Capricorn New Moon

From an astrological viewpoint, the Capricorn New Moon (exact on Saturday, December 24 at 10:07am PST) symbolizes "New Year's Day" much more than the first day of January. Some years, the Capricorn New Moon occurs in January -- but this year, it occurs in December, and less than three days after the Solstice. This means we're getting a "jump start" on 2012! So, no more waiting. We're there. We're Here.

This is a powerful New Moon for other reasons as well, since the Sun and Moon are conjunct Pluto, square Uranus, and trine Jupiter at the time of the lunation. The alignment with Pluto emphasizes the deep transformation we are experiencing now, an energy shift that is urging us to claim greater levels of personal empowerment, along with a stronger knowing and commitment to our individual and group purposes.

The square to Uranus shakes us free from the attachment to what has been, and opens us to the possibilities before us. Uranus is in Aries, urging us to rebel against any definitions of self or statements of intent that are not One Hundred Percent Authentic. This planet always plays a bit of a "wild card" role, which means we can't control its effects, but must be flexible and openminded if we are to take advantage of the hand that it deals.

The trine to Jupiter in Taurus provides the moral support to help us move through the changes as gracefully as possible. Jupiter offers us a plate with equal portions of optimism, a knowing of what we value most, and a belief in a greater meaning beyond the personal. As the song says, Jupiter helps us "believe we can fly."

The Sabian symbol for the location of Saturday's New Moon puts it all together:

"A Human Soul, in its eagerness for new experiences, seeks embodiment: A powerful yearning for whatever will increase the scope and depth of one's contacts with other living beings."

Which one of us does not relate to that powerful yearning for the More, for the Connection, for the Community? We all seek new "embodiment" -- not in the human body, since we already have that -- but we long for the physical embodiment of our passions, our mission, our purpose, our potentials. It is this "eagerness for new experiences" that keeps us moving forward, continuing to open our hearts and our minds to the new.

And, it is this eagerness, this desire, this yearning, that takes us -- openhearted and openminded -- into 2012.

Blessings,

Pam

I can't believe...

I neglected to write about the New Moon on December 24 in this week's Journal!

Watch this blog later this week for my interpretation of the Capricorn New Moon energies, exact at 10:07am PST on Saturday, December 24.

Blessings,

Pam

Comet Lovejoy lives on

How appropriate!

The newly-discovered comet named Lovejoy was headed, according to astronomers' calculations, for a dramatic demise through a close encounter with the sun. But headlines this morning read: "Comet survives fiery plunge through sun, NASA says" ...

I'm taking this event as very symbolic and affirming -- reminding us that Love and Joy are powerful energies that can take us through whatever challenges may lie before us, and bring us through safely on the other side.

How synchronistic that the astronomer who discovered this comet has the surname Lovejoy! And, it was discovered on November 27, just two days after the Solar Eclipse. A clear message of what these recent eclipses are meant to bring forward into our awareness.

For more on the story, click here.

With Love and Joy,

Pam

Did you see it?

Well, that was pretty magical. I woke up just in time to be able to watch the total eclipse through the trees for about 10 minutes, then it slipped behind the fir branches and was gone...

Here's a photo I just grabbed from SpaceWeather.com, that looks exactly how I saw it from my yard:

It felt very cleansing to me, and the air is lighter afterward.

How did it (and does it) feel to you?

Pam

Eclipse and Uranus and Mercury, oh my!

I suppose we should have known that this week would be memorable, between the Total Eclipse and Uranus (the "god of chaos") stationing and Mercury retrograde... But forewarning doesn't always equip us, although it may help a bit in understanding and tolerance.

So, if things feel scattered and you are feeling ungrounded and like you're juggling life with no platform beneath you, you're not alone!

Remembering to breathe is good. And, I was fortunate enough to have an acupuncture treatment today that worked on the "extraordinary" channels, which has helped immensely in bringing me back into balance.

There's a great project at work nationwide -- acupuncture clinics that don't require insurance, and just ask for what you can pay within a range of $15-$45 (at least that's the price here in the Seattle area). They work much like acupuncture clinics in China, with several chairs/tables in a single room, and you remain entirely clothed (except for taking off shoes and socks and rolling up sleeves...).

If you're interested, try googling "community acupuncture clinic" in your area and see what you find!

And take good care and gets lots of sleep for the rest of the week...

Pam

Amazing auroras

Forgive my lack of posts lately -- life has been busy!

But I just saw this photo on SpaceWeather.com, and just had to share. It's of auroras December 3 over Fairbanks, Alaska (photo by Ronn Murray):

Spectacular, no?

Happy Eclipse week!

Pam

Insight from a reader

I just received this email from a reader regarding my "fork" vision about this week's Solar Eclipse -- and I love her insights! And she has generously agreed for me to post her words here, so I offer them to you:

I was reading about your vision over your right side a "Y" with a fork. When I read this, it occurred to me that it was a tuning fork. For whatever it is worth, my interpretation would be that this eclipse will be a "tuning in" on how we go forward in the world.

And Mars, of course, in Virgo has a lot of energy, but wants us to get all the details in line.

-- Sara

Thank you, Sara, for sharing -- I think your interpretation is lovely, and of great help.

Question about Saturn return

This question was sent in during our teleclass last night, but we didn't have time to answer it at the time -- so here's the question, and my answer:

I was born in July 1956. Will I have two 2nd Saturn returns because of Saturn retrograde?

In July 1956, Saturn was at 26 degrees Scorpio. Your second Saturn return is a couple years away -- but it looks like Saturn will just pass over your natal Saturn one time, in November 2014.

For those who have Saturn crossing over their natal Saturn three times (which is what happens when Saturn crosses over it while going forward, then crosses it while retrograde, then crosses over it a third time when direct again) -- it means that the experience of the Saturn return (or any transit that occurs multiple times) is spread out over a longer period of time, and may involve some more life-changing experiences, challenges, or opportunities.

I hope that answers your question -- and thanks for attending the teleclass!

Question about 11-11-11

I received this email today from a reader:

I wonder if you have any comments to make, astrologically speaking, on the date just passed of 28th October 2011, which some eminent people like Carl Calleman, Barbara Hand Clow and various others of the same calibre have been saying that this date is the real (or spirit of) end of the Mayan Calendar, according to their calculations.

This will be followed on 11.11.11. by the portals opening and a majestic yet gentle energy bringing love to this planet Earth/Gaia for all of us to experience in varying degrees depending on how subtely aware we are individually.

Do you see a specific alignment on that date, and will you be mentioning it in the journal for the 7th of November?

Thank you for your questions!

Astrologically speaking, the most important influences right now are the upcoming eclipses, as well as the building Pluto-Uranus square. Even though the square is not exact until next summer, Pluto's impact has shown to start building in effect as soon as the planet turns direct and starts moving toward the aspect in question. Pluto went direct on September 16.

The Pluto-Uranus square is a very big part of the transitional times we are experiencing. It is in effect now through 2016, and it will be exact seven times between 2012 and 2015.

On November 11 (the day after Mars enters Virgo and two days after Neptune goes Direct), the only exact astrological aspect of import is Pluto quintile Saturn. And yes, I will talk about that in next week's Journal -- but, by itself, this aspect is not the life-changing type of influence that one would expect to see for a date that has received so much attention and anticipation. Still, I think it bears exploring, so I will do so and see what unfolds for the Journal.

That being said, it is very clear to me personally that something is "up" energetically. In my experience, it started about 10 days ago, on October 21-22. My meditations have been very different, and there's a strong sense of a spiral movement. This has continued throughout the day sometimes, so that there is often a vague sense of vertigo. I've explained it to friends as feeling like centrifugal force -- like the feeling we had as children when we grabbed both of our best friend's hands and then both of us leaned back, spinning in a circle.

I asked my energy practitioner about the dizziness yesterday. Her sense was that it was the effect of the heightened energies running into blockages in our physical/emotional bodies, and moving through. So a positive in that regard.

There has been a great deal of anticipation about the date 11-11-11, and my feeling is that there is a joint agreement between humanity and our cosmic partners to take advantage of this anticipation. If so many people are expecting and hoping for a leap in consciousness, and our other-dimensional support team is also on board -- the results could be quite exciting! Even if there are not huge astrological aspects exact on that day...

Even when we consider numerology, this upcoming date does not have the huge impact we would expect. The numbers of the date are actually 11-11-4 (the numbers of the year 2011 add up to 4, not 11). The actual 11-11-11 date numerologically was November 11, 2009.

Again -- that being said, I also know something important does seem to be occurring. I'm guessing, though, that it's only one step in our "ascension" process, not a final leap that deposits us at an endpoint. Because, truth be told, there are no endpoints!

Auroras this past week

The auroras that graced Earth's skies this past week were incredible. They appeared much further south than they usually do.

If you were able to see them in person -- how wonderful! If not, here's a link to three pages of photos on the SpaceWeather.com website:

http://spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_01oct11.htm

Here's one of my favorites (in addition to the one on today's Journal), showing the amazing and unusual red colorations:

Pretty spectacular, eh?

Effects of the lunar cycle on Cancer natives

I received this question by email this morning:

My question has to do with the effects of the Full Moon on a Cancer Sun Sign and the New Moon on a Cancer Rising Sign.

