The New Moon and Full Moon events are often thought as almost magical points in the evolution of the Moon throughout the month. Depending on their position in the zodiac sign they shed a specific light onto inner processes and give us a potentially different perspective. While the New Moon is the conclusion of one circle of energy it also opens up a new chapter.

With the Full Moon that new theme is fully exposed in the full light and moves towards the conclusion in the next New Moon. It is a beautiful dance of birthing, ripening and integration.

New Moon in Virgo September 8

And of course Full Moon and New Moon are always in opposing signs. The last Full Moon was in Pisces with an invitation to deepen our inner connection with the divine and strengthen our spiritual roots as well as confronting health issues, mysterious illnesses bases on toxicity and poison. Now with the New Moon in Virgo we are asked to come to a conclusion with the balance of the mundane and the spiritual in our lives. There is the need to use the logical mind of Virgo which is so finely tuned to details and skillful functioning in the physical world. It is important to find your place in the bigger scheme of things and contribute with your unique gifts only you have to share.

Virgo is very generous as a healer and good friend and feels best sharing his skills. A good time to ask yourself the questions:

•    What is my specific gift?
•    Am I generous with myself and others?
•    How do I contribute to life?
•    Where could I use more order in my life?
•    Do I have unfinished business I need to tend to?

If you read my article about the Full Moon in Pisces you remember the case I made to take responsibility for your own health into your own hands. This theme continues with the Sun and Mercury still in Virgo. Mercury is staying for almost 2 month in this health conscious sign instead of the usual 3 to 4 weeks.

The trine of this New Moon with Pluto in Capricorn helps you to see yourself clearer and inspires to take more responsibility for your body, the temple of the soul.

Retrograde Mercury Turning Direct Again September 12

The mythic messenger of the gods helps you to become more aware and conscious about your present condition and empowers you to make decisions and take appropriate action towards that goal. Sometimes you might feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of your goal and feel paralyzed to even get started. The trick is to chunk it down into smaller pieces and reward yourself along the way. If you already enjoy the process you don’t have to wait till the elusive reaching of the finishing line to feel good.

Loosing Weight with Virgo is Easier

For example if you want to loose weight, that is a big and often intimidating goal and often we do not believe that we are actually able to pull it off. You might have tried all kinds of diets or even fasting with no lasting results. Some of my middle age girl friends have given up and pacify themselves with saying it is all menopausal. Maybe what you need is a whole different and fresh approach? Maybe the hormones are only part of the picture? Maybe you have just accumulated so much toxicity in your body over the years that it shows up in middle age or even earlier?

If you want to loose weight and chunk it down into smaller pieces you might end up with a plan that says:

•    Educate yourself about the underlying causes for gaining weight (like storing toxins in your fat to keep the body functioning) I recommend Dr. Sherry Rogers books.
•    Determine your blood type and find out which is in general the appropriate and healthy diet for you (Blood Type Diet)
•    Check out your vitamin and mineral levels and determine your deficiencies (Metamatrix.com)
•    Check out your burden of heavy metals
•    Refrain from any kind of processed food for a month and see how you feel
•    Eat more raw fruits, vegetables, sea weeds and cooked whole grains
•    Half your sugar intake, use raw agave or honey instead
•    Acquire an Infra Red Sauna, speed up your metabolism to get toxins out and loose your fat layers
•    Do a regiment of colon cleanses or daily coffee enemas
•    Find a way to exercise in a way you actually like doing. Join a dance class, go for walks with your friends or your dog; find something that actually works for you.

Obviously this list can go on and on. I just want to inspire you to make your own and get started. After a while the momentum will carry you and you will feel so good that you will be more then motivated to keep it going. If you choose to reward yourself along the way you will enjoy the process even more. You could go and get a massage or do a little shopping and find something to beautify yourself and feel really good.

Jupiter Back into Pisces September 8

Also Jupiter backs into Pisces a few hours after the New Moon and will be there until January 2011, staying within 3 degrees of Uranus in Pisces. Optimistic Jupiter represents faith, expansion, wisdom and abundance but can go overboard into hubris and extravagance. Jupiter in Pisces invites us for deeper introspection into the hidden non physical realms, the more subtle dimensions shaping life. Thoughts are also non physical to begin with but they shape your life and become manifested into the physical realm.

You can find deep fulfillment and joy with this constellation if you allow yourself to slow down and find time to smell the roses, meditate and sit with a cup of tea and contemplate.

Venus Dives into Scorpio September 8

With Saturn in the relationship sign Libra we already have to take a deeper look at the dynamics in our relationships. With Venus now moving into Scorpio we might encounter some hidden layers of our needs and instinctual drive for survival, sex and power. Maybe somebody tries to dominate you or an overdue relationship resolves itself. Scorpio always forces us to be honest at least with ourselves about our true motivation of doing things.

The goddess of love asks you to be very honest about your primary relationship as well as your friends in general. When Mars is joining Venus in Scorpio next week there might be some fire works to deal with.

I believe it is crucial to discriminate with wisdom what you can impact and change in the part of the world that is within your reach. If you strive for your best lived life, keep transforming the world a little bit at a time you can be extremely powerful and a force for good. You are making a difference! Be the light you want to see in the world! Start with yourself and be as healthy and joyful as you can be!

I hope you enjoyed this article, 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 on the road traveling in Phoenix under radiant blue sky. It is hot, hot with temperatures around a 100 degree Fahrenheit. When we go outside it is like walking into a sauna. We are staying in Flagstaff and I am having a ball with all the nice restaurants, malls, museums and the nice architecture.

I prepared this article last week for you and maybe I am going a little missionary. If so I hope you will forgive me. With the constellation of the stars for focus on health I couldn’t help it but put a little in depth info in.

A Full Moon

A Full Moon is receiving the full light radiance from the Sun and gives you a chance to become deeply conscious of usually more hidden areas in your lives. The Sun represents life force and consciousness and the Moon the emotions and deeply hidden feelings. A Full Moon is a magical time and turning point before the fullness starts to loose force moving towards the New Moon. You can use this moment in time for your own magic in creating the life you desire. Let me ask you:

What is most important for you in your life? Is it you, living your love with family and friends? Is it your spiritual growth? Is it success and wealth? Is it having time for adventures and fun? Or is it your health?

When you start thinking about it you can appreciate how all these areas of your life are interconnected. To me it seems that when I have health I have a better chance to deal and create satisfying results in all the other areas. Of course you can be spiritually fulfilled and live a life from the high frequency of love and feel pretty good with that. But if your body is in pain and not in balance, all the other areas will not show up as full and gratifying as they could be.

Last week with the Neptune opposition to the Sun and Mercury starting his retrograde mission we got started on observing our health needs. This theme is deepened throughout this month with Sun in Virgo the classical health sign with attention to details of nutrition and health issues. Also the Full Moon in Pisces, home to Neptune is the complementing opposing sign to Virgo and needs to be integrated for full spiritual and physical health.

Alignment with the Stars

Throughout the year there are special times to do specific things and turn your attention to for more success and fulfillment. Each month the Sun is in a different sign, the Moon moves through the whole zodiac waxing and waning between Full Moon and New Moon and there are all the additional other planetary positions in the heavens to consider. Some planets are faster then others who might be impacting us for longer periods of time like Saturn and the outer planets. With the help of astrology you can be more aware of the time quality and become more aligned with the universal laws governing the cosmos. Let us have a look at Pisces.

