‘The present issues from the past, and the future from the present. Everything is made one by this continuity. Time is like a circle, where all the points are so linked that one can not say where it begins or ends, for all points precede and follow one another for ever…’ – Hermes Trismegistus, Corpus Hermeticum. We live in circles… Read more →
You thought is was never going to happen but it has. We are at a turning cardinal point of new beginnings and an inception moment. But we are now at the fall of the sun and next month we will celebrate – if that is the appropriate word – the fall of the moon, when we enter Scorpio season. Before… Read more →
A season of closures is itself coming to an overwhelming close. But the Saturnian influence of saying no, is still hovering around us, putting the brakes on our enthusiasm for expansion. Instead we are at a lunar eclipse and a preview of what is to follow in the next 18 months. It is the Full Moon taking place on 18… Read more →
The heavy energies of the last several lunations have not gone away, and now we are feeling that accumulation of a burden which is compounded by a nervous tension of worry for the future. As the passions of Leo are subsiding, we are faced with the havoc it wreaked, and all the work that needs to get done, which was… Read more →
Change of cosmic proportions is illuminated. It is happening in real life and in real time. But some sort of fog of war is keeping us muddled and confused, as well as fearful and emotionally distant. It is the Full Moon taking place on 19 August 2024, at 10:16 GMT, and at 29 degrees and 08 minutes of Aquarius. Given… Read more →
We are going for gold. It is the alchemical moment of high summer in its’ archetypal expression. Everything is possible as our hearts are filled with passion and courage. Pain and disappointment are binned, at least for now. It is the New Moon that takes place on 4 August 2024, at 11:12 GMT, and at 12 degrees and 33 minutes… Read more →
Spazziamo!!! We are mopping up. We are clearing out. This is not our first rodeo. We’ve been here before. At least since about a month ago, when we had our first full moon in Capricorn. Now it’s time for the final push. It is the Full Moon taking place on 21 July 2024, at 10:16 GMT, and at 29 degrees… Read more →
The moon, which represents the material world, the familiar, the close by, the everyday, the experiential, as well as the fleeting and impermanent, is in domicile. We are coming from spirit into matter. New beginnings are crucial. But, they happen under immense pressure coming both ways. It is the New Moon that takes place on 5 July 2024, at 22:57… Read more →
We are at the health axis. Physical and mental health are in the spotlight. Welcome to the full moon in Virgo. Sun is in Pisces. And two quick, but monumental, conjunctions are illuminated by the moon light. They are Mercury conjunct Saturn in Aquarius, and Venus conjunct Jupiter in Aries. The cold winds of logic and structure meet a burning… Read more →
As the New Moon enters Aquarius a new season begins. It is not business as usual, especially, as the moon squares Uranus in Taurus. This is significant because Uranus, always associated with electric and sudden unapologetic and uncompromising disruptions, is Aquarius own ruler. A square is not an opposition, but rather conflicting dynamics, a challenge or just competing priorities, depending on the specific planets involved. Uranus is in the house of Venus and the new moon is pulling the energy of the house of Uranus. They are both in fixed houses as well. So the positions will be entrenched. Uranus in Taurus therefore talks about how old values and self- worth will compete with the vision of a new future as it is being activated by the New Moon in Aquarius.
The Animals card with the guidance of St. Francis of Assisi is pointing to a new future based on a community of charity, and of like-minded people who are socially conscious and with a common purpose. Our own growth will come from friends and associates. The fixed position is challenged by instability and constant change. We are now interested in groups and organizations that look beyond the self to realize something greater that was previously possible.
Moreover, Aquarius cold and distant qualities will give us a bit of a break from the earthly intensity of the previous weeks and months. The air element that is the character of Aquarius, will bring a cerebral influence in our decision-making process. We will be serious about ideas. Futuristic plans will now dominate our way of thinking, propelling us to a new phase. New priorities will also signify a new set of activities. St. Francis left his own family background to set up a new community based on a progressive set of dynamics, and as such he is the powerful influence of a New Moon that will impact our lives for the next month and beyond.
Flavia
Mercury is making his presence felt. He is the God of rational thinking and the supreme leader of communication. Without him nothing moves, nothing gets exchanged. The card naturally appeared out of Kyle Gray’s oracle deck as his own first act and PR manager – all in one. And with good reason too. Around the 10th of January we are having a full moon and a lunar eclipse in Cancer, 20 degrees. By far the most significant astrological event in 2020. Not least because it is followed by one of the most discussed and anticipated celestial occurrences that has astrologers talking about for decades. It’s the conjunction of Saturn to Pluto, and Sun conjoining Saturn and Pluto, all taking place in Capricorn. So these power players in heavy, ambitious, depressed, earthly Capricorn are undoubtedly colouring our earthly experiences. Capricorn is associated with old age, big authority figures, heritage, old buildings, massive historic structures, physical or otherwise, and things dying in the material sense, in general.
As if this was not enough, a day earlier, the so called liberating and unpredictable Uranus, goes direct in Taurus. A sign concerned with values, worth and materiality in all its’ shapes and forms. A day later Venus moves into Pisces rearranging and dissolving our experiences of love and self-worth just as we thought we knew what was going on.
