Tikkun Adar

It's 23 Elul, Tikkun Adar, we're halfway through Tikkun HaChodeshim and only 6 days from Rosh HaShanah!

During Tikkun Adar we're fixing our belief. We look at what we believed in this past Adar (February 19 - March 20th, 2015) and where our faith might have sprung a few leaks. Adar isn't about dogma and it's not about doctrine - it's about pure faith, starting with faith in one's own self. How many times have we let ourselves down by not believing in ourselves when we really needed it the most? 

At Purim during Chodesh Adar, we drink "ad lo yodeah", until we don't know, can't tell the difference between Mordechai and Haman (between our "light" and our "shadow" selves). We can fix our broken belief when we get to "ad lo yodeah" - beyond "knowing", into the realm of pure faith. 

Believe in yourself because G*d believes in you. Don't give up on yourself because G*d hasn't given up on you. Keep on going "ad lo yodeah", no matter what, until you can't tell the difference between "you" and G*d's illuminating spirit within you. Because - truth - there's no difference. That spark of Divinity IS "you". 

23 Elul - Energetic Potential for both "Universal Peace" and "World War"

Today is the 23rd of Elul, in Jewish history this is the day the dove returned to Noah's ark with the olive branch in his mouth. This motif has become the universal archetype of the cessation of hostilities between G*d and man, and the beginning of humankind's "Second Chance" on Earth. 

23 Elul was also the date on the Hebrew Calendar that the horrific tragedy of 9/11 occurred in 2001.

How to reconcile the tremendous moral gap between these two events? 

It's a spiritual principle that whatever has potential for kedusha (holiness) also has the same degree of potential for evil (and the other way around as well - those with the biggest "Yetzer HaRah" - "evil inclination" - become the highest and holiest when that energy is turned around for good). 

If 23 Elul has inherit energetic potential for the expression of "peace on Earth", it must also have the energetic potential for "world war". We've seen it used both ways. We can use it ourselves in our everyday lives. Today when that energy is available to us, let's use it for good.

Tikkun Shevat

Shavua Tov! It's 22 Elul, Tikkun Shevat in the process of Tikkun HaChodeshim, and we're "fixing" knowledge.

Shevat is the month associated with the Sign of Aquarius, the Water Bearer, and is the "New Year of the Trees". 

Serach, a daughter of Asher (The Tribe of Asher is the Tribe associated with Shevat) taught the secret of fixing knowledge by the way she broke the news to her elderly, sad and frail grandfather Jacob that his son Joseph was still alive in Egypt. By her gentle, gradual and sensitive way of breaking dramatic news, Serach shows us knowledge can be a weapon, and isn't something to hit someone over the head with. 

How have we used our knowledge against others, or ourselves? Have we been arrogant and unteachable? Is it more important to be right than it is to be fair, sensitive or open to learning from others? This is our opportunity to "fix" our knowledge and our knowing. 

As Reb Shlomo said: "What do we know"? May we "fix" our knowing in the deepest way!

Tikkun Tevet

Tonight is 21 Elul, the fourth night of Tikkun haChodeshim תיקון החודשים, and we're fixing the Month of Tevet of this past year (December 22, 2014 - January 20, 2015).

Tevet is associated with Saturn ("Shabtai"), the Tribe of Dan, the sign of Capricorn, and the ability to structure, organize and use the material and spiritual world in tandem and with responsibility and maturity. The greatest threat to Tevet's power is the destructive force of anger.

This is your opportunity to sweeten the judgement of anger that may have been destructively expressed this last Tevet. Can you see where your anger may have come from fear, hurt, mistrust, or the disappointment of a broken ideal - even a broken heart? Let the healing power of this day of Fixing Tevet give you a fresh perspective and a fresh approach towards impediments you may have brought upon yourself because of anger.

Tikkun Kislev

Tonight is 20 Elul, the third night of Tikkun haChodeshim תיקון החודשים . We are now fixing Kislev (November 12th - December 12th, 2014). 

"Fixing Inspiration" is one important aspect of what may have gone wrong this last Kislev. Associated with the Tribe of Benyamin, the Sign of Sagittarius and the Planet Jupiter ("Tzedek"), Kislev is the month that supplies us our yearly dose of inspiration. 

