About Simone Butler

Simone Butler is an intuitive astrologer with more than 25 years of experience helping people engage with the mystery of their lives. In addition to having a consulting practice with clients throughout the world, Simone has taught many astrology classes and workshops, most recently at Vintage Religion in San Diego and the Golden Door Spa in Escondido. Simone's articles have been featured in The Mountain Astrologer, The L.A. Times and many other publications. She wrote the daily forecasts for the Starscroll for many years, as well as the lunar forecasts for Tarot.com. Simone loves ritual and combining astrology with feng shui. She lives in San Diego, California, and can be contacted through her website.

May62013

Taurus New Moon: Whet Your Appetite

Filed under:

Do you have a love-hate relationship with your appetite? Sometimes it seems like life would be easier (and your waistline slimmer) if that ice cream sundae or cheesy corn soufflé no longer held any appeal. Yet your appetite keeps you connected to your body and its instinctive pleasures. If your appetite disappeared, so would your will to live.

On the astrological wheel, appetite is found on the Taurus/Scorpio axis. Earthy Taurus rules physical desires and sensual indulgence; watery Scorpio, emotional desires and fulfillment through intimacy. The April 25 lunar eclipse catalyzed this axis, heightening physical and emotional experiences, for better or worse (and I’ve sure been hearing some hair-raising stories!).

Now, on May 9 (5:28 p.m. PDT) comes a solar eclipse in Taurus—with active Mars, mental Mercury and the recalcitrant South Node also in that stubborn fixed sign. Taurus is our comfort zone, our pleasure palace, that place where appetite and desire for the status quo reign supreme. Yet a solar eclipse is meant to knock us out of that comfortable rut and coax us into new territory. Being a New Moon, this eclipse offers the possibility of a fresh start—and being in Taurus, one that can have an indelible impact for some time to come. Also, since the eclipse is loosely opposed by Saturn in Scorpio, the opportunity to mix things up could come through someone else’s request or demand.

For example, I’ve grown quite complacent in my cozy home. I have little desire to travel and be apart from my two kitties. Yet I was recently asked to present some workshops in Arizona. This means being away from home for ten days (gasp!) which will effectively knock me out of my comfortable rut (Taurus). However, this opportunity to share my gifts with lots of new folks will also satisfy my craving for deeper connection (Scorpio), which sitting at home does not accomplish.

Where have you grown complacent, resistant to change? At this New Moon eclipse, let the Universe push you out of your rut. Peer beneath the surface of your appetite and see what you’re really hungry for. Find out what fuels your creativity and makes you feel alive. Latch onto those determined Taurus planets and let them move you—slowly but inexorably, like the tortoise—to deeper fulfillment.

The earthy Taurus New Moon is also a prime time to grow your abundance. For inspiration on attracting more green stuff, check out this ritual from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life. And, if you’d like to find out what this solar eclipse is triggering in your chart and how you can best work with it, contact me for a Snapshot reading ($35) via email.

Apr72013

Aries New Moon: Act It Out!

Filed under: Uncategorized

Four planets, including wild and crazy Uranus, are now in exuberant Aries. And, Mercury is finally picking up speed after its seemingly interminable retrograde. One might conclude that the show can finally hit the road.

Yet the fiery, impulsive Aries planets have been duking it out with the edgy Uranus-Pluto square, a discombobulating energy that was particularly strong at the last Full Moon. I heard from lots of clients who were dealing with breakups and unpredictable relationships, as well as sudden job losses or challenging new positions. And a surprising number are experiencing shoulder, neck or head issues (Aries rules the head).

The energies have calmed somewhat now that the Sun, Mars and Venus have moved away from Uranus. Yet we’re still very much in the Ram’s territory. It’s a time for action, but also a cool head. Let’s say you’re feeling impatient about a project, or angry that someone isn’t cooperating with you. The Aries impulse to act could lead to an argument, an accident—or an uncontrollable urge to eat, say, an entire package of Trader Joe’s frozen lemon squares.

