The news went viral yesterday. Even my son–who never discusses astrology–was shaken. He came into the livingroom with an ashen look on his face: “Did you hear?! I’m not an Aquarian!” Believe me, he is. And the rumors about an astrology shake-up are wildly exaggerated. It’s well known by astrologers and astronomers that the earth wobbles, and over thousands of years, the Sun shifts its position against the background of constellations. (If you’re curious, Google “precession of the equinoxes.”)

But there are two types of astrology. One calculates the horoscope based on the Sun rising against this shifting backdrop of stars. This is Indian, or Vedic astrology. And you may indeed find that in this system you have a different Sun sign as it uses what is known as the “sidereal zodiac.” There is a 23 degree difference between this and the “tropical zodiac,” which is what most Western astrologers use. The tropical system is derived from earth’s seasons, not the stars. It’s calculated using the position of the Sun in relationship to earth (specifically the equator) on the days of the summer/winter solstice and the spring/fall equinox. Both systems work.

The viral news story also mentioned a “13th zodiac sign” known as “Ophiuchus.” There is such a constellation, but it’s off the ecliptic (the Sun’s path), so it has no business joining the traditional twelve. Incidentally, there are actually about twenty-four constellations that touch the ecliptic. Anyone for a zodiac with twenty-four signs? Let’s hope another scientist doesn’t start spouting off (I’m talking to you Parke Kunkle!).

How auspicious! On the day of the Solar Eclipse, Jupiter and Uranus meet. They’re conjunct in dream-weaver Pisces. Together Jupiter and Uranus bring growth, change, expansion, and breakthroughs. Their conjunctions, occurring every fourteen years, coincide with discoveries and great forward leaps. What an inspiring way to begin the year! These are challenging times, but like cheerleading guardian angels, the two sky gods are sending a message. They want us to dream big. They want us to imagine ourselves excited and brave as we set sail, individually and collectively, towards a new world. Soon both Jupiter and Uranus will enter Aries: the sign of adventure and courageous initiatives. This Spring I suspect we’ll be seeing a plethora of action movies with plucky heroes and heroines. That’s one way our collective unconscious will be dreaming us into bolder versions of ourselves. Next year, Uranus and Pluto will begin their explosive, revolutionary square. If we raise our courage in 2011, we might lasso that energy and accomplish something amazing.

I hear there hasn’t been a lunar eclipse like this–occurring at winter solstice–for 456 years. People get excited about rare celestial events. But I’ve seen a few of these come and go. To me it seems the greater rarity now is any moment when a human fully meets the sky. Even if a lunar eclipse occurred every year on the solstice, what matters is how you meet it this time. Pause your busy or mournful or joyful life and connect with the power of the Sun. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Sun is standing still (hence “solstice”) at its southernmost point on the horizon. It is the longest night of the year when we are invited to turn from our cold mysteries to face the bright warmth of new possibilities. The days will soon get longer and the nights will get shorter. Gardens will grow, and so will our lives.

There are many wonderful Solstice rituals involving chants, costumes and Yule Logs (this one’s nice). I like to keep it simple. For my solstice ritual, you’ll need just a candle (or a fireplace or a favorite lamp) and some “Sun food.” This is a magical edible—something to symbolize the power of the Sun. You’ll take it in at the ritual’s climax. Sun cookies–anything round and yellow—will do (here’s one recipe). Lately I’ve fallen in love with greens–kales, lettuces, chard–as a juiced blend of their chloryphyl is the closest thing to liquid sunshine. Be the alchemist as you prepare what’s right for you. As you gather the ingredients, meditate on your experience of the past ninety days.

At your Solstice moment–which is that hour you can give yourself when you have absolutely nothing else to do. Nowhere to go, nothing to get, no one to satisfy. Approach your altar (or your fireplace or your table with your favorite lamp), declare a circle of sacred space. Call in the elements, the snow-capped mountains, the exhilarating winds, the roaring hearth fire, the healing warmth of a fragrant bubble bath. Light your candle or lamp. Turn so that your back faces the altar and the light is now behind you. Close your eyes and feel into the dark. Notice whatever sensations or emotions this brings. Savor it as your experience, your singular expression of the world soul at this unrepeatable moment. Do not judge it. Sink into it. And when you feel ready, turn to the light. Open your arms and draw the energy of the light into your heart. Offer your profound thanks to the Sun, the source of light, life and energy on this planet. Ask the Sun to bless you with health, creativity, and love in the coming days. Eat your Sun food. Savor this thrilling experience of light! When you’re complete, bow to the candle or lamp. Thank the elements and dissolve the sacred circle into a mist of protection that surrounds you as you re-enter the world. Extinguish the candle.

