Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2006 9:47 PM
Subject: New Moon / Solstice
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next New Moon forms on Wednesday, December 20th at 6:01 AM PST at 29º Sagittarius. This is another extraordinary New Moon, the fourth in a row occurring at the tail end of a sign, marking an important ending and beginning. Sagittarius is associated with the quest for meaning and truth. Why are we here? What’s really important? This New Moon helps us to remember our soul contracts and spiritual origins. The Sun’s annual conjunction with Pluto on Monday, December 18th illuminates what needs to be questioned and changed in order for us to move on. Mars’ square to Uranus (exact on December 21st) nudges us to trust our intuition and try something new.

On Thursday, December 21st, the Sun enters Capricorn at 4:23 PM PST, marking the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year and the Return of the Light. Three days after the Solstice (which comes from the Latin words for Sun and to stand still), the Sun rises higher in the sky each day until the Summer Solstice. Both the New Moon and the Winter Solstice are excellent times for ceremony, prayers, and setting new intentions. What will you choose now? What you do want to create or experience next? What is your heart longing for?

This month the New Moon and Pluto align with the Galactic Center (GC), currently at 27º Sagittarius, where a super Black Hole, four million times more massive than our Sun, occupies the hub and heart of our Milky Way galaxy. Pluto, the archetypal energy of death and rebirth, focalizes and intensifies the electromagnetic radiation emanating from the Galactic core. This catalyzes evolutionary changes in both our bodies and our psyches; we’re being rewired and recoded.

Although Pluto’s astronomical classification is debatable, Plutonian transits still coincide with major transitions and initiations, where we integrate the unconscious and realize our true identity, purpose, and relationship with the Cosmos. Pluto makes its first exact alignment with the GC on December 28, 2006 and remains within two degrees of the GC through December, 2007. Pluto aligns with the GC only once every 248 years; the last pass occurred in 1758–59, just preceding the American and Industrial Revolutions. Those with natal placements or angles at 24°–29° Sagittarius are being galvanized to join with others in creating a new template for human consciousness on Earth.

All of this means we are at another important crossroads. Give yourself some soul time around this New Moon and the Solstice; reflect on where you’ve been, and where you want to go. Take advantage of the transformative tailwinds; old patterns have never been easier to shift. Focus on what’s most important and remember St. Theresa's Prayer: “May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you....May you be content knowing you are a child of God....Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.”

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060

© 2006 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: Fri, 01 Dec 2006 2:19 PM
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next Full Moon peaks on Monday, December 4 at 4:25 PM PST at 13º Sagittarius-Gemini. Full Moons illuminate what has been in the dark. Sometimes we must look deeply into the shadows before we can see the light. What has been lurking at the edges of our awareness? What have we been denying? Where do we need to take a stand?

Several other upcoming alignments increase the potential for startling revelations and quantum shifts. December 2, Uranus at 11° Pisces squares the Sun in Sagittarius and on December 4, the Moon in Gemini, forming a mutable T-Square. This volatile configuration disrupts our perceptions and assumptions and reminds us that every thought is a prayer. What do you think? What do you believe? and What do you know? We have to “Think out of the box” because the old box, the paradigm of separation and scarcity is dissolving into one of unity and abundance.

Besides the Sun, three other planets (Jupiter, Venus and Pluto) are also in Sagittarius, amplifying the imperative to broaden our horizons and remain as open as possible. Until the winter solstice on December 21, there are at least five (and, for a few days, six) planets in Sagittarius, increasing faith and fanaticism, exploration and excess, vision and hubris. Jupiter has just begun his year-long, once-every-twelve-year passage through the sign he rules, raising our expectations for the future and expanding our knowledge of the past. Venus’s month-long transit through Sagittarius promotes inspiration and amity; her proximity to Pluto prods us to eliminate manipulation and obsession. Pluto’s 13-year sojourn in the ninth sign (1995–2008) continues to expose the shadow side of religion, politics, and culture. Mars joins the Sagittarian party the day after the Full Moon peaks, fanning the flames of righteousness and directing us to walk our talk.

With so many planets in fire signs and no planets in earth until Venus enters Capricorn on December 10, it may be a challenge to avoid making snap judgments or overextending oneself this holiday season. Saturn-in-Leo’s close square to Mercury at 25° Scorpio and its trine to Pluto at 26° Sagittarius during this Full Moon make it easier to see what’s really true and what needs to change. Saturn stations retrograde on December 5, slowing the warp drive of the past two weeks when, for the first and only time in 2006, all of the planets were traveling forward. As the Reaper moves retrograde until April 19, 2007, we redefine our responsibilities and reclaim more of our creative power.

Watch for important insights around this Full Moon. What is your truth? What is most important? If you’re feeling stuck or need a boost, watch The Secret (www.thesecret.tv) or visit www.gogratitude.com.

Remember: “The question is not what you look at, but what you see.”—Henry David Thoreau.

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060

Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2006 08:52:42
Subject: Scorpio New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

Several important shifts occur within the next few days. On Friday, November 17th at 4:25 PM PST Mercury turns direct at 9º Scorpio after having been retrograde since October 28th. Retrograde times are opportunities to uncover and resolve what has been holding us back. With Mercury, along with the Sun, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter all in Scorpio the past three weeks, we’ve been pushed to deal with our core issues and reclaim our power. The more we’ve cleared, the smoother and wider our path now.

On Sunday evening, November 19th, Uranus, the cosmic Wild Card, ends his retrograde phase, which began on June 19th. Uranus stations direct at 11º Pisces, providing a strong tailwind for revelations and quantum leaps. For the first (and only) time this year, none of the planets will be moving backwards, so it’s full speed ahead until December 5th, when Saturn takes its yearly turn retrograde.

An extra potent New Moon forms on Monday, November 20th at 2:18 PMPST at 28º Scorpio. New Moons mark the beginning of a new cycle. In Scorpio, we’re reminded that, before we can bring in the new, we must offer up the old. The myth of Pluto, Persephone, and Demeter illustrates the spiritual journey of the 8th sign: decent into the Underworld, confrontation with death, and resurrection into greater consciousness and selfempowerment. Whatever trials we’ve endured, this New Moon sheds light on the way out now. The Sun, Moon, and Jupiter are in very close zodiacal proximity, (less than one degree apart) with Mars and Mercury also in Scorpio; this combination makes it easier to see the big picture and urges us to embody our deepest truths. For inspiration, read Jennifer Hoffman's channeled  message from Archangel Uriel below.

It’s time to take a leap of faith. What are you ready to release? What are you ready to bring in? It’s helpful to remember that: "We must continually change to become ourselves"  -- Teilhard de Chardin

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060

© 2006 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Uriel's Message: Claim Your Wings
Channeled by Jennifer Hoffman
www.urielheals.com

"Each of you remembers a time when you had wings, when you were free to do and to be whatever you wanted, when life was effortless and when you lived beyond the veil between the material and spiritual worlds. The source of humanity's sorrow and pain lies in the fact that they have forgotten that they have wings that will carry them beyond suffering and into the realm where heaven and earth are one. You did not come here to suffer, but to remember that you have wings.

Each of you is a divine being that has agreed to come here to learn to rise past eons of emotions, attachments and fear and to learn to reconnect to the Source, both individually and as a human family. Each of you carries with you the memory of your wings and the unconditional love which created you and whose energy you carry. Many of you have forgotten this truth and see yourselves as powerless and a long way from home, freedom and joy. But your wings are always there, waiting for you to claim them.

Some believe that it is through suffering that you will reclaim your wings and when your physical body dies you will go home to reconnect with your spiritual body and once again put on your wings. But that is not why you came here, to suffer, die and then receive a reward for your suffering. You came here to remember who you are and to manifest that vibration and by remembering, you bring the hope of heaven on earth for yourselves and for all of humanity. Your wings are part of your spiritual self and when you claim them you reconnect body, mind and spirit so that there is no separation between humanity and the
Source. You have worked very hard to enable this to happen and now it can.

