How many days could you keep silent? John Francis did it for seventeen years. In 1973, on his 27^th birthday, this soulful Pisces decided to refrain from talking for a day. He’d been getting into arguments, and realized he wasn’t really listening to people. At first he struggled, tormented by imagined conversations. But then his mind quieted, and he became more peaceful. His one day of silence stretched into a year. When he reached his next birthday, Francis renewed his vow—continuing to communicate only through pantomime and sign language.

Devastated by an oil spill in the San Francisco Bay, Francis also gave up travel in motorized vehicles. For years, he traipsed through forests and other wild places, listening to nature and meditating. During this time, he walked to Oregon and Montana to obtain degrees, then on to Wisconsin to complete a PhD in environmental studies—all without saying a word.

As Joe Grindon reports in the March issue of Science of Mind magazine, Francis began talking again in 1990, on the twentieth anniversary of Earth Day. Speaking slowly at first, he stated that from that day forward, he would be a voice for the environment.

Now a professor at the University of Wisconsin, Francis recently released a book, The Ragged Edge of Silence. “In order to engage our souls,” he says, “we have to begin to listen. In listening, hopefully, we will move into that place where we can hear the silence.  It’s sort of like peace. I envision peace to be very dynamic– anything but a stagnant space. We need to be in that moment, living in that dynamic.”

It may seem odd to sing the praises of silence while we’re on smart, chatty Gemini’s turf. But I was recently reminded of the power of wordless communion at my Gemini New Moon collage workshop, as we held silence while collaging our intentions for clarity, serenity and better communication. It felt so good to be free of idle chatter and let my mind be still—and everyone else seemed to feel the same.

The airy sign of the Twins encourages us to partner with Spirit to tap a deeper intelligence. And, the May 20 Gemini New Moon (4:48 p.m. PDT) is a solar eclipse, in which the Moon (intuition) eclipses the Sun (action). As they join, the luminaries square wordless, mystical Neptune. Couple this event with Venus’ recent retrograde  in Gemini (May 15 to June 27), and you have a strong call to go inward—to turn down the volume of the outer world so you can receive messages from your higher self.

The May 20 solar eclipse occurs only two weeks before the rare Venus transit of the Sun (more on that in my next post), three weeks before expansive Jupiter’s entry into Gemini, and five weeks before the first exact Uranus/Pluto square. We are asked to let our intuitive, instinctive selves step forth during this time. Start by taking a vow to minimize verbiage and distractions at the New Moon. Practice silence however you can. Share nothing on Facebook (especially if you’re an over-poster). Write in your journal rather than calling a friend. Take a walk on a quiet road. Turn on soothing music and let your mind rest.

Watch my latest Animoto mini-video to see how I helped a local hair designer gain serenity by transforming the Knowledge gua (related to Gemini) in his salon. Contact me for help on doing the same in your home–only $50. And, here’s a Gemini New Moon ritual for embracing your truth from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life.

Last night, on Beltane eve, I dreamt of the bobcat. Her gentle eyes held mine once more, just as they did on that rain-washed day at Dixon Lake in Escondido.

I had been walking the trail alone when suddenly, a flash of honey-colored fur darted past me into the foliage. Silently I followed, then called to her. She turned and fixed her gaze on me. I spontaneously began telling her how beautiful she was. Her tufted ears perked up. The black, knobby tail twitched as she basked in my appreciation. Time stopped as we communed. Then, after a minute or so, she loped off.

Fear had never entered the picture. I felt nothing but joyous kinship with this creature. No doubt the memory was triggered by last night’s reading material—Animals as Teachers and Healers by Susan Chernak McElroy. Its collection of stories about our primal connection to animals never fails to move me. Animals, says McElroy, “are beings who still remember the original instructions given them by an ancient universe.” They have much to teach us humans, who have become so alienated from the natural world that we are in danger of destroying our beautiful home.

Today at Beltane, the ancient holy day at which people celebrated their oneness with nature, honor the creatures in your world. Take your dog on a special hike. Groom your cat with loving appreciation. Sit outside and listen to the birds sing. They are calling us back to our Source—a place of serenity they never left.

 

In our credit-driven society, saving has become passe. Whether it’s putting aside 10 per cent of your income for retirement, or saving for a specific goal such as a trip, many of us don’t plan ahead. Perhaps we’re afraid that if we save for a rainy day, it might rain! Yet having money in the bank is a crucial way to feel prosperous.

