LIFELIGHT ASTROLOGY 10TH APRIL

LIFELIGHT ASTROLOGY UPDATE

10 APRIL 2017

By Michelle McClunan

Hi everybody

I’ve been contemplating over the past few days, whether to even write a newsletter for the full moon on Tuesday 11^th April, because to be honest, I’m not sure I have any wise words for anybody at the moment. Having been through the ringer myself over the past few weeks, I’m feeling a little bent and bruised and am still trying to makes sense of it all.   So… I’m going to just write this and let what needs to emerge, emerge! This comes from a place of not having the answers…and I guess that’s ok!

As the Sun moves through Aries, joining revolutionary Uranus, we are being called upon to be Bold and one of the boldest things we can do, is to show up 100% for ourselves and to be vulnerable.

Some words from Brene Brown “Courage is a heart word. The root of the word courage is cor – the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.” Over time, this definition has changed, and today, we typically associate courage with heroic and brave deeds. But in my opinion, this definition fails to recognize the inner strength and level of commitment required for us to actually speak honestly and openly about who we are and about our experiences — good and bad. Speaking from our hearts is what I think of as “ordinary courage.”

In addition to the political shenanigans in South Africa over the past few weeks, which have wobbled our worlds, many of us have had a whole heap of other challenges to deal with as well. A quick list of some  of mine – a dear friend of mine was  diagnosed with Cancer and is having chemo as I write this;  my beloved  16 year old cat  died; I received a shocking and very hurtful accusation from an old and trusted friend;  my geyser burst, which lead to me having to vacate my living area for  a week;   I smacked  my head hard  on my car door, resulting in a deep gash in my eyebrow;  old health challenges have re-presented themselves and I had a car accident on Friday followed by two people getting very aggressive towards me….eish!

A part of me seriously just wanted to curl up, lick my wounds and hopefully protect myself from any further onslaughts. Having given myself the opportunity to do just that yesterday, I am now starting to feel the glimmer of something else arising. I’m not sure what it is exactly, but I know, without any doubt that there’s something much bigger at play here that needs my attention. I do believe that when we feel as though we’re being pummeled, there’s always something more going on.

The way I see it, with FOUR PLANETS RETROGRADE right now, we’re all being encouraged to take responsibility for what’s going on in  our lives, to get REAL,  reflect, review, and reassess everything!

With all this retrograde energy, it can feel as if we’re taking one step forwards and a few backwards; as if our progress is being blocked, or we’re being physically stopped or slowed down. Some of us might even feel hopeless, unable to “see” the future” and maybe fearful of even contemplating what lies ahead.

All of us have experienced that moment when a computer/tablet/cell phone starts just going haywire. It might freeze or a strange gobblygook language might  appear on the screen. It’s almost as if the device is  saying “I’m overloaded… too much going on… too much is being demanded of little old me…please give me a break!”  Sometime,  the only option is to switch the thing OFF… and when we do this, and then turn it back on,  it often sort itself out.

It’s the same with us, methinks…There’s never been a better time to  re-set…re-boot!

Here’s how I see this Retrograde season.

Mercury Retrograde (until 4^th May) – We’re all familiar with this one, which comes with reassessing how we communicate with ourselves and others (including unspoken communication – the raising of eyebrows, body language, the way we turn away or walk away from somebody and in so doing, dismiss them); the amount of time we spend on social media, our phones, our computers or in front of the TV; the way we numb our feelings, by absorbing more and more information, which can result in us really not knowing what is true for us anymore.

Saturn Retrograde (until 26^th August) – this can feel as if we’re being severely challenged or disciplined by a strict, finger-wagging celestial authority figure. It might feel like we’re being dealt a series of karmic klaps. Perhaps its a message that its time to be honest about our fears, about our shadow side and in a a kind and loving way, get real about where we are self- sabotaging ourselves,  where we keep repeating the same fruitless patterns and where we don’t live up to the promises we make.

