It’s too soon to start putting this one in our charts. It’s also over 4,000 light years away. But it’s wonderful to think upon… on this Friday (Venus’ Day) just as Mercury stations direct, we got the news: scientists have discovered a planet made entirely of diamonds. Just think what else is possible!

We have not seen Venus for weeks. She’s been been traveling with (and hidden by) the Sun. But she’s just now reached the heart of her underworld journey, moving into exact conjunction with the Sun at 23 Leo. What has been happening to her beyond the veil is a mystery. But you can get a sense of her state of mind if you consider what’s been happening in your own life. Your inner Venus is a special jewel in the countless reflections of her journey.

I tend to think of this of this meeting between Sun and Venus (often called their “superior” conjunction) as her coronation. Throughout the months since her “interior” Sun/Venus conjunction, she has been ascending to her throne through seven celestial gates (her monthly conjunctions to the Moon). Now as she receives her crown, you see in your own life a fulfillment of earlier dreams—or a reckoning for hopes dashed or deferred. Either way, you’ve learned a few things about love, creativity, and prosperity. Venus will soon shine as an evening star, becoming a more mature, refined and civilizing influence. May you become so too.

This is the turning point of a Venus cycle that began on October 28, 2010. Do you remember what irritations and pleasures were stirring at that time? Venus was retrograde then and very powerful. If you listened to her, you might see a direct relationship between your current situation and the desires you felt at that time. You may also find some resonance between current events and seeds planted at the last Sun/Venus conjunction near this degree (on August 17, 2007 at 24 Leo). What were you dreaming of then? Is a celebration in order now?

Mars does not play gently. He’s even more outrageous when he’s Out of Bounds (as he’s been since July 24 until August 22). Amongst clients and friends, he’s raised courage and anger: desires won’t be denied! Early this week, when he stepped into the tension of the coming Uranus/Pluto square, he triggered mayhem and shock in several British cities. Along with the riots, he brought yet another glimpse into our likely tumultuous future. When Uranus meets Pluto—seven times over the next four years—the forces for change and revolution will do fierce battle against the powerful status quo.

“Opportunistic criminals,” PM David Cameron called the Twitter-organized looters and arsonists; he vowed to meet their Mars with his: “We will track you down, we will find you, we will charge you, we will punish you. You will pay for what you have done.”

It’s true, there was an extra Lammas-fueled madness in the streets—the Sun had reached fifteen degrees of fixed Leo; the riots coincided with this traditional cross-quarter celebration of the harvest. But what happens when there is no harvest to celebrate? Without a grain goddess to thank, do people ignite shops and steal consumer goods? Not all of the rioters were economically disadvantaged. But when around the world so many able-bodied people are unemployed, when struggling economies continue to make deep cuts to social programs, when the gap grows ever wider between those who have money and power and those who don’t, it’s easy to see that fuses are readying to ignite all over the world. The Uranus/Pluto square will be exact for the first time in the summer of 2012. Oh, just when London hosts the Olympic Games! Mars loves athletic contests. Let’s hope he behaves.

If your Inner Lion is snoozing, wake him up with this infectious mantra of delight and pride from Leo Guru Jessica.

Mars stepped Out of Bounds—beyond the Sun’s declination—on July 24 and will continue that way through August 22. Those born with Out of Bound planets do just as the name implies: they stretch the limits, bringing extreme genius or crazy, often both. The gifted athlete and cheating husband Tiger Woods has an OOB Mars; shock jock Howard Stern and euthanasia advocate Jack Kevorkian have OOB Mercuries.

During Out of Bound periods, the outlaw archetype prods us into stretching the limits of its expression. Mars is assertive action. Extreme Mars can impel us to improve our athletic performance, to take initiative, to be daring and pioneering, or to become dangerous, reckless, and violent. He can plant in us a powerful rage, new creative passion, surprising courage or extreme hate, depending on the soil he finds in us. The Norwegian terrorist, Anders Behring, traveled in a world of violent online video games and extremist politics. When Mars stepped beyond bounds, Behring became a mass murderer, hoping to ignite a world war.

