Archetypal Exploration: Felina's 9th House- Goddess

The ninth house in astrology is about spirituality and higher learning. Here I have Juno in Capricorn, as well as the Goddess archetype. Juno has much to do with partnership, marriage, and childbirth. In Capricorn, she gave me the endurance to get through the difficult beginnings of these areas of life...in order to finally reach successful outcomes. With the Goddess archetype here, it's very clear that her wisdom is essential to my spirituality. The Goddess aspect of the Creator (and the many other names for the Supreme Being) has been subdued or often overlooked in the supplanting of the patriarchal culture over the once dominant Goddess worship of humanity's history. However, in learning more about it over the years...I have found a definite need to return to this kind of wisdom. But not in a one over the other kind of way. In my higher mind, aided by Juno, the marriage of the two is the key.

Even in the way I observe time with my calendar, the Moon phases mark my months. I look at life in a solar-lunar way that seems more natural to me than one or the other. For more about time, moon cycles, and the history behind humanity's changing times...read 'Dance of the Moon' by Dan Furst. It is an excellent book that details the importance of living in balance with both the feminine and masculine aspects of the Divine.

The ninth house is also the house most influenced by my Red Fox totem. So, I have written one poem about the triple goddess and one about the Fox. You may notice similar themes within them both, such as caring for offspring. It was actually experiencing motherhood that brought me closer to the Goddess within.

Goddess

By Felina Lune Kavi

The Lucinae,

Triple Moon Goddess,

Maiden, Mother, and Crone.

Illuminate

The Great Mystery,

The womb of the unknown.

Maiden of the waxing moon

Brings the breath of life to Earth.

Midwife to new beginnings,

She blesses the sacred birth.

Mother of the moon at full

Creates the space to flower.

Nurturing life’s abundance

With Her maternal power.

Crone of the waning dark moon

Knows beginnings have their ends.

The wisdom of the Ancients

Releases what cannot transcend.

The Lucinae,

Triple Moon Goddess,

Maiden, Mother, and Crone.

Illuminate

The Great Mystery,

The womb of the unknown.

Fox Medicine

By Felina Lune Kavi

Emerging from her foxhole,

Mother Fox sniffs the gentle breeze.

Smelling safety in the southern wind

She flags her tail so her kits can see.

With a huff, their Father greets them

As the kits come tumbling out

They yelp raucously in the light of day

Smelling new food in his mouth.

As they tear into this novel gift,

Their parents watch with pride.

Weeks spent nursing in the den,

This is the first they’ve seen outside.

The Vixen hears the rustle of danger,

And tells her mate with a whispered ruff.

Father Fox calls once to the frenzied brood.

For now, they’ve eaten enough.

Into the foxhole, once again,

Snuggling warm by Mother’s side,

The young ones groom, or sleep

And dream about the adventure of outside.

Archetypal Exploration: Felina's 8th House- Nature Child

The 8th House shows us our relationship to other people's resources, as well as to sex, death, and things that are hidden. In this house, I have my Neptune retrograde in Sagittarius conjunct my Part of Fortune. This conjunction indicates, among other things, my interest in occult spiritual matters, and suggests that good things come from this interest. This is also the house in which my Nature Child archetype resides. The Child is the last of the four survival archetypes that plays a role in all of our lives, and the one that most are already somewhat familiar with (the Inner Child we sometimes talk about). There are many different facets of the Child archetype...whether it be the Nature Child, the Wounded Child, the Abandoned, Dependent, Innocent, or Divine Child...many of us are influenced by all of these aspects at different times in our life. But there is always one that resonates most with the patterns the Child has formed since childhood. In my case, it is the Nature Child. Often times these people form strong bonds with animals and commune with nature spirits. That would be my inner child. In fact, cats are the animals that have always been with me since I was born. There has always been at least one cat in my life, throughout my years...that I have either inherited a special bond with because of my mother (inheritances of any kind also fall under the 8th house), or I have formed bonds with on my own (the cats I have called 'familiars'...much more than a pet). So, my Cat totem also influences this house...as Cat has been my first and ever-present totem, it is intricately influential to my Inner Child.

The Child is our guardian of innocence. From this archetype, we learn about our dependencies as well as responsibilities. We learn about our perceptions of nurturing, family, and life in general. These are the lessons of maturation. And in my own process, my Child connected me more and more to the natural world...but at the same time, farther away from things that seemed unnatural to me (such as anything to do with money). This is the lesson I'm still learning from the Child within. My parents, in fact, would still ground this Child if they could (literally and figuratively). The Nature Child tendencies I have in this 8th House area of life have already given them enough grief for not adhering to their 'better judgements' of how I should've gone about living my life as an adult.

