Jungian Astrology

'Til Death do us Part

2009-11-09T06:54:35Z

Venus in Scorpio Archetypes:

Venus, the goddess of beauty and love just entered the deep, dark waters of Scorpio. Astrologers say Venus is in her detriment in this overly intense constellation that throws her off balance, makes her jealous, possessive and perhaps a bit too femme fatale for comfort. But look at all of the delicious desires that Venus conjures when she enters Scorpio:

Black hoodies, black lace, fishnets, black eyeliner, Margaret Mitchell and Gone with the Wind, snake skin high heels, dark chocolate; Adam Ant, Albert Camus, decadence, devastatingly sexy perfume, Rioja, The Dead Weather; dark comedy; punk rock; skulls; martial arts, strategizing, Kali, the forbidden, the mysterious, crime, death, old black and white movies, red roses, violets and red roses.

What do people born with Venus in Scorpio have in common? They would go to hell and back for those they love; they take the 'til death do you part bit quite literally; they love and hate with wild abandon or not at all; they adore decadence; sex is sacred; they believe in living life like every day was your last.

Famous people with Venus in Scorpio: Demi Moore, Anne Rice, Ramana Maharshi, Paul Klee, Jim Morrison, Tiger Woods, Marie Antoinette, Alicia Silverstone, Bill Gates, Ethan Hawke, Joaquin Phoenix, Winona Ryder and Bruce Lee.

This is It!

2009-10-28T17:06:59Z

This is it...

and just in time for Halloween!

Last night at the Nokia theater in Los Angeles, throngs of celebs gathered for the big premiere of Michael's never before seen rehearsal footage interspersed with documentary footage about his life. The premiere coincided with the big planetary event of the messenger god, Mercury (the ruler of Michael Jackson's zodiac sign) moving into the constellation of Scorpio. Scorpio is the sign of sex, secrets and death. This film could open yet another Jackson Pandora's box around his life, death, and the value of his estate. Since Scorpio is also the sign of resurrection--rising out of the ashes of ruins, there's a good possibility that the footage in the film could be redeeming for the Jackson image and legacy. Michael Jackson was a Virgo, the sign of the perfectionist and workaholic. The consensus among critics--no matter what you think about Michael Jackson you have to admit the man worked hard--very, very hard.

We can expect the news and media to focus on darker and more controversial material over the next few weeks during Mercury's stint in Scorpio. In perfect time for Halloween.

Full Moon in Pisces: Be Here Now.

2009-09-05T10:19:51Z

I'm writing from Ammachi's (the hugging Saint) ashram in Kerala, India on this Full Moon in Pisces. Situated between the Arabian sea and the backwaters, in the midst of monsoon season, it could not be more of an archetypal Pisces setting. All the elements are here. Pisces is linked with the devotional side of our nature. Where, what or whom we choose to shower this devotion on will determine the extent of our longing. This morning's spiritual talk, barely understandable to those who don't speak the native language of Malayalam, had one distinct sentence in English that rang out and reminded me of the essence of this Full Moon's teaching: "God is nowhere. God is now here." Eckhart Tolle really brought this teaching to the mainstream with his "Power of Now" Oprah gold but it's such a difficult thing to put into practice. If we're not plugged into the deeper longings of our soul, our tendency is often to want to check out. Pisces reminds us to get out of our heads and into spirit. Pisces rules the language of poetry, music and all things subtle, sublime and divine. But we miss it unless we're totally present to the moment. And the more we let our minds wander away from our essence, the more we fall into mood swings, and allow our negative tendencies to devour us from within.

I found this old Cherokee story printed on the back of a Vedanta booklet that the most magical ashram gatekeeper kindly offered to me when I arrived:

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said "my son, the battle is between two "wolves' inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.

The grandson thought about this for a minute and then asked: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Since Pisces is linked to the Moon tarot card depicting a wolf and a dog howling at the Moon, this story seems a fitting illustration of the teachings of Pisces.

The Lion of the Senate

2009-08-29T04:26:12Z

RIP dear Edward Kennedy, your presence is already greatly missed! The Senate will never be the same! It is truly the end of an era.

