Monday, October 22, 2007

Single Blog theory

Having 2 identical blogs is getting... confusing!

Back to the single-blog, which is at:

http://blog.artcharts.com/

Come visit!

in Love&Light,
Lauren

Thursday, October 18, 2007

First Quarter Moon: determined for success

Friday, October 19 (4:33 am edt) the Moon and Sun are exactly square, forming the First Quarter Moon.

The Moon is in Capricorn. The Sun is in Libra. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn; Libra is ruled by Venus. Again, we see Venus and Saturn making a connection.

So where are you? What have you learned that you can APPLY it effectively in the world to achieve goals? With Mercury Retrograde (at 5 Scorpio 36) at this First Quarter Moon, take the time to keep looking until you feel you've reached an honest assessment.

Saturn, ruler of the Capricorn Moon, has been conjunct Venus (ruler of the Libra Sun) in early Virgo and both Saturn and Venus are at the Mercury/Mars midpoint -- and making helpful sextiles to both Mercury and Mars. Do not underestimate the value of a good plan to achieve your desires. You may be feeling lots of determined, positive energy, but to be effective, you need to know what to DO with it. Saturn's energy is constricting, yet it guides by setting limits and creating boundaries so you can focus on what you WANT to do.

Before you can make decisions, you have to be clear. What DON'T you want? What DO you want?

Taking responsibility for your choices is daunting, but if you're NOT willing to take responsibility for the choices you make, or aware that you have a choice, you can find yourself manipulating others to take responsibility for your decisions. It's always someone else's fault. Realizing the serious weight of responsibility can be overwhelming. Yet, if you don't take it on, you can feel victimized because others are making the important decisions for you.

Making a commitment DOES restrict how much time and energy you can put into other things, yet by putting your attention on what you choose and select, Saturn's restrictions can be opportunities to concentrate, make progress, get closer to a goal, all themes of Saturn energy.

While Mercury is Retrograde and exactly sextile Saturn at the First Quarter Moon, you may reflect on your goals and get clear about the steps you need to take to achieve them. Information may be hidden and hard to access, especially until the Sun-Mercury conjunction at 0 Scorpio (on Oct 23), but don't let that stop you! After the Sun-Mercury conjunction (the "inferior" conjunction) you may be able to access deeper information than you have recently, IF you are ready to look behind the scenes, under the covers, and beyond what your ego wants you to acknowledge.

Message of the First Quarter Moon: this is THE perfect time to get organized. Sort it out, write it down, think it through, again. And if you're still not sure, there's something you're missing, so do it again.

Once you know what to do, there can be opportunities to move ahead, but the strong Venus influence of this chart reminds us that it helps to be KIND. Being considerate can persuade even the most sensitive or difficult person.

But what's the problem with pressing your point when you KNOW you are right? Aren't you justified??! Yes, if you want to spend your energy holding on to being right.

Why do we need to be RIGHT? To prove our self-worth. When you need to be right to prove your self-worth, or for you ego's sake, the message your are broadcasting -- to yourself and others -- is that you're only worth something IF you are right. Feeling and believing that "you're only worth something IF you are right" is a belief that leads to unhappiness and negative feelings about yourself that can radiate out and touch everyone and everything you contact. What if feeling worthless causes bad feelings-- not because it's true, but because it is NOT true. And spreading bad feelings makes it worse, and worse.... So why not spread good feelings, because you really ARE worthy. That would be a strong positive statement that would empower you, which also radiates and vibrates.

in Love&Light,
Lauren

ps, if you benefit from the 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:-)

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Making this workweek work

Continuing on with the Venus-Saturn conjunction theme, because the sky is not letting it drop...

Venus is quickly approaching the current Mercury-Mars trine by making a sextile to Mars and Retrograde Mercury (on Tuesday 10/16), while Retrograde Mercury and Mars form a perfect trine before dawn on Wednesday (10/17). With the Nodes, this forms a KITE formation, which is a Grand trine and a sextile to one of the points [Mars in Cancer trines North Node in Pisces trines Mercury in Scorpio and both Mars and Mercury sextile the Venus-SNode-Saturn conjunction in Virgo]. The KITE pattern is a symbol for supreme success. This is about figuring out the details for your greatest success.

