There is a New Moon in Virgo Wednesday September 8 at 6:30 a.m. EST (3:30 a.m. Pacific).  The Sun and Moon are conjunct and the emphasis here is on the details of life.  It is a very powerful New Moon, conferring energy in the initiation of new projects, such as new exercise programs, clutter clearing and expelling old emotions.  In Virgo, the mind attempts to create order out of disarray.  With Virgo's ruler Mercury still traveling retrograde, we must pay close attention to the details to ensure that our plans do not go awry.  New Moons are a time of initiation and new beginnings, so now is a great time to have the intention to focus on the details and create order and perfection in your life!

The August Full Moon (on the 24^th) is in the sign of Pisces. Trust is a big issue here – we will find the answers that we want/need only if we learn to trust ourselves. Once we learn to trust ourselves, and what we see in nature around us, we need to trust that there really is an overall plan, spearheaded by Spirit, and that it is ongoing, whether we see it or not.

This is a time when we will be made aware that we can limit ourselves by our own belief systems, and that these limiting beliefs hold us back from achieving our destiny. We need to own our personal story, release beliefs that no longer serve us well, and take action on those that do.

We need to gain a sense of self-confidence that comes from believing in things that support us, and then we need to take that confidence and go out into the world. We need to feel secure that the actions that we take are making the world a better place, not just for ourselves, but for those that came before us (our elderly), and those that came after us (our children and grandchildren).

We develop this kind of self-confidence by making a conscious effort to integrate all of our selves – mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. We need to be able to tell the difference between reality and illusion, and remove the illusion from life. W are connected to everything, and everything is connected to us. The recent BP oil spill in the Gulf region brought this point home without a doubt. We still don’t know the total ramifications of this disaster, but we do know that we need to do all of the work that we can, on as many levels as we can, to heal the water.

What wisdom will this Full Moon bring you?

Mercury will be retrograde from August 20^th, 2010 to September 12^th, 2010, in the sign of Virgo. Specific days to be wary of are August 20^th through August 29^th, and September 8^th through September 12^th. (Note: The reason for this is that these are the days when Mercury is moving at its slowest.)

Mercury retrogrades are all about communications of all types, anything mechanical, and travel. During this time it is best to double check everything, especially in the area of communications. Make sure that you are saying what you intend to say, that your intended audience has understood what you have to say, and that you fully understand communications that are coming to you from others.

The gift that Mercury brings to us is t he ability to see through fresh eyes, and to adjust our thoughts, our attitudes, and even the direction that we are moving in. In essence, it is a time of retrospection, when we reconnect with reality in a new way. This is in part because Mercury retrograde forces us to revisit unresolved issues from the past.

In the sign of Virgo, Mercury retrograde takes us nt a time of introspection. What we are “reviewing”, in essence, is internal to us, rather than existing in the external world. All of the mutable signs – Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces – will be undergoing a very trying period of “head over heart” (intellect over emotions).

This is a time to be tying up loose ends, rather than making efforts at new beginnings. Look at the areas of your life that are coming to a close, or at projects that are ending. What needs to be done to finish them well? What projects are not going as planned? Are they worth fine tuning, or do they need to be scrapped so that something else can take their place? Are all of your efforts in align with your current goals? If not, why not?

Mercury retrograde is a great time to clean out your life, bring a... Read More

On August 9^th, 2010 the New Moon will appear in the sign of Leo. Leo brings with it playful, creative energy. A small “time out”, as it were, from all of the other astrological “stuff” going on! New Moon’s are times in which we begin new projects, or perhaps new relationships. To add a touch of playfulness to that is a true blessing!

You might also want to look at this New Moon as being offered a doorway of time to engage in visionary work. What areas of your life are you looking to expand? What areas of your life are you looking at making changes in? Where are you looking to push the envelope a bit, and try new things?

The seeds that you choose to plant at this time will relate to whatever was released during the prior Full Moon. What did you let go of – and what do you intend to take its place? While the two may not be directly connected, something had to “give” to create the time and space for you to bring something new in.

This is a time for you to acknowledge your own personal power, to be willing to be authentic and unique in you world, and to show confidence and passion in all that you do. Follow your passions – make time for them, place focus and intent behind them. This New Moon is your allie!

