Aries Season Reflections
You heard from me last at the end of March, just before the Jupiter-Pluto and Mars-Saturn conjunctions; corresponding to intensity and transformation, isolation and technology. At that time, it felt to me like a wave of fear ran through the collective.
But just as quickly--after those conjunctions, as Mercury neared Neptune--bringing the mind to universal love, compassion, and interconnectedness--I felt a wave of love and peace. Which is not to say that there was no hardship, or that on one experienced fear. Of course they did. But the energy in the collective shifted. It felt like all around the world, people went into meditation and prayer. It felt like the frenetic panic was soothed as we came together even in isolation. It was beautiful.
Aries’ central learning is Courage. And is there any more certain and powerful expression of courage than to meet fear in such a way, and to not give in to it? Harnessing love in the face of catastrophe is what Aries is made for. We are accustomed to outward symbols for Aries: the warrior, the activist, the athlete. But what is the internal, spiritual manifestation of that energy? I believe it’s this. Love in the face of fear.
Even while tapping into the collective, which I can hardly help, I also felt a deep need to stay grounded in my self and not get swept along by the intensity of what was going on externally. All through Aries season, I felt I needed to be meticulous with my boundaries, both energetic and physical.
As I unplugged, and connected within, I felt a deep sense of sovereignty--of this is me. It was like, in the solitude and silence, I could really feel my own energy in a way that I rarely do. And it became easier to discern what I have control over, and what I do not. It became easier to see the subtle ways that energetics operate in relationships; where there are energy leaks, or manipulations.
It was really a wonderful Aries experience to meet my own energy in a deeper way and to start to more clearly see some of these subtle dynamics. When it came to the Libra Full Moon, I came to a deeper, felt knowing that every relationship is sacred. It became more clear that we can only meet the other when we are strongly rooted in our self, and not playing those energy games. We can only truly engage in relationships from a place of sovereignty and deep respect for the self as well as the other. I hope you were able to connect inwardly with your own self during Aries season as well.
New Moon in Taurus
The New Moon in Taurus is at 7:26pm PST at 3 degrees of Taurus on April 22nd. Venus, which rules Taurus, is right in the middle of Gemini, and close to a trine with Mars. The New Moon is very close to Uranus, square to Saturn, and sextile the North Node.
Every year, Taurus season in the Northern Hemisphere brings with it the thick blooms of spring, and the sprouts of seeds planted during the initiating season of Aries. We witness--if we are so fortunate--the wealth of nature, Earth’s riches, the blossoming that comes only after the dead of winter. And we are brought back to our senses with this beauty, brought into our bodies, and into the present. We may remember the magic of stillness and silence.
But, of course, it’s not so simple. This Taurus New Moon is square to Saturn, signifying hardship, limits, isolation, solitude, restriction, structure, authority, necessity. What we value (Taurus) is pitted against stark reality. (Square aspects can be resolved and navigated successfully through effort and creative solutions.)
Many people are under shelter in place and not even allowed outside for a walk. Many people are busy working in hospitals and the community, offering essential services. Many people are ill or homeless or under dire stress.
And as Taurus signifies what we value, what’s important to us, where our resources lie: this is a time to acknowledge our privilege, whatever it may be.
Let us harness gratitude for all we have: be it to be able to work during this time, to be able to not work during this time, our loved ones, a safe space to live, food to eat, the beauty of spring, birdsong, music, literature, savings to get us through, financial support from the government, the country in which we live, clean air to breath, clean water to drink, the very opportunity to experience life on Earth. There is so much to be thankful for.
And to the extent that we have privilege, let us acknowledge those who don’t. All those who do not have a safe space to live, who are homeless, or in crowded spaces, or in isolation with abusers. Let us consider those who will not receive the help they need, those who are ill, those who are at risk, those who die, or lose a loved one. There are so many people to consider at this time. And let our acknowledgements lead us to create a world in which all are cared for.