You may see what you want, and you may want to go for it. Yet, making a decision can bring up endless details to figure out. If you allow that to change your mind or "awfulize" a situation until there is no way out, you can talk yourself into a negative spiral. This is about focusing on the positive by watching where you place your attention.

What about success and abundance challenges your beliefs about your routine and work?

How can you look at the feedback you're receiving to turn things around in your favor?

If something is in your way, talk it out, write it out, journal it out-- argue it out if you have to. And with the air cleared, you may be able to figure it out.

in Love&Light,
Lauren

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Manifesting Love: the conjuntion of Venus and Saturn

Love is a teaching, and you're ready for the lesson.

Venus and Saturn are making a conjunction in early Virgo. What makes this reunion all the more powerful is that Venus Retrograde (this summer) gave us 3 Venus-Saturn conjunctions. This is the 3rd and last time.

A commitment you didn't feel ready, willing, or able to make earlier this Summer may seem like the right thing to do this Fall. It's a good time to get serious about a relationship.

The astrology books caution that Venus conjunct Saturn inhibits affection and can act as a barrier to love. Yet, committed relationships do create an exclusive club and form a barrier by their very nature. Yet, ongoing relationships can get an energy renewal [as Mercury and Mars form a trine to each other and sextiles to the Venus-Saturn conjunction]; guidance or reading can help you understand each other better so you can relate reasonably. When you approach a relationship as 2 people who are accountable for themselves AND responsible to the relationship, you can reach a renewed level of appreciation for the ongoing love you share-- no matter how you decide to proceed.

All relationships count, and business relationships can also mature now as you coordinate with a partner to plan for the future. Don't hideout-- get socially organized; work your social networks.

The conjunction of Venus and Saturn in Virgo can make learning more enjoyable, especially if it can help you to earn more from your profession. If there's a subject you're attracted to, take opportunities to learn in more depth. When you love your subject, even the most technical details are fascinating now.

If you can create a barrier to negative judgments, your passionate commitments can give you plenty of energy to enjoy an active and enlightening weekend.

Put feeling good first on your agenda and enjoy!

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:-)

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Libra New Moon: Slow dancing

[ArtCharts Express] InspiredAstrology Newsletter

::: New @ ArtCharts.com :::
now blogging at:
http://blog.artcharts.com/
http://artcharts.blogspot.com/
inspired astrology at myspace

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[ArtCharts Express] New Moon edition

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Jupiter squares Uranus: October 8
Libra New Moon: October 11 @ 1:01 am edt
Mercury Retrograde: October 12 @12:00 am edt


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Libra New Moon: Slow dancing

The New Moon in Libra, the sign of the scales, is the time to create balance.
When you are in balance, you can harmonize with others and enjoy your relationships. Whether you are relating to a person, a pet, something you are doing, or a work of art, you are relating and creating balance and harmony, using the appropriate words, images, colors, tones, gestures, feelings.


To create harmony with others, you need to be diplomatic and able to compromise. If you focus on keeping the peace, your own needs can become less of an issue and you may even overlook something personally important to avoid conflict. There is also a balance between compromising until you lose your integrity and being yourself at all costs.

At the time of the New Moon, the Sun and Moon are conjunct in Libra. Libra is ruled by value-conscious Venus. And Venus is making a semisquare to the Sun and Moon and a conjunction to Saturn-- all of this can heighten any gap that exists between what you want and the habits you enjoy that keep you from achieving it.

On this Libra New Moon, Venus conjuncts cautionary Saturn, while Mercury is stationing Retrograde in Scorpio (and will Retrograde back into Libra on October 23, also the day the Sun enters Scorpio). The message is slow down. Something needs to be unraveled and it can't be done at high speed.

How do we get OUT of balance? By letting the opinions of others limit our reality. And we let ourselves be limited so we can remain at a familiar comfort level. No wonder we're frustrated! Following someone else's path is a sure way to get lost, or out of alignment with your Self, your flow, your dream.

Seeking approval is a quick way to feel unsettled and lose your balance. If you are (unconsciously) chasing after approval, this New Moon is an opportunity to release that need. If you are always accommodating others to be fair and stable, you're not really keeping the peace or creating balance if YOU are out of balance by only giving and not allowing yourself opportunities to receive. You may create peace and harmony, but also lose personal integrity as you put aside what you KNOW is important so you can satisfy the expectations of another person or society in general.