As a clear example, they still get irritated at the thought of me dropping out of college after two years and not finishing to get my degree. They see it much differently than I do, of course...but they are still experiencing my Nature Child's reaction to feeling unnaturally confined. My parents wanted us all to go to college and they paid for us to do so. So I did so, not thinking anything was wrong with that at first...it just was how it was going to be, that's all. But my Nature Child met others there who didn't have their parents paying for anything, Abandoned Children who had to work hard just to be there. On the flip side, I saw many Dependent Children as well, who never really did grow up and their parents were paying for everything (and more) as well. That was when guilt started to set in. I didn't mean to be dependent on my parents; I didn't even want to be that way. I tried to live on as little as possible, and worked two part time jobs just to feel like I could survive on my own. But the thing was, I wasn't paying for my schooling myself...and so the unnatural feeling was still there.

So...I jumped at the first chance I got, really. The man who would later become Alyrica's father introduced me to a job working as a tour actor for Omaha Theatre Company. I thought, do I stay where I don't feel I'm experiencing life to its fullest and feel unnaturally bound to other people's resources...or do I travel the country doing something I love while making good money for it. To me, it seemed like a no-brainer (though I did, in fact, use my brain to decide). So I left, much to my parents' chagrin and confusion. They never could forgive Alyrica's dad for how all that played out, of course. But it was all my own decisions. I wanted to be free of my previous situation, and experience the world on my own terms. So that's what my Nature Child did. A turning point decision in my life, and it has made all the difference.

Nature Child

by Felina Lune Kavi

Like the Cat, her Child

scratches at the door

demanding freedom

to play outside.

Inside is everything

she needs to live.

'But that's not living!'

the House Cat cried.

How will she ever know

how to survive

if she's given

all that she gets?

'Keep my claws unclipped

and my neck untagged!

It's not our nature

to only be pets.'

Archetypal Exploration: Felina's 7th House- Saboteur

The 7th House relates to marriage and partnerships of all types. In this house, I have a Scorpio conjunction of Ceres retrograde and my Moon, as well as Uranus retrograde in Sagittarius. Ceres is the asteroid of the mother, while the Moon is the luminary that represents the mother (as well as emotions and habits). In Scorpio, this concentrated maternal energy can be quite intense...but, again, with the Ceres retrograde much of the scrutiny is directed within. However, the Moon in Scorpio shows my habits and emotions can be both destructive and transformative (like the Hindu Mother Goddess, Kali). And with Uranus in Sagittarius here, the Liberator energy carries over from the 6th to the 7th.

But this is the house where the Saboteur archetype influences me most. Another of the survival archetypes we all must embrace and learn from in how they influence our own lives, the Saboteur is the Guardian of Choice. Saboteur alerts us to the dangers of sabotaging others as well as ourselves...and gives us the choice of self-empowerment or self-destruction. In recent years, the Saboteur has become an ally in this way. But this was not always the case. I would often ignore the warning signs that I was about to sabotage any given situation with a fight or flight response that rarely served my best interests (really only serving my fears). Relationships were the breeding grounds for these lessons in my life. I would first sabotage myself by taking on the habits and emotions (Moon) of whomever I was with, while nurturing each partner's ego no matter how it affected me (Ceres). It often left me bitter by the end of those fallen relationships...my care was too intensive, and could rarely be equaled in a partnership. I was like a disappointed mother to them...always giving too much and wanting more. That was my Shadow Saboteur at work, destroying that which I put all my time and energy into creating because I was making disempowering choices.

I learned, somewhat. Still learning, I guess. Because I still sabotage my own goals in life to help others work on theirs. But I'm aware of it now, at least. It makes the choices and changes I make a bit easier. Setting boundaries when working with others is a change I've been gradually implementing in my relationships since I've noticed how beneficial it is to relationship maintenance.

When I met my husband, Michael, for the first time...both of our Saboteurs (he also has his in the 7th) gave us the gut instinct that we could be happy together, but we ignored it out of fear as well as doubt. Years later, fate crossed our paths again...and we realized there was something, but our current situations held us hostage and convinced us we could only be friends. As time went by...he became the best friend I could ever have. And after both of us learned many hard lessons in our previous relationships, we found ourselves ready for each other. The Saboteur became our ally, and we recognized what was best for both of us...releasing the past, embracing a more empowering future.

