Santa Cruz Good Times

T he heavens are busy this week. Friday morning Chiron turns direct (26 Aquarius). As wounds manifest in the outer world, holistic approaches are sought. Friday night is Scorpio new moon, 14 degrees (degree of Venus retrograde). Scorpio/Venus underscore the new monetary structure that must come forth in our world, led by the United States whose esoteric purpose is to lead humanity into the “light.” From Nov. 6-9 the United States has transiting Mars (Sag) opposite natal Uranus (Gemini). Oppositions mean something new integrates. With Mars/Uranus a fierce revolution appears, disciples enter the battle, desire becomes aspiration to build everything new. Late night Saturday Neptune turns direct. We have less confusion; the “waters of life” appear everywhere. Sunday morning, 2 a.m., daylight-saving time ends (time “falls back”). Sunday night Venus re-enters Libra. Venus and Libra bring economic issues to the foreground. Venus retro signifies a reassessment of values, an investigation into things hidden (bank foreclosures and seized homes), a restructuring of our principles, standards, morals, ethics. A question (to ask of our selves, our town, city, county, state, nation, government, the world) is “What do we value?” Scorpio is about our and other people’s money. The field is ripe for a transformative economic structure. We remember in Scorpio, Mars brings forth the Nine Tests for humanity urging us to bring harmony out of chaos (Ray 4), raise the lesser values (desire) to the higher (aspiration). In Scorpio we battle with crystallized (old) ways and behavior. Humanity is in battle at present to reorient the economy, from greed and materialism to a world of sharing sustainability. We also remember that in Scorpio the power of the spirit of humanity can triumph.Esoteric Astrology as News for the week of Nov. 4–10, 2010 For Sun and Rising Signs

In Libra, we’re made aware of two polarized realities (backward or forward, past/future) so we can later make informed choice. In Scorpio we act upon our choice. Which brings us to the subject of voting (choice to vote, what we vote for). I voted early this year, making a conscious choice so the opposition wouldn’t assume power by default - by my not voting. I urge everyone to vote.  Not voting is a choice allowing the “other side” to win. Voting is part of responsible “discipleship” (Scorpio task).

Scorpio Sun initiates the autumn festivals of light in the “dark half of the year” (Halloween, All Souls, All Saints). Halloween or El Dia de los Muertos, begins the three-day festival of ghosts, goblins and spirits, good and bad, allowed to pierce the veils separating worlds (planes of consciousness). We honor the spirits, especially relatives and little ones (angels) with altars of food, marigolds, candles, copal (incense) and prayers of greeting and hope. Skeletons glide by, appear as cookies while in dark places things go “bump in the night”.
Sun and Mercury are in Scorpio. Hermes (Mercury), the messenger, sends information to humanity via the Sun. It’s a Scorpionic message, concerning Scorpio’s Nine Tests of the personality, given each year at this time, preparing us for discipleship (Scorpio & Sag), service (Capricorn & Aquarius) and saving the world (Pisces). Mars provides the tests as Pluto transforms us. With Mercury in Scorpio, communication (ours/others) can be unconsciously unkind, merciless and heartless, leading us to choose a formal study of Non-violent Communication or Compassionate Communication techniques. So we’re no longer unconsciously cruel.

What were the results of Santa Cruz’s meeting on alternative currency? During Venus (money) retrograde in Scorpio (everyone’s), money is at the forefront. Therefore we need to follow the worldwide economy, learn about the different currency wars. The dollar’s losing ground daily. The G20 meets November in Korea. There’s talk of a new money standard, no longer the dollar, the creation of one world currency. These are exciting times, with revolution a probability. Even if we don’t understand economics and finances, we must try and follow as best we can. Revolution only comes after everyone’s truthfully informed. Two Scorpio events this week—Full moon (Friday) Scorpio/Taurus, and Sun entering Scorpio (Saturday).

