Wishing you Peace

In this season of holiday, which takes so many of us on a rollercoaster of activities,

I wish you Peace.

In this time of change, where life feels inconstant and unpredictable, even if it appears the same outwardly,

I wish you Peace.

On this eve of a new age,

I wish you Peace.

**************

I've been listening to a guided meditation called "Spirit of Peace" every morning for the past week or so, and am finding it a wonderful centering tool, and a valuable ally in these times of change. The meditation is a free download on the Orin&DaBen website -- here's the link, if you're interested:

Spirit of Peace Meditation

Blessings to all, and thank you for being a part of my life.

Pam

Link to register for teleclass

Just got the link for registering for my "At the Door of a New Age" teleclass in January (see post below for class description):

http://pam2015.eventbrite.com

You should find everything you need on that sign-up page, but let me know if you have any questions!

Teleclass for 2015 -- Save the Date!

I've just been putting together the class description and graphic for my teleclass in January, which will cover the first six months of 2015. Here's the info -- I hope you can join us!

At the Door of a New Age
Your astrology guide for January to June 2015
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Live broadcast: 4pm PST | 5pm MST | 6pm CST | 7pm EST
A teleclass with Astrologer Pam Younghans and Wellness Educator Elsie Kerns

The first 6 months of 2015 hold enormous potential for spiritual growth and creative change, as the planets challenge each of us to make a quantum leap in some area of our lives.

We’ve been working with the transformative energies of the ongoing Pluto-Uranus square for 3 years now. By the end of 2014, we will have experienced the exact aspect 6 times. But in each of those exact aspects, either Pluto or Uranus has been retrograde, leaving us to balance the need to resolve issues from the past with a strong desire to leap into the future.

March 16, 2015 is the date of the 7th and final exact square between Pluto and Uranus – and on that date, both planets will be in forward motion. In other words, it’s all systems go, full speed ahead!

In this 90-minute teleclass, I’ll explain more about what this final Pluto-Uranus square means, and how it relates to the title of the class, “At the Door of a New Age.” I’ll also talk about other exciting and potentially life-changing events in the first six months of 2015:

• The highly-energized line-up of planets in mid-March, which sees Mars aligning with Uranus and both planets trine Jupiter, right before the final Pluto-Uranus square – and just days before an eclipse and the equinox
• The Total Solar Eclipse on March 20 in the very last degree of the zodiac (29 degrees of Pisces), indicating a time of completion and the need to release old definitions of spirituality
• The Total Lunar Eclipse on April 4 that activates more events related to the Pluto-Uranus-Mars-Jupiter line-up in March
• The first months of Saturn’s transit through Sagittarius, and its return to Scorpio on June 14

I’ll also cover the significance of the New and Full Moons for each month, as well as Mercury’s retrograde phases, and other highlights of the first half of 2015.

I'll include details about how to register for the class in an upcoming journal. Until then, save the date!

A new active sunspot

A new sunspot recently rotated around to the Earth-facing side of the Sun. This is another very large, very active spot -- since it appeared last week, there have been almost a dozen strong flares.

I've been feeling it again mostly since yesterday, my run Friday morning feeling like I was pushing my way through molasses as my legs struggled to do the usual route. After breakfast, when I got on the computer, I found out there had been an X-class flare released, so perhaps the physical effects are the result of our bodies adjusting to another wave of solar energy.

Very tired again this morning, for no obvious reason, having slept well and long last night.

How are you?

Pam

And yet another...

Another solar flare just occurred, this one an M7, so almost in the X-range again. Such an active time for the Sun, and therefore a profound time for us!

Sleep well...

Postscript Monday morning, Oct 27: Another flare this morning, this one an M6. According to NOAA forecasters, potentials for more flares today are 85% for M-class and 55% for X-class.

Also Monday morning, Oct 27: Another flare, this one an X2!

Monday afternoon, Oct 27: Another flare this afternoon, M1 level.

Tuesday morning, Oct 28: Another overnight, M6.

