healing

June & July 2019: Wielding Fortitude

~ Sarah Murphy ~ Leave a comment
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Rossy de Palma By Jose Luis Beneyto

 

 

Solar Eclipse: 3 July in Cancer 05:15 AEST @ 10°

Lunar Eclipse: 17 July in Capricorn 07:38 AEST @ 24°

Mars in Cancer: 17 May – 2nd July (Challenging aspects from 11 June onwards)

Mercury Retrograde: 8th of July (S RX) – 1st of August (Station Direct) 16 August (out of the retrograde degree.)

 

 

 

The Solstice annually marks the beginnings of the Sun’s movements through The Cancer & Capricorn Axis points. Cancer and Capricorn are signs that mark the greatest imbalance of Light and Dark, no matter what sphere you live in. Reflecting the extremes of the light and dark in the physical world as we know it.

Since the ingress of the Moon’s Nodes, the Eclipse points, or Rahu & Ketu into the signs of Cancer and Capricorn (Nov 2018 – July 2020) this axis point has become a more sensitive and accelerated area for growth, and modification.  These are points of change and create a deep push pull effect, working through deep and sensitive plot points of one’s life.  The Eclipses of 2019 take place in Capricorn and Cancer. Meaning if you have any planets in Cardinal Signs of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn – you will be more directly affected. Planets in Capricorn or Cancer are directly being moulded, modified or purified. Planets in Libra and Aries are being affected by reverbs of these Cancer and Capricorn symphonic clashes.

Capricorn currently has a longer, slower, deeper and at times invisible story unfolding, with the 15-year transit of Pluto through it sign, creating situations and experience of deep modification to the areas of life, that Capricorn planets or points the sign rules over, in one’s birth chart. Pluto transit’s in duration are the longest and slowest of the Zodiac, as well as being the deepest and at times confronting and arduous. Any planets or points that Pluto hit, are hijacked for plutonic redress.

Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn is halfway through its transit of its home sign, making Saturn especially dignified and strong in its current restructuring and Strength testing, of   all that sits in the Capricorn realm.  Since December 2017 this has been working in direct connection with Pluto in Capricorn, by first sign and then aspect. It is creeping closer to conjunction in January 2020. Saturn is challenging the strength of ideas and concepts that are being build or trying to come to fruition, through day by day labouring.  Pluto and Saturn are industrial purging and structural change agents. Since November 2018, Pluto and Saturn have had Ketu or the South Node join the industrial party.  Pluto and Saturn are currently working towards a conjunction in 2020, in Capricorn. The last time this occurred was 1982, at the height of the Cold War, and the rise of Neo Liberalism in Western Government Policy. Saturn Pluto is seen as drastic times of economic change and conflict. More on this cycle in another post.

Ketu or the dragon’s tail is a purging and detoxifying energy. Ketu is pushing for release of things that are not essential or spiritually aligned to the planets or areas of life, its transiting. Ketu is directly affecting the Capricorn, area and placements.  Ketu is joining and working with Pluto / Saturn and is creating an intensified experience. The Pluto Saturn and Ketu transits are catalyst of change pushing you to purify the grounds and environments your seeking to master or conquer.

Capricorn experiences are anything that is slow, and an area of life which reaches maturation over a long period of time. Capricorn energy is about things that you believe are solid, and sure footed.  This solidity allows for feeding of, and creation of gains and overall reward after sacrifice and hard work. But what Pluto and Ketu are doing is adding 2 almost invisible layers of disruption, testing, to see if these structures are truly aligned with you and your forward momentum to the top of the proverbial mountain. Why climb to the top of a dormant or landslide prone mountain? The current planetary transits are testing this sure footedness. This energy will begin to separate by late October, once Ketu clears from its separation from Saturn.

In the Cancer corner, Cancer the only Cardinal Sign in Water.  It is emotional source energy, protected and hidden way by a Crab shell, a tough front, water is hidden away behind strong barriers.  Cancer is the opposite sign of Capricorn. Cancer energy is strong, intuitive, protective, nurturing and sweetness fortified by a protective armour. Once it allows you into the sphere, this is when Cancer energy can really be worked with and enjoyed. Cancer like Capricorn is hard yin.  Where you have Cancer in your chart, is where, what you most treasure is tucked away, protected from the storms, protecting the source of emotion and intuition.  Cancer energy is like a precious spring well, an individual keep hidden away, until trust has been gained, to share the source.

Cancer, has been experiencing Saturn and Pluto from its opposite sign, challenging this protective method. Meaning any planets or areas of life that are in the sign of Cancer have had this constant stress, purification, change, strength testing around its Source energy, for a few years now. The 2020 conjunction will directly affect Cancer planets and points. Putting real pressure on keeping its Water Wells, clean and protected, in the face of constant challenge from its opposing sign Capricorn.

Rahu or The North Node has been transiting Cancer since November 2018. Rahu, like Ketu, they are direct opposites, they operate together, by moving together as constant opposites. Rahu brings a new dynamic to the Cancer Sphere. Where Ketu detox’s or purges, Rahu devours and is hungry, and constantly consumes, like hungry ghost energy.  Eclipses were thought to be an animal devouring the Sun, Rahu energy, is the devourer of the Sun and Moon. Rahu has an endless hunger and consumption, without proper ability to digest, or nurture being the bi-product of this endless consumption. Rahu can push you into areas or can provide opportunities to change and evolve, however, Ketu must also be brought into the equation. As they balance each other. Like a good food diet – the Nodes are constantly balancing consumption and processing. Managing their push pull is complex is part of the astrological process of June and July. Rahu and Ketu don’t necessary do this on their own naturally. It is through awareness, that mastery of the Rahu and Ketu can begin.

This June and July, we see Mars and Mercury transit Cancer, acting as triggers and accelerating by applying fast acting pressure to these longer-term transits highlighted above. This is creating the volatile environment of June and July. Mars & Mercury will be putting lots of pressure on to the deeper and darkest corners. June and July have great potential to create tension, explosions or confrontation. There will be challenges and questions about the roads we are currently on, especially around, Status, Family, Ancestry, Rooting, Home and Building for the Future.

Mars is in its Fall in Cancer, Mars and Cancer are not comfortable bed fellows. Mars is fast, aggressive, reactionary, Yang Fire. Cancer is slower, more cautious, protective, Yin Water. Mars entered Cancer on May 17th, but by June 11th we see Mars begin to activate Saturn, Pluto and The Nodes, by opposition and conjunction. Mars is setting the frame work for a very active Solstice period.  Mars is very much the aggressor of this situation. Being in its sign of its fall, it doesn’t operate as it should. Mars in Cancer can see explosions of pent up and emotional anger or aggression. Rahu and Ketu can add, a deeper level of repressed emotional trauma or ancestral trauma. Saturn and Pluto – also speak to this concept of clearing out deep emotional trauma leading the way to better foundations or reconciliation.

Mars transiting Cancer,sees a match stick being raised and set. Not allowing Mars to burn off the deadwood, in a wet environment, is where trouble could be caused. This contrary situation (Water and Fire) means Mars WILL find other outlets to do its job, if the steam isn’t let off. The outcome might become more explosive than needed or required. So, if things do heat up, don’t smother them, the aim is to control the fire (like a planned burn off) rather than avoiding the fire, because you wanted to hold on to the dead wood. Mars is tricky this month, work with it.

