Sunday, September 30, 2007

It's GO time. What's your plan?

Now that Mercury is in Scorpio and Mars is trine in Cancer, it's clear sailing!

And to make you even more productive, both Mercury and Mars are sextile Saturn.

Message:

There are A LOT of ideas flying around, many of them very energizing. But before you make a move, get grounded, have a direction, and plan well.

That means it's time to make a DECISION!

As you get clear about your goals, the next step will come into focus.

But before you can make a plan and move forward, you need to make a decision. And to honor the choices and commitments you make, you'll need to follow directions and take all the necessary steps.

Since both Mercury and Mars are close to Retrograde stations, the progress you make right now may not be immediately visible, but it is happening. You CAN make VERY real progress if TRUST your process and put your energy into what you KNOW is your path.

Trust your guidance-- and be prepared to do whatever it takes to make it real.

Once you KNOW your next step-- and you KNOW it because it ENERGIZES you-- the next few months are the perfect time to do more reading and research. Whatever you need to learn is there to access! You only need to make a commitment and stay focused.

Once you know WHAT to do, Saturn at the midpoint of Mercury/Mars advises us to get GROUNDED.

What are the details and exactly HOW will you proceed.

As the SUN trines Moon and Chiron forming a fast-moving GRAND TRINE, you can find on-going inspiration from a mentor and/or teacher.

Timing: this can be felt on a personal level from Sunday night through Tuesday as the Moon (personal feelings) contacts this configuration.

in Love&Light,
Lauren

ps. If you benefit from the free articles on this blog, let me know by buying my absolute favorite gift - an Amazon gift certificate. My email is lauren@artcharts.com Click Here! Thanks:-)

Friday, September 21, 2007

New Season, New Blog Site

We have a new blog site!

The blog goes on at:

http://blog.artcharts.com/

Come visit and blog at inspiredastrology, the new ArtCharts blog.

Let's inspire each other!

in Love&Light,

Lauren

Monday, September 17, 2007

Fall Equinox: getting your balance

Fall Equinox is Sunday, September 23 at 5:52 am edt :: 2:52 am pdt

Fall Equinox is a time of balance.

The Sun is exactly on the Equator creating an exact balance of light and dark.

As the Sun enters Libra, sign of the scales, we are reminded of the importance of balance in our lives.

This Fall Equinox is an opportunity to achieve balance. But there are obstacles.

[Astrology: Mars is opposing Pluto and both are square the Sun just before the Equinox, creating a Mutable T-Square pattern while Mars is moving North by declination and will be out-of-bounds by declination (above 23.6N) from October through late April 2008]

If you continue to carry on power struggles, act out of resentment, or if want something TOO much, you can miss an opportunity to release old tensions and you can carry over negative emotions--that are ready to be released-- into the future. If someone is truly not ready to achieve balance and harmony and continues to speak abusively, move away! This is not the time to stay and continue to argue! You can send love to the person, but doing it from a distance can be more effective.

The belief that you HAVE TO control everything to make progress can be distracting you from doing just that. Once you send out a hope or intention, let your unconscious take care of delivery. If you try to maintain complete control over HOW it will happen, you are giving your subconscious the message that it has no place in your life. And this can block you from access to your intuition and prevent you from attaining your dreams and goals.

Yet, there's hope for peace and love [as the Sun and Venus are in "mutual reception" or, in each other's rulership signs]-- IF you focus on positive people and AVOID what does NOT attract you. That's it. Walk away. If you stay and continue to argue with someone who has no interest in creating peace or living in harmony, you will not be in harmony.

It's time to move forward and continuing to obsess on negative emotions will hold you back this Fall.

Since the Sun and Venus are in mutual reception (Sun in Venus-ruled Libra, Venus in Sun-ruled Leo), any insecurity you hold about being attractive can influence you to purchase whatever makes you feel more attractive. You may NOT be satisfied with people who do not live up to your standards of good looks and prosperity. This need for outside confirmation actually gives your inner self the message that you don't really think you're attractive, so you continue to buy and surround yourself with things and people you hope will make you appear more attractive. Yet, since the feeling of being attractive comes from within, continuing to compare yourself to others will continue to make you insecure about your looks and appeal.

