Number 35                                                      christiner@netspace.net.au

 March has two very notable astrological events: Mercury begins its first retrograde cycle for 2007 on February 14 and Saturn opposes Neptune for the second time on February 28. This suggests that February is a wonderful time for reflecting and exploring what blocks us, NOT a time to be making major decisions and signing contracts.

 Comet McNaught is fast receding from Earth but its appearance at the same time that Pluto is conjuncting the Galactic Centre is symbolically potent. Comet are said to be messengers from the Gods and often herald significant events. What McNaught’s message may be is open to interpretation but it does suggest that we take the time to tune into our own higher wisdom and the wisdom that emanates from the Galactic Centre.

 In March I begin an in-depth beginner’s astrology course that can be undertaken for personal interest or as the basis for gaining professional qualifications. Classes are scheduled for Thursday night and Friday morning. An early bird discount will apply to all enrolments processed before the end of this month. Concession and instalment payments are also available.  Details can be found at the end of the newsletter.

 Blessings

 Christine

Christine Rothwell

Email: christiner@netspace.net.au

Website: www.christinerothwell.com

 Contents

1. February Overview
2. Mercury Retrograde
3. Saturn opposite Neptune
4. Courses and Workshop Information

 Astrology Classes begin

·        7:15pm Thursday March 15

·        10am Friday March 16

5. Consultations and Gift Certificates

 1.    February Overview

 

Comet McNaught is still visible in the southern hemisphere if you have access to binoculars or a telescope. The Starfield Observatory in southern Queensland has this information. Look an hour later for daylight savings time.

 This comet remains faintly visible to the unaided eye. Its tail as seen from country skies is about 20 degrees long. It remains an easy target for binoculars. Look low in the south-west at about 7.30 pm, about 10 degrees (half a hand span) above the theoretical horizon. The tail streams away to the upper left of the comet's head. www.starfieldobservatory.com

 The keynote for February is REFLECTION.  Mercury has entered the retrograde loop, inviting us to turn our attention inward. It is most important to find time to SLOW DOWN and just BE, instead of constantly DOING.  If things go wrong accept it as a message from Mercury to take some time out and reflect on what is really important.

 Mercury begins his retrograde in dreamy Pisces, inviting us to imagine, visualize and pay attention to our inner worlds. By the end of the month the Sun joins Mercury and Venus in the sign of the fish, casting a mystical fog or haze over events that may not lift until Mercury goes direct. Try not to fight this process, just relax into it and wait until the fog lifts before you make any major decisions.

 The introverted energy is enhanced by the opposition of Saturn and Neptune. Neptune is the ruler of Pisces, enhancing the current fog or mist that is so common under these influences.  A detailed discussion of this transit is found under item 3 of this newsletter.

 The New Moon in Aquarius on February 18 heralds the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Pig. New Moons are the beginning of a lunation or lunar cycle.  The New Moon energy is strong, focused and extroverted.  This is a powerful time to set intentions, start new projects, initiate change, focus energy on a specific goal, trust your intuition AND access the warrior spirit of the Amazon.

 The New Moon in Aquarius can be a time to set intentions and goals relating to Aquarian themes. Aquarius is a fixed air sign with a passion for freedom, rebellion, democracy, reform and social justice. Aquarian archetypes include the Humanitarian, Rebel and the Bohemian. The shadow Aquarian can be fanatical, contrary and anarchistic. Aquarius sees the big picture and questions the status quo that was developed in the Capricorn phase of the cycle. Aquarius needs to find a way to challenge authority that is constructive for all concerned and doesn’t leave them feeling marginalized and alienated.

 The New Moon in Aquarius invites us to reflect on how we experience this process. It might be time to take a stand on a social issue that is important to you and to reflect on your needs for independence and space.

Aquarius also rules friends and groups of like minded people so this is a good time to decide to join a group or reflect on your friendships and group involvements.

  [Information about creating a New Moon ritual was included in the last newsletter and can be found on my website at www.christinerothwell.com/page7.htm]

February 20 marks the third Venus conjunction of the Moon since Venus reappeared as the Evening Star in December. Currently she can be observed for about an hour after sun down, above the western horizon.In Sumerian myth these conjunctions were said to be portals that opened to allow the Goddess Inanna to reclaim the seven symbols of Her power that She relinquished when She made Her descent during Her time as Morning Star. These symbols correlate with the seven chakras and Her descent and ascent is a metaphor for a process of initiation.

