This is the forth show down out of five oppositions of these strong players. It all started in the fall of 2008 when the economy started crumbling around us and leading to the election of Barack Obama and his visionary view and promises for a better future. The fifth opposition will culminate in July 26 and hopefully help to integrate what we learned and set the course in alignment with better values and new structures of control for the financial markets. You can read more about Saturn in my article about the Saturn Return Cycles and the T-square.

Trouble with Airplanes in Europe

The trouble with the planes in Europe not being able to fly safely can be counted as a manifestation of Uranus in Pisces in opposition with Saturn. Uranus is symbolizing airline travels and high tech and in Pisces there is the added challenge with toxicity. Sudden eruptions like the volcano going off in Iceland are displaying the sudden changes we know from Uranus.

If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans… I had planned to go to Germany last week and had to postpone my trip. At least I got stuck at home and feel very lucky about that. For all these earth shaking transits we are facing with the big T-square happening on and off between the big players Saturn opposition Uranus squaring Pluto we better be patient and flexible these days and except change of plans and adjust our attitude the best way possible.

Adjusting to the Moment

With big changes pushed upon us in our personal life, professional life or economical well being the question is how we can deal with situations like that? How can we adjust our emotions and thoughts to feel better, less helpless and frightened?

I believe we always have to start from where we are. Whatever the situation is you want to become very clear and as conscious as possible about what is going on by evaluating the problem. But then most people keep at it; their thoughts keep constantly circling around the problem like pushing with your tongue against the hurting tooth and we know that does not change a thing. Solutions come to us when we are able to relax into the moment and open our unconscious mind with all the resources stored there to give us sudden ideas or impulses to guide us forward. Dreams are one way to reach into that unconscious potential. Remember even Einstein got his defining clue through a dream helping him to devise his relativity theory.

The Benefits of Meditation

There is another way besides dreaming to relax your brain waves into alpha or delta and stay conscious to reap the benefits of the more creatively functioning brain and that is meditation. No matter what meditation method you are using they all have in common that they change your brain wave, relax and center you. There have been studies done with Transcendental Meditation and the many benefits people have been receiving from it. They even found a correlation with crime rates dropping in cities with a specific amount of people meditating. Which makes sense and shows how interconnected we all are through the morphogenetic field you could also call the collective unconsciousness. (Read more about meditation techniques)

Right and Left Brain Working Together

I remember a meditation teacher friend of mine from the Gurdjeff path who was a doctor of physics and had his own laser company in Holland. He used to do business with installing his software around Europe with all kinds of laser driven modems in hospitals and other industrial applications. He was often called for trouble shooting when something wasn’t working properly. If he couldn’t figure it out otherwise he would go to the installation and meditate in front of the computer and always find out what the origin of the trouble was. Pretty cool isn’t it? At least I thought so. That seems to be the optimal application of right and left brain working together.

Using your Mind to Control Your Emotions

What often scares us the most is the feeling of helplessness and loss of control. But the only control we have is in guiding our thoughts and feelings into a direction where we will feel a little bit better, step by step. You can do that by changing the meaning you are giving to a situation you are in. Like people being stuck in transit in the airports have been reported to be remarkably calm assuming that being stuck was better then falling out of the sky with an airplane.

In Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) we call that re-framing. Re-framing is putting your experience into a different framework which changes your perception. Being stuck in an airport is preferable to loosing your life which is quiet a successful re-framing of the situation.

Focusing on Where YOU Want to Go

And then you can also be in control of your thoughts and emotions by guiding them towards your dream or goal, aligning yourself with your energy. Imagine yourself how it will be and feel arriving at that point in your future. Imagine yourself already being there. Get excited and hopeful and you will be moving towards your aim and you will have the added benefit of feeling good along the way.

Full Moon in Scorpio on April 28

This month we are having the Full Moon in Scorpio which will be powerful and provides us with extra intense emotional responses in all areas of our life. The opposition of the intense Full Moon in Scorpio with the more laid back Sun in Taurus might bring some conflicts around ownership of assets, control issues in relationships and intense reactivity in general.

Mercury in Conjunction with the Sun in Taurus on April 28

Our thinking might be a tad bit stubborn and not very flexible on this day. But the inborn optimism of Taurus might help to save the day and ease the intensity of the opposing Scorpio.

If you enjoyed this article and my perspective on things, you can sign up for my free weekly newsletter on my Astrological Signs Weather Report & Healing Gems Blog where I discuss the actual universal astrological forces and the special powers of gemstones and inspire you to use them wisely for a more successful and joyful life. I would love it if you feel like passing it on to some of your friends.

Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

Shakti Carola Navran: astrologer, jeweler and author
1135 Makawao Ave. Suite 310
Makawao, Maui, Hawaii 96768
Phone: 808.878.8182

Bio:
Shakti Carola Navran has been an astrological coach, jeweler, spiritual teacher and healer for over 30 years. Her practice spans hypnotherapy, meditation, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and healing with gemstones. She creates beautiful jewelry for the soul and spirit at her studio on Maui, Hawaii. She has written many articles and is the author of the book Jewelry & Gems for Self Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eye & Strengthen the Soul.

In her book she teaches you about astrology and how to read the blue print of your own chart. If you know where your challenges are, you can then take steps to support or balance yourself with your 12 personal healing gemstones, those enchanting allies to raise your frequency and experience more joy. Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery is a treasure chest of ideas about Soul Jewelry; on how to select, purchase, and wear jewelry that will enhance your body, heart, mind, and soul.

