Venus Week ~ Relationships Strong Greetings Everyone! Now I know that's not revelational news, most of us understand that the day to hit the boss up for the raise is when he/she is in a great mood. A great mood now will likely make approving a raise seem incidental. Instinctively we understand this process but it's remarkably easy to forget. I'm sure many a relationship/job/circumstance was abandoned on a mood because we mistook the mood for "how we always feel" when it was "how we really feel in the moment." I would love to segue this into a Power of Now conversation because well, that's what it sounds like. "Mark, you told me to be in the now. So I went home, looked at my wife and asked myself, 'What am I feeling now?' and the answer was, 'I'm too young to be in this relationship for 25 years' so I left." I could be wrong but I think when Eckart Tolle talks about the NOW, he's talking about a timeless place that bypasses the interpretation of the mind. Because if the mind is engaged, we've already jumped out of now. It's like when the "New Agers" say, "You create your reality" they don't really understand that the "YOU" that is referenced is not the "you" we typically think of (our EGOs, identities or stories). The part of us that creates our reality is part of that NOW-PLACE and that NOW-PLACE is like a club you can't get into unless you're dressed right. (in this example, being dressed right means actively slowing down the mind, increasing the neutral observer, dissociating from the interpretations, etc.) and well, I'm one of those that just can't get that dress code down. Luckily, getting into the "NOW PLACE" doesn't get you front seats to a big taxi to heaven; it just gives you a way to be more at peace with where ever you are - nowadays, that's worth a lot. So much for NOT segueing. . . About this upcoming week. I don't need to repeat what C. A. is telling you but I will underscore a few obvious points 1. Jupiter goes direct (stops moving Retrograde) on the evening of the Twelfth. Sagittarian, Aquarius natives will feel that it's safe to come back out and most of you will find those lucky feelings are returning. 2. Venus is a big player this week and she's not messing around. First, she gets in bed with Saturn and then flirts with Pluto just to incite jealousy but only after slipping into a Libra negligee. Suffice it to say that Venus leaving Virgo will be good for your sex life (provided you have one) but you may find some challenges emerging that you may not have anticipated. Follow Venus' lead with Saturn and look (with a moderate amount of sobriety) at your relationships and adjust them accordingly. This doesn't have to be dramatic (remember the word is sober) but don't be afraid to look at what you've been tolerating versus what gives you great fuel. As the week progresses you'll likely be sensitive to control issues so tone yours down and others will follow suit. Our advisors have done a remarkable job of networking with you in the hopes of establishing a greater connection. Please join their twitter pages so that you can be in the loop of our happenings! Under everyone's biography on both 12listen and 12angel! with you on the quest, The Week Ahead This week is loaded with astrological happenings. Jupiter, the cosmic rabbit's foot, connected with all things lucky and beneficial, and keeper of religion, philosophy, mythology, higher education and growth, completes its four-month retrograde and prepares to go direct on Monday. It will come to a symbolic standstill at 17 Aquarius before turning the gears forward again. It went retrograde last June at 27 Aquarius so it has some cosmic ground to recover. As with all retrogrades, it takes a while for the planet to resume its usual speed; but it won't be long before we begin to feel the effects of this optimistic and expansive planet moving forward again in farsighted Aquarius. On Wednesday, Venus – the guardian of love and money and overseer of the who, how, and why we value what we do – refocuses her attention and has a change of heart. She will emerge from the somewhat introspective and analytic perspective of Virgo and head for her home sign of Libra. Mars too will be changing signs this week. Anxious to leave behind the domesticated sensitivity of Cancer tide pools, he willingly admits emotional nurturing is a challenging role for him to play. Fire is more his style so he will don the sunglasses and tanning lotion for the bright lights of Leo. Here he can swagger with confidence and a sense of importance. He can hardly wait. And last but not least, the week will wrap up with a New Moon in loving Libra on Saturday night. With the imminent entry of Saturn into Libra by the end of the month, this New Moon may hold particular importance as a precursor to a major paradigm shift towards the Libran ideals of fairness, balance, harmony, and cooperation. Stay tuned to the Power Peek for a look at the important changes coming in the next few months. And watch for a special ‘spoiler alert' next week. Until next week, let go and wear loose clothes. And the good news is not over yet. Tonight Jupiter finishes its retrograde by coming to a symbolic standstill at 17 Aquarius at 9:36 pm (PDT). Don't look for instant gratification here, but a general sense of positive expectation will start moving in the universe the same way the light of dawn gradually spreads across the sky. Opening to new ideas means trusting and having faith in myself and others. It means believing the future holds joy and promise. A chilly breeze could dampen the usually warm and sunny disposition of the Leo Moon today when Venus in Virgo comes a little too close for comfort to stern Saturn. This could mean a wake up call regarding a relationship or your bank account. Saturn contracts and solidifies, which isn't always such a great feeling when it comes to love and money. Saturn often has an unfortunate reputation for being the no-fun-allowed planet. Although it can certainly feel that way when it throws a wet blanket on your plans, Saturn's ability to set realistic boundaries can also be quite comforting. Accessing Saturn's energy to set limits that work for you is actually a very healthy and nurturing thing to do. This could signal you are ready to settle down and make an important decision or commitment. If you have been using shopping sprees as retail therapy, you may re-consider a commitment to paying off your credit cards or investing in a savings account. The decision to save a little now