Suspicious Activities

Welcome once again to my blog!  This time round, I write about suspicious activities that people may detect from others.  Mercury has just moved into the sign of Scorpio - a fixed water sign that is more enigmatic and mysterious than most - so this is a great position for the budding detective to uncover the hidden mysteries.  Traditionally, Mercury belongs to Gemini and Virgo - air and earth respectively - so would appear to be out of its depth in Scorpio.  Having said that, the Mercurial mind would be well placed as an outsider to be especially observant, by watching the interactions and attitudes of others.

Those of us who are empaths, clairvoyants, seers etc will be aware of what's going on around them and feel the immense depth of energies more than usual.  Now I come to the crux of some important matters.  If this Mercurial energy is sitting in your gut, telling you that something is wrong about someone, take note of it.  If, for any reason, you know that now's not the time to act upon something, because you need more information or need to be more cautious before disclosing your feelings about someone to them - or a combination of both - then go with it!  The risk of going for it isn't always worth it, especially when you're told time and again by your gut to wait and be patient, all will be revealed in good time.  Clues can be frustratingly cryptic but this is when your gut will really tell you and if you look closely enough, you'll work it out and come out smelling like a rose.

For example, a woman admires a man but the signals from him are mixed.  Her gut reacts and although she' can't put her finger on the cause, she knows that something's up.  Information eventually comes to light about other possibilities, including a hidden relationship that the man, for whatever reason, refuses to disclose.  This is where Mercury needs to think carefully and with clarity because there is more than one.  Privacy is important and the other person may not feel the need to do so, protecting others close to him.  The other possibilities are an unawareness of another's feelings, or else he is all too aware and deliberately chooses to not disclose the truth at all.

If you should find yourself believing that a man behaves towards you with the very intention of being misleading, then run a bloody mile!  Chances are that the man has ulterior motives, with the likely one being that he's ready to jump ship at the first opportunity, or enjoy a bit on the side.  The man who wants to jump ship because he believes that you're a good thing now will jump again when he finds someone else he believes better, later on down the track, to say nothing for the poor woman he has chosen to dump!  The man who wants a bit on the side doesn't want to be mutually exclusive, either.  He wants to have his cake and eat it. 
You deserve better than that!

It must be noted that not all men are like this, but know your value.  A man who's honest and open from the get-go about who he is and who's in his life will not hesitate to mention his relationship status and be proud of being in such a partnership, if he has any inkling of any admiration from another woman, nipping matters in the bud accordingly.  A decent man will own up regardless.  The admiring woman may feel hurt for a moment, but she knows where she stands and will move on, especially if she's the sort of woman who won't cut another woman's grass.  It's simply not worth the hassle. 

So think about who you attract and why.  Think about what you want for yourself and why.  The more you know about yourself and your core values, the more likely you are to rid yourself of any unwanted attention and hurtful situations before they get out of hand.  Your inner strength will smell out the devious intentions before they have a chance to unfold. 
For the female friends, support this woman.  Don't ridicule her and try to lay on your advice, no matter how well-meaning.  If she hasn't asked for it, you're just soliciting and taking the moral high ground.  Let her sort it out for herself.  If she needs your help, she'll ask.  Be the best friend you can be, without judgement.  You may need this friend yourself one day.

On that note, I bid you Wassail until next time!

A Special Place in Nature

I have happy places in nature.  They're where I go when I need to find peace and tranquility.  Where I currently live is more like a town and while I enjoy the convenience of walking to the shops and having what I need in close proximity, I've missed the bush walks that calmed my mind.  Two days ago, I finally found a place that I can go to.  I can sit by the stream and take photographs of the ducks and waterfowl or walk my pooch.  It's amazing to find what I call the world within a world, because it has this feeling of me stepping into another place.  When I feel like that, it's because I've stumbled upon a Faerie glen.  On more than one occasion, I've looked down a couple of dead end streets, as though being lured to learn its secrets.  It's a best kept secret all right and I hope it stays that way.