Neptune at Home in Pisces

Pisces is the last sign in the unfolding of the zodiac and is ruled by Neptune. It is a sign where the physical is transcended. Neptune is thought as the Roman god of the sea (Greek Poseidon) and is associated with many non-material, sometimes nebulous and transcendent principles. It relates to religion and spirituality, fantasy, imagination, creativity in art and music, idealism, compassion, love, higher states of consciousness, our connection to the divine, mysticism, and the healing arts.

Neptune at its best supports our striving toward inspiration and insight, but its negative influence is associated with addiction, weakness, illusions, and deception. And it is also representing poison, drugs, toxins, gases, addictions, and degenerative, the life force diminishing influences we call diseases.

Full Moon in Pisces August 24

A Full Moon in Pisces might make you feel more vulnerable or fragile as usual. You might wake up from heavy dreaming activity in the middle of the night. You might feel moments of deep love, compassion and oneness. Experiences of ecstasy and bliss belong here.

Pisces knows about the interconnectedness of all life and dimensions. Pisces understands that our individual personality is just skin deep and just a momentary expression in the world of form. Our soul is eternal and a part of the whole.

But the spiritual connection of Pisces needs to be anchored into the physical world and that is the chore of the opposing sign Virgo. Virgo is ruled by Mercury and is very much matter of fact and practical in analyzing the world and adjusting accordingly. Virgo uses logic, recognizes what is working and what is not.

I like to inspire you this month to use those underlying qualities and have a discerning look into your health.

Many Challenges for Your Health

The other day I saw this documentary on a German channel about plastics. I was interested to see how much information and awareness about the health damaging properties of phthalates (plasticizer) is made public and if they have anything to offer in the way of solutions. I was very disappointed about the report but not surprised. They did point out the severity of the situation for all life forms on the planet, but besides the recommendation to take recycling more serious and changing our long term production to biodegradable plastics there were no real suggestions given concerning our individual situation and how we can deal with it.

In the film they showed how much of all the plastics we use in every area of our lives end up in the oceans. There are islands of plastic waste piling up and just keep circling around. The plastic does not really break down but into smaller pieces which are additionally loaded with other chemicals like DDT and pesticides. These smaller particles are eaten by fish and birds and end up in your stomachs. But that is not the only way that stuff is ending up in your system.

Plastics are everywhere. We package our foods with plastic covers on Styrofoam trays or plastic containers, we drink from plastic water or soda bottles; everything is leaching out and accumulating in our system. It slowly stockpiles over a life time and has been proven to be the culprit in many fatal diseases. The chemistry of phthalates resembles that of many hormones especially estrogens. Those fake estrogens occupy the bodily receptor stations for our natural, hormones like testosterone, estrogen and progesterone and screw up the whole system. In the film they talked about an epidemic of sterile men because of the overload of fake estrogens as well as babies been born with genital deformities.

The point is besides the plastics and pesticides the list goes on and on to non-biodegradable detergents, dioxins, PCBs, DDT and others we do not even know how to spell. All these are widely distributed and totally unavoidable in day to day’s life and they wreak havoc with our hormonal systems, accelerate aging and trigger cancer and many other diseases. Pretty bleak, huh?

There is Hope and Something You Can Do

Astrologically poison and toxins are attributed to Pisces and are at the bottom of many mysterious diseases and unexplainable pain. This month is a great time for you to get started on your own personal detox program with Mercury and Sun in Virgo and the Full Moon in Pisces. Start with educating yourself.

According to my favorite author on the subject Sherry Rogers, MD there are two underlying causes for any disease: toxicity and deficient nutrition. Having found her own way through a life threatening disease she has done extensive research and published numerous books on different health subjects. I love her work and think she is really a big blessing with her efforts and contribution to reformation of regular medicine. Our health system is mainly driven by big drug corporations pushing poisonous drugs to manage diseases (And create new ones with their side effects). Healing can only happen through finding the underlying causes and for that we have to take our health into our own hands.

I recommend starting with the book “Detoxify or Die” and moving on with “Wellness Against all Odds”. You can find more titles of hers on my Book Treasures page. She recommends extensive cleansing with Infra Red Sauna and coffee enema with specific tests and many supplements to support the process. Check her out and I believe you will find it very beneficial.

Yes, it takes time, effort and money but if you want to stay or become healthy there is no way around educating yourself and taking responsibility for your own health. But since nobody else will do it for you there is not really a choice.

As you can tell my heart is really in this. I see so much suffering and pain around me because of health issues. I think we can only win by taking our health into our own hands and act accordingly. I am on the sauna and enema program for 5 month now and I can report that my arthritis has gotten much better and my psoriasis spots have disappeared. I still have ways to go and have resigned myself that this is a long term effort to keep battling the odds to keep myself in shape as much as possible and support my own inner healing process. I hope I have motivated you enough to get started on your own healing journey,

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.

A lot is going on in the astrological heavens these days. We are meeting many challenges as a society as well as on an individual level. Do not worry I will not start talking about politics. Me, I am not even able to watch the news without getting either depressed or angry. But I will talk about what you can do on a personal level to balance your emotions and contribute from that place. Because that is the power you do have in your hands to use.

New Moon in Leo August 9 is the highlight of the week right along with other more long term strong astrological constellations. Like with any present astrological constellations it is most interesting to see how this New Moon touches you in your personal horoscope and which aspects it might have to your planets. Then you will be better prepared and have better choices about how to play the game.

Lunar Astrology

Each New Moon provides us with a new beginning of a new cycle, a clean slate to start from. There is a little magic in these turning points of the New Moon and the Full Moon as there is in the Solstice and the Equinox. These are universal rhythms which remind me of our breathing. When we breathe in we supply the body with fresh oxygen and life force, then there is a moment of stillness before we breathe out, releasing the old and stagnant, then another still point and the cycle resumes.

For me astrology is just a wonderful way to find my place in these magnificent universal cycles and gain understanding in how to apply the wisdom found within it.
There are the short cycles of the Moon waxing and waning and there are the longer cycles of the Sun moving through the year. Each station in a different sign is describing a specific universal quality available in that moment in time.

You could say the cycle of the Moon through the zodiac is an indicator of the emotional imprint and the cycle of the Sun is how consciousness and life in general is impacted.

Wisdom

I believe it is a sign of wisdom to control and change what you are able to do and let go of things you cannot.

Many of the challenges we face in economy and society we can deduct from the hard aspects between planets which point towards a landslide pushing against old structures. Uranus and Jupiter in Aries, opposing Saturn Venus and Mars in Libra and squaring Pluto in Capricorn are forming a very dynamic t-square in cardinal signs marking a new beginning. This is not an invitation for us to accept or not. These planets are presenting us with circumstances we have to face as conscious as possible and make the best out of it.

By the middle of September we will have a little break with Uranus and then Jupiter moving back into Pisces and out of the tight alignment with Pluto and Saturn. When the planets are doing their back and forth dance, each contact is a deepening of the theme and another integrating step. We are presented with a little breather before we dive back into it.

The potential resolution point for this t-square is the empty fourth cardinal sign Cancer.

Moon is Ruling Cancer

Moon represents the archetypal mother. The potential resolution is lying in the hands of the feminine, the life giving and mothering principle is needed to heal and resurrect. Also with Venus, Mars and Saturn in conjunction in Libra we need to learn new skills of relating, respect and concern for the other. We need to learn to balance our own needs with the other and find a place of self empowerment within the bigger picture.

