Astrological Transits: The Beginner’s Guide…by April Elliott Kent

On September 6, 2015October 4, 2015 By Ka Malana - Fiestaestrellas.comIn Books Published, Friends & Authors14 Comments

Astrological Transits_April Elliott Kent — Ka Malana holding up April Elliot Kent’s book: Astrological Transits.

Some people are just so easy to converse with!

That’s how I feel about April Elliott Kent.

When she and I met, I didn’t realize that I’d be taking my astrology anywhere. As a solo practitioner of astrology, I didn’t really have any astrology friends. I was mostly closeted about it for a while. I was discovering it all on my own, with the help of books, while maintaining and editing my own constant reflections upon the transits. To me, it was my private scientific investigation.

Eventually, I had this blog, and I was meeting with the occasional client. I was still feeling out what exactly I wanted to do with my clients in the astro realm. I kept looking for the “WE,” the co-creating. How could I really be of service in a way that also worked within the flexible framework of my highest values and within my integrity? These were the types of questions that I began asking myself while healing from a major back injury, when I met April two years ago, in my new city.

I didn’t realize that April was such a popular and well-established astrologer!

She was just such a great friend to me from ‘go,’ and I noticed that we linked up nicely when comparing our charts, but I really only looked ‘after the fact’ for any astrological connection. Then, after a while, I started to read her blog posts on the New and Full moon (just like I had been writing about on my blog!) and I kept getting more and more of this sense about her as a WISE woman, with a delightful conveyance of the astrological archetypes. Truly her writings are highly accessible, and contribute to anyone’s monthly astrological undertakings.

To say that I have developed a deep respect for this woman as a person far surpasses even my own understanding for what she knows about astrology! That being said, I want to move onto a review of her book. Yes, I will basically be doing that from the perspective of being a friend and a fan.

A Beginner’s Book is a beginner’s book; it is something that you can understand if you don’t have a lot of background knowledge. The full title of her book is Astrological Transits: The Beginner’s Guide to Using Planetary Cycles to Plan and Predict Your Day, Week, Year (or Destiny). Side note, I can admire a woman who uses parentheticals. It’s one of my favorite features for writing in TODAY’s complex world. I applaud her use of parentheses in the title of this book.

If you notice the way I photographed the book, it appears as though it is as big as my heart–no, even bigger. It takes up the entire space of my chest. Why did I photograph it that way? Although this book is a “beginner’s book,” I see the value in all things “beginner,” and recognize that this book is for me. ☺

I commend this text for its concise organization, while containing a lot of solid “How To” information. April writes to TODAY’s astrologer: Astrological Transits makes what is classic, accessible. I am also referring to her writings, here, where her style really shines.

For the non-astrologer: Other books like it (Beginner’s Guides: sure there are some exceptions but…) rarely do they include a tiny little box of helpful tips specifically like, “how long this transit lasts,” and the approximate age that you may experience a particular transit. You do not have to be an astrologer to learn from this book!!! Whether you are an astrologer or not, consulting with another astrologer can be very helpful, as it helps to guide your understanding of what you are learning, experiencing, and evaluating.

Here’s an excerpt: I like April’s advice here about the Sun transiting the 10th house of a natal chart; it’s good advice for anyone, at any time!

The trick to enjoying the Sun in the tenth house is to imagine not that you’re in an inferior position that must be escaped at all costs, but rather that you’re in the perfect position to get where you’re going. Part of that journey begins with a plan—for your career or even for your whole life. If you already have a plan, revisit and revise it. If you don’t know where you are going, you won’t recognize it when you arrive. Also, since you probably work plenty hard already, work smarter—and learn to delegate. Even if you can do anything, you don’t have to do everything. Partner with others who like to do things you don’t care for, and vice versa. You’ll go much further with help from others than you can alone.”

Please visit her here @ BigSkyAstrology.com, where she’s been publishing for 15 years! Astrological Transits: The Beginner’s Guide to Using Planetary Cycles to Plan and Predict your Day, Week, Year (OR DESTINY) is her newest book!

