Leo New Moon: Follow Your Heart

The first of two Leo New Moons in a month happens Sunday, July 23rd, at 2:46 am MST/PDT, at 0 degrees Leo 44 minutes. 

Here’s the chart:  LeoNewMoon2017-1.

Leo the Lion is the King of Beasts.  Ruled by the Sun, the Star at the center of our Solar System, Leo has long been associated with leadership and royalty, Kings and  Queens. 

Like the Sun, Leo wants to be the center of attention, recognized and loved by all!

Given this desire to be noticed and appreciated by others, it’s important to realize that most Leos are intrinsically insecure.  After all, Leo follows Cancer in the zodiac; the sign that’s learning INNER emotional security.

Leo’s primary evolutionary lesson is to learn to love and appreciate itself, instead of constantly seeking validation and approval from others.  Indeed, unless and until Leo learns to love itself, it will typically experience disappointment after bitter disappointment at a LACK of recognition from others.  Of course, this is the very set of circumstances that forces Leo back upon itself so that it can and must learn to love and value itself, ITSELF. 

This confirms the natural ‘law of correspondences’ that teaches that outer realities always reflect inner realities.  This law is sometimes referred to as the ‘As Above, So Below’ principle, or similarly, ‘As Without, So Within.’  It stands to reason that it is only when self-love exists that it can be reflected back to us from others.

Leo is the sign of the heart.  Its evolutionary intention to learn SELF-LOVE is precisely what is required in order to heal emotional insecurities, particularly insecurities about unique individuality that are always experienced through the sign of Cancer. 

Ultimately, every human being must learn this evolutionary lesson.  When we truly love and value ourselves, we’re free to be our unique authentic self.  As a result, we can then truly shine our light into the world, just like the Sun.

Two New Moons in Leo happen over the coming month.  Today’s Leo Moon at 0 degrees is the first.  The second is a Total Solar Eclipse at 28 degrees Leo on August 21^st that traverses the U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina.  Eclipses are powerful harbingers of change.  Astrologers know that Solar and Lunar Eclipses significantly ‘move’ events in the world.  Total Solar Eclipses are the most  powerful of all eclipses.

This first Leo Moon will initiate Leo lessons; the second will culminate them.  Leo lessons are about opening the heart to give and receive unconditional LOVE.  Leo is also about Creative Self-Expression, or Self-Realization.  We’re always happiest when we’re expressing our true self and when we’re creating and pursuing what we love.

Mars is also in Leo now conjunct the Sun and Moon.  Mars adds forceful energy to the New Moon chart pattern that encourages dynamic evolutionary growth.  Mars always instinctively pursues desires.  Our desires emanate directly from our Souls.  Most people are unaware of this however since most people’s Souls operate at an unconscious level.  Nevertheless, it is through our desires that our Souls point us forward and direct our personal evolutionary growth. 

Creativity is abundant now particularly when applied to desires and matters of the heart.  So follow your heart!  Take time to do the things you love with the people you love.

Let pleasure, joy and play lead the way!

The Sun and Moon are also quite favorably connected to Chiron, the ‘Wounded Healer,’ in Pisces, the sign of the Divine.  Pisces rules the natural spiritual developmental path.  Here, Chiron promises that open hearts can receive blessings from the Universe and the Divine Creative Source or what many people refer to as God, Goddess, Spirit, Great Mystery or All That Is. 

This Divine Creative Source is always teaching us the universal wisdom of compassion, forgiveness, unconditional love and acceptance.  Chiron in Pisces is THE ultimate symbol of healing for those who wish to glean their Soul’s purpose in co-creating painful past experiences.  Through Chiron in Pisces, we can come to realize how the most difficult events in our lives have facilitated our evolutionary journey and ongoing personal growth.

This Leo New Moon is saying, “RE-IMAGINE hurtful experiences.”  Move beyond WHAT happened.  Instead, seek to understand WHY it happened.  

What lessons were learned?  What wisdom was gained as a result of the pain and disappointment or disillusionment?   What was your Soul trying to teach you?!

Challenging aspects to Uranus in Aries and Neptune in Pisces are spurring the desire to break free of victim consciousness that co-creates realities that undermine and hurt us.  Indeed victim consciousness always manifests in punishing circumstances driven by an unconscious belief that we must ‘atone’ for the ‘sins’ of our human  imperfections. 

Liberating ourselves from victim consciousness requires that we make different choices.  These choices may seem too radical or daunting to some, especially those who’ve already experienced harsh criticism, judgment, painful rejection or ridicule for being ‘different.’

But of course, being different is what each of us MUST be if we’re really being true to ourselves!  IN TRUTH, EVERY HUMAN BEING IS IN FACT DIFFERENT! 

Nature reflects the truth of this natural law in every snowflake that falls, every tree in a forest and every flower in a field.  Each one is UNIQUE. 

In the natural evolutionary journey of the Soul, ‘fitting-in’ is the death knell to the expression of true individuality.  Expressing our true self is the only full-proof way to happiness.

Uranus is one of two planets that will station retrograde in the coming month.  The other is Mercury.  AND, they are most favorably connected to one another now allowing easy access to their energy.  Planets are most powerful when they station so these two are super-charged to deliver action and change!

Mercury and Uranus rule short-term and long-term memories respectively, including past life memories.  They are also a natural astrological planetary pair.  These two planets are higher and lower ‘octaves’ of one another, sharing the same energy, while vibrating at different frequencies.  Students of music understand this phenomenon.  Ruling the individual conscious and unconscious mind, they can bring powerful insights and understanding that can help heal past traumas for those who are willing to do the necessary ‘inner work’ of deeply reviewing and reflecting upon their life experiences.

Uranus (freedom, liberation, breakthroughs) stations retrograde on August 2^nd at 28 degrees Aries (action, self-discovery, courage) encourages new ideas and new directions.  Uranus continues to be part of an extraordinary Grand Fire Trine along with the North Node (the path of evolution) in Leo (creativity and love) and retrograde Saturn (responsibility) which is finishing up its three year journey through Sagittarius (intuition, personal truth and beliefs).  This Grand Fire Trine also reflects an abundance of creative energy!

Mercury (thoughts, knowledge, communication) stations retrograde on August 12^th in Virgo (healing, self-improvement, humility) encouraging necessary changes and adjustments in order to restore health and well-being and resolve crises.  This Mercury retrograde will focus attention on what needs to be healed on all levels including personal, collective and planetary wounds.  Here in the U.S. we will no doubt see renewed attention and effort on health care legislation as well as environmental laws and regulations. 

When Mercury completes its retrograde and stations direct on September 5^th it will do so at the precise degree of the second Leo New Moon Total Solar Eclipse, 28 degrees Leo! 

This may well be a ‘brain on fire’ day, full of insights, revelations and renewed clarity.  Expect those famous ‘lightning bolt AHA’ moments that can bring surprising answers and breakthroughs in personal and collective consciousness. 

Mind-blowing discoveries, innovations and solutions to long-standing problems may suddenly, surprisingly and magically appear!

Two more important aspects occur in this New Moon chart pattern.  Venus in Gemini is opposite retrograde Saturn in Sagittarius, and Jupiter in Libra is square retrograde Pluto in Capricorn. 

Venus and Saturn encourage us to speak our truth while allowing others to do the same.  Be totally honest with yourself and others.  Open, straight-forward communication can lead to breakthroughs in understanding. 

Jupiter and Pluto have already squared each other twice, on November 24, 2016 and March 30, 2017.  Think back to what was happening in your life at those times.  It’s likely that whatever occurred then is culminating now.  

Both Venus opposite Saturn (rules Capricorn) and Jupiter square Pluto (currently in Capricorn) are demanding that we take complete responsibility (Capricorn) for all of our actions, choices and experiences knowing that our own Soul co-created those experiences FOR A REASON! 

Perhaps legal or financial matters were the issue during the previous Jupiter squares to Pluto.  Or perhaps relationship concerns were unfolding forcing difficult but necessary changes.  In any case, there was an evolutionary need to expand and evolve personal values or beliefs in order to more fully allow and accept other’s differences.

