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.

Comfort Ye, Comfort Ye My People...

Mars in Aquarius conjunct the Full Lunar Eclipse tonight - the longest eclipse of the 21st Century. It will be fully visible from Israel.

The discovery of liquid water on #Mars was announced just as Mars in Aquarius (the "Water Bearer" in Western astrology, the "D'li" ( דְלִי ) or bucket of pouring water in Jewish astrology) stationed directly across from the illuminating Sun in Leo ("revealing" by its light previously unknown mysteries). 

Aquarius is NOT, however, one of the three signs of the Water element (those are Cardinal Water sign Cancer, Fixed Water sign Scorpio, and Mutable water sign Pisces). Aquarius is the Fixed Air sign, whose symbol (the bucket pouring water), according to the B'nai Yissachar's discourse on the month of Shvat (the Hebrew month associated with Aquarius) represents the outpouring of Torah. 

The three modalities in astrology (Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable) combined with the four elements (Fire, Air, Earth and Water) produce 12 energetic permutations of the Zodiac. Aquarius is Fixed (Establishing) Air (Thought). 

May our thoughts be fixed and established upon that which is good, and may the stars in their course always do the will of their Creator, Who has in times past commanded them to fight for Israel, and in times to come will do so as well.

Tonight: Shabbos Nachamu, Tu b'Av, Total Lunar Eclipse.
May we all be empowered to both give and receive the full measure of comfort and consolation needed by all right now.

Tekufah Tammuz / The Summer Solstice (Plus Venus-Mars Opposition): It's an Energetic Day!

Modern-Day Druids Celebrating the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge

Tekufah Tammuz / The Summer Solstice today - the turn of the seasons again as we welcome summer ( קיץ), my least favorite season because heat - but everyone else seems to love it, so enjoy. 


The Sun enters Cancer today, though we've been in Chodesh Tammuz for the past week already. We're moving from the Mutable Air (Transformative Thought) sign of Gemini into the Cardinal Water (Initiating Emotion) sign of Cancer. Key words for this month: FOOD, HOME, MOTHER, MONEY. Issues of emotional security are played out in these realms. Ancestors (particularly women), heritage, legacies, nostalgia, family heirlooms both material and emotional (that's called "baggage" in psych-speak) come to the forefront. 

More in celestial news: Transiting Venus in Leo and Mars in Aquarius opposite each other today. Venus in Leo says: "Adore me," Mars in Aquarius says: "Unique is the new sexy." Venus replies, "But I'm so fabulous! Sparkling, charismatic, confident, warm, affectionate - what more could you ask for?" Mars replies: "Something interesting."

Yes, it's that simple, folks. Nothing is more boring to Mars in Aquarius than the expected - and nothing more annoying to Venus in Leo than when Mars ignores or doesn't notice her.  Take my advice and give yourself the attention you deserve and don't go looking for it from other people - that will make you a lot more interesting to yourself and others.

Rosh Chodesh Shvat Tov!

Chodesh Shvat Tov!

The Hebrew Month of Shvat begins at Sundown on January 1st. 

Shvat belongs to the Tribe of Asher, and is associated with the Mazal of "Dlee," the pitcher of water, otherwise known as Aquarius, the Water-Bearer.

Shvat's element is Fixed Air (even though Aquarius is the water-bearer!) and, appropriate to the Tribe of Asher (which is associated with delicious foods) the Sefer Yetzirah tells us that the stomach is the body organ associated with Shvat, and the Tikkun of Shvat has to do with eating.

The Bnei Yisachar ("Discourses on Shvat") says that according to Astrology, Dlee-Aquarius is the sign of the Jewish People. No other sign of the Zodiac is as concerned with issues of humanitarianism, universalism and the brotherhood of mankind as is Aquarius. The bucket of water is an appropriate sign for Israel, because water is a symbol for Torah, and it is Israel's job to be the water-bearer for this world.

Each of the Four Elements (Fire, Air, Earth and Water) operate in one of Three Modalities (Cardinal/Initiating, Fixed/Establishing or Mutable/Transforming). The Month of Shvat is the Fixed Air Sign of the Zodiac. 

All three Air Signs (Gemini/Sivan, Libra/Tishrei and Aquarius/Shvat) are associated with the Torah - which was given over by Moshe ("Mishna Torah") beginning on Rosh Chodesh Shvat (Aquarius, Fixed Air, Establishing Torah). The Torah was given to the Jewish Nation at Sinai during the Month of Sivan (Gemini, Mutable Air, Transforming Torah) and during Tishrei the Second Set of Tablets were given (Libra, Cardinal Air, Initiating Torah).

It is interesting to note the Planets associated with the Months and their Modalities in this example. The Planet Mercury (Kokhav) which has to do with communication, is associated with Gemini (Mutable/Transforming Air) and the Tribe of Zebulon, known for conducting commerce (via shipping) with foreign nations.

The Planet Venus (Noga) is associated with Libra (Cardinal/Initiating Air) and the Tribe of Ephraim. Venus is concerned with beauty, relationships, balance and justice/fairness, as well as the arts and romantic love.  The Second Set of Tablets that were given by Moshe during Tishrei were the sign of the RELATIONSHIP that HKBH could live with in regards to the Jewish People.

There are two Planets associated with Aquarius. One is Saturn (Shabtai) which co-rules Capricorn/Tevet, and the other is Uranus (Oron). There are good reasons for the co-rulership and the evolving of our consciousness about the Planets in general and their relationship to the Nations of this world. 

