Don't Confuse The Teachings With The Teacher - Eckhart Tolle

Eckhart Tolle is a rather strange sounding name, which is aposite as it belongs to a rather strange looking man, with an equally strange story to tell - but more of that later.

German born Tolle (pronounced Toll-eh) is a 'spiritual messenger'. He is currently making headlines because his most recent book so completely captivated media mogul Oprah Winfrey that she decided to devote a whole series of Internet based programmes (known as webinars) to promote it. Considering Oprah has read, met and interviewed more self-help authors during her career than most of us have had hot dinners, it is doubtful if Tolle could have received any higher accolade than her worldwide promotion of his message.

Eckhart Tolle's book, first published in 2005, is called 'A New Earth'. It is not - as the title might lead some non Oprah webinar followers to believe - an eco warriors manual, but rather it is a book for the spiritual seeker; a guide to awakening to our true purpose in life. The title is an allusion to a quotation from the Book of Revelations 21.1; Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.

I first read this book at Christmas 2006 and I will readily admit to it having had the same profound effect on me as it did on Oprah and millions of others. The teachings it contains aren't new (by definition no wisdom is) but Mr Tolle appears to have drawn the most important messages from different sources together and presented them in a unique, coherent and page-turning way. The sustained resonance of the wisdom didn't just change me for a week, it sang its way into the deeper recesses of my mind and heart. I have consistently recommended it to others as a one stop guide to really understanding and getting to grips with that oft quoted phrase "you are not your mind".

Where though did all Eckhart Tolle's wisdom arrive from? What experiences has this man had in his life that would give rise to such profound insights? Could I learn anything from how this man had overcome his problems and apply them to my own life? Indeed what have his 'problems' been? It was in the asking of these questions that a dissonance first occurred. In fact, although the book and I 'vibrationally aligned', to date (notice that I am not ruling out a surge of love in the future) sadly the author and I haven't - and here's the reason why...

I never completed Tolle's first book 'The Power of Now', even today trying to re-read it I find it heavy going. To my eye it just lacked that appeal of the books put out by the more charismatic spiritual gurus such a Chopra, Dyer, Millman, Williamson and I just couldn't connect with the question and answer 'Conversations with God' style presentation. More importantly though, whilst returning to the introduction of that book, I feel Tolle is a little too enigmatic about just how he knows these things. In it he wrote:

"Until my thirtieth year, I lived in a state of almost continuous anxiety interspersed with suicidal depression"

That got my attention I could really relate to that. Due to family dysfunction I suffered acute, debilitating anxiety (and still do today to some extent) until well into my thirties. I also have an acquaintance who has been battling suicidal depression for many years, so I am familiar with 'angst' in its many shapes and sizes.

Eckhart goes onto say that, at around the age of 29, he awoke one night with the familiar feelings of acute dread, fear and anger at the futility of life then he was suddenly sucked into a vortex of energy -

"..my body began to shake. I heard the words 'resist nothing' as if spoken inside my chest. I could feel myself being sucked into the void...suddenly there was no more fear.. what was left was my true nature as the ever present I am.."

All very dramatic!I'm not for one moment disputing that Eckhart Tolle is recounting an event in his life that was very real for him. It's quite obvious that something has brought him to an acute sense of self realisation and an ability to detach from the ego bound state that most of us reside in. I have to say though that things like this just don't normally happen to you, me or your average Oprah viewer overnight - especially when one is not already treading the 'spiritual path'.

Undoubtedly there are all sorts of fleeting mystical, inexplicable experiences that do happen in the world. It's a strange and wonderful place, full of dancing atoms and molecules - a swirling soup of energy BUT, in the main, these mystical experiences happen as a consequence of the rising vibrational state of people who are looking within almost 24/7 for a great number of years - or alternatively in those who need professional psychiatric help. The experience of a spontaneous, non-drug induced transcendental state in the severely depressed person - and furthermore one which is permanent........ Well all I can say is that for me there is a great big question mark.

I can only speak from personal experience but pulling myself up to the point of self realisation that I believe myself to be at today has been a long hard slog. In line with all of the cycles in life, there continue to be highs and corresponding lows - times when all that I have assimilated deserts me and the Ego takes over once more. Furthermore my suicidal friend has been in and out of therapy clinics and endured every kind of electric shock treatment invented but, although he could happily share the stage with Eckhart and in good weeks, give a spellbinding lecture on the nature of the self and non-self, he cannot rid himself completely of the 'Black Dog'.

