My thoughts have been occupied lately by a very dear Libra man. His name is James Hubbell, and he turned 90 last October 23. Many San Diegans know him as the gifted artist-sculptor who created a wonderland of adobe dwellings inlaid with mosaic and stained glass in the peaceful mountains near Julian (now known as the Ilan Lael Center). Hubbell and his wife Anne lived there for over 60 years, until his battle with Parkinson’s forced them last fall to relocate to an assisted living facility closer to the sea.
When I learned this sad news, I had to see how they were faring. I’d interviewed Jim twenty years ago for KPBS, and had been following him ever since. So I recently drove to Chula Vista for another chat. And, I wrote up a feature in honor of his first one-man show in L.A., which opens April 22 at the Helms Design Center in Culver City (I’ve pitched it to the L.A. Weekly – wish me luck!).
With his Sun at the anaretic (“last gasp”) 29th degree of Libra, Hubbell is all about peace, beauty and balance. But he also has Mercury, Venus and Mars in Scorpio, giving him a keen appreciation for the darkness. “I think that what we’re about now,” he told me, “is trying to bring things back into balance – the rational world we understand and the intuitive world we don’t understand.” In other words, giving both the light and the dark their due. “It’s okay if there are shadows,” he insists, both in art and in life. This includes the prospect of dying. He admits to having some fear of making that transition, but says he is willing to embrace it as part of the adventure.
At the upcoming Libra Full Moon square Pluto, planet of darkness (April 16, 11:54 a.m. PDT), we may all need to face some personal or collective shadows. Pluto transits highlight what is no longer productive, giving us a chance to drop old baggage so we can move on, or at least view things from a different angle. When the Moon in peace-lover Libra opposes the Sun in fire-starter Aries (at 27 degrees), there may be a difference of opinion on what needs to change. But this lunation also trines capable Saturn in Aquarius, which brings a voice of reason to settle conflicts and help us gain a foothold on what’s next.
The Full Moon happens just after the biggest transit of the year: the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction in Pisces, which perfects on April 12. Astrologers have been weighing in for months on what this transit, which hasn’t happened in Pisces since 1856, might bring. Most agree that there is tremendous potential for spiritual inspiration – but also mass delusion and confusion. This transit demands surrender and trust in life. Jupiter is magnifying all things Neptunian, including your dreams and visions. I’ve been telling my clients that it’s like jumping on a surfboard to ride a big wave – but you’ll need focus and faith to get safely to shore. In other words, consciousness is the key to not capsizing!
At the Libra Full Moon, let’s be inspired by Jim Hubbell’s example to create more peace, beauty and connection in our lives. Jim has co-created seven parks dedicated to peace and friendship in Pacific Rim countries around the world. And, his visionary art and architecture reflect his out-of-sign conjunction of Jupiter in Leo and Neptune in Virgo. Hubbell’s passion for bringing people together with art and nature speaks to the highest possibilities of the Jupiter-Neptune transit. This is a great time to foster and celebrate our connection to art, beauty, nature and each other. For more information (and terrific photos!) on Hubbell, his upcoming one-man show in L.A. and current spring tours and classes at the Ilan Lael Center near Julian, visit https://ilanlaelfoundation.org/
Congratulations, Simone!! I know you’ve been itching to relocate for awhile. I was out to sea last Thursday on the tall ship CALIFORNIAN (San Diego Maritime Museum), joining a friend’s Celebration of Life. I looked beyond the stream of jets coming and going, up towards your home, and sent love. If NC works out, you’ll not miss San Diego’s density and get good real estate values.
Let’s lunch before you go, if so!!!
Thanks for the good wishes, Judy! And it’s that endless stream of jets that I’m SO done with! Have no idea whether Asheville is the place for me, but it is a Venus Astrolocality line which is very favorable, so we’ll see. And yes we’ll surely see each other before I leave, wherever I may end up going. Cheers!
