Greetings dear readers,
So there is plenty of doom and gloom about Pluto in Capricorn, and I wanted to share an inspiring note on some legislation in Vermont.

Pluto rules changes, and Capricorn is an earth steward. It also tends towards values and ideas that have withstood the test of time.

So, S44 is a bill that would create a common assets trust fund to protect natural resources in Vermont. In the bill, which you can read here
they make clear that it is state policy to protect common assets.
The way it would work is: “users of… common assets may be assessed fees that would be deposited into a common assets trust fund, which would be managed so as to protect those assets and serve the interests of present and future people of the state.”

How elegantly practical and traditional in all the right ways. My favorite part of the bill, so exquisitely Capricornian in its harkening to the values that funded the basis of western civilization:
…”The public trust doctrine, which dates back to Roman civil law…assured the citizens of Rome that ‘By the law of nature these things are common to all mankind – the air, running water, the sea, and consequently the shore of the sea. No one, therefore is forbidden to approach the seashore, provided that he respects habitations, monuments, and the buildings, which are not, like the sea, subject only to the law of nations.’ ”

Did I mention that Capricorn is the sea-goat, uniting feminine consciousness with the earthly plane? Here’s to practical responses to our current challenges that incorporate values which have withstood the test of time, the one test that Capricorn truly respects.
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Overview: The month starts out with forward movement and a need for grounding. Take the first 10 days of May to start projects you want to work on for the remainder of the spring. To reap the greatest rewards, we need patience and the openness to make necessary changes as they come up.

5/1..Enjoy the relationship flow today. See where you can say “We” more than “I” in your relationships. and support key partnerships in your life in practical, specific ways.

5/2..What project or area of your life have you been trying to get some traction with since mid December of 2007? For those who did their homework and got the details together, expect forward momentum in the coming months.

5/3…Expand the possibilities available to you by expanding your mind today. You may find a delay with matching your words with your insights,which could be frustrating when communicating with others. Enjoy the altruistic feelings and have faith that they may come out of your mouth more in paragraphs than bumper stickers.

5/4-5/5 New Moon in Taurus: Turning the Earth
Slow down, simplify, and get in nature to honor this New Moon. This is the midpoint between the two Scorpio full moons, which marks a turning point. What subconscious material has come bubbling to surface since 4/20? Where do you desire healing and integration in your life? What endings and beginnings are you grappling with? What’s going on with your finances these days? Be honest with yourself and others regarding any resistance that comes up; are you holding back your power? Changes are needed at this time for you to continue to grow. Get grounded in your inherent value and worth.

5/6..5/7 Careful of exaggeration or false claims. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

5/8-5/9…Time to do some deeper reflection on what we believe our responsibilities are. 5/9 is a great day to think about the deeper questions that lie beneath our sense of duty. Look to teachers who have been helpful to you in the past for insight into where you are now with living your truth in the world. Mars also goes into Leo on 5/9: after a multiple month stay in the sign of Cancer, the warrior is renewed with a new sense of enthusiasm to charge ahead. Be bold, bawdy, and beautiful.

5/10…Pace yourself with felt sense of possibility in the air. Adjustments are needed: be honest with yourself and others about your motivations. We all can do our part to let the archetype of the power tripping self -indulgent authority figure be transformed by being very clear about our boundaries. You are your own boss.

5/11…We are ready to integrate and move on today. Let go of past hurts that no longer serve you, and accept a larger identity and responsibility when it comes to your resources. How can you be a better steward of your energy and inherent value? Rewards come to those willing to forge a new path and direction on behalf of the planet.

5/12…Positive vibrations ripple throughout the air today. Take advantage of a grounded, optimistic attitude that is based on an understanding of the overall pattern. Expand your mental horizons and visualize what you really want;
tap into the frequency where it already exists.

5/13..Address unspoken dynamics in relationships today. You may find a conflict of values with others; notice when your resistance is serving you and when you need to open up and learn. Our past experience can be both fortifying and limiting to current projects. See where you are building on your existing skill set versus holding yourself back from needed changes.

