What is control? What is certainty? Do you feel the need to obtain or always be in possession of both? Well, guess what? There are times when uncertainty and losing control is necessary to function. Not the kind of everyday mundane stuff, like knowing the sun always rises and sets. I’m talking about the control of outcomes — the certainty of a journey’s path. A path only unfolds when we begin to travel it. It’s unproductive to grasp at certainty because you cannot know all the future choices you are going to make or all the potentialities from any given choice. Until a choice is made, all choices are possible. Once a choice is made, all other options collapse so that choice can play out.
Right now things could feel a bit chaotic and it wouldn’t be abnormal, after all we just entered Eclipse Season. Last night (April 19) the Sun underwent an annual dance of disguise, hiding behind the moon to be reborn. A Total Solar Eclipse. It shines a bright light toward that which needs our attention. The whole world is in store for doses of chaos but the intentions of an eclipse is to move progress forward, not backward. Today, in addition, we have the New Moon which started in Aries in the wee hours (April 20) and then moved into Taurus. The Sun moved into Taurus today, as well. But wait, there’s more! Mercury is also going retrograde again (April 21) in yep, Taurus.
Uncertainty, wrong directions, health woes, money worries and general confusion could be the order of the day for the next few weeks but realize it is not a punishment, but rather a kind of mandatory opportunity to slow down and quiet ourselves, to pull back from the frenetic pace of everyday life, if even for a few minutes each day. We cannot stop life but we can alter our perspective. If you ignore the call to get quiet and release control, eclipses and Mercury retrogrades could really bite your butt! But if you respect the process, you can learn to ride through these periods with grace. They do not have to be scary or hard. Energy dips and emotional flips are the cycles of Nature.
Learn how to be O K A Y with uncertainty, discomfort and even pain — to sit with it, acknowledge it. Acknowledging it decreases its hold.
The way I deal with this much cosmic chi in the atmosphere is to slow down and be extra mindful of every, single task that I do, what I think about, what I say. I do that as a practice anyhow, but during retrogrades and eclipses, I get stricter. That may sound tedious but mindfulness leads to peace of mind. Without time to “get vertical” or connect the above and below through meditation, prayer and simple mindfulness — you never allow the vibes of the “horizontal” or panoramic world to dissipate. Then you carry the weight of it on your body, in your aura, and in your psyche. For real!
There is a storm of cosmic activity hitting this planet all at once! You better believe you are affected by it. Think of it as an engraved invitation to check up on yourself and all your processes, reflect on things, and to release ideas, actions or attitudes that are holding you back.
**At the end of this newsletter, I’ve provided affirmations for each element (Fire, Earth, Air, Water) to charge up the frequency during this powerful cosmic period.**
A Star Reborn
Last night’s total solar eclipse happened in the evening hours for the U.S., but seeing an eclipse is the least of it. Eclipses are much more about energy. It’s a passing through a portal — we are different after the eclipse than before it. It’s influence permeates our planet and influences human frequencies for months.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth all move into alignment, allowing us to see the Moon pass into Earth’s shadow.
Spiritually, an eclipse represents a moment of amplified energy toward the particular attributes associated with the sign it’s crossing. This solar eclipse hit at the cusp of Aries and Taurus, thus taking on the vibe of each sign. Not only that, but it was a hybrid eclipse due to it’s shape and path — a hybrid between a partial and total eclipse — we have the duality of fiery action and fixed persistence.
Aries and Taurus. Fire and Earth — action and manifestation, values and spirituality, money and finance, body and heart, passion and love, body and Soul. This is a very powerful eclipse for the areas of taking action, leadership, passion, love, money, values, body, pleasure and spirituality.
Before I was an Astrologer, I didn’t realize that all eclipses happen in pairs (and on rare occasions, trios). We have two pairs of them every year. One pair visits in the first half of the year and the other in the second half. It always begins with a solar eclipse and ends with a lunar eclipse. Yet another cycle in the series of Celestial Cycles that provide a syllabus for the main themes and plot twists in a given year.
This first eclipse pair is asking us to embrace the high-road qualities of Taurus (calmness, hard work, sensual pleasure, spirituality, nature) while avoiding and dismissing the low road of Scorpio (control, manipulation, secrets, gossip, lying).
Tending the Soil
As I’ve said upon every New Moon we have a dark sky and the frequency is fertile as the new lunar cycle begins. This is when we plant seeds.
Take heed to be slow, quiet and internal these next few days to a week as you sink into your desires and get clear on how you want to move through this retrograde period over the next three and a half weeks.
Mercury Retrograde is the the time of (re) — to review, to reexamine, reassess, reignite, reclaim, retract, respond, release, recalibrate — in order to provide clarity for ideas and actions.
Know that your uneasiness or confusion is not simply coming from you alone. The planets and the stars affect us with their magnetic pull and life force. In fact, you can’t really trust your mind to tell you the full story right now so take it easy on yourself. Between the eclipses and Mercury retrograde — the mental energy of everyone is slightly on the fritz.
Simple tips to chill during this period: Quiet the day and all the distractions, the horizontal pull of the world, by sitting vertically in a chair or on the floor and breathing deeply. This is a simple way to begin to dissolve into meditation. Sit with yourself and all your thoughts. It’s totally okay if you can’t “shut off your mind.” Let the thoughts come, flowing out like a rushing river. Eventually that rushing river slows to a trickle. It is in those moments that you ask for clarity of purpose and express gratitude for what you love.
New Moon/Eclipse Affirmation for each Element
Fire signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Earth signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Air signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
Water signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
FIRE — I claim my inner fire and use my power to create, move and transform
EARTH — I claim my stable roots and use my power to anchor intention
AIR — I claim my quick mind and use my power to communicate wisdom
WATER — I claim my deep feelings and use my power to gain clarity of expression
Stand still, breathe deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. Say your affirmation three times then light a ceremonial candle, a mini taper candle or a tea light (something that doesn’t burn more than 2 hours). After the candle is lit, stare into the light of the flame and repeat your affirmation in your head.
Allow the candle to burn all the way until it’s gone out. If you need to blow it out, be sure to say your affirmation before you do, then say: “and so it is.” Imagine your affirmation being lifted up into the air, expanding around the whole world.
Sit silently for at least 5 minutes and reflect on this eclipse energy. What are you ready to manifest? How are you ready to empower yourself? What are you willing to release or where can you move into a new phase? How can you devote yourself to your dreams? How can you make an positive impact today? Being a good neighbor, being nice to your siblings, showing kindness when someone needs it (including yourself) — that’s all it takes to contribute positivity to the Collective. Give it a try!
Happy New Moon and Eclipse Season (and even Mercury Retrograde). Go within yourself, focus on your values, be mindful of your thoughts and how you communicate, expand your reality beyond your own eyes. Seek clarity over certainty, give your mind a break and focus on being.
Get silent so you can listen.
*Thank you for reading. If you enjoy my newsletter, please share it with friends!*
All images Pixabay
*Portal enchanted forest: Dorothe
*Solar eclipse rendering: Boris Stromar
*Taurus symbol: Dorothe
*New seedlings: J. Garget