New York, Oct. 31, 2016 | View as Webpage | Get Your 2017 Reading
The Night Between the Worlds
Dear Friend and Reader:
All Hallows Eve, the last night of the Old Religion's year (what we call Halloween night), is considered to be when the veil between this world and the next is the thinnest. These are the Days of the Dead in many different traditions, not just south of the border but (from what I've read) as far back and east as ancient Egypt.
In the Mexican tradition the way is lit for the souls of our relatives to find their way home. [For a deeper look at the Days of the Dead tradition, read this article by our beloved Jeanne Treadway.]
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Walking through the Catacombs of Paris does indeed give a sense of the world of the dead. Along endless miles of tunnel lie the remains of seven million previous inhabitants of the city. |
There is a tradition of offering as gifts to one's ancestors rum and eggplant in cemeteries. The scent of the rum is alluring to the ghosts of our friends, and the spongy quality of the aubergine is pleasurable for them to inhabit for a little while.
Meanwhile, all over the U.S., kids are roaming around in costumes collecting candy on threat of frightening you. You never know. The kids in the skeleton outfits might be an actual apparition.
Something about these nights of the year shifts our relationship to death and decay. While you're alive, that means growth, evolution and transformation. Yet then there's the reality of the ultimate fate of everyone incarnate. Nobody can live fully without a conscious relationship to death. It serves as an essential anchor to one's maturity.
One day ahead of the night between the worlds, we experienced the New Moon in Scorpio. Scorpio is the sign most often associated with death. Any New Moon is a moment of unusual psychic transparency, so the effect is redoubled; the door opening can take us that much deeper and wider. It may change frequency and tone as the coming nights and days unfold; as the Moon moves from darkening to conjunction to lightening, making other aspects as it does so.
Many people are out partying tonight; it would seem a more appropriate night for reflection, writing, art and sex. The portal that's opening is within you.
Look in, listen silently or step through, if you dare. Contemplate the 'ultimate realities' of existence. Here's one reassuring fact: your conscious mind has barely glimpsed the possibilities.
We exist in space-time consciousness on a thin subplane of the cosmic physical plane. We live at the edge of a galaxy, far from the core, in the boondocks between two spiral arms.
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Anonymous Self Portrait, by Eric Francis. |
Our modest-sized galaxy is part of a vast migration of souls: the Lanniakea supercluster of 100,000 galaxies moving at what would feel like light speed if you actually experienced it for a moment. These galaxies are flooding toward a massive pool of subatomic particles that astronomers call the Great Attractor.
Whatever may lie beyond this world, there is plenty of it.
Within our meta theme for this time of of year, sexuality (by which I mean sex and eroticism) is the most accessible viaduct into existential reality. Experiment with ideas about what you really want. If you move toward embarrassment in any form you will invite discoveries not ordinarily available otherwise. Inhibition, shame and guilt are a veil beyond which exists the deeper pleasure and corresponding truth.
Lovingly,
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Several 19th century graves on the Grandmother Land, summer 2011. Photo by Eric Francis. |
Tales from the Other Side of Astrology
Dear Friend and Reader:
Being an astrologer is sometimes like being a metaphysical minister. People assume we have a connection to the other side, and many of us do. Practicing astrology helps people enhance their subtle senses. There is a need to reach a little beyond the obvious, into the unseen, and this gradually helps us open doors. More significantly, astrologers are presumed to be open-minded about things that other people won't believe in, or won't go near. We hear about a vast diversity of human experiences, including plenty that people would never tell their therapist.
In truth, it's only a short hop from studying these mysterious charts, and the lives of both the living and the dead, to direct encounters with the spirit world. I understood this was the reason why a young mother approached me one evening in a bar on Vashon Island in Washington State, and asked me if I had any experience dealing with haunting or possession.
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The infamous (and now gone) Jesus barn on Vashon Island, Washington, formerly on the property in question. Historic photo. |
I asked if there was a child involved. The answer was yes -- her young daughter. The mother believed some kind of spirit occupying their home had been coming through and tormenting her daughter, but the child had other problems. She said the spirit contact didn't happen all the time, only periodically. I suggested that if things got worse, they get the child out of the house immediately, since children, especially those with any kind of psychic or emotional disturbance, make an easy foothold for certain kinds of entities.
She asked me to visit the house, and I agreed. This turned out to be located on the property where the old Jesus barn was -- a barn that had the word Jesus painted on the front exterior. Everyone knew this place, and when the barn collapsed and was torn down, it lived on in memory. Things don't change fast on Vashon. One of the odd mannerisms of islanders was to give directions suggesting that people "turn right where the Jesus barn used to be." The grounds had a strange feature: a sinkhole into the Earth. I mean a hole so deep and wide that people would dispose of old washing machines and refrigerators by throwing them into the hole.
Read more...