I am blessed to live amid the abundance of nature, and to have some time and capacity for enjoyment. It’s a strange juxtaposition. I am still digesting all that’s going on in the world; adjusting to new rhythms; considering the vulnerable and those at greatest risk--and yet, the cherry blossoms nearly gleam with surreal colour and fullness and birdsong soars through quiet city streets.
May we recognize that wealth comes from Earth. But our systems of extracting and creating wealth are ruining the very Earth on which they depend. There is another way. There are many other ways. Let’s manifest ways that honour and care for Earth, in deep gratitude and reverence for all she gives. May we recognize beauty as essential, that time is valuable, that slowing down brings gifts, that the Earth is rich, that our wealth and our worth is not a number in a bank account.
With the New Moon in Taurus so close to Uranus, Uranus energies are up. When Uranus first shifted into Taurus in the spring of 2018, I wrote this:
“Uranus seeks freedom through revolution, innovation, breakups, breakdowns, breakthroughs and brings this energy to the domain of Taurus: the physical world, the body, nature, Earth, money, and housing. Often longer outer planet transits like this can start out a little rocky, and as we become more accustomed to working with the energy, can become quite positive by the end. Uranus is seeking freedom afterall.
We can expect to revolutionize our financial systems over the next eight years, as more awareness is brought to the injustices and inequalities within it. Environmental activism is also likely to rise as more people wake up to the outrageously unethical practices of corporations and states in the name of resource extraction and the bottom line. Housing is also likely to be entirely revolutionized as it will become crystal clear that we have within our capacity the ability to provide housing for all humans. Ultimately, Uranus in Taurus holds the possibility of easier, cheaper housing, built out of natural materials, designed with the land, and community in mind. There may at first be crises in these areas (there already are, of course), but with awareness, crises can motivate initiative and change.”
(You can read the original post here).
Reading this, in retrospect, I see I was naive in thinking that our systems would be overhauled due to awareness and goodwill alone. Apparently it took a force of nature, beyond human control, to force change. And it’s yet to be seen who these revolutions will favour. But at any rate, we can see how some of these Uranus in Taurus themes are taking shape.
Thoughts on Revolution
Revolution is one of those loaded words that holds real charge for a lot of people. And understandably: so many revolutions throughout history have been violent and brutal and have left the people worse off than before. For people with such memory (whether personal, ancestral, or cultural), there is likely to be a revulsion to the very concept of revolution.
And on the other side, for people who have been oppressed, taken advantage of, brutalized, or left behind, it may seem crystal clear that what passes for peace and stability is often violent and oppressive for some, and revolution is then a matter of survival and the only possibility for freedom and the opportunity to flourish.
Whatever our history, for many of us, these ideas sit close to our trauma. And it’s no coincidence that Uranus signifies both trauma and revolution; shock and innovation. Revolution need not be violent but it will always be disruptive. There are historical examples of complete overhauls of power, economics, and social structures that were not violent (such as the revolutions in the late 80s that saw the end of oppressive Communist regimes across Eastern Europe--peaceful in every case, except Romania; the Cedar revolution in Lebanon which saw the withdrawal of Syrian troops and overthrow of pro-Syrian government in 2005; and many others).
While I understand that it is often a reaction to trauma, I do feel that the complete aversion to revolution suggests a lack of compassion for those who our societies don’t serve; a blindness to systemic racism and sexism and ableism and heteronormativity and the complicated intersecting ways that people have more or less privilege within a society and therefore experience more or less of that “peace and stability” that those averse to revolution desire to protect. And I suspect that over the long term such blindness is likely to induce precisely the more violent sorts of revolutions that privileged people so often fear--as those with less privilege suffer more and more until violent revolt is the only option.
It’s tragic that it has come to this, but COVID certainly is highlighting how privilege and intersectionality operate. Aren’t we seeing more clearly who the most vulnerable are? For those of us safe at home, bolstered by savings or government support, and with access to healthcare when we need it--well we may find boredom or loneliness to be our biggest problems. But for some people--essential service providers (sometimes earning minimum wage), the immune compromised, those without financial support, those who are sick or more vulnerable to illness, those who are homeless, or don’t have any options to isolate, and many others, then the situation is very different.
