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Posts tagged "victim"

Virgo Full Moon March 1

Posted by Sheri Horn Hasan - March 1, 2018 - Blog post

The Fault In Our Stars?

If you’ve been feeling like you’re drowning lately, take heart! With all the Piscean energy in the sky recently, it’s no wonder that any of us feel we simply can’t muster up either the energy or the consciousness to move ahead with purpose…

However, this Virgo Full Moon comes along to remind us that we can CHOOSE to believe several things:

From chaos comes clarity
Surrender doesn’t mean giving up
The role we play doesn’t have to be forever

This Virgo Full Moon opposes not only the Sun, but also Neptune, & by polarity Mercury, Venus, and wounded healer Chiron in Pisces, the sign of the fishes.These polar opposite signs involving the two luminaries–the Sun (ego) and the Moon (heart)–alert us to the fact that dreaming and fantasizing are fine, as long as we don’t lose ourselves in that realm forever…

Neptune-ruled Pisces is represented by two fish yoked together and attempting to swim in different directions: one back toward source energy; the other out in the world into this thing we call life…

An inherent dichotomy arises when we’re unsure of in which direction to place our energy. Do we heed the siren’s call to swim back into the protective womb, where life is easy and all our needs are miraculously automatically met? Or do we venture bravely out into the scary unknown that we call life?

The potential for confusion is easily understandable, no? Regardless, the answer, as always, lies with the integration of these two archetypal energies.

This Virgo Full Moon reminds us that swimming “home,” back to whence from which we came, has its dangers. It keeps us dependent, infantile, and addicted to the blissful not-knowing-ness of the womb where when hungry we were fed, when tired we slept, and we didn’t have to be responsible for any damn thing!

It’s for this reason Pisces archetypal energy can manifest in intangible or the blurriest of ways. Often, it’s behind any confusion, illusion, or delusion we may experience that drives us to drink, drug, sleep, eat, or in any other way “check out” of our painful mundane reality via such self-soothing “remedies.”

However, this Virgo Full Moon tells us there’s another way! It infuses a dose of reality into our world.

How?

The Virgo archetype is about discernment—the kind that reminds us the devilis in the details, and that the overall forest is comprised of individual trees.

Recently, we may have felt like we’re looking at an impressionist painting up close, where individual brush strokes seem disconnected from the whole, and therefore make no sense.

But, wait! Take a step back, and another, and another, and if you do, slowly it can all come into focus at this Virgo Full Moon—and you’ll be able to see t hemarvelous Renoir water scene, beautiful Cezanne landscape, or colorfully busy Seurat picnic in the park!

What’s required here is FOCUS in order to become cognizant of both sides of these polar opposite archetypal energies. And where we choose to put our focus is up to us. In other words, it’s always a matter of choice…

For example, we can choose to remain stuck in the Piscean realm where we feel like we’re drowning & helpless, find fault in our stars–or we can focus our energy on the knowledge that this is simply one energetic end of a wide-ranging spectrum.

Give It Up…

All of this Piscean energy opposite the Virgo Full Moon asks us to lift our heads up and look around. It signals that, while we may experience confusion, despair, fatigue, and/or depression, that maybe, just maybe, we can have our cake and eat it too…

…but there’s a price, and that comes in the form of deciding what we must give up…since deciding what needs to go can be a difficult question to answer, let me break it down at bit:

First and foremost, this Virgo Full Moon reminds us that playing either the victim or the martyr won’t work. And that’s mostly because both of these roles involve too much, er, EGO…

When Pisces energy is involved, a victim’s ego can be wrapped up with her myopia; her inability to see the forest from the trees, to not be able to make out the impressionist painting’s overall scene. Thus, her pain becomes most important–her feelings of abandonment, righteous indignation or rage, grief, depression, etc.–take precedence over everything else.

Am I victim-bashing here? No, I’m merely pointing out that one can don the clothing of “victim” and mire oneself in despair to the point where one feels hopeless. It’s then we may cease to take matters into our own hands, and instead choose to blame another or others for injustices done to us.

“Take your life in your own hands, and what happens?
A terrible thing: no one to blame.” ~ Erica Jong

So, what do we do when we feel everything slipping away? Maybe it’s our significant other, family, job, children, finances…or maybe it’s bigger even than that, like someone’s death. Maybe it feels like loss, grief, anger, or confusion around our goals, plans, hopes, wishes, & dreams…

The Virgo Full Moon reminds us that its energy can add earthy stability through healthy daily—or regular–rituals that fit into your regular routine, such as focusing on adding into our busy schedules:

A Gratitude list
Meditation
Healthy diet
Regular exercise
Spiritual/psychic protection
Creative outlet, no matter what that might be

Concentrating on adding even one of these things to your daily “to do” list will go a long way toward reducing the escapist tendencies often felt by those who carry a heavy dose of the Neptunian/Pisces archetype.