Jupiter is strong in the Equinox chart as it approaches a square to unpredictable Uranus (on the angles on the East Coast, making its effect more obvious). And in Washington, DC, Uranus is directly on the DES and Jupiter is one degree from the IC (4th house cusp, bottom of the chart) on the East Coast). At an EQUINOX, this means action that comes from a positive inner feeling. Weather can be glorious most of the time, with surprisingly wild and possibly severe storms, likely coming up the East Coast.

Jupiter on the IC with Uranus on the DES encourages us to give a partner or ally enough space be their unique self, regardless of how that effects your status or plans, and even if you are surprised or alienated by your partner's actions. There's an opportunity to grow beyond your current comfort level, to open your mind and accept what you previously thought was too wild or unusual or unorthodox. If you can get beyond long-held, traditional beliefs, you can pursue interests and expand your mind. Instead of thinking your partner is being too radical or experimental, being more open to what they are thinking or saying can start to open you to new ideas. And maybe even prosperity. The more you stretch now, the farther you can go.

Digging roots can make you feel happy and abundantly prosperous. Yet, your ideal location may not be convenient for your partner, although it can be a place that is a personal investment for your well-being and prosperity. A solution may be a stretch, but thinking big can push your luck into new more prosperous territory.



in Love&Light,
Lauren

ps, this is so much fun to write and I am so happy that people are enjoying it. To get more from these articles, I suggest purchasing your Fall Forecast from artcharts.com. That keeps you informed and keeps artcharts online. Visit our catalog and check out our full selection of uplifting and beneficial reports and forecasts. Donl't waste another day!

pps. If you benefit from the free articles on this blog, let me know by buying my absolute favorite gift - an Amazon gift certificate. My email is lauren@artcharts.com Click Here! Thanks:-)

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Venus in the shadow

Venus is just starting to move forward in Leo. Yet, she will be in the "retrograde shadow" (the degrees which she retrograded back through) until October 8.

This is when we realize it is us, not them.

We may be learning to be satisfied with our best efforts, no matter how imperfect we think they are. Will you ever feel fully satisfied, fully confident and in command of yourself? We continue to stretch and grow, accomplishing what we never thought possible. Look back a few years and look at you now, would you ever have thought your current life possible?

Yet, achieving your dreamlife may not help your personal growth. Wealth doesn't change your feelings-- unless you work on yourself. Wealth won't give you what you want if you still blame others for your personal situation.

Often, doing everything we "should" to get approval does not result in happiness. All the bad things don't "just disappear." The need for approval makes it seem "normal" to give yourself away, and many of us acquire wealth so we'll be accepted.

Keeping what you don't want away from you is exhausting. You have to keep making sure it's not here, or there. Yet, if you are not looking to anyone to confirm your individuality, you're free.

This is the point of Venus retracing her steps in Leo (Venus is in the retrograde shadow phase, traditionally a time of increased confrontations). We all need to rely on our OWN self, not the opinions of others, which change and have little thought for you or your path.

Instead of letting others determine your course, you have to KNOW you're doing what you need to be doing, and keep doing it. If a criticism bears merit, listen! But if it is based on keeping you "in your place" through control or manipulation, you must disregard it. We are all here for our own special abilities. YOU can only be YOU. And if you accept that someone thinks of you as LESS and therefore you ARE less, you are selling yourself short, you are giving away your self-love, which is your connection to your inner flow, your divinity.

If your inner self depends on what others think of you or how much you own, you are FULLY owned by the whims of others.

in Love&Light,
Lauren



ps. If you benefit from the free articles on this blog, let me know by buying my absolute favorite gift - an Amazon gift certificate. My email is lauren@artcharts.com Click Here! Thanks:-)

Friday, September 7, 2007

Venus stations Direct: Appreciation

Venus is stationing Direct. The Retrograde phase is over (Saturday, September 8).

If you read my newsletter on the Lunar Eclipse***, there was part towards the end about Retrograde Venus opposing Neptune.

Neptune was the Lunar Eclipse ruler (the Lunar Eclipse Moon was in Pisces and Neptune rules Pisces), and Venus is stationing while opposing Neptune. This makes a usually low-impact transit into a powerful influence.

What expectatons do we have? And how do we get disappointed? While we're focusing on what's missing or unclear, we miss the gifts and miracles that are RIGHT THERE.

Appreciation actually makes you happy. When you show your appreciation, your inner love opens.

How does this magic happen? YOU allow it to happen when you focus on the intention of doing something kind for another person.

We expect negative comments and criticism, yet we squirm when someone appreciates us.

