Simone Butler's Blog, page 22

Scorpio Full Moon: Manifest Some Cash!

We’re entering a portal of manifestation at the upcoming Scorpio Full Moon (Wed. May 10, 2:42 p.m. PDT).   Never was there a more important time to conjure the life you truly want, and the means by which to create it.…

Taurus New Moon: Getting Down and Dirty

 

I’d been meaning to make it out to my friend Star’s ranch to meet her latest batch of baby goats, so I was thrilled to hear about her new Blissful Goat Yoga classes. In case you haven’t yet heard of this phenomenon, which has taken the Internet by storm, Goat Yoga is a fun way to enjoy these adorable animals while being guided through poses like child’s pose and downward dog on the grass.

“Just be sure to wear a hoodie,” Star cautioned. “They like to chew your hair.” As it turned out, the kids were more interested in my earrings than my hair. And one of them did pee on a friend’s yoga mat. But otherwise it was a fantastic experience, with lots of giggles and cuddles all around.

Getting down and dirty with nature is the theme of Wednesday’s Taurus New Moon (April 26, 5:16 a.m. PDT). The Sun and Moon join in the earthy sign of Taurus, sextile gentle, compassionate Neptune. And, a Mercury-Uranus conjunction, exact that day, opens our minds and hearts to fun new activities and adventurous ways of viewing life.

The Sabian Symbol for this New Moon at 7 degrees Taurus is: “The woman of Samaria at the ancestral well.” Dane Rudhyar interpreted this as “the meeting of the traditional past and of the creative spirit pointing to the future.” He reminds us that, “The creative future descends first to that which has become chaos.” Take heart if things have been up in the air lately; the future is being born – no matter how crazy life seems.

Whether you cuddle baby animals or find other ways to open your mind and heart to nature, spend some time outdoors at this earthy New Moon. It falls less than a week before Beltane, the ancient fertility festival, so enjoy the luscious, fertile energies and affirm abundance and well-being. Mercury is still retrograde through May 3; just take things slowly and do your best to enjoy the ride.

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Libra Full Moon: Think Pink

 

Recently I yelled at someone over the phone. I thought the early a.m. call might be from a New York client, so I picked it up. Without my morning tea and altar-time to fortify myself, the telemarketer had caught me off guard – and boy, did he get an earful! Later that day, a friend confessed that she’d just told a solicitor to F-off. He had trespassed onto her porch despite a sign forbidding it. Egads – what has the world come to, when nice women like us are sufficiently provoked to drop the F-bomb on total strangers?

We live in an increasingly uncivilized society. But there’s got to be a better way of dealing with it than yelling at people – which only leads to antagonism as well as hypertension. Shaman-scientist Alberto Villoldo tells us that indigenous medicine people have a practice for staying peaceful in any situation. “They choose not to take life personally,” he writes in the March issue of Science of Mind. And we can learn to do the same, he says. “You start by noticing that people sometimes do hurtful things, but that they do not do them to upset you. Things happen, and you have the choice of taking it personally and wrapping it into a big dramatic story, or not.”

When you practice the spiritual discipline of not taking life personally, Villoldo adds, “you see that the world does not revolve around you exclusively. It is about all our relationships, including humans, animals, trees and rivers.” Once you become more peaceful and inclusive, he concludes, “then the Universe will begin to conspire on your behalf and make your dreams come true – because they are not only about you anymore.”

This is a fine teaching for the relationship-oriented Libra Full Moon (Monday April 10, 11:08 p.m. PDT), which forms a tense T-square with Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto. There is a lot of social energy afoot. Yet we will also be challenged to not take things personally. To add fuel to the fire, messenger Mercury turns retrograde on Sunday afternoon (for three weeks) just before the Full Moon; misunderstandings and reversals are likely. Smooth the way by practicing detachment, compassion and patience as best you can.

Indigenous Americans called this the Full Pink Moon because it coincided with the blossoming of wild pink phlox. Though it will not literally appear pink in the sky, this is still a special Moon. Take a few minutes to slow down and stand under Luna’s radiance. Reflect on what’s transpired lately and bless it all. Salute all your relations – from family, friends and special animals to pushy telemarketers and clueless politicians. The Libra Full Moon reminds us that beneath the surface, we are all one.

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Aries New Moon: The Fighting Spirit

Can you feel the sap rising? It’s finally spring here in the Northern Hemisphere – new life is bursting out all over! And there’s a gang of planets in feisty Aries urging us (especially women) to get moving and speak out.