Specifics regarding these questions: Through four to six years of peri-menopause I (being the Cancer Rising above) noticed a waxing-to-Full Moon accompanied periods of insomnia -- but after menopause this sleeplessness is now completely switched to New Moons (though not every month)! ???

For my Cancer Sun husband, I've noticed within the last year, waxing-to-Full Moons accompany mood fluctuations (paranoia, anxiety, etc., at times severe). The most recent Full Moon brought a particularly rough period for him; I was so very glad to have your intuitive, timely information on what was happening energetically.

Why is the lunar cycle such an issue for us? Any insight is most welcome!

In answer to your questions -- since the Moon "rules" Cancer, it is often true that people with strong Cancer in their birth charts are more affected by the lunar cycle than others. And Cancer Sun, Moon or Ascendant would be even more susceptible to the lunar energy fluctuations, since those are the three major energy points in a chart.

The different monthly sign locations of the New and Full Moons may be the other factor -- why some months you will feel them more strongly, others not so much. You might watch and see if your insomnia is worse when the lunation is in a water sign, or see if there are any other noticeable trends.

It's interesting, the shift from your focus on Full Moon reactions during menopause to more New Moon reactions post-menopause. One reason might be because during menopause, our emotions are heightened (much like during PMS), and the Full Moon also exaggerates emotional issues. All that emotional energy running around could definitely cause insomnia.

Once we're post-menopause, we are in a place of new beginnings, which is what the New Moon represents -- so perhaps we are now resonating with/responding to that energy on deeper levels!

Thank you very much for your questions!

The Saturn effect

Whew. It's been quite a week, with the Full Moon opposing Saturn on Tuesday, and the Saturn-Sun alignment in Libra on Thursday. Relationship issues that have been with us since last fall (when Venus was also in Scorpio) have recycled for another level of completion.

In general, Saturn requires that we be responsible, mature and practical. It also often insists that we learn a new level of detachment from the emotional content of whatever issues have arisen, that we take the opportunity to focus on what needs to be done to improve situations rather than get caught up in the emotions.

With Venus now in Scorpio, we do need to enter the place of the darker emotions, to sort through them and feel their effects as a way of deepening our self-understanding and acceptance -- but Saturn in Libra insists that we not wallow in the darkness, that we expedite our exit by taking responsibility for ourselves, for whatever condition our relationships are in, and for what needs to be done to clean up the mess.

And yes, there are also themes of completion here, especially with those relationships that feel "karmic" in nature.

Gotta love Saturn, eh?

Mark your calendar: 2012 Teleclass Thursday, Nov 17

I'm pleased to announce I'll be offering a teleclass on the planetary energies that we will be working with in 2012!

More details to come, but here's the graphic I've been working on, just as a teaser:

Watch for more information in my NorthPoint Journal over the next few weeks! In the meantime, mark your calendar for Thursday, November 17, from 4pm to 5:30pm Pacific Time (7pm to 8:30pm Eastern Time)...

Another CME headed toward Mercury and Venus

A major explosion on the Sun has sent another solar wind toward Mercury, perhaps with even greater effect than the one referenced in my last post. Here's what Spaceweather.com posted this morning:

The CME will hit the innermost planet on Oct. 5th around 04:30 UT plus minus 7 hours. Energetic particles accelerated by shock waves at the leading edge of the cloud could also have minor effects on the MESSENGER probe in orbit around Mercury. The CME's forecast track shows that Venus might also receive a blow on Oct. 6th.

The website includes a video of the explosion, which is pretty spectacular. There's a disk covering the sun in the video, to block the glare so we can see the explosion more clearly. If you want to see the video, here's the link: CME October 4

I guess we're ready for more thought patterns to be eroded away...

Solar winds affecting Mercury

I read this article is on Spaceweather.com today:

SOLAR WIND BLASTS MERCURY: At a NASA teleconference yesterday, researchers working with data from the Messenger spacecraft offered new evidence that gusts of solar wind are penetrating Mercury's magnetic field and eroding material off the planet's surface. The spacecraft has actually flown through plumes of ionized sodium scoured from the surface and escaping from weak points in Mercury's magnetosphere.

So what does this have to do with us, you ask?

Astrologically, Mercury represents our logical, rational thinking process, and our human-level consciousness. Symbolically, the solar wind "eroding material" off Mercury's surface represents how our old, linear ways of thinking are being changed in major ways through the heightened energies that are now working with us. This "erosion" is just one step in the process of opening our rational minds to accept the grander scheme of things, and awakening the Higher Consciousness capacity within each of us.

It also reminds us that even when solar winds from CMEs are not directed at the Earth, we are still affected through their impact on the other planets in our solar system.

Amazing auroras

I may use this image in next week's Journal, but it's so amazing, I had to post it here today.

This is a photo from today's Spaceweather.com page, of auroras this week over Norway (photo by Fredrik Broms):

Incredible. It would have been amazing to see this in person!

Those all-important zzzzzzzzzzz's

With all the high-frequency solar flares unleashed this week, along with the powerful interaspects involving Uranus and Pluto, it's especially important to get extra sleep now. I've been trying for at least 8 hours, sometimes more, and even that doesn't seem like quite enough!

Our physical bodies definitely need the extra rest, and our mental/emotional bodies as well, as we work with these heightened energies now reaching the planet. And on soul-levels, we're doing all kinds of vital energy work while our human bodies are asleep.

Be gentle with yourself this week, and get those zzzzzzzz's when you can -- afternoon catnaps are good, too!

A comment on the aurora photo

I received this email from a reader after sending out this week's Journal:

Good morning Pam,

I wanted to comment on the photo of the Aurora Borealis from Finland. I see the real message in that tree top. It looks like the top of an old pine. Probably Hemlock. It struggled many years in a harsh environment as evidenced by the bare trunk. However, it exhibits new growth and a healthy state over the past few years. Our environment has gotten healthier also in recent years. The energies are shifting to a more livable state for Light Workers. Less obstructions, assist with our work, and more equitable justice. The world is becoming a better place to live and grow. Thank you for your part in it all.

I love this interpretation! And I will include the aurora photo again below -- it's worth seeing again, especially keeping this comment in mind.

Thank you!

Quincunx soup

What a week it's been, eh? A lot of jagged edges to work around with all these quincunx aspects going on, but a lot of nice things happening, too.

We're rather programmed, as a human species, to focus on the negative. For some reason, we get a lot of attention by telling our horror stories, sometimes more than what we get when we share a positive event. And it also seems like our minds often have a tendency to go to the lowest-vibrational path, so we get caught up in worry and anxiety or even fear.

If we can, even for just a moment, focus on something we are grateful for, this can be enough to distract the mind from its worry-road. Gratitude opens the heart, and that automatically short-circuits the negative emotions.

This is a good week to practice this technique, since the quincunx is meant to initiate an attitude adjustment that will allow a better outcome to occur. So the next time a jagged edge comes into view, try to shift that negative emotional energy through a shift in your focus, even if just for a moment.

Correction to this week's Journal

Yikes! Thanks to a watchful Virgo reader, I've realized that when I referenced 15 years for a transit of Neptune in this week's Journal, I was thinking about how long Neptune was in a sign, not how long it took for the planet to transit the zodiac.

Neptune actually takes about 165 years to go through the entire zodiac, about 15 years per sign.

Sorry for the confusion, and thanks to the reader who caught the error.

Honoring our experience

Jennifer Hoffman's newsletter for this week includes this paragraph under "Uriel's Message," which I find very helpful at this time:

Honor each aspect of your life today, the lessons and teachers, situations and events, the fears and challenges because they are no more than energetic aspects of your chosen journey. And when you honor them you know them for what they are and do not empower them beyond their true purpose. They are tools for healing, learning, growth and transformation and when you have completed each step of this process you can release that aspect and allow a new one to take its place. As you honor your life, you honor yourself, your lessons, your path and your divinity. And from this place of honoring who you are and your creation, you allow abundant blessings to flow to you as you stand in the grace of your divinity and your power as a co-creator of your reality.

Have a good week, everyone!

Link to "Soul Transitions" blog

I just finished reading an excellent post from Nancy Ward about the current energies -- and am adding the link here for others who are interested:

Soul Transitions Vibe Report September 2011

Enjoy!

This week's solar flares

There was a flurry of activity on the Sun this week -- two X-class solar flares (the highest designation) and some M-class (the middle designation) as well. This means that extra waves of solar energy were directed our way, and have been creating auroras for the past couples of days as they interact with the Earth's energy field.

Auroras are always a beautiful sight, and seeing them reminds us of the many ways we receive energy from our Sun -- not only through heat and light, but through invisible solar winds that only become visible when they reach Earth's atmosphere. We are all aware of the effect of the Sun's warmth and light on our well-being, but how many of us look beyond the beauty of the auroras to see and know the full impact of those solar winds?

There is still confusion and mystery surrounding the power outages in the southwest region of the U.S. that occurred on Thursday. The interesting thing is that these widespread outages occurred around the time the energy from the X- and M-class solar flares would have been reaching the Earth. We know that energy affects energy -- would it be inconceivable that the two are connected?

And what about the effects of these pulses of solar energy on each of us? We are also made of energy, and so are equally affected by the solar winds. We may not visibly glow in the same way the Earth's atmosphere glows, but the effect must be there nonetheless.

