Illusory? – New Moon in Pisces 2012

Posted on February 21, 2012 by dayna lynn

The New Moon in Pisces, which takes place on Tuesday February 21, 2012 at 4:34pm CST, inaugurates the new energy of Neptune in Pisces. In part 2 of the post on Neptune’s ingress to Pisces, I talked about we can expect to see this energy reflected.

The sign Pisces lives in between worlds. Depending on how you choose to celebrate, it is the last sign/energy before the New Year at the Spring Equinox, the ingress of the Sun in Aries. It truly lives between life and “death”.

Neptune in Pisces is undoubtedly the dominant reflection of the time period which we are now living. This is a time where the veil of illusion and fantasy, that which lives betwwen the material and nonmaterial worlds, is thinning. However, it is subtle and much easier seen in retrospect.

• What is your knee jerk response when your illusions come shattering down in a smattering of reality busting events?
• How hard do you work to maintain your illusions?
• What are your addictive behavior patterns and/or coping mechanisms that you use to shield yourself from “reality”?

At this New Moon, not only are the Sun, Moon and Neptune in Pisces; but also Mercury and Chiron (both rulers of the Sign Virgo.) That puts 5 placements in Pisces. Elusive and Illusory are two words I would use to describe this energy. Its hard to grasp. And its best to just let it be. To observe and be a vessel rather than to push and force.

Pisces is grief and loss, surrender and service, sacrifice and creativity. This is the time to connect to the higher, greater, bigger and more than you. To see how you can be a vessel, a channel, for the All-One; particularly in the area of life where Pisces falls in your chart based on your Rising Sign/Ascendant…

Aries: Your 12th house. The place where you are egoless, where your sense of self and personal boundaries are dissolved.

Taurus: Your 11th house. Its all about the groups of people with whom you identify as having similar hopes, dreams and plans as you and the work you do together.

Gemini: Your 10th house. Where you are going. Your career, life purpose and where you are ultimately headed in life.

Cancer: Your 9th house. The places and spaces in life where you gather your life experiences into a holistic worldview/belief system.

Leo: Your 8th house. Your first experiences of loss of self in intimate, boundary merging encounters with one other. Material, physical, emotional, spiritual…

Virgo: Your 7th house. Your projected self. The you that you encounter in others. One on one partnerships of all kinds. Even enemies.

Libra: Your 6th house: Your work, health and daily routine. The places and ways in which you increase your skills in a particular area. And are of service with your skill set.

Scorpio: Your 5th house: Creative self expression. Romance, children, creativity, playfulness and sexuality.

Sagittarius: Your 4th house. Your roots, tribe. Where you come from. Your deepest most personal and intimate self.

Capricorn: Your 3rd house. Your immediate environment. Community, neighborhood and habitual interactions with such. Communication (writing, speaking etc.)

Aquarius: Your 2nd house. Your values and possessions that provide material stability for you. What you value and what you do with what you value.

Pisces: Your 1st house. Your approach. How you come off to others. The role you play to fit into the world.

Happy New Moon!

Posted in astrology, Moon | Tagged 2012, Neptune, new moon, Pisces | Leave a comment

Beyond the Veil – Neptune in Pisces 2012 (Part 2)

Posted on February 3, 2012 by dayna lynn

NEPTUNE IN PISCES
Now on to the topic of conversation.

For the periods of Neptune in Pisces, I looked for movements and shifts in art, science and spirituality/religion. These are all fields in which Pisces thrives. It lead me on a sleuth’s trail of research to figure out exactly how we can expect to see Neptune in Pisces reflected in our lives for the next 14 years.

And what did I come up with: NADA!

So, this leaves me to intuitive astrological speculation, which I actually feel quite confident about.

I’ll go back to the basics of astrology and see what I come up with. READY?

We have already learned that Neptune is the dissolver, the eraser of lines and boundaries. Particularly boundaries of self/personality/ego. It dissolves those things which separate us from each other which often is time and space, culture and belief, etc. Its a planet of transcendence embodied in the sign Pisces.

