Triumph of the Spirit

In this season of thanksgiving, tonight's Full Moon marks a key passage of the solar year. The phoenix rises. Death gives way to life.

We harvest the blessings of this creation as we attune to celestial rhythms.

Venus' six-week retrograde passage culminates with the lunar alignment tonight. The Sun-Moon opposition is exact at 12:27 PM Eastern on Sunday. In Scorpio-Taurus we celebrate transcendence, the triumph of the human spirit. The soul is laid bare, bathed in waves of milky light. For a moment, we see.

Next, we go deeper into the spiral.

Venus and Jupiter

Over the past six weeks, the planet of love and abundance has traveled in reverse, transiting parts of Scorpio and Libra in her quest for truth, healing and sacred union.

Earlier this month a shamanic journey led her into the underworld where she transformed away from our view. She has re-emerged as Morning Star in the the pre-dawn sky.

Now Venus reigns in the east, awakening our hearts, minds and bodies to the tasks at hand as we are reborn more fully into our purpose and power.

The new Venus cycle in Scorpio carries us through 2012 and the end of the Mayan calendar. This is no coincidence. The ancient Maya observed Venus and synchronized their sacred timekeeping system with her cycles.

Jupiter has returned to forward motion, too. In Pisces, he continues to expand our consciousness and ideals. Uranus, the Awakener, travels with Jupiter in late Pisces, although he moves more slowly and is still retrograde.

We have about 10 days to integrate the lessons of the Venus passage, lessons around relationship and love, money, passion, our creativity and values. We've faced our fears, plumbed the depths of the psyche. We're exploring new options and making choices.


Year-End 2010

Another round of intense transformation begins November 30 when the Sun enters the mysterious 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus, the Serpent Bearer. Known to ancient astrologers and depicted in the Temple of Hathor at Dendera in Egypt, this mysterious sign is re-emerging as a transformational gateway in these transitional times.

In mid-December, the Sun crosses the Galactic Equator near the Solstice. Within deepest night, light returns to Earth. This galactic alignment is punctuated by a potent eclipse series beginning with a Total Lunar Eclipse on December 21. Two weeks later, the Sun and Moon meet in Capricorn and we begin tending to the seeds we planted in 2010.

In my astrological preview published a year ago, I wrote: "In 2010, humanity arrives at a crossroads. Individually and in groups, we will initiate a sequence for the times to come, not only through our intent, but with our actions. This is a chance of a lifetime, many lifetimes, and the effects will radiate throughout the cosmos."

The pivotal year of 2010 now draws to a close. What are we harvesting?

As we gather with family and friends, I pray that we're mindful of the deeper rhythms pulsing through this holiday season, that we'll pause to commune with the galactic forces at play in our lives and our world. I pray that we open more deeply to love as we celebrate this holy season.

Namaste.



December Astro Forecast

We'll preview the astrology for the next two months during my StarTalk Astro Forecast Teleconference on December 7. Highlights include the Sun's transit of Ophiuchus, the Solstice Galactic Alignment and the December-January eclipse series. Details and registration: http://www.starpriestess.com/events.html#forecast


Ophiuchus: The Serpent Bearer

Enter the ancient healing temple as we gather for a special initiation during the Sun's transit of Ophiuchus. Details and registration: http://www.starpriestess.com/events.html#ophiuchus

Venus and the Underworld

http://starpriestess.blogspot.com/2010/10/into-spiral.html

http://starpriestess.blogspot.com/2010/10/spinning.html

http://starpriestess.blogspot.com/2010/10/turning-of-wheel.html

http://starpriestess.blogspot.com/2010/11/love-reigns.html

http://starpriestess.blogspot.com/2010/11/awakening.html


My Journey with Venus

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=235245&id=631748611&l=f91cf61fe7

Back to Basics

It's the New Moon, a time of new beginnings. Kind of.

As the Sun and Moon meet methodically in Virgo, six planets are in retrograde motion, traveling backward through the zodiac from our earthly vantage point. Mercury is retrograde in Virgo until September 12. Jupiter, Uranus, Chiron, Neptune and Pluto are transiting in reverse, too.

Retrograde periods are more appropriate for re-evaluation than initiating new plans or projects.

So what can we actually begin at such a time?

I've been on retreat the past few days contemplating that exact question. To me, it seems most appropriate to focus on the basics, the foundations of life. Take care of unfinished business and get a foundation established for a big new beginning at the Autumn Equinox on September 22. There will be more new beginnings beyond that, too, as each of the planets returns to direct motion.

The next turn of the solar wheel comes when the Sun enters Libra at the September Equinox, followed closely by the Aries Full Moon. Tonight, into tomorrow, we're planting seeds that will come to fruition then.