How have your emotions and mental state been these past few days? Have you noticed anything different since Wednesday/Thursday? Perhaps an exaggeration of issues? Or, maybe that high-vibrational energy has brought through new solutions for issues in your life?

Weight gains

I've heard complaints from a lot of people recently about having put on extra weight. And yes, while this tends to happen for many as we grow older, especially women as they go through menopause, there are also other reasons.

I find that when the energies are heightened, my body's response is to want to eat. This was abundantly clear to me yesterday, as I was sitting with two friends who are also channelers. We were throwing cards, and in response to one question, the woman who was throwing the cards suddenly stopped and said, wow, do you feel that? The other woman agreed that the energies around us had just shifted as some high-level guides had just stepped in.

And what was I aware of? A sudden urge to eat. My body's effort to stay grounded in the presence of such high frequencies.

Oh, well. At least, it's good to have confirmation of what I've already been sensing.

Earthquakes question

I received this email from a client this week:

I just read that there were 90 earthquakes throughout the U.S. yesterday. I thought you might have some astrological insights concerning this.

I monitor a couple of websites daily -- one of which is the USGS earthquake site. It does seem that this past week has brought more than the usual number of earthquakes, as well as a significant number of higher-intensity earthquakes (near or above 7 on the Richter scale).

Astrologically, Mars seems to be stirring things up -- and Mars is in Cancer, ruling home, foundations, and security. Mars is currently "triggering" (reigniting) the energies of all the Cancer/Capricorn eclipses that have occurred in the past 2 years (since summer 2009). This means we are bringing issues full circle for resolution, stirring up what is still needing to be addressed. This influence will continue through September 18.

And Mars has also been square Saturn this week, manifesting as additional tension that needs to find release.

A non-astrological note of interest: I heard on NPR today that the reason the earthquake in Virginia was felt over such a large area is because the tectonic plate on the east coast is basically intact, with few fault lines. So when one part shakes, the whole region feels it. Out here in the western United States, we have lots of fault lines -- which means we can have more earthquakes perhaps, but they also provide flexibility so the tremors are not usually as widespread.

Thanks for your question!

Success story

Just proof that things CAN go well when Mercury is retrograde -- with a little extra help.

A while ago, a robin started building her nest on the arm of a downspout, right beneath the eaves of my house. As the nest took form, I thought that it was a precarious place for a nest, and that if she laid eggs, the nest would soon tip over from the added weight.

Still, I've had other robins build nests that never were used for egg-laying, so decided let nature do whatever it needed to do.

Because the nest was above eye level, I didn't know if there had been eggs laid. But, about 10 days ago, one of my dogs suddenly became very interested in the ground beneath that downspout. I went over to see, and sure enough, the nest was on the ground. I thought, oh, too bad, and picked it up. And THEN saw two tiny baby birds, just bones and skin, on the ground.

Of course, my first need was to get the dogs away (who, by this time, were VERY interested in what was on the ground), so dragged them unwillingly into the house. I grabbed a pair of gloves (having read somewhere not to touch baby birds with your hands -- although have since read that's not such a big deal) and went back outside.

I found a small bucket, loaded it nearly to the top with rocks to keep it stable, then put the nest on top of that. Then, ever so gently and ever so nervously, I picked up each of the tiny birds and put them into the nest. One started "gaping" right away (open mouth, waiting to be fed), but the other was very lethargic and unresponsive.

I put the nest-bucket up on top of the electrical box on the outside of the house, which serendipitously was just about two feet beneath the downspout. And then went into the house to call someone who would know more than I do about what to do next.

Thanks heavens for PAWS. I found their bird rescue line, and called. Had to leave a message, but in the meantime, read online that I should be watching the nest (from a distance) to see if the mama robin returned. About 10 minutes later, as I was positioned outside in my sentry post, the woman from PAWS called back. She asked a lot of questions, gave me some good support for what I was doing, and we arranged that if the mama robin hadn't come back to the nest in another hour, I should bring the nest and its two little ones to the bird rescue place.

Back to my sentry post. Within about 20 minutes, I saw mama robin hopping around on the ground, a ways away from the nest. Would she find the new nest? Was there too much disturbance?

She hopped over closer to the nest, then hopped around on the ground where the fallen nest had been. Had she already been there after the babies had fallen? Was she looking for them? I found myself whispering out loud, "Look up, mama, look up!"

Within a few more seconds, she flew up to the downspout where the nest had originally been. "Look down, mama, look down!"

And then, she flew down to the nest. I was so excited, I called the PAWS woman back and told her the news. They were pleased to hear that all was going well.

For several days, I didn't know if both babies had made it. The one had been so lethargic, I wasn't sure if it had been injured in the fall. But last Tuesday, as I was watching the nest, the mama flew in with some food and TWO beaks poked up out of the nest to be fed. I can't tell you how good it felt to see those two little yellow beaks.

And this morning when I went out (dogs on leash, just in case), there was just one baby left in the nest. Flight day has arrived.

A few minutes ago, as I was rounding another corner of the house, I startled the baby who had already left the nest, from its perch in the lower branches of a cedar. The young bird flew briefly, and I quickly went away so as not cause any more fright.

By later today, both birds should be out of the nest and well on their way to taking care of themselves in the world. What a miracle.

Thanks for letting me share! Now, off to write today's Journal...

Comets and cataclysms

I've received several emails from readers over the past couple of months, wondering about the comet Elenin and my thoughts on the subject. Here's my reply to Anne, who asked a similar question in her comment to the post entitled "Mars crossing the July 1 eclipse degree" below:

About Elenin -- I do not have the sense that this comet's arrival is a major cataclysmic event, as some have predicted. It is true that when comets come into closer range of Earth's energy field, they bring new information into our collective awareness. That part resonates with me, and it will be interesting to watch and sense what comes through with this particular comet.

As to whether Elenin is "planet X or Niburu," that interpretation confuses me a bit, since Elenin is a comet, not a planet. For someone who knows more about Niburu than I do, perhaps that will sound like a naive statement! But I come from a very practical stance when I interpret astrology, and that's my initial thought.

I think we are all aware on some level -- some of us more consciously -- of the big shift we humans are going through. Astrologically, it corresponds with the Pluto-Uranus square, which will be working with us for the next five years. Life is changing, society is changing, each of us is shifting in ways we may only have begun to conceive. It is an exciting time, and a rollercoaster ride at times. And there will be weeks when the shift feels more monumental, as we've seen with the eclipses this summer.

But, again, my practical nature (Taurus Sun, Taurus Mercury) does not believe that there will be that one specific moment when Everything Changes. I believe our enlightenment/ascension is a process, not an event. I think it is human nature to want The Day to arrive, just as we want The Relationship or The Job to come into our lives. And certainly we can have wonderful things happen, events that change who we are, or enhance our lives in powerful ways. But those types of events build on who we are and ask us to Become More -- they are not about the end of the world as we know it, whether that ending be by cataclysm or by revelation.

"Building on who we are and Becoming More" is what I think our human experience on planet Earth is all about -- and it is also at the core of our growth process as spiritual beings, growth that continues beyond this lifetime and beyond this dimension. We will never reach a final destination because we will always keep growing and changing, even when we are returned to spirit. That is why we choose, again and again, to reincarnate -- whether on the Earth plane or in some other dimensional existence. We want to keep growing and learning and experiencing. That desire is at the core of our spiritual nature.

Perhaps as Elenin passes by in September, we will have greater access to the new information and insights needed for that next step -- or leap! -- in Becoming More. Then we have the end of the Mayan Calendar (according to Carl Calleman's calculations) on October 28, and in November we have the 11:11:11 date. All of these timeframes have been energetically loaded with the expectations and hopes (and fears) of thousands if not millions of people.

Looking at the planets that are commonly used in mundane astrology, the next major universal event is the pair of eclipses in November/December -- with some other planetary interactions, lunations and direction changes occurring between now and then to keep us moving forward, and to keep me writing the Journal on Sundays!

And, of course, each of us individually may be dealing with personal transits that affect our lives and keep us growing and changing, especially around the times when the outer planets change direction (Pluto in September, Neptune in November, and Uranus in December).

But this fall may indeed be another powerful time, based at least in part on the expectations of mass consciousness. I've heard that our guides can take advantage of these expectations, to help focus their own energies as they assist us in our process of Becoming More. "Whenever two or more are gathered" works in all dimensions, and between dimensions as well...

At the e-gym

Every day this week has felt like being in a different room at the e-gym -- with the "e" standing for emotional instead of electronic.

Mars in Cancer has been (and continues to be) our personal trainer at this particular gym, putting us to work at different types of exercise equipment and telling us how many reps to do. This past week, Mars has crossed over the degree of the July 1 Solar Eclipse of this year and brought issues raised by that eclipse back into our awareness in some form. Also this week, and during the next four weeks, Mars is triggering all the eclipse degrees from the past two years, the length of time that the Capricorn-Cancer polarity eclipses were in effect. We'll have to wait and see if the remaining Mars transits of the eclipse degrees continues to be as strong as they have been this week.