This goes for everyone, however, as the tendency for any one of us to feel surrounded by chaotic river, lakes, or oceans to which we must surrender ourselves and simply go with the flow is strong…

When we feel this way, we must indeed go with the flow, but not surrender to feelings of helplessness. Rather, we can harness the ongoing chaotic swirl of life not by making logical sense of it, but rather by honoring it.

The ancients believed that gods demand sacrifices. Perhaps that’s a strong word, one that makes us think we have to give something up in order to survive.

The truth is that what we’re asked to “sacrifice” at this Virgo Full Moon—remember, full Moons are always times of release!—is any victim or martyr tendencies.

Take Heart!

Venus’ trine to Jupiter at this Virgo Full Moon signifies we can expand our consciousness around what it is we truly value now.

Jupiter always asks us to be conscious, while Venus seeks to find out what it is our soul truly values. So, we can interpret this aspect falling at the Virgo Full Moon as on that can help us decide on what we place more value: staying helplessly stuck in the kind of hopeless ennui we may feel now—or moving forward through Virgo energy to take some sort of action, even if it’s simply mental.

Even letting go, or surrendering a thought–giving it up go God, as they say in Alcoholics Anonymous–can make space for something newer to come in–something more empowering, less self-critical, and more attuned to listening to your real inner voice, not the negative one you’ve internalized from external critical voices.

Mars’ square to Mercury, Venus, & Chiron now also tells us that it’s less beneficial for us to beat up ourselves (or others), especially through the way we think or communicate, and to stop and figure out what we’re really annoyed with, or what’s really hurt us.

Chances are if we go deep and heed Erica Jong’s advice, we’ll figure out it’s actually not someone else, but rather ourselves with whom we’re annoyed.

So use that Venus/Jupiter trine to expand your consciousness and the Virgo Full Moon to release all that does not serve as you move forward more consciously in this lifetime…

And honor spiritual self when the Sun conjoins with Neptune on March 4…your dreams can come true, but you’ve got to put your will behind them in order to make them happen…

The Virgo Full Moon says release confusion, doubt, insecurity, and reliance upon any inner voices that tell you you’re no good, not worth it, untalented, lack imagination, or are simply unworthy.

This Virgo Full Moon is perfect for Kesha’s song/video “Praying,” which depicts her at the beginning lying on a cross-like structure giving voice to the stereotypical Piscean dilemma: what IS the purpose & reason of life if living includes suffering? It follows to a Piscean conclusion that “being alive hurts too much.” But, as Kesha sings, there’s another way that involves CHOICE:

“Am I dead? Or is this one of those dreams?Those horrible dreams that seem like they last forever?
If I am alive, why? Why? If there is a God or whatever, something, somewhere, why have I been abandoned by everyone and everything I’ve ever known? I’ve ever loved? Stranded. What is the lesson? What is the point? God, give me a sign, or I have to give up. I can’t do this anymore.
Please just let me die. Being alive hurts too much.”

Praying

Kesha

“Well, you almost had me fooled
Told me that I was nothing without you
Oh, but after everything you’ve done
I can thank you for how strong I have become

‘Cause you brought the flames and you put me through hell
I had to learn how to fight for myself
And we both know all the truth I could tell
I’ll just say this is I wish you farewell

I hope you’re somewhere praying, praying
I hope your soul is changing, changing
I hope you find your peace
Falling on your knees, praying

I’m proud of who I am
No more monsters, I can breathe again
And you said that I was done
Well, you were wrong and now the best is yet to come
‘Cause I can make it on my own
And I don’t need you, I found a strength I’ve never known
I’ve been thrown out, I’ve been burned
When I’m finished, they won’t even know your name

You brought the flames and you put me through hell
I had to learn how to fight for myself
And we both know all the truth I could tell
I’ll just say this is I wish you farewell

I hope you’re somewhere praying, praying
I hope your soul is changing, changing
I hope you find your peace
Falling on your knees, praying

Oh, sometimes, I pray for you at night
Someday, maybe you’ll see the light
Oh, some say, in life, you’re gonna get what you give
But some things, only God can forgive

I hope you’re somewhere praying, praying
I hope your soul is changing, changing
I hope you find your peace
Falling on your knees, praying...”

~ Kesha

#astrology, #Fullmoon, #meditation, #praying, #release, Chiron, Jupiter, Mars, martyr, Mercury, pisces, spiritual, Venus, victim, Virgo

Sagittarius New Moon November 29

Posted by Sheri Horn Hasan - February 13, 2017 - Astrology

Sagittarius New Moon: Your Higher Truth

Sagittarius energy–the sign ruled by the planet Jupiter, the great benefic—is always about expansion. It corresponds also with adventurous long-distance journeys, higher education, law, and philosophy of life, including religion.

Sagittarius encompasses how one’s philosophy of life manifests as what we come to believe in as the truth. For many people, such truths derive from an indoctrinated religion. For others, they emerge from deep within through an expanded consciousness derived by going out into the world with open-minded curiosity and wonder.