Pisces is the next evolutionary step, after Aquarius. If in Aquarius we learn to expand our self identification to the group, to those who we are traveling with in life towards our purpose, our dreams and ideals; then, in Pisces we take it a step further, to the final step. We expand our self identification to the all. We trade our individual self identification for one that is elusive, fluid, all consuming and universal.

No longer is our physical body the boundary the separates us from others. For even that becomes foggy in Pisces. Pisces is the sign of the empathic healer. The mystic transcendent. But also the alcoholic. The escapist and the self sacrificing martyr.

Descriptive words of Pisces include elusive, creative, escapist, mystical, empathic, clairvoyant, addictive, service, sacrifice, suffering, passive, healing, fluid, morphing, mythological, illusion, idealistic…

Neptune in Pisces dissolves boundaries through creativity, healing, mystical experiences, addiction, service and sacrifice.

The hallmark of the Pisces temperament is this elusiveness that avoids external definition. Pisces lives between worlds. In physical reality, self definition, boundaries and ego are necessary for growth and development. In the immaterial reality, beyond the veil, it is this lack of ego boundaries that gives insight into the true nature of reality. All is ONE

Beyond the Veil
This veil that Pisces skates upon is the place were we find ourselves in the current state of our soul’s evolution. This is Neptune in Pisces.

Neptune in Pisces knows without learning. Does without practice. Understands without study. Neptune in Pisces IS. It pierces the veil of forgetting, but doesn’t tell us how we got there. It experiences through feeling. The intellectual mind is inspired to search for words that give voice to that which it feels.

You can see how this can permeate every single aspect of our lives with a touch of the sublime. And so this is why its so hard to give specifics like with Neptune in Aquarius. Where Aquarius is air (intellect, communication, ideas, social), Pisces is water (feeling, intuition, emotion). The headiness of Neptune in Aquarius is submerged in the world of intuition and feeling with Neptune in Pisces.

We all have Neptune somewhere in our charts, where we experience the dissolving of boundaries in a particular way. However, the placement of transiting Neptune by sign (and by house in our individual charts) shows where and how that dissolving energy is evolving and moving through time and space.

During this period of Neptune in Pisces, we have the rare opportunity to hone in on the inner craving each of us has for selflessness. We can make conscious the places and times that we crave egolessness and loss of self. Whether through creative inspiration, healing empathy, and spiritual mysticism. Or even through alcohol, drugs and addiction (food, television, sex etc.)

 

 

Posted in Planets | Tagged 2012, Neptune, Pisces | Leave a comment

Boundaries Dissolved – Neptune in Pisces 2012 (Part 1)

Posted on February 3, 2012 by dayna lynn

This post is in two parts. You can read the second part here.

I’ve been anticipating writing this post for over a year. Weeks like this week are the ones that I live for.

Once every 164 years or so, Neptune completes her travels through every sign of the zodiac. She inhabits each sign for about 13-14 years and only gets to visit each sign once in a century. The true definition of a generational planet.

Friday February 3, 2012; Neptune enters the sign Pisces.  The last time Neptune was in Pisces? 1848, 1684, 1521, 1357… I think you get the point. This is a rare occurrence. No one alive in their current physical body has experienced this planetary placement. Children born during the next 13 will have this placement in their birth chart.

Unlike most astrologers who believe that the Uranus/Pluto square is the defining planetary reflection of our times; I believe that Neptune in Pisces is much more potent and interesting. If only because Neptune in Pisces will be the final dispositor (the king, the dominating energetic reflection). That is because Neptune rules Pisces. Planets in the sign they rule express their energies dynamically, easily and powerfully!

A little bit about planets…
Each planet is like a color. And colors are never experienced directly in our reality. Perhaps in mediation or dreams (which Neptune rules by the way). But not in our waking physical reality. Colors are always experienced via the object they manifest as. This is also true of planets.

Planets are not directly experienced. They are experienced via the sign they inhabit during any given time period. Signs bring the planetary energy to life. Just like blood gives the color red context and a means to be experienced; signs do the same for planets.