Does this mean I am a cynic? Does it imply that the main message about observing the observer has been overlooked, not correctly implemented or worse still, it doesn't work. No, it just means that freedom from these things is not the destination, it is the journey. If Mr Tolle managed to skip this 'got it one week but lost it the next' part that surely elevates him to non-human classification (his initials are ET!) but for the rest of us mere mortals it serves as a reality check.

'Watching the watcher' is easy in short focused bursts when everything is fine and quiet but catching yourself in full flight when you are gripped by a childhood pattern requires a lot of effort and a lot of time. Understanding that 'you are not your mind' is the equivalent of teaching degree level maths to a child attending kindergarten if you haven't yet awoken to the many clever disguises the ego can don throughout your life. All I am saying is that if you have only just been introduced to Eckhart's 'new earth' message don't expect too much too soon, or for the webinars to change your life overnight. As I have written about before, it can be a lonely time. You will experience the natural ups and downs as you come to your self realisation but you are on your own. No one else can do this for you. The trick is to learn to ride the rhythms - flow with them rather than push against the tide. 'Let go and let God'. This is where astrology can help.

Finally let me be clear, be impressed by the teachings, not the teacher. To be human is to be imperfect; constantly striving for perfection. Mr Tolle perhaps needs to relinquish the grip that he is corresponding to with his Leo planets in this incarnation and not be too proud to reveal his imperfections or his shame. He often says that he does not identify with the title of teacher or guru but he can't tell us he easily disentangles himself from an identity if we don't know what his identity was to begin with. Maybe he enjoys being paradoxical!

Although Mr Tolle enigmatically shies away from divulging any details of his past, saying instead that he prefers that is where it remains, I would like to know what his story is. Problems between his parents and subsequent feelings of worthlessness have been alluded to in interviews, as have a disinclination to attend formal schooling. How then did he manage to end up at the Universities of London and Cambridge ? Isn't that another miracle in itself that we could all learn from? Why did he change his name from Ulrich to Eckhart after the famous Meister Eckhart (theologian, mystic and philosopher who wrote about the power of presence) if he is unconcerned with identity? Has he been married? How did he fare in that great school of life? He may be able to relate to the world but can he relate to one other and be committed?

There exists only the present instant... a Now which always and without end is itself new. There is no yesterday nor any tomorrow, but only Now, as it was a thousand years ago and as it will be a thousand years hence - Meister Eckhart

Mr Tolle are you out there? Thank you so much for your gift of A New Earth; millions of us appreciate the incredible contribution you are making with your books, but there are more questions than answers - any chance I can interview you ;-)

* * * * *

Here is the great man himself with a very wise message and another synchronistic one for me. The other week I wrote a post on The Shift (scroll down) I opined in that post how I was against all this change the world stuff as surely we all need to change ourselves first and the rest will follow........... now this clip shows up from 2004



Finally here is the birthchart of Eckhart Tolle. He is an Aquarian. Air signs are very much involved with communicating and Aquarians often work with the collective and in new-age type fields and groups and especially with new technology (like webinars). Notice the Jupiter /Uranus opposition. Jupiter = Publishing and philosophy and is in its own sign, Sagittarius. Uranus in the quick minded/thinking, dualistic sign of Gemini, (is this why he talks so much about paradoxes). Eckhart possibly has (Aquarius) Uranus on the third cusp as that would imply two names.

This JU/UR aspect tracks his entire writing history and in a Sun culminating chart places these planets through Vancouver in an ACG map. Vancouver is the place that ET(!) felt an incredible pull towards in 1995 and where The Power of Now was first published at the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction of 1997 (see his solar return for 1997). A New Earth was published on the 135 of JU/UR in Oct 2005 and the webinars have all taken place during the JU/UR sextile (they began 3 Mar 2008 20.00 CST)

Click on chart to enlarge

Jupiter is close to the Galactic Centre so the opposition speaks of the book title - A New Earth - Awakening to your life's purpose

People with JU/UR aspects are given to 'lightbulb' (or awakening) moments and weird experiences. They are 'different' and inspirational and their life is marked by sudden twists and turns. See my post on JU/UR cycles and 2010.

Moon square Saturn/Pluto speaks of Eckhart's control of his personal life, the seclusion and the intensity he emits and the quest for the breaking down of the Saturn shell of identity. Mars/Saturn parallel in declinations - driven, hard working, ambitious.

Note too the SA/Pl/MA very similar to someone else taking centre stage and making headlines today - Hillary Clinton.