Venus Retrograde (until 17^th April)  – We get to review  our relationships with ourselves, friends and partners. Where are they out of balance?  Where might we be over-giving? Where are we pleasing others and forsaking ourselves or the other way around? What is truly valuable to us…now? How worthy are we? How much money, love, happiness do we deserve?

Jupiter Retrograde (until 10^th June)  – where do we inflate things and situations?  Where do we exaggerate, blow things out of proportion, over-indulge?  Where do we see our own specialness as being more important than anybody else’s? What are the blessings or the learnings hidden within the challenges?  How can we grow from them?  Perhaps these hardships are softening us? Maybe they’re preparing us for something more? Could it be that we’re being humbled and brought to our knees for a reason?

Some examples in my own life (which I’m still working my way through) –  Geyser – Where in my life have I been putting myself under extreme pressure?  Where do I bottle up emotions (water) until they have to be released?. Bashing the ol head – what am I not seeing/ where do I keep on doing the same things, expecting things to change?  Car Accident – where am I not paying attention?  Where am I trying to push something that is stationary, forward? Aggressors – How am I handling my own rage and what is beneath it – Sadness, fear, grief?

The potent  full moon tomorrow in Libra calls us to look at where we mask our true selves, in order to please others and where we project our anger or aggression (Aries) onto the people in our lives (Libra).  It asks us to find out what, in our lives is out of balance and what needs to die, in order for something new to be reborn.  This full moon calls on us to be bold – to face the truth about ourselves, to sit with what’s going on and not run from it.  There is huge boldness in vulnerability, in surrender, in taking accountability and responsibility.

It was such a privilege to  journey with some special, brave souls this past Saturday on the first of my BORN TO BE BOLD workshops. I still have space on the second workshop on the 22 APRIL 2017.

If you feel the need to RE-SET or RE-BOOT, you might want to consider joining us at ANTBEAR lodge for our AUTUMN RETREAT from 12th 14 May.

Its been a while since I read “The Invitation” but it seems very relevant right now.

In life, light and BOLDNESS

Michelle

LIFELIGHT ASTROLOGY UPDATE 21 MARCH

HAPPY NEW YEAR

 

Our new Astrological year has finally begun, with the sun entering Aries, the sign that governs new intentions, new beginnings and new life. This is the time of the year when we feel a real desire to emerge from the oneness, express our individuality, stand up, be seen and push forward with new initiatives.

The cusp on which Aries falls in your Natal chart is the area of your life which is where you will be wanting to focus your energy and  where a new cycle of expression will begin.

Some other important news is that Venus, the planet of love, peace, harmony and money,  is currently travelling retrograde through Aries, which means that she will be in the sign of the warrior for 13 weeks in total, compared to the normal 3 weeks she spends in a sign.

With her being retrograde, we are asked to re-visit our relationships, our money and our value systems. If there seem to be blockages in any of those areas, this is a good time to reassess them and make the changes that need to be changed.

When you combine the feminine energy of Venus with the fiery boldness, individualism and assertion of Aries,  you can end up with a ragingly angry feminine force OR a person who stands gently, but firmly in her own power, despite the opinion and actions of others.

This is the time of the year, where we are encouraged to explore our uniqueness, to embrace life to the full… to move, to sing, to dance, to make art, to make love, to adventure….  to emerge from the  shadows, step into our power and boldly embrace the next step in our lives.

Where are you unique?

How do you stand out from the crowd?

What is one audacious dream you have for your life? ‘

Where in your life, are you prepared to make one bold step into the future?

Email me for details on the BORN TO BE BOLD Workshops in April.

We still have space on our EARTH AND AUTUMN ODYSSEYS as well, so be sure not to miss them.

 

In Life and light

 

Michelle

New Moon in Aries 7th April 2016

Image “Breakdance III by double graphic

Break Dance

On your marks … get ready… for a hot-headed, fiery new moon on 7^th April.  With the  Sun, moon and Venus in Aries, this signals the real start to our new Astrological year. Uranus is right there too, giving us an extra burst of potency to  clear away blocks and take some bold steps in the direction we want to move in.

