Mercury is no longer Retrograde, but he won’t leave his shadow until the Fourth of July - which should make for an interesting display of patriotism, especially in the media and in computer discussions (both ruled by Mercury). Meanwhile Apple has announced that the iPhone with new G3 software will be available on July 11, a full week after the Retrograde shadow is ovuh! Good news. This platform will be stable and incredibly powerful, so if you’ve been holding off on getting your shiny new gadget, now’s the time to pounce.
I fully believe the NY Times when they say that we are witnessing the birth of a new software platform, now there’s windows, mac and iPhone. I’m not kidding. The repositioning of Mercury in Gemini on that date and other power aspects virtually guarantee a sell-out of the gizmo. Get in line!
The New Moon on the 2nd takes place at 13′ Cancer and this months Full Moon is at 26′ Capricorn on July 18th. In other words, goodbye papa, hello mamma! Cancer New beginnings favor motherhood, community, emotional ties and emotional bonding. The Full Moon brings an end to rigid father-figure rules and restraints. It can also end a job title, relationship status or other worldly label we may feel accustomed to. Weeheee! Overthrow them there structures and dive into the depths of your emotions this month. On a more basic level, I see this as not paying attention to the rules so much and trusting those inner ‘nudges’ more. I for one am using this influence to fight a traffic ticket.
Aries: The month begins with you kicking into high gear and getting a lot done. You can even connect with powerful people and leverage the efforts of others now. But around the 7th-11th you will suddenly feel mired in concrete and faced with obstacles. Plow through, it gets better. Towards the end of the month you are feeling family oriented and around the 26th you have luck on your side.
Taurus: This month you are ahead of the curve and where you lead, others will follow. You have the prescience to be about a week ahead of a powerful figure, and this makes you come off looking like a genius. Gather your big plans together, express your big vision and inspire a team to follow you. They’re doing it anyway, you might as well have a destination in mind.
Gemini: The doorway that is opened by the New Moon on the 2nd (in Cancer) is just begging you to run through it on the Full Moon (in Capricorn) of the 18th. Be very careful with this one, it is very likely that someone’s reputation will get trashed in this process. Publishing, storytelling and the feelings of the ‘crowd’ are all highlighted. We’ve got the fixins for a ‘mob-think’ kinda moment goin’ on. On the other hand, there’s never been a better time to buy cheap mortgages - just do your due diligence.
Cancer: The crowd is all over at your house, and they show no signs of leaving any time soon. That’s probably fine by you, you love a good sing-a-long, especially with a fired up bar-b-que (hold the tainted tomato’s please). It’s times like these when you get to really stretch out, feel your castle king or queenliness and gather all your guests around for some good old-fashioned storytelling.
Leo: Someone’s excessiveness is wearing very thin about now. I wonder how much you can indulge them anyway? Yawn, you’ve heard it all before, seen it all before. You couldn’t be more tired of the same old hot air. It’s gonna take a lot more than words to sway your opinion now, there’ s too much water under those Bridges of Madison County.
Virgo: Like Gemini, this months Moon’s set you up for a one-two punch, but for you it is in the areas of kids and social scene. A little empty nest syndrome never killed anyone. Your offspring (literal or creative) need to fly and be free to go out into the world on their own eventually. That’s the only way they can ever be strong and successful. Think of this as evidence of the good job you’ve done.
Libra: After mid month, you feel like a social animal all of a sudden. Yes, you want to go to the party, you want to turn heads, you want to roar out loud. OK, I’m not stopping you. I’m just enjoying the show. You are in rare form and make such a splash that you could even launch a new craze or trend. Yes, your charisma is in high gear, use it wisely, don’t break EVERYONE’S heart just because you can.
Scorpio: You can get a TON done early in the month, and a lovely, loyal ally comes to your side at a group or event. But if someone wants to gossip, just close your ears and walk away, you don’t need that kind of mojo. Someone who loves pain or slander is nobodies friend and you want to stay far away from them, especially around the 7th-10th.
Sagittarius: Between the 6th-9th the world is literally your oyster and you can get whatever you ask for. The trick, of course is to be sure and ask for the right thing. The wisest among us are careful to ASK for divine guidance to align with SOUL and not merely the game you see. By the 18th you have let go of some struggle, pressure or outmoded picture of perfection. Why bother living up to someone else’s standards?
Capricorn: It’s almost as if they are trying to light a fire under you. Oh wait, that’s exactly what the STARS are doing this month - especially around the 7th-10th. False starts, frustrations and fitful new beginnings can lead to great progress and success - just as long as you don’t get in your OWN WAY! Don’t be the roadblock. The message is loud and clear - you need to let go of your limiting thinking!
Aquarius: It looks like the Tarot card: Death to me. This has more to do with transformation and a deep bonding emotional connection with other people than anything else. It also has something to do with a profound sexual & spiritual connection that blows your mind. Don’t let old subconscious blockages or unseen beliefs cause you to sabotage a golden moment when it stares you in the face. Nothing less than a spiritual awakening is at stake.
Pisces: It might take courage, it might take asking more than once and it might take nerves of steel - but you CAN get what you need from this situation. The creative inspiration of women and the company of women is nourishing to your soul now, and a solution to a problem will come from BELIEVING In yourself and your ability to overcome. You are stronger than you think you are - this is the biggest secret of the Zodiac.
