Sensuous pleasure meets unexpected moments of assertiveness and enlightenment. Mind your powerful words for this lunation brings in Mercury strongly before the retrograde on the 9th in Sagittarius and then back to Scorpio again!
Photo credit is Trip Advisor (not mine!)
Are you ready for the next dose of liberating, surprising, and illuminating highlights rising into your life?
If you were hoping to slow ‘it’ down, too— there are pockets for that. It might not be for everyone. It rarely is. Best I can say is to look for how your version of “slow” manifests. Put your attention on that awareness and gently invite it to expand.
We have been enjoying a very (emotionally) flowing grand water trine—which will continue on for a bit. It’s good fodder for release, but not very grounded (and not so much Earth energy). You might have felt like you were floating amidst all the unknowns in a continuous sea of WTF.
Enter the “more” grounding full moon.
During the full moon in Taurus, the Venusian ruler will be in a T-square with Jupiter and Pluto. This lunation is so strongly Venusian because of it. Also, Venus is in an “out of sign T-square,” reinforcing the Venusian qualities. The fact is that Venus will still be in Libra, one of the two signs its rules. Jupiter’s presence in this T in the sensitive and highly intuitive sign of Cancer is mostly friendly, albeit amplifying.
Relationships, values, money, beauty, art, whatever you think of luxury—even security and sexuality are our themes. We have a lot brewing in the sense awareness for these matters. Taurus will help you tap into your sensory awareness without a doubt: for example, it might be easier for you to “sniff out the truth” more than ever before—on matters of great import! Root your consciousness into your highest love, for the potential exists for deepening, opening, and releasing.
Trust is a theme that can go both North and South, as it is probably magnetic—meaning, it’s rarely stabilized. It can jump from one pole to the other based on what’s influencing the pulls and who around you is making moves (also which way you orient yourself). Bring your awareness closer into what “pulls” you. What are you currently calibrated to, and what magnetizes you? This is good information for you to be internally attuned to in the most conscious way.
Here is another great Full Moon for your books. Please use this incredibly rich time to inspire your love and art making!
We’ll be “seeing” each other on the flip-side. I will be mostly off-grid for a big chance to renew myself, and for a nice respite from the norm of my daily life—still working in other dimensions though..
Adventure does await me.
I do know that this moon is FULL of so much; it will give us a taste (and an image) for our memories to grow on like food or prebiotics 😆 or some such growth medium! Happy for you to “fill your own metaphor.”
All in all, I’m looking at this as a rich, nutritive full moon that will encapsulate our aura with better information, strategies, and metrics: showing us how to be living in our holism.
I have no doubt that my message for today’s New Moon will be aligned with the gardeners and nature lovers. I’ve been reaching out to Luna for the message and she’s been very clear that with the strong energies of Mars/Pluto opposition, all the Aries placements still in effect, and that challenging aspect of Saturn and Venus conjoined with the North Node, we’ve never needed to be sunk in with nature more.
Uranus is also still in Taurus in process of wrapping up its stay. From July 7, 2025 for the next 7 years, Uranus will ingress Gemini and fill the mental plane with communications, logistics, innovations, disruptions, and more. Fortunately Jupiter has been transiting Gemini and paving the way for Uranus, setting up a good vibe. Jupiter is known to be the great benefactor of the zodiac. Next month the Sun will be in Gemini and that will further light up that area of the Zodiac and this will all be in preparation for Uranus to transit there by July.
For now, we have dedicated moments to reflect on this New Moon in Taurus and set our intentions to focus on what grounds us, brings us deeply into ourselves, and most opens us for those unique and intuitive messages from nature and from spirit. It’s essential at this juncture to take a break from media—even just a small sector, or reduce its time.
For your meditations:
Here are some words from Rosemary Gladstar, one of the most renowned Western herbal pioneers,
Take a moment. Open a jar of herbs that perhaps you grew and dried yourself… draw in a long deep breath… and if you pause awhile with the plant, it can carry you forward into the future.
Let the plant speak to you—not with words, but in the way that only plants know how.
Let’s enjoy the ineffable this New Moon in Taurus. Gaze at the stars, sink your feet in the dirt or the sand. Roll down a hill in a meadow, blow off the seeds of a dandelion. Make dandelion wine. I have some tinctures that I am ready to strain, and the birds song has been especially poignant.