Saboteur

By Felina Lune Kavi

Kali…

Destroyer of maya,

Annihilator of ignorance…

Dismember me in the shadows.

Release me from samsara;

Devour time.

I am…

A hand on your hip,

A head on your breast…

Fear not the fierce creatrix

Who absorbs all darkness

To birth the light.

Archetypal Exploration: Felina's 6th House- Liberator

The 6th House of Astrology is about daily work, routines, health and healing. This is my busiest house, with three conjunctions of two residing here in my natal chart. The first conjunction is between Mars retrograde and Pallas (Athena) retrograde in Libra. Here, the warrior within is balanced between masculine initiative and feminine wisdom. The retrogrades suggest that the 'battle' is an inward one. The second conjunction is between Saturn retrograde and Pluto retrograde in Libra. The teacher and transformer are also working in harmony on an inward level. The third conjunction is between Sappho retrograde and Jupiter Retrograde in Scorpio. Here my inner love poet works with the generosity and growth of Jupiter, directing expansive and enlightening energy within.

Many times, when a 6th House is filled with this much activity, it will be an indicator that the person is a workaholic...or at the very least, always busy. But with all of that energy directed inward by the retrogrades, the bulk of this work takes place behind the scenes. While I always have a lot going on in my life, my never-ending work involves my physical health and healing. Always changing because of inner revelations, my Butterfly totem resides in this house as well. The archetype that resides here is the Liberator. The ways in which I've liberated myself, and continue to do so, provide me with the voice of the Liberator to help others to do the same. This house has much to do with service, and even with the retrogrades, it's not all self-serving. I've found that the reason I continue on a path of spiritual transformation is to assist others to liberate themselves from their own unhealthy patterns and habits that inhibit their Soul's growth.

Liberator

By Felina Lune Kavi

Start at the roots…

Climb the tree.

Follow the limb

That will set you free.

Build strong your armor…

Go deep within.

The Soul’s renewal

Can now begin.

Curious Caterpillar,

Change as time goes by.

Crack open the chrysalis

You create,

Become the Butterfly.

Even in the stillness,

Hard work is never done…

In the darkness of the night

And in the warmth of Sun.

Curious Caterpillar,

Dreaming of the sky.

Crack open the chrysalis

You create,

Become the Butterfly.

The Soul is a gentle whisper

Urging life to grow.

Change is in the moment

Of becoming what you know.

Wings enfolding wonder

Within transparent walls.

Transformation shows the way

To fly where Spirit calls.

Curious Caterpillar,

You know as well as I.

Crack open the chrysalis

You create,

Become the Butterfly.

Archetypal Exploration: Felina's 5th House- Prostitute

The Fifth House of Astrology is about creativity, children, romance, good fortune, and speculative ventures. Psyche is in Retrograde in my 5th house, pulling this energy inward...a Goddess within. My Prostitute archetype also resides in this house. Another one of the Survival archetypes that plays a crucial role in the soul's journey, all of us learn the Prostitute's lesson of integrity in various ways. This Fifth House area of life is where I learned to have faith in myself, the Goddess within, and the God that connects us all to Her. Caroline Myss, in her book 'Sacred Contracts', calls the Prostitute archetype our "Guardian of Faith." I recommend this book if you like to read...and if you're reading this, you probably do. Caroline Myss goes on to explain the healing challenge contained within the lesson of the fifth house is like 'entering the desert'. She compares it to "the Dark Night of the soul described by mystics...you are no longer receiving energy from the world you have left behind, but you also have not yet established a flow of energy from the next stage of your life. That period of aridity--the desert--can be exhausting and depressing as you symbolically thirst for God."

I walked this desert before, and I learned that lesson. It's a lesson of how much of yourself (body, mind, and soul) you are willing to give up for physical security. When Alyrica was born, I tried to stay with her father so her idea of family wouldn't be broken...even though our relationship was no longer good for any of us. I had to find faith in myself, after she was born, that I could create the family she needs. I became empowered again, and detached from the life that had once fearfully held me back from my own authority. In that lesson, I had the good fortune of finding that Michael was the man I'm meant to be with forever. And in that experience, I found God...connecting eternally to the Goddess within.

So for this Mercury Retrograde's Archetypal Exploration, I'm honoring the Prostitute archetype as well as Psyche and Eros. A strange combination, at first glance, but it is my life I'm dissecting here. I'm compelled to discover deeper meanings than what appears on the surface. In other words, look beyond what we know of prostitutes and discover the crisis of faith and loss of integrity that they represent. This archetype has become an ally in guiding me through the path of my own power, alerting me to the warning signs of compromising my values for breakable promises of physical security. With awareness, I hope you can see how this archetype can be an ally to your own life...coming out from the shadows to show you the meaning of faith, however it pertains to your own spiritual path.