Mercury continues to be Retrograde in Gemini until the 18th, but he won’t leave his shadow until the Fourth of July - which should make for an interesting display of patriotism, especially in the media and in computer discussions (both ruled by Mercury).
Also on the 18th, we have a Full Moon at 28′ Sagittarius, kicking off a cycle of large-scale exodus from some kind of group or allegiance over the next few weeks, it will be a very interesting month. The good news this month comes in the form of the protection being offered by the stars to lovers, artists and others who lead with their hearts.
But as for the rest of JUNE; mid-month aspects bring the concepts of lust and love together at last. With the planetary line-up in Gemini of Sun, Mercury and Venus we have a whole she-bang of duality facing us square in our mooney eyed reflections. You see, most of us on planet earth struggle with a polarity around relationships: lust vs love, security vs satisfaction. The whole madonna vs whore deal-i-o that pervades our mass consciousness has driven hordes of the population to take little blue ED pills and pump silocone into parts of our bodies where it never belonged. Wouldn’t it be good to have our cake (I mean sex) and enjoy it too? Today we finally get to examine these underlying assumptions and make a break for it to get away from past (frustrating) conditioning.
The first half of the month is filled with frustrations and power-struggles, even obsession. There’s a heavy duty arm wrestling match going on, especially between the 5th and the 17th, but then things should ease up some. But don’t say I didn’t warn you that some people are just plain voracious now. Most of June’s energy favors breaking things up and clearing them out, which makes this an ideal month to end contracts, get out of unwanted commitments and release yourself from cloying obligations. A few suggestions: trade the SUV in for a hybrid, retrofit your house for solar panals, prepare an area for a garden and generally cut loose any wasteful habits that are bad for you and the environment. This is also a month that is only good for temporary solutions to problems - not permanent ones.
aries - You start the month on some kind of a roll as everyone’s favorite ‘go-to’ guy or gal. This allows you to feel appreciated for your talents and abilities, which is very rewarding. One word of caution though: be sure that you aren’t being used for someone else’s agenda that serves THEIR goals but not your OWN. In other words, being appreciated is great and nice, just as long is it isn’t costing you progress on your own dreams. The question is, would you rather be popular or would you rather be loyal to yourself?
taurus - You are protected from any real harm this month, which is a good thing because somehow you suddenly find yourself tangled up in a battle of wills. Who will win? Well the battle is clearly over power and who has it. In any battle of power, the ‘winner’ is always the person who has access to their own personal power. Personal power means connecting to your inner source. The power is within, it isn’t connected to other people. The sooner you know that in your bones, the sooner you will be free of outside interference and frustrations.
gemini - You are very good at telling the right story to the right people this month and doing so will gain you some strong supporters. Just be sure that you are staying true in your stories, after all, once we start spinning things sideways it gets harder and harder to keep track of all the variations that everyone has heard. In the long run, it’s probably easier and less effort to just craft a clear, strong and compelling message that reflects your deepest truth. This is your challenge now: what exactly IS your deepest truth?
cancer - A complete overhaul of your daily routines is underway. You may quit a job, leave a network or group affiliation or just feel ‘over-it’ regarding a philosophy, form of education or ideology. “To everthing there is a season” and this season is for leaving behind the group-think that doesn’t bring you what you need. Don’t bother analyzing it, don’t bother explaining it. Fighting about it is just an exhaustion you don’t need, so try to aviod that. All you really need to do is be true to you. So if it aint workin’ for ya, then say sionara Sunshine.
leo - You can get things done this month, which makes you feel effective and at the center of the action. Meanwhile there is a whole heap of outward objection to what you are associated with. It is the philosophical conflicts that are at the heart of the matter. To win the battle but to fight an immoral war, well how do we justify this? Each of us must look into our own hearts to find what is morally right for themselves. Now you are being asked to align with your inner truth, anything less and you will only hurt yourself in the long run.
virgo - Aaack! I feel for the Virgin this month. So much to try to handle, so little help or clarity from others. Try and cut through the confusion, try not to get swept up in it. There is a tinge of hysteria taking place now, and you will want to aviod it at all costs. My sensitive mind-powered friend that you are; don’t allow other people’s confusion, anger, agression or verbal acrobatics to throw you off-center. It is only when you are IN your center that you know what is true. Then you can be the laser-beam that cuts to the heart of the matter.
libra - Self-expression is good and healthy, just be cautious that you don’t whip up a frenzy of hot-buttons and emotional reactiveness in your audience for no reason. Many people are hair-trigger now, and this is not a fun environment to live in (except for speed freaks and other adrenaline junkies). The last thing you want to do is ADD to the unpredictible, reactionary and heated environment. SOMEBODY needs to have a cool head, maybe it can begin with you?
scorpio - You are being forced into the forefront - like it or not. All eyes are on you to see how you react, how you handle things and what you do next. It is up to you to set the tone. This brings up mixed feelings in you: while secretly you’ve always wanted to be on center stage, you also dread the heat you take there. This is why you keep your deepest feelings so very private. Well now is the time to share them. It might not be fun or comfortable, but it’s time. It is also your road to the loyalty and and connection you truly desire.
