Pushing us to a new perspective

The Uranus-Mars square, exact last Friday (Nov 23), was pretty intense!

Squares always represent an obstacle to be overcome -- this particular block was created by a conflict between our need to feel in control by staying committed to old ways of solving problems (Mars in Capricorn) and the potential of achieving liberation by having the courage and flexibility to try new solutions (Uranus in Aries).

I hope you were able to find some of those new solutions as the energies the square began to dissipate and the supportive Saturn-Mars sextile became exact yesterday. With Pluto and Mars conjunct next week, it's full steam ahead, on whatever route we've chosen...

Sleepy in Seattle (or thereabouts)

It would make sense that with the recent change to Standard Time, so that we're actually getting up one hour later than before, that I'd be springing out of bed at the crack of dawn these days.

But, not so.

It's more a matter of dragging the body out of bed, already late for the start of the day, wishing I could stay in sleep mode for a while (or a lot) longer...

I'm chalking that up to the combination of being in between eclipses and also dealing with Mercury being retrograde -- a lot of energy shifts going on at the same time, that our bodies and psyches are having to accommodate. So it makes sense we might be needing more sleep than usual.

Anyone else having a similar experience?

Pam

Mercury retrograde strikes again

Yes, you're right! The dates are wrong on this week's Journal.

I use the same template week after week, and I neglected to change the dates in the header before I sent out this week's issue.

So if it seems odd that you receive it on November 11 but it says it's for November 5 to 11, just chalk one up for Mercury retrograde.

It of course should have read: "November 12 to 18."

Ah, well.

Magic on the beach

A bit more about this vacation with my sisters...

After our parents' passing -- Mom unexpectedly in 2007, and Dad a year later on her birthday (!) in 2008 -- we made the vow to get together once a year and treat ourselves to a spa weekend. Turns out we've been doing it twice a year, and loving it as an opportunity to reconnect. We live at a distance from each other -- me in Washington state, middle sister in Northern California, and oldest sister in rural Connecticut -- so fully value the time we can spend together.

My middle sister and I took a walk on the beach this afternoon. At one point, Lani said, "I sure miss Mom," and we talked for a bit about how that missing her continues, even though the extreme grief and shock we felt at her passing has softened.

We walked on for a few minutes in silence -- and then, there in the sand, we came across where someone had written, "I love Mom." A few steps later, another written message: "I love Dad." Lani and I hung together, touched by the synchronicity of our seeing these messages right after having talked about how much we were missing our parents...

And then, a few steps later, a message written in Spanish, that I translated out loud to Lani: "Happy Birthday Mom! We love you and we miss you."

Magic on the beach. Just wanted to share.

A stormy Sunday

Getting ready to write this week's issue of the Journal, sitting overlooking Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach, Oregon, where I'm on vacation with my two sisters... thinking that it would be fun to share a visual with y'all, in case you're not familiar with the landscape on the Oregon coast. I didn't take this photo (just found it online), but this is pretty much how the ocean looks this morning:

It's a mystical place, one of my favorites on the planet -- and seems to go along with the strong Neptunian influence of the week ahead.

And two pelicans just flew by our window! Haven't sighted them here before. Very cool. Makes me want to look up their meaning -- seems to be a message for all of us, since they came for a visit while I am writing this post:

"Pelican demonstrates the power of reflection and insight, buoyancy in life and how ride the air currents of life. He teaches to rest and relax in spite of life's heavy weight. Pelican balances use of good fortune and abundance with responsibility and priorities. He has the ability to navigate emotions and aids in recovering what is lost -- whether it be emotional, mental or spiritual. Pelican aids in tapping into your feelings and putting them to wise use, all the while peacefully balancing the world on your shoulders." (From http://www.starstuffs.com)

Appropriate message for us all, I believe. Now off to write this week's forecast...