How delightful to learn of James Hubbell and of his art work. Sounds like you have a special connection to him and his wife. I do hope that your article about him gets printed. Do let us know if that happens so we can look up the article.
Have a good trip to North Carolina…it is ‘itching’ time to get out with new adventures.
Yes to new adventures, Tanene! So glad you enjoyed ‘meeting’ Jim Hubbell, and I will surely let everyone know when I manage to get my article placed! Happy Full Moon to you…
How wonderful and inspiring. You always bring a beautiful caring message to your monthly writings. Thank you . Enjoy your trip to North Carolina and I wish you can find the right place for you. Lots of Love and Lollies xo
You are so sweet, Francesca. So glad you enjoy the essays, and thanks for the good wishes. Love back atcha, and happy Full Moon!
I wish you would try Santa Fe.
Best of luck in your travels.
Hillary
I do love Santa Fe, Hillary, but it’s a Pluto line for me, very intense, where Asheville is a Venus line – my best in the country. So I have to check it out! Blessings to you…
Good luck on your article. You are a fantastic writer! I think you will love North Carolina. I have never been to Asheville but have been to many places in North Carolina and feel drawn there myself. Can’t wait to hear about your adventure! The flight will be fine . I fly every year and still get a bit anxious before a trip. I always relax once I board the plane. I’m so very excited for you and thank you for telling us about James. My moon is also 29 degrees Libra.
Thanks so much, Brenda! Freelance writing is a tricky thing, it seems to matter less how good of a writer you are and more about who you know. But I have hope! And Jim is worth fighting for, he is an extraordinary man. I’m trying the Smithsonian Magazine again if LA Weekly doesn’t get back to me. And thanks for your reassurance about the flight, I’m sure it will be fine. This Full Moon is very close to your moon – hope it’s a good one for you! Cheers, S
Love your work. The area you are moving to has so much of a connection with everything Venus in the world. It was the 1st place I ever went to a Mall, that had an ice skating rink in it. Imagine. The beginnings. The 1st Gay couple to marry went there, and many other artistic people out of Key West Florida. Your bright, light, Spirit should be right at home there. I your column’s. Always so innovative, and inspiring. One can feel the woman in you, in them all. BLESSED BE! May the force be with you forever and in ALL ways.
Blessed be to you as well, my dear! It is lovely here but not sure it’s the place for me. So glad you’re enjoying my writings! Happy Full Moon!
Beautiful and inspiring! I wish you happiness in your new adventure.
Much love
Monica
Thanks, Monica! The “new adventure” was fun, but I discovered that Asheville is not the place for me. Gotta keep exploring!
Hi Simone! “Surrender and trust… focus and faith”. As per usual, the perfect & succinct articulation! 🙂 (and I’ve read/listened to a ‘ton’ of information on this conjunction). I, too, am excited for your Asheville exploration and will be eager to hear your findings. You may remember I told you about the special energy/power vortex near Lake Junaluska in Maggie Valley (which I once read about in an esoteric piece). The general area has attracted religious retreat centers & conferences of many faiths since the early 20th century, which probably says something about the inherent spiritual energy there. And to reiterate an earlier comment, many Atlanta artsy & environmental folks decamped to Asheville in the 80’s. It’s been a magnet for many, more ‘conscious’ people. Anyway, may you have a fun and enjoyable adventure! Sharon
Thanks, Sharon! My visit was short but I did enjoy the area – though I didn’t feel a strong call to move there. Hopefully I’ll know the place when I find it!
I love Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains! It’s one of my favorite places to visit… very magical there. Hope you enjoy your trip. A Venus line sounds very lovely! You’ll have to report back to us in your newsletter your findings. It would be interesting to hear about the experiences people have in different areas based on astrolocality!!
Yes it is a beautiful place! And I learned something profound about my own Venus placement while I was there. That’s a great idea to start paying more attention to how people experience different places based on astrolocality…a research project for a rainy day, perhaps!