markspringle.com

Dear Friends,

Venus is the planet that we associate with value, finances, relationships, and love. From a more esoteric point of view, Venus symbolizes our power to attract that which we need or to recognize our resources. With respect to our own talents and values, Venus can represent our ability to “see” what we have. Venus rules the natural second house of Taurus, which is the area of our horoscope where we look to understand our innate talents and resources.  These resources act as attractants, kind of like the mysterious pheromones insects use to attract each other for mating. When we are aware of our talents and resources, we can use them consciously, like the color or nectar of a flower will attract a bee for the purpose of pollination. The flower is using its resources to attract that which will, ultimately, give the flower what it wants. This is why the “principle of attraction” is so attractive to us. The idea that we can create the experiences we want to have is almost too much to accept, especially when the bulk of our daily experience is often spent reacting to that which we would rather avoid.

If we broaden our perspective of Venus from the individual in isolation to the individual in relation to others, we find that the same rule of attraction applies, only now it applies to relationships, and from here, we make the leap to love. This is Venus as the ruler of the seventh house of Libra: balancing our needs with the needs of others. Just as the recognition of our own talents and resources can lead to our conscious use of them to produce the experiences we would like to have, the conscious use of these resources will also bring us into contact with people who appreciate our ability to manage these resources, much the same way that talented performers attract audiences to their shows. By embracing their talents, they create demand for them, and the hapless audience is powerless to resist their magic. In this way, Venus both helps us to recognize our talents, and to share them with others.

The problem with the expression of Venus in our lives is that sometimes we are NOT aware of our talents or resources, OR we do NOT embrace them. There are too many reasons for this to examine them all, but I believe that my own struggle with Venus can be reduced to two main influences: the fear of rejection if I allow myself to express my unique talents, and the need to please others by giving them what they want. As a people-pleaser, any recognition I receive from others is hollow because they are recognizing something that isn’t sincerely me, but a mere shadow that I produce for them in order to experience their approval. The relationships that follow are unsatisfactory because they only allow me to present my shadow self, while my true self is denied and atrophies from lack of use.

There are many good performers in the world who do not embrace their talents. These are the amazing people we never meet, never hear about, and never pay to see on stage who are currently enjoying posthumous fame through Susan Boyle. I was an amazing astrologer for many years, but you never knew, did you? Well, I didn’t give you a chance to know because I was too busy trying to figure out what you wanted: a great English teacher? No. How about a caring and insightful realtor? No. Would you care for a yoga teacher? Getting warmer… Finally, I realized that I had a talent not only for astrology, but for communicating difficult concepts. I also had the resources necessary to support and manage my talent, and the rest, as they say, is history. I do not yet have a syndicated column with a major magazine, but if you know someone, please forward them a link to my site and tell them you love me! However, I do have two things I never had before: a purpose and a genuine love of what I do. With these two things, my entire world went from good to great! My older relationships are better because I am happier with myself. My newer relationships are more authentic because what they see in me is ME, not a mere shadow I project for them. Of course, as I began acting more authentically, I had to let some relationships go. I miss the idea of them, but I do not miss the feeling of never being able to be myself for fear of rejection.

I share all of this with you because I think many of you are like me in some way, either unsure of where your resources and talents lie, or too afraid to let them shine. This past Tuesday, July 21, we had a solar eclipse at 29 degrees Cancer and the message could not have been more clear: Let go of whatever dead weight from the past is holding you back, dragging you down, and preventing you from moving forward. Change is the natural essence of all natural processes and anything that prevents change, not matter how familiar, is an enemy of nature. We are natural beings and we must experience change if we are to experience life.