We’re not going gently into this dark night … that’s for sure.  This new moon is joined closely by Uranus and squared by Pluto, which feels to me, a lot like a break dance.

Why so? Look at the image and feel what it says to you… before reading on!  What kind of energy does it ignite in you?

Let’s unpack it a bit. Firstly, Uranus is the rebel, the revolutionary, the out-the-box, unconventional maverick, who sees all, despises ruts and will do whatever he needs to do, to disrupt the status quo. He will send his thunderbolts to eject us out of any comfy little zones we might have gotten ourselves into and demand that we stand up and actively participate in our lives, as opposed to watching it all from the side-lines.

And then there’s Pluto, who brings a passionate, intense, sometimes ruthless energy into the picture, demanding that we look beneath the surface and discover what’s stopping us from stepping into our true unique, authentic power and manifesting our heart’s  intentions.

Not exactly coochy coo…. This combination turns the heat up and could even tip things upside down and turn them on their heads a little…and that’s exactly what needs to happen right now.  As much as most of us resist discomfort, we also know that very often, the only time we actually change, is when things start to feel so uncomfortable that we have no option but to do something different. It’s  going to be very interesting to see what happens politically in the next few weeks.  Even more skeletons are likely to come leaping out of closets across the planet.  Be aware that tempers might get a little frayed, so remember to breathe!

This is a POTENT time to put our money where our mouths are… stop thinking and start acting.

Here are some questions to ask this new moon:

• What area of my life feels uncomfortable?
• What makes me angry or irritated?
• Where do I feel stagnant, stuck or ache for change?
• Am I actively doing anything to change it?
• What are the obstacles in the way of me going for what I want in my life?
• What new idea/concept/problem have I been procrastinating about?
• Do I really, really want whatever it is I think I want and how will I feel when I achieve it?
• Do I feel fearful about moving forward/ starting something new?
• What is preventing me from going for it… full tilt?
• If there was one bold step I could take, what would it be?

Once you’ve got some answers, try taking the idea/ concept or problem and break-dancing with it. Take it on!  Turn it upside down, maybe spin it around a few times. Talk about it to a friend. Brainstorm it from a completely new perspective. You might be very surprised at the flashes of creativity, ingenuity and inspiration that arrive unexpectedly – seemingly out of the blue!

Many years ago, I co-owned a property, which we were desperate to sell. There were all sorts of issues with living there, not least of all was the severe political unrest that arose in the area, which caused a sharp decline in property prices.  We were told by a number of  estate agents that there was no way we would be able to sell, even if we radically reduced the price. I felt completely stuck, overwhelmed, paralysed and fearful about our personal safety.  I honestly had no idea what to do next. The more I tried to think my way to a  solution, the more I got myself into knots.

A very good friend came to my rescue, by giving me some of the most valuable advice I have ever received. He suggested that I imagine my obstacle  (in my case  the “sale of the house” ) as a giant letter A (I’m not sure why an A… but anyway…). He said to walk up to it, give it a little kick and watch as the supposedly immovable, impossible obstacle wobbled a bit. Then he suggested giving it another kick, until cracks started to form and eventually I began to realise that it wasn’t so overwhelming and daunting after all.  It was really about walking up to the fear and actively doing something about it – not sitting stewing and ringing my hands in powerless desperation.

I followed his advice and the very next day, decided to take one step out of the box. I turned everything I knew or had heard about selling property on it’s head and placed a seemingly random ad in a publication that had nothing whatsoever to do with house sales.  It was in fact a Ski Boat magazine of all things. Within a few days, ONE person replied to the ad,  came and viewed the house and bought it immediately, for the asking price!

