Seonaid’s posts are always so seriously awesome! While I had just written what I have typed here below, I paused and I found and read Seonaid’s post that I have reblogged. It feels like it’s in alignment with what I was experiencing _ but to me_ I hadn’t seen the message at the end, until now..
We are connected in ways we cannot imagine. There’s such a mystery to this experience of life that brings us everyday into the presence of love. We pass by others, we share our thoughts, our day-to-days, but there’s a clearer line of transmission, and this is the energy aspect of us that moves across space and time.
We move beyond space and time and show up at one another’s virtual doorsteps—it is actually in our hearts that we know one other intimately. The energy moves through us, and beyond us in ways we cannot imagine, lighting up grids and flowing like water into all the cracks and crevices that hold us fragmented.
We meet and greet, mapped together by energetic lattices, sewn into a tremendous quilt of story and connection.
Let every moment be endless breath-filled :::Aloha::: in the tenderness of spirit , and from the breath of Love & Life. Let us witness the gentle and tender connections we form.
I was walking yesterday, among the ancient twisted oaks, as the tail end of a hurricane swept across the land. I was sheltered on the forest floor, but high above me the branches bent and strained in the high wind, creaking and complaining. The leaves fluttered wildly in the wind stream, sounding like rushing water, and the energy of the storm excited everything. The dogs were a little wilder than normal, and all across the dry earth path, the tips of high branches lay scattered, thrown to the ground by the storm.
Then ahead my path was blocked by a sad sight. One of the ancient oaks had cracked and it’s huge old limb had fallen to the earth, still attached to the trunk. Despite the huge crack it’s leaves were still lush green, and then as I approached, I saw something amazing. Beautiful red ribbons were fluttering in the…
Mars is the “faster moving planet,” and it’s coming into conjunction with Saturn in the hidden sign of Scorpio (skilled at finding the bottom-line). This is called an applying aspect. Right now, Mars and Saturn are about 10 degrees apart – this is a loose conjunction. If I want to be strict, I use a 3 degree orb for interpretation (and it really depends on the aspect I am looking at. Is it major or minor?) – but, I’m speaking to a pretty sensitive group, and myself.
Sensitivity to energy can exist beyond normal constructs. I view astrology as a construct – albeit a useful one.
Mars conjunct Saturn:
Underneath the surface of everything is this super-intense energy of compression; it is building. Energy and drive is represented by Mars (the sexual urge), while Saturn is the Master of Old Age, restriction, limitation, and wisdom. Saturn’s really not into speedy delivery. Astrologers of the past used to look at Saturn as the “task master” and the server of karma in an astrological chart. Whew intense stuff, right?
Well, Liz Greene re-wrote one of the books on Saturn called, Saturn: A New Look at an Old Devil, published all the way back in 1976. In academic standards (depending on what you are studying) that’s a while ago. In astrological terms, that’s pretty recent. It takes a while (not quantified on purpose), and lot of people (again, no number given) to form and shape something like astrology. But, here we ARE!
Feeling held back while still being propelled forward? (Mars conjunct Saturn)
By meeting with the controlling element, meeting with the teacher who’s helping you build your energy by storing it up, we experience compression. The teacher is your inner teacher. That’s who I am speaking to here.
That is: holding back when necessary *while* allowing restriction shape you.
Regarding Saturn, here’s a quote from Alice Bailey, Esoteric Astrologer, who is basically quoted on the page before the Table of Contents, in Liz Greene’s book, because astrologers and esoteric junkies don’t really work alone.
“When the disciple
knows Saturn as the God
who offers opportunity
and does not only
feel him to be Deity
who brings disaster,
then he is on the path
of discipleship in truth
and in deed
and not just
theoretically.”
Opossum: What does the opossum have to do with all this? He recognizes imminent death, and so he fakes it first. Why does he fake it? He’s not being a trickster for any other reason, than he’s just smart, and knows that he must take pause. The opossum meets his/her limitation by knowing when to rest; he/she knows when to take a break.
