Mercury Retrograde- The Psychopomp

Ok, for starters- You guys are all freaking amazing! Without you guys, it’s just me babbling to myself in cyberspace. Also, in interesting new developments, I would like to formally greet all my readers in Romania- Bună ziua, România!

Now on to the Astro! Next up, Mercury Retrograde. Oh, dont give me that, Its not that bad. All the usual stuff applies, dont sign contracts/make major purchases/entertain the partners from Tokyo blah blah blah, you want that pop astro, go somewhere else, the rest of you, get ready. We’re going somewhere we’ve never been before. Yes, you’ve come a long way, baby- Remember that, because what im about to say will shock you. We are standing at the Gates of Hell. Yes, Hell. Ill give you a minute to freak out.

Better? Good; now here’s the deal. We are standing at the Gates of Hell, like I said. The thing is, we are on the INSIDE of the gate. Let that sink in. We are standing inside of the Gates of Hell, and its time to leave. On the other side is Paradise. First though, we have to prove that you’re ready to leave.

Ladies and Gentlemen, its time to face the Dweller on the Threshold.

What is the Dweller on the Threshold, you ask? Well, here’s where it gets a little technical; According to Alice Bailey- "From ancient recesses of the memory, from a deeply rooted past, which is definitely recalled, and from the racial and the individual subconscious (or founded and established thought reservoirs and desires, inherited and inherent) there emerges from individual past lives and experience, that which is the sum total of all instinctual tendencies, of all inherited glamour, and of all phases of wrong mental attitudes; to these, (as they constitute a blended whole) we give the name of the Dweller on the Threshold. This Dweller is the sum total of all the personality characteristics which have remained unconquered and unsubtle, and which must be finally overcome before initiation can be taken. Each life sees some progress made; some personality defects straightened out, and some real advance effected. But the unconquered residue, and the ancient liabilities are numerous, and excessively potent, and - when the soul contact's adequately established - there eventuates a life wherein the highly developed and powerful personality becomes, in itself, the Dweller on the Threshold. Then the Angel of the Presence and the Dweller stand face to face, and something must then be done. Eventually, the light of the personal self fades out and wanes in the blaze of glory which emanates from the Angel. Then the greater glory obliterates the lesser. This is, however, only possible when the personality eagerly enters into this relation with the Angel, recognizes itself as the Dweller, and - as a disciple - begins the battle between the pairs of opposites, and enters into the tests of Scorpio. These tests and trials are ever self-initiated; the disciple puts himself into the positive or conditioning environment wherein the trials and the discipline are unavoidable and inevitable. When the mind has reached a relatively high stage of development, the memory aspect is evoked in a new and conscious manner, and then every latent predisposition, every racial and national instinct, every unconquered situation, and every controlling fault, rises to the surface of consciousness, and then - the fight is on."

Translated- You have done a lot of work, and made a ton of progress. This is your final exam. Now you are going to come face to face with the embodiment of your fear, and it will be as strong as it has ever been- Exactly as strong as it has ever been, in fact. You, however are entering the ring stronger than you have ever been, and you are more than a match for your fear, right here and now. You are going to stare your fear straight in the face, and Laugh. Because if there is one thing the darkness cannot tolerate, it is being laughed at. Darkness is Fear, which in the end, the absence of Light; which is Joy and the connection to Source. When you laugh at the darkness, you expose its fear, and once you see the darkness’ fear of you, well then your fear dissolves into nothing.  This physical manifestation of your fear is really just a part of yourself that you need to re-integrate into your personality. That’s where it gets Shamanic.