Edward Kennedy was a true embodiment of a Pisces: compassionate, lover of the sea, and die-hard romantic. Forever committed to service (Virgo moon) and to helping the underprivileged throughout his life, you can't help but feel what a great heart this saint of a man possessed. But where did he get his reputation as the "Lion of the Senate"? His Mercury (communication/voice) was in close conjunction with Mars (force, power and aggression) in the humanitarian and eccentric side of Aquarius. Add to this, his Jupiter in Leo and you see the lovable yet ferocious side of his nature. His sturdy Capricorn Ascendant and Saturn in Capricorn reveal a man of great integrity and backbone.

Some of his famous quotes:

"It's better to bring in the Peace Corps than the Marine Corps."

"I seek the Presidency with no illusions." (interesting coming from a Pisces).

"Take the issues seriously but don't take yourself too seriously."-Edward Kennedy

Welcome to the Jungle of Uncertainty

2009-08-13T16:05:19Z

Now that we're on the other side of the eclipse season from Hades, as Axl Rose would say: where do we go now? Fitting that he's an Aquarian and many would peg the current Neptune in Aquarius as more than just a little to blame (not that I endorse blaming celestial bodies for our problems) for the ongoing fog and confusion. Collective confusion has yet to dissipate and no one knows where this is all headed. How did Michael die? Will Sarah Palin hijack our healthcare system? Will anyone figure out a way to decode Courtney Love's twitter twaddle? Did Ryan really hit on his own daughter at Farah's funeral? Is that zany 80's Leo icon, Richard Simmon's really making a comeback?

One of my metaphysical heroes is Antero Alli who recently gave an amazing talk for the Evolver Intensives. A key message of the discussion was to stay connected to your vertical sources during times of uncertainty instead of getting lost in the horizontal influences. People-pleasing is an instant killer, so avoid it at all costs. He also suggested not looking in a mirror for a week in order to get beyond a persona-bound consciousness. But my favorite message of all that I wanted to share in the midst of the current Neptunian fog and suspense is: "uncertainty is not the enemy--uncertainty is the wake-up call."

Stagnation

2009-07-28T22:39:30Z

"A vulterous boredom pinned me in the tree" -Sylvia Plath

Something heavy looms in the air. It reminds me of the I Ching hexagram:

"Pi: Standstill or Stagnation."

This is a time where our instincts are to either retreat, or curse off life and everyone and everything in it. It is also akin to the "Hanged Man" Tarot card which is symbolically linked to the planet Neptune. When things are in the process of dissolution, especially our illusions--life can look bleak until we are willing to turn our old preconceptions on their head or look beyond the confines of our old attachments long enough to feel that something deep is going on in this darkness.

Perhaps the only immediate thing we can truly rely on in times of uncertainty is our integrity. The triple conjunction between Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter is about to oppose Mercury in Leo this week allowing us to really heal and dissolve decaying mental barriers. Fear and self-loathing are loaded guns projected inwardly or out. On today's moon in Scorpio, the poetry of Sylvia Plath provide Pluto's healing balm:

"The clock shall not find me waiting

nor these stars

that rivet in place

abyss after abyss"

Messages from the Music Muses

2009-07-20T18:24:59Z

With everyone having a mini (or not so mini-meltdown) over this summer's intense eclipse patterns coupled with the sun's ingress into his home constellation of Leo tomorrow, we could use some more inspiration from the muses of music.

Aries:
Waiting for the Sun by The Doors
"And it's time to live in the scattered sun
Waiting for you--to come along.
Waiting for you to tell me what went wrong
This is the strangest life I've ever known."

Taurus:
Running with the Devil by Van Halen
"I live my life like there's no tomorrow
And all I've got I've had to steal
At least I don't need to beg or borrow
Yes, I'm living at a pace that kills."

Gemini:
Youth by Marc Almond
Youth has gone and don't think I don't cry
"We've let ourselves slip and now I ask myself why
I'm on my own
And I don't think I really mind
After all the years have been fairly kind."