And we certainly don’t want to go there. So, how do we channel this headstrong Aries energy? Working out would help. So would purging your closet, cleaning your desk and otherwise throwing yourself into a spring cleaning frenzy. But the most important thing, especially with Venus about to rendezvous with Mars this Saturday, is to love yourself as passionately as possible. These are the romance planets, and true romance begins with the self (Aries). So what if you ate that package of lemon squares? Rather than beating yourself up about it, forgive yourself and buy yourself flowers. Or, apologize to that colleague you yelled at and treat them to a mocha latte.

Because all dis-ease originates in self-rejection, all healing must therefore stem from self-acceptance. This is the message of the April 10 Aries New Moon (2:35 a.m. PDT), which catalyzes the passionate, loving Venus-Mars energies. This dynamic can spice up relationships or even spark new ones. But it can also help us heal old physical and emotional wounds so we can love ourselves more deeply. Aries wants to throw off the past and begin anew.

I heard an inspiring story the other day from a client who’s going through a painful divorce. Her greatest concern was for her 12-year-old daughter. But this bright, resilient girl had been productively channeling her sadness into playing the lead role in not one but two Greek tragedies! This reminds me of another of my favorite stories. A New York-based astrologer was dreading an upcoming consultation with a new client, whose chart was being hit by the worst set of transits he’d ever seen. But the client arrived happy, flush from her success—at playing Judy Garland on Broadway. She’d been unknowingly channeling her challenging transits by portraying someone else’s tragic life.

So at this New Moon, find a productive channel for your energies. Go sing karaoke or dance. Take yourself (or someone new) on a romantic date. For further inspiration, check out this Astro Feng Shui ritual and mini-video, showing how one woman transformed her Career gua around her front door to gear up for the Aries New Moon.

read the full article »»

Mar72013

Pisces New Moon: Parallel Worlds

Filed under: Uncategorized

When I was a kid, we played a storytelling game. “Once there was a girl with blue hair who lived on Mars…” Back and forth a friend and I went. My heroine inevitably ended up at the bottom of the ocean swimming with dolphins and mermaids.

Now that the Sun is in the dreamy, undersea world of Pisces, along with Mars, Venus, Mercury, Neptune and Chiron, again I’m diving into parallel worlds. I’m immersing myself in the steamy realm of magical realism that was 1850s New Orleans, as I conjure a screenplay featuring voodoo priestess Marie Laveau.

Quantum physics has theoretically proven that every possible outcome to every event exists in its own dimension. This means there are huge, perhaps infinite, numbers of universes and alternate realities. So right now, in some other dimension, I could be receiving my Oscar for best original screenplay.

Burt Goldman is a great believer in the power of tapping into the energy of these alternate selves. The 85-year-old spiritual entrepreneur has employed what he calls “quantum jumping” to become a celebrated artist and writer in his golden years. He tells some intriguing stories of people who have visited their parallel selves and come away with inspiration that changed their lives.

One woman cleaned houses for a living, but dreamed of decorating them. Using Goldman’s technique, she went into a meditative state and asked her successful interior decorator self how to make the leap. “Dress up houses for sale,” she was told. She built a mega-business by following that advice—spiffing up bedraggled homes to make them more appealing to buyers.

With so much visionary Pisces energy now afoot, including retrograde Mercury helping us salvage buried dreams and talents, the March 11 Pisces New Moon (12:51 pm PST), is a great time to visit a parallel self and ask for help with manifesting your ideal life. Ask this parallel self for the next step toward creating happiness, wealth or love. You can visit several alternate selves, and see how it feels to be each one. You may discover that the life of a successful urban entrepreneur isn’t all you’d imagined, but that moving to Tahiti to grow exotic fruits really does set your soul free.

