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.

A perspective on "the weirdness"

I received this email from a client/friend yesterday:

I was wondering if perhaps you could shed some light on a feeling shared by several people I know – including me. I have had a very difficult time DOING anything productive over the past couple of weeks. I have a houseful for Christmas, and our tree has been naked in its stand for two weeks. I have to push myself to get anything done, preferring the almost hypnotic cocoon of Spider Solitaire to just about any other activity. My daughter has mentioned how lazy she and her husband have been. My friend and her fiancé have been procrastinating preparing their vows for their marriage ceremony on 12/31. It's just weird. I'm not depressed. I'm actually quite happy in spite of all the uncertainty around me. But, I'm just not wanting to do any of my long list of to-do's.

It's a little crazy-making. And it doesn't feel like me. I thought that perhaps you may have some astrological perspective on this weirdness. 

Here is how I responded, in two emails separated by a night's sleep and my morning meditation:

My First Email Response:

If it helps, I've been feeling exactly the same way! Even down to the Spider Solitaire cocoon...

I think it has something to do with being bored with the third dimension. Parts of us, still mostly outside of our conscious mind's ability to perceive, are playing with higher dimensional thought and experience. Our conscious mind is aware enough to know there's new and exciting stuff happening on higher levels of consciousness, but not yet aware enough to participate fully. So everything, even those things we would often enjoy on this earthly plane, can feel dry and uninviting -- something like knowing we can see colors the way bees do, but having to settle for the (still beautiful, but pale-in-comparison) colors that human eyes can see.

Astrologically, it corresponds with the Pluto-Uranus square, with Uranus in Aries representing a strong desire to awaken to higher consciousness, and Pluto in Capricorn representing the powerful attachment to reality that can block that higher awareness.

My Second Email Response:

Good morning! I got a bit more about this in meditation this morning -- not different information, just fleshed out a bit.

It also seems that we are simply tired of the old ways of handling reality. A part of us knows there are more expansive, higher-vibrational ways of utilizing this human existence, and we're just done with the old methods, even though we may not yet be consciously up to speed with the new. Many things that we've always enjoyed and appreciated feel like they're a part of the old, so we are restless and don't feel the same energy around them as we have in the past.

Again, we can see the Pluto-Uranus square at work. The conflict between the urgency to find and embrace the new (Uranus in Aries) vs. the reality that deep transformation takes time (Pluto in Capricorn). It's challenging to find inspiration in what seems like our old world, based on this.

I hope this is helpful!

New Mayan cycle begins December 18

I received an email  yesterday from a reader who recently spent nine days in the Yucatan on an Acupuncturists without Borders World Healing Exchange trip. As part of that trip, they met with Mayan elders. They learned more about the cycles of energy related to the Mayan calendar from a Mayan elder and shaman, Don Bartolome Poot Nahuat. Here's what they found out about where we are, according to the Mayan calendar:

December of 2012 was the end of a cycle. December 2012 through December 2013 is the in-between or "Zero" year. This means that a new cycle begins on December 18, 2013. In particular, Don Bartolome said December 17 is a very significant day -- a day for prayer, and a good day to do ceremony.

On December 17, 2013, the Sun rises and the Moon sets at essentially the same time. (You will need to check what time that is in your local time zone.)

If you want to do a ceremony at that time, Don Bartolome suggested setting out four candles, one in each of the cardinal directions: a red candle in the East, a yellow candle in the South; a black candle in the West, and a white candle in the North. You can also place a green candle in the center, standing in a bowl of water. Outside of the bowl of water, place 2 crystals, one of each side of the bowl in alignment with the Sun and the Moon. The goal is to have the light from the rising sun and setting moon pass through the crystals into the bowl of water.

I appreciated getting this information, and especially hearing that we begin a "One" year this coming week. That feels right to me, especially considering that Uranus goes direct on December 17, another marker of our readiness for forward motion. It's time to move into the next phase of our evolution!

"Surf's Up!" teleclass in January

TELECLASS 
Surf’s Up! 
Riding the waves of the first six months of 2014 
Astrologer Pam Younghans and Wellness Educator Elsie Kerns 

We have a powerful SuperMoon on January 1 to start off our new calendar year. This New Moon is potent not only because of its proximity to Earth, but also because it sets off the energy of the Cardinal Grand Cross that we’ll be working with for much of 2014.

Since the new year begins in such dramatic fashion, it perhaps is not surprising to hear that the planetary influences during the first six months of 2014 will keep us on our toes! The image of a surfboarder is especially appropriate, given that we’ll continually need to adjust our center of gravity to stay in balance as we navigate the ongoing waves of energy and change. Knowing when the big waves are coming, and knowing when we will have calm seas, can help us prepare and ride the waves more effectively.

To learn more about the astrological influences in effect January through June, please join astrologer Pam Younghans and Wellness Educator Elsie Kerns for their 90-minute “Surf’s Up!” teleclass on Thursday, January 9. Among the topics we’ll explore:

• The ongoing Cardinal Grand Cross between Pluto, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars, including the powerful week in April when all four planets are at 13 degrees of their respective sign, and other times when the energy of the grand cross is “triggered” by the Moon and other faster-moving planets 
•  The New and Full Moon energies each month 
• April’s Lunar Eclipse in Libra and Solar Eclipse in Taurus 
• Mars’ retrograde phase in Libra from March 1 to May 9 
• Mercury’s retrograde phases in February and June 

We’ve known for a while that the Pluto-Uranus square is inspiring major changes on global and personal levels. As we ride the waves of the first six months of 2014, we’ll have even more focused opportunities to take risks that help us break free from the limitations of the past.

Imagine how the surfer feels when successfully harnessing the energy of that ocean wave – the sense of empowerment (Pluto), liberation (Uranus), joy (Jupiter) and self-confidence (Mars). This is the reward for taking the risk and utilizing the necessary combination of courage, perfect timing, and trust. This is what we are aiming for!

Here are the class details:

Surf’s Up! Riding the waves of the first six months of 2014 
Astrologer Pam Younghans and Wellness Educator Elsie Kerns 
Thursday, January 9, 2014 
4 to 5:30pm PST | 5 to 6:30pm MST | 6 to 7:30pm CST | 7 to 8:30pm EST

Attend either by phone or online! Your $25 registration fee includes an audio replay of the teleclass and a copy of the slideshow, so even if you cannot attend “live,” you will have access to the class content afterward. To register, please visit http://astrology2014.eventbrite.com.