could pay off big in peace of mind later when you are lusting after that tropical vacation or have to replace the water heater. We have a tendency to be critical of ourselves with this aspect. Really try to resist the urge to buy into these ego fears. You know the ones. They tell us we will never be good enough, attractive enough, smart enough and blah, blah, blah. The ego mind is a black hole that is never satisfied. When you identify areas of your life that need change, don't waste your time living in the quicksand of regret. Make a plan to do something different. You will get more than a little help as our minds move from discipline to action by mid-day when Venus moves away from Saturn's scolding and finds solace in a friendly connection with soul-mate Mars. If life felt a little too mundane or serious this morning, the mood will be considerably lightened by this playful aspect. Mars can motivate us to act on the decisions we contemplated this morning helping us to end this day with a sense of moving in a more positive direction. I honor myself in my thoughts, words and actions. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Like the warrior Aries (the opposite sign on the zodiac wheel) Libra can be determined to get what she wants. But unlike Aries who is willing to go out and fight for it, Libra takes a completely different approach. Libra is the master of the law of attraction. Resembling a magnet she draws what she wants to her very much like we do when we use visualization and positive affirmations to shape our lives. Venus in Libra is a daily reminder to use our powers of imagination to create in our mind's eye those qualities we want to develop and to clearly see ourselves living the lives we dream about. I bring only good into my life through the magnetism of my inner being. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OCTOBER 15 There is no better time to remember the importance of forgiveness, both for ourselves and everyone we hold grudges against. If something unpleasant is revealed or remembered, use Pluto's influence to purge it, flush it out, eliminate it and totally eradicate it from your life. Never doubt that you are being tenderly guided by wise and loving spiritual beings willing to help you see the truth in every situation. Yes really. If you are willing to offer your thoughts to your higher self with a humble sense of expectation, you will find that like the great ‘dry-cleaner' of the universe, your thoughts will be returned to you cleaned and pressed, with all the threads of fantasy and illusion gone. Please don't take my word for it. Experience is the greatest teacher; try it for yourself. The next time a person, situation or event threatens your peace of mind, ask your higher self (Jesus, Buddha, angels, spirit guides, ascended master, or whoever you are comfortable with) to show you the truth. Open your mind and relax. Let down your barriers and wait for the insight. When I am willing to listen for truth, I realize all things are an echo of the voice of God. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- While Venus has been garnering all our attention this week, Mars has packed his snorkeling gear and is scooting out of nurturing Cancer and heads for dryer and sunnier territory in Leo at 8:33 am (PDT). (He too will be influenced by Pluto but the peak energy will be Sunday.) Mars is all boy – action, motivation, drive and physical energy. And he loves being in Leo. When Mars is in Leo we exude self-confidence because we believe in ourselves and expect only the best to happen. This is the energy to push our ideas and our agendas forward with confidence. Today we start to get a taste of this renewed energy. The Sun at 23 Libra makes connections with both dream-weaving Neptune and quirky Uranus today. This is where our sense of self and identify meet up with intuition, vision, and illusion. This can feel like very ‘other-worldly' energy. This influence can dissolve the boundaries of beliefs we have created for ourselves enabling us to see possibilities of a self that exists far beyond the physical bodies we believe we are. This is a great day for opening yourself to new ideas especially if they are inspirational and spiritually or metaphysically based. If you have a favorite mentor or spiritual teacher, connect with them by reading something they wrote, listening to a CD or practicing a ritual you have learned from them. Consider taking a class, workshop or seminar. It doesn't have to be today, but today listen to your inner self and take action on an urge to push your boundaries. If you don't know where to start (or even if you do) check out the offerings on 12Academy which is gearing up with a wide array of classes, guided meditations, and healing rituals. They (the ubiquitous ‘they') say we teach what we need and want to learn. See yourself as a mentor, guide and spiritual teacher. What are you demonstrating and teaching with your life? This is a day for faith, compassion, forgiveness and imagination. Dare to look for truth and see yourself as much, much more, than a physical body in space and time. My imagination is my doorway to who and where I want to be. Before closing out this lunar cycle, the Libra Moon will find supportive connections with optimistic Jupiter, healing Chiron and spiritual Neptune in visionary Aquarius. The path is pointing toward partnership, reconciliation and finding hope and contentment in relationship with others. The New Moon at 10:33 pm at 24 Libra heralds the beginning of a paradigm shift in our experience of wholeness. This sense of completion comes from learning to identify with others we see as different from ourselves and learning the value of tolerance and acceptance. The idealistic vision of Libra to be in equal partnership, in a world of beauty and creative self expression, will be a focus over the next several years highlighted by Saturn moving into Libra at the end of the month. Most spiritual practices teach that sooner or later our divergent journeys will end up in the same place of understanding – that we are all one; equal children of a loving creator. There is no ‘other', no separation. If we are heading in that direction and going to end up there eventually, why not make it sooner? Why not make it today? Inner peace is the doorway to experiencing and living in the higher levels of energy. Forgiveness is the most important tool in my toolbox. The more I forgive, the more I open my heart to receive acceptance and love.