Once upon a time when I was an undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh, I took a class called “Great Minds of China.” This was year 2000, fourteen or so years ago. At that time I was already “using” tarot cards, mostly as an exercise to discover what was it “in me” that was speaking (was it just my intuition? I wasn’t getting auditory experiences upon waking until later). I also needed some help that no one really was effective at giving me. So, I did it myself. There was something deeper pulling me into awareness, seeking me. I had to know it – directly.
During 2000, I discovered the Yi Jing or I Ching from my Taiwanese teacher, who also taught me about Confucius, Chuang Tzu, among others who I probably forget, or remember, but don’t care to go into elaborating on right now. I’m sure these ancient sages wouldn’t be so hard on me for forgetting, as I am on myself. It is ironic, I know. But, maybe this just helps me boil down to the essentials: what is remembered.The Tao is effortless, after all.
I immediately began learning the hexagrams in 2000, and had the Bagua (or 8 trigrams, how I referred to them then, memorized). I kept most of this as a secret study. Just about everyone who knew me, though, knew about the astrology (accept for my family). It was simply easier that way, for me, to delve into things that didn’t seem very “scientific” to the outside, judgmental eye. Plus, this was scientific study for me! I wasn’t convinced about anything! I wasn’t deterred, either. I prefer direct experience.
Fast forward to a couple of years ago when I was still using Yi Jing for divination but mostly for study. Around the time I discovered it, I was taking a course about basic programming with Java. So, I was psyched about the binary code that is yin and yang.
Later, a couple of years ago, I tuned my mom into it, and she then found and told me about some interesting books that she started discovering to help her with casting and interpretation. However, that made me lose interest a little bit because we were on separate paths with it, despite the fact that it was somewhat fun to share something important to me. She’s (my mom) always been an interesting person, I might add. I’m so appreciative of that fact.
My guide was taking me on the journey that I was meant to travel, so I followed my guide & not my mom. I’m sure she’ll find it in her heart to forgive me. I’m sure she’s also benefited by my explorations as well. I pretty sure that she told me that she has, indeed, benefited.
Meanwhile, I had turned my attention elsewhere, but I never would have forgotten what I had begun.
It was only recently that I was reading a text on Qi Gong that I received recently from my father-in-law about someone that he respects, that I *finally* realized I haven’t cast a hexagram for quite some time.
Okay, so I realized it before he gave me the book. I added the part about the book to dramatize the story- and to show you how many connections and moving parts there are in this huge web of connection. Leading me to…
I’m meant to be exactly where I am. (One day I’ll write about my Kung Fu and Qi Gong experiences in 2009) If I don’t, it’s probably because I’m writing about something I find to be more in alignment with my present.
Back to the main story: I hadn’t cast a hexagram using the coins that I brought back with me from China during my visit there in 2001.
Now I am learning about Chinese Medicine. Pretty cool.
As many things are coming full circle for me, I feel as though I’ve just begun. And, I have! The hexagrams I cast today are “Youthful Folly” with all changing lines to “Revolution.” I cast them for my readers. I asked the Yi Ching what it wanted me to say to you. I’m also leaving the meaning up to you. You decide.
“To focus impartial attention on the present moment is the hallmark of vipassana. There is awareness and acceptance of whatever is occurring in the immediate now, without judging or adding to it. We see things as they actually are, free of subjective associations. Systematic vipassana practice eventually eliminates the cause of mental and physical pain, purifies the mind, and results in a stable happiness that isn’t affected by moods or outward circumstances.
Vipassana meditation comes from the tradition of Theravada Buddhism. (The Theravada school is based on a group of texts called the “Pali canon,” which is widely regarded as the earliest surviving record of the Buddhist teachings). But you don’t have to be a Buddhist to practice vipassana or benefit from developing mindfulness. It is not a religion. Vipassana is a simple, gentle technique suitable for men and women of any age, race or creed.”
I often practice Vipassana, also Zen buddhism, as I understand it to have no goal – not even the goal of “seeing.” It depends on what type of meditation practice I have dedicated myself to practicing for whatever time period. I give myself some freedom with it. In fact, I find different meditation styles suit different needs of mine.