Another fitting way to celebrate the phases of the Moon in relationship with the Sun, valuing the cycles that nature gives us— those that repeat—and let us know that we do have a regularity in life, there is consistency, pacing and calm: Celebrate with music, drums, piano, whatever speaks to you. Perhaps you love the sounds of harp, accordion or trumpet. Enjoy the moments of non-verbal, enjoy the spaciousness of sound and sing or imbibe the air and earth with your voice.
I hope this post has stirred some calmness and pleasure within you. Let me know in the comments if this new moon is touching your natal chart and which houses! I’m happy to help with a consult in the future years when I open up more time in my schedule.
For now I will leave you all with some beauties:
My deepest wish is for all beings to experience happiness and be free from suffering. 🙏🏻💕
It’s not an idyllic wish. It’s grounded in a desire for the progress of moving in the that direction, for peace and kindness to flourish in the lives of all. This wish will continue to flourish no matter what circumstances show up or appearances of the world would submit that we are not gonna end up there, well and wise.
None of our Earth journeys are in vain, purposeless or random.
Hello! This is a post for your astrological reflections in an expanded way. For this full moon in Taurus, Jupiter is opposing Mercury, and the thoughts and communications are stirring.
What I don’t have to tell you (the title): Things are changing in pronounced and dramatic ways!
Since before the U.S. election I was thinking about all the major transits taking place in the next couple of years, and I knew that whatever the outcome, it was sure to demonstrate a pronounced reflection of these cosmic on-going changes. This is a deep overhaul.
I’ve been watching astrology for too long (just my life) to see this as a coincidence. I do remain a skeptic astrologer; it’s part of the fun. I always look for the positive and while that makes me biased (I tend to keep the beliefs that are most suitable to my integrity as a speaker coming from my inner authority and authenticity).
While I could ‘just’ write about today’s full moon, a discussion really merits the context of the changes in the next few years. The two biggest changes are Pluto is going for its full time stay in Aquarius, starting on Nov 19, 2024, to January 19, 2044; the other profound change is Neptune ingress into Aries, but I’ll get to that later.
So, as you see this full moon today is merely an “usher” to these bigger and more profound changes. The full moon in Taurus shows the moon conjoining Uranus (the ruler of Aquarius) and surprise! Uranus is associated with all the surprises and disruptions to the norm! This is also living itself out before your very eyes.
Important segue as I share a little bit of my “as I write this…”
…an unusually beautiful sunrise emerged, followed by some light rain, and a rainbow. 🌈 The pictures are included.
The rain was unexpected (and the combo with sun, so pretty, unexpected).
Last week we discovered (and this week) we had to repipe our house. The 87 year old iron pipes were in pieces, had several breaks and leaks and there was root encroachment.
There were times when they dug under the house and the smell of dirt felt lively and enriching to my nose, inside my house, the soil and subterranean influence from underground was being refreshed and turned over anew. Brand new piping was fabricated to supply our vital waterways into our house.
The piping situation was unexpected! (Uranus)
With Pluto we will find ourselves digging deep for transformation around the subjects of the future, our ideals as a collective human species, and the role of technology in how we integrate with the planet. Are we indeed, nature? I would say, yes. My Taoist influences direct me to the nature of my own existence as both mundane and transcendent. I am an animal for the most part. I am not separate from nature. I’ll be tapping into more of my feral ways in the days to come, I’m sure. Hint: Aries is gonna be big soon. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac and the spring into action head-first archetype. Aries is a bit feral.
The next big profound shifts are due in 2025, then quickly followed by and leading up to 2026, where Aries will be discussed more.
Whether we liked the outcome or not of the U.S. elections, the changes are going to be profound (Pluto). We will be digging into our humanity as individuals and as a collective (Aries and Aquarius), excavating our inner and outer resources for survival and for meaning and purpose. It will be a time for grit.
Now for the sentinel change that is Neptune. (yes, I am making a metaphor of our Transpersonal planets as sentinels. They are watchers and ushers.) They lead the changes we will be taking on. How we deal with the changes, though, is up to us.
