Take a peek with me through this mystical lens of the Pisces New Moon.  A cosmic offering allowing us all to “spiritualize” our lives by aligning to what is “true.” I talk about this lunation cycle, the fixed star Fomalhaut, all of the other planets in the sky, and much more.  Hope you enjoy!

Pura vida!

sOma

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art: Josh Davis

Music: Xavier Rudd and Lykke Li

“For this was Seynt Valentyne’s Day. When every foul cometh ther to choose his mate,”

Parliament of Fowls , Chaucer

…in our morning Yoga class here in Cabuya, there was a sound of a “strange cat” purring the loudest motor I’ve ever heard in the top of a palm outside the studio.  Having no idea of the origin of the sound, I intuited it to be some sort of Valentines day nature call from a unknown tropical source.  At the end of the class it was revealed: 2 Herons flirting in the top of a Coco tree! Ahhhh Amor! Chaucer was right: Birds find there mates on this blessed day.

Valentines day has never been my fondest “holiday.” Maybe its because I’m always in some confusing entanglement with my heart around this time of year.  But even when I’m with someone, it’s never been fuel for expressing more affection than I already do in my day to day exploration of Love. In looking at the aspects of the planets in the sky today, I immediately got a dark and inspired feeling about this Valentines day.  Having read a wonderfully revealing article on the history of Valentine’s day (Here) the ominous energy increased.  Who would have thought that the origin’s of this Lover’s day had its origin in bloody sacrifice, flagellation by cultish men of Rome chasing scared women, beheadings, and Chaucer poems.  Mmmmm…..In the sky today Venus squares Pluto, the Scorpio Moon turns into a 3rd quarter phase “pilgrim,” and Mercury gets lost between Neptune and Chiron in Pisces.  An interesting astrological gestalt for the day red, chocolate, and heart felt love letters.

Astrological breakdown

Venus is still degrees away from Uranus in Aries (see: Reflections of Venus) being electrified and persistently asked, “Who am I really?” She (Venus) is thus being activated by the world-changing square between Pluto and Uranus.  Many Astrologer’s are deeming this the “2012 aspect.” I feel it has everything to do with facing Fear (Pluto) and transforming in the space it creates. By doing this work we either get to experience a “breakdown or a breakthrough” (Uranus) according to our responses to this Fear! Whether we have a Valentine today or not, I feel it most important to still be internalized, and asking ourselves all the important questions: “Am I dependent on another person?; “What do they represent that I’m not”; “How can I internalize them and become them?”; “Why do I long for Love?”

The Scorpio Moon is in it’s 3rd quarter phase, dying and waning towards the next New Moon in Pisces.  This strengthens the collective need to be internal and deeply reflecting.  Steven Forrest calls this Moon “the Pilgrim.” I love this.  It’s like a pilgrim of the heart and mind.  In this lunar phase we are cutting ties with the world and looking for better techniques which assist us in understanding our inner universe.  Meditation? Dream yoga? Art? Music? Writing? Whatever suits you best, do it. Of course, many of us will be spending most of the day cooing our mates, but just make sure that by the end of it, you make some sacred time for yourself to reflect on all you have said, done, and promised.  You are the ultimate valentine!

The last aspect I would like to mention is Mercury in Pisces, transiting between Neptune and Chiron.  The Messenger is just a degree away from where the upcoming New Moon will take place at 2 degrees of Pisces.  Mercury is said to be “fallen” in Pisces (weakened).  I can see how this is true in many ways.  There is a lack of boundaries to Pisces.  It’s an infinite ocean of ideas and dreams.  The Messenger can easily get lost in chasing dreams, this thought and that one, and being influenced by other people’s perspectives.  Try not to be naive today.  Be careful with promises and plans.  Stay cosmic, yet stand true.  Mercury in Pisces is wonderful for activating the higher centers of our consciousness, thus its perfect for meditation.

Despite all the challenges in the sky today, it doesnt mean we are destined for broken hearts and chocolate tears.  The Venus square Pluto may bring up some deep emotions though–even some secrets that have been festering in your lover’s heart.  Invite them in. The truth will always set you free.  Once you get it, at the end of the day, while laying in bed–whether alone or in the arms of a lover—allow Mercury to travel the infinite ocean of your imagination, and think: How cool it is to love and be loved.  Agape!

….if you would like to explore Venus deeper in your own chart–both natally and via transit–you can contact me for a Venus specific reading, and we can distill the true nature of your Goddess within…..KOSMOGNOSIS@GMAIL.COM

And….a gift from Ray:

Pura Vida,

sOma

WWW.HOLESTOHEAVENS.COM

featured image by Mark Henson

Looking at Death transits is one of the most fascinating aspects of Astrology to me.  Through the transits to a person’s natal chart you can distill all of the aspects which weakened a person’s vital life force. In Whitney’s case, it is no exception to this rule.  She was found dead Saturday afternoon in her hotel room at the Beverly Hilton.  Cause of death still undetermined, yet, speculation speaks to a potential combination of xanax/alcohol and then drowning in a bathtub.  Let’s take a peak through the Astrological lens in the attempt to find out potentially what it was without an autopsy report.

