The current upwelling of change has presented and nurtured the idea that change, once again, is possible.

The presence of Uranus in Aries, during the years of 2011-2018, can bring about an uprising of volatile conservative sentiments. Western astrology notes that Aries is a trail blazer. Uranus loves radical changes. The last thing you would consider being generated during their blending time would be conservative ideas becoming radicalized. But that is exactly what happened 84 years ago, the last time Uranus made a transit through Aries. All the extremes in the European governments arose – Hitler, Mussolini and Stalin – because the people felt that these leaders offered a path which fit what they thought was right. Fortunately, that is not so long ago that the lessons of that time can be forgotten. Yet, the present conservative party in the USA has become entrapped with severe religious teachings.

A positive factor to help us at this time is the non-violent teachings which have become part of some cultures. With the militarization of community police, we are realizing that the mindset of terrorism defense can be used against the Constitutional rights of the peacefully protesting people.

The many paths to creating new conditions, relationships and patterns of organization can come from a place of being centered and allowing a vision to come forth to better fit the needs of the community. Shamanic journey work assists in this process, as spirit helpers have a greater vision of the dance of life and can offer a different way of being.

Peace to all!

The word ‘holistic’ is based on wholism. All aspects – body, mind, spirit and emotion – are in harmony. As spiritual beings having this human experience, we know how easily we can be pulled off balance, out of the middle road. Right now, with all the speeding up of the energies on this Earth, it is harder than ever to maintain our center as we are asked to shed all that we no longer are supposed to carry forward into the new times.

Perhaps a current suggestion is that we drop the quest for answers, surrender these issues to the Divine and allow for the new and perfect be-ing we are to take the place of these pains, traumas, perceptions and judgments we have accepted.

Astrology offers a possible tool for clarity and release. Using the elemental position of your Sun sign, visit the physical presence of that element to clear what is urgently pressing to be transformed. Air signs can use the great trade winds here on Maui. Allow the winds to cleanse anything embedded in your bodies. Water signs have both fresh and ocean water for cleansing. Immerse yourself in a freshwater stream or float in the ocean, allowing the water to bathe away issues. Earth signs have the rocks, dirt and sand to work in. Sitting on the earth, being buried in the sand, leaning up against rocks are all easy ways of communing for cleansing.

The tricky signs to clear with its element are the Fire ones. This is where shamanic practices are useful. In a journey space, a Fire sign can immerse their spirit selves in whatever fire form their spirit helpers feel is appropriate for transformative cleansing the issues.

Resistance to change is futile (a joke). Know you are not alone, we are all moving ahead. Breathe – in and out!

When we wake every day, there’s the awareness of our surroundings. Our senses fill in their messages. Then our brain, hopefully at peace from the night’s rest, interprets these messages. It is an amazing thing to realize how much our mind can be on ‘autopilot’ about what each sensory message means. Some find their brain racing at 1 million miles an hour. Others may be assaulted with overwhelming feelings of defeat, lack, loss, and other intense emotions.

Another unknown is who are we? Inhabiting this human body, we dimly recall another time and space where we were not here on this earth. We can watch and listen to our children tell us of when they were not here but elsewhere, living with others in a place of love and light.

Of course, many spiritual traditions have worked diligently through the centuries to bring surcease to the questioning members of their churches, temples and retreat centers. Providing answers according to these traditions, sometimes these messages are distorted with the human ego of the people delivering the words. Thus those who can discern that thread of ego, lack of truth in the texts, turn elsewhere for support when facing the Unknown of Human Life.

We are at a nexus. We are at the bridge which will span from those daily systems our mind and emotions have agreed to for our whole life into a radical rearrangement regarding our supports and daily flow. Please find whatever words, thoughts, music, dance and other practices that support your whole being during this time of revolution. Peace to all!

For the analysis of the upcoming equinox in September, please stop by again at the end of August.

Cancer rising nudges us to nurture others; whether that is fellow humanity, or to nature, we will step into caring for the things which helps us in the future. The Pisces Lunar placement says that the energy of direct communication with the Divine is with us. Refining this communication is the Moon’s close relationship with healer Chiron. With Neptune also close to the Moon/Chiron conjunction, maintaining appropriate boundaries with all others is critical. Step in where you are asked to especially with those people and groups you have been in relationship with for a long time.