On the day of this eclipse, Venus in Gemini squared Saturn in Virgo. I have been talking so much about Saturn in Virgo for over a year now. Saturn brings structure and form to our experience. Saturn can also hold us back until we have developed the discipline we need in order to move forward and experience change. Too much change when we aren’t ready and we can get swept away, but if we are strong enough, if our foundation is strong, the winds of change will not destroy us, even if our circumstance or view is altered. Saturn in Virgo calls for a self-adjustment. The square to Venus occurring on the same day as this very strong eclipse tells us that there is a demand for us to pay attention to the details of how we attract the experiences we have. How are we failing to recognize or to use our resources and talents? How are we failing our selves and our loved ones by not being authentic in our relationships. How do we create our own financial difficulties? These are all challenges which we must face as the square plays out during this eclipse cycle. Traditional astrology dictates that the influence of an eclipse lasts as long in years as the eclipse lasts in minutes. This could mean a 6 year process of restoring Venus to her natural dignity, but personally, I think it could happen much sooner for all of us if we were able to overcome our fear and accept ourselves for who we really are, warts and all.

While squaring Saturn, Venus will also be squaring Uranus, and this could cause all sorts of unexpected sparks to fly. Uranus brings sudden and unexpected change, which many people experience as drama, because they are not able or willing to accommodate the sudden demand for change. We may loose everything, or gain everything with this transit. Unless we can accept that change brings growth and try to understand our situation in this light, we will not recognize the wealth this change offers. Uranus can also bring some heat or anger to a situation, so pay attention if the urge to argue rears its ugly head. If you are meek, then expressing this anger could be the very trigger that releases you from the past and the things that hold you back, or if you are always fighting, then resisting the urge could be what sets you free. Only you will know.

Venus will be highly aspected this coming week, with a trine to the stellium of Jupiter, Chiron, and Neptune in Aquarius. This stellium is ushering us into the Age of Aquarius by bringing a strong concentration of healing, spiritual, and mentoring energy into the sign most concerned with freedom, innovation, and consciousness. As this healing energy works its magic into our lives, we may feel more secure, more connected, and more supported by our experiences. If we are feeling more alienated, and some of us are, then we are not letting go of the past and the fear that has had its grips around us for too long. Letting go is the only solution. Neptune will dissolve for us what is not needed, Jupiter offers healing and spiritual awakening, and Chiron is there is to show us the way to turn our biggest wounds into our biggest strengths. None of this can happen until we let go and open the door to the possibility for growth and change.

Venus will be engaged in a grand air trine with this stellium and the Moon in Monday, July 27th. Pay close and special attention to what comes up for you on this day. There will be gold available that day, but you must be aware and conscious enough to see it. Gold often looks just like plain dirt until it is processed. It takes a willing and sensitive eye and an open heart to discern the special from the mundane.

There is always so much more to talk about than time allows, so I will end with a simple reminder to all: Growth = change = evolution.

Embrace this chance to grow by finding the gold in the mud.

with love

m

MOORE TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS WEEK’S ASTROLOGY

Dear Friends,

It is very rare to have two consecutive new moons in a row, but on July 21, we will have the second of two new Moons in Cancer. The first was on June 22 at 1 degree of Cancer, opposing Pluto. Pluto represents transformations, most notably the transformation from life to death. For the past month, we have been captivated by the deaths of so many pop culture icons. The sign of Cancer represents the past and these deaths have taken us back to the memories of earlier days, whether they were good or bad. It is hard not to be nostalgic when these things happen.

This second new Moon on Tuesday July 21 will be at the final degree of Cancer, and its power will last longer than usual as it is also the most intense solar eclipse of the century: the Moon will spend more time between the Sun and Earth during this eclipse than any other eclipse this century. The last degree of any sign is expiative, or purgative, or a degree of fate. A new Moon is the beginning of a new cycle or a time to start something new. Well, what fate must be purged at the end of Cancer? The act of living in the past, clinging to the past, refusing to let go of the past, etc. The first Cancer new Moon opposed Pluto, and we knew that we were going to have change or transform, that we would need to let something go. Now, this second new Moon, a powerful eclipse, is telling us that the past is done and if we are going to weather the fate of change to which we are all subject, then we must let go of what has been and bring our attention, our focus, and our talents to the here and now.