Libra is ruled by Venus and Venus is conjunct Saturn, so it may not be easy to express your feelings and you can be more calculating than unconditional in your feelings towards friends and lovers. You may be socializing more, but it may be more out of work or obligation than enjoyment.

It may seem that people don't appreciate you. And you may feel that you are not loved for yourself, but for the functions you perform, the financial support you provide, or the work you do. If your commitment to your family usually comes before your career, it can seem that others are far ahead of you.

Releasing the need for approval is a challenge because it means accepting your own less-than-perfect tendencies; your own darkness. It's hard to accept yourself FULLY. You don't always approve of yourself or not all your impulses that are nice or friendly or harmonious, and some are uniquely personal.

Venus and Saturn conjunct in early Virgo can magnify any resistance to love. And affection can be harder to demonstrate. Yet, in Virgo, the message is that being a partner in a happy, fulfilling relationship can be taught and learned.

How do you get clear -- right NOW-- which is the only time there is!? The New Moon (Sun and Moon is trine Neptune and sextile Jupiter. The key is to have a vision. And you can get your vision by meditation, visualization, prayer, creativity, dreamwork, journaling. Let your subconscious have its voice. Open and give yourself inner access, whether that's by listening, feeling, sensing, or visualizing. However it comes to you, be open and let yourself see beyond what seems to be reality. Singing, dancing, and music can help you channel your sensitivity, and talent is NOT necessary (and may hinder the process if you automatically edit your every impulse). You can change your aura by listening to music, and you can get inspired by watching a movie or reading a book.

Pay attention to your feelings, allow them to be present. And then allow yourself to release hurts and forgive, starting with yourself. This can free up energy that is frozen in position by holding onto hurt that causes you pain. There is always something you get from every experience and once you can realize what that is, you can release any hold that experience may have on you. If you can't meditate and release by yourself, guided meditation can help you learn to sit silently with yourself, which can take practice. If you don't have a space that feels sacred and inspiring, this New Moon is the perfect time to create one. It doesn't have to be large, any space will do. It's not the size, it's what you bring to it, the way you decorate and give it personal meaning.

Mercury stationing Retrograde on a New Moon suggests that to get something NEW you may have to rethink something you are obsessing on (Mercury in Scorpio)
This is a message to SLOW DOWN. This is a balancing act that can be done-- slowly.


Thoughts are flying fast. Mercury will trine Mars 2 more times (Retrograde on Oct 17 and Direct on Nov 19), and they are both sextile Saturn (Mercury/Mars=Saturn, or Saturn is at the midpoint of Mercury/Mars). This is the time to use your mental energy to make clear and practical decisions. Libra, the Scales, is about balance. To achieve balance on the scale of this New Moon, you will need to tip the scales slowly and cautiously.

If you are experiencing a lack of energy, feeling stuck, apathetic, ashamed, or embarrassed, afraid, anxious, or depressed, you cannot just instantly expect yourself to move to an ecstatic state of pure joy. But-- just making the slightest push towards feeling better or shifting your perspective slightly can cause a major turnaround this Autumn. You don't need to PUSH, just a PING! of encouragement (New Moon - Sun and Moon sextile Jupiter) is enough to set a positive change of direction in motion.

While Mercury is Rx in Scorpio, we may be trying to figure out major, profound problems we recently raced past. While Mercury stops and travels backwards in Scorpio, we may be anxious about what we are sensing, and not ready to get drawn deeper into understanding a mystery. There are still lessons to be learned before we can dive deeper. Perhaps we don't really know what we want. Or we think about something and immediately negate the possibility that it could happen. During Mercury is Rx in Scorpio we get opportunities to rethink recurring negative thoughts. It's a great time to slow down your thoughts by journaling or meditating.

If you want to release but you are resisting, what new ideas are you resisting? Jupiter square Uranus symbolizes tradition interfacing with new ways of thinking. And since Uranus rules groups, we are not sure the new vision is aligning with tradition in a way that can create a mindset shift-- as a society. Yet old walls and ways are slowly changing and breaking down.

Resistance can even take the form of exuberant enthusiasm. When Jupiter is square Uranus, too much optimism can be unrealistic and encourage you to overdo something, overshoot your goal, thereby missing the mark. Perhaps you think you're best is never good enough, so you continue to work, polish, edit, do more, and more and more and it's still not good enough. You can create your own resistance by continuing to do too much, when your first impulse was fine.