Did we drink deeply enough? Did we appreciate it, or did we take it for granted? Did depression, anxiety or doubt make the abundance of inspirational Kislev energy unable to be absorbed? Can we use this day to fix our ability to receive, retain and reflect inspiration?

The Mecurial Kim Davis

Kim Davis (September 17, 1965) is a Virgo with Moon in Gemini, making her Sun/Ego and Moon/Emotions a double-dose of Mutable (changeable)Mercury, Planetary ruler of both Virgo and Gemini.

Adding to her Mercurial nature: Jupiter at 29 Degrees (the "Ultimate" or "Critical" Degree of any sign) of Gemini, and North Node in Gemini enlarges and enhances her changeability.  With her Moon in Gemini as well as her Jupiter and North Node, Kim Davis is a woman whose very sense of destiny is dependent on adaptability to circumstances in which she finds herself and not upon the impetus of her own will. "Stability" is not her middle name - at least not in the areas ruled by the Moon (her emotional self) and enhanced by Jupiter's expansiveness and the North Node's sense of destiny. 

When a personality such as this meets a dogma such as "Not my will, but Thine, O Lord", this is what we call "a match made in heaven". 

Mercury in it's home sign of Virgo, right behind the Sun in Virgo, Uranus and Pluto conjunct in Virgo, and Saturn, the Planet responsible for things like structure, order, responsibility, etc. is OPPOSITE all that Virgo - Saturn in Pisces: the sign least likely to have functional, strong personal boundaries. 

Saturn: The part of her personality in charge of saying "no" is disabled and overwhelmed by its placement in Pisces, the boundary-less sign, and its opposition to the Sun (Ego), Uranus (Unique Self) and Pluto (Death and Resurrection, Transformative Self) in practical, constantly sifting and evaluating Virgo. 

Basically this woman is someone who has spent her life changing from one thing to another. The only stability she has exhibited is in her employment (over 25 years at the same job). But wait, there's more.

Her Venus, Mars and Neptune in Scorpio give her a strong, passionate, stubborn, intense, secretive,  and focused sexuality. At the mercy of all that Mercurial energy, her passionate need for intimacy may have taken all sorts of twists and turns along the road of life. 

Kim Davis is a woman whose lifetime of boundary-less enslavement to her darkest passions resulted in repentance and a deep need to set a boundary and stick to it - a boundary in the area she herself perceived as the mortal enemy of her soul - that of forbidden and secret sexual desires. 

I'd love to know her birth time to determine which Houses these Planetary clusters fall in! I'm guessing she might have Sagittarius Rising, putting all that Gemini drama into her 7th House of Marriage and Partnerships, all that Virgo into her 10th House (public persona, career and vocation) where she is perceived as both "steady" (employed at the same job for almost 30 years), analytical (critical/picky) and in some ways, "purer-than-thou" (Virgo's shadow side). Sagittarius Rising would also put her Venus/Mars/Neptune in Scorpio in her 12th House, right where she'd feel the most guilty about her "secret" passions (and most likely the place from where she "repented" when she became a born-again, Apostolic Christian after four marriages and a set of twins born out of wedlock). 

If anyone discovers her birth time, please forward me the information at: astrolojew@gmail.com - thanks! :)

Tikkun Cheshvan

I9 Elul, Tikkun Cheshvan - Day Two of Tikkun haChodeshim, תיקון החודשים , the "Fixing" of the Months of this past year as we count down to Rosh HaShanah.

Cheshvan is about the deepest and most intense intimacy, the kind that transcends time and space, circumstances and limitations, even life or death. Think back to last Cheshvan October 24th - November 22nd, 2014. What or whom are you missing? If intimacy was breached, can it be repaired? Intimacy is impeded when secrets exist between two people. Which secrets are you no longer obligated to keep now?

May we go together from strength to strength as we move through the months of 5775 in preparation for 5776!

Tikkun Tishrei

It's תיקון החודשים Tikkun haChodeshim and today, 18 Elul, is Tikkun Tishrei.

We look back to last Tishrei - September 24th through October 23rd, 2014. Where were you? What were you doing?

Tishrei is concerned with PARTNERSHIP relationships. How did you relate to your partners last Tishrei? A spouse, a business partner, a significant other? Is there something you left unsaid, or wish you could say all over again in a different way?