Saturn (Shabtai) is concerned with structure, order, organization, boundaries and restriction ("Tzimtzum").  The relationship between Tevet and Shvat is most interesting. They are the Months on this side of the year said by the Ari as "belonging to Esav" from Rosh Chodesh Tevet - which remember, is STILL within Chanukah! - until Tu b'Shvat). Tevet and Shvat are the two eyes (according to the Holy Ari who attributed facial organs to the Hebrew Months), Tevet is "Ayin" and associated with the right eye, and Shvat is "Tzadik" and associated with the left eye. One needs both the right and left eye to see properly and in perspective.

Uranus (Oron) is originality, individualism, humanitarianism, a visionary perspective. It's the energy associated with hiddushim, original insights. No other Sign of the Zodiac has more talent for originality, or is so intellectually curious, as Aquarius. It is interesting to recall that both Copernicus and Galileo were Aquarians. Shvat is the Month most conducive to original thought. 

Wishing everyone a Happy Solar/Gregorian New Year 2014, and a happy and holy Chodesh Shvat 5774!





 

Tanya on the Four Elements - Releasing The Sparks of Holiness!

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.

Fire. Air. Earth. Water. Our Zodiac (and our personalities) are made up of different amounts of each of these four elements. Each element has three permutations - Cardinal (Initiating energy), Fixed (establishing energy) and Mutable (transforming energy).

 The Tanya of the Alter Rebbe (Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi) provides a fascinating glimpse into how the world of Chassidut views the Four Elements in terms of the human personality.

The following is distilled from Chapter One of Tanya, in which the Alter Rebbe discusses the Two Souls and what they are comprised of - in this case, what he referred to as the "Animal Soul" - that part of our personality which draws its energy from the "Klipah Noga,"  the husk/shell/skin that contain discernible Sparks of Divine Light:

"Just as the four physical elements of Fire, Air, Water and Earth are the foundation of all physical entities, so too is this nefesh (the lowest level of the human soul, that part of us connected most closely with our personality and physical self) comprised of four corresponding spiritual elements...

...Namely: anger and pride [emanate] from the element of Fire which rises upwards;

Once ignited by anger and pride, a man (like fire) soars aloft. Pride is the state of considering oneself superior to others. Anger too is an offshoot of pride. Would a person not be proud, he would not be angered when someone defied his will.

The appetite for pleasures [emanates] from the element of Water, for water promotes the growth of all kinds of pleasure-giving things.

The ability of water to make pleasurable things grow indicates that concealed within it is the element of pleasure. Thus, the appetite for pleasure derives from the element of Water.

Frivolity and scoffing, boasting and idle talk [emanate] from the element of Air; like air, they lack substance;

And sloth and melancholy [emanate] from the element of Earth.

Earth is characterized by heaviness. A man encumbered by sloth and melancholy likewise senses a heaviness of the limbs."

What an astute description of the unrefined aspects of the Four Elements in Astrology! Who has not felt the legendary impatience and anger of an un-evolved Aries (Cardinal/Initiating Fire), the burning pride and roar of the hurt ego of Leo (Fixed/Establishing Fire) and the devastating scorn of Mutable/Transforming Fire Sagittarius when their will is thwarted! 

Have you waded in the waters of pleasure only to be deluged by lust? The material, sensual, security-minded Cancer (Cardinal/Initiating Water), the controlling sexual hypnotism of Fixed/Establishing Water Scorpio, the dreamy, distorted, self-nullifying Mutable/Transforming Water of Pisces can  drown you in unquenchable desire.

The people-pleasing insincere flattery of Cardinal/Initiating Air Libra, the cold bluster and indifferent bravado of Fixed/Establishing Air Aquarius, and the shallow, superficial gossipy Mutable/Transforming Air of Gemini fan the empty winds of communication without substance.

Capricorn's Cardinal/Initiating Earth sternly grasps and rigidly controls the material world, the Fixed/Establishing Earth of Taurus manifests as lazy, selfish narrow-minded parochialism, while the punishing perfectionism of Mutable/Transforming Earth of Virgo critically picks apart and deflates every dream.

Of course each and every one of the 12 Signs / 4 Elements have their refined, spark-uplifted nature as well. None so brave as Aries, none so loyal as Taurus, none so sparklingly entertaining as Gemini, none so faithful as Cancer, none so warm as Leo, none so calm as Virgo, none so balanced and beautiful as Libra, none so compelling or passionate as Scorpio, none friendlier and more fun than Sagittarius, none so stable and responsible as Capricorn, none more full of humanitarian enlightenment as Aquarius, and none as compassionate as Pisces.

The positive, refined characteristics of each of the 12 Zodiac Signs (and their subsequent Tribal affiliations and relationships to the 12 Months of the Year)  are manifested when sparks of holiness and goodness encased within the "Klipat Noga" are released.

How are these sparks elevated? Some say by prayer, drawing close to G*d, development of the spiritual self - and all of this is true. It's been my personal observation that one's spiritual work is the tool by which the conscious application of the desire to know and understand one's own unique self that breaks open the "Klipah" (shell, skin, encasement) and allows the light to be revealed.

As Leonard Cohen sings in his song "Anthem":

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in. 

How do the elements balance in your own personalized natal chart? Are you dominated by Fire, Water, Air or Earth, or are you a combination of two or more elements and lacking in one? Are you elevating your holy sparks or are you letting the Klipot grown from the skin of a grape to the shell of a walnut?

Contact Lorelai Kude for your personalized Natal Chart analysis session. Via Skype or in person. lorelaikude@yahoo.com