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Taurus Full Moon: Another Crest of the Wave
Dear Friend and Reader:
We're approaching another peak in the lunar cycle -- the Taurus Full Moon (exact at 1:23 am on Saturday, Nov. 4). For many reasons this is a deeper event than it may seem on its face; it's not just another lunation. Still, we're talking about the Full Moon here, which typically comes with the sense of the emotional tide rising, the pressure to make decisions and a touch more than usual of the microwave-induced insomnia of our times.
For months now, every time the sky aligns in an particularly focused way, we see some kind of horrid event manifest in the world. While we cannot (and will not) predict additional crisis based on the Full Moon chart, there is a level of collective fear that when things get intense, something new will go seriously wrong.
That fear is the thing to keep an eye on. It's collective, not merely individual; yet it's not easily spoken about. It's not considered appropriate yet.
If the chart has a message, let's see if we can pick up some clues to what it is.
The first obvious thing to look at would be the Moon and the Sun themselves. Positioned in Taurus and Scorpio, respectively, there's a theme of sex -- though usually as it manifests in the context of attachment. One of the underlying themes of the seemingly endless sex scandal we're seeing erupt out of Hollywood, television, politics and the rest of society is that sex is a property right, which is a theme of the Taurus-Scorpio axis.
Look for the places where your sexuality is linked to your personal resources, shared household or couple resources, and any fear you have of not being sustained by life. In what ways have you monetized sex, and are you doing so consciously? How does this influence your experience of your relationships?
The Full Moon can open things up. Culturally, this might point to things such as awareness coming to a new peak around the massive 'open secret' of the impact that sexual assault and harassment has on the lives and livelihoods of women -- and therefore on all of us, and on all of our sexual relationships.
With the goddess asteroid (properly, dwarf planet) Ceres in Leo, within a one-degree orb of the Sun and Moon, we're looking right at the question of sustenance. Ceres is first and foremost about the food that we eat. It's also about other forms of emotion and affirmation as nourishment, which take on a dimension of needing one's personality 'fed' by a relationship, and the power that it seems to bestow.
Leadership is called for: each one of us can take charge of understanding what nourishes us sexually, and can recognize the ways we can ensure our sexual encounters nourish those we're interacting with. This can come from the heart; it can even be playful. But ego (meaning fearful self-interest) needs to take a back seat.
There's another standout pattern in the chart, also involving oppositions (in the style of the Full Moon). In Aries, Uranus and Eris are still in an approximately three-degree conjunction (that's pretty close). Across the sky in Libra, Venus and Vesta are looking right into that mirror.
Venus-Vesta is offering itself to the greater good, while Uranus-Eris seems devoted to stirring the pot of crisis and chaos. One question that arises when blending a sexually themed point such as Venus with Vesta is: what is the purpose of sex? Is it something offered and freely given, or must there be an agenda, a price and a victim? Is it a service, or a disservice?
Venus-Vesta opposite Uranus-Eris connects this Full Moon intimately with the rampant digital identity crisis and social upheaval -- and disembodiment -- that now passes for normal, everyday life.
There is a seemingly all-encompassing, almost invisible (astral level) psychic mine field on one side of the equation. On the other, Venus and Vesta ask a question: what are the ways you can devote yourself to real relationships, social justice, and your creative and sexual fire (which are the same thing) while plugged into the collective robot?
What's really fair in love and war? Or, perhaps more importantly, are you aware of how your perceptions of that have likely changed, as a result of how life-via-digital-media has altered the field upon which you're engaging your fellow human beings?
Finally, there's Saturn in late Sagittarius -- conjunct the Galactic Core -- making a square to Chiron in Pisces. We have in that a representation of the potential to rupture and heal the beliefs around sex and relationships that are being pushed to the surface of our digital-cultural consciousness by Uranus-Eris.
Saturn may be lending form to the message from our cosmic homing signal (the Galactic Core) that we most need to hear. True, it's possible to hear the message and then simply try to dig in one's heels and cling to the old, familiar structures. But anyone who's been through a Saturn return or a Chiron return knows how futile and painful that can be.
If you believe that we're being shown so much shadow right now so that we can drain the toxins and let the light disinfect what's infected, then you know a different kind of action is needed here. You know that if you really tune in, there's a message asking you to do the work you came here to do -- within yourself, within your relationships, within your community.
with love,
This week on Planet Waves FM, I'll look closely at the Full Moon chart, focusing on the aspect patterns we've described here -- and a few others. My musical guest will be The Tragically Hip, making their second visit to the program within the past year.