Also Tuesday morning, Oct 28: Another M1 level. The sunspot that has been unleashing all of these explosions is about to rotate around to the other side of the Sun, so only will be with us a few more days. Plenty of time for more events!

Wednesday morning, Oct 29: Another M1 overnight.

Wednesday evening, Oct 29: Two more M-class today -- an M1 and an M2.

Vibrational scale of consciousness

I received this email from a reader regarding my mention in last week's NorthPoint Journal of David R. Hawkins' vibrational scale of consciousness and the emotions associated with each:

"Thank you for such an insightful explanation of Pluto and the scale of emotions. I wonder if you'd be able to add examples of how the positive emotions score on the scale -- stepping stones towards resonating more love! I seem to remember hearing years about Shame being lowest and Gratitude being very high, which explains why things go so much better on a day when we feel and express appreciation than on a day when we complain about things!"

In answer to this request, I'm posting the entire scale of consciousness here, which you will find explained more fully in Dr. Hawkins' book Power vs. Force. The first word in each is the Level, followed by the Vibrational numeric equivalent in parentheses, then the Emotion, then the Process:

• Shame (20): Humiliation, Elimination
• Guilt (30): Blame, Destruction
• Apathy (50): Despair, Abdication
• Grief (75): Regret, Despondency
• Fear (100): Anxiety, Withdrawal
• Desire (125): Craving, Enslavement
• Anger (150): Hate, Aggression
• Pride (175): Scorn, Inflation
• Courage (200): Affirmation, Empowerment
• Neutrality (250): Trust, Release
• Willingness (310): Optimism, Intention
• Acceptance (350): Forgiveness, Transcendence
• Reason (400): Understanding, Abstraction
• Love (500): Reverence, Revelation
• Joy (540): Serenity, Transfiguration
• Peace (600): Bliss, Illumination
• Enlightenment (700-1,000): Ineffable, Pure Consciousness

It's been so long since I've read the book, I'm sorry to say I do not recall how Dr. Hawkins arrived at his numeric levels -- but I do remember that the process was very scientific, which makes sense for an MD/PhD!

This should be interesting

On SpaceWeather.com this morning, there was this top story:

CO-ROTATING INTERACTION REGION: NOAA forecasters estimate a 30% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on Sept. 23-24 when a co-rotating interaction region (CIR) is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. CIRs are transition zones between fast- and slow-moving solar wind streams. Solar wind plasma piles up in these regions, producing density gradients and shock waves that do a good job of sparking auroras.

In all my years of visiting the SpaceWeather.com website every day, this is the first time I've read about a CIR. I'm drawn to the fact that CIRs are "transition zones between fast- and slow-moving solar wind streams," since that feels a lot like where we are right now, trying to decide which stream to jump into.

I guess we'll see what the "density gradients and shock waves" feel like, eh?

Shifting and clearing

Energies are shifting, and we are in the midst of some major adjustments as a result. Three events are happening in quick succession: Pluto's station at about 5:30pm on Monday the 22nd, followed just two hours later by the Equinox, followed a day later by the New Moon. We're already feeling the shift, which has been building over the past few days. Symptoms vary, but mine have included incredible sleepiness and a free-floating anxiety. My most sensitive dog seems to be feeling it as well.

We can assume this is a clearing, and that what is being cleared must come to the surface to be released. My solution tonight is going to bed very very early!

Hope you all are doing OK out there. Take good care.

Pam

X-flare!

According to the SpaceWeather.com website, there was an X-magnitude (the highest level) flare on the Sun today. These high-level explosions happen from time to time, but most times, the CME (coronal mass ejection) that's released -- which creates strong solar winds -- is not directed toward the Earth.

Today's X-flare apparently was directly facing Earth when it exploded, and so scientists anticipate we will be in the path of a strong solar wind that will reach us sometime in the next 2 to 3 days.

This is NOT (I repeat, NOT) a cataclysmic event, but since we are electromagnetic beings, we are likely to feel the effects on various levels. The primary concern for scientists is the potential for communications disturbances, since these types of events have caused blackouts periodically.

At the very least, this event will allow each of us to see how strong solar winds affect us, since we have forewarning.

