020.  

The moon is full on January 10th and the first of 2009’s four Mercury retrogrades begins on January 11th, lasting through the 31st.  The Sun enters Aquarius January 19th and Inauguration Day is of course on January 20th.  Why do I bring this up now?  Because now is the time to begin thinking about the future.  No doubt our world is experiencing colossal changes.  We voted for change.  Our consciousness is our key and our compass for navigating these peacefully.  Are you clinging to an outmoded paradigm or shifting with the tide?  Some believe that a Divine hand paints our world, much like an artist with a canvas.  On Inauguration Day trickster Mercury, ruler of thoughts, dips back into Capricorn, the sign it is in as we begin this winter.  Much like commissioned artists of a bygone era who put little jokes into their work for amusement, Spirit paints Mercury into our current sober scene, asking us to think about what’s going on in our daily lives and in our wider world, and to begin designing balanced paths for ourselves and our planet.  And if we honor winter’s call to look within, these awesome and honest Capricorn energies will help us begin bringing harmonious visions into reality.

Peas in USA Today!!

Wow, Peas is in USA Today today! It's really cool to have one of your real friends in a big national newspaper. Like I said last month, he's a totally great guy. Happy Holidays Peas!

Here's the article.

Well done!

And if you would like to listen to the music, just visit A Christmas Chill's Myspace page.

I'm working on my Sun into Capricorn article and like much of the country, trying to keep warm.

With love,
Elizabeth

About the wrapping paper...

Am I the only one who struggles with the wrapping paper dilemma? Over the weekend I baked, wrote Christmas cards and put together all of the gift packages that needed to be mailed this year, and I didn’t wrap one single present. The cookies had special holiday containers because they need to be boxed securely enough to withstand the postal process. But the notion of using all of that paper, the life of a tree that will only be thrown out shortly after unwrapping, was just something I couldn’t make peace with. I just hope that the folks receiving the goodies understand. At this point, I only do gift wrap for the tots, and even they are required to be tiny and have "eyes all aglow." The only little one of the list this year is four-months-old. I’ll assume he won’t trash me for the absence of tree product.

Still, not wrapping a baby’s present seems kind of Scrooge like, years of societal pressure and conditioning I guess. The Dr. Seuss classic was on last night, btw. In a sea of screaming pundits all of whom seem intent on talking over their fellow commentators and demonstrating the most intolerance for opposing political opinions, mindless mellow dramas and sitcoms, nearly nonstop holiday advertising, which I guess is a welcome break from the endless list of side effects caused by prescription drugs, and various fear and terror mongering, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” was a welcome reminder of the meaning of the season. There’s a new more popular green character with a holiday special. But what little I watched of him involved nose picking, belching and loads of other gross-out acts. Thanks, but not so much. I’ll snuggle up with the sweet Dr. Seuss tale with its vintage animation any holiday.

I guess I could take a poll. The blog marketers insist that polls are the way to drive traffic to my blog, increase sales, blah, blah, blah. But really, that sounds totally exhausting, especially with while teetering on the edge of a cold. Still, because this wrapping paper thing has me feeling a little badly about possibly being perceived as less caring or festive, I’ll put a poll on here. And I’d like to hear from you. It's there above this post, so thanks if you click.

Btw, I put on my first fire today. Silly perhaps for someone living in Los Angeles where it’s 61 degrees, but such a simple and comforting pleasure. It's getting along famously with the pot of chicken soup I made. Happy Holidays!

With love,
Elizabeth

Release Day!!! It's so exciting

Happy Holidays!!

Pardon me, but the festivities have already begun. Today the Cincinnati Enquirer is running a story about my producer Peas and his new chillout holiday CD, the one I posted about a few weeks ago. Cincinnati is his hometown. How nice that must be to have a positive story about yourself in the old hometown paper. Congrats Peas! You deserve it.



As I went to write this post my friend Diane emailed to firm up plans to pick me up from the train station in San Diego on Thanksgiving. The funny thing about this is that amongst my friends down there, a theme song for my visits has emerged over the years. Sung to the tune of “Dirty Old Time,” “Elizabeth’s In Town” is our chorus and it has had many a cheerful rendition, not all in a state of sobriety. Still, it’s great to have your own theme song amongst friends, and all the better that it’s to the tune of a famous Irish drinking song. Anyway, as I opened Diane’s email, the version of “Dirty Old Town” that randomly came on my iTunes player was by my friends Culann’s Hounds. This is an Irish band from San Francisco with whom I worked for a little while, about this time of the year two years ago. I was with them when they played San Diego and a small show at Camp Pendleton. That was way cool to be involved w a show for our Marines. Anyway, it’s funny how serendipitous things are at times.



So, with the Cincinnati Enquire story about my producer (did I write “my” enough? lol), one of my best friends in the world heading to the train station to greet me for the holiday, and a happy tune by other friends running through my head, I wish everyone who is reading this many blessings and a really happy holiday. Too cute, my favorite pub in Coronado is Mc P's, get it? It's clearly a Peas thing today.