Tishrei is associated with the Planet Venus - "Noga" in Hebrew. Bright and beautiful, romantic and inspiring, "Noga" is the Star connected to Libra/Tishrei and the Tribe of Ephraim. Meditate on that Venus/Noga energy when you close your eyes and think about last Tishrei. What kind of "light" shines for you? Is there anything you can change? 

I bless you all (and thank you for blessing me back!) that you should find the deepest depths of spiritual connection, release and transcendence during Tikkun HaChodeshim.

Tikkun haChodeshim, 5775

Tuesday, September 1st at Sundown begins 18 ("Chai" = "Life") Elul, the Baal Shem Tov's birthday AND the beginning of Tikkun haChodeshim - the fixing of the months of the previous year (5775), as we prepare for Rosh HaShanah 5776.

On 18 Elul we examine ourselves for what we did, said and thought during this past Tishrei. On 19 Elul, we look at ourselves as we were this past Cheshvan, etc. etc. until we arrive at 29 Elul, and our self-examination for what we've said, done, thought, etc. for this month.

Good tools for doing Tikkun haChodeshim yourself - use a journal. Write down your reflections. Check your Facebook history, your personal calendar, journal or datebook from past months for where you were at during different times of the year. 

 

May we "fix" whatever can be fixed, may we let go of what is beyond ours to fix, and may we have wisdom to know the difference!

Chodesh Elul Tov!

Chodesh Elul Tov from Astrolojew!

Elul is associated with the Zodiac Sign of Virgo. Virgo is the Mutable Earth (Transformative Manifestation) Sign, whose function is that of sifting, separating and purifying.

On Shabbat there is a form of "work" called "borer" which we are forbidden to do. "Borer" is about separating the useful from the not-useful. This is Virgo's function and it is Elul's specialty. All month we do "borer" to our own soul - sifting, separating that which is useful from that which no longer serves, analyzing ourselves under the microscope of our own truth, confronting and owning our part in whatever it is that is holding us back from fully engaging with our spiritual lives.

Wishing everybody a good "housecleaning". Don't be too harsh or hard on yourself, and don't let judgmental, punishing perfectionism fool you into thinking that you're really bad. Remember Elul is an acronym for "Anee l'Dodi v'Dodi Li" - "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine". What is beloved is already perfect. Love is perfect. You are perfect. Elul is the perfect time to become deeply connected with that reality.

Bernie in the Sky with Diamonds

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders was born 14 Elul, 5701 (6 September, 1941) in Brooklyn, NY. It was Shabbat, Parshat Ki Tietzei. 

The Full Moon of Elul is always in Pisces. Although his birth time is unknown so we can't calculate his Ascendent (Rising Sign), we can see his Mars in Aries - Venus in Libra opposition as a perfect balance of harmonious, naturally placed energies - this person was BORN a "feminist". 

He has powerful Virgo placements in his chart - his Sun, North Node ("Karmic Setpoint / Tikkun Point"), Neptune, several asteroids, and most strikingly his Mercury at 29 Degrees Virgo (29 is the "critical" or "ultimate" degree of any sign). He is MR. ANALYSIS. Virgo's role is to sift and to separate what is useful from what is not useful - that's why they call Virgo's "picky". They call themselves "discerning", which would be more accurate. 

Mercury, the ruling Planet of Virgo, at Virgo's "ultimate" degree, is the quintessential analytical communicator. His Saturn in Taurus gives him an internal, fixed structure which is illustrated by a lifetime of persistence and consistency.  

Uranus at zero degrees Gemini is interesting, as the general rule is that "a Planet is not established in a Sign until it reaches 1 degree". Any zero degree Planet is like a free-form energetic free-fall and sort of like a Joker is to a deck of cards. Uranus is his "unique" self, and this placement almost abrogates the ego need for differentiation and individuation. Combined with his compassionate Pisces Moon, it's no wonder he self-identifies as a "Socialist".  

Pluto/Chiron conjunction in Leo is the most striking indication of someone who is willing to effect radical change in order to right a wrong and heal what is wounded.

Starting this week, transiting Jupiter will be in VIRGO until the middle of September, 2016. Jupiter EXPANDS everything it touches. This is going to be GREAT for Bernie. Keep on watching the stars to see how it all unfolds. 

Why Pluto Matters

July 2015 has been an historic month for Pluto. After a nine and a half year journey, the spacecraft "New Horizons" finally reached the outer limits of our galaxy, and has sent us stunning photographs, startling and unexpected data, and generated a myriad of new questions regarding the mysterious, far-off  of the planet (nee asteroid, nee planet) at the furthest edge of not only our solar system, but our imaginations as well.

