July - Is Your Word Your Bond?

Many of the planets this month are moving through the gates I've just talked about in my Mercury post ... hence my choice of title for July!  I think this month really is all about communication, in all forms, it's also about continuing to review the company we've kept, about being true to ourselves and our word being our bond.

Briefly ... all but Uranus, Venus and Mars will be retrograde this month ... Mercury joins that party on 8th July stationing in 31.3 see previous post.

The Moon - will be New on 2nd - 19:18 GMT and in solar eclipse 19:24 - 39 line 2

Chetan has a specific piece for the Moon at this position "You naturally provoke life, so you are constantly called on to meet situations face to face"  39 is the gate of provocation and hardship (this is the way of personal growth ... or not).

Full Moon 21:40 GMT and lunar eclipse 21:32 16th - 61.4

Chetan "Holding Higher Truth: Following your clarity to find resonant truth in others" And don't forget this is the same gate as Pluto currently, he's been reminding us of our soul mission in this energy since January, are you listening yet?

Jupiter starts July by moving into 5 where he'll stay till mid September bringing his expansive energy to all things rhythm and timing ... several months of supporting us to find our personal rhythm.  This is a sacral gate; with proper timing you can engage your life force appropriately.

Saturn remains conjunct with the south node, still reviewing your past upgrades, Uranus stays with the theme of nurturing, and watch out if you haven't got that message yet ... he's been there since mid April and he's not renowned for patience!  Neptune is still vague and drifting through the gate of Grace, 22, still calling you out to see through false appearances both of the self, and others.  As we've seen the last of 12 energy (sigh of  relief for many) we won't be activating that highly emotional channel this coming month.  

However ..., there's always a however eh ... the Sun/Earth will be conjunct with the nodes for the second week so there will be an impetus for progress as the sun teams up with the North Node but this is the week Mercury turns retrograde so be very clear with your communications and don't push forward without being really sure.  For the rest of the month the Sun will move through the Mercury retrograde throat gates I've spoken of so it could make for a very vocal second half to the month and there will be another Mercury/Sun conjunction on 21st in 56.1 ... 

"The wanderer who is meddlesome and egotistical quickly loses his resting place.  The current situation becomes dangerous if you do not return to neutrality and detachment." BBW

Mars opens the month with these throat energies and Venus picks them up from 21st, so all in all every aspect of our being will be taken through them, work, how we communicate with the world, our relationships. 

Havamal and Odin's words stanza 29 (Olive Bray translation)

"Too many unstable words are spoken

by him who ne'er holds his peace; 

the hasty tongue sings its own mishap

if it be not bridled in."

2nd - 7th Sun provoking and Earth in opposition, up for the fight, a solar eclipse and New Moon, Venus feeling extreme and Mars regaling stories.  Quite a week!

8th - 12th Sun/Earth conjunct with North and South nodes, Mercury stationing for Retrograde 31.3.  The Sun and NN may be pressing you for progress but Mercury's position cautions you to avoid rushing forward until the time is right.

13th - 18th Sun starts it's way through the Mercury throat gates, here we are in 62, precision over the details, the Earth will be conjunct Pluto this week seeking inner truth.  We have the Full Moon on 16th and Mercury reviewing stories.  Mars will be easing back and into the gate of retreat which should make the following week feel less pressured when Venus meets with the North Node.

19th - 24th Another Sun conjunction with Mercury in that story-telling gate, 56.  The Earth will be there to contain any excesses as Venus picks up the pattern of making some progress as she now conjuncts with the North Node in 53 ... remember this progressive energy is about ensuring your roots are firmly secured before reaching up and onward and here perhaps this is around relationships this week. 

25th - 30th The Sun is leading the way, hopefully with carefully chosen words, the Earth has realised all the necessary bases have been covered and is available to dream about the future and Mercury is able to articulate these ideals with some precision.  Meantime Mars moved into another leadership gate, 7, the previous week so will be ready to align with the Sun's lead  ... this feels like the best week we've had for a long time given you've done the work and been wise with your communications.  

