……. Gotta make the morning last…..

Mars turns retrograde December 20th in the sign of Leo. The combination of this planet of action with this outgoing fire sign has certainly kept things lively since mid October.  Mars will retrograde all the way back to its Leo starting point of 0 degrees before it turns direct again March 10, 2010.

photo by jfernandezcrespo at Flickr

The house in your chart where transiting Mars is making its station has probably been an area of life where you’ve made progress, moved forward. Don’t be surprised if you loose some ground in that area during the retrograde. I’m not saying to expect it, just allow for the ebb and flow, the natural cycles of life. Better to use the energy to your benefit than fight against it.

You can relax a bit, recharge and rejuvenate. The spring will be a great time to start those new projects. For now, slow down, enjoy finishing what you’ve started, breathe and take care of yourself.

Have you had an Astrological checkup lately? You might want one….every 2,000 miles is good or at least when things start to go bonkers.

BY WSILVER FROM FLICKR

The Solar Return is a great check up. It occurs at your birthday and it shows which areas of your life will undergo the most change in the coming birth year.  It also shows the area that needs the majority of your focus for the year, the area where your attention will yield the most bang for the buck, so to speak. Areas of life such as Relationships, Career, Money, Travel, Creativity, Going back to school, Home life and others show up in the Birthday Solar Return. Smooth sailing or bumpy ride, its a useful tool for those who like a “heads up”. Action is better than reaction and knowing what’s on the agenda helps you remain confident as you embrace your personal new year.     

Resistance is futile and a hard way to go. However, embracing the lessons of Saturn brings stability.

While Saturn is in Libra, it will be a real task master for many of us, but especially for people born under the signs of Libra, Aries, Capricorn and Cancer. This energy requires us to pull our weight, take responsibility, be cautious, get organized, be patient and build a solid foundation for the way we live, relate with others and work. There often seems to be loss connected with Saturn. I think of Saturn as an energy that will ‘weed the garden of your life’, tossing those people and things aside that no longer serve your direction or highest good, or maybe they just need to move along their own path.  Either way, its hard to let go (that’s an understatement) and you can certainly refuse, but it usually doesn’t bode well to stay in the past when your path lies ahead.

For those born under the sign of Libra, Saturn will interject these lessons as it conjuncts your Sun and other planets in this partnership sign of balance and harmony.

And just in case you’re thinking, “Whew, glad I’m not a Libra.”, those with the Sun, Moon or planets in Aries will deal with these same energies as Saturn simultaneously opposes Aries….. The same lessons are required, however, they can appear to take the form of person opposing person, car opposing car, person opposing wall, employer opposing employee (and vice versa).

Saturn in Libra squares the signs of Capricorn and Cancer. Squares are felt as internal conflicts. So with this one, you come to terms with Saturn’s lessons within yourself. Little note, when dealing with yourself, remember the stubborn or fearful ego self will not be nearly as insightful and helpful as your higher self.

Even with Saturn’s lessons, I prefer the less painful path of empowerment. Growth and progress don’t have to come through suffering. My method of choice is information, inspiration, spiritual awareness and a shift in consciousness.

* If you need help dealing with some of these issues, please contact me. You are never alone.

I’m teaching in Pasadena this week and next. Come explore and discover new skills that will make a difference in the way you live. Heart & Soul Healing Arts Center, 1167 N. Lake Avenue, Pasadena,  CA 91104

ACTIVATING ENERGY SHIFTS: Tuesday Dec 8th, 7 – 9 pm

Have you struggled with “Who am I?”  Join us as we enter an altered state to connect with our higher self. You will learn how to go into this state on your own. The vastness and the light & love of our own being is inspiring.  It is empowering to see, feel, experience who we really are.
$20   Must call (626) 798-8337 to reserve your seat, class size is limited.

There’s a lot going on the day of the Gemini Full Moon Dec 1st or 2nd, depending on where you live. And of course, that would make perfect sense with “variety” being a Gemini preference. Full Moon energy is great for wrapping things up and Uranus in Pisces ends its retrograde and goes direct. How’s that for synchronicity?

Whoo hoo! Finally, no planets retrograde for awhile. What you see is what you get. But keep your eyes open anyway and stay on top of things because Pluto and Saturn continue their “square” dance. The cleaning up, clearing out and restructuring continues… on a private and personal level as well as public.

MoonRise by Gwinnie2006 as seen on Flickr

Photo from Flickr by Listen to Reason

Our New Moon on Monday is in Scorpio which is a great energy for change – the deep transforming kind, rising like an eagle, taking to the sky for a larger view and soaring far above the upheaval that may lay below. Its about taking the high road. Transforming from the lower self ego to the higher self, our divine self. Its about uncovering the hidden meanings of life and the infinite power we have at our fingertips as spiritual beings. Its about discarding anything that would hold us back from discovering our heartfelt passions and purpose.

This New Moon gets a little added energy from Uranus in Pisces. Uranus also brings the energy of change, often creative and inventive, usually sudden and “out of the blue”. I’d say just be ready for anything. Pisces energy can add imagination and intuition to the mix and Pisces waters can help dissolve those limiting things we discarded.

Neptune in Aquarius also aspects the New Moon. Neptune rules Pisces and Aquarius is ruled by Uranus. These energies have already been brought into the equation but this aspect is a square, meaning internal conflict and friction (hey, without friction the car wouldn’t stay on the road, right?). And with all this water we could easily hydro-plane without a little friction for grounding.

