Lynda Hill's Sabian Symbols

Ascent in Consciousness: July's Capricorn Full Moon

First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is. Zen Aphorism

It is the ultimate wisdom of the mountains that a man is never more a man than when he is striving for what is beyond his grasp. James Ramsey Ullman

Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Seek what they sought. Basho

July's Capricorn full moon falls on the 18th and promises to be interesting and challenging and confronting and uplifting and cleansing - and probably all at the same time.

The Sabian Symbol for the full moon is Capricorn 27: A Mountain Pilgrimage, which brings a sense of spiritual retreat, striving for a destination or a desired outcome, wanting to surpass previous efforts, the desire to leave behind the complications and complexities of life in order to reach for something better, higher, purer, more rarefied perhaps.

The Mountain Pilgrimage is a wonderful image, especially for a Capricorn Symbol as it fits in with the archetype of the mountain goat, the image of Capricorn. (It's interesting to remember that Elsie Wheeler, the spiritualist medium who gave birth to the Sabian Symbols in 1925, did not have any conscious awareness of the sign or degree of the zodiac she was seeing when she described the images she saw in her mind's eye for the Sabian Symbols. This shows, again, how astoundingly amazing the Sabian Symbols and the method of their birth was).

It seems that, at this full moon, there is, or needs to be, a bit of "mountain goat" in all of us. We have to be sure-footed, persevering, able to withstand the rigors that life puts in front of us, prepared for our journey and taking it willingly, being and staying on the path, and, often, having to or choosing to go without some of the things or comforts we normally have in our lives. We are often asked to have expectations, but to let go of them at the same time - quite the paradox. 

Recognising Greatness Within: July's Cancer New Moon

A little body often harbors a great soul.
Romanian Proverb

Every man is a divinity in disguise.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

We hear about the birth of a child and ask questions like, "What did she have? How much did it weigh?" and "Does it have any hair" The Athabaskan Indian hear of a birth and ask, "Who came?"
Lisa Delpit

Where are you searching for me, friend? Look! Here am I right within you. Not in temple, not in mosque, not in Kaaba nor Kailas, but here right within you.
Kabir

He whose face gives no light can never become a star.
William Blake

The Cancer new moon occurs on July 2 in the United States and July 3 in Australia and Europe. The Sabian Symbol is Cancer 12: A Chinese Woman Nursing a Baby Whose Aura Reveals Him to be the Reincarnation of a Great Teacher.

Dane Rudhyar, the astrologer whose work popularized the Sabian Symbols, said of this degree that it's "The promise to all men that God may take birth within their souls".

You Can Get There From Here: June's Sagittarius Full Moon

We are told never to cross a bridge till we come to it, but this world is owned by people who have “crossed bridges” in their imagination far ahead of the crowd.
Anonymous

The bridges you cross before you come to them are over rivers that aren’t there. Gene Brown (Meaning: don't sweat the small stuff.)

If you destroy a bridge, be sure you can swim.
Swahili Proverb

June's Sagittarius full moon is one of assurance and reassurance. It's about knowing that there's links, bridges, possibilities and passageways that will allow us to cross over to where we want to go and to where we need to be. The Sabian Symbol for the full moon is Sagittarius 28: A Splendidly Built Bridge, a Heritage of Unknown Ages, Still Spans the Beautiful and Wildly Primitive Stream.

A Conversation by Telepathy: June's Gemini New Moon

To the query, “What is a friend?” his reply was “A single soul dwelling in two bodies.” Aristotle

I think we dream so we don’t have to be apart so long. If we’re in each other’s dreams, we can be together all the time. Bill Watterson

I waited and waited, and, when no message came, I knew it must be from you. Ashleigh Brilliant

June's new moon is one of communication, clairvoyance, telepathy and being in tune, not only with one's self but with others. The Sabian Symbol for the new moon is Gemini 14: Two People Living Far Apart in Telepathic Communication. Like most of the Sabian Symbols, this image has morphed over the years with Dane Rudhyar's version being Bridging Physical Space and Social Distinctions, Two Men Communicate Telepathically, while Marc Edmund Jones stuck to Elsie Wheeler's original version - A Conversation By Telepathy. Whichever version you prefer, this new moon speaks of communication - getting your point across - breaking through barriers that keep you separate from others and going deeper and deeper into your clairvoyant and communication abilities.

Dane Rudhyar, in his 1973 book An Astrological Mandala, says of this degree "... a time comes when the individual can transcend the limiting boundaries of culture and ego. An effort should then be made to enter a realm of consciousness in which the communication from mind to mind can take a more direct form, because the minds then operate within the One Mind of humanity. It is then as if two cells in a human body were communicating to each other, perhaps through some kind of invisible nerve channels, or, as it were, from nucleus to nucleus by means of vibratory resonance."

In my book, I have the Symbol as "Two People, at Widely Different Points, Are in Conversation With Each Other by Means of Telepathy". As you can see from the various readings of this Symbol above, the idea of this Sabian Symbol is one of communicating, it is about communicating whether you're "Living Far Apart" or in the same room as each other.

From my book The Sabian Symbols as an Oracle: 'This Symbol shows that lines of communication can still be established if you can’t be near a friend or loved one. It seems that you have bonds with another, perhaps with many people, that are unaffected by distance or frequency of communications or visits. When you are unable to be together, it is possible for you to remain connected through sending messages from your mind and heart. You could also be feeling as though you are receiving messages from or about them, but are afraid to pay attention to them. If you have been receiving clairvoyant flashes or premonitions, don’t block them, as it is highly likely that they are trying to tell you something worth listening to. Society often frowns on things concerning psychic matters; but don’t allow yourself to submit to other people’s disapproval and opinions. Trust your intuition, both in the sending and receiving of messages. You may feel isolated or unable to physically bridge the gap between yourself and someone special. Try to set aside a time of the day or night when you can meditate on each other. Let your heart tell you that you are always in their company and there is no need to feel alone.'

