Stephanie Austin M.A. has been a professional astrologer since 1986. She writes the New and Full Moon column for the Mountain Astrologer Magazine, teaches Archetypal Astrology at John F. Kennedy University, and has a Master's degree in Consciousness Studies. For more information on classes, readings, and forecasts, please visit
www.EcoAstrology.com.

• Contact info: Stephanie@ecoastrology.com • 360.379.3060 • POB 2056 Port Townsend, WA 98368

UPCOMING EVENTS
In Port Townsend, Washington:

NEW MOON/MONTHLY FORECAST
Friday, August 30
7:00-9:00 PM $15

NOTE: CD recordings of the Monthly Forecast, with improved sound quality, are now available.

This evening we’ll explore the archetype of Virgo, Jupiter and Pluto ending their retrograde phase, and other important shifts occurring in the next four weeks, along with how to take advantage of the opportunities they provide. If you are unable to join us in person, a CD recording of this New Moon Forecast, your New Moon transit chart, and a detailed listing of the upcoming energies are available by mail for $17 (payable to Stephanie Austin, POB 2056 Port Townsend, WA 98368). Call 379-3060 or email for reservations, directions, and CDs.

UPCOMING EVENTS
In San Francisco Bay Area, California:

2008 FALL FORECAST
Thursday, September 4
7:00-9:30 PM $25

Note new location: 212 Martina St, Pt. Richmond, CA

This evening we will explore the significant alignments for the next four months, and how to take advantage of the evolutionary opportunities they offer. Email your birth information by September 1 if you'd like to have your current transit chart to look at during the forecast. If you are unable to join us in person, a recording, along with the handouts, will be available by mail for $25. Space is limited; please email for reservations and directions.

Date: August 14, 2008
Subject: Leo-Aquarius Lunar Eclipse
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The Solar Eclipse of August 1 called us to remember our soul intentions—what we were born to be and do. Last week, on 08-08-08, a gateway was opened for a collective initiation into higher consciousness. We are now approaching yet another evolutionary threshold, a Lunar Eclipse, an extra powerful Full Moon, which peaks on Saturday, August 16 at 2:16 PM PDT at 24º Aquarius-Leo. The next few days offer an extraordinary tailwind for letting go of what is no longer serving our growth and moving into the next level of our power, truth, and service.

All three of the outer planets are involved in this eclipse, with Neptune at 23° Aquarius making the closest aspect. Neptune’s influence enables us to feel our interconnectedness, as well as our divine inheritance. It turns up the volume on our right brain, amplifying intuition and our ability to envision our highest good. Take advantage of this special opportunity by spending extra time attuning to your higher self. Watch your day and night dreams closely. Pray. Meditate, be in nature, do art, play music--whatever puts you in a quiet, receptive state, so you can grasp the special message and vision that this eclipse has for you. If you are feeling fatigued or spaced out, you need to space in, i.e. give yourself more soul time.

Uranus at 22° Pisces, also known as the Awakener, prods us to remember that it is not only okay to be different, it's required. Authenticity, imagination, and originality are key now. The god of chaos demands individuation and real change, not rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. If we keep on doing what we're doing, we keep on getting what we're getting. Quantum leaps are not only possible, but guaranteed, if we are willing to think out of the box.

Pluto at 29° Sagittarius spotlights the beliefs and patterns which are keeping us stuck in the past. The mythic Lord of the Underworld unlocks the gates to the unconscious, revealing whatever has been operating below the level of our awareness. Bless your challenges. Question all assumptions. Demons are allies in waiting. Fear is a message that we are at a new frontier. Mars at 29° Virgo squares Pluto, sparking our courage and passion, as well as anger and shadow material. Check your motivation, clear out old resentments, and keep digging until you get to the truth.

What do you love? What do you need to heal? What are you afraid of? Whatever is breaking down is a prelude to a break through. Let it go. Release whatever is blocking your path. Envision the world you wish to inhabit. Share it, live it, be it. Remember: “The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn, the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities.” (James Allen)

For more information on the current energy shifts visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShHpywRMA0o&feature=email
http://www.lightworker.com/beacons/2008/2008_07-TransIntoPassion.php
http://www.whatsuponplanetearth.com/latest.htm

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2008 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: July 28, 2008
Subject: Solar Eclipse
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

What were you born for? What is your mission in life? What brings you joy? A Solar Eclipse, an extra powerful New Moon, forms on Friday, August 1 at 3:13 AM PDT at 9º32’ Leo. This eclipse spotlights the most important question we will ever ask and realize: Who am I?

The sign of Leo represents the journey of discovering and expressing our light. The ruler of Leo is the Sun, the star at the center of our solar system. The fifth sign in the zodiac challenges us to find our center, our core truth, around which everything else in our life must pivot. In medical astrology, Leo is associated with the heart and spine, our sense of vitality and our will. The image of the lion reflects the depths of devotion and courage that Leo asks of us. It takes courage to follow our heart. It takes willpower to walk our own path and not be herded onto someone else’s. It takes resolve to live
the life we were meant to live.

A total solar eclipse signals our readiness for a major shift in direction and priorities. Solar eclipses occur when the orbital paths of the Moon and Earth align precisely enough for the Moon to block the light of the Sun. For a few minutes, the normal flow of solar radiation is interrupted. Energetic matrices are opened, reorganized, and reconfigured, creating new patterns and pathways. On July 30, 2000, there was a solar eclipse at 8°11’ Leo, close to the degree of this eclipse. What was important in your life back then? What is calling you now? As with any eclipse, people who have planetary placements or
angles within 5° of the eclipse will feel its evolutionary impulse most directly. Because there is an entire generation born with Pluto in Leo (1939–1955) and another multitude with Uranus in Leo (1955–1962), millions will experience this eclipse (and the August 16 lunar eclipse) strongly, as it activates their cellular memories of their mission and their power (Pluto), as well as the need to break from tradition and be an agent of change (Uranus). For more on this collective shift, read Jennifer Hoffman’s channeled message below.

Not only are the Sun and Moon in Leo, but also Mercury, Venus, and the South Node, amplifying the cosmic call for all of us to embody our soul intentions. Mercury’s proximity to the Sun and Moon helps us to access divine intelligence and express our essence. Venus in Leo facilitates going for the gold, for what we really want. Venus is closely opposite Neptune in Aquarius, opening our hearts to divine inspirations and connections. The South Node in Leo adds to the impetus to express the high side of Leo (creativity, generosity, authenticity) while releasing its shadow side (self-absorption, greed, domination); this impetus continues throughout the lunar nodes’ once-every-19-years passage through the fifth and eleventh signs (December 17, 2007 to August 21, 2009).

You are the eyes and hands of God. Dream. Dare. Do. Life is waiting to be lived through you. Remember: “When you don’t follow your nature, there is a hole in the universe where you were supposed to be.” (Dane Rudhyar)

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2008 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

From Destiny to Power
Channeled by Jennifer Hoffman
www.urielheals.com

Every person in your life has a purpose that is centered in helping you achieve your soul growth for this lifetime. Some of you have already surpassed what you came to do and are in new and different patterns. These patterns are unfamiliar and often confusing because you have never experienced them before, so you do not know how to proceed. You have moved from the energy of destiny, where your life is shaped by your karmic history and its lessons, to power, where you are self-reliant and able to create the lessons that you want to experience. You are now in charge of your own healing and can choose
how you will create that process.