One earmark of Mars in Cancer has been the reminder of issues and emotions from the past -- the long-ago past from the present life, and even further back into our history of lifetimes. I've seen events occur in my own life and in the lives of some close friends this week that successfully dredged up emotions thought long-resolved, or at least from long enough ago not to be active any more. This effect is no doubt also exaggerated by the fact that Mercury is retrograde (moving backward), also focusing our attention on the past.

These events are allowing us to peel away deeper layers of the emotions that are arising, to see them from a different perspective now than we might have when they originally came forth. As uncomfortable as it might be, it is a time to feel these emotions and to let them drain us -- and then to let them drain away into the Earth for Gaia to transform and utilize as pure energy.

One more facet of the karmic completion that our recent eclipses have initiated...

Mars crossing the July 1 eclipse degree

I didn't mention in this week's Journal that yesterday (August 16) was the day that Mars crossed the degree of the July 1 Solar Eclipse, acting as a "trigger" to issues and energies represented by that eclipse. (For reminder, that eclipse was at 9 degrees Cancer.)

So, if amidst the positive energies of the Sun-Mercury-Venus alignment, you've also experienced some emotional issues yesterday and today, no doubt it's the energy of that eclipse being revisited. For me, the eclipse was conjunct my Sun-Moon midpoint, a sensitive point in the chart that represents male/female relationships, as well as the possibility of bringing something into awareness that has previously been hidden. Those issues have been a theme for me this summer, and came into stronger focus just this morning.

From my perspective, Mars has more than accomplished his mission!

How about for you?

Response from Texas

Received today from a reader in Texas:

Hey Pam,

We always so much enjoy and appreciate your journal. Thanks again. A slight reprieve sounds good, doesn't it!

When my niece was very young and on a multiple-hour trip with my parents, her comment was, "How old will I be when we get there?" It's one of our favorite family sayings and I couldn't help but think about it and giggle when I read your first paragraph this week. I must confess that this summer has put me in that frame of mind more than once.

Hhmm...a psuedo-summer...down here in north Texas we have had a whopper of a full-fledged, all out scorcher! ;-)

Once again, thanks,

Lisa

Perfect! Now I know I will start to wonder "How old will I be when we get there?" too! Thanks for sharing.

Things are heating up

The Sun released a very high-level/high-energy burst this morning -- an X-7 class solar flare. Although the energy of this burst is not aimed directly at Earth, we are likely to feel some effects in the next couple of days -- so the ride continues!

Here's the impressive photo from the main page of SpaceWeather.com this morning:

Onward and upward...

Riding the rollercoaster

Perhaps it's the Mars-Uranus-Pluto energy already making itself known, or maybe we're still working with the electromagnetic shifts that came in with the recent solar winds -- but my oh my, it's been quite a rollercoaster ride today. Emotional extremes, odd dreams, miscommunications (that one may be from the Neptune-Mercury opposition)... it's been quite a mix. And, I'm guessing the next couple of days will be more of same.

We're breaking apart the physical, emotional and mental structures that no longer serve us, which means there's positive intention in all this. But it gets a bit bumpy when either we're too attached to how things have been or we let uncertainty about unknowns become anxiety or fear. Centering in on the high-heart area helps -- our heart-brain knows that all really is well, even when our head-brain is sure the sky is falling.

Geomagnetic storm on the way

The Sun has been very active the past three days -- so much so, in fact, that scientists expect a major geomagnetic storm to reach Earth on Friday, August 5. The timing is not exact -- early morning here in the Pacific Northwest is likely.

Here's the report from SpaceWeather.com:

UPDATE: This morning's M9-class eruption propelled a CME toward Earth. Moving at an estimated speed of 1950 km/s, the cloud is expected to sweep up two earlier CMEs already en route. Analysts at the GSFC Space Weather Lab say the combined triple-CME should reach Earth on August 5th at 13:55 UT plus or minus 7 hours. "The impact on Earth is likely to be major: the estimated maximum geomagnetic activity index level Kp is 7 (Kp ranges from 0 - 9). The flanks of the CME may also impact STEREO A, Mars and Mercury/MESSENGER."

In physical terms, geomagnetic storms can impact our electronics and radiowaves -- in metaphysical terms, we will be working with a major impulse of new energy and information.

Best advice is probably to be flexible, to consciously align with the highest aspect of ourselves, and also to ask for assistance from nonphysical guides to adapt to and utilize the energy and information in positive ways. And for those who meditate, it should be quite a ride!

I'd love feedback from anyone who wants to share their experience of these energies on Friday.

See you on the other side!

Making use of Mercury retrograde

I have a theory.

After reading an article about the THREE brains in our bodies (yes, three), I am considering that when Mercury goes retrograde, we really only have problems when we rely too heavily on one of those brains -- the one in our heads.

But, given the fact that we also have a brain in our belly (our source of gut instinct) and a brain in our heart (our source of feeling response), we are not just cut adrift from our ability to navigate this reality when Mercury is retrograde. True, our rational brains (which Mercury represents) may not be functioning fully, and events may not unfold according to the expectations of that rational mind, but our other two brains are still fully engaged and ready to take the reins.

We have a good three-plus weeks to play with this theory. I'm going to give it a try.

(And if you'd like to read the article, here's the link: Introducing Our Second and Third Brains)

It's time

Tomorrow's Leo New Moon marks a new beginning in several ways. Yes, of course it is the beginning of a new lunar cycle, always an important time to start anew. But it is also our first New Moon since May that is not weighted with the extra impact of a Solar Eclipse, which leaves us a bit more wiggle room in choosing how we want to use the energies. And, it occurs the day before Day Five of the Mayan Calendar begins, an 18-day period called a "budding phase," when our new creations are more likely to become visible.

The two weeks between the New Moon and the Full Moon (on August 13) will also see the star Sirius emerge from the shadow of the Sun, to become our morning star. Sirius is known as "our spiritual Sun" (read more about the esoteric meanings of Sirius on the Souled Out website).

Channeler Sarah Biermann writes that: "In the Milky Way Galaxy Sirius is 'upstream' of our Solar System. So energy and information from the Galactic Center comes to us via Sirius. Sirius is also a portal from other star systems."

And Gillian MacBeth-Louthan writes about "Sirius rising" in issue #66 of her Quantum Awakening newsletter:

“The star Sirius rising is associated with new thought, new light, and new beginnings. It rises before the sun purposefully after being in stellar hiding for about 70 days. Sirius houses the Great White Brotherhood, the Lemurian Elders, as well as the Christ Consciousness and a bevy of highly evolved beings. The announcement of her arrival comes as a key to unlock a very old door that is newly painted and positioned. This door enters into a room that humanity as a whole has never been comfortable experiencing. It is now time to come from a point of high solar vibrations and allow this new light to shine on places within the psyche and history of earth that needs cleansed.”

The exact day that Sirius emerges from behind the Sun varies, depending on where we live by latitude and longitude upon the earth. "In 2011 in the Pacific Time Zone, Sirius rises before the Sun on the last day of July, but remains hidden in its glare. When Sirius rises above the eastern horizon at an altitude of 7 degrees it can be seen. This heliacal rising of Sirius occurs August 7, 2011 in San Francisco."

It's time now, as we make these energetic shifts, to fully release the fears that have been brought to the surface in the past several weeks. It's time now to open to the broadcast of divine light information and love energy that is available to us, to fill those spaces created by the release of fear. It's time now to become "en-love-ened" as well as en-light-ened."

Blessings to all on this important New Moon tomorrow!

Pam

Mars and the South Node

The alignment between Mars and the South Node in Gemini this week has been intense -- perhaps moreso for those of us who have the South Node in Gemini in our natal charts (anyone born between September 1936-March 1938, April 1955-October 1956, October 1973-July 1975, and August 1992-January 1994). The negative qualities of that South Node have been exaggerated, and difficult to sidestep: worry, overthinking, indecisiveness, trusting others' perceptions instead of our own, falling back into old habits of lower-vibrational thought and conversation.

The energy of that seems to be easing this morning finally -- and I know for myself, I'm good and tired of that old way of being.

Because the South Node is now in Gemini, all of us on the planet are being asked to choose between those old linear ways of thinking and trusting our intuitive knowing. Linear thought looks for cause and effect, and then wants to blame or settles into rehashing what was and why. Intuitive knowing lives in the moment, trusts the self's perceptions, and releases fear and worry as being habits of a bygone era.

On with the day...

Two Hours From Hawaii

My dear friend Molly McCord has written a great article describing our "in-between" stage right now -- she's entitled it "Are You Two Hours From Hawaii?" and here's an excerpt:

A plane ride to Hawaii from the West Coast takes over five hours to cross the Pacific Ocean. Along the way, there is a point in the route where the plane does not have regular contact with air traffic control on either side. The plane has successfully left one land mass for another, and yet hasn't reached the official air space of the other air traffic control tower.

For two hours, the plane is flying without any outside assistance to provide guidance, direction or navigational support. The plane must rely solely on it own internal instruments, knowingness and effort for this leg of the journey.

When I heard this fact, I instantly felt that it described what I'm feeling right now about a few things. I know my inspirations are heading somewhere... but I can't see or connect to the landing destination yet. I know it's out there and coming into view soon...

If you'd like to read the entire article, here's the link: Two Hours From Hawaii

Enjoy! And thank you, Molly!