The Keywords for this Symbol: Conquering space and time limitations. Psychic and mental communication. Sharing and thinking the same ideas. Knowing what is felt or thought by others. Feeling connected regardless of physical contact. Being on the same frequency. Mediumship. Telepathic communication. Conversation. Direct lines of communication. Mind reading.

So, amongst other things, this Symbol speaks of communicating, sharing, sensing, feeling, mind reading, etc.

Amazingly, Mars in Leo at Leo 14 completely backs up this theme. Further, this degree is sextile (60 degrees apart) the degree of Mars is Cherub-Like, A Human Soul Whispers Into Every Receptive Ear, Seeking to Manifest. This a Symbol of the desire to be heard and taken seriously. This ‘Human Soul’ is trying to find a ‘Receptive Ear’; someone who will listen to or understand what’s being said, perhaps to spur others to take some kind of action. Something that has been waiting to be ‘Manifest’, said, heard or realized could come out quite suddenly.

From my book, The Sabian Symbols as an Oracle: There is likely to be a deep realization that will transform your life on some level. The time may not be quite right, but it is coming soon. Your creative or spiritual talents are attempting to come through into conscious expression. Listening to your inner voice, and heeding messages from others, can lead you to the next level of your life. On the spiritual level, this Symbol shows the movement of the ‘Soul’ to new possibilities and opportunities. On the more everyday level, it can imply that in order to find those who wish to join our process or task, ideas need to be communicated in a quiet and suggestive manner, rather than being loud and demanding. Often when there’s a new idea in the air, many people seemingly come up with it at the same time. This can be rather astounding; it’s time for this new thing to ‘Manifest’ and those that are ‘Receptive’ to the message will hear and respond. However, if the messages coming through are not clear, intelligent, or useful, it may lead to wild-goose chases and extremes of behavior. Parts of the mind can come tearing out – wishing to make themselves heard or known. Discriminate between what’s important and what’s not. Listen to messages, something is seeking expression and needs a vehicle to be able to ‘Manifest’. Are you the “vehicle”?

Further to this rather intuitive or clairvoyant or all seeing theme is Uranus on Pisces 23: A Materializing Medium Giving a Seance.

From my book: Many things can be ‘Materialized’ in our lives; they can come seemingly out of nowhere. They may be messages, voices, noises, stories or episodes from one’s life. Objects can be ‘Materialized’ as well; we can conjure them up. Sometimes it can cause confusion, other times enlightenment. Realizing that one can create their own reality and the responsibility implied can lead to the belief that just about anything is possible in one’s life. The things that are ‘Materialized’ can be tangible and rewarding things, however, there should be some caution as sometimes they can have more to do with drama and show rather than having any real or lasting substance. Sit with any new impressions you may be receiving until you understand the authenticity or depth. If you have to do something or perform in front of people, rest assured that with the right attitude and a little preparation there should be no problem. You may have the talent and the ability to make things up as you go along. Energy can feel as though it is coursing “through you”. Notice the physical evidence that leads you to realize, see or “hear” messages. Certain words standing out in a newspaper or magazine, words of a song that bring messages, something special noticed in a photo or other image, etc. Pay attention to these messages and allow them to inspire you to connect with whatever and whoever is guiding you. Aspects of personality can erupt, at appropriate or sometimes inappropriate moments. How much is true in this situation and how much is made-up or imagined?

Venus is on Gemini 13: A World-Famous Pianist Giving a Concert Performance. This Symbol speaks of the need to not only be rehearsed and talented, but also to be willing to share your talent and abilities with others. One needs to be confident and secure in what you do, to feel that you have something of merit to offer to the world.

The ruler of Gemini is Mercury, therefore Mercury is in high focus in this Gemini new moon. Mercury is retrograde (meaning that it appears to be traveling backwards through the zodiac). The degree of Mercury in this new moon is Gemini 20: A Cafeteria With an Abundance of Choices. This Symbol speaks of the need to be discriminating about your choices, to be careful of what you choose to nourish, feed and fulfill you. It can be rather confusing in this day and age with all the choices we have before us, and, particularly with the number of choices we have, this is a time to be thoughtful about the choices we make; about what we reach for, what we can afford, what will nourish and satisfy our appetites.

The major theme of the Symbols for the Sun, Moon, Mars and Uranus are all rather clairvoyant and all seeing. What is it that you can bring through into your life now? What is it that you need to learn or share with others? What messages are you receiving through the ethers (sometimes continually)? What talents, messages and insights do you have that you could share with others?

This Gemini new moon seems set to be a meaningful one and one that could teach us many things about ourselves and others.

Straight to the Source: An Addendum to the Scorpio Full Moon

This month's full moon in Scorpio has the Sabian Symbol of Scorpio 1: Tourists on a Sightseeing Bus. Of course, we're all tourists in life in one way or another, and this month it can be interesting to observe our lives. In fact, observing one's life and the way one 'is' in life, your souvenirs - those things you pick up and take with you, etc, can be illuminating, interesting and insightful. What are the snapshots of your life? How often do you take them? Do you reflect on your journeys and what it took to get you to where you are now?

The Symbol for the Sun in the full moon is Taurus 1: A Clear Mountain Stream; we are asked to stay on our path, determined and positive about the flow of our lives and ready and prepared for what might come on our journey. We 'mix it in' with people all the way, we become more and more strong as we journey downstream to join in with others and spread out in life with others, becoming more and more somehow integrated into the great outside world as we continue along our path.