At last a positive!

And the Rune for the month ... Thurisaz, Thor's rune, it is the giants, can be the difficulties but it's also about finding and knowing you have the tools to overcome any challenges.  

And when you use those tools appropriately you can slide that thorn up the stave and you have Wunjo, the rune of joy and a sense of achievement!

I will probably be back for a Full Moon post as I'm now away for a while on holiday :-) 

Mercury Special

Hello All

I noticed something interesting a day or two back ... and it's all about Mercury's travels over the next couple of months.

We have now entered the 'shadow' period of his retrograde cycle - that's to say he is still moving forward but we are now in a period of energies that he will return to during his (apparent) backwards motion before he stations to turn direct again when of course he will then go back over the same ground before finally emerging into new positions during August.  So there are a number of positions that will be visited three times so to speak, on the way in (going forwards), during the retrograde (in reverse) and then again on the way out (forwards again).  Nothing new or startling here, this is the same for any planetary retrograde motion.

What piqued my interest is the location of the series of Human Design gates involved, they are all positions on the throat centre.

This centre is about communication as the name implies, it is about our voice, how we express ourselves, but it's also about the ability to manifest and is very similar to Vishuddha chakra within the yogic tradition.

In the diagram the throat centre is the square box - notice how many direct connections with other centres it has ... the Ajna (thinking mind) above, the sense of identity and the will centres just below and the top of both the spleen (left - fears/now) and emotions (right) and of course it also dog-legs down to the Sacral (not shown here).  It has a direct link to 6 of the 8 other centres.

As in Astrology we track the movement of the planets around a mandala, the only difference being this circuit is divided into 64 gates (I Ching hexagrams) rather than 12 sun signs.  There is a logic to the order, which is not numerical, to do with the lines within each hexagram, which I won't go into here. 

The sequence of gates involved takes us through 62, 56, 31 (R), 56, 62 (D), 56, 31,  and then out of the retrograde shadows and on into 33, also another throat gate.  So from 18th June through till 20th August we have the Planet of communication in the centre of Communication - that's a whole lot of  talking, and potentially manifesting action. 

I sense all forms of communication are going to come to the fore during this period and we may well find ourselves revisiting what has been said as we proceed through this sequence.  So, perhaps this is a time to be particularly mindful of how we express ourselves.

For those that are interested ... 62 is about the details and the precise expression of them, bringing clarity to complex information ... 56 is about travelling and the stories we bring back, it's about the appreciation of the need to be aware of the scenario in which you find yourself; speak wisely according to your audience.  Finally there is 31, and this is where Mercury stations to turn retrograde, in line 3, so could be the focus of the retrograde ...

"Do not rush forward or allow yourself to be run over.  Allow your quiet heart to lead you." BBW

Reading several other translations the key to this position would seem to be to resist the desire to chase after that which draws you, wait until both parties are ready for 'mutual influence' (the name Huang gives this 31st hexagram). 

31 is fundamentally about the importance of language, the power of language and the need for precise language in leadership ... 31 is a gate of democratic leadership in Human Design.

Once we've made it back out of the retrograde we have a few days in 33 ... this is another story-telling gate, like that of 56, but here we have the succinct retelling of authentic life experience. 

I have 31, 56 and 62!  Perhaps that's why I noticed and felt the need to 'communicate' this to you!

If you are curious about what gates you may have defined switch to the desktop version of this blog to find how to contact me for a reading.

The Rune for this Mercury period is ... Gebo ... this is interesting, here we have an energy about exchange, about agreements and contracts but also of balance between what one gives and one receives.

Odin speaks at length in the Havamal about ways to live, about being a good host, and a good guest, about the balance of giving and taking ... 56 is very much that aspect, being a wise guest when travelling abroad, being mindful.  Also about how much one says!

Here perhaps the focus may be on our word being our bond. 