This is not a condemnation of organized religion. Far from it. Most major religions have resulted in the codification of morals and ethics into laws by which we live so that we may coexist peacefully and in community with our brothers and sisters.

So, yes, Sagittarius is an energy about expanding whatever it touches in your chart, but in the end–when you boil it all down–it’s really about one of the most important things we humans can experience, which is the expansion of our own consciousness.

It’s Sagittarius energy that allows us to jettison traditionalistic security-enhancing hardline religious ways of thinking–and to rise above them and onto a more spiritual plane. And such expansion—as many can attest–allows us to have faith without the need for tangible, empirical, concrete, physical proof.

This Sagittarius New Moon—when the Moon meets the Sun in the sky and we have what’s known as a dark of the moon period—provides fertile ground for planting the seed of faith in the world around us. And this may mean beginning to think in more expansive, all-inclusive, and spiritual ways.

Sagittarius New Moon Square Dance

Unfortunately, this Sagittarius New Moon is fraught with obstacles to overcome in terms of making strides toward the kind of faith derived from greater consciousness which, even on a good day, is no easy task!

The trouble begins with the fact that this 7 degree 42 minute Sagittarius New Moon squares Neptune, which conjuncts the South Node in Pisces, and the Virgo North Node. The nodal axis represents our karmic dilemma, meaning the energy we’re tasked with moving away from (in this case the Pisces South Node), and that which the universe encourages us to move toward (Virgo.)

Astrologer Steven Forrest likes to say that any planets squaring the nodal axis show us what may have “vexed”–or blocked–us in prior lifetimes, as well as in our current one. Squares in astrology are always challenges requiring a good bit of inner strength and insight to recognize and overcome.

As discussed in previous writings, I view Neptune on the South Node and in the sign of Pisces as very much about the struggle to move away from seeing people, circumstances, and things the way we want to see them, rather than as they really are.

Under the influence of Neptune–the planet of illusion, delusion, and confusion–we may repress our own greatness and project it out and onto another or others, thus making them larger than life and casting them in the role of saviors or redeemers.

Think of sitting in the first row of a movie theater and looking up at your larger-than-life favorite movie star or celebrity from that perspective, and I think you’ll get what I mean.

The Sun square Neptune sets us up right now to quest after the elusive father figure, to idolize males in our lives who appear to us to be redeemers. The Moon square Neptune can make us prone to invasion by other peoples’ energies and, as a result, to feel depressed, fatigued, enraged, or whatever emotion we may empathically pick up from others and/or the collective right now.

Neptune & The Con That We Call “Love”

The challenge right now is to try to recognize what’s real and what is not.

A tall order when Neptune/Pisces energy is involved, especially if this Sagittarius New Moon degree falls in a significant area of your own personal horoscope.

The trouble with Neptune—often referred to as the planet of illusion, confusion, and delusion—is with our tendency to project. All that glitters is not gold, as they say, and this is particularly true whenever Neptune or Pisces energy is involved.

Often, it’s tough to tell whether another has deceived us into thinking of them as savior-like, or if we ourselves boosted them to such great heights. Let’s call it the “rose-colored glasses” syndrome…

In the end, the question always becomes how much have we allowed others to deceive us with promises of happily-ever-after-love-and commitment, glory, wealth, stability, health, etc., and how much is based upon our own illusory thinking?

Neptune/Pisces energy is always concerned with redemption—accomplished only by returning to source energy. In cruder parlance, it’s the attempt to return to the mother’s womb. Metaphorically, it’s the womb of the great mother–a place where we’re all connected as one, lost in a blissful state of the collective unconscious. In this context, Neptune/Pisces’ connotation with escapism is undeniable.

This kind of energy can leave us vulnerable to escapism, illusory thinking, dreams that have zero basis in reality–and which cause us to project onto the greater screen in our minds the gloriousness of another. Hence, Neptune/Pisces represents both the victim and the savior.

A Martyr In My Bed Tonight

Compounding this conundrum on this Sagittarius New Moon is the fact that it’s joined by the asteroid Juno, which also squares Neptune and the Nodes. The question becomes: is our thinking vis-à-vis partnership clear right now?

Juno, the Roman counterpart to the Greek Hera—the wife of Jupiter/Zeus, the king of the gods—has an honored place among the pantheon of the gods. Mythologically, however, Juno/Hera is regularly deceived by Jupiter/Zeus in the realm of marriage–which in our latter day more parochial view is sanctioned as a supposedly unbreakable bond with our partner.

Now, this isn’t saying that everyone’s partner is going to deceive them at this Sagittarius New Moon. No, no, no! Rather, it’s about asking yourself whether any partner you’ve chosen is of the same belief system as you and whether it matters…and how, why, and where we may project onto them attributes they, in fact, do not possess.