I took these photos yesterday, with more to edit when I'm able.  My new happy place!





Until next time, Wassail!

How I'm Staying Balanced During These Unbalanced Times

One thing's for sure.  The coronavirus (Covid 19) pandemic is universal.  Various stages of lockdown are enforced, depending on where one lives.  In Australia, it's also broken down into each state.  In New South Wales, we should only be leaving home if we're working or studying, attending medical appointments, exercising or buying essentials.  These measures are in place to stop the spread or - to use the current catchphrase - flatten the curve.  We're also made aware of social distancing and personal hygiene - especially washing our hands.

Most of us already know this and are doing our best to keep our loved ones safe.  But what about ourselves?  I'm writing as someone who lives on my own now.  My kids are all grown and have flown the coop.  They don't live near me and this is the hardest part about isolation right now.  I can't just jump in the car and see whoever I like or go wherever I want.  I'm restricted.  I'm also a person who suffers from clinical depression and isolation can at times be unbearable.  The one saving grace is having my sister live nearby.  We still see each other and it's a good thing.

Since I've been home during this last month, my university studies moved online.  We still have lectures and tutorials, using group chats like Zoom or Collaborate instead of face to face.  I have found that to be rather challenging, as many of us would.  Thankfully, we have a mid semester break and due to how the content is now being delivered, we have an extra week off and more time to complete assessments towards the end.  Whew! 

I'm also about to be rather ironic.  I'm not studying right now, apart from reading a book in readiness for the first week back in English Literature.  I've been cleaning my house.  During this first week, I mowed and weeded the yard, ripped up the carpet in the loungeroom and taken it back to floorboards.  I mopped the loungeroom floor and put everything back in its place after a good clean and dust.  I've cleaned all the windows but for the small bathroom one, which I'll get to.  I watch Netflix in the evening and am finally finishing off a knitted project that someone has very patiently waited for.  My pet pooch has had a flea bath and is much the cleaner for it!  I study Astrology charts and compile a Tarot and Lenormand journal.  I also browse on Facebook and stay in touch with people I know that way, as much as possible.  I'm in the second week of my break and I have a garage to straighten up, a kitchen and bathroom to clean, keep up with the yard and probably straighten up the laundry as well.  I'm doing all these things now, because I have the time and before I hit the books again at the start of May, when our semester resumes.

What's happening for me now is a new energy shift coming in.  Because I've been spending my newly found time cleaning, arranging and organising my home, I'm returning to my inner balance.  Thoughts of family and friends are never far from my mind, but because I've been so busy of late around the house, my mind isn't idle.  I'm in the moment and enjoying the process.  I even found a bush walk near my place yesterday, where I can take my dog, walk among the trees and commune with the spirits.  I was also stoked at the thought of finding new places and things to photograph.  I put down my camera for a while, because I wasn't feeling inspired.  My phojo is coming back.  I also want to do more knitting and spinning, because the weather is getting cooler and there are many projects that I want to start on (and for some, pick up from where I've left off! 😝).

As I write this, I'm reminded of what our ancient forebears used to do, especially in the dead of winter.  In this instance, I refer to my Anglo/Celtic ancestors in the northern hemisphere. They couldn't go out; trade and social activities would grind to a halt.  They would spend their time, instead, on fixing and mending things, protect their livestock from the harsh weather; they stayed home and did things.  As a modern society, we've taken our busy lives for granted to the point that we've forgotten ourselves along the way.  I'm not speaking selfishly here.  In the long run, our loved ones also benefit from us feeling better as well, since it minimises our feelings of frustration and we don't act out on them.  It's a time for recharging our own batteries, because our society has become sick and exhausted.