Mars charges into Aries the day after the New Moon, soon to be followed by the Sun and Venus on March 20-21. Also, Mercury turns direct on March 17^th before dashing into Aries mid-April. We’ll soon have ample opportunity to harness the active, warrior energy and go after our goals in the outer world. Let’s use this inward Pisces New Moon to dream, vision and make sure that where we’re headed is where we really want to go!

Here’s a ritual from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life, to help you tap into your subconscious mind and get a better sense of what feels right for you.

read the full article »»

Feb62013

Aquarius New Moon: Magnificent Nectar

Filed under: Uncategorized

“If our true nature is permitted to guide our life, we grow healthy, fruitful and happy…yet 98 percent of us die before we taste the nectar of our magnificence.” –Abraham Maslow

When first studying astrology in the early 80s, I attended a weekend workshop at Zipporah Dobyns’ rambling old Victorian house in a slightly seedy part of Los Angeles. One of astrology’s late, great geniuses, Zip cut quite a figure in her flowery mu-mu, fuzzy bedroom slippers and broken cat-eye glasses held together with tape. She held forth for hours, correlating numbers and symbols at a mind-boggling pace.

At lunchtime, Zip’s daughter Maritha Pottenger – herself an accomplished astrologer – took pity on my novice self and perused my chart. “Ah,” she exclaimed, “the freedom-closeness dilemma!” And suddenly my life came into focus. A pile of Gemini and Cancer planets, with Uranus conjunct my Sun – no wonder I was so skittish, wanting love but scared to lose my independence. And, at last I understood why I resisted being pinned down long enough to bring anything to fruition.

Thanks in part to the inspiration of teachers like Maritha and Zip, I stuck with astrology long enough to gain a degree of mastery. And I have learned how to manage the air/water combo so that it (usually) doesn’t spin out into a tsunami or scatter my passions to the wind. But I will admit that in yoga class my Uranian self is still bothered when someone invades my personal space by putting their mat too close to mine!

We’ll all be learning to master the freedom-closeness dilemma at the February 9 Aquarius New Moon (11:20 p.m. PST). The Sun, Moon and Venus will be in airy, independent Aquarius, with Jupiter recently direct in windy, restless Gemini. And, Mars will be traveling near Mercury, Neptune and Chiron in watery, intuitive Pisces, while Saturn and the North Node continue to swim through the deep waters of Scorpio.

With nearly all the planets in air and water signs, how do we balance our heads and hearts? One clue is found in the symbol for Aquarius—the Water Bearer. The life-giving water that Aquarius bestows is more like spiritual sustenance, or what Maslow calls the “nectar of our magnificence.”

The psychologist, famous for his theory of psychological health based on fulfilling innate human needs and ultimately gaining self-actualization, notes that happiness lies in permitting our true nature to guide our life. Aquarius represents the true nature we all share—loving, heart-centered, free. I thought of this recently as a friend described taking her one-year-old foster daughter to a community center where people of different backgrounds were gathered. The little girl toddled from one person to the next, many of whom didn’t speak English, hugging them and kissing their cheeks. She was spreading the love instinctively, regardless of skin color, nationality or creed.

At this Aquarius New Moon, make sure you’re not part of Maslow’s 98 percent who fail to taste their own magnificence. Express your uniqueness and your love. Be creative. Send a note of appreciation or buy someone a cup of coffee. In the evening, list and reflect on the positive things that happened that day. If practiced regularly, these techniques will rewire your brain for happiness and make you feel more connected.

We could all use more Helpful People in our lives, and that’s what Aquarius is all about. Watch my latest Animoto mini-slide show to see how I used Astro Feng Shui to help Megan, who’s new in town, build her network of helpful friends by transforming her bedroom. And, click here for an Aquarius ritual from my book to call in the angels and gain help from the Other Side!

Painting by Claudia Fernety. See more of Claudia’s work at her website.

read the full article »»

Jan82013

Capricorn New Moon: Developing Oneness

Filed under:

In her recent book, Finding Your Way in a Wild New World, Martha Beck shares the story of Imaculee Ilibagiza, a Tutsi woman who narrowly escaped slaughter in Rwanda’s horrific genocide.