Zzzzzzzzzzzz ...

Maybe it's been the Full Moon this week, bringing to fullness the energy of the Solar Eclipse on July 1 -- but my oh my, has this been a SLEEPY week.

Sleep is a good thing, both for rejuvenating the immune system and for doing that "other" type of work that happens on spiritual and emotional levels when we're in deep zzzzzzzzzzzz. I am presuming that our bodies and minds are aware of our great need for all this type of work and assistance now, and are encouraging us to go to bed early.

I also read a few weeks ago in someone's channeling that July would be a month when we would need to sleep a lot. Seems to be coming very true!

The BIG question

I received an email from a reader this week, who wanted to know:

"In this week's Journal, the information seemed to be saying that the intensity was not letting up much. I'm wondering, as we're in the first week of July, if you see any light at the end of this tunnel we're all in."

I can so relate to the desire to know WHEN we're going to be through the challenges. The first week of July, especially, has been a emotional rollercoaster for many, a time of fears and frustrations that is finally starting to smooth out a bit.

In my answer to the reader, I of course needed to tell her that so much depends on what is going on with our individual charts, as to when current challenges might resolve for each of us. In that sense, without seeing her chart, I could not tell her definitively when her specific issues would find resolution.

That being said, it does seem true that our trio of eclipses has lived up to their press packet, no matter what our natal charts may reveal. We have been challenged to rise above the fears and patterns of the past and to find new ways to approach the challenges before us. The Cardinal Grand Cross has both ignited our urgency for growth and change, and exposed the fears and patterns that have been blocking our progress.

When will we be "through the tunnel" and finally standing in the light on the other side? I think we have the opportunity to do that every day, in little if not big ways. Every time we find a new way to think about something that has caused us fear in the past, we come out of a tunnel. Every time we open our hearts to love where before we had resented or resisted, we gather more light around us.

And, as we come out of more tunnels and gather more light in all these smaller ways, the light grows brighter and brighter around us -- until, even when we're in a tunnel, working on yet one more issue, we both feel and know the light that surrounds us always.

Building to tonight's Eclipse

It's been such a BIG day energetically, I would be remiss not to mention it in some form.

Physically, our bodies are having a time of it, adjusting to this eclipse and grand cross energy. Highlights of the week include heart flutters and back pain (often just behind the heart chakra). Fluctuating between never feeling full to feeling satiated after a bite or two. Ranging from extreme sleepiness and sleeping long hours, to being sleepless (for me, just outside of Seattle). Pain in odd places (often in hips, legs and feet, our grounding tools).

Emotionally, a lot is up as well. Everything that happens carries an extra emotional charge, and anxieties (even fears) seem just barely beneath the surface, ready to make an appearance at the least provocation.

My ever-sensitive dog, Kelsey, must have been feeling it, too, since she spent a majority of the day shaking and panting, while I tried a multitude of ways to distract/heal/soothe her. Rides in the car seem to be the key to enough distraction, and then plenty of play time in the yard, once she was calm enough to pay attention to the ball. Currently, since we're just back from yet another car ride and round of play, she seems to be settling a bit, so Mom is feeling much happier than she's been for a good portion of the day.

The grand cross is certainly pushing us, from all directions. It seems to be requiring us to take concrete actions steps in a forward direction, while also exposing the emotional and mental issues that have been perhaps keeping us from taking those steps. There are messages in everything around us, if we pay attention.

In positive ways, too! Such as on this most recent ride to get Kelsey calmed down, when the digital speed monitor on the road flashed "44-44-44-44" at me while my car speedometer told me I was going 35. Only when I had slowed to 30 mph did the monitor stop flashing "44" and finally return to reflecting my speed accurately.

In my world, a sign that really Things Are OK.

Author Doreen Virtue writes on her website that 44 means that "Thousands of angels surround you at this moment, loving and supporting you. You have a very strong and clear connection with the angelic realm, and are an Earth angel yourself. You have nothing to fear — all is well."

I'll take that! And pass it on to you as well.

Riding the wave

The energy wave has felt immense this week. In meditation on Wednesday morning, I had the sensation of an enormous wave that was carrying us all -- and the knowing that when it again deposited us, we would be in a much different place.

I did not get a sense of a timeframe, and was assuming it was associated with our triple eclipses. But, later in the day, I heard another woman's channeling that also referenced the current wave, and her feeling was that it would be with us (or we would be with it) until October.

The wave in my meditation was so large, the October timeframe makes sense. I guess we'll have to see.

Certainly, this week feels very other-worldly again. Energies coming through during meditation have been greatly enhanced and even more expansive than before. And the daily activities? Mostly they have a surreal feeling. Everything looks the same, but it sure feels different.

How are you all doing?

Pam

Interesting morning

Waking up this morning, I had a feeling that there was something of a wobble in the energetic field -- and then I remembered, oh yes, Uranus squares Mercury today. Filed that thought away, went about morning routines as usual, but with an awareness of something being "in the air," so to speak.

Sat down to talk with my first client of the day, a woman in the Southwest who is dealing with overwhelming smoke from the Arizona fires. And here's where it gets interesting -- about 15 minutes into our session, MY smoke alarm started beeping.

There's more to the story than that, as I had to figure out ways to calm down the dogs (who were freaked out and trying to crawl into my lap), plus maintain connection with my client, and connection with the message that was trying to get through to her. Not so easy just to disarm the alarm, since it resides at the log at the peak of my two-story ceiling.

All in all, a very Uranus-Mercury-square moment, now resolved and blessedly quiet again. Except for one of my dogs, who is very affected by such things, and is now hiding out in the downstairs kitchen. She started doing better after I put drops of Rescue Remedy on her head, but will take some time to recover.

The message from the event itself probably has many levels. But what is striking to me is that confirmation that we are ALL connected energetically. Call it coincidence that my smoke alarm battery went out as I was talking to a client about the smoke surrounding her house, but that one's a little too striking to ignore.

I hope your day goes a bit more smoothly, but with new awareness of something of importance in your life.

Oh, and did I mention....?

A little more information about tomorrow's Lunar Eclipse -- it is aligned (within 3 degrees) of the Galactic Center, the point in space around which our Milky Way revolves (along with many other galaxies), the point that is often called "the Sun of our Sun."

Not such a little thing, that.

Here's what Mary Elizabeth Jochmans writes about the influence of the Galactic Center, which she calls "the Cosmic Knowledge Point":

Old patterns, concepts and ways of being which are limiting are ferreted out, both for this and other lifetimes, to enable a true cord-cutting and a birthing of the Cosmic Child within. Once this happens, the information pouring in from this black hole is brought into awareness and an inner knowing takes place which cannot be explained.

For those of you who attended my teleclass last month, these words should ring some bells! My understanding of our shift from the Age of Pisces into the Age of Aquarius is encapsulated in the phrase "Faith ends, Knowing begins" -- which just means that instead of learning to trust in what we cannot see or verify, the new age will be about learning to tap into our own deep, inner knowing. Or, as Ms. Jochmans explains it, gaining "the ability to know things without knowing how you know them."

So, very important that tomorrow's eclipse is aligned with the Galactic Center! And, what Ms. Jochmans writes about releasing "old patterns, concepts and ways of being" also very much goes along with the themes we've already discussed, that this eclipse season is a time of karmic completion and rebirth.

Sleep well tonight, and many cosmic dreams!

Life as a dream

In my Journal for this week, I compared this time between eclipses to being in a "through-the-looking-glass" world  -- and that other-worldly feeling has definitely increased as the days have progressed.

The story of "Alice Through the Looking Glass" is filled with themes of time and space not acting quite as expected. And, the telling of Alice's second adventure ends with a poem, the final lines of which are quite appropriate now:

Ever drifting down the stream--
Lingering in the golden gleam--
Life, what is it but a dream?

There's an odd real-but-not-quite-real feeling in the air now. Looking at life objectively, things appear fairly normal. Usual routines, same house, same dogs, same work. But a part of the brain is working on entirely different levels, making it all seem somewhat dreamlike at the same time as appearances would tell us all is as usual.

And the physical symptoms can be perplexing. Extreme tiredness for no apparent reason, then wakefulness when we lie down to sleep. Feeling hungry at odd times, and food not quite registering as expected -- still feeling hunger after eating plenty, or digestion just not working as well as usual. Headaches, chest pains, other odd discomforts as well.

It's said that these are all signs that our physical bodies are going through a phase of adjusting to the heightened energies -- "ascension symptoms" is the term some have given.

Lauren Gorgo's latest blog entry lists these symptoms and explains why they're occurring:

This merging of the spiritual and material…the awakening of unity consciousness…is happening through our heart centers as well as the pituitary/pineal glands so if you have been experiencing intense heartburn/ nausea (heart opening), pineal/pituitary activation (sacred marriage) symptoms...vertigo, sleepiness, FATIGUE, disorientation, insomnia, deep sleeps, sinus issues, headaches, sore/itchy scalp, watery/red/ itchy/burning eyes, changes in eyesight, etc...and/or digestion issues (root clearing/grounding/cellular detoxification), most likely it's related.

It's comforting to know the reasons for such things! And good to know we're all in this together.

(If you want to read Lauren's full post, click here.)