It's a very hard time economically for many people who have either lost their jobs or been stood down and I don't wish to downplay how these folk are feeling.  Many again are still working in front line jobs and facing some very challenging times.  Without them, we would be on our knees, so we should support them any way we can.  I'm in a different situation as a full time student, although my allowance is pittance and any part time work I would want to find has come to a standstill.  I'll still get by, as I'm resourceful.  I cook my meals, I'm very artistic and creative.  Most of all, I look for things to keep me busy.  Because, if I don't, I would be climbing the walls.  I treat myself to a weekly drive in my local area and call in at the local chocolate factory, which is still open to the public.  I order a delicious choc mocha and some other delight to take away.  I walk the dog, I go to the shops.  When I do need to get out of the house, these are the small things that keep me grounded.  At home, I'm fortunate to have a yard and I love gardening.  Being outside has always been a big deal for me.  I'm physically healthy, which is also advantageous.  Another crucial factor for me is listening to music while I work and/or relax.  I've been a lifelong lover of music and I have eclectic tastes.  Today's easy listening was Yes's Tales from Topographic Oceans.

So next time any of you would say "I'm bored.  I'm not feeling motivated."  That's okay, for now.  Before too long, you will want to do something.  If you're feeling unwell and dealing with a chronic condition, do the best you can to get through the day.  Reach out to someone, on the phone or through a videolink.  Bring out your artistic side.  Do something for yourself which makes you feel good.  All we have is the moment and we need to remind ourselves of this.  If you feel overwhelmed by what's around you in the home that needs to be done, break the jobs down into small chunks and concentrate on one area.  Give yourself a big pat on the back for a job well done.  Then move on to the next one.  Keep up the good work and enjoy the satisfaction you get from it.  You've got plenty of time.  It's all about changing your mindset and bringing in the feel good hormones.  Our feelings of sadness and loneliness won't go away during this period, but we can minimise these feelings and bring in more uplifting energy.

Another important matter to keep in mind is our eating habits.  Staying at home makes us inclined to eat more.  While I think it's perfectly fine to sometimes indulge, we must ultimately think over the long term of what we put in our bodies.  Fresh fruit and veg is important.  Nuts, seeds, fish, meat (if you eat it), dairy etc, along with drinking plenty of water and keeping caffeine to a minimum.  Buying what we can afford is also important, so it pays to shop wisely.  I do my best to adhere to these principles, although my notoriously sweet teeth craves for those other things.  That's still a work in progress 😔.  I don't smoke and rarely drink, so that helps.

I laugh at the irony of having a clean house and no visitors.  My dog and I are comfortable.  The restrictions will ease soon and guess what?  We've put ourselves back into a good place, starting from where we should be, at home.  Home should be our happy place where we find peace, safety and tranquility.  If we get the balance right at home, it flows outwards.  Then we'll have all the time in the world once more for social activities and getting back to work.  We do this with a clear mind and open heart.  It's a good time to remember ourselves and what we want from our lives.  It's not being selfish.  It's about staying sane!

Until next time, stay safe, wash your hands and Wassail!

Venus and Mars - star crossed lovers

I'm in a horary astrology group on Facebook - my most favourite group from which I'm learning so much about this branch of astrology.  The word horary derives from the Latin word Horarius - meaning of the hour that the question is asked to the heavenly bodies.  Meaning is found Here.  I wrote a comment, in response to a question about the interplay between Venus and Mars for the coming year.  While understanding astrological aspects is certainly helpful, I wrote my response out of the blue, and in a tragi-comedic way, which allows anyone to understand.  It's fair to say that my narrative is a cautionary tale, pertaining to questions surrounding love and romance for the next two years! 

I was asked when the next sextile would be (two planets in a harmonious aspect of 60 degrees.  For example, Venus in Gemini applies to Mars in Aries) between Venus and Mars.  I unearthed a lot more than I originally saw at a glance!