Your spiritual journey is much easier when you claim your wings, remembering who you are and why you agreed to undertake your journey here. By claiming your wings you reconnect with your divinity and power that is far greater than any in the material world. The path is simple and only requires that you are willing to stand in your power. Claim your wings so that you can enjoy the beauty and abundance that life has to offer. Claim your wings and bring freedom and joy to your life. Claim your wings and remember who you are so that you can fulfill the task of bringing heaven on earth."

Copyright (C) 2004, 2005, 2006 by Jennifer Hoffman

Date: Tues, 31 Oct 2006 16:47:32
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next Full Moon peaks on Sunday, November 5th at 4:58 AM PST at 13º Taurus-Scorpio. This Full Moon illuminates what we need to acknowledge, and what we need to change.  As the days grow shorter, our awareness is drawn towards the dark, inducing us to examine our fears, our shadow, and the power that the unconscious wields. Pluto, the modern ruler of Scorpio, was the Roman God of the Underworld; to the ancient Greeks he was also the God of Wealth, symbolizing the great riches to be found in the unconscious. Our shadow contains not only our less desirable qualities, but also anything that has been repressed or denied—including our truth, our light, our divinity.

This Full Moon is potentized by the presence of Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter also in Scorpio. It is not often that five of the ten planets are in one sign; this intense concentration forces us to address the real issues. Mercury, the Messenger of the Gods asks: Are we speaking our truth? What needs to be said or heard? Venus, the Goddess of Love and Beauty questions: Are we going for the gold? What would Love do? Mars, the ancient ruler of Scorpio, represents what stirs us to action; the Roman God of War probes: What is motivating us? Why are we doing what we’re doing? And why are we not doing what we should be doing? Last but not least, Jupiter, the King of the Gods, queries: Is fear still in the driver’s seat? What beliefs or biases are blocking our progress? From October 24th to November 17th the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter are all move through Scorpio, and along with Mercury’s retrograde passage, urge us to unmask, uncork, and unpack what has been lurking in the dark.

All of the outer planets are involved with this Full Moon, making it easier to transcend our parental, cultural, and religious programming. Neptune squares all five planets in Scorpio as well as the Moon in Taurus, blurring boundaries and dissolving the barriers that keep us locked in separation. Pluto semi-squares the Sun and Mars, exposing the gap between ego and essence, hype and authenticity. Uranus trines the Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Mars, encouraging us to trust our intuition and experiment with alternatives. (A square (90º) marks a crucial turning point, a semi-square (45º) unlocks hidden resources, a trine (120º) facilitates connection and flow).  Where these five planets in Scorpio fall in your chart is where you are bringing unconscious assumptions to awareness, reclaiming your power, and remembering your soul’s mission. Watch for significant clues and insights also on November 8th when Mercury transits directly across the disk of the Sun, a type of eclipse which provides a focalized transmission of solar energy and information.

This Full Moon and the ongoing focus on Scorpio reminds us that:

“If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.”     --The Gospel of Thomas

Below is a channeled message from Archangel Uriel by Jennifer Hoffman which speaks to these times.

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.comStephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060

© 2006 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Ascending through the Void
Uriel channeled by Jennifer Hoffman
www.urielheals.com

"Our choice to walk the path of Ascension means that we agree to allow our spiritual self to become the leading force in our lives. With this choice we acknowledge our divinity and then seek to create balance between our human and spiritual selves. The path of Ascension is a merging of these two aspects of our being and it creates limitless possibilities for us. But often, it can seem as though we have chosen the wrong way because our lives can become more chaotic, difficult, and confusing and nothing seems to work. We have not chosen the wrong path, we are simply in between where we were and where we are going, a void we must cross to create the next step on our spiritual journey.

When we choose the spiritual path we believe that our lives will be easier, more joyful, more fulfilling and everything will be wonderful. And they will be, in time. But when we choose the spiritual path we also agree to shed our emotional and psychic baggage and that is not a process that we simply release, it is something that we go through. It can be a difficult, convoluted process where we are faced with every fear, every emotion and experience that has ever created pain in our lives, all at once.

Getting through these experiences is easier when we remember that we are being provided with an opportunity to review everything that has ever held us back and to agree to release it. Once we do that, we do not have to experience it again and even if it comes up again, we will not respond to it in the same way. But that is little consolation for us when our life is turned upside down and nothing seems to work.

The path of Ascension is new to all of us and will eventually lead us into a different kind of life, one where we can create miracles, where we are able to manifest the reality that we want and where life will flow effortlessly. But first we have to go through the void, a place where there seems to be only chaos and pain. It is temporary and is designed to remind us to step into our power to shift the energy and to not get stuck in the fear. This week, if you are wondering why your spiritual path is so difficult right now, look at what you are experiencing. Is it familiar to you? How can you use your power to move the energy? Remember that the path of Ascension is not always easy but the rewards are there when we persist, have faith and trust that every situation is just one step on our path."

Copyright (C) 2004, 2005, 2006 by Jennifer Hoffman

Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2006 14:57:32
Subject: New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next New Moon forms on Saturday, October 21st at 10:14 PM PDT at 29º Libra. New Moons are excellent times to check our inner compass and clarify our intentions. The 29th degree of any sign represents a completion and testing of what we have mastered. Are we still enjoying the game of separation, of God playing Hide and Seek with Itself? Are we ready to play a different game?

Uranus, the mythic God of Creation and Chaos, sesquiquadrates the Sun, Moon, Venus, and Mars this week, nudging us to think and live out of the box. During his passage through Pisces (March 2003 to March 2011) Uranus galvanizes major shifts in how we experience time and space, widening the doorways and pathways to multidimensional consciousness.

Mercury conjuncts Jupiter early Sunday morning on October 22nd at 23º Scorpio, making it easier to see the big picture. Because of his upcoming retrograde station on October 28th, Mercury doubles his time in Scorpio this year, moving through the sign of truth or consequences from October 1st through December 7th. Both Mercury and Jupiter closely square Saturn at 23º Leo, challenging us to “square” our lives with what we know in our hearts. The third of three Jupiter-Saturn squares occurs on October 25th at 24º Scorpio-Leo, and is part of a spiritual upgrade that begin late last year, when Jupiter squared Saturn on December 6th at 11º Scorpio-Leo and again on June 22, 2006 at 9º Scorpio-Leo. Jupiter rules vision and hope; Saturn, form and effort; their third square marks the close of a re-organization phase and the readiness to concretize a new reality.

Neptune’s ongoing opposition with Saturn and square to Jupiter forms a powerful energy configuration, a T-square, which pushes for real progress rather than superficial changes. Fixed signs focus and consolidate energy; a Fixed T-square keeps the heat on until resistance breaks into action. The “empty leg” opposite the planets being squared indicates what is needed for resolution; in this case, Taurus, the implementation of “right values” offers the way out of the dilemma. What do we want now, and for the long term? Where do our time, energy, and resources need to go? This combination challenges us to remember who we really are and why we choose to be incarnate on Earth at this pivotal time.

What are your dreams? What kind of world do you wish to live in and work for? Use the power of this New Moon to clarify your intentions.
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”—Mahatma Gandhi

Tuesday, October 17th offers an important opportunity for creating our future.  Read an excerpt of Patricia Diane Cota-Robles’s information below for details; for the full message, go to www.1spirit.com/eraofpeace/1st.html

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com

© 2006 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

COSMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR DIVINE GOVERNMENT
by Patricia Diane Cota-Robles
www.eraofpeace.org

We have a rare Cosmic event occurring on October 17th and 18th that will give us a jump-start in manifesting the things we would like to cocreate in our own lives and on this planet. There is going to be an ultraviolet pulse beam from higher dimensions than we have previously been able to experience crossing the path of Earth.

We will be held in the embrace of this highly charged ultraviolet beam of Light for approximately 17 hours. The energy emanating from this beam resonates with Humanity’s 5th-Dimensional Solar Heart Chakras.

The Beings of Light are revealing that during this 17-hour period the ultraviolet pulse beam will have the effect of amplifying our thoughts and emotions ONE MILLIONFOLD. This will be the case regardless of what our thoughts and emotions are expressing. Needless to say, it is imperative for all of us to be Peace Commanding Presences during this auspicious time.