The exact timing? Unknown, as yet. Here's what SpaceWeather says:

"In the next few hours, when coronagraph data from SOHO and STEREO become available, we will see if a CME emerges from the blast site. If so, the cloud would likely be aimed directly at Earth and could reach our planet in 2 to 3 days. Stay tuned..."

I'll be checking in on their website for updates -- if you're interested, here's the link: SpaceWeather

I'll post more here, too, if I find out anything of import.

Postscript, Sunday, September 14: My experience of the last few days has not been extreme in any regard -- however, I was aware of an increased nervousness/anxiety on Wednesday and Thursday, right after the X-flare exploded. That would be in keeping with the pulse of new energy that reaches us right away when a solar flare occurs. And, since then, I've been aware of my dreams being both exceptionally complex and yet also fading faster than I can bring them into full memory when I awake. Perhaps that is a symptom of the integration of new information, and a level of adjustment/adaptation that does not necessarily need to be brought fully into conscious awareness, since the work is being done on deeper levels.

The nervousness has subsided over the last two days. Anyone else have a similar experience, or a different sense of the solar flare's effects?

Heart healing chant

As promised in today's Journal, here is the link to the hour-long "Holy Harmony" chant by Jonathan Goldman:

http://youtu.be/uhJeLEF_S9o

And, if you'd like to read more about Jonathan Goldman and his work with sound, here's his main website:

http://www.healingsounds.com/ 

Blessings, Pam

Error on Mercury's station (but of course!)

In keeping with the theme, I made an error on the time I listed for Mercury's station today -- and I believe I even replied confirming that error as correct to someone who wrote in!

My apologies all around -- Mercury did go direct at 5:49 AM today, rather than 5:49 PM.

Phew.

Chiron's station

Not that challenging emotional issues haven't been with us for a while, given our recent experience of the grand cross influence, but this week's energies caught me a bit by surprise. I've not been especially aware of the day of Chiron's station in years past, but it certainly got my attention today.

In general, Chiron in Pisces is revealing -- and offering healing around -- the wound of faith. The symptoms of this wound are fears of loss and lack, of being alone and unsupported, of being adrift without a tether -- all fears stemming from a lack of faith in the universe's plan for our lives, in the continuity of life and relationships, in the positive-but-still-unseen outcome.

So, if age-old fears and emotional patterns have come into your awareness this week -- and especially today, the day of Chiron's station -- you're not alone! The good news is that Chiron is ultimately a healer, and so we can expect that the revisiting of the old fears is just the first step in the healing process. The bandage is off and the wound is exposed -- which means true healing can now begin.

Chiron will be retrograde until November 27, giving us five months to do the inner work needed to support the healing of that wound of faith. I leave you with some inspiring words from astrologer Martin Lass about the healing involved with Chiron in Pisces:

"Paradoxically, we regain trust by trusting and faith by having faith. The more we see and acknowledge the hidden purpose behind seemingly "wrong" events and circumstances, the more we are inclined to open the doors that we shut so tightly. The more we can do this, the more we regain trust in a guiding hand, trust in a universal plan, and trust in the omnipresence of love. 

"The gift of Chiron in Pisces is the return to trust and faith in spirit/God/the divine/the universe. A return to oneness, wholeness, and completeness. Being able to look anywhere in our lives and in the lives of others and see nothing except the action and presence of love."

Early Mercury retrograde

OK, so I just did it again -- sent out this week's journal with last week's dates in the masthead.

It must be that I'm just so excited about the Neptunian New Moon and Mercury retrograde that I've already leapt into the effects!

I'm sure it's my reminder about the need to let go of certain aspects of this reality, especially that Virgoan need for perfection. Still, my Moon in Virgo is absolutely SURE I should send out another email with the correct dates...

Have a good week!

Pam

Excellent new "update on the energies" from Aisha North

I've just read a new post on Aisha North's website, that resonates with me. She channeled it during the Lunar Eclipse yesterday, and I find it to be both good and inspiring information.