5/14-15…Take some time for reflection and creative projects. If your energy is low, get out in nature and experience the reverie of spring. Read and write poetry, and do not succumb to feelings of doubt and discouragement. Cultivate the inner still point. Our judgment may be off, so careful of making big decisions.

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As an astrologer, I am no stranger to cynics and looks of disbelief when I mention my occupation. It’s also common for others lump astrology in with other seemingly bogus fields, such as Elvis sightings and cult leaders promising Armageddon. Fanatics that are into Elvis or forecasting the end of the world usually won’t change their mind and can’t change the subject, even in the midst of conflicting evidence with their beliefs. Astrology is the exact opposite. When done with skill and integrity, it offers both balancing and reinforcing feedback for the constant repositioning of yourself with your world and looking deeply at how you are connected to a larger system.

For sure human beings have a tendency to only seek and see evidence that supports our existing beliefs. Surely astrology can fall prey to this, but just as any other mental model we use can as well. There are those that point out that science has become a substitute for religion in a post modern world, and it is liable to the same folly of the human mind as any other way of looking at the world is. How do we account for the basic human need of spiritual and emotional sustenance, and what is its value? There are those that believe that the best that has come out of it are great works of art and literature, usually by folks who were at least a little imbalanced in their emotional and or mental heath.

I think it is unfortunate and sad that this belief this pervades our culture so strongly. Look at anyone who has made a lasting change in the world and lived to tell the tale, and you will find an individual of great spiritual faith. Parker Palmer, a well known educator, points out:

“Our culture attributes reality and power almost exclusively to externals—territory, property, wealth, and political access…we’re learning that there is another world, an inner world, in which there is also reality and power…I learned it from oppressed people who have not power except inner power—yet have created great social change. In our time we’ve seen the impact of people like Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks and Vaclav Havel.”

If we want to create change in the world, than I think we’d better tend to our spiritual and emotional sustenance, and for me astrology is a very powerful tool to this end.

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Overview: April showers bring April flowers for the last two weeks of this month. Let yourself bloom with the full moon on 4/21. Chose inspiring motivation over righteousness on 4/24, and let the grounding energy of Taurus at the end of the month sooth your senses with a fresh spring breeze.

One question can change the whole world…4/16…Our minds are restless and eager to jump in today. It’s a good day for writing and speaking your mind, specifically those truths you may have held back from expressing in the past. There is a passion and maturity to our logic now.

Stability has its benefits…4/17-4/18…The sprinting of all the Aries energy of late slows to a measured trot. Take some time to do an inventory of how the recent influx of energy into your life fits into your long term goals. These are good days to make long term decisions: we have a level head on our shoulders.

Relationships are highlighted on 4/19…if you experience a fall from grace with yourself or others, let the strength of heart available to you now to adjust versus burn the bridge. You’ll find that the integrity is there, but that you have to ask for it.

4/20 Full Moon in Scorpio: Choose Love
This the first of two full moons in Scorpio this spring; the second will be on 5/19. From now until then we will be asking ourselves: how bad do I want my dream? Am I in it for the long haul? I expect this could be a fruitful time for many for those who are willing to purge what is not working. For this full moon the structures in our lives are highlighted. Ask for the resources that you need, but be careful of expecting too much of yourself and others. Take time to ground down and listen to the natural world. We have easy access to the emotional truth of the situation, and expect unconscious material to bubble to the surface that reveals how you really feel between now and 5/19.

Integrity, practicality, and a well-directed approach..4/21… combine to support us to recognize the fruits of our labors. Enjoy the clear picture of what you want to build, and take a concrete step towards the most important goal and priority in you life right now.

4/22-4/23…Careful of overdoing and launching into the next adventure without fully integrating the energy of the full moon on 4/21. Our eyes may be bigger than our appetite: take a moment to reflect on strong emotional surges before immediately acting on them.

Acting on Our Convictions…4/24…Motivation for renewing our commitment to social stewardship my be glaringly obvious today. Be very careful to respond intelligently versus react immediately. Whatever you do, do something to demonstrate to yourself and your world that you care.