But in the whole, what will in fact influence us in our particular everyday life is mostly the fact that mischievous, talkative, expressive Mercury jumps in there to reorganise and bring meaning to the others. Mercury is young, fit and beautiful. He moves fast. Remember he has the freedom to go down to Hades and up to the heavens to deliver messages. So the way we think around events on the outside, the way we perceive information and the way we analyse our environment is crucial. It will make all the difference. It’s time for serious thinking and, unfortunately, Mercury will not only communicate sobering decision making, but will also bring us depressive thoughts and anxiety.
While at the moment action God Mars is in Sagittarius – and both Mars and Sagittarius are quite militaristic – our reactions tend towards the scattered and impulsive. Instead, use Mercury’s rationality to stay mindful and progressive. Talk to others. This is not the time to keep things bottled up. With conscious discerning thinking and Mercury’s help, we can move beyond difficult situations, painful endings, lose, unpredictable events and fear dominated reactions. Mercury doesn’t judge and doesn’t waste time with self-pity or incrimination, he flies free opening up channels, bringing healing by transporting goods and ideas, and communicating messages so we can live with more knowledge and wisdom. Trust the universe and trust your Mercurial powers to make the right choices everyday.
Flavia
The outlook for January 2020 is looking favourable and prosperous. However, the key element is that we have to put in the work. And we have to be practical and scrupulous about it. Here we are working within the rules of tradition and within the pre-established structures. It requires us to apply critical thinking while adhering to a higher realm in morality and aesthetics. With the Six of Wands the year kicks in busy. And there is movement. There will be lots happening and conflicting assignments, commitments, opportunities, people and events will demand our attention. Our input will decide which way things are going to go, as well as our discernment to choose where we are channelling our energy wisely.
With the Six of Wands we are not just cruising in victorious – the card normally shows a nobleman on a horse in front of a background of sticks and crowned with a wreath symbolizing success – but our achievements are aligned per force with higher values. There is nobility of sentiment and there is a fight for noble causes that will gain us success and recognition. In this deck there is so much more to think about. There is partnership, serenity, a sense of fulfilment, and a tribe, a vast group of like-minded people, people with whom we share common ground that depend on us or look up to us for strength. So it is also a card about leadership of purpose. Others will look to us for guidance.
This is a sombre, serious month loaded with responsibility. But the gifts are coming. They are the rewards of our efforts and they will bring strength and further support to grow and develop outside our confines. The rewards will be tangible and they will come from the outside suddenly and unexpectedly. And they will compensate us in the material sense. As the Ace of Pentacles sits right in the centre of the spread we can only assume that this event, or series of practical and auspicious events, will actually dominate the month. It will be generous and absolutely depended on our own work and sense of worth, and it will lead effortlessly to the Emperor. The Emperor could be the person we become or a person who will turn up into our lives to lend us support. The Emperor is the paramount figure of knowing the self and of self confidence. The Emperor and the number IV represent structure as well. So initiation and structure is where this month is taking us. We are in for the long game. The Emperor is standing on a pedestal suggesting we better accept our elevated status and of those we associate with.
By the end of January we will find ourselves in a different place to where we started at the beginning. While looking towards the past, we are bringing it with us into the future. We are not divorced from our heritage or history or anything that has come before, because that is the basis of our strength and our security. This is clearly a process of maturation taking place throughout the month where we are standing alone in change, and responsible. The Emperor is the Masculine principle and symbol of experience.
We are looking to a dynamic and transformative month ahead bringing in experiences of higher rank and higher authority. The theme of the influencer and the presence of rules and regulations runs concurrently. Keep strong and don’t loose the focus. The gains have the potential to surpass any expectations for passion, power and wisdom.
Flavia
The Angel of Serenity is an Angel of Creation. We are at the moment of a powerful solar eclipse and standing between two eclipses. A solar eclipse in Capricorn and a lunar eclipse in Cancer, happening in January. They are concluding a series of eclipses we have been dealing with the last couple of years. So it’s time to wrap up and bring a culmination to a point. At this stage of structures collapsing and others starting to being built, we have to stay centered amid the chaos, calm and serene. We have the strength within ourselves to resolve problems and find solutions to conflict. Serenity is this angel’s gift as a personal resource to us. The next six months will be eventful and dynamic, so it’s crucial that we start the new moon and enter the new year primarily secure in ourselves, and that we remain calm, peaceful and kind. This is the way to creating something better than what was there before, something better for us and others. With the gift of serenity we have the opportunity to be fruitful in our lives. Our angel guides are protecting and blessing us with serenity.
Flavia
Different deck of cards from November’s reading – same 4 of Pentacles appears. If anything, this feels even more sinister. The last week of November was full of activity and pleasure, almost indulgent, and yet by the end of the month the energies quickly change. December finds us, indeed, fearful and small, clutching our material possessions and holding on to our wealth for dear life. Because of it we are diminished figures. And all things that make life beautiful are missing too. It certainly predicts a time of anxiety where our lower urges of attachment to materiality and earthly goods jump in, robbing us of our potential to participate in something greater, something aligned with our authentic self and a wider good. It is an irony. What we are holding on to is itself depriving and restrictive. Bitter, looking angry, static, immobile and trapped in a small place by our inability to let go objects of wealth, while a wonderful world is all around us, is frontal and direct.