Those who have helped you learn your lessons in the past may no longer be part of your experience. You have graduated from dependence to reliance, from having others step in to help you with your lessons to creating them for yourself. Lessons no longer have to be a surprise; they no longer have to come through painful experiences. You can be both the student and the observer, watching the patterns unfold, being aware of what is happening around you and stopping and starting the
process as you manage and direct your lessons, instead of being controlled by them.

The energy of the planet is shifting from destiny to power in alignment with what is happening for each of you. You are part of the whole and everything you experience on an individual level is also experienced by all of humanity. The confusion and doubt you feel about how to use the power that is available to you stems from your being unfamiliar with being in control. While this has always been available to you, your willingness to connect to Source, accept your power and use it has
created this as a possibility for each of you.

Destiny has controlled your history for many lifetimes; now it is time for you to step into power. What do you want to do now? What is your greatest dream, your fondest wish, for yourself and for humanity? This is the moment you have been waiting for, the time for you to create miracles and the time for you to focus on creating peace on earth, joy for all and unconditional love as the guiding force. You have been waiting for this moment and it is here. Use your power to create a life
of effortless flow, to help shift the energy of the planet into a higher vibration of peace, joy and unconditional love. And to help all shift their perspective from powerlessness against the forces of destiny to power and control over their reality.
© 2008 Jennifer Hoffman

Date: July 18, 2008
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

This Full Moon, which peaks on July 18 at 12:59 AM PDT at 26º Cancer-Capricorn, offers a reality check, an opportunity to see how far we have come and what we must do to ke

ep growing. The Sun in Cancer illuminates the areas that require greater nourishment and support; the Moon in Capricorn shows where we need to prune and consolidate our efforts.

Cancer represents the archetype of the Mother, who not only bears life but also nourishes and protects her young. Parental guidance, cultural mores, and societal laws provide safeguards and feedback about the mechanics of civilized life. From the nurturing waters of Cancer to the pragmatic earth of Capricorn, we evolve into responsible adults, able to take care of ourselves and others. If we grow up in a functional family and society, we develop an internalized sense of authority and duty, autonomy and integrity. Capricorn is the stage of stepping into our power, of maturing to the point where we no longer look outside ourselves for approval or validation, but realize that we are the judge and the captain of our life.

Full Moons illuminate the shadow side of each sign, as well as its spiritual tasks. Cancer must learn about receiving; Capricorn, about giving back. The Crab can build too thick a shell; the Mountain Goat may climb the wrong mountain. The fourth sign must develop healthy roots; the tenth must share the fruits of its labor. The more we disregard our own feelings and needs, the greater is the risk that we will violate the rights and concerns of others. The less responsibility we assume, the less power we have. The light of this Full Moon reveals whether our crab shells are too thick or too thin — where we need to shed our defenses or establish better boundaries. We see whether we are climbing the right mountain, or treading someone else’s path.

What is no longer healthy or viable in your life? What is calling you now? If you are at a crossroads, read Owen Water’s excellent article below. This Full Moon, and this month, reminds us that “Only in growth, reform, and change, paradoxically enough, is true security to be found.”-- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2008 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Spiritual Trendsetters by Owen Waters
www.InfiniteBeing.com

It is time for the world to stop being fearful. Fear breeds fear. Love breeds love. One cancels the other. Which will you choose - love or fear?

If you decide to create more love in your life, the approach is simple. Spiritual awareness enhances the natural flow of the universal consciousness called love. By developing your inner spiritual connection, you attract and transmit more pure, unconditional love and all things will be added to you because of this.

Your relationships will grow deeper and more harmonious. You will appreciate yourself more, simply for being the child of God that you are. You'll prosper in your professional dealings as you become more creative and, therefore, more competent and more valuable to the people you serve.

It's simply a choice. To develop love, start by ignoring the fears that face the rest of the world. Don't let those issues of fear bring you down. That's what they're designed to do. If you let them bring you down, they will dis-empower you.

Instead, focus on what will make a difference within yourself. Your domain - the realm under your control - is within you. You can change that which is within yourself. Other people are outside of your domain, so change that which you can - that which is within yourself. Then, paradoxically, you will also effect positive change in the world because you are part of the global mind consciousness.

Just as there is an atmospheric belt around the world, there is also a mind belt around the world. This mind belt is constantly fed by the thoughts and emotions of every human upon the planet. People are like radio transmitters and receivers, only the energy is mind energy, not radio waves. You constantly receive mind energy from the collective mind belt, process it through your own consciousness and transmit it back into the mind belt.

Mind energy consists of thoughts and feelings. It is a definite energy, even though it is much more subtle than physical energies like light or electricity. Mind energy is conditioned and directed by human will.You can be affected by the collective mind belt or you can decide for yourself how you will react to life's events. Choose now whether you will be affected by every twist and turn in the game of life, or whether you will be one of the few who create the game.

Independent thinkers are the trendsetters in the mind belt. The way you think affects every other human upon the planet. The way you feel affects every other human upon the planet.

Because higher frequencies of thought and feeling have much more power than lower frequency ones, the unconditional love that you generate through your spiritual practices has a huge influence upon humanity.

Choose the development of love through regular, dedicated spiritual practices and you will be changing the world. Make spiritual growth your number one priority in life. At the end of the day, it's the one thing that really counts.
© Owen Waters

Date: July 2, 2008
Subject: Cancer New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The New Moon forming on July 2 at 7:19 PM PDT at 12º Cancer is the third of five SuperMoons occurring this year, (May 5, June 3, July 2, November 12, and December 12, 2008), when the Moon is both near perigee (its closest approach to the Earth) and syzygy (in a New or Full Moon phase). SuperMoons generate stronger gravitational pulls on coastal tides, weather patterns, tectonic plates, and our psyches as well. Though not as strong as an eclipse, a SuperMoon increases the electromagnetic force of both the Sun and the Moon, making it easier for us to recognize and break up old patterns.

Cancer is the sign most concerned with food, family, and the feminine, receptive principle. This New Moon asks us to reflect on what we are taking in, and what feeds us on all levels—body, mind and spirit. Like a plant, we too grow towards the light. What helps you grow? What are you hungry for? What draws you closer to the light?  Sources of nourishment vary at different stages of our life. What was nurturing at one point can stifle us later; what helped us sprout may not foster our
blossoming. What in your life is no longer healthy for you? What is blocking your growth?

Ceres at 9° Cancer conjuncts the Sun and Moon. In Roman mythology, Ceres was the goddess of agriculture; her name comes from the Indo-European root ker, meaning “to grow.” Known to the ancient Greeks as Demeter, Ceres played a central role in the Eleusinian mysteries — the sacred rites of birth, death, and renewal — that connect her with both spiritual and physical sustenance. Ceres (now designated a “dwarf planet”) was the first asteroid to be sighted; its association with a goddess rather than a masculine archetype coincided with the expansion of acceptable expressions of the feminine beyond that symbolized by Venus and the Moon. Ceres’ conjunction with this New Moon acts as a reminder of what has been splintered off from our collective psyche--the power of the feminine, the importance of knowing where we came from, and the value of knowing where we belong.

Venus at 18º Cancer conjuncts the New Moon and exactly opposes Jupiter at 18º Capricorn, encouraging us to examine our assumptions and expand our views on home and family. Along with Neptune’s sesquiquadrate (135°, a square and a half) to the New Moon, these aspects help widen our sense of kinship beyond blood or racial lines to include fellow seekers, innovators, and lightworkers. Two days after the New Moon, on July 4, Mars crosses the degree of the February 20 lunar eclipse, reactivating that extra potent Full Moon’s cosmic message of forgiveness and healing. Mars moves on to conjoin Saturn at 5° Virgo on July 10, pushing us to simplify, prioritize, and eliminate or remedy whatever is not working.

