There is so much going on in the skies, pointing us into the direction of a deeper understanding of where we are in our life, helping to gain more clarity and a higher level of consciousness.

Solar Eclipses Speak to our Soul!
With the Solar Eclipse right in front of our eyes, we do know something auspicious is going on and we might feel touched by the magnificence of the universe and its mysterious ways of working. I live on Maui and when I look up at the night sky I can actually see the stars. I love doing that! I also have a good friend who loves to travel with her husband to Solar Eclipses around the world; he actually proposed to her on one of their first trips! So what is going on with Solar Eclipses? Why is it obviously touching our soul and spirit? What is actually happening when a Solar Eclipse happens?

Total Solar Eclipse
When the Sun is covered up by the Moon we will experience total darkness! I remember watching my first Solar Eclipse as a small child and feeling pretty unsettled by the darkness in the middle of the day. I am sure Solar Eclipses have been watched with dread throughout the ages. After all the Sun was perceived as the bringer of light and life on our planet earth and was known in its significance and its impact onto our lives here.

The light of the Sun as source of our consciousness being gone would have been taken as a bad omen. But then how wonderful when the Sun reemerges, distributing the life giving force! And with it a new cycle of understanding and expansion of consciousness and life!

Today we know all about the reasons for eclipses happening and we know exactly where and when we will be able to see it. Still it has not taken away much from the mystery of it and the sense of something significant happening.

A Lunar and a Solar Eclipse in Opposing Signs this Month
Eclipses are very potent Full and New Moons! They are said to bring the shadow side of the opposing and the sign it is in to the foreground of our consciousness. With the Lunar Eclipse in Capricorn on July 7th and the Solar Eclipse in Cancer on July 21/22 we will for sure have a chance to look deeper into that shadow but into the wonderful possibilities of integration as well.

We could say that this ax of Cancer and Capricorn could expose immaturity, denial, martyrdom and self-indulgence for Cancer or dominance, control, giving away our power to authority out there and not taking on responsibility for our own life for Capricorn.

Cancer is seen as the most feminine water sign symbolizing the divine mother, live giving and life affirming. Capricorn is seen as the fatherly guiding principle of authority. We are living in a time where prejudice based on sex or skin color is loosing its dominance, and what an exciting time it is to live in!

Balancing the Male and the Female in Us
We all have a male and a feminine side in us! In astrology the Sun and Mars is symbolizing the inner man and Moon and Venus the inner woman. When we have a solar eclipse the Moon is merging with the Sun, the male with the feminine and for a moment there is oneness and balance of the two. This can inspire us to strive for that balance in our own life more consciously and successfully.

The Aquarian Age
In the bigger picture we are moving into the Aquarian Age, a 26, 000-year cycle which introduces an era of equality and collaboration instead of the ego driven old paradigm of the survival of the fittest. We are on the cusp of tremendous changes in our state of consciousness and how we perceive ourselves in the world. The year 2012 seems to be a turning point and spiritual doorway into a changed perception of unity and oneness consciousness. The Mayan calendar is ending in 2012 and with it there is the potential for a paradigm shift into something truly new.

New Moon
The New Moon always is a time of new beginnings by cleaning the plate of the old and outlived. It is a time to reorient and check in with our deepest soul intentions. We also have two New Moons in Cancer this year, one was in the beginning of Cancer, at the end of June and one is at the very end of the sign in July. Also this New Moon has a quincunx to Pluto; the agent of transformation, death and rebirth.

What Does it Really Mean for You?
Wherever the New Moon is falling into your chart that is an area in your life you want to pay attention to!

Which house is it in? For example if it is in the second house, which is representing our finances and property, the material world we live in; you might want to be aware of how you nourish yourself in a very concrete way. What are your plans for later in life when you retire? Do you spend more money then you earn? Are you dealing with your credit card debt? Are you taking charge of your financial status? Or do you blame the economical situation and the government and victimize yourself? If you blame somebody else you don’t perceive yourself as able to change anything; therefore blame is always disempowering!

How many people have thrived in times of economical downturns? Are you looking at the glass half empty or half full? Do you take responsibility for your life or not? Are you aware that wherever you are in your life is the result of the thoughts, beliefs, values, habits and actions of your past? If you truly understand and accept that, you have the key for changing your future!

