PHOTO © ALEX CARRILLO
April 14, 2010: Aries New Moon (exact at 5:29 am PDT)
Since Aries and the New Moon both symbolize the ushering in of new beginnings, this lunar event is an auspicious time to start a new project. If you’re looking to kick off a diet or amp up your exercise regimen, the exuberance of palpable energy that the Aries New Moon affords may be a great motivator. Also, if you’ve wanted to tackle a problem but found yourself lacking in the moxie department, the Aries New Moon may give you an infusion of courage and daring that can help you persevere.
A caveat, though. With so much initiating energy around, it may seem as if everyone wants things to happen now, or even before. Since Aries prizes immediacy, impatience and/or bursts of anger—within yourself or expressed by others—may be heightened around this time. While the go-get-‘em energy instilled by this New Moon can help motivate us into a challenge, rushing can often lead to rashness, a surefire prescription for stress and accidents.
This month’s New Moon falls at 24 degrees of Aries (the location of both the Sun and Moon). While everyone experiences the energies of the New Moon, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) around this degree in Aries or the other cardinal signs—Cancer, Libra, Capricorn—it may impact you more intensely.
New Moon Apothecary Suggestions
Aries rules the head, muscles, and circulatory system. Pay extra attention to these parts of the body around the time of this New Moon.
Impatiens flower essence: As its name implies, Impatiens flower essence help quell impatience, one of the premier characteristics associated with Aries. So, if you find yourself being overly impetuous or running a short fuse, consider this remedy. Take a few drops several times a day until you feel the impatience lifting. (Flower essences are made from flower-infused water and work energetically to restore emotional and mental balance. You can find them in natural food stores or holistic pharmacies.)
Scalp massage: Start your New Moon morning with a scalp massage. It’s simple to do and only takes a few minutes. Just take a nourishing oil (such as coconut or avocado) and rub it into your scalp before you shampoo your hair. Start at your hairline and work backwards toward the nape of your neck, rubbing your scalp with moderate pressure in small circular motions. For additional scalp-health benefits, add some rosemary essential oil to the massage blend. Regular scalp massages—which you can even do without the oil—can help stimulate circulation, alleviate tension, and reduce flaky scalp conditions.
April 17-May 11, 2010: Mercury Retrograde
Retrograde periods are times for reflection and heightened inner awareness. Since Mercury symbolizes communication, they way we learn, our siblings, and our neighborhood, this period can yield great insights in related areas of our life. Mercury retrograde lasts about three weeks and occurs three to four times per year; the last one took place December 26, 2009 – January 15, 2010.
Mercury represents the bridges and channels that allow us to connect varied pieces of information in order to synthesize them into the whole of understanding. During Mercury retrograde periods, the inherent weaknesses of these conduits may be revealed. As such, this period is known for the breakdown of tools that help us to share information (such as phones, computers, and printers) and well as those that assist us as we move from place to place (such as cars, bikes, and buses); therefore, do what you can to make sure they are in good working order, before Mercury goes retrograde if possible. With data and information transfer stressed, it’s a great time to ensure you’re backing up your hard drive, keeping track of whether you’re due for an oil change, or inventorying your supply of extra batteries necessary for the remote or your child’s favorite toy.
Any planetary retrograde reflects a period where the energy is focused more internally. Therefore, it’s a wonderful time to turn communication inward to seek insights and understanding. Meditation, journaling, and nondominant handwriting are great activities to do during Mercury retrograde to help you find the pieces of the puzzle and the teachings of wisdom that you seek.
While inner reflection is heightened, external communication may be stressed. Therefore, try to avoid misunderstandings by being extra diligent about the words you use, while also making sure to listen even more attentively than usual. Whether it be with writing or speaking, put a little extra effort into dotting your I’s and crossing your T’s. Be especially aware of this if you have to sign any binding contract during Mercury retrograde (putting off doing so if possible), as oftentimes all of the information you need to make a decision isn’t available or especially clear.
When you think of how to approach this period, remember the first two letters of the word retrograde—“re”—and apply it to the activities you undertake. As such, Mercury retrograde periods are a great time to reassess, review, reanalyze, revisit, rethink, re-edit, and recommunicate.
During this retrograde period, Mercury travels from 13 degrees Taurus to 3 degrees Taurus. While everyone experiences the energies of Mercury retrograde, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) around or aspecting these degrees, it may impact you more intensely.
Mercury Retrograde Apothecary Suggestions
Nondominant handwriting: This exercise is easy to do and takes minimal time commitment. Just think of a question to which you seek an answer, something that you’ve been pondering. Then pick up a pen or pencil and place it in your nondominant hand (the left one for righties, and the right one for lefties) and write out the answer on paper. Write freely and don’t judge what may seem like chicken scratch. The beauty of this exercise is that by using our opposite hand we are able to access more of our subsconcious mind and tap into our intuitive knowingness. What you compose on the paper should provide you with an insightful perspective on your question.
Spring cleaning: Mercury retrograde is a great time to literally clean your closets. That’s because our abilities to reassess, reevaluate, and reconsider are heightened. Cleaning closets can be wonderfully therapeutic: It provides a trip down memory lane and it also helps to unburden ourselves of things that no longer best serve us. If your closets don’t need to be cleaned, consider organizing your desk drawers or pantry shelves.
April 26, 2010: Saturn opposite Uranus
Today, we experience the fourth of five exact oppositions of Saturn and Uranus, an astrological alignment that has been coloring our recent personal and collective past. These planets began dancing in this relationship in 2008, with their first opposition occurring on November 4 (Election Day in the U.S.). This was followed by an opposition on February 5 and one on September 15, 2009. In addition to today’s, there is one more that will occur in the current cycle, on July 26, 2010. (All except for the July 2010 opposition feature Saturn in Virgo and Uranus in Pisces; the July one will occur with Saturn in Libra and Uranus in Aries.)