sagittarius - ‘Say goodnight Gracie’ because there is something that you are letting go of this month. Perhaps it is a partnership. It will definitely change your role in public affiliations and groups, so be prepared to embrace the new and unexpected. There is something wildly unknown and even more unpredictable in your world now. The adventure part is exciting, just steer clear of the danger part.
capricorn - Some deep psychological duality is gnawing at you. It is probably unconscious, so all you feel is uneasy, without quite knowing why. Or else you are having heavy duty dreams that need interpeting or finally you may be sharing your bedroom with more than one partner and dealing with the emotional confusion that results. Time to resolve your inner duality, but this means going into the deep part of your nature - maybe you should get outside assistance.
aquarius - Social heat makes the sparks fly. Drama and all it’s attendant waves of gossip roll like waves through your life this week. For a detached Aquar-ee-eye you are paying damned close attention to it all. That’s because a social scene that you frequent is getting ready to collapse, and on top of all that your love life and creative output is suddenly on hyperactive fertility drugs. You are metaphorically pregnant, forget twins, these are at least triplets, maybe even quads.
pisces - A code of conduct is a great thing to have. This month you get to examine yours, including the unconscious parts that you probably inherited from your Dad. Once you drag it out into the light of day you can decide if you really agree with it or not. Then you can rewrite it according to your own real values and beliefs. Anything that doesn’t meet your true inner code isn’t worth doing, but first you’ve got to get clear on what that code IS, now you get to do so.
A Month Full of Retrograde Planets! Oh my. No, we’re not in Kansas anymore Toto.
May’s complicated celestial ballet begins with the May 3rd Station Direct of Saturn (2′ Virgo), a New Moon in Taurus on the 5th and a Retrograde of Jupiter on the 9th (22′ Capricorn). Early May looks like a time for some kind of complicated financial restructuring. By then the Banking crisis will have reached the point where bailouts (for Banks, not consumers) and other large scale solutions to the Mortgage Crisis are underway. The forward movement of Saturn brings unacknowledged problems front and center, while the Retrograde of Jupiter tends to pull the covers off of the protections that have been at work. This gives us all no other choice but to work on real solutions. This is really good news for people who actually HAVE real solutions and not just more band-aids. Expect to see the Eco-boom begin in earnest now. People are seriously going to be looking for real, sustainable long-term answers to ongoing trouble - like gas prices, mortgage crisis, escalating costs of living, etc, etc. The list goes on.
But the dance does not end there, later in May a whole new set of shifting sands rearranges the picture once again. On May 25th Chiron turns Retrograde (21′ Aquarius) and on May 26th Neptune Retrogrades (24′ Aquarius) both of which tangle with the planets in Taurus, creating a financial tug-of-war on the personal level. But once again, long term new beginnings for business are really favored and we’ll see some real innovation happening now, it could be time for you to buy that solar powered egg-beater you’ve had your eye on. Also, get ready to revise all of your long-term ideas and plans now in light of a new set of information. And finally, last but not least the Full Moon in Sag on the 20th asks, in a not-so-gentle way, to let go of useless old ideas or ways of looking at things, and may even demand that we leave a group, association or affiliation behind. Remember, when one door closes another one opens!
Overall May is a very powerful month for the Earth signs: Taurus, Capricorn and Virgo to get busy with all your wordly Earth-changing plans. This is especially true if you were born in the first week of any of those signs or if you have significant planets in the first degrees of Earth, even better if those planets are exalted (like an early Taurus Moon, Mars in Capricorn or Uranus in Virgo for example). You’re getting a strong tailwind from the stars which can only help you gain altitude.
Mercury Retrograde ALERT! Mercury enters the Shadow on May 11th at 13′ Gemini and becomes Retrograde on May 26th at 22′ Gemini - and no, the condition is not curable. But if you’d like to learn more about how to USE it and not LOSE it (your mind that is) then check out my video here:
aries - Around the 11th of May there is a window of opportunity calling your name - don’t let it pass you by. Especially since around the 17th there is a burden or hardship on the horizon that you either must or choose to tackle or be forced to handle. So, if you get a nice tax return in early May, save it for the rainy day that sneaks up on you a week later. Towards the end of May, it won’t matter what comes your way, you’ll have the fortitude to get through it come hell or high water, or locusts, or dragons to slay, or, or…
taurus - Play like Nike and ‘just do it’ - whatever IT is. You can plow through a two ton concrete embankment now (and you might just try for the fun of it). There is some kind of momentum on your side and a big win is getting ready to pop for you. This isn’t the sort of out of the blue dumb luck that Sag’s take for granted all the time, this kind is for stuff you’ve worked long and hard for, so breath it in, enjoy it and celebrate. You deserve it.
gemini - You probably don’t think you are fickle, but sometimes other people do. And all month long you are gearing up to do something that will either make everyone else think you are fickle, or make them scratch their heads trying to figure out how you were 3 steps ahead of the game. Mercury enters the Shadow at 13′ Gemini on the 11th and goes into full-out Retrograde at 22′ Gemini on May 26th. This means for the next 2 months 87% of Gemini’s will drive 92% of the worlds population into a dizzying state of distraction. Could someone please get me the anti-dote?