Each of us has a Mars. When attacked, our personal warrior gathers our fear and rage and typically does one of two things: return the aggression or retreat behind barricades. But Jens Stoltenberg, Norway’s Prime Minister, did neither. When asked a day after the attack if stronger security measures were needed, he said no. “I don’t think security can solve problems. We need to teach greater respect.” He asked his country not to abandon its tradition of tolerance, but to hold more tightly to it. “The Norwegian response to violence is more democracy, more openness, and greater political participation.” These bold words—which would be unheard of in many political landscapes—is Mars Out of Bounds at his finest.

During the weeks before the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, presumably when Bin Laden’s group was doing their planning, Mars had been Out of Bounds for an especially long period: that year it was OOB from April to October. Such correspondences between the sky and dramatic events often makes us gasp. But it’s good to remember that planets are not the cause of anything. The celestial picture is but a reflection of our picture. And right now each of us has an Out of Bound Mars. How are you expressing him?

If you’re interested in learning more about Out of Bounds planets, read Pamela Welch’s fine article here.

If somebody sold Moon Water in my town, sales would be brisk. Ashland Oregon is abundant with individuals who genuinely revere the Divine Feminine and believe in the powers of subtle energies. And while quite a few of us actually dance under the Full Moon, many more of us, unfortunately, simply dance with the idea of doing it, and most months, we’re even too busy for that. Hence: the attractiveness of purchasing Moon Water. Imagine, having Moon Water in an elegant yet handy spray bottle, so that throughout the day, we could mist our feet, hands, face, and heart with the healing touch of the Moon. At night we could mist our pillows to draw soothing or illuminating dreams. With Moon Water we could charge our crystals. We could brew psychic teas. We could revive ailing pets and house plants.

But alas, Moon Water has not yet hit our shelves. So it is only during those months when we are so fully in tune with the Feminine that we’re able to use this exquisite opportunity each Full Moon brings, not only to charge a jar of spring water, but also to enchant ourselves. While making time to do this is difficult, the procedure itself is simple.

Pour purified water into a glass jar. Place it outside in the moonlight. Stand there awhile. Feel into the moonlight. Close your eyes. Imagine that the Moon is descending and has become a glowing orb just inches above the crown of your head. Feel how the Moon’s light now enters your body, nourishing each of your chakras, filling your cells. When you feel Moon Full, open your eyes. Slowly and lovingly circle your right hand in a clockwise direction over the water, nine times. Then do the same with your left hand, counter-clockwise, nine times. After that, over the jar, form a triangle with the index fingers and thumbs of both hands. Into the center of the triangle, pour your gratitude for the gift the Moon is bringing you. Then wait a minute or two. You may or may not receive a message, perhaps an image, a word, or a sensation. After you feel complete, rub your hands together and shake them out. Leave the bottled water out all night, but retrieve it early in the morning, before it’s touched by the Sun’s rays.

It’s as easy to catch feelings from other people as it is to catch their colds, especially if you’re an energy sensitive. That’s why developing good boundaries is crucial. But there are some feelings worth catching–which may be why certain videos go viral (in spiritual circles, this is known as “transmission”). Recently, along with a few million others, I found this little guru who had just learned to ride his bike. With the supportive witnessing of an encouraging parent, the boy’s exhilaration blossomed. It’s delightfully infectious. If you like infusing your New Moon rituals with positive qualities, let this coach lead you in a wonderful practice for this Cancer New Moon. Ground yourself into the center of the earth. Open to the vast possibility in the sky. Tune into your heart. Then watch the video and catch the joy. Let it flush through your system. Send it around the world. And repeat this mantra in the coming week: “I am happy of myself!” I know it’s eclipse time. All the more reason to practice your joy.

Postscript: Your energy practice is working is when it initiates a new conversation between your own rivers of memory, emotion, and energy. Notice what happens hours later. You may feel suddenly joyful–or you may begin weeping. You may feel more spacious, opening to new possibilities–or a dark cloud might descend (read my “Calling Cancer” piece on the Dark Mother). There is an art in trusting whatever appears. Know that it is the perfect next step for you in gaining emotional maturity. Be the encouraging witness. Keep observing the flow. Receive its wisdom.

