Mindful Action

Mars Retrograde

What is a Planetary Retrograde?
From the perspective of Earth a planet appears to stop its forward motion and move backward.
Astrologically speaking the transiting planet has moved over and activated a particular area of your chart and then instead of continuing to move to the next location in your chart it stops and goes back.
What a retrograde does is prolong the time a planet spends in one area of your life and if it happens to activate a point (planet) in your natal chart the effect is stronger. That is why we notice some retrograde periods more than others.

If that activation point happens to be one that creates flow – great. If it is one that creates tension that is also good in that there is an opportunity to grow.

Retrograde periods aren’t good or bad. If a situation (positive or challenging) comes up during a retrograde period usually, when you take the time to reflect, you will see it isn’t new you are simply noticing something that was already present.

Mars is retrograde from June 26th until August 27 at 9˚ of Aquarius → 28˚ of Capricorn. Pay attention to what area of your life was activated throughout May and look at how you can consciously work with taking positive action and/or resolving internal or external conflicts through early October.

Key points to note regarding Mars.

Mars only retrogrades every two years.

Each one of the planets represents a particular type of energy and activity. Mars is the planet associated with a strong assertive, instinctive, outgoing energy. It is connected to instinctive desires and actions taken based on those desires.

The shadow side of the use of a Mars, assertive type of energy is that it typically isn’t a negotiator and can be aggressive, impulsive or rash in its expression. Rashness can lead to accidents or impulsive actions that later are regretted.

Following are a few things to look at during the retrograde period.

1. During the retrograde period notice what area of your life gets highlighted. It is a good time to look at internal and external struggle/conflict.
2. Pay attention to feelings of frustration and find a resolution so frustration doesn’t turn into anger.
3. If a conflict arises question whether you are being assertive or aggressive? If you are feeling angry acknowledge it. If the tension relates to other people when possible, before communicating, first do some type of physical activity to clear your mind and release tension.
4. Be physically active but don’t overdo!!!!!
5. Mindful action is a good use of Mars energy.
6. Remember our old friend karma, in other words, cause and effect.

 

Reflection on the Jupiter Cycle

Astrologically speaking each year has a certain type of flavor to it. There are numerous cycles affecting us at any given time. There are lengthier cycles that create bigger changes that evolve over decades. There are shorter cycles that complete in a year or less.

The longer cycles that evolve over decades impact our societies and the growth or decline of generations of people.

The shorter cycles indicate what we are creating through our day to day actions. We tend to reflect on those at birthdays and year-end.

Jupiter, which relates to personal and collective growth and expansion, is in a particular sign for a year. This means a certain type of energy is emphasized which we see reflected back through public figures, areas of desired growth, projects and themes.

Depending on a person’s level of development, internal and external resourcefulness, self-awareness and worldview we can consciously or unconsciously tap in and use this growth energy.

With Jupiter in Scorpio from October 2017 through October 2018, we need to collectively and personally look at strong emotions, desires, sexual energy, power and what it means to us and repressed or out of control desires.

How do we go about this?

1 Pay attention to our shadow which is the disowned, disallowed gifts or not as acceptable parts of self.

People and situations that passionately (negatively or positively) charge us up, in other words, we have a strong attraction or repulsion for, often gives us clues about our shadow.

If you want to learn more about the shadow one of my favorite books is The Dark Side of Light Chasers by Debbie Ford.

2 Honestly evaluate where you are now (not where you think you are). To get a more accurate read use what you have manifested in your life to act as a mirror.

The realization of “this is where I am now” allows an opportunity to decide whether we are happy with our current state or not.

Chances are we will find that we are happy with parts of our lives and not others. What you are looking for is trapped, emotional energy and unused power or disowned parts of yourselves that haven’t allowed you to get what you want.

3 If you want to be able to honestly look at all that you are you need to give the shaming and guilty parts of self a new job such as the evaluator who determines whether certain types of actions make you feel good or bad. Denying our needs or harming ourselves or others to get what we want will never make us feel good.

Shaming ourselves or another person in order to get them to take responsibility for their actions or to make a change will not work. Those unhealthy or destructive actions/ desires will go beneath the surface and become disowned, disconnected, deranged and distorted.

This is why systems that teach through punishment, guilt, and shame will always be dealing with themes around being in/ out of control which never allows for true growth.

What does work is self-truth and ownership of emotions that are ugly as well healthy. Good and bad exists in all of us denying it means we repress and project it onto someone else.

Let’s talk more about the shadow. Imagine when you were younger (age or awareness) you had a desire for something but whenever you went to act upon it someone (or a group of somebodies) made you feel bad about wanting it, or because of their inability to have it, told you it was impossible.

If someone taught you to feel bad about the desire, or didn’t teach you how to get it without harming another one of two things may have happened. One, you disowned the part of you that had the desire along with any emotion associated with it or two, you used the situation as a catalyst to willfully get what you want.