cancer - Early in the month some new social life is born for you where you could find friendship and romance. The Full Moon on the 20th urges you to let go of some idea or philosophy about your routines, employees or heath/food habits. The downside here is that if you can’t seem to let go wrath could take over. If you find yourself in this position, aks for outside help. The Retrograde of Mercury in the subconscious part of your chart stirs up trouble and asks you to dive deep to find the source of any current problems.
leo - Battles over possesions and taking on too much stuff in your daily routines could leave you feeling zapped this month. Get some R&R and dive into the depths of your philosophical truth, this is where your own personal alchemy can take place. In fact the Universe is asking you to spend the next 6 months re-evaluating the validity or depth of a truth you’ve been taking for granted. The Zen Buddhists would say, that if you want to know the meaning of truth, you must first come to know the oneness of all things.
virgo - You can do very well in the early part of the month, and later too provided that you don’t get bit by the Mercury Retrograde in Gemini double-speak bug. That’s one bug you don’t want to give OR to get. So check and triple check all of your agreements and make sure that there are no loopholes or slippery slopes for people to weasel out of, because under this influence all forms of dealmaking are subject to interpretation and mucho morally grey area. Put a chastity belt on your daughter and pay extra careful attention to the legal-ese.
libra - Time to take inventory. It’s always a good idea to know what stock you have in the store - even when that store is your own inner warehouse of feelings, thoughts and beliefs. Your deeper side is dying for attention, expression and long walks down the garden path. Don’t get lost in the maze of philosophy that presents itself now. Your salvation will come from real, tangible deals and financial connections you can make with others this month.
scorpio - This month presents a mixed bag of confusing possibilities. It would be wise for you to meditate on your options and mull them over rather than leap like a Mexican jumping bean. You don’t want to put all your enchiladas in one basket, but you don’t want to miss the Fiesta either (it is Cinco De Mayo after all). My suggestion: take as much of an educated guess on the future as possible, then make a well thought through (but not exciting) decision. Then grab a Margarita and dance to the Mariachi music.
sagittarius - Holy Moley. That’s the official term for your Horoscope this month. Things are shaking more than a dance party in a California earthquake. Nothing, and I mean nothing is stable this month for you, so get used to the ground shifting and shaking. You will wind up having to let go of something near month’s end. Try not to shed huge crocodile tears, it’s something you need to let go of anyway. Romance and dating is so unpredictable that you should just set your alarm for mid June and take a break ’til then.
capricorn - Well, Saturn moves into direct mode early this month and it does help you to gain control over the crazy schedule you’ve been keeping. It also lands a heaping helping of control over your environment onto your plate - so make use of it while you can (for the next 6 months). Halted projects, delayed interludes and stalled motors get going again for you. Not a moment too soon either, so make your plans clear, set your schedule and organize all travel plans early in the month before Mercury messes with all of your routines after the 11th.
aquarius - This month you get into a ‘team up with others’ mode that could lead to financing, or getting into the financial markets. A cautious approach is best for you and be sure you fully understand the obligations you are taking on - because you WILL be obligated. At least you suddenly feel like your head is in order, just as family ’stuff’ looms out of nowhere and creative projects (or children) get crazy and really hard to manage as the month progresses. You’ll need to have your mind clear just to deal with everyone else!
pisces - Guppies dive into the safety of escapism while swimming in captive fish bowls, sharks must keep moving to sink teeth into their next meal and trout seek out the most crisp and beautiful environment in which to thrive. Which are you? Each has its own challenge this month, the guppie never even gets in the game, the shark finds the tables turned when tangling with a hunter and the trout can make a clean getaway if he avoids the bait. It takes awareness to navigate these strange waters. Keep a fishy eyed lookout.
First of all, until the 10th of April we are still under the shadow of the nasty Retrograde Mars that began last fall and has been ‘biting’ us all year. If you remember from my previous columns I spoke about the nastiness of the Mars opposition to Pluto and how this is one serious power struggle. Well, we are still wrestling wtih it’s after effects. If you doubt the effects of this, then just log onto any political blog or newspaper site and read the heated fights that are taking place all over the place. It is about power, and it’s not quite over. Then, in the second half of April we lose the Jupiter protection that has been helping everyone on Earth and keeping financial problems from getting really bad, which increases pressures. Be careful that you haven’t been lulled into a false sense of security lately.
Also, all through April, Pluto trines Saturn creating a relentless hunger and insatiable need which often triggers obsessions and addictions of all kinds. This month is filled with conflict and struggle, and when you factor in the late month cardinal t-square of Jupiter, Mars and Venus it is clearly a time of difficult new beginnings. Be extremely careful not to overextend yourself financially, mentally or physically from the 20th-27th when the temptation to overestimate, or too much of a good thing leads to problems, pain and injury. The good news is that new business beginnings are well favored, especially in early April, but they won’t be easy with all this turbulence. This is the kind of month where the tough really get going.