Moon-Venus conjunctions are powerful times for ritual and inner work. The evening of February 19 would be an appropriate time to focus on third chakra issues that relate to solar concerns such as

·        Self esteem

·        Personal power

·        Confidence

·        Fears about rejection, criticism, adequacy.

Caroline Myss [in Anatomy of the Spirit] says the sacred truth of the third chakra is ‘Honour oneself’ and the gift is self-respect. Call your power back from past wounds and see if you can cultivate the practice of honouring and affirming the Goddess and God within. You may prefer to honour this gateway by doing something that feels for you to be consciously honouring your power.

 2. Mercury Retrograde

 All the Mercury retrograde dates for 2007 are now listed on my website. Go to www.christinerothwell.com/page5.htm

 Mercury entered the retrograde loop on January 30 and will retrograde on February 14 in preparation for a new Mercury cycle that will begin on February 23 when Mercury conjuncts the Sun.

 The most intense time of this process will be between February 18 and 28 when Mercury is lost in the blaze of the Sun. In ancient times this was said to be when Mercury assumes his alter ego as Psychopomp and Guide to the Underworld. In this role Mercury is associated with the Egyptian scribe Thoth, who has access to the Halls of Record. Esoteric writers suggest that the retrograde phase of Mercury creates an opening that allows access to the wisdom of our soul.

 Currently Mercury is still visible in the evening sky but he will disappear for   about a week and by the end of the month he will re-appear in the sky just before sunrise.  Starfield Observatory tells us:

 For the first three weeks of February, the innermost planet can be observed between Venus and the horizon in the western sky soon after sunset. Mercury will be overtaking us, and each night its angular diameter will increase. At the beginning of the month its size will be 6 arc seconds, but by February 24 this will have increased to 11 arc seconds. It will have the appearance of a half-moon on the days around February 13, but will be a crescent by February 18. It overtakes the Earth, passing between us and the Sun (inferior conjunction) on February 23, whereupon it will return to the pre-dawn sky. www.starfieldobservatory.com

 The whole retrograde phase is a potent time for reflection and review but it is also a time when normal communications can go haywire and things often don’t run to plan. [For more information go to www.christinerothwell.com/page5.htm ] Remember to be patient, maintain your sense of humour, CHECK ALL PLANS, BACK UP YOUR DATA AND DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY IF THINGS GO WRONG!

 Ø      Exact dates: February 14 to March 8

Ø      10 Pisces to 25 Aquarius

Ø      Full time of influence: January 30 to March 28

Ø      Time for insight: February 23 when Mercury conjuncts the Sun and begins a new cycle.

 This is a great time to meditate, reflect, research, seek answers, sort out your paperwork, return calls and generally attend to all the things you have been too busy to do earlier.

  As the retrograde cycle moves mainly through the sign of Pisces it is inviting us to attend to all things ruled by this sign, so it may well be worth reflecting on and paying attention to

• Dreams
• Ideals
• Intuition
• Creativity – relationship with the imaginal realm
• Spirituality – the desire to experience one-ness and transcend the ego

 Pisces needs to escape the mundane realities of life and if we do not create a positive container for this [spiritual practice, creativity, inner work] then we can experience the negative polarity of

• Co-dependency [with the possibility of playing the rescuer/ martyr or victim ]
• Disillusionment
• Substance abuse / addictive habits and behaviours

 Any or all of these areas may become issues over the next month or two. Remember Mercury retrograde always provides us with the opportunity to free our thinking from habitual ruts and develop a more conscious set of mental attitudes and beliefs.

 Concerns may arise over the first few weeks and the answers and insight can appear when the new cycle begins on February 23.  Sit with your insights until March 8 when Mercury goes direct. The next few weeks are the time to express your insights and put new plans into action.

 3.    Saturn Opposition Neptune

 The Saturn/ Neptune cycle is all about giving form and structure to our dreams and ideals. On a collective level this can be the cycle that charts the birth and death of ideologies and the institutions that give them form.