The stability that the number four represents here transmits a sense of being bound with ending, malignant feelings, negativity, corruption, of a sense of lack of proportion to things having outlived their purpose. All around blue skies and beautiful buildings. A small flag flying in the breeze. But we sit in an energy of grey and heaviness, crushed by our own gold. Happily, this is not terminal. It is incumbent upon us all to turn this situation around. We can do this by tapping into the energy of the Fool. The cards presenting both the challenges and the solutions to our situation. Optimism, a dose of naivete, a bit of risk taking, a sense of youthfulness and curiosity, an all encompassing desire for experiences and learning out in the world will be our guide.
By comparison to the 4 of Coins/Pentacles, the Fool is hardly carrying any possessions, but he/she is traveling light with a smile and with a jolly and faithful companion. Mountains in the distant and rivers flowing, the elements of air, water, and earth exude health and freshness. In tune with artistic flavor. Butterflies are all around. Even his/her clothes are full of color and uplifting patterns. There is no holding back in confidence or aesthetics. This attitude is very important because December promises to be the month of the unknown and shifting energies. So how we approach our more intimate and the wider world can change everything. And there is an urgency about it. We might need to lose something in order to gain something more valuable. We might need to completely transform our persona in search of truth.
One way or another this slightly unassuming persona will give us the power to become the King of Swords. A card representing a conscious and upright person. A person of power, strong mentally and physically, ready to defend. Here in this deck, the King of Swords stands amide clouds, dark skies, birds flying, fields and mountains. Clearly a wintry outdoors setting. He’s dressed beautifully in blue, wearing a warrior’s helmet with feathers and in a cape of stars symbolic of his positive and intuitive character. A mature person of higher consciousness, open to communication. Open and decisive at the same time. He feels confident in self knowledge from within.
December foretells entering a much more serious epoch. A season that we are going to be called to duty in some way, and where we need to stand solid. The openness of the fool can transform a miserly to an exulted person of merit. It is a lesson in how our perception, our mental disposition and attitude can, and will make all the difference. December 2019, will conclude a highly transformative year. A brooding year. We will need to have distance to judge situations clearly and objectively, without being aloof or cold. Ultimately, we can enter the new year as more conscious and empowered self, human and caring, but ready for challenges. Now we have to take charge.
Flavia
A new moon is always a push forward. But this time the new moon is also big in blessings. And it’s spiritual. We are in the New Moon in Sagittarius. With optimism and open to new possibilities, it’s the sacred self that will guide us. While all the big planets are sitting in earth and fixed signs we are grateful for Sagittarius fire. It’s the spirit to propel us to something magnificent.
Venus will be meeting Jupiter, and both will enter ambitious but also limiting Capricorn later in the month. Their meeting in Sagittarius is significant for what we value and our beliefs are now rooted in a grand context. Mercury already moving ahead in Scorpio makes for a focused and powerful energy that is coming to push forwards and outwards into the world. The muddled sense of lack of direction permeating the last few weeks is replaced by a forceful desire for learning, for exploration, for achieving with others something bigger than ourselves.
Both Shekinah and Diana are spirit goddesses of the Moon energy. Sacred self is wisdom. Focused intention will bring forward gifts. Intuition is accentuated. It’s a further reminder that we have not yet left Scorpio’s feminine influence, so being strategic, calculative, passionate for what we want but also going all out with purpose, assertiveness and determination are with us. It’s a hunt and a prayer.
Sagittarius represented here by Diana will guide us to aim high and to always strive to transcend our situation, looking for justice and higher purpose according to our authentic self. On a more material level, Diana, Greek Goddess Artemis of nature and wildlife among other things, will encourage us to find our strength and mental focus by going out and making the most of the physical environment.
Love and life are everywhere outside, day and night. It’s time to think hard about our desires and go after them without fear! There is no need to hold back. The best will materialize.
Flavia
Rejoice for November! Well, sort of. Not exactly. But at least the Tower is behind us now, and so are all the fast moving upheavals of October. We have entered Scorpio season and all the big planets are charging ahead. Here we have three minor arcana cards to ease us through this transformative season. It wasn’t all bad. There was adventure, achievements, dreaming and passions. The self exploded in creativity. The turbulent emotions of September and October’s manifestations have given way to the weariness of battle. There is a sense of exhaustion. The summertime has wrapped up and we are within the depths of autumn holding onto the energy of change. The most contradictory set of expressions are emerging.
In the 5 of Swords we too are moving away to somewhere else. We are collecting what has been left behind, and only the basics that we can walk away with. Because while we are still looking back, whatever it was that was going on, has come to an end. So November is the beginning of a different state of being. We are certainly not thrilled but we have survived. Perhaps there was deception and perhaps there was just too much going on to cope with. And perhaps there was loss. A scattered energy that involved others has thrown us off course. This is the day after the day before.
