Meditation Informs Healing Facilitation

Many lives in one: synthesis

I had an interesting insight recently, on the bodywork table. I want to blend all of my lives into one. Allow me to explain.

I seem to lead multiple lives. And somehow I mostly do it in a healthy manner. There are very few people in my circle of friends who know all that I do. For instance, from 2004 to 2007, I taught astrology classes and I continue to see astrology clients to this day – although school is keeping me quite busy and it is rare to do many charts in a given year. But that could be considered one life. Another life is my bodywork. This feeds me, this is my self care, my rock, my foundation. I have done so much work on my body that somatic information is the clearest, purest, no-strings-attached information I can possibly access. When my autonomic nervous system is activated, I know it pretty quickly – just check in with my digestion or my skin (or my brain stem if I am near the verge of overwhelm and shock). And I have tools to resource my ANS to come back to self-regulation and if I need assistance, I call one of the many great practitioners Charlottesville has to offer.

Meditation and Dharma practice are rewarding, insightful, grounding and enhancing for the intuition and clarity. However I am constantly surprised by how it is possible to have spiritual experiences on the bodywork table. It is as if emotional-process-oriented and resourcing bodywork get us in touch with the source of life. The source that we come from before we are born and then we swiftly forget. It can be very powerful stuff. So bodywork is yet another life – there are people who only know me as a bodywork teacher / assistant. And my Dharma practice and supportive sangha is yet another life. That is three so far…

I mentioned school. I am in nursing school at the local community college. This is by far the people who know me least. I rarely, if ever reveal my astrological knowledge to them. I do mention the bodywork from time to time, but only if it seems particularly poignant. But this is definitely another life – my first semester of nursing school had me studying, going to clinical and labs for close to 40 hours a week. And for a few weeks this current semester, I will go over 40 hours! And I have not even mentioned my primary job. I wait tables at an elegant restaurant in a beautiful resort in Charlottesville Virginia. This is where I spend 30 – 50 hours a week, year-round. And this is definitely another life.

I am slowly getting into the PPN birth process work with Myrna Martin (and Kate White and Janet Evergreen). And the group I was a part of in British Columbia, Canada was about the most supportive sangha (without sharing a common religious path) I have ever encountered. The energetic container up there was so potent, so juicy, so safe and supportive that my nervous system calmed down to levels of relaxation and ease I had not felt in years. I would love for my life to be able to support more time spent doing this type of work! (And this could be yet another life to add to my list.) I am still in touch with several people from that group and if I had the time, I would check in with all of them on a monthly basis.

So that is five (or six) lives right there. My intention, is to blend all of these lives into one. I want my work to be who I am, to be what I love, to benefit others, to facilitate healing. Hopefully when I graduate from nursing school, I may get a glimpse of what I am meant to do. Because honestly I think that if I were to work in a hospital, that would be a waste of my skills and my brain. Unless I can work with mothers and infants – perhaps being a certified nurse midwife? If I was to take nursing to the next level, I would want to do research into the cutting edge area of trauma research. To look at how early childhood adverse experiences lead to future disease. The A.C.E. study has flung these doors wide open and I want to explore this area further.

If I don’t go in that direction, then I’m not sure where I will land with the trauma resolution bodywork. Somatic Experiencing is a great modality. And blended with the PPN knowledge and polyvagal resourcing, is an incredibly potent combination. Maybe I will walk in similar footsteps to Janet Evergreen – my main bodywork mentor and teacher. She is a profound spiritual healer in the Charlottesville area and I am extremely fortunate to be one of her senior students and friends.

Right now though, nursing school plus work are keeping me on my toes. It is my intention to recognize the value of time, to treasure a day off and not waste it. If anything, nursing school teaches time management. May all beings do virtuous activity with their free time.

Hopefully soon I can start to blend all my lives together into one.

Thanks for reading!

Kirby moore

Brief post about planetary strength – spiritual Astrology

Hi all,

A reader of my blog recently sent me an email wondering about aspects between Venus and Uranus, Venus and Neptune and Venus and Saturn. What do they all mean for them?

As with most astrological questions, my first answer to this question has to be… “It depends.” Or “it is complicated.”