Here are the transits for that day:

(sorry about the blurriness and size; I couldn’t seem to change it.  Hopefully you can zoom. If not, go HERE)

When looking at a Death chart, it is always important to look for 3 main aspects:

1. Transits in the 8th house and the activity of its ruler: The House of “Death”

2. Transits in the 6th house and the activity of its ruler: The House of “Healing”

3. Important planetary returns happening: Cycles ending and beginning

In Whitney’s case, all 3 are highlighted.  First of all, Saturn has been transiting in her 8th house for the last 2 years, having opposed her Moon/Jupiter conjunction and squaring the Nodes of the Moon.  This speaks to karmic–even fated evolutionary lessons–and emotional challenges to an intense degree. The ruler of her 8th house (what facillates Death and Rebirth) is Venus.  Venus had recently moved into Aries to form a conjunction with Uranus (sudden trauma) and opposed her Mars just a day or so before her death. It all speaks to potential accidents (Mars in combination with Uranus via transit being triggered by Venus–the ruler of her 8th house–is an accident signature).

…just one aspect like this isn’t enough to cause death though (I would never predict such a thing).  There has got to be more.

Now we look to the 6th house where we find her Sun and Uranus natally.  Her Sun in Leo rules her 6th house, meaning part of the Self-actualization of her Spirit (Sun) is to learn how to take good care of her body, mind, and spirit.  Via transit, the Sun is found in her 12th house just a few days away from her Saturn and a week after her Sun/Sun opposition (always a challenge for a person in my opinion).  This transit happens every year because the Sun moves around the chart every year, but you can definitely see a foundation being built.  When the Sun illuminates Saturn, it is like a beam of light coming down from the sky showing all of the most challenging karmas we are carrying in our Soul.  The 12th house relates to escapism and drug use.  See where this is going?

….Then we look to important returns

There is nothing exact but there are looming returns in 3 places which relate strongly to the theme we are dealing with.

1. Chiron’s return (you can see Chiron just a few degrees away from her Pisces Asc).  The Ascendant relates to vitality, the body, and our will to live.  Chiron, sometimes deemed “the wounded healer,” brings forth some of the most painful energies in our being.  This becomes readily apparent when he returns to himself around age 50. She was 48!

2. Jupiter’s return which happened last Spring.  Jupiter has a 12 year cycle which relates to expansion and opportunities in life.  Interestingly enough, Jupiter seems to show up in some way in nearly every Death chart I look at. Perhaps an opportunity to try again…in another life?

3. Mars retrograde in Virgo.  Natally, Whitney has Mars in Libra in her 7th house. Mars was just degrees away from returning to himself before he went retrograde a month ago.  Collectively, we are all feeling this one.  When Mars goes retrograde, so too does our energy.  It’s in Virgo, so it relates to the health of our bodies, routines, and services.  Being that it is in her 7th house (the House of Love) it is my guess she was incredibly distraught and angry (Mars) about some dispute with another person–maybe a lover, maybe Bobby?

…the foundation is being built.  Do you see what I see?

Like playing Jenga, there is but one block you pull or add that can tip the whole tower. In Whitney’s case, it was the transiting Moon. Look to her 8th house (again, the House of Death) and you will see how the Moon had entered her 8th house just hours before she was found dead.  I would guess she moved into the afterlife the moment the Moon in Libra entered the house. That’s how these transit’s work.

Take all of this information and add it to the fact that not only was Chiron moving out of the 12th house, but Neptune just moved into Pisces as well, holding hands with Chiron. Feb 3rd was when Neptune moved into Pisces.  It relates to the end of hope and the beginning of truth.  It had been transiting through the house of addiction and escape for most of the 21st century for Whitney.  This coincides with many of the years of her addictions (though I will admit, I don’t know much about her life. This is just what I gathered). Sun and Mercury were also transiting this house in the hour of her passing!

My conclusion? Drugs and water (12th house themes).  I feel the suspicion of an unconscious stupor caused by drugs, leading to drowning is quite a likely outcome.

It always saddens me to here of a person passing.  But then again, it is such a beautiful moment also.  I’ll admit, a part of me even gets jealous.  This is such a cruel world at times…oOo

R.I.P Whitney.  You shined like a true Leo!

Love,
sOma

KOSMOGNOSIS@GMAIL.COM
(if you would like to set up a reading or ask a question)

www.Holestoheavens.com

“Prometheus is reaching out for the stars with an empty grin on his face.”

Arthur Koestler 

“The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely”

Carl Gustav Jung 

…Adrift.  Roaming new territories we probe sporadically for a sense of safety.  Yet, we find that there is nothing…except the stars! The stars–like forever mother’s and father’s– never let us down….

