“I often say that in making dances i can make a world where i think things are done morally, done democratically, done honestly.” – Twyla Tharp
As the weekend began, we closed the previous installment of Daily Astrology with T.S. Eliot’s observation relating the “still point of the changing world” to dance. This Monday of a morning we find representations of dance all over the zodiac. The key is to be aware of the which and the who with.
The Sabian symbol for the Sun’s position at eight degrees Virgo is much ado about a poor little rich girl’s first dancing lesson. Put yourself in her position. After all the fuss in selecting a teacher and picking out her clothing, would the hard work of dance seem to be a bit of a letdown? Or would she find her self and her joy in kinesthetic expression? Is she there because of pressure from her parents or did her aspirations inspire her to ask for it? It can go either way. Which way it goes can change with time. The same can hold for the dances we find ourselves in right now.
In my shy and callow youth, my late father encouraged me to go to dances. He told me it was the healthiest way to meet new people. When you think of the exercise, the sharing, the safety in numbers, the physical and social mixing that come with the territory of young people gathering to dance, one can see the wisdom. First, however one must get out of the chair, move away from the wall and take the chance of asking or accepting an offer. Today we see that reflected by several planetary aspects. Vesta (just starting her fire dance in Leo) conjunct the asteroid Hygiea the Greek goddess of health. Mercury reaching out to Venus in an applying sextile. Venus, in turn showing an encouraging response to Mars an an applying semi-sextile. The Moon in Capricorn sending reciprocal vibes to the triple conjunction in Aquarius. What a jam! Raving it up they are! Would you consider joining in? Then look for the invitation in your life today. Have courage and confidence to accept the opportunities presented as you move those energies through your system, join with them as they are offered by others.
Ah, but does the shadow material come to mind? The doubt, the fear of rejection, the stern judgment of the internal parent? That pitfall, those traps do lie lurking in today’s sky in the form of a sho’ `nuff FIXED square dance between three Centaurs (Nessus at 15 Aquarius, Absolus at 15 Taurus and Chariklo at 15 Scorpio) and the asteroid Lilith at 15 degrees Leo (invoking the energy of the hypothetical “Black Moon” of the same name, currently near the end of Capricorn). Eric, of course, has gone to great lengths to teach us the perils of ignoring the energies of the centaurs, the cringes inside the suitcase that we carry while on the journey of life. But that does not mean they have to be your pals. Be aware of them yes. Deal with them, yes. Integrate them and heal the wounds, yes. But you don’t have to make them your date to today’s dance.
Today is an invitation to get with the rhythm of recent and forthcoming transitions. Can you hear the base line the Sun is layin’ down in Virgo? Can you feel the hot rhythm of Venus in Leo? Or the steamy lead from Mars in Cancer? And then there’s Mercury coming out over the top of it all with a tasty harmony in Libra. Dig it.
Now, as a way of transitioning into tomorrow’s Daily Astrology, imagine if you will the figure of the letter “L” followed by the figure of of the number “7” as you consider these closing words from the late, great, master of dance, Martha Graham “Every dance is a kind of fever chart, a graph of the heart.” – where will your heart be today?
In Loving Service,
Len Wallick
mariapadhila,
Thank you for the story. You brought a smile to my face and lifted my heart. What a day!
-Len Wallick
Can I pile on (in a good way)? This weekend I ended up at a place where a friend was dj, dancing–all good. But for some reason today, in between work and etc., I kept getting these flashes of “maybe you shouldn’t go dancing anymore. You’re kind of old for this. How long before you’re just ridiculous?” Because most of the people with me weren’t dancing, and they were about 10 years younger than me.
And then I got in the car and Prince was on the radio. And I thought, well, look at how the hell old Prince is. And I like dancing. And I’m not bad at it (even made money at it, long ago). And the other people with me weren’t dancing because they’re straight men and a little out of their element at that club.
The same process you were talking about–whether thru intuition or cosmic nudge.
Patty, i’m not afraid to say you brought tears to my eyes with this latest post.
bkoehler, would that i had your wisdom.
So, please let me close the day by telling you a few jokes about what a bad dancer i am.
i’m such a bad dancer that Chubby Checker had a restraining order to keep me from doing the twist.
i’m such a bad dancer that i was once voted the worst dancer at a Grateful Dead concert (in EUGENE!).
i’m such a bad dancer that i once lost out to Jed Clampett in a Fred Astaire dance-alike contest.
In Faithful Service – Len Wallick
Len, you lifted me out of a very blue fog. I really appreciated the wisdom of your take on the stars this weekend. I agree that the symbol had to be corrected, but it doesn’t remove the spirit in which you invited us to dance. I’m a believer in magic and wonder and enchanted moments. You have provided that numerous times over the last several months.
It is ok to admit a mistake – it is NOT ok to fail to forgive it, for per chance you failed to make it, what then? You may have saved a life today old friend!
Love,
patty
Well, look Len, I think it is admirable that you follow the letter of the law, so to speak; but you box yourself into a tight, inflexible position. Patty’s suggestion or point addresses the Neptunian side of astrology (and everything else, frankly), which allows for a force outside our own control to step in and give us another view. I agree with her that what you gave us was what we needed at that time. It was an honest and common and human error (for lack of a better term right now) which you addressed immediately. Is there anyone who comes to this site, or anyone who writes for this site that hasn’t done the same? We loved what you wrote and it cheered us, and frankly, most of us were unaware it was not the “proper” symbol! And we’re pretty sure you were not trying to lead us astray! We love the honesty and sensitivity that is you.
