December 10, 2011: Gemini Full Moon Lunar Eclipse (exact at 6:36 am PST)

Today’s Full Moon is also a Lunar Eclipse. Even if we can’t see an eclipse in the sky where we live, these celestial events are renowned for being very powerful in the way in which they can impact our lives.

A Full Moon Lunar Eclipse signifies a time when things come to fruition. It portends an auspicious time to let go of something that is outworn, whether it be a possession, a habit, a limiting belief, or a relationship that doesn’t serve your highest good. Additionally, eclipses provide a great opportunity for outward manifestation with life-changing events—sometimes expected, sometimes not—often happening around this time.

Today’s Full Moon features the Sun in Sagittarius opposing the Moon in Gemini. We may feel ourselves caught in a push-pull between stepping back to gain perspective and focusing in to hone the pieces that make up the whole. Striking a balance is important. Remember not to lose the forest for the trees, yet don’t forsake the trees for the forest either; both are equally important.

If we can find a way to integrate the energies calling for our attention, the day can grace us with a significant opportunity for wisdom and learning. As we quest to become aware of the bigger picture, it’s important to remember to tap into facts and figures that can promote our greater understanding, rather than just taking off from a launch pad of vision and beliefs.

Yet, at the same time, it’s important to remember that it’s not just information that contributes to a sense of knowingness. We all have a deep sense of intuition that can guide us in charting the course of our life journey; we just need to have the faith that this resides within us.

There may be elements of rabble-rousing during this Eclipse time given that Uranus—the planet of innovation and the unexpected—stations direct just hours before the Eclipse’s exactitude. When a planet stations, its energy and archetypes become really loud and apparent. Some of the arenas associated with Uranus are electricity, earthquakes, and rebellion. When Uranus is strong, so may be the shocks that catch us off guard. Yet, these are the surprises that, if we look at them from a more detached perspective, may aid us in breaking up stagnant patterns that may have kept us in rote motion rather than fully expressed individuality. If the day includes some notions of seeming chaos, see whether or not what is being made apparent are nothing other than great insights that can allow you to connect into a deeper sense of freedom and a liberation of self-expression.

This month’s Full Moon falls at 19 degrees of Sagittarius (Sun) and Gemini (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 Sagittarius, Gemini, or the other mutable signs—Virgo and Pisces—it may impact you more intensely.

Full Moon Lunar Eclipse Apothecary Suggestions

Sagittarius is associated with liver, hips, buttocks, thighs, and sciatic nerve while Gemini is associated with the shoulders, arms, lungs, and nervous system. Pay extra attention to these parts of the body and areas of health around the time of this Full Moon.

Meditation: Full Moons oftentimes stimulate a sense of agitation. When the energies of Gemini and Uranus are involved–which they are today–it’s especially fruitful to focus on centering our sense of calm. Meditation can be very helpful for this. As Gemini rules the nervous system, incorporating pranayama breathing exercises may be especially beneficial. Even if you don’t regularly meditate, try taking even just 5 minutes to sit quietly and focus on your breath as you inhale and exhale as this can be a great exercise to quell nervous tension. Although Sagittarius is the sign of the sojourn, during your meditation try to still your mind, keeping it on a short reign so that it doesn’t travel too far.

Lavender: Lavender is a great essential oil to help calm the nerves. The use of lavender to calm the nervous system is not only supported by traditional use but also by numerous research studies that have found it to have stress-relieving, attention-enhancing, and anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) properties. In addition, lavender also has powerful antibacterial properties. Carry a vial of lavender with you, inhaling its beautiful aroma whenever you need a sense of calm. Or add a few drops to a plain massage oil and apply as a fragrantly centering body moisturizer.