Be okay with the fact that this month your attention moves away from the basic issues of life and begins to focus on the larger picture. Know that this is a time when you have not only the self-confidence, but the self-awareness to venture into new areas and new projects.

What are you going to do with the fiery energy of Leo on this New Moon?

The Full Moon for July 25^th, 2010 is in the sign of Aquarius. One thing that we can expect from Aquarius is those “Aha!” moments – moments of inspiration that come at us out of the blue. Aquarius carries the energy of hope and promise – of compassion carried into the future.

Full Moon’s are all about endings and new beginnings – we bring to a close and release that which no longer serves us well. We ready ourselves to bring in new energy, new goals, new projects. With Aquarius, the scope is more of a collective than an individual nature. We are focusing our actions on serving humanity.

We will see fire, passion and a sense of confidence in this Full Moon. We are meant to explore our passions and our talents, and to express them in a way that is beneficial to humanity as a whole.

Be okay if the thoughts that come to you at this time seem a bit, shall we say “unique”. You may not be able to see at this time how they fit into the big picture, but if you find a way to implement them, you will see how they change the big picture for the better.

We must trust that the path we are on is leading us where we need to go. The changes coming to us are ones that will help us redefine our path for this lifetime. The ideas that come to us, and the people that we encounter, act as gateways to a new and very creative way of thinking, acting and living.

As individuals, we can choose to be open to the changes coming to us. We can surround ourselves with like-minded people, and become involved in projects that show compassion and integrity. We can make a difference, a difference that will live on into the future, creating a better, more sustainable future.

The New Moon appears in the sign of Cancer on Sunday, July 11^th, 2010. On this day there will also be a total eclipse of the Sun. Part of the energy that a solar eclipse brings is that of letting go of things/people/issues that have been with us for some time, and are no longer serving us well. This, in turn, makes room for new beginnings. (Side note: Expect lots of energy for the FIFA World Cup on this day!)

The two signs that will feel this eclipse the most are individuals with Cancer or Capricorn rising, or those with Cancer or Capricorn as their Sun or Moon. Total renovation/transformation time here, people! Changes always begin within, but in this case they will be reflected with noticeable physical changes.

Both the internal and external changes within each of us will act as a catalyst for others to see us a bit differently, which means that we can expect changes in all levels of relationship – personal and professional. The changes in our relationships will then act as a catalyst for us to redefine what is important to us, what works for us, where our passions lie, and where we want to place our focus and commitment.

The changes that are coming with this solar eclipse will affect all areas of our life. Our reaction to them will be through our emotional self (Cancer). Because Cancer also relates to intuition and dreams, this is a time when messages that come to us in these areas will be of major importance. As with all eclipses, the caveat is “What is hidden will come to light.” The messages that come to you will bring into the light of day information that is important to the future that you are creating for yourself.

The lunar eclipse (in Capricorn) occurred this past Saturday, but the energy that this Grand Square brought with it is still strongly with us. While it will at times be disruptive, we can also use it to support us in personal transition and transformation – specifically in developing the qualities within ourselves that we acknowledge as necessary to take us into our future.

That quality might be in claiming our own wisdom – in developing the ability to listen to our inner wisdom, and act on it. A parallel with this is the ability to discern whether outside advice that we are receiving is true, or even if it holds any value or meaning for us if it is true.

That quality might be in accepting our creative nature, and our ability to manifest in our own lives. Here we are talking about having the self-confidence to “own” our own skills and abilities, as well as the courage to face our shadows and “dream the big dreams”.

The nature of this lunar eclipse also asks us to revisit people and situations from the past – whether they come from this lifetime, or from past lifetimes. We can use the qualities that we are developing within ourselves to interact with these energies, to acknowledge them, to understand them, and to incorporate them into our being. As we do this, we essentially release their hold over us, and create the necessary space to experience both a solid present and set the groundwork for a solid future.

What are you looking to create for your future? What are your big dreams? What skills and abilities will you need to make them happen? What do you need to release from your life?

This is a wonderful time for all of us. We can make major moves, major changes, and be supported by Spirit as we do so. Dream the big dreams – and take the small actions that move you forward in achieving those big dreams!