The ultraviolet pulse beam will be a wave of Light that traverses the planet, so no matter what time zone you are in the important times will be the same. For 17 hours, from approximately 10:17 a.m. on October 17th until 1:17 a.m. on October 18th our thoughts and emotions will be amplified ONE MILLIONFOLD. The peak time will be 5:10 p.m. on October 17th.

Can you imagine how powerful it will be for Lightworkers around the world to take advantage of this Cosmic Moment by using our thoughts and emotions to expand the archetypes and matrix for Divine Government on this planet, as well as empowering the newly reactivated patterns of Heaven on Earth?

For the rest of this message, visit www.1spirit.com/eraofpeace/1st.html

Date: Tues, 03 Oct 2006 13:25:28
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next Full Moon peaks on Friday, October 6th at 8:13 PM PDT at 14º Libra-Aries. Libra, symbolized by The Scales, represents the quest for balance and equality, partnership and peace. Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, is the energy of initiative and courage. This Full Moon shines a spotlight on where the Scales of Justice and relationships have become uneven. What is out of balance? What’s not fair? Where are we giving or getting more than our share? What agreements need to be clarified or renegotiated?

Full Moons bring light to the shadows; the dark side of Libra is codependency and indecisiveness; Aries’ shadow is selfishness and impetuosity. Venus, the mythic Goddess of Love and Beauty, and Mars, the God of War, are both in Libra and only five degrees each from the Sun, promoting collaboration and reconciliation. Opportunities for amorous encounters as well as artistic inspiration continue as Venus and Mars remain within a few degrees of each other for the rest of the month. Neptune, the higher octave of Venus, trines the Sun, Venus, and Mars, further stirring hearts and muses. If you’re looking for a relationship, check out If the Buddha Dated by Charlotte Kasl. If you’re already in a partnership, read her second book, If the Buddha Married, for helpful tips and tools. Below is something by Brian A. Chalker on the purpose of different kinds of relationships.

On October 6, 2006, during the peak of the Full Moon, a Native American healing ceremony for the Earth will be conducted by Donald Loock/Gray Hawk: “The ceremony will be 15 minutes in duration. Any individual, world wide, may participate by going outdoors and think about what you personally can do to protect nature from the harm mankind has imposed. If for some reason you are unable to physically go outdoors, have someone obtain something from nature such as a stone, a stick, or some dirt or sand to hold in your hand. The timing, of 11:00 PM EDT is very important; therefore, make sure your area corresponds with the time in the United States.” For more details on the ceremony, please visit http://www.regp.com/nativeamerican/index.html.

Take some time around this Full Moon to create more balance in your life, in whatever way you feel called. Use the tools you have to stay centered. listen to your heart, and remember: “To go out of our minds at least once a day is tremendously important. By going out of your mind you come to your senses! When you come out of the conditioned, limited and unaware mind the center of gravity naturally shifts to the heart.”--Alan Watts

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
www.EcoAstrology.com

© 2006 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

UPCOMING EVENTS
In Port Townsend, WA

Which are you? Are you a Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime?

People always come into your life for a reason, a season and a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, or to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually. They may seem like a godsend to you, and they are. They are there for a reason, you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die, Sometimes they just walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season. And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall, the season eventually ends.

LIFETIME relationships teach you a lifetime of lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway); and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas in your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. Thank you for being part of my life....

Copyright 2000 - Brian A. "Drew" Chalker

Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2006 23:22:50
Subject: Solar Eclipse
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

A Solar Eclipse, an extra powerful New Moon, forms on Friday, September 22nd at 29º Virgo at 4:45 AM PDT. The first degree of any sign marks an initiation; the last degree represents a time of testing and assimilation. The 29th degree of any sign has been called a “critical degree”, the necessity to complete the spiritual goal of that sign before advancing to the next. Virgo’s quest is the achievement of humility and wholeness: humility as living from essence rather than ego, and wholeness as the integration of body, mind, and spirit.

Light encodes information. The Sun’s eclipse by the Moon interrupts the normal flow of solar radiation, destabilizing existing configurations of energy and reorganizing consciousness to a higher level. The amplified pull of the Sun and Moon strongly affects the electromagnetic flow in our bodies, altering neural pathways and trigger points. With the Sun and Moon conjunct the South Node, the focus is on releasing the shadow side of Virgo--workaholism, perfectionism, and self-negation in all its many disguises. It also reactivates knowledge and strengths we have developed in past lives. Eclipses have a 19-year cycle; on September 23, 1987 there was a Solar Eclipse at 29º Virgo. Whatever was initiated back then is cycling around now, ready to end or move on to the next level.

Vesta, considered by some to be the modern ruler of Virgo, closely conjuncts the South Node. Derived from the Sanskrit word for “shining”, Vesta was named for the mythic goddess of the hearth and keeper of the altar flame. She was also the guardian of the inner fires of sacred sexuality, fertility, and kundalini, the cosmic energy stored at the base of the spine. Vestal Virgins were priestesses who initiated men and healed warriors returning from battle through sacred sex. The children conceived from these unions were deemed divine; Jesus’ birth from a Virgin mother and unknown father reflects this ancient tradition. Vesta’s alignment with the South Node reminds us of our spiritual origins and sacred work.

The ongoing fixed T-square (generated by Saturn in Leo’s opposition to Neptune in Aquarius and Jupiter’s square to both) keeps pushing for the release of whatever is out of alignment with our soul’s purpose. Jupiter and Neptune make their third and final square of the year on September 24th at 17º Scorpio-Aquarius (the first was January 27th at 17º, the second March 15th at 19º), indicating that a long phase of reevaluation is coming to a close. The fact that the eclipse occurs on the eve of one of the major turning points of the year, the autumnal equinox, magnifies its demarcation of a major ending and beginning. Below is part of a channeled message by Gillian MacBeth-Louthan that speaks to these alignments.

We are in an era of great change, which can be disorienting on all levels. Be diligent in your spiritual practice; give yourself some quiet, soul time each day. Take extra good care of your body as it adjusts to hold a higher vibration. Simplify your life, and remember: “Everyday is a gift from God. What we do with it is our gift to God.”—Mother Teresa

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
www.EcoAstrology.com

UPCOMING EVENTS
ASTROLOGICAL TRANSITS
Port Townsend, WA
10 Mondays 7-9 PM $200 September 25th to December 4th (no class 11/20)
Astrological Transits activate our spiritual timetable and quicken our soul intentions. In this class we'll explore the energies of the planets, their cycles, and how to take advantage of the opportunities and growth they offer. We'll also discuss methods for dealing with difficult transits, as well as learn from each other’s experience. If you haven't taken a basic astrology class, or need a refresher, read Steven Forrest's The Inner Sky by the first meeting. We'll be using his second book, The Changing Sky, along with detailed handouts for this series. Please call for more information, reservations, and directions.

FALL FORECAST TAPES of the presentation done in the SF area on 9/14 covering September through December are available by mail for $25.

THE STAR COUNCIL OF ELDERS FROM ALCYONE channeled by Gillian MacBeth-Louthan
"You are each here as Emissaries of Light, as Ambassadors of the Creator. You are not here to putt about, to grow frail and old and diseased.  You are here to grasp completion and see in totality – why you have existed at all.  You are not here to be in pain, to be unloved, to be abused, or to be poor – for all of that is beneath you – thousands of levels beneath you.

It is through this earthly particle acceleration and unified field of light that you are birthed into totality.  There is nothing that you cannot accomplish.  There is nothing that you cannot create.  There is nothing that you cannot heal.  You effect and affect everything and everything in your world.

You are beings that have forgotten their value and vastness of light and purpose.  If you are to save this world, you must begin with self.  You are not a victim to anything and to anyone unless you decide it is so.  There is nothing that can harm you, there is nothing that can destroy you, there is nothing that can take from you – for you are the center of the universe in human form.  You have forgotten the totality of your being. 

Ask everyday to be infused with the remembrance of 'who' in truth you are.  Allow yourself to become that component of light that has existed through all space and time. You are a grand light that cannot be destroyed, cannot be lost.  Wake up to who you are. You are the beginning and the end.  You are the alpha and omega.  You cannot exist any other way except in fullness of your light.

Speak as a God.  Think as a God.  Become as a God.  Do not allow the distractions of your day, your body, and your thoughts to own you. Step outside of the body and observe it as a vehicle that you instruct, a vehicle that transports you through space and time and documents experience.