 The key for many of you is to know that your dreams and ideals may be tested, but those who stand firm can see the realization or MANIFESTATION of these dreams. So hold tight to your dreams and accept the challenges that come your way – the end result will be richer for the experience.

 The rest of this article is a reprint of the information that was included in the August 2006 Newsletter when Saturn first opposed Neptune.

 This transit will become exact three times.  Here are the exact dates:

a.      August 31 2006

b.     February 28 2007  

c.      June 26 2007

 The Saturn opposition to Neptune is the mid-point of a cycle that began in 1989 when Saturn and Neptune conjuncted [joined together] at 10 and 11° Capricorn. This transit coincided with the destruction of the Berlin Wall, the end of the communist era in the USSR and the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa as well as the birth of the World Wide Web.

 The Saturn/ Neptune cycle is a 35 to 36 year cycle the charts the evolution and devolution [Neptune] of all forms of structure [Saturn]. We are now at the mid peak of this cycle and can expect to see the testing of the new forms that were birthed at the conjunction. It can also be a time of CRISIS where structures that have not fulfilled their idealistic promise start to dissolve, especially if they have not been built on solid or real foundations.

 This transit is a major turning point that suggests the need to honour the Saturnian principle and re-evaluate and take responsibility for all our personal and collective Neptunian dreams and ideals and the structures we have created to give them form [Saturn].

 All Saturnian structures are up for review at the moment including: government, all forms of authority including police and military organization, big business, law and the economy. Also up for review are all personal forms of structure that include: the body, relationships and career.

Saturn/ Neptune oppositions have often [not always] coincided with times of recession and economic downturn, especially where growth has been inflated and not based on the true worth of an object. This is not a time for financial speculation and fortunes can be lost when the speculative bubble bursts. Certainly this transit suggests the need for political and economic reform.

 It is also time to tend to the Neptunian realms of dreams, ideals, imagination, creativity, psychic awareness, spirituality and to give them the form, structure and support they need to manifest and become real.

 Saturn may test your dreams, so beware and be willing to accept the tests and learn the lessons that Saturn brings your way so you can fine tune your dreams. BUT HOLD ONTO YOUR DREAMS – THIS IS A TIME OF POTENTIAL CRISIS WHEN THOSE WHO HOD FIRM AND MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS COULD SEE THE FLOWERING AND MANIFESTATION OF CHERISHED DREAMS AND PROJECTS.

 

Any Saturnian blocks, obstacles and fears that arise need to be accepted, faced and worked with. If you have a tool that helps you to release limiting beliefs and inner blocks then commit to the inner work as well as the outer work. Saturn will reward you.

 

Naïve dreams and ideals that are based purely on fantasy and not backed up by a willingness to ground them in the real world may disintegrate and cause some grief and sadness. Better to let them go and put your energy into something REAL, or at least something you are willing to try to make real.

 Saturn also challenges us to take responsibility for the negative Neptunian energy that can manifest as addictions, co-dependent patterns and relationships, immune disorders, illusions, fantasies, deception and self deception. Illusions can be shattered and self deception revealed at this time, but it is also a very potent time to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for addictive patterns and do the hard work necessary to face demons that have been long denied or accommodated.  Good luck!

 5. Courses, Workshops and Classes

Contact Christine on 9584 6532 or christiner@netspace.net.au for more information or to reserve your place.

 2007 Beginner’s Astrology Classes commence

·        7:15pmThursday March 15

·        10am Friday March 16

This in-depth introduction to astrology from a psychological and mythological perspective will run over three 10 week terms with the option to continue and undergo professional training. This course is suitable for beginners wanting to know more about their personal chart as well as those wanting to deepen their knowledge.

 Each 10 week term costs $300-00 but there is a 10% early bird discount each term. Payment can also be made in instalments and concession rates are available for those on low incomes.  The date for the first term discount is Monday February 26.  For a brochure containing an enrolment form or more information about payment options ring, email or go to www.christinerothwell.com/page3.htm

This workshop will introduce you to simple yet powerful meditative techniques and processes to allow you to access the intuitive wisdom and healing power of your heart. Heart Awareness is more than a meditative technique – it gives you the tools to use throughout the day to manage stress and access the intuitive knowing of your heart. This day will be nurturing and non-confronting, a perfect way to start the New Year.

Blessings

Christine Rothwell