What does it depend upon?

The first thing it depends on is what are the planetary strengths of each of those planets? Venus Neptune Uranus Saturn. There is a VERY complicated formula for determining this which my professional software figures out really quickly. But you can get a quick estimate on the big strengths (or debilities) of the planets by looking at the following:
Planetary strengths are higher for planets in their own sign of rulership or the sign they exalt in. They are higher if they are in the 1st or 10th houses. They gain a little strength from being in the 4th or 7th houses.
These strengths are weaker (they can even go negative) if the planets are in the signs opposite their rulership or exaltation – where they Fall or Detriment. Planets are weaker if they are in the 2nd or 6th houses. Planets are very weak if they fall in the 8th or 12th houses respectively.
See below for an example of how to use this quick Planetary Strength guide:

So the answer to this question depends on Planetary Strengths. It depends on whether the aspects are Applying or Separating. It depends on how close in orb the aspects are. It depends on whether any of those planets are in Critical Degrees. It might also depend on other aspects to those planets – what is Jupiter doing for instance?

An example of how to use the Planetary Strength guide above:

Venus is in Pisces where it exalts – +4 pts
Venus is in the 8th house though (where all planets suffer a little bit) and it loses 4 pts as a result
Venus is in hard aspect to Uranus and Neptune (basically malefic or neutral) so we can assume it loses another 3 pts
But look at that, Venus is also making a trine to Jupiter, so it gains 3 pts
For now, Venus is holding steady at Zero Strength (and zero debility)
Another planetary strength boon is called Mutual Reception: if this same Venus in Pisces is in the chart with a Neptune in Libra, then this is call mutual reception and both planets gain strength from sharing signs and sharing energy. Plus Venus and Neptune are on similar wavelengths, so to me, this is even better Strength.
So then you would have to look at the complicated stuff to see if Venus gains a few small pts for rising ahead of the sun or setting after it (Occidental or Oriental) and a few other little tidbits like that

If these were all true, then Venus would not be the strongest planet in your chart. If it fell in the 1st or 10th houses, or if it was not making many hard aspects to challenging planets, that would help pick up its strength.

But please keep in mind that Planetary Strength of planets is the not the Be All End All indicator. There are ways of working with that 8th house energy (I kind of specialize in this area myself). There are ways of working with the 12th house energy – if you are clear-headed, open to looking at the tough shadowy areas of our self-awareness and willing to change them. Being of service and volunteering and practicing kindness creates good karma – which will either benefit you in this present lifetime or in the future.

Personally, in my astrology chart, I have almost half of my planets having negative Strength and yet I have learned ways to self-regulate, I have a regular spiritual practice which helps to center and ground me and I am flexible and open to my inner strengths and weaknesses. Due to doing thousands of hours of emotional-process-oriented bodywork and somatic processing, I have strengthened my boundaries and areas that I lacked resilience. I still have a lot of work to do too! But it is possible to work with any astrology signature!

I hope this helps a little with planetary strength questions. It is a complex formula however, so you might want to consult a professional astrologer to get the exact planetary strengths of your planets.

Thanks for reading!

Answering several ?’s re: the Dharma and Astrology

I have had several questions recently about which practices I do and how I manage to keep the Buddha-Dharma as my primary path and astrology / emotional-process-oriented bodywork as my secondary path.

Mainly, I want to point out that there will be times in our lives when we have the causes and conditions in place to practice Dharma like our hair was on fire. Yet even if we have the same desire and motivation, there will also be times when it is most skillful and kind to do less (outer) practice. I should also point out that I am a dedicated and devoted Buddhist practitioner (what that means I will explain over the next paragraphs), however, I am taking the role of devil’s advocate a bit with regard to how diligently and arduously we should practice and when.

I want to point out that you should always refer to a qualified spiritual master if you have questions about your spiritual practice. Or find someone who have vastly improved themselves by being on a spiritual path for more than 20 years. They probably have some wisdom to share [and you will know the wisest people because they are the most humble].

