Stephanie Austin M.A. 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 writes the New and Full Moon Column for the Mountain Astrologer Magazine. For more on her background and services, visit www.EcoAstrology.com.
• Contact info: Stephanie@ecoastrology.com • 360.379.3060 • POB 2056 Port Townsend, WA 98368

Date: December 19, 2007
Subject: Full Moon Plus
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

We are continuing to experience an extraordinary series of alignments. Jupiter and Pluto are still close to the Galactic Center; now the Sun and Mercury are adding their energies, amplifying the transmissions from the galactic core. As the influx of light increases, whatever has been in the unconscious surfaces. In order to make the shift from duality to unity, we have to own our shadow, which is anything that has been denied, repressed, and projected. Everything is God/Spirit/Light. We are God/Spirit/Light. We are in the process a huge paradigm shift, moving from separation to unity, from humans trying to be spiritual to knowing that we are spiritual beings having a human experience.

It’s more important than ever to:
1)    Ground/identify with your spiritual core, your inner light, your divine essence
2)    Stay in your witness/neutral observer. Breathe.
3)    Accept, experience, and release whatever is surfacing
4)    Use the transformative tools that work for you (meditation, journaling, art, movement, time in nature, Leslie Temple-Thurston’s square technique http://marriageofspirit.com/excerpts/chap11/index.html, Byron Katie’s four questions (http://www.thework.com/thework.asp, bodywork, breathwork, therapy, etc.
5)    Ask for help when necessary, from friends, healers, your spiritual support team. Your guides, the archangels, legions of light beings are on standby, ready to assist.

On Wednesday, December 19, Saturn, the ruling planet of Capricorn, stations retrograde at 9º Virgo. Saturn remains retrograde until May 2, 2008, when it turns direct at 2º Virgo; its shadow point, when it again reaches 9º Virgo, is August 8, 2008. Saturn's retrograde phase in Virgo supports simplifying, improving, and eliminating that which is unessential and unproductive. The mythic Reaper reminds us to be responsible and realistic. Less can be more these days -- less hassle, less expense, and less stress. Focus on what is most important; delegate or let the rest go.

On Thursday, December 20, the Sun makes its yearly conjunction with Pluto, enters Capricorn on the 21st, and then conjuncts Jupiter on the 22nd. These three shifts amplify and prolong the powerful effect of the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction near the galactic core. In the midst of all this, the Winter Solstice, the Return of the Light, occurs on Friday, December 21, at 10:08 PM PST, an excellent time for prayer, gathering with like-minded souls, and setting intentions.

The next Full Moon peaks on Sunday, December 23 at 5:16 PM PST at 2º Capricorn-Cancer. Cancer deals with our inner child; Capricorn, with our inner adult. What do we need? What feeds us? And what is our dharma? What are we here to give? The Full Moon period, which is not just the peak of the Full Moon, but several days before and after, is further energized by Mars' conjunction with the Moon and Mars’ oppositions to Mercury at on December 22, the Sun on December 24, Jupiter on December 26, and Pluto on January 2, 2008. Mars aspects shorten fuses and sharpen tongues. Mars is retrograde (November 15 to January 30, 2008) and at perigee, its closest approach to the Earth, increasing the impetus for courage or bravado, assertion or aggression. In Cancer, Mars advises us to examine our motivations and our tactics closely. Are we sidestepping the real issues? What must be faced, felt, and forgiven?

During this holiday season, give yourself and others the gift of kindness. Do what is meaningful to you. Process whatever closes your heart. Be grateful for the many blessings in your life, and know that your thoughts and actions are blessing the Universe in turn.

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: December 9, 2007
Subject: New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next New Moon forms on Sunday morning, December 9 at 9:40 AM PST at 17º16’ Sagittarius. This is quite an extraordinary time. From 11:11 PM PST December 7 to 10:51 AM PST December 10, there will be five major energies in Sagittarius, as the Moon aligns with the Sun, Mercury, Jupiter, and Pluto already in Sagittarius. The 9th sign in the zodiac is symbolized by the Archer, aiming for the heavens, for the point and purpose of life. Why are we here? Where are we going? What really matters? The Sun's conjunction with the Galactic Attractor at 14º Sagittarius (a quasar-like anomaly with titanic gravitational forces) on December 6 and square to Uranus at 15º Pisces on December 7 adds to the impetus to “Think Different” and follow our inner guidance. This New Moon also squares the last Solar Eclipse (which occurred on September 11 at 18°25’ Virgo), urging us to move ahead on what began and/or became important three months ago.

On December 11, Jupiter, the ruler of Sagittarius, forms an exact conjunction with Pluto at 28º24' Sagittarius. The mythic Sky God and the Lord of the Underworld rendezvous only once every thirteen years; their last conjunction was on December 2, 1994 at 28º26' Scorpio. Depending on one’s level of consciousness, a Jupiter-Pluto combination generates tremendous personal drive and/or great compassion for others. Bill Gates was born with a Jupiter-Pluto conjunction in Leo in his natal 2nd house; Mahatma Gandhi had a close Jupiter-Pluto conjunction in Taurus in his natal 7th house. This Jupiter-Pluto conjunction in Sagittarius offers tremendous tailwinds for transformation, as it forms close to the Galactic Center (GC) of our Milky Way galaxy. When any celestial body aligns with the GC, the radio, microwave, infrared and other electromagnetic rays streaming from the galactic core are focalized, triggering evolutionary leaps in consciousness. The potential for perceptual shifts and quantum leaps continue as the Sun makes its annual passage over the GC on December 18.

Give yourself some extra soul time around this New Moon. Take a walk in the woods. Tune into the music of the spheres. Meditate on what you were born for. Sagittarius is the sign of the seeker. What are you seeking? What is your truth? Remember: "When you don’t follow your nature, there is a hole in the universe where you were supposed to be"—Dane Rudyhar

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: November 22, 2007
Subject: New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

This month’s Full Moon peaks on Saturday, November 24 at 6:30 AM PST at 1º55’ Sagittarius-Gemini. Like the last two Full Moons, this is a SuperMoon, a perigee-syzygy, where the Moon is closest to the Earth while aligned with the Sun, precipitating stronger gravitational pulls on coastal tides and on human emotions as well. This Full Moon helps us to see beyond the borders of our beliefs into new paradigms and possibilities. Consciously aware or not, we have formulated a philosophy, a set of beliefs which dictates our options and choices. From birth onward, our worldview is shaped by our parents, culture, education, and religion. We are taught what is "real" and what is not. The Full Moon’s square to the lunar nodes at 2° Pisces–Virgo brings our judgments and fears into sharp relief, so we can see them for what they are: limited perceptions. Fear looks through a keyhole; love opens the door. What assumptions do you need to question? What do you think? And what do you know?
   
Uranus turns direct just a few hours before, adding an impatient buzz to this Full Moon. Even people who don't drink coffee may feel like they’ve had several cups of espresso. The mythic God of Chaos stations direct at 14°46’ Pisces, widening the doors of perception and intensifying the need for freedom and exploration. As a transpersonal planet, Uranus represents a high vibration that can be hard on the physical body, so do what you can to stay grounded. Listen to your intuition, channel the energy into a creative outlet, and be ready to take a quantum leap. The Sun’s square to Saturn at the end of the month (exact on November 30 at 8º14’ Sagittarius-Virgo) gives us a reality check if we’ve gone astray of our path. Remember: “When you follow your bliss … doors will open where you would not have thought there were doors … and the world will step in and help.”--Joseph Campbell

Below are some lovely Thanksgiving thoughts from Roberta Scaglione.

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Thanksgiving thoughts to ponder from Roberta Scaglione:

"Thanksgiving is about gratitude. Every year at our Thanksgiving meal, our family goes around the table and everyone says something for which they're thankful. Hearing what each person is thankful for is a gift unto itself...there's a value in gratitude on a daily basis, too, not just reserved for Thanksgiving. When you express gratitude on a daily basis, you attune your senses to focus not on what's going wrong, but on what's going right, not on what you don't want, but on what you want. And then a funny thing happens, you begin energizing what you want vs. what you don't want, and you begin to allow more fulfilling experiences back into your life. "Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life" (Christine Northrup, MD and author).

Oprah Winfrey puts it this way, "When you dwell on the reasons you have to be grateful, you open yourself to receiving more good -- and more good comes to you, as you begin to feel abundant, you'll be willing and able to pass positive things on to others…" It becomes a cycle of growth and abundance, instead of the all-too-familiar chain of pain. So how does all this focus on gratitude relate to prosperity?