Cancer:
Sowing the Seeds of Love by Tears for Fears
"Time to eat all your words
Swallow your pride
Open your eyes
High time we took a stand
And shook up the views of the common man."

Leo:
Get Back by the Beatles
"Jojo was a man who thought he was a loner
But he knew it wouldn't last.
Jojo left his home in Tucson, Arizona
For some California grass.
Get back to where you once belonged."

Virgo:
Can't Stand Losing You by The Police
"I can't see the point in another day
When nobody listens to a word I say
You can call it lack of confidence
But to carry on living doesn't make no sense
I cant, I cant, I cant stand losing."

Libra:
No I in Threesome by Interpol
"Through the storms and the light
baby, you stood by my side
and life is wine
but there are days in this life
when you see the teeth marks of time
two lovers divide."

Scorpio:
Wanderlust by Bjork
"Peel off the layers
Until we get to the core
Did I imagine it would be like this?
Was it something like this I wished for?
Or will I want more?
Lust for comfort
Suffocates the soul
Relentless restlessness
Liberates me (sets me free)."

Sagittarius:
Going Blind by Melvins
"And I know how it's to be
there is nothing more for you and I
some are young and some are free
but I think I'm goin' blind
'cause I think I'm goin' blind
and I know how it should be."

Capricorn:
Quiet by The Smashing Pumpkins
"Behind me
The grace of falling snow
Cover up everything you know
Come save me from the awful sound
Of nothing."

Aquarius:
Don't Cry by Guns N' Roses
"Talk to me softly
There is something in your eyes
Don't hang your head in sorrow
And please don't cry
I know how you feel inside I've
I've been there before
Something is changing inside you.

Pisces:
Would by Alice in Chains
"Drifting body, it's sole desertion,
Flying, not yet quite the notion.
Into the flood again,
Same old trip it was back then,
So I made a big mistake."

The Aquarian Revolution

2009-07-01T20:24:15Z

The Aquarian Revolution

"The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives"-William James

As I write this on the eve of the Uranus retrograde, there's an undeniable electric, angst-ridden Violent Femmes-worthy energy in the air. In the midst of the continued fervor of the Michael Jackson all night dance parties around the world, the continued fury in Tehran and Madoff getting sentenced to 150 years for his outrageous ponzi scheme and "extraordinarily evil" the archetypal forces are shaking their fists at the status quo.

Aquarius is often associated with the energy of "rebellion" but truth be told in its more authentic and radical form, it's about revolution. With Uranus working in opposition to Saturn this year and Jupiter conjunct Neptune, Chiron, Jupiter and the North Node in Aquarius--this is the true Age of Aquarius.

Uranus is often associated with the archetype of the puer, or eternal youth. Many of our celebrities, especially our rock stars embody this archetype for us. Michael Jackson with his famous "Never Land" ranch, obsession with youth, and now very young death (puers always die young)--is certainly a potent symbol of the "Peter Pan" complex. With the death of this powerful eighties icon (not to forget Farrah and Ed-RIP), it calls attention to what is dying/transforming in our collective psyches in relation to the puer archetype.

Where in our lives is our refusal to grow up killing us? And where is it provoking an inner revolution?

Signs of the Aquarian Revolution:

Madoff sentenced to 150 years for Ponzi Scheme (called "extraordinarily evil" by federal judge)

Reverend Billy (famous NYC social activist devoted to saving small businesses from corporate evil mongers like Wal-Mart and revolutionize Christmas from it's materialistic --see: "What Would Jesus Buy?" running for Mayor of New York City

Hair revival on Broadway

The death of three prominent 80's icons within one week

Barak Obama: Aquarius Rising

Uprising in Iran

Real Time with Bill Maher

Real bike lanes in New York City

Twitter

Triple Play in Aquarius: The Pain of Authenticity

2009-06-05T22:26:07Z

The Neptune-Chiron-Jupiter Triple Threat:

Something is definitely in the air. I've heard it interpreted as the "mean reds," "feeling broken," "a bad mood from out of nowhere for no explicable reason, " " old wounds being opened up again" etc.