Venus is now in Aries is holding hands with Uranus (via conjunction) at 2 degrees of Aries.  Having drifted through her exalted sign of Pisces over the past month, she now grabs for fire to create the vision she was granted within her starlight dip within the Divine ocean.  It’s an interesting contrast between Pisces and Aries for the Goddess of Beauty.  In Pisces she is said to be strongest (exalted) because of the feeling of Divine love inherent within the Archetype; she is said to be “in detriment” in Aries because it is the sign of Mars, her opposite.  Perhaps the fireballs of new life and instinctual drive tend to overwhelm and dry up, even overwhelm her sensitive nature. Whatever the case, she is there now and she is merging energies with the Promethean impulses of Uranus.  With empty grins on our faces, we stare into the stars–into ourselves–to accept ourselves completely–with or without a lover by our side.  This is a time of radical self honesty. Dare to be alone.  To reflect.  And remember.

Culture shocked:

Whenever I travel to a new spot, there seems to be three phases I experience:

1. Giddy excitement due to the novelty of the experience……followed by:
2. A hollow void of nothingness–especially when language barriers are present!…..followed by:
3. Complete clarity of purpose.

Having just arrived in Costa Rica for my “working vacation,” I must say, this trip is no exception.  The void hit hard yesterday. Funny, because it occurred side by side with Venus moving into Aries.  In reflecting on Venus’s passage through Pisces (mid Jan) into Aries (yesterday) I realized something profound: This entire trip, in all it’s magic, began to bloom when Venus moved into Pisces.  Now that she has left Pisces and entered Aries, the new life, the novel energies have become manifest.  mMmmmm….Now, think back to mid Jan for yourself, and reflect.  What kind of dream began to marinate back then? What is becoming manifest now?

Being that Venus is also conjunct Uranus in this moment I am writing, it is no wonder that I am failing at prying myself away from the computer (Uranus).  It is a crutch.  A sense of security from my “other life.” It allows me to continue on with my creative process (Venus) and give me radical reflection on my current state (Uranus).  It also brings me connection via email, facebook, and skype.  Luckily, we live in an advanced human reality where we get to stay connected wherever on the planet we are.  Pretty special.  It allows for this process to be much easier on the heart and mind.  Imagining what it would be like 100 years ago, to leave all of those you love and are learning to love, to completely disconnect from the reality you have created….just imagining.  What a beautiful self created trauma that would have been.  And it wasn’t that long ago.  We are so lucky. Totally connected through computers, ever evolving technological monkey’s. I reflect.

…speaking of monkey’s: Have you ever heard a Howler? Now that is some serious shamanic vocal technology.  Nightmare creators!

In the end, we are all alone.  We die alone.  It’s perfect.  Allow the stars to help you remember.  Be radical.  Individuate.  Take your heart to new places, separate from the old and known and move towards the novel.  Establish new relationships.  Redefine the ones you are in.  This is just another step of prep in the first quarter of 2012, making sure we are fully aligned to our truest Individuated state before the cosmic storms–whatever that means.  Don’t be afraid! You are love.  No need to look for it or attach to it in unhealthy ways.  Praise Venus! Praise Uranus! They are walking like weirdo’s in a strange world, talking in a bizarre tongue which nobody could possibly understand.  It’s perfect. They are reflecting, just as we are. May we all find “conclusions.”

…if you would like to know where this is happening in your own chart and how it is affecting you personaly, please contact me at KOSMOGNOSIS@GMAIL.COM.

Love,

sOma

WWW.HOLESTOHEAVENS.COM

featured image: Krystaleyez

other image: Tarazan

“If it’s ka it’ll come like a wind, and your plans will stand before it no more than a barn before a cyclone”
Stephen King, Wizard and Glass

…Last night, I was supposed to be flying to Costa Rica.  Ka saw to it and made it not so. (Ka is the mysterious energy binding all life together–through fate, “will,” and karma).  A wonderfully beautiful snow storm came through Colorado as we arrived at the airport, stirring up much worry about our departure.  The ride was mystical.  Foggy.  Ephemeral.  Strange.  Inspired. Dreamy and activated.  An intuition in me knew we weren’t leaving. But we tried.  In the end, it wasn’t the snow which held back the plane until 2 in the morning, no, it was the 1st officer on our flight who didn’t realize his passport was to expire.  Because of this, a sold out plane of eager travelers were screwed in the middle of the night, and were sent scrambling for a pillow to lay their head on.  It was beyond frustrating yet it was perfect. We were all faced with two choices: Fight it or surrender. Most fought and bitched, of course.  We surrendered without a fight, knowing the perfection of the whole ordeal.  Reason? Blame? It was Neptune, slowly moving it’s way into Pisces.  The only thing we can do is surrender in the presence of Neptune’s waves.  It is Ka’s will.  Through it, we find our way through magical encounter and uncanny coincidence. Still uncertain of what it may be, I have the utmost faith it will reveal itself soon enough.