The 4 of Pentacles certainly is an indication that we are left trying to hold on to something material to make up for either loss and sadness from the past, or a fearful projection of the future. There is stillness. Around us there is abundance but we are not interested. Looks like we have limited our identity to a material possession. We are holding on tight to representations of wealth while we are frozen in activity or motivation. And perhaps this is the time to be practical in our approach to remove stagnation or negativity that results in us becoming immobile and entrenched.
The 8 of pentacles shows us the way out. If we are tired from the fight and have become stuck in a situation that goes nowhere, we can fall back on our skills and talents. We can immerse ourselves in study, work, creativity. Away from the madding crowd we can find our truth. With repetition and care for detailed work we can transcend. This is about mastery in everyday life. The lesson is clear.
With Mercury going retrograde in Scorpio for three weeks the focus is about knowing ourselves and being clever with our hands, going over things and perfecting, slowly moving and repeating tasks. Whatever we engage with and put our energy into is for the long term. So act wisely, be methodical, humble, filter out the noise, you’ve got everything you need to excel.
This month will end very differently to how it’s starting! It will be transformative and our mastery will be impactful! There is light in the dark. We are enlightened. And the light spreads for others out in the world as we become one with nature!
Flavia
The appearance of the Moon still refers to events that happened during the cosmic shake up in September. October continues to deliver dreams and imagination that have been so potent during the Pisces full moon of last month.
So the Moon which – lets not forget – moves quickly, governs events and our deepest need, is a strong indicator of mysterious happenings. Changing circumstances, seeing things under cover with all of our senses alerted, and an enhanced perception beyond the visual, are indicated with this card and its’ representation of the new moon in Libra.
It is also a caution, maybe not of mistrust, but of awareness. It is telling us not to take events, people and actions at face value. There will be misleading factors coming from our environment and from within. Things we’d like to believe, illusions and stories made up in our heads, people we idolize. Measured escapism can be inspiring, daydreaming is healing, and connecting with transcended beings is enriching. But a balance must be struck nonetheless, or we will fly away with ourselves. And we may be lost in others too.
A revelation or an insight will shake us and this could be something mental or spiritual that will bring a total collapse. What seemed solid, embedded, rooted, and secure, will be now be shaken by something akin to a lightning bolt from the universe. What is light and mobile will fly away. Something new is waiting to take its’ place. But it’s not clear what as yet. Change is inescapable. Illusions or false beliefs will not help. Truth will be destructive. A period of chaos, or a sense of chaos, is forewarned. This month is starting to look like a make or break time. What starts off as fear, anxiety or delusion, develops to an actual break-up.
The cards contain their own advice to see us through disturbing circumstances and that is to trust our inner self. Trust your intuition. Your eyes might deceive you but your core values will not let you down. But we need to go through it to come out of it. And that’s a big lesson. Ultimately, there will be a promise of opportunity. There will be growth and a potential to find ourselves in a much better place than where we were before.
The Ace of Wands is a card of achievement and passion. New projects will replace old structures. Creative energy will replace passive illusion. Belief in the cosmic plan and action to follow through our dreams will lead to triumph. But a lot of work is waiting ahead of us to materialize any of it. It’s looking to be a surprisingly intricate and eventful month full of initiations, passions and disruptions. Most of all be present, and make the best of it.
Flavia
With the New Moon in Libra we are now climbing up the chart heading for the top. Angelite and Citrine can be our friends this month. They will help us to stay on track. They are healing and soothing, bringing the resplendent light they reflect to be part of us.
We took off with Aries initiating, and creating new beginnings by knowing the self, with a focus on identity. As we moved into Taurus our values and what we love started to materialize and begun to take form. In Gemini our thoughts and communication became paramount. Travelling through Cancer, and as the season begun to shape up, our home and our environment around us, gave us grounding and a foundation from where we could build. And so we are still moving through the bottom of the chart. Leo arrived full of exuberance and creativity. All things love mattered: the self became King and Queen. But calmly and steadily we reached Virgo. It was a timeline about care, mastery and preparation.
And now all of a sudden – and yet not too soon – we find ourselves in Libra, and half-way through the astrological year. We are now climbing higher in the chart with the realization that others matter. We are in relationship mode. We see ourselves in others and the people we hang out with, the groups we belong to, the friendships we make, reflect who we really are.
Angelite confirms this. We can hold, or think of, this stone as a reminder that we will find happiness and emotional expansion by staying close to those that are aligned with our values. We can join groups or travel to places where we can be with people that have similar ideas and aspirations as us. We are looking out for people we admire and those that represent our aesthetic values, beauty, history, spirituality and higher self. This will give us strength and confidence in ourselves to develop further, and grow emotionally, creatively, intellectually, and even materially. If we are having problems with health, work, substances, mental blocks or direction, and we want to address them, now it’s the right time to seek those who can help us. We are not alone. We are all reflected in each other.
And so Citrine further encourages us beyond taking practical steps to be with like-minded people, that we can draw power and energy from Citrine which shines through to be optimistic and purposeful. The self in others and the greater picture are illuminated by the New Moon in Libra.