On March 30, 2025, Neptune will be crossing into Aries. This domain is the home of fire. The reason this is much a big deal is the themes are lasting. Neptune will be in Aries until March 23, 2039.
If that wasn’t enough to showcase the movements of the heavens being a bit dramatic, to say the least, then you would be not surprised to learn that Saturn will conjunct Neptune in Aries on February 20, 2026. Still, if this wasn’t enough to knock your socks off, then it’s important to know that this exact conjunction will take place at 0 degree of Aries. The beginning of all beginnings. Pluto will still be in the early degrees of Aquarius at 4 degrees and the two signs get along. They are aren’t known to be especially inviting though (we will have a nice Jupiter in Cancer transit for that lasting 1 year). The planet of structure, discipline and achievement, delays and traditions (Saturn) will be fusing with Neptune, planet of dissolution, imagination, vision, spirituality and the other worldly. Neptune is all about illusions and art/artifice and Saturn is all about “reality.” It seems like the ultimate “choose your reality, wisely” pair. Let’s go to work on those dreams or bust the illusions and delusions.
Neptune is posing for you with a wink from this full moon today because, it’s in its domicile of Pisces, meanwhile sextile to Pluto.
Pluto is also saluting 🫡 with this full moon as it “prepares” a tour of duty in Aquarius. Pluto is trine to the Uranus/Moon combo which is an agreeable energetic flow.
Mercury in Sagittarius continues to oppose Jupiter. There’s a lot of mental reflection and communication around beliefs and broadcasting on a large scale. Obviously the polls were off in the election run up. There’s much dissatisfaction with a great portion of the electorate, despite that the “people have spoken.” I think the majority are still in shock. That’s how I read this. Shock.
Fact or fiction with all the things we are processing as a collective, the astrology is clear. It’s not a perfect discreet language but the symbols and the themes are fairly consistent. How we choose to act and where we choose to act out remaining power is all about our individual abilities and capacities. Will we rise to these challenges?
As the future has a lot of Aquarius and Aries in it, the spark of life is going to be challenged but not vanquished. Your spark is not small, nor gentle and fragile, your spark is one with humanity. You are many.
How will you carry on in these days of immense change and instability? As you can see, Uranus has been transiting Taurus (the guardian of stability), and we have had so many changes ushered in to break that stability and beg us to look at our values and resources in the face of these disruptions.
The future will belong to the individual (Aries) AND the collective (Aquarius). How will we embrace new values and comforts (Taurus). This full moon in Taurus is a time for assessment but it still might be too soon for the stir-up is still really yet to begin.
I wish you all well as we navigate the questions and answers that arise. May you be healthy. May you be whole. May you survive. ✊🏼
With deepest respect for you and your journey through the cosmos on spaceship Earth! Ka 💗
This piece, I just finished it. I see two different beings who are standing back to back with the landscapes within each of them unique and enchanting. They are complementary figures. The smaller (perhaps younger) head on the right has more of horizontal landscape inside. The one on the left (the elder) has vertical lines of energy, suggesting that the inner landscape is even more inward and downward facing/within. One could even suggest that this figure is facing the past (left) and the figure on the right is facing the future, the East—what is new on the horizon. They both share a central golden beam. It supports them. The swirls guide the eyes off of the image and into the beyond, so the movement just flows. Green provides this on-going, penetrating fertility.
As we move closer to the Full Moon in Virgo, with a very strong Piscean chart (Sun, Saturn, Mercury, Neptune) all in Pisces opposes the Full Moon in Virgo.
The 3 planets (Stellium) in Aquarius are Pluto, Mars/Venus are squaring Uranus and Jupiter in Taurus.
That’s where the chart might demonstrate some need to actively balance the energies. However upon closer inspection there are natural harmonies with the trine aspects of the Pisces Sun/Saturn to the Taurusian placed planets of Jupiter and Uranus which are also in loose trine aspect to the Virgo Moon.
There is opportunity for the values and needs to be balanced spiritually through the habits and rituals of the Virgo moon. That is, this —and arguably all Virgo Full Moons—offer more awareness of health and service as it relates to the Spiritual goals, bonded with the material goals. It is time to unify and make more ‘realized’ the material relationship we have with spirituality. It’s simply not just ethereal, elusive Piscean experiences. How we engage with the real world, the Earth signs, greatly influences what we manifest. Use your solar discipline to ground with your ideals so you are living as a demonstration of your highest values and not the ones imposed on you by the pressures of the culture and society. Make your dreams real by developing rituals and habits which demonstrate with regularity your spiritual commitment.
