Pele Report

Big Week Ahead – Day 581

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Photo: L. Weikel

Big Week Ahead

We have a big week ahead astronomically and astrologically. Our week is going to culminate with the Solstice (Summer in the Northern Hemisphere, Winter in the Southern) and a Solar Eclipse.

Technically, for those of us on the East Coast of the U.S., the Solstice will occur at 5:43 p.m. on Saturday, June 20th, 2020. Of course, for us here in the Northern Hemisphere, the Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year, and is considered the first day of summer. Conversely, it will be the shortest day of the year and considered the first day of winter for those living in the Southern Hemisphere.

The solar eclipse will occur at 2:41 a.m. EDT on Sunday, June 21st. Obviously, due to time zone differences, some areas will be able to say these two significant events will be taking place on the same day (Friday the 20th).

Regardless of whether they technically fall on the same calendar day, the significance is that they’re taking place only six hours apart. In cosmic timing, that’s nothing; and the confluence of these events will undoubtedly be powerful and have long term and far-reaching effects.

Some Links

I’ll probably write about this again in the next few days and provide you with some interesting links to perspectives on what you might encounter this week on a mental, physical, emotional, or spiritual level. For instance, Kaypacha’s Pele Report for June 10th (which takes us into the middle of the coming week) gives us some insight into what the entire world is confronting – as well as some helpful suggestions for what we might want to focus on to learn more about ourselves and how to navigate through it.

As I come across other interesting perspectives, I’ll share them with you. If you take the time to read or listen to them, notice what aspects resonate with you. Simply recognizing how the ‘big picture’ of what’s going on in the sky is affecting how people are acting here on Earth can be remarkably soothing. Even when we’re living through hellacious experiences, having even the inkling that there’s a much grander scheme at work influencing the way people are reacting, etc., can give us the perspective we need not to take it all too personally.

Different for Everyone

While these planetary aspects are obviously affecting all of us – it’s important to realize that they tweak us all in different ways because of the unique location the planets were in at the time of our birth (our ‘birth charts’). Where they were located in our chart when we were born dictates where they are now (in our unique charts) as they make their journeys around the sun.

Into the Weeds

It’s funny. When I started this post this evening, it was my intention to pick a couple of cards for us to focus upon and use for guidance as the week unfolds. It feels important for us to engage in some reflection as we approach the solstice and eclipse because, chances are, some big stuff is coming our way. Clearly, though, I got lost in the weeds of astrology again.

We’re in the midst of major upheaval and transformation. We can either go through it consciously or have it broadside us and send our lives into even more disarray than we’ve encountered already this year. Given the choice, I’m always interested in navigating life’s storms with as many maps and tools as possible.

Obviously, instead of just choosing a couple cards and talking about them, I wanted to explain why I felt it was important to for us to be especially aware right now. But alas, I’ve run out of time.

Stay tuned. Tomorrow’s another day.

(T-530)

Retrograde – Day 549

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Maple Seeds; Heart’s desire? – Photo: L. Weikel

Retrograde

There’s a lot of astrological activity occurring this week that you’re probably already feeling on one level or another. I know I am. Perhaps most significant in my mind is the fact that Saturn went retrograde on Sunday, Venus went retrograde on Tuesday, and Jupiter is going retrograde tomorrow (Thursday, May 14th).

I’m pretty sure I’ve provided an elementary explanation of what it means for a planet to station and then go retrograde. It’s all in our perspective which, when you think about it, is so true of practically everything in life. In this case, though, a planet going retrograde means that, from our perspective on Earth, it looks like a planet is stopping in its orbit around us (stationing) and then appears to be moving backwards.

As I say, this is all an optical illusion based on our perspective from here on Earth. It all has to do with the length and pace of a planet’s orbit around the sun vis-à-vis the Earth’s orbit.

Different Influences

Nevertheless, as we are complex creatures influenced by a myriad of factors that we often aren’t consciously aware of, including the moon, sun, and planets, it can be a deeply powerful time of reflection and change when they go retrograde.

