“The ancient Sanskrit legends speaks of a destined love, a karmic connection between souls that are fated to meet and collide and enrapture one another. The legends say that the loved one is instantly recognized because she’s loved in every gesture, every expression of thought, every movement, every sound, and every mood that prays in her eyes. The legends say that we know her by her wings-the wings that only we can see-and because wanting her kills every other desire of love.

The same legends also carry warnings that such fated love may, sometimes, be the possession and the obsession of one, and only one, of two souls twinned by destiny. But wisdom in one sense, is the opposite of love. Love survives in us precisely because it isn`t wise.”

Shantaram by Gregory Robert

art by Autumn Skye

 

….there is a portal slowly opening.  Shadows playing tricks on our minds and messing with vulnerable hearts.  Love “outside” of us is changing.  Novelty of Love is increasing.  Old ways are dying, new ones being born.  Same true for our Loves. Curiosity awakens in the collective. Venus–as conduit of Divine Love on Earth–is demanding an upgrade.  There is also an echo in the ethers which sounds something like: “Be wise with your heart, be wiser with your mind, become an active participant…..”

 

Venus Retrograde In Gemini

 

On May 15th, Venus will go retrograde at 24 degrees Gemini. You can probably already sense something already.  A shift in perspective? Values? Your relationship? If so, its because the cycle has already begun.  We are in the Shadow period.  We entered it on April 11th when Venus was at 7 degrees of Gemini.  What is the shadow? It is the farthest back a planet will go in their retrograde motion.  When a planet moves into a Shadow, the premonitions of what is to come begin.  Subtle yet remaining profound.  So what is this Venus retro period all about? Karmic Alchemy is what I would call it.

 

art by Eric Nez

Karmic Alchemy

 

When a planet goes retrograde its energies redirect.  This doesnt always mean inwards–though I feel the overall movement of energy does trigger deep reflection, its not necessarily just an inner celestial experiment.  As an example, if money has been sluggish, when Venus goes retrograde (depending on where in your chart etc…) the flow will switch; it will no longer be sluggish.  That would be the Taurean side of the Venusian coin.  In another example: If you are in a relationship, the energies will redirect and you will reflect deeply on the nature of your connection with your beloved.  Many times during Venus retro periods this meditation will be triggered by another person, another Soul who you can’t shake from your heart.  A fated and karmic connection. This is the Libran influence of the cycle.  Either way, it relates to Love and how it comes and goes.

 

…here a lil’ Libran gift from her side of the coin:

 

Venus retrograde marks the beginning of a Venus cycle.  Its like a New Moon.  When she turns towards the Sun, she slowly begins to fall from her hypnotizing Evening Star position in the West and heads into the darkness–the Underworld phase as some would call it–soon to emerge days after as the Morning star in the East. This passage is called the Inferior conjunction in the cycle and relates to the birth of Venus and the Transit of Venus to the Sun you have probably heard about (I’ll talk more about this in future blogs).  As Venus heads towards the Sun in her retrograde fashion (respectively May 15th until June 6th) it is a powerful time for release.  Whether it be old habits or old lover’s, the immanence of this necessity will be blatantly obvious.  You won’t be able to ignore it.  It has a fated quality to it.  The Universe gains for control.  And so we must accept, continue to reflect, and watch it all unravel in its Divine perfection.  Always, years down the road, in retrospect we will be able to see the perfection.  Just not always while we are in it.

Now for the Alchemy part.  Old patterns die hard; as do profound relationships.  But what needs to be understood is that nothing is dying, it is just changing.  Energy cannot be created or destroyed.  It just changes forms.  Remembering that Venus relates to Love, Beauty, Symmetry and Balance, we can see deeper into the universal lovliness actually happening.  If we can fully remember and stay connected to our hearts during this cycle, unattached, watching, remembering what Love actually is, then we will have the capacity to evolve light years throughout the cycle; if we forget this, remain attached, and give our power to the things we love and the people we attach love too, it is likely misery will be knocking on your door.  So stand open, be alert for the signs, don’t ignore connections and most of all: “…wisdom in one sense, is the opposite of love. Love survives in us precisely because it isn`t wise.” A Koan!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bigger picture

 

I am quite aware of my omission of much of this Venus cycle information.  I didn’t talk about the Transit of the Sun and its implications.  I didn’t mention the implications of her birth as a Morning star, nor did I talk about her stationary Direct implications and what happens once released from the whole cycle. Also, this particular Venus cycle has a special meaning to many cultures in the world, including the Maya.  I plan on exploring this with you too.  So stay tuned….and stay open to what/who awaits you in the blissful days to come.