The New Moon is exact at 6:30 AM Eastern on September 8. In Virgo, the focus is gratitude and service, also healing and health. Getting back to basics might mean clearing out clutter and donating items you don't need to someone who does. Tend to the physical body with a medical or dental check-up, a cleanse or therapeutic massage. As we purify on a material level, we notice our thoughts become more streamlined. Truth emerges from within.

In developing ritual and prayer for this passage, consider...

- What has changed in your world this year?
- How, whom or what do you serve?
- How healthy do you feel physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually?
- Is it time to shift your direction, focus or habits?
- What are you willing to commit to?

I've written extensively about the current and upcoming planetary energies in my blog and ezine. Check out these articles for more ideas:

Blog: Cosmic Crossroads
Cosmic Time Ezine

The New Moon is subtle, an opening to the vast emptiness of the void, the space between breaths. All is possible in this twilight moment of transition, from old to new. Dream well.

Namaste.

Astro Musings

Welcome to the Summer of Love.

The heavens are conspiring to open the hearts of humanity, healing the wounds of many lifetimes. A massive clearing is under way as we cross the galactic threshold into the next world age.

From the Summer Solstice and New Moon in Cancer last week through the triple-eclipse window in July and early August, this is the most astrologically potent summer I can remember. It's a precursor to what we'll experience next summer when the energies peak again with explosive grand square alignments.

Incoming cosmic frequencies are stepped up through this gateway. The dates and timings are detailed in the current issue of my newsletter:

http://www.StarPriestess.com/cosmic_time.html

Venus and Mars are dancing together in the morning sky. The historic triple conjunction of Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron continues. Our Sun is aligned with the Great Star Sirius. And the next two full moons will be partially eclipsed by the Sun, bookends to the Total Solar Eclipse on July 22. The Solar Eclipse, which will be visible from various parts of Asia and felt around the world, is the astrological centerpiece of 2009. Add to this the Lammas cross-quarter gateway at the end of July, and we've got a recipe for explosive change.

Individually and collectively, how will we focus this energy? We live in the cusp period between world ages. Within this context, the summer of 2009 is an astrological high point, a turning point, a crossroads.

Depending on our level of awareness, this portal might open us to new heights of exhilaration or the depths of despair. Everything in between is possible, too. Jobs and relationships can end, and begin, suddenly. You might find yourself relocating, or at least traveling, unexpectedly. Watch for massive Earth changes and extreme weather and political-military escalation. These energies support quantum breakthroughs, spontaneous healings and expansion of consciousness. Sadly, many will resist. We're already seeing some people pop under the energetic intensity. Many will exit the Earth plane during this period, souls choosing to transition to spirit. This is a time of endings and big new beginnings. What's coming to completion for you? What's opening in your life?

Managing ourselves during this volatile period is elevated to an art form. Breathe. As simple as this sounds, it works. Pay attention to the breath. Inhale and exhale deeply, fully. Ground. Center. Meditate. Eclipses break up long-standing energy patterns. The center keeps shifting. Connect with Mother Earth and find your new center. Try yoga, tai chi or xi gong. Eat root vegetables and dark, leafy greens. Release the past, the pain, the addictions. Pray. Do ceremony, especially on key alignment dates. My work with individuals in my Astro-Shamanism pratice is especially potent during eclipse periods. Click here for details. Please be in touch if you'd like to schedule a personal session at this special time.

These practices and the larger astrological context are highlighted in my book, Cosmic Time. This is the most exciting time imaginable on planet Earth, a time of awakening, the flowering of love. The heavens support our evolutionary journey through the 2012 Gateway. Don't miss this cosmic opportunity.

Festival of Goodwill

It's another Full Moon...already! Over the past month I've been journeying in the desert, in the mountains and at the ocean, meeting many new friends, becoming saturated in nature, and allowing the flow of creation to reconfigure my life in exciting new ways.

Astrologically, the celestial realms support our healing and highest expression with a triple conjunction of Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron. Releasing lifetimes of pain and suffering is effortless under this influence.

This weekend's Full Moon in Sagittarius/Gemini is the Festival of Goodwill, when the spiritual energies received through the Wesak and Easter portals are disseminated for the benefit of all beings.

At this auspicious time, we're gathering in Denver, Colorado, for a weekend celebration with Core Shamanism training as the central focus. If you're in the area, you're invited to a free preview and demonstration tonight at the Creative Living Center, 3025 W. 37th Ave. Suite 209.

The Full Moon rises on Saturday night and crests at 2:12 PM Eastern on Sunday, June 7. Be sure to tune in during this time for prayer, relection and celebration. Namaste.

Core Shamanism link: http://www.StarPriestess.com/events.html#coreshamantraining