Mercury will come to play as it enters Cancer on June 5th, Mercury is naturally fast and is a problem solver whose speed and rational brings intellectual smarts to the table. However, Mercury begins to slow down in June and turns Retrograde July 8th, beginning its retrograde cycle in Leo/Cancer.  This Mercury retrograde, timed perfectly after Mars’ transit of Cancer, activating all the sticky points of the chart, really speaks to the 3-fold effect which is building around this time frame and the purging and re-visioning of our Capricorn / Cancer axis of our lives. Mercury Retrograde is here to focus down on and deeply integrate the fireworks or steam lead off during the Mars transit in Cancer.

Mercury’s Retrograde adds to this entanglement by slowing down, and stalling where smart ideas or quick intellect would usually over ride to alter a situation. Where Mercury would deliver inspired thought or problem solving, this retrograde will add extra pressure to an already pressurize astrological frame work.  Events as they unfold will have the longer-term benefit of the Mercurial trickster, moving over these points for a 3-fold breakdown or chapter developments. But the overall feel of this will be of slow and arduous, for limited immediate resolve, in June & July.

Finally, the 3rd and final act in this triple whammy of faster transitory triggers is the actual Eclipses of the Cancer / Capricorn axis.  Eclipses are formed when the Nodal access points (Rahu and Ketu), intercept the orbits of the Sun, Moon and Earth. Creating Eclipses. Eclipses are times of quickening and are turbo charged Full and New Moon Lunations. Eclipse energy is tricky and it’s not a great time for any form of divination, let alone clarity.  The Sun and Moon are blocked, unseen forces are at play, Eclipse times are times for rest and letting things play out.

July 2019 has 2 Eclipses, a Solar & Lunar Eclipse. These will be occurring at the New Moon in Cancer & Full Moon in Capricorn. The effects of these eclipses can last until the next non eclipsed lunation or until the next eclipse in this axis series. IF you have any planets in Capricorn or Cancer, aspecting these Eclipses, these Planets will feel the effect more strongly in your chart than if you don’t, have any planets in aspect. Generally, Eclipses are just strange times, and general caution should be applied.

Overall, there is ALOT going on over the next 2 months, with much of it feeding into the larger 2020 astrological story. Eclipse wise June and July will hark back to December 2018 / January 2019. The next 2 months will have a more notable strength to it with the Mars transit of Cancer and the Mercury Retrograde that begins to unfold in July.

The overwhelming story of these transits is to be gentle and commit to processing or going with whatever pops up. Repressing it, fighting it, ignoring it or not confronting it will be hugely problematic under the above astrology, and inflammation likely, due to   the Mars in Cancer element. Being active rather than reactive or defensive is a good way of dealing with such conflicting energy. It may feel like it is dragging on, or not developing, but the good news is come August / September, things will be in a much better shape and there will be a much stronger platform to launch from. Just don’t let Mars in Cancer make you, come up a cropper! and be careful of the webs you weave during June & July.

xx

 

 

Chiron in Aries: The Tipping Point

~ Sarah Murphy ~ Leave a comment

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In Greek mythology, Chiron was held to be the superlative centaur amongst his brethren, as he was called as the “wisest and justest of all the centaurs”.

 

 

 

Chiron’s ingress into Aries, the 0 point of the Zodiac on February 18 is an important chapter in 2019’s Astrological landscape, a landscape that will look unrecognizable by 2020.  Chiron, teetering at the last degree of the Zodiac after 8 years in Pisces, as Uranus finishes its final days in Aries, before  its shift into Taurus.  Both are moving out of 8-year cycle, into another. Creating new terrains to explore. Ground Zero is here, the changing of the guard is upon us. New opportunities are calling.  That ‘feeling’ of something being in flux, changing or shifting IS real.

If Uranus was the great awakener and disruptor, Chiron is the Grand Doctor or Healer who has come to help tend to the cracks and wounds left over by Uranus in Aries. This shift will be more focused on healing, education and teachers or teaching to help assist us in Aries style issues i.e.: Anger, Self-Loathing and Violence, to help develop a healthier manifestation of our  Inner Warrior’s.

Shock and Awe or knee jerk reactions will be replaced with Patience, Leadership and Wisdom as we tend to our Aries issues. This is a huge energetic shift for everyone, but especially so for Aries, and the Cardinal Signs. Capricorn, Libra, and Cancer, for whom Uranus’ ‘little earthquakes’ have been most concentrated.

Chiron in Pisces introduced ideas such as collective and subconscious healing or therapy. Since 2011, there has been a huge upswing in alternative healing modalities, examples include sound healing, psychotherapy, reiki, energy work or any other healing modality’s which works with the subconscious, or helps bring the other half or shadow into the light, for integration. No longer on the outside, Alternative forms of healing are more mainstream and accessible.  Going off to have a session in your flotation tanks, or Jungian Psychotherapist or perhaps a reiki session are all very Chiron in Pisces, methods for integrating  Pisces’ issues of Escapism, Denial and Lacking Boundaries.

Chiron’s shift into Aries, is uncharted terrain. We haven’t experienced Chiron in Aries consciously. Due to its discovery in 1977, we have only worked with Chiron in Aries at a subconscious level. Chiron’s focus will be around individual work, rather than merging into others. For example, once we diffuse our own anger, there will be little opportunity to project it on to others. What is mine will be very much separated from what is yours, as we seek to individuate our lessons. Aries themes of Violence, Anger, Self-Loathing, Competition, Aggression and Power will be more prominent for reworking or addressing. Never has there been a better time as a society to explore issues about Violence against Women or Gun Control.

Chiron is situated between Saturn (restriction and fear) and Uranus (freedom and liberation). With Chiron, the Bridge between the two. Our experiences with Chiron enables us to be recognized and supported for our journey from fear and restriction to freedom and liberation. As when the individual is at peak health and strength, across the Mind, Body and Spirit axis, it is then that they can offer their best service to the others around them. Chiron in Aries is very much the transit for addressing the issues of Self.

How-ever it unfolds, there will be no denying of “your stuff”. Hiding behind martyrdom or blaming others, will no longer work. Chiron in Aries will be a strong influence in allowing us all to look at how we engage with and reflect Anger at its very basic level, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

xx

Chiron in Aries through the Signs

Aries – How we present to the World, Our Being and Physical Vitality.

Taurus – The Subconscious and hidden areas of life.

Gemini – Community and Friendship Groups.

Cancer – Status, Career or Where we are recognized.

Leo – Higher Learning and International experiences with travel.

Virgo – Recourses and Possessions.

Libra – Relationships both Personal and Public.

Scorpio – Your every day routines.

Sagittarius  – Creativity, Children and Joy.

Capricorn – Home, Family & Ancestors.

Aquarius – Methods of Communicating and Media.

Pisces – Earned Income & Money, Self Nurture & Value.

Jupiter in Sagittarius – Return of the King

~ Sarah Murphy ~ Leave a comment

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Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity” – Roman philosopher Seneca

9 November 2018 – 3 December 2019 – Jupiter in Sagittarius.

On the 9th of November 2018, Jupiter King of the Gods returns to his home sign of Sagittarius (The Archer), for the first time in 12 years. Jupiter cycles are yearly cycles with a reputation of creating lucky opportunities in the areas of life, that this planet transits in your birth chart.

Jupiter returning home to Sagittarius in 2018, will be the break in the astrological weather we have been working so hard to reach, after universally speaking,  a very trying year. Think back to 12 years ago, or 24 years ago to see what happened then, for hints of what could pop up this time around  (2006 / 2007 or 1995 / 1996). This is a cycle of optimism and expansion, but even more so, when Jupiter returns home to the sign of its rulership.  Jupiter in Sagittarius ! What can go wrong?  I mean we are talking the king of the gods here.