If you're interested, here's the link:  Aisha North

My only complaint about Aisha's website is the small white print on the black background -- if that is hard to read for you (as it is for me), you might try the trick I use, which is to copy and text and paste it into a notepad or Word document for easier reading. (Note: if you paste it into a Word doc, you may also need to convert the text color to black, or else it will be very much like disappearing ink...)

Here's a bit of what is in that energy update, to give you a taste:

The Sun acts as a portal for other, more far flung forces, and even if the Sun herself is capable of producing much of the highly charged particles coming your way, she also acts as a form of transformer, much like what we have told you that you do. 

In other words, she is not only a transmitter, she is also a receiver of signals coming from another source, deep into space. In fact, it is a source that lies hidden behind the veil to use an expression you are all familiar with by now. For the sun not only represents the dimension that you are currently cohabiting within, she is also a go-between between your side of the veil and the other side, the multifaceted one, the time and space continuum that some of your scientists like to refer to as the multiverse. 

Yes, for the Sun is one of those peepholes or portals that encompasses the totality of All there is, and as such, every time you gaze towards this shining orb in the sky, you are also gazing towards an opening between here and everywhere, a partition that also acts as a portal, a divider that also acts as a connector. In other words, you are constantly in contact with All of creation by way of this energetic peephole, and through this peephole comes a steady stream of information that is helping you to step closer to that door of multidimensionality yourself. That is, it is helping your awareness to awaken to the fact that you are already truly a multidimensional being, capable of tuning into so much more information than what your human senses and indeed your human mind has led you to believe for such a long time.

Enjoy!

Pam

Integration

I'm in the middle of writing today's Journal -- just finishing the paragraphs about the Sabian symbol for our Lunar Eclipse. As I was reading Dane Rudhyar's interpretation of the symbol, I remembered the "Integration" card from the Osho Zen tarot deck. Here's a picture of that card:

And, here's part of the description that goes along with it:

Integration is the union mystica, the fusion of opposites. This is a time of communication between the previously experienced dualities of life. Rather than night opposing day, they work together to create a unified whole, turning endlessly one into the other, each containing in its deepest core the seed of the opposite.

Eagle and Swan are both beings of flight and majesty. Eagle is the embodiment of power and aloneness. Swan embodies space and purity, gently floating and diving upon and within the element of the emotions, entirely content and complete within her perfection and beauty.

We are the union of Eagle and Swan. It is time for self-creation, new life, and mystical union, also known as alchemy.

Even though the Sabian symbols speaks of Eagle and Dove, I think the imagery of Eagle and Swan works equally well as a focus point for our processing and growth this week.

Back to the Journal....

Mars and anger

I received this question by email after sending out today's journal:

"I just finished reading your weekly newsletter. Why does anger gets settle in the arms? And where can I read more on how our feelings or emotions get stuck in our bodies and how to release them? Would you recommend any literature please?"

Here's my reply:

I read about anger and the arms in a study called "Bodily maps of emotions."  Here's a portion of the graphic in that study showing where anger is felt in the body:

 

You can read about the study and see more of the graphic at this link on the Healthy Heating website.

For release work, I fully believe in actually moving our arms physically as a way to move anger out. Hitting a pillow, chopping wood are obvious ways -- but I find that focusing on moving my arms strongly during my morning run is really good, too.

For general information about where and how emotions are held in our bodies, Louise Hay's book You Can Heal Your Life is a great book, and has an excellent list in chapter 15 that shows what emotions are associated with certain physical symptoms and illnesses.

Another excellent book, that doesn't speak directly about physical symptoms, but has excellent suggestions for moving energy when we are experiencing blocks in certain areas of life (representing blocks in our chakras), is True Balance by Sonia Choquette.

I hope this information is helpful!

Just in case

Because my computer barely started this morning, and because we're entering this powerful time of change, I'm thinking that there's a slight possibility I won't be able to write this week's journal today. If all goes well, I should have it out by early afternoon as usual -- but if you don't receive it, please know that I'm just having computer issues.