When you have a thought of someone who has passed into spirit, you are with them.  When you hold a thought of disease, you start to become it.  When you have a thought of limitation, you are gifted it.  Where your thoughts are is where you dwell, it is your creational address. This address then becomes your quantified universe and defined field of light.  Redefine who you are to yourself and then it will follow as the day follows the night that you will be re-defined in every cell of your body, and level of your life.

You are the center of the universe.  Do not take that lightly.  For wherever you stand in your thinking, in your self, in your awareness -- ripples out through all existence. It affects your past and present and your future, for all is connected to every thought of the Present.

...See how grand you are, for you are greater than all that has ever been created.  You are the light that calls to its self.  Awaken from sleep and amnesia and see the Grandness of your Being.  Do not be humbled by your own light, for it is grander than any ‘expression of humanness’ can conceive. That is your Divine Right and divine inheritance. All things belong unto you. And so it shall be.
THE STAR COUNCIL OF ELDERS FROM ALCYONE

Date: 04 Sep 2006
Subject: Lunar Eclipse
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

We are approaching an extra powerful Full Moon, a Lunar Eclipse, which occurs on Thursday, September 7th at 11:42 AM PDT at 15º Virgo-Pisces. While a full moon occurs every month, only every six months do the Sun, Moon, and Earth align precisely enough to create an eclipse. Eclipses occur in relationship to the Lunar Nodes, the points in space where the Moon crosses the ecliptic, the path of the Earth around the Sun. The Nodal symbol comes from an ancient tool designed for cutting the umbilical cord; Sumerian myth describes the Mother Goddess Mamu using it to cut humanity’s link with eternity, symbolizing our descent from the cosmic womb into temporal time. The North Node, where the Moon crosses the ecliptic as it climbs upwards, points towards the future, that which challenges us to evolve into greater consciousness and connection; the South Node, where the Moon crosses the ecliptic as it descends, indicates the past, which includes the strengths we have developed as well as what keeps us in separation. This extra powerful Full Moon signals that we have come to an important turning point.

During a Lunar Eclipse, the Full Moon slowly dims as it passes through the Earth’s shadow. This temporary blockage of light arouses what has been in the dark. What are we afraid of? What is our heart telling us? The Sun in Virgo calls us to analyze our methods; the Moon in Pisces, to scrutinize our motives. The shadow side of Virgo hides behind busyness and false humility. The shadow of Pisces dallies in escapism and martyrdom. The 15th degree is a turning point, the halfway point where the pull of the past is equal to the press of the future. Will we move on or fall back? In Connie Kaplan’s book, the Invisible Garment, she describes the 15th degree as the principle of “Resistance: a friction that causes energy to experience itself, transform itself, and realign itself with greater purpose.” That is the exact import of this eclipse.

Several other factors add to this week’s transformative tailwind. On September 4th, Pluto ends his 5-month retrograde period; regardless of his astronomical reclassification, the mythic Lord of Death and Rebirth says: “Take at least one giant step forward. Now.” Pluto had been retrograde since March 29th, the date of the last Solar Eclipse, which marked another moment of truth. On September 5th, Uranus, a.k.a. The Awakener, makes its yearly opposition to the Sun, prodding us to ‘Think Different' and explore alternatives. Venus, Mercury, Mars, and the South Node are all in Virgo during the eclipse, emphasizing the need for discernment and impeccability. Saturn’s ongoing opposition to Neptune and square to Jupiter sets up a fixed T-square, a configuration that further disintegrates the old in order to make way for the new.

In sum, we’re ready to take quantum leap. It’s time to step more fully into our power and truth. Read Lee Ann Del Carpio’s words of wisdom below for helpful tips and remember: “The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of.”—Blaise Pascal

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com

© 2006 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

UPCOMING EVENTS In Port Townsend, WA

TRANSITS: RECOGNIZING THE SPIRITUAL ROAD SIGNS
An empowering approach for identifying and fulfilling our soul intentions
Port Townsend, WA (location TBA)
10 Mondays 7-9 PM $200 September 25th to December 4th (no class 11/20)
Astrological transits mark turning points in our lives. In this class we'll explore the energies of each of the planets, the specific meaning of their cycles, and how to best take advantage of the growth they offer. We'll also cover tools and methods for dealing with difficult transitions, as well as learn from each other’s experiences. If you haven't taken a basic astrology class, or need a refresher, read Steven Forrest's The Inner Sky by the first meeting. We'll be using his second book, The Changing Sky, along with detailed handouts for this series. Please call for more information, reservations, and directions.

Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2006 15:55:56 -0700
Subject: New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,
The last Full Moon illuminated the heights of our dreams and the depths of our shadows; the next New Moon, which forms on Wednesday, August 23rd at 1º Virgo, focuses our attention on the spiritual goals of Virgo: humility, discernment, and service. Humility is not self-effacement, but simply knowing and living who we really are. Discernment is the ability to distinguish what is relevant and efficacious--for this moment, this person, this situation. Service is the end product of humility and discernment--the capacity to make a difference.

New Moons are optimal times to set new intentions; this one calls us to review every area of our life. On a personal level, this includes how we take care of our health, how we manage our time, how we maintain our living and workspace, and how we get things done in general. What is your body telling you? Where is clutter slowing you down? How could you work smarter rather than harder?

On a more subtle level, this is a time of inner purification, of closely examining our motivations and self-defeating behaviors. Are we operating from essence or ego? Who told us our thoughts, feelings, and actions don’t matter? This New Moon calls us to remember our sacred work, the role we choose to play at this critical time on Earth. The ruling planet of Virgo, Mercury, is in Leo, as is Saturn and Venus, emphasizing that each one of us has something special to offer. What is your heart saying? The Sufi maxim “Work is Love made visible” describes the essential task of Virgo—to be an ever more perfect expression and instrument of the Divine. Mercury trines Pluto, helping us see what’s true now, while Venus’ approaching conjunction to Saturn (exact on August 26th) and Saturn’s first exact opposition to Neptune on August 31st highlights where we are reviewing our commitments and redefining our goals.

Mars, the planet of passion and action, is in Virgo until September 7th, prodding us to stay focused on what’s most important. The mythic God of War’s approaching conjunction with the South Node at 25º Virgo (exact Aug 31st) and square to Pluto at 24º Sagittarius (exact August 29thº flushes up the shadow and forces us to question our assumptions. Pluto squaring the South Node in Virgo/North Node in Pisces advises us that we must relinquish cynicism and victimhood in order to move forward. Jupiter’s approaching trine to Uranus (14º Scorpio-Pisces, exact on August 29th), supports the release of the beliefs and fears which have held us back.

Take time around this New Moon to check your spiritual compass and reaffirm your priorities. In times of doubt, it’s helpful to bear in mind that “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all of the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”(A Course in Miracles)

Below is a link to a channeled message from Michelle Mayama describing the evolutionary current we are experiencing and how to stay in the flow: http://www.lightsmith.com/blog/updates.html

Namaste, Stephanie Austin
© 2006 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: Fri, 04 August 2006
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,
Several important astrological alignments are forming, from the Sun's yearly rendezvous with Saturn on August 7th, to the Full Moon on the 9th, to Saturn's first of three oppositions to Neptune on the 31st. It's more important than ever to focus on what's most important.

You were born for a reason. Everyone has a destiny, an integral role to play during this pivotal time on Earth. The approaching Full Moon (exact on August 9th at 3:54 AM PDT at 17º Leo-Aquarius) stimulates the remembrance of who we really are and what we came to do. The Sun in Leo beams into our hearts, sparking our soul intentions and rekindling our visions. The Moon in Aquarius illuminates where change is sorely needed and where we can accomplish more by joining forces with like-minded souls. The cosmic spotlight is on the power of love and the power of the group.

This Full Moon is extra potent, as it strongly resonates with and amplifies the energy of Saturn's approaching alignment with Neptune. Saturn has an orbit of roughly 29 years, while Neptune takes 168 years to circle the Sun; only every 35 years do they conjunct or oppose each other. Soon these two planets will form three exact oppositions, the first occurring on August 31st at 18º Leo-Aquarius, just one degree from the degree of this Full Moon. The second exact opposition occurs on February 28, 2007 at 20º Leo-Aquarius and the third on June 25, 2007 at 22º.