Saturday, June 26^th, brings us a unique astrological event – a Cardinal Grand Cross. For the past year or so we have been being prepared for personal growth, to take our place as individuals and walk our talk. We have had our worlds shaken up by the economy, and its far reaching effects into areas such as the real estate and job markets. Some of us have lost our homes, our jobs, and our savings. Even those who have been able to keep a facsimile of their lifestyle going are looking at massive changes in how the operate in both their career and personal lives.

We are all attempting to carve a secure world out of absolute chaos. Things have calmed down a bit the past few months, and life is on a more even, harmonious keel. The cardinal grand cross on the lunar eclipse will shake up our world in ways that we never imagined. We will be forced to release that which no longer serves us well. We will be looking at our shadow sides, and finding ways to incorporate and heal them.

A big thing that we are going to be asked to do is to trust our instincts. There will be more changes along the lines of natural disasters. There will be continued upheaval in the area of power struggles (political and otherwise). How we view government, and the extent that government control reaches into our lives will change. (We need to remember here that if we take away government control, that there will be a huge void if this control is not redistributed somewhere.)

As individuals, and as the human race, we will find ourselves in greater alignment with Mother Earth, and wit the cycles of life and death. We will simplify our lives, and live closer to our truths. We will be looking at honoring and implementing the nurturing/protective nature of feminine power (this applies to both men and women).

It is time for each of us to look into our own souls and see the work that needs to be done.

Summer Solstice (the first day of summer) happens on June 21^st, 2010. This is the longest day – and the shortest night – of the year. Different cultures celebrate the Summer Solstice in different ways. The Celtic culture celebrates with dancing and bonfires (to increase the energy of the sun). The Chinese honor Li, their Goddess of Light. In the Druidic culture the Summer Solstice is celebrated as the wedding of Heaven and Earth.

In England thousands will gather at Stonehenge to welcome the sunrise.

The time between spring planting and all harvest has been seen since ancient times as a time to celebrate the earth, the feminine principle, and the light (Sun). The celebration of light is also why bonfires are lit – not only to honor the Sun, but in some cultures as a form of divination – finding truth in the flames. This is a time of renewal and great potential.

Some of the symbols connected with the summer solstice are bonfires (which represent he light and warmth of the sun, and our consciousness, as well as our passionate nature), Salamanders (which represent he elemental nature of Fire), the Oak tree (seen as a holder or vessel for sacred knowledge), daisies (symbolic of youth and innocence), bees and honey (the first full moon in June is known as the Honey Moon).

This is also a time for gathering magical herbs- especially St John’s Wort (at midnight on the Solstice), and for lovers. It is also a time for celebrating water, as it nourishes the crops and encourages them to grow).

Celebrate the Summer Solstice in your own way. Honor the light that shines in your life, the gift of light and warmth that surrounds each of us. What are you thankful for? In what ways can you give back to the Universe for the nourishment and support it has given you? Light a bonfire (safely, please!), or a candle (again, safely please!) and meditate on the flames as they reach skyward!

Most of know what our Sun signs are, even if we know nothing else about astrology. There is another factor that is easy to remember, and that says a lot about a person, and how the react to the people and issues around them, and that is the Element connected with their sign. The Elements are Fire, Water, Air and Earth. They are associated with the Sun signs as follows:

Fire: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Water: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Air: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Earth: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn

The Fire signs are pure power, pure energy, very charismatic, with somewhat of an ego. The Water signs are highly intuitive, very connected with their emotions, keep somewhat to themselves, and are quite compassionate. The Air signs function very much in the mental realm, are intellectual and communicate well. The Earth signs are very grounded and centered, very practical people with an interest in the material world.

Combining the qualities of the element associated with a sign, and the qualities of the sign itself, gives a more balanced look at an individual. Whether you are trying to understand yourself, a family member, a friend, a co-worker or a significant other, this information allows you to stand in their shoes – to see why they make the decisions that they make, to see what is important to them, to see what they need from you, and what they have to offer to you.

How we express the elemental quality of our Sun sign is a determining factor in how we live our life. Expect a Fire person to make decisions quickly and move on – the have no patience with extended processes. Fire signs are impatient by nature, and can tend to be self-centered. Fire signs deal with the world in a very physical manner. Water signs are going to be living by their emotions – making decisions is highly emotion for them. They are also highly intuitive, and have active dreamtimes.

