Contradictions and Course Corrections: Chodesh Menachem Av 5779

"Leo"from the Michal Mahzor, Germany 1258.

 Chodesh Menachem Av Tov!
Av 5779
(August 2 – August 30)

Our tradition tells us that when Chodesh Av comes, we reduce our joy, yet it also informs us that Tu b’Av is one of the two most joyful holidays in the Jewish calendar! It was on Tu b’Av that the daughters of Jerusalem disregarded social status and economic disparity by each loaning the other white dresses so that all might dance beneath the moonlight in equality. It was the day the 12 Tribes were reconciled after the civil war and tribal intermarriage permitted again.

Indeed, Chodesh Av is full of contradictions and course-corrections. The new moon in Leo on erev Rosh Chodesh Av scorches hypocrisy and deceit with the white-hot heat of judgment. The (delayed) fast of Tisha b’Av August 11 is sufficiently solemn with Moon in Capricorn, yet the day’s energy wildly fluctuates, with Jupiter direct, Mercury’s ingress into Leo, and Uranus’s retrograde station in Taurus. Universal rather than particularistic love reigns at the full moon in democratic, humanitarian, egalitarian Aquarius on Tu b’Av, August 15. Course-corrections are re-calculated August 23 at the last quarter moon in Gemini with the Sun’s entrance into calm, analytic Virgo. By the Virgo new moon August 30 joined to Mercury in his own sign, clarity is restored.

May Chodesh Av’s powerful potential for extreme emotion be channeled into the passionate quest for dignity, wisdom and discernment! 

"Menachem Av" with "Ari" the lion representing the zodiac sign of Leo, detail from a Torah binder, Germany, 1748

Tammuz: Total Eclipse of the Heart

CHODESH TAMMUZ TOV!

"Sartan" / Cancer the Crab, from the Michael Mahzor, illuminated parchment manuscript, Germany, 1258

Chodesh Tammuz 5779: TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART 

Chodesh Tammuz (July 3 – August 1), associated with the mazal of Cancer (Sartan) the crab, is the only month of the Hebrew calendar whose ruling planet is the Moon. This year the Moon plays an even more important role as Chodesh Tammuz 5779 features two Eclipses! 

This month during “Eclipse Season” light, which is consciousness, is hidden and then re-revealed, and it’s never quite the same as it was before. It’s now upgraded awareness, a higher consciousness. These powerful cosmic events underscore themes of security, family, tradition and respect – all of which are associated with Tammuz’s Tribal ruler Reuven, the emotional and sensitive first-born son of Jacob and Leah. 

The Solar Eclipse / New Moon in Cancer on July 2 initiates “security” issues. Ideas like “food, home, mother, money” trigger powerful, primal gut reactions. The Lunar Eclipse / Full Moon in Capricorn on July 16 is a faceoff and smackdown between the Divine Feminine and old, outworn images of a punishing, patriarchal god. Venus and the North Node join the Sun in Cancer, eclipsed by the opposition of the Capricorn Full Moon with Saturn and Pluto. 

Cardinal Water sign Cancer is concerned with the honor and the memory of the mother as illustrated by Reuven’s relationship with Leah. Mother Earth is powerful this month and disrespecting her brings serious consequences. Honoring the natural creation and respecting her power and majesty honors our Creator and strengthens our own roots! 

What can’t you live without? What’s your absolute red line, your most basic, primal desire? We all need to love and be loved. This month we confront our most essential need during what may turn out to be a total eclipse of the heart. When the darkness lifts, a new light shines – may it illuminate our way during this Moon-month of Tammuz!

Click HERE for Tammuz Horoscopes in The Jerusalem Post

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 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!