So, this new moon, ask yourself what the giant A is, that is preventing you moving forward?  How can you approach it from a different angle? And then, in true courageous Aries fashion, inhale deeply and take ONE  new bold step forwards.

Find out about my Inspired Intention Workshops in April. Even if you’ve done this workshop before, it is worth doing again, because as we know, all things are in a constant state of flux, so it won’t be the same as last time.  Also see below for info on my Autumn retreat in May – an opportunity for you to slow down and connect in the exquisite Natal Midlands.

If you need some help with setting intentions or moving forward, you might consider having an updated chart done or booking a navigational session with me.

Let’s take that “A” on!

 

In Life and light

Michelle

 

 

Lifelight Astrology – Welcome to the New Year

Sun in Aries / Lunar Eclipse in Libra 23rd March

What are your intentions for this astrological year?

Did any of you feel the energy shift a little yesterday, as Mercury and then the Sun moved from Pisces into Aries?  A glimmer of light perhaps … shining through the water? With all the Piscean energy that’s been around of late, there’s been much  wading through deep waters for many, with old wounds, fears, entanglements and ancient issues drifting up to the surface from the musty corners of our individual and collective psyches.  This is true too of our beloved country South Africa, as skeletons have been virtually leaping out of every conceivable political closet… exposing dem bones, for all to see.

For me personally, I’ve been feeling as if I’ve been submerged beneath the water without so much as a headlamp, rather than simply wading through the shallows in my trusty gumboots. Over the past weeks, the more I’ve tried to push things to happen, the more things have s l o w e d  d o w n. Technical equipment has giving up the ghost; data has disappeared into the ethers; I’ve been dogged by fogginess, confusion, weariness, and sadness at times. Things have been basically…. as clear as mud!. The only time I have found any relief or clarity is when I’ve stopped, stepped away from the noise,   tuned inwards and connected with my soul through imagery, art, music, meditation and when all else fails… sleep –( all Piscean themes by the way)

And then… yesterday… the fog started to clear a little. I began to see glimmers of light and even experienced moments of sharp clarity. Ideas that have been incubating for months, started to come more into focus. I started to see how the emotions I’ve been processing over the past few weeks have been showing me where my life is out of balance and giving me clues as to how to move forward. The fog hasn’t entirely cleared (there’s still Pisces energy around), but I’ve realised (once again) that it is in the place of surrender and un-knowing, that the seeds of new intentions are formed and that we need to allow them to, , without forcing them to sprout before they’re ready.

We as a human race find it hard though, to surrender and so we rail against those moments or weeks or months where nothing seems to be “working” out there …but it is….it’s just working beneath the surface and we can’t see it yet!

This has all been another huge reminder for me to tune into the cycles, rather than fighting them.     I mean, imagine if the sea said “No I’m done with all this ebbing….I just want to flow… all the time”  Or… what if the moon said “ I’m really not into the waning thing…. Let me just wax and wax. Get bigger and bigger!.”  Or the worm said “ I’m sick of this cocoon… think  I’ll bust outta here now?”  Or  what if we decided to just stop sleeping…. I mean, who wants to “waste” 8 hours of precious time?

I know this all sounds crazy, but really, if you think about it… we do this all the time, when we fight the rhythms and cycles of nature.

So now, we have finally started a new cycle. A new year. The sun has entered Aries and on the 23^rd March, he will oppose the moon in Libra to form a full moon, which is also a lunar eclipse. This is the last in a series of eclipses on the Aries/ Libra axis, which began in October 2013. It’s a good idea to take a few moments and reflect on what was happening then.  Whatever’s coming up for you now will probably  be connected to that.