The bottom line message of this first Leo New Moon is that in order to evolve, we must open our hearts and learn to love ourselves and others unconditionally. 

Its also trying to teach us the natural spiritual wisdom of listening to and following our heart’s desires.  Our desires  always lead us towards greater personal evolution. 

We’re conditioned to believe that success and happiness always require hard work, sacrifice and suffering.  In fact, our Souls are trying to teach us that success and happiness naturally occur when we follow our heart!  

LOVE IS THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE IN THE UNIVERSE! 

Leo rules the heart!  Leo teaches us that LOVE is all we really need.  If we do our best over the coming month, then when the second Leo New Moon occurs, which is a powerful TOTAL Solar Eclipse on August 21st, we can reap the rewards of a heart that’s more open, content and at peace with itself.  And if we do this right, we’ll experience a LOT more joy and have a LOT more fun along the way! 

The Leo New Moon TOTAL Solar Eclipse happens August 21^st at 11:30 am MST/PDT!

 Copyright 2017.   Donna Lee Steele and Threshold Consulting.   All rights reserved.

Pisces New Moon Solar Eclipse: Imagine a World…

The Pisces New Moon is a Total Solar Eclipse!  It occurs on Tuesday, March 8th at 6:54 pm MST at 18 degrees Pisces 55 minutes.  Here’s the chart:  PiscesNewMoonSolarEclipse2016.

The two fish that symbolize Pisces represent the processes of both involution or manifestation – Spirit descending into matter, and evolution or transcendence of the physical world of matter – ascending back into Spirit.  Portrayed accurately, the two fish are always connected in some fashion.  This connection reflects the universal truth that SPIRIT AND MATTER ARE ONE.  Similarly, the symbol for Pisces, two opposite vertical curved lines with a horizontal line crossing them, also symbolizes this everlasting connection.  In truth, there is no separation between Spirit and matter. 

Solar Eclipses are super powerful New Moons that ‘seed’ tremendous transformative energies.  Eclipse energies accelerate evolutionary progression on planet Earth.  These energies are always associated with the sign in which the New Moon Solar Eclipse occurs.

Happening in Pisces, these ‘seeds’ will be reflected in issues ranging from the least evolved expression of Pisces like fraud, theft, disease, deceptions and delusions, to the highest expression of the sign through things like charity, humanitarianism, compassion and forgiveness which are associated with a philosophy of the universal sacredness and connectedness of all things.  Evolved Pisces energy is ultimately expressed through spiritual development, awakening of consciousness and the transcendence of limited Earthly realities.  Of course, as always, how this powerful Pisces energy actually manifests will depend upon how we choose to use it – both individually and collectively.  Will we use it to deceive ourselves and others, obfuscating the truth, or will we use it to reach to a higher level and lift each other up?

This Total Solar Eclipse will be visible from Southeast Asia eastward through the South Pacific Ocean to just North of the Hawaiian Islands.  Those who live in the shadow path of a Solar Eclipse typically experience its energy and influence much more so than those who live elsewhere.  This Solar Eclipse energizes a path from Singapore through Indonesia and into the South Pacific.  Therefore, we can expect headlines in the coming months highlighting significant events occurring in these parts of the world.

Pisces is naturally wholistic in nature because it reflects the totality of both the manifest and unmanifested creation.  Accordingly, Pisces reflects the entire zodiac as it contains all the twelve signs within it.  As the final sign of the zodiac it’s also naturally associated with culmination.  Pisces always brings things to their natural end.  As the last sign of the natural year (correlating with the natural world or nature) Pisces coincides with March, the month that occurs just before the Sun enters Aries signaling the annual Spring Equinox and the beginning of a new year in the natural world.  It’s fitting therefore that Pisces naturally calls for a withdrawal from worldly affairs in order to reflect upon and deeply contemplate the previous year’s experiences to distill the lessons learned and the wisdom gained.

As the final sign of the natural zodiac, Pisces is also associated with the human process of spiritualization.  In Pisces, the Soul’s desire to return to and reunite with the Divine Source that created it completes its evolutionary journey.  To facilitate this ultimate Soul desire, Pisces dissolves any and all barriers preventing reunification with ALL THAT IS or the Divine Source, God, Goddess, Great Spirit or whatever it is that you perceive to be your Creator.

As these barriers dissolve, we often experience a time of confusion and loss of meaning relative to all that we previously held dear and thought would bring us fulfillment.  This dissolution process ALWAYS ultimately requires surrender.   Some people interpret surrender as a loss of control or see it as a weakness and mightily resist relinquishing their personal will to their Divine Will.  Nevertheless, surrender is indeed what’s required in order to learn the spiritual lessons associated with trusting something greater than our selves – a Higher Power.  This truth is poignantly evident in the age old saying, “Let go and let God.”  Ultimately, when the dissolution process is complete, we’re delivered to some new reality, miraculously transformed having transcended an old limited or unhealthy reality.

Pisces is perhaps one of the most difficult signs to comprehend specifically because it works through a process of dissolution.  It naturally dissolves whatever is preventing, interfering with or distracting us from a direct experience of re-merging with the Sacred or Divine Creative Source.  It may be useful to realize that Pisces also rules water.  Over time, water can dissolve any substance.  Over time, water wears away even the toughest granite, carving canyons and cliff walls into rock solid ground.  Pisces can and does dissolve any and all structures, forms, boundaries or realities.  No wonder we call water the ‘Universal Solvent!’

This New Moon/Solar Eclipse (Sun and Moon) in Pisces is joined by Mercury (logic, information, communication), Neptune (dissolution that facilitates spiritual evolution), Ceres (losses and returns), Chiron (wounds and healing) and the Moon’s South Node (emotional body, self-image, the past).  That’s a LOT of Pisces energy available to dissolve and transcend old realities that have reached their limits, are no longer serving us and are naturally culminating.  With Ceres’ association with loss, Chiron’s association with wounds, and the South Node symbolizing things of the past that must be let go of in order to continue growing and evolving, there’s a powerful emphasis on releasing, finishing up, letting go, death, endings and completions in this New Moon pattern.  Often, many Souls leave the planet during eclipses.  Those who remain are likely to experience disappointment, confusion or a deep sense of loss as the old dissolves and gives way to the new.

What’s lost meaning in your personal life?  What’s dissolving, dissipating or disintegrating?  Are you surrendering to this process or fighting it?  What’s ending in your life now?  What do you need to let go of so you can heal and continue to grow and evolve in new ways and in new directions?

Neptune rules Pisces and is therefore the planetary ruler of this New Moon and Solar Eclipse.  Neptune continues to comprise the foundation of a powerful ongoing Spiritual T-Square along with Saturn and Jupiter.  This T-Square is reflecting and compelling a profound review of beliefs and belief systems, like faith traditions and political and religious ideologies.  It’s urging us to reach for and to embrace higher levels of truth and understanding.

What’s happening in your own life now that’s causing you to ponder or question long-held personal beliefs or what you’ve always thought was true?  Keep in mind we also have MANY personal beliefs in addition to traditional religious beliefs.  For example, many believe they’re not good enough or intelligent enough or that the bad things that have happened to them are punishment for their ‘sins.’  Perhaps you believe you’re unattractive or not worthy of love or that the world isn’t safe so you’re justified in always being afraid.  Remember that consciousness creates reality and you can easily see the extraordinary evolutionary purpose and intention of the current Spiritual T-Square as well as the tremendous dissolutioning process now underway through so much Pisces emphasis.

This review of beliefs is being facilitated through the increasing urgency of crises, personally and globally.  From an evolutionary point of view, crises have a natural purpose.  Crises alert us to that which is NOT in alignment with or rooted in REALITY.  Crises further alert us to the need for serious changes and adjustments in order to resolve them.  Using wide orbs (range of energetic influence), ALL the planets currently in Pisces are square Saturn in Sagittarius and opposite retrograde Jupiter and the North Node both in Virgo, greatly expanding the influence of this Spiritual T-Square over the coming weeks and months.