The New Moon on April 6th in Aries: Adds to the flavor of new beginnings all month. This is a good time to pick a challenge to go after - run that 10k, start your organic garden, compete in the National Foosball championships - you get the idea. Make it something big and difficult, it will be VERY good for the soul this month especially. All that matters is that it is a personal best for you. The Full Moon on April 20th in Scorpio: relentlessly cuts away any dead leaves, underbrush and other stuff that is clogging the system. Go with the flow of the Universe and snake the plumbing, cut the rot off your deck, hack off 4 inches of dead hair and generally remove that which needs to go the way of compost.
aries - You really love a challenge, especially this month. Be very careful that you don’t make things even harder on yourself than they need to be by biting off more than you can chew. Being organized may not sound exactly fun - but it is often the road to freedom, and that really IS fun. Not only will a sense of order and efficiency make you feel like you’ve got your sh*t together, but it will also actually allow you to get it together, which feels pretty amazing. You see, biting the bullet for a few short minutes is worth it after all.
taurus - You’re deep into some very complex new beginnings this month, and you are more impulsive and hasty than usual. You may just feel like you don’t have enough time to think. Well, if you don’t have time to think, then schedule some! You have a unique ability to arrange and co-ordinate different people and resources around the rules and tools of effectiveness this month - so we really need you to think! Do whatever it takes to make it happen.
gemini - Some ancient conflicts or problems that have been brewing for a long time come into sharp focus in the second half of the month. The real question is how do you deal with adverstity and stress? The saying goes: “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me” but we all know that words can really sting when used irresponsibly. Some kind of permanent break or vicious sting is totally possible, so take a few extra doses of ‘miss manners.’ It may take everything in you to stay civilized, but if you lose your cool you will only hurt yourself. Don’t do it!
cancer - In some ways you’ve got the world on a string this month, especially when it comes to business and getting your way. If it’s results you’re after, then its results you’ll get. Just be careful with that Aries Moon lending an impatient and imperious tone to things, or else you could get labled demanding or worse. Patience with others will be far more effective than pushing. This will become crystal clear when a creative outlet closes down or goes away in the second half of the month. It is patience that will open new doors.
leo - You are on a roll with business in the first half of the month especially, so enjoy it. Good moments don’t last forever, so make sure you take a snapshot of this one and burn it into your memory to for safekeeping and for future inspiration. By the tail end of the month you have found a way to tap into the dreams and fantasies of others that suits you just fine and makes you plenty of cash, just be careful of intense outside competition as well as a challenging ending at home. Illusion vs clarity is the issue.
virgo - You are seriously focused on finding new and powerful ways to express yourself this month - and all that focus is bound to lead to something. What a great time to take a writing class or study a new creative inspiration. By the end of the month you are focused on seeing results, so there’s no room for fantasy or those who live in a dream world. You might have to say goodbye to someone, just to keep your own feet planted firmly on the ground.
libra - I don’t know why I always picture you in feathers, but this month you are flapping your wings to take a maiden flight of sorts. Baby birds are vulnerable, and when you start something entirely new, so are you. Legalities and partnerships are highlighted and require your attention. Be on the lookout for aggression - both the obvious kind and the passive aggressive kind that can take you by surprise. By the end of the month you have completely changed a financial strategy, which was a very good idea.
scorpio - An old role no longer fits you, so it’s time to auditon for something new. Like an actor, you DO have the power to decide who to be. But be very careful not to overdo it. Too much drama, too much intensity, too much of too much and you only drive people away - and that’s just no way to sell tickets to the show. Give the people what they want and you’ll be a hero, if not, well you know that just leaves zero.
sagittarius - The after-echoes of power struggles that started late last year suddenly show their ugly faces again, like a bad dream you thought you’d forgotten. Some words of wisdom that once helped me change a painful pattern: if the situation keeps changing, but you keep being in the middle of it every time, then it’s not the situation! The only thing left to change is the part of you that keeps attracting the problem. The good news is that it IS possible to do this.
capricorn - You can really get a lot done this month. The heavy power struggles and weight throwing shouldn’t bother you. I consider you too much of an expert on human nature to let posing and posturing throw your game. Of course you want to be aware of problems, but you are smart enough, and the stars are helping you to use all that monkey business to push your own agenda and create an opening for a huge breakthrough.
aquarius - A relentless pursuit of new beginnings in the first half of the month leaves you needing a vacation - or at the very least a day at the spa. Try and keep your phone numbers, your car keys and you brain in a safe place, since you are in danger of misplacing all of these now. By the end of the month you need to let go of something that impacts your image, career or reputation once and for all. The change will ultimately do you good and even allow you to make the most of practical and financial support your own plans are gathering.
pisces - A new beginning in a financial arena brightens you mood in the early part of the month - a sale, a renter or other windfall. Take it easy though and don’t press your luck too far. There’s a mounting tension towards the end of April that will force you to re-evaluate a long-standing point of view or value system. You may even find yourself giving up something that you were overly attached to - like an indulgent habit or useless point of view.
OK, this book/movie has gotten so much attention, become such a big hit that you can barely breathe without someone mentioning it near you.
I just read a very funny review by a woman who practiced the secret for two months describing her experience. She was disappointed to say the least, but she WAS very funny about it. Look, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that this book and movie are total oversimplifications. Hmm, then again, maybe it DOES take a rocket scientist. This book IS selling at a rate of 150,000 copies per week. It is not just a book or just a movie, it is a movement.