Thursday we seriously tend to tasks while experiencing a  certain sadness, choosing time and energy efficiency lest we fall down into a narrow state of discouragement. At first we’re lifted up only to plummet earthward with a practical jolt. Let’s focus these unpredictable energies by consciously preparing for Friday evening’s full moon, (last degree, 29:33 Scorpio/Libra, 6:38 p.m., Pacific time).

Libra is moving swiftly toward Scorpio, sign of money and resources held in common. Libra prepares for Scorpio by providing us with the ability to see and choose between two realities –the past, old habits and desires, or the future, new values, structures, archetypes. What direction will we choose, which Path? Humanity rarely has free will and very little choice. Until we work primarily within the mental and intuitive planes, until we have perspective (above, below, side to side), until we understand “love underlies all happenings” and until desire no longer controls, we’re led entirely by desires, habits and instincts (the past). But in Libra, once a year, humanity is given a choice. With Venus retrograde, we are assisted in this choice by viewing the past, surveying resources, finances, values, emotional desires, possessions, relationships. We ask what of these will enter the future with us? What attitudes, habits, relationships will we keep or leave behind? What is the value of our money and finances?

Friday, Venus, the brilliant yellow-white star Morning Star, retrogrades in Scorpio (13 degrees) till Thursday, Nov. 18, 2010 (27:44 Libra). Venus retrogrades every 584 days (19 months) making five retrograde points around the Sun. After eight years, Venus forms a five-pointed star in the sky. Esoterically, the five-pointed star represents the Soul. Everyone has a Soul, suspended six inches above our heads. It waits for us to awaken. Venus influences money, possessions, values and relationships (lovers & friends). Scorpio represents things held in common (world resources). When planets retrograde we turn inward, the past reappears, decisions are delayed, plans set aside for the purpose of assessment and all areas associated with the retrograde must be reviewed in order to either renew, revitalize, find new value, or place them aside forever. Scorpio is the sign of transformation, regeneration after a death (physical and/or metaphorical) has taken place. Scorpio reorients us from things in matter (from solar plexus) to a more spiritual focus (to the heart), creating a sense of responsibility toward the needs of humanity, as we build the new culture and civilization based upon the new Aquarian principles. We bring forth into form and matter our part and work into the world, carrying out our part with skill. Venus calls us to unite heart and mind. Scorpio calls us to Discipleship.

In Washington, Saturday, Sept. 18, President Obama spoke to Congressional Black Caucus leaders saying, "I need everybody here to go back to your neighborhoods, and workplaces, to your churches, and barbershops, and beauty shops. Tell them we have more work to do. Tell them we can't wait to organize. Tell them that the time for action is now.”

President Obama is correct. We know astrologically change and transformation are everywhere with a simultaneous powerful resistance to those changes by the forces of retrogression. So not only the Black Caucus leaders but all of us are called to action and to (safe)“guard the change.”

Autumn arrived in the northern hemisphere as Sun entered Libra, sign of balance, equilibrium, Right Relations, justice and harmony. As the dark half of the year begins, we look forward to Halloween, Thanksgiving, pumpkins, festivals of Light (Diwali, winter solstice, Christmas) and another Mercury retro, (Dec. 10-29 in Capricorn—difficult). But we’re at the beginning of Autumn now with harvest festivals, images of Persephone entering the underworld, Pluto as bad guy and Demeter, (Ceres) in search of her daughter, held in such grief at her loss that all the trees drop their leaves. Sorrow has taken hold of the plant kingdom. We know this story to be ancient, the tale told to early humanity by Teachers of the race to explain the growing darkness of autumn and approaching winter.
Two festivals this Thursday: Jewish Sukkoth (huts, temporary dwellings, remembering 40 years wandering in the desert) and Libra solar festival, Aries full moon, 0 degrees. Saturn (restructure, discipline, intelligence, the Dweller) joins the Sun. The Soul in Libra says, “I choose the way which leads between two great lines of force.” We learned discrimination in Virgo. Now in Libra choices must be made. Will we choose this (new) or that (previous) reality? For clarity, we align with the Will-to-Good, the Will of God creating Goodwill. Our judgment is tested. We choose to cultivate Goodwill. We eat pomegranates. The persimmons ripen.