So what changes ? Buoyancy, Optimism, Faith, Movement, Travel, Luck, Creativity, Passion and a Willingness to Learn and Understand;  suddenly gets bolstered in the Astrological frame-work. 2018’s Yin year has been a VERY internal and different year in comparison to the 2 previous Yang (expansion) years.

2018 has seen a plethora of challenging retrograde’s.  Mercury Retrograding in Fire signs who are proficient in accelerating mis-understandings has also creating some pretty fiery reactions / communications in return. Mars was given a bolster by its transit in Capricorn the sign that its strongest in aside from its ruler – Aries.  Mars then retrograded in Aquarius, for the first time since 1970, before turning direct on the exact point of its strength 28 degrees of Capricorn. Literally the worst possible time for the Liberals to axe Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (results from that are due in 2019). Mars Retrograde, left most of the rest of us floundering, all this work for no progress or movement forward, or strange left field obstacles coming from nowhere to challenge or block your energy and power.  Once Mars went direct – Venus decided to go Retrograde in Scorpio, which is basically all about digging through all the sludge and diving deep into the sewers to unblock the blockages, blockages we  really didn’t want to venture down into. Jupiter, our dear friend Jupiter is also in Scorpio amplifying this Venus retrograde by being in Scorpio. And yes here we are…

Jupiter moving in to Sagittarius will be the 3rd planet to be in its sign it Rules, This makes for some powerful and potentially corrective Astrology. Neptune is in Pisces for the first time in 164 years is half way through its transit.  Saturn in Capricorn for the first time in 28 years, is in its first quarter of its transit,  Now Jupiter is entering Sagittarius for the first time in 12 years, to lift the spirits with a healthy dose of positivity and buoyancy. These are all external / macro / social or societal planets, they are heavy hitters. They take YEARS to move around the birth-chart. They offer big shifts in psychic, situation and circumstances. These planets can alter paths by creating opportunities for change. Pluto the head transformer, is not in its rulership in Capricorn but it is pretty much near exultation in Capricorn, so can be also linked by association. Pluto in Capricorn & Jupiter in Scorpio have been very good transits to help expose the poison.

So what happens when Jupiter hits Sagittarius ? Optimism, Speculation, Faith, Fun, Exuberance, Passion and Enthusiasm, Exapansion. All great key words here, but the key to being successful in a time of Jupiter in Sagittarius, is to be MEASURED. Sometimes this transit can lead to blind optimism, blind faith or an over exertion of enthusiasm ESPECIALLY after difficult or more challenging times. Jupiter loves to celebrate and party and so does the sign of Sagittarius, but the very important measure for the next year is to be MEASURED. Would your bigger decisions hold up in a time of austerity ? Money is very important to watch with Jupiter in Sagittarius, as there is a tendency to be overly jovial and over extend with it, it might come easily, but it is just as likely to go easy as well.  Waistlines another thing that are physical manifestations of a Jupiter in Sagittarius cycle, due to its tendency to lead to living life-like an Emperor, 365 day a year.

Jupiter going into Sagittarius IS  a wonderful time to expand Travel, Study, Be Social, Interact and get involved in pursuits that interest you !  Learning, Education, Traveling, Positive Mindset, Connecting with Friends and Family as well an increased level of Faith with regards to any of the above are positive manifestations of this Jupiter Cycle.  It’s a blessed year of opportunity and positive gains as long as Recklessness doesn’t come into the equation, or overly zealous dogma, as Jupiter is just as likey to expand this along with  other manifestations.

Finally its time to celebrate the gains we have made and processed in 2018 ! At the time of this shift, we will also see the Nodes of the Moon move from Leo / Aquarius into Cancer / Capricorn for 18 months. This sees a move in the eclipse cycles and moves the focus of the nodes aka destiny points. Cancer (Home, Mother, Nurture, Ancestors, Family) see the North Node (a pushing forward, a consuming of things that nourish or nurture these themes) while the South Node ( the letting go of and releasing) of theme to do with Status, Power, Position and Acclaim. This Nodal shift also sees more pressure put on this axis which already has Saturn and Pluto transforming and reconstructing Capricorn themes of Power, Status and Government.  Jupiter in Sagittarius really is a last gasp of a chance of fresh Philosphy,  fresh Passion and Creativity before it moves in Capricorn late 2019, leading us into the very potent time of 2020.

If there is a time to party and celebrate, Jupiter in Sagittarius is it. And Hey ! It’s just in time for Summer in the Southern Hemisphere ! It might feel a bit slow to begin with as Mercury goes retrograde in Sagittarius for the first 3 weeks, but come December – its time to free yourself from the lessons of 2018, and burn off some steam by becoming passionate and involving yourself in life and all its sweet offerings !  Chances are there will be a nice little surprise along the way to sweeten the ride. For People with  Sagittarius Sun, Moon or Ascendant, it’s a fresh new start as Jupiter crosses over these points of their chart.  Saturn’s 3 year transit of Dec 2014 – Dec 2017, was an astrological   hammering. The hard work, loss of faith and rebuilding from this time, will be clearly seen during this Jupiter in Sagittarius transit, as you turn a new leaf for a new 12 year cycle. Giving Sagittarian’s the one thing that is most important to them, Optimism and Joy for the great things to come.

JUPITER IN SAGITTARIUS THROUGH THE SIGNS 

Sagittarius & Sagittarius Rising  – Jupiter will transit your First House of Image and How you Present to the world. It’s a new phase, a new cycle, and a new you !

Scorpio & Scorpio Rising – Your Second House of Earned Income, Money and Self Worth will be touched with Jupiter’s optimistic beams. Chances are you will see positive shifts in this area of life, upping your self confidence and your bank balance. Just try not to over spend.

Libra & Libra Rising – The Third House of Communications, will see good fortunes bestowed upon your Communications, both Written and Verbal as well as harmonious relationships with Siblings and Neighbours as you go about this transit. Libra’s love a bit of social and communication harmony, This transit will see these areas of your life bring joy and ease as you make your way through 2019.

Virgo & Virgo Rising – Looking to buy or have some luck around Real Estate, Your Home, Family, Ancestors, Roots and History ? If so Jupiter is here to shine a light into this area of life. Good opportunities can be sort through good preparation, with the magic rule being, Don’t overextend by being overly optimistic on what you can repay once Jupiter leaves Sagittarius.

Leo & Leo Rising – The Fifth House is the natural home of Leo and Jupiter transiting her sees Leo’s finding good opportunities in doing things they love. This involves Creativity, Children, Love and Being the Star of the Show. Things that Leo’s adore and naturally excel at. It is also the classic meeting your dream partner astrology transit.

Cancer & Cancer Risings – The Sixth House is all about Day to Day Routines to do with Health, Food, Work and Activities, Cancers can be a creature of habit and with this transit they can get great benefits from nourishing and tending to their daily routine, bringing joy to their day to-day life.

Gemini & Gemini Rising – The Seventh House is all about Relationships with people, one on one relationships.  This is a signature, meeting the right one astrological transit, However with the Seventh House also deals with enemies, it may attract some unwanted admirers, if you are in denial about how your relations with people, this is the transit that might open your eyes.  Generally though, Jupiter going through your Seventh House will make for pleasent connections with people, with the possiblity of meeting some who might change your life, in either the home or work front.