Consequently, expect ongoing crises to intensify in magnitude and frequency and new crises to emerge because these crises are reflecting our stubborn resistance to making necessary changes and adjustments.  Social, political and economic dysfunction continue to manifest through increasing disease outbreaks, contaminated water supplies, opioid addiction, greater frequency of extreme weather events and global scandals revealing rampant and widespread fraud and corruption.  Fortunately, current celestial patterns are not only very auspicious for change, they seem to be demanding change!  It’s a very opportune time to heal ourselves, our relationships with one another and our planet – IF WE CHOOSE TO DO SO.

All the Pisces planets are also within orb of a sextile aspect (60 degree angle) with Pluto in Capricorn.  Pluto is a powerhouse providing plenty of energy and will to make the proper and necessary choices especially when it comes to knowing what needs to be relinquished in order to heal old wounds, resolve long-standing conflicts and make space for a better future.  Pluto also brings that which is hidden to light, especially if secrecy is being used to conceal misuses of power.  Dishonesty and abuses of power will increasingly be revealed especially at the highest levels of government and social institutions.  This energy clearly supports ‘speaking truth to power!’

Have you heard of International Transparent Forensic Accounting (ITFA)?  I just recently became aware of it and find it interesting that numbers and math and therefore accounting are all ruled by Capricorn — the sign Pluto is currently transiting (2008 to 2024).   If ITFA catches on it may begin to expose global illegal financial accounting practices.  For example, the Pentagon’s trillion dollar budget anomalies may well be a result of secret channels for black ops the world over that fund terrorism, special covert military campaigns, drug trafficking, international mafias and global cyber attack networks.  Pluto’s primary job is to reveal what’s hidden or secret.  Of course only time will tell.  AND, the planets currently seem to be saying, “It’s time!”

Indeed Pluto is THE planet associated with the evolutionary process itself which is always facilitated through FREE WILL CHOICES.  All human beings are intrinsically powerful because we all have the capacity to make choices.  Capricorn teaches self-responsibility.  This sign also rules the structural nature of human consciousness.  As we take more responsibility for the choices we make, we develop greater and greater levels of mastery relative to an evolving quality of consciousness.  As our consciousness evolves we increasing make choices with deliberate and conscious intention, thus co-creating desired realities and outcomes, instead of unconsciously choosing, which unwittingly continues to manifest the same old undesired and troublesome experiences over and over and over again.

Everything touched by this New Moon will experience culmination in some way, particularly those things associated with the signs of Virgo (work, health and the environment), Sagittarius (truth, beliefs, laws and justice, travel and education) and Pisces (water, drugs, chemicals and poisons).  For example, the recent unexpected passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has effectively culminated an old era of jurisprudence known as ‘originalism.’

Many old wounds (Chiron) can be healed now, particularly those of a spiritual or psychological nature (Pisces).  The present moment in time, symbolized by current planetary patterns, is utterly ripe for releasing (Ceres) the past (Pisces South Node) particularly elements of consciousness that identify with victimization (Neptune and Pisces).

Victim consciousness is ALWAYS responsible for creating and maintaining wounds.  In order for effective culmination and subsequent healing to occur, the truth must be faced squarely.  No more idealizing, fantasizing, self-deception or denial.  Delusional thinking cannot and will not be effective.  In fact, faulty interpretations of reality based upon distortions of truth will only serve to re-imprint and deepen the wounds.

Here’s a BRIEF list of things associated with the Pisces archetype:

Water, drugs, pharmaceuticals and pharmacists, oil, gases, solvents, chemicals, paint, fraud, thieves, deception, delusion, illusion, fear, loss, imagination, art, imagery, photography, film, cameras, television, movies, actors and actresses, music and musicians, fantasies, toxins, infection, disease, poison, lymphatic and immune systems, feet, fish, navies, sailors, submarines, ships, boats, oceans, rivers, streams, lakes, wells, springs, consciousness, unconsciousness, subconscious, dreams, psychology, mental health, insanity, counseling, hospitals, institutions, prisons, seclusion, isolation, melancholy, depression, addiction, poets and poetry, prayer, meditation, charity, philanthropy, volunteers, non-profit organizations, transcendence, religion, spirituality, spirits, holy people, ministers, imams, rabbis, priests, divinity, sacredness.

Take a moment now and reflect upon all the things happening across our planet and in your own life that are associated with things in the above list.  Consider how some of them are expressing Pisces energies negatively, i.e.,  Flint Michigan’s lead poisoning of its water supply and the uncontrolled methane gas leak in Porter Ranch California.  Consider also how some are expressing Pisces energy positively like body cameras for law enforcement officers and breakthroughs in cancer treatment through innovative immune system therapies and reduced prison sentences for non-violent drug offenses.  Clearly, Pisces energy is manifesting everywhere!  How are you choosing to use all this Pisces energy?

Of course, these issues are not the ONLY issues in the news these days.  But then, Neptune isn’t the only planet active right now in the heavens.   We’re still feeling and experiencing the very powerful influence of the ongoing square aspect (90 degrees) between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn.  The r-evolutionary social, economic and political changes symbolized by these two transformative planets have been underway for the past five years and will continue for the next five years!  These changes began with the global economic collapse of 2008 and doubled down with the ‘Arab Spring.’  The effects of Uranus/Pluto have manifested in a myriad of ways including legalization of marriage equality, extraordinary advances in science and technology, an explosion of social media participation and increasing social unrest that continues to drive radical changes in establishment politics worldwide.

And speaking of radical political changes, Uranus in Aries is exactly inconjunct retrograde Jupiter in Virgo now.  The inconjunct aspect is a 150 degree angle associated with crises!  Jupiter rules honesty and dishonesty and always greatly expands whatever it touches.  Uranus rules politics, politicians and political parties.  HUGE (pun intended) changes and adjustments are happening right now in the American political system as our Presidential campaign kicks into high gear here in the United States.  Establishment elites in both parties are anxiously wringing their hands as old political paradigms have broken down and ‘conventional wisdom’ (an oxymoronic phrase if ever there was one) relative to political campaigning has proven to be utterly ineffective.

I’m totally fascinated with how the ONE presidential contender who seems to be speaking the most truth, Senator Bernie Sanders, is the one most ignored by the media!  Reference once again the above graphic regarding societies that drift from the truth hating those who speak it!

Remember, Jupiter and the Moon’s North Node in Virgo are pointing the way forward toward evolutionary growth.  Interestingly, Sanders 15 degrees Virgo Sun and 22 degrees Virgo North Node are currently being transited by retrograde Jupiter at 18 degrees Virgo and the North Node at 21 degrees Virgo.  AND, his Neptune is at 26 degrees Virgo!   Coincidence?  Of course!  Here’s the chart:  BernieSandersNatalandTransits030816

In the sign of Virgo, Jupiter is telling the truth, especially regarding matters pertaining to workers, jobs and the health and well-being of both people and the planet.  Rejecting free trade agreements that kill jobs, expanding healthcare for all, transforming our energy system away from fossil fuels towards sustainable and renewable energy sources and opening our hearts and homes to assist desperate refugees fleeing war and starvation seems to me the right way to go.  Considering that retrograde Jupiter is now opposite every single one of those Pisces planets, thinking universally (Pisces), with a philosophy or mindset that believes ‘we’re all connected’ and ‘we’re all in this together,’ is definitely the right way to go.

Retrograde planets always accelerate our evolution.  This occurs through experiences associated with the opposite sign.  Retrograde Jupiter in Virgo points directly at Pisces and all of its universal one-ness and humanitarian compassion.  Jupiter rules the right-brain which is the source of intuition.  To evolve now, we must also learn to embrace and trust our intuitive faculties once again.  In a world long conditioned to rely exclusively upon left-brained logical thinking and fact-based, empirical evidence, the denial of our intrinsic right-brained intuition is a denial of 50% of our brain capacity.  This has resulted in extremes of imbalance in nearly every aspect of our lives from the weather, to income inequality to religious ‘extremism’ to overwhelming refugee migrations.  As changes occur in the outer world, we must make necessary inner changes and adjustments to them.  Our intuition will point us in the right direction so we must listen, Listen, LISTEN to those inner voices providing intuitive guidance!