Here are a few questions we might ask ourselves at this Sagittarius New Moon:

Where might a partner appear to be on board with our thinking, but turn out to have quite different views?
How can we transcend our rigid thinking and allow this person to coexist in our lives without having to dump him or her, deceive them, or allow ourselves to be deceived by them?

Alternatively:

How might we be idolizing or idealizing a partner out of all proportion?
Where are we so desperate for a redeemer that we’re willing to accept less than?
How can we fulfill our needs in partnership from within first and without second?

As we move forward and question our partnerships, our answer about whether to leave such partnerships behind may in some cases be a resounding “yes!” while in others the issues won’t prove big enough to be deal breakers.

Going deep now about where we’ve fooled ourselves into thinking that someone else can solve our problems is bigly in play right now. While we may find that we’ve projected our desires out to a political figure, a cleric, our boss, or someone in our more personal sphere, it behooves us all to try to put our finger on it.

Failure to do so can result in many of us chasing the kind of rainbows that both Neptune/Pisces and Jupiter/Sagittarius allow us to project out and onto the world at large, and can set us up for major disappointment in the future…

Why Don’t We Break The Rules Already?

As Jupiter squares Pluto during this New Moon (and begins move into opposition with Uranus over the next few months as well) it’s a good idea to look at improving your relationships, but avoid obsessing over what you think is right.

Remember, to be really convinced that your truths really are true—for you—you might need to reexamine your ideas of right and wrong. Then, if you have the courage of your convictions you can stand on solid, not shaky, ground. If not, you are likely to run into resistance from another or others. Try to avoid power-tripping anyone now as well!

Jupiter begins to move into opposition with Uranus, creating—along with the tight square of Venus to Uranus on this Sagittarius Full Moon–the desire for change by busting loose, a.k.a., freedom. This energy will wax in strength as this opposition becomes exact between December 2016 and February 2017.

Although Venus moves quickly, its square to Uranus at the precise moment of this Sagittarius New Moon signifies that our values are also up for reflection and introspection. Venus always bottom lines for us that which gives us pleasure via the five senses and the physical body, and what truly makes us feel good–which then becomes that which we value.

However, this square to Uranus may makes us feel too hemmed in or unable to move freely, and may foretell the sudden throwing over of anyone or anything now in our attempt to be free. Or someone may throw us over instead.

Let’s face it, how can we be flexible if we’re stuck, complacent, or too resistant to change? Anyone or anything in your life that causes stagnation may have to go…if not in the short term, then Venus square Uranus may trigger events on this Sagittarius New Moon that conspire (as Jupiter moves into opposition to Uranus) to result in your moving on in one way or another, whether by choice or not…

“The other night, you wouldn’t believe
the dream I just had about you and me
I called you up, but we’d both agree
It’s for the best you didn’t listen
It’s for the best we get our distance…”

What Do I Stand For?

Despite this, however, the true danger with this Sagittarius New Moon squaring Neptune and the Nodes becomes settling in to a new kind of rigidity. But this is not a Saturnine rigidity—rather, this is a Jupiter/Sagittarius shadow side rigidity.

Thinking we know everything, that we have all the answers, can be a major pitfall here. And the possibility of projecting this onto a leader because it’s part of the collective unconscious deserves acknowledgment…

Such a mindset stops us at the borders of our current consciousness and allows the ego, which is Saturnine, to proceed unchecked. Drawing our wagons in a circle, so to speak, to barricade our boundaries from infiltration by the “other” is a danger we’d be well-apprised to consider before we mount any kind of ideological attack on any other individual, group, nation, religion, race, gender, etc.

Neptune at the South Node in Pisces runs the risk of letting it all float awaydownstream as we lie helpless to stop it. This kind of anesthetization has been prevalent in the world for a while—one need only examine where one knows one checks out in order to avoid dealing with the harsher realities of real life as proof.

The issue becomes whether we can go deep and actually consciously investigate what might lie under the surface, embedded in our psyches, that prevents us from moving toward Virgo North Node energy–clarity, detail orientation, discernment, and nuance.

In short, do we possess the capability to make out of Neptune and the South Node’s hazy Piscean Haldane soup something concrete, something manifest, something we can live with and by

A belief system that not only arises from the deeper depths of your soul’s true knowledge, but which softens ideological boundaries rather than fortifying them into a rigidly constructed belief system that never allows your thinking to change is something to ponder now…

If we convince ourselves to take that higher road, we’re able to embark on the journey that Jupiter’s Sagittarian energy so often encompasses. Freedom to think as one chooses, even if one is in the minority, the adventuress-ness to soar to new heights of the mind–but in alignment with the true needs of the soul–is what this Sagittarius New Moon cries out for us all to try to do…

The energy of this Sagittarius New Moon brings into mind another time when conflicting ideologies caused war between previously peaceful factions…when I saw that FUN had used a civil war themefor its video, it was like a reminder of where things can head if we do not keep an open mind and open dialogue with those who philosophies of life may be different from ours…