Taurus & Taurus Rising – The Eighth House is all about other people’s money, Inheritance, Taxes, Money that comes from a 3rd Party. It is also the house that delves to the mystical depths of the Occult and the Personal Psyche. This is the  house opposite your own. With Uranus beginning an 8 years stay in your sign earlier this year, this Jupiter Transit might expand or exaggerate the new ground you are treading on, it might give you a gift of a tax return or inheretance, but it is also changing the way you are at your deepest soul level and how you connect with others and the divine at the deepest level.

Aries & Aries Rising – The Ninth House is about Study, Learning, Higher Education and is the natural home of Sagittarius.  So Studying and Travel are very fated or opportunistic activities for this Jupiter Transit. It also bestows blessings around going deep and connecting to a subject that makes your heart sing. It’s about breaking new exploratory ground around a topic. Best way to do it is via higher learning or travelling. Exploring more of the World around you.

Pisces & Pisces Rising – The Tenth House is about Success, Being Noticed, Career, Government and Power, Jupiter expands and gifts wonderful Opportunities. Pisces, it’s finally time to get noticed and reap the rewards. It’s finally time to shine !

Aquarius & Aquarius Rising – The Eleventh House is about Community, Groups and Organisations. This is the House the Aquarius rules, Jupiter in Sagittarius will be giving wonderful opportunities to expand on things that at your fundamental level and principles you were born to enjoy and shine through. Opportunities to really enjoy your natural terrain will bring you deep Joy in 2019.

Capricorn & Capricorn Rising – The Twelfth House is the House of Secrets and ones inner most sanctum. Jupiter will be allowing for opportunities to expand this and grow like a Hermet gains there gifts in their Hermit’s Cave. Connecting to Spirit, or Connecting to anything that the secret you enjoys the most, is what this Twelth House Transit offers. Time to sort out & Declutter behind the scenes before you make your Grand Entrance as the Star of the Show in 2020. 2020 is when Jupiter enters your sign, joining Saturn and Pluto. Jupiter in the Twelfth for a year is your rest and prep year, before you step out on to the world stage, as you take control, in what might feel like a perfect storm in 2020.

xx

 

 

 

 

 

Mars Conjunct Pluto – The Transmutation

~ Sarah Murphy ~ Leave a comment

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There’s no map to human behaviour.

Bjork

This week is Mars Conjunct Pluto in Capricorn – creating the great transmutation. Every 2 years Mars the Warrior meets Pluto the God of the Underworld, to excellerate the evolutionary process. Mars is the accelerant to Pluto’s transformative powers as they join in Capricorn a sign that Mars relishes. Mars is super souped up after spending most of the year in Scorpio and Sagittarius due to an almighty retrograde.

Mars is the old ruler of Scorpio, with Pluto being its newer ruler. These two know each other and this Mars is super hot and turbo charged after being held up, delayed, frustrated yet reflective and self analysing in Scorpio. Its focus was the inner sub conscious, psychology, depth, the shadow and other people’s money, debt and loans. It then got fired up with Sagittarian things such as philosophy, travel, adventure and culture. Now it is in Capricorn where it’s thinking logistics, building, status and power, money and government. All these things blending together in this newly formed flame. When it meets Pluto this week it is firing up things that can transform you. Resurrect you.

Mars conjunct Pluto in Capricorn is an energetic release of energy that is really propelling you to take the bull by the horns and come out of the chrysalis. Things may happen suddenly and abruptly or they could be you deciding to step it up and speed up any transformation or change that you have been toying with for a while. The catch is that it might be in your sub conscious and not fully conscious. Because it is Pluto there will be fear attached. But Mars is here to burn off the fear and pull you out from a new birthing. This doesn’t have to be negative, it all depends where you are at.

Mars during its retrograde made a strong conjunction to Saturn, Capricorn’s is ruler in the past 3 months, making this a 3 way triple hit of rulers and signs blending and working with each other over a very small time period and it’s game on.

This Mars and Pluto conjunction will affect on a micro and macro level, with things also playing out on the world stage.  Jupiter coming in from Libra will also give a sub flow of an exaggerating need of balance of the individual and the group as well as justice.

The next few weeks will be interesting and a really good time to harness this energy at play and really work with it rather than against the process. How this unfolds for you as an individual and where it may play out will depend on your chart but this is a wonderful landscape for new beginnings and allowing the shadow side to be observed and welcomed to the whole. Bringing the shadow out of its shadow.

Peace xx

Full Moon Eclipse in Aries – Total Eclipse of the Heart

~ Sarah Murphy ~ Leave a comment


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self  

noun

  1. 1.
    a person’s essential being that distinguishes them from others, especially considered as the object of introspection or reflexive action.
    “our alienation from our true selves”
    synonyms:
    ego, I, oneself, persona, person, identity, character, personality,psyche, soul, spirit, mind, intellect, inner man/woman/person, inner self, one’s innermost feelings, one’s heart of hearts

September 27/28 brings to us a Full Supermoon Eclipse (see times below), the final in the Libra/Aries axis of eclipse which have been occurring since April 2014. This is the final eclipse of this series, denoting a focus on issues  based around the ideas of the ‘WE’ and ‘I’ in Relationships.  The  ‘I’ in Aries will be fusing, blocking, revealing, triggering the Libra ‘We’ element in relationships making the delineations round it more clear, pushing for an evening out of the balances or a refocusing of your energies, so you (the individual) have a stronger place to stand within it all.

Full moon eclipses are generally seen as being endings, however since this is the 4th and final in this series, the Aries Moon could be putting its final stamp on asserting YOUR agenda or affirming YOUR  need for independence or autonomy in relations with others, to benefit your emotional wellbeing. If you have been TOO independent, it will seek for you to put more balance into your relations.

Interestingly enough this Full Supermoon Eclipse (only the 4th since 1910) is occurring just as Venus the Goddess of Love, has just come out of her 40 day retrograde cycle, a cycle based on re-assessing values in relationships and your relationship / love for yourself. It is also occurring just after Mercury (Hermes – the Messenger of the Gods) has just gone retrograde in Libra, another transit based around re-assessment of communications, thought processes and how you learn and express yourself, in the sign of relationships and balance (Libra).  There is clearly a strong focus on pushing people to really assess and re-evaluate their interactions with themselves and others in relationships, and moving of the goal posts with regards to what you want to get out of your relationships. Do they serve you ? Do you get enough out of them ? Do they nourish you ? Do they match your values?  This final eclipse is going to give you an ultimatum which will help you push forward to get rid of any undesirable traits or relationships, within yourself and with others as well as removing relationships that aren’t working.

Eclipse energy can feel full on at the time, but it’s not always an instantaneous result, there can be delays in news being revealed by eclipses and there is definitely the idea that not all the news is fully revealed to you at the time of eclipse. Something is blocked or eclipsed from your vision, so this is generally not a great action time but its a very good assessment or reassessment time especially considering the current retrograde pattens are also pushing the same themes. If something does present that you have to react to, know that it has appeared to help push you along with the above themes. If something comes out of the blue or you are in a position where you just have to act, do so knowing that it is part of a bigger cycle of self development for positive individuation.

With Saturn moving into Sagittarius, it allows the development of these relationship and Libran ideas of balance and fairness to have a bit more buoyancy – a bit more float or fire. Rather than being a bogged down heavy water laden exercise as when Saturn was in Scorpio, this time around it will be a little bit more ….  “the truth will set me free!”  kinda optimism. Saturn’s move in to Sagittarius a week before the eclipse will help make this final eclipse more distinctive from the previous 3 that had the Saturn in Scorpio edge to them. There will be more optimism around the decisions met with the eclipse.