Jupiter has speedily moved through Aries, and now is in Taurus. The placement in the 10th house suggests there are many business opportunities coming Maui’s way. There is much to be discerned as to which are appropriate to participate in.

Mars just entered Gemini, so we’ll be able to juggle many projects concurrently. Keep notes regarding the processes and goals to make sure nothing is taken for granted.

Pluto is in the house of daily work routines as well as health. There may be breakthroughs for those looking for transformative messages – liberation from oppressive situations can occur.

Saturn is below the horizon which anchors experiences and asks us to look at the big picture so we can fit them into the arc of our life paths. Be alert to any fears which may originate with others.

The most significant bit of this time is the transit of the Sun, Mercury and Venus through Cancer. These three will make square or opposition aspect to the three planets in the Cardinal signs: Uranus in Aries, Saturn in Libra and Pluto in Capricorn. The significant dates are for the Sun moving into aspect – 26 and 28 June and 2 July.

There can be physical earthquakes on the planet as well as personal transformative changes. Please do not think that all these shifts are going to be like an earthquake or another natural disaster. Some can be so subtle and pivotal into a positive way that all concerns and fears may drop away as the new world you suddenly occupy unfolds. Enjoy your vibrant new life.

Background: It takes a bit more than exactly 28 days for the Moon to go through all 12 signs in a month. As it moves through these signs, the basic Ptolemic aspects – conjunction 0 degrees, sextile 60 degrees, square 90 degrees, trine 120 degrees, opposition 180 degrees – occur with the other planets of the astrological Zodiac. When the last aspect is made in a sign, the moment later, the Moon is considered Void of Course. It is no longer anchored to another planet. The Void period ends when the Moon changes to the next sign.

The result is a dreamy time, perhaps an un-grounded, un-anchored time. When you are driving, this is not necessarily a good thing. When you start your day into an already Void Moon time, there may be a feeling of the dream state staying with you.

It is not a time to start new projects. Finish those things which you’ve already begun. You may want to write down those things you’d like to work on during the Void time if it begins before you wake the next day. It is also not a time for us to take off on a trip.

Traveling: I started paying attention to this aspect of Void Moon when an article in an anthology of astrology essays proposed the impact of beginning to travel during a Void Moon creates difficulties in the whole trip’s flow.

As the caveat for astrology theories say – observe to see if the proposed concept has validity to you. During the years since then, I have found it to be very good to follow this guideline: it is definitely better to leave on your trip while the Moon is solidly in contact with other planets.

This means if the only best flight (availability and cost) is during a Void time, leave for the flight before the Void begins, even if it means you spend the prior night in a hotel or friend’s house. May seem absurd, but if you want to have a great trip, where everything flows well, pay attention to the Void times and leave for the trip early.

Mercury Retrograde: The recent retrograde of Mercury showed a double whammy of both prolonged Void times along with the Mercury Retrograde period impacts. Double check all items thought to be completed are truly done. Make sure the details are covered with contingencies. Take your project management skills to a new level and stay very alert and present at all times. It is a good practice.

Resources: Printed - There are several calendars available for people to use as a personal reference. Some of these are Jim Maynard, Llewellyn, and We’Moon are available at bookstores or through websites.

Online – More information regarding Void Moon from other authors are available at these sites, including one which lists the current month’s Void time based on East Coast time (good for 2011). We’ll start with that one. Please copy and paste to your browser.

http://www.skyviewzone.com/vocmoon.htm

Thoughts from Zane Stein –

http://www.accessnewage.com/articles/astro/steiMoon.htm

From Astrology Weekly – has old Void times posted (2007)

http://www.astrologyweekly.com/astrology-articles/void-of-course-moon.php

From Lunar Living –

http://www.lunarliving.org/moon/void_of_course.shtml

From the publisher Llewellyn -

http://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/2015

Any other areas of astrology you would like to have explained? Please let me know.

Uranus is the pattern-breaker, the first planet found by the use of a telescope. It is involved with electricity and influences tornadoes. As these natural phenomena are known for their unpredictability, so is Uranus.

