Bernie graduated from the University of Florida in 1971 in Gainesville, Florida with a degree in Political Science. Bernie began studying astrology in 1973 after encountering a book, The Astrology of Personality by a Frenchman, Dane Rudyhar. He came upon this book in a bookstore while residing in Atlanta (he says the book found him!).

Kelly WIcker is a life-long resident of Vermont. She received her Master’s Degree from Antioch New England Graduate School in 2006 in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Substance Abuse and Addiction. She is currently a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Apprentice Substance Abuse Counselor. Kelly is pursuing certification as a Divine Science Practioner and has been studying metaphysics and healing since 1996. For further information or to make an appointment, please call: 802-365-7001.

“And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”

In the movie “Life is Beautiful” actor Roberto Benigni convinces his young son that their experiences in a Nazi concentration camp are only part of an eleborate game in order to shield him from the grim truth. It’s an amazing movie and won three Academy Awards in 1999. This is a rather extreme example of the energy I sense beginning at this new moon, and yet it perfectly describes the attitude we can take when facing any challenge.

The Astrology of the New Moon

The new moon occurs on Monday August 9, 2010 at 17° Leo. In astrology every sign is ruled (or influenced) by a planet and Leo is ruled by the sun. Thus Leo is a fire sign and exudes warmth, generosity, and creative expression. The sun is the center of our solar system and is orbited by the planets. Leo also likes to be at the center and is energized when surrounded by an audience.

But Leo isn’t all flash. In astrology the sun represents purpose; it’s about radiating from your center, infusing the evironment with your unique being. Leo rules the heart and when we act from our heart we become more authentic, truer to ourselves, and in touch with the divine.

Leo is also about our inner child and the playfulness that naturally comes from experiencing life with a sense of wonder.

August New Moon

The chart for the August new moon shows the sun and moon making no aspects to other planets (it does make what are considered minor aspects, but let’s keep it simple) and this spoke to me. The major planetary aspect in the sky right now is what is being called by astrologers as the “Cardinal T-Square.” The main players in this configuration are Pluto at 3° Capricorn, Uranus at 0° Aries with Jupiter close by, and Saturn at 1° Libra. And to top if off, these next few weeks we have Venus and Mars joining Saturn.

This T-Square is significant because its so rare- the outer planets (like Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto) move so slowly that it can take decades or centuries for specific astrological alignments to occur. Major configurations like this generally denote a shift or change in culture, governments, and economies. In a nutshell the world is radically changing. I know I feel it. Our ideas about goverment and financial systems are being radically challenged. It won’t be until the late 20-teens that we’ll be able to look back with any sense of perspective since the Uranus-Pluto square will be in effect for the next few years.

Pluto is one of the major energies at work in this configuration. And when Pluto is involved you can expect deep transformations. In astrology Pluto will expose in order to heal and where we find the sign of Capricorn in our chart is where we can experience deep, personal growth. Pluto is in the sign of Capricorn, which is the sign of business, government and the management of natural resources. The nightly news reports on financial scandals (think Madoff), natural disasters (think BP), and consitutional conflicts (think immigration) with such regularity that the phrase “blowing the lid” off is happening literally (Deepwater Horizon) as well as figuratively (citizen journalism exposing corruption). The list goes on.

So here we have this major evolutionary shift in energy sending ripples out into the collective, the very fabic society and there, off to the side, are the sun and moon in Leo. I feel the message of this month will be to remain true to yourself, approach life playfully, and continue to think, act, and live from your heart- your true self- regardless of the insanity that may be unfolding around you.

The end of “Life is Beautiful” is hopeful. The young boy wins the game. Will you ride out on your own tank?

“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. -Helen Keller

If you’re a Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius, or Taurus this new moon may affect you more personally. If you’d like to schedule a reading to better understand what this means then please contact me.

More Information

The Mountain Astrologer is a fantastic astrological magazine. Here is a more indepth article at the Mountain Astrologer about the Cardinal T-Square.

Pam Case is an Astrological Coach, Feng Shui consultant, dowser, spiritual teacher, and animal communicator. She was teaching Middle School Science when Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology found her about 13 years ago and has always loved metaphysics or the ‘unseen’. Pam uses her intuitive insights and expertise in Astrology, Feng Shui and Clearing to empower her clients to reach their highest potential. She came to the planet this time to teach Scorpio!

Pam has a B.S. in Education and studied with Raymond Lo, Eric Dowsett, Peter Leung, American Feng Shui Institute, Ken Lai, Raymon Grace, Harold McCoy and Christel Nani…just to mention a few. Astrology helps her to mentor and coach her clients so they can navigate both the good and the challenging times.

Pam can be reached via email at pamcase8@cox.net

We marvel at the resilient child who survives the most toxic parents and home environment and goes on to a life of success. Yet the converse — the notion that some children might be the bad seeds of more or less decent parents — is hard to take.

via Mind – Accepting That Good Parents May Plant Bad Seeds – NYTimes.com.

