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.

I believe our relationships and the experience of love and connection are the most relevant in our lives right beside food and shelter. Babies will die if they are not touched and loved, no matter how much food you offer them. In the history of humankind we have lived most of the time in tribal or extended family situations. The single life style we know nowadays seems to be so normal to us but is not fulfilling for our soul and deeper layers of our human nature.

A whole industry around love and romance has evolved to nourish that part in us but often leaves us empty and with an unrealistic expectation that if we only find the ONE we will be happy and fulfilled. All our longing for connection and love is projected onto that ideal of the perfect lover. And we all know how well that works out most of the time.

Maybe we need more then the ONE. Maybe we need a network of close friends, family, room mates and other tribal like connections for a healthy spirit. The question is how well do you take care for yourself and make an effort for that connectedness and feeling of oneness? I would love to hear your thoughts about this.

The Inner Man and Inner Woman in Astrology
And we do carry an inner image of an inner man and inner woman inside of us with very specific needs and desires. You can determine through the position of Moon and Venus for the feminine, and Sun and Mars for the masculine and their position in your horoscope what it is your soul needs. Our first relation with father and mother is represented by Sun and Moon and obviously is the most important and revealing patterning and conditioning we will ever have. In a way all later relationships will be somehow in reaction to that first experience.

It is not necessarily true that as a woman we marry our father or the other way round. For example I married a man who is presenting me with many structures which are familiar to me through my mother. An astrological reading can give you deep insight into your inner dynamics around love and relating and that higher awareness will make your friendships and love relationships more fulfilling for you. Most people I have met in my life have some painful or even traumatizing experiences in their childhood and in our maturation process throughout our lives we all have to deal with that to achieve lasting joy and happiness.

As humans we are on a spiritual journey of raising our awareness to higher levels of consciousness and to do that we use what ever history and conditioning we got in the best way possible. Or as my spiritual therapist once said to me: You don’t like your problems? Would you like to have a different set? It just cracked me up. I convulsed into laughter.

In Neuro Linguistic Programming we say that everybody always acts on their best choice available. So if those available choices suck we need to raise our consciousness to find a different perspective and therefore different choices. A problem is never solved on the level of the problem. It is always from a Meta level, that higher perspective we need to find so solutions can arise. Astrology is a fantastic way for you to gain that higher perspective and therefore better choices. And a personal astrological reading can open unimagined doors for you.

This weeks highlights with a Full Moon in playful Leo and the Venus Mars opposition it is an invitation to take care for your inner child and its needs as well as more awareness for your relationship dance.

• Full Moon in Leo
• Venus Opposition Mars
• Sun Opposition Mars
• Saturn Square Pluto

Full Moon in Leo on Friday & Sun Opposition Mars
A Full Moon is always a Sun opposition Moon and this month it is happening in proximity of the Mars opposition. The Sun is shedding light onto our emotions and life force drive, our assertive nature. Leo is a fire sign where it is all about the self expression, creativity, self image, joy, play and romance. The opposing sign of Aquarius brings the qualities of the well being of the collective, the supporting qualities of friendships and connection with like minded souls to the table. The contrast between passionate intimacy and independence as well as individual desires and the collective good wants to be examined.

The sign of Leo and Aquarius both have a strong sense of individuality, need for independence and freedom in common. Both can take care for others from that place of inner strength in a higher expression of their qualities. Leo can be the gifted leader who takes charge and guides. Aquarius known as the rebel directs towards the higher vision of a society based on equality and freedom. Both signs can be very involved beyond their own ego gratification.

The Full Moon in Leo also invites the inner child to come and play more. The closeness of Mars fuels passionate emotions and desires which brings us to Venus and Mars the eternal lovers.

Venus Opposition Mars
Venus the goddess of love and harmony, Mars the warrior and lover are in the opposing signs of Aquarius and Leo as well. The opposition in astrology is a hard aspect which carries the most exposure of the differences of the involved signs. I like to see oppositions in Synastry charts because they carry the potential of integration and acceptance of the otherness. Oppositions are exposing the problem and challenge us into finding the connecting point of oneness in the middle. Both signs have something valuable to offer in finding that place of balance in the middle.

Saturn Square Pluto
This constellation will be with us throughout the year and is the culprit for all the economical upheaval and restructuring we are facing.

Whenever Pluto is part of an astrological constellation we are confronted with a powerful, potent, extremely forceful and transforming influence. Pluto known as the God of the underworld is a very mighty God who forces us into change and deep processes of transformation. Whenever there is a connection with this culprit of death, unrest and alteration we are forced to deepen our self awareness. Unresolved issues of desire and control are exposed and without our attention could trigger strong reactions and backlash onto us.
Pluto in Capricorn is questioning the validity of hierarchy and governments and judges on the ground of what works for the majority of people. Societal Structures that won’t work for the highest good of all will not survive Pluto’s transit through Capricorn.

The movie AVATAR is showing the relentless violence of corporate greed and the extent it is willing to go and extinguish other cultures and lives for profit. The movie shows that it only takes a few who change their state of consciousness to make a difference. We all can make that difference. I loved that movie!

The exposure of the worst manipulations in power structures of all kinds, in politics, concerning our government, corporate America and the stock market; we will see more of that. This is a time of exposure of the worst and with that there is the chance to acknowledge our deficiencies, to truly change and start anew. We are living in exciting times.

In times like these it is important to keep our own balance and as an antidote to fear and anxieties we can center in our compassion and sense of oneness. When we rise in consciousness and approach life from an awareness of what we have to offer and contribute to others around us, we can make a significant difference. When we come from a place of an open and flowering heart we will feel full and abundant. If we approach life from that abundance the law of attraction will bring more of the same to us.

And you can use gemstones like Rose Quartz, Rubellite or Ruby for the heart to recover from emotional trauma and support your personal inner journey towards healing.

Rubellite Has the Frequency of Mars, Venus, Sun, and Neptune
“The Rubellite, the pink Tourmaline, represents a lover of mankind, one who loves unconditionally and teaches us self-love. Self-love is often difficult to achieve. We know our weaknesses and dark side all too well and thus we are often most unforgiving and hard on ourselves. Beginning in childhood we learn to reject and negate a large part of our nature, especially our need for love and acceptance within the family. We resign ourselves to making do without those deep needs and we give up vital parts of ourselves.

The Rubellite heals and strengthens us, helping us to recover those lost aspects of our nature. With its help we learn to love ourselves as we are, in our individuality and beauty.  Rubellite helps us to grow and nourish our own needs. As adults we have the ability to care for ourselves in ways we were not able to do in childhood. We can express our wishes and needs in alignment with our whole being. From that place of self-love and alignment we want to share and give to the world. The Rubellite opens us up to the abundant love that flows through us in all that we do. Our heart is open to joy and exaltation.

Venus and Mars rule the Rubellite in all their different facets. Venus is the goddess of love, harmony, and beauty. She is the muse to artists in all their endeavors. Mars is the pioneer, the warrior who is called to action. Together they help our creativity to be manifested on the earthly plane. They give us the courage and self-esteem to dare to be creative.

Venus and Mars are also eternal lovers. They help us through difficult times in our relationships. They remind us that the bond of love endures beyond all the difficulties that inevitably surface when two personalities merge. It is through our relationship with our intimate partner that we are challenged to grow and examine our behavior and our beliefs. With the solid foundation of love and friendship with our partner, we have the potential to rise out of difficult times like the Phoenix arising from the ashes.” (Taken from my book Jewelry & Gems for Self Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eye & Strengthen the Soul)

I hope you enjoyed this little journey into the mysteries of the universe. If you like to stay informed on the daily astrological events in the heavens, I like to invite you to 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

You can learn more about the metaphysical properties of 67 different gemstones through my book 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.