Spectators in a Strange World on a Journey of Wonder: April's Scorpio Full Moon

The more I traveled, the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends. Shirley MacLaine

The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. Marcel Proust.

The universe as we know it is a joint project of the observer and the observed. Teilhard de Chardin

The full moon on Sunday April 20 is a particularly powerful one. In Scorpio, it is likely to bring up all kinds of powerful and intense responses and events in and around us. The Sabian Symbol for the full moon is Scorpio 1: Tourists on a Sight-Seeing Bus.

This full moon ensures that there's much to be seen and heard and learned and integrated into our lives by observing what's going on around us, taking things in, assimilating what's going on in our environment as we pass through it. Sometimes we need a tour guide on our journey's; whether it's a journey to the shops or to the Moon. We often take pictures of the terrain we're traveling in, whether they're actual photographs or snapshots that fill our minds. Also, we gather souvenirs; things that give us pleasure or merely prove that we've been somewhere. The main thing with this degree is to really take a good look at your life, but the trick is to be a participant, not just a spectator. One has to 'connect in' with one's environment, people, country, role in life, etc. Who are you on the 'Bus' with? Who's a fellow passenger, a fellow traveler, and who do you invite along on your 'journeys'? What is the vehicle you're traveling in? What is worthy of noticing and what's not? By observing, we learn and assimilate things of great value; we become more rounded, more able to cope with the things that life holds in store for us, or, indeed, throws at us.

As Yogi Berra, the great American baseball player and manager said 'You can observe a lot by watching'. Such profundity!

Two Spinsters, Two Realms, Two Guardian Angels - it's a Big Pairing of Energies at this Aries New Moon

***Want to have regular private on-line consultations/conversations with Lynda? She's offering on-line readings that you can access for one full year for only $125.00. See bottom of this blog for details.***

I think most people will agree with me when I say that the energy of the last week or so (heck of the last few years!) has been pretty weird, fractured, unwired, a bit cranky, over-the-top, or frazzled. This is largely because the Sun, in Aries, and Mars, in Cancer, have been squaring off against each other, giving people either a big burst of 'me-first' energy or a depletion of the adrenals (probably both). Then there's always the issue of bumping heads.

To top it off, we've had the Sun, Mercury, the Moon and now Venus squaring Pluto. So much for diplomacy, so much for people being nice to each other, so much for holding one's thoughts and emotions without having an implosion. Still, there's big changes afoot and many people are feeling them, some intellectually feeling it, others spiritually but many on a visceral level.

Well, this new moon is set to be an interesting one, as is the few days that lead up to it. Occurring on Sunday the 6th April, it's one of those Symbols that gives one pause for thought - literally. The Symbol is Aries 17: Two Prim Spinsters Sitting in Silence.

Curiously perhaps, we have quite a lot of two's going on in this new moon. We have Mercury, the planet of communications, communicating and talking, on Aries 7: A Person Successfully Expressing Them Self in Two Realms at Once and Saturn on Virgo 3: Two Guardian Angels Bringing Protection.

Good Vibrations - Ascension and Easter and the Libran Full moon and the Equinox; it's the Whole Box and Dice

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'll join us, and the world will be as one.
John Lennon.

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
Mohandas K. Gandhi

HAPPY EASTER!

What a big Easter! We have the Spring Equinox in the northern hemisphere (the Autumn Equinox in the southern), a big full moon on the weekend and International Astrology Day on the 21st as well.

This full moon is a real doozy, with Pluto forming a very tight grand cross with the Sun and the Moon and Mars, this promises to be a very dynamic Easter and one certainly pregnant with meaning and intensity, and very likely, change. The Sun is on Aries 2, the Moon on Libra 2, Mars is on Cancer 7 and Pluto is on Capricorn 2. This adds a real punch to emotions and events this weekend. Indeed, as with any full moon, it indicates elevated feelings being felt for some time to come. This time appears to be a particularly momentous time, with all that's going on globally - Tibet, Iraq, Sudan, the United States, all over the world, we are seeing major changes and it seems that we have to change with these changes.

The Sabian Symbol for this full moon is one of ascension and transmutation. It's at Libra 2: The Light of the Sixth Race Transmuted to the Seventh.

In the Gigantic Tent: A Revival or a Dust Up? The Pisces New Moon

March's New Moon in Pisces brings up some very interesting issues and ideas. Falling on March 7 in the United States (March 8 in Australia), the degree is Pisces 18: In a Huge Tent a Famous Revivalist Conducts His Meeting With a Spectacular Performance... Shades of the U.S. Presidential race with Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain slinging it out, making pronouncements, making promises, evangelizing, and talking up a storm. All of these candidates speak like they are promising a new world, a greater sense of freedom, more opportunities, greater wealth, etc.

The 'Revivalist' Symbol above was how Dane Rudhyar quoted this degree in his 1936 book The Astrology of Personality; he rephrased it as he did many of the Sabian Symbols. Later, in Rudhyar's 1973 book, An Astrological Mandala, Rudhyar wrote this degree as In a Gigantic Tent, Villagers Witness a Spectacular Performance. The original Symbol, as seen by Elsie Wheeler in 1925, was a far simpler phrase - A Gigantic Tent.

Marc Edmund Jones had, earlier, in 1931, written the degree as The Celebrated Revivalist Has Erected His Huge Tent, Which is Now Warmed by Music, Lights and the Smell of Sawdust.

