2010 October : Dana’s Blog

Oct

27

Filed Under Cross Quarter Holy Days | Leave a Comment

candles The veil between the worlds is at its thinnest during Samhein, and it’s an appropriate time to contact ancestors, release what’s unnecessary, and prepare for the birth at Yule. Samhein is a “Sabbat,” one of the special days of power on the wheel of the year. Perform the ritual on October 31 (traditional Samhein) or November 8 (astrological Samhein).

You will need: an altar; three candles, one a beautiful shade of blue, one black, one white; a lighter to ignite the candles; and a a piece of chocolate.*
Place the chocolate on a small plate on the altar, then the candles, from left to right: blue, black, and white. Have a lighter nearby. When you’ re ready to begin, ring a bell or clap your hands. Step forward and recite the following:

I now enter a time that is not a time and a place that is not a place, at an hour that is not an hour, but a sacred portal between the worlds.

Light the blue candle. For as long or as briefly as you desire, offer your heartfelt respect, love and gratitude to your ancestors. Bow when you’re complete.

Light the black candle. For as long or as briefly as you desire, ask your protectors to help you release all that interferes with your passion and joy. Bow when you’re complete.

Light the white candle to signal your willingness and desire to receive a message from your ancestors, protectors, or guides. If you have a specific question, ask it. You may receive the answer now or sometime in the next 24 hours. Bow when you’re complete.

With all three candles lit, thank all the spirits and powers who have been in attendance. Take the chocolate into your mouth. Eat it slowly, with tremendous pleasure. (And don’t judge your level of pleasure; just surrender to whatever amount is available.) When you’re complete, ring a bell or clap your hands, and take one step back.

Recite the following:

I now leave the time that is not a time and the place that is not a place, at this hour that is not an hour, but a perfect moment in my perfect world.

Blow out the candles or let them burn—your choice! Of course always take care with unattended burning candles.

* You can also use a garden trowel instead of or in addition to the chocolate. At the conclusion of the ritual, take the trowel out to your garden to dig and/or weed in the moist dirt, thinking of how this act has the magical power to clear away inner obstacles. Feel gratitude for the earth and how it recycles death into nutrients for plants, people and worms.

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Oct

20

Filed Under Astrology trends | Leave a Comment

venusrossetti Venus in the underworld is at her most powerful, especially when she descends in magical snaky Scorpio, as she did for this retrograde. You should expect to hear from her–if you haven’t already–through overwhelming desires, intuitions, unusual messages or dreams. Wilhelm, a MoonCircles reader, recently shared with me this Venus retrograde dream:

I had submitted a request to a committee of senior teachers. After they had deliberated, they sent a messenger to me, letting me know that the goddess Aphrodite had responded directly to my petition. As her note was handed to me, it changed into a very ethereal looking dove that changed into four doves who flew off in an equally sided cross formation. Then the doves changed into transparent butterflies…

The dove is Venus’ bird. There were five (one plus four) doves and five is Venus’ number. Clearly she was giving Wilhelm a sign. She gave us all a sign when shortly after her descent into the underworld, the 33 Chilean miners were finally released and returned above ground. What did it mean? I suspect it’s much like Wilhelm’s doves: it’s a sign of hope. As indeed there’s much darkness around, let’s remember it. And treasure that the goddess is watching and with us.

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Oct

7

Filed Under Astrology trends | 3 Comments

Venusvelazquez

Venus stations retrograde tomorrow. Fuddy duddy astrologers are usually alarmed, advising caution in all matters related to Venus: relationships, creativity, pleasure, finances and fashion. Venus might inspire you to buy a lime green coat (“It looks so merry,” you think, “and I need a little more spice in my life!”)—although after the retrograde you’ll wonder how you ever bought such a thing. Venus could draw you towards an enticing stranger who seems to be everything that’s missing from your life—until you realize he’s worse than any jerk you’ve ever been with.

It’s true—such things can happen. But there’s a reason. Venus has needs you’ve been ignoring and during her retrograde she demands that you listen. She wants to shake up your life. She wants more pleasure! During her retrograde, Venus descends into the underworld and makes herself new. She’d like you to do the same.

These are high holy days for the Feminine, when Venus is at her most powerful in the inner world. Listen. Make necessary changes, but consider any sudden (and possibly ill-advised) decisions. If you’ve been ignoring Venus for the past few months, she may push you to extremes. If you have a good relationship with her, this can be a particularly delicious time. In Scorpio, be prepared to go deep. She wants you to peel back the veil and find answers to your personal mysteries.

Venus retrogrades on October 8 at 13.14 Scorpio; she goes direct November 18 at 27.40 Libra.. She will be in her post-retrograde shadow period until December 20. If you have some knowledge of your chart, find which house(s) she’s touching. Eight years ago she was retrograde in this same part of your chart. What happened then? How are those themes playing out now?

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Oct

1

Filed Under Astrology trends | 13 Comments

dad1 Two weeks ago, just before his 89th birthday, my father died. At three in the morning his sister heard him mutter “Christ!” It wasn’t until the next morning she discovered him on the floor of his bedroom unable to get up. He fell again that afternoon while opening a can of tuna. “Shit!” he moaned. Blood poured from his head.

Death is one of those mysteries that hides behind a hideous surface. It’s universally sad. We consider it a defeat. But as my father lay barely conscious in the hospital, his upper body thin and wasting, his legs swollen three times their size, with a fatty tumor bigger than a cantaloupe in his belly, death seemed more friend than enemy. The final week my father was in the hospital, I began to think of him as Christopher Columbus heading off for a New World, the pioneer of our nuclear family, embarking on the greatest adventure of all. Indeed, when he finally passed, it was within hours of the Jupiter Uranus conjunction, that wonderful aspect of discovery and invention. It was trine his Scorpio Ascendant.

I once heard the great astrologer and data collector Lois Rodden discussing death. I was surprised when she said that benefic Jupiter was often involved. Yet why not? From the soul’s point of view, it’s such a gift to move on. Grim Reaper Saturn also takes an interest, and the day my father died, Saturn was marching toward his Libra Sun. But when I put the transits of my father’s death chart around his natal wheel, it was neither Saturn nor Jupiter who vied for my attention. To an astrologer’s eye, the planets will often wink, vibrate, or grow larger to announce that they’re involved. The blinking planets this time were Mercury and Mars. Transiting Mars in Scorpio was conjunct my dad’s natal Mercury (ruler of his 8th house of death); transiting Mercury in Virgo was conjunct his natal Mars (ruler of his Ascendant and the body). These were the psychopomps who arrived at 1:10 pm to escort my father into the other world. He took two gasping breaths and was gone.

Today is his birthday. Happy birthday, Dad. I love you.

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