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Trust in Allah and Tie Your Camel

By Simone Butler

An Arab proverb tells of a nomad who was questioning his faith. He approached a prophet, asking whether he should tie up his camel while he slept, or simply trust that the animal would still be there when he awoke. The prophet replied that he must do both: “Trust in Allah and tie your camel.” In other words, while it’s good to have faith that everything will work out, we must also do whatever we can to secure our assets and prepare for any eventuality.

Rick Rescorla was a good example of this. A decorated Vietnam veteran, he knew first-hand what can happen if you’re not prepared. As head of security for Morgan Stanley’s World Trade Center Offices in New York City, Rescorla routinely annoyed the company’s 3000 employees by putting them through his 22-floor evacuation drills. Concerned that the World Trade Center represented a major terrorist target, he even appointed team leaders and fire marshals for each floor and thoroughly trained them on evacuation routes and contingency plans. And the result was, when the first plane hit on September 11, 2001, everyone knew exactly what to do. They didn’t panic, as is usually the case in a sudden disaster. Though they witnessed people next door in Tower One jumping out of windows to escape the heat and flames, they continued to follow the plan – even when the second plane hit Tower Two. In the end, 2,687 Morgan Stanley employees survived. Unfortunately, Rescorla wasn’t one of them. He’d run back into the inferno to try and save the remaining dozen, and was never seen again.

Many of us are accustomed to waiting for someone in authority – the government, for instance – to initiate necessary changes and keep us safe. But if we’ve learned anything lately with all the disasters unfolding as the result of an overheated planet (as well as assorted mayhem on high), there is only us. We must tie up our camels and help others to do the same, since we can’t count on authorities doing it for us.

Self-reliance is at the heart of Virgo. This practical earth sign knows how to take care of business. That includes preparing healthy food, tending to ailments, cleaning up messes and generally being of service. Collectively, we now face the daunting task of putting out fires and cleaning up toxic messes throughout the globe, but Virgo is up to the task. The next New Moon (Tuesday, Sept. 19, 10:30 p.m. PDT) features five planets in the sign of service – the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Mars and Venus. Getting organized and executing a plan can happen faster than usual with that much Virgo on board. At this time, we are asked not only to help those afflicted by the recent devastation, but to take stock of our own preparedness.

How is your health? Are you taking good care of yourself and those close to you? Are you stable and calm, or totally freaked out?  If the latter, get help. The New Moon opposes Chiron in Pisces, intensifying our sensitivity to suffering and activating the Wounded Healer within. Don’t ignore the wounded part of yourself or retreat into denial or hiding. With Saturn forming a T-square to the New Moon, it’s better to face what you fear and do something about it, however small, than remain in illusion. Mercury in Virgo opposes Neptune in Pisces at the New Moon, providing access to a vision of a better world. But getting there will require that we move past any powerlessness in the face of suffering – and do whatever it takes to remedy it.

Where to start? Get your emergency kit and disaster plan together. Create an Irma recovery page.  Get to know your neighbors. Offer to collect their newspapers when they’re away, or to babysit for an hour or two to give a tired mother time to relax. Meet their pets, and become an emergency contact. The more we help tie up each other’s camels, the more we strengthen our faith and resilience. And if the worst should occur, we’ve got each other’s backs.

Filed under: Home New Moon Featured Article

About Simone Butler

Simone Butler is the author of Moon Power: Lunar Rituals for Connecting with your Inner Goddess. She's been a professional astrologer for 30 years. In addition to a worldwide consulting practice on astrology and Astro Feng Shui, Simone offers New Moon collage classes, and writes for The Mountain Astrologer. She also wrote for and edited the Starscroll for many years. Simone’s book Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life fuses Western astrology and Western feng shui into one unique, transformative system. Sign up to receive her entertaining, informative bi-monthly blogs and learn about her monthly rituals and tips.