Life is moving so fast these days, I can hardly keep up with the parade of calamities. I wonder… how do you survive having your baby ripped out of your arms during a tornado… or learning that the maid who helped raise your kids also had a baby with your husband? And what is it like to have your home and farm drown in the Mississipi River… or to be an international VIP shackled in court as a sex offender? How does one bear life’s unbearable surprises… like being a president lying in a hospital room with burns over forty percent of your body or a mother who’s just lost her son in Afganistan? And how do you live with yourself after you’ve torpedoed your career and your marriage by tweeting images of your weiner, especially when your last name is “Weiner”? How do you not notice the irony a little sooner?

There are so many ways to implode or suffer these days. But every once in awhile we enjoy a small respite. This weekend my son graduated from high school. And while graduation ceremonies can be mind-numbingly tedious (we attended three in one week!), I enjoyed every minute of this one, not just because my son was graduating, but because the officials kept their speeches short–so that every one of the 140 graduating seniors could be honored by a special teacher or mentor. About each senior, a story was told, a gift was celebrated, effort was applauded. In such a ritual-poor society as ours, sometimes, very occasionally, we get it right.

Last month, Bekah’s guest blog piece about Venus and Pluto meeting in a bar offered a fine perspective on the plethora of wild sexual indiscretions that made the news last month. This month she invites us to dance with the Sagittarian Centaur!

Solar Eclipse in Mutable Air + a Total Lunar Eclipse in Mutable Fire = … Marshmallows, anyone?

Sagittarius is a mutable fire sign, representing the transformation of spirit. Sagittarius is the gypsy, the mythological Centaur, and the wild bonfire around which we dance and tell our fantastic stories.

Lately I’ve been noticing the strong relationship between the elements and the Moon’s cycle… floods trumpeted the water-sign Scorpio Full Moon, tornadoes blew in the air-sign Gemini New Moon, and now a volcano ushers in the fiery Full Moon in Sagittarius. Of course, there is no legitimate proof that these things are related, but to ME, they have felt connected. If anyone understands that kind of far-reaching thinking, it would be Sagittarius, who calls us to dance with him at this Lunar Eclipse.

The dance here is of the last call variety, right before the club closes. The partners are your mind, which is probably still racing from the Gemini New Moon/Solar Eclipse, and your spirit, which may feel like it has either gotten too big for your body or you can’t find it at all. It is a fast dance, not a slow one and neither party can touch, yet they must somehow come together….

Argh! It’s impossible, it’s too hot and sweaty in here, I can’t catch my breath, it’s too loud and I don’t want to dance with you anyway, you smelly horse man! I just want to go home and get away from all these people, all these possibilties and everything that has brought me to this point… just. leave. me. alooooonnneee!!!

(Anyone else kind of feel like that? Just me? Here is the thing, an eclipse HEIGHTENS everything, and the Lunar Eclipse specifically heightens emotions. This Full Moon is in late degrees, which means it is time to let go of the old feelings, hang-ups, resentments, fears, thoughts and pretty much everything else plaguing mind or spirit.)

I threw a tantrum on the dance floor and ran dramatically out into the parking lot. The big full moon is staring down at me, illuminating my pain, embarassment and all the other stuff I don’t want to look at. I glare back at her as the Centaur saunters up to me. He laughs a full belly laugh and says “That was pretty impressive back there.” I ignore him and turn away. Suddenly he scoops me up, and starts galloping off into the night. “Hey!” I cry indignantly, “You are not supposed to touch me!” He chuckles again “I pretty much do whatever I want, sweetheart, I am always changing.” His whole body emanates heat and I add to it, fuming silently as he takes me further into the Full Moon night.