Take time around this New Moon to listen deeply. What is your body telling you? What is your heart longing for? What fears and feelings need to be recognized and released? The energies of this New Moon remind us that we all are children and mothers; that we must receive as well as give, and that "Often people attempt to live their lives backwards: they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you love to do, in order to have what you want." (Margaret Young)

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2008 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: May 31, 2008
Subject: Second Scorpio - Taurus New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

This update covers the June alignments, as I’ll be traveling and out of email contact June 9-17.

June Highlights:
06/03 New Moon (13º34’ Gemini, 12:23 PM PDT); SuperMoon aligning head and heart
06/12 Sun/Venus square Uranus (22º34’ Gemini-Pisces) insight, intuition, innovation
06/13 Pluto retrogrades back into Sagittarius questioning assumptions, releasing old beliefs
06/18 Full Moon (27º50’ Gem-Sag, 10:30 AM PDT) conjunct Galactic Center; Venus opposite Pluto (29º53’ Sag) new truths
06/19 Mercury retrograde ends (12º58’ Gemini) green light, clarity, bright ideas
06/20 Summer Solstice (4:59 PM PDT); Sun opp Pluto (29º49’ Gem-Sag) new priorities
06/21 Mars opposite Neptune (24º04’ Leo-Aqu) How can I be the change I want to see?
06/26 Uranus turns retrograde (22º39’ Pisces) Where do I need to trust Spirit and “Think Different’?
06/30 Mars trine Pluto (29º34' Leo-Sagittarius) Where can I take a leap of faith?

June opens with the second of five SuperMoons occurring this year, (May 5, June 3, July 2, November 12, and December 12, 2008), when the Moon is both near perigee (its closest approach to the Earth) and syzygy (in a New or Full Moon phase). SuperMoons generate stronger gravitational pulls on coastal tides, weather patterns, and tectonic plates. Our psyches are more easily shifted as well; emotions surge and viewpoints change as new shorelines of understanding are exposed. Though not as strong as an eclipse, a SuperMoon increases the electromagnetic force of both the Sun and the Moon, making it easier for us to break up old patterns and spot new pathways.

This SuperMoon helps us to appreciate the differences between looking and seeing. It urges us to use our intuition as well as our intellect, to trust synchronicities in addition to facts, and to share our thoughts and feelings. Not only are the Sun, Moon, and Mercury in Gemini, but Venus is as well. The Gemini Twins were originally depicted as a male and a female; Chinese and Hindu zodiacs still illustrate Gemini with a woman and a man, symbolic of the unity and interplay of all polarities — yin/yang, light/dark, birth/death — within the great wheel of life.

In medical astrology, Gemini is associated with the pairs of the body — our two eyes, ears, hands, sides of the brain — the parts most linked with perception and interaction with our immediate environment. The left hand and side, closest to the heart, were originally associated with the feminine, divination, and wisdom. Images of the Madonna were generally shown holding the Christ child in the left arm. As patriarchal dominance increased, the left side was degraded. The Latin word for right-handed is dexter, the root of “dexterity” or skillfulness; sinister derives from the Latin for “on the left.” To live on the Left Coast, to have two left feet, to receive a left-handed compliment — all imply something not quite, well, right. Venus’s close conjunction with this New Moon in Gemini, along with Mercury’s square to Uranus, asks us to question our customary ways of thinking. Be prepared to receive and exchange important insights during the weekend of June 7–8, when the Sun, Mercury, and Venus all conjoin (17–18° Gemini), and on June 12, when both the Sun and Venus square Uranus (22° Gemini–Pisces).

dOn June 13, Pluto slips back into Sagittarius for one last cleanup before it re-enters Capricorn on November 26, where it remains until 2023. Sagittarius is the sign of optimism and hubris, expansion and excess. Since Pluto began transiting Sagittarius in 1995, we’ve seen major scandals and transformations in education, publishing, religion, and travel. Pluto’s final retrograde in Sagittarius spotlights where we are not walking our talk, forcing us re-examine our ethics and ideals so that real changes can be made when it transits through Capricorn. As Pluto moves retrograde, it again focalizes transmissions from the
Galactic Center at 27° Sagittarius, helping us recognize what keeps us in fear, and what opens us to greater truths and realities.

The Full Moon which peaks on June 18 at 27º50’ Gemini is an intense one, with several factors amplifying its galvanizing effect. The Full Moon’s proximity to the Galactic Center challenges us to question our facts and conclusions. What is no longer true? What was never true? Mercury stations direct the day after the peak of this Full Moon. Whenever any planet changes direction, its energy is concentrated as it slows and hovers close to the degree of its station. Mercury’s forward
movement signals that it is time to act on what we have learned since it went retrograde on May 26 (at 22º Gemini). Uranus, the higher octave of Mercury, squares this Full Moon, propelling us towards something new. Uranus’s wild-card energy is augmented by its approaching station retrograde on June 26 (at 22º Pisces). While retrograde in Pisces, Uranus encourages us to reassess intuitions and alternatives we may have dismissed earlier this year. Mars’s quincunx to Uranus on June 18 (at 22º38’ Leo-Pisces), and its opposition to Neptune on June 21 (24°05’ Leo–Aquarius) may frustrate some personal desires but supports what is best for all concerned. For inspiring, innovative news stories visit.www.cthings.com, and to receive free “Notes from the Universe”, go to www.tut.com/about_nftu.htm.

The summer solstice occurs this year on June 20 at 4:59 PM PDT, the same day that the Sun in Gemini opposes Pluto at 29º Sagittarius. Gemini deals with perception, what we learn from our senses and surroundings; Sagittarius, with our conceptions, the assumptions we make about reality and the options available to us based on those beliefs. What do we think, and what do we know? What do we need to say, and what do we need to hear?

Use the power of June's alignments to clarify what is no longer true for you, and where you are ready for a leap of faith. It may help to remember: “There are simply no answers to some of the great pressing questions. You continue to live them out, making your life a worthy expression of leaning into the light.” (Barry Lopez)

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2008 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: May 12, 2008
Subject: Second Scorpio - Taurus New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

I’m sending the full moon update a few days early, as I will be traveling for the next week, attending UAC, the big astrology
conference held every three years.

This week the Sun squares Neptune (exact Wednesday, May 14 around 9 AM PDT at 24º Taurus-Aquarius), facilitating intuition, imagination, and idealism. This is great right brain energy, wonderful for creativity, dreamwork, collaboration, and envisioning the future. It also makes it easier to space out or be fooled, so watch your grounding and double-check calculations or contracts.

The next Full Moon peaks on Monday, May 19 at 7:11 PM PDT at 29º27’ Scorpio - Taurus. This is the second Full Moon in Scorpio–Taurus this year, heightening the contrast between what we want to cultivate and what we need to release. It peaks at the last or “critical degree”; the 29th degree of any sign marks the ending of a phase and a test of whether we have mastered that sign’s developmental lessons. With the Sun in Taurus, the first earth sign, the cosmic quiz is on matter: How are we doing in the world of form? How well are we taking care of our bodies, our resources, our planet? What really matters?