 

And here is a tune to get you excited.  A sigil.  A prayer.  A stir.  Rising Appalachia:

 

Love,

sOma

…:::::::If you are interested in where this Transit is happening in your own chart, in your own life, don’t be shy.  You can contact me with your questions and we can set up an in depth session where we can explore all the implications of Venus in your life: money, love, sex, art, beauty, all of it….::::::

KOSMOGNOSIS@GMAIL.COM

WWW.HOLESTOHEAVENS.COM

Read More

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(CLICK PIC TO LINK)

This is a unique show.  It is my first talk with somebody who isn’t actually an Astrologer.  It’s perfect.  Mark is going to be teaching an incredible workshop on Emotional transformation in Boulder on May 5th and I felt it appropriate to get his voice to the world.  So I hope you love it.  He is doing incredible work.  In the show, we also talk some Astrology too.  You will love it. Hope to see you there…..at the workshop that is.

 

Love,

Soma

 

www.Holestoheavens.com

KOSMOGNOSIS@GMAIL.COM

ART: Robert Venosa

Music: Itom Lab

Read More

“Honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress.”

Gandhi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

….As I write, the MoOn passes the Galactic center in late Sag, pulling our etheric energies into more suggestive states of cosmic awareness.  With Mercury now being direct and soon to be Mars, the deep pre-dawn of Spring meditation is nearly over.  Hopefully you have went through a pleasant readjustment of your body and mind, thus preparing you for the massive waves forming in Neptune’s sea ahead. “The Gods” are readying us for what may be the most interesting Summer of our lives….

Progress is a subjective term.  What is progress for one, may be idle tides for another.  Whether we are talking about progress on a personal level or a collective level, it is always going to be subjective.  I like what Gandhi says about “honest disagreement” being a marker for progress.  ”Shall we agree to disagree…?”  We all have our opinions, yet true progress into wisdom is the realization of exactly that: We all have our subjective opinions which are created from our experiences in life.

In Astrology, there are many ways we can deal with this idea of progress.  Through Transits we can watch how the planets are moving around a person’s chart–cycle within cycle, phase within phase– triggering various aspects of one’s Archetypal landscape.  There are also various types of Progressions, Arcs, and Planetary periods you can look at. They all seem to work, they all function differently.  It is Secondary Progressions that have always caught my curious eye.  Giving one year to each day after a person’s birth, you watch the slow ‘progression’ of the planets unfold throughout a person’s life.  Let’s learn more….

Secondary Progressions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Secondary Progressions are the most commonly used of all the forms of Progressing the chart.  This ancient method has been used since biblical times.  Again, you give one year to each day after a person’s birth.  For example, the Progressed chart will look identical to the Transits in the sky 30 days after a person’s birth.  Because the chart progresses so slowly, only the Inner planets (Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Mercury, Sun, Moon) move much–the Moon moving the most.  In one day the Sun moves 1 degree and the Moon travels an average of 13, meaning in one year, the Sun will travel one degree in the Progressed chart, the Moon 12-13 degrees.  Grok? I’m my study of Astrology, the Progressed Moon is the main progression that reliably blows my mind.

The Progressed Moon is like our slowly shifting mood.  It stays in a sign for around 2.5 years and moves to the next.  While the Progressed Moon moves through each sign, our overall mood and approach to life is greatly influenced by this Sign/Archetype.  A person who is experiencing the Progressed Moon moving through Scorpio is going to be processing life in an entirely different way than if it were in its polarity of Taurus.  The Scorpio period will bring deep and penetrating moods into a person’s sphere, allowing them to unearth poisonous emotions, thoughts, and energies from their bodies; In Taurus, the expectation would be more along the lines of feeling abundance, groundedness, and much beauty surrounding them. Knowing where you Progressed Moon is in your chart is vital to understanding “where” you are at in your life.