Which also makes me think it's a good idea for everyone to back up their computers at this point (as I am doing right now!). Not everyone may have transiting Pluto going through their 3rd house of Communication as I do, nor Uranus transiting through their 6th house of Work and Service as I do -- but still, knowing that this month we're likely to see breakdowns of old systems and structures, I highly recommend playing it safe in this regard.

Happy Grand Cross!

Small typo

Just one small typo (that I've seen so far!) in this week's Journal. Vesta is goddess of the HEARTH, rather than goddess of the HEART.

Although, I can see it being true both ways.

:o) Pam

Meditations for Saturn and Mars retrogrades

Since working with the two  Orin meditations for a couple of weeks (See the "Guided meditations from Orin" post dated Feb 27), I've started working with two others I downloaded from their website -- and have found those two to be synchronistically aligned with the energies of our current work with two retrograde planets: Saturn and Mars.

The first meditation, entitled "Opening to a Higher Path," is perfect for working with Saturn retrograde. As Saturn travels backward, it asks us to review our highest aspirations and to create stronger alignment with those aspirations. The guided meditation focuses on opening to that higher path.

The second meditation is called "Opening to Your True Identity." In accordance with the directives of Mars retrograde, it helps us peel away the overlay of the personality/ego, gaining greater awareness of the True Self, and letting go of what does not align with that Self.

If you are interested, I highly recommend both of these meditations. The links to download them are attached to each title in the paragraphs above.

Namaste.

Guided meditations from Orin

Two decades ago, I became aware of the work of Sanaya Roman, channel for Orin. I enrolled in and completed their "Awakening Your Light Body" meditation course, which I credit for having opened my awareness to perceiving energies.

Now, they are offering two meditations free for download from their website. I used one of them in my meditation this morning and found it very powerful.

The one I used is called "Contacting the Sacred Transmuting Flame," and is available for download at this site: http://www.orindaben.com. The second meditation (which I have not used yet but plan to also download) is called "Starting a New Chapter in Your Life," and is available at the same link. They include written transcripts of the meditations, so that you know before sitting down what work you'll be doing.

I offer these links for those who may also be interested at this time.

Blessings and Joy,

Pam

Comments on this week's Journal

Just thought I'd share an email I received today, and start the conversation in case anyone else wants to comment on this week's Journal...

Regarding your dates for the solar flips, there was a significant shift in my life at each one of the cycles, except for the first -- I wasn't born ( though as a history teacher, I realize that '44 was near the end of WWII). 

What caught my attention about this week's post was the word "vertigo." Since about January 10, I have been experiencing a dizzy feeling, but only when I lay down, and turn my head to the left. I don't seem to be affected when I am standing and moving around. The laying down seems to activate something. There are no physical symptoms; I've had no head colds or any illnesses. I've attributed it to winter lack of physical activity, age and maybe crocked glasses frames. I so often forget that I (we) live in an environment where many things happen and I am not aware, or at least have never seen them. (Your lovely pictures of the Auroras remind me.) Thanks for the reminder that there is more than meets the eye.

A quick note about the vertigo thing -- I had a strong experience of it about three weeks ago, too, especially when I was lying down. The best description I could give of it was like I was lying on my back on an old LP as it spun on the turntable... And no other symptoms, so very similar! Mine lasted about three days, and has seemed to subside now.

Well, Mercury IS retrograde, after all

You will notice that I neglected to update the dates in the header of today's issue of the NorthPoint Journal... So, even though the subject line of the email is OK, the header still has last week's dates.

Oh, well. If that's the biggest error I encounter while Mercury is retrograde, I'll consider myself fortunate! Thanks for smiling through it with me.

Pam

Question about "Blood Moons"

I received an email today with this question:

Do you know anything about these two 'blood moons' this year, at the spring and autumn equinoxes? Supposedly the last time this occurred was 2,000 yrs ago when the Romans destroyed the Jewish temple.

I decided to post my reply here, since there may be others who are also wondering about these lunations:

Thanks for your question!

In astronomical terminology, there are lots of different "kinds" of Full Moons -- the Hunter's Moon, the Harvest Moon, etc. It looks like "Blood Moon" is another name for a Hunter's Moon.