Other perspectives on today's eclipse

Many astrologers (of course!) have been writing about today's eclipse, and the trio of eclipses we're experiencing in these next few weeks. I'm sharing here some of my favorite quotes from recent articles, and links to the complete text, in case you'd like to read more:

• Patricia Liles writes that these energies "are like the exhilaration you feel when crossing a raging river over a big log. You don't want to look down, only where you want to end up! That raging river holds the chaos of the collective change we're passing through. Don't end up in it; know what you want to create and keep your sights focused and undistracted." (More)
• Pat Paquette of the "Real Astrologers" website writes that "new patterns are visibly manifesting on the planet and in our lives, and this process will accelerate in the next six weeks." (More)
• And, Adam Sommer writes about the alignment of today's Solar Eclipse with the star Aldebaran: "As we evolve, we perceive more than we ever knew was existent or perceptible, yet we only perceive what has always been there. The Way of Revelation is through the discovering and discarding of our own limitations.…in essence, it's Time to See, Discern, and Transcend!" (More)

Enjoy the ride today, and may your next Transcendent Step be easy, effortless, and gentle!

Blessings,

Pam

Dreaming of Happy

Right now, I'm in the middle of writing today's Journal, with one of my dogs lying at my feet under the desk -- her usual place when I've working at the computer. (My other dog prefers the comfort of the bed a few feet away, being one who needs her "space.")

I'm taking this quick break to post this blog entry, because what just happened was so perfect:

Just as I was writing about the positive effects of letting go of worry and anxiety, I hear a "thump, thump, thump" under my desk. Looking down, I see my black dog sound asleep -- but with her tail wagging as she dreams of Happy.

That's where we all need to be! And, I think, where this week's eclipse is intending to help us go...

Here's to us all spending more moments dreaming of Happy.

Eclipse questions from teleclass

In response to a participant's question during my teleclass on Thursday, I'm doing a little research about how often there are "new" eclipses, as well as how often there are three eclipses within five weeks. That is our current scenario, as we have eclipses on June 1, June 15 and July 1, with the June 1 eclipse being a "new" eclipse.

Background story: Eclipses usually occur in pairs. They also tend to repeat in zodiac location every 19 years, allowing us to connect the dots between present and past. This 19-year repetition is useful, as it can help us understand the lessons and growth involved in the eclipses.

But, every so often, we get a "new" eclipse, one that was not an eclipse 19 years ago, but simply a new or full moon. This means a new degree of the zodiac is receiving the energy of the eclipse, which can both raise and resolve karmic issues that have not been addressed before.

Likewise, occasionally we have a trio of eclipses instead of a pair.

Looking at my quick-scan list of eclipses that I put together several years ago, here's what I'm finding. In the eight years I scanned (starting in 2005 and ending with 2012), I wrote down 36 eclipses. Of those 36:

• There are just two times when there are three eclipses in a row: in 2009 (July 7, July 22 and August 6) and in 2011 (June 1, June 15 and July 1).
• There are actually eight eclipses out of the 36 that are "new": two in 2006, two in 2008, two in 2009, and two in 2011.

So, the "new" eclipses happen a bit more often than I had thought, although still pretty rare, happening only one out of nine times. But the trio of eclipses, as we are now working with, are more rare.

Thanks for the question! And many thanks to all of you who joined in on the class! I enjoyed putting it together, and I hope you enjoyed participating, and found the information helpful.

Busy week!

Maybe we can point to the Jupiter-Mercury-Venus link-up as the energy behind the rapid pace of life this past week. Even Mars entering Taurus last Wednesday hasn't seemed to slow things down. But, today both Mercury and Venus enter Taurus, too, so I'm anticipating a somewhat reduced-pace week ahead.

Still, with the Triple Eclipses just around the corner, changes and movement are to be expected. I guess my Taurus brain will have to get used to it!

Current events

A reader has posted this question about the events of this past weekend:

I don't know if a positive or negative attribute might be placed on this, but... would you also consider that the Jupiter/Mars conjunction is the perfect confluence of energies for the bin Laden event? Perhaps you might be able to also shed some light on how the Saturn/Venus opposition might illustrate something about that as well?

Thanks for your question. Yes, we can see the effects of the Jupiter-Mars alignment in Aries in the bin Laden news. Forceful energies are amplified with the aspect, and those involved certainly had to tap into the courage (Mars) of their convictions/beliefs (Jupiter).

The influence of the Saturn-Venus opposition is a little less obvious. Saturn transits often do involve a physical manifestation of ending or loss, as well as a reality check. With Venus involved, those manifestations would affect relationships and value structures.

But, here is something much more interesting about this timing of events:

Saturn was strongly involved in the events of September 11, 2001, being conjunct the U.S. Descendant at the time, while Pluto was conjunct the U.S. Ascendant.

Saturn is now conjunct the Ascendant of the chart drawn for the time of the first plane crash on that day in 2001. So there is a completion occurring now with the energy that was initiated on that day.

The fact that Saturn is now retrograde, and currently back in the 12th house of the 9/11 chart, tells us that there will be more information or events coming to the surface by the time this is all said and done. Saturn goes direct on June 15, and will cross over its current degree of Libra the last week of July. We may want to watch the latter half of July for related news.

Polarities

The polarities in the headlines today are striking, and a clear manifestation of both the positive and negative expressions of the Saturn-Venus opposition and the Jupiter-Mars conjunction.

On the one hand, we have news about the Royal Wedding that took place yesterday. In the positive, Jupiter and Mars in Aries contribute to hope for the future, and help us find the energy and courage needed to begin new journeys. Also in the positive, Saturn and Venus working together help us formalize commitments, and consider the serious side of relationships and partnerships.

On the other hand, we continue to read about the devastation caused by the extreme storms in the southern and eastern parts of the U.S. Here, we can see the negative manifestation of Jupiter/Mars in Aries: over-the-top, out-of-control energies that defy containment, raise fears, and require those affected to begin their lives over again once the dust has settled. We can also see the negative side of Saturn/Venus in these events, in the loss of life and possessions, and the enforced refinement and restructuring of value systems.

The vast majority of us did not get married this weekend. Likewise, most of us were not directly in the path of tornados and other cataclysmic events. But, each of us in our own way is dealing with the polarities of courage and fear, endings and beginnings, optimism and pessimism. As always, no matter what our current personal situation, we have choices in how we perceive and work with what is occurring in and around our lives.

Be gentle and loving with yourself and others now. We are all being energetically pushed and prodded, and will sometimes handle the pressure well, and other times not so well. Get sleep when you can, and soak up some sunshine if possible.

Recovery time

At long last -- as of this morning, Mercury has completed his Aries retrograde phase. This one has been particularly rough for many, including yours truly. Perhaps because there is so much about Aries that wants to Move Forward, and so much about retrograde Mercury that says Not Time Yet.

Not that issues have completely resolved in the past 13 hours -- but already, new information has come forward that supports better understanding. Much improvement over the confusion and fear that has been dredged up from the depths recently.

And, we will continue to work with the influence of the Mercury-Saturn opposition for a few days yet. They're within a degree of being exactly opposite each other, creating a serious overtone to most endeavors. But, as Mercury gradually gains forward momentum over the next week, and Saturn continues on his own retrograde path, the energy of tension will be easing.

Yay.

Upgrades and downloads

I received a couple of messages this week about the adjustments we're needing to make as we work with the higher frequencies coming in now ...

Yesterday, my cell phone froze with an odd message on the screen about being ready for an download. The technician I talked with was amazed that I had gotten this message -- seeing that I have the very basic phone -- because that kind of error "usually only happens with more advanced phones."

And today, I spent three hours working on a PowerPoint presentation (I also do graphic design work), which then froze and would not accept any more edits. And none of the back-up versions I had saved would work either. It turns out the original came from someone who was working in the 2007 version, while I had opened it using the 2003 version.

So, with these two separate events occurring within two days' time, the synchronicity brought the message into focus. It helps take the anxiety down a notch to understand what's really going on when things don't seem to work as they used to.

Article on "Conscious-Cool-Chic" blogsite

Hi everyone,

A dear friend of mine has started a new blogsite with all things "Conscious-Cool-Chic" -- and has asked me to write a short article for her "Soul Growth Adventures" page. I wrote my essay in response to the question: At this place, in this moment, what are you celebrating in your life?

If you'd like to read my article (and explore this wonderful blog!), here's the link: Conscious-Cool-Chic. Enjoy!

In between a rock ... and another rock

We had the Pluto-Mars square two days ago (on Monday, April 11) and will have a Saturn-Mars opposition next Monday (April 18) -- talk about being between rocks!

Since Monday, I've been very aware of my mind searching for things to be upset about, to blame about. For the most part, I've been pretty successful at diverting the train, but it's taking some conscious effort. And I know others are dealing with some general feelings of irritation and frustration unexpectedly coming to the surface.

I think it's especially hard on Aries types, with Mercury now retrograde in Aries, and so many other planets (including Uranus) in Aries. And, Mars, the ruler of Aries, is both in his native sign and caught in a pressure play between Pluto and Saturn. This influence is unearthing some unfinished scripts for one last read-through before we finally toss them into the fire.

It's work that has to be done, of course. The good news is that when we've burned the old scripts, we can then tap into the Neptune-in-Pisces comfort zone, and find that place of serenity above the drama and trauma. Definitely a relief when we are able to go there and put our feet up for a while!