“But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh Lord, I’m still not sure what I stand for, oh
What do I stand for? Oh what do I stand for?
Most nights, I don’t know…

So this is it? I sold my soul for this?
Washed my hands of that for this?
I miss my mom and dad for this?
No. When I see stars, when I see stars, that’s all they are
When I hear songs, they sound like a swan, so come on…”

Watch Nate Ruess/Fun’s Video Some Nights Here

* “The video shows a fictional battle taking place during the American Civil War and the band singing from afar as war breaks out with lead singer Nate appearing as the commander of the Union force. The story also follows two particular soldiers, one from each side of the conflict. From the Confederacy, the song follows a middle-aged farmer clearly in love with his life, land, and animals, while from the Union side the story follows two young lovers torn apart as the young man heads off to the fight. The broken loves, of beauty and of nature, eventually clash in the battle with consequences for both the loser and winner, showing that the personal costs of war will continue far beyond the battleground.” [Wikipedia]

Namaste…

consciousness, Jupiter, martyr, Neptune, philosophy, Pluto, redemption, religion, Sagittarius New Moon, savior, Truth, victim

Pisces Full Moon Eclipse September 16

Posted by Sheri Horn Hasan - November 13, 2016 - Astrology

This Pisces Full Moon Lunar Eclipse at 24 degrees 19 minutes Pisces—which falls under the same series of eclipses as the recent September 1 Virgo New Moon Solar Eclipse—serves to reiterate the same message and present us with the same opportunity.

And what’s that?

To tackle the truth via viewing situations and people as they really are rather than as we want them to be…

So how are they really?

REALITY BITES

The Pisces Full Moon Lunar Eclipse opposing the Sun in Virgo, provides us the chance to see clearly the shadow side of Virgo archetypal energy.

It’s now that we might we catch a glimpse of how releasing negative perfectionist energy can inspire us to toward greater self-love and self-compassion in order that we may extend such love—ultimately–into the realm of the collective unconscious.

Why?

Because Virgo energy can be tough on itself—a judgmental critic of nitpicky proportions who may take us to task for an un-dotted “i” or an uncrossed “t.”

Such a slave to detail might be surprised to find—once she looks up from her critical evaluation of whatever’s in her sights—that life might be a lot easier and far more pleasant if she gave up such hyper-critical behavior.

Now I’m not saying that Virgo energy is bad—not at all! It’s those who carry Virgo archetypal energy who deserve to get paid for minding details. After all, where would we be without the writers, editors, graphic designers, architects, carpenters, and accountants—to mention only a few–who help make life easier for the rest of us because they sweat the details…

Rather, I’m talking about the kind of hyper-critical nature that’s rewarded (sadly) only with negative feelings that run the gamut from lack of self-acceptance all the way to self-hatred.

THE SOULFUL PATH

This Pisces Moon is conjunct wounded healer Chiron, asking that we release any negative emotions around our inability to love ourselves before we go and give away what little love we have to others and deplete our own well even further…

Chiron conjunct the Pisces Moon reminds us that self-compassion and empathy are necessary for us to find our way out of our self-critical cage without destroying our self-esteem totally before we allow ourselves to exit…

As if that isn’t enough, this configuration opposite the Virgo Sun highlights where we may choose to play the victim or martyr role in any relationship or circumstance as we attempt to live up to our own idea of perfection. In this way, perfectionism becomes a kind of negative escapism from the possibility of drowning in a Piscean sea of chaos.

On a positive note, we’re provided the chance here to recognize that there’s hope for us after all…hope that, though many of us may be stuck in our “feeling less than” rut, we can undoubtedly still move forward to accomplish our dreams.

The first order of business is to move the myopic focus off of ourselves in order to reduce that hyper-vigilant detail-oriented introspective self-critique, and to think about shifting it outward into the wider world where—instead of hindering us–we may be rewarded.

PERFECT SCHMERFECT

Giving us the push to do so is Mars, which squares both luminaries and Chiron, and is trine to Uranus at the Pisces Full Moon Lunar Eclipse. In addition, the Pisces Moon/Chiron semi-sextiles Uranus, as the Virgo Sun quincunxes this planet of sudden, unexpected change.

So, while we are intent upon releasing our need to further devolve into the ever-elusive concept of a “perfect” individual, this may invoke some anger. Kind of like “you mean I’ve been trying to be perfect all this time and now I find out there is no such thing?!”

Or, the Mars square may manifest through irritation or anger that comes from the outside—more like what happens when another or others don’t like it if you refuse to “save” or sacrifice for them…

Of course, if one favors the victim mentality inherent in Pisces’ archetypal range of energies, you may feel put upon by others who decide they no longer want to save you!

Either way, the Mars square can be just the kick in the pants we need to get moving in the right direction. So, if you let it rip in some manner as Mars squares this Pisces Full Moon Lunar Eclipse and Chiron, know that you might find smooth sailing, as the Mars trine to Uranus is like having the wind at your back—when you’re ice skating!