In Astrological Transits, astrologer April Elliott Kent teaches you:

How Today’s astrological weather affects your birth chart and what is going on in your life

Ways to make the most of good transits and harness and transform the energy of challenging ones

The roles recurring planetary cycles play in your life and how to anticipate important transits

June 12th Full Moon in Sagittarius, 2:11PM, PDT

On June 10, 2014August 18, 2015 By Ka Malana - Fiestaestrellas.comIn Astrology, Sagittarius3 Comments

This full moon will be conjunct my natal Neptune, within a 2 degree orb, so there’s a good possibility that Neptune will influence how I read this full moon’s chart. Neptune will be making some ‘friendly’ aspects to Pluto (sextile, 60 degrees) and the retrograde planet Mercury (trine, 120 degrees). So, I anticipate that what I have to write will be relevant to at least some of you.

The Sun part of the (Sun opposite Moon = Full Moon) equation will be occurring right on the cusp of my natal 11^th house. This is the 5/11 house axis that relates to the individual’s creative output (5^th) and the groups, friendships and associations (11^th), with whom the individual is participating. With the full moon on my 11^th house, it’s about these groups and friendships, community hopes and ideals, coming to fruition in some way. Sure. I can see that. Also, Gemini and Sagittarius are natural rulers of the 3rd/9th houses of the mentality, neighbors, local networks (3rd) and higher learning, educational institution, and publication (9th).

With Full Moon square Chiron, it’s also about healing wounds that arose from previous attempts with groups, friendships, and associations, and thus culminating into new fields of learning and associations. I AM really experiencing a lot of new growth showing up in that area of my life, as the moon deals with the public and Chiron with healing.

A full moon will bring something visible to your awareness in the area/house placement in your natal chart where it occurs. If you are looking at your own chart, see where 22 degrees of Gemini/Sagittarius are housed. See what planets are aspecting the full moon in your nativity; and then, look at those aspects by transit and progression.

General themes

The Full Moon in Sagittarius is squaring Chiron in Pisces. Sagittarius is about seeing the “bigger picture,” it relates to optimism and faith. Sagittarius is ruled by the planet Jupiter (ancient ruler of the sign Pisces) and represents grand portions and big plans. Sagittarius is also the natural ruler of the 9th house, in any nativity. Pisces is about spirituality and psychic experiences (Jupiter is the ancient ruler of Pisces). All in all, there’s a call to faith here that will take some effort for going the long distance (square aspect 90 degrees).

Gemini/Sagittarius: Anatomy & Function

According to Max Heindel in his book called, The Message of the Stars, “Sagittarius rules the hips and thighs, the femur, ilium, the coccygeal and sacral regions of the spine, the iliac arteries and veins, [and] sciatic nerves.” (p.543) According to Robert Carl Jansky in his book, Astrology, Nutrition, and Health, “the physiological functions of this [Gemini/Sagittarius] sign pair are distributive and locomotive.” (p.24). Gemini rules the lungs and trachea, and commonly known to astrologers is that Gemini is the ruler of the 3^rd house of communication and short distance travel.

Pisces Correlations: Host of transiting Chiron (Wounded-healer)

In Jeffrey Wolf Green’s Evolutionary Astrology book called, Medical Astrology: Astrological correlations to anatomy, physiology, and the chakra system, he makes the following associations for Pisces with regard to the Chakra system as well as other processes. Neptune/Pisces/12^th house: crown chakra, sacral chakra with co-ruler Jupiter, and the astral body. “Neptune also correlates with the phenomena of consciousness, the consciousness of the Soul. It correlates with sleep/being awake, dreams, visions, and hallucinations that occur within consciousness.” (p.23)

Finally, this Sagittarius Full Moon forms a trine (120 degree) aspect with Uranus in Aries. This is more fuel for fire in the ‘change and inspiration’ aka “newness” department of our lives. Aries rules the 1st house in the natural astrological chart. It deals with beginnings. The awakening involved with Uranus in Aries really is bringing in the ‘Age of Aquarius.’ It is fitting for Uranus to be cast in this role, as Uranus is the archetypal ruler of Aquarius in the form of Prometheus – one who stole fire from the gods and gave it to man!

References:

Green, J.W. (2014). Medical astrology: Astrological correlations to anatomy, physiology and the chakra system. San Bernardino, CA: School of Evolutionary Astrology.

Heindl, M. (1976). The Message of the Stars. Pasadena, CA: Wood & Jones.

Image:

A photograph of my yogi tea message for today.

It’s the little things

On May 26, 2014August 18, 2015 By Ka Malana - Fiestaestrellas.comIn Abundant Earth, Creative Writing, Creatrix7 Comments

At the moment, I’m just resting on my couch thinking about all that I have on my “to do” list. I’m entertained by my thought process – the attempts of entering thoughts to get me all worked up into a state of mental busyness, rather than savoring the present moment, and the birds chirping outside. The atmosphere of the natural world speaks louder, and I listen.