Comments

  1. Laura Fellows says

    Sep 19, 2017 at 3:08 pm

    Excellent article as usual. Just this morning I shared a video that you could say was definitely a vision of a better world. A Black Lives Matter group shows up to protest at a right-wing rally and their organizer is actually given the mike for a minute. Very eloquent. He is met with some jeers but finds some commonality and counters some misinformation. I’m wondering now if it was staged for internet PR, but I’m not sure I care–it shows a positive image of people coming together. PS big fan of your feng shui.

    Reply
    • Simone says

      Sep 19, 2017 at 3:12 pm

      Thanks, Laura! And yes it sounds positive even if it does turn out to be staged. Here’s to the vision! Cheers, Simone

      Reply

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The Moon is in its
Full Phase

in the
Sign of Sagittarius


Today's Lunar Aspects:

  • Moon trine Venus, 3:31pm  May 17 2022

Venus is currently
The Morning Star

in the sign of Aries


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m  Conjunction:  Like peas in a pod, planets in conjunction tend to come from the same place. They act together, but it’s also hard to tell them apart. This aspect can increase talent, focus, and intensity (“two are better than one”). Or one planet can disappear as the other dominates. Their connection feels so natural, it’s easy to think everyone blends these planetary energies just as you do—but mostly, they don’t!.

p  Sextile:  Planets in sextile are compatible, though without any fireworks. This aspect doesn’t demand your attention. It quietly presents an opportunity. You can join these archetypal forces. Donna Cunningham has called this the “Oh, that!” aspect, because that’s generally what her clients say when she describes their benefits.  To get the most from sextiles you need to actively work them.

q  Square:  Squares are wild and wonderful—but difficult too. The power struggle between these planets was likely defined in your youth, when they were impossibly challenging. People are usually aware of their squares. They force the issues that make you to grow. And that’s their gift. They ensure you learn your lessons. When you rise to the occasion, they bless you with energy, action, and success.

r  Trine:  Michael Munkasey has dubbed this the “goddess aspect” because it’s so lovely. Identifying talents you may have perfected in a previous life, trines can bring you joy. There’s a nice flow of energy between planets in trine. They support and reinforce each another. But without any struggle, you might take them for granted—neither using nor developing their gifts. An unattended trine can sometimes trick you into negative behaviors.

t  Inconjunct/Quincunx:  Your quincunx planets are innately incompatible. Bringing them into harmonious expression requires constant adjustments. This can be stressful, also motivating. You’ve got to keep changing your process, opinions or attitude—which promotes highly creative solutions.

u  Opposition:  They say opposites attract—and planets in opposition are never far from each other, though they’re constantly bickering. You may be triggered into awareness of this aspect by other people who seem to resist or undermine you.  An opposition can make you feel uncertain, insecure, or discontent, until you can accept and see yourself in both energies. Typically people find it easier to identify with one side and project the other onto unsuspecting others in the outer world.

First House: Personality, physical body, beginnings. Includes the Ascendant and rules physical appearance, the image you project to others, your general outlook on life, how you start things; may describe your role in your family system, often guides your first impression of immediate environment.

Second House: Money and personal finances, sense of self-worth and basic values, personal possessions, talents.

Third House: Communication, thoughts, language skills like writing and speaking, early schooling, siblings and neighbors, short trips, coming and going around town.

Fourth House: Your home, psychological foundations and roots, family, parents, domestic life, instinctive behavior, ancestry, your connection with the past, sense of security, domestic life, real estate. conditions at the end of life.

Fifth House: Children, creativity, romance; pleasure, entertainment, self-expression; all forms of “play”, speculation, gambling, and attitude towards taking risks; hobbies, attitude towards romance, lovers as opposed to partners, attitude towards having fun.

Sixth House: Work and job (as opposed to career), daily life, attitude towards service and coworkers, helpfulness, pets, attitude towards routine and organization, how you refine and perfect your skills.

Seventh House: Partnerships, one-to-one relationships, marriage, the first marriage, the “significant other”, business partnerships, competitors, open enemies, lawyers, mediators, counselors, contracts, negotiations, agreements. clients/the public.

Eighth House: Transformations and crisis, your ability to meet and rebound from crisis and change, sexuality; sex, death and rebirth, rituals and personal growth, your partner’s resources, addictions, psychology, other people’s money, taxes, divorce/alimony, inheritance.