December 13, 2011: Mercury goes Direct

Mercury ends its current retrograde period today, December 13 at 5:43 pm PST. The retrograde period was a great time for harnessing insights gained from inner reflection rather than external focus. Did new ideas spring forth from inward contemplation? Did you discover novel ways to communicate ideas? Did you realize better ways to utilize technological equipment/systems to transfer information to others? (Provided, of course, that they didn’t completely break down during this time, which in this case means you’re still likely to have gleaned the characteristics of those that may better suit your needs.) If you want a refresher on what Mercury retrograde is about, see this post.

Now that Mercury is direct, you can transform your insights into actions. Please remember, though, that we are still under the transit’s “shadow period”—which lasts until December 31—where the energy of the retrograde still exists, although in a much more diluted and subtle fashion.

December 24, 2011: Capricorn New Moon (exact at 10:06 am PST)

New Moons are auspicious monthly celestial events that usher in fresh cycles of creation and becoming. This Capricorn New Moon provides a great opportunity to inventory how we spend our resources. It’s a notable time to balance a checkbook, survey investments, or consider an aspect of financial planning we’ve yet to fully explore.

Remember, though, our personal economy of resources is not just limited to our money but also includes our time, energy, and skills/talents, all of which comprise the capital that we can use to create a richer life. Whether we are allocating these efficiently–and whether they are generating additional assets or incurring liabilities for us–can be very prudent topics to survey during this New Moon. The answers can help us to create a stronger foundation upon which we can build our future.

Loyalty and commitment may also be important themes during this New Moon. What we may find ourselves looking at isn’t so much the concept of being dutiful but rather whether the people and institutions to which we have granted our allegiance are those that are worthy of it. Readjustments in relationships—involving how much we give and how much we allow ourselves to expect in return—may occur.

This is an especially powerful New Moon given that it aligns with many other planets. It squares Uranus, conjoins Pluto, and trines Jupiter.

The Uranus influence portends that there may be surprises in store as things may not unfold during this time as we had anticipated. See what insights the patterns that you notice can provide you with when it comes to forging a greater sense of freedom and individuality. In fact, consider being proactive when it comes to surprises—surprise yourself by taking a new approach to a current situation. You may very well find that innovation is greatly rewarded. This idea of expecting the unexpected and the benefit of being flexible and fluid may not necessarily itself seem very novel, given that Uranus energy has been very strong all month; it stationed direct on December 10, right at the time of the Lunar Eclipse.

With the tie-in to Pluto we may find that our deep emotions bursting forth, desiring a window of expression. Try to give voice to that which has been swept under the rug, having confidence that shining the light into the dark—the expression of that which we’ve been fearful of taking ownership for–oftentimes is the perfect Rx for dissolving fears and insecurities.

Even if the day feels challenging at times it may seem as if there’s a benevolent guide providing assistance, with extra encouragement and unexpected doses of optimism to which we can connect. That’s because the New Moon makes a harmonious alignment to Jupiter, a planet whose energies are very strong right now given that it is stationing, about to shift into direct motion on Christmas Day (December 25 at 2:09 pm PST).

This month’s New Moon falls at 3 degrees of Capricorn (Sun and Moon). While everyone experiences the energies of a New Moon, if you have planets or pivotal points (i.e., Ascendant/Descendant or Nadir/Midheaven) around this degree in Capricorn or the other cardinal signs—Aries, Cancer, Libra—it may impact you more intensely.

New Moon Apothecary Suggestions

Capricorn is associated with the skeletal system, joints, and skin. Pay attention to these parts of the body and areas of health around the time of this New Moon.

Moisturize: This Capricorn New Moon provides a great opportunity to pay special attention to the skin. As Capricorn has a relatively drying energetic, taking the time to do a moisturizing treatment is a worthwhile wellness activity. If you rarely moisturize your skin, consider even just making an intention to apply body lotion or oil two times today. [Given that New Moons are great times for planting new seeds for becoming, doing this activity may spark the creation of a regular and continual moisturizing regimen.] If you already have a regular moisturizing ritual, consider applying a nourishing and hydrating facial mask; you can either find them in apothecaries or beauty stores, or consider making your own from ingredients such as avocados, honey, aloe vera, yogurt, and other nurturing food-based ingredients.