Neptune enters Pisces today at 2:03 pm EST, after 14 years in Aquarius. It will stay in Pisces, the sign of which it’s the modern ruler, until 2025. I have written much on this topic in the past few month’s (just browse through my latest blog’s and you will find a few treasures).  My favorite quote about Neptune is also the subtitle to Maurice Fernandez’s book on Neptune: “the End of Hope and the beginning of Truth.” Sobering indeed yet liberating.  Aligning to the Truth–or the inevitable–is the only way to navigate these waters, now and perhaps forever. Another interesting quote on Neptune which Eric Francis used on a recent post is “Scratch a Pisces find a Virgo.” It relates to the polarity of Pisces and Virgo (Trust vs. Control).  In Astrology, polarities are everything.  To fully understand an Archetype, you need to understand its opposite.  As Neptune moves into it’s own sign, I feel that uncontrollable, haphazard events are going to materialize in exponential fashion.  The test?: The see the blessing in frustrating disguise.  It’s all happening for a reason.  Ka’s will.  To fight it, is like fighting a riptide.  There is no blessing there, just drowning.  And so, we learn to swim effortlessly in the seas of Pisces.

Chiron also sits in early Pisces via Transit.  Neptune and Chiron have been traveling side by side for quite sometime.  Chiron isn’t just bringing healing to this overwhelming and unpredictable dynamic of Neptune but also grounding.  The ability to recognize the signs.  Chiron, after all, is an immortal Master.  Walking side by side by us during this time (or surfing/swimming), I feel Chiron is offering some vital insight into our current dilemma.  The oceans–both literal and metaphorically speaking–are getting rough; we shall need ground and guidance.  Chiron can show us techniques in finding ecstasy.  Ways in which we can align to the supernatural powers of Neptune in Pisces.  Ways of breathing, dreaming, and moving.  Pay attention.  Don’t get flustered.  We don’t know enough to worry.  Just float down the river and allow the blessing force of the Universe (Pisces) take you away.

….If you have a Neptune in Pisces story you would like to share, please post it on here in the comments.  Also, if you are interested in how this transit if affecting you in your own life, don’t be shy, and contact me at KOSMOGNOSIS@GMAIL.COM….

namaste,

sOma

www.HolestoHeavens.com

“All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.”

J. R. R Tolkien

I relearned an old word recently: Agape. It’s Greek for “unconditional Love.” Love without a hook. Perfection. Divine love.  It is the experience of agape we are all looking for in all the wrong places.  In other people, in novel experiences, in substances, in memories, and in the future.  There are many manifestations of Love, yet, in our culture, in the limitations of the English language, we have but one simple word for it: Love.  Just in the Greek language we find: Personal love as “Eros,” Friendly love as “Philia,” and Family love as “Storge,” to name a few.  Within the Astrology of 2012 (especially this first quarter of the year) the theme of Love is overflowing.  I’m sure you can feel the magic. But how can we ensure agape? How can we transmute and solidify agape within all the various expressions of Love? “From the ashes a fire shall be woken….” “A light from the shadows shall spring.”

Neptune in Pisces: Agape

“…Not all those who wander are lost”

Neptune finally moves into Pisces for good on Friday, the 3rd of Feb. Neptune is the Archetype of Divine Love.  It connects all life together through the mysterious reflective matrixes of Indra’s net.  The Source field. Hardronics. Unified field theory.  Aka.  All of it.  It’s Neptune, the “Mystic Wander.”  When Neptune moves into its own sign of Pisces, it will patiently dissolve imagined boundaries like taffy in the Sun.  Nobody on the planet today has experienced Neptune transiting through Pisces.  The last time Neptune was in its own sign was in the mid 19th century (see my article on this HERE).  Ruling over the Ocean, Dreams, and the Collective Unconscious mind, it is going to be quite an interesting dream we are all about to enter.  The end of hope and the beginning of Truth.  What will the oceans have to say? Mother Nature? What about our hearts and how they long so deeply for connection.  A walkabout perhaps? Will there be a slow and subtle Collective awakening to agape? A collective activation of sorts, that gives us the feeling we have all been waiting for.  Unconditional love which excludes nobody. Or will it be more of an experience felt in the opposite spectrum of Neptune, one involving devastating disillusionment.  As the structures of our current world dematerialize and shift into something more in harmony with the natural world, it is inevitable to have some kind of collective sensation of agape. Like the taste of new world’s promised just a few Neptune in Pisces cycles ago, when Magellan sailed around the world and the New World was also discovered.  It’s the tantalizing feeling of new vista’s enveloping you.  And unlike the past, may we discover these new vista’s and expand into them through our hearts instead of on land, destroying the earth and indigenous people in the process, allowing our mouth’s to fall agape instead, at the awe of new world’s within.  Invite it in. Within all your relationships: human, animal, plant, and planet.

Venus opposing Mars: Compromise 

Venus in Pisces will oppose Mars in Virgo through this upcoming weekend.  The tension created between our inner masculine and feminine may create some challenges in our relationships, creating the need for necessary compromise or perhaps time apart. The nature of an opposition is both like tug of war or an illumination (like a Full Moon).  With the subject is love (Eros) we all must come to terms with differing hearts.    Venus is exalted in Pisces, meaning she has her beautiful pearls for eyes to the skies, dreaming up a better future, perhaps a better lover to explore with; Mars in Virgo, who opposes these visions, these lofty feelings of agape, is also retrograde.  Mars in Virgo is refining our skills, our daily routines, and our personal power.  He doesn’t desire lofty adventure leading to unknown destinations.  Instead, Mars wants for us to ground, sharpen, and build our power through sacred practices with our bodies–like yoga, qi gong, conscious diet, and exercise.  What is the compromise they need to come too? How to dream new and practical routines in our lives without getting swept away.  The work is on the table.  Take the pieces apart. Clean them and reassemble. Build something new. “Renewed shall be the blade that was broken…”

(you can check out my Mars Retrograde article HERE

Saturn retrograde: Just say NO!