I have been reminding us all over and over again that Saturn is opposing Uranus. Saturn is what has been built, what exists, the structure in our lives. Uranus is change and freedom from what is restrictive and from what prevents change. The things in our lives that do not promote both expansion and support, the things that weigh us down and prevent our evolution, these things will be removed by Uranus. Obviously, these things are part of our past. The fact that this eclipse is happening in the sign of Cancer, at 29 degrees, after we have already had a Cancer new Moon in June, reminds us that we must let go of the past, stop clinging to what used to be, and move forward into the day that exists right now.

In less than an hour after the eclipse starts, the Moon will move into Leo and the past will be, metaphorically, over. The Sun will follow within a few hours, and the most intense solar eclipse of the 21st century will be over. We will need to move forward, as well, to make space for the changes in our lives that are happening everyday, that will continue to happen everyday, and that will bring us into a new state of being where we can experience greater freedom and a larger sense of community. Ultimately, all of this is moving us towards the Age of Aquarius: harmony and understanding…. But in order to create a new Age, we must say goodbye the old one.

with love

m

MOORE TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS WEEK’S ASTROLOGY

The ancient disciplines of Yoga and Astrology have been practiced together in the East for thousands of years. Both disciplines have as their goal a uniting of the individual self with the Universal Consciousness.

Join Mark for a relaxed presentation of the basics of astrology, including an explanation of the most common symbols used by astrologers, as well as an explication of the current cosmic energy flow.

I will be in DC for the entire week sharing my intimate knowledge of your talents, challenges, weaknesses, and strengths to help you have a better experience of your life.

The keys to unlocking relationship needs, family dynamics, insecurities, talents, and resources are all in the birthchart.

To schedule your time, please contact Mark directly. $150 per session with discounts for students, seniors, un/under– employed folks… Just ask! Readings make great gifts, too!

Contact me directly through Facebook, or markspringle@gmail.com, or 305.401.8863

Location and directions

Dear Friends,

For me, it seems as though time is accelerating right now. Somehow I fit entire days into an hour, and things that I used to need a week to process now filter through my understanding in minutes. This is the nature of Uranus, bringing sudden and unexpected change to the stagnant areas of our lives. Uranus just stationed on July 2nd, sitting still at 26 degrees Pisces. Any of us who have significant points at 26 degrees of the Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces) will be feeling this demand to let go of what has stalled and to bring creative change to the area(s) of our lives affected. Uranus is also in mutual reception with Jupiter in Aquarius, who is currently at 25 degrees Aquarius. When planets are in mutual reception, they act as if they are sharing the same apartment for a while, helping each other out with the chores. Thus, significant points in the later degrees of the Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius) are also experiencing a shift in the way that they operate. Everyone has a unique combination of these signs in their chart, but not everyone has these particular degrees highlighted. For this reason, some of us feel the pull of this tide more than others.

Jupiter, Neptune, and Chiron are all sitting together at roughly 25 degrees of Aquarius. Mars is the spark that ignites the fuse on cosmic firecrackers. Mars will square the trio of planets sitting together at 25 Aquarius through Saturday, July 11. A square is a test or challenge. Mars is action. With Neptune involved in this trio, we must be aware that our perceptions of what is real is not dependable, but this does not mean that they are not helpful. Neptune can represent the dreams which inspire us, or the delusions which trap and undo us. Neptune can represent spirituality, but also escapism. Jupiter can represent higher understanding, religion, and the Law, but it can also magnify whatever it touches. If Jupiter magnifies the dark side of Neptune, we will experience more delusion and the need to escape from a reality we cannot bear. If Jupiter magnifies the light side of Neptune, then we will be greatly inspired by a vision or a dream. Astrology is the study of opportunities, but now that we have some idea of what the opportunities are, we are RESPONSIBLE for directing the choices we make in the face of these opportunities. Chiron represents our deepest psychic wound, along with the wisdom that comes from the experience of healing that wound. Again, either the light or the dark side could manifest for us: it is up to us to make conscious choices that direct the energy.