To say that Neptune rules Pisces is to say that Pisces is the sign that embodies and brings Neptune to life completely and fully. Now a planet can be in and eventually passes through all of the signs, but in the case of Pisces and Neptune (or Aries and Mars, Cancer and the Moon); Pisces is the physical embodiment of the planet Neptune. Neptune is at home in Pisces.

What is Neptune?
Neptune is an outer planet along with Uranus and Pluto. The outer planets are markers of generations and were discovered hundreds, if not thousands of years after astrology was being used as a tool. Neptune was discovered in 1846, Uranus in 1781 and Pluto in 1930. They move through the signs slowly, taking 7 (Uranus) years to as many as  23 years (Pluto) to get through one sign.

In order get an understanding of how Neptune’s sign placement manifests in our lives, we can look to history.

Since 1998, Neptune has been in Aquarius. And before that, 1834-1848. What do the years preceding 1846 and following 1998 have in common? To answer that question, its important to understand what it is that Neptune represents and how it manifests in the sign Aquarius.

Neptune is the Great Dissolver. Its an eraser that dissolves the lines and boundaries that we’ve spent so much time defining and coloring inside. The sign placement of Neptune shows how those boundaries are erased, giving adjectives and other descriptive words. It reflects some different subjects or areas where this erasing of boundaries occurs.

Aquarius is an air sign ruled by Uranus and brings descriptive words like: eccentric, quirky, stubborn, trendsetting, humanitarian, forward-thinking, evolving, sudden, erratic, detached… Aquarius is associated with groups of people who have similar goals, ideals and hopes for life and the future.

Whatever Aquarius does, it does so erratically, suddenly and in a way that sets trends and evolves. Adding that to Neptune we get: Dissolving boundaries between groups of people in a forward thinking and sudden way. And because Aquarius is an air sign, we can know that these boundaries will be dissolved in an intellectual and social way.

Now back to the original question. What do the years preceding 1846 and following 1998 have in common? 1998? One word – Google. Google was founded in 1998 which has gone on to almost completely dissolve boundaries between groups of people all over the entire world. It is a trendsetting company that has evolved humanity technologically, intellectually and definitely socially. Is changed the way we communicate and receive information and ideas.

The years following 1998 we saw the explosion of access to the internet and computers moving from just the government, to the economically well off who were able to afford both, to anyone and everyone being able to have both a computer and internet access right in the palm of their hand.

The years 1834-1848 were during the peak of the Industrial Revolution. Technological advancement, which is the hallmark of Neptune in Aquarius, was at an all time high with the invention of many things that we still use today. The incandescent light bulb, electricity, the sewing machine, the telegraph (precursor to the telephone and the internet). I could go on, but you get my drift.

Neptune in Aquarius marks the time periods in our lives and history whereby we evolve in connecting more and more with other. Where we are empowered to find our tribe through rapid technological advancements and the exchange of information.

In the next part, I take specifics about Neptune in Pisces and what we can expect from transit. JUICY! You can read part two here.

Posted in Planets | Tagged 2012, Neptune, Pisces | Leave a comment

As the World Turns | New Moon New Moon in Aquarius + Mars Retro

Posted on January 22, 2012 by dayna lynn

We get a double whammy this week: New Moon in Aquarius and Mars Retrograde in Virgo… oh boy!

Most months, I am eagerly anticipating the New Moon. And this one is no different. I’m actually more ready than usual.

The New Moon in Aquarius occurs on Monday January 23, 2012 at 1:39am CST.
The New Moon reflects the dominating theme and growing emotional energy for the next 29 or so days. It peaks at the Full Moon, but remains in play for the entire Lunar cycle. Looking back to the previous New Moon in Capricorn of December 25, 2011 we can see that its tight square (dynamic relationship) with Uranus (sudden, erratic, change, independent, forward propelling) set the tone for what we experienced the first month of 2012. Lots of people all over the place and acting besides themselves when they felt their security was threatened.