Berta Caceres stands at the Gualcarque River in the Rio Blanco region of western Honduras where she, and the people of Rio Blanco have maintained a two year struggle to halt construction on the Agua Zarca Hydroelectric project, that poses grave threats to local environment, river and indigenous Lenca people from the region.

Virgo is the sign most associated with the environment.  Restoring and healing the environment should be a top priority for all humanity now.  Sadly, the world lost a passionate and courageous truth-teller this week.  I wish to honor Berta Cecares, a long-time political activist and General Coordinator of the National Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras who was assassinated on March 2nd in her home.  She gave her life to protect Mother Earth.

Twelve environmental defenders were killed in Honduras in 2014, according to research by Global Witness, making Honduras one of the most dangerous countries in the world, relative to its size, for activists protecting forests and rivers.

If we are to be successful in resolving our many crises, we must also once again embrace NATURAL LAWS.  These are the laws that underpin the natural world and are self-evident in nature.  Indigenous peoples have been the holders of ancient natural wisdom for centuries even as they have experienced egregious acts of persecution including genocide.  It’s time to respect their knowledge, honor their wisdom, accept their leadership and listen to their concerns and advice about how to return to a way of living that is in harmony with the natural world, not at war with it.

Finally and perhaps most fortunately, Pisces also rules the totality of consciousness which is why it’s associated with images, imagery and imagination.  Consider the fact that before anything manifests into actual physical reality, it first exists as a thought in our minds.  When we desire something, we begin to think about it, imagining what it would be like to have it or experience it.  What I’ve just described is the process by which consciousness creates reality.  It always begins with the power of the mind to imagine.  It’s time to harness this power much more consciously, intentionally and deliberately.  Some call this ‘intentional manifestation.’  Others refer to it simply as ‘conscious co-creation.’  Whatever you wish to call it, it’s POWERFUL!  The abundant Pisces energy available to us all now is the perfect stuff to dream a new world into being.

So…

I encourage you, if you are called to do so, to invite like-minded friends to gather together to intentionally co-create desired changes you wish to manifest in the world.  Use the extraordinary power of your mind, through your own free will choices, to consciously co-create what you want in your world and in our world.  Just IMAGINE what you want, in as much detail as possible.  What would it look like, smell like, sound like and feel like?  Hold the precise image of it in your mind.  Imagine it as if it already exists and feel gratitude for its existence.  Add in feelings and emotion and the power of manifestation is significantly magnified.  Endowed with the power of consciousness and free will choice, we simply do not have to settle for old realities that are dysfunctional, unhealthy and unsatisfying!

We CAN come together to envision a peaceful world.  Imagine a healed planet where hatred, poverty, war and strife are things of the past.  Imagine a world filled with peace, love, joy, forgiveness and compassion.  IMAGINE…

 

IMAGINE…

Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky

Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too

Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you will join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You, you may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you will join us
And the world will live as one

—

The Aries New Moon/Spring Equinox is on April 7th at 4:23 am MST.

Copyright 2016. Donna Lee Steele and Threshold Consulting. All rights reserved.

Libra New Moon: A New Balance of Power

The Libra New Moon occurs October 12th at 5:06 pm MST/PDT.  It happens at 19 degrees Libra 20 minutes.  Here’s the chart:  LibraNewMoon2015.

The Scales, Libra’s glyph, is misleading.  The Scales have long symbolized balance.  However, it’s important to note that Libra is learning balance.  Until mastery of this archetype is achieved, Libra experiences imbalance, often to extremes, particularly in relationship dynamics.  The number one contributing factor to unhealthy and unsuccessful relationships is an imbalance of power.  Who has it?  Who doesn’t?  Is it acknowledged and wielded equally?  Is it used to support one another in independent individual development or is it used in ways that contribute to and maintain co-dependence?

To promote relationship balance and equality, Libra must learn to LISTEN!  Since Libra also NEEDS TO BE NEEDED, it often derives its identity, value and worth through others.  In turn, this leads to Libra’s habitual giving to others so that it will be valued for providing what they think others need.  This cannot help but foster co-dependency.  Effective listening allows Libra to give and receive (use power) properly, giving what’s actually needed, not what they think the other needs, which all too often simply reflects their own personal projected needs, thus sustaining co-dependence.

Recent Venus and Mercury retrogrades encouraged a major review of relationship dynamics particularly issues of equality/inequality and balance/imbalance of power.  We can break free of unhealthy relationship patterns and behaviors now.  However, if necessary changes are resisted for too long, some unequal situations, especially in partnerships, could end quite abruptly as this New Moon’s central astrological aspect, an opposition between the Sun in Libra and retrograde Uranus in Aries, highlights.  This revolutionary aspect always demands greater individual freedom.

House Speaker John Boehner on right; House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy on left.

We need look no further than the U. S. House of Representatives Republican caucus for evidence of the surprising and rebellious nature of the energy of the Sun opposite Uranus.  Current Speaker of the House John Boehner unexpectedly announced his resignation last week shocking even his closest political insiders.  His second in command, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, announced he would run to fill the position and was broadly considered a ‘shoe-in.’  However, in a totally surprising turn of events, the so-called “Freedom Caucus,” lamenting their perceived lack of power as rank and file Republicans, refused to support McCarthy throwing the normally routine process of selection of a new Speaker of the House into utter chaos as they rebelled against what they saw as an automatic ‘coronation’ of the next in line.  In a second and perhaps even more surprising political ‘bombshell’ McCarthy suddenly announced he was dropping out of the race.

‘Sudden.’  ‘Surprising.’  ‘Unexpected.’  ‘Shocking.’  ‘Chaos.’  ‘Rebellion.’  These are all uniquely Uranian words and phenomena.   Because the ‘status quo’ in so many different aspects of our world’s reality ARE NOT BALANCED AND ARE NOT FUNCTIONING IN HEALTHY PRODUCTIVE WAYS, we can expect even more bombshells – politically, economically, socially and culturally, in the coming days, weeks and months!

Explosion at Peace Rally at Ankara, Turkey

A dark and dangerous manifestation of this volatile and revolutionary celestial pattern between the Sun and Uranus, was the twin explosions that rocked a Peace Rally in Ankara, Turkey on Saturday.  Ironically, the Sun and Moon in Libra represent peace; Uranus retrograde in Aries represents chaos.  Uranian energy often ‘blows up’ the status quo, ripping the rug out from underneath us when necessary evolutionary changes have been resisted for far too long.

Evolutionary forces of change can be constructive or destructive.  Unfortunately, when the cry for necessary changes are consistently ignored over time, those who are ignored feel disenfranchised and then often feel it necessary to resort to violence to achieve their goals.  It’s heartbreaking and sad that a Peace rally was so shockingly disrupted by EXTREMISTS (remember Libra rules extremes) who misused power in the most horrific way causing the deaths of nearly a hundred people and injuring hundreds more.

But let’s be realistic.  Extreme inequality relative to the balance of wealth and power is indeed a daily reality for billions of people the world over.  The energy of this New Moon will increasingly and dramatically bring these imbalances to the fore and into our collective consciousness.  The energy of this New Moon is revolutionary and will indeed manifest as change.  The $64k question is, “What kind of change – constructive or destructive?”  Of course the answer depends entirely upon what choices we make personally and globally.

Venus rules Libra and this New Moon.  Currently moving through Virgo, it reflects the need for HEALING.  In order to heal extremism, we must make necessary adjustments in how we relate to one another.  A greater sense of equality and balance must be restored.  Dare I say we must learn to SHARE (Libra) resources and power?  Clearly, we must change how we take care of ourselves, each other and our planet.  To do so we must also embrace a much more honest, equal and realistic view of ourselves and others.  Virgo always serves to realign us with REALITY – often through crises.  Perhaps the growing crises of climate change and refugee migrations will encourage greater sharing and equality among humanity as our need to help one another in order to survive increases.

Venus’ connection to both Uranus and the South Node in Aries reflects the need to let go of selfishness that denies the legitimate needs and desires of others.  Conversely, it’s also telling those who consistently sacrifice their own equally important needs and desires that it’s time to stand up for themselves and stop being a doormat.  Denial of anyone’s legitimate needs is a recipe for imbalance and inequality.  If your relationships are a series of one crisis (Virgo) after another, its time to look at the common denominator:  YOU!  Since the ‘outer always reflects the inner,’ your relationships with others cannot improve as long as you continue to criticize, disrespect, betray, de-value and judge yourself.’