Turmeric: Capricorn is associated with the joints, body parts that often express inflammation, which can lead to pain and reduced mobility. One of the best anti-inflammatory compounds, and therefore a great item to promote rheumatic health, is the spice turmeric. While turmeric supplements are available, you can readily include this healing spice into your lifestyle by adding it to your recipes. Traditionally used as a foundation ingredient in curries and other Indian dishes, its earthy flavor can complement many dishes. You can purchase powdered turmeric in the spice section of the grocery store; fresh turmeric rhizome is available in Asian markets.

Monday, September 27

If Pluto isn’t a “planet” any more, many people ask, then do you still use it in astrology?

The answer is a resounding YES.

Pluto may be have been demoted by the astronomical order to a dwarf planet, but in astrological circles Pluto still pretty much has all the forceful power it always had.

Many astrologers actually think that being cast off, put on the sidelines, and not given equal status actually suits Pluto just fine in terms of the archetypes that it represents. As Sue Tompkins notes about Pluto in her book Aspects in Astrology: “Thus we can associate Pluto with collective Shadow issues; those things that our particular culture is unable to acknowledge or own.” So Pluto, the “you don’t usually look for me, but trust me I’m really here anyway” planet, is probably A-OK not being acknowledged as a planet anymore, since it rules the spheres of things that we collectively have an issue acknowledging anyway. Oh, the poetics of it all…

The last two years have seen Pluto playing a very prominent role astrologically, and we can see its society shape-shifting roles very clearly if we look. For example, since Pluto went into Capricorn—the sign of business and the economy—that aspect of our world has never been the same as the covered-up weaknesses of unsustainable economic structures were revealed and brought to light, something for which Pluto is known.

This past year, we have seen Pluto in a tug-of-war with Saturn with the urge to release and let go conflicting with our needs to hold on to a semblence of structure. Beginning in 2012, we will witness Pluto in square aspect to Uranus, an alignment that should carry on some themes that were born in the mid-1960s when these two planets conjoined.

So why all this talk about Pluto, you may be asking?

The reason being is that this week we are to experience a powerful planetary picture with the planet of the transformation forming a midpoint picture around the Aries Point with Jupiter.

What might this mean? Jupiter/Pluto is often an indicator of great success or prominence. Reinhold Ebertin in The Combination of Stellar Influences notes the Jupiter/Pluto midpoint to signify: “The desire for power (plutocracy).” and “The qualities of leadership.” The interpretation for this planetary picture in the Nova Chart Wheels software is “Fortunate transformation and changes in general.”  Where may these interpretations be based? Well, Jupiter expands all that it touches and Pluto is a symbol of deep change, powerful occurrences, and the intensity to make things happen.

Yet, Jupiter connecting with Pluto can also catalyze the letting go side of the latter planet. It may be evidenced in a great purging or loss, the giving over of something not sustainable (so that something can eventually grow in its place).

This alignment, in effect for a week, may invoke the collective themes of change, enlightenment, intensity, the use of power, and the ability for uprooted transformation. It may show up directly in your life and/or you may be witness to it in the world. However it manifests, I envision that once again this week we will be able to learn again more about the awe-inspiring energies of Pluto, our desire for survival and evolution, and the actions we will take to make that occur.

Tuesday, September 28

Although we’re still in the week characterized by the Jupiter and Pluto midpoint picture, today we may find ourselves with an extra skip in our step. The Gemini Moon lightens the mood a bit. When it comes to finding out more about a current relationship, we are inspired with an extra dose of curiosity and the fact-finding incentive to go with that.

Wednesday, September 29

What are you thinking?
What are you feeling?
What are you envisioning?

Whatever it may be, today is a good day to say it, write it, sing it, draw it, or express it in any of the ways that suit you.

But before doing so, really connect into your sense of authority, the sense of knowingness that you have inside, from which your sentiments are born.