This Full Moon highlights the Pleiades, a globular cluster of stars located at the 29th degree of Taurus. The Pleiades have been important to many cultures, and are involved with our planetary evolution. The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Maya oriented their temples and pyramids toward them. Several Native American creation stories identify the Pleiades as their ancestors who came to this world as Starseeds, bringers of light and knowledge. The Pleiades are mentioned three times in the Bible (Job 9:9 and 38:31; Amos 5:8). Subaru is the Japanese name for the Pleiades; the car logo mimics the configuration of its six visible stars.

The Pleiades are located at one of the nodes (points of intersection) between the galactic and supergalactic planes. Nodes represent stargates, inter-dimensional doorways, portals, and pathways for accessing greater realities. We are very aware of the Earth’s path around the Sun, but much less aware of the immense galactic plane (the path traced by our solar system’s orbit around the center of the Milky Way galaxy) and the even vaster supergalactic plane (the orbital path of our Local Group — the family of 27 galaxies to which our Milky Way belongs). The fact that this Full Moon peaks close to this cosmic portal makes it easier to extend our consciousness beyond our third rock from the Sun. Jupiter’s close sextile to Uranus (exact on May 21 at 22° Capricorn – Pisces) further facilitates spiritual insights and revelations. On May 22, just two days after the Full Moon, the Sun squares the degrees of the last lunar eclipse (February 20 at 2º Virgo–Pisces), giving us a big nudge to act on what we’ve learned since then.

Chiron, Mercury, and Neptune are all about to turn retrograde, amplifying their influence this month. On May 25, Chiron stations retrograde at 21° Aquarius; the archetype of the Wounded Healer moves backward until October 25, encouraging the reclamation of our hopes and dreams. On May 26, Mercury stations at 22º Gemini; retrograde until June 19, the Messenger breaks up old mental patterning and fosters the reconfiguration of new neural pathways. Also on May 26, Neptune
stations retrograde at 24° Aquarius, adding to Chiron’s cosmic call for dreaming a new dream.

What do you need to plant in your life? What do you need to weed or prune? What are you living for? This week’s alignments urge us to “Be noble, for you are of the stars; be humble, for you are of the earth.” (Slavic proverb)

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2008 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: May 1, 2008
Subject: Taurus New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The Sun and Venus move through Taurus for the first three weeks of May, concentrating our attention on what we are living with, and living for: Do we have what we really want? And do we really want what we have? Venus, along with Saturn and Pluto, forms a grand trine in the three earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn), rewarding sincerity, focus, and conservation. In effect for the first week of May, this grand trine offers cosmic support for clarifying our goals and revamping what is no longer viable. It provides a productive tailwind, where much can be accomplished with a little bit of effort.

Saturn, the archetype of time and space, manifestation and limitation, ends its four-month retrograde on May 2. When any planet changes direction, its influence intensifies as it hovers around the same degree for weeks. In Virgo, Saturn urges us to fix or eliminate whatever is no longer functional or desirable. The mythic Reaper reminds us that we are the boss, the chooser, the creator of our reality, and that we have the power to change whatever is no longer serving our goals and evolution. Saturn’s station direct at 2º Virgo squares the degree of the February 20 Lunar Eclipse, emphasizing the need for us to move on, up, and out. It is time to leave behind what we have outgrown, and take a big step forward on our path.

Jupiter, Saturn's complement, is also intensified as it hovers close to its station retrograde at 22º Capricorn on May 9. Jupiter’s transit through Capricorn, the sign ruled by Saturn, emphasizes the need for realistic planning and sensible solutions. Retrograde until September 7, Jupiter calls us to review the rules, laws, and agreements we have made, and abolish what is out of alignment with our principles and beliefs.

Neptune at 24º Aquarius conjuncts the North Node on May 4, and remains in close proximity for the rest of this month, supporting innovation and collaboration. The transiting North Node represents the collective spiritual frontier, where we are headed as a species. Neptune in Aquarius represents unity in diversity -- that each one of us is a vital part of a larger whole, and that our shared visions and choices change the world. Neptune last conjuncted the North Node on October 9, 1991 at 14º Capricorn. What were your ideals then? What are your dreams now?

An extra powerful New Moon forms on May 5 at 5:18 AM PDT. This is the first of five SuperMoons this year, a term coined by astrologer Richard Nolle for when the Moon is within 90% of perigee (its closest approach to the Earth) and syzygy (in a New or Full Moon phase). SuperMoons intensify gravitational pulls on land and water, generating more extreme tides and tectonic activity. Our bodies and psyches are more strongly affected as well, undergoing wider swings of emotions and more profound realizations. This New Moon also squares the degree of the last Solar Eclipse (February 6, 2008 at 18º Aquarius), nudging us
toward the goals we formulated three months ago. Pluto closely aspects this New Moon, forcing us to examine our shadow and motivations. In Capricorn, Pluto reveals the gap between what we say and what we do, challenging us to be completely honest and accountable. What is your body trying to tell you? What are your job, loved ones, and life showing you? Where do you need to draw the line? Where do you need to take a leap of faith?

We have reached yet another important crossroad. Focus on what brings you closer to your heart’s desire. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” (Mark Twain)

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2008 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: April 19, 2008
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

On the New Moon, we plant new seeds; at the Full Moon, we see what has sprouted thus far. The upcoming Full Moon, which peaks on April 20 at 3:25 AM PDT, occurs at the first degree of Scorpio–Taurus. The next Full Moon (which forms on May 19) will be at the last degree of Scorpio–Taurus. This zodiacal repetition is far more significant than a “Blue Moon,” a term commonly applied to the second Full Moon falling within a calendar month. Two successive Full Moons occurring in the same signs doubles the cosmic emphasis on those archetypes — in this case, the polarities of acquiring and letting go, satisfaction and discontent, security and transformation.

Taurus’s symbol, the Bull, has long been associated with fertility and wealth. The Age of Taurus (4000 to 2000 B.C.E.) coincided with the establishment of the great agricultural civilizations on the banks of the Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile rivers. It was a period in history when most cultures honored the Great Goddess, viewing the Earth, along with all its creatures, as sacred. In the zodiac, Taurus is the first earth sign, representing the embodiment of spirit in matter and the quest for a balanced relationship to materiality — to be neither overly attached to nor dismissive of the physical world. Modern urban living makes it difficult to stay in touch with the earth element; cubicles, computers, and caffeine disconnect us from our bodies and from Gaia herself. More money or material possessions doesn’t correspond to greater happiness: A study done a few years ago revealed that the life satisfaction level of the 400 richest Americans was the same as materially poor Inuit in
Greenland or Masai cattle herders in Kenya and only slighter higher than slum-dwellers in Calcutta (www.unknowncountry.com/news/?id=4053).

Shifting attitudes and bottom lines are emphasized by Pluto at 1º Capricorn and Saturn at 2º Virgo linking with the Sun at 1º Taurus to generate an earth grand trine. Grand trines reduce resistance, fostering a heightened flow of inspiration and manifestation. This earth grand trine helps us to clarify our values (Sun in Taurus), identify what is not working (Saturn in Virgo), and commit to making the necessary changes (Pluto in Capricorn). Mercury is also in Taurus now, extending the influence of this productive grand trine from April 17 through April 22. Mars’s trine to Uranus (exact April 22 at 21º02’ Cancer–Pisces), encourages us to think out of the box and live in awareness of our interconnectedness—perfect for this Earth Day weekend.