In the Shamanic tradition, whenever we experience a trauma or shocking event, a piece of our soul splits off from the whole soul (Ha! Couldn’t resist, carry on [resist bad carrion joke, resisting…shit. Okay im done]) and when this happens, we need to bring those pieces back so we can be whole. This is usually achieved by the Shaman going into the underworld, a dangerous journey (semi-literally; the Shaman enters an altered state of consciousness, and makes the journey in that state. Then the Shaman does what is necessary to recover that piece of the soul, if at all possible). That brings us back full circle, in my unique and rambling fashion; In the Greek myths (my bedtime stories), technically speaking, there was only one God that could go in and out of the underworld as he pleased- Hermes (a.k.a. Mercury). Hermes is a psychopomp, a god who ferried souls from one life to the next. Originally, the job belonged to Apollo, but Hermes swindled it out of him about 3 hours after being born, because he was bored. To be fair, Apollo didn’t really care for the job, it cut into his lounging time way too much.

Now we know Mercury Retrograde, dont we guys? Forget all that pop astro crap (ok, maybe not all of it. Seriously, don't ever sign a contract during Mercury Retrograde, especially not Cell phones or Cars). Its not just that there is miscommunication, Mercury Retrograde exposes our illusions, and helps us get back to reality. In Saggo, Its all about facing your Fears and limits, and smashing through them with reckless abandon.

Now, back to the Gates; The Dweller on the Threshold, the piece of yourself lost to fear, is standing in your way to Hermes, who is ready to escort you to Paradise. Now this is not the end of our growth, oh no! Count this as the end of this phase (we haven’t even gotten to the eclipse yet!). Like I said, think of this as the final exam. Go back over what you have done this year, and how much progress you have made. Remember everything you have overcome, every painful moment, every accomplishment you have won. Then laugh at the monster; Keep laughing until he shrinks down into nothing. Stand in your strength, and Laugh. Remember- You’ve already gone through Hell.

                                                                               Live Dangerously,

                                                                               -The AstroGeek

Your song of the Zeitgeist-

Image courtesy of http://www.canalsonvenus.tumblr.com

Full Moon in Taurus- The Nuclear Option

Alright guys, we made it through the first wave of the undead issues. Ready for Round 2? Because you're going to have to dig deep, and go hard to get rid of them once and for all. This is the endgame. You've been through hell, and you are now standing at the gates; Your reward is in sight. Are you ready to finish this?

Sun/Moon- Alright, Sun in Scorp, Moon in Taurus. Chaos is all around, and you are going to need to rise to the occasion and change, fast and furious style, even though all you want to do is sit at home and watch TV. No emo and no drama allowed or you will not make it. Super awesome potential here, but you have to go down and tap into it; which is easier said than done. Sun is conjunct Huya, so making money is a major focus right now. A trine/sextile to Dionysius indicates the desire to shirk your responsibilities and just go and have fun, but there are deeper issues here that may be activated and rehashed if you chose to take that path. A sextile/trine to Child shows that right now, you may not be presenting your most mature face right now, or you may be on the recieving end of this. The big aspect is a square to Damocles, which highlights the sword hanging over your head, watch for out for flowery words, it is nothing but smoke.

Mercury/Venus- These two are joined at the hip at the moment, so we are going to take them as a pair. A square to Elatus makes it hard to stay positive, but it is worth the effort right now. Put on a brave face and keep going. A trine to Pelion has you focused on self-mastery. Keep working on it, it will pay off, very soon in fact. A square to Psyche strains your relationships. If tensions rise, it may be more beneficial to withdraw than to engage in the conflict. A trine to Circe reminds you that you are in charge of manifesting your reality, quit the whining and make it happen already! A sextile to Kassandra indicates that good counsel will fall on deaf ears, dont waste your energy. A sextile to Lachesis indicates that something is coming to an end, dont cling to a sinking ship. A trine to Persephone can leave you feeling removed from the current situation, and feeling as though events are out of your control. Theyre not, own the situation and take control. A square to Apollo is brilliant for putting your energies into creative pursuits, if you can find the time. A sextile to Ascelpius highlights the need to take care of your health first and foremost. Rest, eat right and stay on track.

