A Scorpio Moon, Déjà-Boo: Happy Halloween!

Radical Halloween Posts

Just like watching favorite old movies during the winter holidays, it's time to reshare the classic Halloween posts on The Radical Virgo. Enjoy the trip down Memor-eeek Lane--and share with your friends!

Listen to The Radical Virgo on Transformation Talk Radio ... and a Surprize

I talked with Silver Gaia radio host Dr. Brie Gibbs on October 4 about astrology, metaphysics and mysteries. In case you missed it, here's the link for our fun hour together. Enjoy!

And while we're on news bits, The Radical Virgo was recently chosen by a panel on Feedspot as one of their Top 100 astrology blogs. Check out the medallion on the sidebar. After more than 7 years and 450 posts, I think I deserve a medal, even if just for endurance, all Virgo modesty aside. Meanwhile ...

Happy Autumn, All!
Joyce

Munchies for Astro-Thought: Elemental School

© 2016 Joyce Mason

The four elements are a very basic way of looking at your energy and approach to life—also, how life is currently approaching you. For starters, there’s the elemental balance you were born with, reflected in your natal chart. In most astrology programs, there is a report option that sorts it all out for you. Using my own horoscope as an example, I am primarily Earth/Air (6 points each), followed by Water (3) and Fire (2).

Yet, I have to tell you, I have often felt very watery, technically my weakest element. On the other hand, many people perceive me as fiery. There are things that modify the natal chart balance such as aspects to Neptune for feeling more water logged or Uranus for buzz, brilliance and feeling like the odd (wo)man out. A prominence of any planet (close aspects or many aspects) can shift the elemental balance in practical terms. Each planet has a characteristic type of juice that affects the equation. The outers can have a lot of influence. How they feel to me: Neptune adds water, Uranus—air/fire. Pluto, water/fire and Chiron an earth/fire combo. I experienced Jupiter as generically fiery, even though my own is in the water element.

On top of that, there are times in life where transits and necessity tip the balance of the four elements and create a stew that may not feel familiar. You might feel like you’re not yourself. Indeed, you’re not.

Is the goal elemental balance? I think it’s OK to be who you are, elementally, but it’s important to be able to beef up an element in the mix when you can really use a specific dose of earth, air, fire or water. Certain times in our lives emphasize specific elements. For instance, going to college is a very airy time. Caring for a loved one is both watery and very earthy. Competing for a new job or working to get ahead? Fire. And fire is play and fun, too—vacations, creative projects that are more fun that work.

This munchie is simple. Take a look at the elemental balance in your natal chart. Now assess your primary activities in this phase of your life—by element. This will give you both your elemental orientation and your current elemental climate. Adjust your activities for more balance, if needed.

You can look at the elemental nature of your transits, of course, but I find that perhaps a bit too airy—unless, of course, Air is a weak element for you—then by all means. For the most part, I’m looking for a visceral more experiential approach to elemental awareness and adjustment, if you find you have too much or too little of one of the four, leaving you to feel as wobbly as a three-legged stool. If you discover that you’re short some juice on any one of them or too long on others, here are some ideas on what you can do to increase or decrease the needed element or rebalance your energy blend for the time being. To increase the element, do more of these activities. To decrease, do less of them.

Earth

• Physical work, especially work with your hands
• Gardening
• Exercise
• Sex
• Spending time in nature
• Eating, especially heavier foods like meat and starches
• Grounding activities like deep breathing and visualizations that “root” you
• Drink coffee, if it has a grounding effect on you

Air

• Read
• Study
• Fly somewhere
• Go on carnival rides that fly you through the air
• Get involved in online groups to discuss issues important to you
• Dive into politics
• Take a class
• Find a brain exercise website, such as Lumosity, and do some mental gymnastics
• Get an app or join a group for games of strategy. (Mine’s Scrabble. Chess may be the headiest of all.)
• Blog or post in social media on complex subjects. Get conversations going.
• Communicate and upgrade your communications equipment 
• Share ideas without getting emotional