Venus is semi-square the Sun and Moon in Libra.  This symbolizes the need to let go of pain and suffering.  Surrendering to your Higher Self, and accepting and forgiving with gentle care and compassion your very real yet imperfect human self, you can begin the process of necessary INNER HEALING WORK that eliminates the negative mindset that keeps you from recognizing your own worth and value.  Relationships with others can never be equal or healthy as long as you see yourself as ‘less than’ or ‘never good enough.’

From an evolutionary perspective, Libra initiates a diversity of relationships with a diversity of others for the purpose of discovering who we are as individuals.  Through the natural process of comparing and contrasting ourselves with others, we can come to know and appreciate what’s unique and different about ourselves.  However, thousands of years of patriarchal conditioning, that views everything through the distorted lens of dominance, hierarchy and exclusion, has instead taught us to compare and contrast ourselves with others to determine hierarchical rank:  who’s better and who’s worse, who’s richer and who’s poorer, who’s smarter, prettier, more successful, more powerful.  If you view the world in this way, its inevitable that you will come to false conclusions about worth — both of yourself and of others.

Another major contributing factor to inequality in relationships comes from the conditioning of man-made belief systems or what we call religions.  Of the seven billion people who inhabit our planet, the majority of them believe in one of the world’s three largest religions:  Judaism, Islam or Christianity.  Unfortunately, ALL of these three major world religions teach fundamental inequalities.  They believe in gender inequality teaching that men are superior to women.  They also believe that humans are superior to animals and the environment teaching that mankind has ‘dominion over’ the natural world.  Interestingly, the etymology of both  ‘dominion’ and ‘dominate’ are the same.  They also teach inequality of race believing that some races are superior to others which resulted in the infamous Papal Bull that established the doctrine of ‘Manifest Destiny’ that justified the land grabs and genocide of indigenous peoples throughout the Americas.   Through thousands of years of conditioning influence, these patriarchal man-made religions have institutionalized false beliefs relative to INEQUALITY!

Venus square Saturn in the New Moon chart can help us to throw off these distortions of the truth.  If we choose, we can evolve beyond the social and cultural expectations to conform to these distorted values and beliefs.  As Saturn moves through Sagittarius over the next two years, we’ll ALL be paying much greater attention to what we believe and why we believe it.  Keep in mind that our beliefs form the very basis of how we interpret reality, so if our beliefs are faulty, it stands to reason that the conclusions we reach will likely also be false.

In a perfectly timed ‘As Above, So Below’ moment reflecting Saturn’s transit through Sagittarius, which is focusing human consciousness on a search for greater understanding of the truth, Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network is launching a seven part series beginning October 18th called, “BELIEF.”

This upcoming series is described as a groundbreaking television event exploring humankind’s ongoing search to connect with something greater than ourselves. This original series invites viewers to witness some of the world’s most fascinating spiritual journeys through the eyes of the believers.  Journeying to the far reaches of the world, and to places cameras have rarely been, “Belief” searches the origins of diverse faiths and the heart of what really matters.  These stories and others will all lead us to ask:  “What do you believe?”  

Of course, I don’t know whether this series will contribute to a greater understanding or further obfuscation of truth.  At the very least, since Sagittarius also teaches the relativity of truth, it may very well offer us an opportunity to expand our understanding of more of the truth.  Either way, it is indeed quite timely!  Read more at: http://www.oprah.com/app/belief.html#ixzz3oIJx12xu

If you are willing to do the necessary inner work of healing, especially regarding the elimination of victim consciousness, this month’s New Moon celestial energies can bring breakthroughs.  If you will take full responsibility for your own choices and actions, and the realities you’ve co-created for yourself, you’ll benefit from heavenly support that brings greater emotional maturity and security.  If you surrender your personal will to your higher Divine Will, then when Venus trines retrograde Pluto in Capricorn on the 22^nd/23^rd, you can reap many rewards particularly in the areas of personal and financial health and well-being, meaningful and right work, happier relationships with others and of course, a mind and heart at greater peace with itself and the world.

Unequal and unbalanced relationship dynamics can heal now.  You know that famous bumper sticker that says, “No Justice; No Peace”?  Justice and peace require a fundamental sense of fairness and equality.  It’s time to let go of distorted values and false belief systems that have conditioned us for centuries to blindly accept inequalities.  Be especially mindful of your beliefs in the coming weeks and how those beliefs dictate the way in which you interpret reality, including how you see yourself and others.  Truth is, WE ARE ALL ALL ONE, EQUAL IN THE EYES OF OUR CREATOR.

The Scorpio New Moon is on November 11th at 10:47 am MST!

Copyright 2015.   Donna Lee Steele and Threshold Consulting.   All rights reserved.

 

Virgo New Moon Solar Eclipse: Healing Crises

The Virgo New Moon occurs on Saturday, September 12th at 11:41 pm PDT.  It happens at 20 Virgo 10 minutes and is a Partial Solar Eclipse visible in Southern Africa and Madagascar, the Northern half of Antarctica and the Southeastern Indian Ocean.  Here’s the chart:  VirgoNewMoonSolarEclipse2015.

Eclipses ‘reboot’ and progressively upgrade human consciousness. This Virgo eclipse will initiate a greater awareness of what needs to be healed, both personally and collectively.

Virgo is a complex archetype that facilitates a transition from the personal (reflected in the signs Aries through Leo) to the social or collective (reflected in the signs Libra through Pisces).

The ego-centric identity that’s reached full development and desires self-expression in Leo can become distorted through self-aggrandizement.  When this is the case, Leo is humbled and adjusted through Virgo, in preparation for entering into relationships with others as an equal, which is the evolutionary intention of Libra.

Virgo distortions include over-commitment, excessive self-criticism and judgment, workaholism, constant crises, the need to be perfect, the inability to say “NO” and the automatic and habitual reply of “I’m sorry”-  even when not at fault in any way.  These are all dead give-aways of an unhealthy Virgo.

In the end, both Leo’s distorted sense of superiority and Virgo’s distorted psychology of inferiority are compassionately released and healed. This New Moon Solar Eclipse pattern provides the energy to heal these unhealthy perceptions and habits.

Virgo creates crises in order to reveal what needs to be changed, adjusted and healed.  This sign’s capacity for intense self-analysis relentlessly focuses on all its flaws and imperfections.  Ultimately, Virgo becomes exhausted from putting out one fire after another and begins to realize that the common denominator in all the crises is ITSELF!  Once this occurs, Virgo turns its considerable analytical ability to the task of becoming aware of all the judgmental thoughts and beliefs that have been contributing to its very critical quality of consciousness – the very consciousness that’s been co-creating its troublesome reality.  Virgo comes to realize that all the outer crises were simply reflecting its own inner negativity.

Thus begins the process of healing, purification and self-improvement.  Ultimately, Virgo realizes that perfection itself is an illusion.  Ultimately Virgo accepts the fact that imperfections are inherent to being an evolving human.  Ultimately, the punishing self criticism and judgments simply dissolve…

Crises also always orchestrate a necessary realignment with reality when we’ve mistakenly bought into illusions, delusions, deceptions and fantasies that lead us astray.  While denial or avoidance of reality can be a very effective ‘personal distraction strategy’ they also guarantee that at some point, a crisis will be co-created to facilitate the necessary return to reality.

The Sun and Moon in Virgo are joined by Jupiter (personal beliefs and belief systems) in this New Moon Eclipse chart pattern.  All are opposite retrograde Neptune (delusions) and Chiron (wounds) in Pisces (victimization) and inconjunct Uranus (rebellion, revolution and revelation) in Aries (self).  Venus and Mars ‘pile on’ and do the same as they too enter Virgo before the next New Moon.  Wounding is the predictable result of delusional thoughts and false beliefs.  However, its crucial to realize that NOTHING can heal from a consciousness of victimization.  The first step in the process of healing is taking full responsibility for all your experiences.  After all, its your own consciousness that co-created them.  Embracing this truth is fundamental to any effective healing process.