As a child, I felt powerful depositing a dollar each week into my bank account and watching the amount grow. To recapture that feeling of abundance and autonomy, I recently spent a Saturday afternoon with San Diego art therapist Michele Lyons at her Prosperous Piggy Bank workshop. Lyons buys piggy banks and collages them with images of what she’s saving for. She feeds the piggy on a regular basis, then cracks him open like a piñata when he’s full. Using this method, Lyons has traveled to Europe and other exotic locales using money she previously thought she didn’t have.

It was fun collaging my piggy with images of an island vacation as I focused on my goal. And, I learned the importance of nurturing my relationship with money. Here are a few of Lyons’ suggestions:

*Commit to a daily practice of saving money.

*Stay out of stores as much as possible.

* Challenge yourself: How many days can I go without spending money?

* Write down every penny you spend; be conscious of where your money goes.

* If someone unexpectedly pays for your lunch, put the money you would have spent in your piggy bank.

The April 21 Taurus New Moon (12:20 a.m. PDT) is a superb time for financial renewal. The Sun and Moon in grounded Taurus make an elegant trine to newly-direct Mars in Virgo, freeing us to move forward with whatever we’ve been working on or struggling with since mid-January. And, the New Moon sextiles Neptune in Pisces, as it opposes Mars. By using our powers of visualization, we can take concrete steps to heal old patterns around spending and debt, and plant new seeds for abundance. It’s a matter of balancing precise Virgo with intuitive Pisces. Trust that all is well in this moment, that you are whole. Then, take action on what you’re called to do.

Money is an extension of the natural world (in the days before coin and cash, people traded for food, livestock and tools). And, your relationship to your body (an extension of the natural world) is equivalent to your relationship with money. If you cultivate physical relaxation, have faith and allow your creative juices to flow, you’ll be rewarded. But if you’re tight and fearful, your financial resources will either dry up or destroy your health. Caring for our bodies not only enhances our relationship with money, but also connects us to Mother Earth and reminds us to take care of our planet.

Spend some time with your feet on the Mother during this sensuous Taurus cycle. To stabilize and ground yourself, walk in the surf, squish your toes in the mud, or soak your feet in Epsom salts. Slow your pace and enjoy life more. Collage a piggy bank to save for something delicious, or commit to depositing a percentage of your income into a special account. Even if you think you can’t afford it, you’re apt to find that you can.

I recently helped Aubrey Kelly, a San Diego healer who works with water therapy, amp up her abundance. Since Aubrey’s feng shui wealth sector is her bathroom, we added lush purple towels and created a lavish wealth altar.  Watch my new mini-video to see what we did. And, contact me if you’d like help doing the same – $50 through the end of April! Also, here’s a wealth-enhancing ritual from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life, to get your prosperous juices flowing.

 

The old phrase “put on your thinking cap” is taking on a whole new meaning. U.S. military researchers are having great success with an electrode cap that produces an “instant Zen” state, allowing subjects to rapidly learn skills ranging from math to marksmanship. The technique, called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), is coming to light just as brainy Mercury and the illuminating Sun hook up with electrical Uranus in pioneering Aries.

Journalist Sally Adee underwent the experimental procedure while researching an article for New Scientist. In an excerpt in the April 6 edition of The Week, Adee tells how researchers strapped her into a “zappy cap” and let a nine-volt current activate her brain while she practiced marksmanship. Not only did Adee become “a hell of a shot,” she says, but the electrical current sparked a “near-spiritual” experience.

“For the first time in my life, everything in my head finally shut up,” she relates. While strapped into the cap, Adee said she felt clear, calm, sharp—and utterly devoid of mental chatter as well as self-doubt. A yogi’s dream. In fact, researchers speculate that the procedure may reduce activity in the prefrontal cortex—the area of the brain which is muted during Zen-like meditation.

Adee reports that the “bewitching silence” gradually diminished over three days following the procedure. Naturally, the return of the “angry, bitter gnomes” that populate her mind left the journalist jonesing for more juice. What would the world look like, Adee wondered, if “we all wore little tDCS headbands that would keep us in a primed, confident state, free of all doubts and fears?”

This new brain-zapping technique, which unlike most drugs is free of harmful side-effects, could have huge educational and spiritual benefits once it becomes commercially available. But there are questions to consider. Will the magic thinking cap turn soldiers into clear, confident killing machines—and is that a good thing? Would the device be priced so high that only the 1% could afford it? Will a treatment always deliver the same effects, or would you need to amp up your dosage as with other drugs?

With Uranus zipping through Aries, setting off a square to potent Pluto over the next few years, we’re apt to see the answers to these questions unfold. In a previous Uranus/Pluto cycle, the invention of the phonograph machine revolutionized music. Will this intense alignment now do the same for the mind?