Those desires were still there but they became part of the hidden you. You still unconsciously acted on them or attracted situations and people that had you come face to face with them.

As we develop we learn to pay attention to our desires even the less noble ones. We identify them and find a healthy way to work with them. When we don’t they become our addictions, health issues, suppressed emotions, false faces and unhappiness.

This year, pay attention to areas of your life where you get into power struggles or areas where you tend to over control. Look at themes regarding the use of sexual energy, money, power.

Question what you want, what you have, and what healthy or unhealthy position you have taken in order to maintain what you have or get what you want.

True growth starts with self-knowledge. The more self-honesty we have the more in charge we are with our darker emotions and desires.

Working consciously with the new moon helps you to be in harmony with nature and your own unique timing and flow.

DID YOU KNOW at the time of a new moon the sun and moon are conjunct meaning they are at the same degree in a particular sign. This is why new moon periods are considered ideal times for starting a project – imagine dynamic and magnetic energy fusing together.

 

The New Moon is on June 13, 2018, at 22°of  Gemini (1: 44 pm MDT) the Full Moon is on June 27, 2018, at 6° of Capricorn (10:54 pm MDT).

 

Scroll down to the end of this article for Sun Sign dates.

Want to learn more about astrology? A new program begins in Summer 2018. It is now easier for out of town students to take the course. For more information go to www.northernstarcollege.com  www.catherinepotter.ca

• The new moon is a good time to set intentions, look for resources and take actions that support growth in the area of your life the new moon falls in.
• Continue to focus and build energy around your projects until the full moon after that re-evaluate and look at where you are with whatever you seeded at the new moon. You should have greater clarity at this point as to what is working or what isn’t. Look at what changes you need to make – after the full moon, the energy begins to wane becoming more reflective.

How to work with the cycles:

If you don’t know your ascendant read the description based on your Sun sign (month you were born) please see Sun Sign dates at end of the article.

If you know your ascendant/rising sign read the description for the house the new moon falls in according to your ascendant. (to determine ascendant you need to know the time of day you were born).

Please remember this is not a complete picture of all the cycles taking place in your life. Have Fun!!!!!   Interested in  studying astrology or booking an astrological or hypnotherapy session call or email Catherine at 780 447-3667  catherinepotter@shaw.ca

Following is a list of where the June new moon falls and a few ideas on how to work with it.

Aries Sun/Rising: Read keywords and suggestions for # 3

Taurus Sun/Rising: Read keywords and suggestions for #2

Gemini Sun/Rising: Read keywords and suggestions for #1   

Cancer Sun/Rising: Read keywords and suggestions for #12

Leo Sun/ Rising: Read keywords and suggestions for #11 

Virgo Sun/Rising: Read keywords and suggestions for #10 

Libra Sun/Rising: Read keywords and suggestions for #9 

Scorpio Sun/Rising: Read keywords and suggestions for #8

Sagittarius Sun/Rising: Read keywords and suggestions for#7 

Capricorn Sun/Rising: Read keywords and suggestions for #6

Aquarius Sun/Rising: Read keywords and suggestions for #5  

Pisces Sun/Rising: Read keywords and suggestions for #4    

Read the following list for some of the basic house associations (areas of life). Once a year the sun and moon come together and activate a particular area of your chart. When the new moon falls in one of these areas it is a natural time to focus your attention on and make minor, or if there are other cycles to support it, major changes.

#1 Keywords: outer mask, personality, disposition, appearance, physical body, health, beginnings.

Suggestions: During this month you will experience your birthday (sun sign’s) which is your natural new year. Happy Solar Return! Take time to question whether your appearance, physical health and the mask you wear in the world is congruent with how you internally see yourself. The new moon is a good time to start making changes that allow you to feel more comfortable in your own skin.

#2 Keywords: values, self-value and worth, possessions, financial affairs, earning ability, debts, talents/gifts.

Suggestions: During the new moon cycle look at how you are managing your material resources. What changes can you make that will help you feel nourished and secure? What talent do you possess that if developed will bring you satisfaction and possible material gain? What do you consider valuable – what does this reflect back about self-worth and values?

#3 Keywords: all forms of communication (talking, listening, and writing) and communication tools, learning and taking in new ideas, perception, neighborhood, siblings, means of transportation, short trips.

Suggestions: Now is the time to look at bringing in resources that further develop communication and encourage growth in your perception of you and your perception of the world. Take the time to quickly write down (don’t edit and over analyze) how you see the world and you may find that earlier childhood perceptions color it. On a mundane level this is a good time to have fun and buzz around town, Take a look at what you are reading, watching, listening to and what type of conversations you participate in – how do these activities make you feel?

#4 Keywords: physical home, parents, ancestral lineage, psychological roots, private life, real estate and property.