This eclipse is a occurring at 4 degrees Aries so anyone with any planets at this degree of any sign will be feeling the heat the most. People that don’t have the eclipse exactly hitting any natal planets will see the effect of this eclipse action all around them.

It will be a Supermoon Eclipse – meaning it will be one of the  closest orbits to the earth for this year. It is only the 4th time since 1910 that the SuperMoon has been on an Eclipse.  So while watching  the visual spectacle enjoy the final integration of finding your own Tūrangawaewae, or place to stand amongst the shifting sands of your own identity within the group.

Eclipse Times:

Monday 28th September

Sydney : 12:50pm

Auckland: 3:50pm

London: 3:50am

Sunday 27th September

LA: 7:50pm

Lima: 9:50pm

NYC: 10:50pm

xx

Jupiter into Virgo – Making Hay While the Sun Shines

~ Sarah Murphy ~ 1 Comment

Screen shot 2015-08-06 at 7.27.17 PM“Every 12 years Jupiter returns to the same position in the sky; every 370 days it disappears in the fire of the Sun in the evening to the west, 30 days later it reappears in the morning to the east…”[Observation in 4th century B.C.] — Gan De   Chinese astronomer who was one of the earliest to make observations on Jupiter recording them with dates and coordinates.

August 11th 2015, marks Jupiter’s movement into Virgo after a year in fiery Leo. As observed in 400 BC by Chinese astronomers, Jupiter moves through the signs every 12 – 13 months, completing its cycle every 12 years. Jupiter is the great benefactor, the gift giver, the lucky one, the planet of expansion, growth, good fortune, jovial magic and blessings. Wherever your Jupiter transit is happening  things are just easier, good opportunities come to you, whether you see them or not !

The last time Jupiter went into Virgo was 31st August 2003 – 26th  September 2004. You are now looking at being able to build on and expand on the opportunities given to you at the time, 12 years prior. What happened back then ? Can you see how you might be able to expand on events from or that began back then?

Virgo, an Earth sign is all about Work and the Body.  Service to work and how you look after your body to be of service and work. In Astrology these things are linked – they can’t be separated. Without looking after you body you can not work. Food, health, routines, attention and analysis to your service to work are the underling themes with this Jupiter in Virgo transit. Are theses routines healthy ? Do they serve you ? Do you need to change anything for greater benefit ?

If you have any planets in Virgo or its hitting any important points in your chart, the focus will be great (whether you choose it or not !) . You will be given the opportunity to grow or really be blessed with choice or great opportunities in certain areas over the next year. When Jupiter is around great opportunities seem to just fall from the air !

Pluto aspecting Jupiter’s move through Virgo augments it or gives it more oomph. Since Pluto will be trining from Capricorn (another work based sign focusing on status and achievement) this idea of being able to transform your working environment and life will be given more support to allow this process to happen in a smoother way, with more punch.

In old Astrology Jupiter aspecting Pluto like this is said to be the mogul transit. Great power and achievements can be made when Pluto the planet of Transformation and Regeneration (phoenix from ashes, snakes shedding skins type stuff) is making a positive aspect to Jupiter (good luck and expansion) in the sign of daily work and health.

The last time Jupiter was in Virgo it had Uranus making a difficult aspect from Aquarius, making this Jupiterian expansion turbulent with sometimes volatile changes making the Jupitarian vibe harder to access. This time around it’s not the case. Don’t be surprised if you see the economy pick up, more benefits coming towards you in the work environment. Jupiter is a strong energy, he is in mythology the God who ruled over all the other Gods ! The saying “By Jove” to express surprise and excitement, and the word Jovial come directly from Jupiter and his lucky reputation as a giver of gifts and happy times. He is a powerful figure and is very much about you & society. Jupiter governs the individual and the world, and the relationship of the two.

Now is a really good time to get into some more healthy practises for your body, aim or looking at achieving new goals at work as well working on areas that make you anxious (Virgo can be an anxious energy) healthy (physical and psychological) self-mastery is really the key here. A bit like the 7 & 8 of pentacles in Tarot.

On its lower end energetically beware of nervous and anxiety being more apparent, stress of work being manifested with illness in the body, manipulation of alcohol or things you put IN your body (using what you put in your body to control other stresses ) these are all very indicative of an unhealthy manifestation of the Virgo energy. With Jupiter coming into play, these things can become more overwhelming and expansive.

Jupiter into Virgo this August 11th is a wonderful time to sit down and look at what goals you might want to achieve in the area of work and health as your more likely to get them  ! Write them down, analysis them, think practically the steps you might have to take to get them. Earth energy loves to be practical, solid, grounded, pragmatic, logical. Virgo gets off on analysis and this transit might allow you to as well.

Jupiter isn’t about sitting on your ass and waiting for it, its more like if you steer your ship into the new direction you want to achieve,  Jupiter will make the sailing all the smoother and easier, with the antidote “your ship is about to come in” being tres on point for this golden jovial jupitarian transit. Now is the time to go forward’s and conquer, as the king of the gods and the great beneficent is bestowing new blessings for you to work with, for the first time in 12 years.

Jupiter in Virgo through the Signs

Virgo – 1st House:  How you present yourself to the World, Your Identity.

You will be looking at people recognising you for your talent in the work place, all your hard work will be paying off as people finally applaud and recognise all the work you have done, this becomes good way to see your identity and ego expand (Just don’t go OTT). A new look, a new vibe and new you.

Libra – 12th House : Secrets, The Hidden, Your Inner World.

This is a good time and opportunity to use that Virgoan trait of analysis and self bettering improvement in the area of your life around the inner you (your mind – sub conscious – the hidden – the mystical and spiritual) by analysing your subconscious, your shadow side more could see great opportunity to know thy self more for greater gains when you pop out the other side in a years time. This will prep you for September 2016 when Jupiter enters your sign and its your time to shine and show the world a new you. This jupiter transit allows you to get growth in doing the work behind the scenes, under the radar, without the world watching. Inner healing is the key.

Scorpio – 11th House – Friends – Groups – Community groups – Hopes and Wishes.

Is an area of great fulfillment and growth, as long as you pay attention to  your work habits and watch you don’t go on a permanent year bender with it all. Getting out and being social could provide some beautiful a-ha moments as well as some amazing opportunities to grow and meet new people who can really help your progression as your spirits are lifted once Saturn moves out of your sign in September for another 28 years.

Sagittarius – 10th house – Career, External Status, Achievement 

Simple Jupiter going through the 10th house while Pluto trines it from Capricorn you’re in for some über work and career accomplishments, your achievements are recognized however with Saturn going through your sign at the same time, these wins, will ONLY come through hard work, focus and an understanding that karma has a part to play on this. Saturn may put a reality check on all this but, what is analysed, worked hard on and done with out cutting any corners will make the victory even sweeter. If not, Saturn might just give you some reality checks along the way to this expansion.

Capricorn – 9th House of Travel and Philosophy, Higher understanding through doing and engaging with different cultures and philosophy’s.

Jupiter means going traveling or undertaking a form of study at this time is highly beneficial. Once again using the Virgoan aptitude for pre-planning and analyzing all the options means what you learn and take from all this could be life changing, as your pre planning allows you to just enjoy the ride.  If you can involve some work in it all the better, if not just enjoy the break you have probably earned it !

