Finally, Mars stations direct in Virgo overnight tonight into Saturday. We’re all champing at the bit to move forward with decisions and plans, get out of our heads and into our bodies, and burn off steam. But if you’re someone who leapt into new purchases and repairs right after Mercury stationed direct last week only to have them backfire, you have a vivid, recent reminder to take the days right after a station carefully and a couple knots below ‘full speed ahead’. After all, it’s the bottom part of the iceberg that’s problematic – and it’s the part you don’t know is there till you’ve hit it.
This is not to say you risk any Titanic-sized mishaps should you push the throttle all the way. Just accelerate gradually. You’ll burn up less gas, still get where you’re going, and be able to steer past any obstacles as they arise.
Plus, if your engines are not roaring, you’ll be better able to hear what the sonar is picking up from below. Vesta is still conjunct Eris in Aries (exact today). The goddess of the hearth and the creative flame is presiding over the echo chamber of your identity, full of those whispers of who you are that seem to bounce around without ever syncing up. See if you can allow yourself to hear a harmony among the voices. It may be unconventional, like humpback whale songs deep beneath the surface, but if you can appreciate the curious beauty of these disparate whisperings of self, you may worry less about what might be ‘down there’.
Yes, it’s a little unusual to use a watery metaphor for activity in a fire sign, but given that it’s the 100th anniversary of the sinking of RMS Titanic today and Mars is stationing direct opposite Neptune (lord of the seas) and Chiron in Pisces, hopefully you’ll let it slide. After all, water and fire often create steam, contained steam creates pressure, and that’s one thing we all seem to be under lately. We’re almost at the release point, though, so start wiggling the valve now if you need to let off some of that steam before it gets the better of you.
Also picking up some messages from the deep is Mercury. The planet of the mind and communication is still in late Pisces (it re-enters Aries on Monday), square the Galactic Center in Sagittarius. Your ship’s radio is tuned to the frequency of higher love and awareness, but might feel at odds with more human urges today. Are you hearing a distress signal, a Siren song or a seagull? Listen carefully for your intuition and speak your heart, not your temper, if you can manage it. Remember that those all those planets making a cross in the early mutable signs are still active, keeping a lot of old baggage front and center. As much as you may be struggling, so are the people around you. Compassion for yourself and others is key right now.
Finally, the Aries Sun is making an opposition to Saturn in Libra (exact Sunday). As Len Wallick noted yesterday, this is the last opposition between these two on the Aries-Libra axis for a long time. Saturn through Libra has been helping us re-conceive the designs of our relationships for a couple years now. This opposition is mirroring back to you some difficulties that are likely karmic in origin, so see if you can understand them for what they say about yourself rather than about the other involved. Whether or not your current (relation)ship is ‘unsinkable’ or has both a motor and sails to adapt to any conditions, you can really only navigate your own course within it – no one else’s.
In any case, don’t worry: there’s plenty of room in this lifeboat for everyone. Honest.
Thanks, stormilarue! Love that! Gonna practice my moves and get myself on Youtube a.s.a.p. And, of course, you are right, mix tapes are STILL a work of art. Choosing the perfect track list, the right colour for the sparkly pen, and then creating the cover art that explains exactly how you were feeling at that moment to whoever you were giving it to. I’m going to have to dig some up just to gaze at them. 😉
stormilarue: Only in Canada, eh? What great energy they have! I think I would have to be one of the ones holding the rope though……..
HS: I was in an antique store this morning (smelling old books just like Eric says we Cappy rising like to do!) and the Over the Rainbow song came on………..spontaneous joy!!
thanks Katie, that one gets stuck in my head too. aren’t mix tapes still a work of art? 😉 and yes, you can breakdance and double dutch ~
http://youtu.be/Vw_mNiU4nwc
Great clips! Thanks, HS and stormilarue. HS, I love the skipping one . . . I suddenly feel like break-dancing-skipping. That’s a thing, right? stormilarue, that song makes me want to reminisce about the ’90s. Oh, back when the internet was magical, you could dress like a lumberjack and still be cute, regular people carried beepers, and mix tapes were a work of art. Think this one will stuck in my head all day!
Hugging: just got round to your skipping video – absolutely gorgeous! So joyous. Thanks for that.
thanks Mandy! Saturday morning cartoons rock! …or was it Sunday mornings……..
And I say row, Jimmy, row
Gonna get there?
I don’t know
Seems a common way to go
Get down, row, row, row
row, row
(robert hunter)
Huffy: THANKS!! Man, bagpipes always make me cry. And I have been telling myself forever and a day to get a Pogue CD – it will be the next thing I buy.