You might as well go with that flow because resistance is probably futile anyway, even if the Pisces Full Moon’s quincunx/sextile to Uranus causes a bit of pebble-in-your-shoe type discomfort…

BACK TO REALITY

Is the reality that we must be perfect in order to have earned the right to not only survive, but to thrive and live happily ever after?

Or is the reality that we benefit from our mistakes because as we learn we grow, and when we grow we become capable of functioning as inspirational individuals within the collective?

Full Moons are times of release. With a Pisces Full Moon, we are asked to let go of all that does not serve of a Virgoan nature, to reach out and embrace a higher spirituality, and to widen out our lens from myopic concentration on minutiae to see the bigger holistic picture…

Don’t forget that Mercury’s still retrograde until September 22 and that Saturn’s still square Neptune and the transiting Nodes—it ain’t over ‘til it’s over, as they say. There’s still plenty of opportunity to rethink, review, revise, re-imagine, and reincorporate into our psyches the notion that peace begins within…

Every “I’m not good enough because…” thought can be countered by the light shining upon it through this Pisces Full Moon. Pisces can be the sign of the dreamer, or one who believes in a world of blissful interconnectedness—no hate, no war, no divisions between humans, no cruelty—where there is only one unified notion: We are all one…

Let this full moon illuminate for us all the bigger picture—that no wo/man is an island, and that everyone’s imperfections are precisely what makes them perfect!

Namaste…

chaos, Chiron, discernment, eclipse, martyr, perfect, Pisces Full Moon, Sun, victim, Virgo

Mars Charges Into Sagittarius March 5

Posted by Sheri Horn Hasan - March 6, 2016 - Astrology

Lest you’ve become fearful that all of the Piscean energy in the sky right now may make you want to simply drown in your own bathtub as Mars charges into Sagittarius—HOLD ON!

While it’s true that Mercury joined the Sun, Neptune, Chiron, and the South Node in Pisces on March 4—and that Venus will rendezvous with them on March 11–this preponderance of Piscean energy in the sky until March 19 may be tempered somewhat by Mars’ entrance into Sagittarius…

Before you allow yourself to succumb to sitting by the river and watching it all wash away downstream, or to fantasies of rowing out into the ocean in despair, remember that Mars represents the PERSONAL WILL…

When Mars charges into Sagittarius, ruled by the planet Jupiter, he’s got A LOT of potential energy. The kind of energy that represents the wind behind your sails. The kind of energy (forgive me here, guys!) with which a baby propels herself out of the womb and into the world wailing and screaming as she takes her first breath of air…

Remember that Piscean energy loves to play the victim or the martyr. When Mars enters the fray, galloping forward on his Sagittarian steed, sword held high, is he fighting an imaginary foe (like Don Quixote, or, um, some of our Republican presidential candidates), or is he championing a cause for which he has just reason to do so?

The choice is always ours to make. Piscean energy needs to be grounded in order to wipe away the cobwebs of illusion that may perpetuate its need to swim back into the safety of the womb and escape there forever.

When Mars Charges Into Sagittarius Is He For Or Against?

The abundant Piscean energy in the sky right now—at least until the Sun moves into Aries on March 19—is about dreaming and seeding our visions. This will be echoed by the upcoming Pisces New Moon/Solar Eclipse on Tuesday March 8, which may or may not add a jolt of the unexpected to this energy (more about this anon.)

Mars provides us the oomph behind anything we do that involves expressing our personal will, which is to say freedom of choice and movement. Problem is whether or not Mars will come charging in fast and push all that Piscean energy further downstream and over the falls, or whether his strength can be harnessed for something both more powerful and more profitable in terms of expediting karmic soul growth.

Mars in Sag likes to rally behind a cause. Sagittarius is the archetypal energy that CAN represent expansion of consciousness, including expansion of one’s philosophy of life—be that philosophy coalesced around religion, law, and/or education–in an open all-inclusive way.

We may choose to place Mars in charge of testing our dreams’ potential capability for survival in the REAL world, or we may allow the warrior god to defend our victim or savior status quo stance…

POSITIVE USE OF MARS IN SAGITTARIUS

Positive Use of Mars In Sagittarius

High side use of Mars in Sagittarius energy could be implementing the desire to learn more, expand one’s philosophical environs, entertain others’ ideas, and to corral the current Piscean energy in a way that allows it to flow in the most positive of directions: self-love.

Or, Mars might just as easily rally to the cause of keeping one’s ears plugged while humming a tune in order to block out hearing others’ points of views or philosophies. In this case, he’d work against the all that Piscean energy right now by simply buying into it and pushing it into a pit of sorrow where one might wallow in one’s despair or perceived victimization.

Should we find that Mars moves some of us quickly in the direction of rigidly defending our philosophies, rather than providing us with the internal strength to entertain ideas other than our own, we might want to consider how we came to believe these ideas in the first place…

Mars’ entrance into Sagittarius now may aid us to jettison our woundedness in terms of our externally influenced belief system in order to build from an even stronger foundation of core beliefs–eventually.