From Libra to Scorpio
The Sun enters Scorpio on October 23


While the Sun transits through Libra, it's time to find balance --- the state when body, mind, emotions are aligned. And once we feel this balance, we are in an aligned state of body, mind, emotion with what we want, or our spiritual purpose. And then we are ready to move into a deeper or more spiritual perspective, which is Scorpio.

Buddha: "don't just DO something, sit there!"

And because nothing is ever perfect or complete, there's more (almost) daily on the ArtCharts AstroBlog


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SECTION 2. Using Astrology for Your Greatest Benefit
Libra is the sign of love and relationships. The New Moon is the time to think about how you relate to others, because this is also the time you can DO something about your relationships. You can change the way you look at others and how you feel about your interactions. How DO you react to insulting or negative comments? To love and affection?


The Love Forecast gives you invaluable insights into how you approach love, using the transits of Moon, Venus, and Pluto. Be ready, because this forecast discusses everything and holds back nothing.

The Relationship Potential Report looks at how you approaching relationships, using your 7th house cusp, or the Descendant to describe your relationship to Relationship. If the same problems resurface in your relationships, it can be invaluable to look at what you expect and what you bring to your relationships.

SECTION 3. Personal Readings
PING! Readings with Lauren: When you're feeling stuck or unsettled, let me give you more awareness of your situation. Sometimes you just need a nudge in the right direction. And then you can start moving towards a more positive and joyous life. Feel the power of your own inner support helping you grow, succeed, and prosper. 45 minute phone sessions -- $47 Click here to make your appointment now! or email Lauren for more info.

Next issue:
Full Moon on October 26: beyond the veil


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Thanks for subscribing. I sincerely hope you are benefitting from the newsletters. We appreciate your purchases. They keep artcharts (me) online and provide you with (my) original content. Thank you all for being here!
in Love&Light,
Lauren


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Monday, October 8, 2007

Mercury is stationing Retrograde: slow down, you move too fast

Mercury is stationing Retrograde.

From October 12 at midnight (edt) for the next 3 weeks (until November 1), Mercury will be apparently (from the Earth perspective) traveling backward in space.

There are many negative thoughts connected with Mercury Retrograde, and while it's true that some of those things can and do happen (purchasing a computer during a Mercury Rx in 2002 resulted in a computer that had to make multiple trips to the repair shop), there's a better way to think about Mercury Retrograde.

During Mercury Retrograde, Mercury, symbolic of our thoughts, stops moving and seems to hang motionless in space and then turn around and go backwards. And Mercury does it gain in 3 weeks when it stations Direct, and again seems to stop and then move forward again, slowly at first.

I've already seen and made data errors, all resulting in things having to be done twice-- AND also resulting in having to make CONTACT and CONNECT with other people. Mercury Retrograde-- especially in Scorpio and Libra-- reminds us that we need to CONNECT, to others and to our self.

When Mercury is Retrograde, it's time to SLOW DOWN. Our thoughts have been racing (as Mercury speeds up ahead of the Sun) and we are not thinking in the present, we are somewhere in the future. We forget to make essential connections when our minds are racing. And with Mercury in Scorpio, we make snap judgments, creating more interference in our minds.

How can you slow your mind and make the connections that are important, perhaps sacred. When you're going too fast, you can't stop to connect to much. You can keep collecting, talking, and reading bits and headlines, but it's hard to concentrate and learn anything in depth when you're always on the move for more.

During Mercury Rx through Scorpio and Libra, find ways to slow your mind. Talk about what matters. Just be with yourself, observe how what you put your attention on becomes more clear.

What are you missing by rushing all the time? Hopefully, you'll find out while Mercury is Retrograde.

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:-)

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Venus emerges from the shadow

It's been a long time, but finally! Venus will enter Virgo on October 8 and emerge from the Retrograde shadow on October 11

As Venus Direct retraces her steps back to when she turned Retrograde at 3 Virgo in late July, get ready to act on your recently re-evaluated values.

How does money effect you? How do you think about money? How do you think money changes people? Do you see people with money as being better, happier, or just as miserable?

Some of us have an aversion to money because we see people who have money yet are not happy.

If you enjoy your life as it is, if you wouldn't change much even if you had more money, then you are already living abundantly.

And to the extent that you appreciate the people and things in your life, you are experiencing abundance. We all have Venus somewhere in our chart!