Having said all that let us have a deeper look at the New Moon in Leo. The Full Moon and the New Moon are always interesting energetic power points in time, calling us to align our emotions with our awareness.

On a Full Moon the light of the Sun, the center of life and consciousness is reflected fully by the Moon in opposition to the Sun. Emotions are close to the surface and ready to bubble up or over. It makes for sleepless nights, prowling cats and burglars and drunks in the streets.

With the New Moon there is no reflected light of consciousness. There is a moment of complete darkness in the conclusion of one circle of one Full Moon to the next. That might make it more difficult to connect with the qualities of the sign the New Moon resides in.

New Moon in Leo

New Moon means the Moon is in conjunction with the Sun. Sun and Moon are like yin and yang, both complementing parts of the whole.  Leo is a very extroverted sign where it is all about playful and creative self expression. It is a fiery sign with ambition and courage to do what is necessary to reach the goal. Leo is a team player as long as he is able to call the shots. The king and the queen are at home in their castle this month and they are taking charge. The question is what do they enjoy most and excel at? In which direction do they point their efforts?

The New Moon in this sign puts the spot light onto where you are not showing up with your best efforts and highest potential. The Moon is starting into a new cycle out of Leo and with that you will have one month to figure this out. Ask yourself:

•    What am I good at?
•    What do I love to do?
•    Where would I like to shine more and have more reflection in my life?
•    Do I have all the acknowledgment and success I would like to have?
•    What do I have to contribute to others?
•    What is my special gift?
•    And how do I use it?

Change starts with each one of us. You can become fully conscious and responsible in your personal life and be your best at what you are doing in your professional life as well as with friends and family.  Be playful and go with your creative flow and become a conscious creator and manifest your dreams and hopes.

I hope you enjoyed this article, 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.

Do you like action movies? Do you like the tension building and then escalating into heavy action with high speed cars, sex, betrayal and some kind of a resolution at the end? I don’t ! I hate action movies! My husband has long given up on me to share this way of entertainment and goes to the actions movies with his male friends to share the excitement. I am just happy to pass on it. When I want to see a movie I like to laugh, be entertained, be inspired, learn something new and expand my horizon. I like true stories made into movies about true heroes like Patch Adams which make me think and feel myself in a deeper and new way.

For me it seems the nerve wrecking tension and excitement is screwing with my nervous system. I cannot sleep for many hours and I keep having those pictures floating through my mind. Why would I want to expose myself to that? But… tastes are different and for some people it might be a way to release tension and aggression by watching those movies. It can be a safe way to tap into intense feeling you might not have access to any other way and live vivaciously through the pictures on the screen.

We have an interesting and intense week ahead of us. On Tuesday August 3 we will have the second square of Jupiter to Pluto; the previous one was on July 24. This one is additionally fueled by Mars opposing Jupiter and squaring Pluto as well. Mars Pluto squares are known as lit fuses waiting to go off into a big bang. There is tension, friction, violence and ego driven behavior. This might be a very uncomfortable week. Let us see how we can best work with this.

Mars the Warrior

This week’s setup with Mars, the warrior connecting in a stressful way with life and death player Pluto and the expansive, over the top energy of Jupiter could look like a movie script. It can be a very charged week in so many ways but it might be tempered by the fact that Mars is prowling in Libra which is a compromising and peace loving sign.

That means for you that you have the choice to focus on compromise and be solution oriented with which ever problems you are facing this week. It means you can choose the dialogue and communicate. You can make an effort to be as compassionate and non judgmental as possible and diffuse any potentially difficult situation instead of getting riled up and defensive or actively aggressive. You do have a choice how you deal with the energy of this week.

Mars represents your life force energy, your determination, your sexual drive, your will power and also your aggressive potential. Don’t kid yourself; we all have a healthy dose of aggression built in us. However deep it might be buried and renounced, it often just needs the right stimuli and righteous reasons and it could come roaring out. You can use these specific energies of week to inquire more deeply into your own aggressive potential and how you release, focus and how you act out your anger and upset emotions. The more we can become aware and own that inner warrior the better the chances of staying in charge and directing those powerful energies.

Contemplate about What Can Set You Off?

Where is your personal Mars situated in your chart? In which sign, which house and how is it connected with the other planets? That can help you to find more clarity about how you are wired and might react to threatening or aggravating people or situations.

If we don’t own our aggression and violent aspects we tend to project them out and they happen to us. We might find ourselves victim to situations we rather avoid. There is a lot of personal power to gain in knowing who we are especially in the depth of the shadowy, dark stuff of our personality.

For Example: A Personal Story

Me, I am having my Mars in Cancer which means in general I am not an overly aggressive person. But I tend to suppress my anger and when it comes out, I can really surprise myself. I had an experience which really taught me about my aggressions and how it just takes the right button to push for it to come roaring to the surface. Because of that experience my self identity has changed and I do consider myself now potentially a pretty aggressive Amazon if provoked.

This is an experience I am not very proud of and it took me a long time to digest it and let it go because it did shatter my self image. But I think it is a good example and might serve you to do your soul searching.
I was in India two years ago and did a very intense deepening meditation retreat in the Oneness University. You can say my usual defenses and structures were weakened and tweaked with.

After that I stayed in a hotel for a few days and did some sight seeing and of course shopping. I went to this big shopping mall in Chennai which was buzzing with activity and an overwhelming level of noise. There I was making my way through people left and right when I felt a hand squeezing my left butt. I turned around like a whirl wind and in one move without any thinking involved I slapped the guy in his face with so much power his glasses almost came off. I was totally stunned. There was no thinking or control of any kind involved and that was pretty scary.

I have been in India many times before and had many experiences with Indians where I felt treated like a sexual object, being touched and felt up in crowded situations like buses. I often have felt physically intruded way beyond my personal boundaries and hated it.

In retrospective it was so upsetting for me that my hand just moved with a mind on its own. In a life threatening situation that might be a good thing to move automatically but I really appreciate my mindfulness and having a choice in how I want to react in a situation. It taught me a good deal about the depth of the aggressive potential I have and maybe in a similar situation next time I will have more of a choice now.

I would love to hear from you and your experiences.

•    How about your threshold of anger?
•    What triggers you?
•    Did you have any similar experiences where you surprised the heck out of yourself?
•    How do you feel about your feelings of anger and how do you deal with it?
•    How do you react when you are faced with somebodies anger?
•    Do you placate or take a stand and fight?

Venus Enters Libra August 6

Our good friend and Goddess Venus is stepping into her own sign Libra and feels right at home with her sense of beauty, her need for balance and harmony, her ability to love and cherish and her social abilities. She might diffuse the Martian rough edge of the week and add a little more friendliness and gentleness to the mix. But she also has her own hands full with an opposition with Uranus on August 7 and a conjunction with Saturn on Sunday August 8.

Saturn in Libra

Saturn in Libra has just started changing your focus onto the details of your relationships, showing you where you have grown lax and unappreciative of your lover and friends. For the next 2 ½ years you will have ample opportunity to clean up your act around Libra themes of relationships and love in general. A Saturn transit works his way slowly and determined, step by step through your resistances, anxieties and at the end of the process rewards with clarity and a higher perspective.