My story begins, with the last sextile between Venus and Mars on 4th December, 2019.  Venus was in Capricorn, while Mars was in Scorpio.  Venus does rather well in this sign.  Standing alone, she is in her own element of earth.  Mars also does well in the water sign of Scorpio, as sign ruler and element ruler of water.  Feelings are mutual between them, because Venus is in the sign where Mars has elevated status (by exaltation), while Mars is frustrated by Venus in his own house.  This is called a detriment, because her true home is in Taurus, while Scorpio is the opposite.  So while the feelings are mutual with the sextile, we can already see issues stirring beneath.  Mars isn't happy, while Venus worships him.

Matters are coming to a head when Venus and Mars square off with each other on 27th January.  It will have taken the better part of six weeks and two sign changes for Venus to be in Pisces, while Mars has plodded along and moved only by one sign.  Venus is definitely more at home in this sign, now that her status of exaltation is heightened.  Mars, unfortunately, is now restless, since he's not only out of his sign but also out of his home.  Did Venus give Mars the big heave ho?  Or did he leave of his own accord, only to realise how much better he had it previously?

Here is where the love story between Venus and Mars gets complicated :D Apparently, there is a change of heart between them.  Two months later, there's an attempt to try again.  At the end of March, before Venus in Taurus (now in her own home and frustrated with Mars, since this is the sign of his detriment) can perfect a trine (a much better aspect than a sextile, at 120 degrees apart) with Mars in Capricorn (his turn for elevated status), he changes signs and moves into Aquarius. Itchy feet again?  Left Venus hanging?  Hopefully not at the altar!  

Venus, probably well and truly ropeable with Mars at this point, lets him be.  Mars couldn't understand what the fuss was about while he was in Capricorn, doing his best to work hard and make Venus happy while she was feeling rather indulgent at home.  He may have had enough of all the hard work, when all she wanted to do was carry on like some precious princess who believed that whatever poor old Mars did wasn't good enough.  So off he goes again, in the search for freedom under Aquarius, despite being away from home.  He may appreciate how the other half live and find himself on this faraway trip.  

While this is going on with Mars, Venus moves out of Taurus into Gemini.  The princess may now be seeing two sides to this story and she still wants to meet with Mars in Aquarius by trine, in the hope of reconciling their differences and communicate responsibly. This double bodied sign is slowing her down severely; she may as well be swimming in mud. Mars is speeding up and moving further away, perhaps really enjoying himself for the first time in ages. By the middle of May, Venus has fallen well back in the field and proceeds to move Retrograde (a backwards motion that all planets experience at some point), while Mars steamrolls in Pisces.

The sad saga of Venus pining for her lost love continues while she - through no real fault of her own - is pulled into Retrograde. Looking back would offer Venus a moment of soul searching and some serious thinking.  They will meet in another mutable square on 3rd June this year, before Mars continues moving forward. Venus is too caught up with her own stuff by now to care for any crossed words between them, so she gives Mars space once more - not before passing a smart remark on her way through, mind.  

Having enjoyed some overdue socialising with friends - with possibly many drinks along the way and nursing some hangovers - Venus is direct again on 25th June at 5 degrees Gemini and desires to catch up with Mars again. Mars, in the meantime is out of Pisces and back home in Aries. Owing to how Venus is already 6 degrees at the beginning of July this year, there's no chance of a sextile (cooperation) forming, because now it's Venus' turn to be in front of Mars! This girl is loving every moment the taste of freedom has to offer, and doesn't give a toss what dignified Mars thinks.  By the start of September, there's a chance encounter, with Venus and Mars meeting again - only this time in a cardinal square. She in Cancer and Mars in Aries both perfect at 27 degrees on 4th September. Argh the tension!  

This tension is also emotionally charged, because Venus is in the house where Mars has fallen from grace (Cancer is the opposite of Mars' status in Capricorn) and Mars, while back at one of his stately homes, is furious with Venus (her detriment in Aries, since her other palatial mansion is in Libra).  It's what we would call a mutual dislike and they're both wondering at this point what they ever saw in each other!  Ironically, Cancer is a very emotional sign, so Venus is both angry and tearful at the same time, while going into her comfy shell.