Most people believe that being prosperous means having plenty of money. You hear people comment that, "I'll be prosperous when I make $ ____ a year" or "Prosperity means being a millionaire." Others define prosperity as "having freedom from having to worry about money." Yet the sad fact is that most of us do not experience prosperity no matter how much money we earn or have. Somehow, when our income increases, so does our level of financial responsibility or our standards for keeping up with the new position we hold, the new neighborhood we live in, etc. We seem to work longer and harder, yet find ourselves short on time for the simpler pleasures in life, relaxation and family time.

Shakti Gawain holds an illuminating perspective on prosperity. In her book, Creating True Prosperity, she says, prosperity has less to do with money than we think. According to her, prosperity is "the experience of having plenty of what we truly need and want in life, material and otherwise." In this light, we realize that true prosperity is "an internal experience, not an external state," and it is not caused by money. It's an inside job that translates to greater abundance on the outside!

So this month, consider a simple law of the universe: You can't attract what you want by focusing on what you don't have already. When you are grateful for what you have, instead of lamenting over what you don't have quite yet (money in the bank, a new car, whatever), you essentially magnetize more abundance and prosperity into your life.

Gratitude - your Gateway to Prosperity: Try these exercises to get your gratitude juices flowing, and see what happens! How might you be able to attract more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life this month, just by articulating what you are grateful for?

1.) Think of five things you would not change about your life. Write them down.
2.) What attributes do you see in yourself that you are thankful for? Name five of them.
3.) What five memories are you most grateful for? Write them down. If your memories involve friends or family, call to reminisce.
4.) Begin attracting abundance and grace into your relationships by focusing your efforts this way: Each day for one month, write down one reason you are thankful for your spouse/significant other or closest friend. At the end of the month, give him or her the list. (What a wonderful gift for the upcoming holiday season -- consider making a list for family members or for your children).
5.) Gratitude Graffiti Board: This is a fun way to add gratitude (and therefore abundance) during a challenging time in your life, or in a challenging work environment, where it is easy to focus on what you don't like and want vs. what you DO want. Simply take out a large piece of paper and hang it in your daily work space. (Or a write and wipe board works well, too.) Entitle it "Gratitude Graffiti Board". Then, every time you pass it on the way in or out of your office, the rule is that you have to think of one thing that you are grateful for in that moment. We have done this during tough times, and it's amazing how it
can shift your focus and your results over time!"

Date: November 7, 2007
Subject: New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next New Moon forms on Friday, November 9 at 3:04 PM PST at 17º Scorpio. This New Moon marks a spiritual crossroads, where the consequences of our choices are particularly momentous. We are being compelled to release what we have outgrown—a job, a relationship, a way of seeing or being--whatever has become stifling to our soul. The 8th sign teaches that there is no death, only transformation, the eternal dance of spirit in form. We eventually realize that letting go is not inherently painful; it is the holding on that causes suffering. What is dead or molting in your life? What is ready to be born? Neptune’s square to the Sun throughout the weekend makes it easier to remember our divinity, and perceive fear as a doorway rather than a wall.

Mars, the co-ruler of Scorpio, turns retrograde on November 15 at 12º Cancer. Unlike the outer planets, which appear to move backward each year, Mars retrogrades only once every 26 months. This backtracking greatly extends Mars’ passage time through Cancer, the sign most concerned with feelings, family, and the feminine. While retrograde, Mars urges us to make peace with our past, reassess our needs and strategies, and reduce unhealthy habits, interactions, and environments as much as possible. Mars will be retrograde until January 30, 2008, stationing direct at 24° Gemini and returning once again to 12º Cancer on April 4, 2008.

Yet another factor adds to the potency of this time. November 18 marks the beginning of the Fifth Night in the Mayan Galactic Underworld, which lasts until November 12, 2008. According to Carl Johan Calleman, author of The Mayan Calendar and the Evolution of Consciousness, this period corresponds to political power struggles, economic changes, and an increasing breakdown of the materialistic paradigm — all very Scorpionic themes. That this period is ruled by the Mayan God of Darkness, Tezcatlipoca, further emphasizes the alchemical challenge of these times and the necessity for us to embrace spiritual rather than material values.

Watch your day and night dreams closely. Schedule extra quiet time; meditation, creativity, and all manner of inner work are especially fruitful this weekend. On the day of the New Moon, light a candle, affirm your intentions, and consider: mind: “Fear is the carpet in front of the temple door….Spirituality is the end of arguing with what is. –Adyashanti

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

PS: I am changing internet providers and from this date on will be receiving emails at Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com only. Please eliminate stephanieaustin@earthlink.net if you have that in your address book; emails sent there will not be forwarded

Date: October 25, 2007
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next Full Moon peaks on Thursday October 25 at 9:51 PM PDT at 2º23’ Taurus-Scorpio and offers especially strong tailwinds for change. This (and next month's) Full Moon is a “SuperMoon” — a term coined by astrologer Richard Nolle for when the Moon is at or near perigee, its closest approach to the Earth during a New or Full Moon. This generates more extreme tidal, wind, and weather activity, and since our bodies are composed of 3/4 water, stronger emotional tides as well.

All Full Moons illuminate where we are, and where we want to be. They also intensify the shadow side of each sign. The Taurean Bull falls into the trap of complacency and materialism; the Scorpion loses its way in the temptations of power and passion. What do you really want? What do you really need? What is holding you back?

At the heart of our Milky Way Galaxy lies a super-massive Black Hole, four million times larger than our Sun, which not only absorbs but also transmits enormous amounts of electromagnetic energy. Pluto, the modern ruler of Scorpio, makes its third exact alignment with the Galactic Center (GC) at 26°56’ Sagittarius around October 27. The first one in 240 years was around December 28, 2006; the second, July 17, 2007, the day of the worldwide Fire the Grid meditation.  Pluto aligning with the GC provides tremendous energetic support for releasing old patterns and beliefs, and coincides with an even greater evolutionary change, identified by many names -- The Turning of the Ages, the Mayan End Times, the Hopi Fifth World, Timewave Zero, the Ascension, and the Great Awakening, among others. These prophecies indicate that humanity is in the process of making a dimensional shift, from duality to unity, from separation and fear to realizing our divinity and interconnectedness.

This  influx of light is quickening and accelerating our evolution. We are now able to clear up old issues in a few days or weeks that might have taken years to resolve or heal before. The challenge is to keep current, working through whatever comes up as soon as possible. We are experiencing a major upgrade, which is physically challenging as well. Take extra good care of yourself on all levels; listen closely to your heart and body. It’s extremely beneficial to do some kind of meditation and movement daily (yoga, qigong, swim, dance, walk in nature, etc.). Use your spiritual tools and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Call in your spiritual support team -- your guides, angels, power animals, the archangels, etc. are standing by, ready to assist. We only have to ask, and be willing to let go of the old programming.

A relevant excerpt from the book ET 101 by Zoev Jho:

“Mission Control is very aware that many of you are very weary and discouraged with this mission. From your current perception, we know it looks pretty bleak down there. To watch world systems in decay, ambulatory insanity at the helm, denial on a rampage, humanity down each other’s throats, and a dying biosphere is probably not your idea of a good time.

Try to remember that though you may be vastly outnumbered on this planet, you belong to a greater family that is by far in the majority of the remainder of the universe. Align with your heritage, remember your birthright, and be certain of your destiny. You are children of the stars, sired by light, and your reality is the superior one. The damage and corruption you see around you is just the ending choreography of the old world’s last dance, and the promised reclamation of this planet is but the final manifestation of a campaign that has already been won.”

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: October 10, 2007
Subject: Libra New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next New Moon forms at 18º Libra on Wednesday October 10 at 10:01 PM PDT. A New Moon in Libra brings our attention to partnerships and peacemaking, balance and equality, harmony and justice. The 7th sign calls us to examine the quality of our relationships, and to integrate our inner masculine and feminine as well. What do we love? What do we fear? What do we need to embrace?
    
Just before the Libra New Moon, Jupiter at 16º Sagittarius and Uranus at 16º Pisces form their third square this year (January 22, May 10, October 9). Jupiter in Sagittarius expands our horizons and our capacity to envision new possibilities; Uranus in Pisces sparks intuition and inspiration. A square represents a turning point — in this case, catalyzing important insights, innovations, and breakthroughs. This square relates back to February 15, 1997, the last conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus at 6º Aquarius. What was happening in your life then? How does that relate to what's happening now? Where do you need to take a leap of faith?