Use the power of this Full Moon to see what matters to you most now. Reflect on what you have, what you want, and what you need to revamp or release. Read the excerpt from Lena Steven’s April Forecast for helpful pointers. Listen closely to your heart's longings; dare to live your truth. Remember: “Fear is the cheapest room in the house; I would like to see you in better living conditions.” (Jalaluddin Rumi)

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2008 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

April Forecast (excerpts)
By Lena Stevens
Full article posted at
http://thepowerpath.com/monthly-forecasts/april-forecast-2008.html

… People become resourceful when the regular avenues of life they have become accustomed to are no longer available…Resourcefulness is a wonderfully empowering trait. When a child figures out how to tie their shoes for the first time, they take pride in that initiation…In a way, we all have to become children again so that what we try newly and for
the first time, we try with enthusiasm and without the fear of failure... If something does not work, try it again in a different way, or try something else.

To be resourceful you must be able to think outside the box, creatively and unconventionally…Resources are not just the knowledge you have related to your career, or the marketability of your talents, or the money you have in the bank, or the things you have acquired. Your resources include your latent ability to be resourceful, your creativity, adaptability, flexibility, community, humor, ability to forgive, survive, evolve, change, persist, let go, and to learn something new. Those inner creative talents as well as your connection with your community will be your most important resources….

Whenever there is a theme of creativity, there will also be destruction because you cannot have one without the other…Being willing to destroy old patterns of negativity or to allow the dissolution of old forms that no longer serve would be the more positive expression of the destructive side. If something in your life is dissolving and you know deep down that it is a good thing, the most powerful action would be to help the process along instead of resisting it. When you participate in
the process, you will find freedom to be creative and resourceful just on the other side.

…As a culture in the last throws of the competitive, success-oriented mentality, resources are still defined as something outside of ourselves. Power and survival are seen to depend on how many of those resources can be hoarded away and kept as a commodity to lord over others at some point. When those resources, as well as what they have come to represent, are no longer available, you have two options: one is to fight, resist, get stubborn, blame others, and finally go down in a sea of self-destruction. The other is to accept, let go, explore your inner resources as well as external ones you never knew you had, become resourceful and creative, and move on. The first option is not pretty and will cause much suffering... The second one will lead to a self-directed and more powerful expression of life, love, innovation, abundance and creativity…

…The greater yearly theme of “back to basics” will also be influencing the month. You may find yourself and people around you wanting to simplify, to eliminate waste, to spend more time with what is important, to work less, to have less and to go for quality instead of quantity. This of course will affect the economy as it is currently designed. This scaling down should not be confused with contraction. Contraction is a state of mind. You can feel contracted even with a million dollars in the bank and a mansion to live in. In some ways eliminating excess and scaling down can be incredibly freeing and expansive. The less you have, the less you have to take care of and be responsible for. We will be seeing trends towards smaller, simpler, greener, more efficient extensions of ourselves, be it our home, transportation, machinery, electronics or other aspects. When you take stock of your inventory of resources this month, be sure to evaluate how you can eliminate waste and excess as part of your creative process…

Date: March 18, 2008
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

We are approaching another important crossroads. The Full Moon which peaks on Friday, March 21 at 11:40 AM PDT at 2º Aries-Libra, less than two days after the spring equinox (March 19 at 10:49 PM PDT), marks an important crossroads, one that commands our courage and commitment. Stay focused on your path and release whatever detours you from your truth.

This Full Moon forms a cardinal grand cross, a dynamic energy configuration composed of four squares and two oppositions. Squares represent turning points; oppositions call for balance and integration. A grand cross is somewhat like a Zen koan, forcing us to make a leap in consciousness. We are in a sense being driven out of our minds and into our hearts. We are being called to respond rather than react, to choose love rather than fear, to move beyond duality, destruction, and conflict towards unity, creation, and peace.

The energies involved in the grand cross are represented by the Sun, Moon, Mars, and Pluto. The further a celestial body is from the Sun, the more we must incorporate realities far beyond the personal. Of these four cosmic beings, Pluto is the farthest from Earth and so offers the greatest challenge. As the mythic god of death and rebirth, Pluto holds open the doorway for transformation, and symbolizes the spiritual truth that it is by bringing light to the dark, making conscious what has been unconscious, that we trans-form--move into another form, another dimension. Pluto is still closely aligned with the Galactic Center, which generates even greater pressure and support for owning our projections, reclaiming our power, and embodying our divine essence. The brighter the light, the darker the shadows, and the quicker the consequences of our choices materialize as well.

Pluto is now in Capricorn, turning its transformative energies towards structures on all levels, from the form of our ego to the forms of government and business, patriarchy and plutocracy, revealing what no longer serves our evolution. Pluto in Capricorn also reminds us that when we abdicate our responsibility, we give away our power. Mars, the archetype of the warrior, is in Cancer, calling forth the strength of the feminine to birth and nurture new forms, as well as intensifying the cries of our wounded inner child. Mars stationed retrograde on November 15, 2007 at 12°27’ Cancer; it returns to that degree on April 4; Pluto’s station retrograde on April 2 further increases the need for big changes. Watch for important intuitions and revelations around March 24, when Mercury conjoins Venus at 14° Pisces; March 27, when Mercury conjoins Uranus at 20° Pisces; and March 28, when Venus conjoins Uranus at 20° Pisces.

Prayer, ceremony, and inner work are empowered around any Full Moon, and amplified on the day of the equinox as well. This Full Moon peaks close to three important religious holidays, Purim, Good Friday and Easter, celebrations of miracles and transformation. Gather with like-minded souls, or create your own ritual. Affirm what you are choosing to let go, and what is central to your life now. If you are drawn to participate in a worldwide meditation, visit: http://www.kachina.net/%7Ealunajoy/solarwave2008.html for the 14th annual solar wave equinox meditation on March 21 and http://www.themosescode.com/ for information on James Twyman’s April 6 peace vigil. For more on what this time offers, visit www.lightworker.com/beacons/2008/2008_03-Synergy.php for Steve Rother's channeling on Synergy: Redefining Competition by Finding the Other Gods. For inspiration, read Blessed Unrest by Paul Hawkin, Power Versus Force by David Hawkins or Alice Walker’s “We are the ones we have been waiting for.”

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." -- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com

© 2008 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: March 2, 2008
Subject: New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

We are in the midst of a huge paradigm shift. We are being called to be spiritual warriors, to live the St. Francis Prayer (see below). We are being impulsed to surrender what holds us in separation, and live in full alignment with our soul desires. The game of duality is ending; the reality of unity is dawning. We’re going Home.

The ancient Hermetic maxim: “As above so below, as without so within” represents the cosmic truth that the macrocosm reflects the microcosm, that nothing is separate. The external discord we are witnessing is a mirror of the profound internal changes each one of us is experiencing. In astrology the element of earth represents structures on all levels, from the order of galaxies to the form of our government, to the configuration of our ego. With Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto now in earth signs, in concert with the alignments described below, our relationship to matter and Spirit is evolving beyond one of fear and separation into love and unity. Like remodeling a house, things may initially look worse until the new structures are in place. From the last Lunar Eclipse/Full Moon of February 20, through the next Full Moon on March 21, the intensity and magnitude of this cosmic upgrade challenges us to trust that whatever is disintegrating is making way for something much better.

Every New Moon offers opportunities for new insights and intentions, but the one that occurs on March 7 at 9:14 AM PST at 18º Pisces promises a special download. Pisces is the last sign in the zodiac, representing the goal of the spiritual journey — reunion with the Source. From alpha to omega, from stardust to stardust, we are the eyes and hands of God, eternally emerging and returning, adding our experiences to Creation. In Pisces, the twelfth of twelve signs, we realize it's all God, it's all energy, it's all Maya, it's all Love.