Aquarius – 8th house of Deeper Emotional Connections with People, Other Peoples Money and The Esoteric.

Well that cash windfall could come from a surprise Tax Return, Inheritance or some source of money that is not strictly yours. Learning about the esoteric highly beneficial right now and any opportunity to engage in deep meaningful relations with people could see your outlook and philosophy change dramatically.

Pisces – 7th House  of One on One Relationships with People Personal and Business.

Will see an expansion of lucky or influential people into your life who could give you great opportunity to grow and expand your opportunities and learn about one on one interactions taking things to the next level. New people will present new opportunities that benefit you … Pretty simple really

Aries – 6th House of Health, Work Service and Daily Routines.

With Jupiter transiting Virgo’s natural home, Aries you will feel these Virgoean themes the most as the attributes that rule Virgo also rule the 6th house. Healthy body and work routines will be the focus with good work opportunity being the direct side effect.

Taurus –  5th House of Creativity, True Love and Children. Relationships with Children.

Joy and happiness will be a signature of your interaction with children or creativity over the coming year, the opportunity to expand on any creative platforms with positive and enthusiastic results will be on the horizon. Children or working with children will bring wonderful and rewarding results as well as the possibility of more children entering your life. Indulging or pursuing anything that is creative or expands your creativity is super fortuitous to you right now.

Gemini – 4th House of Family, Home and Ancestors.

Jupiter could see new members of the family arrive, a closer relationships or understanding of your roots and family develop and help expand your understanding of your place within the family dynamic. It could also be a good time to invest in property or see your investment in property increase remarkably.

Cancer – 3rd House of communication and the Internet, Short Holidays and Sibling.

Now would be a great time to write or do anything communication based or internet based that you have been sitting on for a while, you could get some wonderful unexpected results, putting you naturally intuitive communication out there. Relations with Siblings is also easier this year as well. Any short breaks away would also be great too ! Try going somewhere different and break the routine you could be presently surprised.

Leo – 2nd House of Finances and Self-Worth.

After having just moved out of your sign and into your house of personal finances and self-worth. Jupiter will see you build on the foundations built with the first house transit of how the world sees you. Jupiter should allow finances to increase as well as an increase in self-worth. Jupiter could provide a handy little money wind fall if not a good opportunity to expand finances which will see you feeling more appreciated in work or life. Its time to cash in on the new you !

xx

Venus Retrograde In Leo – 40 days and 40 nights of Venusian Transformation

~ Sarah Murphy ~ 1 Comment


Screen shot 2015-07-11 at 1.32.16 PM” Goddess on the mountain top, burning like a silver flame, the summit of beauty and love and Venus was her name “ Bananarama.

Venus the Goddess of Love and Beauty starts her once and every 18 month retrograde in late July (July 25th until September 6). She begins this process by moving backwards in the night sky before disappearing from view as she moves behind the Sun magically reappearing after 40 days and 40 days as a bright Morning Star (visible under the Moon just before sunrise) . Where she goes during this time has been the story of many myths and legends. The Romans gave Venus the name Lucifer or Light Bearer because of the myth when she disappears from sight, she travels through Underworld to re-emerge wiser and more of a Warrior Venus after her journey to the Underworld, reclaiming her femininity and power. The biblical references to Jesus’s journey or sacrifice of 40 days and 40 nights comes from this Venus Retrograde cycle.

Venus retrograde’s are a reclaiming of ones light, going inwards to your own inner and sometimes underworld to reclaim and re-evaluate your Venus, your femininity and your values around relationships and yourself. It is through the different signs  at different retrogrades that we are able to look at our Venus in a different light, being able to evaluate and evolve with a different lens to that we are used to. It’s a beautiful time to allow yourself the time to reflect on these Venusian ideas of values in and around relationships, love, old love, femininity, health, beauty, self-love and self nourishment. With Venus being in Leo at the time of this retrograde, honouring your Venus in a Leo style is particularly beneficial, fortuitous and nourishing.

Leo is representative of The Sun, Royalty, Nobility, Dignity, Beauty, Creativity, Shining your light via opening your heart to others or letting the Performer / Inner Child shine. It’s the creative expression of this Venus as you go within which is of particular value at this retrograde time, with the easiest manifestation being the pursuit of great hair !  Leo’s love to indulge in beauty routines, things that make them look great and feel regal and dignified so they can stand out from a crowd. It’s about letting that Sun shine ! It’s not surprising Madonna, Jennifer Lawrence, Cara Delevingne and Jennifer Lopez are Leo’s, flowing tresses and immaculately groomed. If eyes aren’t on them they feel as if they have failed ! Tori Amos another Leo has never been afraid to stand out, either with her bright red hair or her unabashed  performances which see her at times orgasm whilst performing on stage.  It’s this unapologetic shining of ones Venus or Feminine light and reflecting on how we do it,  is really the point of this Leo retrograde, honouring and encouraging it. Its is a little bit, I am woman hear me roar !

The only warning for a Venus Retrograde is to not to do anything that can’t be easily changed back. Venus retrograde are never a great time to get Tattoos or Plastic Surgery if that’s your schtick … as sometimes things aren’t always fully revealed under Venus Retrograde, so any experiment’s should be easily fixable just in case in reflection you missed a very obvious piece of information !

It is a time where old flames may come back or past loves are in contact out of the blue. Venus Retrograde does signify past loves coming back or you could be thinking of them after a long absence of thought. Very nice for the reassessment and looking at how life has evolved since then. But not the best time to push forward on or pursue a relationship. The approach should be more, letting the relationship breath and allow for room for the fire to grow as you re-assess and honour yourself for a while.

Currently Venus has been playing around with Jupiter in the night sky. If you look up after Sunset for the first 4 hours, Venus and Jupiter are the 2 brightest lights in the sky if you look West.  Due to the  upcoming Retrograde this will be elongated as Venus moves back to conjunct Jupiter again in August. The two luckiest planets in the sky, the major and minor benefactor slowly doing a sexy tango in the closest orbit for some are saying for 2000 years. Right now is a great time to look up and view them at their most regal and magical. To see them physically in the sky whilst thinking of the thousands of years of mythology and legend around their existence and movement is a great way to start to honour this retrograde cycle.

Venus in Leo Retrograde through the signs.

Aries: 5th house of Creativity, Children, Love, play around with your creativity, let your performers side out a bit, use your femininity with children or feed your inner child by doing something you used to love doing. It’s about merging your femininity with your creative urges or at least reflecting on how to interconnect the two.

Taurus: 4th house of Home, Family, Roots and Ancestry. show your feminine light at home ! bring out your inner child at home. Be playful, and do some self nurture at home while you reflect on the past. Home based beauty routines would be great as well as spending more time looking after yourself rather than sacrificing yourself for your Home and Family.

Gemini: 3rd house of Communication, Siblings, the Internet. Add some affection and drama to your communication. Not everything has to be all intellectual and clinical. Could you look at the Internet as a way of new creative expression ?  New communication might  pop up with old flames.

Cancer: 2nd house of Money, Self made Finances and Self Worth. Simple – by some glamorous grooming and treating yourself to some feminine luxuries, it will improve your feeling of self-worth … full stop ! review your personal grooming, Are you doing enough to make yourself feel like a glamazonian ? Get out of the house and tart yourself up ! Go glam or go home !