We are hung up on the negative things we KNOW people think. We focus on them constantly and think it's more real than the appreciation.

How DO you receive gifts? Do you throw them away or do you appreciate them? When someone gives you a gift, do you say, "what a piece of junk?" Probably not. You probably say, "thanks." You may even treasure it.

When you neglect to appreciate and thank others, you negate their gifts and you ultimately deny yourself. Showing appreciation makes EVERYONE involved feel happier. Especially if you accept gifts in the spirit they are given, and decide if and when you want to repay a favor.

How DO you show appreciation? Start with yourself. Acknowledge your own accomplishments. Appreciate who you are, it doesn't have to be perfect, just you, right now, have something to appreciate about yourself. We are taught that acknowledging our good points is "blowing our own horn" which we think is arrogant. And it is arrogant when our bravado is based on (unconscious) fears. Yet, acknowledging appreciation for ourselves adds to our self-esteem.

Self-esteem is a good thing!

in Love&Light,
Lauren

ps. *** if you subscribe to artcharts newsletter and you missed earlier editions, you can still read everything! At the end of every newsletter there's a link "Read our messages as an RSS feed". If you click that link, you will find all previous newsletters.


ps. If you benefit from the free articles on this blog, let me know by buying my absolute favorite gift - an Amazon gift certificate. My email is lauren@artcharts.com Click Here! Thanks:-)

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Mars in action

Mars is in the astrological hot seat.

Astrologically, transiting Mars is currently square the Sun (Sept 17) and square Uranus (Sept 3) and opposing Jupiter (Aug 23). Mars will square the coming Solar Eclipse (Sept 11, 2007) on September 6. Events can be frustrating, even infuriating, or even explosive. You can get really hot, physically and emotionally.

How are you wired for an energy surge? Will you let yourself have a tantrum or will you be productive?

Mars in the horoscope generates heat. Emotionally, heat creates passion. Physically, heat creates inflammation.

Mars transforms desires into passion. A strong Mars arouses our WILL, giving us the energy to act and get our needs met-- now, not later.

When we use our passion to assert our will, sometimes aggressively, we may not be giving much thought to how others will react to the force we are exerting.

Why are we using force? To control others so we can get our needs met.

When we use control strategies to get what we want, it often doesn't work. Probably unconsciously, or by default, we often use approval/disapproval to control the other people. By withdrawing approval, we (try to) maintain control and get what we want from others.

With Mars so strong in the chart now, our patience can be pushed to a breaking point, increasing the feeling of urgency to get our needs met--- NOW! Or.....? Yet, it's a choice: accept others for what they can give, or reject people who don't give in a way that is exactly what you wanted.

Mars in Gemini in the hot seat (part of a Mutable Grand Square) can be distracting energy. There are so many things (large and small) competing for your immediate attention, you can easily get disorganized and not accomplish much. Everyone can feel like they have ADD.

First, do whatever you can to slow your thoughts. Breathe, meditate. Once you are refreshed, trust yourself. You will know exactly what to do next. And you'll have the energy and the ability to communicate in a way that motivates instead of manipulates. Then your desires can be met.

in Love&Light,
Lauren



ps. If you benefit from the free articles on this blog, let me know by buying my absolute favorite gift - an Amazon gift certificate. My email is lauren@artcharts.com Click Here! Thanks:-)

Thank you

This is to express my gratitude to both people who gave me gift certificates to amazon.com, my favorite gift!

Amazon does not give me your email address so i cannot thank you personally. But i thank you!

To keep my mind lively and my writing of interest, i read! Every day. I have actually read the nearly 1000 astrology books i own (yes, some need to be recycled:). I was just out of new books, rereading old ones that felt new again. Yet, i have some ideas to research. So i thank you.

The next edition of the ArtCharts Newsletter is coming along, i've figured out the message of the Solar Eclipse, which doesn't necessarily make this newsletter easier to write! If you haven't signed up for the newsletter, do it soon (there is no charge to you). I'm planning to send it before the Eclipse next Tuesday morning (September 11 at 8:44 AM EDT).

Click to sign up for artcharts newsletter

This blog will move as soon as we can update all our links. I'll post when it moves and give you the link.

Make this a great day!

in Love&Light,
and with great gratitude,
Lauren



ps. If you benefit from the free articles on this blog, let me know by buying my absolute favorite gift - an Amazon gift certificate. My email is lauren@artcharts.com Click Here! Thanks:-)