Ninth House: Attitude toward expanding horizons, religious beliefs and personal philosophy, higher education, long-distance travel, morals, foreign languages and cultures, personal truths, publishing, commerce, advertising, your sense of adventure.

Tenth House: Career and profession, your contribution to society, social status, public reputation, material success, how you carve out a public identity for yourself; attitude toward authority figures, parents, caregivers, bosses, governments, attitude towards responsibility, desire for achievement.

Eleventh House: Friends, groups, organizations; hopes, wishes, aspirations, personal goals; your philanthropic attitude, concern for the collective, humanity; like tenth, can bring recognition and honors for fulfilling hopes and dreams.

Twelfth House: What’s hidden beneath the surface, karmic dustbin, limiting childhood/past-life messages, self-undoing, hidden enemies, hidden weaknesses, dreams, secret affairs, lost items, hospitals and prisons, hidden strengths, spiritual studies and soul growth.

A  Sun: Our vitality and magnetism; self-identity, ego.
Roles: The Self, the Hero, the Performer, the King.

B  Moon: Intuition, emotion, nurture.
Roles: The Mother, the High Priestess, the Child.

C  Mercury: Mind; physical dexterity and mental agility.
Roles: The Thinker, the Communicator, the Student, the Trickster, the Merchant, the Thief.

D  Venus: Our capacity for pleasure, receptivity, creativity, and social connection. Also indicates our relationships, self esteem, and financial abundance.
Roles: The Lover, the Seductress, the Artist.

E  Mars: Desire, initiative, anger.
Roles: The Protector, the Athlete, the Warrior.

F  Jupiter: Luck, opportunity, expansion, higher learning, religion.
Roles: The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Traveler, the Monk, the Professor.

G  Saturn: Hard work, commitment, focus, inadequacy, leadership, suffering, loss.
Roles: The Task Master, the Grim Reaper, the Wise Old Man, the Builder, the Cynic, the Boss.

H  Uranus: Change, breakthroughs, upsets, discoveries.
Roles: The Revolutionary, the Humanitarian, the Visionary, the Snob.

I  Neptune: Imagination, spirituality, idealism, addictions, deception, compassion.
Roles: The Artist, the Romantic, the Guru, the Addict, the Martyr, the Victim.

J  Pluto: Transformation, power, psychological dynamics, helplessness.
Roles: The Terrorist, the Detective, the Psychotherapist, the Dictator, shady people.

a  Aries: Pioneering, competitive, selfish, impatient, courageous, reckless, independent, dynamic, domineering, “Me first!”

b  Taurus: Patient, stable, lazy, dependable, practical, sensual, stubborn, artistic, possessive, greedy, gentle, loyal.

c  Gemini: Intelligent, curious, adaptable, quick-witted, restless, clever, scatterbrained, lacking follow-through.

d  Cancer: Nourishing, intuitive, protective, moody, sensitive, maternal, domestic, childish, cautious, creative.

e  Leo: Proud, dignified, vain, expressive, romantic, generous, childish, overbearing, self-assured, creative.

f  Virgo: Perfection-seeking, practical, methodical, petty, critical, studious, discriminating, cautious, never satisfied.

g  Libra: Charming, sociable, peace-loving, refined, diplomatic, artistic, indecisive, apathetic, easily deterred.

h  Scorpio: Passionate, secretive, penetrating, resourceful, suspicious, manipulative, jealous, sarcastic, intolerant, determined, aware.

i  Sagittarius: Freedom-loving, philosophical, optimistic, enthusiastic, careless, impatient, talkative, a know-it-all, broadminded, athletic, honest.

j  Capricorn: Serious, responsible, practical, hardworking, stubborn, brooding, inhibited, status-conscious, domineering, unforgiving.

k  Aquarius: Progressive, individualistic, unpredictable, cold, intellectual, artistic, eccentric, shy, impersonal, scientific.

l  Pisces: Compassionate, intuitive, ungrounded, romantic, impractical, self-sacrificing, seductive, musical, artistic.