The following meditation below is one I adapted to share with the rest of our class. Maybe you’d like to read it aloud to yourself. I’m thinking of recording it for myself and playing it back if the opportunity arises for me to do so. If you’d like to look into meditation scripts for yourself, as this is sort of a “guided-meditation” style, check out this link.
Sit quietly, and Breath freely.
Close your eyes and turn your attention to your breathing.
Become aware of each exhalation and inhalation.
Notice how the air feels as it enters your nostrils, fills your lungs, and leaves again.
As you inhale, follow your breath all the way out to the point where it turns and you begin to exhale.
As you exhale, follow the breath all the way out to the point where ti turns and you begin to inhale again.
Be mindful of this rhythm: inhale, turn, exhale, turn, until you feel centered and at peace.
Expand your awareness to include the sounds your breath makes.
Listen to the sounds around you. Allow them all to be Equally important.
Expand your awareness further to include touch. Feel your clothing against your skin?
The texture of fabric beneath your hands, or the weight of your hair on your head.
Focus on the weight of your body in your chair.
Be aware of every sensation. Let each one be equal in importance with every other and with all the sounds you hear.
Open your awareness to include the other senses one at a time. Smell everything. Taste everything.
As you softly open your eyes, keep them still and gentle, with a soft focus.
Be aware of everything in your field of vision equally. Allow yourself to be will all of your senses fully. Smell, Taste, Touch, Sounds
If any one thing draws your attention, consciously let go of it and gently stretch out your consciousness once more to embrace everything within your perception.
Now, begin to focus on those things right in front of you more sharply, and allow yourself to move and stretch.
The chart was drawn for July 26th, San Diego, CA @ 3:42pm – Sun/Moon @ 3.52 Leo
I’ve waited most of the year for this New Moon in Leo, and now I can’t think of anything to write about it. I’m looking at the charts and wondering why for such a creative sign as Leo – absolutely ‘nothing’ is coming to mind (and it’s my Sun sign). Although, I am a shy Leo. This New Moon will be in my natal 6th house of health, service, and work. I’ve got an exam to study for, so I will make this post brief.
Where will it be ‘taking place’ in your chart?
There are some trines and kite formations. The chart looks pretty good except that the New Moon squares Mars, which has just entered the sign of Scorpio (Mars ingress Scorpio). Sun conjunct Jupiter can have us feeling larger-than-life – we may be very busy with philosophy, travel, publishing and “big-ideas.” In fact, with Sun conjunct Jupiter, there’s a tendency to overextend oneself into multiple projects at once, or to have overly optimistic expectations. That’s okay, for some of you, you’ll have just the right amount of optimism you need (where you normally lack it).
Meanwhile, Venus and Mercury are in Cancer. Venus is forming a square to Uranus within a 6 degree orb, giving us a T-Square of Venus (Cancer), Uranus (Aries), and Pluto (Capricorn). Venus square Uranus is bringing a lot new relationships, and maybe some unexpected behavior in finances as well. Venus is trine to Saturn in Scorpio, and Neptune in Pisces, so there’s a watery fluid feel to these new relationships- these new relationships are about nurturing and support – with the presence of a well-aspected Saturn, practical support.
Are we thinking about Dads more in a positive light? Are we thinking of Dad’s philosophies right now more than usual? This energy is built for us to get in touch with our main energy source – the Sun. Do we project it outward onto the men in our lives, our fathers, our husbands (for those who are traditional)? One of the traditional interpretations for the Sun in a woman’s chart is of the father or husband. I think many women, however, have learned to ‘own’ their creative Source. The way I interpret the sun in a chart depends on the other aspects of the chart.
Nevertheless, these are some things to think about.
Further, Leo rules the 5th house; it represents the offspring or child. It is the expression of innocence in individuality. The promise of a new life. Ask yourself what is born from taking risks? Does joyfulness extend from leisure time? (another 5th house/Leo matter)
On another note, I’m celebrating my first anniversary with my beloved husband (Sun in 7th house). I couldn’t be more excited and delighted for us to share an especially fun, spiritually opulent (Jupiter), and spicy (square Mars), lunation. We always have an adventure together! This is just the perfect time to celebration our union. Wow!