Second Jupiter Conjunction with Chiron is still close to Neptune
Within twelve hours of the eclipse Jupiter is having its second close encounter with Chiron. The third and last one will be on December 7th.

I have commented on the powerful threesome before and how their energy carries great potential and explosive expansion for growth. You might want to read more
Because Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron are very slow moving celestial bodies we will have some time to integrate these principles and make it work for us. Between March 2009 and February 2010 these three planets will remain within 10 degrees of each other.

Venus Squaring Saturn
Six hours before the Solar Eclipse Venus will have an exact square with Saturn. As the second feminine archetype in action, Venus is encouraging new ways to relate between the sexes for the men from Mars and the women from Venus. Saturn stirs us up when in contact with personal planets and as a result of that brings light into old rigid structures, therefore laying the ground for change.

Resume
This is a good time we are living in! All the inner desires of humankind for survival, safety, equality, freedom and love are culminating in the potentiality of the present time. Astrology as a tool to interpret time quality versus time quantity is of great help to recognize the quality of the seed of every given moment and what might evolve out of it.

If we know this specific seed is creating a tomato plant, we will treat it as such with just the right amount of water, nutrients, shade and sun to help it grow. The same applies to the potential of any given moment and starting point of anything new. If we know the time quality described by astrology we will be able to help it along into its highest expression.

And your personal expansion into a higher level of consciousness is influencing everybody around you and is contributing to the collective consciousness. But it is also helping you tremendously in your personal alignment with the universal forces, which deepens your sense of balance and joy in the moment! Our conscious alignment with the universal forces in that present moment is all we can do. Remember life is a process and a mystery to be lived and not a problem to be solved!

I hope you have enjoyed my ramblings about life and astrology and got a glimpse of how you can turn the potential of the moment into something good for you!

If you like to learn more about how to read your personal chart and astrological basics, you can check out my book Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul where I also introduce you into the use of  magnificent gemstones as tools for your personal balance in challenging areas of your horoscope.

Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

Since earliest time humans were living in the predictive and reliable order of day and night, the changing seasons and the waxing and waning of the Moon.

Observing the changing heavenly stars would provide us with some meaningful observations of rhythm and order. That is why astrology can support us with deep insights and a feeling of choice in the participation of an orderly organized universe.

This Moon is still very close to full with a bounty of feelings moving through us. It is especially exciting and colorful in the sign of Aquarius.

Aquarius is the 11^th Sign in the Zodiac

Aquarius is the second to the last sign in the archetypical wheel of the zodiac, which is symbolizing evolution and growth on all levels of existence. One circle of learning is almost coming to an end. Therefore they feel a deep inner connection to humankind and love to contribute but on their own terms.

The sign of Aquarius is opposite and complementary of the sign of Leo and is opposing the king or the ruling forces in society. They carry the responsibility for change for the better and shaking up the status quo.

Aquarius: the Daring Visionary, Rebel, Role Model, and Artist (Jan 21–Feb 19) is ruled by the planet Uranus. It represents the element air and is considered a masculine sign.

Contrary to rule-bound Capricorn and Leo, Aquarians are such revolutionary thinkers that they are said to herald a new world, the Age of Aquarius. Indeed, the social revolution of the 1960s and 1970s represents the nonconformist, idealistic Aquarians and their rejection of the established order. Their inventiveness leads them to great discoveries in the sciences, as well as great works in the arts.

The keyword for Aquarians is “new” and “freedom”, which leads to a life full of change and innovation. Their life path may appear to take many detours as they are drawn to new ideas, interests, and ways of living.

They do like to participate in groups of like minded people bound together by a common cause, but they always kind of skirting along the outer parameters. They don’t like regulations or rules and perceive themselves as different from the others and therefore not bound by rules. They take on leadership roles if they believe in the cause as long as they don’t feel tied down by it.

They are great friends to have for animated talks and leading edge philosophy. They are living a life with the strength to live outside of conventions of society, which often results in becoming a trendsetter and model for others. In general you can say Aquarians are colorful and very interesting people to hang out with!