Back to practicing Dharma like my hair was on fire, about 10 years ago, for about 12 months total, I somehow managed to do a long refuge sadhana and do at least a 100 prostrations a day. Sometimes this took me 3 or more hours to complete. Those were great months, let me tell you. Obstacles just seemed to melt away as I approached them.

However… that was almost 10 years ago. There is a small chance that I could have continued that level of practice, but here’s the thing – the most beneficial thing for me to do after that initial plunge into serious Dharma practice was to go back to school and finish a graduate program. My Lamas even told me this – my practice they said was to do well in school. That could be a mind training practice in and of itself. Of course, when I had time I should do some prostrations and continue my personal practice on the side.

How does one know how much to practice? If you listen to the great masters – Tibetan Lamas, monks and nuns who have been on the path for some time, it would be ideal to be practicing a minimum of 3 hours a day, every day and always being mindful to keep our thoughts words and deeds virtuous. But is this realistic for most of us?

Which one of us has the causes and conditions like Milarepa – being willing and able to survive on starvation “wages” and food while always striving for enlightenment? I don’t. I thought I did – at my first 2 week retreat at TMC in Maryland, I would lie on the couch downstairs during breaks and just read the 100,000 Songs of Milarepa and be so inspired.

But now, having lived more of my life and seen more of my inner patterns and activity, I must be realistic. My Lamas tell me to get married and have a family (definitely not a Milarepa-esque lifestyle). That right there is evidence that I can only do but so much practice (on my cushion, in my shrine room for hours a day? Not likely.). Maybe my practice is relationship yoga. Being able to soften our edges, to have patience with a partner day in and day out, being able to bring the mirror of self-awareness around to show us our ugly shadow sides – this can also be a practice. I wonder how many people evade this type of yoga to do more formal Dharma practice? Maybe a lot, maybe just a few, I don’t know.

Yes, I intend to complete my Ngondro accumulations, but right now I only have one or two down with thousands of hours left to go! And that is after working on it for eleven years (some more diligently than others).

But if I were to die tomorrow, you know what? I have spent thousands of hours working toward grounded, embodiment. I have done hundreds of hours doing Zapchen Somatics retreats and practices (and this is practically a form of Dzogchen). I have done hundreds of hours of work on my self emotionally and psychologically – I have worked through countless double-binds from my childhood. And yes, of course I have done thousands of hours of Dharma practice. So if I die tomorrow, I would have very few regrets. And I could honestly say that I have accomplished A LOT in this lifetime. In spite of not having much money to my name right now. In spite of turning 38 this year and not owning a home (yes, I am still a little hard on myself), the I Ching tells me that I am a treasure of this nation. A literal diamond in the rough in this frequency-dense, Kali-Yuga-entrenched, degenerate world we live in.

The key is having good support. If have a history of trauma to work through (and this takes many many forms!), then having a good team around us of mentors, coaches, spiritual teachers, therapists, bodyworkers, medical practitioners is vital. Being open to their wisdom and advice and knowing when our own inner resistance (which is just suppressed anger manifesting in less-than-beneficial ways) is starting to prevent us from following good advice, is vital. Being flexible, being mindful, being aware of our own shadow areas – we need many great teachers and tools around us. It does not happen over night.

Also, if you are fortunate enough to have a qualified spiritual teacher in your life, make certain you are asking the right questions and that they understand what you are asking. Sometimes I have seen language barriers get in people’s way. They ask one thing, they get a slightly ambiguous answer back in return, and they assume they know completely what it means. They do not go back for clarity. But that is so vital. If you have any uncertainties, if you have any doubts, clear them up as soon as possible. However, find a good balance. Don’t be the person who arranges an interview with the Lama every time he comes through town, only to not do any practice when he is not around. In other words, don’t waste a precious spiritual teachers time.

Personally, in addition to being surrounded by potent and wise teachers and mentors, I use two tools mainly: the I Ching and Spiritual Astrology. Julie Henderson’s “The Somatic I Ching (Yi Jing)” [Revealing Story, Training Mind] is a phenomenal resource. It is an interpretation of the I Ching that is specifically designed for meditation practitioners, bodyworks and psychological explorers. Yes, I have leaned on it a little heavy at times and it will tell me if I am doing that (there is a line in the book that says, “You have made a premature move and are standing around with egg on your face”). Yes, it even has a sense of humor! And it brings the I Ching’s advice into the body, into energy, into awareness. Powerful stuff.

