Last year's newsletter closed with "And may we all grow wiser and more tolerant as a result of this year's planetary cycles". What a year it was - testing our ability to be tolerant under intolerable circumstances. 2001 showed us the best and worst that humanity is capable of expressing. Will we choose to remember the bravery and heroism of so many in the face of the horribly violent intolerance of a murderous few? Or will we project the actions of a disturbed few onto an entire race and increase the level of hatred in the world? Did 2001 find you becoming a wiser and more tolerant individual? Have you had to fight your own personal battles against injustice or the abuse of power this past year? Did you need to restructure any part of your life?

These are just a few of the themes of this major Saturn-Pluto astrological cycle we have been experiencing for the past year and it continues in 2002. Individually and globally, this is a ruthless cycle. By ruthless, I mean that it is merciless in forcing us to confront darkness. We can not be naïve and avoid facing the difficult feelings and emotions within others and ourselves. To do so will cost us dearly. Under the Saturn-Pluto cycle, any attempt to sweep under the rug the issues that are now surfacing in our lives will have serious consequences. For example, if there is an abusive person in your life, you need to take every action to protect yourself and your loved ones. It is foolhardy to stick your head in the sand or just practice compassion without taking action. There is too much at stake. This doesn't mean that you can't pray and feel compassion for that person's soul. But you also must confront the reality of ugly behavior, behavior that if left unchecked will have serious consequences.

As I write this newsletter, a terrorist attempt to blow up an airplane has thankfully been foiled. The awareness of one flight attendant and the readiness of other passengers to intervene saved the lives of 200 people. Under this planetary cycle, we are each being called upon to be spiritual warriors, awake and ready to serve the highest good. We can not abandon our responsibility to speak up and to get the assistance of fellow spiritual warriors when needed. Our global community is being restructured under this astrological cycle and it's up to us how it gets restructured. If we refuse to take action in our own lives, in arenas where we do have power to make positive changes, then we abdicate our individual power to those who may not be serving the highest good.

This is a cycle to be ruthless when asking, "am I serving the highest principles?" Abuses of power occur when individuals or groups seek to control others in order to achieve their own ends. True power is having complete control over yourself to do the right thing regardless of outcomes. Owning true power takes wisdom and tremendous courage. It's not easy to let go of our attachment to benefiting our personal agenda, in order to make decisions that are in alignment with our Higher Self. Our little self wants to win at all costs, look good, be in control, have the most toys, and live in comfort… Our Higher Self wants a life of meaning. If we let our little self be the captain of our life, we lose our sense of purpose and meaning and are left with divine discontent and alienation. This Saturn-Pluto cycle comes along to test "who" is really at the helm of our life.

The Saturn-Pluto cycle continues in 2002 with the addition of 2 Solar eclipses which will bring more awareness and clarity to issues of power and transformation. The eclipses fall in the same signs (Gemini and Sagittarius) as the planets Saturn and Pluto. We had the first Solar eclipse in Sagittarius on Dec 14, 2001 and it will be in effect for a full year. The Solar eclipse in Gemini occurs on June 10th. Eclipses serve to bring things out in the open so we can gain a clear vision of reality. When we see things clearer, we make better decisions. Often, it can be a rude awakening when we see things we were not aware of but ultimately it is much better to be aware than unaware. You can not transform something you are not conscious of. As an example, let's say this eclipse cycle in Sagittarius with Pluto, occurs in the area of your astrological chart having to do with a business partnership. Over this next year you will start to see all the wonderful as well as not so wonderful things about the partnership. If your partner is stealing from you, you will become aware of it under this cycle. A rude awakening! But it is not the planets that cause the rude awakening. A light simply was turned on revealing reality more clearly. Having a more complete picture helps you make better decisions about your future course. It may be painful, but remaining in the dark is far more detrimental to your well being.

On a global level, we will be witnessing the coming to light of abuses of power. Leaders who are usurping power for their own personal agendas rather than for the benefit of the people they serve, will be exposed. Corporations and organizations that engage in deceptive practices will make headlines. Of increasing concern, will we allow our own government to violate the Constitution in the name of national security? The forces are ready to reveal truth with Pluto in Sagittarius but there are other powerful opposing forces that will ruthlessly attempt to squelch it. Ultimately truth will win out. It's all a part of the process of seeing reality more clearly so we can make effective changes in our societal and global structures. It can be disturbing to have our faith and trust violated. The danger is to become defeated and overwhelmed when we see the magnitude of the problems. As spiritual warriors, we can not be discouraged. Now that the blinders are off, we can see where to fight for changes, to bring more integrity into the world.

When the planets Saturn and Pluto connect as they are doing this year, the likelihood of wars is much greater. Even though it appears the Taliban has been removed from Afghanistan, there are many other hot spots making the news. One of the best ways we can individually help to bring peace in these volatile times is to create a feeling of peace within and pray for our little peace to be expanded across the globe. If you are having a hard time feeling peace within yourself, then pray for yourself. I recently read an article about a Cambodian man who lost most of his family in a guerilla attack that left him disabled. He is now working side by side with former members of the group that destroyed much of his life without feeling any animosity towards them. He credits his ability to be at peace with his attackers to the few months of Buddhist training he had as a teenager. For several months after the attack, he practiced what he learned by directing loving kindness to himself. He did this by taking gentle care of his own body and by repeating meditative phrases like "May I be happy, may I be filled with joy". He did not pray for others or his attackers, as many of us are taught we should do. He began with practicing loving compassion for himself. He honored his feelings of rage and grief with compassion for his own pain. Like this Cambodian man, we must heal our own wounds and love ourselves before we can authentically extend our compassion to others.