Interesting, perhaps only to me, is that today Mercury Retrogrades through the degree where my 5th House begins. I didn't plan it, but my Psyche's own retrograde must have been working in synch with Mercury's retrograde transit. The sabian symbol for Leo 23 is 'A bareback rider'. So I guess I'm going to keep boldly riding on the path I've ridden, but never written, before.

Prostitute

by Felina Lune Kavi

Down the street where she sold herself,

she walks in scuffed-up heels...

balancing the new weight of change,

forgetting how she might look so strange,

discovering how she truly feels.

In daytime, this journey is a hardened desert;

the dark nights she knew have passed...

clicks along concrete the only sound,

echoing off hotels and offices all around.

Then a moment's peace at last.

Her baby kicks inside her womb,

announcing why she's here...

there's no more security in what she's done,

she steps forward into maturity for this little one.

It's time to get rid of fear.

Facing the trash can on this familiar corner,

she kicks off those tired shoes...

she throws them away with all of that pain,

away with that emptiness and all of that shame.

Her soul has been renewed.

The New Wings of Psyche

by Felina Lune Kavi

The creative key to the soul is in passwords:

you say 'harm none' and 'love always' with true meaning...

and harmonious expression explodes into Psyche,

her spiritual faith unfolds into wings,

and she ascends with Eros

in ecstasy of love eternal...creating bliss.

Eros in January

by Felina Lune Kavi

It's cold here tonight...
wrap me warm in your skin,
lock me up in your sight,
hold me close and breathe in...
and out.

Outside in the dark...
a new moon on the rise.
We are lost under stars
in the most beautiful sky.

Eros in January,
you touch the soul within me.
Eros in January,
fast as love flies through you and me.

Our hearts beat whole at last,
in the wake of our dreams.
I'm too in love to ask,
is this really what it seems...
to be?

Beyond what we believed
of what love ever meant,
this love is all we need
to know our soul's full intent.

Eros in January,
you touch the soul within me.
Eros in January,
fast as love flies through you and me.

Archetypal Exploration: Felina's 4th House- Poet

The Fourth House is the house of home and family. Here I have the asteroid, Eros, representing love. My Poet archetype is also closely associated with the Lover within. I have a deep love for family, and I create a loving home environment like a nest. For this, and many other reasons, my Hummingbird totem connects with this archetype.

I started writing poetry around the age of 8. Unlike many of my other artistic talents, this talent was only encouraged by others...never rejected. My second grade teacher, Mrs. Lane, complimented my poetry and writing one day...and ever since, it's been my guiding passion. Poetry has helped me communicate the way I see the world, and it has also been a salvation of sorts during the toughest times in my life. Had I not kept a journal of poems or had this outlet to express myself, I wouldn't be the same person today. Everything I love, I see with the eyes of a poet.

Poet

By Felina Lune Kavi

The poet is a hummingbird;

Her words, a joyful dance.

Her life, a sensuous wonderland,

Is the nectar of romance.

Something of beauty catches her eye

And causes her to hover.

She hums the moment magically,

Embodying the Lover.

The universe inspires multi-verse

Within the poet’s heart.

Love abounds in the world around

To feed her soulful art.

An open heart like an open book,

A rainbow kissing flowers.

The miracle of living love and light,

The beauty of her powers.

The Poet nests her eggs and rests

On a limb from her Poet Tree.

Her warmth and love gives birth to life,

Creating what she sees.

The universe inspires multi-verse

Within the poet’s heart.

Love abounds in the world around

To feed her soulful art.

Small as we may be, she says,

We sing the sacred key.

Our medicine hums happiness.

In each moment, we are free.

Archetypal Exploration: Felina's 3rd House- Visionary

The 3rd House of Astrology is about communication and self-knowledge. It is in this house that my North Lunar Node in Cancer resides. The north node shows us the qualities our soul urges us to develop in this lifetime...and it's not always an easy road to travel at first. Growth and wisdom come from the journeys along this path. In Cancer, the north node guided me toward motherhood first. However reluctant and scared of this process I was, this was a defining factor of my own maturity. After developing this new outlook on life, the path lead me on to exploring shamanism. This was no easy road either...but it is, like motherhood, a necessity to my path of self-actualization. My Jaguar totem and Visionary archetype are linked to this area of life, and this is why I communicate with symbolism and foresight. I have since freed myself from the limitations of what others might think of the peculiar way I see the world...and I honor the truth I see in the way I give my words.