I prefer these 'Revivalist' revisions to Elsie Wheeler's original as it seems to reflect Pisces 18 very well, although A Gigantic Tent can also bring up images of revivalists, evangelists, religious gatherings. It can also, as well, bring up the issue of boxing matches and circuses... going by what's happening in the media in the States we're seeing those things every day through the main stream media.

Whatever Symbol wording we prefer, this Sabian Symbol describes what we've been seeing again and again in recent times, especially as Uranus was on this degree for several months during 2007 and again for the last month.  

A Large White Cross and Guardian Angels: February's Lunar Eclipse

February's lunar eclipse (falling on February 20 and February 21, depending on where you are in the world) is well-placed for North and South America as well as Europe and Africa. Observers along North America's west coast miss the early stages of the partial eclipse because it begins before moon rise. Alaskans in Anchorage and Fairbanks experience moon rise during totality but bright evening twilight will make it difficult to view the event. Western Europe and northwest Africa also see the entire eclipse. Further to the east (east Africa and central Asia), the Moon sets before the eclipse ends. None of the eclipse is visible from eastern Asia or Australia. For more information go to NASA's site - click here.

Notice the red star? That's where the eclipse is most visible How interesting that Fidel Castro resigned just a few days before this eclipse? What happens next for this region of the world will be interesting to watch. It certainly seems time for the U.S. to revise relations with Cuba - as what's happening between the two nations is a relic from the Cold War. To see Cuba freed from the embargo and repressions placed up on it would be a wonderful thing. I've never been to Cuba, but I hear it's a wonderful place with wonderful people.

Which brings us to the Sabian Symbol for this total lunar eclipse - Virgo 2: A Large White Cross Dominates the Landscape. This Symbol seems to be saying that a lot of the old relics from the past that are no longer relevant, no longer serving the people, no longer providing growth for the world, are likely to be falling away - crumbling and dissembling. One can hope! Of course, when things are dying, sometimes a strong resistance to change makes for a struggle before there's actually any progress. It will be fascinating to watch Barack Obama's progress in the Presidential race and what arguments and slurs are bought up against him by the conservative establishment...

We do, however, have the grace and benefits of the degree following, Virgo 3: Two Guardian Angels Bringing Protection, this Symbol will be felt quite strongly by some as a way out of difficult or repressive energies.

Yes, We Dared to Dream: Sorry Day Moves a Nation Forward Towards a Healing

We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love... and then we return home.
Aboriginal Proverb

Those Australians who take our hands are those that dare dream of an Australia that could be.... will you take our hand? Will you dare to share our dream?
Dr Evelyn Scott, Chairperson, Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (2000)

SORRY DAY

The first National Sorry Day was held on 26 May 1998 - one year after the tabling of the report Bringing them Home which was the result of an inquiry into the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families.

One of the recommendations of the report was that a National Sorry Day should be declared. Sorry Day offered the community the opportunity to be involved in activities to acknowledge the impact of the policies of forcible removal on Australia's indigenous populations.

A huge range of community activities took place across Australia on Sorry Day in 1998. Sorry Books, in which people could record their personal feelings, were presented to representatives of the indigenous communities. Hundreds of thousands of signatures were received. People could also register an apology electronically.

On Sunday 28th May 2000 more than 250,000 people participated in the Corroboree 2000 Bridge Walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge. This walk was in support of Indigenous Australians and was organised by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (now known as Reconciliation Australia) a Federal Government initiative to promote greater understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The event highlighted the issue of a lack of an apology by the Commonwealth Government to the Stolen Generations.

Sorry Day was an annual event between 1998 and 2004.

Super Tuesday and The Dark Side of the Moon: Where's the Masquerade? February's Annular Solar Eclipse

Eclipse!
All that you touch and all that you see  
all that you taste, all you feel
and all that you love and all that you hate
all you distrust, all you save
and all that you give and all that you deal
and all that you buy, beg, borrow or steal
and all you create and all you destroy
and all that you do and all that you say
and all that you eat and everyone you meet
and all that you slight and everyone you fight
and all that is now and all that is gone
and all that's to come and everything under the sun is in tune but the Sun is eclipsed by the Moon - Pink Floyd - Eclipse - Dark Side of the Moon

February's annular solar eclipse*, happening on February 6 or February 7, depending on where in the world you are, is a doozy - it's a big one, even though it's not a total eclipse of the Sun. It's a doozy largely because of the enormous Aquarian energy and the fact that it happens right when Super Duper Tuesday is happening: when 24 States of the United States get to vote on their choice of Democratic and Republican candidates.

Super Duper, alright. In the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, many people (read: those that take the time to vote) get to exercise their democratic right to choose who next takes the reins of government... although, going by the last two elections, one wonders who's holding the chains of the Diebold machines now. If it's still the Republicans, a lot of brown stuff could hit the fan... but then, as it is, eclipses can provoke that kind of accident in all areas of our lives.

Happening every 6 months or so, eclipses are interesting power-houses of energy. This particular annular solar eclipse's path crosses Antarctica, south eastern Australia, New Zealand and some parts of the South Pacific. This solar eclipse is very Aquarian, with (in order) Chiron, Mercury, Moon, Sun, Neptune, Vesta and the North Node all in that sign. THAT is a lot of Aquarian energy. Where does this eclipse fall in your chart? Look to that area of your chart to find where Aquarius resides as that will show where adjustments or changes are best made or where the energy is likely to be played out in your life.

*An annular eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are exactly in line, but the apparent size of the Moon is smaller than that of the Sun. Hence the Sun appears as a very bright ring, or annulus, surrounding the outline of the Moon. From Wikipedia

Mars Goes Direct and Mercury Goes Retrograde - But Are We Coming or Going?