Question about Neptune transit

I received this question from a reader this week, and thought the answer might be of interest to others as well:

I have a quick question: With the information out about Neptune in Pisces starting this week where would I look in my chart to determine how it will affect me...The house where I have Neptune or the house where I have Pisces? I am always confused by this. Thank you!

The answer is actually -- both. Wherever Neptune is transiting in your chart right now by house (in other words, wherever you have 0 degrees Pisces) is the area of life where the planet's energy is working with you. But, as planets transit through our charts, they also carry with them the issues of the house where they are located in our birth charts, and may also bring those into our awareness, especially when they are making a transit to one of our other natal planets.

So, for instance, if you have Pisces in your 7th house of Partnerships, and natal Neptune in your 12th house of Karma, I would first explore the meaning of Neptune transiting your 7th house (in general, dissolving old relationship patterns, bringing greater compassion into partnerships, or overidealizing others or playing rescuer role) as the primary influence. Then, I would add the intention of Neptune in your natal 12th house, which might involve opportunities to resolve karmic patterns of martyrdom or avoidance...I hope that helps!

Prayer letter from Dr. Masaru Emoto

Hello, all. If you are familiar with Dr. Emoto's work, you know the impact our thoughts and prayers have on water. In light of the nuclear disaster occurring in Japan right now, I am sharing this with you in case you want to participate.

Here is the letter from Dr Masaru Emoto:

To All People Around the World,

Please send your prayers of love and gratitude to water at the nuclear plants in Fukushima, Japan!

By the massive earthquakes of Magnitude 9 and surreal massive tsunamis, more than 10,000 people are still missing…even now… It has been 16 days already since the disaster happened. What makes it worse is that water at the reactors of Fukushima Nuclear Plants started to leak, and it’s contaminating the ocean, air and water molecule of surrounding areas.

Human wisdom has not been able to do much to solve the problem, but we are only trying to cool down the anger of radioactive materials in the reactors by discharging water to them.

Is there really nothing else to do?

I think there is. During over twenty year research of hado measuring and water crystal photographic technology, I have been witnessing that water can turn positive when it receives pure vibration of human prayer no matter how far away it is.

Energy formula of Albert Einstein, E=MC2 really means that Energy = number of people and the square of people’s consciousness.

Now is the time to understand the true meaning. Let us all join the prayer ceremony as fellow citizens of the planet earth. I would like to ask all people, not just in Japan, but all around the world to please help us to find a way out the crisis of this planet!!
The prayer procedure is as follows.

Day and Time:
March 31st, 2011 (Thursday)
12:00 noon in each time zone

Please say the following phrase:
“The water of Fukushima Nuclear Plant,
we are sorry to make you suffer.
Please forgive us. We thank you, and we love you.”

Please say it aloud or in your mind. Repeat it three times as you put your hands together in a prayer position. Please offer your sincere prayer.

Thank you very much from my heart.

With love and gratitude,
Masaru Emoto
Messenger of Water

http://emotopeaceproject.blogspot.com/

A todas las personas del mundo:

¡Por favor manden sus oraciones de Amor y Gratitud al agua de la Planta Nuclear de Fukushima, Japón!

El Dr.Emoto y nosotros vamos a hacer la ceremonia de mandar las oraciones al agua de la Planta Nuclear de Fukushima, Japón. Quisieramos que toda la gente de esta tierra participara a la ceremonia y dara ...las oraciones en sus lugares.

La fecha y hora:
Juevez, 31 de Marzo de 2011, a las 12:00 del día en la hora local.

Vamos a pronunciar la siguiente frase:
“El agua de la Planta Nuclear Fukushima, lo sentimos mucho por haberte causado este sufrimiento. Por favor perdónanos. Te damos gracias, y te amamos.”
Pueden decir a voz alta o en silencio. Repiten 3 veces juntando las palmas de sus manos ofreciendo su sincera oración.

Muchas gracias.

Blame it on Neptune

Perhaps we can "blame" the Neptune-Saturn dance going on this week -- but it feels more than ever that we are somehow poised between realities at the moment... And sometimes dipping into either one side or the other more completely. Narcoleptic bouts of sleepiness, followed by wide-awake nights... An unexpected feeling of euphoria and connection followed by sadness and fear when observing world events, and then back to the bliss again.

I think we're also already feeling the energy of Neptune in Pisces, since we are just 10 days away from the planet's ingress into its own sign. Perhaps we can look forward to more of the "euphoria and connection" manifestation, as well as increased compassion and open-heartedness... All good things, in my book.

Pepper Lewis

I found myself needing some reassurance today, and thought of Pepper Lewis, who is a channel for Gaia. I went to her website, and found an 11-minute recording called "Earthquake in Japan." I did find it reassuring.

If you'd like to hear the channeling, click on the link below, which will take you to Pepper's website. Scroll down just a bit, and you'll see the graphic for listening to the recording, called:

Gaia Speaks: Earthquake in Japan

Blessings and Peace to all,

Pam

Links for today's Journal

I have learned not to put too many live links into my weekly NorthPoint Journal -- it does interfere with delivery at times!

So, here are the links to two websites I referenced:

SpaceWeather.com

USGS Earthquake Hazards

Many blessings,

Pam

Red Ray

Two nights this past week, I have awakened with "Red Ray" in my consciousness. While I could make some guesses about what that meant, I decided to google those words to see what I could find online. Here is one description I found:

You now move into the Red Ray of Completion. The contemplation of your life and its spiritual meaning have shown you what you can no longer do what you have been doing, and still be true to who you are and what you have come to do, even though the specifics of your purpose may not be clear to you yet. Red is also the Ray of Action, and so you will be taking steps to complete and change certain aspects of your life.

This is very appropriate information for me right now -- and perhaps for many of us, as we take the initiation of Uranus in Aries. Perhaps we may call on the energy of the Red Ray to assist us as we go forward.

Dramatic beginnings

As we sit on the Pacific coast of the North American continent, grateful that the tsunami seems to be only gently affecting our shores, we also feel great heart connection to the people in Japan who are, at this very moment, dealing with so much devastation.

The unseen (but clearly sensed) energies have been in crescendo for about a week now, this morning feeling even more powerful. Obviously, Gaia has also been feeling this increase, and is going through a major release of those pent-up energies.

A dramatic beginning to our seven years of Uranus in Aries, and an indicator of the levels of change that we, as Earth-dwellers, have agreed to participate in.

How do we assist the process? Certainly it does no good to be in fear.

We can start by consciously opening our heart and high heart centers, connecting in compassion to others of our human family who are dealing directly with the physical manfestations of these energy shifts. This benefits both others and ourselves, for we cannot hold both compassion and fear at the same time.

We can also do our own release work as needed, filling those places that are then opened within us with sparkling light. And, we can extend that light down through our feet, into the heart of our planet, to stabilize our connection with Mother Earth and to assist in bringing greater grace and ease to this ascension process.

Error in today's Journal

Ooops! Of course, it's always after you press "Send" that you realize a mistake.

In today's Journal, I wrote:

ONLY THOSE who are 84 years of age or older have experienced Uranus in Aries before -- and that was from 1927 to 1934, at a much different time in humanity's evolutionary cycle and level of consciousness.

It should say instead:

ONLY THOSE who are 84 years of age or older have experienced the shift involved in Uranus moving from Pisces into Aries -- and that was in 1927, at a much different time in humanity's evolutionary cycle and level of consciousness.

I had in my mind that Uranus has an 84-year cycle (which it does), but didn't think about the fact that people up to seven years younger (born between 1927 and 1934) would also have experienced Uranus in Aries. But, they wouldn't have experienced the shift between Uranus in Pisces and Uranus in Aries -- that would have been reserved for those who were in physical form on Earth 84 or more years ago.

Thanks!

Pam

Reader's question about the Great Depression

Here's an email question I received a couple of days ago, that I thought others might also be interested to read about:

I just have a quick question for you related to your journal for the week. You mention that the last time Uranus was in Aries was from 1928 to 1934, which was the time of the Great Depression. How does that relate to what's currently going on with our world?

And here's my reply:

Thanks for your question! I agree that the Uranus in Aries will bring about change, and the square to Pluto will be an important trigger -- but according to an article on the StarIQ website, great depressions have always corresponded with certain transits to the U.S. chart. Here's an excerpt from that article:

Every time the USA has gone through a great depression, the outermost slowest-moving planets have formed an aspect astrologers call a grand cross with the USA's natal Sun and Saturn—the positions Sun and Saturn occupied when the USA was "born" in 1776. The grand cross "affliction" is the most malefic, harsh and challenging of all aspects. When Saturn transits through Capricorn without forming this grand cross pattern, no great depression occurs.


1780s, grand cross, great depression
1810s, no grand cross, no great depression
1840s, grand cross, great depression
1870s, grand cross, great depression
1900s, no grand cross, no great depression
1930s, grand cross, great depression
1960s, no grand cross, no great depression
1990s, no grand cross, no great depression

Saturn has been conjunct the U.S. Saturn and square the U.S. Sun since last fall, but the other outer planets are not within orb of creating a grand cross at this time. So that's good news!