There is another way of relating to the Progressed Moon and it relates to the Sun.  It’s called the Progressed Lunation cycle.  Remembering that one day equals a year and each month the Moon makes an entire Lunation, we can then understand that every 28-30 years the Sun and Moon will return to their natal positions.  Depending under what Lunar phase a person was born, they will experience the Progressed New Moon at some point in their first 30 years of life.  For example, if a person was born under a Full Moon, it will take around 15 years for the Progressed Sun and Moon to come together, thus creating a Progressed New Moon.  This cycle is one of the most important periods in a person’s life because it relates to a birth of a fresh psychology.  Hard to see while its happening but astonishing in retrospect, this Progression is mind blowing in its accuracy.  As is the Progressed Full Moon that will happen 15 years after the New Moon, bringing forth a fruition of the energies that were present at Progressed New Moon.

…..you can cast a Progressed chart at Astro.com or contact me for one if you are interested……

There are many other implications of these cycles mentioned.  Over the next month, I plan on diving deeper into the Progressed realms and exploring more with you.  Like with all Astrological notions and markers of change, this Progress is relative.  It always depends on the person, the Soul, and the choices that are made.  True progress is measured outside of the chart and in the eyes of the adventurer!

***News: Exploring these Progressions is a way for me to share written information on this subject before the Teleseminar I will be teaching on April 29th on this subject with Nightlite Astrology.  If you are interested you can contact me at Kosmognosis@gmail.com and I can tell you more ( I will also have more info very soon about time, cost, and numbers*****

Blessings,

sOma

www.Holestoheavens.com

art: Simon Haiduk

 

 

 

Read More

“Only Divine Love bestows the keys of knowledge.”

Arthur Rimbaud

 

…the first time I experienced this “Divine Love” I was in a canoe.  I was paddling in the tributaries of the Cape Fear river and I had a moment of divine clarity.  It was simple.  It came from the ripple of my paddle.  I realized how beauty, love, and God were totally ubiquitous. I realized it was everywhere, just as long as I was receptive to see it.  I realized I didn’t need a lover to experience it. Nor do I need any substance to be sensitive to it. All I needed was an open heart.  Currently, Venus is in Pisces, in a three way embrace (or a triple conjunction) with Neptune and Chiron.  I feel these three planetary Archetypes are trying to teach us something about this “Divine love” Rimbaud was speaking of.

the Triple treat:

Venus is the planet of Love, Beauty, and Value.  When she makes contact with any planetary Archetype she brings her soft and ecstatic embrace with her.  Neptune and Chiron have been traveling side by side since 09’, and now, as they are both about to get comfortable in the sign of Pisces, we are in for an interesting treat.  A treat involving some kind of Truth.  Not saying I know what the Truth of the cosmos may be, but instead, suggesting that they do.  Pisces is the sign of God–of all the ineffable aspects of existence.  Pisces rules over the oceans, the pineal gland, melatonin, dmt, spirit, dreams, fantasy, and inspiration.  My hunch is this: Right now, as the three of these planets are in a precarious combination, we are in the prime location to remember something big.  What might this be? Well….maybe our Truth–or “the Truth of Love.”  Perhaps, the Truth of our existence on Earth.  Looking outside of ourselves, we can look to nature, towards the sea and the atmosphere, in the attempt to distill some kind of truth.  In the end, Neptune conjunct Chiron in Pisces, creates the foundation of this moment in time. 2012.  It is the end of all of our hopes and speculations of the future, and the beginning of the hard knock truth of what we have created.  So, how do we respond?

As Rimbaud said, “Only Divine love bestows the keys of knowledge.” What is the difference between Divine love and Personal love? Perhaps Divine love is unattached and Personal love is not.  We expect our “lover” to be there forever and to always be giving back perfectly.  We then try to relate to this love, this person, as the source of our love which will never die.  But what if we could relate to the Love as eternal. Not them, not us, but something beyond us, which we are granted to experience freely.  What happens when we realize that love is not ours, not theirs, but something way beyond our wildest imagination; something which is constant and everywhere.  What happens when we realize that love is meant to be experienced in every moment of our lives, with everyone and everything.  What happens then? My hunch is that this aspect between Neptune, Chiron, and Venus is trying to hint at this point for all of us collectively.

Venus in Pisces:

When Venus is in Pisces, she is said to be exalted. This means she is most comfortable and has the ability to shine the brightest in this sign of the zodiac! Why is this? I feel it is because Pisces is the aspect of Consciousness which relates to our dreams and imagination. Venus is our ability to sensitize to what is beautiful.  Put the two together and you get the feeling of waking from a tantalizing dream, wondering: Is that even possible? Of course it is.  Your dreams create your reality.  And so, Venus in Pisces involved with Neptune (the energy of Dreams) and Chiron (the energy of the Wounded Healer) creates the ideal time for manifesting our wildest dreaming states so that we may heal the most unconscious aspects of our Psyche (which is also a Neptune theme).