Suggestions: There is a focus on the family which can be as simple as spending more time with them or on a deeper level exploring what qualities and beliefs you inherited from them. It is a good time to look at making changes in your home or making a move. Question, whether your home reflects who you are now. If you walked through and observed it through the eyes of a stranger what would it say about you?

#5 Keywords: creativity, romance, love, children, pregnancy, what you do for fun, hobbies, sports, speculation.

Suggestions: Look at what brings you joy and makes you feel open-hearted. Do you find time to play? What outlet do you have for creative expression? This is a good time to focus on children – spending time with them or depending on your age procreation. If you’ve been involved with activities that make you feel passionate, alive and overflowing with love, share it – if you haven’t, find some.

#6 Keywords: work, health, health-care routines, responsibility, service, pets, employees.

Suggestions: This is the time to look at how well you take care of yourself and what your energy level is like. Do you feel strong, radiant, and vibrant? If not consider making adjustments to self-care routines. Look at your attitude towards work and service. Do you love what you do and enjoy continuing to grow in either a job, volunteer position etc? When we feel competent in some area of our life we often end up sharing our gift with others which is entirely different than resentfully doing something for others.

#7 Keywords: partnerships both business and romantic, marriage, divorce, partnership agreements, what may be weak and undeveloped in ourselves that we explore through a partner (consciously or unconsciously), dealing with the public.

Suggestions: This is the time to start, renew, or leave a partnership. Whether in a relationship or not, for a deeper understanding of this area of your life consider the following. When you are in a relationship, what is your level of commitment? Do you tend to project on your partner undeveloped or disowned parts of yourself? Do you understand the difference between dependence, independence and interdependence?

#8 Keywords: regeneration, transformation, surgery/health, death, sex, and financial/ physical/psychological support you receive from others, insurances, inheritances, research, investigation.

Suggestions: When the new moon falls in this house you have an opportunity to look beneath the surface and explore the following – Your beliefs regarding, death or any type of transformation –such as the ending of a job, relationship or entrenched values/patterns.

Your beliefs regarding sex, intimacy, and the understanding of sexual energy as a life force. Your beliefs regarding how much support you have in the world.

#9 Keywords: travel, education, religion, philosophy, ethics, natural laws, laws, visions, higher mind, foreigners, foreign dealings.

Suggestions: Whether for fun or to shake up your routine and limited beliefs there is an opportunity to explore and potentially expand your view of the world and personal ethics/philosophy through study, travel or just taking the time to experience different cultures.

#10 Keywords: profession, destiny, reputation (how the world sees you), status, fame, employer, government/authority, business activities.

Suggestions: Look at what role you play in your community (it will change at different periods of your life) for example parent, business mogul, baker, volunteer, outcast, actor and question if it is a good fit. It can be easy to get locked into roles and positions that don’t fulfill who we are and our life purpose (yes we all have a purpose).

#11 Keywords: friends and our attitudes to them, clubs and social groups we align ourselves with, organizations, humanitarian interests, future directions and goals, circumstances beyond our control.

Suggestions: What goals and directions do you envision for your future? It is easier to accomplish goals when aligned with friends and/or groups that support and have similar dreams/visions for the future. That could be a recovery group, business organization, political party or a cooking club. If you have a goal, chances are, someone else has a similar or at least compatible one –seek them out.

#12 Keywords: transcendence, spiritual and psychic experiences, escapism, karma, liberation, confinement, hospitals, institutions, hidden strengths and weaknesses.

Suggestions: When the new moon falls in this area of one’s life it is time to retreat and let go of the world and our place in it. Now is the time to dream, meditate, create and/or be in nature. Withdraw but don’t escape in unhealthy ways.

SUN SIGN DATES: Aries: March 19/ 20 – April 19, Taurus: April 19 – May 20, Gemini: May 20 – June 20, Cancer: June 20- July 22, Leo: July 22 – August 22, Virgo: August 22 – September 22, Libra: September 22- October 22, Scorpio: October 22- November 21, Sagittarius: November 21- December 21, Capricorn: December 21 – January 20, Aquarius: January 20, – February 18/19 Pisces: February 18/ 19 – March 19/ 20.

 

Catherine’s  Courses

Summer Astrology Workshop 2018

Astrology and Practical Mysticism

Take your astrology knowledge to a whole new level with this holistic 5 – day astrology workshop. Participants need to have a knowledge of aspects and transits.

Facilitator Catherine Potter

Date July 12 – July 16, 2018, 9 am -5 pm

Cost $825 Enrol by May 15^th $725     light vegetarian lunch provided

Follow this link For more information

 

September – November 2018

 

Practical Mysticism Part 2

Meditation, Mindfulness and Developing Intuition through Inner Imagery.

 

For more information click here.

Parts 1 and 2 can be taken separately without enrolment in the whole course.

 

 

 

Northern Star College Courses

 

Wise Woman Within Certificate program begins September 2018

Crystalline Gem Therapy Certificate certificate program starts October 2018.

Tarot Certificate program begins October 2018

 

And more………….