Moon Moves into Aquarius

The Moon is our emotional connection to the world. We are often talking about the actual Moon position in the zodiac because it gives us a fast update of our potential emotional journey. How we feel is at the center of our being and it makes or breaks our day!

With the Moon moving through this sign, which is lively and constantly reinventing itself, we can participate a little in that colorful self-expression and maybe dare to respond with more spunk to challenges then usual.

Often we are so caught up in our doing and daily activities that we don’t stop for even a moment and listen inside. Often we are not aware of what is really going on inside and how we feel. And then we might wake up suddenly to the reality of something really going wrong in our life. Might it be in our relationship or at the work place, because we have not been paying attention.

But our feelings are our internal guidance system to let us know if we are in alignment with our higher self. Paying close attention to the Moon wandering through the different signs of the zodiac can teach us to use that potentiality for our benefit and to become more aware of how we feel in any given moment.

Suggestion

So I invite you to have a look inside of yourself and into your life and see if you are ready for some changes! Decide which area seems to have gone a little stale. Maybe your love relationship could use some fresh attention? Maybe you have not gotten together with your friends for a while because you got so caught up with life? How about your kids? When was the last time you took them out for a little adventure, interrupting the normality of your life?

Pick one area in your life and push the envelope and step outside your comfort zone. Do something a little crazy!

Where would you like to have more strength to stand up for yourself and be who you are without hiding?

The Threesome: Chiron, Neptune and Jupiter

So more planets are in a sign so stronger the impact of it is. The conjunction of these three planets Chiron, Neptune and Jupiter in Aquarius will be with us well into the summer with Jupiter going retrograde in the middle of June. Have a look at my earlier article about them and the implications.

If you enjoyed this post and astrological musings, I love to see you back again and follow my discussions of the universal, astrological forces and hopefully inspire you to use them wisely for a more successful and joyful life.

Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

The Planets on the Horoscope

On the horoscope, the heavenly bodies—the planets, sun, and moon—appear on the ring inside the zodiac ring, represented by symbols:

The Sun (Apollo)

In the Roman and Greek mythology Apollo was revered to as the deity of Sun and light.

The Sun is a decidedly male heavenly body. It is the ruler of our universe and the source of all life and consciousness on Earth—our father. Life is consciousness! Because it is the center of our universe, it is associated with the center of our conscious selves—our self awareness, ego, personality, identity, and spirit. This is a most creative, powerful, and energetic heavenly body, giving us our life force, health, and vitality, our strength, willpower, and determination.

The male quality of the Sun is associated with authority figures, leadership, husbands, and fatherhood. The creative power of the Sun is associated with all creative endeavors, including the arts, procreation, and even commercial enterprises. In the horoscope the Sun lends its energy to the other planets.

The Sun rules Leo and the 5^th House (Children & Creativity). In medicine it rules the heart and circulatory system.

The Moon

The Moon is the feminine counterpart of the Sun: our mother, giver of life, and the queen of the universe. The Moon nourishes us both physically and spiritually. It is associated with our emotions and unconscious—and hence with creativity and imagination—as well as our maternal instinct, childhood, the home, and our need for safety.

The Moon rules Cancer and the 4^th House (Home & the Unconscious). In medicine it rules the female body parts and also the digestive system and bladder.

Mercury

In Roman mythology Mercury, the god of commerce, travel, and thieves, carried messages among the gods, and thus Mercury is strongly associated with everything involving communication—speaking writing, the media, even our internal communication. Mercury rules all things related to the mind and our internal life: rational thinking, intellect, intelligence, curiosity, learning, and memory.

Mercury with his winged feet moved swiftly among the gods, and the planet Mercury is the fastest moving planet in the Solar System. Therefore Mercury is associated with movement, transportation, and journeys, and by extension, our personal and spiritual progress.

Mercury rules Gemini and Virgo and the 3^rd House (Communication & Excursions). In the body Mercury rules the nervous system, lungs, shoulders, arms, and hands.

Venus

Venus is the Roman goddess of love and beauty. It is the brightest planet, after the Moon, in the night sky. This is a most sensuous planet, associated with all of our feelings, passion, romance, sex, and marriage. In relation to beauty Venus is associated with harmony, balance, and all the arts.