Leo: 1st House of how you express yourself, show the world what your made of by reviewing your style, How you love and How you present yourself to the world and bam ! When Venus goes direct the world will see a new you ! Its all about reviewing how you present yourself, its as superficial as that !

Virgo: 12 house of Inner Self, Healing, The Secret You, Mysticism, this retrograde is about you assessing the very foundations of how you identify and express your femininity, this is an opportunity for inner transformation. Chrysalis to Butterfly kind of material. Your inner re assessment could allow you to restructure the essence of how you present and engage with your feminine side, with the butterfly beginning to emerge as Venus goes in to your home sign of Virgo in October , just as Jupiter the great benefactor has entered your Sun sign for a year transit. How fortuitous !

Libra: 11 house of Friends, Community, the Tribe and your Hopes and Wishes. Look to your friends to show you how you shine,  Do they support you, Do they help you shine?  What are your Hopes and Wishes with Love are you aiming high enough ? or is it just an idealist explosion ? Are your feminine lights pitching in the right direction ? Do your Hopes and Wishes or your tribe allow you to fulfill your own personal wishes or are they being brought down by Qi Vampires as you try to hold the balance?

Scorpio: 10th house of Career, Success achievement and Acclaim. Is your feminine light being expressed to its highest level for all the achievements and success that you truly deserve ? Why not ? Is your Venus the secret to your success in the outer world of Career and Success and do the right people see it ? Could a little more subtle glam help you ? Or are you hiding it not realizing it might be the key to your success.

Sagittarius: 9th house of Philosophy, Higher Learning, Travel. To be traveling or studying some kind of mythology maybe around Venus or Feminine Divine would be a nice way of honouring and exploring yourself during the retrograde, perhaps some philosophical eureka moments may present itself or even going back to philosophy’s that have been left for a while could be brought back into your daily routine to help your feminine expansion.

Capricorn: 8th house of deeper emotional connections with people, psychology, the esoteric, external money sources. Venus in Leo would be a great way to put some colour and performance with your deeper connections with people or psychological processing, new ways of dealing with emotional issues could present themselves with less pressure on barriers and more focus on fun, creativity, heart-felt connections and opening of ones heart without the usual Saturnian doom and gloom or conservatism (or as you see it, home truths and realities) that comes with Capricorn. This could work wonders for you in this retrograde cycle. Transformation via creative expansion rather than realist restrictions.

Aquarius: 7th house of One on One Relationships (Work, Personal and Enemies) A bit like Capricorn an opening or re assessment of ones heart and passion, rather than going all detached Air on it, to sit down and focus on what YOU want out of your relationships for YOU, not the greater good, or not for anyone else’s benefit, By opening your heart to what you want and looking at how this would help you flourish is the perfect way to honour yourself.

Pisces: 6th house of service, daily routine, health and wellbeing. Simple – take the bull by the horns and hammer out what you enjoy doing that makes the above areas of life more interesting, creative and exciting. Putting a bit more flair and Colour and attention into your health, working and day-to-day routine will make things less laborious and more fun, what would the child version of you do to make these things more fun and exciting ?

All the best for this upcoming Retrograde, and enjoy the process of re-evaluating how you explore and assert your feminine wellbeing.

xx

Tarot – An Archetypal Journey

~ Sarah Murphy ~ Leave a comment

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“There seem to be only two kinds of people: Those who think that metaphors are facts, and those who know that they are not facts. …Which group really gets the message?”

~Joseph Campbell~

I started working with tarot in late 2013, I have no idea why it finally jumped out at me after years of having no real interest in it. Astrology I had studied for years and loved, there seemed to at least be a physical base to Astrology, which I felt at the time tarot lacked. With Astrology at least it provided you with mythology around the planets while you were stargazing. Tarot, something about it never clicked, it was almost not physical enough for me.

But I’ll never forget the day, whilst on the tram, a thought popped into my head telling me to go buy a tarot deck. The impulse was too strong to ignore. Leaving the store the shop owner told me, “Its like Music, Astrology is the Major Key and Tarot is the Minor Key, they work together” It was then that I began to realised, this was the next phase of the journey and I, for some reason was ready to explore it.

Many people look to Tarot as fortune-telling device with “Will I get a boyfriend” or “Should I quit my Job”  being top of the fortune list. Tarot instead is a mirror to yourself and a tool to allow YOU to evolve, to help gain what you seek.

As an evolutionary tool  it allows you to look at the energies that are around you to help guide you to a better or more beneficial outcome. Tarot is more of a look in the mirror at how the metaphors of life and how the heroes quest or archetypal journey we are all on is working for you. Tarot allows us to pin point what we should consider to progress, whether you like it or not. It works by looking at how we can make better decisions or addressing things to help us progress. Tarot helps by looking at the differing options or things that will help you move forward in a more empowered fashion.

When it comes to the use of Tarot and other forms of divination freewill is always the key factor, as we have control over what actions we choose to or not take. We ARE in control of how we move forward in our lives. The outcomes may not always be what we choose but we certainly have power over how we react and move forward with things. Tarot  is a wonderful sign post, offering ideas, metaphors to consider as we go about our way, allowing us to reflect on what we are doing and to take a moment to consider the root causes and influences around us.

If we choose not to listen or look at these messages you will find that the same messages will come up over and over again. It’s quite remarkable how the same cards will come up over and over again, when we don’t take action. It was noted by many tarot readers at the time of pre September 11 how often the Tower came up. The Tower meaning sudden and life changing events which happens generally as a surprise and shock. The Tower marks to a life changing events in our lives on a fundamental and universal level.

In Europe the earliest recorded deck is the Visconti-Sforza tarot deck that dates back to 1451. Cards had been used for hundreds of years in Europe as entertainment and as an educational tool. Tarot cards, in line with this describe a spiritual and psychological journey that has spanned numerous years and cultures. This Journey is just as relevant today as it has been in the past.

Tarot has many cousins with Italian tarocchini and French Tarot (popular card games), being directly related. As for the rumour you can only do Tarot if you are given a deck, this comes from a time when having a deck saw your persecution hence people saying they were given a pack.

Tarot is a handy tool that allows you to look at what part of the journey your on and helps you assess where you’re at and what energies are currently around you and you are working with.  Tarot rather than a fortune-telling device is more of a philosophical and spiritual tool and one that is very much mis-understood. The more you explore it, the more you discover about yourself and that really is what the magic of life is all about and why the Tarot deck starts with the Fool. A person about to start a magnificent adventure with only themselves to rely on and life’s lessons as a guide.

xx

Mercury Retrograde in Gemini – Duelling with the Magician

~ Sarah Murphy ~ Leave a comment

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I’m a Gemini, so I change my mind every day.      Natalie Portman

Mercury Retrograde, everyone’s favourite little Astrology number is coming back around again … time to get prepped for Mercury’s retrograde of is ruling sign Gemini. Outside knowing the Moon Phase, Mercury Retrograde is perhaps the next most known or spoken about Astrological phenomenon, closely followed by the Saturn Return.  So what exactly is a Mercury Retrograde ?

Mercury Retrograde is when the planet of communication, thoughts, processes, learning, travel and ideas goes backwards in the sky traveling backwards for a small amount of time before moving forwards again. In doing so it retrogrades over elements of your birth chart. This is a time for reflection, delays and potentially opposition.This generally manifests in chaos in everyday life (for those who are at a loss as to what the hell is going on ! ). However  Mercury’s Retrograde is becoming so well accepted in mainstream society once a friend came into work all excited after seeing it mentioned on CSI: New York as a reason by one of the scientist as to why their investigation had so awry.