At one point I was tempted to say this even goes beyond the scope of Astrology because I've never quite felt anything as intense and yet impossible to describe/ascribe any specific correlation. It was almost as if there was not perfect planetary archetype to give justice the strange feelings swirling through the ethers and psyches of my clients. But then it dawned on me quickly that the bizarre, elusive, obscure nature of what was being felt may indeed be Neptune's domain. Neptune is easy to miss due to the invisible, imperceptible, often subtle quality. It has a way of seeping into your psyche and dissolving old boundaries and concepts leaving you slightly bewitched, bothered and bewildered--even if you're not under one of Neptune's delusional love spells. By virtue of the exact conjunction with Chiron--the Wounded Healer, or more plainly the woundm and Jupiter which has a way of aggrandizing anything it touches--it's like our delusions, wounds, fears of the unknown, overwhelm, social rejection complexes and generalized anxiety disorders get infinitely magnified.

There also seems to be a profound craving for nothingness going on at the moment. That could be the dissolving effect of the Neptunian archetypal influence or perhaps the quincunx of this triple planetary play with Saturn in Virgo. The fact that this triple-conjunction has been hovering in 26 degrees of Aquarius, it's worth noting where this falls in your horoscope and how it aspects any other planets you have around the 26 degree mark. Expect major re-wounding (Chiron and Neptune are both retrograde with Jupiter set to go retrograde on the 16th) awakening and ultimately--healing. If you've ever felt like an alien or an outsider in this world, expect those feelings to take on new levels. The challenge is can you be authentic without giving a fig what anyone thinks. That is the Aquarian teaching. Once you can rest peacefully in your own unique truth despite what your family, friends or social collective at large may say, you're home wherever you are.

Nocturnos: Full Moon in Scorpio

2009-05-08T12:13:50Z

The full moon in Scorpio combined with the repeated Mercury Retrograde in Gemini (Mercury was retrograde in Gemini last May-June 2008) is sure to stir up a few skeletons if not full-on insomnia. The depths are stirring, and the ghosts of our past are forcing us to listen. As the old Sufi saying goes "Die before you die." The fixed polarity of Scorpio and Taurus can keep us clinging to that which destroys us, even if killing us softly. Let's see what the gods of music have to say about what needs to be relinquished or transformed during this full moon (please note: this is a totally random as in an I Ching-esque synchronistic fashion with the modern shuffle function in my I-Tunes.)

Aries:

"Lake of Fire"

Meat Puppets

Now the people cry and the people moan

And they look for a dry place to call their home

And try to find some place to rest their bones

While the angels and the devils

Fight to claim them for their own

Taurus:

"Hysteric"

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

No Longer No Longer

What You Ask

Strange Steps

Heels Turned Black

The cinders the cinders

They light the path

Of these strange steps

Take us back

Gemini:

"White as Snow"

Once I knew there was a love divine

Then came a time I thought it knew me not

Who can forgive forgiveness where forgiveness is not

Only the lamb as white as snow

Cancer:

"Passionless Pointless"

PJ Harvey

Let's talk, let's talk

Let the dirt fall, let heads roll

No kind hand is reaching out, for me, tonight

I slept facing the wall, I dreamt of buildings in pieces

You slept, facing the wall, and you wanted less than I wanted

Leo:

"Blue"

Joni Mitchell

Underneath the skin

An empty space to fill in

Well there're so many sinking now

You've got to keep thinking

You can make it thru these waves

Virgo:

"New"

No Doubt

And you're consuming me violently

And your reverence shamelessly tempting me

Who sent this maniac?

'Cause I never had this taste in the past

Libra:

"Old Age"

Nirvana

One more doubt here to claim my supper

I can have anything you want to

One more day if I find a way

It's over

She seemed to read minds

And I know we were out of time

Scorpio:

"The Hollow"

APC

Cause it's time to bring the fire down

Bridle all this indiscretion

Long enough to edify

And permanently fill this hollow

Screaming feed me here

Fill me up again

Sagittarius:

"Passenger"

Deftones

To catch my breath

And then go and go and go just drive me

Home and back again

Here I lay just like always

Don't let me go

Take me to the edge

Capricorn:

"Alive"

Pearl Jam

Is something wrong, she said

Well of course there is

Youre still alive, she said

Oh, and do I deserve to be

Is that the question

And if so...if so...who answers.