Fiery, pioneering  Aries is all about setting new intentions, starting new projects, wanting to impulsively, passionately move forward towards the goals we have for ourselves, towards our true potential. Sometimes this energy can be impetuous, impatient and even aggressive.  This is where the moon in Libra comes in to the picture. She is strong too, but is more concerned with relationship,  co-operation, balance, beauty and harmony. This is a great full moon to look at your life and connect with how you can introduce more balance and temperance and where you can co-operate more with yourself and others. (this can be found at 3 degrees of Libra and Aries in your chart, if you have one)

The sun is sitting right next to Mercury (which rules communication) right now, so be sure to take some deep breaths before you retaliate verbally in the next few days. Tempers are likely to be aroused, so… breathe and count to ten.

Full moons (and lunar eclipses) always expose the polarities that reside in our lives and in our psyches. When we study astrology, we learn key words associated with each sign. I’ve listed some below for Aries (first) and Libra (second)

Self                                                                                        Others

Pushing forward; Drive; Decisiveness                       Paralysis; Indecisiveness; fence sitting

Assertiveness / confrontation/ aggression             Pleasing others/ co-operation

Temper/ Impatience                                                       Temperance / Patience

Striving                                                                               Balance

Independence                                                                   Interdependence/ co-dependance

Aloneness                                                                           Partnership/ relationship

Questions to ask this full moon:

• Which of these polarities can you relate to and do they connect to October 2013?
• What emotions or issues have washed up on the beach of your soul/ been exposed over the few weeks and the past year?
• Do these show you where your life might be out of balance?
• What new ideas have been incubating/ formulating in your unconscious?
• How can you move forward with them?
• Where can you co-operate more with yourself and others?
• Based on these learnings, what new intentions would you like to set for the new year?

Probably the best way we can deal with polarities is to find the centre point, which helps us to hold a space for both sides of the scale. In meditation, when we notice the monkey mind, we are advised to compassionately bring it back to the breath or the mantra. We are not supposed to chase the poor thing down and beat it to death.  And so it is with polarities. We notice them… aahhh yes… there’s that old story/ pattern of sadness or aloneness or victimhood, or fear or hopelessness. And then gently as we would guide a small child away from danger, we take it by the hand and bring it to safety. Back to the centre, which is the point where we find balance, peace and harmony –  the theme for this full moon. It’s from that place that we are able to set heart-felt inspired intentions.

Please see below or click here to find out about my Inspired Intention Workshops in April. Even if you’ve done this workshop before, it is worth doing again, because as we know, all things are in a constant state of flux, so it won’t be the same as last time.  Also see below  for info on my Autumn retreat in May – an opportunity for you to slow down and connect in the exquisite Natal Midlands.

If you’re unsure of your intentions for the New Year or where you’re headed, consider booking a coaching session with me and we’ll fish it out of the depths.

I found this image at the top of this blog  a few weeks ago. What does it mean to you? Please comment if anything comes up for you! I’d love to hear!

Here’s to a New Year filled with Inspired Intention!

 

Michelle

Lifelight Astrology April 2014 – A month of Big Change!

 

I’ve been seriously considering whether to write a newsletter this week, which is why it’s a little late, but have decided to give it a go anyway. This is a little more than an astrological write-up – the first part is more of a personal blog, straight from my heart, due to the place that I find myself in, with the astrology thrown in later. Please bear with me if this is a bit of a ramble, but I’m going to take you on a little journey to try and explain what’s going on “out there” and how it can play out in our lives, using mine as an example. If one or two of you resonate with it, then it’s served its purpose.

There’s a lot of deeply transformative stuff coming up for all of us astrologically in the next few months and the way I see it, the focus is on finding meaning in it all and in so doing, getting in touch with our authentic power.

So with that in mind here goes…  This really follows on from my last blog posted on 20^th March (re-read if necessary – its under this one), where I wrote about us possibly feeling “emotionally cut off, isolated,  a tad depressed, negative, numb or even somewhat stuck…. Heavyish!”   Well!  Little did I know that a couple of days later, I would land up in hospital, where I would remain for a whole week, my physical body being prodded and plundered and my emotions roller-coastering like never before.