Flavia
The season of Virgo saw personal planets congregating there. We all felt the change of weather. But we are still in summer in the north – winter in the south. Virgo is a time full of manifestation and preparation. It is putting all the elements in line, caring for others and taking care of the self, perhaps with a sense of duty, finding pleasure in the everyday, with a paramount focus in practice and repetition. A bit of anxiety and worry about what’s to follow and the frustration that we’re stuck in events (for better or for worse) will also be a feature. Don’t let it get in your way. Soon the bigger picture will also start to unfold!
Flavia
We are in September and the sign of Virgo. On the 30th of August we already had the Moon, the Sun, Mars, Venus and Mercury all congregating in Virgo. That’s a lot of energy powering the Virgo domain. A bit of nostalgia and melancholia for the summer is unavoidably in the cards. We will overcome it as we absorb it in our daily lives by being pragmatic and industrious.
This is not the traditional and superbly iconic 3 of Swords we are used to seeing. Instead of the pierced heart we are familiar with, we have a sword logged deep into the earth. But the inescapable message of the month is cutting, nonetheless. This is the month of Virgo, associated with cleansing, and so cutting off from everything and anything damaging dominates every mood, every action. And this would be the story of this month in a nutshell. In fact, we have two sword cards to deal with in September.
In a landscape seemingly of ice, of water falling from above, and flowers crowning this image, a sword is cutting through all of it. It is embedded deeply. But is it logged securely? The earth looks more like ice. A person is kneeling as if in prayer and reception. A shower of clean fresh water looks like it’s falling from the sky and through a spray of unnaturally large flowers. It’s not clear in the image where the ground starts and where the sky begins, or vice versa. It’s a card of blessings. The hardness of the ice has been broken. Stumbling blocks have been removed to reveal further blessings in the form of abundant water from above and from below. Hard work is paying off. Tranquillity permeates. But there is transformation. All elements are drawn in. The birds and the trees, the flowers and the fruits of the earth, under a clear sky on a clement day.
As the card sits right next to the 7 of Cups, an unmistakable sign of dreams and wishes, gifts and objects of desire, this signifies that all these things are possible and within our reach. They can be multifaceted and complex. And they are right there in front of us ready for the taking once we let go and break free. But from what?
This can sometimes be the hardest lesson to learn and the toughest situation to be in. What needs to let go and when we have to reach out to pick up what we really want. Not what we are conditioned to think we want. Or what others want from us. Or even what we mistakenly think they want. Be mindful of your options! A lot of interpretations suggest a freeze and lack of initiative with the appearance of this card, hesitant commitment or immobile action. But standing between the two swords cards, this is very unlikely. How can it possibly be the case, as Swords are denoting moments in flux and constant change. It is likely, however, for some people this is cerebral, rather than physical moment of movement, endings and change. A moment of thinking, analysing, contextualising. Choose wisely, as they say, because you might get what you wished for. While obstacles are removed and possibilities open up, the main thing is go according to our higher purpose. The values we hold are being tested.
The 3 of Swords reminds us to cut bonds with what doesn’t serve us in order to welcome what our hearts really need. On the face of it, it might even seem unrealistic, just like these flowers and the foreground. The lay-out of the spread tells us we might not even have a choice. Events like the wind are carrying us forward.
Finally the 7 of Swords, more air element, make that point loud and clear. Cut through the deception and fake promises. There’s going to be a lot of that as well. So prepare yourself. Follow your heart. Organise yourself. Get rid of unpleasantness. Throw the rubbish away. Don’t allow yourself to be taken in by falsity and don’t let yourself be sneaky either. It won’t help. It’s not to your advantage. Right now we are all collecting what we saw from the whole year and sorting through. Stay clean body and mind. Be good to yourself and to others. Prepare for change.
Flavia
Summer is wrapping up as August is coming to a close. Leo season has kept the energy of high summer with intensity and gave us drama, extremes of passions and bursts of luxury. We also felt dignity in hardship and pride in any unexpected challenges. We’ve come out the other side better than we went in. We’ve come out with more creative ideas, more self-awareness and more confidence. Now we need to summon our strength and our abilities a calmness inside and out permeates.
A mass of planets are moving into Virgo. By the beginning of September all quick moving planets would have located there. And on Saturday 31st, both luminaries, the Sun and Moon, will give extra power to all things Virgo. An analytical approach, a sense of organisation and order, as well as service and everyday pleasures in clearing out old stock will replace our desire for entertainment and games. Self-realisation looks different as we prepare ourselves for the change of season. A melancholy peplos will cover our moods. We’re becoming practical and mastery. The Sun is still high in the sky. So let’s go outside and let’s get to work.
Flavia
The full moon in August is a full moon in Aquarius. She invites us to release all barriers to complete our creative projects, publications, plans, and engage with others. We can ask for help or just another opinion. An extra set of eyes can offer a different perspective or might help us suggest something that will reveal answers and solutions – sometimes obvious and sometimes hidden. In any case, it points us to open up to others and join groups of like-minded people. Barriers to participate in the community, teams or organisations will be blown away. As we stand still under the Sun in Leo, these are projects, goals and inventions that come from the heart. Friends and relatives are part of our special path in life. Forward movement will happen with the assistance of others who divinely have turned up for our benefit. Accept the editor’s input and be grateful. It will be a happy surprise.