 

A rare alignment cast a spotlight on all things domestic for me in early March—my progressed Cancer Moon joined progressed Ascendant and natal Sun.  I felt an irresistible urge to create a YouTube video that would showcase my recently renovated home, and illustrate the Astro Feng Shui system.  I’m a natural introvert with four planets in the sign of the Crab, yet my progressed aspects combined with transiting Mercury (my chart ruler) conjunct daredevil Uranus in Aries spurred me to take a risk.

Have you been visited by any wild-and-crazy notions this month? Mercury and Uranus joined on March 5, and will rendezvous twice more—on March 18 and April 22. During this period, pay extra attention to strong inner promptings to put yourself out there—or make long-overdue changes. Sky god Uranus throws bolts of lightning to catalyze radical ideas and acts. He animates the Universe with life–and it’s time to get him on your team.

Mercury/Uranus in fiery Aries also coincides with the most intense solar flares we’ve seen in six years. Expect to see more such activity through April as the cycle continues. When the Sun’s magnetic storms release super-hot gases that rocket to Earth, they disrupt our magnetic grid. These solar flares shake up our lives, help us break through old patterns and take risks—but they can also make us feel jittery, irritated or exhausted. If you’ve been unusually emotional or anxious lately, or your brain feels like it’s short-circuiting, breathe deeply and relax. This too, shall pass. Mercury and Mars in retrograde through early April help us uncover old patterns and release them. Allow yourself to grieve, get angry or sleep more than usual. As old feelings get cleared, you can move forward on a more authentic path.

Uranus is in the spotlight again at the March 22 Aries New Moon (7:38 am PDT). Falling less than three days after the Equinox, or astrological New Year, the March 22 conjunction of Sun, Moon, Mercury and Uranus is a wake-up call. Whatever area of your chart is activated by this New Moon reveals where your true self longs to be exposed. If it’s in your second house, you may suddenly start to value your talents and pursue an exciting new way to make money. If the seventh house is triggered, you might be ready to leave an unfulfilling relationship and embark on a solo path. If, like me, you have the lunation in your eleventh house, it’s time to ask others to help you realize a dream—like propelling your book onto Amazon’s Top 100 list! (Just order Astro Feng Shui in the next week—it makes a great gift—along with a related book like The Magic by Rhonda Byrne or Wishes Fulfilled by Wayne Dyer, and I’m on my way. And, here’s a free gift to express my gratitude: My new booklet, Ten Tips for New Moon Rituals That Get Results.)

On March 29 the Sun squares Pluto, catalyzing the intense Uranus/Pluto square that becomes exact in May (through 2015). In the past, this square has sparked great tension and innovation. From 1875 to 1878, Native Americans were removed from their lands and forced onto reservations, and a surge of new technology brought the telephone and phonograph record. Between 1932 and 1935, Hitler came to power and FDR enacted sweeping reforms in response to the Great Depression. So far this time, we’ve had the Occupy movement—with more activism to come as the square develops.

Aspects happening near the Equinox set the tone for the astrological New Year, so with Uranus/Pluto so prominent, we can expect the next 12 months to bring huge amounts of change and growth. Letting go of ultra-stressful situations and staying heart-centered will help us flow with this energy.

Here’s an Astro Feng Shui ritual to spark your vitality and inspire you to step out at the Aries New Moon. Aries corresponds with the Career gua near your front door, so this is an auspicious New Moon to work that area and invoke for big career changes. In my book and video, you’ll find more suggestions to enhance the Career gua and affirm your career path.

 

Venus enters Taurus tomorrow morning (March 5), settling comfortably onto her pink lotus for the next three weeks. In the guise of Lakshmi, the Hindu wealth goddess, she is moving toward a conjunction with lucky Jupiter on March 13, when they both forge a grand earth trine with Pluto in Capricorn and Mars in Virgo. This magical alignment is a rare opportunity to realize and  stabilize our dreams–especially financial.

We’ll get a preview of this exquisite energy on Tues. night and Wed. morning of this coming week (March 6-7) when the Moon in Virgo trines Venus, Jupiter and Pluto. Have you been feeling inspired to initiate something new? Do it now. This lovely trine, happening just after Mercury joins electric Uranus in take-charge Aries on Monday the 5th, makes the period leading up to the March 8 Virgo Full Moon a terrific time to shoot a video (that’s what I’m doing!), broker a deal, plant a garden, see a new doctor, or do anything that benefits your financial or physical health.