Mars- Our boy is almost done in Leo, getting ready to roll into Virgo, where he wil be camped out for the next nine freaking months. Enjoy. Personally, I am pumped, because this is one of my favorite transits, and in the Grand Trine being set up... Whew boy, we are in for a ride. Lets call this the return to sanity, after the insanity that has been par for the course lately. An opposition to Chiron makes it very hard to keep your health on track, dont skip your workouts, and take your vitamins. A square to Okyrhoe can lead you to some startling revelations. If you are entrusted with some sensitive information, however, do not reveal it or there may be serious reprecussions! Lastly, a conjunction to Industria bodes well for all of your efforts at the moment; Capitalize on your momentum.

Jupiter- Papa Jup is playing his part setting up the events to come, and reigning in the awesome if you are willing to put in the work. A trine to Sisyphus can leave you feeling as though your efforts are not getting you anywhere, but its all in your head. Keep going. With a trine to Orcus, make sure you keep your word when you give it, or it will come back to bite you. A square to Pallas has your mind firing at full blast, trying to find the most prudent strategy for your situation.

Saturn- Saturn is tired of your shit. Now its about to get real. A square to Varuna shows that your reputation is on the line, so watch yourself. Outside forces may come into play, but since you cannot control that, control your reaction to the situation. A sextile to Niobe tells you to count your blessings, silently if at all possible, so as not to sound boastful. A sextile to Siwa shows that you need to take control of your situation. Nut up or Shut up. A square to Eros lends some much needed life to your love life, but things may not be all that the appear. Be careful.

Uranus- Uranus is a big player in this Lunation. Use him to help you detach from the situation and get some perspective, minus the emo drama. A square to Hades helps you in this, helping you to go deep and purge what needs to go. Dont hold onto it, just let go. A trine to Okyrhoe lends spectacular insight, you have great vision right now. Trust your instincts. A square to Panacea highlights your need to take time for yourself and your health.

Neptune- A trine to Apollon shows that even though you are putting on a brave face, actions that you may be forced to take may not be well recieved. Another opposition, to Industria, shows that your efforts may not be completely ideal, but they are still worth the time. A square to Heracles is sapping your strength, but keep going. Use Mars' vitality instead.

Pluto- Ah, the man of the hour! Starting out, there is a conjunction to Crantor. This may indicate that you are engaging in ego dramas, playing the martyr. If you try to continue on this, Pluto will tear you down so fast it will make your head spin. Instead of whining and saying "Why me?" , man up, look them dead in the eye and say "Try me." A square to Typhon will bring up all of your old demons, rise to the challenge, and put them to rest for good! A sextile to Teharonhiawako gives you everything you need to create your own reality, make it drama free! You have the potential to make your life amazing, do WHAT YOU WANT, and screw anyone who tries to take you down. Deal with them quickly and effectively. A sextile to Juno is putting an end to the toxic relationships that you have put up with up until now. Get rid of them. A trine to Astraea shows you that there will be a return to a golden time, and it will be soon, however to get there you will need to wlak through the fire. Stay focused. A sextile to Terpsichore shows that underneath it all, you are going to be just fine. Take some time to escape, and take time for yourself. Finally, you have a conjunction to Apophis. Break out the big guns, and destroy what stands in your way; obliterate the opposition. Let nothing stand in your way right now; I cant emphasize this enough. If there is even the slightest hesitation, fear, or doubt- Destroy it. From this moment on, we are building a brand new foundation, but we have to do some demolition first, and there is no room for the once-was and has-been.

Stay strong, dig deep, and rally against anything whose time has come. Face your demons, and deal with them completely. This is the moment guys, lets do this, once and for all!!


                                                                           Hoo-ah!
                                                                           -The Astrogeek             




Your Songs of the Zeitgeist-

And, inexplicably, this one which has taken up seemingly permanent residence in my head and refuses to leave.

Grand Trine in Earth: The Great Work

I love this image. Its called the Tabula Smaragdina. To me, Its as close to putting reality in one frame as we can get. 