If we are truly willing and open to knowing what is true, then it is a vital and unrivaled resource. And of course we must know how to clear our minds so that we are actually asking the question that we think we are asking. And we have to have faith initially that its advice is specific and not a random combination of coin flips!

In conclusion, it is good to have a daily Dharma practice. But don’t let it prevent you from living a full and enjoyable life. If after five years of practicing the Dharma, you have less joy, less awareness or less contentment in your life, then you might be doing something less-than-kind! Surround yourself with teachers and support, and don’t be afraid to ask for help! And if possible, develop a relationship with a beneficial divination tool – that way you can get answers to questions without having to phone your teacher every day or every week.

Once you step onto the path of the Buddha-Dharma, it is good to stay on the path. Just be aware that there are various methods and manners of practicing kindly and efficaciously. Sometimes it is time to do more inner practice – to let go of the outer practices and rest down and appreciate the inner subtler essences. And this is why you need a qualified spiritual teacher – to know when to do what and what would be most beneficial to you at that time.

So good luck on your journey!

And thank you for reading,

~km

artwork December 2016

kirby_lion kirby_circles

I did some assisted painting and coloring (most of the black lines were already on the canvas) recently. I think they both turned out pretty good. The art took me 30 – 40 hours per piece. I had soothing (Craig Pruess) mantras playing when I did the mandalas (circles) piece. Maybe it shows? I think they turned out pretty well! [Click on the link to open them in separate window or right click]

Thank you for visiting!

kirby_circles

further thoughts on winter retreat 2016

If you have not read my previous post (yet) I would recommend doing that as this is a continuation of that thread.

One of the questions or recollections to ponder after doing the 8 Jhanas practice is, what insights arose? What were they?

I don’t think I had any profound insights (but the more you learn about wisdom is that it is usually the simple, organic truths that lead to happiness and peace of mind), but I did learn a little more about myself.

Over the past few years I have trained my mind to plough through obstacles, to push through exams and nursing school tests and classes. I have developed a powerful brain for learning and memorizing (which a good nurse requires). However, in the process of doing so, I have a really difficult time slowing down, shutting off, learning to relax and enjoy myself. Thinking about what I would find enjoyable right now – hiking – involves pushing along a trail. It all boils down to, left to my own devices, slowing down is quite difficult for me.

That is where the supportive, juicy, slow-paced, organic wisdom of the retreat comes in. Forcing myself to sit or nap for one or two hours at a time was difficult, but rewarding. Poetry arises only when the heart is at ease and open and spacious and relaxed. I have not created much poetry in the past couple years.

If I got any insights from practicing, it would have to be to spend time doing absolutely nothing. Just sit on the couch, look out the window, purposely go slow. Just breathe. And smile. Cultivating joy is so important – especially in a life stretched near the breaking point with work and school. Slow down and do something that brings my heart joy. I want to do more of this in the new year.

It won’t always be easy to attain this. In fact, most days I will have my schedule forced on my by work and nursing clinical days. But those moments in between are mine. I want to spend them relaxing and doing what brings me happiness. And I want to build in more good company. Sitting at home most of the time is less than ideal – sure some down time is necessary. Time with my dog is good. Time on my cushion is good. But I also want to go out and socialize with people who are supportive and on their own spiritual / healing / truth-seeking journeys.

I need to build in the efficiency without the harshness of mere-goal-oriented thinking. Yes getting a “C” or better in nursing school is vital. But I am okay with being close to the bare minimum. And I will need to keep reminding myself of this every day. I am smart so getting a “C” is actually unlikely, if I am disciplined. Yes the NCLEX nursing board exam is a massive undertaking, but I don’t need to fret about that right now. One right step at a time.

I feel like I am walking on the edge of a blade. Teeter too far toward old patterns, and I could descend yet again into a dissociative fog for a few months. Or I can continue to practice restraint, resisting old less-than-kind patterns (computer games, creating board games, etc) and when the time is right, do some virtuous activities. I am changing my skin. The serpent energy is becoming active (again). Which choice will I make at this fork in the road?