Visionary

by Felina Lune Kavi

Into the golden eyes of the jungle cat…

The Seer sees within the shadows,

Stalking through the tangled jungle

Of the human mind.

On the hunt for our fears of freedom,

Jaguar peers into the darkness,

Pounces upon the prey of promise,

And feeds the Spirit.

Moonlit eyes arise in gratitude,

For the stars hold worlds of verity

When the power within connects

To our symbolic sight.

Visions integrate a path of integrity

Between the Blue Road of Spirit

And the Red Road of Physical Life…

A harmonious bridge.

Jaguar leads through lessons of Self…

Respect, discipline and actualization.

Short-cuts through the Ego’s Jungle

To the center of the Soul.

Archetypal Exploration: Felina's 2nd House- Victim

The second house in astrology is about life values, resources, and finances. The Victim is one of the four survival archetypes that all of us share, whether we like it or not, and it is the guardian of self-esteem which teaches us how we become victimized or how we victimize others. Like all archetypes, the Victim is essentially neutral with a light side and a shadow side. Most of us are familiar with how the shadow side plays out...but the light attributes of the Victim show us where we might give up our own empowerment to avoid taking responsibility for our own independence.

Those of you who know me well know that I value generosity over monetary gain. Those of you who know me even better sense that I might actually have a fear of money and the evils that come from its misuse. Regardless of the fact that I would never misuse it for destructive ends, I'm still not that comfortable with needing it for survival. I value the giving of myself over the receiving for myself...and it's not a prosperous way to live...at least, not on the material plane.

It's been my ever-present shadow for as long as I can remember...and acknowledging it was just the first step. I actually have to embrace this and transmute it into something helpful rather than destructive. So, that's where I find myself. Facing my shadow, and finding the light within.

Victim

by Felina Lune Kavi

I value the Earth as our sacred home,

the Goddess within and without.

Downtrodden by the soles of our souls,

Forgotten Mother, for use and for gain.

I value Her generosity and love

in the hands of greed and fear.

I champion the underdog

and try to ease Her pain.

I value the natural order of life

from the predator to its prey.

I value the Victim who takes a stand

and changes the rules of the game.

I value the strength of the Mother we share

so I give and I give and forgive,

but I've placed no value in man-made gain...

for that, I'm the only to blame.

I value my Spirit which calls to me,

"You, too, deserve to receive."

I release myself from the fear of our power

and make it a means to sustain.

Archetypal Exploration: Felina's 1st House- Storyteller

In Astrology, the 12 houses represent the areas of life where planetary energies and archetypal forces play out through the positioning of planets at birth and in transit. In my 1st house, the house of Self, I have Chiron (the wounded healer) on my Taurus Ascendant. It is in this house that my Storyteller archetype holds great significance in my life. My sense of self is one with the Storyteller. This is how I teach, this is how I learn, and this is how I honor my life and the lives of others...by telling the stories that shine the light through mundane existence and into the heart of the lives we live. The writer and actor in me are connected to this archetype as well. I tell the story, write the words, and show the acts...in this way, I am able to heal the wounds that would otherwise stagnate the story. One of my totems, the spider, is connected to this archetype as well. Watching her at work calls me back to the connectivity of all things that inspires me to weave intricate webs.

Storyteller

by Felina Lune Kavi

She spins a web of life and death;

Words of wisdom in every breath.

Each path she measures by design,

Creating circles to intertwine.

The story starts from a single string,

Connecting us to everything.

The plot is thick for each lot we choose.

The lesson is clearest as it concludes.

New Blessing Moon and Solar Eclipse: The Force

Part One: May the Force Be with You (and Not Against You)…

"It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.” –Obi-Wan Kenobi

There are many definitions of ‘force’, and this quote describes well the mythical/allegorical one many of us grew up with. And it certainly applies to the energy I’m about to describe, if you look into the mythic journey popularized by the Star Wars saga. However, there are other definitions that may hit even closer to home during this final stage in the trilogy of eclipses this summer.

This eclipse aligns with 3 outer planets (Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto) in an aspect configuration called a Cardinal Grand Cross. For those of you who were reading along last year, you may notice we are revisiting a similar energy now from last summer. Same Cross, but with less planets involved. When the planets and luminaries are in the four cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn)…something karmic is taking action. In fact, action is unavoidable now. Especially for those who, during the last eclipse, didn’t pay much attention to the aperture of light shining into our own shadows…this upcoming eclipse will literally FORCE you to see yourself in a light you can’t possibly ignore.