It also looks like the two Lunar Eclipses in 2014 and the two Lunar Eclipses in 2015 are all "Blood Moons" -- but the dates of those eclipses are not on the equinoxes in either year.

There's a great article on the EarthSky website called "What Is a Blood Moon?" that gives a lot of good information about the upcoming Blood Moons, and how they coincide with Biblical prophecy -- which I'm sure is why there's some trepidation around their occurrence.

Astrologically speaking, the eclipse this April is most powerful because it occurs the same week that the Cardinal Grand Cross is exact. From my perspective, the fact that it could be called a Hunter's Moon or a Blood Moon is not as important as the planetary configurations at that time.

I hope this EarthSky article provides some of the clarification you are looking for.

Testing a theory

In researching online about the time of "solar maximum" that we're currently experiencing, I found a list of the dates of the most recent solar cycles, which begin and end during times of "solar minimum." The dates of solar maximum seem to occur about 4 years into each solar cycle. Our current solar maximum is a bit later than expected -- it was originally predicted for 2012-2013.

Based on that list of solar cycles, I now have an interesting theory to test out.

I noticed that the dates listed were significant in my life, especially in the realm of relationships/partnerships. Since the Sun in my natal chart is in the House of Partnerships, I started wondering if perhaps each time the Sun finishes one cycle and begins another, we earthlings experience an energetic shift in our personal lives based on the house location of the Sun in our natal charts.

So, if you'd like to play along and know the house location of the Sun in your natal chart, here is that list of dates marking the end of one solar cycle and the beginning of a new one:

February 1944
April 1954
October 1964
June 1976
September 1986
May 1996
January 2008

Are these dates (within a few months on either side) consistently significant for you, especially in the area of life represented by the house where your natal Sun resides? (If you need a reminder of what each of the astrological houses represents, click here to visit the "Houses" page on my website.)

This is just a theory, but I find it interesting to think about. Any comments?

The Sun's magnetic field shift

One reader's comment on the "Learn something new every day" post (see below) asked if the magnetic field on the Sun had shifted yet. I went to the NASA site, and the most recent article on the subject was written on December 6 and is titled "The Sun's Magnetic Field Is About to Shift."

One of the quotes at the beginning of the article states, "It looks like we're no more than three to four months away from a complete field reversal."

So, it appears the Sun has not yet completed the shift -- although it's halfway done. The north pole has already shifted, and the old south pole is a bit behind.

This article is actually a very good one, and explains a bit more about the "current sheet" that we passed through last week. Here's another quote about that phenomenon:

"During field reversals, the current sheet becomes very wavy. As Earth orbits the sun, we dip in and out of the current sheet. Transitions from one side to another can stir up stormy space weather around our planet."

Here's an artist's concept of the current sheet, that's included in the article:

It starts to make sense how, as the Earth passes through folds of the sheet, we can experience emotional, mental and physical fluctuations. I still haven't found an article that tells how often we will be passing through the folds -- if anyone else finds one, please let me know!

Learn something new every day...

I had not heard of this before, so it has my attention!

The lead article on Spaceweather.com this morning (January 20) says that:

"High-latitude auroras are possible on January 21 when Earth crosses through a fold in the heliospheric current sheet. This is called a "solar sector boundary crossing."

Evidently this happens from time to time (although I could not find an article telling me how often it occurs). I did find a long NASA article that describes the current sheet as "a sprawling surface where the polarity of the Sun's magnetic field changes from plus (north) to minus (south)." The article goes on to say that:

"As Earth orbits the Sun, it dips in and out of the undulating current sheet. On one side the Sun's magnetic field points north (toward the Sun), on the other side it points south (away from the Sun). South-pointing solar magnetic fields tend to cancel Earth's own magnetic field. Solar wind energy can then penetrate the local space around our planet and fuel geomagnetic storms."

My main interest in this is, of course, about the energetics. Will we feel something on that level tomorrow when the Earth "crosses through a fold" in the current sheet? Will meditation feel any different?

I'm looking forward to finding out!

2014 is THE year

(If you participated in my teleclass, some of the content of this post will look familiar -- but I hope the repetition is helpful!)