by Mark S. Husson
Like most things in life, how we look at something is very much dependent on what we're feeling in the moment. When looking at the future; tomorrow will rely heavily on how we look at today. If I love what I'm doing, love who I'm with, love my circumstances, etc., then the thought of tomorrow could either look like the end of this good feeling or could provide me with a pair of rose glasses that peer far ahead. Suffice it to say that how we decide something now very much depends on where we are when we start to look it.
~Mark
by C.A. Brooks
Oct. 12 - Oct. 18
Click here to get a reading from C. A.
Read her Lovescopes!
OCTOBER 12
MOON in LEO
The week is off to a great start today with the Moon in warm and confident Leo. And there is good reason to have a positive outlook, motivating Mars makes an industrious connection with hard-working Saturn helping us produce tangible results. This is where action meets discipline in a dynamic connection where energy is not wasted but can be focused like a laser beam. If you have a project that needs attention or a never-ending ‘to do' list, get at it. If you harness this energy, you can go to sleep with a sense of accomplishment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OCTOBER 13
MOON in LEO
Moon Void of Course 2:21 pm (PDT) – 12:45 am Wednesday morning
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OCTOBER 14
MOON in VIRGO
We should have our emotional feet on the ground today, as the Moon moves into practical Virgo. A joyful sense of anticipation is in the air as Venus leaves the pragmatism of Virgo for her gracious home territory of Libra. With impeccable manners, Venus in Libra is diplomatic, tactful, and sociable and loves to be in love. Venus here is at her feminine best honing her skills of attraction. (Think Grace Kelly in swishy chiffon taffeta – Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant didn't stand a ghost of a chance.) Under this influence we prioritize partnerships and are willing to make concessions to get along with others. With Venus in Libra as our guide, we are more inclined to accept our differences and acknowledge the rights of others even if we don't understand or agree with them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MOON in VIRGO
For those of you who have been paying close attention these past months, you probably see what's coming. With Pluto sitting at 1 Capricorn, no planet moving from one sign to another, escapes his evolutionary and obsessive grasp. (No offense intended, Pluto!) This includes sweet darling Venus. As Venus squares off with Pluto, self-esteem could certainly be taken down a notch or two. The darker, shall we say less attractive, sides of our natures could be exposed. Relationships might be challenged with jealousy or memories of old scars or infidelities'; financial indiscretions could come to light.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OCTOBER 16
MOON in VIRGO/LIBRA
Moon Void of Course 3:18 am (PDT) – 3:29 am
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OCTOBER 17
NEW MOON 24 Libra at 10:33 PM (PDT)
MOON in LIBRA
Moon Void of Course 10:33 pm (PDT) – 7:23 am Sunday morning
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OCTOBER 18
MOON in SCORPIO
While we were swept away in dreams of an ideal world, the Moon slipped into intense and passionate Scorpio. A gritty square to Mars could leave us, at least temporarily, at a loss for how to move ahead with our dreams. Scorpio's ruler Pluto in Capricorn also plays a role as it squares off with Mars in courageous Leo. Part of this lesson is to make sure you are starting fresh and not trying to build your dreams on an old foundation of pain or resentment. Like a healer who cleans out a wound, you may have to purge, eliminate or let something go in order to move forward. Forgiveness is always the name of the game. There may be nothing more important than learning to forgive and let go. Making forgiveness a daily practice can help keep your path clear.