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 am actually able to see the stars. I love doing that! A girl friend of mine loves to travel with her husband to Solar Eclipses around the world; he actually proposed to her on one of their first trips! Is there something magical going on with Solar Eclipses? Why is it obviously touching our human soul and spirit?

When you imagine how much radiation we receive daily from the electromagnetic energy output from the Sun it is easy to understand that the interruption from that energy stream of radiation from the center of consciousness in our universe will have an impact onto our consciousness and lives. Twice a year, the Sun, Moon and Earth align exactly the way that the constant stream of radiation from the Sun is blocked and there is partial or total darkness. This is bound to have an impact on us.

Think about it. We are energy beings made of energy swirling around on sub atomic levels creating our physical bodies. It is not hard to realize the intricate and fragile balance our life as we know it, needs to continue. Of course every shift in the magnetic radiation through Sun Flares and Eclipses will have an impact.

Therefore it is said that the Solar Eclipses are altering our consciousness with fresh energy. It is like rebooting your computer after the electricity has been down. Solar Eclipses are therefore extremely powerful New Moons and this time it is all happening in Capricorn along with four other planets beside the Sun and Moon. The last time this Solar Eclipse has happened in Capricorn was nineteen years ago in January 1991. I do not remember anything specific happening for me so long back; my memory will not do that. But I am a different person now anyway and the surrounding astrological constellations are very different.

We had a quiet beginning the first two weeks of this year. But now the heavenly stars are making up for it with a big bang.  The year is gearing up to a new level of consciousness with the Solar Eclipse on January 14 – 15, 2010. This is accompanied by a close conjunction with Venus and two planets changing direction around this eclipse; Saturn is turning retrograde and Mercury direct.

Astrology Gives You an Advantage

For me astrology is an elegant way to become more conscious of myself in the magnificence of life in its ever changing cycles and rhythms. I feel embedded in the safe knowledge of accountability of the movements of the stars throughout the skies and have the reassuring feeling of participating in an orderly functioning and therefore secure universe. As an astrologer I know about the specifics and particularities of the planetary constellations and their meaning which helps me to align myself with the universal forces and use them to my benefit. It is easier to release struggles and resistance against the irresistible and it also puts a time frame onto hard times. Understanding and a higher state of consciousness always gives me more of a choice and thus a chance to influence and set the stage to my advantage.

The highlights of the plentiful activities in this week are:

• Sun Conjunction Venus on January 13
• Saturn Turning Retrograde January 13
• New Moon/ Solar Eclipse in Capricorn in Conjunction with Venus on January 15
• Mercury Turning Direct on January 15
• Jupiter into Pisces on January 17

Sun Conjunction Venus on January 13
The Sun is reflecting our consciousness, our self identity and self image. It is one of the male representatives in astrology and thus can be seen as authority or father. Venus, the goddess of love and harmony, one of the female players softens the edges and brings kindness and compassion. This is a nice lead into the Eclipse for conscious alignment with greater kindheartedness and well intentions.

Saturn Turning Retrograde January 13
Saturn always had a bad reputation in astrology till astrologers like Liz Green shed new light and a different perspective onto the much needed qualities of Saturn. She was breaking new ground in looking at Saturn as a deepening and truly beneficiary actor in the chart. Saturn is playing a tremendously important role for us right now through February 2010 with the square to Pluto within 2 degrees.

The Outer World Reflects the Inner World!
When Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn turns retrograde we need to reassess the inner dimensions associated with Capricorn. We have to redefine our goals, coalitions, and roles to clarify our values and where we want to go. Usually we are easily ready to assign blame to outer structures; the failing economy, the corrupted government and the machinations of the corporate world. With Saturn retrograde till May 30 we are assigned to take a look into our own stuff inside. The outer world reflects the inner world! With that we have the responsibility to gain as much clarity (Saturn) as possible, mature and decide on new ways and implement them in our life. And that is a very powerful place. We can change the world, one step at a time within our reach.

New Moon/ Solar Eclipse in Capricorn in Conjunction with Venus on January 15
Again this Solar Eclipse is special because of the Venus conjunction and the two female players, Moon and Venus hand in hand. If the feminine principle in general is one of giving and nourishing life this Eclipse sets the tone of a very encouraging and soul enriching direction to embark on.

Mercury in Capricorn & Conjunction with Pluto is Turning Direct on January 15
With the short term Pluto conjunction squaring Saturn we have a jump start of true inquiry and inner realization. With the help of Mercury, the mythical messenger in his forward motion we have more skills in implementing insights and lay the groundwork for new and transformative real solutions. No more scapegoats and band-aid solutions are acceptable. We need true and honest assessments of what is and act accordingly for the greater good. You might ask yourself:

• What does that mean for you?
• What has ripened in the retrograde motion of Mercury for you to be exposed and acted on now?

Jupiter into Pisces on January 17
Jupiter moves into Pisces shortly after the Eclipse and will remain there till June 5. 2010. Jupiter rules Sagittarius and is the largest planet in our solar system. He represents the principle of expansion, the search for truth, wisdom, deeper meaning and understanding of the bigger picture. Pisces on the other hand is the twelfth sign of the zodiac and deals with the subtle, the non physical realm, the metaphysical, meditation, dreams, imagination, art and the oneness of our true nature.

Jupiter in Pisces can guide you into expansion in all these areas and enhance qualities as compassion, forgiveness, reconciliation and enhance your inner connection with the Divine. Out of that miracles are possible!

The Moon’s passage on Sunday over healing Chiron, then over Neptune is enhancing the potential of a new understanding with its brief conjunction with Jupiter in Pisces. All these discussed planetary constellations are somehow tied in with this Solar Eclipse and raise hope for another step in the right direction. True change and evolution happens in miniature steps invisible to the human eye. Astrology is just one way to gain the overview and a deeper understanding over the dynamic of the unfolding of events and history, but a very valid one.

This week’s astrological potential sets the tone for the coming year and ignites hope and a new light of consciousness for the truth of our oneness and divine origin.

I hope you enjoyed this little journey into the mysteries of the universe. If you like to stay informed on the daily astrological events in the heavens, I like to invite you to sign up for my free weekly newsletter, the Astrological 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

Shakti Carola Navran has been an astrological coach, jeweler, spiritual teacher and healer for over 30 years. She has studied with many different spiritual teachers. 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, and is the author of Jewelry & Gems for Self Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eye & Strengthen the Soul.

Other highlights of this week from Monday 16 to Sunday 22, 2009 are the square between Venus and Mars and the Sun moving into Sagittarius. After a month of intense feelings and reactions to things that seem to be out of control in our live we will experience a little more lightness and change in our perception and mood. But not right away!

Moon Astrology
To follow the Moon waxing and waning throughout the different zodiac signs is an elegant way to be more aware of your own constant change in the emotional landscape and how your emotional outlook is coloring the perception of events and circumstances. The Moon is the fastest moving planet we observe in astrology and is known for her fickle nature. Every 2 ½ days there is a variation in the way we subtly feel and react from that gut level instinct. The Moon is representing our emotional filter and the way we perceive life. The position of the Moon in your personal chart is one of the most important points of an astrological reading.

She represents the inner woman we need to find expression for in our life as a woman or hints at what outer manifestation she will take for a man in his attraction to the feminine.

The New Moon and Full Moon
The New Moon and Full Moon are very special culminations points of power in the dance between the male and female, because they involve the conjunction of Sun and Moon in the New Moon and the opposition of both in the Full Moon.

As a child I was always enchanted by the almost visibility of that far away, yet close heavenly body. The story of the man in the Moon sounded more believable to me then Santa Claus. As a child is seemed natural for me that there would be others on other planets out there somewhere and it translated itself for me into a love for science fiction and fantasy books early on. Looking up at the sky and feeling the mystery of life in our known universe is something many of us have in common. And the study of astrology seems to answer many of those questions about those mysterious universal mechanics.