But wait, there's more to this tale. The tension has dissipated and the spark has now become a flame between these two.  Is it love, lust, or a combination of both?  Fireworks is at hand and it's Mars' turn to feel the pull of desire towards Venus. Mars starts his retrograde in Aries on 10th September and it's his turn to feel helpless while he's pulled in reverse and his lady love is full steam ahead in Leo. Venus has been getting a lot of attention from other interested parties and has enjoyed exploiting it to the hilt.  Even, so, she feels this pull again towards her old flame.  

The good news here is they meet in a fire trine on 29th September this year, before Venus changes signs and Mars still heads backwards. Fire can only last for so long before it cools and burns out completely.  They separate again and are probably having a great old time with other people, because now it was more of a friends with benefits moment than anything serious.  Despite the action (cardinal from Mars) and staying power (fixed from Venus), Mars is still going back.  Has he still got a little black book, full of ex girlfriend's addresses? Venus is still desirable to other interested parties so she leaves Mars at it again.  It's a falsehood on Venus' part, though.  She's the aimless wanderer away from her home and playing a superficial game.  Mars isn't much better, despite being dignified.  Moving backwards isn't helping his cause over the longer term.

Oh dear. November doesn't look like a good time for our two lovebirds. While Mars is still retrograde, Venus has whizzed through Virgo.  This may be the wake up call she needed to pull herself out of her hedonistic and nihilistic tendencies.  This is especially so, since Venus has fallen in a heap (opposite her Pisces exaltation and the summer house in the Hamptons that she rents).  Her fall from grace is in a fibro box resembling a blast furnace hit by a cyclone.  There's no choice for our poor missy but to dust herself off and get back up again.  She has moved on from the admiring men and mulling over some very poor choices.  She's back in gear before moving into her own sign of Libra (whew!) and forming an opposition with Mars on 9th November. Both of them are in their own homes and now there's mutual contempt (Mars and Venus are both in each other's detriments, remember?).  A bitter separation looms but is it permanent? We shall see.

Mars is ready to go direct again, while still in his own sign, on 14th November, with Venus streaking ahead from her bitter separation with Mars in her own sign. Hopefully neither of them are stewing after the last big dust up!  Getting their own affairs in order at home may be more important.  The next stage of this fated romance has both our lovers coming ever so close to an applying fire trine, with Venus in Sagittarius now and Mars at the tail end of Aries. Before this desirable fire trine can perfect, that bastard Mars pulls the pin once more, moving into Taurus and into the sign of his now nemesis (she's such a bitch!).  Venus, in the meantime, has discovered philosophy, Life, the Universe and Everything.  She also discovered that the answer is 42.  Clever girl!  Mars isn't particularly fortunate for the moment.  He's in his enemy's house (what on earth for?  I hope he's not searching in her drawers), clearly uncomfortable with being there and yet, he knows that he needs to be there.

But wait, all isn't lost. Venus is also about to change sign and catch up once again with her lover. By 9th January, 2021, perhaps the planets will finally align for our star crossed lovers. Not only will there be a nice earth trine, they are both in mutual reception; Venus is in Mars' exaltation and while Mars may still feel some annoyance towards Venus in his detriment, the trine will go a long way to soften the mood and put their sorry past behind them. Another saving grace for this trine is Venus' inclination to act in a cardinal sign (action), while Mars has the staying power in the fixed.

There is also a hidden interplay between Rhett and Scarlett (for want of a better example) I haven't included, which is Antiscia.  If, by any chance, my dear reader, you have made it this far and read the linked article, I'm glad.  The crux of antiscia is the glue which binds people and situations together.  In the case of these two, it would've occurred several times during this ongoing saga, reminding the both of them that they have unfinished business.

