APRIL'S GRAND CARDINAL CROSS&FULL MOON ECLIPSE

WHAT AN EXCITING TIME TO BE ALIVE!

The doom and gloomers have been talking about this time for years now. Especially the month of April that has two eclipses and a grand square (sometimes called "cross") in Cardinal Signs.  I've tried to block out the negative words of others because they generate fear.  Instead I'm stubbornly stuck on love, gratitude and thankfulness for all blessings, big and small.  We know that what we focus on consistently is magnetically drawn to us via the Law of Attraction. Still I have received emails from other astrologers that are laced in fear. This is because none of us truly know what's going to happen in the coming days.  I think some of the astrologers are just trying to cover all bases so they give both sides...the negative, then ending with a few positive statements. At least that's been my experience.  So lets start with the cosmic picture:

FULL MOON ECLIPSE IN LIBRA

ON APRIL 15, 2014

In the United States April 15th is Tax Day.  The Full Moon Eclipse intensifies emotions and it will be visible in the United States.  For the people who owe money there might be a temptation to ask for an extension or to just not file, for obvious reasons.  My son is working in a tax office and he's told me that he's working harder this year and feels tired and drained..."Mom I can't wait till it's over so I can get some rest." It seems that many people are already caught up in the hysteria of a tax deadline and fearing the consequences if they don't make it. People who are procrastinators and Libra is the sign of procrastination (among other things), are stressing out, trying to find papers and probably regretting that they've waited to get things in order.  Libra is also the relationship sign and from what I've heard in my circles folks are going through it trying to keep their relationships stable. Whatever the case may be it is an emotionally stressful time for many people.  And I'm saying that with 3 deadlines looking me in the face (smile). The best thing to do if you're feeling stressed is to take it one day at a time, hydrate regularly and plan to get a good rest. Colds and Flu are the results of a stressed immune system. So remember to take your vitamins, work out your body and keep a positive affirmation in your mind.  There's another eclipse at the end of the month on the 29th of April. We'll blog about it later. 

GRAND CARDINAL CROSS STARTING APRIL 20TH

You've probably heard about it and it sounds scary but it isn't. The Grand Cardinal Cross simply means there are four planets in Cardinal Signs that will be aspecting each other either by square or opposition. They are Uranus in Aries opposing Mars in Libra and both are square to Jupiter in Cancer and Pluto in Capricorn. The Cardinal Signs are action signs and their effect on us personally depends on what houses they are in our charts and if we have planets in Cardinal Signs. But here's the message...these planets have been moving slowly towards the Grand Cross for months now and the sensitive ones among us have been feeling the energy already. I have Libra Moon and Rising and Mercury and Venus in Cancer.  And I'm here to tell you that it's not what happens but your reaction to it that matters. 

OUT OF THE BLUE!

Last Tuesday a deer hit my car.  It sounded like a bomb going off. It shattered the passenger side window and sheared off the mirror. Glass was literally everywhere in the car, including my seat and my hair.  Wow! What hit me? I wondered as I slowly pulled to the side of the road. The mechanics I consulted saw the deer hairs on the car and said "you been hit by a deer." Geez! They also told me (all of them) how lucky I was that I didn't panic and create a worse scenario by hitting another car.  Each one told me of deer hits that totaled cars, injured drivers, some of them fatally and they would end up saying "you're one lucky woman". "Lucky?" Well maybe I would say "blessed". After calling my insurance company and hearing the news that my policy didn't cover "deer hits", I started crunching the numbers in my head.  For months now I've been listening to audios online advising folks to refrain from thinking negative thoughts about money. But here I was, hands shaking as I kept getting higher and higher estimates of what it would cost to replace the window and mirror and then the body work that was needed.  Finally I calmed down, took some deep yogic breaths and repeated a mantra silently. I forced myself to think about how blessed I was to be alive and to give thanks for all my blessings.  Even when a helpful neighbor came to look at the damage and to make calls in my behalf to auto glass people, I was able to stay calm as he told me the numbers. The most important thing on my mind was I needed to pick up my granddaughter at 4:00pm. Then the face of an autobody man who repaired my car two years ago when I was hit by a drunk driver, came to mind.  I called him and immediately felt relief that he would handle it and give me a fair price.  Why am I telling you this story? Because I want you to know that no matter what happens it's important to get back to center and to focus on the good. It turned out that this brother from Barbados, gave me the best price and he does excellent work. 