“…The old that is strong does not wither”

Saturn, Lord of Time, Karma, and Earth, is also exalted in the sign of Libra, about to go retrograde.  This will happen on February 7th through June 25th 2012. When Saturn goes retro every year, the rate of our life’s activity usually slows down a bit.  The point of this is to aid us in bettering our decision-making skills.  Saturn gives us integrity by standing up straight and staying in alignment with our highest morals and beliefs.  Saying no can be a challenge with Saturn retrograde.  But its important.  Being in Libra, it gives us a chance to draw lines in the sands of our relationships so that we can better use our energies.  I find it interesting that from the time Saturn goes retro, until he goes direct, Mars will be in Virgo–not Retrograde the entire time, but in Virgo.  With the two of them working together, we are receiving some serious support from the challenging Gods (Mars/Saturn), offering us hard-earned support in our metamorphosis.

Imbolc/Valentines day: Gestation of agape

“….Deep roots are not reached by the frost”

The pagan cross quarter day, Imbolc is this February 1st-2nd. Imbolc relates to pregnancy and cultivating an inner fire. During Winter’s long movement, energies gestate “in the belly” (root of Imbolc) so that they may be successfully birthed in the Spring.  This supports the Mars/Saturn retrograde cycles with poetic ease.  It is the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.  Walking side by side with the Warrior through the fields of the Virgin (Virgo) may we breathe deep and pick all the necessary herbs for our late Winter cleansing. Breathing deep, a breath of fire, may we be born again.

And then we have Valentines Day on the 14th. A celebration of Eros (personal Love). A day of sharing our personal love with another through cards, chocolate, and fancy dates.  With the aspects discussed, may I suggest an alternative.  A gift for the Earth. A love affair with the planet too often neglected. A gift for Pisces, for Saturn, for Mars and Venus.  A moment to remember that without the natural world and its ineffable mysteries, Love could not be possible.  Sharing this day with those we love most, may we attempt the augmentation of eros into agape, keeping our roots deeply in the Earth.

” All that is gold does not glitter….

… The crownless again shall be king”

With Neptune moving into Pisces, it is possible for our eyes to fool us.  Manifestation in matter is not always as it seems; the gold doesn’t always glitter….maybe because it isn’t gold.  Discernment is key here.  There is an abundance of cosmic energies dripping down from the heavens–and it’s not just the flares from the Sun.  All this Pisces, all this retrogradation and opposition can spin our heads like frisbees.  Stay grounded.  Let go of out-dated habits.  Step through this shimmering rip in space/time, walk the road to awe, and remember that in time, you too shall be King.  In fact, you already are, you have only forgotten.  We all have epic roles within the Celestial kingdom.  We are the ones. Infinite.  Ever evolving back into the Source of all Creation. Don’t be scared.  This is the moment we have all been waiting for.

….***If you would like to explore these Transits in your own life/chart, don’t be shy, and contact me at KOSMOGNOSIS@GMAIL.COM.  I look forward to sharing more….***

In Lakesh,

sOMa

www.HOLESTOHEAVENS.COM

art:

Sri Yantra by Kali Stinson

rest Unknown (props to Google)

“Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering. I sense much fear in you.”

Yoda

…Mars, being a traditional “Malefic,” tends to get a bad rap.  Relating to all Yoda wisely ties together in his famous quote; when Mars (our Will) is thwarted, we become frustrated, when we become frustrated, we become angry, once angry, indeed, hate blossoms.  Starting now and remaining till the Spring, Mars–our inner Warrior–will be in deep meditation. May we come to a better understanding of our anger and transmute it into the Divine Will moving through us all.

Traditionally, Mars rules over both Aries and Scorpio.  Two signs which relating to great strength in their Archetypal operation.  Within Aries we are faced with the basic instinctual survival pressures in our predator eat prey world; in Scorpio, we are faced with all of our deepest fears–which most likely began in Aries, when our lives where threatened in some way, creating the fear of phobia. When Mars turns inwards, we are given the opportunity to face all of our fears, revisiting our anger and frustration, and hopefully better understanding all of our actions which lead us away from further suffering.

Martian logistics;

On January 23rd, 2012, Mars reached his Retrograde station at 23°06′ Virgo just after the New Moon in Aquarius. This Retro period will last until April 14th, 2012. The effects of the retrograde period will continue to be felt until he returns in direct motion on June 19th, 2012 to the degree where he first made his station (23° Virgo 06). The first beginnings of the effect took place from November 16, 2011, as Mars entered his Shadow of this cycle.  Being that this cycle is in the Mutable sing of Virgo, it means all the Mutable signs you have planets in (Gemini, Virgo, Sag, and Pisces) will be greatly affected.