It’s a long story, which I’m not going to bore you with and I’m recovering back at home now, thankfully.  However, the whole experience literally brought me and my life to a complete standstill, taking me to a place where I was faced with  the possibility that this could be the beginning of the end of my physical life as I know it. Sitting alone in a sterile x-ray room, being told by a man in a white coat  that the fluid they found around your lung was likely to be due to you having  either cancer or heart failure, is pretty much guaranteed to give you a warm klap (for non South Africans, translate as a slap around the ears)   of giant proportions… or not I guess… if you’re enlightened, which I’m clearly not.  As he said the words, I could feel my egoic mind taking over, I could feel myself separating from my essence and sending my fertile imagination into some rather scary places.

This “diagnosis” led to all sorts of tests, which eventually, one by one,  ruled out both of those dire possibilities. The process of not knowing, however, took a whole week and at this point, the medical fraternity is still scratching their collective heads and  don’t have any answers as to what caused the problem that took me to hospital  in the first place and neither do I. What I do know, is that it goes way beyond the physical body. Perhaps being in the mystery is the answer for me at this point…that, as well as fully taking responsibility for my health and my life and connecting in an even deeper way.

Lying in that hospital bed at night, I had no option but to feel my feelings in techni-colour – no distractions – they ranged from bare-faced fear, to terror, sheer unadulterated panic, anxiety, unbelievable sadness, anger, aloneness, grief and even meaningless. My mind would try it’s best to rationalise it  and tell me that it would all be ok and that I could handle whatever it was and that people deal with much more momentous things than this  every second of every day.

My emotions, however, were having none of that.  It would often feel as if my heart was literally pounding in my throat, so loudly that I could hear it like an African drum had taken up centre stage inside my ears. Throughout all this, the only thing I could do was to surrender. The only thing that eased the pain, was to breathe as deeply as my lungs would allow and tell myself that I was supported by and connected to the Divine and that whatever happened, it was ok. A dear healer/teacher visited, (as did many) and did a very powerful healing on me the night before my little op and reminded me to repeat the Ho’oponopono – “I’m sorry, please forgive me, I love you and thank you”. This is one powerful mantra, which I did all the time and am still doing, until I drift off to sleep. If you don’t know this remarkable story. There are lots of links but here’s one if you want to read more.   

As I continue to spend some in reflection –  writing, healing and just “being” with the feelings that come up, I find myself looking for “meaning” in a far deeper way than ever before. I’ve realised that with all the books I’ve read, courses I’ve done etc (and that’s a lot), the real work can only be done deep inside …. alone. I’m still in that place …no where near through the tunnel yet, but doing my best to surrender. In fact, what I know now is that I don’t know very much about anything all. Perhaps that’s an important step towards awakening?

For those of you who are interested and who are still reading, I do believe that the  astrology of this time is really, really urging us to walk the talk, to do what needs to be done in order to let go, transmute, wake up and bring new energy in. From late March through to May, we have yet another opportunity to go deeper, to transform and to set real authentic intentions, which will lead us towards finding real meaning and healing.  Fortunately that doesn’t mean you need get your butt kicked into a hospital ward like I did, but it does mean that transformation is going to happen one way or another.

First of all, we start the month with the Sun moving into the same degree as Uranus (planet of radical change) in Aries (new beginnings, intention) – so one interpretation would be  “Radically changing our intentions”. This activates the Uranus Pluto Square, which will later  turn into another Grand Cross (the 5^th of 7 in total), which I’ve written about in detail before. This Cross will become exact again from 20^th to the 22^nd (over Easter), but the activation has started already. Joining Uranus and Pluto in the tight square will be lofty Jupiter, which amplifies everything and assertive/ aggressive Mars.

The next bit of this blog will mean more to people who have copies of their charts. If you don’t you can  try and intuit where it may play out or you might want to have your chart done. Astrology really does help to understand what’s going on… and what’s going on is big, people. This world, she is a-changing, like it or not and we need to keep up.