Uranus Opposition to Venus and Saturn

Venus in conjunction with Saturn is the same theme as Saturn in Libra. We better take a deep look and get to work. With the electrifying, renewing energy of the rebel Uranus there might be fire works and sudden changes in the field of relationships. It can show up as sudden break ups or newly falling in love. The unexpected might be invading your life. Or it can just be a renewing energy, a fresh spark of desire for your loved one and a new aim to express your feelings and make your loved ones feel desired and loved above all else.

A Gemstone for the Tantric Lover as well as the Warrior is the Fire Opal

If you want to work in your meditation with a supporting energy for this week’s challenges you might look for the Fire Opal, one of these sparkly colorful specimens who exhibit a high degree of greenish-red opalescence.

The Fire Opal is the master of the energizing stones for transformation. It represents the warrior expanding his territory in any direction he chooses. When our movement in a particular direction is long overdue, the Fire Opal imparts its fire to us to get us moving. The wearer of this gem is an adventurer, a pioneer, someone who loves to discover new lands. The Fire Opal can encourage us in times of drastic changes and transformation. It can give us extra energy and motivation for mastering and feeling more comfortable in our physical body. It rules the intestinal system and helps our digestion. It gives us energy and flexibility when we are feeling sluggish.

The Fire Opal also represents a Don Juan and a tantric master who loves playful sexuality, radiating enjoyment of the physical senses and helping us to move beyond the physical qualities of that experience. This stone opens us up to real intimacy, because we feel full and strong and centered in our own abdominal center. We can enjoy dissolving and melting with one another, without loosing ourselves. The Fire Opal opens up new dimensions in our lovemaking.

The Fire Opal relieves tensions in the first three chakras and opens any blockages we may have there. This is a great stone for a belly chain, so you can wear it hanging loose in front of the power center—the Dan Tien, as the Chinese call it, meaning “best place in the body.”

But Fire Opal is not only very powerful; it is also very gentle and healing in its transmission of energy. It can offer support during recovery from sexual abuse. It helps us to rise out of conceiving of ourselves as victims, helps us to develop forgiveness, and empowers us by releasing those toxic thoughts from our system. It bolsters our sense of personal power and mastery.

I love this stone and use it in many different combinations in my jewelry: with the Demantoid for artistic guidance, with the Diamond for radical empowerment and breaking through barriers, and with the Moonstone for balancing Yin and Yang energies and active and passive qualities. (Taken from my book Jewelry & Gems for Self Discovery)

If you like my astrological musings I invite you to sign up for my free weekly newsletter for a regular update on the actual universal flow in the heavens. As you can tell 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
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.

We are living in auspicious times! The T-Square between Saturn, Uranus and Pluto is rather fast chipping away at old structures and believes in our lives, and we just had the fireworks of a Lunar and Solar Eclipse a few weeks ago and the event of the Conscious Convergence (An event of the Mayan calendar) last weekend. All of these sign posts are helping us to understand and become really clear about our true passion for life and what it is all about.

We are asked to set our intentions and focus on contributing to others and the world we are living in. Each one of us is asked to be a vital part of the change of global consciousness, riding the exhilarating wave of higher consciousness and passion for life. You are the change you have been waiting for!

The last weekend was a poignant point in time to set your intentions for your personal growth and the changes you want to see in the world. All this is highlighted by the Full Moon in Aquarius coming weekend. A number of factors are prolonging the impact of this particular Full Moon, like Saturn re-entering Libra for good and activating the T-Square with Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto exactly on July 26. And Mars will be joining that already potent mix on July 29 with his Martian temperament. I will talk about that more in depth next week.

Sun Blazes into Leo

When we move month by month through the zodiac there is evolution happening through more inwardly directed energy alternating with more outwardly directed flow. The zodiac starts with Aries and the beginning of Spring; the waking up after Winters sleep to new life. In Taurus there is consolidation and manifestation of that life thrust followed by the light hearted Gemini exploring life in all its interesting and fascinating aspects and ideas. In Cancer we are immersed with inner life, with our emotions, our close friends and family. And then we are so ready again to step into the creative flow of our personal self expression and passion for life with the Sun in Leo.

Leo is full with the optimism of life energy, the eternal promise that no matter what life will continue in so many expressions. Have you ever seen a concrete road with a tiny crack in it and grass or another plant growing out of it? Or the tree growing directly out of a seemingly solid rock face at Big Sur? Isn’t it amazing?

This coming month with Leo you have the universal winds in your back to help propelling you forward manifesting your desires. Desires are a good! They keep us going. They inspire us to action and creative self expression. They are the motor of life!

Saturn Steps into Libra July 21

Good news for Virgos. Whatever you have been struggling with for the last 2 years will undergo a resolution and integration with Saturn finally leaving you alone. Also if you have planets in Pisces, Gemini or Sagittarius you have been called to inner work and clarity with opposition or squares of the taskmaster. Saturn is not an easy transit to experience because he is traditionally challenging us to face our deepest fears, have a close look at our boundaries, tighten the belt and go to work.

But the results of Saturn transits offer us so much more clarity and wisdom then we had before we started onto this inner journey into the twilight zone. Saturn makes it all worthwhile by bringing his light and focus into the essential. Saturn reveals inner strength and dormant capacities. Virgo is the sign for looking into details, organizing ourselves more efficiently and taking better care for our health. Therefore many of you had trouble with health problems catching up with you in the last 2 years. Whatever was not supportive for a healthy balance of a healthy soul in a healthy body had to be examined and was put to the test.

Saturn in Virgo

Whatever planets you have in Virgo needed your extra attention. For example I have my Jupiter in Virgo. For me it stimulated my research and interest of the connection between the unavoidable pollution of my body because of all the external onslaught of environmental toxins like pesticides, phthalates, plasticizer, formaldehyde, xenobiotics and different health challenges of mine.

I discovered new ways to deeply cleanse and unload toxicity with my Infra Red Sauna on a daily base in combination with coffee enemas and liver cleanses. I had nutritional and hormonal tests done to determine my level of hormones and crucial vitamins and found out many deficiencies in spite of a pretty healthy life style. I don’t eat much processed food of any kind, I eat plenty of raw, I juice, I cook mellow macro-biotic and I supplement, so it came as a surprise to me that I was still deficient in Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium and Progesterone.

You need to keep in mind that with daily sweating in the sauna I was loosing extra nutrients. I was aware of that and this was the reason for me to have it checked after being two month on the new regiment.

I also discovered the books by Dr. Sherry Rogers one of the few true benefactors in the health field for many people who were able to reclaim their health in spite of incurable diseases. Her basic recipe for any kind of health imbalance or disease is to restore well being by detoxifying with the Infra Red sauna and super nourishing the body with macro-biotic. Sounds easy right? Or another icon I found was Dr. Max Gerson who did miraculous cancer healing with people already 80 years ago. Same basic recipe: detoxification in his case with coffee enemas and super nutrition with raw juices and raw food.

With my Jupiter in Virgo I discovered new dimensions in the healing arts because I needed to find out about the bigger picture of my own health. It was very self empowering because I could make changes accordingly and took charge of my own health. I found deep satisfaction and excitement in those new possibilities growing out of these insights and my expanded view.

Full Moon in Aquarius July 25

Full Moons are culmination points of your emotional journey throughout all those different inner facets throughout the month of one lunar cycle. Full Moon means the uttermost reflection of the light giving energy of the Sun into deepest crevices of your inner world. This Full Moon in Aquarius is receiving the energy of the Sun in Leo.

Sun and Moon are the yin and yang, the male and the female force, the complementing forces in life. Sun as the life giving entity is radiating the force to create life and Moon is reflecting the energy, taking it into the inner world, sustaining and nourishing life.