Finally look how transiting Pluto hit his natal Jupiter as A New Earth was published and as it came to the desc of this chart he was involved in the webinars. Oh the amazing interconnectedness of heaven and earth!

Here's a link to a very comprehensive Eckhart Tolle fan site




www.kathryncassidy.com

THE MAGICAL QUALITIES OF SOUND

All life consists of rhythmic processes. From the simple pulsations of a single-cell organism to the rising and falling of our breath, life is filled with rhythm. This rhythm is also called "periodicity," meaning that the activity of something falls in cycles. Much of life is directed by the external rhythms of nature. For example, the earth spins on its axis and rotates around the sun, and around our moon orbits the earth. We attune ourselves to the cycles of the sun and the moon,following the different rhythms they create.

With day and night, different behavior is created; we usually get up with daylight and go to sleep at night. When our light-dark cycle is disturbed, as when we take a long jet flight, our ability to function in the new environment is affected for a day or two. We call this "jet lag." Different behavior due to rhythm also occurs for the different seasons of the year and the response of nature to this. Not only our sleep patterns, but our eating patterns, digestive patterns, even our harvesting and mating patterns are affected by the rhythms of these cycles.

Sound and Frequency Sound can be understood as being rhythmic. Sound takes the form of waves, which are measured in cycles per second (hertz or hz). This periodicity is rhythmic in nature. Each cycle of a wave may be recognized as a pulse of sound. Each individual frequency that we measure may be understoodas being rhythmic, for ............

To read the rest of this article please visit the fabulous site of Jonathan Goldman

You might also care to nip over to my website (where I also have an article on entrainment) to visit the new horoscopes section and read about the Law of Attraction (with more to come soon).


Then you may like to take a trip to The (incredible) Temple of Sound

OM

Finally the image at the top of the page was taken from another must-see, fabulous site by Ani Williams.

I'm keeping you busy but please try and visit all these great links

THOUGHTS ARE THINGS

Next experiment April 26th 2008.

To take part in The Intention Experiments please go here and if you haven't yet read this book; beg, steal or borrow a copy! Lynne also has a series of e-books, one which will be of huge interest to Astrologers called 'Earth Energies' I haven't yet read this one but fully intend to do so - the teaser has this to say:

Ours is not the only energy that affects the physical world. The sun and the other planets profoundly affect human consciousness. A detailed series about the rhythms of the sun, stars, and moon—the latest research about how celestial forces affect our creativity and intuition and our ability to tap into The Field. Includes how to open a dialogue with the natural forces and living entities around you, seen and unseen.

You can see the list of Lynne's e-books at this additional site

Lynne is also author of many books surrounding health issues and publishes books and a newsletter under the title What The Doctors Don't Tell You (WDDTY)

Enjoy!

THE PROPHECY

1 We are discovering again that we live in a deeply mysterious world, full of sudden coincidences and synchronistic encounters that seem destined.

2 As more of us awaken to this mystery, we will create a completely new worldview - redefining the universe as energetic and sacred.

3 We will discover that everything around us, all matter, consists of and stems from a divine energy that we are beginning to see and understand.

4 From this perspective, we can see that humans have always felt insecure and disconnected from this sacred source, and have tried to take energy by dominating each other. This struggle is responsible for all human conflict.

5 The only solution is to cultivate a personal reconnection with the divine, a mystical transformation that fills us with unlimited energy and love, extends our perception of beauty, and lifts us into a Higher-Self Awareness.

6 In this awareness, we can release our own pattern of controlling, and discover a specific truth, a mission, we are here to share that helps evolve humanity toward this new level of reality.

7 In pursuit of this mission, we can discover an inner intuition that shows us where to go and what to do, and if we make only positive interpretations, brings a flow of coincidences that opens the doors for our mission to unfold.

8 When enough of us enter this evolutionary flow, always giving energy to the higher-self of everyone we meet, we will build a new culture where our bodies evolve to ever higher levels of energy and perception.

9 In this way, we participate in the long journey of evolution from the Big Bang to life's ultimate goal: to energize our bodies, generation by generation, until we walk into a heaven we can finally see.

James Redfield - from The Celestine Prophecy.

Read about the film (of the book) here and watch the trailer below

* * * * *

Deciding to see the positive in every situation can change your day but to change your life you are going to have to apply consistent effort.