We had a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse highlighting the Capricorn/Cancer axis of our charts last week on July 7th. This triggered the middle degree signs of the Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn.) Most people had one of two experiences: a comforting, pleasant and reassuring feeling that all was good, or a crisis where it became clear that things were NOT good. Either way, this experience combined with the demand for action from Mars as he challenges the illusions, delusions, or inspirations that we are creating for ourselves, will bring the issues to head this week. Uranus is retrograde now, giving us time to integrate the change he has instigated. Look out for Wednesday as the day which on which this energy is released, as the Moon will conjunct Uranus in the early morning hours at the same time that the Sun and Mercury conjunct in a trine configuration to Uranus. A new perspective is definitely called for here, and since Mars has already lit the fuse, we can expect the Moon to react as all of these forces come to head. On Thursday, the demand for a new perspective is carried over to a quincunx relationship with our three Aquarians, reinforcing the need to adjust our perspectives in order to direct the tides of change in a direction which creates a more positive experience - or we can abdicate our responsibility to sail our own ships, and we can just take our lumps.  We can expect lots of people to be unbalanced and caught off guard: drama, escapism, and overflowing emotions will surface, but if we are being responsible and taking care of ourselves properly, addressing what needs to be addressed, we can keep our heads above the fray and keep ourselves grounded enough to help those we love find their way through the unavoidable changes that we must all embrace.

Be well!

m

MOORE TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS WEEK’S ASTROLOGY

Dear Friends,

The times, they are a changin’. No doubt about it. Everywhere we look, we can see change happening. From the US federal government down to the CA and SC state governments, from Iran to Rwanda, from Korea North and South, to Honduras and Nicaragua, things are changing. These changes are represented by the current occupation of the sign Capricorn, which rules governments, and by the planet Pluto, which rulestransformations . Pluto will be in Capricorn for 16 years, and by the time we get to 2024, all of these governments will be radically different than they were in 2008.

Pluto is also radically transforming the Capricorn areas of our individual lives right now, too. In astrology, we divide the concept of “life” into 12 areas which we call houses and each house is ruled by a sign. Wherever Capricorn is ruling a house, we are allexperiencing some dramatic change. Newton’s third law of motion also reminds us that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, so the Cancer ruled areas of our charts are also receiving atransformation . Of course, there are other changes happening as well, notably in the houses ruled by Virgo and Pisces, because Saturn is now moving through Virgo in opposition to the planet Uranus in Pisces. Saturn represents structure and tradition, and Uranus represents freedom and change. Uranus is the larger and more distant planet, so the influence of Uranus will dominate this opposition, but Saturn is a tough and relentless adversary Those of us who choose to resist the influence of Uranus will certainly make a good show at resisting the change, but the change will come anyway. Some people will always choose the hard fight, the one that cannot and shouldn’t be won, but the beauty of life is that no matter what is happening around us, we always have the free will to make our own chooses. Free will and courage do not always go together, and many people choose to fight change out of fear, rather than accept change out of courage.

All of these changes come in cycles as consciousness evolves. These changes are represented by the larger cycles of planets like Saturn and Uranus, which only repeat a cycle every 42 years or so, or Jupiter and Saturn, which repeat every 20 years, or the lunar cycle, which repeats every 28 or so days. We had a new Moon on June 22, the day after the Summer Solstice, at one degree of Cancer, in opposition to Pluto at one degree of Capricorn. Cancer is the sign of home and hearth, of safety and security. A new Moon is time to plant a new seed, to adopt a new intention in order to nurture positive growth in that area of our lives. Just like in a garden, the things that grow when we are not paying attention are called weeds. Weeds need no help to grow. When we do not participate actively in our lives, when we do not sow and reap consciously, what develops in our lives is an overgrown assortment of weeds. Each new and full Moon is a time to attend to our garden. If we are lazy and miss a cycle, then there are that many more weeds to pull and fewer crops to harvest at the next. Over time, the weeds will choke theproductivity of the garden to nothing. When this occurs, Uranus or Pluto will be experienced like a terrible fire or earthquake or hurricane that destroys everything and forces us to create something new. This does not usually feel good.

