Neptune Retrograde: Revealing The Illusion

Greetings, Gifted Reader.

what does all that mean?

Holy Retrograde!

In July, Mercury will join Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto in a parade of retrograde planets.

Meanwhile, in August, as Jupiter goes direct—Uranus will turn retrograde. 

My stars! What does all that mean?

Some Astrologers see retrogrades as disasters. Since the orb of the planet slows down, it appears to be spinning backwards. Therefore, goes the thought, whatever that planet represents will also spin out of control.

But planets appearing to be spinning backwards are not out of control. They are deliberate in their shifting of gears. Therefore, there are many ways in which retrogrades can be of value.

For instance, Neptune is a planet that naturally obscures and veils. It’s associated with mystery, magic and illusion. But when Neptune is retrograde, moving in backward motion, the curtains fall and what was hidden becomes fully exposed. Remember the Wizard of Oz?

Neptune rules Pisces...

Neptune rules alcohol and drug addiction, self-imprisonment, hospitals and mental institutions; and, it’s currently in its own sign of Pisces.

...and the seas

Additionally, Neptune rules dreams and glamour. With Hollywood being so magnetic and bewitching, it probably has a prominent Neptune in its chart. But watch out when Neptune is retrograde because it will open the windows wide and allow you to see the dirty truth inside.

Santa Monica beach (almost Hollywood)

Where is retrograde Neptune in Pisces transiting in your chart? Its House position and any aspecting planets will indicate what it is being revealed.

Although we no longer maintain a website, you can always check out our Urban Goddess page on Facebook and our T_zing t-shirts on Cafe Press.

until we meet again on September 30…

Good luck, light and love.

Gypsy Stars

Sprung Over Spring

Greetings, Gifted Reader.

springing!

As they say, “spring has sprung” and with it so have the cosmos.

Besides the Sun entering Aries on March 20, Mercury also moved there earlier on March 14. And, Venus before that on February 4. Further, the planet of love and all things material went into retrograde motion a month later on March 4.

With so much fiery Aries energy coming at you, it’s good to remember that this is a combustible time. Aries is a cardinal fire sign that's aggressive, always moves forward and likes to lead, but rarely follows. In other words, Aries is the boss.

Aries’ ruling planet, Mars, was in also in Aries until March 10 before entering that plodder Taurus. A fixed earth sign, Taurus brings a stability to Mars that it needs in order to get things done. Otherwise, Mars in Aries tends to generate a bunch of ideas that are rarely solidified.

Those personal planets—Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars (along with the Moon)—affect individuals more so than groups of people, while outer planets like Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto stay in a sign for a longer period and tend to influence generations. However, both Jupiter and Saturn can be considered somewhat personal as they do have shorter orbs. 

Since February 6, transiting Jupiter has been retrograde in Libra opposite Aries. If you have a personal planet in Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter,  you may have felt as if there were a wall hindering you from achieving something. But it all depends on where you have that Sag placement. Areas where you can feel as if you’re stuck might include overseas travel, higher education and overall luck and fortune—a Jupiter domain. No worries, the planet will go direct again on June 10. Note that Saturn has been lingering in Sag, adding further hinderances and causing even more craziness as it goes retrograde on April 6.

So what does all this cosmic activity mean to the average person? Truthfully, not much unless you know your Natal chart. There are lots of websites that offer free charts these days, so input your birth info and take a look to see where the above planets intersect with yours.

For instance, if you have Aries Ascendant at 21 degrees, when Mercury hit it exactly on March 25, it likely triggered a communications emphasis for you. Whether that was a positive or negative experience depends on if Mercury created any aspects with other planets, both transiting and natal, and what Houses those planets were located in. Houses are areas of life in your chart and there are 12 of them.

Okay, that’s a lot of information to absorb if you aren’t already a serious student of Astrology. There’s nothing you can do, but study like mad. Oh, and by the way, that retrograde Venus goes all the way back into Pisces on April 3 before going direct on April 15. In general, romance and personal possessions could be given a second chance. Did you lose one or the other?

sakura, sakura
a cherry blossom spring

As for our own Saturnian issues with delays, Facebook has forced Gypsy Stars into creating a business page which is still pending. Right now, you can like both the Gypsy Stars or The Urban Goddess pages, but there hasn't been much activity with either recently.

What is with the Internet anyway—a Uranus domain--also currently in Aries. Our T-zing t-shirts have been stymied since Cafe Press changed its rules. Grrr.

No matter, here’s to a productive spring and, until June 30,

Good luck, light and love.

Gypsy Stars

p.s.Happy Birthday, Lily! We love you forever!

 

The Shortest Day

Greetings, Gifted Reader.