There is ALWAYS a list of things NOT to do in times of Mercury Retrograde which I think is good to be conscious of but to be honest I’m not really one to stop life because of Astrology and you know what sometimes you have no choice in the matter so you just need to move forward and TRIPLE check the finer details that’s all ! Be the Virgo (Mercury’s other ruling sign). So traditionally things not to do during a Mercury Retrograde are the following .. Don’t buy electronic equipment as it will crap out, Sign major contracts ie: work or buy a house because there will be information that hasn’t been brought to light yet. Don’t travel, if you do it will be plagued with delays, be prepared for everyone to mis-communicate, forget the key information, phones going down, mail not arriving and so on and so forworth.

But see what I mean, we can’t actually live under a rock for 6 weeks 3 times a year, this is where the old school idea of Astrology being a condemnation and a list of do’s and don’t is becoming outdated and the idea of doing things at your peril is just lame !

Instead we need to go ok this is going on, I’m going to have to be more vigilant, be more focused on the details, I’m going to go with my intuition, I’m going to do ALL my homework as the potential for something to go wrong has just increased. If I can push things out thats great, if not lets not get all dooms day on it.

There are times when the Mercury Retrograde is good ! it’s a wonderful time to review ideas and themes that are pertinent to the house of the retrograde. ie: Mercury Retrograde is a great time to review your daily routines and work habits, good for reviewing your career, or maybe you get the opportunity to work with a company or in a job that you haven’t done for a few years, which has just happened to me which is awesome ! Reviewing money how you spend it or earn it, your relationships how you engage in them, these are very valuable things that the Mercury Retrograde offers rather than shreeking in horror and starting dooms day predictions for your 2 week holiday in Fiji. People are paranoid enough without having to add to it right !

There is a really high proportion of  great writers being born with Mercury retrograde in their chart. Madonna has Mercury retrograde conjunct Pluto (the underworld /transformation stuff) in her birthchart … Hello in your face everything I’m going to say is going to challenge your beliefs so I can transform your ideas on Sex, Money, Class and Taste …  Like A Virgin, and her Sex Book weren’t exactly subtle and were tres controversial.  For a dancer whose vocal talent was always questionable it was WHAT she had to say and HOW she did it which made her a revolutionary. Without Mercury Retrograde conjunct Pluto, I don’t think she would have had such punch. It made her think outside the square and made her a very famous and rich woman along the way.

So Mercury Retrograde in Gemini what does this MEAN !  Mercury retrogrades are a 3 week period. However Mercury has to slow down, stop, be still before moving backwards so there is thing called a Mercury shadow period which actually extends it to be 6 weeks. Just be cautious earlier that’s all.

Mercury Shadow (4-18 May) Mercury Retrograde (18th May 11 June) Mercury shadow (June 11 – 27th). Mercury is the RULER of Gemini so this retrograde will be quite powerful but I think in a good way ! what you’re reviewing will be clearer ! The messages will be strong and clear. Gemini energy is a tricky little energy with a shortish attention span ie: reading 5 books on the go rather than just 1, and being a mutable sign it is both dualist in nature and manifestation. However mercury is happy in Gemini and its strong in Gemini which makes it a rather healthy retrograde. Mars will also be conjuncting for a time so it will be super strong, as the god of war and masculine intent – Mars power! adds a bit more oomph to these reviews/delays/confusion, just check your mouth before you mouth off as Mars might be putting more into it than you originally intended. Knowing which house (area of your life) that this retrograde effects is the key to knowing where this will be more pronounced in your life. For me, its in my 10 house of career and accomplishment. Interestingly enough I’ve just got work with the first company that hired me when I first moved to Melbourne and its in a very similar project to then. Very Mercury Retrograde.

So I guess the purpose for this blog is for you to own it ! Know the dates, know what you have to do, step forward with confidence and knowledge and laugh at the irony when these little hick ups come along. Mercury retrograde can and is a pain in the ass but if we change our thinking slightly it can encompass so much more that the normally thrown around fears traditionally associated with it. Time to turn the trickster energy of Mercury’s retrograde INTO the Magician. Be the Magician !

Full Moon In Scorpio – When the facade begins to crack

~ Sarah Murphy ~ 3 Comments

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“Scorpio is the Perfect Storm”

“There’s something about the darker side of life that fascinates Scorpio. They don’t mind digging into things others might find scary or undesirable”

This upcoming Full Moon is Scorpio (May 3-4) is just one of those things that needs to be flagged … before things go a bit side ways and wild.  I’ve actually reached the stage of when emotions become cutting and transformative out of nowhere, I’ve had to stop and thought I bet it’s a Scorpio Moon and bingo, it is. The Scorpio Full Moon is like the gauge for irrational emotional events… fights with lovers, dark transcendence/transformation, the rain clouds storming on you outta nowhere. If the concept is we operate mainly on an unconscious level 95% of the time, and Full Moons bring light to the dark, illuminating what has been hidden, Fuck me the Scorpio  (rules unconscious) Full Moon is like an unconscious emotional colonic !

This Full Moon is an amazing opportunity to delete some very old unconscious programming, with the moon shining a light on it, to highlight whats been lurking in the darkness, untouched and unrecognized. The Sun in Taurus is asking you to look after yourself physically with simple, comfort and stability physically, self nurture and care on the physical realm, while the Full Moon (in opposition to the Sun) helps to purge your emotional subconscious to its deepest realms, forcing you to creating boundaries, where needed, and blowing up the blockages. So essentially great care is needed this Full Moon.

Scorpio has sting ! its has change, it has transformative transcendence, it IS the Phoenix coming out of the ashes, the snake that is shedding another skin, it is the eagle of prey sawing high above the earth… All amazing things but not so amazing when you’re the last to know why everything suddenly got heavy man, as you were to busy having fun avoiding your shadow. This is a passionate moon that pushes for transformation and letting go, at the very least shining a light on your shit! This Full Moon is a closure to the Scorpio New Moon that was eclipsed October 24th 2014. This Full Moon is the ending to this 6 month cycle, as the New Moon was eclipsed, this adds more weight to this idea of hidden issues or unconscious patterns coming out to be let go of.

Pluto (Hades) – the god of the Underworld is Scorpio’s ruler is in a positive aspect to this Moon doubling the transformational aspect,  while Mars ( God of War, Aggression and a fast paced confrontational energy ) is in opposition to it.  When in opposition energies must be balanced. This Moon is supercharged,  so use this energy wisely, its a great time to be creative, purge, let go ! The aim of this Full Moon is to channel this Scorpionic energy to its highest level ! Haute Scorpio not Low Scorpio as the great Mystic Medusa says.

Haute Scorpio – Positive Psycho-Analysis, Deep conservation sans booze and the dream weed (Lucid Dream aka trippy tea is ok), Feeling deeply without projecting onto others, Intuitive, Discreet, Sexy, Strong, Spooky, Principled, Meditative, In Tune, Transformative, Sex Magick

Low Scorpio – Scrappy, Obsessive, Paranoid, Vindictive, Grudge bearing, Snarky and Snappy, Muck Throwing, Judgemental, Invoking Negative Energy, Wasted on Boozed and Dream Weed, Space Dust or WHATEVER they can get their hands on, Fucked up Sexual Relations and Boundaries

This Moon will aggravate all of the above so keep it clean folks and aim high ! All the power to you and make sure you check your shit before you bring out that repressed Scorpionic tail .