Flavia
The aftershocks of July with its retrogrades and eclipses still reverberate as we enter August. We are still feeling the retrogrades creating confusion, and the eclipses sending dramatic messages uprooting us and tearing up old structures. Anything unforeseen is possible. So the month finds us suspended and motionless but in a halo of wisdom, not taking anything for granted, but instead seeing the world from another perspective. We maybe having had to deal with a sudden turn of events, and holding space for us and others. Mercury’s shadow period will last for a couple of weeks into the month and the eclipses could be sending a second wave of messages, urging us to follow new paths and finally conclude with situations that no longer serve us. While this is going on we can only surrender serenely to events using our restrictive circumstances, or necessary pause, to gain a new point of view and drill down to the absolute fundamentals of life. Reflect and meditate on what matters to us. What are the thing we most value? Change is inevitable and this voluntary, or involuntary, suspension will help our decision making when things pick up and energetically start moving again.
But before that happens we are reminded by the Devil that we still have some work to do. And it’s work that goes inside us. It’s personal, it’s about us facing our demons, our self imposed limitations, our fears and nightmares, anything that might be an addiction. An addiction which can be substances, inter-dependency to others, negative self-talk or simply bad habits. Anything and everything poisoning our existence that we fear is larger than us becomes pronounced. This darkness in the background that naggingly won’t allow us to enjoy a fulfilling and joyful life with others and in ourselves has to be dealt with now. The Devil card reminds us that if we want to move on and out we need to face up to it – whatever it might be. We can not hide, and it won’t be to our benefit anyway. Now is the right time to face darkness and resolve personal challenges. We have to go through to go out. So that the month promises to be very active with people and things, and in a way that would benefit us and those around us. There are going to be some tough moments in August only because we absolutely need to finish off projects, personal or professional, and move on. Once this is done, there’s no turning back.
Ultimately, this will give us the World. The World which contains all the elements – fire, earth, air and water as represented by the images depicted in the four corners of a lion, an ox, an eagle and an angel – our own contribution as we create our path in life. We are not passive in the happening of the World rather we rise and participate in creating it. The Universe is with us and Luck is on our side. Work is paying off. The time has come to celebrate our accomplishments. The end of August culminates with another new moon that will find us in a totally different place to that of when we started the month. We are now encircled in garlands of success and flying up in the air with emotion and joy.
All three cards this month are heralding change in its different forms, and demanding that we pay attention in specific areas of life. First, accepting and observing, taking our time and not reacting to events. Subsequently, dealing with honesty and integrity any negative influences or obstacles that bound us to an unhealthy situation. And finally, change is coming by reaching our goal. We have achieved what we set out to do. And quite deservedly we are ecstatic about it.
To sum up: The Hanged Man teaches us about the metamorphosis which is under way and the Devil what we have to do in order to achieve our highest purpose. There is vitality and evolution with great rewards. The recurring theme of August is bondage and liberation. Breaking old patterns too. We are all evolving.
Flavia
A powerful partial lunar eclipse in Capricorn is all consuming in July. It releases old ways of doing things, dissolves outward structures and embedded situations, and takes us by surprise regardless of what we know, and how we are anticipating it. With cold Saturn sitting in Capricorn – his own home – and his mate power-player Pluto visiting, and stationing there comfortably, it’s rumoured to be a tough time. So we are reminded of love, a personal love and a universal love, taking chances, forgiving and looking after the things that really matter. Those things we value most, the people around us, our relationships and our own health are intertwined and demand prioritising. Whatever the limitations or the hurt, we will be called to rise above the mud and trust our intuition, and be willing to forgive others and ourselves. We will find peace and compassion in others. Our strength will come from keeping the channels of communication open and being present.
Flavia
We are at the throws of a new moon in Cancer, water element, and a full moon in Capricorn, earth element. So the power of the two elements merging and creating something more complex than the original is especially potent at the moment. In many ways they compete and destroy. An intensity that we feel in the air, we can taste and touch. It signals the fullness of life. Water and earth make everything grow. Luscious plants, solid trees, cosy mushrooms creating colonies. Let’s not forget the power of togetherness. Water and earth will nurture and build. Everything is expanding and multiplying.
Flavia
Much anticipated July is upon us. With fear and some weariness, we are told to expect nothing less than life transformative events. Astrologers, lightworkers, intuitives and everyone striving to uplift life’s frequencies is aware of the two new moons and the two eclipses that fall in July. A full solar eclipse at the new moon on the 2 July, falls in Cancer, and it’s visible mostly in south America, especially Chile. It heralds openings and opportunities. It’s a bringer of news, events, people, situations and opening of newness with enhanced energy. A partial lunar eclipse follows on the 16 July, falls in Capricorn, and it’s visible in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. This is when things fall apart, get released, crumble, deteriorate, get expunged, go away for ever. It’s an emotional time for everyone.