I choose to lean into my wisdom and experience, to lean into my ability to be a good teacher down the road. I have started co-teaching bodywork classes with Janet – she has urged me forward into this role and it is extremely positive for me. Now I just need to keep on my path most the time. It is those moments of down time in front of this computer where old weeds start to grow. I must choose not to water them. I intend for beauty and joy to flourish in the garden of my mind – might as well start planting those radiant trees now huh?

I might have to back off the Pre- and Perinatal Psychology (Birth Process work) learning that I started this past summer. Nursing school is enough for now. I intend to go up to Canada again to participate in the 2-week intensive of this potent material (PPN with Myrna Martin). But January through May must be taken up with doing enough to pass nursing, working to support myself, and relaxing when I can.

During this semester I might be temporarily of less benefit to others, but that is okay. I need to find what is sustainable and stable for me first. This is my New Year’s resolution for 2017:

I am cultivating joy in my inner gardens as I embrace serpentine wisdom and shed old skins of ancestral patterns.

Thanks for reading!

Winter Retreat 2016

Every winter, my friend and mentor and bodywork teacher and coach, Janet Evergreen hosts a retreat for 10 days at her Sanctuary space. Last year, I was going through a tough stretch and I did not make it to much, if any of that retreat, which I would later regret.

I say that because this retreat is like a sling shot for the new year. It is a shot in the arm of Dharma juicy-ness. Even if I could only do a couple hours a day of meditation, the combined space created a mandala of potency, of virtuous momentum and resourced support to lean into.

Due to work – December and the holidays are our busiest time of the year – I missed two days of the retreat. Then with family in town, I missed another two days. But I’m so glad I went to some part of every other day – six or seven days total.

I would be lying if I said I did not experience any resistance. For instance, I woke up a couple of days at 5 am with the possibility of going to the 6 am session, only to choose to fall back asleep (! ^ !) What can I say, I am human and sometimes a bit lazy. I also needed my sleep as I have been quite stretched and stressed out with work.

The session I went to most often was from 10 am until noon, and then I would stay for a delicious, dynamic, organic lunch which was eaten in noble silence. Occasionally there might be a little playfulness at lunch (silently) but for the most part we could all just enjoy our food at our own pace, in peace and quiet and good company.

From 10 until 11 am, we did a breath meditation (following, analyzing, shifting, exploring, stretching, resting of the breath) called the Anapanasati Entryways. These were fairly powerful, but I never got through all 16 stages in one 50 minute segment. Nonetheless, it was very potent just to track the mind and breathe, to track the body while breathing, to get distracted for a moment with thoughts and come back to the breath. I would usually get through at least 4 or 5 of the stages of breath awareness – opening up to, deepening, refining, refreshing, calming, stabilizing the breath. This was the hour where I usually experienced some resistance, so there was less enjoyment than I would have liked. If this sounds interesting to you, go to http://www.liberationpark.org

But then from 11 am until noon, we did a practice called the 8 Jhanas. This is more of an analytical meditation, where we are aware of our breath, then that fades into the background and we become more aware of a pleasant physical sensation (which can be as simple as a forced smile). That pleasant sensation can become more intense and we can notice joy and happiness arising. Etc etc and eventually it leads to contentment, equanimity, awareness of a boundless space around us, etc. The end result being to rest in a vast open spacious aware of a tiny spot close to our face with our state of being having no characteristics. This is extremely simplified. See http://www.leighb.com for more!

One thing I especially like about the Jhanas is there is a recommended daily recollection to do before and after the practice:

Aging happens, no one avoids it
Illness and sickness happen, no one avoids it forever.
Death happens, no one gets away from death.
Everything that I love is and will change.
I am responsible for my actions (karma). My thoughts words and deeds create happiness or suffering. I am born of my actions (karma). I will inherit my actions (karma). Whether good or evil deeds, I will always inherit my actions.