Even if the Moon is not a planet in the strict definition, she always seemed to hold our imagination in her constant change and fluidity. Her reliable motion over the night sky was one way of perceiving time in its unfolding since ancient times. The connection between the tides of the ocean and the successful planting and harvesting cycles of the crops were obvious to our ancestors from long ago and paid attention to. Also the inner connection with our emotional constitution is an empiric fact as it would show up in sleepless nights around the Full Moon, more violence and civil disturbances calls for the police then usual, more accidents and drunk driving.

The New Moon
The New Moon is of more subtle nature. When this Moon touches the Sun she doesn’t reflect any light. The New Moon is invisible to our eyes. The light of consciousness is gone for a short period of time and with it the self perception and self awareness. This moment signifies a clean slate, a new beginning into the next round of the Moon circling the Sun, the center of our universe representing the highest consciousness and life giving force for all the inhabitants of our earth.

The magic of the New Moon is the promise of redemption and a new start. For me it is the time of the month I use for some inner contemplation of where I am and where I want to go with my life. It is a great time to decide on what is really important for me and where I want to put more attention towards. The goals I set for myself can grow towards manifestation and ripen with the Moon growing into its full glory.

This Month New Moon is in Scorpio on Monday
Sun and Moon are in Scorpio, in the most intensely felt sign of the zodiac with its deep undercurrents of passion, determination and will power. Scorpio energy is driven by instinctual desires, deep unconscious motivations for control, domination and power. Scorpios are complex, charismatic and interesting people. They usually excel at where they choose to point their energy and you will always feel alive and kept on your toes around them. They will never be boring, but always a little mysterious and maybe feel just a little out of reach.

You can use this universal stage to your advantage to plot a new course for your life and getting a head start with it in the coming month. Sit down with a cup of tea or coffee and your journal and contemplate.

Venus is Squaring Mars On Thursday
Venus, the goddess of love, harmony and beauty is fighting with her lover Mars over their very different point of views. Venus is in Scorpio and wants deep commitment and honesty. Mars is in playful Leo and likes to play, seduce and tempt the goddess. Men are from Mars and women are from Venus and they are often very different if their perspectives, needs and desires. I always thought that book from John Gray was genius in playing on the deep archetypes we all have in us.

We all will have time this month with this conjunction to discover deeper layers in our relationships of all kinds. Man or woman, we will not feel so agreeable and compromising with our loved ones right now and we will feel more in touch with what is truly important and needed for us. There is more inner strength and daring to stand up for our needs and express our desires and make changes in our relationships.

If you have looked away from areas and subjects which are not right and satisfying in your intimate relationship, now is the time to look at it or it will blow up into your face. Ask yourself what it is you might have put under the rug? Maybe you want more commitment in your relationship? Maybe you need more autonomy? Whatever it is now is a good time to be honest and daring to go for your inner vision and dreams. If you don’t communicate clearly your desires and needs, you can bet on the outcome of not getting it.

As always your own level of consciousness and honesty with yourself and your partner is the key to success. I don’t know about you, but I often catch myself groaning over a couple in a movie or book getting themselves in the most complicated entanglements just because they don’t speak up and communicate honestly. If they just would speak up they would have a better chance in working things out.

So this is your time! Use it wisely my friend! Give yourself that chance of honest communication and the intimacy and deepening connection which can come out of it.

Sun Moves into Sagittarius on Sunday 21
With the transition of the Sun into the next sign of Sagittarius we will move into a more extroverted and expanding flow of energy with many ideas and inspirations.

Sagittarius: The Adventurer Searching for Deeper Meaning in Life

Nov 21–Dec 21
Ruling Planet: Jupiter
Element: Fire
Gender: Masculine

It’s hard not to like Sagittarians, for their openness, generosity, and sociable nature. They are deep thinkers in search of universal wisdom, attracting them to philosophy and religion. Their minds can grasp both the details and the bigger picture: they can think with intellectual precision but also intuitively. That unusual combination of thinking skills allows them to be at the forefront of creative ideas. They are idealistic and care about the state of the world, leading them to take up vocations in medicine, education, religion, and politics. They need to be highly independent in their work and in their personal lives.

Sagittarius role, after the introspection of Scorpio is to take the hard won wisdom and create something worthwhile from it and spread it around.

The Birthstone of Sagittarius is the Lapis Lazuli
Lapis Lazuli is one of the birthstones of this global thinker. Lapis is a stone for the third eye and deepens the connection to your own inner wisdom, intuition and truth. It is an opaque blue stone with the magical power of the earth to help manifest those creative impulses and insights into something tangible. Lapis was one of the sacred stones used in abundance in Egyptian jewelry in combination with gold and coral.

Lapis Lazuli is the bringer of the new dawn with Jupiter foresight and humanitarian vision. If used in meditation it is a stone to quiet the mind and bring a state of peace and overview from a higher perspective. If your mind is over stimulated and exhausted, Lapis can bring you back to balance and focus.

It is not a very expensive stone and is made into necklaces or bigger pieces for jewelry purposes. I especially like the deep, dark blue version with golden pyrite sprinkles creating very unique patterns mined only in Afghanistan. The lighter blue, grayish variety is found in Chile.

If you enjoyed my astrological insights and pointers, I invite you to sign up for my free weekly newsletter where I discuss the highlights of the week to inspire you to use them wisely for a successful and more joyful life.

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

Shakti Carola Navran: Astrologer, Jeweler and Author

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

We have a very active astrological week ahead of us with many significant events spicing it up. The astrological forecast for this week is from November 2 to 8, 2009. But even if you found this article searching for the meaning of specific astrological aspects you will find great value in the following discussion.

Putting on the astrological glasses will help us to tune ourselves to the universal flow and instead of struggling and resisting against what life offers to us, we can be smart and adjust according to the cosmic requirements. The key to happiness and success is always the level of consciousness and awareness we are able to access. In NLP – Neuro Linguistic Programming we say that the solution for a problem is never to be found on the level of the problem. It is found on the Meta level, the next level of awareness which gives us the higher perspective and a more unique and creative approach from there.

Full Moon in Taurus on Monday the 2nd
Full Moon is always opposing the Sun and therefore getting full light exposure and a high level of consciousness with that. The waxing and waning of the Moon throughout the month, the Moon’s path around the Sun, is directly connected with our inner emotional tides and have to do with our gut reactions to people or events around us. Both signs of the Sun and the Moon are activated and need to be looked at for deeper insights.

The Sun in Scorpio is the most intensive month of the year with the challenging, passionate, extreme and transforming energy Scorpio represents. Decisions we have put off, areas of our life we tried to ignore will rear their ugly heads and confront us. But it seems that somehow we always rise to the occasion and deal with the emergencies and problems presented to us by life. It seems like life is the best and most patient spiritual teacher we have. If we don’t get the lesson the first time it doesn’t really matter, we will be presented with it again and again till we get it. There is nothing we can do wrong, no wrong choice or decision we can make, in the bigger picture it is all good. We are here to just experience ourselves in the endless creative circle of life with all these different ways to go and things to try out.

The Full Moon offers us a clear perspective into the emotional unfolding of what has begun with the New Moon. It is the high point, the pinnacle of that emotional theme and way we tend to approach life throughout the month. With the Full Moon in Taurus we are reminded of the joy we have within our body, through the body. Taurus is sensual and very physical. His approach to life is very practical and earthy. You are invited to celebrate the temple of your soul with a massage, a sweat lodge, a hot bath or Jacuzzi or love making with your significant one. It is a time to give thanks and feel gratitude for what that body of yours is giving you and enabling you to do.

For the spiritual beings we are, we need this physical container to participate in the experience of being human and what a joy that can be.