HOW WILL THIS GRAND CROSS WORK?

Let's start with Uranus, which is sometimes called "the wild card" mainly because it's unpredictable in nature. Uranus in Aries inspires direct action. It can be that voice in your head that tells you to impulsively do something that you've never done before.  The purpose for Uranus is to move us out of the rut of conformity. The collective consciousness is to do what others are doing just to belong to the group. Uranus inspires us to express our individuality, to walk to the beat of our own drum, to dare to be different.  So for everyone who is feeling stuck in a situation, Uranus is the energy that says "it's time to make a move". It's time to break old habits and maybe to move into new circles of like minded people. 

Then there's Mars the action planet which is going retrograde in Libra and opposing (180 degree angle) Uranus.  Retrograde Mars seems to mute the usually firey energy of the planet. So hopefully we'll make changes but in a less impulsive way. 

Pluto in Capricorn is influencing all of us on an internal level. We know  there's a need for change as Pluto is bringing up the "in your face" situations that we cannot ignore.  For some that would be starting a job, or building a business, or deciding to run for office. We've got to stop complaining about what's happening and develop the courage to change it. I hear from people all the time who hate their jobs, hate their bosses, but they never make a move, i.e. looking for a better job, or writing a business plan, or writing a book. Find out what you love to do and do more of it (Deepak Chopra), but know that going to a job that you hate is not good for your mental and physical well being. Then when you've sent out negative energy doing a job that you hate, and suddenly get fired, you might feel like a victim. Know that what you're calling for is coming to you sooner or later. Tap into the power within, believe in yourself, your gifts and talents and make a plan to attract something better into your life.  I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Marianne Williamson (spiritual coach and lecturer) decided to run for Congress.  She said she was tired of complaining about Washington, the politicians, etc. etc. and decided to make a run for it.  I say the best way to show up a dirty glass is to put a clean one beside it. Go! Marianne! 

Then there's Jupiter in Cancer. Jupiter is the planet of joy and expansion and while it's in Cancer (till next July), we're being inspired to be more compassionate with one another and to resolve family issues (the hardest ones), do the forgiveness work and to be more joyful.  One metaphysician clearly stated that joy magnetizes money to us. And we've all heard about the healing effects of laughter on the physical body. Watch funny movies and have some deep belly laughs, or watch the Comedy Channel and release pent up stress in harmless ways.  

LOOK FOR THE GOOD

Look for and anticipate good coming to you. These are exciting times and shifting from doom and gloom to the all good is a wonderful way to experience the Grand Cross. We have the power to think what we want and as Rev. Barker always reminded "think what you want, but want what you think".  While it hasn't happened in my lifetime, this arrangements of planets has happened before. There is really nothing new under the sun. It may seem like you're on a roller coaster as the energy is up one day and down the next. But you know that in the end it was exhilarating and fun.  Flow with it, go with it.  The days when I'm feeling very positive and high on life I enjoy every minute.  When stuff happens (like the deer hitting my car) I flow with it too, looking for and expecting something good to come from it.  I must admit for a minute I was tempted to go back into victim mode, i.e. "why is this happening to me?" But then I snapped out of it and gave thanks that my little one was not in the car, that I was safe and I even said a prayer for the poor deer who impulsively ran into me.  It's all good, it's all love, it's all joy.  I love you all. 

BLUE MOON IN ARIES SUNDAY MARCH 30

Technically, the term Blue Moon is used when there are two Full Moons in one month.  But we've decided to stretch a little and call this 2nd New Moon in March a "Blue Moon".  There was a New Moon in Pisces on March 1st, and a New Moon in Aries on March 30th.  New Moons occur when the Sun and Moon are in the same sign and it's typically the time to start new projects or to renew goals or commitments started in the past.  