Pluto was "discovered" in 1930, but astronomers and astrologers had long suspected it's existence. Pluto was assigned astrological rulership of Scorpio, previously associated with Mars (classical co-ruler of both Aries and Scorpio).  Astrologers, philosophers and those concerned with symbolic meanings and archetypes understood at once that Pluto's mythical qualities - power, desire, passion, secrecy, remoteness, intensity, focus, privacy - belonged to the zodiac sign of Scorpio, associated with the Hebrew Month of Cheshvan.

"Phoenix Rising", Alisa Manning

Pluto's symbol is that of a phoenix rising from the ashes. Pluto understands, embodies and demonstrates the spiritual and biological truth - that something must die in order for something else to be born.  Pluto's "discovery" in 1930 coincided with the most intense period of human history, one which saw the rise of Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, WWII and the discovery of atomic power (ruled by Pluto). From the ashes of the Holocaust rose a reborn State of Israel. The "Pluto Generation" saw the rebirth of a people, a nation and a hope that had all but been extinguished in the ovens of Europe.

Cheshvan, the Hebrew Month associated with Scorpio and therefore Pluto, is known to be the "Month without holidays" in the Hebrew Calendar (read more about the "incepted" months of Cheshvan and Iyar in the Jewish Year HERE). Yet there is a well-know midrash that teaches that the Holy Temple itself, the Third and "Messianic" Temple, will be built during Chodesh Cheshvan. This third, final and "Messianic" Temple is promised to the Jewish People as not only a sign of redemption, but as the actual, physical place on Planet Earth from which universal love will flow to all peoples and all nations. This "font of all blessings" is prophesied to be build during the "deprived" month of Cheshvan, truly a "phoenix rising from the ashes" of history, time, death and rebirth.

Pluto reminds us that the (atomic) power, passion, intensity, focus and will that is associated with its symbols and archetypes is at work in our world as well as in our personalities. Everybody has Pluto somewhere in their chart. By House and by Sign, the position of Pluto illustrates the role of power, passion, personal ego, death and rebirth in your life.

A personal example: like many of my generation, I have Pluto in Virgo. It falls within my 11th House of the "Claal" - community, friends and friendships, affinity groups I belong to, the collective consciousness. At 2 Degrees Virgo, my natal Pluto sextiles my natal Neptune in Scorpio (Pluto's ruler) in my 1st House, supporting my "function" in the arena of the "collective" as one of transforming (Pluto) perception (Neptune) through the raising of consciousness (Scorpio) via analyzing. sifting and evaluating (Virgo) processes. The role I often play in friendships, groups to which I belong, affinity associations and the claal/collective is one of consciousness transformation. I have often acted as a "midwife" to bring to birth new levels of awareness - but first the old ones have to die so the new ones can be reborn. This is the function of Pluto in my natal chart. How it functions in your Natal chart is your own individual manifestation of that transformative energy.

A little about "rulership" of planets in both classical and modern astrology:

Classical astrology assigns double rulership to every planet except the Sun and Moon. In classical astrology, planetary rulership looks like this:

Sun - Leo (Av/Shimon)
Moon - Cancer (Tammuz/Reuven)
Mercury - Gemini (Sivan/Zevulon) and Virgo (Elul/Gad)
Venus - Taurus (Iyar/Issachar) and Libra (Tishrei/Ephraim)
Mars - Aries (Nissan/Yehuda) and Scorpio (Cheshvan/Menashe)
Jupiter - Sagittarius (Kislev/Benyamin) and Pisces (Adar/Naphtali)
Saturn - Capricorn (Tevet/Dan) and Aquarius (Shevat/Asher)

As stated elsewhere upon multiple occasions in my writings on astrology, the Tribe of Levi is not assigned a planetary ruler because, in the configuration of a person's natal chart, the pattern of the "Tribes around the Mishkan" it is the soul of the person which is the "Mishkan", and the Leviim around the inner circle of the Mishkan have each their own specific functionality (see "Your Inner Leviim" from this blog).

