Who are your people? You recognize one another the moment you meet… you get each other. And then there are the Uncomfortable Others to whom you’re yoked by accidents of birth, blips on your biographical timeline, or shared interests. You may share an alma mater, a birthplace, a great-grandfather, or an interest in a particular hobby, but that’s no guarantee that you and another person are members of each other’s tribe….
Author: April
New Moon in Leo: Something Special
At this New Moon in Leo, the Sun and Moon lie close to Venus. The truth is that alone, none of us is anything special. Even the greatest artist, inventor, or statesman relies on a symbiotic relationship with those who appreciate the art, marvel at the invention, and are inspired by the oratory. This New Moon reminds us that we can only be something special when we love, and are loved in return….
Retrograde Planets Excerpt from EG to Practical Astrology at Skywriter
Donna Cunningham is one of my favorite astrologers. Her books – especially “Healing Pluto Problems” and “Being a Lunar Type in a Solar World” – had a huge influence on me when I began studying astrology seriously and preparing to go pro. Her blog, Sky Writer, is a marvel – hundreds of useful posts and […]
Capricorn Full Moon: The Midwife, the General, and Mr. Wolf
Capricorn’s genius is his ability to size up a situation quickly, formulate a practical, effective response, and deliver orders that others instinctively obey. Above all, Capricorn is resourceful; its symbol, the goat, will eat anything to stay alive. When failure is not an option – and for Capricorn, it never is – you will do whatever is needed, however unpleasant, to get the job done….
Errata: Essential Guide to Practical Astrology
You know, I’m fairly proud of my book The Essential Guide to Practical Astrology. On the other hand, it was written at a feverish pace and edited faster than my feeble brain could cogitate. When you’re working at that speed, mistakes get made. Errors of oversight are committed, bizarre leaps of logic, dubious grammar. I’ve started this post to record such boners for posterity….
July 1 Solar Eclipse in Cancer: Expecting
This solar eclipse is the last in a series that have fallen in Capricorn and Cancer since July 2009, traveling alongside some difficult planetary configurations. Eclipses herald change, and many of us have found ourselves careening from crisis to crisis – insecure about access to life’s essentials, flapping our wings in perturbation, frantically looking for ways to make ourselves feel safe, and to bend the world to our will. Kicking back and letting nature take its course has not felt like an option. But as with all eclipses, this one is part of a larger story…
The July 1 “Diamond” Eclipse: Push back
Saturn’s your personal coach, kicking your ass all the way to the finish line. When he’s done with you, you’ll be huddled in a corner, weeping – or else stronger and more glittering than you ever imagined you could be.
2011 Eclipse Astrology| June 15 Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius: Quilting
The Moon’s North Node in Sagittarius or the ninth house demands that, like a confused college undergraduate, we must choose a major emphasis for our life’s curriculum. We have to acknowledge that we can’t ever have all the answers we seek, or even know all the questions; at some point, we have to turn off the stream of incoming information and trust that we can make something worthwhile from what we already know….
Jupiter in Taurus: Sacred Cows
The blessings of both Jupiter and Taurus are many: a sense that anything is possible, that security is within reach, and pleasures are abundant. But the combination of Jupiter’s respect for doctrine and Taurus’ conservatism has a potential downside: the unwillingness to confront needed change….
June 1 Solar Eclipse in Gemini: Capture the Howling Wind
We don’t tend to think of Gemini as a demanding sign, or as one of strong convictions. But the Sabian Symbol for this Gemini Moon offers a portrait of someone who refuses to be subservient. The same message can be seen in the Sun and Moon’s close trine to Saturn at this New Moon: it’s time to claim your authority and to speak up for things that matter. It’s time to take yourself seriously….