An Air sign could appear to be a cold person at times, as they live... Read More

On Thursday, May 27^th, we have a Full Moon in Sagittarius. As with all Full Moons, we are looking at a bringing some area of our life to a close, so that we have the space to move forward. The Moon is associated with dreamtime, with creativity, and with the connection between our conscious and our unconscious. We are strongly connected at this time to our creative nature, and to our emotional self.

The focus for a Sagittarius Full Moon is that of seeking the truth. The Archer, above all, wants to know the truth of things. This is more than the truth of justice – this is truth as seen in a spiritual light. Wisdom may come in the waking “Aha!” experience, through synchronicity, or through an increased experience in dreamtime. Pay attention to the wisdom that come to you, as well as the imagery through which it is brought. Why a certain image gain your attention? If the image repeats itself throughout the day, or throughout the week, what does this mean to you?

This is a time of intuition – listen to your intuition on a heart level. Act on you intuition.

During a full moon, we are allowed to look beyond the veil, to see what something really means, to see why it is really there. Logic gives way to intuitive/mystic impressions, and to new ways of looking at things.

What in your life are you bringing closure to? What in your life do you need to see the truth about? What in your life are you looking to define? This is the time to do all of these things. Sagittarius helps us to open our minds and see the full potential in everything.

On Thursday, May 13th, we have a new moon in Taurus. The energy of Taurus is that of supporting seeds that have already been sown. We are all going to be looking at new projects, new directions that we may wish to go in, or opportunities that may be coming to us, an trying to decide how best to nurture them so that they manifest in the most positive manner.

With Taurus we are looking at the mundane, practical side of life. We are looking for growth with stability, growth that can be sustained, and setting down a strong foundation in our material world. Whatever you have been working on is now able to be seen in physical form.

It is very important that our goals, and the intention and focus behind these goals, are consistent and purposeful. It is at this point that we are creating the environment that our goals are manifesting in – we want it to we strong, and to be able to nourish and support our efforts. Harmony is a word well applied here – and remember, our resources may be financial, they may be material, or they may be in the area of relationship (business and personal). We need to take all of these things into consideration.

Getting results is important, as is planning for the future. All done in a very low key manner – no high drama scheduled here! Something to take into consideration at this time is that this may be a period when people show resistance to change, when they dig in their heels and refuse to budge. Be gentle with nudging them!

A Taurus New Moon is also a good time to sit back and enjoy the physical world around you – acknowledge what you have created, what you have gathered to you. Appreciate what life has to offer.

On Wednesday, April 28^th we have a Full Moon in Scorpio. Full Moon energy is generally seen as a time to review and release, letting go of that which no longer serves us well and making room for new goals and projects.

The energy that Scorpio adds is that of getting to the emotional truth of people and issues. Scorpio asks us to keep ferreting through information until only what is real is left. A Scorpio Full Moon places focus on relationships – business and personal – and promises to up the intensity.

As a result, we may see things in a way that we really did not expect to, as the ability to see through masks and ruses is preeminent. This can be intimidating, or it can act to clear things up in a positive manner. There can be a lot of drama here, and definitely transformation and rebirth.

Emotions on this Full Moon will be very intense – one thing to be aware of is that feelings of betrayal may enter into the mix. Be aware of that from your own perspective, and think before you speak or act. Be aware of this when dealing with others, and listen closely to any intuitive, gut feelings that you get.

This is a time when we will have to face our demons, or our shadow sides. Why? Because this is a time when lots of truths will be falling out of the sky – whether we are looking for them or not. As a result, we have an opportunity to heal some very deep seated wounds.

Deep changes will occur with this Full Moon. What in your life needs changing? What no longer serves you well? What are you ready to release? Working with journaling and dreamtime will bring significant wisdom, and help you defne and make the changes that you need in your life.

What are some of the characteristics of Taurus individual? From experience, I can tell you that they do have a tendency to be stubborn! However, this can also be seen in a more positive light – as determination, backed by intense willpower. Be aware that a Taurus individual may not handle change all that well, so give them a bit of room.