Sun in astrology shows your self- identity, the inner place of strength you act from in your life. Sun is representing the inner and outer male figure. Sun is your self awareness and consciousness guiding you into choices and decisions. With the Sun moving through the whole zodiac throughout the year it gives you different mental perspectives onto life and guides your process of evolution as an individual and as whole humankind.

Moon in astrology on the other hand reflects consciousness evolving through your inner digestive process of your feelings and guides you more intuitively. Emotions are often unclear and hidden from the light of consciousness and might take a while to float up to conscious recognition and acknowledgment. Moon is the archetypal mother, the inner woman or outer woman, nourishing you in her unique way of being.

The Potential of the Aquarius and Leo Opposition

I believe wherever this Full Moon is touching into your chart it will have a profound impact for your soul’s journey in these challenging times. Note in which house the Full Moon falls in your chart and which aspects it is forming to personal planet. It carries the potential for integration between your inner and outer world and your visions and dreams coming to fruition.

You are also called upon extending your goodwill to others, be a role model for your beliefs concerning change for the better, taking care for your friends and neighbors, acting from a place of oneness and connectedness, taking charge and stepping up. Become a leader for what you believe in! Be the change you want to see! Grass root movements are needed to move on into the Aquarian Age, into the year 2012 with all its prophesied changes in consciousness of humankind.

I think we all agree that the old ways driven by greedy ways of the ego for power and self-gratification won’t meet the requirement of the 21st century. Mother Earth is polluted like never before and we are poisoning ourselves with it. The old economy is crashing and with it the old paradigms. We have to come up with new ways to organize ourselves on this earth looking beyond old tribal, ego driven survival instincts and make decisions based on the good for all.

What is needed is the emergence of a new consciousness and astrology is giving us much hope and understanding about the challenges ahead. It also gives us tools for coping. Here are two gemstones that can help you to balance and integrate the seemingly opposing forces of Aquarius and Leo.

An Aquarian Gemstone is the Aquamarine

Uranus infuses Aquamarine with some unusual qualities and a vision beyond our limited mind-set, making Aquamarine the Rebel among the gems. This is the gemstone of visionaries fighting for a better life, supporting goodness and necessary changes. It urges you to seek freedom and independence and to express your uniqueness. Aquamarine is the stone of innovators, ahead of their time in many ways. It encourages you to always question your limiting beliefs with an open mind and to be willing to grow beyond them. It can help you to find your own vision and purpose in life and the courage to live them.

This unique gem connects you with the unlimited aspect of being that is found in the ocean, symbolizing the vastness of existence, the unlimited space and horizon that you experience standing on a beach or on a boat.

A Leo Gemstone is the Ruby

The Ruby is the warrior of the heart, the knight of your dreams. It touches the root chakra and the heart chakra, helping gently but powerfully to bring energy up from the first chakra to the heart. The root chakra is your connection with the earth, your grounding, ego identity, survival instincts, anger, sex drive, and life force in general. The heart chakra is the seat of your emotions of love in all its aspects, from self-love to unconditional love. It is the site of unresolved wounds suffered in love and childhood experiences—but it is also home to forgiveness and compassion.

If you like my astrological musings I invite you to sign up for my free weekly newsletter here on my Astrological Signs Weather Report & Healing Gems Blog for a regular update on the actual universal flow in the heavens. As you can tell 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
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.

Astrological fireworks are stirring the pot of the collective psyche this week. There is the Sun moving into the sign of Cancer on June 21 with the Summer Solstice. There is a Lunar Eclipse on June 26 and there is a Grand Cross also called a Grand Square happening along with it.

I read a great quote in an article by Stephanie Austin which seems to cover it: “There’s good news and there’s bad news. The bad news: Civilization, as we know it is about to end. Now, the good news: civilization, as we know it, is about to end.” (Swami Beyondananda)

Deep Changes Awaiting Us

I believe that we as souls have chosen consciously to incarnate into these exciting times to be part of the most outrageous changes possible. As divine creators we chose this time to live new dreams on earth after millenniums of suffering in the old Darwinian paradigm of survival of the fittest. As newer research is pointing towards survival is actually more secured for individuals as well as communities in relations based on interdependency and mutual support. This does make a lot of sense of course, don’t you think?

I also believe that the changes we are facing are mainly originating in our collective consciousness and the individual realization of oneness with each other and all what is.

Many people nowadays have had enlightening moments and experiences which have changed their lives and their perspective. You can read the book by Arjuna Ardagh called the Translucent Revolution where he interviewed many “normal” people or “wise ones” we have heard about. This is not only happening to a few of us. Many spiritual teachers like Edgar Tolle, Abraham-Hicks or Byron Katie talk and teach about the changes in consciousness and how to tune in deeper and integrate them into daily life.

Collective Wake-up Calls

In the Oneness movement we perceive the year 2012 as a highly charged opportunity to enter a new area in human consciousness. Astrologically speaking this already has been starting more noticeable last year and continues with different astrological events while we are moving towards the year 2012.

We have been talking about different sign posts for that most recent development: the T-Square, Uranus and Jupiter moving into Aries, the five oppositions of Uranus and Saturn, Saturn moving into Libra, Pluto into Capricorn and the currently happening Grand Square including the Lunar Eclipse in Capricorn. You can find those articles through my search application in the side bar under the search terms.

Where do we go with all this? Is it good news or bad news for you? Usually we get into trouble when we get caught up in a place of resistance and suffering with what is. If we are able to ride the wave it is actually exhilarating and tremendously joyful. If you try to fight your way against the tide guess who is going to win out anyway?

So the questions of most interest are how can we as individuals prepare ourselves to go with the flow of the moment and keep our head above the tumultuous waters. And how can we be a force for good instead of part of the problem?

Astrology Is a Way to Raise Your Consciousness

I truly believe in good preparation. A hundred percent of preparation usually gives you excellent results if it concerns a speech you have to give, an article to write or any other project on the level of doing on the physical level of manifestation. But to truly achieve joyful contentment, unconditional love and true feelings of success we also need to consciously work on our state of consciousness. We need to raise our consciousness to higher levels in order to stay in the flow of creation and personal evolution. There is no standing still and remain happily ever after. Life is made up out of continuous change and impermanence.

Astrology is a very elegant way to pave the way for expanding your consciousness through a deeper understanding of the time quality of the moment, allowing you to use cosmic windows of opportunities and ride the wave joyously. If you are interested in astrology you are a person who is processing the world around you mentally for a deeper understanding of yourself and your surroundings. You like to ask unusual questions and you are open for answers coming from a field of knowledge and wisdom beyond the narrow main stream ideologies.

That is an excellent requisite for personal growth into unknown possibilities. You are more available for the universal intelligence to use you as a conduct to move along the collective consciousness. Your personal changes will impact the bigger picture and do change the world! This is your personal power! You can be the change you want to see in the world! Having said all this let us have a look at the above mentioned constellations:

Summer Solstice: Sun Moves into Cancer

June 21 or 22 depending on where you are on the planet marks the Summer Solstice and this is the longest day of the year. Most people in the Northern Hemisphere love this energetic time of year, when they can enjoy the light and the outdoors until late in the evening. Summer is at its high point and we feel nourished by life, full and energized and uplifted by the exposure to lots of sun energy.