Mercury turns retrograde on October 11 at 9° Scorpio, remaining retrograde until November 1, when it stations direct at 23º Libra. The shadow point, when Mercury again reaches 9° Scorpio and fully completes its retrograde phase, is November 17. Mercury in Scorpio guides us into the unconscious, revealing hidden motivations and underscoring the direct correlation between honesty and intimacy. While retrograde, Mercury prompts us to clear up old resentments and misunderstandings.
What do we need to say? What do we need to accept? Blame keeps us stuck; forgiveness lets us move on. For helpful tools, read The Marriage of Spirit by Leslie Temple Thurston (the chapter on the powerful squares technique is available at
http://marriageofspirit.com/excerpts/chap11/index.html), Beth Hedva's book, Betrayal, Trust, and Forgiveness; A Guide to Emotional Healing and Self-Renewal, or Byron Katie's Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life.

Take some time around this New Moon to reflect on your priorities, your partnerships, and your place in the world. Watch the Draconids meteor shower if you can. Add your wishes to the Imagine Peace Tower (see below) and remember: "Peace happens one heart at a time." (Rama Vernon)

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

From: www.imaginepeace.com

"The Imagine Peace Tower is a work of art conceived by Yoko Ono in memory of John Lennon. It is dedicated to peace and bears the inscription 'IMAGINE PEACE' in 24 languages. Its construction and installation is a collaboration between Yoko Ono, the City of Reykjavik, Reykjavik Art Museum and Reykjavik Energy. The work is in the form of a wishing well from which a very strong and tall tower of light emerges. The strength, intensity and brilliance of the light tower continually changes as the particles in the air fluctuate with the prevailing weather and atmospheric conditions unique to Iceland.
Every year it will light up between October 9th (Lennon's birthday) and December 8th (the day of his death). In addition the Imagine Peace Tower will be lit on New Year's Eve, during the first week of spring and on some rare special occasions agreed between the City and Ono. The electricity for the light comes entirely from the Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant."

Date: Sunday, September 23, 2007
Subject: Equinox/ Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

Strong evolutionary tides continue. We are in the wake of two powerful eclipses in Virgo. If you’ve been feeling unusually fatigued, pressured, or otherwise out of sorts, you are probably responding to this major release of old patterns and programs. We are being rewired, recoded, and recalibrated to hold a higher vibration, a more unified level of consciousness. It’s more important than ever to listen to your body, eat well, and do some kind of exercise, yoga, or stretching daily.

Sunday, September 23 at 2:52 AM PDT the Sun moved into Libra. This marks the autumnal equinox, when the length of day is equal to the length of night, and an important shift. For the next six months the nights are longer than the days, turning our attention towards reflection and inner growth. Like a New Moon, the seasonal shifts are also excellent times to set new intentions. Meditate on what you are ready to let go of, and what you wish to bring into your life. What did you plant at the spring equinox? What are you harvesting now?

Wednesday, September 26 a Full Moon at 3º20’ Libra-Aries peaks at 12:45 PM PDT. Two weeks ago, on 9/11, there was an especially potent New Moon, a Solar Eclipse. This Full Moon illuminates what has changed since then, and what we need to address now. The Scales of Libra call us to rebalance inequalities in our relationships and imbalances in our lives. Are we being too selfish or too slavish? Is our life all work and no play? Too much Libra, too much concern with what others will think or want, necessitates more Aries, more assertiveness and initiative. Similarly, too much Aries, excessive self-interest and
impulsiveness, calls for more Libran consideration and cooperation. In what area of your life are you being called to take the initiative? Where do you need to negotiate new agreeements?

Venus, the ruling planet of Libra, is at 22º Leo, just past her final opposition to her higher-octave planet Neptune at 20º Aquarius. Due to retrograde motion, this year Venus made three oppositions, rather than just one, to Neptune (exact on June 30, August 25, and September 21). The mythic Goddess of Love and Beauty stands for personal love; Neptune, the fabled King of the Sea, symbolizes unconditional love. Their extended alignment this year encouraged everyone to come out of the spiritual closet, especially those with natal placements between 17º and 25º of fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius). Venus’ longer than usual passage through Leo, along with Neptune’s ongoing opposition to Saturn, kept the spotlight turned up on remembering whom we really are and what we came to do.

Mars, the ruling planet of Aries, at 29º Gemini is in waning opposition to Pluto at 27º Sagittarius. Like Venus and Neptune, these two planets are closely related as well. Mars stands for our personal will; Pluto, its higher octave, for divine intention, or “Thy will be done”. To have both of rulers of this Full Moon in opposition to their higher octave planets shifts the cosmic message of this lunation to a collective level, towards balancing the masculine and feminine, and uniting with our higher Self and with the Cosmos. This Full Moon reminds us that we are not alone. We are not separate. We are always in relationship,
always connected--to each other, to our Selves, to the Universe.

Visualize what you want for yourself and the world around the peak of this Full Moon if possible. Join with those who share your ideals. Follow your bliss and remember: ""We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another."--Luciano de Crescenzo

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: Monday, September 3, 2007
Subject: Special Update
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

We’re in a time of extraordinary flux and extraordinary opportunity. Because there are so many significant shifts this month, and because I will be in a meditation retreat during the upcoming Solar Eclipse, I’m sending a longer, more detailed update now.

The first half of September is galvanized by a mutable Grand Cross, which calls us to stay focused and flexible. Mars’ square with Uranus (17º Gemini-Pisces) links up with a Sun-Jupiter square (11º Virgo-Sagittarius) on September 3, and remains strong through the first week of September, urging us to “think different” and take a leap of faith. Beware of impatience; examine your options first, then take action.

Whenever an outer planet changes signs, an evolutionary doorway opens. Saturn, the archetype of manifestation and consequences, enters Virgo on September 2 and moves through the 6th sign until July 21, 2010. Those who were born with a Virgo emphasis (especially Sun, Moon, Ascendant, or outer planets in Virgo) will feel the pruning and purifying effects of Saturn most acutely. Are we in service, or servitude? For everyone, Saturn in Virgo calls us to improve all areas of life, especially our own health, the healthcare industry, and the Environment. The last time Saturn transited Virgo was November, 1977 to September, 1980; during that time the Voyager I space probe transmitted the first close-up images of Saturn. That period also saw the beginning of the decade long Iraq-Iran war, the UN General Assembly calling for Soviet troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster.

On September 7, Pluto completes its yearly retrograde phase, which began on March 31 at 28º58’ Sagittarius and ends at 26º18’ Sagittarius. All retrograde phases represent a time of review, release, and realignment. Pluto’s retrograde in Sagittarius offered opportunities to become aware of the beliefs and assumptions that were blocking our progress. If we have weeded out those out, we feel ready to move on, move up, and/or move out as Pluto turns direct.

The next day, September 8, Venus ends its once every two years retrograde period, which began on July 27 at 3º Virgo and ends at 16º35’ Leo. Venus’ retrograde passage encouraged us to reassess the degree to which our lives reflect our values. Retrograde periods also encourage us to complete things; in Venus’s case, especially in terms of art projects or unresolved relationships. If we have addressed unfinished business, our true desires and priorities are clear now.

September 11, a Lunar Eclipse forms at 5:44 AM PDT at 18º25’ Virgo. Core issues and patterns dissolve, karmas are balanced, lives reconfigured. Nineteen years ago, on September 10, 1987 there was a Solar Eclipse at 18º39’ Virgo. Whatever was important that year for you is now either culminating, or ready to go to the next level. Uranus opposes the Sun in Virgo during the eclipse (exactly on September 9), reminding us that intuition is more powerful than intellect; the Awakener also apprises us that the tighter we hold on to the old, the bigger the shock necessary to move us forward.

The third week of September is highlighted by the Sun’s square to Mars on 9/17 (25º Virgo-Gemini), the Sun’s square to Pluto on 9/19 (26º Virgo-Sagittarius), and Mars’ opposition to Pluto on 9/21 (26º Gemini-Sagittarius). Check your motivation carefully before speaking or reacting. Watch for shadow material—disowned aspects of ourselves that we project on others. Remember power struggles are always an indicator of fear. What is your worst fear? What is your deepest desire? What is
your highest truth? This volatile T-square can be used for great healing or great harm. Draw on it consciously. Use it to release the shadow side of Virgo, which gets derailed by self-deprecation and distracted by inessentials.