But there is more: Pluto, God of power and poison, ruler of Scorpio, is waiting for us in Capricorn where the lunar eclipse action takes place. Expect this eclipse to have very strong Scorpionic vibes of merging and releasing. Pluto is stationed nearby Saturn, God of time and boundaries, and together they bring a very heavy structural energy that is consuming and overpowering. Moreover, they are retrograde. Jupiter in Sagittarius is retrograde. And so is Neptune in Pisces. These are big slow planets. Their impact is inescapable and profound. But fast moving Mercury is retrograde too, meeting Mars back and forth in his travels and taking his message with him, broadcasting it loud and clear. With Venus staying at home in Cancer, the energy feels further reactive.
So what does it all mean? This is the cosmic picture. But I think the cards will bring a bit of clarity in the visual realm: as depicted with the Nine of Wands, we find ourselves at the end of a battle. Indeed we are more than half way through the year. Things have concluded. It’s not all over yet but nearly. We are upright. We haven’t fallen, but the trauma of events, conflicts and challenges we had to overcome is visible. It’s not an open wound. It’s a carefully bundled trauma. We are looking around us, taking stock, and also looking to the past. The deep past and the immediate past is still fresh in our minds. It looms big. The wounds haven’t healed yet. Some are quite sweet, the pain reminding us of achievement in battle. The exhaustion is palpable. We still are not sure, however, what will come after the battle.
No worries. Here comes the Ace of Swords to tell us: go for it. You can do it. Opportunities and options are there for the taking. A noble cause will inspire and fortify your resolve almost immediately. From now on expect the pace to pick up. Once the debris has cleared out and the poisons have left us, there’s no looking back. Things will happen fast and unexpectedly. Anger and action that comes from the heart will dominate. Feelings, our sense of initiative, ideas, thoughts, concepts, our ability to deal with challenges comes to the forefront. Cosmic forces are within and without.
And finally, we are not going to be let down. The King of Swords brings in some objectivity to the whole situation. Not only that, but the card tells us that we have achieved mastery in at least one area of life. Where the battle was, where we fought and gave it all, that’s the area where we became masters. It’s a card denoting an intellectual significance to a situation, justice and knowledge. We are now confident that we have gained those hard fought gifts and our lives are imminently much richer and healthier, away from negativity, poisons and restrictions. Despite those outward heavy structures, ultimately all victory will have to come from us. And not only we will survive, but we will find ourselves in a much better place than we were before. The King of Swords is not just full of confidence and authority but he has mastered decision-making as well. By the end of July we should have taken important decisions to act upon.
Flavia
It is June and summer has officially started. It’s also Gemini season when we naturally become more curious, adventurous and sociable. The new moon in Gemini is a calling to favour a breadth of activities rather than depth in what we do. And it will be busy. Venus enters Gemini on the 8th of June, strengthening the vibe of flirtation, living in the moment and finding beauty in experiences and mental stimulation. All this is taking place right in the middle of the year. It is a time for taking stock and recalibrating our intentions, examining our situation and progress. We look at our achievements in the year so far, what was a triumph, and what has let us down or veered in the wrong direction, now we can set it straight or add to previous glories.
Thinking about it from that perspective, the cards that turned up look rather ominous. Messages of bad news or difficult forebodings, even notions of misfortune. But let’s take them in Gemini style. Not one at a time, but all together simultaneously. Lets try and listen to their meaning as they all talk to us at once. What do they tell us? Perhaps they tell us: we are at the beginning of everything. In some sense or another agency is with us.
We can make a course correction as we assess where we stand in relation to people and circumstances. Even at the lowest point emotionally or physically – the number one – is that we can keep our dignity and self respect, our pride and self acceptance with humility. We might be experiencing a level of anxiety or just exhaustion from a long and demanding winter. We could be feeling a heavy energy not because we are in a bad place – indeed the opposite is just as likely – but because to get where we are, took a lot out of us.
We are still carrying a heavy load we can’t let go of, and we need support. How we feel and see the world is important. The challenges we face tell us there’s a lot that has to be resolved. In order to do this, we are going to be kind to ourselves. If we need help, we should ask for it, and it’s there for us. If others need our help, we should not hesitate. A reminder that helping others is part of our own well-being, strength and dignity. Charity starts at home and it is personal as the Sun moves through the lower part of the chart, regardless where it stands on the individual one. Love, forgiveness, generosity and everything associated with Charity will guide us in moving forward.
The Misero is moving slowly. His message is to take it easy, and keep going, bring determination and acceptance into the forefront. It’s not time yet to materialise the possibilities. But they are ahead of us. What seems rough on the outside is only the beginning, not the end. We are back at the beginning of everything every single day. And there is the other side to get to. We are not there yet. Let’s not rush the journey.