Hugging Scorpio: You are just too funny! I almost choked laughing. And, WOW, I just bought myself a skipping rope (I loved double-dutch as a kid but I can’t find someone else to play with). I bookmarked that video – think I may just have to practice a couple of those slick moves.
😉
stormi! whoot whoot!
we’re having a brownout here on the border today so my outdoor parade was blown away, but after watching that last video i was motivated to go jumping instead. thanks! ♥☮♫
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPAEFnVZVOs
Huffy,
Thanks for the wise words and wishes. My brother is almost 40. I wonder if the upheaval that is Uranbus opposition Uranus is making him question things because his response was so 180 from how he usuallyu responds. He knows I have stopped contact with our mother and why, though he didn’t believe she is a narcissist.
For now, I am content with it as it is. The hope is good but I know better than to push it.
He is a Gemini with Scorpio rising and moon in Scorpio in the 12th house. It means he has always been a deep person who feels uncomfortable with that depth and unwilling to deal with it or expose it.
my dream is fly over the rainbow, so high!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95uptchlgYI&feature=related
🙂
Thansk dear Hugging! Yeah, let’s sing along and give old Mars a boot up the ‘ol…. But for now I’d better do some spring cleaning (and whistle while I work). xx
Huffy, Carrie, lot’s of love to you guys.
Okay, now everyone sing with me and lets give Mars some help here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoVRV_xGEqc
🙂
Thank you dearest Mandy! Here’s one of my favourite songs ever, the Irish traditional song The Parting Glass, sung by the High Kings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhJp0W0ku2w. But I love The Pogues Irish punk version too.
Huffy: ((((LOVE)))) to you and your brother. And I agree about Ireland. Though it took me a long time to be proud of my roots, only because I heard the hate coming from my dad about the ‘other side’ for years. It is usually people from ‘the other side’ that I meet here in Canada and when they learn where I came from, the wall goes up instantly. I once went to a wedding and I was told not to tell the host where I was from or I would be asked to leave. This crap is getting so old.
Storytellers, oh yes! My dad was wonderful, he could mesmerize you.
And thank you for the beautiful poems, Susyc and MandyM. Mandy, my grandfather was Irish – a dentist, but like many Irish, also a poet. It’s a beautiful land and a wonderful people. Your country’s music and poetry moves me so deeply.
Carrie: “I would like a relationship with him but so far, it has been always strained (a typical situation in siblings with narcissistic parents). I am actually hopeful that things will change”. Yes – this is what happened in my family too. And I’d never thought about the narcissistic parents aspect – so true. My twin brother has kept me at arm’s length through all of our adult life – I always found this so painful, and veered between hope when he showed interest in striking up a relationship with me again and pain when he alienated me for the umpteenth time with gratuitously harsh words (there are 2 attempted suicides amongst 2 of my siblings – he tried to take his life twice in his early twenties). I have finally let go of my need for him to come back into my life, and he has picked this up. Our relationship is beautiful now. it’s an email relationship – he still avoids meeting up with me when I come back home twice a year. But that’s ok. It no longer hurts. And being twins we have so much in common, share so many tastes which suits a virtual relationship fine. I’m sure that your relationship with your brother will change dear Carrie – sounds like he really needs to be back in touch with you. Good luck.
Carrie: WONDERFUL!! May your hope expand into belief, and may your belief expand into knowing.
Hugging Scorpio: Hahahahahahaha! Thanks – I couldn’t resist DANCING!
To All:
Always on the rocks with you
Remembering our lost ones
By the sea so blue,
A friendship now forever
Memories ours to keep
A vision in our dreams each night
To guard us while we sleep
I will meet you at the sunrise
Where the dolphins love to play
I meet you when the moon comes
To an ancient old stone place
Never now forgotten
Although so far away
Always on the rocks with you
On an English summer day
By Ian Blevins ~ An Irish Bard
I can’t resist:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl3cjOwoZFw&feature=related
“Sometimes it takes a drop of water to spark a flame.”
Really like that too. Nice. When I returned here and read it I had only just finished a conversation with a friend wherein we were wondering if/how/etc fire from a lightening strike will burn in a downpouring of rain (thunderstorming here in just now LA).
Apropos.
springtime catechism
by Susy Crandall on Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 1:12am •
when you
were there
were you there?
there you
were when you
were there
but outside
outside this time
outside, outside
in the blowing pollen this time
pollen doesn’t
blow you say,
pollen is blown
weren’t you there?
didn’t you see it?
the busy bird
did you see it in
Teresa’s vines?