So much for the original question of sextiles!  During this narrative, I note that with all the other aspects going on, there's no sextile until I really don't know when at this point, because this crazy dance between our two dysfunctional love birds continues well into 2021, before they may finally decide to live together when they're in conjunction on 13 July 2021.  The conjunction is when they're both in the same house, the best aspect of all.  Do they finally get married?  Does the Sun, who rules Leo where they both are, bless this union?  Ha, that's another novella for another time!  The final matter I will add is how the 1st January, 2020, was the day of Venus.  Will this day carry over for the rest of the year, let alone the entire decade?  Who knows?


Buckle up folks. It's going to be a most bumpy ride on the romance front!  Wassail!

Winter Solstice

 Southern Hemisphere Pagans

It's certainly been some time between blog posts!  In my part of the world, Winter Solstice is upon us once more.  I'm not normally a fan of this time of year in the lead-up to it, because it is more darkness than light and I feel a certain sadness with it.  As an Astrologer, I also get the feeling that my planetary alignments in the mutable signs of Pisces, Gemini and Virgo highlights these feelings, because of their hard aspects in my chart.


While I hope for this blog post to be relatively short and sweet, I feel compelled to write about what today means to me - especially this year.  After the last three years of incredible hardship, I'm now ready to steer myself towards a better mindset in pursuing the life I deserve to enjoy.  And what better way to do it than to bury this difficult period on the darkest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere!  I will provide an offering to my Gods and Ancestors in thanks, and I'm also heading off to a Winter Solstice evening at Maitland, where they're holding a bonfire, performing acts, food and fireworks afterwards.  The Sun is now making its move through the zodiacal sign of Cancer, reaching it's most northerly point at the Celestial tropic of Cancer line, before heading south and revealing the light to us again. 

The picture I've posted is a favourite of mine and the link above it is for where it can be found.  The Norns - Wyrd Sisters - make their presence known to me every day, especially now that I'm older and have more to look back on.  Today is about remembering and honouring my past, while leaving behind those people and situations that no longer serve my best purpose.  I'm still finding this, but now I'm more determined to do so.    Whether you're in the Northern (enjoying the longest day) or Southern hemisphere, enjoy the merriment that this special day has to offer!  I know I will be.

Till next time, Was Hael!

As Samhain Approaches

I have been meaning to write on this subject for a long time now.  I can finally lend voice to how I really feel about it all.  Let's face it.  The population majority belong in the Northern Hemisphere.  The Southern Hemisphere has been a relatively recent discovery for settlers and colonisers, although the Indigenous peoples of these lands certainly existed for a much longer time than that.  I digress.  Samhain (Summer's End in Gaelic) is an ancient Celtic practise of honouring our ancestors as the N/H cycle approaches winter, celebrated on 31st October.   Depending on one's spiritual practise, it is called Day of the Dead, Hallowe'en and All Saints Eve.  For the purpose of this blog and my practise, I call it Samhain.  The Americans have made a money making spin out of this by having kids knock on neighbours' homes and say "Trick or Treat".  Unfortunately, not many know the real purpose behind this.  There is a veil between this world and that of the dead.  Trick or treat is meant to derive from ancient times when the living disguised themselves as spirits, tricking the dead into believing that the living were already among them.  You could say it was a form of protection.  See here for more information about this practise.


Seasonal markers are a mirror image and we're approaching summer in the S/H.  To incorporate this seasonal marker, I would be celebrating Beltaine (from the bright god Bel and Gaelic teine for fire), another ancient Celtic practise.  In the N/H, Beltaine is celebrated on 1st May.  Other names are May Day and Walpurgisnacht.  This one celebrates fertility and the marriage of the God and Goddess.  The customs surrounding Beltaine were for the young women and men to find a suitable partner.  If one was lucky enough to find a partner around the time of Beltaine, they would enter into a handfasting.  For a year and a day, these couples would be "married" for this period.  If it all bodes well, a more solemnised commitment is made, otherwise, the handfasting is over and the other partners can move on.  Other celebrations include dancing around a maypole, couples jumping over a fire or broomstick to consecrate the marriage, drinking and other aspects of merriment and - some might say - debauchery.  That's their business.  More on this subject Here.