Aries is the first sign in our zodiac. It is fire and cardinal, indicating that is generates new experiences without much thought to consequences. You want a trailblazer, a bungee jumper? Find an Aries – especially one which also has Mars in Aries.

Mars is the ruling planet of Aries. Feisty, aggressive, assertive, demanding action, Mars joins Uranus, Jupiter, and the inner planets of Mercury and Venus, in Aries in early April. Be alert during the whole month of April for people being more unique in expressing their dissatisfaction with their lives. Perhaps they (or you) will step with great resolve into experiences that they have not chosen in the past. Another possibility is they (or you) can choose a path of contraction from risk taking.

We would think that the combination of Uranus in Aries would assist the trailblazing nature of the sign. Perhaps it will. Yet it was known, 84 years ago, for helping create a seriously radical conservative political movement in Australia. The current “Tea Party” faction of the Republican Party may be a consequence of Uranus’ entry into Aries.

One thing for certain is, we cannot predict with absolute certainty what will transpire on a global scale with Uranus in Aries. Personally, please find your center, nurture it, assist it to be as strong as it can be so you can surf through these intense and demanding times.

The first change is Chiron into Pisces on Feb. 8. We are in for a very interesting time until April 2018 for this combination is involved with the unseen realities which energy and shamanic practitioners are aware of. Realists may find the non-tangible world in their lives, creating a critical point, a leap of faith into the unknown, where trusting the Divine presence beyond their fingertips is the biggest transformation of this 7 year transit.

As we’ve already had a sample via the WikiLeaks site, there can be many revelations regarding shadow governments and other systems where public trust has been misused. A “new world order” may come forth during these years of Chiron in Pisces as people wake up and take on their personal power.

The next planetary ingress is Uranus entering Aries on Mar. 11, joining Jupiter there which entered on January 22. Uranus was last in Aries between 1927 and 1934 and prior to that in 1843 to 1850. Looking at history, there can be a rise of a group yet personal radical conservatism affiliated with this transit.

Uranus occupies the 0 degree of Aries on the Equinox day, March 20. With the Sun and Uranus in the conjunction aspect, the three months represented by the Equinox chart will guarantee radical personal and group changes. Specifically for Maui, this pair occupies the 9th house of long distance travel, higher education and publishing, orienting us towards breaking patterns in these areas. We may have higher visitor counts, more people attending universities on line and starting blogs and other writing projects.

Guaranteed, it is an unpredictable time.

The chart for the first day of winter shows that Maui has an Aries rising personality colored by its ruler (Mars) in Capricorn for the next three months. This means that the ‘me first’ personality will be tempered by practical and useful action with direct awareness of long term results.

The Moon is placed in Cancer, just after a lunar eclipse on 20 December at 10:14am. Located in the 3rd house, the urge to communicate significant emotions around the need to nurture self vs. others can be strongly expressed. This can be especially experienced within families, siblings and on the phone or in emails.

There are 4 planet clustered in the 9th house of higher education, long distance travel and philosophy. Continuing to reach potential clients overseas, those who are interested in exploring their spiritual nature, can bring results in the collective good of the community. The asteroid Pallas Athene is conjunct the Sun on this day, therefore the warrior-like nature of women, using their brains and intuition, can come to the fore during this quarter.

Mercury has its final retrograde period beginning on the 10th of December at 5 Capricorn and returns to direct motion on the 29th at 19 Sagittarius, therefore, the Solstice chart will hold the retrograde position. Communications may be glitchy with contracts and agreements harder to work out. Fortunately, that’s a short 19 days so we can celebrate that fact in our day to day lives. The topics to ponder during this time are outlined by these phrases: Ten logs lie under an archway leading to darker woods, from Rudhyar’s Sabian Symbol and the last phrase for the degree – …knowing how to handle yourself impeccably, from Ellias Lonsdale’s revisions of the Symbols.

Sabian Symbol – Workers push a telephone pole across forbidding ranges. Interpretation – The will to association regardless of time and space. Spiritual living “in spite of” nature.