One of the latest tools I have been using to get into a vibrational alignment with my dreams and goals - alongside my Vision Board - is on-screen affirmations from a company called MindZoom. The aim of this software is to deliver inspirational affirmations via subliminal messaging which is picked up visually and aurally. This is believed to turbo-charge the process of manifesting via The Law of Vibration ( (Law of Attraction). You can however, if you prefer, choose to have the messages delivered non-subliminally making this a doubly attractive option. I thought I'd tell you about it so you could give it a go. The current Jupiter /Uranus sextile is a classic alignment for using technology (Uranus) to facilitate and communicate (sextile) your expanded vision and hopes for the future (Jupiter).

RICKROLLING PHENOMENON & more

February 6th 1966. January 1st 1987, April 11th 2008 (6pm) - what's the connection? This is a question that should be on the lips of all students of astrology because by studying these dates one will clearly see its limitations whilst equally clearly seeing its fundamental principles at work.

Astrology is the study of cycles. It's a form of moving geometry and there is a definite pattern and shape that is formed between the birthdate of 1980's pop sensation, Rick Astley (6 Feb '66 Warrington, UK) the date that he recorded his hit single 'Never Going To Give You Up' ( 1 Jan'87) and the date (11 April '08) that hundreds of people turned up at Liverpool Street Station, London to sing that song in the latest wave of the phenomena known as 'Rickrolling'(see video above and click menu to see the other venues and events hijacked by the rickrollers).

If you aren't yet aware of this global tsunami, to be 'Rickrolled' is to have clicked on an interesting looking link that actually takes you to the catchy but cringe making '80's video of Rick singing 'Never Going To Give You Up'. This meme all began back in 2007 but has gathered pace this year. To date it is estimated that around 10 million people have been Rickrolled. Millions more have watched the video(s) independently.

So, what are we astrologers to make of this? The fact that this involves music, and the wide spread of it, points immediately to Neptune. Neptune is currently in Aquarius, the sign of the collective and unusual rhythms. Uranus is in Pisces (so in mutual reception with Neptune in Aquarius) and in May 2007 was joined by Jupiter at 17/18 mutables.

If we look to the chart data we see the song was recorded with Jupiter at 17 Pisces in square to Uranus close to the GC. The Moon was in Aquarius plugging into this as Uranus rules Aquarius.

In Rick's personal synastry with the record, he recorded it with the Moon conjoined to his natal Venus (public 'saccharine sweet' song) and Jupiter in Pisces (mass appeal of song) opposing his Uranus Pluto (sudden/unusual rebirth/rejuvenation)) conjunction.

For the technically inclined, the signature leaping out of all three charts are the connections between Jupiter and Uranus. However there are plenty more and if you are an astrologer who is inclined to research these things it would be advisable to consider other dates such as Feb 10th 2008, another day of global rickrolling!.

The declinations in Ricks chart show a grouping of Moon,Sun, Mercury and Neptune with Jupiter being a stand-alone planet right on the limits of going OOB at 22.55. He's just had a Uranus opposition and presently Uranus (now 20 Pisces) is on the midpoint of Jupiter and Mars of the song recording and Pluto has been moving towards a conjunction with Mercury (of the song recording) and will move back there again in 2009.

Very noteworthy too is the fact that Rick has five fixed planets giving him and his work endurance and staying power but no Cardinal planets. This points to the lack of his own involvement in his success and this meme. Those who have read Rick's story will know he was always a reluctant star who never really had to try hard to get noticed and wanted out pretty quickly. Cardinal signs are very pro-active; a lack of them points to something else being the driving force in his success. This, perhaps, also points to his birthtime being somewhere around 11am -12noon as this would place his Moon on the fixed star Regulus, the 'King' of fixed stars!

As usual then we can always find the significators after an event is brought to our attention but, when I spoke about the limitations of astrology earlier, although we could probably say Rick has the birth signature of someone with an unusual life story punctuated by sudden rises and falls, I do defy anyone to claim that they could have predicted this!

Here's Rick singing his cotton socks off

* * * * *

With regards to my previous post on 'giving back' the very next day the story broke about the hypocrisy of The Rausings. Oh how the mighty are going to fall - and believe me, this is just the start of it.

Eva Rausing, Chairwoman of Action on Addiction, a charity that helps people with drink and drugs problems and her husband, billionaire Hans Rausing Jnr (heir to the Tetra Pak fortune) have been arrested. They were found to be in possession of crack cocaine and heroin. As the papers report it " The thin veneer of respectability has come crashing down around them".

Their joint shame aside what really caught my eye in the newspapers was the continual references to them as 'generous patrons and benefactors of numerous charities'. Hmmm. here are the estimated figures:

Their estimated worth - 5.4 billion pounds
The minimum given away to good causes - 200 million pounds

Okay that seems like quite alot until you learn that The Rausings fortune has an estimated daily growth of 1 million per day.