Sensitivity is also a strong trait for Taurus, in that they are sensitive to the feelings of people around them. Family is very important to them.

In the year ahead, look to the social aspects of life – being out and about, and networking.

Do not be afraid to take risks, as 2010 will be a year in which opportunity and good fortune come to you rather easily. Effort that you put into life this year will be paid back a thousand fold!

Bring to a close projects that you have been working on from the past. Sometimes this will mean seeing them through to completion of some for, other times it will mean having the courage to release them from your life so that your focus can go to that which serves your goals in a more beneficial manner. This may also include a job change, and very possibly a complete career change.

Taurus, as an earth sign, tends to the practical side of things. This individual has a sense of balance in life, and tends to prefer peace, harmony and stability around them. They do well in difficult times, but can tend to cling to belief from the past.

The Taurus people in your life will have a tendency to being conservative – or at least conforming to conventions. They strive for peace and harmony, are dependable, and make good friends. Bring change slowly to them, and they will be fine!

What does a New Moon signify to you? Is it something that you don’t even think about? It is something that is up in the sky, and has little relevance to your life? Or are the cycles of the moon something that you choose to work with in your life? If you choose to do so, you will know that the energy of the new moon is the energy of something new coming in. It is a time to revive what has gone stagnant (unless you choose to release it), to begin new projects, to literally plant the seeds for new things to come into your life.

What are your goals? What are the steps you need to take to reach them? What are your intentions? How are you planning to accomplish your goals? A few days before each new moon, sit down and ask yourself these questions. Your goals may have changed – they may need to be tweaked, or they may need to be released to make room for new goals.

The new moon is the time of the month when we nurture our intentions. To make this nurturing energy part of our psyche, we need to do some type of ceremony. By nature, ceremony is honoring someone or something, it marks the important times in our life so that we have a memory to hold on to.

Ceremony gives you focus, it brings you clarity, and it brings you hope. It opens your heart, as well as your mind, The ceremony that you create will be your ceremony – there are no set rules here. It can be a simple meditation, it can include candles, incense and music – whatever you wish to do is what you do.

Set aside a time for this when you know that you will not be disturbed. Write down your goals/intentions. Be very careful what you write down, because you are placing energy and intent behind this. Make sure that you phrase your intent an goals to reflect exactly what you want in life, because this is what you will be drawing to you.

You can use the new moon to fine tune your goals and intentions, to set new ones, or to reinforce... Read More

THE AGE OF LEO (circa 10,00 B.C. ~~to~~ 8,000 B.C.)

This age is characterized by the energy and creativity of human beings learning how to use their environment...Men and women lived in caves and learned to refine highly finished and polished stone implements.. The Sun, ruler of Leo... was of paramount importance to Neolithic ,New Stone Age man, or The Age of Stone. for during this era human beings acquired a limited ability to raise food (agriculture) rather than merely hunt and gather it...According to astrologers..cave paintings from this age (man's first written history)..shows a marked Leo influence... `````````````````````````````

THE AGE of CANCER (circa 8,000 B.C. ~~to~~ 6,000 B.C.) It was during this Age that human beings abandoned their caves and formed fixed dwellings aboveground, the Cancerian influence to make a home.....Mankind learned to spin and weave and make pottery... They began to grow varied crops and to domesticate animals..Moon worship and fertility rites abounded during this era. Cancer is ruled by the Moon and is the sign of domesticity...fertility... and motherhood. ````````````````````````````````

THE AGE of GEMINI (circa 6,000 B.C. ~~to~~ 4,000 B.C.) This Age is marked by the development of writing (Gemini is the sign of communication)..Mankind expanded its intellectual capacities by beginning to record and to store information... The invention of the wheel made rudimentary commerce and travel possible (both ruled by Gemini)....

 ```````````````````````````````` THE AGE of TAURUS (circa 4,000 B.C. ~~to~~ 2,000 B.C.) The great Egyptian civilization...with its emphasis on cultivation of land and new technology of building (the pyramids).. echoes the influence of earthy Taurus... Both the esthetic nature of Taurus and its solidity are reflected in the beautiful art and architecture of this Age.... 
 
```````````````````````````` THE AGE of ARIES (circa 2,000 B.C. ~~to~~ 1 B.C.) This era... Read More