Chodesh Iyar: “I am G-d your Healer” (אני י‑י רפאך)

"Taurus" detail from silver Torah shield, Kiev Ukraine late 19th/early 20th century

Read my horoscopes for Iyar in the Jerusalem Post

Chodesh Iyar (May 5 - June 3) is associated with the constellation of Taurus, the planet Venus (Noga), the gallbladder in the human body, the left nostril of the human head, the Hebrew letter vav, and the Tribe of Issachar. 

I Chronicles 12:33 describes “The sons of Issachar who have the wisdom to understand the times [i.e. astronomy and calendars], to know what Israel ought to do”.  Issachar’s flag had a sun and a moon drawn upon it, as he is associated with the “counting month” of Iyar, each day of which is contained within the Sefirot HaOmer period.

Issachar’s spiritual gift of discerning the times and the seasons activates the healing powers of this special month, hinted at by the Hebrew letters spelling Iyar (אייר), an acronym for “I am G-d your Healer” (אני י‑י רפאך).  

The Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Uranus in Taurus opposite the Full “Blue” Moon in Scorpio May 18 occurs on Pesach Sheni, the “Second Passover”, symbolic of second chances. This celestial configuration demonstrates that “a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11) empowering us to both speak and hear healing words of patience, understanding, and forgiveness, one to another, at precisely the right time. Second chances are opportunities for healing and restoration. 

Iyar also brings Lag b’Omer, the 33^rd day of Sefirot HaOmer commemorating the cessation of the great plague caused by lack of respect between Rabbi Akiva’s students, killing many of them. The Moon’s occultation of both Saturn and Pluto on Lag b’Omer are mini-eclipses, symbolizing the darkness that disrespect between Jews creates in this world. 

Let us take Iyar up on her promise: “I am G-d your Healer” offers second chances, healing from the wounds of mutual disrespect, restoration and wholeness to all Claal Yisroel!

Astral Weeks for August 26 - September 1: Full Pisces Moon & Mars Direct Bring Opportunities For Heart-Healing

Astral Weeks

August 26 – September 1^st

Sunday begins with a big, bright, full moon in Pisces, Big, wet, maybe a tad weepy. Full Pisces Moon sextiles Uranus in Taurus and Saturn in Capricorn, softening both Earth signs (mud is what happens when water meets earth). Good chance of unexpected opportunities for healing via surprising glimpses of the Divine disguised as the mundane. As the Grateful Dead sing: "Once in a while you get shown the light / In the strangest of places if you look at it right." 

Because our bodies are mostly water, full moons in water signs can be – moist. Sensitivities are enhanced, and energies take a turn for the forward on Monday when Mars, after an entire summer of Retrograde zig-zagging through the early degrees of Aquarius, finally stations Direct at 28 Capricorn, where it will linger until September 9^th before beginning his inexorable march back through Aquarius. Mars conditions are what they were mid-May of this year – it’s like you get to time-travel without all the mess and expense – make it count this time! Tuesday the Moon enters go-getter Aries, making a conjunction to the asteroid Chiron and uncovering feelings of vulnerability – but wait, don’t allow yourself to go into automatic defense / shut-down mode, those feelings are valuable indicators of places within yourself which need further nurturing and love. 

The Aries Moon squares Pluto in Capricorn on Wednesday night, revealing the roots of emotional power struggles and professional rivalries, followed by the Moon’s opposition to Venus, in her home sign of Libra, on Thursday morning. When asked if she would rather make love and not war, Venus in this case may opt for war if she’s feeling overlooked or underappreciated. When the Moon enters Taurus Thursday evening, she makes a conjunction to unpredictable Uranus, which, depending on whether you’ve gone to war or opted for peace earlier in the day, may invite either innovation in lovemaking or doubling-down on stubborn pride using emotionally extreme measures (advice: don’t do it!). 

Friday’s Moon-Sun trine in Earth signs Taurus and Virgo respectively may bring the grounded emotional harmony you’ve been seeking all week. The Moon’s sextile to dreamy Neptune Friday evening may be the very thing to reintroduce feelings of one-ness, smoothing the rough edges and ruffled feathers and restoring peace. Saturday is Shabbat, Parshat KiTavo, the beginning of a long Labor Day weekend in the United States, and the first day of September. Moon in Taurus opposes Jupiter in Scorpio in the wee small hours of the morning, arousing issues of possession both emotional and material. If you’re fighting over the blankets, best to roll over and seek body heat rather than battle it out over who gets the covers. If you’ve played your cards right all day, the Moon-Mars trine late Saturday night might reward you with a deeper and more grounded emotional energy and a more profound sense of partnership.

Astral Weeks August 19-25: How Do You Spell "Relief?" Mercury Direct & Sun Enters Virgo

Astral Weeks

August 19-25

When you wake up Sunday morning, you’ll find Mercury has stationed Direct after his long Retrograde in Leo (since July 25^th). Start your day feeling positive with the Moon in jovial Sagittarius, and if you want to go the real feel-good route, Jupiter in Scorpio’s Trine to Neptune in Pisces will give you all the watery lubrication you need. Overindulgence in food and especially drink is a possibility: take a ride share service or party at home! Hydration is the key to avoiding a hangover, and you’ll want to avoid that because the short-lived party winds down as the Moon enters hard-working, responsible Capricorn on Monday evening, spurring you on to clean up your act and get on with the show. You can be proud of any hard-won achievements Tuesday as the Sun at 29 degrees Leo says a dramatic farewell and takes his final curtain calls, bowing out (not without encores), and introducing Sun in Virgo, enter stage right, Wednesday evening. 

The Moon enters radical, futuristic Aquarius Thursday morning, making a conjunction to Retrograde Mars and sparking strong emotional energy centered on universal issues of humanitarianism and community. Moon in Aquarius opposite Mercury in Leo on Friday pits the feelings of the collective against the voice of the individual, perhaps in a very public way.  

Saturday is Shabbat Parshat Ki Teitzei, the Sun in Virgo making a hard Trine to Uranus in Taurus in the morning and another Trine to Saturn in Capricorn in the afternoon. All three Earth signs involved in these transiting Trines, calling us to ground ourselves in the loamy soil of Mother Earth and remember the common soil of our shared humanity. The Moon moves into dreamy, imaginative Pisces late Saturday evening, preparing for the Full Moon at 3 degrees Pisces on the morning of August 26^th.

Wishing everybody everywhere a great week, and may our Creator’s celestial luminaries be lights along the way!