I'm away for early July, off to follow some Rune stones and Viking history on the Isle of Man ... I shall post July's transits in the next day or two, probably in a briefer form than usual given I've covered Mercury's forthcoming travels extensively above!

Solstice Blessings to all - Stand Quietly in Your Power

It's dawned Sunny here which is most appropriate as we reach the longest day of the year here in the northern hemisphere. Master Wu's Solstice email reminded me this morning that this is the peak of Yang energy and the season of the tidal hexagram 44, Gou, which he translates as copulate; must confess this interpretation of 44 hadn't really registered with me!

A quick dive into Huang and he mentions Blofeld translates it as Contact (sexual intercourse).  My understanding of it has been that it is about recognising that which is coming to meet us and to that extent it's associated with pattern recognition in Human Design.  The 44th gate is located on the spleen which is a centre all about the now, about being in the moment, it's also where fear lives and in this particular gate it's about the fear of the past, about patterns repeating.

At Solstice, 15:56 GMT today, we have Poseidon sitting in 44 looking across the channel of enterprise to Jupiter in 26.  Two powerful archetypes of creation and expansion, and very yang of course!  Poseidon's position in line 6 cautions to protect yourself from becoming overwhelmed (Chetan) and BBW notes the need to 'withdraw ... and ... tolerate accusations or unpleasantness with equanimity'.  Interestingly Jupiter sits with a similar message, line two of 26 is about recognising you cannot overcome the forces opposing you by struggling ... so still yourself.

The Sun is in 15, line 2

I like Chetan's contribution, for the Sun's position, he states ...

"You have the strength to accept your own particular ways as natural in the flow of life"

So very similar themes rising here it seems to me.

Raidho has stepped forward for today, this one means the 'journey', also the rhythm of life, enjoy sitting in the sun if you have the chance and allow your imagination to journey forth :-)

Full Moon - 08:33 GMT - 17th June - BE THE OBSERVER

Hello all

I have just spent half an hour looking, and I have to confess somewhat in vain, for a nice warm and fluffy aspect for the forth-coming Full Moon on Monday!

There is just so much going on ... we have Mercury (communications of all kinds) and Mars (action in the world) conjunct in 53.6 which is just a little shy off exact with the North Node (where we are heading) currently in 53.3.

Obviously the Moon and Earth are conjunct, and that's in 11.4, that is just a smidgen off the Galactic Centre which should really be a nice space bringing peace and harmony ... and this can be a computer defrag point if you can remain true to yourself and not be drawn into the crises of others.

That won't be an easy feat though in these days till the 19th because we have the 12-22 channel of Openness in play for all.  This is a very emotional energy and a manifesting one too.  Being clear about how you feel is imperative. 

Mars and Mercury are dancing with the North Node demanding some progress, albeit gradual, but we have the Sun sitting in 12, standstill, demanding stepping back and review, so it could be a battle royal.

I think perhaps calling out Neptune in the gate of Grace (22) will be key ... here the advice is to take note of the content, not the form, cut through false appearances.  So here perhaps you can harness Jupiter, he is sitting in 26, the gate of the trickster, he is also in line 2 so needs calling out but here you'll find he advises preserving your strength for a more beneficial time!

All in all a Duvet Day might be the best bet, certainly a day for sitting back quietly and just observing and using that full moon to fully illuminate what is really going on around you but avoid the temptation to act now, now is not the time for action because Saturn sits in 54 line 4 and this is what BBW has to say about it ...

"A good result comes in its own time.  Do not waste yourself in trying to hurry it.  The greatest gifts come to those who remain composed and patient"

Let's see which Rune wants to contribute ... and ... Nauthiz!

This is the ultimate 'rock and a hard place' rune!  No escaping it, it would seem this month ... this energy is about the process, about seeing what is what, what is left, what is necessary, what can be taken forward, what to leave behind.  It's discontent and the desire to change but the need has to be truly seen before it can be met.  This is about sitting with the discomfort and trusting that by allowing space what is required will become obvious, and is in fact already known, it just needs time to emerge and be truly seen, perhaps 'owned' might be a better description.