I am wondering how you felt about the Bill Herbst article I put up for you last week? Some people said it was a little grim and not very optimistic. I agree but remember that astrology is just a tool, like a pair of glasses you look through at reality. And then it is up to the wisdom, values and life experience of the person to come up with a valid interpretation and proper use of the information. So it is up to you to make good use of the overall information and hold the vision of the world you want to live in and contribute your part to it.

Yes, we are all tired of hearing about all the negative things in our society, government and environment. I think we can agree that change is needed desperately and we would like to live in a world where there is no hunger, poverty and abuse of people for the sake of greed and power. We all long for a world of equality, love, material security and abundance based in our true nature of oneness.

So here is our chance! The old structures are not working anymore, great! Humans have proved again and again that they are ingenious in finding solutions if there is enough pressure and incentive for us to do so. In the Abraham teachings of the Law of Attraction the first step is the asking, which means facing the problem, wanting something different then what is.

The second step is not up to us. We are handing it over to the universe so to speak. The universe is holding the field of potentiality for us. The third step is that we have to come in alignment to that new level of being with our energy or frequency, which means our thoughts and feelings need to be focused on the goal – not on the problem. After the first step is done you only want to keep oriented towards your aim and work on feeling good and in a place of joy. Abraham uses the term of being in the vortex with divine creation.

One way to do that is to ask yourself what you have to contribute to life, to your friends and family. Everybody has something to contribute! When you find a way to do that you can feel gratefulness for what you have to share, you will feel joyful and happy because you feel already abundant. Neale Donald Walsch in his Conversation with God book puts it very simple and says you should give what you want to receive. If you want more love in your life, be more loving. If you want more money give to people who have less then you.

The trick is to always finding ways to feel good. Have a moment of appreciation with your cat on your lap or take your dog for a walk. Make time out of your busy life for your friends and family, smell the roses. Whatever it is that works uplifting for you milk it as much as possible, bath in appreciation and good feelings.

“If you intend to be of assistance, your eye is not upon the trouble but upon the assistance, and that is quite different. When you are looking for a solution, you are feeling positive emotion— but when you are looking at a problem, you are feeling negative emotion.”  Abraham

This is your job; this is what you have signed up for if you are reading this page.

Astrologically we still have 4 planets in Pisces with the emphasis on tuning into the field of oneness and a larger purpose in life. In Pisces it is all about oneness, unconditional love, compassion, and connecting with the divine. It is a wonderful time for healing, cleansing the body and mind and reconnecting with our higher truth and spirit. Realign yourself with what is truly important to you with time on your own where you can meditate and set new intentions.

The highlights for this week are:

• Mars in Leo Turns Direct on Wednesday 10
• Venus Opposition Saturn (Aries – Libra) on Tuesday 9
• Venus Square Pluto (Aries – Capricorn) on Thursday 11Mercury Conjunction with Mercury Conjunction with the Sun in Pisces on Sunday 14
• Moon is Moving through Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces

Mars in Leo Turns Direct on Wednesday 10

Mars is representing your life force, desires, your ability of strength and focus of will. He discriminates and gives us the energy for new beginnings. With a retrograde Mars all actions and initiatives tend to be hampered or slowed down. The good thing is a retrograde Mars forces us to really get clear about what we want and why. And when the god of war and action turns direct our penned in passions can flare up high and might need some time of adjustment before a normal flow of integration is achieved. Again now is a good time to get clear about your intentions and putting them into writing is the first step towards manifestation.

Venus Opposition Saturn (Aries – Libra) on Tuesday 9

Venus, the goddess of love, beauty and harmony is challenged this week with two hard aspects with Saturn as well as Pluto. Remember challenges in life and your relationships are good because ultimately it brings you to a place of deepening with more appreciation and intimacy and who wouldn’t want to have that. Just the way to get there is the openness to be vulnerable, to keep open the lines of communication, the willingness to take back expectations and projections and to take responsibility for your own happiness. We can not expect our partners to change to accommodate our desires and our happiness. Of course being in a relationship does require compromises but you need to take responsibility for your own feelings and needs.

Saturn challenges us with facing our fears and anxieties, making things hard initially. But then when we do the work we will be rewarded with depth, clarity and wisdom.

Venus Square Pluto (Aries – Capricorn) on Thursday 11

Pluto is always the one who prepares us for deep inner changes and transformation with whatever part he is touching on. You can use this Pluto Venus connection to be really honest with yourself and your partner and talk about areas in your relationship you need to talk about.

Both – Pluto and Saturn hard aspects with Venus can either create a troublesome week for you in your relationship or it can start you on a whole new level of relating and loving from a deeper place of honesty, creating the deepened intimacy you have been longing for.

Mercury Conjunction with the Sun in Pisces on Sunday 14

We still have 4 planets in Pisces this week when Mercury lines up with the Sun in Pisces. Mercury in Pisces is a very intuitive, feeling approach to the world. We can connect deeply with our deepest dreams and visions. We can connect with the unlimited potential of the not yet manifested before we then take steps toward accomplishment and manifestation. Mercury in Pisces can connect us with deep universal wisdom and collective knowledge.

Meditation is the best way to tune into that rich, abundant creative source of life and get inspired and fueled. It is also a proven way to lower your stress level, to quiet that monkey mind, release resistance and put things into a different perspective. An easy way to meditate is to lie on your back and put some crystals on your body and on your third eye. Because of the perfect balanced vibration and frequency of gemstones and crystals it is one of the easiest ways to drop into a deep relaxation and meditation. You can read more about meditation in my article Neptune and the Art of Meditation.