This means that these 'generous' people have given away to date less than one years interest (in fact just 200 days) on a fortune they have accumulated over many decades. I'm sorry but that doesn't sound to me like generosity. I guess they must have needed to retain the money to fund their 'alleged' heroin habit?

I had a conversation about 'hypocrisy' around money with my daughter this morning. I told her that if I won one million pounds today, I have to admit I would find it difficult to give away 50%. One million can just about change your life but 500,000, especially in London, won't get you very far. I'm not saying I wouldn't do it but I am honest enough to know I would be tested about my real desire to give half back. It would bring up 'psychological stuff' for me if it happened for sure.

However, if I had 4.5 billion or even just one wage packet that the average A-list film star gets for one movie, if I had my health and a lovely house(s), cars, lifestyle and had made provision for my family etc., how difficult can it be to give 50% away to good causes? I'd still have millions left.

I'm repeating myself from my previous post here but if, instead of coming on to programmes such as 'Idol Gives Back' and asking people for donations, various celebrities came on an announced they have decided to downsize their lifestyle from fantastically fabulous to just plain fabulous and give half their fortune to good causes, what a great message that would send out.

That's the sort of global wave of change that would really make a difference and with Uranus in Pisces it really is not outside the realms of possibility between now and 2011.

THE SHIFT & TITHING

This is what happens when planets pass over the Galactic Centre, films like this, The Shift, get made. Pluto is now going to start edging back to within 2 degree of the GC, it will also be very interesting to note what happens when Uranus in Pisces (change in the collective) comes to the square ( 90 degree) angle of the GC. Unfortunately I personally am a little cynical about the value of films like this. There's no doubt that people are waking up and a quantum leap in consciousness is occurring in many, but after watching this particular effort I was reminded of that wonderful quote from Tolstoy:

Everyone thinks of changing the world but no one thinks of changing himself.

Nothing is really going to change until we start to tackle the fundamental problems in our world and they begin at our own front door. Once that revolution occurs then everything else will slowly start to 'shift' too. For example if you refuse to buy into this consumerist society where this years must-have toy for your young child is something from the same company that also produces violent video games for teenagers, you are making a difference. That difference is not only to your own family but one small step towards changing the wider world.

There are lots of ways we can make a difference. There are lots of people who could single-handedly make a huge difference right now, today.

TV talent shows - mentioning no names- have a global appeal. What type of society are we living in where they can, within these shows, make pleas for a certain amount of money to provide anti malaria nets for an entire village in Africa when if all the presenters, judges and executives on that one show gave just a small percentage of their wage each month, that particular issue could be dealt with overnight.

One presenter asks us to watch tear jerking films saying 'these people are dying every second due to lack of money, please donate' then the programme is followed by the reality show about one of the judges lifestyle. In this she is seen renting a house, while her own is being renovated. An interior designer is commissioned to furnish the empty rental but then 'the judge' decides she doesn't like the furniture and refuses to live in the rented house.

If we then see her on TV asking us to donate money for helpless or homeless people, what value does her plea have? It's hollow. This hypocrisy really incites me and I simply can't believe there isn't a bigger backlash against it.

What we seem to have lost is not our willingness to act to 'save the planet' but our willingness to embrace a return to old fashioned values and spirituality. Consumerism and greed are God and too many people have a sheep or 'keeping up with the Joneses' mentality. We are meant to enjoy the money we earn and I have no problem with the fact that some will earn more than others, or how they choose to spend it BUT the more you have surely the more you can give back. It seems to me though that many of them make cursory donations (after consulting their tax lawyer) but nothing that makes any visible dent - a gesture that would set an example to the young people who 'idolise' them!

That said I don't intend to waste energy being against something. I'd rather be 'for' something and one way that we could really make a shift is to bring back the practice of Tithing. This would soon sort the people who really want to help from the hypocrites. It would also reveal those who truly feel they are part of a collective movement. Tithing is an offshoot of the 'Law of Flow' - the knowledge that nothing is at rest, everything is moving and just as if you give love you will receive love, so too if you give money you will receive it back in equal or greater measure.