I have a conundrum in relation to these two celebrations.  On my mother's side, I'm 6th generation Australian, so it would make sense to practise my traditions in accordance with the seasons.  Having said that, my ancestral line is from Europe, in the N/H.  I'm also of the belief that I should be honouring my ancestors from whence they came, in keeping with these traditions.  In moments like these, I feel somewhat displaced.  This stems from my ancestral awareness and all that they knew in relation to their immediate area.  For my ancestors who came to Australia, they have changed this stream from the moment they arrived and because of them, I have come to love and honour these lands and mark the seasons accordingly.  What to do then.  BOTH!  The veil is thinning anyway and I celebrate both the dead and living.  Because this is what Samhain and Beltaine are about.  For me, it's simultaneous, although the precedent is marking the season.

It is an old argument among Pagans with respect to how these markers should be celebrated.  For those who live in the N/H, the lines of demarcation are very clear.  They've never had to change or adapt in such a fashion.  Some hard line S/H Pagans will stick to the seasonal markers and if that works for them, fine.  I know of others who will stick with the N/H traditions and although I find that to be seasonally odd, I can understand why.  Again, that's fine.  I'm not able to do one or the other and nobody is going to make any such demands.  The problem with traditions is - from the S/H perspective - the lines of demarcation are not very clear for Antipodeans like us.  We haven't been here long enough to uphold centuries of traditions which are in keeping seasonally.  This is where Indigenous people are different, because they understand and practise these traditions which have been passed down through millennia.   What I write about has nothing to do with telling other people what they should do.  I simply offer another viewpoint which has taken time for me to feel comfortable with.  The land spirits with whom I commune are happy.  My ancestors are definitely happy!  And at this stage of my life, so am I.  While I have no control over what unfolds in my life, I certainly have a say in how I want to approach it. 

Irrespective of where you are and how you go about your business, have fun and be mindful about what's really important for you during this time of changing seasons.  The tricksters of otherworldly realms are going to, no matter what we think of it all.

Was Hael, until next time!

It's Full Moon Time Again!

Hael to you good folk!  Yes, it's that time of the month again when we experience this common phenomenon that is the full Moon.  To see this is when the sun and moon are at opposing positions in the sky - with the sun setting and the Moon rising.  The exact time of the full Moon varies depending on locality against Greenwich Mean Time (or Universal Time).  For those of us who study Astrology and Esoterica in general, the mood surrounding the full Moon will vary, and here is where we get into the murky waters of archetypes and how we're affected.

For this blog post, I speak as an astrologer.  The current full Moon we're going through is with the Sun in Leo and the Moon in Aquarius.  Now, depending on what is written about this phase - and by whom - full Moons are a special time for magical work.  This is true.  I use the lunar phases to good effect myself, although I like a general overview of what all the planets in our solar system are doing at any given time, especially against my natal chart!

My personal view about full Moons (and other phases for that matter) is what aspects are made against my chart, as archetypes.  I'm not saying that this is what the planets actually do to feel the way I do at various times. I have, however, learned to interpret them as a psychological roadmap to help me better understand what I'm doing and how I'm feeling at a given moment.

I'm writing this blog on the basis that people will do their own research on what the planets and houses mean, even if it's a basic understanding of it.  That's fine!  My purpose is not to explain such complex matters here as they are separate matters altogether.  What I do wish to write about is what's happening in relation to my chart.

To start with, the full Moon axis relates to my third and ninth houses.  I focused on the importance of communications, short travel and immediate community from my third house, as opposed to the importance of long distance travels, study, philosophy and spiritual ventures from my ninth house.  The Moon's aspects with my natal Neptune and Sun are brief, although it was long enough for any spell work I carried out to manifest - with both positive and negative forces to reckon with.