Venus rules Taurus and Libra, the 2^nd House (Finances & Property) and 7^th House (Partnership & Relating to Others). In the body Venus rules the throat, kidneys, lower back, and veins.

Mars

Mars is the Roman god of war— the actual red color of the planet represents the bloodshed of war. This is an aggressive masculine planet indeed, a true warrior in all matters involving the life force, will, and courage.

The personality of Mars is highly energetic, strong, sexual, and confident—qualities that are especially associated with aggressive sports and other competitive activities. In all life areas Mars is the initiator and conqueror who goes about achieving his goals with single-minded determination.

In the old astrology before Pluto was assigned to the 8^th House, Mars ruled Aries and the 1^st House (Personality & Self-Expression) and 8^th House (Death and Regeneration). In the body Mars rules the genitals, adrenal glands, gallbladder, and muscles.

read more about the other planets

Today we will have a deeper look into the inner workings of Astrology, some of the basic teachings. I will weave in material like this once in a while…

“Wandering Stars”

Seen from the Earth the planets may appear tiny and insignificant. And yet humans have always been fascinated by these bodies that appear as points of light in the night sky, and wondered about their movement through the heavens. The ancient Greeks noticed that some lights in the sky stayed in the same place in relation to each other—those are the stars in the constellations—while others moved around the sky in the course of the year. The Greeks called these moving lights asteres planetes, or “wandering stars.”

A planet is a celestial body that orbits a star and is large enough to have its own gravity. It was only in the 17^th century that Galileo determined that Earth is part of a system of planets that revolve around our Sun. Ours is not the only solar system—at least 70 systems of planets revolving around stars have been discovered just in our own galaxy. Scientists believe there are more than 100 billion galaxies in the universe!

As currently defined by scientists, there are eight planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Ceres and Pluto, which are important in astrology, are considered dwarf planets. There are other small heavenly bodies, such as Chiron, that have an important role in astrology.

Everything Is Part of the Universal Energy Field

The most remote true planet in our solar system is Neptune, which is 2.68 billion miles from Earth. Only Pluto is further out. How can something that is so far away have an effect on life here on Earth? It is because all things in the universe are part of one and the same energy field. Events in one part of the universe radiate outward and eventually their energy reaches the far corners of the universe. Nothing is independent of this web of energy.

Again and again in astrology you will be reminded of the interrelation among all things in the universe. Everything in the universe—including human beings—consists of energy, and energy fields interact with one another.

“As Above, So Below”

Astrology also teaches that events, patterns, and relationships are repeated throughout the universe, from the macrocosm to the microcosm. It is easy to see the similarity between electrons swirling around the nucleus of an atom, and planets revolving around the sun. Both are energy systems held together by attractions among the elements of the system.

This relation between the macrocosm and the microcosm is expressed as “As above, so below.” In modern astrology the movements of the planets and the relations among them are used as analogies to understand life on Earth.

The Planets in Antiquity

The planets played an important role in early mythology and religion and were thought to be divine beings. The names of the planets (except for Earth, which was not understood as a planet by the ancients) come from Greek and Roman mythology. The Greeks, Romans, and later cultures associated each planet with a specific god. For example, the planet Venus is associated with the Roman goddess Venus, corresponding to the Greek goddess Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. That ancient association with the deities heavily influences the interpretation of the planet Venus in modern astrology.

The Planets in Modern Astrology

Astrology is derived from ancient knowledge and beliefs, but it has evolved over time as our understanding of the universe and of life has evolved. The modern understanding of the influence of the planets relates to how we conceptualize the human psyche, as consisting of basic drives and impulses. Those aspects of the psyche or personality are influenced by the characteristics of each planet and also by the movement of the planets through the 12 signs and houses (spheres of life) during the astrological year.

The planets relate to each other as part of the same great energy system (the solar system). As they change their position, the angles they form in relation to each other change. Those angles are called aspects. The aspect between two planets changes how each body’s energy is manifested.