There are 5 things to do at the beginning of a session:

Gratitude
Why am I doing this (motivation)?
Working up some determination – for instance, practicing for the benefit of all beings (self included)
Wishing ourselves and others, well-being and happiness
“Breathing in I calm my body, breathing out I smile.”

Then at the end of the session:

Recapitulation – what did I do to get here? How did I get here?
Impermanence – whether highs or lows, our emotions, feelings, sensations are changing and are gone or will be gone shortly
Insights – did I get any? What were they?
Dedicate the merit earned for the liberation of all beings
Resolve to be mindful as I go about my activities

This is a good stopping point for now. All in all, so glad I attended this year’s winter retreat. Next year, here is what I would change to prepare better for it:

Start preparing for retreat weeks in advance – have all errands and nursing school requirements done by December 15th if possible. Do all Christmas shopping (if any) before Dec 15th. Do more resting down, self care and Dharma practice two or three weeks before retreat starts. That way I can be more receptive to retreat mind mode. This year, it was a bit jarring to be really busy up until retreat started and then to hit the brakes hard. Fortunately I would still gain benefit from that less-than-kind version of preparing… but I could prepare better!

Thank you for reading!

Asking for donations to keep this blog going

Hello my dear readers,

I have been more active in blogging in days past, but I hope to continue to post juicy articles on Astrology, Emotional-process-oriented bodywork, Craniosacral therapy and the Buddha-Dharma. I am staying busy with nursing school, so perhaps there will be some posts from that genre as well.

I am asking for donations to my PayPal account to keep this blog going. I don’t need much. $99+ will keep this blog going for a year, and then another $100 will keep my website up. If anyone donates over $75, I will give them a free 60-minute Spiritual Astrology interpretation or if you are in the Central Virginia area, I will give you a 75-minute Biodynamic Craniosacral therapy treatment.

I would like suggestions on how to fund my writing projects without my spending money hosting free blogs. In other words, my time is quite valuable and I need to be compensated for it. If you want to donate $$, my paypal account is at mkirbymoore [at] gmail.com

Thank you and happy holidays!

Kirby

meditative art

I’ve been having fun painting over the past few months. Not that I am producing much of any quality. However, it has been fun to just play. Sometimes I do landscapes, sometimes more geometrical abstracts, I tried to do a face painting… it ended up looking like an evil Jesus…

But it is fun. It is relaxing. And now I am playing with coloring canvases – white canvases which have a drawing on them ready to color in. For people like me, who don’t have the time and patience to learn how to draw and sketch (1,000 hours is a lot of time!), these are wonderful. It is actually a meditation to learn how to patiently watch the piece unfold. Sometimes I know what I want it to look like, mostly though I just observe as a discovery process emerges. It does take time, but who knows, maybe come Christmas gifts might emerge (hence the reason no pictures yet).

moving color around,

having fun playing with shades and textures,

mostly staying in the lines,

watching my reaction when I don’t,

finding that these fancy pens blend the ink,

and actually going outside the lines creates beauty beyond expectation!

Inner thawing, outer cooling: more astrology in Nov 2016

I came back from a potent pre- and perinatal psychology retreat in early September. I went deep, was fully resourced in the mountains of British Columbia, Canada. However, on returning, I think my usual tendency to expect my expanded capacity to remain the same kicked in. What I mean is that I needed to slow down, but I tried to do too much. I was treating infants, treating bodywork clients, working full time and I started painting with acrylics again. Fortunately, after a few weeks of speeding along and not feeling the same deep organic impulse that I had in Canada, I opted to only do one thing a day aside from my meditation and Dharma practice. I am resting more. I’m attempting to be more, and do less.

With that said, as my inner sense of urgency slows down and thaws out, I am noticing the impulse that is arising. And it seems to be to do more astrology charts. I have some talent, having put in 10 years of study and practice (hard work pays off)! But it is different too. In the past, when I would do an astrology chart, I would prep for at least 2 hours per client. I would research all their little aspects and basically be prepared to answer any question they might have! Now, I trust my intuition to take the session in the best direction they need it to go. And if they ask a highly technical question about an obscure aspect, I may know the answer or I can say let me email you about that. No problem! So far people are quite happy with the information I discern from their charts (and their frequency).