Disruptive thoughts on 4/25 may lead to a change in our expectations. If new information is revealed that supports hunches you have been having all along, take care to chose your words carefully when communicating with others. If you had any edgy confrontations on 4/24, smooth any ruffled feathers on 4/26, and take some time to refresh your spirit with creative pursuits.

Shift the paradigm and the words will follow on 4/27. How is the connection these days between your head and your heart? Allow the cycles and patterns to emerge from two forces that appear to oppose one another.
Careful of succumbing to self-doubt on 4/28. Take it easy and make small changes and adjustments.

4/29-4/30…The end of the month asks us to calm down. We can learn more by doing than talking:chop wood and carry water; get into your body and your senses and see what messages they have for you. Honor any urges you have to simplify your life.

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-from the desk of a sustainable astrologer

“You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth.”-Kahlil Gibran

Some say that the only reason to predict the future is so you can change it. You do not have to be an astrologer to have the felt sense that we are changing rapidly as a society and will continue to do so in the coming years. The last time we experienced what we are experiencing now (Pluto moving into Capricorn) was what many consider the advent of the Industrial Revolution in the mid 1700’s. How fitting that the sustainability movement today is addressing the very problems that were set in play 250 years ago, namely treating the earth’s resources as if they were unlimited.

We have also taken this approach with our bodies and minds. I witness in myself and those who are working very hard to bring about social change a lifestyle that is not sustainable. For this astrologer, we are learning, dare I say remembering, to work smarter and more creatively within a longer term context. If we treat our bodies like we treat the earth, then expecting different results than we are now seeing with the earth is naïve.

Stress, speed, and chaos (which, according to my read on the planetary signatures, are going to continue to accelerate, peaking 2012-2015) impair our brain functioning and our ability to see the new patterns and possibilities that are also emerging on our planet at this time. Margaret Wheatley, a well known systems thinker, suggests that two of the best antidotes to the frenetic pace of work are to start your day cultivating peace and also to tend to the quality of your relationships one interaction at time. Please consider treating yourself as kindly as you wish we treated the earth so that we can take advantage of the new possibilities and patterns available.

Last weekend I spoke at an astrology conference, NORWAC (northwest astrology conference)…and was truly inspired by the tribal gathering of my starry eyed brothers and sisters. A lovely sense of community developed over the weekend, and so much inspiring insight and learning that I will be mulling over for weeks to come. If you missed it, they do have tapes of the lectures for sale, which are well worth it.

I find in myself a growing awareness of how we as astrologers in a western mindset have used a mechanical philosophy to interpret our craft. For those of you who know what a chart looks like, it’s like a map. And don’t we all fall prey, especially us astrologers, for mistaking the map for the territory? And not only that, but also by taking out pieces at a time without the systemic integration?

For example, I found that when I’m around folks that speak astrologese (and you know who you are) I’ll mention a tendency for clumsiness, say, and immediately follow it with “I have a sag moon” or “mars is square my uranus.” Now, granted, sometimes that does extend a cool connection with someone. But I also found that when talking with others I would sometimes use it as a shield, and I witnessed others doing the same. Here is maybe the exquisiteness of the Aquarius / Leo polarity, of having a shared language that allows us to be accepting and honoring of the light of truth we each carry, but of the necessity to shine that light regardless of the language.

Don’t miss NORWAC (Northwest Astrology Conference) this weekend (4/4-4/7) in Seattle! I’ll be speaking, as well as many other talented astrologers.

Overview: The whole month of April offers new levels of efficiency and productivity. Working smarter, not harder, is essential preventative care to avoid burnout. The first week of April focuses on our relationships and shared resources, while the second brings new ideas and sheds a fresh perspective on current endeavors.

4/1-2: Under Pressure… Don’t be surprised if you find yourself obsessed with the essentials. What scary perception are you now able to articulate? Gather your strength and courage and speak your truth. Careful of getting sidetracked by power struggles. Where is your ambition serving you, and where does it need to be tempered? Think back to early September 2007; it’s time to restructure the goals you made surrounding any decisions at that time. Where has the hard work paid off, and where do you desire to be more efficient in your approach?
4/3..Crisis in Conversation…we are not satisfied with the surface level, superficial response to our questions today. We may find eruptions of feelings and ideas that have been simmering under the surface. Tackle a project that allows you to research and investigate the root of the issue.

