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.

Hanami For Haru

Greetings, Gifted Reader.

Konnichi-wa from Nippon! Haru (spring) has surely sprung and everyone is out for hanami--flower viewing, or gazing at sakura (cherry blossoms).

This ancient practice has its roots in shinto, the Japanese belief in animism and ancestral worship. Since Heian times, Japanese royalty would spend long hours in gorgeously kept gardens meditating over these beautiful blossoms.

Today, everyone in Japan is allowed to view these exquisite flowers that only stay in bloom a few weeks--usually beginning in March, but sometimes later in April. Because of sakura's short lifespan, Japanese really appreciate them while they're around--much in the same way we should feel about our loved ones. Life is fleeting, as they say.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanami

So, here are some sakura to remind you to stay in spirit and love your loved ones.

Don't forget to check out Gypsy Stars on Facebook and like our page, The Urban Goddess. And, of course, we have t-shirts:

http://www.cafepress.com/t_zing

Until next quarter...

Good luck, light and love.

Gypsy Stars

http://www.gypsystars.com

2016: No Time To Monkey Around

In 2016, Gypsy Stars will be publishing quarterly. After this posting, we’ll be back on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31.

With that in mind, we’re sending you our best wishes for a happy Lunar New Year, which this year occurs on February 8--a most auspicious number to Chinese as the character sounds like the word for generating wealth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8_(number)

However the actual first day of the Year of the Red Fire Monkey is February 4. The fire element shows how fast changes can occur, so watch out. Fire may be necessary for cooking and heating, but when it’s out of control fire can spread quickly while wreaking havoc along its path.

As for the Year of the Red Fire Monkey, our advice is to be playful but smart. This is a year that will bring forward lots of bold and innovative ideas. But will they last? The Monkey is clever and inventive, but lacks patience. Don’t have a Monkey mind! Stop your incessant chattering and stay focused on accomplishing your goals.

And, remember that no matter what year it is, if it’s the same as your own animal sign, that animal will be resentful for having to share it with you. If you’re a Monkey, tread lightly this year.

According to Master Tsai, this is the year that invites you to outsmart the Monkey and avoid getting snagged by his/her cunning mind.

http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2016/

Don’t forget to ‘like’ our Facebook page at The UrbanGoddess, where we promote all metaphysicians.

And, you can get your Year of the Monkey t-shirt at our CaféPress T_zing Café store.

Until we meet in March…

Good luck, light and love,

Gypsy Stars

http://www.gypsystars.com

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

Retrograding With Mercury

Greetings, Gifted Reader.

If you’re fortunate enough to live on O’ahu, please drop by the Blue Moon Psychic Fair at Maunakea Marketplace in Chinatown (Honolulu), tomorrow (Sunday, September 20), to get a reading from some wonderfully insightful lightworkers. Besides Astrology, offerings include Tarot, energy healings, and more.

Seattle Astrologers contemplate Mercury Retrograde

So, how’s that Mercury Retrograde of September 17 treating you so far? Thanks to popular Astrology, a lot of folks freak out whenever they hear that Mercury is Stationing Retrograde. What does that mean exactly? Well, the planet Mercury, which rules communications, neighbors, siblings and transportation among other things, slows its motion so that it appears to be moving backwards. Some Astrologers attribute disasters like paperwork gone lost, misunderstandings with neighbors and siblings, and travel snafus to it.

But rather than fear the bad reputation of Mercury Retrograde, you can learn to embrace its good aspects. Since the planet is considered to be going backwards, it means that you can also move back with it. Stop, slow down, and relearn lessons; or, redo something that should have been done right the first time. Start looking at Mercury Retrograde as a second chance.

fear not the opened door

For those born with a Natal Mercury Retrograde, thank the stars you’re naturally able to walk back through situations and thoughts to arrive at a clear conclusion. While others go from point A to point B, you go from point B, the end, to point A, the beginning; thereby giving you the ability to see how you ended up where you did. What a gift!

Learn more about Mercury Retrograde and other Astrological phenomena, or just get a personal reading for yourself, tomorrow at Maunakea Marketplace.

If you have any personal Mercury Retrograde experiences you’d like to share, by all means please do. You can also contact us at TheUrban Goddess on Facebook where we promote all healers, readers and spiritualists.

Remember to check out our T_zing t-shirts at Café Press, too.

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

 

What's In A Name

Greetings Gifted Reader,

fate

Have you ever considered how the meaning of your name impacts your life? Like Astrology and Numerology, the names we’re given at birth affects us in interesting ways.

For instance, I have a friend whose name is also that of an important East Asian civilization over 2,000 years old. Further, that civilization was extremely artistic and spiritual. Is it a coincidence that my friend is both, as well?

lily

My friend’s mother’s name translates to lily flower. And just like the lily, she is beautiful, delicate and feminine, yet powerful. Ancient Greeks believed that lilies also had masculine traits, and my friend’s mother does, too. She often ran the household while her husband was gone for long periods of time early in his career.

http://www.whats-your-sign.com/lily-meaning.html

Every year, hundreds of thousands of babies are given names that they will end up striving to live up to, consciously or not. Some will even change their names to better manifest the fate they feel should be theirs--like those that are hip to Numerology and change the spelling of their names to influence better outcomes. 

For instance, Jane Smith in the chart below adds up to 9, a Mars-ruled individual who might be temperamental and prone to conflict. Adding the “Y” changes her name to 7, ruled by Neptune; a magnetic, musical and mysterious personality.

1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9

A    B    C     D    E    F     G    H    I

J     K    L     M    N   O     P    Q    R

S    T     U    V    W   X     Y    Z

Mike

Variations of names seem to change a person’s personality, too. Like when someone named Michael calls himself Mike. Does that make him less formal and more easygoing? 

What about Roberts who call themselves Bobby? They can be crazy fun!

Bobby

Nicknames are significant game changers, too. Remember Whitney Houston’s nickname was Nippy, as in nip it in the bud? Her life was certainly shortened by unfortunate circumstances.

What about your name? Drop us a line and let’s discuss it. 

And, check out our line of T_zing t-shirts at Café Press. Please don’t forget to like The Urban Goddess on Facebook.

Good luck, light and love,

  

Gypsy Stars

http://www.gypsystars.com