Moon is Moving through Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces

We start into the last quarter of the waning Moon this week with the Moon in Capricorn. It will intensify our relationship issues brought to the surface but it also deepens our commitment and willingness to confront our stuff and bring light into the dark corners. When in Aquarius the Moon will give us more of an objectivity and overview from a higher perspective and in Pisces we will have the potential to relax into the unknown and allow the divine spirit to guide us.

All in all this is an intense week and you might as well get ready for it by getting out your journal and start to do some brain storming about things that come to mind after having read this article today.

I hope you enjoyed this article. If you like to stay informed on the daily astrological events in the heavens you can sign up for my free weekly newsletter, the Astrological Signs Weather Report and pass this on to your friends. I discuss the actual astrological qualities of the moment and inspire you to use them wisely for a life full of success, joy and inner growth.

Enjoy the deepening journey into the center of yourself, aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

Shakti Carola Navran: astrologer, jeweler and author
1135 Makawao Ave. Suite 310
Makawao, Maui, Hawaii 96768
Phone: 808.878.8182

Shakti Carola Navran has written the book: Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul and  many articles about the healing properties of gemstones and their use in daily life for meditation, balance and meaningful jewelry making. She teaches you about true Birthstones which are based in astrology and their possible application for Soul Jewelry.

This week we have 4 planets in the sign of Pisces, the last step in the evolution of the zodiac, inviting us to relax, retreat and rekindle our connection with the divine spirit and what is truly important for us. Pisces is the sign of contemplation, meditation and transcendence. You could say it is all about the invisible dimensions behind the physical appearances of the world.

I don’t know about you but I feel often quiet overwhelmed, my life has speed up tremendously with all the demands I feel, as well as all the ideas and projects I love to get to. I always feel like I am behind and am reminding myself constantly to enjoy the journey and that things will never get done. I remember a documentary I have seen about aging and that the brain’s perception of time really changes with growing older. That makes total sense to me. Imagine the duration of an hour for a baby must seem like eternity and I remember being a teenager I could not wait to get older and it took forever. Now it seems like time is flying by with lightening speed.

I strongly believe we need the qualities of Pisces to tune into timelessness and eternal qualities of our soul to stay sane.

Each month with the Moon moving through Pisces you get an invitation for a mini vacation from spirit to get your priorities straight and realign with your true needs and soul purpose. With the Sun transiting through Pisces for a month each year you are given more time to regroup and fine tune your spiritual aspirations. If you like to partake in a meditation or healing retreat this would be the best and most powerful time of the year to do so.

I like to invite you into a contemplative posture and ask yourself some questions right now! What you can do to add that inner divine connection on a regular base to your life. Do you spend time with yourself allowing that busy mind to unravel and quiet down? Do you have a meditation practice? Do you just sit and smell the roses? Do you allow down time without filling your mind with reading, computer, TV or conversations? I have written an article about Neptune and the Art of Meditation if you like to get more inspired.

As you might know I love to use the specific healing properties of gemstones for meditation and jewelry purposes. Gemstones are such beautiful allies to harmonize your body, mind and soul. Allow yourself some time to play around with Amethyst who comes in so many beautiful forms as crystals, wands, clusters, faceted and cut stones. Amethyst has been called a spiritual vacuum cleaner because of his personality and his mediating qualities.

This week’s highlights are

• The Sun Floats into Peaceful Pisces (February 19–March 20)
• Loving Venus Joins with Extravagant Jupiter in Pisces
• Moon in Pisces, Aries, Taurus and Gemini

Pisces: The Sign of Fantasy and Creativity

Pisces is a feminine water sign ruled by Neptune. It rules the 12th House—the Personal Connection with the Divine & the Invisible Realms. Pisces is the last month in the astrological year, and in this sign we see some of the best qualities of all the other signs, representing an accumulation of learning.

Pisces are gentle and have sensitive souls, well developed both spiritually and in their relationships. They care much more about matters of the mind, heart, and spirit than about practical or material things. They enjoy a rich fantasy and dream life, which may be expressed through creativity in all of the arts. Pisces are idealists rather than realists.

Connections to the Universe

Pisces do not see themselves first and foremost as individuals, but as connected to others and to the universe. They would rather experience this connection than protect their own ego. This spiritual sense of connection guides all that they do, from their relationships to their choice of career and their spiritual expression. They seek to elevate their consciousness beyond the confines of the material world. They are highly intuitive people. Their exquisite sensitivity to the world around them can even rise to the level of psychic abilities.

Relationships

Pisces’ gentle side leads them to be very sensitive, loving, and trusting. They seek harmony in their relationships and will do whatever they can to avoid conflict—winning a fight is not meaningful to Pisces. They approach everyone in a friendly manner that draws many allies to them, but they are intimate only with a small group of friends and family. They are romantic, need to be with a partner, and commit themselves for the long term.

Compassion is a trait that stands out in Pisces. They are born care takers. Pisces people very often chose careers that allow them to give to others, or engage in volunteer work. They are very aware of the needs of others and devote themselves to helping others wherever they see the opportunity, even to the point of self-sacrifice.

Challenges

As a water sign, Pisces people have a preference to lead “fluid” lives, going with the flow rather than pursuing a specific life plan. They are more fantasy bound than reality bound. One of their biggest challenges is to carve out a successful life that takes reality into account. They also need to seek more balance in their relationships by placing their own needs on par with the needs of others. Being very sensitive, they need to take care to protect themselves from other people’s negative emotions and manipulation. They are gullible and easily taken in by ruses.