This time, Uranus is in harmonious relationship with the Sun and Moon. And that is great because Uranus rules Aquarius and is thus the ruler of this New Moon. This gives a more constructive expression to an energy that really wants us all to evolve and find our individuality within the context of other individuals. [Uranus will be in aspect to pretty much every New Moon between now and May. This is reflecting a larger theme which I will talk about in a future post(s).]

Whereas the last New Moon was in harmonious relationships with Jupiter in Taurus (expansion growth around our definition and use of resources ie money etc), this time he acts as a tempering influence. Aquarius can get quite excited and gung ho and miss out on the deeper implications of her great ideas. Taurus is slow moving and deliberate. He takes his time and rushes into nothing. Finding the balance between these two energies in your own life and relationships is the challenge of this New Moon.

Also in play is the New Moon separating (leaving) from her square to Saturn. Saturn reflects the restraining influence that says grow up, build, mature and take your time. He is the great karmic reflector and only returns results exactly proportionate to what you put in. His recent dynamic square to the Sun and Moon is probably why the last week was so rough. We wanted to move forward and progress and build, bus somewhere along the way, ego and expression of individuality, either yours or someone else’s, got in the way.

Since that aspect is separating, this New Moon is a time of reflecting on what we experienced last week and seeing how to move forward from there.

And as always, New Moons are beginnings, seed planting times. So this is a great time to focus on how the group of people with whom you identify reflect, support or hinder your forward evolution and growth towards your hopes, ideals and dreams. Are these people your family? Do you need to redefine family for yourself? The Full Moon in Leo on February 7, 2012will illuminate these issues for you and show you where you stand amongst the crowd.

Mars goes stations retrograde in Virgo on Monday and Tuesday January 23 and 24, 2012.
Mars will be Retrograde from now until April 13, 2011. Looking back to the Mars in Virgo post from November 2011…

Mars in Virgo says I am driven by the motivation to increase my skills in a particular area so that I can make a valuable contribution to my community. In Leo, I was excited about creativity, self discovery and expression. But now that I know who I am, there is only one thing left to do. And that is to get better it! There is a better and best way to do things and I am here to show you. In order to contribute something worthwhile to my community, I have to be in good health and keep order in my life. An organized and efficient life is a motivated life.

Now I’m not perfect, although I like to think I am. I often get so caught up in details and helping other people fix their lives that I miss the bigger picture and forget about myself. I am at my best when I diligently focus on the task at hand with efficiency and skill.

Oh sweet, earthy and rugged Virgo. Virgo is the Virgin. Not because she’s never had sex (despite their modesty they have had much of it, wild and raw!), but because she is owned by no man. Virgo women are, ie Beyonce, have taken that Leo individuality to the next level. Not only do they know who they are, but they are here to perfect it. They are not intimidated by competition. There is none. And not out of arrogance but from a compulsion to perfect their expression with skill in a state of constant self evolution. I mean look at Michael Jackson. His work ethic is unmatched. Except only by another Virgo, Beyonce…

So, this is the energy of Mars in Virgo. Its driven to perfect. Motivated to create order. Goes after what it wants with a plan and a lists…lots of lists. The Mercurial compulsion of Virgo can, however, sometimes get out of hand. Making all of those lists and trying to conceptualize perfection and order can keep him from actually ever getting anything done. And this is where Mars Retrograde comes into the picture.

I’m sure all of us have been experiencing the criticizing, perfection driven energy of Mars in Virgo in some area and/or relationship in our lives. It could be our own voice or that of a partner or friend, urging us to hanker down on the details lest we reach an outcome less than perfect. Mars in Virgo has been the handy man of Pluto in Capricorn (the destroyer and rebuilder of our life and society’s structures).

Pluto’s aspirations are deep and profound, and transformational at its core. And Mars gives us the instructions to implement it on a day to day basis and see it happening in real life. This here is the energy of Mars retrograde in Virgo.

As Mars appears to move backwards in Virgo, we have the opportunity to go back over all of this long term projects that have begun over the last few months. We get to gain perspective and revisit the plan. And you know Virgo loves to revisit the plan. The stationing of Mars may in fact be challenging especially for Aries types who like to go forward only, head first. But for earth signs (Taurus, Capricorn and Virgo of course) as well as Scorpio and Cancer; this retrograde will allow them to sure up their resources, relationships and plans.