Finally, this North Node transit with Chiron in Aries (Ruler of 1st house of identity), gives us a bit of meditation, for the willing, on how self-identity has been both wounded/healed.
My family has been and will be adding more meditation to our daily routine as a shared activity. How will you intentionally share your dreams/Spirituality (Pisces) with your community (Aquarius), in a practiced way (Taurus) with service/dedication (Virgo)?
Click the picture/link above to support and see the whole Cheer Peppers Team!
Narrative discussion:
This exercise of posting every day with the theme of a Tao Te Ching passage to be revealed at the end of the month… is a lot of fun 🤩
I’m already beginning to come up with a theme for the month of December. Reading blogs and interacting adds a lot to my life. During this time of holiday seasons, being cozy at home stirs my senses with creativity and rest: the perfect combination. I feel so comfortable and at home. I’m nurturing this feeling by being in this space at this time of year. Meanwhile I’m planning book reading from lovely authors I know through blogging as well.
Astrology:
New moon in Scorpio ♏️ is coming up on November 13. It touches exactly our family’s charts, so it’s a pleasure to share as the cosmic growth continues to happen. Mars features strongly and pulling an opposition to Uranus in Taurus ♉️. Uranus is known as the “unpredictable” one, expressly surprises us in ways that can fast-track our path forward and/or toward enlightenment. Jupiter shares the sign Taurus ♉️ during this transit. The energy is all about building and expansion, solidity—and, it’s opposite. We are undergoing deep transformational processes (but I don’t think you need me to tell you that.).
Why astrology? It’s “added.” It’s a bonus way to track your journey. After all, the Earth is flying through the solar system. It’s natural to look out the window and read the signs. Sure, you can do it all with your eyes closed (but that’s just not as much fun!)
I wanted to check in with you and did an oracle reading for you! Below is your oracle reading, and keep reading because this is a pretty special post. I will touch upon the final Lunar Eclipse in Taurus coming up this October 28, 2023, the passing of “Uncle Ed,” and more, like Cheer Peppers’ November (most unofficial) blogging challenge. So keep your reading glasses on, and your eyes ablaze!
Join me in my waka (canoe)through these sparkling and refreshing journey waters, so you can get just what you need!
This reading is from the Oracle Card Deck called Chakra by Tori Hartman:
Princess of Amber, I quietly sizzle and shine:
The legend: The Princess of Amber spends her time volunteering. No person nor task is beneath her; she loves her subjects and looks after them like a loyal servant. When the newspapers criticize her, her family begs her to behave more “like royalty.” She refuses. The people hold a free election and, to the surprise of aristocracy, vote for the Princess as their new leader.
Inspiration: You are correct to feel passionate about your position. Follow your instincts, for you know intuitively what is right for you.
Personal inquiry: Are my daily actions supporting my real passion? What am I willing to stand for?
Key Ideas: Following your passion; being authentic; taking a stand for yourself; being acknowledged; feeling ostracized by family/friends; being emotionally centered; strong feminine energy; a happy outcome
Toni Hartman
Time is of the Essence; and so many of us only have so much.
There are many times I’ve been asked about the shamanic aspects of my Spiritual path. The truth is that: All the stuff of consciousness is the same stuff. I became “Ka Malana” when I traveled to Kauai in 2011, when I was guided there. One of the most authentic and truly committed Kahuna I met there, became my “Uncle Ed.” I’ve only shared the story in bits and pieces because it feels more truthful than if I had made up one story by writing it all out at once. If I tried to express the real magic that I am a part of, it would seem like I’m writing a make believe story. But, i’m not. A real, authentic Kahuna, and perhaps even the last Menehune, was someone I spent some quality time with, at the heiau (Hawaiian temple in the woods). This temple is known as the Yoni of the Kauai and where the souls come in. It’s a very special place, and he was the land guardian. He will continue to be the land guardian.Here’s a link to a post I wrote from back then, where I only wrote a snippet. It was also around the New Moon in Taurus, 2011.