Mars turns retrograde only once every two years and two months, but the effects of each period differ, according to the sign in which it happens.  This time, being in Virgo, the main concern is health, rhythm, routine, and service.

A planet is described as retrograde when it appears to be moving backwards through the zodiac. This traditional concept arises in the illusory planetary motion created by the orbital movement of the Earth, with relation to other planets in our solar system. It’s an optical illusion. Mars isn’t truly moving backwards, it just appears this way. Retrograde periods, although often problematic for us earthlings, are not particularly uncommon. Each planet retrogrades, except the Sun and Moon, when the time is ripe for deep reflection!

Manifestations:

Not unlike a Mercury retrograde period, we are forced into a meditative state where we get to relive, rethink, and reorient certain areas of our lives.  The only difference is that it’s not Mercury, it’s Mars.  So instead of Mercurial things being put in check (technology, thoughts, communication, etc…) it is Martian things (will, energy, muscle, sweat, and purpose).  It’s not uncommon during Mars Retrograde to feel a state of apathy.  When our energy is turned inwards, we tend to doubt how we have been using it in the world.  An apathetic stance can then enter.  It’s perfect though, because it allows for a deep reflection of our intentions in the world, so that we can reorient how we are using our bodies and our will to create our realities.

Being that this particular cycle is in Virgo, it has a careful and meticulous quality to it.  It is looking deeply into our daily routines, our diets, and personal practices.  Ultimately, Mars wants us to be healthy and in alignment with Divine Will.  When we can fuse our Personal Will with Divine Will, there is an immense power and purpose that can propagate.  Practices like yoga, qi gong, martial arts, or massage are all examples which can align us beautifully to this.  I feel this cycle is right on time for this New year.  Happening side by side with the Aquarian New moon, at the beginning of the Chinese New year (the year of the Water Dragon), we have entered 2o12, and it’s paramount that we are in tip top shape for the changes to come.

Depending on where this is happening in your chart–house and aspect–this Mars cycle will be manifesting differently for everyone.  As an example, if Mars is going retrograde in your 8th house, he is asking you to refine all of your abilities and practices which allow you to look deeply into your shadowy unconscious mind; If in the 5th house, the question relates to healthy ways of having fun; If in the the 2nd, it relates to stuck ways and values which are potentially stagnant and need some adjustment.  It is vitally important to understand where this is happening for you, so that you can best utilize this Martian energy for your evolution within the year to come.

Don’t be afraid. Yes, Mars does relate to anger, violence, fear, and hatred, but those are only the “Dark side” manifestations of the energy.  When used properly, we get to experience peak states, perfect health, Divine purpose, and the strength of the Sacred Warrior.  It is the Path of the Hero.  May we learn when to show our talons, our strength, and our Will in only the perfect moments. When understood fully, Mars becomes aligned with the subtle and gentle energies moving through us. We become Master of our form.  Much like Yoda or Oh Sensei!

…May the Force be with you!

sOMa

You can contact me at KOSMOGNOSIS@GMAIL.COM if you have any questions or if you would like to inquire about my services…..

www.Holestoheavens.com

“Only Divine Love bestows the keys of knowledge.”

Arthur Rimbaud

…the first time I experienced this “Divine Love” I was in a canoe.  I was paddling in the tributaries of the Cape Fear river and I had a moment of divine clarity.  It was simple.  It came from the ripple of my paddle.  I realized how beauty, love, and God were totally ubiquitous. I realized it was everywhere, just as long as I was receptive to see it.  I realized I didn’t need a lover to experience it. Nor do I need any substance to be sensitive to it. All I needed was an open heart.  Currently, Venus is in Pisces, in a three way embrace (or a triple conjunction) with Neptune and Chiron.  I feel these three planetary Archetypes are trying to teach us something about this “Divine love” Rimbaud was speaking of.

the Triple treat:

Venus is the planet of Love, Beauty, and Value.  When she makes contact with any planetary Archetype she brings her soft and ecstatic embrace with her.  Neptune and Chiron have been traveling side by side since 09’, and now, as they are both about to get comfortable in the sign of Pisces, we are in for an interesting treat.  A treat involving some kind of Truth.  Not saying I know what the Truth of the cosmos may be, but instead, suggesting that they do.  Pisces is the sign of God–of all the ineffable aspects of existence.  Pisces rules over the oceans, the pineal gland, melatonin, dmt, spirit, dreams, fantasy, and inspiration.  My hunch is this: Right now, as the three of these planets are in a precarious combination, we are in the prime location to remember something big.  What might this be? Well….maybe our Truth–or “the Truth of Love.”  Perhaps, the Truth of our existence on Earth.  Looking outside of ourselves, we can look to nature, towards the sea and the atmosphere, in the attempt to distill some kind of truth.  In the end, Neptune conjunct Chiron in Pisces, creates the foundation of this moment in time. 2012.  It is the end of all of our hopes and speculations of the future, and the beginning of the hard knock truth of what we have created.  So, how do we respond?