“Along with six other women, Ilibagiza took refuge in the home of a Hutu preacher, who hid them all in a spare bathroom about the size of an enclosed phone booth—for three months. Every day she heard her neighbors hunting for her, describing how they’d slaughtered her loved ones. In her book Left to Tell, Ilibagiza describes how she coped: by becoming such a thoroughgoing mystic that she lived entirely in Oneness, free from all fear and suffused with love.”

Oneness, says Beck, is a skill we need to survive and thrive in our crazy new world. It means operating from a deeper consciousness in which we feel connected to other people, animals, and all of nature. Beck’s book is an entertaining, inspiring manual for developing Oneness, along with other skills such as Wordlessness and Imagination. She learned how to do this at an African preserve called Londolozi, mentored by those who are deeply connected to the subtle powers of nature.

Sometimes it takes an experience of confinement to hone our natural abilities. Beck continues Ilibagiza’s story: “After she finally escaped the bathroom, Ilibagiza found herself, with a few old women and children, facing a mob of machete-wielding Hutus who threatened to kill the whole group. But her Oneness skills were so rock-solid she just looked at the killers, without fear or anger, feeling—and apparently broadcasting—nothing but calm compassion. For whatever reason, the bloodthirsty killers never attacked.”

I thought of Saturn when I read this tale. The ringed planet—bringer of boundaries and restrictions—can also trigger illumination. Saturn transits often throw seemingly insurmountable obstacles in our path, forcing us to grow. Saturn can feel depressing. Or you can choose to experience it as a protective embrace, providing the time, discipline and focus to accomplish something meaningful.

Which brings us to the January 11 Capricorn New Moon (11:44 a.m. Pacific time). At that time, five of the ten planets will be in Saturn’s sign, creating a container for growth. Now we’re able to initiate our real New Year’s resolutions. All that earthy, focused Capricorn energy can be put to good use by working diligently on a project, or by taking a hard look at whatever is no longer viable in your life and committing to change. Think long-range in determining what you want to accomplish, as Saturn and Capricorn favor small steps rather than large leaps. Don’t hesitate to commit to something that seems difficult (I’m talking to myself here!) Be willing to say a big, fat “NO” to anything that plainly isn’t working. Yet consider how a situation in which you feel trapped may be incubating a new aspect of you.

As our emerging new world goes through its birthing pains, some of us may feel like we’re stuck “between a rock and a hard place” – Saturn’s domain. We’ll be in a crucible of transformation as Saturn travels through do-or-die Scorpio over the next two years. Yet Saturn and Capricorn give us discipline, which means “being a disciple unto oneself.” It’s time to honor the Divine within, believe in your talents and have the courage to put them out to the world.

The Capricorn New Moon can help you grow your business and promote yourself. For inspiration, check out this ritual from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life. And, here’s my latest Animoto mini-video showing how one couple got more focused and committed to their creative work by transforming and activating their Fame gua.

Painting by Claudia Fernety. See more of Claudia’s work at her website.

read the full article »»

Dec92012

Sagittarius New Moon: Apocalypse or New World?

Filed under: Uncategorized

“At the ‘end of the world as we know it,’ the Unseen World waits to be found again.” –Michael Meade

Last week, to allay escalating fears about an impending apocalypse on December 21, Russian officials demanded that the country’s main TV stations stop airing a sensationalized program about Mayan prophecies. The government even took the unorthodox step of reassuring the public that the world was not about to end.

There’s a lot of hype and frenzy right now about the Mayan Calendar. Like Y2K and other doomsday scenarios before it, the “end of time as we know it” has proved irresistible to those who would capitalize on peoples’ fascination and fear. This is why I jumped off the Mayan Calendar bandwagon a few years ago: I refused to continue speculating about an event whose outcome no one could possibly predict.

