Simone Butler's Blog, page 23

The annual Geminid meteor shower is nearly upon us, and fireballs are already flying as early-arriving meteoroids from the constellation of Gemini hit the Earth’s atmosphere. This year, the cosmic show peaks at the Gemini Full Moon (Tues. Dec. 13, 4:06 p.m. PST). On the 13th and 14th, from 20 to 30 fireballs per hour will light up the night sky – an impressive show, even though some may be less visible than usual due to the Full Moon’s glare.

A meteor shower at a Full Moon is significant metaphorically and energetically – and even more so when you factor in Mercury’s powerful stationary stance as it prepares to turn retrograde on the 18th-19th.  The Gemini Full Moon, which has been building all week, coincides with illuminating messages arriving or ideas bursting out of left field to change our thinking. With Gemini’s ruler Mercury turning backward, these messages have a connection to the past.

Here’s an example that surprised and delighted me: Former VP Al Gore, a long-time climate change educator and activist, was recently summoned to Trump Towers by soon-to-be First Daughter Ivanka – also a climate champion. A close adviser to her father, Ivanka intends to make this issue her signature project once he takes the White House. Gore reported that he spent most of the “productive” 90-minute talk with the president-elect himself – a man who’s called climate change a hoax. “I found it an extremely interesting conversation,” said Gore, “and to be continued.”

Ivanka is a powerful Scorpio with a truth-seeking Sagittarius Moon, as well as a caring, idealistic Venus-Neptune conjunction in Sagittarius that activates her father’s Full Moon chart (Sun in Gemini, Moon in Sagittarius). She definitely has his ear. And, the coming Full Moon lights up their Venus-Neptune-Sun-Moon connection! Despite their differences, one hopes for the good of the planet that Ivanka will continue to influence Donald’s thinking.

At this Full Moon, listen for your own, personal messages from above. Reconnect with people and priorities you hold dear. And be sure to look skyward for inspiration between local midnight and sunrise on Dec. 13 and 14 (in both hemispheres) as the Geminid meteor shower brings us a blast from the past!

The post Gemini Full Moon: A Blast From the Past appeared first on Astro Alchemy.

“Things do not change; we change.” –Henry David Thoreau

Grandpa Hewes was a true Sagittarian. Born at the turn of the last century, Mom’s father was a free-wheeling blacksmith-turned-postmaster who regaled us with songs on his banjo – and told dubious tales that he swore were true. While smoking a pipe filled with cherry tobacco, he’d root for his favorite baseball team. But Grandpa’s favorite thing was being out in nature, hunting wildlife with his dogs. In later years, he and Grandma would jump in the car on Sundays and drive two hours to the mountains of Julian, where they’d chow down on fried chicken and apple pie.

Grandpa loved the holiday season. Each year around this time he’d draw festive trees on his fence, which he’d then paint over at the New Year. I loved my grandpa, but going to his house had a dark side. Surrounded by a captive audience, he’d go off on bigoted rants. And poor Grandma acquired an ulcer from trying to get him to see reason.

Grandpa would have scoffed at Thoreau’s quote (above). Changing himself was not on the agenda – it was others who had to change. The idea that your opinions shape what you see, and therefore what you experience, would have been lost on him. Yet quantum theory has proven what metaphysicians like Thoreau have known all along: That if you change your thinking, the outer world will start to reflect that shift.

At Thanksgiving, our thoughts naturally turn to who and what we appreciate. Yet many of us aren’t feeling very appreciative this year. In the wake of the most divisive election in recent history, some are opting out of family gatherings altogether. Dreading the inevitable confrontations, they’d rather stay home – or join instead with those of like mind. That makes sense, especially with righteous Jupiter in judicious Libra squaring ornery Pluto in old school Capricorn. But taking the high road is not impossible, as long as you stay focused in your heart.

The coming Sagittarius New Moon (Nov. 29, 4:18 am PST) conjuncts Juno, an asteroid that symbolizes our most fundamental feelings about those we love. Juno’s fights with her husband Jupiter were legendary, and yet they adored each other. With Juno is in Jupiter’s sign, joining the Sun and Moon, we’re asked to see beyond differing opinions and reach for the love that lies beneath. That might mean changing your attitude or approach. Let the alchemical fire of Sagittarius transmute your old beliefs. Don’t wait till that person is gone, and it’s too late.

Later this month and into the first week of December, Jupiter supportively sextiles Saturn – while Mars clicks in to harmonize with them both. This golden phase is auspicious for righting wrongs, gaining clarity, and launching new business ventures or relationships. Set your New Year’s goals early, rather than waiting for Jan. 1, when Mercury will be retrograde (Dec. 19 – Jan. 8). And, be sure to let me know when you’re ready for an upbeat, laser-like reading on what 2017 holds for you!