I listen for nothing in particular. I experience peace.

I realize that everything on my “to do” list is there because I want it to be there, because I am happy to be alive, and happy to be living my life as I choose. Now, I am experiencing gratitude. I feel grateful for every ‘now’ moment that has led to today, and for every ‘now’ moment that will help me get things done – all in the spirit of the birds.

Oh, let me sing my song!

Let me receive thy message.

For what exists is neither here

Nor there, this nor that, up nor down.

For every tweet there is a song

For every song there is a twitter,

For what I cannot say with words

I mean the most.

Oh, let me sing my song & hear yours, too!

(Photographer: Unknown)

Mercury Retrograde – June 7 – Cancer/Gemini

On May 19, 2014August 18, 2015 By Ka Malana - Fiestaestrellas.comIn Astrology, Gemini6 Comments

Hello!

I’m feeling the Mercury retrograde in Gemini early this time! Mercury will not officially go into the retrograde shadow, the apparent area of the zodiac @ 25 degrees Gemini, until May 23^rd. Yikes, everything keeps getting rescheduled! So my schedule keeps changing before my very eyes. Also, I keep feeling the desire to organize and get my data worked out. That is, get some of it saved onto my external drive – because goodness—all of a sudden it seems like there’s not enough room on all my electronic devices.

This Mercury retrograde will be primarily in Gemini, so it’s doubly-mental-witty-chatty. Double for a twin (astrological twins of the zodiac) is really saying something.

Usually my advice about a Mercury retrograde is to slow down. I use that same advice for a lot of aspects in life. This time, my intuition is telling me that if you can keep a steady pace while allowing for lots of flexibility, you can “master” the art of levity. One of the gifts of Gemini is that it’s light and airy – not deeply enmeshed in the details or in emotional attachment to details/information, but is subtly mentally aware of them all.

So, if while juggling during this Mercury retrograde, and your hands get tired, and you drop a ball or two – the important thing would be how much you don’t dwell on any one ball or occurrence. With Moon square Mercury on the retrograde chart, you should focus your energy on catching the next one, and once the astrological air clears, you can recover your other balls and make amends with any situations that turned up. Ultimately, the lesson is to juggle: gently releasing the ball, each one, in order to gently catch the next one. The sign of Cancer (ruler of the Moon) has a tendency to emotional attachment, and wants to nurture each and every step. Don’t cling to one of the balls! Mercury and Gemini help us “lighten up,” and keep things in the air – where they are constantly moving and adaptable.

Details from Swiss Ephemeris:

Mercury crosses retrograde shadow May 23^rd at 24.28 Gemini

Mercury stations retrograde on June 7 at 3.09 Cancer

Mercury stations direct on July 3 at 24.28 Gemini

Image credit: unknown

New Moon in Gemini, June 8, 2013

On July 12, 2013 By Ka Malana - Fiestaestrellas.comIn AstrologyLeave a comment

Every new moon is an opportunity to start something new, or sow a “seed” and see if it germinates. At this time it is perfectly natural to become more silent and inwardly reflective. This new moon in Gemini (the sign of communication, the mind, and the twins) points to the inherent duality of nature. How the mind perceives is in twos, ‘good and bad’, ‘right and wrong,’ ‘left and right,’ ‘yes and no’… etc. Every new moon in Gemini offers us a new imprint on our mental consciousness, giving a chance to edit and even re-write how we perceive and communicate what we perceive. It is entire possible to make shifts in our thinking or communication at this time.

The sabian symbol for this lunation is “Chinese men talking Chinese.”

Perhaps at this new moon, taken with all the “new” energy of the recent eclipse series, we find ourselves reaching out and finding again those who are “like-minded,” and become more desirous to speak with those who understand our personal language (and sometimes this is a cultural history) and/or making us more comfortable sharing conversations with people who are “on the same page” mentally.

The new moon is trine the asteroid Juno (also known as the spouse or Hera in astrology). This is an easy aspect, allowing for the smooth flow of energies from the new moon (conjunct sun) to Juno in Aquarius (inventiveness, uniqueness, unpredictability, freedom-loving). What is being supported now is some level of non-attachment and/or “getting with” what’s true in the present moment about our relationships. Perhaps there is a need to establish boundaries by summoning your personal authority in a creative and previously unattempted way.