So if you have a copy of your chart, here goes. You can look up the house meanings on www.cafeastrology.com.  I’ll relate it back to my chart, to help you get the hang of it, seeing as though I’m baring all today.

1. First Look at where  12 or 13 degrees Capricorn is in your chart. That’s where Pluto is sitting– this will be area in your life where there are old compulsions, obsessions or control issues  that you need to release. Pluto is transitting my first house, which represents the physical body, how I project myself into the world and controlling my immediate environment -Ha! So much for that!)

2. Next,  look at the area which houses 12 / 13 degrees Aries. This is where Uranus is. This indicates the area/s in your life that needs to be radically changed.– this is where you can no longer do things the way you’ve been doing them.. any more…finito!  Mine is travelling across my 4^th / 5^th house cusp. This means changes in and around my actual physical home (which is happening), family relations (that too), my deepest  psychological complexes and connecting with my real spiritual home. Recent dreams of re-organising furniture and moving houses have clarified that even more for me) Watch your dreams by the way…they’ll be profound.  The 5^th house is the house of creativity or procreation. Seeing as though I won’t be procreating at this point, it could mean a change in the way I express myself creatively – yay!

3. Then  look at is where 13 degrees of Cancer resides. This is where lofty, expansive Jupiter is travelling. This is the area where you will find expansion and nurturing, where your inner child might need some care and compassion. Mine is in the house of one-on-one relationships and close friendships. Even though I’m not in a permanent partnership, I have received more nurturing this last week than I ever thought possible. Thanks to each of you –  not a single text, phone call or visit went by unnoticed or unappreciated and each one made me realise that I am not actually alone in this physical world.

4. Lastly, wherever 13 degrees Libra is situated is where Mars, the warrior king  is hanging out. Being in Libra, this indicates that its related to how we handle our interactions with others, how we judge others and where the reflections are. This is the area where you need to find balance, harmony and authenticity. This is where you need to speak your truth with loving kindness, where you need to be a peaceful warrior. Mine is in the house which relates to groups, group work, humanitarian concerns,  friends,  as well as future goals.

So that’s the Grand Cross – hard to explain but really big and important. As if that isn’t enough, we also have not one, but two eclipses this month, representing great personal and global change. The first is on  15April (in the Southern Hemisphere). It’s a lunar eclipse which means it’s a full moon – in Libra – more relationship stuff)  This one is the first of a string of four  “blood moons” which will happen over the next year and a half.  I don’t know much about them, but books have been written about them and there’s lots to read on the internet.

Essentially what will happen is that light from the sun to the moon will be blocked by the Earth, lasting about 77 minutes (visible only in the northern hemisphere, so us down south won’t see this one L. Some speculate that the blood moons are not just the result of rare alignments and that they are part of  a biblical prophecy to be fulfilled in relevance to Israel. Guess we will just have to see.  As I say, I know nothing. J  The second (solar) eclipse is on the 29^th April , which is a new moon in Taurus. More about that later in the month.

So-  if you see life as a stage, then the set is changing and a new one is being constructed, not only in  April, but for the rest of the year. As far as I can see its about  Awareness, Awakeness, Authenticity, Attention, Intention and Meaning and taking responsibility for our lives.  I found this passage recently in a book that was lent to me by another sister/friend – what would we do without em?

“The goal in life is not happiness, but meaning” – based on the work of Carl Jung.

That’s a very good place for us to start. . Ask yourself …What gives my life meaning?  Am I living that, doing that, even in a small way every day?  What used to make my heart sing as a child? Do I still do any of that? How am I using the precious energy that I have? Where is my attention? Is it on thoughts of doom, gloom and anxiety, or on grand possibilities?  Am I congruent… am I walking my talk? Am I living an authentic life or behaving in certain ways, just to please others?.  Whilst we’re so busy striving, pleasing and working to achieve what we believe we need to achieve, we sometimes forget to just be ourselves. Am I able to stand in my truth and authentically say what I need to say with firm loving kindness?  Am I feeling my feelings or medicating them away with alcohol or other addictions?