Though I was impressed by what I’d heard about the Mayan Calendar’s parallels with historical events and changes in consciousness, predictions about certain time periods often fell short. Yes, change was accelerating exponentially—but we didn’t “meet the neighbors” and become part of the galactic community. Nor have we experienced teleportation and time travel—or instantaneous manifestation. We have grown more tightly connected via communication systems, and bonded through devastating events. And, more and more people have embraced a spiritual path.

A new world is being born as the old one dies. The Mayans weren’t the only ones to foresee this messy but exhilarating process—the Egyptians and Incas held similar beliefs. Many cultures have predicted that a giant wave of cosmic energy would permeate Earth’s atmosphere as the Sun reached our Galactic Center around the 2012 Solstice. To the ancients, the center of the Milky Way galaxy represented the womb of creation, the Great Mother of all. So, rather than an apocalypse to be dreaded, this incoming wave of higher consciousness is more likely a wondrous blessing from the Goddess—a fresh start for those who are ready.

The 2012 Winter Solstice chart (December 21, 2012, at 5:12 a.m. EST), traditionally seen as a snapshot of the year ahead, is quite magical. It contains an exact yod, or Finger of God, between Saturn in Scorpio (karmic clearing), Pluto in Capricorn (natural law), and Jupiter in Gemini (info downloads). And, Neptune in Pisces is sextile the Sun in Capricorn, linking spirituality with the ‘real world.’ Since 2013 also contains amazing “openings” at the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice (more on those later!), this Winter Solstice seems to be ushering in a life-changing new year. The Solstice can therefore be seen as a gateway into a more loving, connected state of being—by letting go of old karmic patterns and heaviness that have held us back, adhering to natural laws to improve our well-being and that of the Earth, and paying close attention to the info downloads we’re receiving.

Meanwhile, the December 13 Sagittarius New Moon (12:42 a.m. PST) sets the stage for this shift. Only three hours after the Sun and Moon join in inspiring, uplifting Sagittarius, Uranus charges forward in restless Aries after five months of retrograde motion. That’s a double dose of fire to get things moving! Liberating Uranus turning direct often corresponds with exciting, unpredictable events and awakenings. You might arise that morning from a dream that’s shaken you to your core—or suddenly find you’re able to release something that’s been blocking your progress. The Finger of God will be very close to exact at the New Moon, so begin listening for downloads then, as well as on the 17^th when messenger Mercury opposes Jupiter and triggers the karmic yod.

According to mythologist Michael Meade, the “end of time” is about a greater interface with the Unseen World—that which exists behind our apparent reality. In this seven-minute video, he explains why the world can’t end, because we’re inextricably tied to the eternal. So, we can utilize these upcoming cosmic openings to tune in to the invisible realm, draw peace and power from our true source, and step into the future.

Creating a treasure map is a great way to envision and create the future. For inspiration and guidance, follow this link to a Sagittarius New Moon ritual from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life.

Holiday Special: Between now and the end of Dec., order my recorded natal reading with cycles (reg. $195) or update (reg. $175) for only $150. Gift yourself or friends and family with a focused look at what lies within and ahead for 2013. Contact me soon, though, as this is my busiest time of year! (e-mail me at simone@astroalchemy.com).

Painting by Claudia Fernety. See more of Claudia’s work at her website.

read the full article »»

Nov102012

Scorpio New Moon: Time to Push!

Filed under:

“A new world is being born—within us and without. That last stage of labor makes so many women want to get up and leave. Just before it’s time to push. And the baby is almost out. It’s almost time to push, everyone.” –Dr. Christiane Northrup

Although many astrologers felt that Obama would be re-elected, based on his transits, last night’s quick outcome came as a shock. Who could have imagined that things would go so smoothly on the day that Mercury turned retrograde? But in this case, Trickster Mercury—along with a lot of dedicated voters—returned our president to us, giving him four more years to finish what he started.