The Celestial Drama

It should come as no surprise that some people’s lives—perhaps your own?—are full of drama. Photos taken by the Hubble telescope reveal that the cosmos is full of drama—whirling galaxies racing through space at thousands of miles an hour and sometimes even colliding, exploding stars, planets racing around their stars. And yet the reverse is also true: there is tremendous order and beauty in the universe. Remember: “As above, so below.” There is a relation between the cosmic drama and beauty, and the drama and beauty of our lives.

It can help you understand astrology to conceive of the events within our own Solar System as a dramatic play with a stage, actors, and a story. The planets are the main characters in this drama. Their stage is constantly turning, so that from where you are seated in the audience, each month you see one play ending and another beginning as the year moves through the twelve signs of the zodiac.

The same actors—the planets—are present on each of the twelve stages, but their role changes with each new play, or sign. So, for example, the Moon in Aries will have a different impact than the Moon in Capricorn. And the Moon at the beginning of Aries will be different from the Moon at the end of Aries.

Each planet has its own unique characteristics, like a personality. Taken together, the planets span the whole gamut of personality, both the light and dark sides, conscious and unconscious, from the lower self to the higher self. By learning about the personality aspects of the planets you can use astrology to understand the forces at work in your own personality and to direct your life energy. So there is a way to manage all that drama!

In my book Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul I teach you about how to read your horoscope and how to find the main themes in your chart. Then you will be able to balance yourself with your 12 main healing gemstones, you could call your true birthstones.

You can always come back here where I discuss the actual universal, astrological forces and inspire you to use them wisely for a successful and joyful life. Healing gemstones are suggested as tools to balance and come into alignment with the cosmic flow and can be used to create custom designed soul jewelry.

I hope you enjoyed this look into the mysterious planets and their interconnectedness with us.

Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

Following soon will be part II: Descriptions of the astrological principles of the individual planets.

Mercury Square with Jupiter

Mercury is in charge of our mental capacities and thoughts. Through Mercury we process the world mentally. In my perception that Mercury is a major magician waving his wand to create the world we want by letting us imagine it first. With such a strong energy connection like a square with Jupiter there will be lots of inspiration flooding into your conscious mind. Jupiter likes to think big and unconstrained.

Mars in Taurus quintile with Chiron & Neptune

Mars in Taurus is artistically inclined and will get special inspiration through Neptune which can be expressed in art and healing projects.

Moon goes into Aquarius: The Daring Visionary, Role Model, and Artist

Aquarians are such revolutionary thinkers that they are said to herald a new world, the Age of Aquarius. Indeed, the social revolution of the 1960s and 1970s represents the nonconformist, idealistic Aquarians and their rejection of the established order. Their inventiveness leads them to great discoveries in the sciences, as well as great works in the arts. The keyword for Aquarians is “new,” and their lives are full of change and innovation. Their life path may appear to take many detours as they are drawn to new ideas, interests, and ways of living.

We have two very Exciting and Uplifting Days here to let our Creative Imagination Flourish.

I have shared my enjoyment with the Abraham material with you before. If you are interested in getting more support with your vision and dreams and how to manifest them, check out this book.

I use my morning time with a cup of tea to sit and contemplate my day and set my intentions. It is a time of just letting my thoughts settle, without directing them into a specific direction. It has turned into a fountain of idea treasures surfacing if I relax and allow the process. It is my way of tapping into the big “divine computer” and get inspired.

What is the Nature of our Thoughts?

The founder of the Oneness Movement the Indian teacher Bhagavan often says: “Your mind is not your mind, your thoughts are not your thoughts”. He talks about “The Universal Mind” which is encompassing all the thoughts ever thought on this planet.

What an intriguing concept. Imagine your brain is just like a radio receiver tuning in to different radio stations receiving thoughts and impressions.

That would mean we would not have to take our thoughts as the objective truth, just as a thought of the moment ever changing.

Also there would be some freedom and control in directing our thoughts into a direction we like which would pull in more thoughts of that kind.