I saw it but
she didn’t they
did, though, those
birds, they
saw it
were you there? when
Teresa’s goose
no, her geese squawked
squawked, but no, squawked
not being a
good enough word
for that noise
swinging gate, that noise is
a swinging gate
un-oiled, a swinging
gate, metal on metal
squawking—wait
a swinging
gate too slow a
squawk for goosing,
but still, are you there?
really it’s more like
that noise, it’s more
like that noise a
jackass, a friendly mayhem,
a jackass, a cacophony,
a donkey, a feathered
donkey can
keep up with that
noise, that rhythm
but when you were there
did you see the blown
pollen, the viney
birds, the
un-oiled geese
swinging too slow
on their squawking
gate their tulips
blown, summer
tigers, not yet?
did you?
susy crandall
with thanks to
Gertrude Stein
4/12/2012
God bless and love to all!!
Maeve: That magic book started about 15? (I’m getting foggy on past times these days) years ago. My therapist (teacher/mentor of the light) stopped me as I was leaving our last session, and asked me to write about what I had learned – I know this was a Mercury request. I was really pissed off at first, it just seemed overwhelming to be able to put into words. Then the light bulb went off and I started the cut and paste thing. When I was finished there were many blank pages left in the book. I considered ripping them out but didn’t because I thought maybe there was more to add later. He put the book out at his office and told me years later that many people had read it and it had given them much inspiration and courage to continue their journey.
The second half of the book was created when I was in the Twilight Zone, just before my brother died (my MC is semi-sextile the Galactic Core. Mercury is trining my MC exact today). I returned it to my therapist when it was complete.
During a session after my brother died (when I returned the book) he advised me “Be BOLD Mandy!” I can’t tell you how many times since then I have asked for the book back. He has had it in storage while renovating his new home. Well, last year I directed my boldness at him and he didn’t like it (careful what you ask for). He cut me off and has refused to speak with me. He is not recognizing that the student is surpassing the teacher. And I’m ok with not having the book. It apparently is gaining great power just where it is.
Huffy: Yay! Yay! Yes, Hellelujah for you!
MandyM –
“I really wanted it in the book but what it said at the bottom didn’t make sense at all – I almost didn’t add it. It said “Sometimes it takes a drop of water to spark a flame.””
I got _chills_ reading that. Wow. 🙂
Amazing. I just e-mailed my brother and gave him some info about mid life crises (and advice) and he e-mailed me back saying this was right on time for him. That is a first.
I am 12 years older than he is; I helped raise him. Yet our narcissist mother made damn sure his opinions of me are not good. He was her golden child and I her scapegoat. Any bad feelings he has toward her, he takes out on me because I am safe and he doesn’t “need” me like he does her. His attitude toward me has been condescending at best. Our older brother made things worse (he is deceased as of 2008) by also saying I was the “weak one” and the “unaware one” to anyone in the family who would listen. Our older brother belittled me in ways both overt and covert.
I have tried to tell my brother insights before ( that I knew might be helpful to him) and he was never receptive. This time I just said what I have learned and observed (leaving the astrology component out) and made it clear that it was just information I know because I am a bit older and that it was shared because I share knowledge.
I am amazed that he actually was receptive. He will be 40 next month. I would like a relationship with him but so far, it has been always strained (a typical situation in siblings with narcissistic parents). I am actually hopeful that things will change.
:::hopeful sigh:::
Ok, now I’m getting really excited! The more I think about that magic book……
The second last page was about the book drawn from nature. The last page I wrote something about Oprah, and ‘The Master Speaks’ (yes, I thought maybe I would be on Oprah. Hey, I’m a dream-big-or-stay-at-home kind of gal). Well, don’t ya know the Queen of Talk is coming to a city near me on Monday. I can sense timelines converging (it does my head in a little bit, but it’s pretty cool). With all that Leo/Scorpio/Aquarius/Taurus in my chart I do feel like I am becoming the Cosmic Dancer in the World Card. I’ve had a hysterectomy and with the ending of menopause, I’m not pumping out all that estrogen anymore. The two halves are merging nicely. And if this Phoenix is about to rise, well you KNOW that you are all rising with me!
No, I won’t be on Oprah this Monday, but my future self apparently came back to make sure I included a marker in the path. And if this is an indication of ‘time for my dream to come true’, well I will be tickled pink and will definitely feel that I have become a Master of the elements.