Originally tithes were made to the Church, the idea being that they would distribute the wealth. We all know that this is a bad idea nowadays. Corruption, even in ecclesiastical organisations, is widespread. Likewise giving money to huge charitable organisations seems futile to me these days. So much goes to the Government or to the running costs that often only a fraction reaches the cause itself. Giving a percentage of your wage every month on a total whim to whomever you encounter, or whatever small charitable cause catches your eye and heart, is a far better idea. You'll undoubtedly be magically attracted to exactly where it needs to go.

If you are willing to embrace this practice whatever amount you decide to tithe, the key is to always tithe just that bit more than you believe you can afford and to do it consistently, without fail. If you are already baulking at the idea and thoughts are running through your head like 'Huh it's alright for you but I'm already deep in debt' or ' Are you kidding me?I can't even afford to feed and clothe my family let alone some strangers' then you are exactly the type of person who needs to be tithing. Why? Because you have lost your connection with the Universe; the connection that keeps you in a state of abundance. It's an inner knowing that if you keep the energy flowing it will always come back to you.

If all this goes right over your head then so be it but to many of you reading this will strike a chord. It's not about money per se it's about a trust in a supportive universe - and that in my book is the foundation of true spirituality. Unswerving belief in a fair and just universe is what I believe will really allow 'a shift' to occur

MENSTRUAL LAUGHTER !

I wrote a post recently explaining why there may be a slow down in my commitment to CWF for a while, instead I have posted more frequently than I have in many moons. I can only put it down to the fact that Pluto is stationary, therefore I'm stationary, so I temporarily have the extra time to write!

This arrived in my e-mail box this morning from my friend Claire. It's one of those round robin mailings. It has absolutely zilch to do with astrology or 'collaborating with fate' and if you are one of my male readers it certainly won't have the same impact. I'm sharing it here simply because It made me laugh so hard I had tears rolling down my face. It may not hit you the same way, everyone's sense of humour is different, but this is mine. I don't know if it really is a bona fide letter but who cares. The e-mail reads.........

This is an actual letter from an Austin woman sent to American company Proctor and Gamble regarding their feminine products. She really gets rolling after the first paragraph ... PC Magazine's 2007 editors' choice for best webmail-award-winning letter.

Dear Mr. Thatcher,

I have been a loyal user of your 'Always' maxipads for over 20 years and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the Leak Guard Core or Dri-Weave absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight, white shorts. But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants.

Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr.Thatcher? Ever suffered from the curse'? I'm guessing you haven't. Well, my time of the month is starting right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed into what my husband likes to call 'an inbred hillbilly with knife skills.

Isn't the human body amazing? As Brand Manager in the Feminine-Hygiene Division, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customers monthly visits from 'Aunt Flo'. Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying jags, and out-of-control behavior. You surely realize it's a tough time for most women. In fact, only last week,my friend Jennifer fought the violent urge to shove her boyfriend's testicles into a George Foreman Grill just because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was written by drunken chimps. Crazy!

The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capri pants...Which brings me to the reason for my letter. Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words: 'Have a Happy Period.' Are you fu*ing kidding me? What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness --actual smiling, laughing happiness is possible during a menstrual period? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it, James?

FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M freak girl, there will never be anything 'happy' about a day in which you have to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory. For the love of God, pull your head out, man! If you just have to slap a moronic message on a maxipad, wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like 'Put down the Hammer' orʼ Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong', or are you just picking on us?

Sir, please inform your Accounting Department that, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for I have chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss your Flexi-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of condescending bullsh*t. And that's a promise I will keep. Always....

Best,
Wendi Aarons
Austin, TX


Go Wendi!!

THE STATIONS OF PLANETS - Part 2

My previous post was about the subject of planetary stations. As a result of a few e-mail enquiries on that post, there's a little bit more to add ....

Someone pointed out that they are neither Virgo or Gemini and yet can usually feel the Mercury retrogrades. I totally agree, I do too. So my answer to that was that the post ( you can find it beneath this one) was actually focusing on the stations. However to be clear -

1) The Rx periods may apply to everyone and take the intrinsic nature of the planet. For example Mercury Rx's tend to manifest around 'Mercury ruled' matters such as movement and communications for us all. Pluto Rx will manifest around Plutonian correspondences - 'the hidden' coming to the surface, our darkest fears, death, transformation, power struggles, change and all the other keywords, for us all. Look to the houses involved in your chart for clues.

The stations will however mainly affect those people who have the planet in question as their Sun or chart ruler (or have it 'strong' in their chart). So when looking at the lists I gave for Sun signs, Pluto Rx stations will be felt most strongly by Scorpio's, Scorpio rising and those with a current major transit to Pluto.