Mars hops into the Sagittarian saddle until May 27, when he reenters Scorpio again (after stationing retrograde @ 8 degrees Sagittarius on April 17. He will spend an inordinately long time in Scorpio–where he will be asking for transformation again–but more on that another time…)

So where does it benefit each of us most to use our incredible reserves of martial strength to move us forward in our lives in positive ways–including toward better understanding our own beliefs? And, all the while, how can we be mindful of whether these beliefs rest upon Piscean illusions, Jupiterian/Sagittarian ideals, or a more reality-based integration of the two?

Anything less than this kind of questioning now may represent Mars’ trampling of others’ beliefs in the name of occupying the title the world’s greatest victim or martyr. Each of us decides his or her own fate–the universe simply provides continuous opportunities for such choices to be made…and right now we’re being given one of them…

“There’s no time to lose, I heard her say
Catch your dreams before they slip away
Dying all the time
Lose your dreams
And you will lose your mind…”

Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones

Ruby Tuesday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvp6gseKJS8

Namaste

P.S. Sign up for more Astro News You Can Use right here — on the right!

beliefs, dreams, full moon, Jupiter, Mars, martyr, personal will, pisces, Sagittarius, Solar Eclipse, South Node, victim

Sun Enters Pisces February 19, 2016

Posted by Sheri Horn Hasan - February 21, 2016 - Astrology

We have so much learn when the Sun enters Pisces!

Why is that, you ask?

Well, when the Sun enters Pisces, he is ruled for the month by both Neptune (the modern ruler of Pisces) and Jupiter (the traditional ruler of Pisces.)

What’s the difference between these two?

I’m so glad you asked!

Ruled by Jupiter—the planet of expansion of consciousness—the sign of the fishes is about faith. This is because Pisces represents two fishes yoked together, but attempting to swim in opposite directions. One is moving toward source energy (a.k.a., the ouroboric waters of birth, or the womb), the other out toward life itself…

How much faith does it take in one’s lifetime to venture out in into the often messy, seamy, mixed up—chaotic—world?

As a defense against making this trip out into the harsh glare of the uncertain, often cruel, world many of us seek to retreat.

Where do we retreat to?

Essentially, we try to go back to the womb. Back to mother. Back where it was safe and all our needs were met effortlessly. We never wanted for anything there, did we? When tired, we slept, when hungry, we ate…life was simple and oh, so gloriously peaceful…

Ruled by Neptune—the planet of illusion, confusion, & delusion—the sign of the fishes takes on a slightly different orientation. This orientation is fraught with challenges, because venturing out into the cold, cruel world—far away from the certainty of mother’s womb where all needs were met instantaneously and without question—is, well, confusing!

What do we find when we take this path?

Often, we are vexed at every turn, unsure if the blinking lights we see around us mean “stop” or “go…” How can we tell what is real? I mean, it’s so different—and disorienting!–out here…

Neptune’s rulership of the sign Pisces brings to the forefront—as the Sun enters Pisces until March 19—the potential possibility of self-delusion, endless idealistic dreaming, longing for something or someone ethereal to save us (the knight on the white horse anybody?) and mistaking it all for the real deal.

Victim Or Martyr

Hence, both rulers point toward avenues through which we can develop trust, both in the world around us and in our role in that world.

In short, the pitfalls are many when we deal with Neptune energy as it relates to Pisces. Many times we may mistake something we think is of value only to find, in the end, that it’s really worthless. Other times we may think people, things, and parts of ourselves are worthless…

In this way, Neptune often extends to us the notion that somehow we are destined to be either victims of our fate, or martyred by it. How can the world be so cruel? we may wonder…how can I stay out here when it’s so safe and warm back in the womb?

So we become the victim—to anyone and anything that provides us with the excuse to swim back to mommy.

If we manage to avoid the pitfall of playing the victim, we must then still overcome the hurdle of falling into the trap of becoming the martyr. This often consists of believing in someone or something SO strongly—seeing only what we want to see, the good, the positive, the artistic, the dream—that we sacrifice ourselves to him, her, or it.

The problem here becomes the fact that we don’t realize that in order to be a true martyr we must expect nothing in return. Yup, that’s right—nothing!

When one can search one’s heart and truly understand that giving and believing comes with no guarantees (either karmic or more immediate), only then can we understand that the only valuable in this equation—and one that’s truly priceless—is our love for ourselves.

When we become aware that Neptune’s rulership of Pisces brings with it creativity, spirituality, & psychic awareness, it can take the edge off of an “all that glitters is not gold,” devastating disappointment—in people, relationships, dreams, etc.

And through these elements, the universe assures us of our own, innate knowledge (dare I say trust?) that there is something behind the random movements of the universe; something that carries MEANING for each of us, collectively and individually.