Additionally, if you come across information today, hone in on the intent from which it comes. Does the energy of it deride us or make us feel elevated, honoring the royalty inherent within each of us? Information and communications that resonate with the latter should be given priority in terms of our perceptions and any decisions that we embark to make.

Thursday, September 30

With the Sun conjunct Saturn, today may feel like all business. There’s a strong desire to find what works and what doesn’t, and be focused in getting the things done that really matter.  Within this process we may become aware of some of our limitations or things that we have embraced in our lives that don’t necessary serve the integrity of who we are.

And yet, it may not necessarily be smooth sailing as we may run into the obstacles of fear and doubt, which may propel a swathe of different moods. These may seem to pull us off course, and yet it’s important to not avoid or ignore them. Providing whatever we need to make ourselves feel nurtured during the day as we set about to refine our actions and goals will be of inherent value and import.

Friday, October 1

Today, conversations may swirl around hope, promises, and potentials. Great visions may be initiated and discussed. While many may be fortuitous and may ring of manifestation, it’s a good idea to really key in on what’s being said to try to assess whether they are grounded in actuality rather than only pure desire before feeling carried away by them.

Saturday, October 2

Mercury is usually in a sign for 3+ weeks. Yet, owing to its recent retrograde cycle, the planet of communication has been in its current sign, Virgo, for about 10 weeks. Today marks the last day of its extended visit here as tomorrow it will enter Libra.

As a way to capture some of the lessons regarding communication we may have gained throughout the past 2-1/2 months, consider taking the time to do a review. What Virgoan lessons or inspirations have come to you during this time? These insights may be related to the focus of details when looking at the whole, the analytical path to harvesting the bounty of one’s hard work, the balance between critique and being overly critical, the role that striving for perfection or purity plays in your life, or any of the other numerous ways that Virgo can reveal itself.

As Mercury prepares to leave Virgo, it makes an opposition to Uranus today. As such, we are motivated to think outside of the box. Therefore to honor the day’s Uranian flavor, consider adding an element of novelty to this review exercise. For example, if you like to write, instead draw your reflections. If prose is your usual style, consider using poetic verse to express yourself. Or try non-dominant handwriting, using your left hand if you are a righty, or your right, if you are a lefty, to access more unconscious insights. The reflections that you garner can certainly be of service as we move on into the heart of this current unfolding season.

Sunday, October 3

Today we experience yet another Venus/Mars conjunction as the planet of love and the planet of desire do an intimate dance in the sky. This is the second of three conjunctions in this present cycle. The first one occurred in Libra on August 20 while the third will be in Taurus on May 23, 2011.

Today, these celestial lovers conspire in Scorpio.

When Venus and Mars conjoin, their energies align. We can use our will to attract or go after what we desire. We may feel more daring when it comes to our love affairs or artistic expressions. There is the potential for a focus on both give and take. When Venus and Mars meet each other, there is the possibility to be infused with eros, touched by the cupid’s arrow.

When the conjunction occurred in Libra in August, the focus may have been on the back and forth, the maintenance of balance, the harmony that can exist between two people. In May when the conjunction occurs in Taurus, elements of practicality and pragmatism as well as a focus on the sensual aspects that love can invoke may be highlighted.

Scorpio’s energy adds hues of intensity, the potential for power struggles, deep longings, and a profound desire to go behind the curtain to see what truly exists (the latter may or may not manifest depending upon how much fear and trust exists within a situation). Scorpio is passionate and profound and this conjunction is certain to be so as well.

This Venus/Mars conjunction cycle is part of a larger one that many astrologers track and note with import. For those who are interested, I highly recommend this article by the astrologer Robert Blaschke on the subject, which is featured on The Mountain Astrologer’s website.

Today’s Full Moon initiates the first of this season’s two eclipses (July marks the other one). Even if we can’t see an eclipse in the sky where we live, these celestial events are renowned for being very powerful in the way in which they can impact our lives.