Posted in astrology, Moon | Tagged 2012, aquarius, astro forecast, Mars, new moon, virgo | Leave a comment

Pluto transits have turned me into a Scorpion

Posted on January 14, 2012 by dayna lynn

I don’t usually write person posts on this blog, unless you read older ones. But personal anecdotes are part of my counseling practice and can be valuable to another so I thought I’d share. And if my motives really aren’t that pure, let’s just say I like to hear myself talk and hope that someone else listens and cares.

Pluto transiting my Capricorn Ascendant/Neptune/Jupiter conjunction and squaring my Aries Moon…It has attracted multiple Scorpio Suns and Risings into my life. And I feel like I really understand Scorpio intimately. If you are a Capricorn rising, and I know many of my clients and friends are, this may give you some insight into what is going on in your life or coming for you soon…

Scorpios Life Dilemma
How can you ever really trust someone when you see through to the bottom of all their frailties and humanity? How can you trust and feel safe when you realize that the world is so subjective and no one ever really has the ultimate answer or authority on any situation… It makes for a lonely world. And can turn a person into an unfriendly yet irresistible autocrat.

How can anyone resist the allure and magnetic pull of the Scorpio who seems to know them so intimately? Until you realize that the Scorpion has revealed nothing of herself.

Except that Scorpio craves deep, authentic intimate connection. Yet the challenge is to expose that frail part of oneself that Scorpio sees right through to the core of in everyone else. Now the unskilled Scorpio takes that as a power and control trip. He knows right where to sting a person. The skillful, evolving Scorpio becomes aware of when he is giving his own power away, and never consciously usurps the power of another.

This is why the potential for Scoprio is so vast and why most of them are slithering around manipulating people and using sex as a means to get what they want.

Let’s Talk About Sex
And speaking of sex. If what a Scorpio craves in life is that deep, authentic, intimate and boundary blurring connection with another; what is  the way to get that without having to do any of the work of actually getting to know a person? Ding! Ding! Sex…

I admire any Scorpio who has learned to put sex in its sacred place. One who doesn’t use it to control and manipulate others. And one who doesn’t use it solely as a means to satiate their insatiable craving for Oneness. Meaning they have learned to cultivate and diversify their methods of being intimate. I often refer to this article on the 5 types of intimacy. The article says levels but I prefer types sense everyone has a different language and value system.

Now my chart ruler Saturn is in Scorpio, conjunct Mars in Scorpio. And Pluto is conjunct my Midheaven. So obviously I have my fair share of Scorpio energy. So, I guess I’ve just gotten in touch with what was already there. Its strange to experience it from others and then to realize that its been in me all along.

This is the crux of astrology, though. You are every sign. Everyone is. Its the transits of the planets that bring each sign into awareness at a particular time in one’s life. Now is my time to become consciously aware of the Scorpio archetype in myself. Yep its there.

For me, this clearly manifests through my astrological/intuitive knowledge. Not only do I have quite a lucid and karmic understanding of the archetypes as explained through astrological symbolism, I am highly empathic. I can sense almost any wave in the energetic fabric of a room or my surroundings. But how do I properly place that awareness?

Prior to Pluto’s transits, I often confused pity for Love. Yep. Captain save ‘em. Self sacrificing because it was difficult to stand up for myself when you understand why a person does what they do. So far, I’ve gotten to the point where I am aware of myself sacrificing tendencies. But because Neptune is in the mix in my particular chart (remember Neptune dissolves) I still have trouble figuring out who’s stuff it is. Like when is it me and when is it them. When do I say that is enough? And exactly what is enough?

Guess I’ve still got much to learn from Pluto. And no worries. He’ll be on my case til about 2020. Given I am able to integrate the lessons, I will be super self empowered. I can’t say I’m excited but it can’t be all that bad on the other side…

As always, I’m here to share. Schedule a consultation here when you are ready.

Posted in astrology | Tagged Pluto, relating, scorpio, transits | Leave a comment