Winter Solstice is just a month away.

http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/december-solstice.html

On December 21, we’ll experience the shortest amount of daylight in the entire year. In ancient times, that meant fear--fear of the unknown because of the darkness that could hide things that daylight wouldn’t. Of course, this was during a time before the electronic devices that today light up the dark skies. Imagine, sleeping under a beautiful full moon or a sky full of sparkling stars. A wondrous sight to be sure, but scary if you’re parked anywhere near wild animals and nocturnal creatures.

waiting for nightfall

Still, our ancestors must have had the time of their lives watching those vivid night skies. Just think about the stunning Milky Way and the incredible stories it’s inspired over centuries; like China's 'The Weaver Girl and the Cowherd'. This lovely folktale also appears in Japan and Korea.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Weaver_Girl_and_the_Cowherd

night sky over Wai'anae

For you Astrologers, can you imagine how much easier it was to view constellations and planetary movements without any hindrances from city skylines or the flashing taillights of aircraft?

Another event takes place tomorrow when the Sun moves into Sagittarius. Ruled by the jovial planet Jupiter, this sign loves the freedom of expansion, like making new friends out of strangers while traveling long distances.

A good way to enter this new Astro period is to plan your time. If you’re not careful, you’ll get caught up in Jupiter’s magnanimous spirit and accept way more holiday invites than you can possibly handle. That’s Sag for you.

If you have any comments about your experience with Sag or Jupiter, drop us a line. And, remember to ‘like’ The Urban Goddess on Facebook. That’s the page where we promote you and your metaphysical offerings, so check it out.

And, take a peek at our T_zing t-shirts at Café Press, too.

Enjoy!

Good luck, light and love,

Gypsy Stars

http://www.gypsystars.com

Venus + Jupiter = Friends With Benefits

Greetings Gifted Reader,

  

night sky

Recently, an Astrological phenomenon had a lot of folks talking. Were you watching the event unfolding in the night sky? If you happened to have missed the celestial show, it featured Venus and Jupiter moving closer to each other, night after night, to form an exact conjunction. An exact conjunction occurs when two planets are 0 degrees apart. Otherwise, planets are considered in conjunction aspect to each other whenever they are up to 7 to 9 degrees apart, depending on the Astrologer—who vary widely in their interpretations.

What do you know about Venus? And, what about Jupiter? And, why did it matter that they were cozying up to each other, sort of like "friends with benefits".

In Astrology, Venus is considered the Lesser Benefic. As the ruler of Taurus and Libra, she brings art, beauty, grace and good manners to the table. She can be seductive, but never in a gross or sluttish way. Unless, of course, she’s badly aspected in a chart. But for the most part, Venus brings material benefits because she attracts them.

rainbows are beneficial, too

 Jupiter, called the Greater Benefic, is also a generous benefactor. But where Venus is cool and coquettish, Jupiter blusters. A big and jovial fellow, he often talks too much and sticks his foot in his own mouth. Just check out the sign he rules for a clue: Sagittarius. While being a fire element helps boost Sag’s openness, Jupiter also adds his amicable personality to the sign.

Where Venus is focused on love (love of a partner, love of nice things), Jupiter is more like a philosophical teacher. Yes, he can bring good luck and good fortune to the scene, but that’s because he’s a high-risk taker. And his optimism

helps him take "losing" in great stride.

Leo in flamboyant, golden splendor

So what did it mean to you when these two beneficial planets came together, on top of each other so to speak? You’ll have to check out your Natal (and/or Progressed) chart to know. Both signs were in 21 degrees of Leo on June 29. So, for example, if you had 21 degrees of Leo on your Fifth House cusp, the transit of the two planets might have brought you a spurt of flamboyant creativity, or perhaps even a showy baby. It all depends on what other planets are in your Fifth House and if any of them aspect other planets in your chart.

Astrology may not be easy to learn, but knowing even a little helps.

See you in September. Meanwhile, please check out our line of T_zing t-shirts at Café Press. Also, please “like” The Urban Goddess on Facebook; and, if you drop us a line, we’ll feature your service on that page.

Good luck, light and love,

 

Gypsy Stars

http://www.gypsystars.com

 

Gifts From The Universe: The Age Of Aquarius

Greetings, Gifted Reader!

What a gifted time we live in. With just a flick of our wrists, we can access information about nearly everything in the world that we have an interest in. Only this morning, I googled ‘tiny brown worm’ because I had seen a couple inside my home and couldn’t identify them. In seconds, I visited web pages that explained to me these guys were called millipedes that slide under doors and through wall cracks in search of moisture.

Of course, most of the time when I look for information, it’s about something more meaningful but today tiny brown worms were on my mind.