2) I am writing this on April 5th. Pluto is NOT actually retrograde yet. Those of you with an ephemeris will see an R or Rx next to Pluto on April 2nd, this is the point when, from our vantage Pluto will no longer appear to go forwards, so technically Pluto is Rx BUT it is the degrees of movement you need to look at. As Pluto moves very slowly it stuck at 1.09 Capricorn on the 28th March and does not return to 1.08 until 8 March. This is the stationary period, in this case SR - Stationary Retrograde.

This is the period where we will sense the shift and turnabout but we are powerless to do much but stand, stare, wait and assimilate. So if you feel stuck this weekend the phrase that springs to mind is 'Don't try and push the river, it flows by itself'

3) Question: What about Leo's and Cancerians? Their ruling planets, the Sun and Moon respectively don't have retrogrades or stations.

Answer: First of all we must remember the Sun and Moon are not actually classified as planets -they are 'the lights' Does that symbolise that Cancerians and Leo's are different to the rest of us? Very possibly in subtle ways we don't yet understand, but we all have unique qualities and we all have all the planets in our chart. The birthchart is the documentation of our personal universe.

The fundamental premise of astrology is that everything is governed by cycles and retrogrades are just part of those cycles. Just why Earth/planet optical illusions known as retrogrades seem to correspond to times where we stop, reassess, regroup, recoup (and even recuperate) or things 'turn around' no one knows, except to say that it is part of our indivisibility between heaven and earth.

Leo's do have a natural inbuilt yearly station at both solstices in June and December. One could postulate that Cancerians have a period of review at the Void of Course - a period where their ruling planet makes no aspect before leaving a sign. Another contender for 'review time' is the period known as the Dark of the Moon before a New Moon when no light is seen. The Moon is also regularly eclipsed by the shadow of the Earth at Full Moon when there is a Total Lunar Eclipse. Even the travel of the nodal points, symbolic points, could be seen as periods when Lunar ruled Cancerians are rhythmically sent into a period of review.

Why some signs like Virgo and Gemini get more 'review' periods in the form of retrogrades per year is possibly balanced out by the length of time that the other planets spend in retrograde motion. I don't know. I need to do the maths. Mercury Rx's are short and frequent ( 3 per year) outer planetary retrogrades can be very lengthy but less frequent.

So in answer to the question, I don't think Leo's and Cancerians are immune to these heavenly prompts but overall more research about retrogrades needs to be done anyway. Astrology is an evolving series of observations not a static, closed book of immutable rules. Too many of us trot out the 'rule book' about retrogrades without actually noting how they play out in practice in the collective. Let's look closely at how this Pluto Rx period plays out for us all on the personal and collective levels and start collating more research.

Lynn Hayes pointed out that Pluto's Rx appears to be coinciding with the turnaround of the 'Credit Crunch'. Yes, and I feel that those of us who have been affected now have a chance to review and regroup before the next 'hit' in September. In this sense we can think of this particular Rx as a blessing in disguise. We have heard the warning sirens and the Banks, The Fed and everyone else involved now have a chance to try and put it right - or at least put measures in place to prevent total collapse. Whether they will or not I think remains highly doubtful but at least we all now have plenty of time to make a planned and orderly escape.

I hope this post explains stations and retrogrades in more detail. Thanks for reading

STATIONARY PLANETS IN PRACTICE

I pay quite a lot of attention to the stations of Mercury - that is the days when Mercury appears, from our perspective here on Earth, to stand still before turning to go into either retrograde or direct motion. Mercury Retrogrades invariably coincide with a slow-down, or reversal of, communications or agreements. They are notorious for affecting traffic (causing jams etc) and computer and communications equipment malfunctions.

It should be noted however that it is the stations of this planet which appear to demarcate the times of most frustration and these stations begin before the actual retrogradation period. In astrological language we write Mercury Retrograde as Mercury (glyph) Rx and the stations as SR station retrograde before the actual Rx occurs and SD, the station before the start of actual direct motion.

The retrograde of other planets also coincides with reversals and stoppages. One of my readers pointed out recently how the U.S. Writers Strike had begun at the Mars Rx and only ended when Mars went direct. This was interesting because Mars is the planet we would be more likely to equate with literal strikes i.e. physical strikes - like boxing - rather than strikes over contract negotiations. Most astrologers would concur that we would look to what Mercury was 'doing' for protracted disputes over agreements. In this case though the timing of the beginning and end of the 'strike' was too coincidental to the retrogradation period of Mars to ignore, although obviously other astrological factors come into consideration.