I’ve heard some people say things like that this virus is the great leveler--it doesn’t matter who you are, we are all equally vulnerable. And that is just not true. Vulnerability is not equal. For example, as of April 7th, of 5680 people with confirmed COVID in Chicago, 70% were black despite that only 30% of the population is black (1). And similar statistics are coming in from elsewhere (2). While this is tragic, it shouldn’t surprise us: this is how intersectionality works. For hopefully obvious historical reasons, people of colour are statistically more likely to have less access to healthcare, experience less food security, more economic instability, etc. and are therefore more susceptible to illness (3)
I think this all touches on another issue. We are inundated with information about the importance of hygiene and personal responsibility in health and illness. And yes, that’s important. But we hear a lot less about the social and environmental factors that contribute as well. It’s not just individuals who have a responsibility for our wellness, but governments, corporations, and organizations. Washing your hands may decrease the spread of a virus, but having a strong immune system, access to healthcare, a large enough living space (to quarantine from family for example), clean enough air, clean water, etc. are important as well. There are many many intersecting factors that make us more or less susceptible to illness, and these factors correlate with race, class, gender, and other factors.
Better hygiene will make us healthier. But so will less pollution, better healthcare, and a more just economy. We are seeing that when other people are supported, so are we: a healthier population makes a healthier individual. The mentality of win-lose is so passe. I believe in win-win. When other people benefit, so do we. And this is true when it comes to economic support and education as well as healthcare. If everyone has enough to get by, there is less crime, and a stronger economy. If everyone has access to education, there is more innovation and creativity.
I do hope that our global communities will come to a deeper appreciation of vulnerability and privilege through these trials. Now that so many privileged people have lost work due to COVID, there is suddenly financial support for many. I hope that those of us with privilege recognize that everyone deserves support--that if we set up our societies to provide people with healthcare and financial assistance when they need it, that we will all be stronger.
When I speak of revolution, these are the kinds of changes I envision. I imagine a world in which we take care of each other; where we have social supports and access to healthcare and education, so that we can all be stronger; so that we all may experience “peace and stability” and the opportunity to flourish. And, honestly, I’m tired of debates over “socialism,” vs. “communism,” vs. “capitalism,” etc. It doesn’t matter what we call it. History has shown us that any system can be manipulated by those in power. What matters is the outcomes. What matters is that our systems are founded on an ethic of care. What matters are the details. The intentions. The practicalities.
Where will the money come from? Well, why is it that our societies are structured such that some few people own billions of dollars and multiple mansions, and where billionaires don’t pay taxes, hold unconscionable sway over elections and policy, and mega corporations receive bailouts funded by tax payers and where the people are on the hook for the health and environmental costs that corporations are actually responsible for? The answer to the money question is easy. Tax the rich--and, especially, the ultra-rich. Use tax money to support people, not corporations. Regulate the financial sector so they can’t prey upon vulnerable people and create debt slavery. Require corporations to pay for cleaning up the messes they make (we learn as young children to clean up after ourselves--why don’t corporations have to?), which ought to include contributing to healthcare and environmental costs to the extent that they create toxins and pollution. Fund innovators creating environmentally friendly solutions. Transition to clean energy. Prevent corporate lobbying. Prevent social media companies from manipulating information. Etc etc. I mean, this is nothing new (and I suspect I’m largely preaching to the choir--sorry).
Anyway, these are some of my values. What are yours?
Spirituality and Politics: Beyond the Binary
Uranus is sometimes referred to as “the higher octave of Mercury,” meaning Uranus relates to the mental processes of innovation, insight, creativity, and originality. Mercury has more to do with ordinary, linear thought processes; recombinations of ideas that have already been formed; communication of messages already created. Uranus relates to entirely new ideas. Mercury tends to be linear and binary. Uranus is nonlinear and nonbinary: capable of leaping out of the current order, the worn habits of thought, the predominant paradigm into something altoghether new.