Dear Uncle Ed,
Thank you for your mana. Your heart. Your absolute commitment to the Hawaiian People and bringing the Polynesians together to reclaim their tremendously important legacy of balancing the planetary energy in co-creation with Spirit.
Edward Robert Kaiwi, 1947 ~ 2022 (age 75)
This past week one of my community members notified me that Uncle Ed had passed away last year. She asked if I knew. Very relevant question. There is a part of me that heard this for the first time. Then, a couple of hours later, I got the sensation: You knew, you just couldn’t process it at the time. So, there you go. From his obituary:
Edward Robert Kaiwi, 1947 ~ 2022 (age 75)
We are sad to announce the death of Edward Robert Kauhi-a-hiwa Kaiwi, who passed away peacefully at his home in Anahola Heiau, Kauai on September 7, 2022.
Ed was a federally designated Traditional Native Hawaiian Cultural Practitioner and taught his knowledge to all who came with honor and respect.
He was a proud U.S. Marine Corp Veteran of the Vietnam War and was decorated with the Purple Heart and National Defence Service Medals.
He was also a genealogist and reconnected Hawaiians with their family land in his life long practice of Hawaiian Sovereignty.
Ed is survived by his children Tahamaruihi(Evan),Teatatanaroa(Carly), Wahine O Te Tai(Brendan), Taihonu; the mother of his children, Leslie O’Brien; his grandchildren, Lokelani and Kekoa; Also by his brother Hank(Mona) and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his mother Naomi Kaiwi, his father Henry Kaiwi, brothers Paul, Henry, and sister Stephanie.
A hui hou.
Jupiter taken by Juno
I thought it was fitting to put this gorgeous picture of Jupiter, right after Uncle Ed’s photo. He indeed is and was a Spiritual Leader. This is Jupiterian in so many ways. The beauty is that Jupiter will feature nicely in this Final Taurus Lunar Eclipse (until the next set after 18/19 years, or 1 score to bring back the 20 year unit with Abraham Lincoln). My parenthetical area reminded me of a quote from Unc Ed’s legacy book:
Now, for that astrology/astronomy and the Spiritual significance of this Final Lunar Eclipse in Taurus.
Chart from Cafeastrology
We astrologers are probably not gonna be surprised that Pluto is featuring pretty strongly here too. I mean, squaring the moon and the Mercury/Mars conjunction with is so close to the Sun in what?!, Yes, you guessed it: Scorpio. Scorpio and Pluto are almost one of a kind 😉 So, if you think you are gonna be surface-skimming anything in the coming days (and you aren’t surprised because you’ve already been being embraced by this energy) you’d be remiss and basically you would probably be living on another planet or in another plane of existence–You’re welcome for getting you this message, anyways!! This is probably the most important blog post I’ve ever written. Venus is trining Uranus and Jupiter during the new moon. So, Taurus is still strong here, in the final Taurus eclipse.
What can you most stubbornly hang onto that will make your passion the prize? Having passion, on its own, IS THE PRIZE. What can you let go of, to make more room for your passion? Finally, your passion has adopted you, and you are now living exactly for it. It is your true source. What’s your next step?
I will leave all these words with you above and possibly come back to edit later. Time is fleeting, and I have other important work to get to. This can be a dream life, a real life dream. A dreaming life. What is shamanic? All of that.
Mahalo for Reading!
Next up…. I am going to try to work with the daunting task of posting and supporting every day in November, through Cheers Peppers Nano Poblano. Every year, I meet some new bloggers who I’m glad I’ve met, and life is better for it! ❤
Image credits: Candlelight and Wine, by Ralph Hocker, Acrylic ― 11″ x 14″ www.sevenlivelyartists.com/hocker.html ARIADNE, VENUS AND BACCHUS BY TINTORETTO (1518-1594) “Beautiful colors can be bought in the shops on the Riato, but good drawing can only be bought from the casket of the artist’s talent with patient study and nights without sleep.” ~ Tintoretto (such is the […]
This is another earlier blog post of my mine. I reached into my archives where I wrote about astrology; this was before I branched out and wrote poetry, and shared my art, and got more social about my life and my journey. I published a book since I was blogged, yay! I like to blog about ALL THE THINGS! New material is coming in 2023–but right now, this is my blog celebration. I teamed up with Cheer Peppers because I wanted to blog for the whole month with a team. I like to share space with people and I’m so glad that you have decided to read my writing, and truly: I am glad you decided to be part of my world. You matter, and I appreciate you!!! ❤ Please enjoy! Another busy back-to-back day today 🙂 I’ll be around to visit you again very soon!