Most people have heard one thing or another about Mercury going retrograde. Because Mercury is closest to the sun and is the planet that moves most rapidly in its orbit, it’s the one that’s discussed most often. When Mercury goes retrograde, an occurrence that happens four times a year, I believe, the length of time it is appearing to move backward is about three weeks.

When the larger planets go retrograde, their periods in that state happen less frequently and are longer in duration, although they vary. The thought is that the influence of the larger planets is generally more profound and long-lasting.

As I’ve written about a number of times over the past year and a half, the planet Mercury is associated with communication and electronics, to name two of the most common factors influenced by that planet. Obviously, then, when Mercury goes retrograde, there are certain activities that are enhanced during that time, such as editing and going over details with a fine-toothed comb.

Not Mercury

When Saturn, Venus, and Jupiter go retrograde this week (joining Pluto, which went retrograde at the end of April), we are called upon to stop our relentless efforts at moving forward or maintaining the status quo. Instead, we’re asked to take time to reflect upon and really take stock of those aspects of our lives (or the life of the society we live in, or the country, etc.) that are associated with that particular planet. We’re asked to decide what is working for us in those areas – and what we need to release or surrender.

For instance, Venus has to do with our values, our ways of earning a living, what we hold dear, the things or aspects of our lives that mean most to us. When Venus goes retrograde, we’re called upon to reflect on just exactly what we value most. What we can live with losing. Who we are if we lose what we value.

As you know, I enjoy the work of Kaypacha and I like to listen to his weekly Pele Reports. He knows his astrology – particularly evolutionary astrology – and he translates it into information I can apply to my own life. I recommend you give this week’s Pele Report (for May 13th) a listen. The interplay of each of these planets going retrograde and what and how they influence us is fascinating. And the application of these influences to what the world is experiencing right now is fascinating and provides an abundance of food for thought.

Just planting the seeds for all our growth…

(T-562)

Cycles – Day 537

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Illuminated Willow – Photo: L. Weikel

Cycles

I’m sitting here in my usual spot on our couch. Our front door is open and I can hear a powerful wind whipping through the tops of the 30’ pines across the road. The huge stand of trees is actually dying out, much to the relief of my sinuses, which have been dearly taxed by the pollen that’s wafted from these trees for decades. The quantity of now barren branches of these huge sentinels makes me sad nevertheless. I’m reminded, of course, that everything in life comes down to cycles.

Everywhere we look in our lives, cycles prevail. Indeed, our lives themselves are ultimately the cycles that both drive and haunt us at the same time.

Some cycles are much greater than a simple human life; and by that I mean they play out over periods of time measuring much longer than even the longest of human lives. And of course there are other cycles that begin and end in the blink of an eye.

Endings and Beginnings

Of course, if we’re talking about cycles, then surely we must consider beginnings and endings. Endings and beginnings. We really can’t have one without the other because nothing lasts forever, except eternity, I suppose.

Pine trees have life cycles, as do maples and dogwoods, sycamores and weeping willows.

Recently, while I feel they’ve been staring me in the face almost everywhere I turn, I’ve been contemplating a couple of cycles in particular. It’s fascinating to realize just how unwilling we are to let go of the familiar – even when we know it is both time to do so and ultimately for the best.

Global Scale

I am sure that all of us are capable of pointing to half a dozen cycles we’ve taken for granted in our lives that have been completely upended in the past six weeks or so. Cycles we didn’t even realize were cycles – until they were no more.

One cycle that we’re currently experiencing is actually reflected in the stars. Well, the planets, more specifically – an astrological cycle. And the similarities of configurations that were present in 1918 and are occurring once again in 2020 are remarkable.

It seems to me that it’s incumbent upon us all to learn from the past. If we don’t make a point of learning from and evolving as a result of what’s transpired before, won’t we end up finding ourselves just repeating the same patterns, possibly even mistakes, over and over? Wouldn’t we rather evolve? Isn’t that ultimately the point of life?

Check out this latest astrological Pele Report by Kaypacha. There’s a lot of good stuff in it, including similarities of cycles from 100 years ago, as well as links to other sources. The mantra resonated with me right down to a cellular level. Maybe it will with you, too.

(T-574)