The Virgo energy of this New Moon will continue to be emphasized for a whole year since Jupiter will occupy this sign until September 2016.  During much of Jupiter’s year-long transit in Virgo it will be in a ‘T-Square’ with Neptune in Pisces and Saturn in Sagittarius.  The T-Square is a planetary configuration comprised of three planets.  Two of the planets are opposite (180 degrees) one another and both are square (90 degrees) a third planet.  Connect the three and you get what looks like a capital “T”.

This T-Square is occupying mutable signs (Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) reflecting the need for flexibility and adaptability to change.  Adaptability is necessary for ongoing and continuing evolution.  All three planets involved are associated with conscious and unconscious beliefs and belief systems (religions, philosophies, cosmologies, theologies).  With Neptune in Pisces symbolizing illusions, delusions and deceptions, Saturn in Sagittarius associated with the search for truth, and Jupiter in Virgo representing crises, this heavenly T-Square is reflecting the earthly reality that faulty beliefs are the root cause of many of our current crises.  Accordingly, resolution of these crises will require an evolution in our beliefs.  What’s really true?  What is actual, factual REALITY?

The sign Saturn is passing through always reflects where the whole of collective human consciousness is focused.  Saturn typically spends two and a half years in each sign.  Saturn initially entered Sagittarius last December then briefly returned to finish up in Scorpio over the summer. Since Sagittarius rules beliefs and belief systems, many events and experiences over the next two years will facilitate a review and reflection upon what we believe and more importantly, WHY we believe that way.  Think back to what was happening in your life late last year for clues about how you’re likely to experience Saturn’s passage through Sagittarius between now and December 2017.  Look beyond the specifics of what was happening to discern how the events were associated with, connected to or revealing some long-held personal belief(s).  Then ponder how those beliefs were perhaps conflicted or were being challenged or confronted.  Then you’ll know what work you have to do to expand and transform your personal beliefs in order to further evolve.

As personal and global crises increase over the coming year, it will become more and more crucial for us to pull our heads out of the sand and take off our rose-colored glasses!  It’s time to GET REAL!  Fortunately, the New Moon’s connection with Uranus in Aries provides the energy to break through and break free of faulty perceptions, opinions and beliefs – about our selves, each other and our planet.  Unfortunately, Uranus can also deliver further shocks to shake us up in order to wake us up if we continue to resist necessary changes.  The same revolutionary energy of Uranus can be utilized to shatter or radically change our reality!  The choice is yours.  How will you choose to manifest this powerful celestial change energy?

Mercury, Virgo’s ruling planet, provides further clues as to how this Virgo New Moon/Solar Eclipse pattern is likely to manifest and unfold in the coming months.  Currently traversing Libra (relationships), Mercury goes retrograde for the third and final time this year on September 17th.  Mercury squares (90 degree angle) Pluto in Capricorn three times before, during and after its retrograde period (September 9th and 24th, October 22nd) all at 13 degrees Libra/Capricorn.  Pluto is super powerful now as it is slowing down ahead of its station direct (resumption of apparent forward movement) on the 24th.   Pluto’s five month retrograde was about realizing what old realities are no longer working.  As it begins to move forward again, we’ll be ready to throw off many of those old realities, including perhaps, old beliefs and opinions.

Mercury square Pluto will also focus considerable attention on inequality in relationships due to extreme power imbalances.  Obviously, inequality creates wounds!  A timely example of an this imbalance is reflected in the extreme wealth disparity that exists today in the United States economy.  The balance of power in our country has dramatically shifted over the past four decades changing our democracy into an oligarchy as this political science study by Princeton and Northwestern University concludes:  http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2014/04/16/The-US-is-not-a-democracy-but-an-oligarchy-study-concludes/2761397680051/

While Mercury squares Pluto, intense and powerful messages and conversations will occur as individual and collective needs and values are shared and discussed.  A heartbreaking example of this is the image of the dead three year old Syrian refugee boy, Aylan Kurdi, washed up on a Turkish shore this past week.  Unless and until we change the thinking and beliefs that underpin our current laws and policies, this refugee CRISIS will continue to devastate already desperate families fleeing war-torn countries.

Mercury/Pluto will help throw off old ways of communicating (Mercury) especially with those in positions of power (Pluto in Capricorn).  More direct, truthful and factual exchanges of information will support necessary evolutionary changes.  Can we find the courage to speak the truth and the humility to really fully listen to others as they do the same?  What do you need to say to important others in your life?  What are the world’s citizens increasingly telling their political leaders?!

Libra, the sign that teaches equality, also teaches effective LISTENING.  Proper giving and receiving, a hallmark of healthy, balanced relationships, requires that we truly hear what others are saying they actually need.  Don’t we really all want the same things – to be loved, heard, seen, safe, respected and valued?

Our current crises (a word we’ll see and hear over and over and over again) will only be resolved through changes in our beliefs.  As a result, the way we treat one another will change.   Imagine how different our world would be if we all truly saw and treated each other as equals.

It’s worth noting that Jupiter and Sagittarius also represent interpretation.  This is really not surprising given that how we interpret reality comes directly out of what we believe.  What we believe conditions and influences how we see the world.  As Saturn returns to Sagittarius, Mercury goes retrograde square Pluto, and Jupiter opposes Neptune – ALL ON THE 17th – events and experiences that occur on or around this time will reveal exactly how and where our beliefs need to change.

Spiritual teacher Wayne Dyer, who just recently passed away, often said; “If we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change.”

Human consciousness is in for an upgrade.  Beliefs are changing.  The question is, “Can we change quickly enough to save ourselves, each other and our planet?”

To help Middle Eastern refugees visit:  http://www.unicef.org.uk/landing-pages/donate-syria/ and/or http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/save-syria-children.

 

 

Virgo New Moon: Crises and Necessary Adjustments

The Virgo New Moon happened at 7:12 am MST/PDT on Monday, August 25th at 2 degrees Virgo 18 minutes.  Here’s the chart:  VirgoNewMoon2014.

Virgo is a transitional archetype that bridges the fully complete ego-centric development of the individual self, experienced from Aries through Leo, with the need to socialize with others by learning to be in relationship as an equal that initiates in Libra and culminates in Pisces.  The socialization process begins with one-on-one relationships in Libra and ends in Pisces when we remember that we’re all connected and are all One within the entire universal whole.

Virgo follows Leo, the sign of maximum individual development and expression, when the ego has become quite ‘full of itself’ so to speak.  Individual ego aggrandizement must be deflated before arriving at Libra, the sign associated with the need to learn balance and equality between self and others.  Virgo facilitates this ego adjustment process.  Accordingly, the Virgo archetype is most commonly experienced through crises that occur for the purpose of instigating intense self-analysis to discern what needs to be adjusted within the personal ego-centric identity.  Through Virgo, humility and self-improvements occur so the individual is ready to meet others as an equal in Libra.

Virgo carries an intrinsic psychology of inferiority. Leo’s ego-centric aggrandizement is associated with a psychology of superiority.  Both of these psychologies are distortions.  Leo thinks the whole world revolves around it.  Virgo typically focuses on what’s wrong rather than what’s right. Leo needs to learn that everyone is special and the center of their own universe.  Virgo needs to accept its imperfections and learn to see the glass as half-full, not half empty.