Saturn in Leo urges us to follow our heart and express our unique gifts; Neptune in Aquarius facilitates community and global awareness. Saturn rules the world of form, along with the dimensions of time and space; Neptune's domain encompasses the formless, non-physical dimensions of reality. Saturn separates; Neptune unifies. These oppositions signify an important period of dissolution and reformation of identities, ideals, and institutions.

Oppositions always relate to when the two planets last met; Saturn made its previous conjunctions with Neptune (at 11-12º Capricorn), in 1989, the year the last Soviet troops left Afghanistan, as well as the fall of the Berlin Wall, Tiananmen Square and the imposition of martial law in China and Tibet, the Exxon Valdez oil spill, President Bush's allocation of $300 billion to bail out the savings and loan industry, the conviction of Jimmy Baker (the television evangelist) for fraud, and the first appearance of crop circles in the United Kingdom. Voyager II passed by and transmitted the first close-ups of Neptune that year also. The last opposition of Saturn and Neptune occurred during 1971-2, a period of increasing protests against the war in Vietnam, as well as the beginning of Watergate, the devaluation of the US dollar, Soviet landings on Venus and Mars, and the opening of the controversial play, Jesus Christ, Superstar.

Previous historical correspondences with Saturn/Neptune alignments are also striking:

Opposition: 1861-65 US Civil War; Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln assassinated
Conjunction 1882 US ratifies Geneva Convention, 1st Labor Day inaugurated
Conjunction 1916-19 World War I, Russian Revolution
Opposition 1936-7 Stalin's Great Purge, Rome-Berlin Axis, beginning of AA, BBC
Square 1943-45 World War II
Conjunction 1951-3 Korean War, McCarthyism, est. of NSA, death of Stalin
Square 1962-4 Bay of Pigs; assignation of JFK; race riots in Birmingham, MLK arrested
Opposition 1970-73 Vietnam; Watergate, US Court ruling on desegregation, 1st email sent
Conjunction 1987-91 Fall of Berlin Wall and USSR, Velvet Revolution, Mandela freed
Square 1999-2000 Euro international currency introduced

(Conjunctions signify a new beginning or fusion, Oppositions call for balance and integration, Squares mark a major turning point)

For an insightful and beautifully written analysis of the archetypal motifs, read Bill Streett's article entitled "Saturn-Neptune and the Desert of the Real" at http://astro-noetics.com/sat_nep_21.html

Further challenging the status quo is Mars' approaching opposition to Uranus (exact on August 13th at 14º Virgo-Pisces). This powerful combo catylizes us to 'think out of the box' and be spiritual warriors. See Robert Rabbin's excerpted article below for inspiration on how to work with these challenging forces.

Since Pluto was in Leo from approximately 1937-1957, many of the Baby Boomers are not only having Saturn conjunct their natal Pluto, but also Neptune transiting opposite as well (especially those born 1947-55), doubling the spiritual tailwind for transformation.

With Jupiter in Scorpio squaring Saturn and Neptune much of this year, along with Chiron in Aquarius, the key is radical responsibility--assuming total responsibility for everything in your world. What are your dreams? What is your reality? What do you choose now? You are a star. You are light. You are a Creator. Create wisely. Create consciously. Create with joy and love, for: "This is the 11th Hour. We are the ones we have been waiting for" --Hopi Elders

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
www.EcoAstrology.com © 2006 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

BEING PEACE
by Robert Rabbin (excerpt)

"Peace is not a relationship of nations. It is a condition of mind brought about by a serenity of soul. Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is also a state of mind. Lasting peace can come only to peaceful people." --Jawaharlal Nehru

The human race has come to this precise point in its brief history: change, or perish. There is no middle ground. Weapons of mass destruction are proliferating like toxic clouds within the minds of so many people whose power threatens civilization throughout the world. Change, or perish. Let us change. We already know about militarism; we already know about this barbarism. We do not yet know about peace. So let us learn, and then change...

To read entire excerpt, please click on this link to the pdf version:
Being Peace excerpt pdf file

Date: Thurs, 20 July 2006
Subject: New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,
The next New Moon forms on Monday, July 24th at 9:31 PM PDT at 2º Leo. What lights your fire? What makes your heart sing? Many of us were trained to believe it was selfish to be happy, and that life on Earth is something we're trying to get away from, whether the belief was the Judeo-Christian "The Fall from Eden" or the New Age dictate that this should be our last lifetime. What if incarnation on Earth was a challenge we deliberately chose? What if we thought of ourselves as heroic souls experimenting with density? What if each of us is a Creator, ever expanding into new expressions and experiences of Creation? The sign of Leo reminds us of the real goal of life--to discover and express our unique emanation of the Divine.

Each of us is one of a kind, yet we're pressured and programmed from birth onwards. Our parents had their hopes and dreams for us. Teachers promoted their views and values. Religion instills its ideology and ethics. Culture inculcates its standards and mores. On top of all that, radio, television, film, and print media bombard us with even more messages. It takes great courage to find your true self. It takes will. It takes heart. And what is your heart saying these days? Do you love your life? Do you love yourself? Where's the fun, the passion, the joie de vivre for you? Leo is ruled by the Sun, which represents what "lights" us up, what "fuels" us, what makes our life "sunny". When we're not on our path, life feels cloudy and gray. Notice what brightens or dims your light these days.

Jupiter semi-squares Pluto just as this New Moon forms, nudging us to let go of our conditioning. Because of their retrograde phases, this is the third semi-square from Jupiter in Scorpio to Pluto in Sagittarius (the first two were December 7, 2005 and May 31, 2006). While a semi-square (45º) is not generally as strong as a square (90º), the fact that Jupiter and Pluto are in mutual reception (both transiting the sign that the other rules), amplifies their transformative energies. It¹s easier than ever to discern what¹s true and what¹s programming. Saturn's quincunx to Uranus (14º Leo-Pisces) also helps us think out of the box and break free from "The Matrix".

Take some time around this New Moon to check in with your Self. Make a list of what brings you joy, and what you are grateful for. Gratitude opens the heart and signals the universe that you're ready for more. For inspiration, watch movies like Billy Elliot, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, or the Dead Poet's Society; read The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. Check your spiritual compass and "Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly." --St. Francis de Sales

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin

Date: Sun, 09 July 2006
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,
The next Full Moon peaks on Monday, July 10th at 8:02 PM PDT at 19º Cancer-Capricorn. Full Moons represent seemingly polarized forces, reconciled by integrating both ends. This Full Moon reveals where we are ready for a new balance and synthesis between our masculine and feminine sides. These are the signs of water and earth, nourishment and accomplishment, root and fruit. What are we taking in? What are we giving back? The Sun in Cancer shines on the realities of our personal life and level of happiness. The Moon in Capricorn illuminates our work and how successful we feel.

Neptune at 19º Aquarius closely quincunxes the Sun, offering a special opportunity and challenge. Any aspect from the mythic God of the Sea can feel foggy and disorienting, as our ordinary reference points dissolve in order for us to operate from a more subtle, spiritual dimension. The Sun's quincunx to Neptune promotes a crucial shift in perception. What would we do if we knew we were immortal, infinite spirits? How would we live if we knew we were not separate?

Another important message involves Saturn, the principle of focus and manifestation, authority and responsibility. The mythic Reaper stationed retrograde on November 22, 2005 at 11º18' Leo, turned direct on April 5th at 4º 22' Leo and again reaches 11º18' Leo on the day of the Full Moon. Since last autumn we have been reviewing and restructuring our lives; Saturn crossing the degree where it last stationed retrograde indicates that we are now ready for a big step forward. Whatever is out of alignment or inauthentic comes to light, as well as where we need to reclaim our power and authority. Saturn moving through Leo reminds us that each of us is a Creator, and and councils us to create from our essence rather than from ego. Mercury is retrograde until July 28th, encouraging us to recharge and realign with our soul intentions.