I am excited about doing more astrology as of late. Due to nursing school time requirements, I have only done a few charts in the past year. However, I am setting up to do 3 or 4 charts in the next few weeks, so that is exciting!

I currently have Chiron transiting across my natal Sun, so I think that is helping my intuition be sharper and easier. I literally just have to ask about something before I go to sleep and I tend to receive a dream about it. Or I can occasionally meditate about a question and get an image or a phrase as an answer. Pretty amazing how far I have come! My confidence in my intuition is clear and backed up by years of meditating and right motivation.

If it weren’t for nursing school, I think I would be writing a book about Relationship Astrology. This seems to be one of my areas of specialty. Although I also do pretty well with Spiritual Astrology for the Natal Chart – psychological and karmic astrology of the birth chart. Plus I always love Medical Astrology and the Timing aspects – learning the individual’s natal horoscope well and then interpreting how the transiting and progressed planets with affect that individual. Also quite fun and I love how the process unfolds! I rarely ever know fully what I am going to say ahead of time. My intuition guides me successfully most of the time, and thankfully I have had some incredible teachers in the past who have shaped and formed my heart and mind and intuition.

Long story short, I am doing more charts before nursing school gets tough again in January. Let me know if you are interested in having your chart done! (a Spiritual Astrology interpretation makes the perfect gift for the holidays!)

Thanks for reading!

~kirby

Astrologically, what is going on now?

A friend just asked me, what is going on in the astrological skies? At first I thought to myself, not much. Pluto is not aspecting other major planets, neither is Uranus. But then I realized that Neptune is indeed not quiet. It is making a square to Saturn and has been off and on for at least the past 6 months. It is strong again now as Saturn prepares to push past the square, until it comes to make a conjunction in late Pisces, 8 to 9 years from now.

So what does Saturn square Neptune mean? And we could go even more subtle and ask what does the 2nd square mean (when Saturn starts to travel toward the conjunction)?

We can also peek at the signs and qualities involved. Sagittarius and Pisces, both mutable signs. For now however, let’s stick with the first question.

Saturn square Neptune: nuances flavors essences. Saturn is the disciplinarian and “he” gets a bad rap at times. But as I have mentioned in previous posts and articles, Saturn is vital for our society and vital for our inner growth. It is the structure around which the other energies of the chart flow. Saturn rules the bones and hard structures in the body and likewise without Saturn, the astrology chart might rapidly collapse. And then there is Neptune.

Neptune rules the swirling, churning, tidal oceans of emotion and creativity. He indicates mystical or psychic ability when positively aspects certain planets, and Neptune will indicate deception, delusion or illusion when making hard aspects with other planets. Some astrologers even say that Neptune symbolizes the entirety of the unconscious and therefore Neptune will play some role in all aspects of the mind – thinking, intuition, feeling, etc. Therefore Neptune goes really really deep. Things emerge out of the oceanic collective unconscious and disappear back into it. Therefore Neptune may even play a part in life and death myths. (To keep this post close to 1,000 words, I won’t say too much here.)

Saturn wants to build up a personality. And if the individual has to have more alone time, then so be it. You rarely find a CEO or General Manager who has a lot of friends on equal footing. More like a social butterfly who has learned to smile whenever it is needed. The ambition (Saturn) is far more important than the substance of their relationships.

Neptune is actually quite the opposite. Neptune says, let me sacrifice my own desires and personal achievement for the good of the collective whole. Neptune would rather set himself on fire than cause a lot of harm to the people around him (say by laying off a whole bunch of employees as a CEO). Neptune and Saturn are basically opposites in a number of ways.

Saturn’s shadow is workaholism and too much structure and rigidity. Think of the shadow aspects of Capricorn and Aquarius (Saturn is basically a co-ruler here, after Uranus of course). Cold, harsh efficiency. A machine as far as optimal function and productivity are concerned. The empirical scientist who turns and runs as soon as certain emotions are brought up or displayed. Saturn loves the cold, hard facts. Research and realism are Saturn’s domain. He must learn to build in some heart and warmth and loving and kindness – and relaxing ease. Take a vacation, no structure to the days and do some art when the urge strikes you (Saturn might have a difficult time with this at first).