4/4-4/5..New Moon in Aries 4/5: Jump Start
For this new moon add another log to the fire of your deep yearning by taking courageous action towards your dream. Use the enthusiasm, frankness, and assertiveness in the air constructively. Now is the time to move: look beyond face value of any crisis that come up. The growth process is speeding up, and our ambition is undergoing a test of strength and endurance. What do you want to initiate? What battles are you ready to fight? Where do you need the heat of inspiration and motivation in your life?
Diplomacy and tact..4/6-4/7: Whatever was flushed out in conversation on 4/3 asks to be integrated in our relationships and partnerships. Can you put your heart where your mouth is? Careful of being critical of personalities: remember to focus on specific behavior and the goal(s) you share in common.
Past experiences…4/8…look to resources from the past to help you out of a current jam. Don’t let any drama get in the way of getting the help you need.
Allow fresh winds to fill your sails …4/9…Our restlessness has much to teach us today; keep a level of transparency with others. You are your own boss, but so are those around you. Be courageous enough to honor how you contribute to both successes and challenges of your current situation.

Realistic expectations…4/10-4/11…4/10 is a great day to do some goal setting for the upcoming months. You get to define what is biting off more than you can chew; just make sure you define a boundary for yourself. On 4/11 we may get some harsh reminders of any promises we have not followed through on: just don’t stop in the face of frustration and check your defensiveness at the door.
Moving and Groovin’…4/12-13…Use the energy of the first quarter moon on 4/12 to initiate and get things done. Pay attention to communications that hold essential insight into the flurry of activity, lest we be taken for a ride or blown about.
Opportunity comes knocking…4/14-4/15 Are you going to let it in? Trust your judgment, and your power. If you are caught up in worry, it’s a sure sign to keep moving and to try something new.

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For those readers in the Seattle area, one of the best and oldest astrology conferences in the country, NORWAC, is coming up on April 4-6, and yours truly is speaking at it!

This is a great opportunity to learn more about astrology from some of the best in the field (two of my mentors, Steven Forrest and Laura Gerking, will be presenting, as well as many more). More info(it’s open to the public), or to register: NORWAC

Overview: March heads out with a bang this year. Ride the wave, and see how flexibility can add tremendous strength and resilience to your current approach.

3/17…Fact meets fiction today. We are called to defend our ideas, and fulfill our contracts and promises. Use any resistance you encounter to modify and give a clearer form and structure to what you want to accomplish. Careful of taking an overly rigid stance.

Critical Adjustments 3/18…are needed today. If you are getting frustrated, talk about it and speak your conviction. Call on your emotions, not logic, to soothe ruffled feathers. If you feel like the current structure is too rigid, pick your battles and speak to those who can truly make a difference. Careful of expecting sweeping changes, as it only takes a single domino to fall to have a lasting impact. Much of the change may be invisible at this time, so have faith.

Fierce and Fiesty 3/19-3/20 With sun entering Aries and subsequently squaring Pluto in Capricorn, harness your inner warrior to take action with the impulses of spring. Make sure to pick your battles wisely. Expect intensity and passion with this combination and also fury. Channel the flame of any anger and rage into constructive action, and get plenty of exercise. This is a good time to end things that are no longer working, and purge what you have outgrown.

Full Moon in Libra 3/21: I See My Heart Everywhere

Hold on to you hats, as this full moon promises to be energetic and action packed, on all fronts. Celebrate the inner hero, and get out and enjoy music, art, and dancing. How would you like to be reborn this spring? What new life wants to be honored in your world? Our relationships demand some attention; where do you want to cultivate a lasting fire versus momentary sparks? Break out of past storylines in your relationships by creating a new one with those you love. No doubt you’ll be telling the stories from this full moon in the years to come.

3/22-3/23..Haste makes waste today. Use the energy in the air to make the subtle refinements that improve overall efficiency. These are good days to bring some order that will allow you to grow where want to grow. Take advantage of the self-discipline in the air, and enjoy how form, function, and passion intersect in your life.