The winds of change blow intensely throughout this month. Raise your sails and keep checking to make sure you are heading to where you want to go. "When I dare to be powerful---to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid."-- Audre Lorde

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

© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

A total Lunar Eclipse, an extra powerful Full Moon, occurs on Tuesday, August 28 at 4º45’ Virgo-Pisces. This eclipse will be visible in most of North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Ocean, beginning around midnight, peaking at 3:35 AM, and ending at around 5 AM PDT. If you are outside between 3 and 4 AM PDT when the Moon is completely with the Earth’s shadow, you’ll have a special experience of the Moon, as it is dimly lit by earthlight rather than sunshine. Nineteen years ago, on August 27, 1988, there was a Lunar Eclipse at 4º28’ Virgo-Pisces, very close to the degree of this eclipse. What was important in your life back then? What is calling you now?

The cosmic keywords for this Lunar Eclipse are focus and faith. The Sun in Virgo encourages us to be discerning and flexible; the Moon in Pisces attunes us to our intuition and soul intentions. Mercury, the mythic Messenger, opposes Uranus at 17º Pisces, prodding us to think out of the box. This combo generates important discoveries and breakthroughs, but also edginess and impatience. Stay present, listen to your intuition, and keep coming back to what’s most important. 
 
Whenever an outer planet changes signs, an evolutionary doorway opens. Saturn, the archetype of manifestation and consequences, is at the 29º degree of Leo, poised to move into the next sign, something that happens every 2 1/2 to 3 years. Saturn’s passage through Virgo (September 2, 2007 to July 21, 2010) compels us towards what is most effective, most efficient, and most essential. The last time the Reaper passed through Virgo was November 16, 1977 to September 21,
1980. Those with natal placements in Virgo (especially Virgo Sun, Moon, or Ascendant) will feel the clarifying and pruning effects of Saturn most acutely. Are we in service, or servitude? Collectively, Saturn in Virgo calls us to work on issues of self-esteem, personal health, the healthcare industry, and/or the environment.

Mars at 13º Gemini is approaching a square to Uranus, exact on September 3, the same day the Sun squares Jupiter at 11º Virgo-Sagittarius. This creates a wide Mutable Cross between the Sun, Jupiter, Mars, and Uranus, which extends and amplifies the transformative power of this eclipse through the first week of September and beyond. Cosmic Simon says: Look before you leap. Then leap! "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."--T. S. Eliot

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

© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: Sunday, August 12 at 4:02 PM PDT
Subject: New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next New Moon forms on Sunday, August 12 at 4:02 PM PDT at 20º Leo. The word destiny comes from the same cognate as destination, and is “a purpose for which somebody or something is intended” (Websters Dictionary). This New Moon calls us back to our soul intentions and sacred destination. What were we born for? What special gift do we have to offer? Why did we choose to incarnate at this momentous time on Earth?

Not only are the Sun and Moon in Leo, but Mercury, Venus, and Saturn as well. With five of the ten planets in Leo, it's easier to hear and follow our heart. The day after this New Moon, on August 13, Venus and Saturn make the second of three exact conjunctions this year (the first was on July 1, the third occurs on October 13). Whenever the mythic Goddess of Love and Beauty meets Father Time and The Reaper, relationships and priorities undergo a reality check. Do we have what we want? Do we want what we have? What would Love do? Saturn says to Venus: Be truthful. Be prudent. And be real.

Neptune at 21º Aquarius closely opposes the Sun and Moon, and more widely opposes Mercury, Venus, and Saturn in Leo, helping shift our identity from our ego to our essence, and also extending a major reorientation process that began last year when Saturn made the first of three exact oppositions to Neptune on August 31, 2006 (the second was on February 28, 2007 and the third was June 25, 2007). Saturn’s opposition to Neptune has starkly exposed the consequences of elitism, as well as the disparity between our ideals and our current reality. The Saturn-Neptune opposition in the mid-degrees of Leo-Aquarius has especially affected the Pluto in Leo generation, nudging millions of Baby Boomers to reclaim their power. During this opposition The Secret was first released as a film (Neptune), detailing the Law of Attraction (Saturn), and the mechanics of creation (Leo), to the masses (Aquarius). Watch or read The Secret for reminders on the importance of focusing on what you want, rather than energizing what you don’t want. Check your inner compass when Neptune opposes the Sun on August 13. Clarify goals and eliminate distractions when the Sun makes its yearly conjunction with Saturn on August 21. You are the captain of your ship. You are the master of your fate. Focus on your destination, your destiny. Everyone counts. Everyone matters.

Schedule in some soul time around this New Moon. Watch the Perseid Meteor showers if possible. “Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty” (Anne Herbert). This New Moon encourages us to remember our dreams and our mission, for "We are stardust, we are golden, we are billion year old carbon. And we got to get ourselves back to the garden." (from Woodstock by Joni Mitchell).

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

© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: Sunday, July 29 at 5:48 PM PDT
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next Full Moon peaks on Sunday, July 29 at 5:48 PM PDT at 7º Leo-Aquarius. This fiery Full Moon impels us to share our gifts and visions. The Sun in Leo advises: Remember your divine essence and mission. Be true to yourself. There has never been, nor will ever be, anyone exactly like you. The Moon in Aquarius says: You are not alone. There are many who share your dreams and ideals. Come together. Co-create the future you wish to live.

Jupiter at 10° Sagittarius is trine the Sun and sextile the Moon, increasing optimism and creativity. Jupiter’s expansive influence is intensified by its turning direct on August 6. We’re preparing to act on what we’ve learned since April 5, when Jupiter stationed retrograde at 20° Sagittarius. We’ve eliminated some old beliefs, raised our sights, and are now ready to take a big step forward.

Venus’s influence is also strong around this Full Moon, since the mythic Goddess of Love and Beauty stations retrograde on Friday, July 27 at 3° Virgo. Venus rules affairs of the heart; her once-every-two-years retrograde phase offers an opportunity to resolve unfinished business, especially in relationships or artistic endeavors. Venus retrograde in Virgo asks us to become more discerning and less judgmental; in Leo, more authentic and less self-conscious. New priorities emerge by September 8, when Venus stations direct at 17° Leo, and are more integrated into our lives by the time Venus crosses
3° Virgo again on October 11. Venus’s extended proximity to Saturn (within 16° from mid June to mid October) highlights issues around self-esteem and commitment. What do we need to work on? What do we need to accept?

On July 25, Saturn crossed 25° Leo, the degree where it last stationed on December 5, 2006. Since last December, we’ve become more mindful of how we are expressing our truth and power; it is becoming more and more difficult to sustain anything not in alignment with our path. Mars’s close square to Saturn (exact on July 31 at 26° Taurus–Leo) and its quincunx with Pluto (exact on August 1 at 27° Taurus–Sagittarius) press us to concentrate on our next step and eliminate distractions. Saturn says to Mars: Go for the gold. Work toward what you really want. Pluto, the higher octave of Mars, impels us to examine our assumptions and to recognize where we are not walking our talk. Saturn’s trine to Pluto (exact on August 6 at 27° Leo–Sagittarius) reveals where each of us can make a difference.

What is your passion? How do you want the world to be? This Full Moon reminds us: “There are only two ways to live your life — one is as if everything is a miracle, the other is as though nothing is a miracle.” ~~Albert Einstein

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved
www.EcoAstrology.com

Date: Tues, 17 July 2007, 11:11 AM Greenwich Mean Time
Subject: FIRE THE GRID

Dear Friends,

An important one-hour, global meditation will take place on Tuesday July 17, starting at 11:11am Greenwich Mean Time (4:11am PDT). See www.firethegrid.com for more details. July 17th is also the day of the second exact alignment of Pluto with the Galactic Center.

 "Just as our body's meridians need care and support, so do the Earth grids. They need to be strengthened enormously and their light level must be increased now if the planet and humanity are going to make the evolutionary leap in consciousness, which is our highest potential.

Just as we can increase the light of our own body’s meridians through meditation, so too can we increase the light level of the Earth’s meridians...The depletion of the Earth grid has led to humanity’s extreme experience of separation from the cosmos. Restoring wholeness to the grids will be humanity’s re-experiencing of its connectedness to the cosmos. It is through these grids that we know who we are...Please share this news with your friends so that we have as many people as possible meditating and praying with us on July 17."--Leslie Temple Thurston (www.corelight.org)

Below is an excerpt of an article by Owen Waters which includes a simple but powerful ancient meditation technique. If you can't join in at 4:11 AM PDT or do an entire hour, particicpate in whatever way works for you.

