Santa Cruz Good Times

We begin the week Thursday with Thanksgiving. Unfortunately the entire day is v/c, which means making contact can be difficult unless there is an earnest intention to do so. Holidays that fall on v/c (moon making no contact with planets, therefore we don’t make contact with each other, events, feelings, food, etc.) days can be stressful unless we are aware of the withdrawn energies of the moon, which rules our emotions, family, contact and comfort. Therefore, during this Thanksgiving let us have the conscious intention to make contact with each other, aware that we must work a bit harder for that contact to occur. We remember, “making contact releases love.” And in this solar system (the second of three) “love is all there is.”

To assist us with that contact and with giving thanks for everything small to large and everything in between, here’s some music from David Lowe’s Dreamcatcher album, track title “Seventh Heaven”. The accompanying film on the animal kingdom is beautiful and especially good for children. Playing this music over and over elevates the heart and frees the mind.

Saturday Sun enters Sagittarius. The energies shift from Scorpio’s deep and transformative waters onto the “plains of Sagittarius”. Sag is the rider on a white horse, eyes focused entirely upon the mountain peaks of Capricorn (Initiation) ahead. Like Scorpio, Sagittarius is a “disciple.” Adventure, luck and optimism, joy and the beginnings of gratitude are the hallmarks of Sagittarius.
Venus this week captures our energy, interacting daily with other planets. Thursday, Venus squares Mars and relationships turn into battlegrounds, rainstorms and passionate encounters occur. Sunday Venus joins Ceres and nurturing becomes the main principle mentally and in the heart. Monday Venus squares Jupiter and our values come into question, especially money. We’ll need to take a different path and bring something of value into form and matter. Tuesday evening Venus squares Chiron and our wounds are felt. We seek the most holistic methods to tend to what hurts. The old ways (direction of energy) won’t work anymore. Wednesday Venus trines Uranus - a brilliant aspect – with everyone becoming social and many discussing how to contribute to the betterment of the world; how to bring forth, with intelligence and heart, the new culture and civilization.
It’s time to give thanks … letting our gratitude be the light in the season of darkness.

Saturn squares Pluto Sunday in cardinal signs Libra/Capricorn. Cardinal signs bring forth new realities, squares force us onto new pathways. As Saturn disciplines us toward reality and truth (the breakdowns, economic crisis, shootings, etc., are engineered), Pluto simply transforms everything relentlessly. Libra is about relationships, money, economics, Right Relations, Right Thinking and Right Values while Capricorn rules governments, leaders and the entire structure of our civilization. This Saturn/Pluto square occurs again Jan. 31 and Aug. 21, 2010 moving us forward on a trajectory of constant and ceaseless new direction, change and transformation. All of this humanity needs in order for our present unreal financial system to move toward a real economy based on principles of sharing. Day by day, transit-by-transit, planet-by-planet, sign by sign, over time this reorientation (Scorpio work) will occur. At first we will have suffering. Then realization.

Venus is in Scorpio for the next three weeks (till Dec. 1 at Full Moon). With Venus in Scorpio our feelings, often hidden, show themselves directly. (There's more at nightlightnews.com.)

The Sun and Mercury join forces in Scorpio Thursday - Hermes, the messenger (Mercury) sending information about Scorpio’s Nine Tests to humanity via the Sun.  With Mercury in Scorpio we all become resourceful, determined, fearless, intuitive, quite witty, investigative, profound and filled with desires, however secretly and with great mystery. We may go into hiding, display suspicion and skepticism, stubbornness, determination and be emotionally on edge. Scorpio presents an interesting mix of depth-psychology behaviors. Research is best during Mercury in Scorpio. We’ll all be deeply searching for something seeking the heart of all matters. When we find what we’re searching for we’ll “capture” it and make it our own. Our intelligence becomes highly instinctive, and we’ll learn how to strategize. There is a warning with Mercury in Scorpio. That we do not harshly criticize and judge, opinionate or insinuate for Mercury’s communication while in Scorpio could destroy due to its power, force, passion and intensity. Mercury in Scorpio can also be vindictive. Intrigue, hidden motives, and mysteries may appear. We must ask if they are real or mental illusions. We will challenge others and be challenged in return. Everyone may begin to wear black and sales of sunglasses will skyrocket. We are to remember Elvis’ (Jupiter in Scorpio) song “Don’t be Cruel.”