I find it telling that this movie came out in the middle of the Jupiter-Pluto alignment that is all about winning at all costs. Clearly this IS the theme of The Secret Movement.
Look, I spent the first decade of my life immersed in the midst of all those mind-control guys who started the personal development movement, guys like Guru Ram Dass and all the psychedelic hippie guys like Timothy Leary. Yes, Aura IS my real name. (I’m probably the only person on the Internet not afraid to say who I am.) This was kind of the birth of the whole ‘mind-control’ movement. And let me just say this for the record, there was more than just a little bit of an ugly side to it all. But that’s a subject for a different article.
I won’t exactly say that the motivating force behind the desire for mind control is megalomania, but well, it is megalomania.
And then as a young adult I studied the esoteric principles that make the universe work. I belonged to some of those ’secret societies’ and I learned what they were about. Today I own “The Complete Teachings of The Golden Dawn” and if you have any knowledge of these things you will understand that it will contain pretty much all the secrets of all the secret societies that ever were. The exception here would be the teachings of Alestair Crowley who was waaaay too creepy for any reasonable person to want to learn about. But this is just my point. Megalomania, creepy. This is what you find when you dig deep into the vaults of those who seek to manipulate the inner mind.
Here’s the truth: The REAL SECRET: the inner mind can definitely be manipulated. If you want to really learn how, then study some of the great salesmen of time. They know how to manipulate your inner mind - that’s why they make so much money.
The archetypes are very real, they really work - but not in the way people have been led to believe in ‘The Secret’. They work in real time, they work in the way we humans process information and understand the world - this is why a salesman can manipulate others with them. Whole religions have been started by the manipulation of these archetypes. Don’t get me started on that track. I am very pro spirituality, I believe in the church of the big trees. But I am not fond of organized religions. Hierarchy is a device of those creepy megalomaniacs. Jesus would never have stood for it, he was a very non-hierachy kind of guy.
We can’t get away from it, this manipulation of consciousness, our whole society is bound up in it. We even see it in the symbols used by McDonalds - those golden arches, which I nicknamed the tefflon tits. No real nourishment there, but that’s what we go there thinking we’ll get. Even the symbolism of oil companies, like 76 is designed to trigger specific reactions in our minds. Believe me, these people DO understand what they are doing. But no, they won’t be handing out the whole instruction manual in a movie like ‘The Secret’. Frankly even if anyone was inclined to share the real truths with humanity, it’s just too complicated to put on the 5th grade reading level.
So, yes there are SECRETS TO THE UNIVERSE, but you won’t be grasping them in a 90 minute movie. They can’t be explained in a few short sentences. And all those famous people who seem to have known ‘The Secret’ knew WAY MORE than this movement alludes to.
The real secret is that Byrne, who wrote the secret either really does know some of this esoteric archetype stuff (that’s why she’s sold so many books) OR she is a darling of someone who does. Either way, they’ve sold the books and movies to you! Isn’t it time you understood how your own mind is working to make you think that solving all of life’s problems is as simple as thinking positive?
Isn’t it time to actually break free of the hypnosis that is thrown upon us?
My real theory here is that The Secret was so successful because so many people are looking around at the world and realizing that there is some pretty bad news. Al Gore made a pretty compelling statement about global warming. War is hell, and it’s not ending. Celebrities delight in showing us the famine in Africa and India. We should think we’ve got it pretty good. But fantasy thinking is just, well, a lot more appealing.
Hey, I love all sorts of shiny new toys too, but I know a truth about the Universe and Universal principles - Nobody can manifest anything that isn’t in alignment with their level of consciousness. In other words, I’m too aware of oil problems to go out and get a guzzler, no matter how much delirious wishful thinking I apply to the situation. My argument is that if you know someone who IS creating things like this by using the Secret, you should probably run, you’re not likely to find a lot of consciousness there.
If you’re reading this, then it’s a good bet that YOU are a little too self aware to waste your time in wishful or shallow thinking - at least not all the time. So I made a CD, called The REST of the Secret that explains how this really works. I’m not selling wishful thinking. I am explaining how the archetypes of the mind work. These archetypes ARE principles of Astrology, and the CD will give you an overview of how it works. Oh, and it’s free.
And, by the way, if you DO try and use The Secret without a full understanding of it, don’t be surprised if it backfires on you. That’s what happens when you tell your unconscious something that is out of alignment with your inner being. But how do you know what IS in alignment with your inner being? Well, that’s what I teach.
But in a nutshell, as far as ‘The Secret’ goes here’s what it is: Venus is the Law of Attraction. She is also Earth and nature. We have been kicking her ass for a very long time, and if we want to clear that up we’ve got a lot of work to do. That’s the real story. But you’re right, the way Byrne dressed it up sounded a whole lot better.