If we are more constant gardeners and we pay attention to the cycles of growth and transformation in our lives, then we are not immune to the influences of Uranus or Pluto, but what we experience is a surge of creative or emancipating energy which allows us to express the continued development of our consciousness in new and self-supportive ways. A full Moon is a time when we get our just rewards, weeds or fruit: sorrow or fulfillment. If we pay attention to these cycles, even if not every full Moon is attended by huge drama, positive or negative, we can begin to understand the feedback we are receiving from our experiences, whether they are subtle or strong. This Tuesday, July 7th at 6am, there will be a full Moon at 15 degrees Capricorn, opposing the Sun at 15 Cancer. Full Moons release the build up of energy in our psyches: if we are doing well and we are happy with the results we are seeing, then we enjoy our full Moon experience. Life is good, we feel romantic, nostalgic, energized and supported by the glow of the beautiful full Moon. When we are not enjoying the karma we reap, when the results are bad, when we repress or deny that we are creating that which we experience, then the full Moon will be a terrible time of drama, fighting, drinking, and general unhappiness. For this reason, the full Moon has two mythicpsychologies: the romantic full Moon, and the full Moon which brings out the monster in everyone.

This particular full Moon is a lunar eclipse, where the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, creating a shadow that projects onto the Moon. Shadow energies are energies that we possess, but do not accept. This reinforces the duality of our experience in the world: yin and yang, good and bad, etc. In Jungian psychology, the shadow is the “negative” expression of a personality trait. For example, I consider myself to be very responsible, but there are areas of my life where I sometimes dodgeresponsibility. My ego doesn’t like the responsibility -dodging part of myself, so it denies this aspect and it becomes my shadow. It is the part of myself that I am ashamed of, that I deny, for which Iovercompensate. Unfortunately , we cannot deny what exists. Denial becomes resentment, which will always explode into chaos once the pressure builds beyond a breaking point. Lunar eclipses are a time when these pressures, these shadow issues, can explode.  Another importantastrological concept that we must consider is that repressed energy often manifests in the opposite sign or house. The opposite sign of Capricorn is Cancer, and since we are still under the influence of the Cancer new Moon opposing Pluto, we can expect lots of repressed Capricorn shadow energy to manifest in the Cancer areas of our charts. It is also possible that the reverse will happen: the exposed Capricorn shadow will elicit a response form thecorresponding repressed Cancer shadow. Ultimately, each person’s experience will be a complex synthesis of the these options, as each person’s choices over an entire lifetime have led to this experience.

Understanding the light and shadow side of Capricorn and Cancer will help us to decipher the message we receive over the next few days. At its most positive, Capricorn energy is dedicated, dependable, consistent, focused, and strong. Its shadowmanifestations include laziness, irresponsibility, stubbornness , and guilt. The positive attributes of Cancer include nurturing, protective, self-sufficient, and sensitive. The shadow side of Cancer energy includes tendencies towardsvindictiveness, defensiveness, passive aggression, and selfishness.

It is also important to remember that Capricorn energy wants recognition and that Cancer energy is concerned with feelings of safety. As we can see, this eclipse will create a very complex experience for us, weighing our need for recognition against our need for protection. There is a strong possibility that what receives recognition will be our shadow, and the experience of this exposure will leave us feeling guilty, ashamed, angry, and vindictive. There are, of course, many other possible experiences we could have: I am only laying out a worse case scenario. Perhaps we will have experiences where we see how well we have accepted and integrated our shadows and we will receive recognition for having done such a great job. Either way, Pluto is involved and we will understand that in order for us to have safety and security at home, we must be responsible and make it happen for ourselves by having the courage to release that which is repressing us, and by allowing the change in our lives to reflect the change in our consciousness.

Be well!

mark

MOORE TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS WEEK’S ASTROLOGY