There are so many moments in a person’s life (this one in particular, me) where the experience of friendship, love, and connected-ness makes one feel so super special. That specialness is the shared embrace of softness and belonging.
Not alone.
It’s that feeling that it’s okay to FEEL because we are all Good Enough, Loveable Enough, Spacious Enough, and Capable Enough to embrace all the wounds we’ve had for an eternity. To really cry it out, love it out, and hug it out, together. We can unfold safely like flowers in the light of the Sun. Nothing will overcome us, when we have one another, and when we have integrity within ourselves.
Angels mean different things to different people. One of my blogging friends, Linda Litebeing, posted some angel wings on my ‘about’ section of my blog this weekend. Wow!
Synchronicity had it that I was also just given the name of one of my Spiritual Guides on that same day. July 19th!
At the New Year I had set an intention to be more deeply present with the angels beyond this world. I know they are with me, and I want to acknowledge their loyal guidance in my life.
I have felt supported, loved, and appreciated for my own variable rays of character. It’s okay, “you’re human,” Linda said in our conversation over on her blog. That means, I too, am gifted with the love and support of others, of her. That’s precious, I’d say. We have a very nice community!!!
Angels among us
Some are those who I’ve only recently been getting to know, but to me, we share a spark! Some bloggers I found earlier on in my blogging journey, and those who have helped me to hold the light of my own purpose, while maintaining the humility of my humanness and fallibility.
There’s nothing you need to do – please just accept this token of my appreciation. If you have already received such a gift, please accept mine, too, and the light of your own abundance.
Who’d have thought that wrapped inside my new yoga mat would be Lao Tsu?
It reads, “The One Who Knows Others is Learned; the One who Knows One-
Self is Wise.”
This is the first time that I’ve ever seen text on a yoga mat. *And* I will be bringing it to class! When I started to see the words as I unfurled it for the first time, I had my knee-jerk reaction, “oh great, what’s this gonna say that I’m stuck with?!” *sigh of relief* I completely agree with you, Lao Tsu! Lao Tsu, by the way, is anonymous. No one knows who Lao Tsu was FOR SURE.
Time to prepare for Leo – the lion ~ Where all the roaring and leadership is within. Trust me. No one ever pays attention to me! Oh, wait, isn’t that such Leo thing to say?
Express yourself to the fullest extent that is possible to yourself. You’ll find that some of your best feedback is right there coming from your soft-belly center. The Unity of your experiences is best left to the voice who speaks when no one is watching.
What good can you do when nobody notices? What fulfillment do you get from just simply living your life in a happy, child-like way?
Jupiter @ 29 degrees Cancer and about to ingress (enter) Leo.
Active grand cross in Cardinal signs
Discipline
My contemplation lately, my personal journal, and my astrological reading for the ‘Full Moon’ in Capricorn has been centered around this idea of “discipline.”
What is discipline other than to “show up” for what you signed up for? Stick-to-it-iveness. I mean to be really ‘present’ with your goals, devoted. I’m sure this thought of mine evokes some of your own thoughts. I do hope you will share them below.
I think discipline is also based on the word “disciple.” One acts as a devotee to something, even if nothing but to the process itself – the inner development. In other words, I think of discipline as being devoted to the process of self-development, relationship development, and/or community development. I’m sure I left out some other possible scenarios.
Often a disciple is devoted to God, Spirit, whatever source a person choosesto recognize as the provider of all there is. I’ve seen references to Self with a capital ‘S,’ to set it apart from the ephemeral-natured self of persona/ego. I’ve also seen people choose to be atheist while offering their services to humanity with the deepest respect and reverence for life.
Interestingly, this particular full moon is known to many Hindus and Buddhists as Guru Purnima, the full moon of Guru. It is a time to honor the removers of ignorance, the teachers. Historically it was a celebration for Guru Vyasa, writer of the Vedas, the 4 sacred Indian texts. It is the idea that it is the Guru’s job to bring us to God. That is, the guru (teacher) removes the obstacles from recognizing God, and/or obstacles along the path to Buddha/Bodhisattva/Enlightenment.