Why not make a treasure map near the New Moon to chart the course for your New Year? Check out the Sagittarius New Moon ritual from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life, for help. And, watch the mini-video on enhancing the Knowledge gua of your home for more clarity and better decision-making.

The post Sagittarius New Moon: Taking the High Road appeared first on Astro Alchemy.

I was shocked when astrologer Barry Goddard blogged just before the election that in his opinion, Trump would win. Yet he went on to say that a Trump presidency might not be as bad as anticipated. Noted the Scottish astrologer, “He may occasion America thinking about itself in a way that the same-old of Hillary would not.” And, he observed that since January’s inauguration chart has an unaspected Sun (reflecting the leader), Trump probably won’t be able to get much done. This wouldn’t be too surprising, as “he has shown an inability to work with members of his own party, let alone the opposition.”

Now that the unthinkable has happened, it seems to me that we’ve got to focus on the bigger picture: Bigotry and hate have risen to the top to be recognized and transformed.

The election occurred a week prior to a Super Moon (the third of four in a row – not the most powerful in our lifetime, as some have claimed, but potent nonetheless).  As the Taurus Moon approaches its opposition to the Sun in Scorpio at the Full Moon (Monday, Nov. 14, 5:52 a.m. PST), things happen in mysterious ways that may not make sense at the time, but ultimately bring blessings.  Jupiter is about to make the first of three squares to Pluto and three oppositions to Uranus through next fall, catalyzing social, economic and political reforms. No matter what we think of him, it seems we need Trump (himself born at a Sagittarius Full Moon) to fan the fires of change.

The Sabian Symbol for the upcoming Taurus Full Moon is: “A jewelry shop filled with valuable gems.” This image suggests that we’re being offered a gift, even if it comes wrapped in chaos and challenge.

As astrologer Kathy Biehl advises, “Outside of us, there may be massive chaos…but inside, beautiful things are blossoming. Keep your little part of the world as neat and tidy and as happy as you can. And stick with people who share your concept of integrity and how other people should be treated. We are creating the safety net and the new infrastructure that will be in place when other things collapse around us. Recognize fear is out there, don’t feed it and live your own life the best way you can.”

The post Taurus Full Moon: Hidden Treasure appeared first on Astro Alchemy.

Will Harris, owner of White Oak Pastures

After making a big change in your life, no matter how longed-for, it’s common to suffer regrets. Wincing as the first payment comes due on that shiny new car you love so much, you wonder, “What was I thinking?” Or, as you lie in bed trying to sleep over your new beloved’s snoring, you muse, “Maybe I was better off alone.”

This is what we call a Scorpio moment.  The sign of wealth reminds us that something must die for something new to be born, and that there is a price to be paid for up-leveling your life. A friend discovered this a few years back as she prepared to do a wealth ritual at the Scorpio New Moon. With visions of dollar signs dancing in her head, she laid out the items for the ritual and went to sleep. At the New Moon the next morning, her husband sat down on the bed – and it collapsed! Suddenly they needed to buy a new bed. Not quite the ritual my friend had envisioned – yet a new bed was long overdue. That month, both of their cars as well as their ancient furnace needed major work. “It was like the gremlins came out to stir things up,” she confided. My friend’s intention for a more abundant life required an outflow of cash to upgrade her basic infrastructure. After that, greater wealth began to flow in.

I thought of this story recently when I read about farmer Will Harris, who transitioned his profitable Bluffton, Georgia industrial farm to a glorious organic ecosystem free of chemical fertilizers and antibiotics, with goats, pigs, chickens and cows roaming free. Harris went from being debt free to taking out $7.5 million in loans to build the processing facilities he needed to go green. As he relates in the short film, “One Hundred Thousand Beating Hearts,” the operation lost money for several years. These were dark times when Harris feared he might lose the farm that had been in his family for 130 years. But he persevered. Now he says he’s very glad he made the changes, as White Oak Pastures is even more profitable than before – and both the soil and the animals are flourishing with new life.

This year, the Scorpio New Moon (Oct. 30, 10:38 a.m. PDT) coincides with the Celtic New Year – making it a particularly potent time for a fresh start. The Sun and Moon join messenger Mercury in Scorpio, lending depth and power to our thinking and intentions. And, all three trine mystical Neptune in Pisces – intensifying the experience of being “between the worlds,” and making it easier to receive our ancestors’ blessings. Whether it’s wealth, love or health that you seek, this New Moon can help make it happen. This is also a good time to probe beneath the surface of events and plumb life’s deeper meanings so you can regenerate. Trust that your ancestors have your back (as they definitely did for Will Harris!) and will help you through the transition period. Just be sure to ask.

If you need help burying the past so you can freely welcome the new, check out this Scorpio New Moon ritual from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life. At the bottom of that page, you’ll also find a mini-video showing how to enhance your Wealth Gua to invite in greater abundance.

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