Sun Mercury Conjunction on Thursday the 5th
The Scorpio Sun will be in conjunction with Mercury. It will intensify our willingness to take a deep look into what is the truth of the moment and confront our inner demons. Mercury is representing our mind and mental approach and filter to the world. Mercury in Scorpio is willing to confront uncomfortable areas or people we need to take a stand with. How could you use this to your advantage? Think about which area in your life would benefit from that deep inquiry into truth? Where could you use a little more courage and support to confront what needs to be looked at?

Venus Enters Scorpio on Saturday the 7th
And then there is Venus, the goddess of love, harmony and beauty moving on into Scorpio as well. With that we will have 3 planets Sun, Mercury and Venus in Scorpio for a while. I would think that this particular combination will stir things up in our relationships. Whatever is not right and true will be exposed to the light of the Sun, the deeper look of Mercury and the high standards of Venus. It might not be very comfortable to allow that to happen, but resistance is futile…We will do better by consciously aligning ourselves with the theme and pay attention to our family and loved ones.

Remember what it was that attracted you to your partner in the beginning. What was it about him or her that excited you? Look back at the length of time of your life you have shared with that person and how he or she has contributed to your growth and becoming the person you are today. Take a day off together and go somewhere and do something special, something different then usual. Invite the unexpected and new into your life. Treat your relationship like a plant with a beautiful flower. It will need proper sun light (awareness), water (feelings) and nutrition (fun, intimacy, autonomy, inspiration, growth and good sex) just like a plant.

In the bigger picture this is just the beginning of more awareness in the relationship arena with Saturn who has just entered Libra for a 2 ½ year stint.

Neptune Turning Direct
And last not least we have Neptune turning direct on Wednesday the 4th. Whenever a planet turns direct it will take a little time for the new energy flow to adjust to the new direction. A planet moving direct is more present and available with its energy. Neptune is a planet which is kind of diffuse, nebulous and hard to grasp consciously to begin with. A retrograde Neptune is not so easy to integrate. Neptune connects us with the collective sub consciousness, the undercurrent, the truth of oneness which is below our conscious day to day perspective and the fullest potential of dreams and possibilities. We can expect now to connect easier with our dreams and visions and take steps of action.

We can apply this to our relationships as well. We can sit down with our partner or a journal and tap into the deepest level of our longing and dreams we treasure in our heart. What is it you are really looking for in a relationship? What qualities are a “must have”? Is it important for you how somebody looks? Or what really is it you need, desire and cannot be without?

This is a lot of fun to do and share with your partner or a friend. Here is the gemstone to play with for this week. It is not an expensive stone and one of the more rare and unknown specimens.

Apatite is the Gemstone for the Week
Apatite is a beautiful stone occurring in a great variety of colors, including white, pink, yellow, green, blue, and violet. The more common colors are the yellow-greenish hues. The crystals are hexagonal and short; it may also be found in the form of a cat’s eye. Its origins include Burma, Brazil, and Sri Lanka. It is not a good stone to set into rings because it is brittle and has a hardness of 5 on the Mohs’ scale, which is relatively soft, making it not rugged enough for a ring.

Apatite has a pleasing shine and a very soft, warm, and soothing radiance.
Its soft light sets up a healing, nourishing energy flow between the solar plexus and the heart chakra. In strengthening our own creative expression in alignment with the heart, it helps us to create and express ourselves from our deepest truth. In this sense this is a stone for artists and people who want to activate the energy of the solar plexus chakra (the “power” chakra) to achieve their innermost dreams.

The blue Apatite connects the heart with the throat chakra. We learn to find and speak our own inner truth with courage. We trust the guidance of our higher self and take the first step towards our dreams and visions. We allow ourselves to be in the exhilarating creative flow of life and enjoy the ride.

The great variety of colors of Apatite reminds us of the importance of our inner as well as outer abundance. – (taken from my book Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul)

As you can tell I am very passionate about the abilities of the healing gemstones as healing allies for our journey. I have even written a book about it and the connection with astrology.  In my book I teach you how to read your astrological chart and recognize your main themes and challenges. If you know where your challenges are, you can then take steps to support or balance yourself with gemstones or other means.
I hope you enjoyed reading my article, aloha and many blessings, Shakti.
Shakti Carola Navran: astrologer, jeweler and author

After the excitement of last week with many relevant aspects and transits we will start into a new round of adjusting and reorienting ourselves with Sun in Libra. This is the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of spring below the equator. Days are getting shorter and the general energy is turning more inwards. We will discuss the planetary color for September 21 and 22, 2009. This discussion of the planets and their dynamics is also applicable whenever you have those planetary constellations in your own, personal chart.

The equinox is one of the pivotal points of the year and being in Libra it asks us for choices in the direction we want to take for the rest of the year. Let us have a look at the qualities of Libra and what it brings to the table for us.

Libra: The Judge and Harmonizer
The ruling planet of Libra is the goddess Venus and the time of the year for the Sun in Libra is September 23 to October 22. Libra is attributed to the element air and the masculine gender. With that we have a sign which is mentally oriented and that shows in how the Libra will approach life and love.

The symbol for Libra, a scale, indicates Libra’s strong need for balance. Libras are very oriented toward other people and skillfully tuned into their needs and emotions. Their preference in relationships is for harmony and love—they are peacemakers. Others are drawn to them for their sociable charm. Putting together those qualities, they make wonderful psychologists and mediators, as well as friends and partners. But because they have the ability to see both sides of things, it can be very difficult for them to make decisions. It would be good for them to remember that sometimes it is better to just decide on a less then ideal choice and get moving instead of staying on the fence of indecision.

Their love of harmony and balance draws them to beauty in the arts and wherever else they can indulge their aesthetic sense. Libras in general are good with people and they are artistically inclined. These are the two areas they excel in.

Moon in Scorpio
The Moon position in Scorpio is one of the most intense ones of the year. It is about getting real, knowing who you are including the areas of shadow and denial. The gift of this Moon is to be really honest with oneself. Only with that kind of honesty we will be able to move forward with clarity and purpose. Scorpio people are always reinventing themselves and are not allowed to stay in one place or indecision for very long. They are asked to allow deep transformation to happen, to be the Phoenix out of Ashes and soar out of the burning fire where the old structures of the self are burned and deeply transformed.

In the two and a half days the Moon is in one sign every month, we get a taste of the potential and challenges the signs are representing. If we know what astrological Moon position is active we have the ability to consciously choose how we want to use it to our advantage and we can tell how it will fit in with the rest of our personal horoscope. I see the Moon position as an emotional spot light helping to bring awareness into the inner world of feelings.

Moon in Scorpio and Sun in Libra
The combination of Moon in Scorpio with Sun in Libra is putting us to the test. We have to develop a willingness to let go, get ready for profound changes and make good decisions. I know that is not the easiest task and we have been asked to adjust to changes in our society and tightening the belt for some time now. We constantly have to monitor our thoughts and fears in order to stay in balance. And this is exactly what we need to do now with total clarity and determination. Scorpio is not a timid one and will help the Libra energies to a good, honest and more profound start into the rest of the year.

Suggestion
As usual you might sit with a cup of tea and your journal for your inquiry. I always say that because it creates a little ritual for your inner connection with your higher self. This is a good time for you to take inventory in your relationships and ask yourself how you are able to deal with changes and challenges to the status quo. Are you growing in your relationship? How are your communication skills? Is there an area with your partner which needs to be addressed with honesty without attacking your loved one? How is your balance between intimacy and autonomy? Would you like to be more autonomous and free or are you yearning for a deepening of your love?

In relationships we are asked to learn tolerance and respect for the differences we have. Our intimate relationship is usually the most profound area of spiritual teachings to help us grow out of our childhood traumas and conditioning. In relationships we are the most vulnerable and unconsciously reactive to outer stimulus. We usually are very emotional, tend to be righteous and truly think if just the other person would change in that and that way, we would be happy.