Keep on using those symbols my friend, and let the occasional outside influence guide you and trust it. We are all capable of being used and being useful for the higher powers to open such modes as feeling, understanding, courage and wisdom. It seems like a good thing to me.
be
“To live outside the law you must be honest” – Bob Dylan
Thank you Patty for your supportive words. However, sometimes things really are either / or. In astrology, once a line of demarkation is crossed, it’s crossed. Sort of like the old saying that one cannot be a little bit pregnant.
Until astrology is once again accepted as a legitimate and worthy devotion by our culture, we need to meet and even exceed the highest level of discipline, conduct, honesty and ethics as regards to the standards we set for ourselves. Otherwise, aspiration becomes a hollow and vain thing.
i won’t kid you. For me to post the erratum was not easy and it took a gentle nudge from another for me to do it. It hurts to let you guys down but to ignore or deny my error would have been worse.
i will omit future references to sabian symbols until i can use the tool competently.
In Service,
Len Wallick
Len,
Usually that’s right – but for purposes of what you were writing I think the 8 is accurate. We were all still in dancing shoes from yesterday and in the mood. I always think Spirit has a hand in these things, and that there is no such thing as an accident.
The symbols are mighty powerful for the rest of the week. Can’t wait to see what you write tomorrow!
NOTICE OF AUTHOR’S ERRATUM
When it comes to Sabian Symbols “8”, for example means greater than seven and less than eight. Anything over “8” is actually a “9”, etc. Since the Sun was at greater than eight degrees Virgo this morning, my selection of the Sabian symbol used in today’s Daily Astrology was an error. Please allow my mistake to serve an educational cause for us all by retaining the lesson (as i surely will) and by moving forward with a determination to apply the highest principles of integrity to the art we all love and aspire to master.
Humbly,
Len Wallick
I’ve been constructing a song with a strong danceable beat over the shaman frequency of 240/bpm whose lyrics are all about getting in touch with the divine through the flesh rather than by trying to transcend it, undoing the patterns of the past that bind us through internal awareness and energy practices like qigong. Is that Virgo on my 12th cusp or something? The alchemical phrase goes Visita Interiora Terrae Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem- visit the interior of the earth (the body, and through that the planet/cosmos) and by rectification find the hidden stone. The song using me as it’s path into manifestation says it thusly:
deconstruct
decompose
dissolve the webs
that bind the rose
parabolic vitriolic
visit the deep inside
unwind adjust revise
find the stone of the wise
Shebear, I picture Gene Wilder’s beautiful performance of the mock turtle.
Fe, Totally!.. I took my guitar to the park the other day and ended up jammin’ with the transients!.. blues and Espanol rock-n-roll. I threw some deep rhythms out while this random cat bilingually weaved a story line. My bodies energy was working out like mad! (Sex with the Universe, eh!?!) Totally kick-ass feel good shit!!
Love, all
J
I’m in a mood where I cannot get enough dancing, literally, and feel healthy enough for it every day. Feels as though my sexual energy is getting generalized into my limbs and its getting expressed in dance.
Love the metaphor, Len. Perfect–almost as if you’ve read my mind over the weekend.
Hello all-
As has already been said, I’m really enjoying your take on things Len. A new view is always a good thing.
There is the dance as you say, but my thoughts are going more to the time you mentioned, before the dance– what was it that called me to begin it in those first days? If it was truly my heart, then the difficuty I’m now encountering, ie, mastering an ever-changing rhythm, is surely a worthwhile task. I’ve always danced those dances without names, without proscribed steps… It’s a different matter to be patient with the learning process, to watch, trust my heart, and allow the dance to have its organic way with this dancer, imperfect as I am.
Pan
What a lovely way to start the week. It’s looking a lot like a party out here so don’t mind if I join you! Thanks Len, for letting us know who came with whom and as for Vesta and Hygiea dancing all over my Mercury, I’m encouraged to pass along to everyone a bit of advice I got in my “swine flu update”. It comes from a letter written by a man in his 60’s who survived the flu and attributes that to the use of Ibuprofen. His wife started him on aspirin but when the fever wouldn’t come down, she remembered that a big flu epidemic ( I’ll check that date and get back) treated the sick with Ibuprofen with success. It brought down this gentleman’s fever immediately.
Shebear, enjoyed that bit of Alice in Wonderland very much!
Patty, glad to hear you didn’t quit that job yet and instead are gonna spread some cheer to the “old long-faced nags”. Care to tango anyone?
Whoa … LEN! I am totally digging your piece on today’s astrology. I can feel the aspects here and the invitation to engage them on the physical. whoa, love this.
m.
Wonderful Len, thank you!
This from Alice in Wonderland:
“Will you walk a little faster?” Said a whiting to a snail
There’s a porpoise close behind us
And he’s gaining on my tail.
See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance.
They are waiting on the shingle.
Will you come and join the dance.
Will you, won’t you,
Will you, won’t you,
Will you, won’t you, join the dance?
Will you, won’t you,
Will you, won’t you,
Won’t you, will you, join the dance?”
Thinking of my own wonderland this morning and of how I shall attempt to boogie, waltz, tango, jive and jig through my day!
Len,
I’m loving this take on astrology! Sometimes we have to face down the fears that those centaurs are presenting, don’t you think?
Heading out to the dance floor in a few minutes…back to the loveless job. Two weeks ago the top manager said something that made me realize he was feeling left out, and I said “It’s lonely at the top.” He looked like he would burst into tears. Have to work on those old long-faced nags today I guess, get them off the wall.