If you are not happy and you get more money, the money and things won't make you happy and can even make you more doubtful-- unless you are already happy. As Venus leaves Leo, it's time to access your own inner self-love. And from that perspective, you can start to make balanced, loving decisions.

Think of some of the positive things in your life. If you can appreciate just a few things you have right now, you already know the feeing of abundance. So you can activate it, ask for more of it, and be ready to receive it!

While Venus is in Virgo, you can refine all the ways you prevent love from being your guide. Focus on learning more about relationships and how to make your relationships more spiritual, connected, and whole. First with yourself, and then with others.

There's all ways more,

in Love&Light,
Lauren

ps, for more on the recent Venus Retrograde, see earlier blogs and newsletters

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:-)

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Begging Naked, a film by Karen Gehres

Let me share the story of the woman who helped me conceive the concept for ArtCharts. I'm still not sure who actually said ARTCHARTS first. It was 1996. She was making shoes, I was thinking about an astrology website. We both painted all the time, and had a duo "band", Flip. What has happened to Elise is disturbing.

A gifted and talented painter, my friend Elise Hill worked as a sex worker; and she brought her creativity to that stage as well. She became HOMELESS about 5 years ago. We watched her slip farther from reality, unable to change her course. Yet, Karen Gehres found a way.

Karen is a filmmaker and friend of Elise. So she made documentary about Elise's life, and it is showing at Film Festivals nationwide. It will be in NYC this weekend (see the Begging Naked myspace page for details), and Woodstock next weekend. And its message is both timeless and timely. And you can view, and purchase, Elise's paintings after the show.

At this point, I don't know if money will change Elise's life. Yet, recognition of her talent can only help her and her audience.

So go see BEGGING NAKED, a film by Karen Gehres.

I'm going to one of the showings at the Woodstock Film Festival.

in LOVE&LIGHT,
Lauren

ps, i include this post because it's personal for me. And also because viewers have told me how "cool it would be" if i were homeless and they could say, "my astrologer is a homeless woman from NYC". I want to share this because that thought is an illusion that can be cleared by watching this film.

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Looking ahead...

I've been writing the next ArtCharts newsletter and realizing the profound and ongoing strength of the coming Jupiter-Uranus square.

Jupiter is approaching a square to Uranus. This is the last time they will square until 2013. This not something that happens every day, so this is a turning point in thought and the general direction of society. But it won't be a direct line to the new paradigm.

Next week there is a New Moon in Libra on the day Mercury stations Retrograde.

These events, occurring as Jupiter squares Uranus, underscore and accentuate the importance of this square.

Times are a-changin', but not effortlessly right now.

More on the newsletter....

So sign up if you haven't already!

in Love&Light,
Lauren

ps, here's a link to subscribe to ArtCharts newsletter

Last Quarter Moon: revealed!

The Last Quarter Moon is powerful-- although it doesn't usually make headlines because it is not visible. At this point in the Moon's cycle, Moonrise is close to midnight, so we rarely see the Moon in the Last Quarter phase.

The Last Quarter Moon occurs when the Moon and Sun are exactly square, or 90 degrees apart (with the Moon approaching a conjunction with the Sun, or the week before the New Moon).

This square is between the Moon in Cancer and the Sun in Libra.

The Moon rules Cancer, so the Moon is strong. Emotions hit home.

And Venus rules Libra. Planet Venus is making a trine to Pluto. This trine is the last of 3 trines, due to the recent Venus Retrograde (see earlier blogs and newsletters); mutual desires that have been growing are becoming even more powerful.

While you'd do anything for a friend, if you don't feel that you are not getting your fair share, your negative emotions can be activated.

There needs to be a balance (Libra) between getting your own desires and needs met, and helping others achieve theirs.

It may help to overlook what you perceive as negativity or competition from others and focus on the warm feelings you share. To do this, you will need to work through feelings of self-doubt. If you let fear and self-pity allow you to feel and act in negative, destructive ways, you can feel even more invisible and slip into the doormat role. Before you give up, shoot yourself in the foot, or slink into obscurity, you have a choice-- what do YOU want to happen?! This is an opportunity to be open and honest, to go beyond the usual superficial level, and heal old wounds. And being open to this process can strengthen and deepen the bonds of love you share.

Share what you love and desire with the ones you love and desire and allow the abundance of joy to empower you today!

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:-)