THEY CAN WORK TOGETHER

So what does it mean that the month of March has two New Moons? And better yet, how can we use them in productive ways? The New Moon in Pisces, the most spiritual sign in the  Zodiac was an opportunity to connect with the spiritual side of life. Pisces says "I Believe"and the New Moon in that sign inspired us to be what we say we believe. It was time to begin a spiritual practice of regular prayer and/or meditation, or to get serious about raising our level of consciousness.  Then the New Moon in Aries, the sign that says "I Am" inspires us to take action move ahead fearlessly towards our goals.  I've often said to so called spiritual people, "I don't care what your religion is because I watch how your religion causes you to treat me."  I really dislike the religionists who are holy on Sundays and not so much on other days (smile). I even wrote a song on the subject called, "Praising the Lord and Acting like the Devil" ... "you think cause you go church on Sunday, that's what makes a Christian out of you, but going to church doesn't make you any better, cause it doesn't change the things that you do"...

I digress...New Moon in Aries is a good time to get up, get active, start that work out program and to start that project that's been roaming around in your head. 

THE NEWS, THE BLUES, WHATEVER

Been mainly watching children's programming lately, but friends and relatives keep me informed about what's going on in the world. A plane with hundreds of people on board suddenly disappearing into thin air...an explosion in Harlem killing lots of people, a mudslide in Washington swallowing up homes and cars and killing many people, the political uprisings in the Ukraine... And all I can say is we're living in the shift and many souls are moving on to the next dimension.  However there are planetary aspects that speak to these calamities, i.e. Uranus in Aries, squaring Pluto in Capricorn, and retrograde Mars slowly moving into position to ignite the fire.  Next month, Mars will be in close proximity of the Uranus/Pluto square so stay tuned as we take a break for commercial.  Not saying that these recent events are not heart wrenching, especially for the people who've lost loved ones. What I am saying is the news media is in full hyper mode and when they don't have new footage they simply show the same stuff, over and over again.  Thanks to modern technology we can be there in seconds.   

TIME OUT

When my 5 year old great granddaughter came to live with me, my television habits changed considerably.  Instead of sitting down glued to CNN, or NBC, I was now watching Nick Jr. Spongebob and Bubble Guppies. At first I felt deprived and then went through a detox period, and then I realized I was more relaxed, and just didn't care to know the latest blood and gore happening in the world.  When a relative called to tell me that Jimmy Fallon had taken over the Tonight Show, I just didn't care. That had nothing to do with my every day life or bank account (smile). The only thing that I was consistent about was livestreaming Agape International with Ricki and Michael Beckwith. The services on Wednesdays and Sundays keep me in the zone, lifts my spirits and encourages me to live a better life.  I would encourage you to take a television/media time out over the next several weeks. You won't miss anything because people will tell you what's happening and if you want to hear more, you can tune in.  Tuning in on the inner levels through meditation and prayer is the best thing.  Developing your intuition to tune into the real truth (that you're not getting on television), is a good way to bypass the lies and deceptions being perpetrated by the news media.  You can also sharpen your spiritual skills by sending prayers to the people and the families who are experiencing great loss.  So if you're inclined to turn on the news, send Light and Love to anyone in trouble.  Quantum Physicists tell us that it's all energy, that there's no time or space, so even if you don't know anyone in Washington, the Ukraine, Harlem or Malaysia your prayers will be felt by remote.  It's all good.  Enjoy the New Moon in Aries and as you go throughout your day be mindful of the words you say after "I Am" (Aries keywords). "I am healthy, I am prosperous, I am loving, I am the universe".  

HAPPY SPRING!

My calendar says that the Sun goes into Aries at 12:57pm (edt) today...Thursday, March 20, 2014. But when I woke up this morning, it was still cold (28degrees) gray and cloudy.  After spending too much time reasoning with a 5 year old that even though the calendar says "Spring" the weather outside says she has to layer up and wear the corduroys and long sleeve shirt, plus hat and winter jacket, I grumbled to myself "so where is spring?" It seems we've had and are still having the winter that doesn't want to go away. 