Career

Pisces are drawn to the helping professions—medicine, psychology, social service, teaching—and to spiritual work. In their choice of profession and their commitment to their work, they are led more by their deep personal values than by ambition. Water is also a common theme in Pisces careers—fisherman, marine biologist.

How Gemstones Can Enhance Your Pisces Experience

Gemstones are the perfect way for Pisces people to focus and balance their energy in order to be successful in their endeavors and to maintain mental and physical equilibrium.

Gemstones have both physical and metaphysical qualities that can enhance all aspects of your well-being. The perfectly aligned crystal structure of gemstones creates an energy field that interacts with our own when you hold it or wear it on your body. In this way, the gemstone can be used to calm you, bring you mental clarity, increase your energy, enhance your creativity, and much more.

Astrology and Gemstones

Astrological principles manifest at all levels of creation, from the largest bodies in the cosmos to the tiniest particles of atoms—all are part of the same network of universal energy. Based on the hermetic principle “As above, so below,” those universal principles allow us to read relations among the planets and extrapolate those principles to things here on Earth, to events in our lives, as well as to our natural environment. The universal principles that govern the planets are also seen on the much smaller level of gemstones, crystals, and metals.

The Signature of Gemstones

Each gemstone is associated with specific planets. You are already aware that each planet has its own personality in astrology. And each gemstone has a personal “signature”—specific metaphysical qualities, different for each stone, that arise from the stone’s association with its planets.

How to Make Gemstones Work for You

By considering the individual signature of gemstones, you can select the right gems for very specific purposes, according to their astrological qualities.

Gemstones can be used in three different ways:
1. They are precious objects of beauty that may hold a special meaning for us. We enjoy their beauty by giving them a special place on a shelf, desk, or altar.
2. They can be used in meditation by tuning into their frequency for the purpose of balancing our energy field.
3. They can be made into jewelry pieces for our pleasure, enhancing our individual expression of beauty and sense of empowerment.

You can learn more about the metaphysical properties of gemstones through my book Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery. In my book I teach you how to find your true birthstones based on your horoscope.

Amethyst: A Pisces Stone to Connect Us to the Divine

“Amethyst is one of the true birthstones of Pisces. It is a very common six-sided, pale- to dark-violet-colored crystal of the quartz family. It originates most commonly in Brasilia, Uruguay, and Madagascar. The quality and depth of color of the stone vary widely. The most desirable and clearest material will be cut as facetted (cut along flat faces) or cabochon (dome shaped, polished) stones.

Amethyst is an excellent stone to begin with to introduce yourself to the subtle energies of crystals. It comes in huge clusters large enough to contain your hand. In fact at gem shows I have seen bathtub-shaped pieces that were large enough to lie in! When you put your hand into one of these clusters, you feel a pulsating sensation similar to an ultrasound device. I used to have a huge sample of Amethyst in my studio in Germany that I used to provide my clients with an immediate experience of crystal energy.

Large amethyst clusters function as a sort of “spiritual vacuum cleaner,” cleansing rooms with a lot of traffic passing through. They are also perfect for cleaning other stones or jewelry by simply laying them in the cluster.

In olden times Amethyst was known as an amulet against black magic and homesickness, and as a bringer of good fortune. I see Amethyst as Merlin, the old sorcerer who looks harmless enough but in fact wields great power. In the myth he was the spiritual teacher and magician of King Arthur.

Amethyst can become our individual teacher as well. This gem’s greatest gift is its ability to open us up to higher realms of reality, higher states of consciousness. It enhances meditation, connects us with our higher self and the supreme reality.

The meaning of the Greek name for Amethyst is “not drunken” and it is considered to aid sobriety When we access higher planes of consciousness, where we feel ourselves held, comforted, and nourished, our longing for the anesthetizing effects of substances such as alcohol and drugs slowly dissipates as we become open to a more enjoyable and beautiful experience.

When there is a strong influence of Neptune in our chart, there is an ever present yearning for a higher realm of consciousness, a longing for God, a search for something more than our daily reality. People who fall under this astrological configuration are often tempted to take a shortcut to that plane by using chemical substances to escape reality. But their efforts fail in the long run because they are disappointed by the false world of chemical highs.

By uplifting our consciousness, Amethyst becomes the messenger who reminds us of our eternal connection with God. It is the bringer of bliss and understanding, of expansion to our being. It helps to clear the mind and to transform our limiting beliefs about who we are. It is our guardian and ally who accompanies us on our visionary quest to find greater truth and meaning in life.”

I wish you a very enchanted journey into the mysterious world of healing gemstones and looking at them in a new way! Have fun! If you enjoyed this article and my perspective on things, and if you like to stay informed on the astrological events in the heavens you can sign up for my free weekly newsletter, the Astrological Signs Weather Report where I discuss the actual astrological qualities of the moment and inspire you to use them wisely for a life full of success, joy and inner growth.

Have a wonderful inspired week, aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

Shakti Carola Navran: astrologer, jeweler and author
1135 Makawao Ave.Suite 310
Makawao,Maui, Hawaii 96768
Phone: 808.878.8182

With the waxing Moon moving into Scorpio our focus is more inwards and we are descending into our private inner world. The mood turns more somber and intense. Scorpio tends to extremes. The world is often perceived as black or white, good or bad and the emotional pendulum might swing fast from one side to the other.

The Moon is our Emotional Gauge
Watching the Moon making her way through the zodiac every month visiting all the signs, can sharpen our self perception and awareness for our inner processes and the fickle nature of our emotions.