After the discoveries of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, modern Astrology assigns planetary rulers as follows:

Sun - Leo (Av/Shimon)
Moon - Cancer (Tammuz/Reuven)
Mercury - Gemini (Sivan/Zevulon) and Virgo (Elul/Gad)
Venus - Taurus (Iyar/Issachar) and Libra (Tishrei/Ephraim)
Mars - Aries (Nissan/Yehuda)
Jupiter - Sagittarius (Kislev/Benyamin)
Saturn - Capricorn (Tevet/Dan)
Uranus - Aquarius (Shevat/Asher)
Neptune - Pisces (Adar/Naphtali)
Pluto - Scorpio (Cheshvan/Menashe)

In Modern astrology, only Mercury and Venus continue as double-rulers of signs. However, most astrologers still consider the traditional co-ruler influence as at least worth noting, and some believe there's another undiscovered planet (famous astrologer Linda Goodman called the possible "ghost planet" by the name "Vulcan" and hoped upon its discovery it would be assigned as the "true ruler" of Virgo). Goodman also believed another planet, Horus or Pan-Horus, would eventually be discovered and assigned rulership of Taurus.

"Linda Goodman explains how previously other signs had different ruling planets before their true planets were discovered:
“Vulcan is the true ruler of Virgo, and is “the lame goddess of thunder,” since Vulcan is definitely a female planet. Let me explain what I mean by “the true ruler.”
An example: At one time, both Pisces and Sagittarius were ruled by Jupiter – until Neptune was discovered as the original and therefore natural (or true) ruler of Pisces. At one time, both Aquarius and Capricorn were ruled by Saturn – until Uranus was discovered as the original and therefore natural ruler of Aquarius. (Abraham Lincoln was a Saturn-ruled Aquarian, Franklin Roosevelt a Uranus-ruled Aquarian). Uranus was rediscovered by a farm boy named Herschel, and was called by his name at first. But metaphysicians knew that the planet’s true name was Uranus.
To continue, Aries and Scorpio were both ruled by Mars and Scorpio, until Scorpio’s true and natual ruler, Pluto, was discovered. And so on.
Each time this repeated circle of discovery occurs, it manifests in the same pattern - or order of discovery - and the last two original planetary rulers to be re-discovered are always (in each cycle) Vulcan, the true ruler of Virgo – then Horus (Pan-Horus), the true ruler of Taurus. Virgo presently shares with Gemini the rulership of Mercury, although Mercury is the true ruler of Gemini, and is only “on loan”, so to speak, to Virgo. Just as Taurus presently shares with Libra the rulership of Venus, although Venus is the true ruler of Libra, and is only “on loan”, so to speak, to Taurus.” - Linda Goodman's Star Signs, quoted by  "Earth Woman/Virgo-Centric"

Linda Goodman believed that in the end, each of the 12 Zodiac Signs will have it's own planetary ruler.  That remains to be seen - but as things stand, it's obvious that the addition of the previously unknown (but suspected) planets to the zodiac has enhanced our ability to understand the more subtle workings of each sign - and therefore, our own selves.




 

Capricorn Full Moon - Establishing Manifestation

"Full Moon over Jerusalem" by Israeli artist Zoe Sever

Full Moons occur when the Sun and Moon are in opposite signs. The Sun in sensitive Cancer's Full Moon in practical, ambitious Capricorn this evening is supported by a gentle Trine from dreamy Neptune in watery, mystical Pisces. If you can imagine it, you can manifest it. Energetically speaking, it's a good time to take practical steps to fulfill your dreams.

Cancer is associated with the Tribe of Reuven, and Capricorn with the Tribe of Dan. They are placed on the North/South axis as the "Natural First-Borns" of their mothers, and represent the Cardinal directional energies (North/South). The "Natural First-Borns" Reuven and Dan are in contrast to the "Supernatural First-Borns" (Yehuda and Ephraim), which are associated with the East/West axis. 
 

When we come to a turning point in the tide of time, we examine the quality of that time. During Reuven/Tammuz/Cancer it is important to refocus one's attention on family relationships, and to make repairs in areas of your life that concern food/home/mother/money. 

Rededicate yourself to the mitzvah of "Kevod Av v'Am" (honoring your parents), check your mezuzahs to make sure they're in good condition, check the contents of your refrigerator to make sure you're eating right, and check your bank balance to remind you, no matter what the number, true security is not to be found in cash on deposit but in love on deposit in your heart.As the Wizard of Oz said to the Tin Man: "A heart is not judged by how much you love, but how much you are loved by others".