In some ways, this week is even more auspicious than the March 13 alignment, because Mercury turns retrograde on March 11/12 for three weeks–a better time for following through on what’s already begun than trying to initiate something new. So, use the exceptional energies of the next few days to make a start, then let the good fortune of March 13 take things to the next level. And, for even more luck, hang an image of Lakshmi in your Wealth gua (far left corner of your house) and light a purple or green candle to her each day, affirming your abundance!

“When in deep water, become a diver.” –Joseph Campbell

In the wake of Whitney Houston’s untimely death, addiction is back in the news. Houston, a talented Leo with an impulsive Aries Moon, struggled with her demons for a long time. But, as is the case with many famous people, drowning her troubles proved too great a lure.

One way or another, we all struggle to fill our aching voids. A grande margarita or pint of dulce de leche ice cream helps blot out the emptiness of your job. A wild weekend with a stranger gets you past your loneliness—for a while. For some, addiction may be as simple as filling the emptiness by watching TV or talking on the phone.

All addictions stem from the same root: feeling separate. Making the connection to our inner Source through prayer, meditation or spending time in nature reminds us that we are one with all that is.

The Source is symbolized by Pisces and its ruler, Neptune. Connected to all things magical and mystical, but also delusional and destructive, Neptune is amplified since recently returning to its home sign of Pisces for the first time in 150 years.  The next 14 years will be an inspiring but potentially dangerous period. Past transits of Neptune through Pisces coincided with the Knights Templar and the Crusades, the Black Death in Europe, Henry VIII’s break with the Catholic Church and Magellan’s voyage around the world, the birth of the Theosophy movement, the events leading up to the Civil War, and the discovery of gold in in California.

The February 21 Pisces New Moon (2:35 p.m. PST) inaugurates this new 14-year phase, as it joins Neptune to christen the ship. At this New Moon, all things that elevate the spirit are favored. Now’s the time to take that art course you’ve been dreaming of, sign up as a hospice volunteer, study mysticism or take a trip to Hawaii and swim with dolphins. But with Neptune there’s also the risk of being weighed down by fears and sinking.

Success at navigating Neptune’s waters depends on your willingness to trust the Great Unknown. This may not be easy, even for water signs who are accustomed to going with the flow. Heady air signs, practical earth signs and action-oriented fire signs may be challenged as well. We will all need to learn how to be more compassionate toward self and others, and pay attention to our intuition.  If you feel like you’re floating in the void, unclear of your direction, ask for dreams and hunches to guide you. Don’t allow your fears to spin out of control.

Because the New Moon in Pisces conjuncts Chiron, the Wounded Healer, opportunities exist for healing core wounds. But the New Moon also sextiles expansive Jupiter in sensual Taurus, providing a much-needed anchor to Mother Earth and the body. Preparing the soil for your spring garden or going for a hike will help to ground you.

Rituals performed at the Pisces New Moon will have great power. Here’s one from my book, Astro Feng Shui: Making Magic in Your Home and Life, to help with healing yourself and visioning new possibilities. Or, simply put on some haunting music, relax in a rose-scented salt bath and let Neptune’s healing waters wash away all your cares.

 

“Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.” –Wallace Stevens

I was feeling draggy this morning, casting about for something to say regarding tomorrow’s Full Moon in Leo (Feb. 7, 1:54 p.m. PST).  Writing this blog can be challenging: I throw a lot of elements into a pot—astro cycles, personal stuff, things I read on Facebook—and hope that something profound bubbles up.

Yesterday, the stew was set on the stove. I threw in the brilliant Sun/Mercury conjunction in Aquarius opposite the regal Moon in Leo, along with other key transits and observations. Yet nothing insightful had bubbled to the surface.

So I took a walk through the canyon. Surrounded by verdant slopes and chirping birds, my mind was washed clean (Sun/Mercury in Aquarius) and my heart opened (Moon in Leo). Nebulous fears (Neptune in Pisces) about work and health (Mars retrograde in Virgo) as well as relationships (Saturn turning retrograde in Libra tomorrow) evaporated in the fresh, balmy air. All was right with the world.

Certain aspects of our lives have been put on hold or slowed way down for the next few months. Rather than stress about it, take heart. The pause is necessary for us to reassess where we’re headed, or simply to rest. Perhaps our peace of mind depends on a walk around the lake—or canyon. I’ll meet you there…

Since Mars entered Virgo on November 11, my 83-year-old neighbor Lucille has been making demands. She claimed that runoff from my rain gutters was compromising her retaining wall. So I removed the dirt and plants closest to her wall and put in a costly drainage system. After several encounters in which she insisted more be done, we resolved the situation. Or so I thought.