To explain what's already transpired, I have put it out to the local community how I would like the services of a house-sitter, allowing me those rare chances of going away and knowing that my house and pets are in safe hands.  I was also quite specific about the sort of person I wanted.  I have, to my great delight, met one lovely young lass who's keen to take it on when I need her, and I've also received positive responses from other interested folk.  What I also took into consideration is how I can either pay it forward or return the favour by helping those folk out when similar needs arise.  Effective communication at work already and a win-win situation all round. 

I'm also currently studying a bachelor of arts at my local university, heading towards a History major.  It allows me to expand and broaden my horizons in ways that I haven't considered before, and meeting others of like mind.  When I have felt stumped, I have been pointed in the right direction.  Likewise, I've also lent a hand to others who have felt the same way.  Have I mentioned how brilliant Astrology is, when we utilise its use in such a way?

Whatever else transpires in the long term is not what I foresee just yet, although I've certainly been given a nudge in the right direction.  Magic is a series of exchanges.  It's never about what we want for ourselves exclusively - the consequences are more far-reaching.  If we stop to consider how our actions and deeds affect others, a more positive result is sure to follow.  So, we may as well get it right from the outset.

For the established and novice astrologers alike, being aware of what can be achieved by doing this sort of spell-work can be very rewarding - even if what we want doesn't exactly go according to plan, because that's how life is.

And now for something completely different - to coin a Monty Python phrase.  Let's add some Numerology to the mix!  Today, as I write this, is the 8th August 2017.  To give a breakdown of these numbers is 8 + 8 for the day and month.  So far, we add to 16.  Then for the year, we add 2 + 0 + 1 + 7, which adds up to 10.  Now we add 16 + 10 = 26.  26 has to be broken down to a single figure to give us the final number with which we work today.  And the extremely lucky number so happens to be 8! 

There are already two 8s, representing the day and month.  The year's final number is 1.  For the purpose of this blog, I will explain these two numbers only at this point (2 and 7 will be explained later).  The number 8, in its positive, is the number of good fortune, solid business and other foundations, power and recognition.  In its negative, we see authoritarianism and exploitation of power, faulty business and other shonky foundations.  The planet Saturn is connected to the number 8, so how we utilise our power is very important.  This number has a three-fold quality in its intensity.

The number 1, in its positive, is the number of the go-getter, new beginnings, and an emphasis on solo projects manifesting.  It's expansive and giving.  Putting one's best foot forward and getting noticed are also of importance.  In its negative, we see egocentricity, a need to be seen and noticed at the expense of others.  Self-centredness at its worst, basically, so utilising this number wisely is also important.  The number 1 is associated with the Sun, which, interestingly, rules Leo - where the Sun is at this very moment!

To briefly touch on the other two numbers, we have the number 2, first of all.  Its connection to the Moon is of a watery element and is considered to be feminine against its masculine counterpart, the Sun. The number two is about partnerships, using one's intuition and nurturing in its positive.  The negative is neurosis and a withholding of affection and nourishment.  The Moon rules Cancer astrologically so we see this pull between fire and water as archetypes.

The final number is 7, and a magical number in its own right.  Although not particularly extrovert, its deep and thoughtful, compassionate in its positive.  The negatives are hypersensitivity and escapism.  Depending on whether the traditional or modern planets are used, Jupiter and Neptune are both assigned to the sign of Pisces.

To summarise, it's easy to get carried away by what's considered interesting information - especially when there's a New Age spin to it.  While I could be thrown in the same basket, I have done my level best to offer a more pragmatic explanation in regards to what I believe is happening with and around me at the moment.  Take the time to look more deeply in the ways of Occult and Magic.  Make up your own mind about what works for you.  If you feel that any writer hasn't sufficiently explained a matter to your satisfaction, take note of it.  It's called listening to your instincts.

Till next time, Wassail!