5780: Moving Into The "Pey" Decade: The Power of Our Mouth!

Read Tishrei's Horoscopes in the Jerusalem Post here 



New Moon in Libra, and the New Year on the Jewish Calendar is upon us, beginning Sunday night September 29th.

We're moving on from the "Ayin" decade (the 5770's) to the "Pey" decade (Taf Shin Pey = 5780).

The energy of the "Ayin" years was located in our eyes (Ayin): judging what we see. Have we spent these years seeing ourselves and others through an "Ayin Tovah" (a good eye) or G*d forbid, through an "Ayin Harah" (an evil eye)?

Now we come upon the "Pey" decade. The "Pey" is the mouth. The power to bless, to uplift, to build up, to encourage, to support, to teach and to positively connect with others is via our mouth. So is the power to curse, to tear down, to discourage, and to negatively impact ourselves and others located in the mouth.

For the Jewish People, the mouth of the "Pey" is related to the verse in Isaiah 41:14: “Do not fear, O worm Jacob, men of Israel. I am helping you,” says HaShem, and your Redeemer, Israel’s Holy One"

“Do not fear, O worm Jacob! Why is Israel compared to a worm? Just as a worm strikes the cedars only with its mouth—though soft, it strikes the hard—so Israel possesses only prayer, for the idolatrous nations are compared to cedars” (Tanḥuma, Beshallaḥ 9).

“Come and see: All nations of the world have been rendered to certain ruling archons, as has been said, and they follow their false gods, as is written: [For all the nations] will walk each in the name of its god (Micah 4:5)—all shedding blood, waging war, stealing, robbing, fornicating, mingling with numerous evildoings. They intensify their power to harass, while Israel has no power to overcome them except through its mouth—like a worm whose only power and strength lies in its mouth, by its mouth penetrating all. So Israel is called worm” (Zohar 1:178a).

Friends, I bless you in the Name of the G*d of Israel for a good year, a sweet year, a happy year, a healthy year, a year of abundance and plenty, a year of love and connectivity. I bless your mouth to have the power and strength to speak truth to power, to bless and not to curse, to uplift and not tear down, to build and not destroy. May your mouth be like the mouth of the worm and the power of prayer your mighty weapon. Shana Tova u'Metuka and may we all be signed, sealed and delivered!

Astral Weeks September 16-22: "Days of Awe" and the Autumnal Equinox

Astral Weeks

September 16-22

Last week’s huge energetic change kicked off with Rosh HaShanah 5779, followed by Venus entering Scorpio and Mars’ ingress into Aquarius. As this new week begins, the Moon in independent Sagittarius makes her First Quarter square to the Sun, still in analytic Virgo even though we’ve been in Chodesh Tishrei since Rosh HaShanah, on Sunday, September 16. Communicative Mercury in precise Virgo sextiles giganticising Jupiter in secretive Scorpio invites confidences or finds ways to unravel the truth being withheld. 

Moon in Capricorn on Monday September 17th conjuncts Saturn, taking a turn for the serious, which isn’t altogether an inappropriate energetic condition during the “Days of Awe.” Mars in Aquarius squares Uranus, the modern ruler of Aquarius, in his transit through Taurus on Tuesday September 18^th.  Abrupt changes in the status quo and escalations in revolutionary zeal are possible, along with sudden arrivals and departures, just in time for Yom Kippur, which falls on Wednesday, September 19^th. The Moon moves into Aquarius that evening, making a conjunction to Mars which adds an emotional emphasis to the idealistic resolutions made during and after the fast of Yom Kippur, the climax of the “Days of Awe.” 

The Sun in the final degrees of Virgo conjuncts Mercury on Thursday September 20^th, amplifying the volume and illuminating multiple modes of communication on every level. Mercury enters diplomatic Libra on Friday September 21^st, initiating compromise which finds cooperation Saturday, September 22^nd as the Moon enters peaceful Pisces and the Sun crosses the Autumnal Equinox into the constellation of Libra. Parshat Ha’azinu is read, which includes the Song of Moses, sung to the Israelites during the last day of his life. It is the great climax to the life of Moses, who after finishing his song of hope, admonition, and faith, prepares to leave his earthy body. The transition from summer to autumn reminds us of the cycles of life, and that all of us from the smallest to the greatest share a common fate.

Astral Weeks September 2-8: Speeding Towards Rosh HaShanah!

Astral Weeks

September 2 – 8

August seemed to linger forever, but as soon as September comes, the speedy Mercury-ruled signs of Virgo and Gemini kick things into high gear. On Sunday the Sun in Mercury’s Mutable Earth sign of Virgo and the Moon mark the Last Quarter of the lunar month in Mercury’s Mutable Air sign of Gemini. Speedy communication is in the air as Virgo and Gemini chatter, rattle and hum their way through the long Labor Day Weekend. Monday’s sextile between Mercury in Leo and Venus in Libra fuels dramatic declarations of love, warm words of diplomacy, and fiery indignation towards perceived injustice. 