Aquarius:

"Send Her My Love"

Journey

Callin out her name I'm dreamin

Reflections of a face I'm seein

It's her voice

That keeps on haunting me

Send her my love

Roses never fade

Memories remain

Pisces:

"Love"

The Cult

Oh don't you love that sweet time

Spent a long time in this town

Spent a long time in the wrong town

Spent a long time in this hole

Spent a long time in the wrong hole

Stop and Go: The Aries-Taurus Dilemma

2009-04-23T16:45:26Z

Stop and Go

Song Oracle for Mars in Aries: "Jumpin' Jack Flash" Rolling Stones

(There is some Aries-Rolling Stones connection going on this month)

"But it's all right now, in fact it's a gas!"

Song Oracle for New Moon in Taurus: "Woman of Heart and Mind" Joni Mitchell

"Drive your bargains, push your papers, win your medals, f*c& your strangers, don't it leave you on the empty side"

Song Oracle for Venus Direct in Aries: "No Quarter" Led Zeppelin

"They choose the path where no one goes"

With the current infusion of Aries and Taurus vying for center stage, its hard for our bodies and psyches to know whether to speed up or slow down. Aries tells us to bust a move while Taurus insists we slow down and smell the flowers, coffee or any other sensual delight in our midst. It might feel like we are driving with one foot on the brake and the other on the accelerator just like a New York city cab driver. If life feels like a constant wave of motion sickness for the past few days, you can blame it on the planets. Now that Venus is finally direct and back in Aries where she started the whole reflexive love journey, and Mars is joining her in the impulsive and fiery constellation of Aries, there's plenty of fuel to add to our fire of choice. But now that the Sun and Mercury are in the placid terrain of Taurus, the counterweight of the planetary pull is causing us to pause, reflect and ground. Maybe a sweat lodge image is appropriate here--fire and earth at their purifying best.

Have you been waking up feeling like you have to take over the world or at least burn some carbs immediately followed by the opposite impulse to go back to bed or linger eternally over some home fries and toast? Maybe the cosmic lesson is something often reinforced in Ayurvedic teachings when our constitutions are severely out of balance--insist on copious amounts of mini breaks. Activity is inevitable in this crazy Kali Yuga (age of darkness in Indian philosophy) and slowing down rarely feasible in the hustle and bustle insanity. But the more pregnant (Taurus is the archetype of the ever fertile, ever pregnant earth mother after all) pauses we can inject in our jam-packed schedules, the more grounded and alive we will feel. As @Iamdiddy is obsessed with tweeting lately: "Lock in people! Let's go!" Then again, I think Diddy forgot to ground because he's been bedridden and sick for days.

Hey baby, what's your sign ... I mean song?

2009-04-13T21:26:45Z

Now that the Venus Rx has gone back into Pisces, let's check in with the almighty oracle of the I-Tunes shuffle function to see what the cosmic messages are for each sign at this complex alchemical juncture of merging the Venus in Aries lessons with the Venus in Pisces lessons.

Does this mean we have to give up our narcissistic fetishes like Twitter in order to do something more compassionate like save the world -- or at least our souls?

In honor of Pisces, let's see what the gods of music have to say about this ...

Aries:

Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones

"Oh a storm is threatening my very life today.

If I don't get some shelter, I'm going to fade away."

Taurus

Underneath the Stars by The Cure

"Floating here like this with you

underneath the stars

alight for thirteen billion years

the view is beautiful, ours alone tonight."

Gemini:

Profanity Prayers by Beck

"Well you know how it looks when you close

all the books on the table

And you stare into space

trying to decide the way now"

Cancer:

Doll Parts by Hole

"I want to be the girl with the most ache.

I love him so much it just turns to hate.

I fake it so real I am beyond fake and

some day you will ache like I ache"

Leo:

Gold Dust Woman by Fleetwood Mac

"Rock on gold dust woman

take your silver spoon and dig your grave.