For the Southern Hemisphere, for whom the days will be getting shorter, reverse the imagery. Start with symbols or images evoking the abundance of the garden. Begin facing the altar. Celebrate the experience of warmth and light as the Sun is at its strongest. When you are ready, turn so that your back is to the light. Close your eyes and contemplate the coming darkness. Feel into it. When you are ready, with eyes still closed, eat your Sun food.

It’s worth noting how the gods roamed the earth this past week, as retrograde Mercury rendezvouzed in Capricorn with that explosive pair, Mars and Pluto (exact on December 13). The Warrior and Underworld Lord aren’t known for their subtlety or grace. Their conjunctions can ignite passion, anger, violence, war, revenge–all of which had Messenger Mercury working overtime. There he was at a Florida school board meeting, spray-painting a red V for “vengeance” on the wall, before going out in a blaze of gunfire that luckily missed all targets but himself. In New York, the Messenger brought news from the underworld, as four bodies were found scattered along a highway, likely the remains of prostitutes, victimized by a serial killer. The most poignant Mercury-Mars-Pluto message may be the final words of the dying US diplomat Richard Holbrooke: “You’ve got to stop this war in Afganistan.” But perhaps the most resounding message heard around the world was the frustration of protestors at the widening divide between the Haves and Have Nots. Stuffy Capricorn leaders got served–in Italy, Russia, Greece, and England. Pictured above are Charles and Camilla, heading to a performance in their state-bought Rolls Royce as students (whose tuition just tripled) shouted “Off With their Heads!”

Astrologers do talk. And we noticed during the weeks of Venus retrograde (October 8 to November 18) that many of you were possessed by a certain Venus madness: An urgency to strike against your bad relationships with fierce precision. Or a lonely wringing-of-hands, unable to tolerate a lack of love. For some this retrograde brought profound forgiveness and healings. Others got motivated. “I need more money! More beauty! More free time! More passion!” During her retrogrades, Venus often names what’s missing from your life–the shiny thing that would make your days happy and more fun. This need is a precious souvenir from Her journey through the underworld. What should you do with it? You have options. You can throw it in a drawer, and by the time Her post-retrograde shadow ends (December 20), you will be back into the familiar stream of your life, having forgotten what all the fuss was about. Or you can write about it, make treasure maps and post them on your wall. You can give your desire to the receptive Mother in your Moon. She’ll pull your cranky Venus child onto her lap, soothe her, and suggest something wise to do next. When Venus and the Moon agree to pursue the same desires, your creativity, confidence, and power to attract what you want increases. That’s the secret of their monthly conjunction. The next one arrives on December 31.

Venus rules diplomacy and Scorpio rules secrets. In the shadow of Her retrograde, we’ve seen some of her feisty mischief, in the WikiLeaks release of sensitive diplomatic documents, much of it gossip about world leaders. Also in the shadow of Her retrograde, she sent us a frank and unashamed sexual message through her emissary, Eve Ensler, urging nothing less than a revolution in the treatment of the vagina. Sensitive to power and intimacy, Venus in Scorpio has her priorities!

The cashier at the the Co-op was bubbly. “I don’t know why, I’m just in a great mood today,” she said. Hmmm… perhaps it’s Venus and Jupiter stationing direct. It’s rare when two planets station direct in one day, but when both are benefics, sweet and bountiful, we might bask in their good graces. It’s been a tough year, with eclipses, retrogrades, and the general decline of the western empire. So let’s enjoy this day, arriving like a triple latte laced with caramel and piled high with whipped cream. Go to the spa. Buy an extra bar of chocolate. Revel in whatever pleasures come your way. Pray to these two gods of abundance and prosperity. Become their agent and change a life: donate to a Kiva entrepreneur. And dare to be optimistic about your own future. Stationing planets move slowly, with gathered strength, so let this good mood permeate your cells and last awhile.

Venus of course rules the feminine and Jupiter rules personal growth and politics. Perhaps it was a nudge from these two that prompted the release of Aung San Sui Kyi, the pro-democracy political activist who’s been under house arrest in Myanmar for fifteen of the past twenty-one years. The joy and celebration of her current freedom is a wonderful symbol of what can happen when these two benefics are strong.

And if you’re in the area, I hope you’ll join me and the San Francisco Astrological Society … I’m heading there now!

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.

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.

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?

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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