A little bonus today that I’m excited about is that I linked all my Taurus posts to celebrate this Full Moon Eclipse in Taurus we are currently experiencing.
This first one below—> This was my life-changing Kauai experience when I got my spiritual name Ka Malana. It was a short post. I was very busy experiencing it all. I remember the most beautiful New Moon in Taurus ceremony on the beach… just amazing. The order of the blog posts is from oldest to most recent.
This one I didn’t even get to re-read, but I’m in need of re-reading it, *and* slowing down. Whatever that means! Felicia, our aloe, passed away when we moved South to San Diego…. Felicia never recovered. 😦
Click this for the photo–I also have blogged “some” of my photography in the past. Long time readers of this blog will remember my photography periods. I’m not sure why this link isn’t showing a preview picture of my post.
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
The moon is in Virgo now (Moon trine Sun) and my attention can easily be turned to the affairs of my daily life. My own personal challenges are stabilizing again and the sunny San Diego sky is shining in my living room. My orchids and Felicia, my special aloe, are happy. One of my friends really enjoys the acronym “ADL.” I suppose, so do I.
Activities of Daily Living are those things that you do that can also be considered ritual. Our ADLs relate to health, what we eat, how we preserve space/energy (Taurus). Some people have very fixed patterns here, and others don’t. There’s really no “good” or “bad” to it – it’s mostly about how well it suits you as an individual, and then, of course within your surroundings (the other people, plants, and animals with whom you are in relationship).
After all, one thing is defined in relationship to another, so I’m talking about all the Earth signs, together.
Taurus-Virgo-Capricorn Triangle
We can build trust/substance/material (Taurus) from our ADLs (Virgo) by some way or method. Here’s another natural trine: the earth elements. It doesn’t matter what the transits are doing, if you can tap into the natural trines for flow, the natural squares for challenge and growth, the oppositions for clarity, and the grand-crosses for ass-kicking-wake-up-a-thons (square-square-square-square) – four 90 degree angles or two lines perpendicular to one another makes ONE beautiful cross.
Finally, to close the triangle part of the discussion, let’s add-in Capricorn – structure. Capricorn represents the “bones,” or the scaffolding of life. If you like to mix metaphors as I do for fun, personal entertainment, and/or experimental reasons.
Walking Meditation – Going slowly
I choose walking meditation to contemplate each step, as my healing (Virgo) takes place. A special ‘Thank you’ to anyone who supported me with kind vibes, thoughts, or left little notes to me wishing me well. The first time around (with the pain), I just dealt with it “all by myself,” preferring to share it with only one or two people. But, as a friend told me yesterday, this is just what we do…as friends. So, thank you for being present with me through any ups and downs. Heres or theres.
Finally, as a result of today’s blog and thought processes, I was able to make the following discovery
A couple of blogs ago I wrote about Mars and initiation. I’m not sure if it will become a series or not, but it’s definitely a theme in action. Now, as I look at the New Moon, it’s filled to the brim with Aries/Mars energy!
First, the New Moon is sandwiched between the Sun (definition of New Moon in astrology is Sun/Moon conjunction) and Uranus in the Mars-ruled sign of Aries. Second, the New Moon opposes retrograde Mars in Libra (Aries counterpart).
Mars in Libra conjuncts the N.Node of the Moon, and is opposite the New Moon. The node is the point where the moon’s path crosses the ecliptic, and it indicates the evolutionary direction—in evolutionary astrology. The North node is the future trajectory, while the South Node describes the evolutionary past of the soul. With the Mars in Libra conjunction to the transiting N. Node, we are sent right back to Venus (Libra-ruled) to connect the dots.
Venus and Mars are the dance partners in this show of planetary design. The themes of right/left, male/female, passive/active, etc. The main theme is initiation. Ask yourself how you have started relationships (Venus) in the past (S. Node in Aries). Transiting Venus in Aquarius will help you to be more objective about what you see when you look. It will help you to keep a reasonable distance to examine your relationships with a “cool” mind.