The Months Ahead: January - March

We are still in a Moon Wobble as we enter 2002 until January 22nd. If you've been following these newsletters you know that a Moon Wobble is a chaotic time. It's a time when suppressed feelings erupt. There can be more accidents, violence and instability in the world. The September 11th tragedy occurred during a Moon Wobble and when the Moon was Void-of-Course. In terms of personal timing, when you start something new during a Moon Wobble, it can be more unpredictable because the energy of the time is so erratic. New starts can take a different course than intended or meet with unexpected obstacles. If you want to broach a difficult subject with someone or have to fire someone, it is best to avoid doing it under a Moon Wobble, because people are more emotional and can over-react. If possible, I would also avoid making a major life-changing decision under a Moon Wobble because your emotions could be interfering with your ability to see the situation clearly.

Beginning January 18th until February 8th, Mercury is retrograde. Mercury Retrograde is different from a Moon Wobble because it does not have the same emotional intensity. Mercury is the planet of the mind and communications. When Mercury is retrograde we see more miscommunications, computer malfunctions, mail system glitches, and traffic jams. These are inconveniences but they do not color our emotions as strongly as Moon Wobbles. The best use of Mercury Retrograde is to revise plans, review projects in motion for errors, reorganize, reflect, reconnect with old friends - all the RE's. It's not the cycle under which to initiate new projects, make a major purchase or sign a contract. Retrograde means "moving backwards". The energy is not moving forward under this cycle so new starts having a higher likelihood of failure. The backward energy encourages us to look back and see if anything we've done to date is in need of revamping. It's a great time to do therapy or a consciousness-raising workshop because the energy assists in reflecting upon our lives.

Mercury Retrograde in Aquarius is not the time to do any major software installations, computer upgrades or purchases. During the Mercury Retrograde period last June, the NY Stock Exchange failed to trade for 1 1/2 hours to a computer malfunction caused by a software upgrade. Avoid costing yourself time and money by scheduling computer changes around this Mercury Retrograde cycle. Back up your computer systems and anti-virus software and get any needed auto maintenance before January 18th. It's also a good idea to call and confirm all appointments from Jan 18th to Feb 8th. If you must travel, expect delays.

If you have to make a new start or decision at the beginning of 2002, I would choose to do it before Mercury turns retrograde on January 18th. The Moon Wobble is erratic but the energy is moving forward so it is better than starting when Mercury is retrograde. Otherwise I would wait until February 9th, when Mercury is direct and the Moon Wobble cycle has ended, to initiate new ventures. There is a good window of time for two weeks, through February 23rd to focus on accomplishing as much as you can externally. However, some dates within that 2-week span contain periods when the Moon is Void-of-Course that are definitely not times for starting something new. These times are listed separately on my website along with Do's and Don'ts for Moon Voids.

There are difficult planetary aspects February 24th, 25th and 26th and on March 7th-10th. These are dates to be cautious and avoid travel and confrontations if possible. The next Moon Wobble begins February 26 and lasts until March 27th. April is one of the best months to accomplish so mark it on your calendar. If you are planning any major moves, I would do the groundwork during the first 3 months of 2002 and execute your plans in April (remembering to avoid the Moon-voids).

Astrology Workshop

We are at the end of the Age of Pisces and transitioning into the Age of Aquarius. The end of an Age does not go quietly. We are lucky to be living in these times. Times of great crisis offer us opportunities to learn and evolve more quickly. When the external world offers us no security, we learn that our true security lies within, in staying connected to our soul and God. With this in mind, I have decided that my first workshop in 2002 will be on "Tapping Your Intuitive Gifts". Intuition is the all-knowing guidance of our Higher Self. Our Higher Self is always guiding us but most of us fail to listen. Listening to the messages coming from our soul leads to more abundance, fulfillment, and a true sense of security. This workshop will be held in San Rafael on February 16th from 12-4 PM. I will be viewing each participant's chart through the astrological Moon revealing how you can more readily access the messages of the soul as well as how you habitually tune them out. Please check the workshop page of my website for more information and instructions for enrollment.

2001 may be behind us but the astrological symbolism indicates that the events set in motion in 2001 will continue to change our world and more importantly our psyches. If we analyzed the images of the World Trade Center collapse as if we all dreamed it as a dream, we can see the archetypal meaning behind the events. The images bear a striking resemblance to the Tower card in the Tarot. One of the deeper meanings behind this card is that of liberating ourselves from the mental, ideological, and psychological shackles that are keeping us imprisoned in a narrow tower. We have built a society separated from nature, from each other and from our own bodies (ever notice how our modern office buildings don't permit access to fresh air and are devoid of personal touches?). There is an over-emphasis on logic, money and linear time resulting in a loss of meaning and purpose. Collectively, we have lost touch with the natural laws of the cosmos. The message received by the deep psyche through witnessing these events is that we can no longer continue on this path. It is time to reprioritize and restructure our lives and social systems to serve a greater purpose. May we all dedicate ourselves in this New Year to bring more meaning, truth and connection into our daily lives.

© December 2001