Saturn is the principle of form and effort; Jupiter, the principle of vision and grace. Jupiter has just turned direct on July 6th, signaling that it's time to take a leap of faith. The mythic Sky God's square to Father Time has been encouraging us to move past our fears and into our truth. Because of their respective retrograde phases, Jupiter and Saturn are in an extended connection, with Jupiter first squaring Saturn on December 16, 2005 at 11º Scorpio-Leo, a second square on June 22nd at 9º Scorpio-Leo, and a third on October 25, 2006 at 24º Scorpio-Leo. Each of these squares urges us to shorten the distance between our dreams and our reality.

This Full Moon highlights the gap between where we are, and where we want to be, and to remember that "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."--Steve Jobs, addressing the Stanford University graduating Class of 2005.

Namaste, Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com

Date: Fri, 20 June 2006
Subject: Solstice and New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,
We’re approaching two important astrological events. The Sun moves into Cancer on Wednesday June 21st at 5:26 AM PDT, marking the Summer Solstice and the beginning of a new season. Then on Sunday, June 25th at 9:05 AM PDT a New Moon forms at 4º Cancer. Both of these represent significant shifts and are excellent times for setting new intentions.

Isis. Yemaya. Demeter. Shakti. Mary. Tara. Kuan Yin. White Buffalo Calf Woman. Cancer represents the archetype of the Mother, who nourishes and protects, feeds and supports life. This sign speaks to the importance of home and family, and the value of healthy surroundings. On a larger scale, Cancer reminds us of our connection to our roots, the environment, and Mother Nature.

Cancer is associated with the Moon and the emotional body. It’s no coincidence that the words “moon” and “mood” come from the same cognate. Feelings and needs ebb and flow. They are like Geiger counters; the more we are aligned we are with what is good for us, the better we feel. Cancer, the first water sign, reminds us that humans, like plants, require specific conditions for optimal growth. An orchid wilts in the desert; a cactus molds in a rain forest. No nourishment, no growth. With five of the ten planets in water signs, this New Moon asks us to reflect on what “waters” us—what supports our body, feeds our heart, broadens our horizons, and satisfies our soul. What do you need to grow now? What are you thirsting for?

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin

Date: Fri, 09 June 2006 08:38 -0700
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,
The next full moon peaks on Sunday, June 11th at 11:03 AM PDT at 21º Gemini-Sagittarius. This extra potent Full Moon heightens our awareness of the power of the mind and the power of our beliefs. The Gemini Twins gather and share information; The Sagittarian Archer aims for the truth. What do we think, and what do we know? What have we learned, and what were we born to teach?

Full Moons sharpen the contrast between light and shadow. Gemini's Light develops intelligence and clear communication; its dark side is rationalization and duplicity. Sagittarius' Light generates understanding and tolerance; it's shadow is hubris and righteousness.

This Full moon illuminates questionable motivations and assumptions. Watch for "An Inconvenient Truth" personally or politically (See the film by that name if you haven't already). Pluto, the planet most concerned with the shadow, conjuncts the Moon, opposes the Sun, and semi-squares Jupiter in Scorpio, intensifying the cosmic message to check the facts, speak our truth, and remember why we're really here.

For a beautiful channeling from Steve Rother that illustrates the theme of this full moon, visit www.lightworker.com. Namaste,

Stephanie Austin Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com

Date: Mon, 22 May 2006 23:20:44 -0700
Subject: New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,
The next New Moon forms on Friday, May 26th at 10:26 PM PDT. At 6º Gemini, this New Moon shifts our attention towards gathering information and making new connections. What are we ready to see? What do we need to say? Gemini, the first air sign, deals with cognition and communication. With the Sun, Moon, and Mercury in Gemini, the cosmic spotlight is also on paying close attention to how our thoughts create reality. What we are thinking, we are broadcasting.

Mercury the Messenger squares Uranus at 15º Pisces on Friday morning, opening the doors of perception and pushing us to think way out of the box. Uranus, the first planet to be discovered beyond the traditional seven, is often considered the higher octave of the first planet from the Sun. In any aspect to each other, Uranus and Mercury short circuit conventional wisdoms and spark new insights. In mythology, Uranus is the God of Chaos who propagates new realities, bringing surprises and liberation.

Use this New Moon to clarify and empower your intentions. Make a list of what you wish to bring in and strengthen in your life. Keep your antennae out and observe your mind closely. What we think matters as much as what we say and do.

"The greatest revolution in our generation is that of human beings, who by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives."--Marilyn Ferguson

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
www.EcoAstrology.com

Date: Mon, 8 May 2006 11:17:01 -0700
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

The next Full Moon peaks at 22º Taurus-Scorpio on Friday, May 12th at 11:51 PM PDT. The Sun in Taurus illuminates our physical realities and quality of life--the amount of beauty and peace we have, as well as how much we are in touch with the Earth and our bodies. Do we have what we really need? Do we really want what we have? For millennia, many religions promoted the denial of the body, the domination of Nature, the separation of spirit and matter. Now modern physicists speak of an interconnected reality long understood by eastern and western mystics. As the Earth changes, we change, and vice versa. For a fascinating exploration of how the Schumann resonance, the resonant frequency of the Earth, affects human consciousness, visit http://www.nexusmagazine.com/articles/schumann.html or read Itzhak Bentov's "Stalking the Wild Pendulum: On the Mechanics of Consciousness."

The Moon in Scorpio highlights what's dead or dying in our lives. Like water, matter holds the energetic patterns to which it has been exposed, whether it's water or a personal item. Gifts are strongly charged with both the energy of the giver and the recipient. Take an inventory of your life and weed out anything that doesn't support who you are now. A Scorpio Moon is also about cleaning house emotionally, purging old resentments and healing old wounds. There's power in the dark, in our unconscious, and this Full Moon illuminates where we may need to face some old demons and albatrosses.

Both intuition and illusion are heightened this week and beyond, as Neptune squares the Sun on May 10th, squares Mercury on May 14th, and approaches his yearly station retrograde on May 22nd. Stay extra grounded (especially around those dates) and direct this great right brain energy into creativity and innerwork. Give yourself some extra soul time and remember: "Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world" --Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin

Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
www.EcoAstrology.com

Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2006 22:46:32 -0700
Subject: New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

The next New Moon forms on Thursday, April 27th at 12:44 PM PDT at 8º Taurus. A New Moon is a power time, an opportunity to set new intentions which will be amplified by the energetic pull of the waxing Moon. Plants grow more quickly when seeded at the New Moon. Ideas and intentions also burgeon at this time. What do we want to cultivate now? Taurus represents the quest for value and worth. How's our self-esteem? Do we live in accordance with our core values? As the first earth sign, Taurus has the spiritual task to establish a healthy relationship to the Earth in all its forms, neither grasping at nor rejecting the challenges of incarnation. We've been deeply re-evaluating our relationship to matter and what truly matters since last fall, when Mars turned retrograde on October 1, 2005.

This New Moon is within a degree of where Mars turned direct on December 9, 2005, re-stimulating issues around resources and values that were important five months ago. The New Moon forms a fixed grand cross, an energy configuration which activates long standing patterns and issues. Fixed crosses have the effect of an irresistible force meeting an immovable object; events conspire to eradicate the things that are holding us back. This grand cross pushes us to release whatever is not in alignment with our essence. Jupiter at 15º Scorpio is opposite the Sun and Moon, encouraging us to explore our deepest motivations and assumptions. What do we want more than anything? What are we afraid of? Fear is always a result of a limited perspective; it's easier to move on when we can see the bigger picture. Saturn at 5º Leo squares Jupiter (widely) as well as the Sun and Moon, advising us to be our own judge and authority, concentrating on what's closest to our hearts. Chiron in Aquarius opposes Saturn and squares the Sun, Moon, and Jupiter, reminding us that the truer we are to ourselves, the more power we have to change the world.

Set aside some time around this New Moon to make a list of what you're ready to let go of, and what you're choosing to increase in your life. Consider: "Your daily life is your school, your temple, and your religion." --Kahlil Gibran

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com

© 2006 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Thu, 23 Mar 2006 20:58:15 -0800
Subject: Solr Eclipse
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The coming days bring several important shifts. Mercury turns direct on Saturday, March 25th after being retrograde since March 2nd. We¹ve been sharpening our intuition and learning that if it sounds good but doesn¹t feel right, it¹s not right for us. Watch your day and night dreams for insights as to your next step. This is a great day to network and act on things you¹ve been considering for a while. With Uranus only a degree away from Mercury, it¹s easier to think out of the box, and with Venus' yearly rendezvous with Neptune on March 2nd also, easier to connect with like-minded souls.