This may be terrible news to some, but the real tragedy is the recent devastation wrought by Hurricane Sandy. On October 29, a powerhouse Scorpio/Taurus Full Moon on the financial axis of New York City’s natal chart (January 1, 1898, 12:01 am) coincided with the massive hurricane, bringing loss and destruction to that city, as well as other parts of the East Coast and the Caribbean. And, the upcoming total solar eclipse on NYC’s second house Chiron reflects both the wounding and healing process that’s occurring, especially of a financial nature.

The November 13 New Moon solar eclipse (2:08 p.m. PST) is the first in a series with the Nodes transiting Taurus and Scorpio. Echoing the October 29 Full Moon, this eclipse brings new urgency to examining our deepest values and needs. Over the next two years, as eclipses continue to hit the Taurus/Scorpio axis, the call to transform existing financial systems will grow ever stronger world-wide—but especially on Wall Street.

Although the eclipse will only be visible in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, we’re all going to feel its transformative effects. Because the eclipse falls during Mercury retrograde (November 6 – 26), it gives us a chance to reflect on the past and retrieve what’s most valuable. We may need to experience grief and loss in order to let go of what no longer serves. But Scorpio rules birth as well as death. As Dr. Christiane Northrup reminds us in the quote above, we’re collectively birthing a new world. And, we mustn’t give up before the final push!

On Nov. 13, do a ritual to bury the past and help with the birthing. Here’s one from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life. The house of your chart containing 22 Scorpio reveals the area of life in which you’re laboring, and about to deliver the final push. For clues, look to where you feel the strongest sense of stuckness or urgency. Contact me for a Snapshot reading via email ($35) if you need help figuring out what house or planets are being activated, and how best to work with the energies (just reply to the notice about this essay).

Also, be sure to clean, clear and beautify your Wealth Gua (the far left hand corner from the front door) prior to the Scorpio New Moon, to welcome in new prosperity and abundance. Watch my latest mini-video to see how one woman transformed this sector of her home by adding luxurious purple and gold elements. Her intention was to sell the house—and after making these changes, showings are suddenly popping!

Painting by Claudia Fernety. See more of Claudia’s work at her website.

read the full article »»

Oct122012

Libra New Moon: Sacred Marriage

Filed under: Uncategorized

“Marriage is no marriage that is not linked up with the sun and the earth, the moon and the fixed stars and the planets. Marriage is no marriage that is not a correspondence of blood…a communion of the two bloodstreams.” –D.H. Lawrence

Inspired by a study on the health benefits of “earthing,” I’ve been sitting in the backyard for 15 minutes each morning with my bare feet on the ground. Last weekend, as Saturn and Mercury entered Scorpio, I breathed the Earth energy up into my root chakra and felt a new sense of strength filling me. Afterward, I spotted a magnificent, blood-red hunk of agate peeking out of the topsoil. Who knows how long it laid there hidden? Now it’s my Saturn-in-Scorpio talisman, reminding me to stay rooted in my power center.

Saturn moves through Scorpio throughout 2014, shining his bright light on sexual power and whatever has been repressed or veiled. Musing on this intense cycle (which last happened from late 82-85), I thought of the British author D.H. Lawrence and his view of marriage as a “blood communion.” The author of Lady Chatterley’s Lover, one of the most erotic (and controversial) novels of the 20^th Century, Lawrence mourned the modern lack of “the warm blood sex that establishes the living and revitalizing connection between man and woman.” This sensitive Virgo blamed the loss on our disconnection with the rhythms and cycles of the natural world.

With his Moon in courtly Libra, the author and painter was devoted to his wife, Frieda. Yet the passionate Lawrence also led a double life with male lovers. His Scorpio Ascendant, with its ruler, Pluto, in square to Mercury, brought him plenty of secrecy, hardship and “blood sex.” He endured persecution and misrepresentation of his work, and spent years in voluntary exile. Yet by the time of his death in 1930, Lawrence was hailed as the greatest novelist of his generation.