Mars exactly opposes Pluto (1° Cancer–Capricorn) just hours before the next New Moon forms. Mars and Pluto represent octaves of the same principle: Mars, our personal will; Pluto, divine intent. Pluto brings light to the shadow; whatever we have rejected or been unable to see before is now in the spotlight. As the mythic God of War opposes the Lord of the Underworld, a profound confrontation, purgation, and transformation occurs. Humanity is being challenged to move from cowardice to courage, from aggression to compassion, from fear to faith. We are rebalancing the masculine and feminine, and reconciling all polarities. This is the third of three exact oppositions; the first occurred on September 21, 2007 at 27° Gemini–Sagittarius; the second on January 2, 2008 at 29° Gemini–Sagittarius. When there are three alignments like this, the first represents a wake up call, the second initiates a process of detachment, and the third symbolizes our readiness to move in a new direction.

All three Mars-Pluto oppositions (which extend from September 21, 2007 to March 21, 2008) are highly potentized, as they align with the Galactic Center, the hub and heart of the Milky Way located near 27º Sagittarius which pulses titanic amounts of electromagnetic energy. This generates tremendous pressure and support for owning our projections, reclaiming our power, and embodying our divine essence. Mars’ and Pluto’s last conjunction occurred on January 13, 2007 at 28º Sagittarius; their next conjunction occurs on December 28 at 1º Capricorn, still near enough to the Galactic Center to once again amplify its evolutionary imperative and our transition towards the new paradigm of unity, equality, and peace.

Uranus at 19º Pisces closely conjuncts this New Moon, opening dimensional doorways, and increasing opportunities for big breakthroughs in consciousness. Uranus, the ruler of Aquarius, functions as the Awakener, the liberator from conformity and illusion. In the 1960s, its cosmic message was “Question Authority”; this decade, as it moves through Pisces, it’s "Question Reality." Neptune, the ruling planet of Pisces, is in Uranus' sign of Aquarius, conjunct Venus on the day of the New Moon, opening our heart and crown chakras, the energy centers which link us with each other and with our higher selves. Like Morpheus in the film The Matrix, Neptune’s mutual reception with Uranus offers us the choice of the red pill of truth or
the blue pill of somambulence. Mercury, Chiron, and the North Node in Aquarius are all close by, helping us connect with like-minded souls and stimulating mass awakenings. How inspiring to know that Oprah Winfrey and Eckhart Tolle are offering a free 10 week online class based on his book A New Earth; Awakening to Your Life's Purpose starting on March 3. (For information, visit http://www2.oprah.com/obc_classic/webevent_registration.html)

Revelations and the rewiring of human consciousness continue as the Sun conjuncts Uranus on March 8 and Mercury conjuncts Neptune on March 9. Venus and Mercury move into Pisces on March 12 and 14, respectively, further widening the doors of perception. Time spent in prayer, meditation, and inner work is extremely productive and rewarding for the next few weeks. Healing and intelligence from Nature is more accessible as well; the mineral, plant, and animal kingdoms are already in the unified state, so readily support our transcendence of duality.
When in doubt or difficulty:

1)    Remember who you really are. Ground on your core, your essence, your divine light.
2)    Remember you are not alone. Call upon your guides, angels, friends--your spiritual support team.
3)    Connect with the center of the Earth and the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. Open your root and crown chakras. Breathe into your heart.
4)    Pray to be shown how to walk the path of truth and love.
5)    Look at everything as an opportunity to learn and heal. Ask: What is the lesson here? What can I learn from this?  What would Love do?
6)    Process and shift challenging circumstances and relationships through meditation and tools like Leslie Temple Thurston’s squares technique (http://marriageofspirit.com/excerpts/chap11/index.html) and Byron Katie’s The Work (http://www.thework.com/thework.asp).
6)    Use vibrational tools like flower essences, gemstones, color, and sound.
7)    Walk in the woods, sit by water, garden, commune with Nature.
8)    Smile.

"We humans are all cells in the body of one humanity, here on earth to regrow the Garden and have a heaven of a time doing it."—Swami Beyondananda

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com

© 2008 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi
From: http://www.st-francis.org/prayer.htm

Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred let us sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is discord, union
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
Where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen

Date: February 18, 2008
Subject: Lunar Eclipse
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

Several important astrological shifts occur this week. February 18, around 7 PM PST, Mercury turns direct, ending a retrograde phase which began January 28. Mercury retrograde in Aquarius marked a three-week period of re-evaluating our allegiances, alliances, and alternatives. The Sun’s entry into Pisces this evening (around 11 PM PST) also helps see the next steps on our path, who shares our ideals, and where we need to break free from cultural programming.

February 20, a total Lunar Eclipse, an extremely powerful Full Moon, peaks at 7:31 PM PST at 1º50’ Virgo-Pisces. Integrating matter and spirit, head and heart, judgment and forgiveness--the Virgo-Pisces axis--encodes the fundamental challenge of our time. We are approaching the end of the Age of Pisces, the close of an era, a changing of the archetypal guard. The astrological Great Ages, a 26,000-year cycle determined by the precession of the equinoxes, provide templates for human consciousness. For most of Western civilization, the primary archetype of the Age of Pisces has been that of sin and redemption, exemplified in the myth of the Fall from the Garden of Eden. Whether or not we were raised in a Judeo-Christian faith, there is a belief deeply buried in the modern collective unconscious that we are inherently flawed and that Heaven/God are somewhere other than here on Earth. The belief in “original sin” has also led to the demonization and degradation of the feminine, the body, and the Earth itself.

Virgo is an earth sign, represented by the Virgin. The Virgin represents the divine feminine and the birthing of Christ/Spirit into matter. The word matter stems from the same cognate as mother (Indo-European mater). Virgo’s glyph derives from the letters M and V, Maria Virgo, the Virgin Mary, a vestige of the pre-Christian Goddess. The Virgo–Pisces polarity symbolizes the integration of body and soul--that matter is spirit incarnate. This eclipse invites us to remember the truth: We are not sinners, we are not separate, we are not guilty, we are not a mistake. We are spirit in form, love made flesh, eternity playing in time and space.

Eclipses occur in 19-year cycles. On February 20, 1989, there was a lunar eclipse at 1°59’ Virgo–Pisces. What was important back then? What is essential now? At this eclipse, Saturn at 5°25’ Virgo conjoins the Moon and forms a waxing opposition to the Sun (exact February 24), highlighting any fears and beliefs blocking our path. Saturn moves retrograde until May 2, then stations direct at 1°41’ Virgo, within 12 minutes of arc of this eclipse. Because all eclipse degrees remain sensitive for at least three months afterward, planets transiting that degree act as trigger, nudging us to keep moving forward. If possible, watch and meditate around the peak of the eclipse, 7:30 PM PST, or while it is in progress (the Moon enters the penumbra @ 4:30 PM and leaves @10:15 PM PST.

This eclipse starkly illuminates the shadow side of both signs as well as their evolutionary goals. The shadow side of Pisces slips into helplessness, victimization, or martyrdom. The shadow side of Virgo falls into worthlessness, shame, and blame. The ongoing Mars-Pluto opposition, which began last fall on September 21 and peaks in two and a half weeks on March 7, tests us to reclaim our projections and our power. Many of us are clearing core issues from childhood, which are challenging us to not act out old patterns, but to heal ourselves and embody our spiritual destiny.  We are also healing the traumatic memories from the painful transition from matriarchy to patriarchy, where we separated from The Great Mother, from our connection with matter, spirit, and the inherent divinity of all things.