A Full Moon Lunar Eclipse signifies a time when things come to fruition. It portends an auspicious time to let go of something that is outworn, whether it be a possession, a habit, a limiting belief, or a relationship that doesn’t serve your highest good. Additionally, eclipses provide a great opportunity for outward manifestation with life-changing events—sometimes expected, sometimes not—often happening around this time.

Issues of security are brought to the forefront during the Cancer/Capricorn Full Moon. It urges us to look at our life through the lens of the questions, “Where do I feel at home?” and “How can I feel more safe and protected regardless of where I am?” In pure Capricorn fashion, these aren’t light-hearted questions, but they are ones whose answers can provide us with the riches of insight to live a more integrated and productive life.

With this Full Moon, we are reminded that while the past is essential, it’s important not to wallow in it. What came before may be an integral part of who you are but don’t let it pull you from the joys of the present. “Be here now,” as Ram Dass is famous for saying and recognize that that which you may have inherited is only one aspect of you, and one that you can channel to help you build your own personal legacy.

While all Lunar Eclipses hold great power, this one is particularly significant and can be especially transformative. That’s because it aligns with Pluto, the planet of regeneration and renewal. Pluto invokes the falling away of the old and outworn to clear the space so that that which can truly nurture the essential nature of our selves can have the space to be born and take root.

There’s an essential ingredient to remember when Pluto is invoked. And that is faith. It’s integral because if we have the faith to know that something good will come, that something which much better aligns with and supports our joy will take hold, it is much easier to let go. And letting go and releasing with trust to the act of transformation is what Pluto calls upon us to do.

This month’s Full Moon falls at 5 degrees of Cancer (Sun) and Capricorn (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 Cancer, Capricorn, or the other cardinal signs—Aries and Libra—it may impact you more intensely. Also, take note of the houses in your personal astrology chart that the eclipse falls in as these represent arenas of your life that will hold special import over the next 6 months.

Full Moon Lunar Eclipse Apothecary Suggestions

Cancer is associated with the stomach, sinuses, body fluids, and breasts while Capricorn is associated with the skin, skeletal system, and joints. Pay extra attention to these parts of the body around the time of this Full Moon.

Skin scrub: With Capricorn ruling the skin and the Crab—the symbol for Cancer—famous for its molting, why not do a skin scrub ritual during this Full Moon. Sloughing away dead skin cells enhances circulation, reduces clogged pores, and allows the skin to breath better, improving our detoxification capacity. It also makes the skin more radiant and allows it to hold onto more moisture. Exfoliate the skin after several minutes in a hot shower or bath, or if you prefer do dry brushing before you bathe. Skin scrubbing tools—such as brushes and mitts made from sisal or nylon—are available in many beauty stores and natural foods markets.

Turtle meditation: The turtle, the animal which carries his home on his back no matter where he travels, is a great image to focus upon during this Full Moon Lunar Eclipse. Invoke the image of the turtle today in your meditation, or even just look at pictures and read about these wise hard-shelled animals. The turtle is a great symbol of inner wisdom, a deliberate approach to life, and the sense of self-protection inherent within all of us.

Today, embrace time. Sit still. Stay in your feelings. It may be amazing to see just where it takes you and how much less time it actually takes to move through challenging situations if we give ourselves permission to take the time to do so.

Turn a blind eye to.
Sweep under the rug.
Hide skeletons in the closet.

There are many idioms that reflect a common tendency to avoid feelings and situations that are painful, emotionally intense, and which may require confrontation. Yet, there is often a cost to doing so, including standing in our own way of joy and living from an open heart.

With Pluto turning direct today, we can seize onto the uncovering, looking-under-the-surface energy of this planet to help us face what we fear as we travel through our path of personal transformation.

We are in the thick of the Pluto station, with the planet of transformation turning direct tomorrow.

Can you feel it?