How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl,
year after year,
running over the same old ground. What have we found?
The same old fears - wish you were here. 

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

Just as Mars (the planet of action, assertion, anger and motivation) starts to go forward after 75-or-so days  wandering in the retrograde wilderness, Mercury (the planet of communication, connections, messages and thinking) flips us the finger and signals that it's time for another 3 week period of wandering around, going over the same old ground... what will we have found? The same old fears? Wish YOU were here?

Yes, over the same old ground. As Mercury goes retrograde, Mars is getting set to go forward over the same territory it has been retrograding over since mid November last year. If you want to refresh your memory about Mars retrograde read this: Retracing the Steps of Mars and Getting it Right. Well, did we get it right? We have the opportunity to retrace those steps between now and the first week of April. What have we learnt? Have we reached out for others as Mars was asking; extending our hand, our heart, our selves? Have we had our hand slapped or our heart broken?

Sometimes, no strike that, often with Mars retrograde, our motivations, objectives and impulses are taken the wrong way, we take the wrong turn OR we stay where we are when we should move. Perhaps we're being taken for granted, not speaking up, whatever - it all builds up until it explodes in a big volcanic way, leaving just remnants of our lives, our selves, our past, or whatever it is that we've been sowing the seeds for. How's the harvest looking? Well, it seems that we won't know for a little while... all the while we've got to keep planting, keep plugging, keep being our authentic selves because Mars will take a shot at us unless we aim for just that. Mars went a bit haywire, ungrounded or split while going backwards in the last degrees of Gemini and right now it's going forward again through those last 6 degrees of Gemini. Right now, Mars is on Gemini 25: A Man Trimming Palms. This seems to be telling us to get cracking with maintaining our lives, to do the essential maintenance, caring for one's possessions, weeding out the unnecessary and getting rid of those things that are hanging on way past their use-by-date. We have to clear away  remnants of the past that clutter or sabotage in order to get a fresh, clean slate - a fresh, clean image.

So, now, at the beginning of February, Mars is starting it's slow climb through Gemini and into Cancer. Along the way, in the weeks leading up to March 5, Mars is rewriting the rules in the sign of Gemini. We may be feeling the effects of the cold (being 'left out in the cold' or 'getting a cold shoulder'); and things being in a rather stagnant state, we'll be looking far afield at vistas foreign to us. At this time we'll need to remember where we are in order to let ourselves (and others) off the hook. Another important message from Mars is  not judging people by how they look, dress, carry themselves. Our tendency to do this is largely superficial at this point in our evolution - the essence of a person can't be told by external appearances as there's often far more going on beneath the surface.

The trick is that Mercury is now retrograde, right when Mars goes direct (forward). However, even though the universe seems to like to play tricks on us, Mercury and Mars are in rather harmonious aspect to each other (120 degrees - a trine), which means that they do have a sense of communication - at least in the early days of the retrograde (late January and early February).

Mercury went retrograde on January 30 at Aquarius 24: A Man Turning His Back on His Passions Teaches Deep Wisdom From His Experience. This degree can show the need to conquer one's base nature, to come to terms or to learn something through experience and maturation - we've come a long way and learned much, and now we have to integrate those lessons and feelings into our core self. We have to accept various aspects of ourselves, sort out what's working and what's acceptable, and integrate those elements into our lives so our lives are more authentic, more meaningful, even a good example for others.

Mercury will be retrograde until February 19 - giving us the chance to once again be analyzing our lives and sorting out what's worth keeping and what's not. The usual warnings apply to Mercury retrograde; be wary of what you commit to, what you sign, how you operate machinery, how you interpret the messages you receive (or don't receive), the signals you're giving off...

Epidemics, Lightning and Desertions: Things Sure are Interesting - January's Full Moon

My sources are unreliable, but their information is fascinating.
Ashleigh Brilliant

We are more apt to catch the vices of others than their virtues, as disease is far more contagious than health.
Charles Caleb Colton

Good, the more communicated, more abundant grows.
John Milton

This month's full moon is bound to have people thinking about what's going on in their lives and in the lives of those around them - it's certainly a period of peak feelings and experiences and a time when we need to remember to count our blessings as we set to work on what needs to be kept, changed, jettisoned or avoided like the plague.

The Sabian Symbol for this full moon is Leo 2: An Epidemic of Mumps. Well, what could that possibly mean? Loads of things: Things getting out of control, hysterical feelings, the need for immunity, medicines and cures, discovering the truth of situations and acting accordingly, common threads that link people and places, infections diseases and emotions, gossip - sometimes rampaging gossip that hurts and inflicts wounds, stories that get out of control, rashes and skin problems, rumours and fears, the cat let out of the bag, vaccinations, the need for hygiene, outbreaks, hiding one's self away for fear of contagion.

Yep, Greg can't come out to play, he needs to rest and recuperate, to reflect on his life perhaps, to segregate himself from others, to heal himself and build up his health, fitness and immune system so he can get back into the real world... although licking his wounds may be quite a task!

This degree Symbol does contain some good, as all degree Symbols do. This one is one of the more 'negative' degrees, but it does promise some good - what about infectious laughter? What about being overcome with feelings of love and blessings? An epidemic will spread whatever is in the air - so what's in the air around you? What are you promoting? What are you breathing in every day? What are you sensitive to? What are you immune to? What do you need to protect yourself from? What stories do you tell yourself and others that lead to things getting out of control?