Of course we can not expect to change our partner — we can only learn to adjust our own expectation to a level of a more harmonic togetherness. Most struggle and fights in relationships are our desperate trying to fix something in the outside in order to feel better inside. Has it ever worked for you? It never has for me!

All your power and freedom is inside of you and how you adjust your thoughts and feelings without the dependency on outer circumstances. That could mean that you keep focusing onto the parts of your partner you love and pull your attention away from the parts you are reacting to. Abraham Hicks, who is a wonderful teacher on the subject of Law of Attraction, puts it this way:

– By My Attention to Things, I Am Making Choices…
What people do not understand is that you do not choose something by looking at it and shouting Yes, I would like some of that! You make your choices by your attention to things. In this Universe that is based on attraction, when you look at an unwanted thing, your attention to it causes an activation of the Vibration within you, and then the Law of Attraction brings more like it into your experience. – Abraham- Hicks

Find an Anchor for the Quality you Want to Achieve in your Life
When I want to focus onto something I love about my husband I focus onto his love for our cat Angelito. Angelito came to us 8 days old and we bottle feed him around the clock. It was an amazing time to care for such a vulnerable being and was a big gift for both of us. Even if we both were his caregivers he bonded more deeply with my husband. His mother was dying at that time and he was in a very vulnerable place. The tiny kitten would sit on his chest, on his heart and they had that special sweetness and melting. The cat is now 2 years old and the first thing it does coming into the house, is running up to him and sit on his chest for a minute. I look at them having that bonding communion and it never fails to touch my heart. That quality of being one with each other and deeply loving for that moment in time has become my anchor for the love I desire to manifest deeper and deeper in my life and with my husband. I want to inspire you to put some thought to this in your own life. Find something to focus on and to direct your attention towards.

The Gem for the Day is the Herkimer Diamond
In Vedic and Western astrology using gemstones is recommended for pacifying difficult astrological constellations. The Herkimer Diamond is a stone for balance and will serve the general situation of intense Scorpio Moon energy and Libra needs. The Herkimer Diamond is one of the true birthstones of Libra. It is a wonderful ally for meditation and can also be made into jewelry.

– Found in Herkimer, New York, this is a double-terminated rock crystal with such clarity and brilliance that it was named after the most reflective and brilliant stone there is, the Diamond. A handful of Herkimer Diamonds are as dazzling as real Diamonds. The most common material on earth, silica, becomes a sparkling little gem in the Herkimer Diamond.

This stone grows in small air pockets in the mother matrix rock material. It starts as a small seed crystal and grows outward from the center. Some collector’s pieces are displayed still embedded in a pocket of air in the mother matrix.

This stone is amazing in its beauty, clarity, and perfection. Unlike the Diamond, which must be cut and polished to bring out its beauty, the Herkimer Diamond is perfect in its natural state and requires no cutting or polishing at all. It is untouched by the human hand.

Balancing the Aura and Stabilizing Our Energy
The Herkimer Diamond has a very special place among the gems because of its superior qualities. It is worn most beneficially over the heart. Sitting on the heart chakra, which is the middle one of the seven, it balances the whole energetic system. Thus it is able to strengthen our auric field against all kinds of radiation, including electro smog and negative thought projections. We are constantly targeted by radiation in our daily lives, especially in urban areas. It is known that sitting in front of a computer for several hours can lower our white blood cell count, which inevitably impacts our health. The Herkimer Diamond in its perfection and balance between the negative and positive points can balance us and strengthen our own energy field.

This stone also strengthens our auric field against negative emotional or mental projections. I have made many Herkimer Diamond pendants for people who work in the healing professions to help them stabilize and treat their clients without picking up their imbalances. The more sensitive you are the more likely you are to pick up on disharmony in your outer field. The Herkimer Diamond is your ally in maintaining your own balance and strength.

Balancing the Brain
This stone also balances the right and left hemispheres of the brain, the creative and logical, the female and the male sides in us. Most of us tend toward one side or the other. The Herkimer Diamond balances us out in the middle between the two. The creative mind and the logical and scientific mind are enhanced by each other’s qualities: the creative mind benefits from greater focus and logic and the scientific mind draws on more creative and intuitive resources. The two hemispheres join forces, resulting in inventions and discoveries beyond the known.

Stimulates Creativity and Inspiration
The Herkimer Diamond’s brilliancy stimulates our inspiration and connection to higher truth and wisdom. Clarity of thought and a peaceful mind are a matter of balance.
The Herkimer Diamond can be worn very beneficially over your heart or as earrings close to the brain. For jewelry seek the clearest and most perfect crystals. For meditation or even under your pillow you may choose a larger crystal, which might not be quite as perfect as the smaller ones. The larger stones have inclusions and rainbows that make them very beautiful nonetheless. The Herkimer Diamond is a gift in its perfection and balancing qualities, a visual reminder of God’s perfect creation.

[Adapted from my book Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones That Delight the Eye & Strengthen the Soul © 2008 by Shakti Carola Navran. Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. 2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989. All rights reserved, used by permission of the publisher.]

I hope you enjoyed the discovery of this truly magnificent stone! I wish you a very enchanted journey into the mysterious world of healing gemstones! If you enjoyed this article and my perspective on things, please come back and visit my Astrological Signs Weather Report & Healing Gems Blog where I discuss regularly the actual, universal, astrological forces as well as gemstones and inspire you to use them wisely for a more successful and joyful life.
Aloha and many blessings, Shakti.
Shakti Carola Navran: astrologer, jeweler and author
As you can tell I am very passionate about the abilities of the healing gemstones as healing agents for our journey. I have even written a book about it and the connection with astrology: Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul. In my book I teach you how to read a chart and recognize your main subjects and challenges. If you know where your challenge and friction is, you can then take steps to support or balance yourself with gemstones, if that is something that appeals to you.

There is lots of conflicted Virgo energy emerging today and we will discuss the planetary backdrop for September 16 and 18, 2009. This discussion of the planets and their dynamics is also applicable whenever you have those planetary constellations in your personal chart.

The Leo Moon conjuncts Venus early morning Tuesday and opposes Neptune which starts the day with a dreamy and gentle energy quiet different then the logically minded Virgo. We have a waning Moon who is heading towards New Moon on Friday. I always like to start my astrological musings with the Moon position. Knowing the sign Lady Moon is in will give us the emotional backdrop and quality for the two and a half days she stays in one sign per month.

The Moon is the fastest planet we astrologers look at to gauge the quality of the moment in time we are interested in. You could look at life as this interrelated dance between our head and belly, our mind and our emotions. Who do you think is the stronger one when pitched against each other? How often do we just react instinctively in the moment without consideration or thinking and feel sorry later?

If you are aware of the emotional background coloring your day, you have a good chance of being more in tune with the flow and more conscious of your choices.

Moon in Virgo
After the gregarious Leo Moon who helped us feeling more confident and courageous in approaching our goals, Moon is stepping into Virgo Tuesday afternoon. Virgo is ruled by Mercury who is going retrograde and therefore back into Virgo on Thursday. Usually when the Moon is in Virgo there is a chance that our logical mind is more in alignment with our feelings. We are cautious in approaching uncharted territory and think before we leap.

As of tomorrow we will have 4 planets in Virgo – the Sun, the Moon, Mercury and Saturn. Let us have a closer look at the principles of Virgo.

Virgo is known as the Analyzer and Organizer
The Sun is in Virgo from August 23 to September 22 and Mercury is the ruling planet. Earth is the element and it is considered feminine. Earth as an element is taking it slow, step by step and gives us a reality check of where we are in the physical world. Planets in earth signs tend to invite thorough examination and lend tools to adjust our plans for manifestations as needed.