And if you are looking for some hip, sweet holiday music, do check out Peas’ new CD “A Christmas Chill,” which went on sale this morning. To hear some of the music, check just click here. You can also make friends with and listen to the CD at Myspace and follow us on Twitter. Let’s rock this Yule tide!



With love,
Elizabeth

Ps: Did I mention that I just LOVE Spaces, a program on my new iMac? This thing is so bleeping awesome!!!!!!!

Sun into Sag - It’s About Optimism

It’s a friendly, enthusiastic and visionary fire sign.  It’s ruled by generous expansive Jupiter.  It’s symbol is the archer’s arrow, urging us to take aim at our dreams.  It’s the sign Walt Disney was born under.  And best of all, it’s finally here again!  This year’s journey of the Sun through the sign of the gypsy, the student and the philosopher will see Pluto move into Capricorn, Uranus go direct and what is likely to be the most lively full moon of the entire year.  

At 5:03 P.M. PST on November 26th Pluto goes into Capricorn where it will be until March 23, 2023.  Pluto represents our core beliefs and ambitious Capricorn is all about pragmatic, down-to-earth problem solving.  This is the beginning of a cycle in which we are nearly guaranteed sweeping and monumental reform in government, business and our other institutions.  And “change” after all is what America just avidly voted for.  While no one can completely predict exactly what these major and fundamental changes will look like, I can tell you what won’t fly anymore. This past week top executives from America’s 3 largest automakers went to Washington to ask the public to pay for a $25 billion bailout.  The problem was that these captains of industry showed up with no specific plan nor any details as to how they intended to spend all of that taxpayer money.  And to add insult to injury, or as I see it, to beg the Universe to slap them, they flew in separately to make their joint plea for the public funding on their individual companies’ private corporate jets.  They didn’t even have the decency to air-pool.  Congress adjourned without so much as voting on the matter.  

     Pluto in Capricorn finds an American public in no mood for such outrages, much like it found the American psyche back 1762, the last time Pluto began its journey through Capricorn.  Three years into that cycle, the British government enacted the Stamp Act which many historians cite as the origin of the American War for Independence.  By the end of that Pluto in Capricorn cycle in 1778, that war was won and a nation was born.  It’s sweetly fitting that this time the journey begins as many Americans pay homage to the vision and fortitude of our nation’s founders with a Thanksgiving meal. 

And on Thanksgiving Day, the 27th, in the morning we have a new Sagittarius moon within a few minutes of Uranus going direct.  Back in late June, as the Sun went through the sign of Cancer, innovative and unconventional Uranus was the last of four large outer planets to turn retrograde.  I recommended that we all just go with the backward flow for a little while until more favorable aspects were on hand to assist us with bigger picture plans. In early September Jupiter and Pluto went direct, on November 1st Neptune went direct and now Uranus turns direct.  In the summer I mentioned that as these outer planets went direct, we would see a gradual building of momentum and progress with the more significant aspects of our lives.  So now we have it, at least until December 31st when Saturn goes retrograde, all of the major outer planets moving forward.  To have these huge cosmic winds at our back during the enchanted cycle of adventurous and convivial Sagittarius is yet another one of its gifts.  We can dare to dream, and we can dare to dream big!  Where do you want to aim your archer’s bow?

But before venturing too far into the Sagitarian realms of fairy tales and unicorns. there is one week I want to point out.  It is that of the full Gemini moon on Dec 12th. According to astrology expert Mark Husson, it’s not the full moon that will be stirring things up, although some planets will be squaring (off) on that day, it’s feisty, lusty Mars who will be instigating much of the fuss with challenging aspects on the 11th and 15th. On his Soul’s Journey Radio show “Love Scopes” which airs on Sunday nights at 7 P.M. PST, Mark will walk us through the events leading up to this ruckus full moon and explain why its getting so much attention.  As some clients have already called me to express concern about this mighty moon due to Susan Miller’s writing, I want to gently remind everyone that astrology is a map, one that helps us see what’s ahead so that we can plan accordingly.  So let’s listen in Sunday evening, because Mark’s greatest teaching, and gift in my view, is fearlessness.  It’s not so much where the planets are, but what we choose to do with their influences. As this Sagittarius cycle dawns, I choose optimism, expansion and magic. It's time to believe again.

Cracking the Code

and cracking up about the ways my boss and I enjoy spending a Saturday night. Wait, that sounds weird. He's
Mark Husson and I work for him over at 12Listen and 12Angel. Practically since the time I began working for him 20 months ago we've been trying to figure out how to put our availability buttons on all of these other sites we're on. Oh, it's a long story, that would bore most people to tears. But tonight, he did it! Behold:




I see these springing up all over the web in the very near future.

Aside from that I'm pooped, taking the rest of the night off due to my state of tiredness and our local wildfires. LA smells like a forest fire at the moment and the addition to our normal pollution levels is definitely bad. Sending Love and Light to all of my neighbors who are evacuating and especially those who have lost all of their possessions during this day.

In Light,
Elizabeth