Strong Defences vs Leaky Boundaries - January's new moon in Capricorn

Use power to curb power. Chinese Proverb

I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. John Adams

The empires of the future are the empires of the mind. Winston Churchill

The price of greatness is responsibility. Winston Churchill

This month's Capricorn new moon falls on January 8th and it's quite a fascinating one. The Sabian Symbol for this new moon is Capricorn 18: The Union Jack Flies From a New British Warship. Warships conjure up a sense of being on patrol, checking one's parameters, asserting one's domination, fighting for flag and country, beliefs, etc.

This Symbol is about the need to defend one's ideals, lifestyle or culture from outside influences. It is important to show one’s power, but also to continually renew one's strength. This can be a show put on for others, but also an affirmation of safety for yourself and those who are in your circle of influence or protection. If there is a threat from outside your boundaries, or from within, there needs to be a swift response to snuff it out. However, if anarchy erupts within the ranks, political ploys may be used such as the concept of “divide and rule”—the political rule that government is more easily maintained if factions are set against each other and not allowed to unite against the ruler. Distrust or disrespect for “authority” can lead to problems with people branded traitors. Having confidence in your ability to hold, maintain and protect your own “turf” will ensure others do as well.

Flying High or Escaping Reality - the Cancer Full Moon

 Happy Solstice, Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a fabulous New Year in 2008!

I'll need a magic carpet to get out of this one.
Donald Davis
The power of thought - the magic of the mind!
Lord Byron
Caution: Cape does not enable user to fly.
Batman costume warning label.

The last week of December always brings with it a lot to do; housecleaning, shopping, cooking, accommodating the needs of family, etc - there's always a lot to get done.

This December's full moon is bound to bring up all kinds of mixed emotions, particularly as it's smack on Christmas Eve - a time when thoughts and emotions and resources are usually stretched to the limit. It's also a time when everything that hasn't been done is attempted at the last minute when a lot of people are under the same stress with things to do, places to go, things to buy, people to see. This is a particularly charged up full moon as it's conjunct (together with) Mars and exactly opposite Jupiter. This is what one could call an 'inflated' full moon; inflated with emotions, energy, expectations and desire, particularly a desire for expansion and the good things in life. Generosity of spirit is definitely on the cards with this line up - Pluto, Jupiter, Sun and Mercury all opposite the Moon and Mars... quite a chorus of main characters!

Blinkers or Turning a Blind Eye? The Sagittarius New Moon

"I am May.   See May's sunbonnet.  It is my sunbonnet. Do you see May ?   Do you see the Sunbonnet Baby ?"

"I am Molly.  This is my blue dress.  See my pink sunbonnet.   I am a Sunbonnet Baby.  Who are you ?"

The Sunbonnet Babies Primer, written by Eulalie Osgood Grover, published in 1902, was illustrated by Bertha L. Corbett and revolved around the adventures of Molly and May, two little girls whose faces were completely hidden by large sunbonnets.

This month's Sagittarian new moon is on Sagittarius 18: Tiny Children Playing in Sunbonnets. The influence of this new moon will last right through this month and into next month, indeed next year. The children in this image appear to be looked after, protected, sheltered from the bad elements and difficulties that may be around them or out there in society, whilst being able to play, be creative, live like children are meant to do.

This is a beautiful image, one that should have people feeling safe, secure and looked after, and many will feel this way, but, unfortunately, not all are likely to be feeling that way right now...  Still, this image says that we must strive to protect the innocent, the young or the naive, protect and shelter them from harmful or damaging elements that may rob them of their peace and quiet, their ability to be creative and to enjoy life.

Retracing the Steps of Mars and Getting it Right

You can't shake hands with a clenched fist - Indira Gandhi

It is easier to point the finger than to offer a helping hand - Anon

The world can only be grasped by action, not by contemplation. The hand is the cutting edge of the mind - Jacob Bronowski

The lonely one offers his hand too quickly to whomever he encounters  - Friedrich Nietzsche

Every 2 years or so, Mars goes retrograde (backwards) in the heavens for some seventy five days. Of course, planets don't actually travel backwards, it's the view from our perspective here on Earth that makes a planet appear to be doing so. (We know that so much of life is about perspective and astrology is no different!)

Mars is the planet that shows how we manifest ourselves out in the world in terms of ego, energy, push, ambition, passion, aggression and anger. Mars goes retrograde on November 15, and for several days it stops in its tracks, and, in a week or so, it will start to move backwards through the zodiac. The Sabian Symbol for the stationary Mars is Cancer 13: A Hand Which is Held Out Receptively, is Remarkable for the Suggestion of Character in its Prominent Thumb.

Mars' energy is rather tightly bound up in our forward movement and in our modern society we're often not very content with moving sideways (Cancer), let alone backwards (retrograde). It's also a bit antithetical to emotions and caring about other people's feelings.

Lynda's on the Radio

Lynda appeared on Chris Flisher's Turning of the Wheel radio show. The show was of Lynda talking about the Sabian Symbols.

http://www.contacttalkradio.com/hosts/archives/flisher.htm

Clover and Rainbows and a Whole Box of Dice

To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee,
One clover, and a bee, And reverie.
The reverie alone will do, If bees are few.
Emily Dickinson

Fridays' full moon in Taurus has a wonderfully tantalizing promise of riches, rewards, safety, comfort and ease. The Moon is full on the third degree of Taurus, the Sabian Symbol for which is Taurus 3: Natural Steps Up to a Lawn Blooming With Clover.