Early Wednesday morning, at 2:16 AM PST on March 29th, a Solar Eclipse at 8º35' Aries forms. A New Moon marks the ending of a monthly cycle; a Solar Eclipse marks the closing of a nineteen-year chapter. It¹s time to move on and move up. With the Sun and Moon close to the North Node in Aries, the message to break out of old ruts and mindsets is unmistakable. On March 29, 1987, there was a Solar Eclipse at 8º18' of Aries; events and directions begun back then are ready for completion or the next octave of expression. Aries, as the first sign, is about moving into the future, into the unknown. It's about the development of courage, the willingness to try something new, and fully experience the angst and excitement of discovery.

Aries is also about independence and assertion, learning to trust one¹s instincts and act on them. Six months ago, on October 3, 2005, there was a Solar Eclipse at 10º Libra, opposite this eclipse, initiating a cycle in how we form and maintain relationships. Now we feel ready to explore some new territory in other areas of our lives.

Pluto, the archetype of transformation, stations retrograde just a few minutes before the eclipse, very close to the galactic center, helping us see beyond our cultural and religious conditioning to what is really true. We have all been profoundly programmed--by our families, education, nationality, culture, religion, and the media. Pluto¹s station near the galactic center, a source of intense cosmic radiation, rekindles our memory of who we really are and what we came to do.

Keep tuning into your inner guidance and remember: "The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do, the hard part is doing it."--General Norman Schwarzkopf.

Namaste, Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com

Stephanie Austin has been a professional astrologer since 1986. She holds a Master's degree in Consciousness Studies, teaches Archetypal Astrology at John F. Kennedy University, and specializes in life purpose readings. For more on her background and services, visit www.EcoAstrology.com.

Sun, 12 Mar 2006 11:52:55 -0800
Subject: Lunar Eclipse
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

We are approaching a Lunar Eclipse, an extra powerful full moon which forms on March 14th at 3:35 PM PST at 24º15¹ Pisces-Virgo. Each month offers a full moon; only every six months do the Earth, Moon, and Sun align precisely enough to eclipse each other. As the shadow of the Earth darkens the light of the Moon, we have a special opportunity to face our fears and discover new truths. Eclipses occur in relation to the Lunar Nodes, the points in space where the Moon crosses the ecliptic, the path of the Earth around the Sun. The Lunar Nodes, unlike the planets, transit primarily in reverse, symbolizing a path of Return to the Source. Formed by the symbol of the feminine, the Lunar Nodes represent where we derive nourishment on a cosmic level; the North Node being what currently supports our spiritual development, and the South Node what nourished us in the past.

Pisces is the sign most concerned with the Return, the remembrance of our spiritual origins. The 12th sign is the alpha and omega, the emergence into duality and the homecoming to unity. Virgo seeks to understand the body-mind-spirit connection and attain mastery of the physical matter. Virgo seeks perfection; Pisces knows all is perfection. This eclipse illuminates the truth that matter and spirit are not separate, that heaven is not a place but a state of mind, and that "it's all God in drag" --Ram Dass.

This Eclipse is strongly affected by Pluto at 26º45¹ Sagittarius in several ways. Pluto square the Sun helps strips away false identifications; Pluto square the Moon helps us recognize our projections and false humility. Pluto is also very close to the center of the Milky Way Galaxy (26º52¹ Sagittarius), a source of intense cosmic radiation. Pluto will be close to the Galactic Center for most of this year and into the next, magnifying the evolutionary impetus of the galactic emanations. Orbiting at the edge of our solar system, Pluto represents the boundary between the known and unknown, the gateway to realizing our multi-dimensionality. Pluto in Sagittarius, the sign of religion and belief, moves us beyond the myth of the Fall (that we are sinners in need of redemption) to the truth of who we really are--spiritual beings exploring human experiences.

On September 16, 1997 there was a Lunar Eclipse at 23º56¹ Virgo-Pisces, and on March 12, 1998 a Lunar Eclipse at 22º24¹ Pisces-Virgo, activating similar territory in our lives. Insights from those times are being deepened by this eclipse. Once again, we're ready for a quantum leap. It's helpful to remember that: "We must continually change to become ourselves" -- Teilhard de Chardin

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 12:22:55 -0800
Subject: Being is as Important as Doing
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

I am sorry to announce that, do to health issues, I must cancel the Spring Forecast scheduled for March 12th in Lafayette, California. Greg Bogart Ph.D. a brilliant astrologer and excellent teacher, will teach the Transits and Transformation class at JFKU on March 10th and 11th.

With Mercury, Saturn, and now Jupiter retrograde, we're in an important time of re-evaluation and re-orientation. The Sun, Mercury, and Uranus in Pisces calls us inward, into quiet contemplation and spiritual renewal. This time of year reminds us that being is as important as doing. Read below for just how much our being can do.

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com

From the book, "The Shift: The Revolution in Human Consciousness"
by Owen Waters

"Being as Well as Doing:

Many Core Cultural Creatives (today's leading edge in consciousness) have a nagging doubt about life, one which comes
and goes and sometimes troubles them deeply. They intuitively feel that they are here on Earth to help humanity, but they just can't seem to figure out what exactly they are supposed to be doing about it.

The problem really comes from our current training in Western society. We are taught, from a very early age, to do things and achieve outward results, to build monuments of our outward 'doingness' for all to see. But, what about 'beingness?'

The answer to the dilemma lies in understanding that there is a difference between doing and being, and your state of being does make a difference. It actually affects the mass consciousness of the world. The research behind the Hawkins
Scale of Consciousness reveals the enormous power of just being, especially when you raise your consciousness in order to be the best you can be. You can support literally millions of people on planet Earth just by virtue of who you are, by being a person conscious at one of the higher memes or chakras.

Remember, to reach 500 on the Hawkins Scale of Consciousness, a person needs to be spiritually conscious. At this level, unconditional love and unconditional forgiveness become alive and well in their reality. Here, one person counterbalances 750,000 people who are below the 200 level.

When a person has practiced meditation long and diligently enough to attain bliss consciousness at the 600 level, they are, at that moment, counterbalancing 10 million people below the 200 level.

Your chakra system is designed to receive energy from the cosmos and from the local environment. Your thoughts and feelings condition life energy as it passes through you, out into the mental environment, or the atmosphere of the global mind. The chakras are receiving and transmitting devices for mental and life energy. An individual is like a radio station -
you transmit whatever program you are playing internally.When you are operating from the frequencies of your upper chakras, the second tier of memes, you are operating in spiritual service to the world. The second tier is spiritual in
nature. When your awareness is functioning in the second tier, you are spiritually conditioning the atmosphere of the global mind and making the world a better place. While you are here on Earth, you are contributing who you are - your thoughts, your dreams and your passion for life - into the atmosphere of a global mind that is hungry for, more than anything else, spiritual light."

Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:37:03 -0800
Subject: New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next New Moon forms on Monday, February 27th at 4:30 PM PST at 9º Pisces, the sign most concerned with the dissolution of the ego and the realization of our spiritual identity. This New Moon is especially appropriate for remembering our soul intentions. Give yourself some quiet time around this New Moon. Take a walk in nature. Lose yourself in art or music. Watch your dreams for messages from your higher Self. Allow yourself as much meditation or unstructured time as possible. Simply being allows us to work on more subtle levels and be more receptive to our inner guidance.

The potential for important insights is greatly amplified by Uranus' close conjunction to the Sun and Moon. Uranus, the archetype of freedom and innovation, is often considered the higher octave of Mercury and as such, access to higher intelligence. With both Uranus and Mercury in Pisces, this New Moon opens the doors of perception, providing a fertile time for inspired creativity, profound meditations, and important revelations. Uranus is also very close to the degree where he stationed retrograde last
year (10º46 Pisces on June 10, 2005), signaling that we've integrated the cosmic lesson provided last spring and are now ready for the big next step on our spiritual path.