The Moon enters her watery home sign of Cancer on Tuesday, refocusing the emotional lens towards hearth and home. Domestic matters are highlighted, and feelings are either expressed or repressed around issues of food, home, mother, and money. Mercury enters his home sign of Virgo on Wednesday evening, where he’ll linger for only the shortest time (September 5^th – 21^st), so make the best of this transit of the Planet of Communication’s journey through the Mutable Earth sign by upgrading your own communication skills. 

Saturn stations Direct on Thursday after having been retrograde since mid-April in the first decan of Capricorn. The relief will be palpable as all the hard work which has felt like slogging through mud begins to pay off between now and mid-December. The Moon enters Leo Thursday evening, heightening drama as Mercury (“The Sun’s Scribe”) in Virgo trines first Uranus in Retrograde Taurus and then Saturn in Capricorn on Friday morning, shortly before the Virgo Sun’s opposition to Neptune in Pisces. Earth signs don’t traffic in fantasy, nor do they give “fake news” any quarter. We may look for unexpected news which challenges our perceptions about what is real and what isn’t. 

Saturday bring the last Shabbat of the year, as we read Parshat Nitzavim and remember that the truth isn’t in far-off heaven or hidden beneath the sea, but is very near to us, even “in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can fulfill it." Venus and Mars in the final degrees of Cardinal signs Libra and Capricorn make a hard square, challenging us to take the initiative in both thought and deed, as we prepare to greet the Jewish New Year 5779. May we be strengthened in our faith, in truth, and in love!

Astral Weeks August 12 - 18th, 2018: Welcome Chodesh Elul

Astral Weeks

August 12 – 18^th 2018

Sunday August 12^th is the second day of Rosh Chodesh Elul, featuring a cool, clear Virgo Moon, inviting us to sift through our emotional responses and discern their root. Retrograde Mars enters the Cardinal Earth sign of Capricorn (backwards!) Sunday evening, where it will sit like a bird on a nest until September 10^th. This brings the energy back to where it was mid-May of this year – another chance to recalibrate, re-choose and redo things we started back in May. Monday evening August 13^th the Virgo Moon trines Mars in Capricorn, giving emotional strength and practical support to efforts to manifest new and more grounded understandings of ourselves and each other. The Moon enters romantic, partner-oriented Libra on Tuesday, making a conjunction to Venus and affixing those rose-colored glasses firmly on your face lasting all the way through Wednesday. It’s all hearts and flowers, sunshine and lollypops until Thursday’s Scorpio Moon demands you move past the superficial and into deeper waters. Scorpio Moon opposite Uranus in Taurus makes for abrupt and unexpected, surprising and even shocking emotional revelations. Friday morning’s Moon/Jupiter conjunction expands willingness to take emotional risks and go out on a limb for the sake of love. Saturday night’s First Quarter Moon in Sagittarius follows Shabbat Parshat Shoftim right on cue, as the Zodiac’s crusader for truth and justice is the natural accompaniment to the Torah portion which admonishes us: “Justice, justice, shalt thou pursue.” Mercury, which has been Retrograde in Leo since July 25^th, stations Direct on Saturday evening, beginning the turn-around process which continues the rest of the month.

More About Chodesh Elul

The Hebrew month of Elul marks the beginning of the end of the Jewish Year. During Elul we blow the shofar every day, announcing to all within hearing distance that Rosh Hashanah is only a month away. Elul is associated with the constellation of Virgo and the Tribe of Gad. The Hebrew gad could be translated as “a troop,” which is fitting for this Mercury-ruled month during which we strengthen ourselves spiritually, like soldiers preparing for battle, to prepare for the upcoming Days of Awe.

It is said during Elul that “the King is in the Field,” that the presence of God is very near to us, on the same plane that we exist upon, as opposed high and lifted upon a throne as during the High Holidays. This closeness is meant to inspire teshuva (turning to the proper path, aka “repentance”) out of love, not fear; Elul can be read as an acronym for “ani l’dodi v’dodi li” (I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine,” a phrase from Song of Songs. 

Elul is the month associated with the mazal (constellation) of Virgo, the Mutable Earth (Transformative Manifestation) sign, whose function is that of sifting, analyzing and choosing that which is useful while discarding that which, while perhaps pretty or pleasant, does not serve the highest purpose.

This year, Rosh Chodesh Elul, a solar eclipse and the Torah portion Re’eh all occured on the same day (Saturday, August 11). The light of the Sun is blocked during a solar eclipse, making it harder to see (re’eh). The primitive psychological experience of an eclipse is heightened anxiety as the light is diminished, followed by relief at the light’s return. During the brief but dramatic episode of darkness, we face our own shadowy fears. When we can see again, we see things differently. May we see each other and ourselves in a new light, and may the light of Elul illuminate our path as we make our way towards Rosh Hashanah!