In this energy field, we may find ourselves faced with one or more of these challenges:

1. Someone or something strong and powerful will force us to move or take action (you may see this on a grand scale as well, like the flooding in our part of the country).

2. An influence will change our course or produce action or stress in our lives if we are not already working toward a beneficial goal (this is what you will see most often in those who have been resistant to changing their lives for the better).

3. We may, ourselves, be a force exerting power or influence over a situation or others (for those that read this, I would hope that use of ‘The Force’ would be more Jedi than Sith…and, indeed, times may call for such action).

4. We will see the powerful effect of something we have said or done.

5. A group of people (perhaps with you included) may band together and organize to create a necessary change.

6. Things may be broken into or taken by force.

7. You may feel the need to force yourself to do something that is uncomfortable or new to you.

8. Many of the changes we face will not come easily…they will take action and much effort.

9. You will be confronted with the potency of your own personal power and realize your own potential.

Part Two: Diamonds in the Rough…

The Solar Eclipse is Friday at 3:38am CDT and the New Blessing Moon begins several minutes later at 3:54am CDT. The degree of the zodiac being highlighted by both events is the 10^th degree of Cancer. The Sabian Symbol for this degree is ‘A large diamond, not completely cut’.

The theme of this energy is that of a ‘diamond in the rough.’ The best way to express this energy is to recognize the value of yourself, others, and your situation…emerging as if a latent potential is about to be fully revealed. Shake off the illusion that you need to appear perfect before stepping forward…even a rough-cut diamond is still a diamond. Your inner light is invincible (after all, the word ‘diamond’ derives from the Ancient Greek meaning ‘invincible’) and potent. You will shine either way…all you have to do is break away from your self-limiting constraints (which has been an ongoing process, but it does get easier as the summer moves past these initial lessons of self-knowledge and integrity.

And look outside yourself as well…everyone is struggling with these themes in different ways. You can help others along by valuing and amplifying the positive traits of those around you. With patience and care, you can reveal your highest attributes while encouraging others to do the same.

Now, many times I will focus on the positive actions we can take in order to do the most good during these times of struggle…but it doesn’t mean I ignore that things are in massive upheaval (after all, these particular aspects of massive upheaval have been going on since last spring/summer). These aspects have coincided with things (which are still ongoing even if the media has moved on) such as the oil spill in the gulf, the Fukushima disaster, the upheaval of old regimes across the world, natural (and even unnatural) disasters, etcetera…ad nauseam.

In times like these, when powerful and drastic changes are so concentrated all around the world…condensed into a few years which look bleak at best from the world-view…sometimes the best we can do with our diamond-in-the-rough spirit is to shine our light into the wounds closest to home rather than scatter our energies into every direction the collective shadow rears its ugly head. The energy initiated by a Cardinal Grand Cross can feel like we are being pulled (or forced) in multiple directions at once. When we give more energy to one cardinal direction…the others jerk us back harder. The oppositions in this aspect configuration call for balance, while the squares call for action to alleviate the tension. Without actions of balance, and balances of action…we risk the tug-o-wars that oppositions can bring, and the extreme stress and duress that squares can bring. The diamond represents balance and abundance, and amplifies energy. To do the most good, we can amplify the positive rather than the negative.

Part Three: The Cross That Binds…

The Cardinal Grand Cross is a great initiator of action (I should know…there is one present in my own chart! It makes for a life full of change and challenges, but a great deal of self-motivation to actualize your goals. If you’ve ever wondered why I go by four different names…though most of you only know one or two of them…this describes why. If you want to know more about that, just ask). Grand Crosses are much like diamonds-in-the-rough, as far as aspect configurations go. The uncomfortable tension of the right angles may cloud the fact that its design is like a nucleus of structure and strength that can be a tremendous resource. Finding the point of balance and integration in order to use this gift properly is a difficult challenge, but it can be done. The key comes from developing balance between the two oppositions. When balanced, they are wielding the same amount of force on the planets that are connected by the 90 degree squares, creating a solid foundation.

Many times, these four cardinal points activated will call forth issues of identity. The Aries planet (in this case, Uranus “the innovator”) inspires action that impulsively expresses the self. The Cancer planet (in this case, our luminaries, the Sun and Moon “the ego” and “the emotions”) inspires action that sees to the nurturance of the emotional identity. The Libra planet (in this case, Saturn “the teacher”) inspires action that connects the social and intellectual identity. And finally, the Capricorn planet (in this case, Pluto “the transformer”) inspires action toward recognizing the tangible manifestation of the identity.