On the surface, this push-pull between Saturn and Uranus can be extremely challenging; after all, they seem to represent polar-opposite energies. Saturn upholds rules and limits, promoting the status quo and all that has come before. Uranus, on the other hand, represents the revolutionary desire to upturn that which is accepted in hopes to find a solution that promotes evolution.
Simply said, with Saturn and Uranus, we have Same vs. Change. We may feel like we are on a see-saw, one minute wanting to “just throw it all away” and start fresh while the next minute holding on, with dear life, to all that we have created.
Yet, Saturn and Uranus can dance together really graciously. These energies can be rectified, dialoguing in a way that enables empowering and realistic change to come to life. Remember, Saturn provides structure in order to make things manifest. So if it’s change that you want, if you want to create something new in your life, Saturn can help provide the foundation and support to help make it happen. When making Uranian changes, just remember to pay homage to Saturn by infusing some pragmatism into your thinking when deciding how you can reinvent areas of your life.
Consider the proverbial apple cart as an example of working with the energies of Saturn and Uranus. During this time, you may feel a desire to overturn the apple cart. If you do, just remember to pick up the fruit and rearrange them (either on the existing cart or a new one) in a way that better serves you. This re-structuring (and Saturn-honoring) approach to change may be more productive than just moving on, with “apples” strewn on the ground, providing no benefit for anyone. Saturn/Uranus gives us a sandbox for structured chaos, which can be a really creative and provocative experience.
During this opposition, Saturn will be at 29 degrees Virgo and Uranus will be at 29 degrees Pisces. While everyone experiences the energies of the Saturn/Uranus opposition, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) around this degree in Virgo, Pisces, or the other mutable signs—Gemini and Sagittarius—it may impact you more intensely.
Saturn/Uranus Opposition Apothecary Suggestions
Free-form dance: With Saturn ruling the body and Uranus associated with independence and individuality, free-form dancing—including Ecstatic Dance, Dances of Universal Peace, and others–can be a great approach to healing during this celestial alignment. Dancing allows us to move our bodies, enhancing circulation and promoting mind/body/heart connections. It can be especially helpful in times when there’s heightened energy (Uranus) that may have a tendency to crystallize (Saturn) in our bodies.
Walnut flower essence: Sometimes we want to make changes but feel blocked by a lack of confidence and certainty, which may have been instilled within us as a result of accepting others’ visions for how we should live our life. These self-limiting thoughts may often create doubt and stand in our way of pursuing our true path. If you need support committing to a change in your life that you know, in your heart of hearts, truly will help you to evolve (regardless of what the “old tapes” say), consider Walnut flower essence. (Flower essences are made from flower-infused water and work energetically to restore emotional and mental balance. You can find them in natural food stores or holistic pharmacies.)
April 28, 2010: Taurus/Scorpio Full Moon (exact at 5:18 am PDT)
During the Taurus/Scorpio Full Moon we experience the juxtaposition of the practical (Taurus) and the emotional (Scorpio). The interplay between these two signs helps us to forge an awareness that what we see—what has form—is reliant upon that which is unseen but deeply felt.
As it reflects the relationship between the ground (Taurus) and the underground (Scorpio), a garden is a great image to consider when looking at the meaning of this Full Moon. Our senses appreciate the glory of the flowers, trees, ferns, and other earthly Taurean gems that flourish. Yet, it’s important to remember that none of this growth would be possible were it not for that which occurs out of sight, below the surface—such as the complex root structure, the hardworking earthworms, and the decay that feeds the soil. What we are called on to appreciate during this Full Moon is that the beauty we see is not just on the surface but also exists in the places that we may often shy away from, those we may consider “unseemly” or “out of bounds.” Given that Mercury is aligned with the Full Moon, we may be able to more readily connect with the words and images that can help us give voice to these reflections.
There is a tenacity that fills the air during this Full Moon since both signs are known for this quality: Taurus is stubborn and likes to do what it wants while Scorpio clenches tightly to that which it desires to possess. Combine this with the sexuality inherent in both signs—Taurus from the perspective of enjoying the sensual and Scorpio because of its appreciation of transformative experiences—and you’re looking at a day filled with passion and pleasure.
This month’s Full Moon falls at 8 degrees of Taurus (Sun) and Scorpio (Moon). While everyone experiences the energies of a Full Moon, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) around this degree in Taurus, Scorpio, or the other fixed signs—Leo and Aquarius—it may impact you more intensely.
Full Moon Apothecary Suggestions
Taurus is associated with the neck, throat, and inner ears while Scorpio is associated with the genitals, bladder, and large intestine. Pay extra attention to these parts of the body around the time of this Full Moon.
Flower petal bath: Submerge your body in a sensuality-inspiring bath. Fill a small drawstring muslin bag (available at health and beauty-aid stores) with petals from your favorite fragrant flowers. While the bath is filling, hang the flower bag on the tub’s spout, and then let it float in the water after the bath is ready. (If you have a good drain cover, consider floating some petals themselves in the bath.) Enhance the aromatics of your experience by adding a few drops of floral essential oils—such as jasmine, rose, or rose geranium—to the bath.
Mud therapy: Mud holds great therapeutic benefits, including detoxification and muscle relaxation. As mud reflects aspects of Taurus (the earth) and Scorpio (the dark and dirty), treatments using this powerful material are well suited during this Full Moon. Many spas offer body polishing mud treatments (also known as fangotherapy). Or purchase some mud at a natural apothecary, applying it as a mask to your face and/or body, reveling in its ability to uncover more of your natural beauty.