In popular American culture, Gurus of certain things are experienced persons that help people get past the “entry stage” or newbie-hood of a particular Tao/Dao Way or ArtScience. Say, it’s the Love Guru!
You can also work on the development of other internal/externals: your garden, your art, the health of your animals, building your dream house, writing your book, building your audience. What are you currently developing?
Really, there’s no limit to potential options – unless you make one. Which is where Saturn comes in – the ruler of Capricorn. Limiter of all things: Chronos, time. Slicing the pie into bite-size pieces. The astrological pie is made up of approximately 2 hours per astrological slice/sign, or 30 degrees!
When is setting limits a good idea? ……It can create more choice.
I feel like people have a lot of opinions about discipline and responsibility. I find that beliefs and values around religion and spirituality are also cultural values expressed around the ideas of responsibility. Often people say “I can’t” based on perceived or real obligations and limiting factors. But what about the limiters that you canchoose that result in more choice for you?
Time is the natural limiter
We only have so many resources, a certain amount of time. What do you want to do with your piece of the pie? What if you chose to sell it so you could raise the funds to make more pie and offer it to more people? There’s no judgment here, it’s just a metaphor, and I’m just curious. Please tell me. Some would give away their pie, and then the pie would be eaten, and enjoyed by another. Some would eat their own pie, joyfully. Why not? Some people don’t even like pie, and would rather see no one eat it. Maybe others could trade pies – in a scenario where that was possible of course! What scenarios have I missed?
You get the point, we all get the choice of what to do with our lives; and, it’s probably a good idea not to choose for others what they ought to do with theirs. But, how about providing choice? Capricorn is known as the sign of “business,” and a certain doggedness, a loyalty is evident with this sign. Capricorn wants to see concrete results. Think of the very visible rings on Saturn – the planet that rules Capricorn.
Thoughts about Failure
How well am I performing? If I’m trying as hard as ever, and I’m still not getting results, what do I have to change or modify? Usually, this is when we may or may not realize we reached our very non-specific goals. We were successful at being vague!
It’s having specific goals that brings up the possibility for failure.
Making certain, definite goals is actually quite terrifying because it always means that failure lurks. But why should failure lurk? Even failure is information, and a possible chance at success once unpacked and understood.
Allow me to illustrate: in an attempt to save my draft as a draft and not to publish my post immediately, I ended up setting up a password. The thing I didn’t realize is that a “password protected” post would get published. But, I’m glad that I didn’t publish it outright, because I wasn’t ready. Whoops! I’m not actually trying to limit people from reading my posts! Ever since Mercury went retrograde and then stationed direct but is still in retrograde shadow, well, I have been trying new things. They don’t always work out! But, in the end, I’m just glad that I made it to the writing table.
*************************the original version********************************
Full Moon in Capricorn: Driven for concrete results
Moon loosely conjunct Pluto ~8 degree orbSun loosely conjunct Jupiter ~9 degree orb (Jupiter on final degree of Cancer and about to ingress (enter) Leo.
Discipline
My contemplation lately, my personal journal, and my astrological reading for the ‘Full Moon’ in Capricorn has been centered around this idea of “discipline.”
What is discipline other than to “show up” for what you signed up for? Stick-to-it-iveness. I mean to be really ‘present’ with your goals. I’m sure this thought of mine evokes some of your own thoughts. I do hope you share them below.
I think discipline is also based on the word “disciple.” One acts as a devotee to something, even if nothing but to the process itself – the inner development. In other words, I think of discipline as being devoted to the process of self-development, relationship development, and/or community development. To God, Spirit, the source a person choosesto recognize.
You can also work on the development of your garden, your art, the health of your animals, building your dream house. What are you currently developing?
Really, there’s no limit to the focus – unless you make one. Which is where Saturn comes in – the ruler of Capricorn. Limiter of all things: Chronos, time. Slicing the pie into bite-size pieces – actually approximately 2 hours per sign!
When is setting-limits a good idea?
I feel like people have a lot of opinions about discipline and responsibility. In fact, it’s an area of life where I find that many people tend to express or cast the most judgment – for good and/or for bad–especially about others. It’s also an area where we internally tend to be the hardest on ourselves, especially in terms of living up to the expectation that we perceive that others are placing on us.