The Morphogenetic Field

New scientists like the biologist Rupert Sheldrake have researched and established the term of the morphogenetic field. It is described as an invisible energy field containing the information available to a specie. “Morphogenetic fields are defined by Sheldrake as the subset of morphic fields which influence, and are influenced by living things.” read more about this

I have met Rupert Sheldrake 20 years ago and was deeply impacted by his revolutionary thoughts. It has helped me throughout my life not to take my thoughts so personally, more like something passing through. It made me aware that maybe the thoughts I am thinking are not originating in my brain. Maybe my brain is the most amazing computer connected to this amazing field of potential and thoughts.

Carl Jung talked about the “collective unconsciousness” and established his theories about therapy and dreams as a way to tap into that data bank for the purpose of understanding the human psyche more deeply.

In Astrology Neptune is the Planet of Connection with the “Collective Unconsciousness”

Neptune is the governing principle of tuning into the divine whole, allowing that connection to deepen and enrich our human experience. A strong Neptune position in a personal chart is forcing us to find that inner connection of oneness with others and the divine source of our being. There will be that deep longing for that inner connection. And it is found within ourselves through quieting down the individual, busy and limited mind by allowing in that flow of higher consciousness.

That is what meditation is all about! Finding a way to tap consciously into the “big data bank”, getting inspired and juiced about your life!

Many break-throughs and inventions have happened when you least expect it, while taking a bath or a walk in nature, when our brain had a chance to settle and quieten down. So why not make that into a daily habit to reap those creative fruits?

I hope I have inspired you to find a time in your busy day to be in the “zone” and enjoy all the benefits from it. “The force is with you!”(Star Wars best quote!)

Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

Jupiter and Neptune have been moving towards their rendezvous all month. Now it will be finally exact. This conjunction will be with us well into the summer with Jupiter going retrograde in the middle of June.

And Chiron is also still at 26 degrees of Aquarius adding to the mix.

You could say that this is the time we have been waiting for!

Living on a planet where separation, power and greed are still very dominant factors for decisions on a personal or national level and between nations; many of us have those desires for peace, freedom, equal human rights and a true change in human interactions. The election of Obama as President has sprung from the hope for better days, better decisions in politics and a deep longing for change for the better, for true idealism and accountability. “We can do it!”

As I commented in my post “The Audacity of Hope in Astrology” our level of awareness about the universal forces at work gives us a choice where we want to channel our energies. It lets us focus on the positive potential of an astrological constellation and therefore make it more achievable.

I like you to look at this three way rendezvous between Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune from that perspective of potentiality. At 26 degrees in Aquarius this is one of the big milestones in what we call the Aquarian Age or some call it the Golden Age of mankind.

The Aquarian Age is thought as the time in our human evolution where the principles of equality, diversity, peace, freedom and abundance for all become reality. I grant you we are far from it yet, but I believe that this constellation is setting the stage for the unfoldment of it.

Let us have a look at the general characteristics of these three planets:

Jupiter:

“His interest is in philosophy, religion, and the deeper meaning of life. His strength is the ability to synthesize and his sense of oneness and equality. Everything about Jupiter is expansive. In the old astrology he was called the bringer of fortune because of his ability to show us where we will find meaning and fulfillment in our life.”

Neptune:

“In astrology Neptune is the god of the higher states of all-encompassing love, agape, higher states of consciousness of oneness and connectedness, and deep compassion and empathy. He transcends the experience of our mundane life into the spiritual realms and reaches into the collective unconscious. He is the mystic saint, the monk who devotes his life to the mysteries, the selfless healer of body and soul, the spiritual adviser.”

Chiron:

“Chiron is called the “wounded healer.” He shows us where we need to put tremendous effort into healing trauma and early childhood wounds often buried deep in our unconsciousness. It is very challenging and takes great courage to confront those old wounds, but it is indeed necessary for the healing process. At the same time, Chiron opens our heart and lets it flower into deep compassion and empathy for others. He is a spiritual teacher par excellence and gives us the hidden keys to higher levels of consciousness.”(taken from my book: Astrology and Gems for Self-Discovery)

Reading these descriptions of these planets I am sure you can see my point. “The force is with you!” as pointed out by spiritual teacher Yoda in Star Wars. I would like to change that to: The universal forces are in alignment with your deepest desires and needs. And it is up to all of us to implement and make it a reality on our planet. You can make a difference!