Binary thinking continues to run so deep. People tend to think there are only ever two options. I think it’s something about the human mind that attempts to simplify complex realities by boiling things down to two sides. The binary is a heuristic; it’s not reality. In terms of revolution, the binary is: revolution or peace. But there are many more options than that. Stability may indeed be violent. And Revolution may indeed be peaceful. There are always many options.
Another common binary to pit spirituality against politics. But politics plays an enormous role in many people’s lives. I don’t believe it’s ethical to separate politics from spirituality. How can we call ourselves spiritual if we turn a blind eye to suffering and injustice and the ways in which political realities and social structures contribute to those?
Spiritual life calls for nuance. How can we engage in politics from a spiritual standpoint? It’s not easy. Politics very often plays on our fear, and invites anger and hatred. Maybe spiritual training requires going to the monastery or turning off the news so as to find inner peace. But then spiritual mastery might be taking that inner peace into the wider community and in some cases, the political arena. For some people anyway. Maybe there are some who are called to serve in solitude. Through prayer and meditation. But surely, hopefully, some are called to a more public role.
Can we cultivate such strong spiritual practices, such solid inner conviction, such stability in our love and faith, that we will not falter even amid others who are full of fear?
It’s a fine balance. There are days when I cannot listen to the news, for my inner state of being is more shaky, more susceptible to fear, to selfishness, to anger. On those days, I disconnect from the outer world in order to reconnect inwardly, through meditation, prayer, yoga, contemplation. I know my priority has to be to my own inner stability and peace of mind.
But what is the point of all that spiritual work if we do not then seek to help others? And, of course, helping others definitely does not have to come through politics. And we might argue that politics is the least effective means of helping. And yet, ignoring politics altogether makes way for corruption and greed to rule the day.
Let’s not hide our love away.
I’m sending you so much love during this Taurus season. May you be blessed with wealth, in the ways that wealth matters to you.
~Would You Help Me?~
I want to honour you for reading these words, for participating in this work with me. Your reading these posts helps me to keep writing them. Your effort in reading offers an energetic contribution that supports me to continue. And many of you have sent me messages over the years letting me know that this work is helpful to you, and those messages have been so encouraging, I can’t express how appreciative I am.
There are many different ways that we can support each other. And money is just one. But, as you know, in our current world, money is necessary. If you read my work regularly, and receive value from it, and are able to contribute a few dollars a month, that would mean the world to me.
This writing is a labour of love. Last month, I literally wrote through the night and into the morning, because--I can’t help it--I have to do this. I feel called to do this work, and money is definitely not my motive. I put an enormous amount of love and time and energy into this writing, and I would like to be able to keep doing it and I would like to be able to make my work as accessible as possible.
But there is no way I can sustain this in the long run without your help. I would also like to be able to do a better job; to write more consistently, and put more time into editing. I would like to create more for you, such as, perhaps horoscopes, or monthly meditations.
You may not be able to contribute at this time. And I totally honour and respect that. Some people are financially stretched to their limits. And if that’s the case, there is no pressure. Please participate in this work in whatever way you can. And if perhaps a time comes when you are able to comfortably contribute, then I welcome that.
If you are able to contribute a few dollars a month, that would make all the difference. Sharing these writings with others who you think may appreciate them is another way that you can support me in this work. (Marketing is my biggest stumbling block (very much not intuitive to me) in this work, and so I’m so grateful when people help me to get the word out).
Patreon is a platform that allows creators to receive tips and donations in support of their work. For the time being I have three tiers, $2, $4, and $8 per month (although you are also able to set any amount you wish). I hope to soon add benefits for Patrons but for the time being I would like to make most of my offerings freely available.
For those of you who already contribute; thank you. It is so humbling. I am deeply deeply grateful to be able to do this work that I feel so called to. It is an immense privilege.
In deep gratitude for all the ways you support this work; thank you.
Free Astrology Circle
Thank you so much to those of you who participated in last month’s virtual astrology circle. It felt so good to connect with you all in that way. I hope to offer another one—tentatively schedule for May 2nd at noon, but I’ll send out a confirmation email.