So I learned from that but, in total honesty I would have to say, in all my years as an astrologer I have never given much attention to the stations of the outer planets such as Uranus, Neptune or Pluto. Now all that is about to change too......

Last week, with another 2+ weeks of school holidays to go I decided a quick trip away would be both rejuvenating and educational. My daughter had recently completed a school project on New York, so with the dollar exchange rate very much in our favour, I decided to book a last minute flight to JFK to show her The Big Apple. I also tagged on a couple of days in the sun in Florida.

I rarely let astrological aspects dictate my movements but a cursory glance at my ephemeris appeared to explain the energies I was responding to. Jupiter sextile in the sky to Uranus (arranging sudden trips abroad) from my 3rd to 5th (sightseeing with daughter) and the Moon would join Jupiter at the exact time of our flight (Moon rules my 9th) which was scheduled for 4.35pm BST Sunday.

What I had paid no attention to was that Pluto (my ruling planet) was stationary. In fact it had been stationary since Friday 28th at 1.09 Capricorn in my 3rd plus Saturn, ruler of Capricorn and my third house, is retrograde. That in anyone's book is a double whammy!

Needless to say then I never made NYC and I am still here. Pluto is stationary and so am I.

This involved a rather dramatic, and obviously unexpected, trip to hospital with suspected meningitis (meninges are ruled by Uranus) and then rather more radiation than anyone should ever subject themselves to if they have any option in the form of a CT Scan of my brain and 2 chest X-rays. The latter are again closely aligned to the planet Uranus and Pluto - technology that can penetrate and see what is normally hidden.

I am absolutely fine, although not gallivanting around (stationary). It seems that I have picked up some virus - it may be viral meningitis but as I refused the Spinal Tap/Lumbar Puncture (Moon was VOC!) and as I have recovered very quickly, if it is then it is a very mild form, or not that at all. It was more than intriguing to notice though that my colleague Jonathan Cainer had written the following and it made print on the day of my diagnosis:

Astronomers downgraded Pluto because, they say, it is too small. Pluto, though, rules things so small that they cannot be seen. Subatomic particles. Some types of viral infection. Invisible, insidious anxieties that periodically permeate the minds of millions. Recently, Pluto entered a sign traditionally associated with structure, power and money. Since then, the 'zeitgeist' of global gloom has moved from war, plague or terrorism to the collapse of financial institutions. Pluto, though, does not and cannot actually 'cause' these things. It can just, if we allow it, awaken so much fear that we end up creating self-fulfilling prophecies.

The bold type is mine to highlight the pertinent part.

Now not every Scorpio has been struck down by a mystery virus, it takes a confluence of factors, however there may be many of you out there who have been rendered stationary in some form or other and are currently feeling frustrated by your lack of forward progress. So while I recuperate I thought it would be good to write about the upcoming stations for all signs so that we can 'Collaborate With Fate' or at least make a note in our diaries. These dates are:

FOR SUN AND/OR ASC SIGN SCORPIO Pluto Stationary SR 28 March 2008 thru April 7th 2008 and SD 2 September thru 15 September 2008

FOR SUN/ASC SIGNS CAPRICORN & AQUARIUS Saturn SD 29 April thru 7 May 2008

FOR SUN/ASC SIGNS SAGITTARIUS AND PISCES Jupiter SR 7 May thru 11th May 2008 and SD 6 thru 9 September 2008

FOR SUN/ASC SIGNS PISCES Neptune is SR 20 May 2008 thru 2 June 2008 and SD 28 October 2008 thru 6 November 2008

FOR SUN/ASC SIGNS VIRGO & GEMINI Mercury is SR 23 thru 30 May 2008 and SD 14 thru 24th June 2008

Finally from a LoA point of view what does this all mean? If my intention was fully aligned with taking that trip, why was I thwarted? All I can say is that, yet again, it would appear there 'is a time for everything under the Sun'. This was simply not the time, for me at any rate, to be moving across continents and next time Pluto is stationary I will be heeding the cosmic prompts of the SR periods far more closely when making my plans! You may like to follow suit. Any type of attraction technique has to coincide with divine timing to 'work' and this is where astrology becomes the most powerful tool at the disposal of the serious 'Manifester'.

For more on this keep an eye on my website www.kathryncassidy.com

My new LoA tools mentioned in prevous posts will be temporarily delayed until I get back up to speed but they are worth waiting for!

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Update : Please see my following post for more on this subject of retrogrades, especially if you are a Leo or Cancerian!