Venus is not just relationships.  It’s true, Venus does rule over Libra (relationships), but she rules over Taurus too.  Venus in Taurus is more about self-value, self-worth, and self-love. It doesn’t have much to do with romantic love.  In fact, if the Taurean aspect of Venus is not healthy in a person, no relationship will ever survive.  In other words, if a person can’t be alone and doesn’t love themselves, they are doomed in an intimate relationship.  There will be too much projection, control, and fear.

You can learn everything from Taurus–and to an extent, Venus too–from a tree.  It is self sustained, never moving. It is in an ideal symbiotic relationship to the rest of its environment.  So, what I’m getting at here is this:  To experience Venus, to experience Love, we don’t need a Lover, we just need connection, symbiosis.  With love for the earth, for our bodies, we are set. We are grounded and perhaps ready to then experience the myriad of different types of Love in the universe.  But always, first, we must be grounded in our own Love….for ourselves! This is the teaching coming from this triple conjunction in the sky.  They are saying, “Look: Love is everywhere! No need for searching.  It’s here.  Right now. Just sit, breathe, and remember it. Pisces teaches us how to trust in the flow of this “Divine Love.”  So why not trust in the fact that you are Love.  You are complete in this Love. And it is everlasting.  Trust.

…………

As an Astrologer, it is true, most of my clients and people I talk too, are curious about Love.  They want to know when they are going to meet their Soul mate or their flame or their “whatever you call it.” And my response is always the same; “How do you do alone;” “What do you do to love yourself?” Do you have an art form?”  I ask these questions because they assist me in gauging where an individual is in their own self development.  If the response is: “I can’t be alone;” “I hate myself; “ …or….” I have no idea what I like,” then my approach is always to encourage them in the direction to discover this and away from men or woman or love in the traditional sense.  It only distracts the Soul’s purpose. Once they figure “it” out, they are ready for healthy, balanced, romantic love.

As Venus moves through Pisces into the second week of February, we are all faced with the same question: What is our relationship with God! Are we seeing God in a lover, in money, in food, or a drug? Where are we finding beauty.  Being that Venus is also with Chiron and Neptune in this conjunction aspect, it is indeed the end of our hopes and the beginning of Truth.  No more lies to tell ourselves.  The year we have all been waiting for has arrived: 2012.  No more lies. Only truth.  May it set you free.  May the experience of Divine Love in the coming weeks bring about the experience of “true knowledge’ and “true Love.” It’s only a breath away!  Don’t be afraid to let your guard down.  It will only set you free!

*** IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE THIS TRANSIT IN MORE DEPTH IN YOUR CHART, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT KOSMOGNOSIS@GMAIL.COM******

Love,

sOma

www.Holestoheavens.com

KOSMOGNOSIS@GMAIL.COM

 

 

Read More

 

“Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds.”

Einstein

…2012 seems to have a feeling of vertigo mixed with crippling doubt surrounding the unknowable future.  What I mean is this: We are split.  Torn.  Everyone I know seems to be in a current attempt of creating a big change in their lives.  Some succeeding, some not.  It’s perfect though.  And it’s true: 2012 is the year of great change. We are on the precipice of the most electric New Moon which offers our first true attempt of the New year to work on some practical Moon magic.

 

 

Aquarius New Moon

New Moon’s are dark times.  The Sun fails to shine any light upon Luna because of her movement through the same part of the sky as the Sun.  This darkness created by the New Moon is perfect for new beginnings. They are ideal times for creating new intentions. The biggest day in our culture for new intention is New year’s and we have to wonder why so many resolutions end up as foggy drunken memories. We can’t blame it on the Moon, but we can easily wonder what kind of influence Luna has year after year on that potent day of “resolution.” Fortunately, New Moon’s are made for resolutions and this New Moon is exceptionally potent.  It happens at 2 degrees Aquarius and occurs on January 23rd at 1:39 am MST.  It is eccentric individuated electricity at your fingertips!

