Crossing the drylands. © Osk Ingad Alden, 2012.
I find myself wondering how children are experiencing time right now. I have a feeling it may be different than the adult concept of time. For us, opening up to an expanded view of time and space is harder. Not only have we been conditioned to view time a certain way, but we have to grow new neural pathways in our brains.
There are lots of theories out there on how to do this. Personally, my experience is that certain activities promote the growth of new neural pathways, including learning a musical instrument and studying the Tarot. During my interview with Laura Nalbandian for The New Astrologers, she told me that she believes learning astrology is another way to do it. I have to agree. Maybe that’s why readers of RealAstrologers are such a smart bunch.
Speaking of The New Astrologers, I worked with three different templates this week to create a new website. The first was a free WordPress theme, just to get something online. But you really have to have the bells and whistles these days to make an impression, so I bought a theme I thought would work, only to discover that basic functions were supposed to have been built in required additional programming. Maybe if I’d waited until Mercury goes into Virgo this week, I wouldn’t have blinked. But he’s been in Leo, so I was a little more demanding and bought a lovely new theme with a flashy full-screen video homepage. The site is still a work in progress, but let me know what you think and whether you like it better than last week’s version.
In other news this week, I finally got time to see my doctor, who says I’m suffering from adrenal fatigue – hardly a surprise, she said, given that I’ve been doing the work of three people with almost no rest. Moreover, she told me that everyone who comes to see her right now is completely stressed out. It’s not an easy time for the human species, and the stress isn’t going to be alleviated anytime soon, not with Uranus and Pluto in a conflicting square through 2015. The doctor’s advice was to prop myself up the best I can and get through this period, keeping in mind that the more I try to do in a depleted state, the longer it’s going to take to recover. I mention this not for sympathy, but because I suspect many of you are in a similar state.
Click on image to enlarge
The Sun and Moon also are in positive aspect to Mars in Scorpio. Before Pluto was discovered in 1930, Mars was considered the ruler of Scorpio, so there is reinforcement here not only for a breakdown and breakthrough, but the means for you to take action. The trick with Mars, of course, is that he’s the ego planet. When you put ego and power together, you have to be quite careful to make sure you’re acting for the “highest good” and not just to further your own selfish goals. I would add (as I often do) that you may need to stretch beyond your current beliefs, including your political and religious beliefs. This is going to be an increasing theme over the next three years.
The Moon also conjoins Chiron, which recently completed a conjunction of several years with Neptune. It’s becoming more evident to me that for some people, healing requires delving into what I call “other lives.” That’s why it’s so important that we learn to see into other dimensions. Many of the wounds we carry in our energy fields extend beyond this incarnation, and before we can heal, we need to understand what’s going on outside what we deem to be “reality.” This is the watery realm of Neptune and Pisces, along with the shadow world of Pluto and Scorpio. It can be scary territory, to be sure; it’s also what the age-old story of the journey to the underworld is all about.
Adding to the intensity and the theme of transformation, the lunar North Node leaves Sagittarius on Thursday and sits at 29 degrees Scorpio as of the Full Moon. The North Node will be in Scorpio until early 2014, covering much of the period of the Uranus-Pluto square. There’s a scientific theory that stress can cause genetic mutations almost immediately, as opposed to the long-term evolutionary process. When we think of Pluto and Scorpio, we usually think of a lengthy transformation process. But Uranus is all about sudden change. It’s not much of a stretch to imagine that the pressure we’re under now could indeed create genetic mutations. Of course, you never know what you’re going to get.
As of the Full Moon, Mercury is in late Leo, about to enter Virgo. If, like me, you’re working on a project involving programming or detail-oriented computer work of any kind, this is your chance to speed through lines of code. However, Mercury opposes Neptune on Saturday, which according to conventional interpretations is supposed to be a day of confusion and aversion to detailed work. This could go either way. On one hand, you might find that you get into a zone and can write until the wee hours without realizing you’ve been sitting in the chair all that time. On the other, it might be better to go to bed early on Saturday and keep your dream journal handy to see what comes up. For some people, dreams are the way to access those other dimensions I’ve been writing so much about. The trick – and there’s often one when Mercury is involved – to separate the bits of divine inspiration from the space junk. When we’re in unfamiliar territory, it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s the product of an overly active imagination.