To heal means to make whole, to integrate whatever was split off. As we move from duality and separation into the paradigm of the heart, into unity and wholeness, we must recover whatever has been repressed and disowned. When you find yourself in fear or anger, take some deep breaths, connect your higher self, and use the tools that bring you to truth, love, and healing.  For more insight on what this week’s shifts offer, as well as spiritual information on important global issues, see Jennifer Hoffman’s channelings from Archangel Uriel at http://www.urielheals.com/Messages.html. Read The Chalice and the Blade by Riane Eisler, The Fall by Steve Taylor, Maria Gimbutas’ work and/or watch Starhawk’s documentary on her life “Signs Out of Time.” Remember: “Fear is the carpet in front of the temple door” (Adyashanti)

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2008 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: February 2, 2008
Subject: Solar Eclipse
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

Februare, in Latin, means 'to purify". Cross-culturally, this is a time of prophecy and purification. Midwinter was celebrated in many cultures as a fire festival, symbolizing the return of the light. Ancient Celts observed the ritual of Imbolc, the Irish commemorated the feast of St. Brigid, the Aztecs and Iroquois ceremonially extinguished their hearth fires and relit them at this time. Renamed Candlemas by the Catholic Church, midwinter was celebrated as a feast of the Virgin Mary, continuing the promise of hope and renewal. This weekend, do something that honors and strengthens your inner light, your sacred flame, your divine essence.

Because of Mercury’s retrograde phase (January 28 to February 18), the Messenger’s transit time in Aquarius is doubled this year (January 7 to March 14), emphasizing the importance of redefining priorities, thinking out of the box, and networking with like-minded souls. Intuition and creativity are heightened as Mercury makes the second of three exact conjunctions with Neptune this weekend (the first was January 22, the third will around March 8). "It's in Everyone of Us", a beautiful song written by David Pomerantz and popularized by Cliff Richards, describes what happens when Mercury and Neptune combine: "We can all know everything/without ever knowing why." (complete lyrics at http://www.storybin.com/builders/builders133.shtml). The answers to our questions and problems are within easy reach; all we have to do is slow down, ask, and listen with our heart.

A Solar Eclipse forms on February 6 at 7:45 PM PST at 17º44’ Aquarius). During an eclipse, electromagnetic streams are disrupted; matrices dissolve, new pathways open, consciousness reconfigures. This Solar Eclipse is closely opposite the powerful Grand Cross Solar Eclipse that formed on August 11, 1999 at 18º20’ Leo. That eclipse galvanized millions forward on their spiritual path, in particular the Baby Boomers who have their natal Pluto in the mid-degrees of Leo (especially anyone born 1946-1954). What happened in 1999 for you? What are you being guided to do now?

The Aquarius Water-Bearer stands for our baptism into collective consciousness, the realization that we are each unique, and an integral part of a larger whole. Every one of us, along with the Earth and the Cosmos itself, is participating in a grand experiment. We are in the midst of a huge paradigm shift, transitioning towards a new age of unity, equality, and diversity. Each one of us has an important gift to share. What is your vision, your hope and dream for the world? Chiron, Mercury, Neptune, Vesta, and the North Node are all in Aquarius as well, stressing the importance of embodying our ideals. It’s time to face the truth, live our truth, and share our truth. Where do you want to make a difference? What is your mission, your part to play at this momentous time on Earth? For inspiration, read Owen Water’s article below and visit www.wiserearth.org, www.bioneers.org, and www.culturalcreatives.org; these sites provide links to thousands of humanitarian and environmental organizations. “Be the change you wish to see.”--Mahatma Gandhi

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com

© 2008 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

The Vital Importance of Inner Alignment
by Owen Waters www.infinitebeing.com

Many people in society today work at jobs they don't like, and find themselves with little or no time for activities that increase the quality of their lives. Such people are out of alignment with their inner selves. Traditionally, society has pressured people into conformity. Peer pressure to conform to an immediate social group begins at school because, from an early age, people are taught that they should conform to outside standards. In England , the phrase "know your place" is used as a put-down to someone who has started to become outstanding in some way. In Australia , the traditional phrase is "cut down the tall poppies." In Japan , "The nail that sticks up shall be pounded down."

However, this pressure towards conformity has been lessening in recent decades, and it will continue to lessen as people realize that there is strength in diversity. Diversity is natural. Conformity is unnatural. In the universe, every snowflake, every person, and even every proton is unique. Together, the sum of the parts makes up a perfect universe of infinite diversity. Diversity is designed into the universe because the universe exists in order that Infinite Being, the All That Is, may gain an infinite variety of experiences. In the case of human beings as expressions of the one source, we have free will so that we can makes choices. Making choices, and experiencing the results of those choices, is what human life is all about.

Inner alignment means becoming more of your true self. Your inner being is your true self, and by developing your inner potential, you express more and more of your true self. In heart-centered, New Reality consciousness, mutual support is shared between people. That means that being different is good, developing personal skills is good, and exploring your own potential is good. Deep within, everyone is equal. However, in your unique form of expression in the outer world, you are different to everyone else. Not better or worse, not more-than or less-than; just different, because diversity is natural and is honored through mutual respect.

The New Reality of heart-centered consciousness is being built on this Earth, one person at a time. New Reality consciousness is a supportive and empowered state of consciousness, rather than the Old Reality consciousness of separation and fear. When a person manifests their own unique, inner being, they become aligned, in the way that a laser beam is aligned, rather than being scattered by external should's and should-not's. When many people in society become aligned in their own personal power, the whole becomes far more influential than the sum of the parts. In fact, it becomes exponentially more powerful.

When enough pioneers choose New Reality consciousness, there will come a day when their powerfully aligned influence will reach a critical mass. Then, it will transform the remainder of society and, suddenly, everyone will "get it." Society, as a whole, will then realize that heart-centered consciousness is the way forward into creating its bright, new future."

Date: January 20, 2008
Subject: Full Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next Full Moon peaks on Tuesday, January 22 at 5:35 AM PST at 2º Leo-Aquarius. New Moons mark new beginnings; Full Moons show us whether we need to continue onward or do something different. The Sun in Aquarius urges us to join forces with like-minded souls; the Moon in Leo reminds us that each person has something special to offer. Leo is the soloist; Aquarius is the chorus. Are we holding our note? Are we ready to sing a new song together?

At this Full Moon, the Sun — along with Chiron, Vesta, Mercury, Neptune, and the North Node -- are all in Aquarius, emphasizing the importance of creativity and collaboration, practical and visionary thinking. Mercury will be retrograde from January 28 to February 18, doubling its time in Aquarius this year (from January 7 to March 14), which further encourages us to consider alternatives and reassess our alliances. Venus conjuncts Pluto on January 23, (at 29°56’ Sagittarius), exposing new truths and new prospects, if we are willing to listen and speak from the heart.