A few months ago my local astrology club had the pleasure having Demetra George speak at our monthly meeting. Demetra is considered a Hellenistic astrologer, which means she uses the techniques and applies the theories developed by the Greek astrologers during the early days of the last millennium.

Prior to the scientific revolution and certainly during the times of ancient Greece there was a much stronger belief in fate. Today, fate is sometimes seen as a dirty word- one that robs us of our free will and the infinite possibilities supposedly promised to us all. But ancient astrology sees the world as less open-ended and slightly more scripted (the script being the natal chart a person will live out). Demetra, in talking about natal charts and the good or bad aspects they might contain, stated that some people just have difficult lives.

I’ve thought a lot about that since she gave her talk and, while I am an advocate for setting your own course, it does appear to me that, to a certain degree, the influence of fate can’t be denied. The New York Times article referenced above seems to come to the same conclusion, albeit couched in modern psychological language.

What are your feelings about fate vs. free will? Can the existence of fate be denied completely? Or do the two co-exist?

Robert McEwen, H.W., M, has been a professional astrologer since 1977, teaching and consulting around the world. He is a Mentor in a school of Ontology called the Prosperos, and has taught seminars for over 30 years.

Much of the time Robert teaches in Southern California, as well as Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. His astrology consulting service consists of a unique approach to using the natal chart and transits. Robert does possess psychic abilities, which are incorporated in to his consulting style. He assists many clients in a coaching style approach, brining a very practical use of the chart, looking at it as a sacred contract to fulfill this life time.  Many call on a weekly basis for his coaching style sessions, setting goals and using the astrology as a road map.

He can be reached at 503-589-9468 or robbystarman@aol.com

I’ve had the opportunity to do a little traveling over the past month, visiting Provincetown, Pittsburgh, and Copenhagen, Denmark. While in Provincetown we stay at our condo there, so it feels very much like our home. In Pittsburgh, I stayed in my parent’s home, and the house I grew up in. And in Denmark we stayed at a friend’s home, one he usually rents out in the beach community where its located. If you ever get the opportunity to travel- take it! The world is such a big and beautiful place.

It goes without saying that each of those three homes are very different from each other. Our condo in Provincetown is casual, light, efficient. My parent’s home has a lot of silk flowers, Victorian-style accents, and fringed runners over the carpeting. Denmark, of course, felt very European. Small sized appliances and different kinds of building material (we stayed in a Norwegian pine cabin).

I bring up the theme of home because the new moon solar eclipse falls in the sign of Cancer.

The Astrology of The New Moon

The new moon solar eclipse occurs on Saturday, July 11, 2010, at 3:40 PM at 19° Cancer. A solar eclipse is when the sun, moon, and earth are in an alignment and this causes the moon to block out the light from the sun, as seen from earth. A solar eclipse is like a powerful new moon, and as you know from reading my column, a new moon is a time of new beginnings. It’s the start of a new cycle.

In astrology the sign of Cancer is represented by the crab, a vulnerable creature that protects itself with its shell and claws. And just as the real crab walks sideways, the astrological Cancer can skirt issues, approach challenges indirectly, and get snippy if it feels threatened.

When expressed in more healthy ways we find Cancer, which is ruled by the moon, to be nurturing, emotionally available, and protective. As a stage of human development, we find that Cancer relates to the time in a child’s life when he or she feels emotionally secure. It’s this foundation that allows the child to them move into more unique and personal modes of self-expression, as found with the next sign, Leo.

Cancer, and the moon, also represent our home- whether we envision that as the people that make up our family, a physical house, or any spot where we hang out hat. Home is a place that ideally offers us safety, companionship, comfort, and a level of emotional security that’s not found anywhere else. My traveling was enjoyable because, while the physical space  in each of the homes was very different, I felt safe. I felt a kinship. And each has its own way of providing comfort.

The only aspect to the new moon is a sextile to Mars (meaning the moon and Mars are 60° apart in the sky). The sextile is important because it creates kinship between two planets. They share polarity (yin/yang, male/female, positive/negative) and in this case they are both in feminine/negative/yin signs, which means the energy is very receptive. Mars is at 19° of Virgo- precisely 60° apart from the new moon at 19° of Caner (and don’t Virgo’s love precision?).

Mars in Virgo will also help us develop a plan of action that will infuse whatever new endeavors we begin now with a sense of clear direction. With Mars in Virgo so nicely aligned to the new moon it also a favorable time for actively (Mars) healing (Virgo) any emotional hurts we may be hanging onto if we find them to be blocking our progress.

For fellow water signs Pisces and Scorpio this eclipse expedite the changes that are pulling you into a new direction. Flow with it.

For the other cardinal signs of Aries, Libra, and Capricorn, you may feel challenged with a situation that makes you step out of your comfort zone. Pay attention to what happens- it’s a lesson.

The rest of the signs, in general, may not be as affected by this eclipse as others. And of course the only way to tell if you’ll be personally affected by it is to examine your chart. Is 19° of Cancer a sensitive degree in your natal chart? If you’re experiencing a sense of transition or a feeling that things are shifting then it may be time to check in and see what the universe is opening for you.