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin

This article was written by Owen Waters, author of "The Shift: The Revolution in Human Consciousness"
www.infinitebeing.com

"The organizers of the event are asking participants to allow the healing power of the cosmos to flow freely through them and into the
center of the Earth. Then, to see this energy of healing love come out into the atmosphere around the planet to fire the grid of human consciousness. When you hold the intention for a healthy planet and for humanity to be better connected with spirit, with each other and with the Earth, you are strengthening the grid of human consciousness which surrounds this planet. There are many ways to heal the Earth and the grid. In fact, there are as many potential ways as there are people on the planet. While any method of connecting with the ultimate source is perfectly valid, one of the most deeply beautiful ways is the Earth-Sky technique taught by Drunvalo Melchizedek. In its beauty and simplicity, it is incredibly powerful and effective... According to Drunvalo, this meditation is as old as humanity and variations of it have been used for thousands of years by indigenous people in the Americas and Australasia. It’s purpose is to enable an ordinary person to consciously experience the direct presence of God. By being in that presence and by realizing your connection with the Creator, the Earth and the grid, you will help to fire the grid in an extremely potent manner.

The Practice of the Earth-Sky Technique

Sit upright with your hands resting in your lap, palms facing upwards. Breathe rhythmically and evenly. Let your attention follow your breath and let your everyday thoughts go.

Imagine a scene from nature which is beautiful to you. It can be a scene from the countryside, the beach or the mountains. Look at the gentle white clouds in the deep blue sky. Feel the love that you have for nature and for the Mother Earth. Allow this love to build until it fills your very being and then place it in an energy ball, perhaps two inches (5 cm) in diameter.

Now, send this energy ball filled with your love for the Earth down into the center of the Mother Earth. She will feel the love that you have for her. Then you wait until you feel the love she returns to you. Do not try to imagine what it will feel like. Simply wait until it happens. When the Mother Earth returns your love, you will know it beyond any doubt, because her love is truly profound. As an advanced spiritual being, she will return a much higher quality of love than you ever imagined. Stay connected with this love that you share with the Mother Earth for as long as you wish.

Then, turn your attention to the sky and all that lies beyond. There is the Sun in the heavens, there are the stars of our Milky Way galaxy and, beyond our sight, lies the enormous Central Sun of the universe, which feeds all of Creation with constant, uplifting and life-giving energy. Feel the love that you have for all of God and all of Creation. Let this love grow and grow in every cell of your being. Then place it in another small energy ball of love and send that into the heart of Creation.

You wait patiently until the Father aspect of Creation sends its love back to you and you experience this uplifting surge of love and support from the All That Is. Let this love move through your body and all your cells.At that moment you are in perfect balance, being in love with the Divine Mother and the Divine Father principles at the same time.

While feeling the bonds of love between you and the Divine Mother and Father, simply allow yourself to experience the presence of God
directly. Allow God to enter your body, your spirit, your soul and the space all around you. You are now one with the Source, connected to All That Is. This is the silent realm of experience without words and without definition. This is where all the human race is eventually headed. Be with the One. Be the One. You are, and always have been, Infinite Being.

Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2007
Subject: New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

I’m sending this ahead of schedule because I will be away from 7/7 to 7/13, celebrating my birthday kayaking and communing with the orcas in British Columbia. If you are interested in the New Moon Monthly Forecast and/or the Vocation and Astrology workshop in Port Townsend, WA, there is still space available for both events (info above).

The next New Moon forms on Saturday, July 14 at 5:04 AM PDT at 22º Cancer. New Moons are always good times to envision our future and set new intentions. A New Moon in Cancer invites us to reflect on the current level of sustenance in our lives. Are we taking good care of our body? Are we conscious of our thoughts? Our feelings? Our soul desires? What are we yearning for? This New Moon reminds us of the importance of monitoring each level of our being.

What we need changes. Like the crab, we must periodically molt and let go of what has defined and protected us, in order to grow. What was once beneficial later becomes constrictive and even toxic. We outgrow clothes, jobs, relationships, and paradigms. The crab offers further analogies. If we have too thick a shell, we become isolated and imprisoned in our own little world. Too thin a shell, and we are unable to meet life’s challenges. Too far from the water, too removed from our emotions, and we shrivel rather than thrive. Where this New Moon falls in your chart is where you are requiring extra nourishment and
preparing to go to the next level.

Pluto at 27º Sagittarius is very close to the Galactic Center (exact on July 17th); such a conjunction, which only occurs every 240 years, represents the closing of an era and the dismantling of the beliefs and structures that supported it. This is the second of Pluto’s three exact alignments to the Galactic Center (GC) at 26º56’ Sagittarius. The first was on December 29, 2006; the third will be on October 26, 2007. Like remodeling a house, things can get quite messy until the new constructs are in place. Pluto also represents the shadow and the necessity to confront all that has been suppressed in order to ascend to a more unified level of consciousness. The mythic Lord of Death and Rebirth reminds us that, just as there is no real death but only transformation, there is no real darkness—only places where light (i.e. consciousness) has not yet shone. Pluto’s conjunction with the GC activates our cellular memories of other times and dimensions, holding open a door to a much more expanded awareness of who we really are and why we came to planet Earth.

It’s never been easier to move beyond our wounding and into our wholeness. Our feelings will guide us, like a Geiger counter, toward what we need now. See Owen Water's article below for more. Listen to your body, watch your day and night dreams, and remember: "You grow only by coming to the end of something and by beginning something else.” (John Irving)

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
email: Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved
EcoAstrology.com

YOUR INNER COMPASS (excerpt) by Owen Waters
author of "The Shift: The Revolution in Human Consciousness"
http://www.InfiniteBeing.com

"Your purpose in life is an ever-unfolding saga. Like a journey across the seas by boat, your journey through life is made safe and direct by the use of a compass. In this journey, you have a built-in compass that helps you navigate in the most appropriate direction.

That compass is your sense of innermost joy. As an expression of your inner being, like a compass, your innermost joy points the way. When you think about the one action you could take right now which would move you towards the most long-term inner joy, you are seeing that course of action which is most connected to your inner being.

Because destinations in life are reached in steps or stages, your inner compass can actually point in seemingly different directions on different days. They key is to realize that the one task you can best address at any given moment is the one which is most aligned with your innermost joy.

Each step on a journey is different; yet, all steps lead to the final destination. If you are inspired to do one thing today and to do something different tomorrow, it is because those tasks are both steps along the pathway to the desired destination. Trust in the timing of your inner guidance. Its wisdom comes from the part of you which is your connection to the universe and to Infinite Being.

Be attentive to your inspiration and the ideas that it brings. Make a note of these ideas as they occur and, in retrospect, you will be amazed as to how insightful they were."

Date: Tues, 26 Jun 2007
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next Full Moon peaks on Saturday, June 30th at 6:50 AM PDT at 9º Cancer-Capricorn. Full Moons are excellent times to see how far we have come and to decide whether to carry on or change course. The Sun in Cancer asks: Are we happy? Are we growing? The Moon in Capricorn questions: Are we fulfilling our dharma? Are we manifesting our life purpose? This Full Moon makes it easier for us to recognize the difference between what we are doing, what we think we should be doing, and what we really want to do be doing. It offers a strong spiritual tailwind for releasing family patterns and remembering our soul intentions.

Cancer is the first water sign in the zodiac, symbolizing the development of the emotional body and the importance of feelings. It is also the most feminine sign, the archetype of the mother and child, and the principle of nurturance. Children are naturally in touch with their feelings; they know what they need and easily express them, unless they have been traumatized or otherwise stifled. In modern Western cultures, most people are taught to ignore or override their feelings and, as a consequence, have difficulty knowing “what they want to be when they grow up.” If we are told that we are “too sensitive” or “boys don’t cry,” if we think feelings are a nuisance or a weakness, we lose the valuable information they offer. We then hunger for something we can’t name and get trapped in overeating, overwork, or other addictions. Our inner child may be muffled, but our body remembers, storing unexpressed emotions until we are ready to face them. Mercury's retrograde through Cancer (June 15 to July 9) encourages us to catch up with our inner child and make peace with our past.

This Full Moon reminds us of the importance of being good mothers to ourselves—to do the things that nourish us, and eliminate the things that detour and deplete us. To grow, to make a change, there has to be more energy coming in than going out. Pay special attention this week to what “feeds” you, what gives you energy, and what drains you. “It is your choice as to what you decide to create, but you do have three grand purposes in life—to love yourself—love others—and love what you do.”—Archangel Michael through Orpheus Phylos and Virginia Essene.