Thoughts about Failure
How well am I performing? If I’m trying as hard as ever, and I’m still not getting results, what do I have to change or modify? Usually, this is when we may or may not realize we reached our very non-specific goals. It’s the specific goals that bring up the possibility for failure, after-all.
Making certain goals is actually quite terrifying because it always means that failure lurks. Why should failure lurk though? When failure is merely a perception, and it is merely feedback. If failure is feedback, then you’ve got yourself progress-in-the-making!
All-in-all, I find that devotion is a private matter, spiritual even, especially because you may or may not see its effects externally. This is precisely why you are devoted, you appreciate the outside support – but you have found something beyond the eyes of others, yourself even…that calls you further into deeper stretches, beyond knowingness.
Sometimes you can see that someone is working very hard and expressing themselves diligently toward great tasks. Sometimes, in my experience, this work cannot be seen by another! It goes on behind the scenes. Behind the scenes, behind the actor is the Self, there, directing. It takes grace and kindness and compassion to experience the Self. That’s how I perceive God/Guru/Source as grace.
Noses to our work
Most of us have our noses to our work. We are working away at our goals, and/or admire others for how well they focus at their own goals. We can inspire one another by sharing our process. We can help one another when they lose direction, or simply, just be there in your own Self with them, and in oneness.
One of the opportunities of WordPress is share this process with others. For example, I have been visiting Susanwithpearls blog on a regular basis to share in with her contemplations and daily guiding thoughts. I recognize myself in her process of deep-diving. I also decided to visit her blog regularly because she provided a schedule that was easy enough to follow, and didn’t require a lot from me – only as much as I was willing to put into it for myself.
Whether good or bad/right or wrong about particular aspects of scheduling and planning, ultimately there’s a challenge, I think, when working on projects to find the balance between “pushing the wheel” and getting the ball rolling. Ultimately, if we have to keep pushing the wheel, we are going to get tired. So, we have to plan for that.
Ideally the process of life and living could be less fixed (as in the fixed signs of Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius and Taurus) and more mutable or flexible with the mutable signs (Virgo, Pisces, Sagittarius, Gemini). Finally, the best recipe (at least in my world) is a balanced one – so let’s remember the cardinal signs for giving us a sense for direction and trajectory (Capricorn, Cancer, Aries and Libra).
Yesterday, after a long day of class, my husband and I met. We were considering enjoying an evening picnic at the park before going off to do other daily activities–something we often enjoy together. This time was different.
Steam punk clock… we saw one nearby “our” park
When faced with a lot of scheduling in my life, I sometimes like to break-free from the trodden path (the scheduled path) and see what we might encounter when we have our minds open to the magic of “the moment.”
I suggested that we walk down to the road, and explore this particular neighborhood a little bit more – nice vibes – and; maybe we’d find a special place to eat. We did move here to San Diego just one year ago, so whatever we’d find would be unexpected.
We did find a special place: Soltan Banoo
Our waitress was kind enough to lower the curtains so we wouldn’t be blinded or overheat while we were enjoying our shared meal.
We didn’t eat anything with gluten in it. 🙂 In fact, I stopped counting the days that I’ve been gluten free because it is no longer a part of my life – and I barely even notice it 🙂 I should also note that this particular blog post was meant for my blog called: tiredofgluten.wordpress.com, however, I accidentally posted it on Fiestaestrella (my homage to astrology)
The feeling of the atmosphere was a bit like song.
Pictured below is “Dough,” you can see how to pronounce it in the caption (no gluten there). Here’s a great recipe for it, which I may try to make sometime http://mypersiankitchen.com/doogh/
Pronounced “Doogh,” the ‘gh’ has a G sound like in”dog.”
Note the wonderful poem in the image above ❤ All I feel is love when I think of this place.
There are so many moments in a person’s life (this one in particular, me) where the experience of friendship, love, and connected-ness makes one feel so super special. That specialness is the shared embrace of softness and belonging.
Fiesta Estrellas 
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