One of my spiritual teachers Ananda Giri once said that if there was a way to measure spiritual advancement it would be the level of happiness one is experiencing. The Dalai Lama talked about the Art of Happiness in the book by the same name. Abraham Hicks is talking about the 3 steps to fulfilling our dreams and joy as the goal in life, because it is gauging where we are in our alignment with the non physical world.

I have been brought up as a good German girl with the following proverb which goes something like this: first the work then the joy. And I have been following that for most of my life. The problem with a life lived that way is that there was always so much to do, that I never got to the joy so it seemed.

Joy as a Spiritual Practice
Now I am in a place in my life, after many beautiful, spiritual awakening experiences where I make the awareness of my inner level of joy a priority in my life. I sense myself throughout the day, centering myself through conscious breathing, taking time for moments of emptiness and meditation. I still feel the impulse to move away from so called bad feelings, but it seems my willingness to be and feel wherever I am has established itself on a deeper level.

When you had the experience of fully experiencing what is, it seems to get easier from there. I am more compassionate and patient these days with myself. But then I move on! I use my thoughts to focus consciously towards where I want to go and keep the energy flowing that way as the Law of Attraction teaches.

Lunar Astrology
I am using the Lunar astrology to sharpen my awareness towards my emotions. Every 2, 5 days the Moon moves into a new sign. It is the fastest planet we keep track of in astrology. There is this subtle rhythm between the inner and the outer world. Each sign adds a new flavor and deeper perspective. With Moon in Scorpio be aware how you might become fanatic and driven in your activities. Be conscious of your need to control people and situations to feel safe and in power. Let go of your perfectionism and ask yourself if it really makes a difference in the bigger picture of your life?

Mars Enters Cancer
Mars is the warrior ruling the fiery sign of Aries and secondary Scorpio. When Mars is visiting the water sign Cancer, he is not a happy camper. His fire might get extinguished or he produces lots of steam. That could mean for us that we get easily upset, irritated or have feelings of anger and impatiens.

My advice; feel your feelings (that will already give you some detachment and distance) and do not take yourself too serious. Remember also this will pass!

Mercury into Libra with a Square to Mars
And then we will have a more diplomatic mindset available to us with Mercury in the social and harmony seeking Libra on Tuesday which might temper any going overboard the next day. Yet with the square to Mars and the Mercury Pluto square on Wednesday we might be facing criticism, anger and suspicion. Be conscious how words can be very hurtful and may even leave permanent scars if they are spoken from a place of angry reactivity and you are projecting your own perception as the ultimate truth onto the world or others.

Astrology Conference News
I am still in Chicago at the ISAR astrology conference. I am a member of ISAR and it stands for the International Society of Astrological Research. I am looking forward to come back home to Maui, full of fresh ideas and higher levels of perception, wisdom and awareness for my own astrological practice. I am looking forward to share with you about all the newest research and shared experiences done by so many astrologers from all over the world. I am really having an exhilarating time. My Gemini rising is in its element and likes all those different points of views, meeting new people and talking about astrology…

If you like my astrological musings I invite you to come back to my Astrological Signs Weather Report & Healing Gems Blog for a regular update on the universal flow in the heavens. I am also very passionate about the abilities of the healing gemstones to help to align and balance our flow. I have even written a book about it and the connection with astrology! If you know where your challenges are, you can then take steps to support or balance yourself with gemstones, if that is something that appeals to you.

I hope you enjoyed this article, aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

Shakti Carola Navran: astrologer, jeweler and author

Shakti Carola Navran has written the book: Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul and  many articles about the healing properties of gemstones and their use in daily life for meditation, balance and meaningful jewelry making. She teaches you about true Birthstones which are based in astrology and their possible application for Soul Jewelry.

Astrological Weather is Quiet on Wednesday
With all this intensity we all have to deal with these days we have a little of a breather with Moon in Taurus! Taurus is the first earth sign in the evolution and unfolding of the zodiac and brings our intention and focus onto real and palpable things around us.

Gratefulness
We here in Hawaii can settle down after the excitements of the forecasted hurricane which didn’t hit and slowed down to a tropical depression. The air here today seems so clean and there is a quietness and freshness in the air which inspires me to start anew from a place of gratefulness and wonder. As a member of the CERT the Communal Emergency Response Team here on Maui I have been part of the preparations of the Civil Defense setup. I feel so touched and grateful for all those beautiful people and volunteers who have been working so hard to be prepared for the hurricane as good as possible for many hours.

And what grace to be spared the experience of a hurricane and all the loss of life and material things. It made me so happy to be a part of something bigger and focused on the bigger picture then just my own wellbeing. You should try it out it is heady stuff!

The Moon: Our Mirror of Feelings
Approximately every 2 ½ days the Moon, the fastest planet in Astrology is moving into a new astrological sign.  When the Moon is moving on into a new sign there is a different energetic emotional quality to be felt. Moon represents our way we filter the events in our environments emotionally. The Moon has a magnetic quality and describes our receptivity. Following the movement of the Moon will help us to understand our often impulsive reactions to the events in our life.

Following the Moon transiting through the potential of possible reactivity will ease the surprise of it and gives us awareness for ourselves and a choice to some degree.

Taurus known as the Planter and Beautifier of Life (April 21–May 20)
When the Sun is in Taurus, at this time of the year the Northern Hemisphere is free of its winter snows and it is time to attend to caring for the Earth and planting crops. The sign of Taurus is ruled by Venus and is considered a feminine earth sign.