Super awesome Transit coming up guys, and it is going to be in the air for a while. Right now, Pluto is in Capricorn (as if you needed reminding), and is trining Jupiter in Taurus, exacerbating the whole situation. About to get added into the mix is Mars in Virgo, where he will be hanging out for the next EIGHT MONTHS!! So, there will be so much power in these earth signs, its ridiculous. Think of it like this, The Cardinal Crisis (Spring) was us starting the engine. Then we Tried again (Summer) and again (Fall). We made some headway, but we're sitll where we started for the most part, just a little smarter and a little bruised. Well, now its high time we actually got into gear and started moving.

Confused? Probably. Lets break it down.

Pluto in Capricorn- Here is our main fuel source. This was the impetus to change, and there is no avoiding it. With Pluto, he will win out and break your will if you resist. Accept what he has to offer, but on your terms, and he will respect you for it. This is no quick transit, this is going to last til 2024, so dont expect to get it perfect on the first try. But every time you fail, take a lesson away from it. This will change everything, in the end.

Mars in Virgo- Allright, last time we encountered this placement, Mars was riding to meet Saturn in the latter's seemingly never-ending station of Virgo. Well, now all that merde is going to dredged up again. Get it together NOW, and engage in hyper-clean living, going hard as you can in the workouts, eating right, and being as clear-headed and rational as possible.

Jupiter in Taurus- Jupiter magnifies anything it touches. Right now, hes trying to back out of Taurus and get back into Aries, but will stop just short of shirking his duty. There's no going back now, only onwards and upwards! Harness that momentum and dont stop until you get your reward. Just don't go too overboard, or steamroll anyone who could help you. Your network is key right now.

So we have pure, unabashed Power; vast unbridled energy; and naive faith and optimism sitting on top of a powder keg. What could possibly go wrong?

You may be wondering about the title of this post. Well let me tie it all together- It refers to alchemy, the science of self-discovery and transformation through the study of nature and life. And you thought it was just about gold...

Anyway, in alchemy, the key study was the Philosopher's Stone, a material that could heal your body, eliminate the need for food, confer wealth, lift your mind to new heights, and transform you into something far greater than a human being. The study of the making of the Stone was called the magnum opus, or The Great Work.

To acheive the ultimate goal of its creation, first you had to know how to transmute (change the world around you through changing yourself). But before you could transmute something, first you had to know what it was you were transmuting, in its entirety. You had to study it, know it, accept it as it is. Then you had to apply the same principles to yourself. Then, and only then, could you transmute the object; and in so doing, also change the world around you through changing yourself. Its all very Plutonian.

Once you learned transmutation, you gather you materials. Bring together the best ingredients that will combine well together to achieve the desired result. Burn away the impurities and distill them to their base natures. Transform them into a lighter form, removing more impurities. Bring back into a solid, a purer form, yet still not complete. Add something of yourself, set your intentions, and observe the experiment. This is key. Repeat. At this point, the stone should be complete. And using it, it is an extension of yourself, and the perfect tool to help create your reality.

Now this is not a instruction manual to the Creation of a Philosopher's Stone. There are billions of materials that claim to do that that you can peruse at your leisure. No, this is a lens on how to view an astronomical phenomenon, and a helpful analogy to put into perspective its effects on our lives.

And that, in a nutshell is what is happening during these insane times. We are the Great Work. We are being refined. 

Now what does this have to do with you, dear reader? Well, this is not over, and the process if long and arduous. But you can take it into your own hands. You are an ingredient, an integral part of the equation. You know what else you are? Conscious and totally in control of your own development. So walk into the fire, on your own terms.

A lesson here: another major alchemical symbol is the Phoenix. When it was time to be reborn, it would build a pyre for itself, and willingly go to the fire, burning away the old body. What would be left is an egg, containing the same bird in a brand new body. Same as the Stone. Same as us. When we walk into the fire ourselves, we are purified and reborn.

That's what Pluto is there for, the final lesson. The secret is it will only work if you believe it will. Otherwise the Stone is just a rock.