Growth Is Inevitable. Becoming Is an Art Form.
Dear Friend of Planet Waves:
Here's the thing: Life goes on. No matter how crazy the world is, we who are alive must keep on living. And that means we must keep growing and becoming.
The more chaotic the world becomes, the more we need a tool that can help us spot the patterns in the chaos -- and that would be astrology. I have long considered astrology just one resource among many potentially useful ones, though with each passing day, the gift of pattern recognition, and how these patterns relate to our lives, is a service that astrology is uniquely suited to provide.
I have begun preparing THE ART OF BECOMING, the 20th annual edition of Planet Waves. This letter will tell you more about the project, which, if all goes reasonably well, will be delivered during the month of January.
Brief note on pricing policy: we offer the best price for those who purchase sooner. The current price point is $99; this will be increased again soon to the final pre-order price of $111.
My annual readings provide not only insight but spiritual and psychological leverage. I am not here to predict the future, but rather to help you design your future.
The project began as an extended January monthly horoscope; it's now more like an astrological novel, written with the pacing and detail of well-crafted fiction writing. My focus is on love and work: your relationship to yourself, followed by your relationship to others; your professional activities, financial matters and tapping your creativity.
In the end, I consider myself a motivational presenter. I see my job as helping you get excited about your own potential, and describing the specific ways you can manifest your desires into reality.
In the next section, I will describe some of the transits I'll be writing about in THE ART OF BECOMING. I present these events in human language, using technical terms only as necessary -- and explaining everything as I go. As a journalist, I write to be understood.
This is astrology written for humans, in human language, using concrete examples and images.
Read more...
Don't forget to take advantage of this special gift: Eric's Daily Horoscope can arrive in your mailbox by 7 am ET, containing great astrological guidance for all 12 signs. You can sign up with our compliments, though we welcome donations.
Your Monthly Horoscopes -- and our Publishing Schedule Notes
Your extended monthly horoscopes for November were published on Thursday, Oct. 26. We published your extended monthly horoscopes for October on Thursday, Sept. 21. 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. 30, 2017 | By Eric Francis Coppolino
Aries (March 20-April 19) -- Slow down and figure out what's bugging you. No matter what, the situation is going to burn up energy, so you may as well get some good information about how to resolve it -- and only you can provide that. Even if you sit with an excellent therapist for an hour, you're still going to be the one who comes up with the goods. The role a therapist might play is to guide you away from denial and into affirmation of what you're feeling. Your astrology strongly suggests there's an ancestral angle, meaning that you're addressing something that probably goes back a few generations. This is the perfect week to dip your bucket into that well, with so many planets in Scorpio, and much of North and South America celebrating Days of the Dead. Make amends with your ancestors. Let them take back what's rightfully theirs. Thank them for giving you life.
"The person you thought you were five years ago, one year ago, even yesterday, is not quite the same person you are today, potentially in some profound ways. To the extent that this is shaking up your consciousness and that of the people around you, you simply must develop confidence in yourself."
-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read here. Eric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Taurus (April 19-May 20) -- You have quite a bit going on, and all of it's relevant. Work, partners, projects and the world are all vying for your attention. You may need to sway into the direction of taking care of everyone else before you take care of yourself. Yet don't go too far doing that; you have enough energy and presence of mind to be able to focus on your most basic physical and spiritual needs. Plus, there are enough people around you to get some help with things you don't personally have to do. Stick to the tasks for which you're most deeply needed, or that only you can do, and find someone qualified to do the other ones. You don't like to spend money willy-nilly, though engaging professional help (such as from the neighborhood leaf-raking specialist, or the local wash-and-fold service) will take off some pressure and give you room to maneuver.
"If Taureans are competitive, it's primarily with themselves. You never want to do anything worse than you did it last time. Your next effort has to be better. When this is not driving you a little nuts, it can really work for you; and it definitely works for those who benefit from your devoted efforts."
-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read here. Eric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Gemini (May 20-June 21) -- This will be one of those weeks where image counts slightly more than substance, particularly at work. Just make sure that you don't tell any lies, and listen carefully to what others are saying, as the real message will probably come from between the lines or in signal form. Meanwhile, you have plenty that you want to get done: you're bursting with ideas, and you have the energy and resources to make them real. So set your own agenda this week, while you keep up appearances and then maintain bare necessities. In other aspects of your life, that's to say, the more creative zones, you're onto something worth pursuing. It seems to be something where social, recreational and professional all meet up as one idea. In any event, you have absolutely no excuse to live a life of drudgery, or to experience a single minute of boredom. That's just ridiculous.