If you want to read the rest of the article, here's the link: http://www.stariq.com/Main/Articles/P0004800.htm

Pam

Higher octave planets

I received this email today about my comment in today's NorthPoint Journal that Uranus is the "higher octave" of Mercury:

I have not heard of planets as "higher octave" and was a bit baffled as to how we got to Mercury from Uranus and Aries. I read it over a few times and began to understand you were making an association I had never heard of. Might you please explain further what a "higher octave" means?

Thanks for your question!

The transpersonal planets -- Uranus, Neptune and Pluto -- are said to be the "higher octave" of Mercury, Venus and Mars, respectively. That is because they deal with similar themes, but on a transpersonal instead of a personal level.

So Mercury represents conscious thought, Uranus represents higher consciousness

Venus represents human love, Neptune represents spiritual love/compassion

Mars represents human will, Pluto represents divine will/higher mission

So, just as musically we have "middle C" and then an octave higher is "high C" -- the same note but at a higher vibration -- the term "higher octave" is used in astrology to describe the higher vibration of the transpersonal planets.

I hope that makes sense!

Blessings,

Pam

Neptunian synchronicity

There is a theatre in Seattle's University District that I pass nearly every day -- it's called the Neptune Theatre, and it was built in 1921.

A couple of weeks ago, the theatre's marquee showed a message of farewell instead of the usual movie title. Not knowing what had happened, I assumed the vintage building would be torn down, and I felt saddened. It also occurred to me that there was something synchronistic in the event, having the Neptune Theatre disappearing at the same time that the planet Neptune is entering Pisces, the sign of completion and dissolution.

But it turns out that the truth of the situation with the Neptune Theatre is even more symbolic than I had originally thought, and adds a sense of excitement to the pending Neptune transit of Pisces.

When I searched online for more information about the theatre's destiny, I found an article entitled "Neptune Theatre is going live." It turns out that the theatre is being revamped and will reopen in just a few months. And instead of simply showing films, as it has for the past 90 years, it will offer live theatre, concerts, speakers, fine-arts performances, community events, educational presentations and workshops.

So, instead of going away, the Neptune Theatre is "going live."

And the planet Neptune going into Pisces means not that we will lose faith or that our spirituality will become less tangible. Instead, it means that our faith and our spiritual journeys will become even more vibrant and "alive" than before. A little like the difference between hearing about someone else's spiritual journey second-hand, versus having that inspirational experience for ourselves.

I like it!

Last night's Full Moon and kunzite

The Full Moon last night was a powerful one, and continues to work with us today -- and, in some respects, for the next three days, given the growing energy of Sunday's Neptune-Mars-Mercury alignment.

One of the main themes of this lunation is Freedom of Self-Expression, due to the Sun being in Aquarius and the Moon being in Leo. A primary purpose of this Full Moon is to open and expand our high heart (thymus) portal, so that we can more fully embody our Soul's Divine Essence and allow ourselves to be guided by the highest expression of Love.

And, because the Full Moon occurs with the Sun and the Moon in the last degree of their signs, we are also called to do significant release work on those issues, patterns, and karmic agreements that have inhibited our knowing of ourselves as beings of Love and Light.

For those of you who work with minerals, I have felt for a while now that kunzite (spodumene) is perhaps the most important crystal for us to work with in 2011. Lavendar/pink kunzite is especially helpful in opening and aligning the thymus chakra, and yellow/green kunzite (hiddenite) can help bring that high-vibrational energy into our human heart and third chakras.

I would love to hear how others felt during last night's Full Moon -- and to to hear of anyone else's experience of working with kunzite.

Blessings,

Pam

"Greasing the Gears"

"Remember, as soon as we love ourselves fully, we are no longer afraid to be true."

This is just one quote from an excellent new "energy update" from Lauren Gorgo. I've read it over several times now, and continue to find nuggets that speak directly to me.

If you don't receive Lauren's emails, and would like to read this one, click here: Greasing the Gears.

And let me know what you think!

Blessings,

Pam

Another perspective

I just watched the online video of the most recent Virtual Light Broadcast -- a monthly gathering of healers and channelers in Las Vegas, facilitated by Steve and Barbara Rother. Steve channels entities who call themselves "The Group," and I usually like their messages best of what is presented. (If you follow the link, scroll down to segment #6, called "Magnetic Whip," and click on the video to see and hear the channeling.)

In this broadcast, recorded just last weekend (on January 29), The Group talked about the solar winds that are arriving this week. They said that it is always up to us how we utilize these energies. Yes, they can stir emotional issues and therefore feel a bit disruptive -- but more important, we can use them as a cleansing tool, helping us release what we are ready to let go of.

So, as the solar wind and tonight's New Moon work with us over the next two or three days, see what it feels like to imagine standing on the beach, with the warm waves washing up over you, cleansing and drawing out the issues you are ready to release. Let the process happen and let go. And then, watch those issues be drawn back out with the wave as it recedes, where the negativity dissolves and becomes one with the positive healing energy of the ocean.

Blessings,

Pam

For the changes

It seems that now, more than ever, the only constant is change.

In that light, I'm sharing an affirmation I've found very helpful in the past week. I hope you may also find it of benefit.

I am thankful today for the perfect, divine timing of events taking place in my life.

I ask to feel the embodiment of my Soul's essence and see the divinity that I am, so that the changes can be made easily, effortlessly, and with great gentleness.

Blessings to all,

Pam

Solar winds on Wednesday-Thursday

The sun is contributing in a grand way in the energy waves this week. According to the SpaceWeather.com website, a large coronal hole has opened up on the sun, "spewing a stream of solar wind into space." This solar wind should be reaching Earth on Wednesday or Thursday, just in time to amplify the energies of the already-powerful New Moon in Aquarius.

On a physical level, when solar winds reach Earth's energy field, polar magnetic storms are created, and we often see aurora borealis at higher latitudes. On a metaphysical level, solar winds bring new information and energy to the planet to be incorporated.

Which means all the more reason to be ready for changes this week. Remember that calm place at the eye of the hurricane? Use your imagination to be in that calm as much as possible, and keep your intentions on the light at the end of the tunnel.

The waves keep on rollin' in

It truly feels like there have been wave after wave of changes for months now... and every new wave takes off another layer that needs to be shed, getting us closer to the essence of who we really are.

Jupiter's recent entry in Aries certainly feels to have speeded up the process. And Uranus will follow in just a few weeks, on March 11.

Water wings, anyone?

Checking in

Hi everyone!

Yes (as someone recently mentioned in another post), I've been quiet this week. But I'm still here! Just dealing with my own "stuff" at the moment -- and very busy with work and readings!

That Full Moon last week was conjunct my Midheaven and triggered a Grand Cross in my chart, so the busyness makes sense, in addition to the opportunity to deal with other issues that are core to my life.

How has this past week been for you?

Pam

The eclipse effect continues and Tucson

This current energy stream, which started back in December with the Total Lunar Eclipse on the Solstice, continues to bring up major challenges and situations that stir our deepest fears and deepest angers.

Perhaps because that eclipse was at the 29th "critical" degree of Gemini, we are seeing strong effects on people's mental states. Even those of us who consider ourselves mostly stable have been dealing with wide fluctuations in mood. The events in Tucson a week ago are a horrific example of what happens when someone who already has mental/emotional instability is tipped over the edge. And I am seeing many friends and loved ones dealing with situations of anger gone over the top, causing heartache and more.

One friend, who called to talk last night, is currently reading Thich Nhat Hanh's book called Anger: Cooling the Flame. One thing she said in particular stood out to me -- that when anger comes up in us, it literally comes up in us. It already resides within, and it comes up in reaction to something we are experiencing.

Which is why the incoming high vibrational energies can tend to bring up negative emotions and reactions in us. We are being vibrated at higher and higher frequences, and the parts of us that are lower vibrational are coming to the surface.

I did try to find Tucson's birth information, to gather a bit more information on the events last week. The best "birth time" I could find was the date of the Gadsen Purchase on December 30, 1853, when southern Arizona (including Tucson) and southwestern New Mexico were purchased by the U.S. from Mexico. I ran a chart drawn for noon on that day, and then ran a scan for what was going on this month astrologically for the city.

What I found is that on January 8:

• Transiting Saturn was EXACTLY square Tucson's Moon (at 16 degrees Capricorn) -- indicating sorrow, loss, depression, conflict between feminine/masculine, issues with authority
• Progressed Venus was conjunct Tucson's Pluto (exact January 23) -- intensification of relationships, power struggles
• Transiting Pluto was conjunct Tucson's Jupiter (exact February 8) -- "difficulties with authorities who are appointed to look after society's needs, arrests, arousing opposition" (quote from Robert Hand's book on transits) social regeneration, rebirth of faith after death of old perspectives

There are always reasons and purposes for even the worst of events and situations. Often, part of that purpose is the opening of people's hearts in compassion, and in the coming together of communities. Certainly that is occurring now in the aftermath of the events last week, both in Tucson and beyond. I appreciated one line in particular from President Obama's speech at the memorial, especially because it reminds us of the positive side of the Gemini energies:

"It's important for us to make sure that we're talking with each other in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds."

A hard way to learn this lesson, but if we learn it well, perhaps we can find some sense in what clearly seems so senseless.