One of my goals this year is to emphasize the positive as much as possible, especially as a counterbalance to some of the doom-and-gloom prophecies that are accompanying our Cardinal Grand Cross. My sense is that this configuration has great potential for benefit, for each of us individually and for all of us collectively.

It is true that a grand cross represents a turning point -- but that turning point is meant to take us in positive directions. So what might those directions be? Here are some ideas, based on the positions of the four planets involved in our grand cross.

2014 is THE year to:

• Focus on the aspirations that you feel passionate about, that are in alignment with your knowing of purpose (Pluto in Capricorn)
• Have the courage to follow your unique inspirations and allow the changes that this brings (Uranus in Aries)
• Have patience and take the time to find inner balance before you take action (Mars retrograde in Libra)
• Allow optimism, faith and hope to nurture and support you (Jupiter in Cancer)

Focus, courage, patience and faith -- these are the qualities we want to strengthen in us, that will pave the road to best outcomes throughout 2014.

Blessings to all!

Pam

Spinnnnnnnnning

No, my finger did not get stuck on the "N" key -- this is just descriptive of how the world feels right now!

I was aware of it when settling in for meditation this morning -- the sense of spinning, something akin to what I suppose it would feel like to be lying on top of an LP as it spun on the record player.

I looked up on Spaceweather.com to check, and we are, indeed, in "a fast stream of solar wind," with current speed at 617.0 km/sec. The highest speed I've seen since I started monitoring the website several years ago was in the low 700s, so 617 is pretty high up on the scale.

Back to the spinnnnning -- it seemed to settle out when I went for my morning run, but is now strong enough again that I'm having trouble focusing on writing the Journal. Never fear! I'll get there eventually, but it may be a bit delayed today.

Anyone else having a similar experience?

PS: Just had a thought. We should be entering the dust stream remnants from comet ISON about now, too. I wonder if this sensation is related...

Pam

The first New Moon of 2014

Today's New Moon is a powerful one for many reasons, in particular due to its alignment with Pluto and Mercury. This combination of planets provides the support for us to transform habits of emotion and thought that no longer serve us, and the opportunity for us to make great strides in our level of conscious awareness.

How and where this influence is acting for each of us varies, of course. We are all individuals, a fact clearly demonstrated by the uniqueness of our astrological charts. Even twins are usually separated in birth time by a minute or two, which can make subtle but important differences in their birth charts.

If you would like insights into the purposes of this New Year New Moon in your life, find the house location of 11 degrees Capricorn. This is where the New Moon occurred. (If you do not have a copy of your birth chart, www.astro.com is an excellent website where you can enter your birth data and run your own chart.)

Once you've found that house location, here are some ideas to ponder about the intentions of this New Moon for you:

• In the 1st House: Transformation and new beginnings in your self-concept, how you present yourself to the world
• In the 2nd House: Transformation and new beginnings in your values, self-worth, how you support yourself
• In the 3rd House: Transformation and new beginnings in your thought and communication patterns, relationships with siblings
• In the 4th House: Transformation and new beginnings of attachments to the past, childhood issues, themes of self-nurturance
• In the 5th House: Transformation and new beginnings in your means of self-expression, how you experience joy and take risks
• In the 6th House: Transformation and new beginnings in how you handle responsibilities, your employment and service, your health
• In the 7th House: Transformation and new beginnings in your primary relationships, partnerships (personal and business), commitments
• In the 8th House: Transformation and new beginnings in your ability to share, merge resources, and gain intimacy in relationships
• In the 9th House: Transformation and new beginnings in your beliefs and where you find meaning in life
• In the 10th House: Transformation and new beginnings in your sense of purpose, career, ambitions
• In the 11th House: Transformation and new beginnings in your long-term goals and dreams and in your group associations
• In the 12th House. Transformation and new beginnings in your spiritual journey, your connection to the inner planes

I hope this helps shed a little light on your personal journey as we begin 2014. And, oh yes -- Happy New Year! May 2014 be a blessed and fulfilling year for each and all of us.