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved
EcoAstrology.com

Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2007
Subject: New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next New Moon forms on Thursday, June 14th at 8:13 PM PDT at 24º Gemini. This New Moon focuses our attention on the power of the mind. Pluto  at 28º Sagittarius is opposite this New Moon and forms an exact alignment with the Sun on June 18, highlighting what is still in the shadow. Pluto represents the force of the unconscious; and in Sagittarius, the profound influence of our beliefs. What is being mirrored to us? What is true now? As the archetype of death and rebirth, Pluto’s yearlong conjunction with the Galactic Center, the heart of our Milky Way Galaxy, hastens the crossing of an evolutionary threshold--a dimensional shift from duality to unity, from the illusion of separation to the realization of our divinity and interrelationship with all Creation.

Mercury, Gemini’s ruling planet, turns retrograde on June 15 at 12° Cancer, echoing Pluto’s directive to get out of our heads and into our hearts. In 2007, all three of Mercury's retrograde stations occur in water signs, doubling the mythic Messenger’s travel time through Pisces, Cancer, and Scorpio. These retrogrades offer opportunities to clear emotional blockages, enabling us to feel a greater connection with our higher self (Pisces), with our emotions (Cancer), and with others (Scorpio). When retrograde, Mercury invites us to spend more time in the upper and lower worlds, listening to our intuition and integrating what has been buried in the unconscious. Moving backward in Cancer, Mercury directs us to catch up with our inner child, heal old wounds, and eliminate what is unhealthy for us.

Uranus, the higher octave of Mercury, is also approaching his yearly turn retrograde on June 23 at 19° Pisces. Watch for important revelations, stay extra grounded and flexible around that day. The Awakener’s retrograde phase in Pisces (until November 24) helps us to spot doorways and alternatives we might have missed earlier. Uranus in Pisces says: You have access to divine intelligence. Ask. Listen. Give thanks. Then act.

Neptune trines this New Moon and makes its third and final exact opposition to Saturn on June 25 at 22° Leo–Aquarius, supporting greater access to intuition and fuller embodiment of our soul intentions. Neptune's three oppositions to Saturn (the first was August 31, 2006; the second, February 28, 2007) have further dissolved the illusion of duality, reminding us that we are spirit (Neptune) masquerading as matter (Saturn). Those born when Pluto was in the middle degrees of Leo
(1947–1954) have had the most insistent wake-up calls to fully claim their creative power and share their unique gifts. For everyone, the Saturn–Neptune opposition has illuminated the gap between our ideals and our current reality. That powerful alignment, along with this New Moon, reminds us that: "It may just be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work, and when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey."-- Wendell Berry. For more on this week's energies, read Jennifer Hoffman’s channeling Receiving What You Need from Others below.

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved
EcoAstrology.com

RECEIVING WHAT YOU NEED FROM OTHERS
channeled by Jennifer Hoffman  UrielHeals.com

In every interaction with others each person receives exactly what they need from the other. Whether these interactions are loving or full of fear, make you feel good or bad, you each receive what you need from someone else. And they receive what they need from you. As everything in your life is part of your lesson here, every person in your life has something to teach you and you to teach them, no matter how brief the encounter. If you believe that only the situations that have a positive, loving outcome are valuable and worthy of your time, you may be missing some of your most important learning experiences.

It is not the easy experiences that provide you with the most learning, but the most difficult. These are the ones where you must look for the lessons, to see past your own fears and indeed, to understand how this person can awaken such fear in you. These lessons provide you with a mirror of the darkest aspects of your human experience, of your need for healing. You can be grateful to those who provide you with these experiences for they are giving you a wonderful gift.

Those who you feel have the most to learn can often show you where your lessons are too. There are no accidents, nothing that occurs without a healing purpose. You can find the lessons in every situation when you remember that the purpose of your journey is healing and reconnection, nothing more. Each of you is a mirror for everyone, just as they are a mirror for you. When you do not like what you see, remember that you are looking in a mirror.

Once you acknowledge that you have received what you need from someone, the dynamics of the relationship can change or it can end. There is no need to allow difficult relationships to continue and they do because neither person can learn what they need and allow the dynamics to change. Conflict on all levels of human experience can end when each person can receive what they need from someone and then let them go. This week, consider a difficult relationship that you are experiencing. What do you need from that person and what do they need from you? Is it understanding, forgiveness, acknowledgement of fear, unconditional love, changing beliefs? Once you acknowledge what you need from that situation and accept it, you can let it go and each move forward on your path.

Date: Tues, 29 May 2007
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The second Full Moon in May peaks on the 31st at 6:04 PM PDT at 10º Gemini-Sagittarius. Because the interval between Full Moons is 29.5 days, and because eight of the twelve months of the year have 31 days, every several years two Full Moons fall within one calendar month. The term “Blue Moon” originated from a Farmers’ Almanac editor, who used a blue pencil to circle the date of the fourth Full Moon occurring within a season. The term has since come to be associated with any “extra” Full Moon. The occurrence of a second Full Moon in a month is thus due to the structure of the Gregorian calendar, and although not significant astrologically, it has gained prominence through widespread reference and repetition. The origin of the “Blue Moon” illustrates the primary theme of this Full Moon: the power of our mind and attention in creating our reality.

Full Moons illuminate the heights and depths of each sign. Gemini, the first air sign, deals with the individual development of language, thought, and communication. The Twins are best when ever-curious and able to listen as well as talk; the shadow side is the know-it-all or chatterbox. Sagittarius, the third fire sign, is concerned with the acquisition of wisdom gained from experience and exposure to different cultures and viewpoints. The Archer’s best is the sage who understands the big picture; its dark side is bigotry and dogmatism. Where do we need to listen, and where do we need to speak out? Jupiter, the ruling planet of Sagittarius, is at 15°32’ Sagittarius, conjunct the Moon and opposed the Sun, aiming the spotlight on questioning assumptions and discovering our truth. Gemini’s ruling planet, Mercury, is in Cancer, inviting us to check in with our heart. If it sounds good but doesn’t feel right, it’s not right.

This Full Moon closely squares the lunar nodes at 11°43’ Pisces–Virgo, thus forming a mutable grand cross. Mutable signs are concerned with integration and distribution: Gemini learns and communicates, Virgo analyzes and improves, Sagittarius interprets and teaches, and Pisces intuits and unifies. A grand cross challenges us to use each sign appropriately. The transiting North Node symbolizes our collective spiritual frontier, what we are evolving toward. In Pisces, the transiting North Node calls us to become more compassionate and aware of our inherent divinity. The transiting South Node (which is always
opposite the transiting North Node) reflects the past —where we are coming from and what we need to let go of in order to advance. As the transiting lunar nodes pass through Pisces–Virgo (June 22, 2006 to December 17, 2007), humanity moves toward direct perception of and identification with the spiritual, by releasing the negative side of Virgo: servitude and self-deprecation. The last time the transiting lunar nodes were in this position was the period of December 1, 1987 to May 22, 1989 — a time of increased interest in and awakening to metaphysical truths.

Watch for important insights and revelations around this Full Moon. Remember that: “The search for truth is more precious than its possession.”—Albert Einstein.

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

Date: Mon, 14 May 2007
Subject: New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next New Moon forms on Wednesday, May 16th at 12:29 p.m. PDT at 25º33’ Taurus. As the first earth sign, Taurus represents the beauty and realities of the physical world. It also represents the process of determining what is most necessary and valuable to us. This New Moon invites us to contemplate our relationship to matter, and what matters most. Do we have what we want? Do we want what we have? Too little Taurus, and we miss the delights of experiencing spirit in matter; too much, and our lives become stagnant and constrained by our possessions. What makes you feel rich? What brings you joy?

The fixed grand cross formed at the last Full Moon has now shifted to a fixed T-square between the Sun–Moon, Saturn, and Neptune — less intense but still nudging us to let go of whatever is out of alignment with our higher purpose. The ongoing opposition of Saturn in Leo to Neptune in Aquarius urges us to express our creativity and collaborate with like-minded souls. Pluto’s quincunx to the Sun and Moon prods us to question the religious or cultural beliefs about the physical world and
remember our interconnectedness.