Watch for signs, listen to your heart, and be aware that: "Everything in this world has hidden meaning...people, animals, trees, stars are all hieroglyphics...we think they are only people, animals, trees, stars. It is only years later that some of us understand."--Nikos Kazantzakis

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@ecoastrology.com

Fri, 10 Feb 2006
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The The next Full Moon forms on Sunday, February 12th at 8:45 PM PST with the Sun at 24º Aquarius and the Moon at 24º Leo. This Full Moon asks us to remember our mission--the reason we chose to incarnate at this time, and the part we wish to play at this evolutionary juncture on Earth.

The archetype of Leo represents the quest for one's unique expression of the Divine, the embodiment of one's dharma, or true nature. Leo is associated with the image of the King and the Lion, symbolizing not rulership over others, but the attainment of sovereignty over oneself. Aquarius is the archetype of unity in diversity, where we honor each other's uniqueness and work together for the betterment of all. The Water-bearer symbolizes the dissemination of universal ideas and the baptism into collective consciousness. We are individuals, and part of a larger whole.

Several other planets add their messages to this Full Moon. Uranus conjuncts Mercury, encouraging us to "think different" and be receptive to our intuitive guidance. Jupiter and Mars oppose each other and square the Sun and Moon, forming a wide Fixed Cross, an energy configuration that pushes for the break up of "fixed" or long-standing patterns. Chiron's close opposition to Saturn in Leo reminds us that the most important thing we can do for the world is to become the person we were born to be.

This Full Moon shed light on where we are still trying to fit in, and where our authenticity can make a difference in the world. "To be mistaken is a misfortune to be pitied; but to know the truth and not to conform one's actions to it is a crime which Heaven and Earth condemn." - Giuseppe Mazzini

For a wonderful Aquarian experience, add your voice to the World Sound
Healing Day on February 14th; details below.

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com

The 4th Annual
WORLD SOUND HEALING DAY

February 14, 2006, at noon your local time, join Jonathan Goldman, the Sound Healers Associations and thousands of people throughout the planet as they tone an "AH" together for five minutes, projecting the energy of Light & Love throughout the Planet. You will actually experience generating a field
of transformational energy as this occurs. In addition, local toning groups will be occurring throughout the Earth at various times during that day with the intention of assisting planetary consciousness through sound.

Sound coupled with intention has the ability to heal and transform. We will sound an "AH" sending a heart wave of Sound that will resonate throughout the planet. Now is the time for you to be part of the Celestial Choir and resonate together for World Sound Healing Day. We can create major positive
shifts on our beloved planet. Through sounding together we will make a difference.

"AH" is a universal, non-denominational heart sound that when projected with focused energy is extremely powerful and effective. For more information, which you may find useful, please visit this link:
www.healingsounds.com. There you will find a "Planetary Healing Sounds" section with articles on
suggested sounds, visualizations and toning techniques as well as as well an "AH" sound you can download and tone along with.

Wed, 25 Jan 2006 16:51:44 -0800
Subject: New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next New Moon forms on Sunday, January 29th at 6:15 AM PST at 10º Aquarius. This is the sign of the rebel and the reformer, the idealist and the innovator, collaboration and community. Symbolized by the Waterbearer, Aquarius represents the flow of higher knowledge and the baptism into group consciousness. The 11th sign reminds us that we are each an integral part of a larger whole, born at this pivotal time on Earth to birth a New World.

Not only are the Sun and Moon in Aquarius, but Mercury, Chiron, and Neptune as well, amplifying the beam of cosmic blessings. While the Moon spends several days in Aquarius each month and the Sun and Mercury a month each a year, Chiron, the archetype of the Wounded Healer, enters the 11th sign only
once every fifty years and Neptune, the energy of unity and compassion, only once every 168 years. Jupiter's ongoing square to Neptune makes it easier to remember who we really are. For more on why we're here and how to stay on track, read Michael Lightweaver's wonderful Galactic Fairytale below.

"We are at the junction of love and fear, and if we stay on the all-too-familiar path of ScareCity -- we're totally forked--we can do the same old same old and get the same old results, or ... we can try
something different for a change. Instead of ScareCity, we can go for ABunDance. That is when we get up off of our assets, move our buns, and dance together in rhythm and flow. Can it work? Well, consider what hasn't worked." -- Swami Beyondananda

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com

Stephanie Austin M.A. writes the New and Full Moon forecasts for the Mountain Astrologer magazine, teaches Archetypal Astrology at John F. Kennedy University, and is a full time astrological counselor
specializing in life purpose, career, and transition consultations. She has a Masters degree in Consciousness Studies and has been an astrologer since 1986. For more on her background and services, please visit www.EcoAstrology.com.

A Galactic Fairy Tale
by Michael Lightweaver

A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away there were all of these little light beings just hanging out enjoying life in that joyful & timeless dimension. And then one day a very large, magnificent angel came to them. He had a very serious look on his face. He was looking for volunteers for a very important cosmic mission.

"We have this small - but very special - planet out at the edge of the Alcyon galaxy called Gaia. It is quite unique like a beautiful garden and it is teeming with hundreds of thousands of different life forms. It has been something of an experimental station in the galaxy and it has a most interesting humanoid life form that incorporates the very highest and lowest frequencies known in the cosmos. It is in fact the very epitome of dualism.

On the one hand it is an incredibly beautiful life form and is capable of carrying the highest frequencies of love, light & joy known throughout the whole Universe. On the other hand it is capable of carrying the densest and darkest frequencies the cosmos has ever experienced - frequencies which the rest of creation evolved beyond eons ago. Here is the current situation. Within the domain of time, this planet
goes through periodic cosmic cycles. It is now coming to the end of two major cycles - a 2,000 year long age of Pisces and the 25,000 year long cosmic year in its journey around Alcyon, the central sun of the milky way galaxy.

With the completion of this cycle, many things are coming to an end and many things are about to begin. But most importantly, the planet is experiencing an infusion of light that is dramatically increasing its frequency. As during any major time of transition, there will be a certain amount of turbulence. Some of this will be geological, for Gaia herself is a living planet and is also evolving. But much of it also involves the hominoid species that dominates the planet.

This will not be a particularly easy time for the species - especially for those who are sleeping and those who are vibrating at the lowest frequencies. As the frequency changes it will create insecurity, which
in turn will create fear. The first era of evolution on this planet was the physical era and the key word was survival. The second era, which is now ending, was the mental era and the key word was logic. The third era, which is now beginning, is the era of the heart and the key word is love. This is the highest frequency.

Those who currently hold the reign of power on the planet are of the old order of the physical & mental. To the extent that they can make a graceful transition to a heart centered and divinely guided life, it will be an easy transition. To the extent that they are unable to do this, they will experience much turmoil.

So this is the current situation of Gaia. The reason I am here is to seek volunteers who would be willing to incarnate in humanoid form on the planet at this time to help make this an easy and smooth transition. We have sent prophets and teachers in the past. Very often they were brutally persecuted
or killed. In other instances they were set up as "gods" to be worshiped and these humanoids built elaborate religions and rituals around them and used these religions to control each other. They did everything except follow the simple teachings that were offered.

So this time we are trying a different approach. No more prophets, saviors & avatars that they can use to create religions. This time we are sending in thousands - actually hundreds of thousands - of ordinary light beings with only two assignments:
1) Stay in your heart. Regardless of what happens, stay in your heart.
2) Remember who you are, why you are here and what this is all about.

Now that seems easy enough, right? Unfortunately, No! As I have said, duality has reached its peak on this planet. This species has perfected the illusion of good and evil. The greatest challenge you will experience is to remember Who You Really Are, Why You Are Here and What This Is Really All About. When you remember, you will be ale to stay in your heart, regardless of external events.
So how will you know when you are forgetting? It is easy. Watch your judgments. The moment you notice that you are in a place of judgment you will know that you have forgotten Who You Really Are, Why You Are Here and What This Is Really All About. That will be your signal.

Now here is the challenge. Life on this planet will require a great deal of discernment - wise evaluation of what is true, what is appropriate and what is for the highest good, both for yourself and for the planet. In many ways discernment is similar to judgment.