We stop suddenly in an alley where some homeless men have created a small fire in a battered grill. “Uh, excuse me?” I start to complain when he cuts me off. “Sorry, boys, can we use your spot for a few?” No one argues with such an impressive centaur and the men wander away. “Take me back.” I demand. “Give it up.” he responds. “Give it up, and give it to the fire. Everything you are so angry about, everything you are afraid of, give it away so I can have my dance with you.”

I refuse and stare into the fire. Give it up? All of it? Where would I be without my old fears and head games, my control issues and old tapes? “You will be free.” he answers softly. I stop resisting and start to empty out my pockets, my purse, my shoes. I offer to the weak fire all that has been living rent free in my head for so long. The fire grows higher, hungrier, accepting every old thought willingly.

Suddenly I feel light, so light, like I had no idea how much these things were weighing me down. I look at him in disbelief. He laughs that horsey laugh and I begin to hear the sound of drums, then a flute. He starts to circle me and now I laugh, because I am ready to dance this dance of mind and spirit. I am ready to move like magnets, without touching physically, but in perfect harmony. The eclipse has begun.

I don’t actually expect anyone to run off with a centaur Wednesday night (though that would be cool). But I would recommend taking time to let your mind and spirit work things out, perhaps through some silent meditation followed by prayer and a burning ceremony. Burning ceremony is where you write down all the things you are ready to release and then consciously and ceremoniously feed them to the flames. You can also burn old items but please do it safely and consciously. It is nice if you can do all of this under the Full Moon. And it’s especially nice, if you feel the impulse, to do a little dancing.

Bekah Finch is a Yoga teacher, shamanic practitioner and moon devotee. For more information on her work and writing please visit www.sacredwayyoga.com

Venus and Pluto rule the opposing signs of this Full Moon—Taurus as form and Scorpio as emotion—which prompted the following question from my guest blogger Bekah Finch: Can the Goddess of Love harmonize with the Lord of the Underworld?

Venus does not bow to another’s will easily. While her light side is all that is loving, thriving, sensual and beautiful, her dark side can be stubborn, greedy, manipulative and pouting. Pluto is nobody you want to mess with either, as his specialty is breaking down form, cutting through the BS, transforming, destroying and taking power. As these planets rule fixed signs, this will surely be a hard battle, as fixed signs do not bend.

So Venus and Pluto walk into a bar. The room lights up and all heads turn as Venus makes her way to the dance floor. Pluto scowls as he pulls a stool up to the darkest part of the bar and orders a shot of whiskey… this night can go two ways. Option one is Venus continues to flirt, dance and receive all attention while Pluto quietly rages into his drink, until at some point, his last button will be pushed and violence will commence. There will be anger, a stinging battle and the bar possibly burned down. This is inevitably what happens when form and feelings do not mesh. (Maybe not always this extreme, but you get the metaphor, yes?)

OR Venus may choose to sip some wine or sparkling water while they share their favorite stories, and Pluto can occasionally enjoy the center of the dance floor with her by his side. They can alternate dancing and drinking, hanging out together and being alone or with others. This can be a night of transformation, exploration and much fun. Venus can shine, but not take all the light, allowing Pluto to be his smart, deep, alluring self. Pluto can relax, knowing he can be himself and enjoy Venus’s beauty, without wanting to dampen it. It’s about being honest and creating a supportive, sustainable relationship where feelings are focused and form takes healthy roots.

The choice, as always, is yours.

Scorpio is fixed water and Taurus is fixed earth. Both water and earth at this time are standing still, trying very hard to hold on to what is most important to them. When earth is fixed, there is no yielding, when water is fixed, there is no flow. The challenge of this Full Moon is to either align your feelings with your actions or let go with love, not with anger. However you choose to honor this Full Moon, let it reflect the light of both Venus and Pluto… something grounding, beautiful but also powerful and true to your very core.

Water and earth are the elements to propitiate here, and if you do find there is some conflict between them, bring in fire or air to shake them up a bit. I plan to keep up with my daily hikes (earth) and will spend Monday night at my favorite Korean spa (water).

Bekah Finch is a Yoga teacher, shamanic practitioner and moon devotee. For more information on her work and writing please visit www.sacredwayyoga.com

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