Venus and Mars are in sextile to each other during this New Moon, showing that masculine and feminine energies unite in relative balance, with a tad bit of work.
Nevertheless, the new moon brings us right into the larger pattern of Pluto square Uranus, since Uranus is conjunct the New Moon, while squaring Pluto and Jupiter. You know, the biggie that everyone is talking about? Seven exact aspects spanning 2012-2015, transforming everything… What’s Jupiter’s role in this?
The Jupiter and Pluto opposition is asking us, “what’s possible?” and likewise, “what is impossible?” This is your chance to expand (Jupiter) your home (Cancer). Also, you can transform (Pluto) the structure (Capricorn) of your work, your business.
The presence of Saturn (in mutual reception with Pluto) still calls for restraint, and boundaries. Why? Because, we are still working out the negotiations (Libra), and involved in deep processes of self-(re)discovery (Uranus), for something that will be fairly long-lasting (Saturn).
When we have such intense aspects within the Aries/Libra archetypes, we want balance but not the stagnation that comes with perfect balance. I’m sure those very Virgo-identified are wondering why perfection has been “taken off the table” for such a long time. In other words, why are we working so hard?! Well, Capricorn wants results, measurable and substantiated results – and Pluto carries the wreaking ball of transformation, er… the hidden key.
When Pluto is in an Earth sign, all the Earth signs are affected, since they form a natural trine. Re-forming the Earth is happening: that means how we serve others, our work (Virgo), and our values (Taurus) are moving with Pluto in Capricorn. They are like the arms that have to move with the body. Remember, we need a body to drive the chariot – to light the kingdom of heaven on Earth.
Image credits: Candlelight and Wine, by Ralph Hocker, Acrylic ― 11″ x 14″ www.sevenlivelyartists.com/hocker.html
ARIADNE, VENUS AND BACCHUS BY TINTORETTO (1518-1594)
“Beautiful colors can be bought in the shops on the Riato, but good drawing can only be bought from the casket of the artist’s talent with patient study and nights without sleep.” ~ Tintoretto (such is the tenacity of Saturn and the depth of Pluto, influencing this full moon)
As I sit to write about the full moon in Taurus on November 17, 2013 PST at 7:16am and UT 15:16, I’m savoring some wonderful aspects. Mercury is trine Neptune after just turning direct in the sky on the 11th, providing forward momentum in the mental clarity department. Mercury and Neptune are conjunct the North Node (the future direction), and so some of the fog and uneasiness of the solar eclipse experience is lifting. Also, Neptune will be turning direct on the 14th of the month—bringing some “AHA” moments and spiritual insights during a time of continued dramatic and dynamic change (Uranus square Pluto).
*Sigh* Taurus is an energy for sensuality. It is the experience of the material world of the senses, of the sounds, of tastes, the smells, and the touches. It is the ability to savor a thing or two.
Sure, we still have Saturn conjunct the Sun, keeping us busy working and keeping us from indulging too much (Taurus). Saturn is, however, sending super-friendly trine vibes to Pluto/Venus (which are currently side-by-side), Jupiter, and Mars at the full moon. I try to remind everyone that Saturn isn’t “the bad guy.” In this case, Saturn is still keeping things strong while other planetary actors are involved in some ruckus. Whenever Venus is aspected like it is, relationships are effected.In this case, it looks like relationships are being re-arranged. With Venus square Uranus, the keyword is WEIRD.
Huge transformations in the relationships department–not just romantic, these are transformations that are long overdue and likely to be long-lasting. Mars in Virgo is where to put the energy, into exercise, work, and analysis. Virgo symbolizes the mentality, using discretion and clarity. It is also an earth sign which goes so nicely with our earthy Taurus full moon. One way or another, this full moon will stir your senses to eat, decorate, and/or make love. ~maybe even desire chocolate 🙂 Taurus (by itself) is a lazy energy, a slow moving and reliable sort of settle-down-and-get-cozy, energy. It’s a good time to write poetry, enjoy music, savor good cooking, and take in all the smells of autumn…
Fiesta Estrellas 
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