A Beautiful Life

I would like you to take a moment to contemplate while looking back into your life, how many people you have touched and given something that made a difference in their life. This can be a very powerful exercise!

I always loved the movie “A Beautiful Life” where the main hero got to experience what would happen to all his friends, acquaintances, family, people in his town if he would have never been born. It is a very visual reminder how intertwined and connected we all are and what responsibility we all share in acting accordingly.

Because Jupiter, Neptune and Chiron are very slow moving celestial bodies we will have some time to integrate these principles and make it work. Between March 2009 and February 2010 these three planets will remain within 10 degrees of each other.

This is our time and our chance!

This could be our time for coming together more in the spirit of oneness with amazing social, political and economic reforms. This constellation has the potential to open our hearts for greater compassion and experiences of the spiritual dimension of life and raising us to higher levels of consciousness.

There are many voices talking about the year 2012 as the end of the old world and the beginning of the Golden Age. The Mayan Calender is ending then. My friend Aurora Juliana Ariel has written a book called Earth 2012: The Ultimate Quest where she offers hope in finding a way for inner balance and peace through these tumultuous times. I am sure you will find it helpful and uplifting.

I hope you keep up your vision and focus for that great Aquarian Age we all have been waiting for.

Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

Taurus- The Late Spring Sign
By the end of April the Northern Hemisphere is free of its winter snows and it is time to attend to caring for the Earth and planting crops. Taurus people are very much in tune with the Earth. Due to the influence of Venus, they have a great love for beauty found in things such as art, jewelry, and the natural landscape.

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.

How Gemstones Can Enhance Your Taurus Experience
Taurus is a feminine earth sign. What better way to celebrate the Taurus love of beauty and the Earth than with beautiful gemstones, the hidden treasures of the Earth?
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. Below you will find a description of Emerald, one of the true astrological birthstones for Taurus.

Emerald: Queen and High Priestess
The name of the Emerald comes from the Greek word smaragdos, meaning “green stone.” In ancient times the word probably referred not only to Emeralds but to most green stones. Its color is so special that the color emerald green is named after it.

Emerald, along with Aquamarine, is the most fashionable, precious, and popular of the Beryls. The most important deposits are in Columbia, especially the Muzo Mine west of Bogota. This stone was already highly valued by the Mayas, whose mines were rediscovered in the seventeenth century.

The Emerald crystallizes in hexagonal prisms which grow in small veins or on the walls of cavities in the stone. It has a Mohs’ hardness of 7 ½ to 8, making it a relatively hard stone. But it is a very brittle stone, sensitive to striking and pressure, and so it needs to be treated with care.

The Emerald is associated with the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Chiron.

It is the queen and high priestess of the Beryl group, wielding both worldly and spiritual power. Being a queen and somewhat fragile, it needs to be treated with respect, but will return to you its manifold gifts.

Emerald shares with you abundant energy, both physical and spiritual. It helps you to expand beyond your fear into higher wisdom, praising and enjoying life. It represents infinite consciousness expressing itself through wisdom and eternal unconditional love.
Emerald is a powerful healer, connecting us with the omnipotent healing strength of God. It provides regeneration in times of convalescence. It helps to connect with our spirit in times of psychic or emotional drain, recharging us with energy and hope.

In the Emerald we might find all the nourishment, empowerment, wisdom, and soothing energy we need in difficult times. It centers and calms the mind by balancing the right and the left hemispheres of the brain, raising us up into a higher meditative state of mind.

The Emerald is one of the most feminine representatives of the mineral kingdom: the Shakti, the divine mother, and the goddess. Thus the Emerald is able to teach us what it means to be a powerful woman, how to come into ourselves in all our roles and challenges as women: mother, passionate tantric lover, caring wife, and creative, successful, and fulfilled professional.

In jewelry I like to combine the Emerald and the Diamond. They are like Shiva and Shakti, Yin and Yang balancing the highest manifestations of the feminine and masculine principles in the mineral kingdom. Together they carry everything we need to support our growth.

I hope you enjoyed this new perspective onto Queen Emerald. Please let me know if you have any comments or questions and I am happy to connect.

Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.