Women’s stories have long been ignored and devalued, a practice that continues in modern film-making. The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media found that in 2015, male characters received twice as much screen time as their female counterparts. And, a 2016 survey of over 2,000 Hollywood films revealed that 78 percent featured a male lead. And that’s just in America!

The situation is worse in India, a culture that traditionally shames women for expressing their power and sexuality. But Alankrita Shrivastava is determined to change that. The Indian director’s award-winning film, Lipstick Under My Burkha, follows the secret inner lives of four women, two Muslim and two Hindu, depicting their sexual desires and social challenges. The film has been praised for challenging gender-based norms and breaking stereotypes. But the Central Board for Film Certification has provoked public outrage by refusing to certify the film for theaters because it’s too “lady-oriented.” People have encouraged Shrivastava to circumvent the board’s decision and go straight to streaming, but she wants a theatrical release in India. So she’s filed an appeal with the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal; the hearing will occur at the end of March.

When I read this story, I saw the defiant face of retrograde Venus. Venus in Aries is the Amazon Warrior, and particularly when in retrograde mode, she provokes women to action. But she also provokes those who are threatened by women’s strength. Aries demands courage and decisiveness. Now we are forced to dig deep to find inner fortitude, especially when contending with angry or unconscious forces.

Think about the last few weeks (Venus turned retrograde in early March; it goes direct mid-April). Has your frustration with someone or something gotten so extreme that you’ve been having dark – even devious – thoughts? Have you lashed out in anger, or been the recipient of heated words? If so, it’s the handiwork of Venus in Aries – who’s not that comfortable in Mars’ impulsive sign, and can sometimes react blindly when feeling restrained.

Yet the Aries energy is also invigorating – and it’s everywhere now. The Sun leaped into Aries at the March 20 Equinox to join changeable Mercury, who’s getting set to march with revolutionary Uranus in Aries within hours of the New Moon (March 27, 7:57 p.m. PDT). And, retrograde Venus joins hands with the Sun and Moon, reawakening feisty, sexy parts of us that may have been dormant for years. How you use this energy is up to you – it could be just the kick you need to move forward, or might lead to a setback. Use it consciously. Patience will be at a premium, and hasty words can provoke others – even to violence in extreme situations. Channel your fighting spirit in wise, heartfelt ways. Stand up for yourself (and others) to help break old patterns of bondage.

If you need help making the most of this New Moon, check out this Aries ritual to pump up your energy and career, from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life.

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Virgo Full Moon: Healing Our Waters

Water = feelings. Our rivers and oceans reflect our collective emotional state. Most of us were taught to stuff our feelings and tough things out, but that just leads to physical and emotional toxicity. As this toxic overload within us grows, so does the imperiled state of our rivers and oceans – and the creatures that inhabit them.

For instance, an executive order just removed Clean Water Act protection for nearly two million miles of our nation’s streams. Water Protectors at Standing Rock are still holding vigil to prevent a proposed oil pipeline on sacred land – while a burst pipeline not far away gushes crude oil into a neighboring river. The ruptured (apparently unfixable) Fukushima power plant is still spewing 300 tons of radioactive waste into the Pacific ocean on a daily basis. And, even the deepest part of the ocean floor was recently found to contain a staggering amount of plastic debris.

Scary stuff! But there is reason for hope. The United Nations, for example, has recently declared war on plastic. Their new Clean Seas campaign aims to eliminate major sources of marine plastic and change shopping habits. Also, a clever young Dutch man named Boyan Slat has invented a floating garbage funnel that can potentially remove 7,250,000 tons of plastic waste from the oceans. He has already raised over two million dollars through crowd-funding to test and build the devices, which will be deployed to clean up garbage patches world-wide.

And then there’s Mr. Trash Wheel (see above). A floating solar and hydro-powered trash interceptor cleaning up Baltimore’s polluted waters, this googly-eyed character and his sidekick, Professor Trash Wheel, are geared toward making Baltimore Harbor swimmable and fishable by 2020. Collecting as much as 38,000 pounds of debris in a single day, so far they’ve stopped more than one million pounds of garbage from entering the harbor.