Arachne - caught in the spider's web

I know from messages some of you have sent me that many of you have been feeling the squeeze this month already.

Today I spent some time seeing what other celestial bodies are at play with the major, traditional astrology planets.

We have the Sun in 45 the gate of Rulership ... here being amplified by the Sun's presence we also have;

Asbolus - belief that efforts are unappreciated despite how much has been done for others, drive for revenge
Diana - huntress for freedom and independence, where you may be reluctant to commit
Hephaistos - the wounded artist, rejected by parents and love interests ... the blacksmith to the Gods.
Ariadne - abandon illusions as you travel the painful labyrinth
Vulcan - fire and forger of tools of consciousness
Midas - is what you really crave what you think it is
Kaali - firey destroyer for burning off the dross ... all in the gate of (would-be) Rulership ...

Earth and Jupiter are sitting together giving us a grounding and expansive vision of all things trickster-related ... being and spotting the BS.

The North Node wants us to progress gradually but Mars is sitting there too wanting robust progress but also we have Nemesis ... a reminder perhaps to examine what is ego-driven in this progress, especially with Mars here.

Uranus has Tantalus for company in the gate of nourishment and self care.  Uranus brings us shocking awakenings ... we've been working this energy for a while now, it's a Taurian gate with all its grounded earthy need for comfort and care.  Tantalus was eternally punished with fruit and water just out of his reach ... how seriously have you placed yourself and your needs in your schedule, are you really looking after yourself or will a shock arrive ... is the goal just out of reach, what's stopping you stepping into true self-care.

Mercury has the company of Cronos, he overthrew his father Uranus and ruled the Golden Age but here we have them in the gate of Provocation ... be aware of messages and actions that are perhaps intended to overthrow you, or where you might be guilty of such plots against another ... this ties closely with the work of Saturn and the South Node where we are being urged to review who we may have trodden on to make our ascension ... or perhaps have been trodden upon as others have made their ascent ... in this Marrying Maiden energy we also have Persephone, she was unable to make the match she wanted and spent her life between two worlds.

Pluto is sitting in the gate of Inner Truth with Chariklo for company, she was the wife of Chiron and companion of Athene (Pallas), she can represent where we feel we've completely disappeared from view ... perhaps in this position with Pluto they are reminding us to be true to our soul calling, to hold on to the truth of who we are amidst the competing energies at play.

Gate 20 is very busy today ... this is the energy of the 'now' and is where we have Venus (relationships, wealth, good life) - it's a throat manifesting energy and this is where we have a number of players jostling for attention, NOW ...

Astraea - sensitivity and purity, the last of the immortals to leave Earth at the end of the Golden Age when Cronos succumbed to his own sons' treachery ... she promised to return and is associated with new beginnings and she's here NOW.
Minerva - strategies we have learned to please the Patriarchy
Pan - the balanced masculine in touch with nature
Admetos - the anchor point for life's cycles, and, for the spider connection ...
Arachne - she challenged Athene (Pallas - and the Roman Version of Minerva ...) to a weaving competition ... the mythologies vary but she's associated with losing and being turned into a spider to weave a web for eternity.

Overall this is about sitting with who you 'be', holding firm to that whilst all around there are competing energies, much of them ego-based and driven for goals which may simply be illusions.

Take time to pause, step back and observe, aim for a response, not reaction, and perhaps best of all keep your own counsel ... next week we head to more 12-22 action with the Sun sitting in that gate of Standstill and Hindrance.  In the I Ching this represents the moment when we need to withdraw - this is the time for allowing the mundane earthly concerns to fall into the background and allow space for higher insight to be heard.

I can't help but be amused at the timing of these positions given the UK's search for a new Prime Minister ... life really is one big Cosmic joke if you just angle the kaleidoscope just so :-)