In the energy building now, the luminaries are illuminating our latent power and the emotions surrounding it. Uranus is illuminating enthusiastic energy toward self-improvement through change. Saturn is illuminating the honing of our intellectual skills for the benefit of imparting the wisdom of experience onto others. Pluto is illuminating the mundane transformations we are being forced to make with the hidden resources of personal power we don’t always recognize. All of these illuminated aspects of our identities (individual and collective) are pushing and pulling in four different directions.

In many cases, this Cross can represent an identity crisis if not balanced…and during this summer, that crisis is on a global scale. The four points involved are each pushing to express a facet of the identity, yet each operates from a different level and perspective of the self. This can cause people to feel overstretched or pulled apart. The influence can also cause frustration based on the desire to take action without a sense of focus or direction. Contained within the cross, the action or reaction lacks an outlet…but in this case, there is an inconjunct aspect from Pluto to Mars that we may use as an outlet.

The Finale: 3-2-1 ACTIVATE!

Mars “the warrior” is all about action, echoing what this Cardinal Grand Cross is forcing us to recognize. The inconjunct aspect is one that requires stepping into new, possibly uncomfortable, territory in order to learn and grow. In the 9^th degree of Gemini, Mars activates the Sabian symbol of “a quiver filled with arrows”…a symbol that has much to do with preparation. With energetic and mental preparedness, we find the key to stability and accuracy in this time of crisis is to be poised and confident…ready to skillfully aim our ideas toward action. Be alert to the stressors of this time and how they relate to the identity. Maintaining a sense of focus on the bull’s eye in the center of this Cross while acknowledging that there is an action needed in order to express the self and uniqueness of the self makes it less difficult to make decisions.

Love and Gratitude,

Felina Lune Kavi

PS- Music for the Soul from now throughout this weekend...particularly while watching fireworks in the dark moon sky..."Cosmic Love" by Florence + The Machine.

Strong Sun Full Moon and Total Lunar Eclipse: The Aperture

The Full Moon Eclipse at 3:12pm CDT on Wednesday, June 15^th opens a portal of cosmic energy from the Galactic Center. This opening is an opportunity to consciously connect to the shadows within. During a Lunar Eclipse, the Earth passes between the two luminaries and the Earth’s shadow falls on the face of the Moon…so while it evokes experiences that confront your own shadow nature, it also evokes the collective shadow of the Earth itself.

This energy is an emotionally intense transformation of death and rebirth…where the shadow conceals the light of the self (Sun) from being reflected in the emotional body (Moon) for a brief time before the light returns. Eclipse energy is a quickening of time, healing opportunities, and confrontation with who we really are and what no longer resonates at the vibration of our highest frequency. We often come across times that are astrologically sound for ‘out with the old, in with the new’ cleansings of our lives…but this particular eclipse would be the once in a lifetime chance to have the universe act as a cosmic converter for everything that no longer serves us on our planet. Most of this process will not happen easily…crumbling foundations will leave a mess and people facing drastic confrontations of self may react with kicking and screaming victimization. However, there is a wide open door for those who wish to do the work required and get right with themselves for their own sake, and the sake of those they love.

Eclipse energy often highlights accelerated changes, clearing, eliminating, releasing, and transforming so new energies have room to manifest and grow. This can be like opening up a dark storage closet that hasn’t been opened for years, and thinning out the excess by determining what can be kept and what can be thrown out. Most of the things you find here will bring up shadows of your past, and you’ll have to let go of those attachments so that your new, more true to you, life has room to breathe.

The Sabian Symbol for this Full Moon Eclipse is “a chubby boy on a hobbyhorse”. This is a symbol that connotes adolescence, coming of age, practicing manhood, asserting bravado, egotism, and threats in order to assume the role of alpha male. The projection of macho attitude swings back and forth like the gait of a galloping horse…full swing confrontation, and then retreat, and back and forth again…worked to a frenzy then released. Much effort will be put in to getting everyone involved or at least watching this display of assertiveness. It is mostly show, but something may also come to a head. Be careful not to feed the dramatic behavior that may be asserted during this time. You have better, more important things to do…no matter how important these types of people may want to appear. Keep in mind they aren’t even riding a real horse in this act. ;) Go do the good things for yourself that will better serve you at this time…and let others beat a dead horse if they will.