It may feel like there’s an internal volcano wanting to burst forth. Or maybe it feels like there’s an inner vessel of creation ready to be born. Or maybe you’re sensing that something has worn its course and needs to be discarded. Likely, you’ve experienced the unearthing of deep feelings or memories, or maybe even noticed that friends from the past have re-emerged.

Pluto represents regeneration, the death and decay necessary for rebirth. Think phoenix rising from the ashes or the Tower card in the Tarot and you enter Pluto’s archetypal territory.

This Plutonian energy will strongly color today and tomorrow even more than it did the past several days. This is helpful to remember because it inspires the realization that you are not alone if you’re having intense feelings. It’s not just you. This is itself one of the valuable lessons that Pluto can instill in all of us.

And with the Sun and Moon both in need-to-have-your-needs-fulfilled Cancer, thankfully that which I had a craving for was in clear sight.

Located bottom left, tucked nicely away in crisper drawer of our just-cleaned refrigerator, there it was. The cauliflower.

Now, I should be more clear. I wasn’t just yearning for cauliflower prepared any which way. In fact, raw cauliflower—a staple of crudite platters nationwide—is just not my personal cup of tea. Since that was the way I knew this vegetable when I was growing up, it took until I was in my 20s—the time I began to hone my stir-fry skills and saw how heat could transform the flavor of this vegetable—that I began to enjoy cauliflower.

But truly my love affair with it didn’t develop until I discovered the alchemical magic that occurred when its little white florets met its compadres of a casserole dish and a 400F oven. It is roasted cauliflower about which I swoon. That’s because roasting brings out qualities in cauliflower— a caramelized sweet flavor and amazing buttery texture—which, upon reflection of this vegetable in raw form, you wouldn’t think really existed.

But trust me, it does, and it was a desire for roasted cauliflower that in pure Plutonian fashion caught my attention and wouldn’t let go. Before I share with you how to prepare this delightful dish, I want to detour for a moment and extol another aspect of this vegetable—its nutrition and health benefits.

Cauliflower is a member of the much-lauded Brassica family of vegetables, making it a cousin of broccoli, kale, collards, cabbage, and other crucifers. In addition to a common geneology, what these foods share is their being a repository of health-promoting sulfur-containing phytonutrients. These nutrients, known as glucosinolates, aid the liver in its ability to detoxify chemicals and compounds like estrogen. This is one reason why researchers, public health organizations, and healthcare practitioners suggest eating several weekly servings of Brassica vegetables as a part of a cancer-preventive diet.

In addition to these phytonutrients, it is also concentrated in vitamin C, with one cup cooked cauliflower providing about 90% of the Daily Value for this immune-supporting nutrient. It’s also a good contributor of folate, fiber, and vitamin B6. Plus, if you’re looking for a food that will satisfy hunger without costing you too many calories, cauliflower fits the bill, with one cup containing about 25 calories.

Roasting Cauliflower: A Recipe

There are many ways to prepare roasted cauliflower. You can roast the whole cauliflower, cut it into slices, or divide it into small floret pieces. It was the latter approach that I used last night.

Ingredients

• 1 head of cauliflower
• Cooking oil with high smoke point (e.g., grapeseed oil or avocado oil)
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• Sea salt and pepper to taste
• Several crushed garlic cloves (optional)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 400F (200C).
• Break washed cauliflower into florets and then cut them in quarters. It’s better to use a knife to cut rather than just break them apart with your hands so that they’ll have a flat surface upon which they can rest in the roasting pan.
• Toss cauliflower with enough oil to coat. Mix in lemon juice as well as salt and pepper to taste. Add garlic cloves if desired.
• Place cauliflower in roasting dish or baking sheet large enough so that each floret piece is touching the bottom. The dish/sheet should be on the middle rack.
• Bake for 30-40 minutes.*

*The reason for the range of time is related to several factors: the depth and material of the roasting dish; the size of the florets; and your personal preference for how “roasted” you want your cauliflower to be. What I like to do is check on the cauliflower every 10 minutes or so to gauge its “doneness” (when it achieves the texture and flavor I like). I also use that opportunity to mix the florets with a wooden spoon in order to redistribute them along the surface of the roasting pan so that they can cook evenly.