I always enjoy seeing this degree as it usually means we have to take just a few shorts steps to our objectives, our aims, our missions, our ability to be happy, etc. We can take these 'natural steps' that lead us to the place where we'll be able to fully live, relax, be creative, love and grow. This full moon in Taurus seems to imply that we can achieve much and find ourselves where we want to be, but it is like to take the cooperation of others involved as the Sun is on Scorpio 3: Neighbors Help in a House Raising Party in a Small Village. the Sun being on this degree in a Taurus Moon/Scorpio Sun lunation is a double whammy; Taurus and Scorpio have quite the 'yours/mine', 'combined resources', 'building and transforming' kind of energy.

Schedule a psychic astrology reading with Lynda Hill

  Want to know what's coming up in 2008 then contact Lynda.

                                      

Release From Bondage: October's New Moon in Libra

Many promising reconciliations have broken down because, while both parties came prepared to forgive, neither party came prepared to be forgiven. - Charles Williams

Most of us can forgive and forget; we just don’t want the other person to forget that we forgave.- Ivern Ball

We have only one person to blame, and that’s each other. - Barry Beck, New York Ranger, on who started a brawl

No! No! Sentence first—verdict afterwards. Lewis Carroll

This month's new moon brings up rather fascinating relationship issues, not only  because it is in the relationship sign of Libra, but because it has some interesting reflections to the full moon we had a few weeks ago. In my last moon blog, I wove a story about the  Aries-Libra polarity and the Sabian Symbols involved in that lunation. In a nutshell, the issues revolved around being in a relationship, being on your own and being with friends and people who share the same common interests and care about you. If you missed my blog on the Aries-Libra full moon click here...

This new moon is likely to bring up some very serious soul searching for many people. The Sabian Symbol for the new moon is Libra 18: Two Men Placed Under Arrest, hence the pic of the handcuffs.

Sabian Sect Keeps the Faith in Iraq

Check out this wonderful story from USA Today...

Searching for Elsie

One of my favourite things over the past years has been my Search For Elsie. I wrote the following, an extract from a blog written in September 2005, a few days before Elsie's birthday, about my search for her. Although there is much more to be said, I thought it prudent to give her priority at the top of my blog.

GetUp's Climate Change Action Ad

Check out GetUp's television commercial featuring my daughter Jess (Jess is the one holding the child). Click here.

Getting the Balance Right - this Aries Full Moon

No I ain't blue, baby
but I'm just a little bit lonesome for some love again
Everything is fine
I just don't want to be all by myself

Bonnie Raitt - I Ain't Blue lyrics

This full moon really struck me as a particularly archetypal relationship full moon. It brings up the issues of:

• aloneness versus togetherness,
• being with others versus being alone,
• the issue of being alone and yet not being lonely,
• the pairing between the Moon and the Sun, those energies within us and around us          that signify the feminine (the Moon) and the masculine (the Sun)
• having friends who support and love us

And having people in our lives who we connect with on a deep level.

These issues are often brought up around the time of the full moon as the Sun and the Moon stand at their furtherest points opposite each other. In other words, the time of the full moon represents the time that the male and female energies (animus and anima) are at their most distant, and, yet, this is the time when they can most clearly see each other.

The full moon is, therefore, a time of projection - we often project onto others, onto things, onto events, those things that we think we see outside of ourselves, we really these energies are inside of us.

Under the Hammer - the Dance of Saturn and Venus

Saturn, the planet of restrictions, limitations, boundaries, grief, isolation, as well as rewards for hard work, permanence, durability and those things you know to be real, sometimes all too real, is right now on the degree that Venus went retrograde on, Virgo 3: Two Guardian Angels Bringing Protection. If you want to catch up with the gen about Venus retrograding on this degree, visit this page.

Saturn has been tracing the steps that Venus took up until her apparent about turn. He's showing us the real meaning of commitment, hard work, relationships and boundaries and we're going to have to take notice, at least in some measure, in order to be able to pass the tests that Saturn has in store for us. Venus may have laid the groundwork by easing the way for Saturn in some measure, but Saturn is the one who'll leave the most effect as he recently marched through Leo and will now march through Virgo.

Sink or Swim - 11 September Solar Eclipse

'Swimming over the rocks was dangerous but it was exciting.'
'How can a guy climb trees, say me Tarzan, you Jane, and make a million?'
Throughout my career I swam for form. Speed came as a result of it.'

Johnny Weissmuller - the actor who played Tarzan

September's solar eclipse is set to be a very interesting one, particularly in the light of the fact that it occurs on September 11, a date that is inextricably inked into our subconscious as a moment that many facets of our world changed forever.

Casting the chart of the September 11 solar eclipse for New York, we find that the ascendant degree is almost the same = the angles of the chart of the eclipse line up with the angles of the chart of 9/11, something that certainly is worth mentioning.

The attack on the World Trade Center in New York on that fateful day in 2001 unleashed something in us that is rather hard to define... certainly the world changed for us from that moment forward... and everybody has their own individual take on just how their world changed from that day.

The Sabian Symbol for the Sun in the chart of 9/11 and in this solar eclipse is Virgo 19: A Swimming Race. For some, life feels more and more like a race, perhaps a 'rat race''; that we're all thrown into the same lane and expected to swim like crazy for the finish line - whatever the 'finish line' happens to be.

How are the Cards Dealt Down the Rabbit Hole?

This week's lunar eclipse is one for the books with so much going on, it's hard to know where to start the commentary. Certainly, there are many wonderful, rich, challenging, things going on astrologically...