Cancer is considered a feminine water sign. All life on Earth depends on water, and all land animals, including humans, are thought to have originated in the oceans. So Cancer is closely associated with giving life, and hence motherhood and a protected family environment.

The personality of Cancer people is fluid with a broad range of personal traits all based in the rich inner emotional landscape. Home and family are always an important theme for this sign, for both men and women. They make loving, protective parents and family values are highly important.

They are also very generous, giving people and often find ways to express their nurturing nature in the healing and caring professions. They tend to be ruled by their roller coaster of emotional ups and downs. They can also be quite artistic and make good artists, actors, and musicians.

There is a fullness and richness associated with Cancer. Sun and water together are essential to fuel life and make it even possible to thrive on this planet. Without neither of these energies there would be no life.

It is the time of the year to give and receive out of the abundance of life and creation. It is a good time to revel in the goodness of life and find ways to expand it in your personal expertise of self expression.

Capricorn Lunar Eclipse

On June 26 we have a Lunar Eclipse, which is a Full Moon covered up by the alignment of the Sun and earth in relation to the Moon. This happens every 6 month and interrupts the normal galactic cosmic flow of energy reaching us. It facilitates change and reconfiguration of consciousness big time. And it works on a very subconscious level beyond your conscious mind and screening system. Be open for some surprises this week and time coming. It sets the tone till the next Lunar Eclipse in half a year.

This Lunar Eclipse is very significant beyond the usual because it is so shortly after the Solstice and because of the involvement in the Big Square participated by Pluto, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mercury, all within 5 degrees of the four cardinal points. (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn) This will greatly intensify all the individual qualities and demands inherent in each sign and planet heralding a crucial turning point in human history.

I like the way Stephanie Austin describes it: “The Jupiter Uranus conjunction in Aries awakens, emboldens, and spurs us to see and do things differently. The Sun and Mercury in Cancer sensitize us to our real feelings and needs. The Moon and Pluto in Capricorn demand that we be responsible and claim our power, while Saturn in late Virgo drives us to focus on what is most necessary and feasible.” (Article in The Mountain Astrologer, issue 151)

Maybe it is all about a balance between your heart, integrating your mind and your emotions connecting deeper with your eternal, divine soul. For me it seems to be about trusting my own inner guidance system which leads me through good or bad feelings. Maybe it is all about trusting that guidance and learning to find relieve from bad feelings moment to moment. Life has a way of confronting us with areas we still have resistance and unresolved business. But we cannot really go wrong in this endless dance of an ever changing existence. We will never be done or finished with our process. So why not enjoy the ride?

I love the work of Abraham-Hicks who is such a force for good and helping so many people with realigning themselves and integrating higher consciousness into their daily life. Their book The Amazing Power of Intent is designed to help you with that reinvention of yourself and might be helpful for your process. And of course there is always your own inner connection with higher wisdom and consciousness available to you through tuning in with meditation and contemplation.

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 this article 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.

Geminis are thought of as the most versatile and flexible sign in the zodiac because of their intrinsic curious nature which leads them into new territory all the time. They love to travel to assuage their need for stimulation and inspiration. They love to read and usually have a big pile of books beside their bed where they are able to pick one up, read a chapter or so and then move onto the next one. They might come back to the first one a week later, moving back and forth between the interests of the moment. In the end they will have read the whole pile but usually not one after the other from front to back as others might prefer.

Geminis are very well informed and make very pleasant conversation partners. They are thought of as the butterflies who move from one object of interest to the next in short time because of their ability to take a fresh look and their genuine interest into their surroundings and other people. An integrated Gemini will be able to put all those different pieces of juicy information into the bigger picture where it makes sense and integrates with the wider perspective of the opposing sign of Sagittarius. Each sign is only complete when it has integrated the complementing opposing sign.

Without the context of a deeper meaningful connection of the single pieces to each other the Geminis efforts of collecting data will fall short of a deeper relevance. It would stay superficial and without deeper satisfaction.

I am Gemini rising and can certainly relate. Having just come back from my 5 weeks trip to Germany I am still sorting through all my experiences, the events, meetings and talks with friends. It became very obvious to me how much my Gemini enjoyed the constant change and stimulation I experienced traveling. Very different to my usual very laid back life style on the beautiful island of Maui.

There were so many beautiful churches to look at in Cologne. It seemed like every time you turned your back you were looking at one. The museums with their high caliber of art were exhilarating. The discussions about the oil leak were depressing and engaged. The German perspective onto alternative technologies and conscious preserving of resources were uplifting. Many Germans are now building houses with alternative heating directly from the heat of the earth and are very conservative about using energy in general. I had fun watching all the small cars zipping around downtown like the Smart car made by Mercedes. They are so easy to park in the city and don’t use much gas.

Living on Maui I am missing that buzzing beat of a big city so I have to go traveling once in a while to satisfy my thirst for adventure and new ideas.

With the astrological constellations of this week you also will have a little taste of Gemini qualities especially with Mercury in his own sign Gemini:

New Moon in Gemini on June 12
Mercury in Gemini June 9
Mercury Square to Neptune and Mars June 9-11
Jupiter Conjunction Uranus June 8

New Moon in Gemini Squaring Saturn

The new lunar cycle of the Moon starts off in Gemini and will be guiding us through a lively month. Yet the New Moon is squared by Saturn in Virgo which will be bringing in more intensity and need to test new ideas and speculations for their true usefulness. Often we experience Saturn energy first as a damper onto our enthusiasm. But if we hang in there we will be gratified by more clarity and focus of vision.

You could say that New and Full Moon are representing potent times of magic and were hold in high esteem by many cultures. Even if the magic is just the potential it holds for the astrological student or master in setting their intentions according to the universal flow as represented in ancient astrological signs. Astrology promises to help you to lift your consciousness to higher levels and align yourself with the universal flow for your own benefit.

Mercury in Gemini

Mercury is the ruler of Gemini and therefore coming home into its own sign. Mercury is representing our mental stand, the way we think and communicate. In Gemini he is at his best: flexible, interested, amusing, entertaining, funny, intellectual versatile and always up to discuss and dissect new topics. This is a good month for you to sharpen your interest, expand your social life and enjoy new connections. Saturn might help to make good use of this more light hearted time so it might have lasting impact onto your life.

Mercury Square to Neptune and Mars

Also Mercury’s square to Neptune might fuel your imagination and bolster your courage to dream big, but you might also get lost in illusions and projections of your own mind. Take yourself with a grain of skepticism and amusement and you will be fine.

Mercury squaring Mars always invites the possibility to be very rash, impulsive and even aggressive. Sudden sparks of temper might surprise the heck out of you if that is not your usual mode of operation.

Jupiter Conjunction Uranus

When Jupiter joins with Uranus there is the potential of truly genius thoughts and ideas. Jupiter who is always looking for a deeper meaning and expansion of thoughts and beliefs is in league with the visionary, rebellious spirit of Uranus who wants to drastically change society for the better no matter what the costs. There is an explosive quality with those both planets coming together. Better get clear what your priorities are and where you are heading with your life:

Where do you want to go in your life right now?
What are your dream goals, long and short term?
Where do you feel change is looming just waiting to happen?
Where do you want change to happen?
What can you do to allow the process?

The Gemstone for all this Gemini Energy is Citrine

If you want to support yourself with a gemstone to help your alignment with the present moment you could choose the Citrine. You can find them as crystals or faceted pieces depending what you personally like best. Citrine can be used in big chunks for jewelry because it is not such an expensive stone and you can afford a big stone if you like that.