As Rimbaud said, “Only Divine love bestows the keys of knowledge.” What is the difference between Divine love and Personal love? Perhaps Divine love is unattached and Personal love is not.  We expect our “lover” to be there forever and to always be giving back perfectly.  We then try to relate to this love, this person, as the source of our love which will never die.  But what if we could relate to the Love as eternal. Not them, not us, but something beyond us, which we are granted to experience freely.  What happens when we realize that love is not ours, not theirs, but something way beyond our wildest imagination; something which is constant and everywhere.  What happens when we realize that love is meant to be experienced in every moment of our lives, with everyone and everything.  What happens then? My hunch is that this aspect between Neptune, Chiron, and Venus is trying to hint at this point for all of us collectively.

Venus in Pisces:

When Venus is in Pisces, she is said to be exalted. This means she is most comfortable and has the ability to shine the brightest in this sign of the zodiac! Why is this? I feel it is because Pisces is the aspect of Consciousness which relates to our dreams and imagination. Venus is our ability to sensitize to what is beautiful.  Put the two together and you get the feeling of waking from a tantalizing dream, wondering: Is that even possible? Of course it is.  Your dreams create your reality.  And so, Venus in Pisces involved with Neptune (the energy of Dreams) and Chiron (the energy of the Wounded Healer) creates the ideal time for manifesting our wildest dreaming states so that we may heal the most unconscious aspects of our Psyche (which is also a Neptune theme).

Venus is not just relationships.  It’s true, Venus does rule over Libra (relationships), but she rules over Taurus too.  Venus in Taurus is more about self-value, self-worth, and self-love. It doesn’t have much to do with romantic love.  In fact, if the Taurean aspect of Venus is not healthy in a person, no relationship will ever survive.  In other words, if a person can’t be alone and doesn’t love themselves, they are doomed in an intimate relationship.  There will be too much projection, control, and fear.

You can learn everything from Taurus–and to an extent, Venus too–from a tree.  It is self sustained, never moving. It is in an ideal symbiotic relationship to the rest of its environment.  So, what I’m getting at here is this:  To experience Venus, to experience Love, we don’t need a Lover, we just need connection, symbiosis.  With love for the earth, for our bodies, we are set. We are grounded and perhaps ready to then experience the myriad of different types of Love in the universe.  But always, first, we must be grounded in our own Love….for ourselves! This is the teaching coming from this triple conjunction in the sky.  They are saying, “Look: Love is everywhere! No need for searching.  It’s here.  Right now. Just sit, breathe, and remember it. Pisces teaches us how to trust in the flow of this “Divine Love.”  So why not trust in the fact that you are Love.  You are complete in this Love. And it is everlasting.  Trust.

…………

As an Astrologer, it is true, most of my clients and people I talk too, are curious about Love.  They want to know when they are going to meet their Soul mate or their flame or their “whatever you call it.” And my response is always the same; “How do you do alone;” “What do you do to love yourself?” Do you have an art form?”  I ask these questions because they assist me in gauging where an individual is in their own self development.  If the response is: “I can’t be alone;” “I hate myself; “ …or….” I have no idea what I like,” then my approach is always to encourage them in the direction to discover this and away from men or woman or love in the traditional sense.  It only distracts the Soul’s purpose. Once they figure “it” out, they are ready for healthy, balanced, romantic love.

As Venus moves through Pisces into the second week of February, we are all faced with the same question: What is our relationship with God! Are we seeing God in a lover, in money, in food, or a drug? Where are we finding beauty.  Being that Venus is also with Chiron and Neptune in this conjunction aspect, it is indeed the end of our hopes and the beginning of Truth.  No more lies to tell ourselves.  The year we have all been waiting for has arrived: 2012.  No more lies. Only truth.  May it set you free.  May the experience of Divine Love in the coming weeks bring about the experience of “true knowledge’ and “true Love.” It’s only a breath away!  Don’t be afraid to let your guard down.  It will only set you free!

*** IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE THIS TRANSIT IN MORE DEPTH IN YOUR CHART, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT KOSMOGNOSIS@GMAIL.COM******

Love,

sOma

www.Holestoheavens.com

KOSMOGNOSIS@GMAIL.COM

“Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds.”

Einstein

…2012 seems to have a feeling of vertigo mixed with crippling doubt surrounding the unknowable future.  What I mean is this: We are split.  Torn.  Everyone I know seems to be in a current attempt of creating a big change in their lives.  Some succeeding, some not.  It’s perfect though.  And it’s true: 2012 is the year of great change. We are on the precipice of the most electric New Moon which offers our first true attempt of the New year to work on some practical Moon magic.

Aquarius New Moon

New Moon’s are dark times.  The Sun fails to shine any light upon Luna because of her movement through the same part of the sky as the Sun.  This darkness created by the New Moon is perfect for new beginnings. They are ideal times for creating new intentions. The biggest day in our culture for new intention is New year’s and we have to wonder why so many resolutions end up as foggy drunken memories. We can’t blame it on the Moon, but we can easily wonder what kind of influence Luna has year after year on that potent day of “resolution.” Fortunately, New Moon’s are made for resolutions and this New Moon is exceptionally potent.  It happens at 2 degrees Aquarius and occurs on January 23rd at 1:39 am MST.  It is eccentric individuated electricity at your fingertips!