Paulo Coelho, Warrior of the Light: “Expectation of reward is absolutely essential to the achievement of victory.”
I am victorious and I am fully expecting my reward. Thy Kingdom come when Thy Will be done.
Thanks for this, Amanda.
I awoke this morning from my extra deep sleep not remembering much except that I have been visiting people who are from my past (alive and dead and in this lifetime).
My last visual before transitioning from sleep to awake was that I was holding my drawing board to my chest. I did not experience a moment of nausea as per my usual moment of transition.
It is another rainy day here in SoCal. Cooling the fire no doubt; letting that energy out a bit of steam at a time.
xo
The Goddess of the hearth indeed! I’ve been in the kitchen a’cookin this morning. I’ve juiced every veggie in the fridge for myself and every fruit we had for the kids. Since Mars entered Virgo, even before it was retrograde, I’ve had an insatiable sweet tooth for baked goods and a thirst for coffee (adrenals?). I’ve been too tired to care for our nourishment.
Right after I read “After all, water and fire often create steam…” I burned my arm with the escaping steam when I removed the pot lid to check my greens. Ha!
Thanks PW! Hugs to you all! I read everyday, but I don’t think I’ve ever posted a comment. I feel more connected to life through you all, because there is often no one physically present in my life to share my love of astrology with. I have one very dear, very self-aware soulmate friend who is beginning to delve deeper into astrology. But no where else do I find persons ready to move beyond the bullshit control dramas that seem to run the show.
Mercury stationed direct on my SNode in Pisces. Mars stationed retrograde on my NNode in Virgo. The upcoming Venus spectacular will a) station retro on my Part of Fortune b) the occultation will oppose my Sag sun & c) my progressed moon “just happens” to be in the same Gemini degree.
Limbo best describes it all. I’m just quietly watching it all unfold just as I quietly read PW everyday.
This is lovely Amanda, thank you.
“Yes, it’s a little unusual to use a watery metaphor for activity in a fire sign”
I created a cut and paste book a few years ago. The thing didn’t make any sense to me, but I thought it might be somewhat prophetic (it talked about creating a book drawn from nature). When it was complete, I was holding in my hand a beautiful picture of the night sky with a shooting star above a lake. I really wanted it in the book but what it said at the bottom didn’t make sense at all – I almost didn’t add it. It said “Sometimes it takes a drop of water to spark a flame.” Ever since Mercury shuffled back to Pisces, it has stuck in my head this image of him bringing that little drop over into Aries when he returns.
Outside my window right now is a beautiful little woodpecker – ‘Go to the beat of your own drum’. Yes, yes. And I will bang the drum slowly.
Thank you, dear CaraSusanetta! Will do. And thank you, for this lovely lyrical blog, and photo too, dear Amanda (the humour is never far away…).
Eric mentioned in his podcast something that stayed with me (actually a LOT stayed with me) as he referred to this station as a “pregnant moment” (please forgive if I’ve mis-recalled this phrasing) … as I considered the energy today I have this sense of what it must be like to have the delivery room team advise NOT pushing. This is the feeling I started the day with until I read this post. A deeper listening is called for here and focusing on the inward harmony takes me to this lovely place of flow.
thank you Amanda. Love the photo, love the metaphor!
mary
Vesta is still conjunct Eris in Aries (exact today). The goddess of the hearth and the creative flame is presiding over the echo chamber of your identity, full of those whispers of who you are that seem to bounce around without ever syncing up.
That says it pretty exactly…all these loose notes and chords needing to be gathered into something new and harmonious.
There you go again, Miss Amanda. Thank you so,so,so much : ).
Huffy, that’s great news!!! Keep us posted, eh?
(yaaawwwwnnnn) huh? Virgo was retrorage? What’id I miss?
😉
Amanda: separate praise for the evocatively-lit photo.
Amanda: Thank you for the beautifully extended metaphor with its cargo of excellent advice for the weekend.
Natal Mars in Virgo brakes are almost off and just now I was contacted by a woman who I sent my CV to a couple of months back, who wants to offer me some (pretty well-paid) work. Hallelujah! It’s just the beginning, but I feel that I’m climbing out of that pit at last. And the beautiful thing is that yesterday I was really able to let go of my fear about work and money and just let it all be. And talking of Be, i think that was also thanks to your question and advice, and Amanda’s wonderful blog and the comments that followed. I hope and trust that Mars moving forwards will bring some blessed relief for everyone. xxx
that’s quite a rock 🙂