Both Neptune and Chiron are about to change direction. Chiron at 15º41’ Aquarius begins his five month retrograde on May 20th, moving backward until October 19th. During a retrograde period, we discover and shift the patterns and beliefs that have been holding us back. Chiron in Aquarius offers opportunities to heal the wounds of alienation incurred as an agent of change. Those wounds heal as we find and join with other resonant souls who also have chosen to be on the front lines of the Aquarian Age. Neptune stations retrograde on May 24th at 22°02’ Aquarius, moving backwards until October 31st. During Neptune’s retrograde phase, we work on dissolving the parental, social, and cultural programming that keeps us from living in connection and community.

Clarify your goals and intentions around this New Moon, and remember:
“Your body is the harp of your soul, and it is yours to bring forth sweet music from it or confused sounds.”--Kahlil Gibran

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: Tues, 1 May 2007
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

We are approaching an extra powerful Full Moon, which peaks on Wednesday, May 2nd at 3:09 AM PDT at 12º Taurus-Scorpio. Full Moons illumine what has been germinating below the surface. At the New Moon, we plant new seeds; by the Full Moon, we see what has formed thus far and whether we want to continue in that direction. The Moon in Scorpio shines on what’s been in the dark, in the shadows of our awareness. Have we missed any warning signs? Have we been totally honest? With ourselves as well as others? The Sun in Taurus spotlights what we really want, and we need to see in order to achieve our desires.

Taurus is the sign most concerned with the development of values, both in terms of material objects and our own sense of self-worth. In the West, the religious doctrine of original sin — that we are inherently unworthy and in need of salvation — pervades collective consciousness. In some countries, like the United States, low self-esteem (and its flip side, arrogance) is practically epidemic; in others, virtually unknown. The concept had to be explained to the spiritual leader of Tibet, the 14th Dalai Lama, because it does not exist in his culture. Taurus rules money and resources as well as values, reflecting the connection between self-worth and our relationship to the material world. Feelings of worthlessness lead to self-denial or overindulgence. Ruled by Venus, the archetype of love and beauty, Taurus represents the development of a loving relationship with oneself; as the first earth sign, it denotes a respectful relationship to the physical world. It’s no coincidence that many cultures celebrated this time of the year, the height of spring and the fecundity of the Earth. This is also the Wesak Moon, the celebration of the Buddha’s enlightenment and an especially potent time for meditation, prayer, and group ceremony.

Another factor adds to the transformative power of this Full Moon. Mercury conjuncts the Sun, making it easier for us to see what is coming from ego and what is coming from our essence. Both Mercury and the Sun at 12º Taurus are widely squared by Chiron at 15° Aquarius and Saturn at 18° Leo; these planets, along with the Moon in Scorpio, form a Fixed Grand Cross. A grand cross (also called a Grand Square) consists of four squares. Fixed energy consolidates, and squares are turning points, so a fixed grand cross forces the breakdown of long-standing patterns and their reconfiguration at a higher level. It offers us the option: change or be changed. If we’re not sure what we need to do differently, the Sun’s exact square to Saturn on May 9th brings it into sharp relief.

Take some time around this Full Moon to review your priorities. See if you feel called to participate in May 1st Global Love Day (http://www.thelovefoundation.com) or the Global Ascension Meditation on May 17, 2007 http://ascension.vision2012.net). Read Steve Rother’s channeling below for important reminders. Practice “random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty” and remember: “It is the heart that makes you rich. You are rich according to what you are, not according to what you have.”  Henry Ward Beecher

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved


BEACONS OF LIGHT
Channeling by Steve Rother
www.Lightworker.com .

God Incarnate

On a very deep level you know that you are playing a Game of not being able to re-member who you are; you understand you are playing a wonderful, beautiful game in order to see God. We tell you, that is the simplicity of it. The reality of it is that you are the whole of God.  You are an integral part of God—not simply a piece of God such as the arm, the leg, or the fingernail. Instead, each one of you carries the entire essence and all the abilities of God within you.  Every one of you carries the Light within every cell of your being.  Finding that light and shining it brightly so that it can be seen by others is what you came here to do.  That is the Game you are playing.  It is God, hiding from himself, searching for herself.  Balancing that male/female energy becomes one of the biggest pieces of the Game. Today, we will show you another viewpoint that will help you to see yourself from a different perspective. Re-member, this is not a right perspective, nor a wrong perspective, not a good perspective nor a bad perspective; opposites do not exist the way you think they do.  Opposites are merely pieces of the same part viewed from a different perspective.

The Drama of the Game

We are going to start with a single word to show you this new viewpoint. Many of you will recoil from this word when you hear it, because it has mostly a negative meaning.  The word is “drama.” Oh, you really do not want dramas in your life.  If there is a drama in your life, you say, “Do not get that drama near me. I do not want any part of it!” But the reality is that humans are playing a grand drama.  That is what you do. You are attracted to dramas.  You are inexorably drawn to dramas.  That is why you love to watch television and movies.  It is very refreshing to watch dramas played out in the lives of people to which you have no attachment. That is why you are so excited to go see a play where someone is playing a role.  Now take that actor for a moment and place yourself in his/her shoes... what is happening to the actor on the stage?  The actor is thinking: Ahh, the audience is crying, so I am doing a good job.”  Your greatest desire as an actor is to lead the audience from tears to laughter as they follow the entire drama of the character you are representing.  Like that actor on stage, you are expressing a drama in your own life.  You are expressing an idea, a message and a story line much the same way as that actor on the stage. You are a spirit acting out the difficult drama of pretending to be a human.  Like all actors you studied your lines well and prepared for the play before the curtain went up.  You even scripted the lines of the play in the planning stage of your life before you were born. The only difference is that you are playing out this drama on the stage of free choice so you are not restricted to stay within the script that you wrote.  The entire play can be impromptu.  Yet even when you do exercise your ability to improvise, you always wonder if you are really“on your path” or “on your script”.  You are naturally drawn to return to the script you wrote for yourself. You are all actors. You are all playing an individual drama.  So let us remove some of the negative ideas around the word “drama’ and look at its positive effect. 

Drama Rules

We tell you that there are no rules to the drama of life.  Even so, there are ideas and concepts that can help you to understand the way it really works.  In effect, this is like pulling the veil aside to show you what is behind the curtain of the stage upon which you are playing.   We now pull the curtain aside to show you some simple ideas that may help you with gaining this new perspective.  The first idea is so simple that most humans have difficulty accepting it, yet it is the single most fundamental guideline of the play of life.  “Life is a self-fulfilling prophecy.”  Now to truly understand and embrace that statement, one must assume a huge amount of responsibility.  The truth is that most humans are not generally ready to accept that much responsibility.  Instead, they accept the idea that there are outside influences that control the drama of life.  “I was born with this.  This is my destiny. This is what I must deal with.  This is not my fault.”  But, if life is truly a self-fulfilling prophecy—which it is—you have choice in every second of every day. Every second of every day provides you with an opportunity to change your life…not necessarily toward the good or toward the bad, but to simply change. 

Now we give you another concept that will help you on the stage of your drama:  “Every change in life leads to something better.” The play would be very boring if nothing in the scene ever changed.  In fact, the entire script depends on constant change; it is change that makes the drama interesting.  Of course, it doesn’t always appear that way when you have just lost your job, when a relationship breaks up, when you are depressed or looking inward and you cannot seem to find yourself.  Even so, we tell you one thing is constant in the long term—every change leads to something better.  When you are able to recognize that you do have choices and that every change leads to something better, you can then understand ways of directing your drama.

Flipping through the Channels

As you click your TV remote control flipping through the television stations, you will see both dramas that resonate with you and ones that do not.  Some television shows are boring and some are very exciting, while some educate and still others will make you cry. As a viewer you flip through channels to find the ones that resonate with you.  It is important to understand that the separate channels are meant to attract different viewers.  That is the reason there are so many of them. We hope you always choose a channel that empowers you the viewer.  Now put yourself on the other side of the remote control and understand that you are the actor playing out the part; you have the choice of changing that script in any moment.  You have the opportunity of viewing that drama from a different perspective if you so choose.

The empowered humans that now inhabit planet Earth will watch different channels than humans of earlier times.  Humanity is evolving at an astounding rate at this very moment.  It is now possible to walk in full power through daily life.  With that power comes a huge amount of responsibility.  The reason most humans still do not walk in their full power is that they resist taking the responsibility needed to balance that power. Take the responsibility and you will have the power.  Responsibility is the balance to power, so grasp the responsibility in whatever area that you wish to change and it will be so.  Even if it is only a concept, even if it is only the responsibility of acknowledging that you are an actor on a stage accepting that you have control over your life. 