In any case, it’s a miracle that we can just punch in some keys and find the answers to our questions. Does this mean that the Age of Aquarius has finally dawned upon us? Aquarius rules modern inventions like electricity, computers and wireless technology. All of those things exist today, yet some say we haven’t fully reached the Age of Aquarius yet.

If you recall, there was a song from the popular 1968 hit Broadway play, Hair, with lyrics about the Moon being in the 7^th House and Jupiter aligning with Mars and how that would bring about the Age of Aquarius. But the Moon is in the 7^th House every 2 1/2 days, and Mars and Jupiter align often.

Still, every Astrological Age (12 total) span some 2,000 years and, according to some, we are leaving Pisces and entering Aquarius as a group (ages travel counterclockwise). Since several people have asked me what it all means, let me break it down a little.

According to some experts, we are still in the Piscean Age--which is indicative of the religious wars currently spanning the globe. Neptune, Pisces’ ruler, has dominion over beliefs as well as alcohol and drugs. With the proliferation of addiction centers across the U.S., it seems that drug culture is also very much alive right now. So, are we in Pisces or Aquarius?

Popular belief says that we will reach the Age of Aquarius on 12/12/2012 at 11:11 p.m. just in time to meet the end of the Mayan calendar and the moment our sun aligns with a portal in the Milky Way for the first time in 26,000 years. Some believe that we won’t undergo so much a physical metamorphosis, but that our consciousness—our collective human consciousness--will expand to the fifth dimension so that we will become light beings; more impersonal yet somehow more humanitarian.

But as with so many things Uranian (Uranus rules the sign Aquarius), the beginning date of the Age of Aquarius is highly controversial. Many Astrologers (also ruled by revolutionary Uranus) have differing opinions as to when the age truly begins. Witness this wikipedia entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Aquarius

Above are photos of Gypsy Stars and a former biz partner at a psychic fair selling AstroTeez t-shirts created by Darlene Romero. And--from what is probably the most Aquarian TV show ever—a cardboard cutout of Captain Kirk in a bakery window.

Until next time, don’t forget about our T*zing t-shirts:

http://www.cafepress.com/t_zing

And, remember to friend us on Facebook and "like" The Urban Goddess.

Leaving you with good luck, light and love;

Gypsy Stars

Jupiter: The Gigantic, Giving, Goof

Greetings, Gifted Reader!

Did ya miss me? Apologies for not appearing here last week, but this blogger has moved to a biweekly format. From now on, look for us keeping you in the know with our metaphysical musings on an every-other-week basis.

Since last we connected, Gypsy Stars has been experiencing her own Jupiter Retrograde disappointments. How has Jupiter been treating you?

As you may know, Jupiter’s generosity is legend. Here is a big fat, jolly planet that lives to give. Jupiter also loves to laugh and because of his naïveté can be a total dork. Due to his hedonistic tendencies like over-imbibing and overeating, Jupiter is also the quintessential partier slash playboy. In Ifa, Obatala is sometimes compared to Jupiter. Children of Obatala wear white, are considered chaste and holy, and not allowed to drink alcohol. Obatala, it is said, created humans. But as he sat in heaven, making people of clay then blowing them down to earth with his breath, he thought he’d have a shot of palm wine to make his work go faster. In fact, Obatala thought he’d have several shots. Soon, he became so tipsy that he accidentally began breaking off the arms, legs and even the heads of the unfortunate earthlings; sending them to earth as disabled and undeveloped.

Discipline, boys and girls, is not Jupiter’s forte either. In the case of retrogrades, Jupiter will often take back what he gave you in abundance while he was in direct motion. Because Jupiter is in Aries now, generally (because it will differ for each individual), we’re looking at issues dealing with ego, personality and the physical body. For instance, if you have Aries Ascendant, Jupiter Retrograde over your First House could be that time when you lose weight. On September 8, Jupiter will be retrograding his way backwards into Pisces while both Venus and Mars enter Scorpio! Okay, I think I’ll sit this one out in my Gypsy Stars cave. Scorpio is intense and with both Venus and Mars in it, you can expect lots of fireworks or firearms going off in personal relationships.

Switching subjects now, a lot of people often ask me for advice about how to attain mental clarity. First of all, stop ingesting dead animals. Seriously. Although it’s a good way to stay physically healthy, too, not eating putrid carcasses is also a way for you to avoid taking in any residue negative vibrations. An animal in its last moments of life, realizing that it’s dying, is fighting hard to live. That is what you’re bringing into your psyche—fear, helplessness, and the overwhelming pain of loss. Check out most Eastern religions like Buddhism and you will note that priests do not eat dead animals, for a good reason.