The moves of the stars for the next few months resembles a complicated dance routine so busy that it is simply dizzying. As Feb begins Mars picks up speed and goes direct while Mercury has just turned backwards. Together the confusion should create enough frustration to make anyone feel slightly nuts. At least we’ll all have enough energy to put some oomph into it again after the past two months of energy zap. We might feel motivated, but we’re all plenty confused and can’t expect ourselves to come up with final or complete answers - so don’t even try! Even after Mercury goes direct again on the 19th we still find ourselves sorting out all the contacts and meetings he’s had this month - and there are LOTS of them. Generally speaking this means that the month will be filled with re connections to friends, family, old loves and heart breakers, and long-standing arrangements, grudges, emotional ‘deals’ and even financial matters. This is such a great blessing though, because it allows any and all of these things from the past that have been holding us back to be released, cleansed and re patterned once and for all. Think of it like this; it’s not every day that you get to read the twisted winding history of your family tree, so when you do get this opportunity it can lead to a brand new lease on life. Get ready, we’re in for a bumpy ride.
One of the things that all these changes of directions WILL do for us is bring back things from the past that we thought had left - especially from the recent past. So get ready. But then, on the other hand, when they come back they may not stick around the second time either - it all depends on what else is going on in your own chart transits to determine if you’ve actually found your soulmate.
And I haven’t even mentioned the Eclipse’s yet, there are two of them in February, the first, the Solar Eclipse takes place right on the Chinese New Year; 7 Feb (17Aqu44). It is also conjunct Chiron, Neptune and Rx Mercury this releases us from attachments to our sense of accomplishment and achievement or the expectations of fathers and father figures. Long standing figure heads are likely to move over at this time when we see our own outward values making way for a greater need for inner satisfaction, community and family connection. Next the Lunar Eclipse on Feb 21 (01Vir52) Connect with Saturn. This is a more difficult eclipse that put’s pressure on our community, causes emotion to burst forth and generally behaves in critical and frustrated ways. Burdens are place on women at this time (and they aren’t being welcomed!) and we all feel frustrated by wanting things that we feel we cannot have. Dissatisfaction runs high, the public is mobilized and active, hidden information begins to be revealed with unsettling results and rational thinking is pretty hard to find. In the middle of this apparent chaos, I say that there are huge (unseen) blessings afoot, mostly in the form of rebuilding broken systems. Whew, what a month!
aries - A social figure, friend or person of influence suddenly leaves your network, which leaves you feeling the gap. What do you want to do? Perhaps it’s time for you to step in and fill those big shoes yourself, after all, when you see an opportunity, you’re not usually one to let it slip past you. Later in the month the revelation of new information around health matters gives you concern and makes you re-think your habits and routines.
taurus - A sudden change in your career makes you rethink and rework all of your plans. Maybe you suddenly see an opportunity, or maybe you’ve just been shown the way to change professional hats. Either way, it will take some work to accomplish your goal, so make a plan now, and then stick to it. Later in the month the Lunar Eclipse triggers your creativity - not to mention fertility, so get ready to be a creative force to be reconed with - it is undeniable now and you need to let it happen!
gemini - The Solar Eclipse works in your favor and removes an opponent or obstacle to your goal. Strike while the iron is hot and you can strengthen your power. An exotic stranger threatens to rock your world, just don’t cheat on anyone. Around the 21st, an upheavel at home causes dishes to fly - I told you not to cheat on anyone!
cancer - A total reversal of your everyday assumptions and expectations is on the Universal agenda, so keep your plans loose and don’t get too attached to things going a certain way. Within the next 3 months you are likely to look back and wonder how things could have changed so much so fast. Sudden news later in the month makes huge waves, upsets the apple cart and causes you to completely change your whole strategy.
leo - You are ready to throw in the towel with your whole social network. Your frustration has reached some kind of boiling point, and partnerships have a huge impact on all of it. Just be prepared for some kind of capricious and unpredictable actions from your partners and you will be ok. A sudden financial revelation leaves you stunned later in the month, so hedge your bets.
virgo - Someone who has been stopping you or blocking you from moving forward with your plans suddenly just leaves the picture. It is almost like the problem has been pulled up by the roots - good riddance! The Virgo Lunar Eclipse causes you to gain deep clarity and understanding about what has really been motivating you, I mean the things you didn’t know about before. This gives you the chance to start over with a clean chalkboard.
libra - A lover could leave your life for good. Don’t cry over losers dear, they’re not worth it! But you are creatively inspired as well, so a good time in the bedroom is high on your priority list and could land you a new amore before you’ve had time to dry your tears. I really, really, really suggest you take a long tour through your subconscious and find out where your self-sabotage is coming from - this could save you a lot of pain this month.
scorpio - Challenging and sudden changes in your home life create stress. You can handle it though, I know you. Just realize that things are not going to go as you plan them to, and get flexible. I know it’s not comfortable for you, but it will save your sanity. The birth of a social community is the answer to your frustrations and provides you with what you really need - a sense of place within a larger community.
sagittarius - Your mail could get lost, or even your identity stolen. The news you get this month is beyond crazy and makes you wonder which end is up, so stay grounded and remember to breathe. A sudden and overwhelming need to prove yourself or make waves in your career grips you toward month’s end. You are not used to this kind of frenzy and are almost afraid of it. We have a word for it; ambition.
capricorn - Changes on the financial front create an unsettling sense of ‘what’s next’ for you. This doesn’t have to be a bad thing, but you’ll have to get really creative to transform it for the good, try studying Donald Trump. On the other hand, new and exotic connections from far and abroad will open up fantastic opportunities that are also incredibly rewarding - IF - and only IF you are paying attention for them.