There is strong healing energy available to us in this New Moon of transformation.

On Monday evening, drop down out of your head and into your heart when you make your list of New Moon desires. What do you want to create, build, experience, learn, share, contribute, receive? Put your desires out there with passion and then release them to soar on the currents of infinite possibilities.

In Burbank, CA, I’m holding an interactive, experiential class designed to develop and strengthen your natural intuition. Lots of fun, a safe environment and a chance to meet like minded individuals.

We are all intuitive beings. Developing your intuition to a trust level translates to your guidance in everyday life and opens a whole new experience of personal success and fulfillment.

Scheduled dates during the holidays are: 11/15, 12/6, and 1/10. Sundays, 2-4pm $20 per session.

Call/email no later than Saturday, Nov 14th, for specific directions.

Join us for a great time of discovery!

phone: 850-321-4901 /  email: beverlylavender@gmail.com

Saturn’s on my Saturn, Pluto’s on my Chiron.

My heart hears the siren, of change, change, change.

Parts of me must heal, So I can move beyond.

But my heart fears the song, of change, change, change.

Who am I really? What’s the key?

My heart sings ‘just be’ the change, change, change.

My birth chart shows a cardinal square which involves Uranus (unexpected happenings) opposing Chiron (achilles heel), both squaring Mars (action) and its opposing Saturn (structure, responsibility). This cardinal square, when activated, throws me into a whole new chapter of my life, actually more like a whole new book. I feel like I’ve lived several very different lifetimes within this one.

Anyway, it was recently activated when the current transitting Saturn/Pluto square collided with two of my strategic spots, Saturn and Chiron.

On top of this, our full moon (fullness, fruition, completion) in Taurus (self-worth, value, money) shined brightly last Monday, Nov 2nd and ….. BAM!

Catapulted out of the old and into the new… Still a little blurry-eyed about this new adventure, not knowing what’s around the next bend, but I am willing to embrace it and listen carefully to the guidance of Infinite Love and Wisdom as I go.

Jupiter, at 17 degrees Aquarius, goes direct in a few days, October 12th. Have you started feeling some optimism, hope, and sensing a light up ahead? Jupiter represents a feel good energy, cheerful and lighthearted, all about bigger, better, expansion, expectation and success.  In fact, if not held in check just a bit you could prematurely splurge…. Hate when that happens.

This is a good time to pursue your ideals of how life could be, expand on those mind bending ideas and dreams, land that new job or expand on the old one, know your truth and speak it, travel, explore new places and new consciousness raising ideas.

At this same time Venus and Pluto trine each other. Venus represents love, beauty and pleasure and a trine is a beneficial aspect…. and anytime powerful Pluto is involved there is intensity, passion and usually drama, maybe even compulsions and obsessions. Even if you adhere to “there is no such thing as too much of a good thing”… when Pluto enters the picture fasten your seat belts.

We have a Full Moon in (11*) Aries this weekend.

Have you noticed how fired up people are? Be careful on the road.  Aries energy is fiery, assertive, active, take charge. It can even be impulsive, explosive, aggressive.  Repressed anger can make its way to the surface and easily ignite a situation. This fire energy can be used destructively …or wisely and constructively. Be aware and handle with care!

For people feeling stuck, anger can energize them, bringing them out of a funk, getting their motor running when they need something to snap them out of depression or stagnation.

I’ve noticed many people this week feeling the need to make personal changes. If you’ve been sitting still or holding your position even though you sense the need to make personal changes, you may find this Full Moon propelling you forward, giving you the impetus and/or courage to change it, make it, start it, clean it, finish it, say it, move it, hug it, love it, sponsor it, support it, celebrate it….. “just do it”.

In the midst of all this action…. keep in mind, we have a Saturn/Uranus opposition in the heavens.  Adding to this active Aries Full Moon, “expect the unexpected” (Uranus) applied to physical structures; bodies, vehicles, buildings (Saturn)….. leads me to say Stay Alert! Pay attention. Be aware of your surroundings. Drive carefully, Watch what you’re doing.

Once I literally ran into a wall rendering me unconscious during a time with this mixture of energies present. My emotional state was aggravation and frustration about a family situation, and I was reading a piece of paper while walking up to a cafe from the parking lot, didn’t see the curb, jammed my foot into it, falling forward I tried to get my feet back under me as quick as possible which threw me forward into head butting a concrete wall, which immediately knocked me unconscious and flipped me backwards flat on my back, right in front of all those people trying to have a nice lunch at the cafe. I came to, circled by those frightened, concerned strangers asking me questions that I couldn’t quite understand much less answer.  If you were there, yep, that was me and I want to say thanks for your compassion and help. I would have expressed my appreciation at the time had I been able to find my thoughts and tongue.

So often I learn things the hard way. hmmmm

On the up side, used with conscious awareness:

1. Applying the energy of taking initiative (represented by Aries) 2. to inventive, unique, unexpected ideas/concepts/happenings (Uranus) 3. to the construct of our bodies, buildings, vehicles, homes, planet, etc. (Saturn) ….. 4. holds unlimited potential for making needed changes, discovering creative and healthier ways to live and solving challenges.

I can get safely fired up for that!