We still have another eclipse to finish this sequence at the next new moon (July 1st). Here we are at the midpoint...what we do in this energy will determine what will come in a few weeks.

Love and Gratitude,

Felina Lune Kavi

Strong Sun New Moon and Solar Eclipse: The Initiation

On June 1^st at 4:01pm, the moon starts a new phase as the Strong Sun Moon. At 4:15pm, there is a partial solar eclipse in the 12^th degree of Gemini. The Sabian Symbol for the New Moon is “Newly opened lands offer the pioneer new opportunities”, while the Sabian Symbol for the eclipse is “A slave girl demands her rights.”

Let’s begin with the New Moon. With the Sun-Moon illuminating as conjoined twins in Gemini, our luminaries form a harmonious trine with Saturn in Libra. Saturn in this position reminds us of others…cooperation, peacekeeping, and balance are the important lessons of this taskmaster in the sign of relationships. The trine promotes understanding, teamwork, and creative flow between the three. A new phase is opening up for us, and opportunities to succeed are conveniently there for the taking (as long as you make the effort…the natural tendency with a trine is to simply coast in the ease of it, but you’ll find more benefit from accomplishing something worthwhile now that you have this opportunity).

Each New Moon phase brings a new start with new opportunities, but this one even more so. We’re being initiated into a very intense few months (as a very powerful lunar eclipse and another powerful solar eclipse will all happen this summer in alignments that, in one way or another, will demand or command your attention). Here’s where we prepare for what’s to come by shedding old skin and identifying more with the completeness of who we are, as these are the changes we’ll be faced with this summer.

After those new opportunities from the New Moon present themselves, a first glimpse at our collective shadow appears. This first eclipse, though less intense than the two that follow, is a wake up call. After identifying what it is we need to do, and what it is we need to leave behind, in order to be the change we wish to see in the world…we may be backed into a corner by that which has held power over us for so long now. It’s important not to give in and go the easy route that takes little effort but has far-reaching drawbacks and debilitating limitations. Here, we will be called upon to demand our rights in the face of what we have allowed to limit our truly limitless selves. This may show up in the world view as more power-struggles, more signs of revolution, or more calls for change in our failing societal structures. But even more important is what is going on within each of us.

There is light and shadow within each of us. Many of us hide from our shadows by playing the victim and pointing fingers outside of us…whether it be at parents, relationships, or the evils of the world around us. We have these experiences, though, to teach us the whole truth about ourselves and our interconnectedness to what we experience. Those people, those situations, those struggles…they are mirrors reflecting what we refuse to acknowledge about ourselves.

The shadow side of our personalities are the parts of us we don’t want to identify with…the aspects of ourselves that we hide, repress, or dissociate after society teaches us various things that aim to correct what is ‘wrong’ or wild about us. We’re conditioned to watch our tempers, hold back our tears, look presentable, concern ourselves with money, keep our heads out of the clouds, not say something stupid or crazy, or any other variation on what blocks our self-expression. This is not to say that letting children run wild is the way to raise them. My parents laid down ‘the law’ for us, just as I find myself doing with my daughter now. But discipline is about teaching right from wrong and guiding along a morally sound path. Those are not the limitations to which I am referring. I’m talking about what makes us feel worthless, unloved, misunderstood, maladjusted, less than, wounded, afraid, disconnected or wrong. Harsh judgments stay with us, whether they come from outside or within. It’s those ideas that keep us from our highest potential. That is the shadow side at work…phantom pains from old wounds that demand that we heal them in order to discover our gifts.

No one can heal your own wounds but you. The Age of Pisces has been swimming in a martyr’s wounds for so long that we’ve grown disconnected to the collective undercurrent we share as living beings facing a new age. In terms of salvation, you have all you need to save, redeem, and reclaim yourself. In terms of damnation, you’ve handmade the shackles you wear…and only you have the key to free yourself from this story you’ve created with beliefs you’ve accepted until now. Looking outside of yourself for answers, for cues, for acceptance or reassurance…you’ll only be drowning yourself in the Piscean dream of the past. In the Age of Aquarius, you either identify with the Water Bearer who determines the flow…or you can be the victim who washes away with the past. Taking responsibility for who we are and what kind of world we co-create is key to the changes we are learning to make now.

This eclipse hastens us to begin or resume our healing process. Step out of self-defeating cycles and forge a new path filled with new discoveries. Identify your wounds, integrate your shadows in your healing and loving light, and identify yourself as whole in the process. Shed the limiting skin of the past and welcome the new you, unwounded.

Love and gratitude,

Felina Lune Kavi