Heartless challenge

pick your path and I'll pray."

Virgo:

Drive by R.E.M.

"Hey kids, where are you?

Nobody tells you what to do baby

Maybe you did, maybe you walked

Maybe you rocked around the clock."

Libra:

There's a World by Neil Young

"There's a world you're living in

No one else has your part

All God's children in the wind

Take it in and blow hard."

Scorpio:

Stellar by Smashing Pumpkins

"Built a mere kingdom of self abuse

hitched to some rainbow

once more, it's always yours

once more, the wait hurts worse than the blows."

Sagittarius:

Hey Johnny Park by The Foo Fighters

Its impossible

I can't let it out

You'll never know

Am I selling you out?

Sit and watch your every mood.

Capricorn:

The Hand that Feeds by N.I.N

Just how deep do you believe?

Will you bite the hand that feeds?

Will you chew it until it bleeds?

Can you get up off your knees?

Are you brave enough to see?

Do you want to change it?

Aquarius:

Wherever I May Roam by Metallica

Under the wandering stars I've grown

by myself but not alone

I ask no one

And my ties are severed clean

Less I have the more I gain

Off the beaten path I reign

Pisces:

The Fly by U2

"It's no secret that the stars are falling from the sky

It's no secret that our world is in darkness tonight

They say the sun is sometimes eclipsed by a moon

Love you shine like a burning star"

Venus Rx: Sign by Sign

2009-03-31T19:36:32Z

With the Venus RX detrimentally floundering in the ME, ME, ME sign of Aries, we could all use a little narcissistically tailored 'SELF' help.

Aries:
I have had a slew of Rams visit my office in the past few weeks in need of astrology consultations, Tarot readings or quite plainly just looking for a place to pitch a true unadulterated fit about their love lives. The Rx: Don't jump the gun before Venus goes direct April 17th -- and even then, give a few weeks for Venus to settle and transit back into the core of the Aries constellation. 'Should I stay or should I go now?'

Taurus:
What happened to your patient, loving and gentle ways Taurus? You're starting to act like an Aries. Patience is more of a virtue than ever. Assertiveness, yes--implosion--no, no! The Rx: Surround yourself with more beauty and work your own beauty quotient from the inside out or the outside in. It actually works both ways for you.

Gemini:
Fighting with friends and work colleagues over ancient issues may feel necessary but instantly taxing on your overwrought nervous system. Revamping your goals on the other hand, is exciting and revitalizing. The Rx: Commit to walking your talk by May Day darling. Flaking out is so pre-Venus Rx.

Cancer:
Career--Cancer man and woman's eternal quest. Now with Venus dredging up memories, desires, and fears from the archives of your CV, you're perhaps more daunted than ever. The Rx: Use the time between now and April 17th for some hardcore research into every nook and cranny of your chosen domain. Prepare to summon your most valiant efforts mid-May.

Leo:
Your faith is being tested like it was your J.O.B. -- or your name was Job. You're questioning everything that is limiting your freedom of expression, or just your freedom in general. The Rx: Fly--be free! But again, don't topple the applecart before April 17th. Create more space between your own synapses for the time being.

Virgo:
Virgo's are climbing the walls with impatience and boredom. You crave change, but not the trite cosmetic versions. Your inner infant is positively screaming at you to MAKE THAT CHANGE! The Rx: You know what needs to be done, now stop spinning scenarios in your overly analytical head--and do it. Your deadline is May 15th.

Libra:
How does that old silly saying go--"if you're sitting on the fence, you're taking up too much space--move!" Well, you get the gist. This especially applies to old relationship remnants that you cling on to for fear of either being alone, forgotten or some other silly co-dependent illusion. The Rx: You know deep in your heart that the expiration date was eons ago. Don't wait for your infuriated partner to dump you.

Scorpio:
All work and no play makes Scorpio one enraged soldier. You've had it with people telling you that you should be grateful to be working during an economic crisis because your body's health crisis is screaming louder. The Rx: The nearest beach vacay. If that's not possible, scheme up a little decadence galore in your dark den of choice. To-do lists be damned.