A few technical details first: From start to finish, August's lunar eclipse lasts about three hours and thirty-three minutes (not including the penumbral phases which are very difficult to see). The partial eclipse begins as the Moon's eastern edge slowly moves into the Earth's umbral shadow. During the partial phases, it takes just over an hour for the Moon's orbital motion to carry it entirely within the Earth's dark umbra. The color and brightness of the totally eclipsed Moon can vary considerably from one eclipse to another. Dark eclipses are caused by volcanic gas and dust which filters and blocks much of the Sun's light from reaching the Moon. But since no major volcanic eruptions have taken place recently, the Moon will probably take on a vivid red or orange color during the total phase. After the total phase ends, it is once again followed by a partial eclipse as the Moon gradually leaves the umbral shadow.

The total phase of a lunar eclipse is called totality. At this time, the Moon is completely immersed within the Earth's dark umbral shadow. During the August 28 eclipse totality will last 90 minutes.

From:http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEmono/TLE2007Aug28/TLE2007Aug28.html

The Sabian Symbol for this lunar eclipse in Pisces is Pisces 5: A Church Bazaar. This Symbol speaks of people pulling together, with a sense of faith, and working towards the common good of one's community, family, neighbourhood, along with one's spiritual needs being fulfilled.

Retracing the Steps of Venus

Make friends with the angels, who though invisible are always with you… Often invoke them, constantly praise them, and make good use of their help and assistance in all your temporal and spiritual affairs.
Saint Francis de Sales

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.
Albert Einstein

We forget to pray for the Angels and the Angels forget to pray for us.
Leonard Cohen

There's a lot going on in the sky during these recent times; the Saturn-Neptune opposition, Mercury recently retrograde, Pluto conjuncting the Galactic Center (which is said to be 'the mind of God'), Saturn set to go into Virgo  and many other planetary configurations that are causing our minds and hearts to make adjustments, throw things out or move into new ways of being.

The upcoming period of Venus retrograde, which gets into full swing on July 27, is another major planetary event that is influencing us and is adding some flavor and spice to the cosmic soup that we're swimming in and it's promising to be an interesting experience. As long as we have our life jackets on and our belief in the goodness of life by our side, we'll emerge wiser and happier, although it could be a bit of a bumpy ride. This is a major heads up around our relationships with others and we would do well to be paying attention.

Looking for Harmonies?

This month's mid May new moon brings up some very curious issues, especially in the light of last month's mid April one. The theme for the last one was Aries 28: A Large Disappointed Audience, but now we have

 Taurus 26: A Spaniard Serenading His Senorita. It seems that the 'disappointment' of last month's new moon that many experienced can be turned around by appreciating the 'serenade', by listening to the true notes being played and letting go of the moments when someone doesn't hit the right pitch or note or response.We have to be aware of what we're choosing to listen to, what we choose to respond to, how we allow others to affect us by their words, the tunes they play with their words, their reasoning, indeed, their reasons. Are we hearing things that warm our souls when really it's largely a case of conscious manipulation on the part of someone?

Of course, we need to be aware of how we're affecting others; are we being true to ourselves, are we being true to others? Are we putting out what we truly feel, what we feel in our hearts? Are we listening to what we feel in our heart? Do we know what we feel in our heart?

The big issue seems to be: can we trust? or have we heard too much in the way of persuasion and promises that we tend to block out the things that actually are promising wonderful things for us?

The following is a post I wrote last month which disappeared before I could post it. I post it again here so we can see the progression of last month's new moon to this month's. I will post this month's in a following blog entry.

Cherry Blossoms in Japan

Hi from Tokyo, Japan, where I'm spending a week teaching the Sabian Symbols. I apologise for not updating my blog since the end of January new moon. I've been incredibly busy finding myself in a very different and wonderfully rewarding life and things are unfolding at incredible speed.

I have so many things I want to share on my blog and I hope to be able to get to it in the next few days, in amongst going to Kyoto to see the cherry blossom festival. I lived in Kyoto for about 10 months (spending 6 weeks in Tokyo) some 25 years ago, and feel that it's the beginning of another turning point in my life to be here.

Life is so rich, so wonderful.

Over the next few days, the Sun will go over Aries 21+ (which equals Aries 22 in the Sabian Symbols). This is a wonderful degree, and one that has such rewarding potentials. It's The Gate Opens to the Garden of All Fulfilled Desire. For my part, being in Kyoto has got to be a gate opening to a wonderful vista of beauty. The beauty of Kyoto in springtime has to be seen to be believed and it's a perfect metaphor for the riches we have available to us in life. After all, even if we don't have such a garden to step into or behold in our actual physical surroundings at this time, many of us have the opportunity to visualise such a place; to picture it in our mind's eye - whether it's through our imagination or through looking at images on the WWW. We are so lucky to be alive at this time.

There's much more I want to say, particularly about the holographic nature of our reality. I will blog about this as soon as I can get back to it. Meanwhile, it's a wonderful thing at this time of the year to picture ourselves stepping up to the plate as the Sun moves onto Aries 21 and then Aries 22 on (depending where you are in the world) April 10, 11 and 12. Aries 21: A Boxer Entering the Ring - wants you to step up and declare that you can take on the world, you can make a difference in your life by declaring your intention to 'win'. Aries 22 holds the yet more rewarding secret of stepping up to the gate - The Gate to the Garden of All Fulfilled Desire. By picturing yourself as ready to take on your life, without cowering, without giving in, without seeing yourself as anything but a winner, you can then find yourself at the Gate of All Fulfilled Desire. The trick here is that, once you've stepped up to the plate, you find yourself having to accept your desires being fulfilled. A big task, eh? For most, yes, when one looks at what we've largely been taught.

Here's our chance to, again, move into what it is we want. No excuses, the gloves are off and it's not a matter of winner or loser, really, the winner/loser thing is not the main game, it's being 'in the ring' that matters - in the ring and in the garden of fulfilled desire.

I'm going to see my version of that