The Jupiter/Neptune Dream Team

Neptune provides us with the capability to envision and dream, and it’s this energy—when used positively–that may lead us to our truth, or that in which we can ultimately truly believe.

On the other hand, Jupiter’s rulership of Pisces can bring to us an expanded awareness not only ourselves but of the world around us—and of our complete faith in that world…

How?

It’s Jupiter who gives us conviction and the sense that we have the right to choose that in which we believe. Further, it’s Jupiter who allows us to KNOW that we have the right to change our choices–without judgment by ourselves or anyone else!

In other words, we choose our beliefs, regardless of whether we are provided with concrete, empirical, physical proof of them. Jupiter brings to us our capability for this element of faith without proof…

Neptune gives us the seeds, the dream, the ephemeral feelings, the sights, the visions, and the psychic, creative, and spiritual energy that can propel our concepts and creations up and out into the world…but we need Jupiter’s faith to be able to believe in ourselves enough to attempt to make our dream manifest, to mold it into something tangible, concrete, and real.

Go forth and dream, I say—but don’t forget to have the courage of your conviction in yourself that you can make your dreams come true!

Looking for more Astro News You Can Use?: https://www.facebook.com/KarmicEvolutionForYourSoul/app/166303603381066/

Here’s a song by Paul McCartney that just feels so right…Let Me Roll It: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P2MOrWrsk8

Namaste…

belief, chaos, dream, faith, fishes, Jupiter, martyr, Neptune, ouroboric, pisces, Sun, victim, water, womb

PISCES FULL MOON AUGUST 29

Posted by Sheri Horn Hasan - August 30, 2015 - Astrology

PISCES FULL MOON: VICTIM, MARTYR, OR SERVICE TO SELF?

Do you ever feel like saying “oh, the hell with it–I’m tired of playing the victim!”?

What about “fuggedaboudit–this martyr stuff is for the birds!”

If so, you’re on the right track of higher vibration as this Pisces Full Moon casts is glow on the Virgo Sun August 29.

Energy is high right now around the sacrifice/service conundrum at this time, and full moons are always a time for release.

Perhaps what’s in order is a reevaluation, particularly vis-a-vis our relationships (Mercury will be retrograde in Libra soon, after all) of the “who, what, where, when, & why’s” of victimhood and martyrdom tendencies.

Remember please, that these are two different sides of the same coin, though it’s easy to see how many might confuse the two.

When we allow ourselves to play the victim–an energy inherent in the archetype of Pisces–we refuse to take responsibility. However, in doing so, we can make a habit out of blaming others.

On the other hand, when we fall into the trap of becoming an ever-sacrificing martyr, always we’re tasked with asking ourselves a hard question first: “What’s in it for me?”

Shocking as that may sound, please understand that very few of us provide services to others for which we actually do not expect to be repaid. However, we may not be conscious of these desired “payments,” be they in the form of love, loyalty, money, or anything else…

Rather, we may harbor the illusion that the borrower of our love, loyalty, money, or whatever, has every intention of paying us back–some day…

Devotion, adoration, sacrifice are all words (and concepts) that roll off the tongue easily for those who carry a heavy Piscean/Neptunian signature. Often they come out of one who may give and give and give, only to be extremely surprised to learn in the end that all that giving does not buy them what they really want–be it love, or something more tangible.

Howard Sasportas, in his book “The Gods Of Change” comes closest to putting it in language that’s easiest to understand:

“Many supposed ‘martyrs’ carry a great deal of hidden resentment around with them,” Sasportas writes. “If we are honest with ourselves now, we may come to see that serving others is partially a way of winning love and compensating for our own narcissistic wounds, or we might have to admit the sense of power which saving others gives us.”

Acknowledging how we are personally benefitting from our supposedly ‘selfless’ behavior doesn’t necessarily negate the value of what we are doing. In the end, recognizing what we are gaining from these kinds of relationships will enable us to care for others in a more honest fashion.”

VIRGO SUN = SERVICE (TO SELF FIRST!)

As this Pisces Full Moon highlights for us the dichotomy between playing the victim OR the martyr, and the call to be of service, think about this:

How and where in your life do you play the victim (& why?)
What are the REAL reasons to willingly take on the role of martyr? (Think long suffering wife, husband, lover, parent, sibling, employee, friend, etc., etc.
How can you fill your own well of self-love from within so that you actually have enough to replenish this well if you give some away to another–and thus avoid a victim or martyr’s stance?

The seemingly fleeting light shed on this issue by the current Pisces Full Moon may be more important than we realize.

It’s my strong belief as an astrologer that the universe constantly and consistently provides us with opportunities to grow in consciousness. However, it’s up to us to recognize these opportunities when we see/feel/hear/sense them.

Each and every Full Moon gives us the chance to jettison that which no longer serves our higher consciousness. And growth in consciousness collectively helps make this planet a better, more loving, and more real place to both visit AND in which to live…