Sagittarius:
Your creativity is on fire Sag! While everyone else is whining about good love gone bad, economic woe this and economic woe that, you're too busy filling up your life with a slew of new creative projects, trips and new shoes. The Rx: Use this time to prioritize and finish your glorious ten thousand things.

Capricorn:
Don't fight the feeling Capricorn. The Venus Rx is demanding that you slow down and spend more time closer to home. Your career will still be waiting for you even without you micromanaging every miniscule facet. The Rx: Learn how to act like a bona fide couch potato with the ones you love. Fake it 'til you make it.

Aquarius:
Stop hiding your genius underneath that thick skull of yours Aquarius. It's time to put pen to paper, fingers to keypad and unleash your quirky take on the oddities of the human race. The Rx: Blog, Tweet, and get cracking on finishing your first (or second) book.

Pisces:
Stop pretending money doesn't matter or that it's not spiritual to want any of it. Au contraire Pisces, haven't you heard of the Goddess Lakshmi? Money's energy and unless one sells their soul to some kind of Madoff-devil to get it, it has many blessed properties. The Rx: Put your mind on your money and your money on your mind. Figure out exactly how much of it you want and put your imagination and cunning but ever so subtle powers of manipulation -- I mean manifestation -- to good use and get it!

Venus in Aries RX: Dancing in the Flames

2009-03-08T03:51:06Z

Why does everyone get all crotchety whenever the word "retrograde" is muttered? Even if there is little to zilch interest in the astrological arts, it's as if we're all programmed to recoil in horror at the mere mention of the term "retrograde" (especially of the Mercury variety). Since Venus retrogrades only once every 18 months instead of several times a year like Mercury--and more importantly because she rules precious commodities like love, money and beauty--things get ugly.

Just because she's taking a little retreat, do we really have to start dressing in drab colors, breaking hearts, eating millet, swearing off dating, mating and relating for forty days, and stashing cash under the mattress refusing to buy ourselves anything except bread? What kind of goddess, even in repose, would ever wish such a thing on her mortal worshippers?

Doesn't it feel like some cosmic Nazi force suddenly raided our psyches ripping out all the sweetness and light leaving a slew of bottomless Mars-worthy temper tantrums to contend with for forty long days and lonely nights? Or like someone stole all the candy and flowers and we're now being force-fed rice cakes and made to wade in the dead prickly weeds of our past? As Lynda HIll so aptly observed, this is a forty day test of wandering in the desert like Jesus--no wonder I feel parched. Somebody bring me some water!

With everyone fiercely clutching their wallets in reaction to the current economic collapse, you'd think Venus was out of phase for months already. (Luxury items--faggedaboutit!) Nahhhh... that we can link to the fallout of Pluto in Sag, or better yet---The Bush era! But in our quest to preserve the beauty and bounty that Venus brings (ok, so she's in her detriment in Aries, but so the fu*k what), let's re-commit to living life like we're on fire, or at least dancing in the flames. Venus in Aries is all about the hot-potato approach--catch but then let go before you get burned. Clinging is where we get burned. 2012 is only a stone's throw away--isn't it time we embraced the concept of self-interest as having a healthy place in relationships? Aries is about preserving our individualistic instincts. It's so June Cleaver and Marion Cunningham to cow-tow in southern bell like deference to the proverbial hubby, humbly serving up a pot-roast while totally keeping the needs, gripes and passions tightly suppressed until we implode with migraines or run off with the milk man. If nothing else the current Venus in Aries demands we fiercely love ourselves, our lives with an all-consuming fire that rages on even in the face of discord. If we insist that everything be continuous sweetness and light, we might as well pack up and move to Candyland until we give ourselves Diabetes.

EVER FALLEN IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH?

And yes you can expect heaps of break-ups just as you can expect many to rush head first into red flag-heavy love relationships that will most likely crash and burn when Venus gets her groove back, and can discern the real from the fake. And yes you can expect to cover old ground as old lovers come crawling out of the woodwork.