Last week, I came home to find a stranger in my yard, ripping out my plants. I installed a fence. Claiming the fence was on her property, Lucille demanded I take it down.

I tried to transcend my anger. I blessed my neighbor and affirmed divine justice.  Yet nothing made me feel better, or prompted her to back off. However, once I gave in to my fury, letting it surge through me as I shouted and danced, things started to shift. (For inspiration on owning your anger, watch this short video). Now, I’m ready to take the next step: assessing the property line to determine my legal rights.

Welcome to Mars turning retrograde in nitpicky Virgo! The warrior planet will be retracing its steps from Jan. 23 to April 13, and continues to energize this earthy sign until July 3. Altogether, it will spend almost eight months in Virgo, helping us channel our anger and frustration, get organized, heal ancient wounds, and find constructive ways to right personal, corporate and planetary wrongs.

Hot tip: Clutter-busting your home, office and car will help keep your vital energies flowing, especially in the “stuckest” times when Mars is stationary (Jan. 11 to Feb. 6, and March 31 to April 29).

The Aquarius New Moon (Jan. 22, 11:39 p.m. PST) occurs just hours before Mars’ retreat into the underworld. The Aquarian need for freedom and innovation is intensified by squares from Jupiter and Saturn and a sextile from Uranus. But we may feel as if we have one foot on the gas and another on the brake, due to the immobility of Mars and Saturn’s cautious square. Resist the urge to leap into the fray. Taking slow, meditative steps toward freedom and progress and eliminating outworn projects, ideas, relationships and other energy drains will work better than rash actions.

Lending even more fuel to the evolutionary fire, Jan. 23 also ushers in the Chinese Year of the Water Dragon. According to Terah Kathryn Collins, director of the Western School of Feng Shui, the Water Dragon’s message is: “Everything is always changing.” This intuitive creature, she explains, “is known for bringing Heaven to Earth and making dreams come true. Visions you’ve been holding deep within your heart could manifest right before your eyes.” Watch what you wish for though, she cautions, “’cause you’re going to get it.”

Combining the Water Dragon’s powers of manifestation with the Aquarius New Moon’s visionary gifts and Mars’ strength and determination can help you break through barriers—if you’re willing to be patient. To get the angels on your team, try this Astro Feng Shui ritual for the Aquarius New Moon and Helpful People gua.

In a recent Huffingtonpost article, Why it is Wise to Worship a Woman, Arjuna Ardagh describes his long-ago visit to a sacred temple in Bali. Inside the ornate temple, he says, were ten circular walls protecting the feminine deity at its center. After lighting incense and making offerings, newcomers were allowed to pass through three of the entrances, but could go no further. Hindus, he explained, could go beyond the fourth wall. Devotees of the deity could proceed beyond the fifth, but only those who had given their lives to her worship were allowed to approach the goddess directly.

“A woman’s heart is just like that,” says Ardagh. “At the essence of every woman’s heart is the divine feminine. It contains everything that has ever been beautiful, or lovely, or inspiring in any woman. It is the peak of wisdom, the peak of sexual desirability, the peak of soothing, healing love. But it’s protected, for good reason, by a series of concentric walls. To move inwardly from one wall to the next requires that you intensify your capacity for devotion, and as you do so, you are rewarded with Grace.”

Passing through these gates to a woman’s innermost heart, he adds, takes commitment, loyalty and planting “small seedlings of devotion” on a daily basis. He suggests telling your partner ten times a day something you adore about her, and paying attention to her fears and insecurities as well as her deep desires. Eventually, as Ardagh discovered with his wife, “When you love a woman completely, at the very essence of her being, you discover the magic ingredient which has led every man to fall in love with a woman. My marriage has become the guru, the salvation, the muse, the crack through which the divine shines through.”

At this Sunday’s Full Moon (Jan. 8, 11:30 p.m. PST), the Great Father (Sun in Capricorn) stands opposite the Great Mother (Moon in Cancer), shining his light upon her in homage to her beauty. Warrior Mars in protective Virgo makes flowing aspects to the Sun and Moon, guarding them. This Full Moon initiates a process that intensifies as Mars retrogrades through Virgo (Jan. 23 to April 13). As the Warrior turns inward, we are asked to nurture our seedlings of devotion for whomever or whatever gives our lives meaning.  We patiently clean the kitchen floor when our adorable feline spits up hairballs. We willingly rework a report for our boss. We lovingly feed ourselves healthy foods, and clear our homes of clutter. And yes, we tell our beloved daily what we appreciate about them.  Thus we nurture the divine feminine in ourselves and the world.

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