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

Pluto: Destroying Structure

Greetings, Gifted Reader.

New Orleans  'feels' Plutonian with its love for mysticism

As we head into Fall, it’s important to note all the movement crisscrossing the sky.

For one, Pluto turned Direct in Capricorn today. Like the underworld he represents, this dwarf planet can be mysterious, secretive and on a serious power trip.

So what happens when he occupies a sign like Capricorn which has rulership over the status quo, governments and business? There’s plenty of disruption, a tearing down so to speak in order to rebuild. 

Much like the rising phoenix, one of Scorpio’s (that Pluto rules) three symbols (the others are the eagle and scorpion), Pluto will wreak havoc in order to start all over again. Think of his actions as a type of death and reincarnation—often before his subjects are ready.

Just read the latest news about what’s going on with the US government, and you will see Pluto at work. He’s been occupying Capricorn—which is all about structure—on and off since 2008 and will sit there until 2024. So, there will be six more years of this stuff. The last time Pluto was in Capricorn was during the American Revolution.

Gypsy Stars visits Marie Laveau with a Scorpio
notice the ray of purple light emanating from her tomb

Being a water sign, Scorpio which is ruled by Pluto is mostly harmonious with the earthly Capricorn. But their compatibility is also where they clash—both wanting to grab the reins of power. 

While Scorpio is more intensely emotional, Capricorn can also be hard to deal with as a Cardinal sign that feels most at home being someone’s boss. Like Scorpio, that often hides its inner feelings, Capricorn is insecure when it comes to emotional expression.

With Scorpio Sun coming up on October 23, this time of year is conducive for celebrating holidays like Dia de los Muertos, All Souls Eve and Halloween—all events surrounding death, another specialty of Pluto’s. 

Please join us back here on December 31 when Mars enters Aries (do we really need more combative energy?). Meanwhile, check us out at the Urban Goddess Facebook page and on Cafe Press at T_zing tee shirts.

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!

 

Days Of Sun, Nights Of Bon

Greetings, Gifted Reader.

It’s 10 days past Summer Solstice. Have you sensed any changes in the air yet?

Seattle Astrologers mull over transiting planets

With the Sun in Cancer, people tend to be more family-oriented. And because Cancer also rules our memories, this season often finds us being overly sentimental about the past.

An emotive, cardinal water sign, Cancer is a lot more take-charge than most people give them credit for. Look at how many U.S presidents had their Suns placed in Cancer. Even though it’s known for being nurturing and supportive, Cancer’s moonstruck personality shouldn’t fool you. Remember, Cancer rules mothers who are fierce fighters when it comes to protecting her young—whether human or animal.

While Mercury (communications) just moved into shy Cancer, aggressive Mars went direct in Scorpio. This Mars placement sometimes portends violence, although it can also be indicative of intense energy. It can be a good time to focus on your career goals if you have a 10^th House Scorpio. Look where Scorpio appears in your natal chart; then, check out where Mars is transiting it. Chances are this is the area where you’ll be concentrating most of your attention.

honeymooning on a sunny Ala Moana day

We like to think of summertime as an easy-breezy time to spend vacationing or hanging out with loved ones at backyard parties and b-b-q’s, but with Pluto’s continuing presence in Capricorn, we’re in for more political and government upheaval, too.

yoga on the beach, Westside-style

Try to maintain some lightness in your life. Drink lots of water, eat fresh organic fruits—watermelon, frozen grapes and lychee are especially refreshing now—and practice yoga to relax your mind and keep your body flexible during these turbulent times.

Bon No Tsuki

Meanwhile, for Japanese living anywhere, it’s the season for Obon or Bon Odori--bon dance. Summer is when our departed ancestors return to earth to spend time with us. So we celebrate their homecoming by dancing.

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

Buddhist temples erect a yagura (sacred bandstand) to hold musicians and singers, and dancers perform in a circle around it. In most locations, anyone can join in the dancing. A lot of participants like to wear colorful summer kimono or a hapi coat.

There’s no specific date for Obon as different communities like to hold their own special event. In Hawai’i, where there are 40 Buddhist temples, there are as many celebrations scattered throughout summertime.

(public domain artwork usage clearance:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Bon_Festival#/media/File:Yoshitoshi_-_100_Aspects_of_the_Moon_-_46.jpg)

Additional components of Obon can include floating lanterns to help the ancestors find their way back to the other side. Names of the departed are sometimes tied to lines strung across temple grounds. At some festivals, booths sell food and omamori (good luck charms). Dances vary from region to region as do the songs, although some have become quite standard like Tanko Bushi, the coal miner’s song.

Remember, Gypsy Stars is on Facebook where we host The Urban Goddess. If you have a metaphysical service and want to post it on our page, please do so.

And, don’t forget we have t-shirts: http://www.cafepress.com/t_zing

 

See you in September, following the Autumn Equinox!

Until then…

Good luck, light and love.

Strange Days: Coincidences

Greetings, Gifted Reader!

With so many stormy events coming at us in waves these days, it’s not hard to believe that we’re embarking on some strange days in a brave new world. Against the background of protestors overtaking our largest U.S. cities, there is mounting poverty, the lack of jobs, and people losing their homes in an ever-increasing violent society.

pleasant memory of Santa Monica beach

What in heavens is going on? Well, in the U.S.’ birth chart, Saturn in Libra is squaring Pluto in Capricorn—making for trying times between authorities and common folks. While Capricorn rules government, Libra is about justice; Saturn creates challenges while Pluto is destructive. There are, of course, many other Astrological details to consider and add to this prognosis, but the focus of today’s blog is not about the current political landscape of this country.

Instead, Gypsy Stars would like to present you with this question: What does it mean to experience coincidences?

Earlier today, I watched a movie at the theater. In this movie, an unusual name was spoken which immediately brought to my mind the site where an extremely violent act recently occurred. These two things—the name the actor spoke in the movie and the name of a store that was the scene of a murderous rampage in real life—had absolutely nothing to do with each other. Yet this name was so different that encountering it twice in one week gave me pause for thought.

pleasant memory of Colorado mountains

Also, at this same movie, an old yet distinctive song was played in the background of one scene. Several hours after the movie was finished, and I was walking around downtown, a mother with a young son stopped to ask me directions. Her restless boy, about 5 years old, began loudly humming—the exact same song. Shocked, I asked if they had been at the same screening as me, which was the first time the movie had played in theaters. But, she said that her child had heard the song from somewhere else, some weeks before, somewhere she couldn’t quite remember.

Now, what are the chances of hearing an unusual song that’s consequently hummed by a stranger later the same day? Is there a deeper, hidden message in this experience? Each of us encounters such coincidences on a daily basis, but few of us have the time or interest in decoding them. That’s why dreaming and meditation are so important to help us untangle lessons that are woven within coincides.

pleasant memory of Hawai'i beach

For me, personally, this song was significant because both my sister and I learned to play it on the piano as children. The nostalgia brought to mind a happier time. Perhaps with all those storm clouds on the horizon, I was in need of a pleasant diversion that my subconscious mind gifted to me. By hearing the same song twice, I was bound to pay attention to it; thus, experiencing a pleasant memory and reliving a better time in my life.

Drop a line at gypsystars@me.com about the coincidences in your life so we can compare notes.

Meanwhile, remember you can “friend” Gypsy Stars on Facebook, “like” The Urban Goddess fan page that is support for all metaphysicians everywhere, and purchase a T-zing t-shirt.

May all of your coincidences bring you pleasant memories.

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