Flavia
The year is very reassuringly getting close to the mid point. Soon the sun with be coming over the horizon. In May we are steadily moving ahead with our projects and growing in abundance as things come to fruition. Such growth comes with the thundering power of Jupiter heralding justice
and encouraging us to have faith in ourselves and in the process. It’s a benevolent time, full of expansion. Whenever we see Jupiter presenting himself we feel rather a sense of butterflies in the stomach, because some luck is waiting around the corner. It could be something fortunate
that we might have wished for, or something that never crossed our minds, an explicit situation or thing that we desire will manifest, whether earned or just bestowed, it will be a gift. A generous gift of a positive turn of events that will make us feel hopeful and filled with trust. Health, wealth and prosperity as well as knowledge and learning are all protected domains of Jupiter. So a lot to look forward to.With it we become ourselves worthy and expanded in all things spiritual.
This mental fulfilment will be further enhanced by Philosofia who arrives in time to wrap up the meaning of what has been realised by Jupiter. Our optimism is well deserved but now it gets further qualified. We will be questioning and debating in order to make sense of daily routines and the unexpected. Words and thoughts will be paramount in the course of processing all the months’ occurrences. As things materialise we are called to honour the beauty around us and the earthly pleasures. We are becoming more busy, perhaps occasionally distracted or overly keen, and interested in a variety of things with excitement and curiosity.
By the month’s end we find ourselves becoming more refined, with an air of frivolity, more gentle, but also cheerfully more willing to help and take positive action that supports others, and that it is in the service of noble causes.
Flavia
Finally, new moon in Scorpio is here. Not only that, but Sun too, is in Scorpio. It’s big transformation time for all. Everyone will be affected in one area of life or even more. For some Scorpios, or those with planets in Scorpio and the 8th House, dramatic changes are afoot. Let’s prepare ourselves for a slow and long renewal that comes from within. Scorpio is calm deep waters. Our immediate instinct is for stability and permanence. But now something is stirring and overriding that asks for exciting and interesting above and beyond. Take the road, feel the magic of creativity and let it flow in you and through you.
Believe.
Flavia
We’re here. You’re here. That’s the greatest wealth. We’re here and we can be grateful for what we’ve got and pursue our dreams further. Now they become reality with abundance as they take substance and material form. The tangible around us means we can also think about doing even better in the future. We’ve got everything we need in ourselves in order to have everything we value. Let’s be happy now. And let’s believe that we can go up a level for more.
Love and strength always.
Flavia
We have Venus retrograde making us cruise towards the past. Our past loves, lovers and locations. The nights are dark. The sky lit only by the stars. And they shine bright. But the days are getting shorter as October is marching us into winter. The new moon is anticipated. It’s arriving in Libra. Star sign of partnership and commitment. No need to rush off to get the marriage licence or sign that business partnership contract. We are now revisiting old dwellings, emotional and practical ones. We are reminded, in nature we are never alone. It’s a journey we are taking looking for that perfect shore, the beautiful stone, the magical tree and others will join us!
Flavia
Delicious berries, forest fruit and herbs are intoxicating full of the goodness of a long summer. The colours are heavy purples and deep greens. A time for harvest. Time to gather and refocus our energies too. Think of September as the number seven. Think of the seven colours of the rainbow and how they materialise during this magical month of practical strength and emotional focus. Make the best of it.
Flavia
The sun is shining bright but the air is cool. In the new moon in Virgo, health, organisation, taxonomy, service, expertise is at the forefront. We start going indoors and planning our futures. Not the grand plan but all that’s necessary for the everyday. Wellbeing is paramount. It’s still summer but we’re thinking a lot about the winter. Feelings are mixed. The simple pleasures of life still keep us happy.
Flavia
A full moon in Pisces tells us to stay near water and absorb the goodness. Indeed rain has been pouring relentlessly. It has brought a calm nostalgia and a sense of longing as the days are closing in. Everything is winding down to start all over again. The summer is slipping away. Let go of unfulfilled emotions. Dreams and ideas that are out of synch. Can’t hold on to water. The water will take everything that doesn’t serve us away. The water will bring the new wellness in. Clearer and stronger. A new season is upon us.
Flavia
We are in August when more is more. Everything is bigger and brighter. Forget about the eclipse. The sun’s rays shine magnificently upon us. The moon is overpowering. We are finally in the month of Blood Moon. Think of all things luxurious. Nature is luscious. The colours are baroque yellows, ambers, lime and olive greens, lots of shades of deep purples and copper reds. This is the most generous month of the year. Stretch out and rejoice, August has arrived.
Flavia
With a full moon in Capricorn just gone, representing father influence, and a new moon upon us, powering in mother realm, this is the time to think of home. Liberally paraphrasing ancient Greek here. They asserted that for any distinguished person, home is where their person is. Now we adopt this thinking. As we distinguish ourselves and grow through summer months, home is where the heart is. Where we feel at home, where we are, where we excel. This is home. Let’s celebrate and enjoy home, heart and family. But don’t just go indoors yet. We’re still in growing season. There’s fruit to pick.
Flavia
Rejoice for mid summer is here. With a full moon in father figure Capricorn and new moon in the feminine power of Cancer think of trees, and think of water. Don’t forget to spend time out doors. Stay near trees for support and growth. Near water to cleanse away what doesn’t serve us any more, and near water to bring in fresh new beginnings. The sky is amplified in the reflection.
Flavia