By September the summer Sun is fading, and crops are ready to be harvested. Virgos have none of the fiery dominance of their summer predecessor, the Lion. They are more reserved people who don’t boast about themselves or behave flamboyantly. They are quietly reliable, attending to the smallest details of any project in an organized way, making them good lawyers, doctors, and scientists. That trait can be carried to a fault when they fail to see the bigger picture. They are more intelligent and analytical than emotional, which serves them well in complex tasks but may prevent them from establishing deep relationships. Virgos are practical people, good with their hands, and combining those qualities with their attention to detail they could excel in professions as jewelers and dentists.

As you can see with the general mental orientation of this sign, that this Virgo Moon is not very emotionally oriented instead she will lean towards reason and filters her emotions through her mind. Whenever we have several planets in the chart of a person or in the current situation in the heavens, we need to take a closer look and appreciate the qualities it might bring into play. Virgo is an excellent planner with his focus on details and we might as well take advantage of that!

Suggestion
I always sit with a cup of tea and my journal for explorations like this. My journal is my entry way into my innermost thoughts and feelings. I take the time to be with myself and write down thoughts, feelings, ideas, dreams, goals, grievances, and use the time of being my own best friend. Usually I meditate before I open my journal which helps me to come from a deeper place.

What I like you to do today is inquire into your self identity. Who do you think you are? What are you good at? What do you have to contribute to life, to the world, making it a better place? You can start like –- I am a writer. I am an astrologer.
You could be more descriptive like — I am a good writer. I love writing. I am an astrologer who is interested in the alignment and balance to live a more joyful and successful life.—

Just be playful and let it flow. I want you to find out what you identify yourself with easily. Then the next step is to make a list of who you would like to be — I would like to be a successful author of many books helping people to be more conscious of their choices and therefore live a happier life. I like to contribute to the happiness of others. I like to be of use. –

When you have a look at your list you decide where you want to move your attention to first. And then write down 6 reasons why you will be that person and what first steps you are planning to take to get there. Have fun.

Virgo Sun Conjuncts Saturn and is in Opposition with Uranus
Yesterday we discussed the Saturn opposition Uranus and I also pointed you towards earlier article concerning that subject. Today I just want to add the activation through the Sun conjunction Saturn. The Sun in astrology is seen as our self identity, our radiance, and the way we act from our center of awareness, how we approach the world in general. The Sun in the evolution of the zodiac throughout the year shapes the different months very differently in their quality.

Today’s suggestion was for you to get more in touch with the way you look at yourself and probably the way you were describing yourself was in accordance with your Sun position and the ruler of that sign. When the Sun is in a hard aspect to Saturn there always is work to be done. Saturn equals work. Sun – Saturn connections usually bring up fears and anxiety around our self expression when this is happening in a personal chart. With the challenge around our self identity and self expression we learn to find good and solid ways for self expression. Out of that challenge we emerge more self conscious and very well organized in the house the Sun and Saturn reside. It points towards the area of our life where we feel that challenge.

If Saturn is representing restrictions, limits, structures, consolidation as well as our shadows of deficiency, fears and anxiety the Sun will bring light into those areas and will help us to find different ways to recreate ourselves. Saturn can be lived well wherever he shows up in our life with awareness and organization. In the bigger picture for all of us it will sharpen the awareness for abuse of power structures in society and what changes are ahead of us. It will be interesting to watch the news today and see how this theme will be reflected.

The gemstone for this overall constellation for today is Amber.

Amber
–Amber is special because it is the only gemstone that comes to us from the plant world. Amber is the fossilized, hardened resin of pine trees that formed about fifty million years ago. It has an amorphous (non crystalline) structure. It is found in various places, with the largest reserve in Samland, a region of Russia on the Baltic Sea near the border of Poland. Usually the color of amber is in the yellow-orange to brown range, but there are also varieties in white, black, blue, and greenish colors. We refer here to the yellow-orange variety because it is the most common.

Amber has the ability to create static electricity when it is rubbed with a cloth. This ability makes it a healer for harmonizing the electrical fields in and around our physical body. Amber balances our hormonal, nervous, and digestive systems.

Amber belongs to the third chakra, the solar plexus area. Here it softens and releases tensions and the physical manifestations of fears, which may include a tight, sour, or upset stomach.

By connecting us with the powerful life force energy of the sun, Amber brings us vibrant, joyful aliveness. Universally people enjoy spending time in the sun and bathing the body in its life-giving energy. This is one of the oldest naturally occurring meditations, the sun meditation, which induces in us a deep state of inward-turned relaxation. Amber also relieves depression by connecting us with our own inner sun center, our internal spark of light and joy. It enhances creativity, personal strength, self-expression, and power.

Amber is also a wonderful stone for babies, making them happy and joyful, and in Germany an old home remedy is to give a baby a large piece to bite on to relieve the pain of teething! – (taken from my book Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul)

If you liked my astrological ramblings I invite you to come back to my Astrological Signs Weather Report & Healing Gems Blog. You are very welcome to my regular update on the universal flow in the heavens. I hope you enjoyed reading about Amber who is different because as a fossilized stone it bridges the world of plants with the mineral kingdom.

As you can tell I am very passionate about the abilities of the healing gemstones as healing allies for our journey. I have even written a book about it and the connection with astrology: Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones that Delight the Eyes & Strengthen the Soul, published with Llewellyn.

In my book I teach you how to read a chart and recognize your main themes and challenges. If you know where your challenge and friction is, you can then take steps to support or balance yourself with gemstones, if that is something that appeals to you.

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

Shakti Carola Navran: astrologer, jeweler and author

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

The Moon position in your chart is showing you your spot of emotional tenderness and where gentleness and self care is needed. The Moon is the mother and the child, the nourishing principle we need for our survival and the helpless inner or outer child in need of care.

When the transiting Moon goes through the whole zodiac during one month, it will hit positions which are in challenging angles to your personal Moon position. These are the times when you might feel most deeply impacted and emotional. In the Lunar astrology we watch the Moon with its different flavor wandering through the different signs, triggering different themes in its wake.

When the transiting Moon is in conjunction, Square or opposition to your Moon you will feel your inner world, feelings, sense of security and the need for belonging stirred up. There is an excellent article by Philip Levine I strongly recommend about The Lunation Cycle addressing the differences of the Moon position in her unfolding from a New Moon to a Full Moon and back.
In the Lunar Astrology for the coming month I like to take the perspective of becoming aware of the NEED each Moon position will bring into the open field of our consciousness related to her position.

Moon Swims into Cancer
Today we start to take a look at the NEEDS the Moon in Cancer will touch upon. Moon is at surely at home in Cancer. Cancer represents our home, our family of origin; it is a water sign and has the most nourishing, feminine quality of all. The deep, deep need for a safe home, reliability and commitment to feel comfortable is part of our survival instinct and should not be taken lightly. A need is not just a desire, something we would like to have. A need is absolutely essential to a healthy life and survival; we will do anything for what we need.

Moon Mars Conjunction and Opposition to Pluto
The Mars, the fiery warrior is taking up his flaming sword and is suddenly surrounded by steaming waters. That will promote bubbling emotions, insecurity and maybe a feeling of righteousness or deficiency. Mars is not at his best in Cancer to begin with and now has to deal with extra Moon energy.

When the Moon moves through her opposition with Pluto, another layer of ignorance of our needs might be pealed away. Pluto is a tough taskmaster, forcing us to confront helplessness with the outer forces in life. Pluto wants to bring us to the place of accepting what is and a deep let go of fighting, struggle and the illusion of control. With this short lived transit we get a little shake to wake up and take responsibility for our need for security and what that means for us. We need each other for comfort, belonging, sharing stories, holding, learning, witnessing each others growth, giving and the experience of oneness and love.