Rising sign – Gemini – communications are, more than usual, the main focus and interface with the whole big world. Sharing thoughts, opinions, teaching, etc., we may talk ourselves silly this lunar month. Mercury, the ruling planet of Gemini, is in Scorpio, so the depth of communications is more about deep, hidden topics and agendas. Some may not like this probing style, yet it is time to allow these thoughts into the light.

Saturn is in Libra, in the 5th house, suggesting that play time has a heavier aspect to it than usual or perhaps a delay in scheduling it into a busy family life. Some artistic projects may be plotted and planned for a while before being launched.

The New Moon is located at 13 degrees of Scorpio, which falls into the 6th house of service, day to day work efforts and health. The 6th house also has retrograde Venus (how we receive) and Mercury (thoughts & communication) in it so, there is more than the usual focus on a house’s meaning.

The other house with a focus of more than one planet is the 10th. With Aquarius on the house cusp, it has Chiron conjunct Neptune and Jupiter at the tail end of the house. Jupiter is about 4 degrees away from Uranus, which is in the 11th house, also making this pair a conjunction. This means blended energy between them – Expansion (Jupiter) and Unpredictability (Uranus).

The 10th house is how people express their soul’s purpose and in this chart, a group’s will on the planet. The presence of Chiron/Neptune says that when something needs to be healed, the boundaries could be dropped and the issue is clearly seen with spiritual assistance as well by others. The challenge with Neptune is to see the self in the mirror when it is held up by life’s events. Jupiter and Uranus offer an unpredictable twist to results of those things we put forth for growth at this time.

Mars is in the 7th house, in Sagittarius, urging many to be more assertive – almost too much so – in expressing their desires to make things happen their way in personal relationships. ‘Their’ way, at this time, is not necessarily walking to the usual drummer’s beat. This influence may be quite intense just after the Full Moon.

Pluto is in the house it likes to be in – the 8th – which may allow for re-balancing power structures in family finances and perhaps even some unexpected inheritances will appear. Some long term relationships may be cycling through a deep transformation/rebirth.

The first quarter of the Moon suggest that the communications noted above will be very important about those things which are personally important to us. Also, there’s a quality of birthing around writing and lecturing. Record your ideas for future use, please.

The 2nd quarter, going towards Full Moon, has the most planets in it, so the focus on working through restrictions, noting health & work issues, communicating about fears can occur.

The week after Full Moon (29 Taurus/Scorpio on the 22nd of Nov), the assertion and aggressions in relationships may be a bit more than sensitive types would like due to Mars being in Sagittarius. Remember there are lessons for all involved when harsh words are spoken.

The last quarter indicates the potential for allowing spiritual vision into our world of work as well as enhancing the awareness of our emotional and psychic wounds and the path towards resolving them. There may be unique teachers or opportunities which are not normally around the community to assist in bringing their perspective and service to all who want the information.

Next New Moon – in Sagittarius on 5 December at 7:37AM HST at 13 degrees.

Some people have been shoved into new situations without a script or plan or forethought. Fear, for others, has been thick and paralyzing; we have been rendered powerless by the overwhelming and seemingly uncontrollable emotions.

At those points, we’ve had to wake up and remember there’s a different way to thrive.

One suggestion is to return to our spiritual training and apply it – now – daily. Remembering our favorite teacher’s instructions; perhaps – breathe deeply, ground, center, then cleanse our thoughts, smudge our body and living space – we attain a brief moment of clarity, peace and understanding. Returning again again again to the practice, soon the space of tranquility is greater than a brief moment. These fears are faced and healed. Perhaps calling ourselves nuns, monks, initiates, solitary practitioners, whatever we wish to call this sacred self-nurturing time, we find we must do it.

Some are called to the ocean, others to sacred lands. Whatever your calling is, do it. Feed your whole being, especially the subtle body. Eat in a restorative way of all good things in nature.

An astrological input – if ‘something’ is tugging with you, to let something go which is very precious to you… perhaps Pluto’s transit is asking for a deep transformation around that emotion, thought or item. If you resist too much, you’ll end up with so very much beyond that bit being taken from you. Use your discernment, seek input from others if needed, and step into this new time, surrendering what you are being asked to release. Trust that something much better is in queue for you.