Wishing you all much love and courage – and some rest, too, if you can get it,
Pat
RealAstrologers 
Your new web site looks awesome, and what a great way to show off your work! I’ve also been looking at revamping my web site from the ground up, and was lost until I saw the yet to be relased WordPress Theme Twenty Twelve at http://twentytwelvedemo.wordpress.com/
Adrenal fatigue feels a lot like post traumatic stress, it’s once you stop that it really catches up with you. In my case, my deep lesson was to learn to listen to all of me, including my emotions and my intuition.
Everyone’s journey is different and taking time out for the soul is not as easy as it sounds in this speeded up time… be gentle with yourself.
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Thanks, Eva! The free WP theme looks pretty nice — clean.
You’re right about the adrenal fatigue. It started catching up with me the week after I finished film school. The French call this a “contrecoup.”
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Dear Pat,
Forgive me if I’m about to sound like a therapist. I’ve been wanting to say this for a while, and now I really must. I’m an expert on burnout – managed to get really ill for several years. Don’t do it!!! Adrenal fatigue can lead to chronic fatigue if you’re not careful. This is a warning that must be acted upon. It’s time to prioritise and pare down. For instance, I know that bullet points are not your style, but a basic list of main transits and implications would keep us going. I for one would be happy knowing you would be getting an extra 3 hours’ sleep and keeping your health intact. Don’t even apologise for that – do what you gotta do. Bottom line, we have to look after ourselves FIRST if we are to be any use to anyone else. How many of the “must dos” can you realistically not do for a while without any dire consequences?
Secondly, the list of disasters, delays, setbacks and struggles have become almost a mantra, effectively asking the Universe for more of the same. (Easily done, we’ve all been there.) My suggestion is to not even mention or acknowledge such things, but say to yourself and the Universe that everything is flowing smoothly just as you would like it to be (now, in the present) and see what happens :)
Then of course, there’s the law of diminishing returns, which especially applies to workaholics.
I speak from experience when I say: never underestimate the importance of knowing when to stop!
I hope that helps! Sending thoughts of fluffy pillows & sweet dreams :)
Pip1
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Thanks, Mom. I have a wonderful doctor, trained both in allopathic and naturopathic medicine. So please don’t worry, Pip. I am in good hands. :-)
I actually have dropped a few big activities, but the weekly forecast is on my “must” list. As is making my new documentary. And filmmaking is hard work, no question.
As for the delays and setbacks, that is part of the human process. The fact is, we do struggle when we really want something. That is what the ancient tale of the Hero’s Journey is all about. Sometimes you get beat up, but you have to pick yourself up and keep going — or, if you prefer, you can give up.
During this period of the Uranus-Pluto square, there is going to be a lot of breakdown/breakthrough. It will not be easy or comfortable, so I’m not going to write a sugar-coated post to make everyone feel better. Anyone who wants that approach will have to look elsewhere. In occult practice, Scorpio represents the transformation that happens as part of the struggle. I know that many people don’t like to hear that but would rather think along the lines of “The Secret,” where all you have to do is visualize what you want and poof — it appears right before eyes. That level of manifest-ability is possible, but not until after you’ve gone through the tempering process. That is what the alchemists did, the result being the “philosopher’s stone,” or subliminated ability to manifest.
I will concede that my work is not for everyone. I’m here mostly for those who are on the path who want to understand the energy currents they are riding on. Sometimes being “in the flow” means shooting the rapids. Or it can mean being on a sea of glass with no wind at your back. I try to help my readers and clients understand and use the currents.
That it’s hard and demands a lot of me is no excuse not to do what I’m here to do.
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Don’t get me wrong – I’m a big fan ;) I love that you give us the technicalities and analyse so broadly. I don’t know of anyone else who puts the pieces together in such a way, with mythology, theories of space and matter, E.T.s, bendy time etc. And I’m grateful for all your hard work, because it has led to a great leap in my understanding of astrology as well as being able to better navigate the prevailing waves.
All I’m saying is that if anything has to be compromised, it should not be health ;)
I certainly agree that the difficult times in life are the ones with the greatest lessons.
How much can we or should we control? Karma vs. law of attraction? Planetary influence vs. free will? Other lives affecting current incarnation? These seem to be very prominent just now amongst the questions we are being collectively challenged to resolve.
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Pat, I agree with Pip. You’re very good at what you do, so do take care! :)
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