Living Alone is a Disaster for the Inner Child
I believe the single living reality for so many of us in our western society is very damaging and contradictory for that deep need of belonging. Throughout history humankind has lived in tribal or family unites to ensure survival. Just in the last 80 years it has changed to a life style of being single and having our own apartment man or woman. Even if we might think that it is a step forward into more autonomy and freedom for the individual, I was always wondering about the loneliness of singles and the loss of connection. I am not saying that it is wrong to choose to live alone, but I want to question if it is really fulfilling and nourishing our inner need for belonging and each other.

If you are living alone you might use the chance this transit is offering and inquire into your inner need for love and connection. Do you feel you belong somewhere? Do you have a family or group of friends around you belong to? Does somebody really care for you, love you? Is somebody there for you if you really need help?

If you answered any of these questions with “no” you want to examine your life style and where your priorities have been, creating the situation you are facing now. When you have clarity and take responsibility for where you are, you can then take steps for change. If you feel that nobody in your life cares for you, you might want to find somebody you care for. If you don’t feel supported in your life, go find somebody to support. Give what you want to receive or need! Find a way for yourself to connect with your inner well of love, the Divine Mother or the nourishing nature all around us on Mother Earth.

A wonderful way to change your state of consciousness is meditation or a walk in nature. Many of us living in cities might not have untouched nature but there are always pockets of green even in a city. Find a tree to sit under or special spot for yourself in the park next to you.

You can also bring nature to you by using the healing and balancing energies of gemstones by placing them on top of you lying on your back. I am a Taurus and I love gemstone meditations as a very comfortable, soothing, energizing, balancing, uplifting time of rest. You can always just use a quartz crystal on your third eye and focus on your perception. A special stone you could use for soothing and uplifting your heart is the Apophyllite.

The Apophyllite
– Apophyllite is a very rare, light green, four-sided, diamond-faced crystal found in only one place on the Earth, in Poona, India.
I love this stone because of its unique generous qualities for the heart. In its natural crystallized form it can be set into beautiful pendants and worn right over the heart. This is a stone for the heart chakra and connects us to the Christ consciousness and love in its highest form.

This energy is focused in our heart and connects us with the quality of compassion as a result of realizing who we really are: eternal spiritual beings of love, experiencing ourselves as humans on this earthly plane.

The light color of Apophyllite is soft and gentle, almost like a fragrance, and its energy very subtle, soothing, and expanding. The heart’s longing is to experience communion and oneness with God, with life in all its facets. It is the longing of the soul that melt the shell around the heart and heal its wounds, and compassion is the natural outcome of this process.

The planet Chiron represents the wounded healer. Chiron shows us our deepest hurt on the astrological chart.   He shows us where we need to heal ourselves and where we can become a healer for others as a result of our own experience. Chiron and Neptune are hand in hand, joining their energies together to help us experience the highest truth of love and compassion: this is what we call “Christ consciousness.”

Apophyllite also may bring up emotions that are not in line with the Christ consciousness. It may work as an accelerator of spiritual growth by helping us to cleanse ourselves of grief, anger, jealousy, and fear— all the so-called negative emotions—by realigning ourselves with the truth that we are divine consciousness.

This crystal is one of the most powerful healers for the heart and thus it is a stone for healers. It is very beneficial to wear this beautiful, unique gem over the heart, or for meditation you may put it on your third eye or on your heart chakra. It goes very well together with the Ruby or Spinel, which add other aspects of the heart.—(taken from my book : Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones That Delight the Eye & Strengthen the Soul)

Saturn in Virgo Quincunx to Neptune in Aquarius
The Sun makes his first quincunx connection with Neptune on September 12, 2009, the first out of three. The second one is on May 2 and the third June 27, 2010. This is one of the constellations which will fuel the enormous changes we are in at this point in time of our evolution as humans on earth. Our physical security is challenged and everybody is confronted with the changes seemingly happening upon us.

Saturn in the earthy sign of Virgo is representing the physical realm and meeting the metaphysical, translucent, dreamy qualities of Neptune in Aquarius. We have to change our definition of self as a lonely rider on the road, doing the best we can to get by. We need to redefine ourselves to a self identity of oneness and connectedness as humans and act from that place for the greater good. Neptune is the mystical teacher who reaches out with unconditional love and a high level of consciousness. Neptune is also the spiritual teacher who guides us towards our own inner direct connection with the divine.

The Longing for the Divine
Our longing for the divine has created many different forms of religions or spiritual traditions. For me it does not matter what form anybody prefers as their way to connect with God as long as it works for them. I have been brought up Christian and had that inner connection more or less all my life. The times when there was less of it was a source of deep pain and dissatisfaction with life for me and kept me going and searching.  For me the connection and experience with the Oneness Blessing and the Oneness Movement has brought unimaginable grace into my life.

The Oneness Blessing is an energetic transmission of grace which will instantly deepen your state, your connection to love and feelings of peace. It is a little similar as Reiki as it is given by the touch of hand. But it is not so much focused onto health as Reiki, it is more geared towards raising consciousness to an experience of oneness and the flowering of the heart.

If you liked my astrological musings I invite you to come back to my Astrological Signs Weather Report & Healing Gems Blog for a regular update on the universal flow in the heavens. I hope you enjoyed to read about the Apophyllite which is a very rare gem to help the flowering of the heart.

As you can tell I am very passionate about the abilities of the healing gemstones. I have even written a book about it and the connection with astrology: Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery. In the book I teach you how to find your main subjects and challenges in your horoscope. 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 my article, aloha and many blessings, Shakti.
Shakti Carola Navran: astrologer, jeweler and author

Adapted from Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones That Delight the Eye & Strengthen the Soul © 2008 by Shakti Carola Navran. Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. 2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989. All rights reserved, used by permission of the publisher.

In astrology we use the position of the planets to find our own personal place with the higher forces inside the parameters of a creative, unfolding, intelligent universe. We use the planets as mirrors symbolizing the potentiality of time quality.
In astrology we differentiate between time quantity versus time quality.

The Flow of Time
Our normal experience of time passing is based on a mental perception. We do perceive the unfolding of time and the changes all around us in nature throughout the year. Our ancestors already watched the constellation of the stars in the skies changing along with the seasons.
There is a cause and an effect on the horizontal level of time.

But time is tricky! In truth there is really only the eternal present moment; the past is a memory and the future a projection.

Time Quality in Astrology
In astrology we work with the quality of time in the moment of a beginning of something.
This beginning can be the new life of a baby, the signing of a contract or a marriage. We treat this beginning as the seed moment of what has begun to unfold. Like the seed of a plant already contains all the information needed for the plant to grow into the full plant.

When we cast a chart for a baby, we know what potential is has for this life.
The quality or seed of this beginning is determining the unfolding of those possibilities in the quantity of time passing. Imagine a book which contains already the whole story, but we need time quantity available to us to read it and enjoy the whole story.

Astrology works vertically. It uses the planets as a symbolic map to raise our consciousness to greater wisdom and understanding and helps to align us with the choreography of the universal laws and forces we are part of as well as the planets.

Mercury in Libra Squaring Mars in Cancer
The square is an aspect with friction and challenge between the two planets connected. Mercury in Libra likes to take both sides into consideration, weighs the arguments, keeps an open mind and asks questions. Mars in Cancer tends to defend the home turf for any costs. Both planets connected with a square might not find it so easy to settle into a meaningful conversation without annoyance or escalation into a serious argument. Just be aware of it!

Lunar Astrology

Moon is the archetypal mother, the inner woman or outer woman, nourishing us in her unique way of being. She is our emotional filter towards the world and can give us hints to how interconnected we all are.

The Moon in astrology reflects consciousness evolving through our inner digestive process of our feelings and guides us intuitively through our day. Because emotions are often unclear and hidden from the light of consciousness and it might take a while to float up to conscious recognition and acknowledgement. By following the Moon position we will gain more insight into our own inner workings.