Lawrence’s Virgo-Libra-Scorpio dynamics, and his passion for reconnecting love and sex to the natural world, are reflected in the upcoming Libra New Moon chart (Oct. 15, 5:02 a.m. PDT). The Sun and Moon are in chivalrous, civilized Libra, yet Venus (Libra’s ruling planet) is in Virgo, a sign that wants to make the world a better place and heal its wounds. Venus also makes a supportive sextile to Mercury in Scorpio—raising the stakes by adding a dose of passionate, primal sexuality and emotion. This New Moon is about the sacred marriage—which requires a restoration of inner harmony and balance.

During these transformational times, that which has been buried is re-emerging, within and without. For women, especially, this means our emotional and sexual strength. Reclaiming our inner treasure (Scorpio) can be chaotic, and we have to stay centered (Libra) for this process to unfold with grace and ease. At this New Moon, get your bare feet on the earth and draw its healing energies into your root. Have passionate sex with your lover. Or, mourn an old love to clear your slate. Dive into a writing or art project. Or, volunteer for a cause you’re passionate about. It’s all about reawakening your ability to love—both yourself and others.

To help you bring more love into your life, here’s a REALLY inspiring new mini-video on the Love Gua. You’ll be amazed at the transformation in Jackie’s bedroom—and we did it mostly by using stuff she already had! I’d be surprised if she didn’t pull in an exciting relationship soon. We can do a makeover for you, too ($50). Just send me pix, and I’ll make suggestions. And, to help you “feel the love,” check out this Libra New Moon ritual from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life.

read the full article »»

Sep122012

Virgo New Moon: Harvest Bounty

Filed under: Uncategorized

My vegetable garden yielded some delicious squash, peppers, tomatoes and herbs, thrilling my novice gardener’s soul. Still, despite regular watering and fertilizing, many things I planted in the spring never made it to fruition. Each morning I rip something out of the earth, bidding farewell to the withered cornstalk, or the brown raspberry bush for which I had high hopes. Such is the nature of gardens—and life.

In the Northern Hemisphere, September is harvest time. We give thanks for the bounty we’ve received and release what has failed to produce. Yet unless we’re planting a winter garden (an undertaking which seems beyond me right now), the soil we most need to cultivate during Mercury-ruled Virgo is in our minds. It is there we must clear space, root out what’s dead, and prepare the ground for future planting.

The September 15 Virgo New Moon (7:11 p.m. PDT) brings this sorting-and-clearing process to a head. Mercury, the planet which rules Virgo, conjoins the Sun and Moon at the lunation. This hyper-mental energy requires placing our thoughts in service of our goals, not our worries (Virgo’s dark side). There may be a strong desire to control the uncontrollable this month. Better to take charge of our thought processes—one of the few things we can control—and practice faith and relaxation as we surrender outcomes to a Higher Power.

On September 19, Uranus and Pluto will form the second of seven exact squares, catalyzing sudden changes, whipping up emotions and offering the potential for liberation. This square occurs just after Pluto stations (on September 17), turning forward after five months of retrograde motion. Pluto’s direct turn adds volatility to the mid-September time frame, as whatever has been held inside seeks an outlet. Because this is the opening square to the revolutionary Uranus-Pluto conjunction of the mid-to-late Sixties, reforms that were seeded at that time will become more urgent, and hopefully more firmly rooted, over the next few years.

This New Moon broadcasts a call from your deeper self to improve your health and work habits, and calls for a close examination of the soil that sustains you. Could your garden use some fertilizing, weeding, or breaking up of tough dirt clods? Most of us are like novice gardeners—scattering seeds, trying different things, not sure what will yield results. It’s time to acknowledge that despite some failures, you’ve also experienced successes, whether great or small, since the spring. Write down these successes and celebrate them. Virgo likes making lists and tallying progress; it also supports regular practice—the dedication which slowly moves us in a new direction. Whether it’s a daily walk, a morning blessing before heading off to work, clearing clutter one drawer at a time, sending out resumes to find a more fulfilling job, or volunteering for a cause you believe in, small acts will yield big shifts over time.