After writing this blog post, I can only say one thing: I’m really glad that there’s leftovers from last night!

Do you have a favorite way of roasting cauliflower or another way that you love preparing it? If so, consider sharing it with other Planetary Apothecary readers in the Comments section.

Our emotions take precedent during a Cancer New Moon. If allowing yourself to let your feelings flow is an area of challenge, reflect on the people, places, or situations that make you feel the most nurtured and seek them out today. Take comfort in knowing that while feelings may seem overwhelming, they can actually be a fountain of personal strength rather than a sphere of vulnerability. In fact, since this particular Cancer New Moon is strongly connected to the energies of the planet Pluto, it can provide us with the window of opportunity to transform our relationship to our emotions in a very powerful way.

During a Cancer New Moon, our sentimentality is often aroused. Some may experience a strong sense of nostalgia and appreciation of the past while others may feel captured in moods of wistfulness. Remember that although the past is a vital essence of who we are, it is important to not sacrifice the present for regrets of “what was” and “what could have been.” The past has led to this moment, yet this moment—and those to come—need not be hostage to what came before. Honor the past but remember that there is no time like this moment to create your present and your future.

This month’s New Moon falls at 2 degrees of Cancer (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 Cancer or the other cardinal signs—Aries, Libra, Capricorn—it may impact you more intensely.

New Moon Apothecary Suggestions

Cancer rules the stomach, sinuses, body fluids, and breasts. Pay extra attention to these parts of the body around the time of this New Moon.

Bathe in the water: As Cancer is the first water sign, this aquatic elixir can be especially healing during this New Moon. Take refuge in a relaxing bath perfumed with your favorite essential oils (if you’re looking to try a new one, consider jasmine, as not only is it luxuriously fragrant but it is associated with Cancer in wellness astrology). If you have the opportunity, go for a swim or even just soak your feet in a lake, ocean, or creek. Meditating on the flowing shape-shifting nature of the water can be very revealing, and very healing.

Honeysuckle flower essence: Sometimes the past can have a pincer hold on us, just like the claws of a crab, the symbol for Cancer. When this happens, it can lead to a reduction in vitality, disturbing our ability to maintain the sense of presence required to fully participate in the present. If you need some energetic assistance releasing the shrouds of wistfulness and making peace with the past, consider trying Honeysuckle 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.)

I just wanted to share my excitement with you.

On Saturday, we went to the local Barnes & Noble and while perusing through the Astrology section, there it was…my book, Planetary Apothecary. I knew Barnes & Noble was going to carry it but had thought it wasn’t slated to arrive until the end of May.

The release of the book has been really exciting. It has been a truly heartfelt journey of creation glimmering with the soulful fulfillment that comes from the dharmic sojourn of following your bliss (which for me is continuing to be of service by helping people enhance their health and well-being).

It’s been exciting to track the online venues that are selling the book and hear of the bookstores around the country that are carrying it. Yet, seeing the book in the store and holding it in my hands…aahh, that was a truly magical moment I will never forget.

One more note: I had to laugh about its placement, between The AstroTwins’ Love Zodiac and Darkside Astrology. What was so amusing was that it was on Saturday that the final Venus/Pluto alignment of the season took place and how much more Venus/Pluto can it get than to be sandwiched between love and the darkside?

For the past three months, coinciding with Venus and Pluto in a tension-filled aspect, relationships have been a hotbed for transformation. Since February, it is likely that deep feelings—those that you may have been turning a blind eye to—regarding intimacy, values, and sexuality have come to the surface in a manner that precludes them from being denied any longer. As May 2 reflects the finale of this current Venus-Pluto cycle, how to achieve resolution in the related areas of your life may become more clear. For more on Venus square Pluto, see the post about this astrological event from April.