When out to brunch with your sweetie or even your BFF (if the Venus Rx hasn't split you guys up yet), cease all tweets, emails, google searches, word warping, shazaming, status updates and texts for the duration of your precious time together. I have seen more fights break out over what should have been a romantic meal because someone couldn't curb their addiction to their crackberry or I-crack. I'm not pointing fingers, because I've been screamed at several times myself to put down the crack.

Like all retrograde periods, the invitation is to go within, slow the insanity down, and go deeper in the service of re-inventing, re-working, re-leasing, re-visioning. In the case of Venus, let this inner re-flection re-volve around beauty, love, relationships, values, and of course--moola!

Where did life go?...

and why did it run away??...

and how come everything has to change?

~Anonymous

Par for the course during Venus Rx in Aries:

Tantrums galore.

Courage.

Creativity.

Lack of patience.

Break-ups.

Assertiveness.

Aggression.

Allergies to working.

A surge in red wine sales.

Chocolate shortages.

Bad-idea diets.

Crankiness.

Shotgun weddings.

Interruption in flow.

Procrastination.

Fast fads.

Bossiness.

Egotism.

Rage-aholism.

Fist fights.

Bad Fashion.

Skin Eruptions.

Fevers.

Fizzling out.

Spirit is Talking

2009-02-20T20:46:12Z

"Love is the Temple. Love the higher law...

One life with each other--sisters, brothers.

One life but we're not the same.

We get to carry each other--One."-Bono

Spirit is Talking

Now that the sun has entered Pisces, the messages from spirit are rampant. I had a dream last night that I was watching a U2 concert from a little balcony and was able to reach out and shake hands with Bono while making eye contact that seemed like some kind of sacred contract or message to take back into my waking life. Next I woke up to write my morning pages--(for those of you Artist Way devotees--can I get a hell yeah!? ) and the first song that came on was "So Cruel" by U2 in order to trigger the memory of the dream which was up to that point submerged in the deeper regions of my subconscious with only a vague residual sense when I opened my eyes that I did not want the dream to end--wherever I had just been. This is a long slippery Piscean segue to say that the Neptunian synchronicity gods are in full effect at the moment. In other words, spirit isn't talking--but screaming at us! Are you listening? And then the moment I decided to blog about this amazing spirit medium that randomly appeared in my life unexpectedly last night, U2 came up on my iTunes shuffle but in the form of Pisces musician, Johnny Cash singing "One"--consequently many of my Pisces friends favorite songs of all times. And if that's not Piscean synchronistic coincidental enough for you: how about the fact that the past four songs on my Ipod shuffle have all been Pisces singers: Johnny Cash, Dee Snyder (Twisted Sister for those of you not cool enough to have worshipped at the alter of the Long Island rouged-cheek queen of glam rock), Kurt Cobain, and Flavor Flav. One of my favorite Piscean methods of divining messages from spirit is to ask questions to my iPod and listen to the lyrics for messages. This is what inspired my Fortune Cookie column in my Astrology magazine, Constellation. So according the great god of the Tunes of I, here are some collective messages, one for each sign:

Aries: "Power to the people cuz the people want peace."-Public Enemy

Taurus: "Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away."-Beatles

Gemini: "Music makes the people come together." Madonna

Cancer: "The sparkle in your eyes keeps me alive when the world drags me down." The Cult

Leo: "Lord carry over any course of distance, any cause of sorrow." PJ Harvey

Virgo: "All my loves are hidden in pieces, all my loves are within a wild night." Yeah Yeah Yeah's

Libra: "I thought I left my past behind. I live my life and all I know is follow your dream and don't let go." Lenny Kravitz

Scorpio: "You can't always get what you want but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need." -Rolling Stones

Sagittarius: "It's getting dark too dark to see. I feel I'm knockin on heaven's door."-Bob Dylan

Capricorn: "Lord knows I can't change. Lord help me I can't change. Won't you fly high--free bird." Lynyrd Skynyrd

Aquarius: "Just try to see in the dark, just try to make it work, feel the fear before you're here." The Cure

Pisces: "Stay and fight, stay and fight, stay and fight." Interpol