Namaste’

Mary Novak is a spirit (ancestor) chosen and spirit (mother earth) initiated Shaman, healer, astrologer and visionary artist’s fated path (12th house north node in Scorpio conjunct Neptune and Jupiter). Mary utilizes astrology for both her clients karmic path as well as her collective shamanic work in North, Central and South America. “My astrological work for the general public is focused on health and well being, karmic debts and soul evolution. The natural seasons, with the moon cycles and lunar astrology, brings me the greatest depth to my astrological work and as one who can both remote view and astral travel, I have experienced perception and perspective as one and it is from this place I review one’s chart.” For the past fourteen years she has dedicated working with karmic astrology based on the cycles of the moon, sacred intentions and dream cycles as one merged reality through a dedicated practice.

Mary is available for consultation by phone or in person to counsel any life issue. You can contact her at CondorShaman@gmail.com or visit her website at www.CondorShaman.com.

So last night I was having a glass of wine (Neptune) and Johnny Mathis was singing “Misty” – playing through my iTunes library. I wondered if he was having a Neptune transit when we sang this song, so I got online, did some fast research and printed out a few charts. In mythology Neptune was the god of the seas, so there is the association with water. In astrology, Neptune represents that energy that wants to dissolve, cloud, or distort.

The song “Misty” was written in 1954 by a man named Erroll Garner but didn’t become popular until Johnny Mathis released it in 1959 when it went to #12 on the charts.

Click for Garner's Chart

Erroll Garner was born on June 15, 1921 in Pittsburgh, PA. I was not able to find a birth time so I cast a sunrise chart. The inner wheel is his natal chart and the outer wheel were the transits for 1954.

In Erroll’s natal chart we can see Venus at 9° Taurus is squared by Neptune 11 Leo, and Neptune makes a wide sextile to his ascendent at 23° Gemini. That’s a nice image for someone who gets misty in love.

For all of 1954 transiting Neptune was back and forth around 25° Libra – the exact degree of his natal moon and north node in the fifth house. Transiting Neptune is also making a trine aspect to his ascendent and his midheaven at 29° Aquarius. So it was involved after all.

The man who wrote the lyrics to “Misty” was Johnny Burke, born October 3, 1908 in Antioch, CA (again, sunrise chart used). Neptune in his natal chart is conjunct to the midheaven (Neptune at 17 Cancer) and it opposes his natal moon- Uranus conjunction at 14° and 12° Capricorn, respectively.

Click for Johnny's Chart

Next I turned my attention to Johnny’s chart. He was born on September 30, 1935 in Gilmer, TX. Again, I had no birth time so just used a sunrise chart. In Johnny’s natal chart Mars at 9° Sagittarius makes a square aspect to Neptune at 15° Virgo. . Mars also makes a square aspect to Venus at 6° Virgo.

For all of 1959 transiting Neptune was back and forth around 5-6° Scorpio- conjunct to Johnny’s natal moon at 7° Scorpio and his natal Mercury at 1° Scorpio. Transiting Neptune is also in trine aspect to his midheaven at 6° Cancer and in a sextile aspect to natal Venus.

Here are the lyrics:
Look at me,
I’m as helpless as a kitten up a tree
And I feel like I’m clinging to a cloud
I can’t understand,
I get misty just holding your hand

Walk my way,
And a thousand violins begin to play
Or it might be the sound of your hello
That music I hear,
I get misty the moment you’re near

You can say that you’re leading me on
But it’s just what I want you to do
Don’t you notice how hopelessly I’m lost
That’s why I’m following you

On my own,
Would I wander through this wonderland alone
Never knowing my right foot from my left
My hat from my glove
I’m too misty, and too much in love

Those are clearly Neptunian concepts: helplessness, clinging to a cloud, I get misty, the violins (as a symbol for romantic love), being hopelessly lost, wandering, uncertainty (never knowing my right foot from my left).

So my hunch turned out to be true- Neptune was in integral part of the charts of these men and it can be heard in their music.

Maxine Taylor is a true pioneer in the field of astrology. She began her astrological studies in 1966. In 1968, she became Georgia’s first licensed astrologer. In 1969, she had a bill introduced into the Georgia General Assembly to legalize astrology in Atlanta. In 1970, the bill passed and was signed into law by the governor, making Atlanta the first city in the country to license the practice of astrology.

Maxine continued to make history by spearheading the establishment of the Atlanta Board of Astrology Examiners. In 1977, she opened the first astrology office in Atlanta. In 1979, she saw how to identify the hidden parental messages in the birth chart. She learned how to release these messages, and began sharing the technique with clients in private sessions and workshops. In 2003, she was ordained as a trans-denominational minister. She studied Reconnective Healing with Dr. Eric Pearl, the founder of Reconnective Healing, and became a Reconnective Healing Practitioner. In 2007, she studied Matrix Energetics with Dr. Richard Bartlett, the founder of Matrix Energetics and added Matrix Energetics as one of her healing modalities. Today, she practices Star Matrix, her own healing technique (www.maxinetaylor.com).