Once you’ve gotten to that point (and I’m not saying to do it overnight), be sure you’re always well hydrated. Drink lots of water and natural non-concentrated juices. If you have a juicer, excellent. For tea, I stick with genmai (green with brown rice bits) and if I really want to open my chakras, I use gotu kola, which is made from elephants’ favorite leaves. Drink gotu kola regularly and you will never forget. If you don’t already practice yoga, try it for both the physical rewards and meditative qualities.

After you’ve gotten yourself physically conditioned, create a place in your home where only you alone can always go. That will become your altar space where you will meditate and ask your higher consciousness, gods and/or goddesses, spirit guides, or whatever you look to for guidance, to assist you with a clearer, calmer mind.

Another time, I’ll give you some ideas of what to put in your altar space.

Above are some of my fave photos of the psychic vibes surrounding Santa Monica, a city chock full of ghosts and legends. For instance, a statue of Saint Monica stands on Ocean Boulevard and Wilshire. It’s reported that Ms. Monica was beyond consoling because her son, the future St. Augustine, was a drunkard and womanizer. Monica cried every day until her tears formed a pool near downtown Los Angeles where Spanish explorers landed. Seeing the spring of water there, they decided to name the area Santa Monica (not to be confused with present-day Santa Monica located at the edge of the Pacific Ocean). As Fate would have it, the city of Santa Monica is Sagittarius which means it's ruled by generous, jovial Jupiter and the same sign that my Moon (home) is in.

That’s me at the top in my favorite Santa Monica cemetery on 14^th Street followed by a shot of Zoltar, the famous psychic living on Santa Monica Pier. Drop in a coin, and voila! Zoltar will tell you whether or not that knuckle-headed boyfriend will call you with an apology, or if your lottery ticket holds the winning combo.

Santa Monica:

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/ETg2kS_IzOmjWBsbCmiLUw?select=0lYxCJnAOA6DTjO29ZNx8w

Zoltar:

http://wiki.worldflicks.org/boardwalk_on_the_pier.html#coords=(34.009438,-118.497154)&z=19

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM5B56_Zoltar_Santa_Monica_Pier_California

And, don't forget our T*zing t-shirts at http://www.cafepress.com/t_zing and George Patton's book about his great Uncle Herman, a famous magician during the Harlem Renaissance.

Remember, you can friend us on Facebook and like The Urban Goddess, too.

Leaving you with good luck, light and love;

Gypsy Stars

Cardinal Climax And Metaphysical Mixing

Welcome back, Gifted Reader!

Someone pointed out that while last week's blog noted that Saturn ruled Saturdays, it omitted its sign-- Capricorn. That wasn't intentional; it was because the focus was on it being Saturday or Saturn's Day.

The one thing you'll soon discover about Gypsy Stars is that we're all over the metaphysical map. So, while writing about an Astrological event, we might also add something about an Ifa goddess of the Yoruba deities--like Oshun whose character traits are very similar to the planet Venus. Let us digress. In Astrology, we say that Venus rules "all moving things"; in particular, love and money. Venus is beautiful and she loves beauty. Well, the goddess Oshun is also physically lovely. And, while Oshun is a seductress, she also possesses a genteel manner. In either case, feminine idealism is at its zenith.

But back to the nature of this blog. The name Gypsy Stars came about because the word Gypsy felt intuitive and attached to cards, like Tarot; while Stars refers to the Astrological elements that makes up our studies of the occult.

Speaking of Astrology, our group of Astrologers meets monthly and today we had a meeting. After our leader passed around Natal charts for the U.S., we discussed the Cardinal Climax. Because this blog is not meant to cover highly technical aspects of Astrology, let's just say that our consensus was that the next few months are going to be on the difficult side. The Cardinal Climax involves several planets--Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto--all in Cardinal signs (Aries, Libra, Capricorn) and all within a few degrees in forming an opposition (Aries, Libra) and a square (Pluto in Capricorn). Pluto in Capricorn often predicts meltdowns (Pluto) in government (Capricorn). And, Uranus always brings the unexpected. Mars is violent and rules war and warriors. You already know that Saturn is a harsh taskmaster. That leaves Jupiter, who is often presented as benevolent. But Jupiter is also excessive and can be overindulgent.

It will be really interesting to see what this grouping of planets is going to bring about in the near future.

Meanwhile, do check back next week as we present our very first guest, George Patton, author of Black Jack--a book about his great uncle who was a magician during the Harlem Renaissance.

You can also friend Gypsy Stars and like The Urban Goddess on Facebook. And, please visit our online store, T*zing, at CafePress.

Leaving you with good luck, light and love;
Gypsy Stars