If your planets are being activated by Uranus and Pluto, you may be in for some bigger changes that will revolutionize your life. Email me for a short Snapshot reading ($35) to find out how the current energies are affecting your chart. And, at this New Moon, be sure to clean, clear and activate your Health gua at the center of your home. For inspiration, check out my latest mini-video featuring Cassie and Ben, who used my suggestions to revitalize their health and work. Finally, here’s a Virgo ritual from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life, to help ground and relax you during this high-energy time.

Painting by Claudia Fernety. See more of Claudia’s work at her website.

read the full article »»

Aug142012

Leo New Moon: Mining for Gold

Filed under:

I’ve always longed to be a writer of fiction. From my earliest youth, poems and stories would flow from me effortlessly as I mined what author Julia Cameron calls my “vein of gold.” In 1975, I transferred from UCSD to San Diego State, to partake of their excellent creative writing program. My teacher and advisor was the talented Jerry Bumpus. I can still see his eyes blazing as he read us one of his short stories—a wild tale of being stuck in dense traffic that keeps accelerating until everyone is whizzing along at over 100 mph. We hung on every word. That’s what I want to do, I thought—to captivate people that way.

Then, when I was just a few credits shy of graduation, Prof. Bumpus caught me cheating on a test. I don’t remember the nature of the exam; no doubt it was something I could easily have passed without the notes scribbled on my left palm. My teacher was horrified—I was one of his favorite students. Upon receiving the “F” in his class (when I’d always gotten “A’s” in English), I dropped out of college and left town. I focused on journalism from then on. Though I attempted to write several novels and screenplays over the years, failure was the inevitable result. I figured my creative well had run dry. I didn’t connect the problem to that old source of shame until I read Julia Cameron’s The Vein of Gold, and began writing down my life stories. By openly revealing this deep, dark secret, I’m hoping to release its stranglehold on me.

Perhaps you have a similar story. Maybe a teacher disapproved of your artistic style, or a family member made fun of your musical efforts—nipping your creative path in the bud. In her book, Cameron says that many voracious readers are closet writers, and that a love of music can indicate a gift for it. Often we don’t recognize these gifts, adds Cameron, or we give them up in order to make a living. Reclaiming what spiritual traditions call the Divine Child, or creative self, is an alchemical process of healing the heart. “The heart is the origin of creative impulses,” she explains. “If that heart has been wounded, it must be healed for our vein of gold to flow freely.” Writing down our stories is one way to do this, she says; others include daily walks to balance the right and left hemispheres of our brain, and weekly “artist dates.”

The August 17 Leo New Moon (8:54 a.m. PDT) is perfect for reclaiming our creativity. As the Sun and Moon join in heart-centered, imaginative Leo, they’re stabilized by a sextile from Mars and Saturn in harmonious Libra. This brings clarity and decision-making ability to both projects and relationships. Saturn loves structure and commitment; Mars favors action. And Leo is the lion-hearted courage to take a risk, break out of old ruts and try something new. Any habits instigated at this New Moon stand a better-than-average chance of sticking. And, with no significant retrogrades through September, the only thing holding us back is our fear.

Julia Cameron says, “Our dreams and desires are the voice of our soul, the God-voice awake within us, dreaming of expression and expansion through our daring and our faith.” Now is the time to listen to the voice of your soul, and give it an outlet. As for me, at this New Moon I’m signing up for a screenwriting class through UCSD extension. What creative path or heart-felt desire will you commit to?

For inspiration, watch my new two-minute Astro Feng Shui slide-show/video and see how one woman enhanced her Creativity gua, clarified her artistic goals and cleared the way for more love and joy. And, to further prime your creative pump, here’s a fun Leo New Moon ritual from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life.

Painting by Claudia Fernety. See more of Claudia’s work at her website.

read the full article »»

About Simone Butler

© 2000 - 2013 Mooncircles.com