"Like an aviator or a sailor or both at once, you must study the weather, within you and around you, and have many skills and tools for coexisting with it. You harness your energy from change itself. Knowing yourself is not a matter of having a fixed concept, but rather an honest and ongoing relationship with who you are."
-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read here. Eric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Count these as the best days of your life. Perhaps you've seen better and maybe you will in the future, though there's something happening now that you may already be noticing. Or maybe you've overlooked it in the din and chaos of contemporary life. Stop and tune in. Feel your way through every day, and be grateful for the people who are around you. There's more though: you're in a moment of self-actualization, where someone who was growing and developing inside can emerge into the world in full color. You've been through very nearly everything the past few years, and you've learned more than you know. Be bold about expressing yourself and your ideas, and live like your life is an experiment. Invest yourself in your most glorious plans. You have the commitment, the energy and the talent to make them real.
"Whatever you are doing, the essential spirit of your chart is that you define yourself. You set your mission; you establish your reputation; you are the master of the experiment. If you want to accomplish anything beyond the routine level of success, that also entails the highest level of self-responsibility and inner authority."
-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read here. Eric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) -- In astrology there are points called the lunar nodes, and at the moment they are moving through your sign and your opposite sign, Aquarius. This describes the many ways in which you'll be bringing your life into balance over the next year. This week, though, the planet Mercury meets the nodes at a right angle (technically called Mercury square the nodes). Mercury is reminding you how necessary it is that you express your feelings. This aspect also describes a turning point; and, inwardly, a tipping point or decision. Take this slowly, because it has the kind of potency to influence your life for a long time. Certain factors in your chart describe a tendency to slip into denial, yet others caution that you must be absolutely real with yourself at all times. Make sure the people you're getting advice and information from are committed to honesty and accuracy; if so, they can help keep you focused.
"You are now in a moment where you get to review, rethink and recreate just about anything you want. This may involve any facet of your life. You have the opportunity to work from the roots of your existence upward, and outward. For now, stay close to the ground and work from your core reality."
-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read here. Eric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) -- You have the ability and opportunities to recover any financial ground you've lost this past year. Yet you'll need to tune out people who you know have a tendency to lie or confuse matters, or to waste your time. Stick to your own agenda. You don't really need help, and you're plenty motivated to do the right thing. Yet you cannot be afraid to make difficult decisions that are based on a thoughtful, balanced look at the facts. Many issues that have been difficult to pin down and more difficult to describe are now plainly obvious, which means you can finally do something about them. Just don't let anyone make your decisions for you, no matter how well intentioned they may seem. You must guide the course of your own life as best you can, and draw in the strength and confidence that comes from doing so.
"Let everything point you back to you, as the focal point of your existence. This will enhance your capacity for relationships rather than diminish it. The more solidly you are present for yourself, the more solid you can be for others. But that's really beside the point; focusing your intimacy with yourself is its own reward."
-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read here. Eric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) -- Concentrate your energy, and focus on your very most important priorities. You may need to do some thinking about what those are, and one may mask another. After you've sorted everything out, you may decide the real issue is not so much about relationships or about money, but rather a spiritual matter that's nearly impossible to put into words. The subject is how you feel about yourself, which is not supposed to be a matter of opinion. But in this world, with so many factors that seem intentionally designed to undermine self-respect, it's something that you must focus on consciously. It would be great if we didn't need to come up with reasons to respect ourselves, and eventually you'll go beyond that. However, for the moment, look at all the reasons you can come up with. Consider your willingness to help those who need you, and investigate your devotion to truth.
"You may have been looking to the people you relate to directly -- that is, partners of various kinds -- for answers about the changes you're going through. The deeper truth is that something inside you is evolving and growing, and changes to your partnerships are a kind of secondary effect. The sum total is that your circumstances are conspiring for you to be highly self-reliant."
-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read here. Eric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) -- You seem to be living on two levels. One is plainly obvious; you know who you are and what you need to be doing. At the same time, there's something about your relationships that's veiled in obscurity. You may feel that how people see and experience you limits your potential. In that sense, you may feel like you've outgrown your current partnerships. That's always a possibility, though if you investigate that potential, you may discover that the people who care the most about you are willing to give you the space and time you need, and support your process of finding yourself. Still, it will take some courage to get out of your safe zone and to truly trust that people will be there for you even as you transform yourself into any shape or size you need. Be who you actually are. Never use your relationships as an excuse for not doing so.