Citrine  has Sun and Mercury Qualities

“Citrine is a light yellow to gold-brown colored Quartz. It crystallizes in hexagonal prisms with pyramids on the top of each crystal. Most Citrines that are found in shops are heat treated Amethysts or Smoky Quartz. The treated stones will be more golden or brownish, while natural Citrine is more of a pale yellow. A heat-treated stone will need some kind of healing ritual to restore it to its natural energies.

Citrine is a stone for the second or third chakra, depending on its color. It brings in the energy of the sun and opens our mind to higher thoughts beyond fears and doubts. Citrine gives us the patience and endurance we need to focus our mind on details such as writing, planning, and putting things in their proper order.” (Taken from Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul)

You can use the stone for your meditation by placing it onto your third eye lying down on your back. You could take your questions with you and allow answers and inspiration to pop into your mind. Or you can charge it with an aim you are taking and place it in front of you at your work place to keep you on track and focus better. More about how to use gemstones for meditation, how to clear and charge them you can find in other articles I have written.

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.

I wish you a wonderful week and enjoyment of the Gemini sparkles,

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 still traveling in Germany and enjoying myself. I have my notebook with me tending to my emails and my blog as you can tell. It is truly amazing how technology enables us to be flexible like that. Twelve years ago I didn’t even own a computer and now look at me.

The Lunar Cycle

The cycle of the Moon is the fastest changing heavenly body circling around us. We can detect the changes with our own eyes and often feel very connected with the Moon. I remember as a child trying so hard to see the Man in the Moon and my interest in the changes I could observe.

The Moon’s influence always has been obvious to us with the ebb and flow of the oceans. The farmers used to plant at New Moon and harvest at Full Moon and I know that medical plants are still harvested that way for optimal medical benefits.

Following the changing Moon through out the month can help us greatly to develop more self consciousness and self understanding for the spurts of emotions and feelings moving through us. It might help that way not to be too identified or attached to the way we just feel. One thing is for sure that whatever you feel will change soon enough.

Full Moon in Sagittarius on May 27

Another month has passed and the Moon is full again in Sagittarius. With this Full Moon there is lots of energy around, our emotions are extended and at the surface. Sagittarius is an enthusiastic fire sign, full of energy, ideas and opinions. You might want to watch your need to be right in discussions and overloading others with your vibrancy and tendency to lecture. Not that there is something wrong with that, just be aware! Enjoy yourself! If you cannot sleep at night, just meditate and enjoy the state. You will still feel rested the next morning.

The Moon is moving through the whole zodiac every month. The signs in their position in the wheel of the zodiac can be seen as an endless unfolding into another level of evolution.  Life is breathing in and breathing out; it is contracting and expanding; one sign coming out of the one before. There is always growth, change and evolution.

After the inward motion and intensity of the Moon in Scorpio the last two days we are ready for the more expansive nature of Sagittarius.
The gregarious nature of Sagittarian people is hard not to like! They are idealistic and care about the state of the world, leading them to take up vocations in medicine, education, religion, and politics. They are high energy people, always involved in one project or another, adventures of spirit, in search of universal wisdom, full of openness, generosity, and have a sociable nature. They posses a lot of energy, passion and are full of ideas as a fire sign. The Moon in this sign will help us to find that part in ourselves!

Sagittarians are ruled by Jupiter who is considered a very fortunate and joyful energy in astrology. This is the time of the month to expand, review our dreams and goals and widen our perspective. Whenever we expand, learn something new, get excited and passionate about something we feel good!  Growing as humans into our fuller potential is one of our basic human needs. If we stop growing we will feel bored, stagnant and very unhappy with ourselves.

Saturn Turns Direct again at 28 Degree Virgo on May 30

Saturn is finally moving forward again and is getting ready to leave Virgo to step into Libra for good. Virgos can feel some relief after those years of heavy transits with Saturn tied into the T-square with Uranus and Pluto depending on where their Sun is positioned. A friend of mine described it as “having a black cloud hanging over her…” Now is the time of integration and resolution of the challenges you might have had the last 2 years.

The demands for freedom, fairness and accountability are the themes here and hopefully clarity and appropriate choices are standing at the end of the process.

I have written several articles about the t-square and how you can support yourself with gemstones in the process, especially Opal,  the Herkimer Diamond and the Crystal Quartz. The Herkimer Diamond is one of my favorite gems because of his balancing and protecting energies.

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.

It is Spring here but cold! I finally have managed to get to Germany in spite of Mercury retrograde and all the airline trouble in Europe with the volcano outbreak. I was lucky enough to get stuck at home instead of in an airport somewhere in the world! And I was able to change my ticket and here I am visiting friends and family and thoroughly enjoying myself.

Living on a beautiful, but small island like Maui I do feel the urge once a year to leave home and expose myself to the European pulse and culture. Since I am living here for so many years my appreciation for the Germany culture has grown and I must confess I sometimes miss it. Don’t get me wrong, I love my home on Maui! I live in a place where other people come for holidays and I wouldn’t want to change that for anything.

But I do feel sometimes my experiences are getting very narrow and that I need to expose myself to different ways of thinking and culture. Maybe I feel that way because I have the fortune to be so familiar with 2 cultures and totally different values, tastes and ways to live. But for example last time I was in Germany visiting a friend in Cologne where I used to live. We decided on Thursday to go to Paris over the weekend; took the train on Friday and arrived in Paris 4 hours later… I loved it! I was sitting in Paris on the sidewalk, sipping my 4 Euro cup of incredible good tasting coffee and bought myself a pair of glasses in Paris. How about that for a weekend?

Lots of Taurus

The Taurus Energy is very dominating in the moment with Sun, Moon, Mercury and Venus. Venus is right at home in Taurus and the Moon is exalted which means it provides fertile ground for new growth and material comfort. The Sun is action oriented and helped by Mercury to think things through for success. All in all a very potent and result oriented mixture.

Highlights for this Week are:

• Mercury turning Direct on May 11
• New Moon in Taurus on May 13
• Moon Venus conjunction on May 16

Mercury Turning Direct

Usually when Mercury is retrograde we expect trouble with technology, contracts, communications and travels. This time the retrograde Mercury in Taurus kept us truly grounded in a figure of speaking. Thousands of people have been grounded on some foreign airports somewhere in the world because they could not continue their journey to Europe. Being in transit without a valid visa for the country they happened to be in, they had to stay for days in the airport. Not much fun!

Taurus is the sign which is concerned with the daily routine, the survival, the food and comforts. Being stranded like that reduces your field of experience just to food and where to sleep which could not have been too comfortable for the travelers. The comfort was definitely impacted, reduced to survival and waiting.

When Mercury turns direct we will feel more mobile and flexible again.

New Moon in Taurus

The New Moon is always a new start and lends its magic to us for meditating and setting the tone and focus for the coming month. Depending on the sign the New Moon is in that is the area in your life which should have your special attention and loving focus.

With all the Taurus energy going on anyway this is a perfect time for you to work a little magic with your economical status and adjust where needed. The Germany way of thinking is you only spend what you have and you also save from that for a rainy day, which is very Taurus like. Imagine if our governments would adhere to this rule, how the world would look like!

The Taurus Experiment of Budgeting

My invitation for you is to look at your numbers, write down all your must expenses and try to figure out the other regular money you spend for coffee latte, muffins and going to the movies, things like that. You know how much money is coming in each month if you are not self employed, so now you can work on a budget and assign the conscious use of your money.