Moon Conjunction with Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune
The Moon today is still in Aquarius, almost full and in conjunction with Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune throughout the day. It serves as a reminder for us to find our place in the changes in our world at hand. The Jupiter gives us access to deeper meaning and better values to live our life from. Chiron supports our healing process wherever it is needed. Neptune gives us dreams and visions to strive for. This is an uplifting and stimulating combo you will enjoy!

I have written another article about the bigger picture of the threesome of Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune in Aquarius and how that is connected with the beginning of the Aquarian Age. So more planets are in a sign so stronger the impact of it is. The conjunction and positioning of these three planets Chiron, Neptune and Jupiter in Aquarius will be with us all year.

When I was at the ISAR astrology conference in Chicago, I got a renewed and deepened sense of awe about how the outer planet conjunctions, squares and oppositions are shaping and reflecting the changes in society and giving birth to a new generation carrying the torch with new insights and energies into the future.

Full Moon in Pisces
We will have a Full Moon in Pisces tomorrow. The Full Moon is on her highest point of radiating her energy. The nights are full of light, the cats are roaming and having fun and we might have trouble with sleeping. Depending on the position of the Full Moon in your chart and how it ties in with your Moon and other planets you might feel a stronger or less strong impact.

Dream Life
The Moon in Pisces will bring activity into your dreams at night and your visions at day. Recording your dreams in a journal in the morning can give you tremendous insight into your inner world and many books and seminars have been given with good information about it. I like to think as every person or situation I encounter in my dreams as a part of myself.
For example if I run away from something in my dream at night I inquire deeper into parts or areas in my life I might turn away from. Working with dreams in my morning pages in my journal has given me tremendous value over the years.

Once in a while it is also very interesting to go back in time to older dreams and maybe now you will be able to put a different perspective towards their message. We have such an inner abundance of feelings, wisdom and insights waiting for us inside. Dreams are one way to reach into that inner well.

Visions
Pisces is ruled by Neptune and is the last sign in the evolutionary cycle of the zodiac. Pisces is a sign of completion of one cycle of learning. Therefore this is a place of connection with a deeper level of our being, our divine origin and our oneness with others.

Pisces is the dreamer, spiritual teacher and saint. Pisces points us towards higher levels of consciousness and wants us to be a messenger for the divine nature. Pisces introduces meditation as a tool to align with higher levels of consciousness and opens the channel wider for inspiration, healing and creativity. Pisces gemstone is the Amethyst.

Suggestion to Connect with your Dreams
I like to invite you to take advantage of the time quality of the moment! Get comfortable and sit with your cup of tea or coffee and take some time for yourself with your journal.

Pick one area in your life to look at more closely. How does it look like? Are you happy and satisfied with your life in that area? What would you imagine it to look like if you had three wishes from the fairy? Get wild in your imagination and it will point you into the right direction! Today I got this quote from Abraham / Hicks which might help you with this:

“Making Peace with My Today Will Improve My Future
It may sound odd, but the fastest way to get to a new-and-improved situation is to make peace with your current situation. By making lists of the most positive aspects you can find about your current situation, you then release your resistance to the improvements that are waiting for you. But if you rail against the injustices of your current situation, you hold yourself in Vibrational alignment with what you do not want, and you cannot then move in the direction of improvement. It defies Law. In every particle of the Universe, there is that which is wanted – and the lack of it.”

I also like to give you a gemstone to consider for your process. Remember you can meditate with gemstones by lying down and placing a stone on top of you, on your third eye or any area of your body that needs extra energy balancing. I love gemstone meditations it appeals to my Taurus Sun who like to get comfortable.

Amethyst is Merlin, the Great Magician and Spiritual Teacher [1]
In olden times Amethyst was known as an amulet against black magic and homesickness, and as a bringer of good fortune. I see Amethyst as Merlin, the old sorcerer who looks harmless enough but in fact wields great power. In the myth he was the spiritual teacher and magician of King Arthur.

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

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

By uplifting our consciousness, Amethyst becomes the messenger who reminds us of our eternal connection with God. It is the bringer of bliss and understanding, of expansion to our being. It helps to clear the mind and to transform our limiting beliefs about who we are. It is our guardian and ally who accompanies us on our visionary quest to find greater truth and meaning in life. [1]

If you like my astrological musings I invite you to come back to my Astrological Signs Weather Report & Healing Gems Blog for a regular update on the universal flow in the heavens. 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: Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery. 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 my article, aloha and many blessings, Shakti.

Shakti Carola Navran: astrologer, jeweler and author

[1]Adapted from Jewelry and Gems for Self-Discovery: Choosing Gemstones That Delight the Eye & Strengthen the Soul © 2008 by Shakti Carola Navran. Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. 2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989. All rights reserved, used by permission of the publisher.

Cancerian Qualities

June 21 marks the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. Many people in the Northern Hemisphere love this energetic time of year, when they can enjoy the outdoors until late in the evening.

Cancer is 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.

The personality of Cancerians is fluid as well, with a broad range of personal traits. Home and family are always an important theme for this sign, for both men and women. They make loving, protective parents. Cancerians are highly emotional, romantic, and loving people and seek nurturing in relationships. They are also very giving people and often seek to express their nurturing nature in the healing and caring professions. They can be reserved people, preferring to reveal their true natures in the security of their intimate relationships. They tend to be ruled by their emotional ups and downs. They can also be quite artistic and make good artists, actors, and musicians.

How Gemstones Can Enhance Your Cancerian Experience

What better way for the Cancerian to express his or her loving nature than with a gift of gemstone jewelry to a beloved partner?

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. Cancerians have some potentially conflicting qualities (such as a desire to be connected to others, but also a tendency to withdraw) that can be brought into better balance with gemstones.

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 at. In my book I teach you how to find your true birthstones based on your horoscope. Below you will find a description of Moonstone, one of the true astrological birthstones for Cancer.

Moonstone: Teacher for Your Life Journey [1]

The Moonstone, like its cousin Labradorite, belongs to the feldspar group. Many of the best Moonstones are white with a bluish glow; those are found in Sri Lanka, Burma, Brazil, Australia, and India. The rarest and most valuable, though, is the Rainbow Moonstone, which contains a whole rainbow of colors. It is found only in India. The Moonstone also occurs in orange and gray-black stones with the sheen that is typical of this stone.

I am fascinated by the Rainbow Moonstone and its qualities. This stone represents the high priestess from Avalon, the carrier and teacher of mysteries, the caring sister and the nourishing mother. The Rainbow Moonstone nourishes and balances the emotional system. It soothes our hurts and wounds. Its mysterious beauty speaks to our unconscious. It transmits peace and connects us with the eternal wisdom of the heart and with the essence of who we are. It connects us with our feminine side, a receptive state rather than constant action: it can help us reconnect with a state of “nondoing.” This is a place that is nurtured by our soul and guides us toward wisdom and the unfolding of our highest capacities and resources.

We cannot “do” the things that are most important in life: we can strive for what we think is right action, but we cannot make it happen. When I look back over my life, I see that the most important events and turning points were not things that I had any control over. I have tried hard to control and to act, but in the end how my life unfolded wasn’t really in my hands; my life was directed by grace or guidance in action. The Rainbow Moonstone helps us to relax into that guidance and have faith in the grace operating in our life. It teaches us about the journey of life, which is not a problem but a mystery to be lived.

The Moonstone is a wonderful companion for our male friends, husbands, and lovers. It brings to males an element of the female spirit and helps them to connect more with their feelings without fearing them. It gives the warrior a heart with gentle feelings. Give the man in your life a big chunk of stone to carry in his pocket or to wear as a pendant over his heart.

Aloha and many blessings, enjoy your Sunday, Shakti.