aquarius - The Solar Eclipse in your sign creates some kind of disruption for you in the area of your career or public identity. You may suddenly find yourself taking on a new role or behaving in a totally uncharacteristic way. This is all part of the picture. Then, by month’s end you find yourself in the position of taking on a team, joining with others and working towards a mutually desired - and much needed - goal.
pisces - Just be prepared for things you aren’t expecting, I’m not saying that you’ll experience a betrayal this month, just that you need to guard against it. Don’t just trust that things are running smoothly and that business will continue as usual. Someone is likely to rock the boat now. Also, by month’s end your partnerships reveal things that have been buried or unspoken for a long time. It’s time to listen, this needs to be heard.
Now it’s time to celebrate the sheer virtue of having put November behind us. December’s challenges are really very minor after the whoppers that November delivered. There may be lingering fallout from last months Astrological Tsunami, and the worst of it looks like some sort of capriciousness and flighty behavior that we can expect some people to produce. So don’t bank on the goose laying golden eggs. It might eventually, but you can’t set your watch by it. I am reminded of Crane medicine – very unpredictable and fearful.
BUT, the rest is much better. Imagination is strong, and so is the ability to forge powerful and truly effective alliances. Perhaps the problems of November have led to a deepening of purpose, commitment and values among allies. Early in December well-behaved and big scale solution oriented meetings can take place effectively. And by mid-month (soul) family ties grow and bind more strongly than before. And further good news is that what was broken can now get fixed more permanently – maybe even without any chewing gum or tape. In other words; if the water lines became contaminated, now is the time to build a new and ecologically balanced solution in its place. Or another example might be the electricity goes haywire, so wind power is installed. It often takes crises to pressure a problem towards solution.
Mars is Retrograde In Cancer for most of the Month, and Saturn turns Retrograde in Virgo on the 19th. This one-two punch packs some heat and leaves many of us nursing some bruises. The competitive energy is sooooo strong this month that some people (especially in politics) simply don’t know when to back off.
aries - An unresolved abandonment/engulfment issue rises to the surface now and literally demands that you beat it’s multi headed hydra-ness into a new shape. A rare and unusual sight can be seen from miles around: all your buried insecurities are rising to the surface, you must conquer them!
taurus - Most people can’t see it, but you are wrestling with some sort of buried desire and secret burden. This really reaches a fever pitch in December, causing you to question everything. You want to break free of oppression and duty, but at the same time want to look ‘professional’ - resolving this contradiction is one tough challenge.
gemini - You CAN feel it coming in the air tonight, and tomorrow night, and the night after that. This is one incredibly intense month. Powerful communication is at your fingertips and you might even be ready to whip that unsuspecting crowd into an uproar. You are capable of nearly anything now.
cancer - A completely new set of routines for you! Nothing could be better, even if it feels like work for a minute. Really what could be more liberating than being set free from a stale old set of useless habits? OK, I admit, we can all do without the drama, so be cautious about the stressful Mars aspects this month.
leo - Hay Carumba! You team up with some serious power players this month and to all outward appearances it looks like you are ready to take over the world. Be careful though, there is some sneaky, underhanded, slight of hand at work behind the scenes, so watch out for fakers, snakes and liars.
virgo - Saturn unleashes a pain in your backside later in the month, and that’s gonna smart for a while. It seems to be having an impact on your reputation or social circle in some way. The best way to overcome an attack on your character is to rise gloriously above it with style, grace and a beautiful smile.
libra - Wow, I’ve rarely witnessed such a bitter struggle over a simple sense of status. Some sort of cloud hangs over your career or credit rating, and it is up to you to transform problems by transforming yourself from within. By concentrating on a deeper sort of meaning you can overcome any power struggle.
scorpio - Uncomfortable though it may be to carve out the source of your pain, it must be done. As Portia says in Julius Caesar, “Suffer these weeds today and they’ll ‘oergrow the garden tomorrow.” The kindest cut is the one that saves the future. Besides, with a little well-placed insight you stand to benefit hugely from current changes.
sagittarius - Like Leo, you appear to be the undisputed ruler of all things small and large in at least 5 different directions. It’s good to be you. It’s even better to have a clear and even sense of understanding and rapport among friends. Your daily affairs are going through changes, as you review priorities and decide what is most important now.
capricorn - Your partnerships are all up in a twist. Not only that, but by month’s end, you’re not even sure what you consider important anymore. These kinds of deep questions are enough to give anyone a headache. Take two hot Yogi’s and call me in about a month!
aquarius - Tiptoe-ing through the hall, hoping not to step on that one squeaky floorboard won’t do you any good. You simply are just NOT slipping under the radar now, no matter how hard you try. In fact the more you try to avoid attention the hotter and more glaring the spotlight on your PJ clad self is going to be!
pisces - No, this isn’t a dream. It isn’t a dress rehearsal either. All the attention on your offspring: children AND creative projects, leaves you feeling tied in knots. There is going to be a few more miles of negotiation before your partners are willing to change their minds and reverse their positions - but it will happen.
Author: AURA
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