These commendable projects are in the spotlight as we approach Sunday’s Virgo Full Moon (March 12, 7:54 a.m. PST). The Moon in the hard-working, clean-living earth sign of Virgo opposes the Sun and Chiron (wounding, healing) in watery Pisces. And, the Sun and Moon square off with no-nonsense Saturn in far-seeing Sagittarius. This mutable T-square tells us that we’re on a slippery slope, but all is not lost if we keep the faith and do our part.

It’s time to clean up our inner and outer pollution. In the Northern Hemisphere, spring is almost here – do a thorough cleanse of your body and home. Allow yourself to weep, rage and release emotions that have been stuck within you, perhaps for years. Refuse that straw with your drink, use your own bags at the store, kick the bottled water habit, and don’t buy toxic cleaners or  face scrubs with plastic micro-beads in them. Make your voice heard: Tell your representatives how you feel about water pollution. Together, we can make a difference!

 

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Pisces Solar Eclipse: Hold Onto Your Horses!

                                                                      The Horses of Neptune by Walter Crane

March, 2015 marked a turbulent time in my life. I was struggling to find my footing in my business and casting about in vain for the topic of my next book. Plus, the loss of a treasured relationship had me unmoored. Thus began a two-year period of groping my way forward, trying to find my place in the world. This period was punctuated by Pisces eclipses in my eleventh house of goals, friendships and community.

Fast forward to February, 2017: I’ve (mostly) come to terms with the relationship loss, my new book will be out soon, and I’m about to embark on a major “rebranding.” Though I’m proud of my progress, there were points at which I felt I was sinking rather than swimming. Such is the nature of Pisces eclipses.

But eventually you reach a do-or-die point in this process – and that point is now. The mother of all Pisces eclipses sweeps in on Sunday to end the series with a bang. The Pisces New Moon solar eclipse (Feb. 26, 6:58 a.m. PST) is conjunct Neptune (Pisces’ ruling planet), with the South Node and Mercury nearby in Pisces. A major ending is upon us, to clear the way for a new beginning. Look to the house where the eclipse falls in your chart for clues to what this might mean for you. In what area of your life has it become undeniable that there’s no turning back? What is that final leap of faith you need to take to set things right for yourself, others – or the world at large?

Since Pisces rules both dreams and delusions, we need to get real about where we’re at, both individually and collectively. If you’ve been in denial, hoping to be rescued by those in charge, or failing to follow through on your dreams, it’s time to face the truth. Yes, it’s scary to cut your losses and/or stride bravely forward without an apparent safety net (believe me, I know!) but this eclipse demands change. Because it’s the last of a series, it represents the final death knell of something very old that’s been holding all of us back.

Yet in your haste to make a change, take care to not act rashly or in anger. When Mars gangs up with Uranus, as it does on the day of the eclipse, there’s a strong potential for breakthroughs or breakdowns. Jupiter’s opposition to Mars and Uranus ratchets up the tension. Not a good day to travel (especially by water) and arguments could spin out of control. Still, there is a transcendent element afoot that Leah Whitehorse captures in the latest issue of The Mountain Astrologer. She calls this eclipse at nine degrees Pisces a “collective baptism.” Because it evokes the Sabian Symbol of a jockey spurring his horse to victory, she advises that we surrender to the journey and “catch hold of the horse’s mane and ride the wave until we’re brought safely back to land, washed clean and sanctified by the great waters of life.”

No matter what happens around this eclipse, it’s an excellent time to tap into Piscean inspiration. One good way is through scrying, an ancient technique for receiving messages or visualizing what you’d like to create. Check out this Pisces New Moon ritual from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life.

 

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Leo Full Moon: There’s Always Hope

Raju was eating plastic bags on the streets to keep his tummy full. Lakhi got abscesses on her feet while trudging endlessly on tar roads in hot temperatures. Suraj was a prisoner at a temple, restrained by spiked chains in a dark, dank room with little food and water. Rhea worked for fifty three years at a circus, performing unnatural, painful tricks for her owners’ profit.

Twenty elephants who have suffered similar abuse are now healing from their wounds at Wildlife SOS, a nonprofit conservation and care center in Mathura, India. Many are blind, lame or elderly, and therefore susceptible to ailments such as pneumonia and arthritis. So to keep them cozy during a cold snap this winter, staff members at the center designed and knitted special plus-size sweaters for the pachyderms. Thanks to a big dose of creativity and caring, these noble creatures are staying warm and comfortable. Draped in their colorful robes, they have become the kings and queens of their realm.