Virgo evolves through Pisces, its opposite sign where we learn forgiveness and compassion. Virgo/Pisces also teach discernment between delusions/lies and truth/reality. Perfection itself is a delusion. Once Virgo accepts its imperfections instead of relentlessly judging them, it can begin to heal its wounds. Virgo ultimately learns to make judgments based upon intentions, not outcomes. Self-improvement inevitably results from simply always trying to do your best.  Once Virgo embraces Pisces, and begins to develop spiritually through embracing natural laws instead of man-made laws and religions that are based upon the moral judgments of right/wrong and good/evil, then Virgo becomes a humble servant of the Divine Source that created it, aligning its personal will with higher divine will.  Then the healing really begins…

Mercury is the ruler of the Virgo New Moon and is now opposite Chiron in Pisces.  This aspect is symbolic of the psychological wounds carried in humanity’s collective unconscious resulting from thousands of years of man-made moralistic religious beliefs that have projected judgments, shame and guilt. The Sun and Moon, also in Virgo, are opposite Neptune in Pisces, the sign Neptune rules. Thus the Virgo/Pisces axis is fully activated this month so the above themes of crises, adjustments, forgiveness, humility, healing, spiritual development and self-improvement will all be emphasized. It’s time to take off those rose-colored glasses and see things as they truly are rather than continuing to buy into delusions through denial of reality. This is no small task given the ubiquitous spin, obfuscation and deliberate manipulation of facts we are bombarded with daily by governments, media, businesses and even religious and political ideological belief systems.

Its also no small task when your router goes down and won’t reset and needs to be replaced just when its time to post this New Moon message on my blog.  So for the last day and a half, I’ve been patiently awaiting my new router (my very own ‘technology crisis/adjustment’) while I was trying my best to gracefully accept my inability to go online.  Thanks everyone for your patience awaiting this post!  I have a LOT of emails to catch up on!

Notably, seven inconjunctions (150 degree angles) also occur in the Virgo New Moon chart. Inconjunct angles are themselves associated with crises that require adjustments. Crises are most likely to manifest in areas of life associated with Virgo and Pisces:  workplaces, employers and employees, pets, health matters and institutions, places of worship and religious leaders, bodies and supplies of water, chemical or drug-related matters, prisons and deceptive or fraudulent activities. Adjustments are likely to unfold between players in high-stakes legal, religious or political power struggles. The Ebola outbreak, the pursuit of equal justice in Ferguson, MO, as well as the role that drugs for depression may have played in Robin William’s recent tragic suicide are all examples of how these celestial crisis energies are already manifesting.

For Virgo to succeed in moving forward with goals of self-improvement it needs to know the following in order to successfully outwit its overdeveloped mental capacity.  This sign is masterful at rationalizing excuses, “yeah buts…” and ingenious delay and denial tactics that are all part of a procrastination strategy.  Its important to understand WHY you do this!  Virgo is so wounded by judgments it has bought into about its unworthiness, that it will typically resist moving in any new direction because its terrified of making a mistake.  Check out this TED Talk by Brune Brown, PhD.  Her recent revelatory social research into shame illuminates this very prevalent human psychology: https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.

I call this Virgo psychological distortion ‘perfection paralysis.’  Virgo fears that if it messes up its going to be judged and humiliated yet again and so there’s pressure to always be right.  Which is impossible.  Humans make mistakes.  We’re ALL evolving.  Evolution is intrinsically opposite the state of perfection.  So Virgo doesn’t even begin or try anything new.  It just make more excuses, continues to procrastinate and perhaps creates yet another crisis to fully distract itself from doing that new thing that it really needs to do that scares it to death…  Get it?

Remember, to heal you must be kind and gentle and forgiving and compassionate with yourself!  “Spiritual evolutionary growth is NOT for Sissies.”  I’ve been saying this a lot lately because I now see it in my work with clients each and every day.  But spiritual evolutionary growth IS doable.  In fact, its a driving force behind each and every Soul’s desire to reincarnate in the first place — to continue evolving.  So no more excuses!  Make a plan and get started now.  Remember too that Virgo succeeds best in moving forward ONE STEP AT A TIME.  This is the ‘perfect’ cure for ‘perfection paralysis!’  Just one step at a time…

Relationship dynamics are also in focus again this month as Venus (women) in Leo squares Mars (men) in Scorpio on the 26th and 27th. Throw off outer expectations about how your relationships should be if they conflict with who you really are or what you really value. Some relationships with incompatible goals, needs or values may necessarily end. Recognize and honor differences while remaining friendly even as you part ways.  This will minimize karmic consequences between partners.

Pluto, the planet of the Soul and its desires, as well as the evolutionary process itself is intensifying as it slows down to station direct September 22nd. Retrograde since April 14th, Pluto retrograde always encourages a review of our individual and collective realities. Now as Pluto moves forward, its direct energy can help us to change elements of our reality that aren’t working.

And finally, Mars is also beginning a new two year cycle with Saturn on August 25th as they come together at 18 degrees Scorpio.  Mars is our conscious desire nature that instinctively acts upon what it wants and Saturn has to do with self-responsibility, self-determination, developing your own inner authority and the emotional maturation process.  Use this new Mars/Saturn cycle to initiate new personal goals.  Goal-setting should focus on developing greater self-empowerment and self-responsibility, healing old wounds, pursuing deeper relationship trust and intimacy, increasing emotional maturation and achieving important personal desires. It’s time for self-adjustments that bring self-improvement. It’s time to heal ourselves, our communities and our world.  Its time to move forward in new and more meaningful directions. It’s time to BE the change we wish to see in the world!

Recently a friend offered a classic Buffalo Springfield lyric to describe the extraordinary quality of the times we’re living in. “Something’s happenin’ here; what it is ain’t exactly clear…” Perhaps Bob Dylan can provide the answer: “The times, they are a changin…”

This article is a summary of my live presentation/analysis of the New Moon chart in an approximate hour-long audio recording that includes dates/descriptions of significant upcoming astrological events for the month. The audio recording is available in CD or mp3 file formats for $15. Contact me if you wish to purchase the audio recording.

The next New Moon which will be in Libra is on September 23rd at 11:14 pm MST!

 Copyright 2014 Donna Lee Steele and Threshold Consulting. All rights reserved.

Scorpio New Moon/Solar Eclipse!

The Scorpio New Moon occurred this morning at 5:50 am MST at 11 degrees Scorpio 15 minutes.  This New Moon is also a rare Solar Eclipse!  Here’s the chart:  2013ScorpioNewMoonSolarEclipse.   Scorpio rules evolution.  Scorpio rules choices.  It also rules power.  The most powerful human attribute is free will choice.  Why?  Because human evolution is facilitated through the power of free will choices.  Of course the wisest free will choices use power to create, heal and evolve, not to control, manipulate or destroy.  How do you use your power?  How powerful or powerless do you feel?

Science now knows that consciousness creates reality.  Religion teaches us that we’re made in the image of our divine Creator which makes us ‘co-creators.’  What are your thoughts, deeds and beliefs (free-will choices) co-creating?

Scorpio’s planetary ruler, Pluto, represents the Soul and its deepest desires.  Every Soul has two opposite and competing desires; the desire to separate from the divine Source that created it and the desire to return to that same Source.  Throughout countless lifetimes, Souls exhaust their separating desires (material world/matter) and turn their attention more and more to the desire to return to their divine creative Source (non-material world/Spirit).

Solar Eclipses are powerful New Moons that ‘reboot’ cosmic energies.  Eclipses are evolutionary gateways.  This Scorpio New Moon/Solar Eclipse also carries the energy of Saturn (limits, responsibility, authority) and Mercury retrograde (intuitive mind, hidden info/knowledge) in addition to the Sun and Moon.  It will bring deeply held emotions and wounds to the surface and reveal powerful dark hidden secrets.

Whatever ‘comes up’ or ‘comes out’ will do so because of an evolutionary intention to metamorphose its associated limitations that are now preventing further growth.  Scorpio always advises us to confront whatever comes to the surface or gets revealed, to face it squarely, head-on, because it’s ready to evolve, heal and transform.

Pluto rules this New Moon/Eclipse.  It’s been transiting through Capricorn (social structures/systems) since 2008.  It was squared (90 degree angle) for the fourth of seven total times by Uranus in Aries on November 1st reaching the mid-way point of this extraordinary celestial event that reflects worldwide social/political changes that have been unfolding over the past several years including:  the global economic downturn, America’s first African American President, the Arab Spring/Summer and Syria joining the world treaty banning chemical weapons.  Breakthroughs and changes of this magnitude will continue to powerfully manifest over the coming days, weeks and months, fueled by the power of Scorpio and the free will choices it represents, both individually, and collectively.