When the chips are down, and you’re alone and unsure of anything, who are you  at the deepest level – Who is the “you” beyond the career, the children, the partner, house, money, responsibilities, concerns, achievements?. When all that is stripped away, what is left? What is your deepest Hearts Desire? Etymologically the word “desire” comes from the Latin de and sidus –and one interpretation is “ to have lost ones navigational star”. Have you lost sight of yours? Perhaps it’s a little dimmed? If so, now’s the time to start clearing the debris away and navigating your way back home.

Please see my newsletter or contact me for details of the  Inspired Intention workshops I’m running on this theme in April . By the way, I will not  be showing you what your heart’s desire is – you will do this yourself – I’m just the tour guide.

I leave you with this thought by a favourite astrologer of mine Tom Lescher for this week. “ If I am to be a co-creator, It’s my job to know what to water, when and how, to regulate the flow. Whatever we want to grow in our lives needs our full attention and deep intention and that’s precisely what the astrology of this month is all about.

Wheweee. That’s me, over and out for now. Thanks for reading

In life and light

Michelle

Autumn Equinox – Sun enters Aries 20th March 2014

 

Well we’ve finally reached the end of our Astrological year. For those of us in South Africa, the Sun enters Aries tonight (20 March) at 6:57. This also is the  Autumn Equinox, which means equality of day and night. So tonight is the turning point at which our days start to get shorter and our nights longer.

Aries is the sign which governs new intentions, new beginnings, new life … so this  is the time of the year when we usually feel a real desire to emerge from the oneness, express our individuality, stand up, be seen and push forward with new initiatives. The cusp on which Aries falls in your Natal chart is the area of your life which is where you will be wanting to focus your energy and  where a new cycle of expression will begin.

The chart for the year ahead, which is drawn up for the moment the Sun enters Aries, however, tells a slightly different story.

First of all, Mars, the ruler of Aries, is REtrograde in Libra (its opposite sign) – The retrograde motion suggests that the focus is more on RE-envisioning, Re-flecting, RE-structuring. The Libran scales bring our focus to creating balance in our lives rather than pushing, shoving, achieving in a desperate attempt to be number one.  Actually, the spotlight is more on others than little ol us right now. Libra  governs relationships and  the Mars / Libra combination can present us with some interesting, if not tricky interactions right now.  It’s really about noticing how we’re relating and responding to others… or not … and what they’re mirroring in us.

As I wrote  at the beginning of the month, Saturn is also retrograde for the next while and right now is in close contact with the moon, which is in the waning phase. This further indicates that we might be feeling a little emotionally cut off, isolated,  a tad  depressed, negative, numb or even somewhat stuck…. Heavyish!

So… The way I’m reading this energy is that we need to be as present and authentic as possible, staying centred and connecting to our hearts intentions rather than our goals.

The difference as I see it, is that Goals focus on specific outcomes in the future (which are unlikely to be clear right now) , whilst intentions focus on the present and provide the guiding light  which points us towards our deepest hearts aspirations and values.

We need to be asking ourselves if what we’re putting out there is congruent with our deepest hearts desires. If not, we’re unlikely to feel as if we are living purposeful lives.

I’ll be writing more about this theme next week and will be running 2 workshops in April and possibly one in May on Inspired Intention or as it’s referred to in Sanskrit, Sankulpa.  This is probably one of the most important workshop I’ll be running all year and I really feel that the time is ripe for it. Email me for  details.

You are what your deepest desire is (Sankulpa).
As your desire is, so is your intention.
As your intention is, so is your will.
As your will is, so is your deed.
As your deed is, so is your destiny.”
~ Upanishads

Please visit and like my Facebook page for regular posts on Inspired Intention.  https://www.facebook.com/MichelleMcclunanCreativeSelfDiscovery

Happy Equinox everyone.

In life and light

Michelle