"The essence of this message is that you must express your true self in every facet of your being, particularly in the work that you do. The tangible contribution you make to your community and the larger society is your single most dependable way to develop yourself, and to cultivate respect for yourself, and these angles of your chart are coming under strong, creative aspects this year."
-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read here. Eric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) -- Look closely at your life, and ask yourself whether you're happy with the direction that events are progressing. Take the time now to point yourself on the correct trajectory, which may involve making a series of small moves over the next six weeks or so. All of these decisions will add up to something, particularly if you start to make the connections. Note that a close partner is in a similar decision-making process, and may be leaving certain facts out of the conversation. It's important that you not be angry about this. Nobody is intentionally hiding anything from you. Leave lots of space for others to share their personal truth, even if it seems a little late in the game. Actually, that's not true: it would seem that a close partner is just finding the words to express their point of view, and this has not been easy. So take this one step at a time.
"You will thrive if you maintain a spirit of exploration and play in the work that you do. You might explore the idea that no matter what you do, you're doing the same thing: expressing your energy and love. If you discover that you don't feel so energetic or so loving, that's the time to consider why you're doing it. However, remember, many facets of your current astrology call for patience."
-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read here. Eric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) -- Once again your aspects are encouraging you to focus on justice, and make sure the right thing happens. This theme may come up over and over again; there's plenty of injustice in the world, so much that it's getting annoying. You may not be able to do much to fix the world, though there's plenty you can do in your immediate environment, and among the people you know. Let this influence every decision you make. You have more influence and even authority than you may admit, though you might have to go against the grain or risk rubbing someone the wrong way to use it. At a certain point, it's necessary to set aside the petty grievances of the ego, the little ways in which people claim to be hurt, and their resistance to change. That is, don't tolerate these things in yourself, and don't give them any needless emphasis when others bring them up. Just do what's right.
"One thing to remember is that your integrity is not linked to your being unchanging. In fact, your integrity is about your ability to change in helpful ways, and not to resist what you need the most. As well, you must be honest with yourself and with others about your uncertainty. It's all too tempting, in times of profound change, to attempt to cling to some form of fundamentalism or false security."
-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read here. Eric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Your whole experience of life depends on how you feel. This is true of everyone; though especially for you right now, your reality is "receptor mediated." As the receiver of your own thoughts, feelings, sensory data and experiences, you decide what they mean, and you will make that decision based on how you feel. In the end, that works out to how you feel about yourself. Note that narcissism, egotism and being conceited have nothing -- as in, nothing -- to do with feeling good about oneself. Those are the toxic substitutes. Embracing and accepting who you are is a calm, steady inward state that does not require proof or demonstration. You will have proof enough when you see the world more benevolently, and you understand that your role is to help any way you can. In another era, your current chart would be about ambition. You're in an excellent position to be of meaningful service.
"If you find some material you must confront, summon the might of Pluto to help you work through the details. When you discover that you're carrying around material from one or more of your ancestors, notice what it is, and offer it back to them. One thing you have going for you now is a rather hot spiritual fire burning. This is an excellent opportunity to burn off karma."
-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read here. Eric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- No matter how bright or dim you may consider your prospects to be, the time has come to face the future with open eyes and an open heart. This point of arrival is described in your long-range astrology, what's happening right now, and a series of developments into next year. Stand on the solid ground of your sense of purpose. Don't be deterred by the many people who live like there's no tomorrow, and if there is, it doesn't matter anyway. Rather, have the trust in existence and the faith in yourself to work for your vision. Take some time and some thought and clarify what that is. Imagine what impact you want your work to have in 100 years' time, and then work your way back into the present moment. What would you do now, to get that result one century from now?
"When you look at these years in retrospect, they will clearly be a 'before and after' time. There are likely to be focal points of that transition; you may have experienced many 'befores' and 'afters', which add up to nothing less than a complete transformation in the form of embodying your own existence. This has taken many shapes, and in truth it's a process that, once ignited, keeps on going."
-- From your 2017 annual reading by Eric Francis, The Book of Your Life -- which you can read here. Eric's beginning work on the 2018 annual edition -- you may pre-order that here.
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