In every lunation cycle–new, full, or in between–it’s important to understand the aspects which are being made to the Moon.  On this New Moon there are a few worth mentioning.  The most important aspect is the T-square which the New Moon creates with Jupiter and Saturn.  Currently, Saturn is in late Libra opposing Jupiter in early Taurus.  The two of them are tightly squaring this Aquarian New Moon…meaning: the Sun and Moon (the New Moon) are the tip of the T-square.  What does this mean? Well, whatever planets are at the tips–or the top of the triangle–with this potent aspect, clue us in to the healing which needs to happen, or the resolution to the opposing energies.  What may an Aquarian resolution be to the Jupiter/Saturn opposition? Rebellion! Both to ourselves and to those who expect “things” from us.  Saturn in LIbra is all the relational drama which has been heavy in the air for over two years. Jupiter in Taurus wants us to reconnect to ourselves and to the Earth.  See the opposition? An Aquarian New moon, at the tip of this opposition is an electric storm of eccentric energy promising magic and synchronicity as long as we do the unpredictable.  We must go against our own grain.  Depending on where this is happening in your chart will relate to the story which shall hopefully manifest.

 

…on last year’s Aquarian New mOon I experienced a lightning storm in the middle of the winter in a Florida swamp.  With it, came the most radical idea I’ve ever had in my life: Leave Fl, because I was miserable and create a polyamorous distance relationship with the love of my life.  I did it.  And it sucked…..at first.  In retrospect, it was the wisest decision of my life.  I even got to hear Xavier’s Rudd’s version of his Aquarian New Moon experience because of the one I made.  The Aquarian Archetype is concerned with one main idea: Individuation.  So may we become individuated and unpredictable.

 

There is another potent aspect happening on this New Moon worth mentioning and it is the nearly perfect sextile to Uranus in Aries–the ruler of this New Moon.  Uranus is the planet of Novelty, Genius, Invention, and Evolution.  By making a sextile aspect to this already electrically charged New moon, it only improves the odds of getting struck by some radical, unpredictable lightening.  Sextiles are like new love. Infatuation. They excite, inspire, and support.  The bottom line is this: If you feel the call to do something crazy, just do it! And don’t be afraid! Synchronicity will be your guide.

The last astrological reason for this Moon being so unique is Mars going retrograde on the same day in Virgo!

Mars will be spending some serious time in the sign of the Virgin. Mars will go direct in mid April, finally leaving Virgo in early July. There is something to be learning here.  What is it?

Mars Retrograde:

To understand Mars retrograde we first need to understand Mars.  Mars is our will power.  Our 3rd chakra.  Ruling over the muscles of our body, the iron in our blood, and the fight in our Spirit, Mars indeed is a good candidate for being the Archetype which is doing a lot of the work of the Soul’s desire’s (Pluto).  Every action we make in our lives, every movement is Mars.  And for every action there is an equal an opposite reaction.  Like Einstein says, “Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds.” When Mars is retrograde, our fiery will is focused inwards.  We are meant to reevaluate our core intentions. Often, we experience this “violent opposition” from others during this cycle. Another common symptom is loss of care, or hope.  We must remember our core during this time. Envision and shine! Mars being in Virgo is asking us to rediscover our Divine purpose, refine it, and even get better skills to help manifest it. I feel this combination between an Aquarian New moon and Mars going retrograde is the ideal gestalt for the start of 2012.  Indeed, we are going to need radical (Aquarius/Uranus) and skillful (Virgo) responses to all the challenges lurking on the horizon. We are all competent to meet this challenge. These transits give us this stellar opportunity.

 

…a Warrior sits outside the armory, smoking tobacco, blowing doubtful rings, wondering what would happen if he grabbed the “weapon” his Dad always told him not too. He wonder’s, knowing it is his best idea…

Not to be confused with all the Astrology, the bottom line is this:  It’s a New Moon.  If you are into magic or mind power or “the Secret,’ New moons are the most ideal times to choose your move.  Again, it’s practical magic.  By releasing something on a New Moon and asking for something we desire to enter, we are able to watch this ‘intention,’ this prayer manifest in our life by watching the lunation cycle.  By the time the Full Moon comes around it should be clear.  Success or failure? Maybe somewhere in between.  The lunar cycle is my favorite study in Astrology.  It keeps me in the present, always watching.  I suggest you too start watching more carefully. I guarantee it will be enlightening.  Where is this New moon happening in your chart? What does it mean? Where are you meant to rebel from the status quo and chase your dreams? It’s only a click away! This is your year. Thank you Aquarius!

 

If you wanna go deeper into the implications of this New moon/Mars retrograde experience,  you can contact me at KOSMOGNOSIS@GMAIL.COM.

 

namaste,

sOma

Holestoheavens.com

art by Cameron Gray

Read More