Taurus people are very much in tune with the Earth and often have a green thumb. They love to be in nature or do gardening. Due to the influence of Venus, they have a great love for beauty found in things such as art, jewelry, and the nature. They are loyal, patient, and deliberate in working toward their goals, just as farmers must be in tending their crops from planting through harvest. When a Taurus person undertakes a project, it most likely will be completed! Grounded in reality and the physical world, they excel at professions such as artist, farmer, the financial sector, and politics.

Everything they approach will be with a very grounded and practical perspective! They are very good organizers and appreciate, need and create beauty all around them. There is certain sensuality around them. They approach life through their senses and like to enjoy themselves and others.

Invitation
With Taurus Moon you are invited to focus onto the beauty in your life! The beauty which is already there or the one you want to create around you. Maybe it is a good time to redo your bedroom or your living room; put things in order, refresh the color on the wall or hang up a new picture. It is a good time to have some friends over for a dinner or make time for some love making…

The Mars Jupiter Trine
The assertive Mars is joining hands with expansive, optimistic Jupiter. A trine is a so called harmonious aspect which means the players are well in tune with each other and usually find a way to harmoniously align their energies depending on the particularities of the involved planets. Of course even a trine with actors like Saturn, Pluto, Uranus and Neptune will give us a little more challenge when they touch the personal planets of ours.

With Mars in Gemini and Jupiter in Aquarius, both signs of air; our mental busyness might be more pronounced. Have you heard about the “monkey mind”? That is a good metaphor  for the relentless activity of our mind, constantly processing thought forms and trying to figure things out. The “monkey mind” also stands for the critical nature of the mind and its constant evaluating and criticizing of our own activities and others.

This trine is offering us a good chance to learn how to use our mind properly instead of being used by it. We have to learn to take charge of our mind, learn how to quieten it and find peace of mind in a stressful and fast world.

What are You Putting into Your Mind?
One way to do that is to monitor what kind of mental diet we are feeding ourselves with. Do we expose ourselves to lots of news (always depressing isn’t it?)? What kind of movies do we watch? Do we watch a thriller and then go to bed? What kind of books do you read? Is it material which helps you to expand and grow? How do you uplift your spirit?

The Challenge
I took on this challenge for a week of not reading books or newspapers and not watching movies or TV. That was an interesting experience! Suddenly you have all that extra time on your hand and what do you do with it? For me it was a time I meditated more, visited friends I haven’t seen for a time, putting my closets in order and just sat more with myself thinking and contemplating.

Are you up for this challenge? I promise you it will be an amazing experience and I would love to hear from you about it!

Meditation
You have heard me talk about the multiple benefits of meditation many times. If you want to read more about it go to my article Neptune’s Properties, Sobriety and the Art of Meditation.
Meditation is the best way to find peace of mind and your inner connection to your higher self and the divine. Whatever works for you best is the way to go. You can just sit and be aware of your breath and your thoughts, you can dance and shake your body and then go into profound inner silence or you can use crystals and gemstones to help you align and balance.

Me – I am very passionate about healing gems and all the different applications of those enchanting allies to raise my frequency for balance and more joy. I have even written a book Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery about my over 30 years experience in the field of healing gemstones, meaningful jewelry and astrology. I am a Taurus as well so I am lazy! I like to just lie down and put some stone onto me and sink inside…I love it!
If you enjoyed this post and my musings, I invite you to come back to visit my Astrological Signs Weather Report & Healing Gems Blog where I discuss regularly the universal, astrological forces and the healing gems to inspire you to use them wisely for a successful and joyful life.
Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

Shakti Carola Navran: astrologer, jeweler and author

Check out my book Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery:
Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul
which is a treasure chest of ideas introducing you to a new perspective onto Astrology, Healing Gems and Soul Jewelry. I will guide you on how to select, purchase, and wear meaningful jewelry that will enhance your body, heart, mind, and soul.

After being stirred up a little and opened for new possibilities with the Moon in Aquarius the last two days we are now swimming on into new waters.

The Pisces Moon is the most sensitive position it can have in the zodiac. It is presenting us with a chance to turn inwards, to dream and fantasize, floating along with inner nudges and connect with the divine.

Moon is our emotional filter towards the world and how we might perceive people around us. With Moon in Pisces there is the chance to tap into higher states of consciousness through meditation and contemplation which are keywords for Pisces.

Pisces: The Wise and Mystical Servant (Feb 20–March 20) is ruled by Neptune. Water is attributed to Pisces and it is considered a feminine sign.

By the end of the astrological year, all that has been learned in the previous months is integrated in Pisces. The gentle and sensitive Pisceans see life through a spiritual framework based on a deep sense of connection with others and with the entire universe. This gives them the gift of love, compassion, and empathy for others and they may choose careers in medicine, psychology, or spiritual work. They seek a higher consciousness, beyond the physical world. This is not a practical, earth-bound sign: Pisceans live in a mental world of dreams and fantasies that are expressed in artistic and spiritual ways. Of all the signs, they are the least invested in their own egos. They are not interested in winning conflicts and will avoid confrontation whenever possible.

Time for Yourself

Today is a good day to take some time for yourself and allow that inner connection with the divine and that feeling of connectedness with the whole take place. The best way I know how to do that is to just sit and meditate and let your mind settle down. In that quiet inner placeyou can become aware of thoughts moving through and feelings surfacing.

Moon in Pisces wants us to raise our consciousness to the level of unconditional love and experience the oneness with all that is.

When we experience love and that deep human connection with others we are in an exalted state of consciousness which feels wonderful, satisfying and joyous. This is our birthright! This is what we all want and need to be truly happy. If we don’t manage to find that experience of love in our life; we can feel disconnected, maybe even depressed or in fear. Then the world out there appears as a dark and frightening place!