Pluto, the archetype of death and rebirth, has been in Sagittarius since 1995. On January 25, Pluto enters Capricorn and initiates a new era, transmitting its evolutionary energies through Capricorn until November 19, 2024 (with a final retrograde into Sagittarius June 13 to November 26, 2008). Pluto reveals the shadow of whatever sign it transits; the dark side of Capricorn is the victim/tyrant archetype, which are two sides of the same coin. Pluto’s passage through Capricorn forces us to look at how we are dealing with authority and accountability, making painfully clear the price we pay for victim consciousness and deceit. Pluto reminds us that we always have a choice and that, when we abdicate our responsibility, we give away our power. It also asks us to walk our talk, and to live in accordance with spiritual as well as material realities.

On a collective level, Pluto in Capricorn transforms governments, corporations, organizations, and any institution which is not serving the greater good. Traditions, conventions, and standards will change as patriarchal dominance is challenged, and issues of wealth distribution, the environment, recycling, civil rights, marital rights, retirement and aging will be reassessed and reformed. Business, borders, laws, property, and resource rights will be redefined. Pluto has not been in Capricorn since November 1762 – December 1778, the period that saw the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution, the abolition of the Inquisition in France, the first circumnavigation of the Earth, and the beginning of a worldwide industrial revolution fostered by burgeoning free trade, civil liberties, and technological developments.

Each one of us, along with the Earth and the Cosmos itself, is participating in a grand experiment. We are in the midst of a paradigm shift, transitioning towards a new age of unity, equality, and diversity. Nourish yourself daily with beauty, nature, community – whatever helps you remember your connection with the web of life and your place in it. Trust your inner guidance. Choose to live in Love, not fear. Remember: "When nothing is sure, everything is possible." -- Margaret Drabble

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com

© 2008 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

Date: January 5, 2008
Subject: New Moon
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

The next New Moon forms on Tuesday, January 8 at 3:37 AM PST at 18º Capricorn. Capricorn is symbolized by the mountain goat; one of the primary challenges of the 10th sign is to climb the right mountain, i.e. to follow its path, its soul aspirations. We must decide for ourselves what success is, what "making it" means. Capricorn reminds us that we are the boss; we are the authority and judge of our lives. With Jupiter, and soon Pluto, moving through Capricorn as well, the connection between intention and manifestation, power and responsibility will become more and more self-evident. Energy follows intention; what we are thinking, we are praying for. Power is inseparable from responsibility; when we disown responsibility, we abdicate our power as well.

Both Capricorn and its ruling planet, Saturn, are concerned with time and space--the willingness to be “in sync” and to birth new forms. In Greco-Roman mythology, Saturn ate his children in his attempt to maintain the status quo. What wants to come through you? Are there some creations you have been swallowing? Question authority, question reality, question “the way it is”. Conventional wisdom does just that—it keeps us mired in convention, stuck in the same old ruts. Although Saturn will not exactly oppose Uranus until November 4, 2008, the planet of form (Saturn) and the planet of reform (Uranus) will be in opposite signs throughout this year, impelling us to think and live out of the box. If you need clues as to your next step, watch your daydreams, your night dreams, and synchronicities for messages from your higher self.

Mars, the archetype of passion and assertion, plays a big role this month, as it opposed Pluto at the beginning (exact on January 2) and turns direct at the end. Mars at 29º Gemini and Pluto at 29º Sagittarius are still close to the GC (Galactic Center), still amplifying transmissions from the galactic core and catalyzing quantum leaps. If we can pull up our emotional anchors, we’ll be ready to catch a big tailwind when Mars turns direct on January 30th.

What will 2008 bring? The real question is: What do we want to create? Take some time around this New Moon to inventory your life and clarify your goals. Write your intentions down and post them where you will see them daily. Be prudent and proactive. Whatever we don’t like, we can change.  Remember; "We can throw stones, complain about them, stumble on them, climb over them, or build with them."~~ William Arthur Ward

See the wonderful channeled message at the link below for more on the importance of this time; it is a bit long but well worth reading. If your internet server has converted it to an attachment you can’t open, or if you would like to read the complete channeled message, go to: http://lightworker.com/beacons/2007/2007_12-HumanCondition.php

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com

© 2008 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved

NOTE: Because I will be doing a Yearly Forecast on January 11, there
will not be a New Moon/Monthly forecast this month. The dates for all
of the 2008 New Moon Monthly Forecasts are posted on my website, under
the Current Classes link.

Date: December 19, 2007
Subject: Full Moon Plus
From: Stephanie Austin, EcoAstrology

Dear Friends,

We are continuing to experience an extraordinary series of alignments. Jupiter and Pluto are still close to the Galactic Center; now the Sun and Mercury are adding their energies, amplifying the transmissions from the galactic core. As the influx of light increases, whatever has been in the unconscious surfaces. In order to make the shift from duality to unity, we have to own our shadow, which is anything that has been denied, repressed, and projected. Everything is God/Spirit/Light. We are God/Spirit/Light. We are in the process a huge paradigm shift, moving from separation to unity, from humans trying to be spiritual to knowing that we are spiritual beings having a human experience.

It’s more important than ever to:
1)    Ground/identify with your spiritual core, your inner light, your divine essence
2)    Stay in your witness/neutral observer. Breathe.
3)    Accept, experience, and release whatever is surfacing
4)    Use the transformative tools that work for you (meditation, journaling, art, movement, time in nature, Leslie Temple-Thurston’s square technique http://marriageofspirit.com/excerpts/chap11/index.html, Byron Katie’s four questions (http://www.thework.com/thework.asp, bodywork, breathwork, therapy, etc.
5)    Ask for help when necessary, from friends, healers, your spiritual support team. Your guides, the archangels, legions of light beings are on standby, ready to assist.

On Wednesday, December 19, Saturn, the ruling planet of Capricorn, stations retrograde at 9º Virgo. Saturn remains retrograde until May 2, 2008, when it turns direct at 2º Virgo; its shadow point, when it again reaches 9º Virgo, is August 8, 2008. Saturn's retrograde phase in Virgo supports simplifying, improving, and eliminating that which is unessential and unproductive. The mythic Reaper reminds us to be responsible and realistic. Less can be more these days -- less hassle, less expense, and less stress. Focus on what is most important; delegate or let the rest go.

On Thursday, December 20, the Sun makes its yearly conjunction with Pluto, enters Capricorn on the 21st, and then conjuncts Jupiter on the 22nd. These three shifts amplify and prolong the powerful effect of the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction near the galactic core. In the midst of all this, the Winter Solstice, the Return of the Light, occurs on Friday, December 21, at 10:08 PM PST, an excellent time for prayer, gathering with like-minded souls, and setting intentions.

The next Full Moon peaks on Sunday, December 23 at 5:16 PM PST at 2º Capricorn-Cancer. Cancer deals with our inner child; Capricorn, with our inner adult. What do we need? What feeds us? And what is our dharma? What are we here to give? The Full Moon period, which is not just the peak of the Full Moon, but several days before and after, is further energized by Mars' conjunction with the Moon and Mars’ oppositions to Mercury on December 22, the Sun on December 24, Jupiter on December 26, and Pluto on January 2, 2008. Mars aspects shorten fuses and sharpen tongues. Mars is retrograde (November 15 to January 30, 2008) and at perigee, its closest approach to the Earth, increasing the impetus for courage or bravado, assertion or aggression. In Cancer, Mars advises us to examine our motivations and our tactics closely. Are we sidestepping the real issues? What must be faced, felt, and forgiven?

During this holiday season, give yourself and others the gift of kindness. Do what is meaningful to you. Process whatever closes your heart. Be grateful for the many blessings in your life, and know that your thoughts and actions are blessing the Universe in turn.

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com
© 2007 Stephanie Austin/All rights reserved