So be exceedingly mindful of choices made now as they will likely have far-reaching consequences and perhaps weightier outcomes than intended.  Choose peace.  Choose love.  Choose healing.  Choose self-empowerment.  Choose consciously.  Choose wisely…

This article is a brief summary of my live presentation/analysis of the New Moon chart in an approximate hour-long audio recording that includes dates/descriptions of significant upcoming astrological aspects for the month. The audio recording is available on CD or mp3 file formats for $15.  Contact me if you wish to purchase the audio recording.

The Sagittarius New Moon is on Monday, December 2^nd at 5:22 pm MST.

Copyright 2013.   Donna Lee Steele & Threshold Consulting.   All rights reserved.

Mars Retrograde in Virgo

Every couple of years Mars turns retrograde for approximately two and a half months.  The last time Mars went retrograde was from December 20, 2009 to March 10, 2010 in the sign of Leo.  This time the retrograde will occur in Virgo from January 23^rd to April 13^th.

There are many interpretations of this astrological signature.  Keeping it simple however, requires only that we look to the archetypes of Mars and Virgo to further understand the energy and influence of this celestial event.

Virgo is the sign associated with work, health and service.  This sign typically operates through crises that lead to intense self-analysis in order to understand what needs to be changed or adjusted to resolve the perpetual or cyclic nature of the crises.  Once the necessary adjustments have been made, self-improvement occurs.

Unfortunately, Virgo tends to focus disproportionately on what’s wrong instead of what’s right.  This negativity often devolves into judgment and criticism and the need to ‘atone’ for past mistakes.  A feeling of ‘not being good enough’ can lead to self-sabotaging behaviors and can even become the causative factor for illness.   Unconsciously, Virgos often use crises to distract themselves from themselves!  They’re so busy putting out fires that they never get around to addressing their own personal ‘stuff.’   Another classic Virgo tactic used to avoid doing necessary self-improvement work is becoming a workaholic.  There’s never enough time to do what needs to be done to take care of the self.

From a total zodiacal perspective, Virgo is a transitional archetype.  It is the last sign associated with development of the individual self (Aries through Virgo) before we experience the need to progressively socialize and integrate into the whole of society with others as an equal (Libra through Pisces).

Following Leo, the sign associated with the full development of the individual  ego-centric identity and the need to creatively express that unique identity, Virgo provides a necessary deflation of the ego that prepares us for the task of entering into relationships with others on an equal basis.  Virgo teaches humility which is often learned through a process of humiliation that serves to not only deflate the ego, but also to realign the ego-centric identity with its own Higher Self or Divine Will.

Mars is considered by Astrologers to be the ‘lower octave’ of Pluto and therefore directly associated with the Soul (Pluto).  Pluto operates at an unconscious level and is the source of the Soul’s evolutionary growth intentions in each lifetime.  For most of us, we can only come to consciously know our Soul’s intentions through Mars.  This is because Mars is the principle of instinctive action and what it instinctively acts out or acts upon are the desires for growth that emanate from the Soul.  So through Mars, we act on our desires and through this process, become the person our Soul intends us to become.

Because Mars always acts instinctively to pursue desires, it typically will not brook any interference in those pursuits.  When it meets with such interference or obstruction, anger usually results.  This is why Aries/Mars individuals require so much personal freedom.   Adequate freedom allows them to instinctively pursue their desires in an unfettered way.

Now imagine the planet of instinctive action, which naturally becomes angry whenever its actions are interrupted or interfered with in any way, having to STOP, turn around, and begin to move BACKWARD through the zodiac!  Suffice it to say, retrograde movement does not make Mars happy.  What retrograde movement of Mars does accomplish however is a slowing-down of the instinctive impulse to act so that thorough and thoughtful review of desired actions can take place.   Mars retrograde facilitates the necessary planning, analysis and preparation that results in greater success once actions are taken.

So in a nutshell, this upcoming Mars retrograde through Virgo will likely bring crises, delays, obstacles and a general thwarting of actions and initiatives for the purpose of necessary review.  Taking the time to thoroughly analyze problems and goals will allow for crucial changes and adjustments to be made that will have a positive effect on the outcome of actions that are ultimately taken.

So get ready for review time!  The best use of this Mars retrograde is to become more aware of the nature of both desires and crises in your life.  Perhaps you’ll notice a pattern in the kinds of problems you typically experience.  Or perhaps you’ll discover the extraordinary effectiveness that crises have had in your life relative to keeping you from doing what you know you should and could do for your own health and well-being.

Be prepared to positively manage your frustration when setbacks occur.  Consider whatever obstacles do show up to actually be your allies.  Accept the nature and timing of those obstacles as totally right and proper.  In fact, those obstacles will no doubt be the perfect facilitators of the need to rethink or review your plans.  Solicit and surrender to the guidance and direction of your Higher Self through prayer and meditation.

Virgo’s opposite sign is Pisces.  Opposite signs always point the way forward for evolutionary growth.  Pisces is the sign associated with spirituality and the desire to reunite with the source of our creation.  The spiritualization process is often facilitated by disillusionment or disappointments that reveal that what we thought had meaning and would provide happiness or ultimate fulfillment isn’t actually capable of doing so.  Through dissolving the meaning we falsely assign to desired people, places and things, Pisces serves to realign us with reality.

Used unwisely, Pisces can also provide an escape hatch for those not yet ready or willing to deal with reality or to see their life circumstances clearly.  We all need to ‘let our hair down’ occasionally.  But substance abuse and addiction can occur when escape becomes the preferred way of coping with disappointing realities.  On the upside, Pisces can provide the inspiration to ‘reimagine’ problems and opportunities.

Neptune rules Pisces and will enter Pisces for the next fourteen years on February 3^rd in the midst of the Mars retrograde period.  When the Mars retrograde period ends on April 13^th, Mars will be within just a degree of an exact opposition to Neptune.  This connection is typically associated with severe disillusionment and even deception so be especially mindful of the timely need to face realities squarely and to see things and people clearly as this Mars retrograde comes to an end.   Finding the courage to do so will be the factor/choice that allows you to move forward, slowly but successfully, once this retrograde period comes to an end.

Virgo and Pisces natives (and to a lesser degree Gemini and Sagittarius) will feel the influence of this Mars retrograde the most.  Aries and Scorpio natives will also be significantly affected since these two signs are ruled by Mars.  However, this retrograde will have some effect on nearly everyone since we all have Virgo somewhere in our chart.  Look to the houses where Virgo and Aries and Scorpio are on the cusps (Mars rules Aries and co-rules Scorpio) for clues about what areas of your life are due for an in-depth review during this retrograde.

Take ‘time outs’ to deeply ponder what’s not working in your life especially if it involves your everyday work routine or health.  If a health issue does need attention, consider the usefulness of natural remedies (Virgo).  Take steps now to improve nutrition and to ensure that you get plenty of rest.  And if diagnoses are confusing or uncertain (Pisces) don’t hesitate to get a second opinion especially if surgery is recommended.  Pets may also need extra attention during this retrograde period since Virgo rules them too.  Be extra kind and forgiving with everyone especially yourself.  And most importantly, resolve to make necessary changes and adjustments one step at a time as this strategy is most effective in overcoming Virgo’s ‘perfection paralysis.’

Every outer planetary retrograde reaches its halfway point when it opposes the Sun.  This Mars retrograde will be at its halfway point on March 4^th.  The ‘review’ process encouraged by this Mars retrograde period will be the most intense during its first half from January 23^rd to March 4^th.   From March 4^th to April 13^th increasing energy and urgency to move forward and implement plans will begin to unfold.  If possible, it will be best to delay the beginning of any big new project or initiative until mid-April when the retrograde is complete.  But if you must begin something sooner, at least be aware of the likelihood of setbacks occurring that will probably prove frustrating, albeit necessary for ultimate success.

Above all else, use this retrograde period to generally SLOW DOWN!  Turn the focus of your attention inward.  The answers and insights you need now to make positive and necessary changes that can result in real evolutionary Soul growth in your life will be found by looking deeply inside.  And don’t forget to ask for help from whatever source of higher guidance you believe in.  The highest potential and best use of this Mars retrograde can result in tremendous personal healing, for individuals, and for our planet.

Many Blessings, Donna