Jupiter & Neptune Conjunction in Aquarius is in an Exact Conjunction

Jupiter as well as Neptune is ruling the 12^th house and Pisces. Jupiter’s search for meaning and Neptune’s transcending of the concrete in favor of the non-physical fit very well together!

They can help us to gain spiritual awareness and deepen our faith.

Or if we don’t take the time to allow that to happen we might feel confusion and get lost in illusions and projections of our mind.

Neptune and Jupiter will be moving on into Pisces pretty soon, because they are already at 26 degrees Aquarius. The Moon in Pisces introduces us and helps to prepare for the limitless inner sky of the potential of waking up to a higher reality behind the physical world.

Mercury Semi-square Mars

Mercury is in Cancer and Mars is still in Taurus. The semi-square has the potential to stir up feelings and thoughts of irritation, anger and impatience. Just watch yourself and don’t take yourself too serious! You can channel these energies to propel you into right action and gain more awareness of your inner dynamics and thought patterns.

Meditate with Crystals or Gemstones

There are many ways to meditate and still your active mind. Because I am a gemstone lover I like to introduce you to use quartz crystals and gemstones to help you to align your energies into a place of balance and peace.

The most well known way for meditation with gemstones is to lie down and place one or several stones onto your body or around it. Crystals are wonderful to place on your third eye, (between your eye brows) or anywhere on your body where you want to discharge negative energy or blockages and bring in the power of healing light. You will feel fresh and renewed afterwards.

Because of the perfect crystal structure and alignment of the crystals they have the unique gift helping us with deepening our meditation and relaxing the mind. If you want to find out more about meditation with healing gemstones go to my website http://www.JewelryandGemsforSelfdiscovery.com where you can find more articles and information about that subject in my book Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul.

I hope I have interested you to engage in some form of meditation to nourish your soul and get a taste of it which might inspire you to make it a regular practice. You will receive many benefits from. I would love to hear back from your about your experiences and wish you a wonderful journey.

Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

A Beautiful Gift from the Earth to You

Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth. It occurs in a variety of colors, including yellow, brown, pink, purple, and gray. The clear, colorless variety, called Crystal Quartz or Rock Crystal, forms exceptionally beautiful crystals that are sometimes used in jewelry to imitate diamonds. It has many fascinating physical and metaphysical qualities that can be applied in myriad ways to enhance your physical and mental well-being and help you achieve your goals.

Physical Properties of Crystal Quartz

Crystal Quartz is found all over the world. It is composed of silicon dioxide, one of the most plentiful compounds of the Earth’s crust. It grows as six-sided crystals, forming six-sided pyramids at the end of each crystal. The base of the crystal is milky, becoming clear at the tip. Quartz crystals often grow in clusters, in company with other minerals.

Quartz can form huge crystals—the longest ever found was 20 feet long and weighed 48 tons!

The Astrological Meaning of Crystal Quartz

Pure crystal quartz is very clear or translucent, so its association with light and clarity is immediately evident. As the crystal grows upward to increasing clarity, it symbolizes our own striving for perfection as we grow toward ever-higher levels of consciousness.

Crystal Quartz represents the astrological properties of both the Sun and Saturn, two opposites of light and darkness. Saturn is the ruling planet of Capricorn (December 21–January 19). After December 21 (the Winter Solstice) the days grow longer while the nights grow shorter. That date represents the transition from dark into light that we must all pass through on our journey from the dark night to awakening.

From Darkness Comes Light

How can we have hope that such a transition is possible, that we may one day emerge from our darkness? We have only to observe how an ordinary chemical compound forms in the darkness of the Earth and grows into the perfect manifestation of light, clarity, and beauty. From darkness comes light! From humble beginnings comes magnificent beauty. And so shall it be in your own life.

It is only with a clear and calm mind that you can understand your earthly experience and come to terms with why you are here and how you want to live out your time in this life. Crystal Quartz can help you achieve that clear, calm mind and lead the way toward what is important to you.

5 Ways to Harness the Power of Quartz Crystals

1. As objects of beauty to delight the eyes and soul

I love to surround myself with my favorite crystals in my home, especially in my work space. I feel nourished and uplifted whenever I turn my gaze to my crystals to give my eyes a rest from the computer screen. I keep a crystal ball behind the screen to create a harmonized energy field. Place a crystal wherever you are inclined to take a contemplative rest and recenter your thoughts.

2. As part of your personal altar

Having a designated spot for an altar in your home is a wonderful way to invite the divine into your daily consciousness. It brings sacredness into your space and serves as a focal point for your awareness toward what is most important for you in your life.

An altar is a very private and personal place of beauty and reverence. Place on your altar objects that have special meaning for you or that particularly appeal to you for their beauty: a Buddha figure, flowers, photographs of loved ones, and of course a crystal. The crystal can serve as a magnifier for your prayers and setting your intentions and goals.

3. Program your crystal to attract your dreams and goals

The Law of Attraction teaches that in order to allow the fulfillment of your desires to flow to you, you need to be open, receptive, and on the right frequency to receive it. That means you need to stay focused on what you want or the solution of a problem, and not on what you don’t want or the problem at hand.

To use your crystal to help you attain a specific goal, sit quietly holding it in your hand. Strongly picture your goal and all of its qualities in detail. Imagine that you have already achieved it. Feel all the good feelings you will experience when you have reached your goal. As you feel those positive feelings, your frequency will rise and connect with the frequency of the thing that you want, allowing it to flow into your life.