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Your Monthly Horoscopes -- and our Publishing Schedule Notes
We published your extended monthly horoscope for October on Thursday, Sept. 22. Your extended monthly horoscope for September was published on Thursday, Aug. 25. We published the Moonshine horoscope for the Libra New Moon, by Len Wallick, on Thursday, Sept. 29. Your Moonshine horoscope for the Aries Full Moon was published on Thursday, Oct. 13.
Please note: we normally publish the extended monthly horoscope on the first Friday after the Sun has entered a new sign.
Monday Morning Horoscope for Oct. 31, 2016 | By Eric Francis Coppolino
Aries (March 20-April 19) -- You need a new deal, and you can negotiate it. The time is perfect. However, that won't mean much to you if you don't grasp the concept of negotiation. It's a conversation where people state their expectations and what they're willing to offer or deliver. Then, with that information on the table, you reach an agreement. For you, the basis of the discussion is what you personally want, what you want to contribute, and whether what you're being offered is acceptable. Most people balk at discussions this direct in the personal realm; I suggest you proceed with confidence and with clarity. You're likely to underestimate your influence or power in the situation, though don't make the mistake of overrating yourself, either. Recognize that everyone has needs and everyone has something to offer. The question is: can you work out something that's mutually acceptable? Whether this is personal or professional, there's no reason why not.
Taurus (April 19-May 20) -- You need less of some things and more of others. You need less authority in your life, which means taking more authority for yourself. You've probably figured out by now that the more you keep your own ship, your own desk and your own mind in order, the less anyone has to do it for you. You need more conscious exchange with others, which for you really means being willing to offer yourself generously and to receive what others are offering. The two are intimately related. Giving and receiving work with the same spiritual muscle, which is the one you want to exercise. "I have something you might need" and "thank you" are in essence the same thing. Withholding and taking for granted have their own special muscle, and you can safely let that one atrophy. Lastly, you don't need anyone telling you what their notion of god thinks is good for you. You can make up your own mind about that.
Gemini (May 20-June 21) -- There is a way through or around any obstacle or obstruction. You will need to decide whether someone in your life is being stubborn and intractable, or whether they have an interest in growing. If you repeatedly come up against their refusal to change, and if this has gone on for a year or so, you will need some kind of workaround. They are unlikely to be interested in changing. Yet you're too well suited to adapting to discomfort for your own good. You need to put your survivalist tendencies to good use, rather than letting them be used against you. Anyway, the purpose of relationships is not to endure; it's to be productive, share in the benefits of life and have fun. So if you find yourself making excellent use of your coping skills, you might back off a little bit, and find other ways either to adapt or to make a real decision.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Your solar chart this week is all about sex. Excellent sex; the kind where you can't decide if it's what you need, or what you want. This falls under the larger heading of creativity. You might count the benefits of pleasure and recreation in your assessment of what you have to accomplish; but then you probably already know about that. Take your well-earned knowledge to heart. Your primary goal needs to be feeling good, so that you can let your ideas and your sense of self flourish. It won't be hard to find a playmate or two to help this process along, and there seems to be someone in your life of the sparky, irreverent sort. In our moment when time is in such high demand and everyone seems stressed to their limit, efficiency is the key. The most efficient thing you can do is lead an integrated life, where everything feeds everything else; where work and play serve the same purpose.
Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) -- Not everything is an emotional drama, nor does it have to be made into one. The tendency to take everything personally, and to view anything in the world as a threat to your security, is one of the most wasteful plights of our time in history. You can take 10 years of therapy to figure this out, or you can just see that it's true: without you feeding the drama, it would hardly exist. Therefore, you might consider withdrawing your energy from anything that's negative, annoying or intrusive, and investing it in your own wellbeing. You are free to block the phone numbers, ignore the text messages and delete the voicemails of anyone who saps your strength or wastes your time. If you feel any guilt about it, presume it's a toxin rather than a natural substance. This is a great time to bring certain emotional habits to an end, and teach yourself some new ones.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) -- You may have recently made some observations about a person you live with, and you would be wise to act on them rather than put things off for a few more seasons, months or years. This really is a matter of confidence. If you trusted yourself, what would you do? That's not only a question in this situation -- it's the theme of your life right now and for the foreseeable future. When you trust yourself you have access to your resources. When you don't, the first thing to ask yourself is where your faith in yourself went, where you left it behind, or to whom you handed it over (any feelings of guilt will give you a clue as to who that is). My point being: it's not only what you need, it's the only thing you need, and you would be wise to devote yourself to this one purpose. It transcends all others.
Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) -- The theme of your life is finding your independence, and this is true from at least two directions: financial and emotional. It's difficult to have one without the other, so you may as well consider them one goal. They are so intimately related that they are functionally one thing. It's likely that your relationship to one or both parents is involved. As you understand and work toward establishing your financial sovereignty, emotional issues will come up. As emotional material comes up, you will discover that much of it is inherently financial. Said another way, your emotional clarity and strength are directly related to how you relate to money. This is the dinosaur in the room, and everyone knows it. Just listen for the actual reasons people give for staying in toxic situations, including putting up with their family. Be strong about this, and be clear: anyone who lacks financial power over you has no power at all.
2016-17 Scorpio Birthday Reading
Unmask Your True Gifts
"I re-listened a few times for the deeper nuance and messaging -- a good thing because I discovered so many 'hidden gems' throughout the reading! This was definitely a worthwhile investment in money and time. Thank you!"
-- Dee McCrorey
Dear Friend and Reader:
Everyone knows the stereotypical 'scary' traits of 'intense' Scorpios. But there is so much more to this sign than that, and if you have your Sun, rising sign or Moon in Scorpio (or love someone who does), you know how truly devoted to a higher cause and transformation anyone born under this sign can be.
The true calling card of Scorpio is in fact that transformative ability: to bring shadow to the light, integrate it, and alchemize it into an expression of much higher vibration: creativity, passion, fearlessness, courage and the ability to heal deep wounds.
In a political season and general social context that desperately needs these life-affirming qualities, your 2016-17 Scorpio Birthday Reading will help you to zero in on your gifts -- including personal power tools masquerading as 'difficulties'.
You don't have to wait until the day after Halloween to take your first step in removing the mask: if you pre-order your reading today, you'll secure the best price we offer: just $19.97. When the two half-hour audio segments are ready, we'll email you; when the video tarot reading is ready a little later, we'll email you again. Along the way, the price will increase incrementally.
Sunday is the Scorpio New Moon, at 1:38 pm EDT (17:38 UTC). What will you discover in that richly introspective darkness? How will you bring it to the light and fearlessly transform it?
And if you have a Scorpio loved one, what will you give them for their birthday? This reading will not only let them know you get them, it will be clear you have their back as they travel along an unusual -- yet fruitful and necessary -- path.
Yours & truly,
Amanda Painter
Planet Waves Astrology Editor
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) -- You're under less pressure than you think. You also have more resources to work with than you think, despite any recent setbacks. First, address the pressure. This is mostly psychological, though there's an emotional dimension. What you seem to be craving is to live out some of your fantasies, whether they are of the rock star, sex diva or financial wizard variety (fill in with your own ideas). The thing to do is to make it real -- whatever that might be, even if in a small way. That will help you relax and remove the annoying sense of how abstract and disconnected from reality everything (and everyone) seems to be these days. As for resources, the first thing you need is to know what you need. Be practical about this: make a list. You'll be able to cross off about half of the items on that list because either you or someone close to you has direct access to that thing. The rest will be within reach, with some effort or negotiation.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) -- Mars in your sign is pushing you to be at your best. But what is your best? Being a star, or doing quality work? The two motivations are mutually exclusive. For some people, in some times and some places, the drive for notoriety pushes them to actual accomplishments. For you that's too risky; it would be too easy for your ego to dominate consciousness. That's to say, what you do cannot be about you -- it must be about the thing you're doing, and the part that's about you is the discipline and dedication necessary to make something happen. Be cautious about any inspiration that comes from praise or public attention. Be cautious about anything a detractor says. Consider them to have approximately the same value, which is less value than your own pressing need for integrity. That means listening with your whole mind, telling no lies whatsoever, and accounting for what you promise but do not deliver.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Monitor your fear level closely. It's still a potentially serious distraction. Remember that there are two ways to approach any possibly fearful situation: you can ruminate over the past, or you can focus on solutions. The past might provide some helpful information; but that's about all you need, and working with that information is not about dwelling on history, or fear. When I was in therapy school, I learned something helpful: Let the fear speak first. Rather than suppress it, or get sucked into it, listen to what your fear is saying. If you decide that it's something valid, then translate that into a plan of action. You are being called to leadership, and the first and most important variety is self-leadership. Guide yourself forward. Take steps in the direction you're trying to go -- at least one per day, and then go for two per day, until you're up to one per hour.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- With the New Moon in Scorpio and Jupiter in rare form, the world is leaning in your favor; the boughs with the fruit are reaching down to you. Now, you must reach back, by reaching for what you want and being willing to receive it. Some say that life is about fate; for you, life is about faith, though faith in the unseen must be met by your own choices and intention expressed as action. One thing that would help you significantly is to stop seeking approval. Rather, be a true artist and do what you are moved to do, because it's the thing to do. Rather than those who approve of you, consider carefully with whom you might collaborate. Get the conversation going, and shift the discussion into some form of reality as soon as you can. This is not about pushing the river; rather, it's about conducting real-time experiments and determining what works and what does not work. Needless to say, respond appropriately to that information.
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