Saturn, the Dweller on the Threshold (Gates of Initiation), enters Libra (till Oct. 5, 2012) Thursday at 10:09 a.m. (west coast). The Dweller (like St. Peter at the Gates of Heaven) can be likened to a Halloween character, at times looking like a gargoyle—creatures carved to protect sacred sites. The Dweller has a partner, the Angel of the Presence, appearing when the disciple has passed tests and completed the preparatory stages that build in the aspirant the strength and wisdom needed to enter the Holy of Holies. Saturn (Ray 3, Divine Intelligence & the Law of Economy) is The Teacher who disciplines and restructures our relationships with each other and with money (the state of the dollar and the world economy). Saturn & Libra concentrate on fairness (in the light of unfairness), justice, diplomacy and cooperation. The Dweller on the Threshold informs us that through experiencing relationships we will learn to work within and then beyond these restrictions, growing into a new, more worthy and valued self. As Saturn is structure and Libra is relationships (intimates, lovers, marriage and business partners, our connection to money and resources) new information (Ray 3) will transform of the next three years all our ways of being.

Sun and Mercury enter Scorpio this week. Scorpio is the sign of in-depth thinking, the Ancient Mysteries, of Persephone and Pluto and the underworld  – psychological and spiritual, hidden and sheltered. Scorpio is the “flaming  sword” protecting the Tree of Knowledge (of Desire), from which the serpent  plucked the apple offered to Eve (feminine mental plane). Scorpio is the  sign and color of pomegranates, the orange of persimmons and Halloween, the  latter informing us soon “something wicked our way comes. It’s the UN’s  birthday (Friday), Catholic feast days of Saints Jude and Simon (Wednesday)  and Saturday, in Santa Cruz, there’s a United Nations Association birthday  party/dinner honoring United Nations Day at United Methodist Church, 250 California St., 5:30 social, 6:30 dinner with music, silent auction and  Joseph Schultz catering. Guest speaker is Denise Scotto who has worked on  the Committee to Eliminate Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW – proceeds  support ratification). See unasantacruz.org .  See you at the dinner, everyone!    

The UNA, supported by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1953, attempts to  build understanding (which brings revelation) and support for the ideals and  work of the United Nations (Scorpio Sun & Mercury). Its educational and  humanitarian are teaches students in urban schools, clears minefields,  provides school-based support for children harmed by poverty, illness, and  war. UNA also has a Model UN, Global Classrooms and a Student Alliance,  which educate and inspire young people to engage in global issues and the  work of the UN through scholarship and critical thinking. See  sunausa.org/education . The UN, in its  reconstruction work, is a deeply Scorpio endeavor.    Next week Saturn (Ray 3, Divine Intelligence, economics), Dweller on the  Threshold, enters Libra (Ray 3). Relationships learn new lessons and news  emerges on the fate and destiny of the American dollar.   

During Libra (Sun) and with Saturn entering Libra (Oct. 29), we contemplate and assess what we know, don’t know and need to know. Libra distributes Ray 3 (intelligence). Having intelligence allows us to choose the two paths Libra offers. Libra skillfully prepares us for the great tests in Scorpio (the times to come). In Libra we learn the nature of polarized energies (s/he loves me, s/he loves me not) and we learn more about ourselves through others. Libra’s Ray 3 asks us to become more adaptable and skillful and to teach each other what we are skilled in.

And so, on Saturday (Libra new moon), Oct. 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., sponsored by Transition Town Santa Cruz, there will be a ReSkilling Expo (many small workshops) at United Methodist Church, 250 California Street, Santa Cruz. ReSkilling is a term used in Transition Towns describing a process of (re)learning skills we haven’t learned, forgot to learn or don’t remember we learned from parents, grandparents or great-grandparents on how to maintain, preserve, uphold, sustain (and create resiliency in) our lives on practical levels. ReSkilling helps us respond successfully and practically to the uncertain coming times. (Saturn opposite Uranus transit is still to come. The Great Revolution.) It provides a sense of empowerment through the practical solving of problems, and a sense of belonging (community) by working alongside others. (read more about Transition Town, Reskilling, new moon, Celestial Events at nightlightnews.com).