The Week Ahead by C.A. Brooks Is it just me, or has this been one of the most productive Mercury retrograde periods ever? The superstitious part of me is looking to knock on wood just about now. But truly, I cannot remember one in which I witnessed so many things 'going right' that had all the earmarks of doing just the opposite. Long-standing misunderstandings are being cleared up, mistakes are being corrected, secrets are being revealed and thorny problems are unraveling hopefully into solutions. Even when situations threaten to tangle hopelessly, solutions seem to present themselves in record time. American politics aside (that's an entity unto itself), it seems as if Mercury moving retrograde in Libra was determined to balance the scales by revealing information and solutions that had long lain dormant or obscured. If nothing else, Mercury was set on turning our thinking upside down to allow us to see life from a different perspective. Even the distressing ugliness of the current US political mud-slinging could have its up side. We've been talking a lot about freedom verses duty (Uranus Saturn opposition) and the need to carefully examine the beliefs and thoughts that manifest the physical conditions in our lives. It sure isn't pretty, but this kind of exorcism brings things to the surface so we can really look at them and have an opportunity to change our minds and heal our hurts and resentments. We need to do this on a personal level as well as in the global arena. And just in case you are tempted to insulate yourself by thinking this isn't about you, in one way or another we all contribute to the mass consciousness of our planet. What are you contributing? Are you a problem finder or solver? With the Autumnal Equinox on Tuesday, the Sun will move into fair-minded and adaptable Libra. Elizabeth Pendleton, per usual, has written an excellent piece on Libra (see her article in this Power Peek). To her description I would add that Libra energy is perfect for assimilating the work we did in Virgo, healing the issues and pain that were dug up, and making a commitment to our life purpose. Looking at the upcoming week reminded me of the Voyager Tarot archetypes Strength and Priestess that serve as our guides in 2009. Strength is about accepting and expressing every facet of your being. Like a rope, our strength lies in the weaving together of multiple layers of fibers which together are its power. On a personal, national and global level our strength lies in our ability to integrate all of our qualities, all of our abilities – expressing both yin and yang. We will recognize our strength as we learn the power of inclusion over the weakness of separation and exclusion. The Priestess represents the law of inherent wisdom. As the priestess we all have the ability to hear the wisdom of the ages, the intelligence of the collective consciousness. The special gift of the priestess is her ability to become as calm as the surface of a lake. Her ability to detach and to observe phenomena in an objective and non-judgmental way allow her to see below the surface of reality. She is our ally. When the outside world appears turbulent and out of control say to yourself, 'There must be another way to see this.' Like the Priestess, remove yourself emotionally and maybe physically from the upset, seek your inner sanctuary and allow the waters to calm. As the noise subsides, you will hear the voice of wisdom – your voice – the one and only voice – calling to you. As the priestess, allow your dreams and meditations to reveal your inner self. Be willing to be patient, calm, and insightful. (For more information on the Voyager, check out the web site at www.voyagertarot.com.) The storms of conflict stirred up by the Saturn Uranus opposition are subsiding but their effects are far from over. To navigate the energies of this week, keep in mind the lessons of strength and call upon the energy of your inner Priestess. And think about these words as well. They come from Workbook Lesson 134 in A Course in Miracles. They describe the person who recognizing himself as the child of God finds truth by looking past the world of illusions. Seeing himself clearly, he sees the divinity in others as well. I especially love the last line. 'He does not have to fight to save himself. He does not have to kill the dragons which he thought pursued him. Nor need he erect the heavy walls of stone and iron doors he thought would make him safe. He can remove the ponderous and useless armor made to chain his mind to fear and misery. His step is light, and as he lifts his foot to stride ahead a star is left behind, to point the way to those who follow him.' I will be looking for the stars this week to guide me on my way. Thank you all for your uncompromising commitment to the truth. Until next week, let go and wear loose clothes.
SEPTEMBER 21 - 27