4. Reduce electro smog

Electro smog (radiation from the computer) is very unhealthy, especially if you spend long hours on the computer. It will leave you feeling sapped of energy. Just as green plants clean the air in your home, a quartz crystal can protect you from electro smog and also help you concentrate. I keep a small cluster of quartz crystals on my desk, and also tape a single crystal to the computer tower. This has really made a difference in my energy level.

5. Deepen your meditation

No matter what type of meditation you practice, you need to empty your mind and relax into your inner sanctuary—your place of connection with the divine, and your source of inspiration and creativity. The perfectly aligned and balanced structure of a quartz crystal will help you achieve a deep state of relaxation and focus.

The most common way to meditate using crystals is to lie down and place one or several of them on your body. For mental clarity, place one on your third eye (between your eyebrows). You can place crystals anywhere on your body where you want to discharge negative energy, free up blockages, and bring in healing light.

How to Create a Crystal Energy Field

Another way of working with crystals to deepen the meditative state and achieve physical balance is to place them around you in a specific pattern as you lie on the floor. You will feel a positive effect in just a few minutes.

I feel deeply refreshed and balanced after lying in a crystal energy field for 20 minutes. In my seminars people who are skeptical about the power of gemstones and crystals are quickly won over after lying in a crystal energy field and feeling its unmistakable effect.

Here are three ways to create a crystal energy field using six large crystals:

1. For Recharging and Revitalizing

As you lie on the floor, place two crystals on each side of your body, one at the top of your head, and one at the bottom of your feet. Make sure each crystal is aligned with the tips pointing toward your head, and the crystal at the top of your heading pointing upward.

2. For Stabilizing and Clearing Your Aura

You will have a very different effect if you turn all the crystals in the opposite, downward direction. This orientation will feel different and will flush out accumulated negative energies, open up energy blockages, and stabilize your auric field.

3. Balancing and Calming

I call this the six-star pattern. Place the crystals as follows:

• Head crystal: point upward.
• One crystal on each side of the body, at about waist level: point downward.
• One crystal next to each knee: point upward.
• One crystal at the bottom of your feet: point downward.

Feel free to experiment with different placements of the crystals around your body and enjoy the different sensations you will experience.

You may find out more about healing with gemstones in my book where I describe 67 different gemstones with many photos and their astrological correlations.

I hope you will enjoy these practical applications of Quartz Crystal and other gems in your life. Let me know if you have any comments or questions for me.

Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

I have read this beautiful quote this morning: “All those who have achieved great things have been great dreamers.” (Orison Swett Marden) This is so very true!

Through astrology we are more aware of the universal laws unfolding and can use that knowledge and awareness which is providing us with great help and inspiration to trust our dreams, setting our goals and intentions and taking action towards their achievement.

Mars quintile Jupiter

Assertive Mars teams up with Jupiter to help us with the “taking action” part in reaching our dreams. They are a powerful team in manifesting and implementing dreams into reality. Jupiter with his expansive thrust, thinking outside the box, seeing the bigger picture is motivating us taking steps towards those dreams.

Today is a good day to sit with a cup of tea and your journal,

brainstorm your ideas and write down a list of 10 action items. And then make sure to start with one step from your list today and one more every day till you are done with your list.

Stay in internal contact with your purpose and outcome you want to achieve. Take a little time every day before you start doing things to connect with how it will feel to achieve that dream goal. Make sure your whole being is in alignment with your plan. Then your dream will pull you forward and it is easy to follow through because it is just so much fun doing it.

Every morning I go into my “inner sanctuary” as I call it and align my emotions till I really feel good and can’t wait to get to my computer to get my work day started. I learned the importance of that daily emotional alignment through the material from Abraham-Hicks, I can highly recommend. I consider it a spiritual practice to become more and more aware of my present feelings and to always find ways to improve on them and feel a little better.

Moon slipping into Pisces (on Saturday): You are not only allowed to dream these 3 days, you are required to dream!

Pisces puts you in contact with the “collective mind” as Carl Jung was calling it. We have access to that unlimited potential of thoughts and ideas through our nightly dream activity or meditation. When our brain is in the mode of alpha or delta brain waves we are more open and connected with our own individual unconsciousness and the collective unconsciousness; that unlimited spring of creative thoughts.

For example when you lay in bed, ready to go to sleep, you often have those really good ideas moving through you, just before you fall asleep. And of course next morning those ideas are gone…That time before we fall asleep is the alpha state of your brain. You can learn to stay in an alpha state for an extended time without going to sleep through meditation practice. I will talk about that in a later article.

Then Mercury enters Gemini: the Inspired Communicator and Curious Butterfly

Geminis have great minds! They are fast learners and interested in a great variety of topics, so they accumulate a large store of knowledge. Additionally, the have the ability to communicate their knowledge very well and make great conversationalists. They need the stimulation of moving like a butterfly from one thing that catches their interest to the next. This gives them flexibility—they don’t get stuck for long in one place and are always ready for a new challenge. A drawback of their fascination with details is that they might miss the bigger picture. They excel in all fields involving the written or spoken word.

With Mercury entering its own sign it brings in a level of cool and more objective thinking and will help us not to get lost in that inner dream world. Because of his flexible and logical mind Mercury will be of great help to bring dream potential into the world.

All in all this is a wonderful weekend waiting to happen for you! Allow yourself to dream and make sure to keep a list of the multitude of your ideas for “dryer times”… I have a dream book where I write down ideas, put in pictures I find inspiring and which put me in a good mood. I am a very visual person and like to use images as anchors to guide my emotions.

Remember to feel good and enjoy the journey! Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.