BLAME IT ON SATURN

On the way to the school bus, I raised my fist in the air and yelled "you forgot to turn on the heat!" This stupid gesture made me and the 5 year old burst out in laughter.  Then in my head I started remembering what signs the planets were in as I tried to figure out "the winter that won't go away" from a cosmic astrological perspective.  Hmmm, Neptune's in Pisces, that would explain the precipitation, snow and rain. Pluto is in Capricorn, that would explain the cold hearted politicians who don't give a fig for the little guy. Uranus in Aries, that would explain why we all need to break free of restrictions, mainly the weather, and then Saturn in Scorpio...the fixed water sign that doesn't like change.  OK, then, lets just blame it on Saturn.  Maybe it is Saturn in Scorpio that has given us the coldest and longest winter in years. Maybe it was Saturn squaring my 3 planets in Leo and opposing 3 planets in Taurus, that took away my daughter, or caused my landlord to sell her house, or created a situation where I had to give away so much stuff, to live in a smaller house.  Lately when people who have fixed signs in their charts (Leos, Aquarians, Taureans and Scorpions) call to ask for advice and they seem to be stuck in situations, I just blame it on the Saturn transit.  There have been all kinds of dramas going on with fixed sign people, death, illness, financial reversals, divorce, etc. etc.  The connecting core with all of them is the feeling of being stuck.  Well it seems that Saturn is slow moving, taking two and a half years to transit a sign.  It  went into Scorpio in October of 2012. It will temporarily move into Sagittarius in December 2014, but will move back into Scorpio from June to September 2015.  

GOTTA FIND A WAY

We were taught that resisting Saturn is a useless waste of energy. Spiritual advisers have told me that actually Saturn is an angel in disguise, here to teach us our lessons so we can grow stronger in our spiritual resolve.  Sounds pretty airy fairy? How do you deal with the reversals and restrictions that come with Saturn, with a smile on your face?  The first step is to deal with reality (a Saturn word). Don't try to side step it, or pretend it's not there, but observe it, witness it and then pray for a solution.  Patience is key when dealing with Saturn cause you can't rush the process.  With my own situation I've had to dig in my heels and resolve to get through this cycle. Some days I'm on a roll and other days I just wish it would end. On one of those days when I thought I couldn't take it any more, the weather, the endless list of things to do, car acting up, 5 year old acting up, I sat in a meditation pose on my couch and said "there must be a solution". Then suddenly I remembered that Isabel Hickey once told me that Jupiter was the antidote for Saturn.  Jupiter and Saturn are opposite expressions of the same pole, so to speak. Jupiter is expansion, Saturn is restriction, Jupiter is joy and gratitude, Saturn is depression and sadness.  Jupiter is light and playful, while Saturn is heavy and hard working.  Too much Jupiter is as bad as too much Saturn.  Jupiter is playing at  the edge, while Saturn is afraid to go near the edge. 

YOU HEARD IT BEFORE

Sorry for being redundant, but the answer is to find a balance between Jupiter and Saturn. If you're feeling stuck, get up and move your body, or think about something that makes you happy.

We have the power to change our attitudes and our minds, our thoughts and our speech. If you say a positive affirmation enough times the subconscious mind will believe it. One of my favorites these days has been "this too shall pass, it always does it always will".  Nothing stays the same and with a little will power we can shift the negative energy easily by saying what we want to be true.  Even if right now you're not feeling happy, you can change that by listening to some upbeat music and moving the body.  Thanks to Pharrell Williams, we now have videos of his song "Happy" that we can access via youtube.com Or if popular music is not your thing there are plenty of opportunities to hear spiritual music on Agape International.Com, thanks to Ricki Byers Beckwith. Right now I'm in love with her chant for people who are grieving. "Oh ee I A, ee i ee oh Yaa", The spirit of God is all that I am now".  This song brings me up out of the depression of losing my daughter...."Don't worry bout me, cause I will be all right...this body of mine has moved into the Light". And it is gonna be all right.  Trust me.

WELCOME SPRING!

Spring is one of my favorite seasons and even though the weather isn't reflecting it, I still heard song birds this morning chirping loudly.  It seems they know something that I don't know.  They seem to "get it" that sooner or later, the cold weather is going to morph into warmer and brighter days.  It's all good, it is all right, in this year of the horse we're all moving quickly towards our intended goals.  (whether we know it or not). Make your intention to do better, to help someone along the way, to live life to the fullest, to laugh more, dance a little...you get my drift?  Welcome Spring, a wonderful time of the year.