Most of us have some inner resistance to face the music around money and really have a good look. It is easier to just swipe your credit card and not think about it. But I believe that personal financial self responsibility is the only way out of the crisis we all are facing on a global level. You need to know where you stand before you can decide or envision where to go. We can not complain about the economy, Wall Street and our government if we are living beyond our means as well. Change starts with each one of us. That is the power each one of us truly holds.

This abundantly practical energy of Taurus will help you to get your priorities straight and to be smart and cunning with your resources. Let yourself be supported by this signs down to earth way and practicable thinking.

Moon Venus Conjunction

For the weekend we have a very feminine and sensual alignment of energies with Moon and Venus in Taurus. A great constellation to take time with friends or your family, go to the beach, mountains or spa, make love with your significant one and enjoy yourself with your physical senses.

I will for sure do that enjoying familiar foods and spending time with loved ones.

If you enjoy my perspective on things, please come back or 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 your support and if you feel like passing it on to some of your friends that would be wonderful. Thank you so much!

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 watched an interview with a Wynonna Judd last night and she was talking about how the gift of her singing and her music has always been pulling her through hard times in her life because it nourished her. That got me thinking…How is that for me? What is my gift and what do I enjoy doing most?

I have Venus in my first house and this lady has always been one of the strongest guiding forces in my life. I have been a jeweler for over 30 years (creating beauty) as well as an astrologer (with an eye for potential and fulfilling joy) and a teacher and coach with many healing modalities like gemstones, colors, NLP, breath work, oneness blessings and meditation. I could say my gift is my eye for beauty and a passion for love.

What is Your Gift?

What are you good at? Are you a good listener? Do you like to create beauty and order around you?  Are you compassionate and loving? Are you good with numbers? Or do you have a clear and practical mind? It seems like that what you are good at gives you joy and satisfaction and therefore the eternal quest to find out who you are is essentially a quest for more joy and happiness in your life.

For some people it seems so easy to establish what their gift is if they are musicians, sport players, actors or if they have found some kind of recognition, success and fame with their inner calling. Then it is obvious. But how about us “normal people”? If you would know about your special gifts would you feel more certain and inspired to pursue your dreams and hopes through hardship and challenges?

I believe that would be the case and astrology might play a supporting role to find out more about yourself and changing your hope into some form of expectation how well things will have to turn out for you. I assume you have found your way to this article about astrology because you are interested in who you are and how you can align yourself with the cosmic universal forces for some kind of personal gain. It could be for more understanding of yourself and your place in this mysterious universe or you think you might be able to read the future and be better prepared for it.

Your Horoscope is Your Guide

Your personal horoscope is a map of your potential gifts, qualities and shows the direction your journey in this life will take. You can use it to trust your own abilities and keep believing in yourself in hard times. You can also use it to motivate yourself and expect only the highest manifestation of the astrological principles in your life and then allow the law of attraction to bring it to you.

You could compare your chart to a seed of an apple tree. The potential of the apple tree is already there; all the information which is needed for the seed to grow into a big apple tree is in the seed. But for the seed to grow into a healthy big tree it needs more then that. It needs a fertile ground, enough water, the right amount of sun and shade and ample nutrients.

It is the same for us. We are born with a specific blueprint and potential of qualities which we might manifest or not throughout our life. We might not have had the proper and ideal conditions growing up to tap easily into our full potential. But as an adult we can consciously choose the right nutrition and support we need to grow and unfold into our highest potential and find the gifts in there. We can grow into the most beautiful big apple tree when we become our own gardeners.

And the gifts and qualities you have might unfold in different ways and take different forms at different times in your life. Consciousness is the key to unlock your highest potential and guide your steps towards the joyous experience of living your best life. So go and get a reading with somebody you trust and give yourself that gift of expanding your self image and support consciously your inner growth process. Even if you already had an astrological reading you might get another one from a different astrologer and a different view point. Use the reading as a mirror of where you are in your process of unfolding and as support for that. If you like my approach to astrology I do readings on Skype which is a lot of fun and a way to visit me here on Maui for a short time. Or go and find somebody else you trust to help you with the ancient wisdom provided by astrology.

The Time Quality of the Moment of Now

And then we can use the astrology of the current moment to bring awareness of the time quality and its infusion of specific energy into our personal situation.

This week’s astrological highlights are:
•    Saturn square Pluto
•    Jupiter sextile to Pluto
•    Venus conjunction with Neptune and Chiron
•    Moon in Virgo, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius

Saturn Square Pluto

I discussed this constellation last week because it was exact on January 31 and we will be talking about it for some time because this is the second conjunction of these powerful players. The first one was in November 15 last year and the third and final meeting will be August 21, 2010.
This conjunction is of high significance because both of the most feared and unloved astrological principles are involved with each other in a hard aspect. We experience the structures (Saturn) dissolving (Pluto) around us and most of the time that is painful and scary. It plays out in our society, government, economy and corporate world.

Even if we know that in the bigger picture it is good to renew and regenerate out of the old it is not a process we usually enjoy. The earth quake in Haiti is another manifestation of structures and form dissolving and crumbling and the people involved certainly didn’t enjoy that one.

Jupiter Sextile to Pluto

The Jupiter sextile with Pluto on February 6 is bringing new hope and insights about how we can turn loss into gain and give some meaning to the pain. We are invited to broaden our perspective with wise Jupiter in compassionate Pisces. And we can decide how we want to help others to lighten their burden. I think the willingness of people to help the victims in Haiti has been amazing and is an expression of this higher perspective and the inner knowing of connectedness of all life.

Venus Conjunction with Neptune and Chiron

Sweet Venusian love is inspired with this Neptune and Chiron connection. It is not just reserved for the significant other; it evolves out of that human oneness of spirit and all life. Feeling love is what we are all after and we can use any imaginable excuse to feel that expanded state of being. If you feel love when you sit with your cat on your lap or walk your dog that is wonderful. You can feel love making love with your partner, visiting your family for a weekend or having your girlfriends over for a clothe swap event; it does not really matter how you get there.

The healer Chiron is bringing soothing and healing energies to your heart and its wounds. Self love and compassion is a crucial ingredient to be able to let that love flow and come into other manifestations in your life. Be selfish this week and be in love!

Moon in Virgo, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius

The Moon is our emotional filter and orientation in the world. We are in the waning quarter of the Moon turning us energetically inwards. With the Moon in Virgo we can filter out the most important pieces for our well being and put things in perspective. With the Moon in Libra but in conjunction with Pluto we might feel challenged and knocked off balance in the middle of the week. The Scorpion Moon goes right ahead with psychological acuity and may help to uncover hidden secrets or overlooked aspects. The last quarter square between the abstract Sun in Aquarius and the deeply emotional Moon in Scorpio will underscore the tense relationship between the real and the ideal vision we are striving for.
And then the Sagittarian Moon will lift us up into a wider perspective and help to put our worries behind us and focus ahead with optimism.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s musings and this little journey into the mysteries of the universe. 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. 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.

Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

Shakti Carola Navran: astrologer, jeweler and author
Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul. My book will teach you about astrology and how to read the blueprint of your own chart. If you know where your challenges are, you can then take steps to support and balance yourself with your 12 personal healing gemstones. Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery is a treasure chest of ideas about Soul Jewelry— how to select, purchase, and wear jewelry that will enhance your body, heart, mind, and soul.