Neptune on the other hand, his shadow is escapism. Plain and simple. Escaping from the fact that drugs were used at the person’s birth (this might show up as Neptune conjunct the Ascendant or Moon). If this was the case, it could lead to the individual being really really good at dissociating from their body. Neptune loves colorful romance and idealized rose-colored-glasses wearing fairy tales. Neptune inspires the poets and the lovers and the artists and the playwrights. Just make sure that deceit and delusion do not follow along with those artistic endeavors (substance abuse anyone – Neptune’s calling card).

So what can happen when Saturn’s realism confronts Neptune’s desire for escaping into the collective unconscious? Sacrifice is one possible outcome. Honestly it depends on what this configuration is falling on in an individual’s chart. If Saturn is making a square aspect to Neptune in the sky above, but in your personal birth horoscope it is not actually touching anything (not in orb with any aspects to your personal planets) then you might not notice much at all.

However, if Saturn is making the square to Neptune above and in your personal astrology chart it is (the transit of these two planets) aspecting your Mars – maybe Neptune is conjunct your Mars by transit and therefore Saturn is also making a square to Mars, then you are bound to feel this energy. In this case you might temporarily sacrifice your ability to stand up for your needs and your desires. As the Saturn / Neptune square basically can last for 2 to 3 years, this might indicate that initially, you are making sacrifices and chewing on some old deep piece (subconsciously) and then once this aspect has been going a while you learn to stand up for yourself. You do the healing indicated by Mar’s position and sign and aspects in your chart. Maybe you overcome some self-doubt (if your natal Mars is making a hard aspect to Saturn or Neptune) or you overcome some early developmental piece through further learning and emotional process work.

Sometimes Saturn / Neptune hard aspects can indicate that Saturn is supplying Neptune’s active imagination with grist for self-doubt and worst-case-scenarios type of thinking. If this is happening, I might suggest yoga or bodywork or mindful exercise (Tai Chi, Chi Kung, martial arts, swimming perhaps) to come back into your body. This might especially be the case if this Saturn / Neptune aspect falls on or near Mercury or the Moon.

From a medical astrology standpoint (and I must make the disclaimer here that if you have a health issue, please take it right away to your nearest trusted licensed health care provider! *** seriously, I’m not a doctor ***), Neptune and Saturn can indicate a fascinating series of events as well. Neptune can cloud health issues – you might go to the doctor with Neptune conjunct your Sun or Moon and the doctor doesn’t understand you correctly or shrugs your issue off as not being that serious (or if Mercury is also retrograde) reads your test results wrong – which can either be a disaster or an error that leads to your eventually getting good news after a bout of worrying. Neptune can throw a wrench in the medical astrology works. And then there is Saturn.

Saturn can indicate a lowering of the immune system for a number of reasons – over-work, too much stress (may be you have been the primary caretaker for your aging parent for 6 months now and you are starting to get exhausted), etc. When Saturn crosses the Ascendant, this is usually when we get a longer bout with a flu virus or other disease that comes from the immune system dropping temporarily. This is especially true with Saturn conjunct the Ascendant, Sun or Moon (or making a square). And if Neptune gets involved with these three planets / influences as well, there is sure to be an interesting few months of health ups and downs.

So to conclude this piece, Saturn and Neptune make for very interesting (and basically polar opposite) bedfellows. Saturn is the solitary leader, the one blazing a new trail or climbing the career ladder. Neptune is the delicate artist who is sensitive to very subtle layers of emotion and energy. Neptune can sometimes indicate healing abilities – at least energetically (especially with a well-placed and well-aspected Chiron). They both have interesting and varied forms of shadow sides. And when they get together, growth and insight are likely – but it is through some suffering or sacrifice or suppression for a time.

Many things are possible when these two get together. And thankfully, they have been close to each other for close to a year and now are starting to go their separate ways. Astrology is a complicated subject and it is good to have a qualified astrologer look at your chart to take into consideration all the nuances and aspects.

Thanks for reading!

~km