…Cranberry Sauce

We ask you, what do you want in your life?  What are you willing to accept? Are you willing to create the path just before your feet hit the ground? What is that going to take?  That is going to take your willingness, asking yourself what you can do to step out of the play—to step behind the remote control and press the pause button while you evaluate all the parts of your own drama.  We have spoken of drama before.  There was a time we likened drama to the great smorgasbord of Earth. When humans go through the buffet line, they take a little bit of passion and a portion of love, and they love love, so they put huge helpings of love on their plate.  Then they put a little bit of fear on their plate, too, because without fear you could not really taste the love, so you go through the whole thing and finally you come to the cranberry sauce.  The cranberry sauce is what we liken to drama because it is wonderful and adds flavor to everything, but if you put too much on, it takes over your whole plate.  Many of you have asked how to increase your longevity so that you can live forever.  We hope you do not do that.  We hope that by the time you hand in that body it is well used, bruised, and you have big smiles on your face as a result of the wonderful use you have received from that body.  That body is to be enjoyed, not prolonged.  Enjoy the spices of life.  Enjoy the dramas.  Let yourself look at your own dramas objectively and then you can release the attachment to them.  Then you can say, “This is simply a drama that is playing out.  Is it not fun?  Maybe I am not enjoying this drama any more so I will change the drama.”  Allow yourself to play. 

…You have abilities that even we in heaven do not have.  You can touch each other.  You can see God from afar.  You can see things, you can
play dramas, you can enjoy life, and you can even have tears.  Dear ones, you are the expression of divinity in human form and we hope you
have a wonderful human experience.  We hope you play the drama to its fullest and when you are done, you will hand in your script and say, “I
did it well. I had a wonderful human experience.” 

…We leave you with three simple reminders: treat each other with the greatest of respect for you are looking in the eyes of God.  Nurture one another at every opportunity for when you empower each other, you raise the vibration of all. Re-member it is a beautiful Game and play well together.

Espavo,
The group

Steve Rother
Spokesman for the group   

Copyright Notice:
Copyright 2007 Lightworker. This information is meant to circulate and may be freely disseminated, in whole or in part. User agrees that this copyright notice shall included with the published material. And agrees that all rights, including copyrights of translated material,  remain the property of Lightworker.  Further information from the Group may be found at: http://www.Lightworker.com .   Thanks for helping to spread the Light!

Date: Thur, 12 Apr 2007 12:13 PM
Subject: Aries New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next New Moon forms on Tuesday, April 17th at 4:36 AM PDT at 27º Aries. New Moons invite us to sit in the dark, to be in the unknown, to touch the Void from which all comes. This is not something that modern, materialistic cultures value; we’re generally rewarded more for tangible products than for our connection with the invisible realms. To say, "I don’t know" is viewed as a weakness rather than wisdom. The three days before the New Moon is a great time to allow ourselves to be in that place of not knowing, for then we can discover something truly new. There is the story of the Zen master pouring a cup of tea for a new student. He picks up the teapot and starts to pour. He continues pouring even though the cup is overflowing. The student cries: "Master, what are you doing?" The Master replies: "Your mind is like this cup. How can I teach you anything when it is already full?" New Moons are optimal times to empty our cups, to sit in the dark and wait to be filled. Mars, the ruling planet of this Moon, is in Pisces, amplifying the cosmic message to be receptive and attuned to our intuition before taking action.

The Sun and Moon’s trine to Pluto at 29° Sagittarius makes it easier for us to see through the holes in our personal philosophy and beyond the veils of our cultural conditioning. What if we are not sinners in need of redemption, but rather unbounded spirits exploring and experimenting with density? What if we knew that we are indeed the creators of our reality, and that our beliefs color all of our perceptions? Pluto is making his final and deepest excavations now in Sagittarius, exposing the shadow side of religion, stripping away the fallacies that keep us mired in fear and suffering, and eliminating what is not based on truth and love.

The cosmic focus on authenticity is amplified by Saturn’s station direct on April 19, the same day that the Sun exactly trines Pluto. Saturn has been retrograde since December 5, 2006, pressuring us to align what we are doing with who we really are. For some people, that has meant quitting their day job; for others, it’s been the realization that there are no real victims. Edgar Cayce called Saturn the planet of change, perhaps because Saturn transits correspond with the crumbling of whatever structures have outlived their utility. Like God rapping on our knuckles, a Saturn transit becomes more painful the longer we hold on. Saturn stationing direct says it’s time to take a big step forward. How big that step can be depends on what we have done during the retrograde period. If we have eliminated the drains on our energy, if we have set healthy boundaries and are focusing on what’s important to us, things really start to blossom after April 19. Saturn stationed retrograde at 25° Leo; the Reaper turns direct at 18° Leo and comes to 25° Leo again on July 25. Saturn (a.k.a. Father Time) in Leo provides a wake-up call for everyone. Those born between 1946 and 1955 have their natal Pluto in Leo around the degrees covered by Saturn’s retrograde, and are being galvanized to reclaim their power and share their unique gifts.

Use the energy of this New Moon to reflect on where your passion lies now, and remember that you don’t have to figure it all out. These words of the master poet Rainer Maria Rilke beautifully express the challenge of Aries: “I want to beg you, as much as I can, to be patient toward all that is unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Do not seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”

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

© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:13 PM
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

We are approaching several important astrological events. On March 31st, Pluto stations retrograde at 29° Sagittarius. Whenever a planet appears to turn retrograde or direct, its influence intensifies and penetrates more deeply into our awareness. The 29th degree marks the end of a phase and a final exam. In Sagittarius, the test is in terms of our sincerity and integrity. Are we living in accordance with our truth? Are fulfilling our life purpose? As Pluto moves retrograde (until September 7th), we are called to examine every area of our life and to eliminate what is not in alignment with our soul intentions. The cosmic message to check our spiritual compass is amplified by Jupiter’s approaching station retrograde on April 5th. Jupiter stations at 20º Sagittarius and moves retrograde until August 6th, prodding us to question our assumptions, review our options, and get back on track if we have taken a detour.

On April 1st, Mercury conjuncts Uranus at 16º Pisces, making it easier to receive inspiration and insights from our higher self. Schedule in some extra quiet time so you can hear your inner guidance. The Muses are on standby for writers and artists this weekend. Capture those bright ideas on paper, computer, or canvas. Watch your day and night dreams for clues as to your next step.

On Monday, April 2nd, a Full Moon peaks at 10:15 AM PDT at 13º Aries-Libra. The cosmic keynote for this Full Moon is courage. It takes courage to grow, to face the unknown. It takes willpower to overcome the pull of the past. It takes resolve to endure discomfort or disapproval. Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, the energy of initiation, of breaking new ground and birthing new forms. It is also the first fire sign, and fire requires continuous fuel. Creation never ceases. Nature abhors a vacuum. God dislikes boredom. As creators, we too perpetually encounter new edges, new frontiers. This Full Moon illuminates that we are facing a new challenge, and reminds us that as we grow, relationships that honor and support authenticity can grow also.

During the Full Moon, the Sun at 13° Aries makes a wide trine to Saturn at 18° Leo (exact trine on April 8th) and also to Jupiter at 20° Sagittarius (exact trine on April 9th). This forms a Grand Trine in Fire, a high energy time which remains in effect for the first two weeks of April. Much can be accomplished with a minimum of resistance, as Jupiter in Sagittarius boosts optimism, Saturn in Leo urges us to follow our hearts, and the Sun in Aries nudges us to take action.

In essence, all these alignments say: “Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step”—Martin Luther King. For more inspiration, read the lovely story of The Eagle's Choice below.

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

© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

The Eagle's Choice      
by Julie Reder Fairley    

On a particularly foggy evening, ruthless pillagers came upon a nest in the mountains. It was carefully constructed in a sheltered crevasse and its occupants were a mother bald eagle and her single egg, which she was lovingly tending. Because she was focusing on the fledgling, the eagle was easy prey for the human hunters. Before she knew it, she was clamped in a vice of greed and ignorance and swept away.

In the struggle, the nest was upset and the lone egg tumbled down the mountainside, miraculously landing intact in a meadow. The mother eagle's last sight before her head was covered with a black cloth was of her egg coming to rest beside a pine tree, and she marked the spot indelibly in her mind vowing to return.

It was but a few hours later that a chicken came upon the egg. She lay her face gently against the shell. She could feel the precious life within it. Her maternal instincts led her to incubate the egg with her warmth until eventually it hatched. The chicken knew at once that her offspring was a very special bird and she fed and nurtured him along with her own seven chicks. As he grew, he was influenced, as all