At Friday’s Full Moon eclipse in Leo (Feb. 10, 4:33 p.m. PST), we’re all encouraged to dress up a little and let our true selves shine. The Full Moon in regal Leo syncs up magically with stable Saturn, optimistic Jupiter and innovative Uranus, sparking unexpected solutions to problems. The Sun in Aquarius eclipsing the Moon in Leo reminds us that we’re all in this together. Progressive change and caring about the rights of others trump egocentric concerns. It’s possible now to see the light on the horizon.

So no matter how beaten down you may feel, don some colorful duds at this Full Moon and join with others to strut your stuff. There’s always hope – just ask Raju and his elephant kin!

To find out how this auspicious lunar eclipse is affecting you personally, order Astro Alchemy.

Aquarius New Moon: Cock-a-doodle-do!

Last weekend I joined close to 40,000 people in downtown San Diego for the Women’s March. The streets were a sea of pink hats and protest signs as we dodged the raindrops to show support for human rights. We weren’t the only ones. Across the world, an estimated three million women and men took to the streets – there were more people marching in Washington, D.C. than attended the Inauguration!

Too young to join the protest movements of the 60s, this was a new experience for me – and, I suspect, for many of the marchers. We can thank Donald Trump for that: His intent to dismantle many crucial protections for humans and the environment has issued a wake-up call so loud that it can’t be denied.

Let the crowing begin! We’re about to enter the Year of the Fire Rooster, with its flashy strutting and red plumage (eerily reminiscent of our new Commander-in-Chief). Cocky and finicky, the Rooster rules the roost. His job is to tend the flock, but he can become overly aggressive and end up attacking those he’s supposed to protect. Yet his fiery nature, if channeled properly, can also warm hearts and bring people together.

In a recent article, Feng Shui practitioner Karen Abler Carrasco says this will be a year in which we “become overly sensitive to anything that comes near our own sphere of influence.” But, she adds, “We can transform this into a positive quality by steadfastly remaining focused locally, letting the global arena take care of itself. There is more than enough work to do to feed our own communities.” She strongly urges us to get acquainted with our neighbors and tend to them, including those from different backgrounds. Despite the masculine “yang” qualities of the Fire Rooster, she adds, this is actually a “yin,” or feminine year. “Sharing feels better and more secure than hoarding.”

This observation is perfectly suited to the upcoming Aquarius New Moon (Jan. 27, 4:07 p.m. PST), which coincides with the Chinese New Year on the 28th. Long associated with brotherhood, sisterhood and progressive causes, Aquarius energy helps us connect with our communities and strengthen ties with friends. This New Moon happens just hours before fiery Mars charges into Aries, the sign it rules, heightening passions through early March. It’s important to remember during this heated period that going after what you want works better than complaining about what you don’t want. Inflammatory dialog will be rampant, with fiery Aries whipping the freedom-loving winds of Aquarius. Think twice before making angry, fearful posts on Facebook, though. Use this potent Aquarius New Moon to join with others and make a plan to tackle problems. Then, like the Rooster, start pecking away at solving them. The sense of community that’s building right now will do us all good.

This is an excellent time to call in help from your angels and guides. Check out this Aquarius New Moon ritual from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life. You’ll also find a short video there in which I describe how to work with the Helpful People area of your home, so you can draw in whatever assistance you need.

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Cancer Full Moon: Fall on Your Butt, Not Your Face

Known as the “snow guardian,” billy barr has lived alone for over 40 years in a remote cabin in one of the coldest regions of the U.S. The lone resident of Gothic, Colorado, a ghost town since the 1920s, barr (who prefers the lower case spelling) spends his days reading, sipping tea, watching Bollywood films – and, in the winter, checking snow levels twice a day. His notebooks, filled with carefully recorded measurements over four decades, have provided scientists with a treasure trove of weather and climate trends – including the effects of global warming.

A nature and animal lover, barr said he started recording the weather mainly because it gave him something to do. Up till recently, the only social interaction barr experienced was when he skied into a nearby town for supplies every few weeks. Yet now he’s in the public eye, thanks to Morgan Heim of Day’s Edge Productions, who made an award-winning five-minute film about the articulate hermit. In it, barr admits he’s not very hopeful about our ability to reverse the alarming climate trends he has documented. Yet he soldiers on as guardian of the snow, living a life most would find unbearably lonely, and taking a pragmatic approach to whatever difficulties he faces. For instance, he says, “I learned how to ski better so I wouldn’t fall down all the time. Learning how to fall is the most important thing. It’s a lot easier falling on your butt than your face.”