In every lunation cycle–new, full, or in between–it’s important to understand the aspects which are being made to the Moon.  On this New Moon there are a few worth mentioning.  The most important aspect is the T-square which the New Moon creates with Jupiter and Saturn.  Currently, Saturn is in late Libra opposing Jupiter in early Taurus.  The two of them are tightly squaring this Aquarian New Moon…meaning: the Sun and Moon (the New Moon) are the tip of the T-square.  What does this mean? Well, whatever planets are at the tips–or the top of the triangle–with this potent aspect, clue us in to the healing which needs to happen, or the resolution to the opposing energies.  What may an Aquarian resolution be to the Jupiter/Saturn opposition? Rebellion! Both to ourselves and to those who expect “things” from us.  Saturn in LIbra is all the relational drama which has been heavy in the air for over two years. Jupiter in Taurus wants us to reconnect to ourselves and to the Earth.  See the opposition? An Aquarian New moon, at the tip of this opposition is an electric storm of eccentric energy promising magic and synchronicity as long as we do the unpredictable.  We must go against our own grain.  Depending on where this is happening in your chart will relate to the story which shall hopefully manifest.

…on last year’s Aquarian New mOon I experienced a lightning storm in the middle of the winter in a Florida swamp.  With it, came the most radical idea I’ve ever had in my life: Leave Fl, because I was miserable and create a polyamorous distance relationship with the love of my life.  I did it.  And it sucked…..at first.  In retrospect, it was the wisest decision of my life.  I even got to hear Xavier’s Rudd’s version of his Aquarian New Moon experience because of the one I made.  The Aquarian Archetype is concerned with one main idea: Individuation.  So may we become individuated and unpredictable.

There is another potent aspect happening on this New Moon worth mentioning and it is the nearly perfect sextile to Uranus in Aries–the ruler of this New Moon.  Uranus is the planet of Novelty, Genius, Invention, and Evolution.  By making a sextile aspect to this already electrically charged New moon, it only improves the odds of getting struck by some radical, unpredictable lightening.  Sextiles are like new love. Infatuation. They excite, inspire, and support.  The bottom line is this: If you feel the call to do something crazy, just do it! And don’t be afraid! Synchronicity will be your guide.

The last astrological reason for this Moon being so unique is Mars going retrograde on the same day in Virgo!

Mars will be spending some serious time in the sign of the Virgin. Mars will go direct in mid April, finally leaving Virgo in early July. There is something to be learning here.  What is it?

Mars Retrograde:

To understand Mars retrograde we first need to understand Mars.  Mars is our will power.  Our 3rd chakra.  Ruling over the muscles of our body, the iron in our blood, and the fight in our Spirit, Mars indeed is a good candidate for being the Archetype which is doing a lot of the work of the Soul’s desire’s (Pluto).  Every action we make in our lives, every movement is Mars.  And for every action there is an equal an opposite reaction.  Like Einstein says, “Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds.” When Mars is retrograde, our fiery will is focused inwards.  We are meant to reevaluate our core intentions. Often, we experience this “violent opposition” from others during this cycle. Another common symptom is loss of care, or hope.  We must remember our core during this time. Envision and shine! Mars being in Virgo is asking us to rediscover our Divine purpose, refine it, and even get better skills to help manifest it. I feel this combination between an Aquarian New moon and Mars going retrograde is the ideal gestalt for the start of 2012.  Indeed, we are going to need radical (Aquarius/Uranus) and skillful (Virgo) responses to all the challenges lurking on the horizon. We are all competent to meet this challenge. These transits give us this stellar opportunity.

…a Warrior sits outside the armory, smoking tobacco, blowing doubtful rings, wondering what would happen if he grabbed the “weapon” his Dad always told him not too. He wonder’s, knowing it is his best idea…

Not to be confused with all the Astrology, the bottom line is this:  It’s a New Moon.  If you are into magic or mind power or “the Secret,’ New moons are the most ideal times to choose your move.  Again, it’s practical magic.  By releasing something on a New Moon and asking for something we desire to enter, we are able to watch this ‘intention,’ this prayer manifest in our life by watching the lunation cycle.  By the time the Full Moon comes around it should be clear.  Success or failure? Maybe somewhere in between.  The lunar cycle is my favorite study in Astrology.  It keeps me in the present, always watching.  I suggest you too start watching more carefully. I guarantee it will be enlightening.  Where is this New moon happening in your chart? What does it mean? Where are you meant to rebel from the status quo and chase your dreams? It’s only a click away! This is your year. Thank you Aquarius!

If you wanna go deeper into the implications of this New moon/Mars retrograde experience,  you can contact me at KOSMOGNOSIS@GMAIL.COM.

namaste,

sOma

Holestoheavens.com

art by Cameron Gray