Wise advice at any time, but especially for Thursday’s Cancer Full Moon (Jan. 12, 3:34 a.m. PST). This Full Moon forges a dynamic cardinal grand cross with take-no-prisoners Pluto, I’ll-do-it-my-way Uranus, and let’s-learn-from-this Jupiter – all catalyzing the sensitive Cancer Moon and stoic Capricorn Sun. There is the potential for life-changing awakenings and developments, but also for sudden upsets. Rather than succumbing to fear, stay as patient and calm as possible regardless of what others may say or do. Try to harness the power of this fertile action period, which falls on the heels of mover-and-shaker Mercury’s direct turn, to achieve your goals.

Like billy barr, you may need to practice your falling technique as you forge ahead. As astrologer April Elliott Kent put it in a recent essay, “I think we miss something in trying to inoculate ourselves from life’s difficulties.” This Full Moon, she adds, is “a reminder that in order to best enjoy life’s tenderest pleasures, we often must first confront the gargoyles of pain and fear.”

 

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Capricorn New Moon: Resolution Redux

Batten down the hatches: 2017 is almost here. Especially for those of us in the U.S., the next four years are apt to be uncertain as the new administration finds its footing and attempts to dismantle much of what was accomplished during the last eight years. But regardless of who is president, we can still commit to helping those who are struggling, and to making 2017 a personally rewarding year.

Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? Or have you given up on the notion, since they rarely come true? Inspired by Martha Beck’s recent column in O Magazine on why New Year’s resolutions so often fail, I’ve decided to review and reevaluate my 2016 list to help me decide what’s next. The timing seemed appropriate, with Mercury in retrograde conjunct a perspicacious Capricorn New Moon a few days before New Year’s (Dec. 28, 10:53 p.m. PST). So, as Beck did with her list from last year, I examined whether my resolutions were truly aligned with what I want, how I might reframe some of them for 2017 and what insights could be gleaned from what went wrong.

Some of my resolutions (or intentions, as I prefer to call them) did indeed happen. I wrote my book Moon Power, a fruitful if sometimes frustrating collaboration with a publishing house, due out in June. I joined the board of the San Diego Astrological Society and became a vital part of a small but mighty organization, helping to produce events and educate the community. Both of these accomplishments served my intention of joining with others to achieve greater things than I could on my own.

Several other intentions did not pan out, however. Once again, I didn’t lose those infernal 30 pounds. Why not? Upon reflection, I think my body is telling me in the only way it knows how that I need to live larger, to proudly take up space on the planet. So here’s my “resolution redux” for 2017: I resolve to own my greatness and allow myself to expand. Also, I did not unite with the man who’s perfect for me. (There is one interesting prospect, but that remains to be seen.) Meanwhile, I’m rethinking this goal as well. Resolution redux: I resolve to love myself with all my flaws, and to give more love to others, including the man who’s perfect for me.

As you review your intentions for last year and compile your list for 2017, listen closely to what your inner self wants – it might surprise you. Maybe you really want to run for office! (lots of people, especially women, have been inspired to do so after the recent election). Or, perhaps your soul longs to volunteer for a grassroots organization that’s working for change. Rather than heaping yourself with resolutions you’re unlikely to attain (and feeling guilty about it at year’s end), use the lean-and-mean Capricorn New Moon to devise a realistic, doable list. As the New Moon joins retrograde Mercury, ask yourself why former resolutions may have failed, and how you might rethink them. And, be sure to acknowledge yourself for things you’ve attained that weren’t even on your list. For instance, in 2016 I finally broke the life-long habit of stuffing my emotions as soon as they come up – this was huge for me!

At the New Moon, liberating Uranus turns direct after a five-month retrograde – bringing a jolt of energy and a sense of release. Maybe all it requires to make your goals attainable is an attitude shift. Think outside the box: Perhaps allying yourself with an unlikely companion or group could make a long-sought dream come true. Or maybe there’s a habit you’re ready to release now that would make all the difference in your quality of life.

The Capricorn New Moon is especially good for reviewing and re-framing your career. If you need help being recognized for your talents and opinions, try this Capricorn New Moon ritual from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life. And check out the mini-video on that page, which illustrates how to remake your Fame gua to bring in more career recognition and success.

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