Fire

• Athletics and sports
• Playing with children
• Having fun in any form
• Energizing forms of yoga
• Spending time in sunshine
• Activities around fire such as a fireplace, campfire or barbecue
• Competitions of any kind, aiming to win or come in first
• Creative pursuits
• Doing things that excite you/fire you up
• Gambling or games of chance

Water

• Watch schmaltzy movies
• Do yoga or flowing martial arts such as t’ai chi or qigong
• Swim, sauna or use a whirlpool
• Meditate, emphasizing a release into the Cosmic One
• Feed yourself and/or others nurturing foods
• Visit hospital patients
• Give to or volunteer for a charity such as feeding the homeless
• Participate in world peace meditations or activities that work on the spiritual plane for uniting people
• Do artwork, music or any soul-expressive creativity

Mastering your elemental mix is a simple and broad approach to toward activating your personal energy resources to meet what’s happening now. The simplicity of adjusting activities by element can ease feeling of out of sorts. If you try it, let us know how it works for you in the Comments.

~~~

Photo Credit: Andrey_Arkusha – Fotolia.com

Munchies for Astro-Thought: Makeover for Old Planets and Signs

© 2016 by Joyce Mason

When the Sun is in Libra, it’s the perfect time to equalize your patterned response to your astrology chart. The idea is that we have glommed onto certain keywords, phrases or ideas about our planets and signs that may be limited and habitual. Our vision of them may not always give us the most possibilities for expressing ourselves. Sometimes a makeover is due, especially when the Sun is in a sign of beauty and balance. On the other hand, sometimes we have overdone the positive view of a planet, sign or aspect to the point of missing its darker side that we also need to learn from.

Try this exercise to look at life (and your chart) from both sides now, as in the old Joni Mitchell song:

1.   Take your favorite planet. Maybe it’s the Sun, Venus or Jupiter—or Uranus because you love being a unicorn. Write down the best and worst things you normally think of about this planet and its sign. You can also add its aspects to other planets in your chart, though it may be easier to keep it simple with planet and sign on the first go-round.

a.   Next, get quiet and meditative. Let pop into mind whatever comes to you about the configuration. Don’t critique your subconscious or worry whether its message contains accurate astrology, accurate fact or even a sane perspective. Our psyche speaks in metaphors and symbols, and it will likely mean something to you sooner or later. Just write it down afterwards.

b.   Now go to your favorite search engine and enter the name of the configuration. For instance, I’d probably enter Venus conjunct Sun and Neptune. This will bring up not just articles where your chart parts are mentioned but also comments people have made in discussions about them. Anything stand out as a new way of seeing or expressing your old planets?

c.    Optional: Hit your favorite astrology books, those you have on hand, to reacquaint yourself with your favorite astrologers’ ideas. Or ask an astrology-speaking friend what they think of when they see this blend of planetary poetry. As always, write it down. You might want to even create a special journal for your astrological explorations on your computer or in a special notebook.

2.    Spend the next week or so thinking about this exercise and notice how this planetary combo works in the laboratory of your life. What do you discover that's news to you? Write it down.

At the end of Part 2, what have you learned or changed about your impression of your favorite planet, sign (or aspect if you do them)? This exercise can be repeated over time with every planet, sign and aspect in your chart.

Please share, if you do the exercise, what you’ve learned from it. May it keep you well-rounded and open-minded, two of the best qualities we can have as stargazers on the Journey.

~~~

Photo Credit: © vladimirfloyd Fotolia.com

Joyce Mason Radio Interview October 4--Astrology, Metaphysics and Mystery

Save the Date/Time: Tuesday, Oct. 4 @ 3:00 pm PDT. I'll be talking about astrology, mystery and the mysteries of life on The Silver Gaia Show. Click the Radio tab for all the ways you can listen, including over the internet.

Learn more about The Crystal Ball and the Micki Michaels mystery series, my future writing plans, and what I've learned on my personal Metaphysical Mystery Tour since 1977.

Episode Giveaways: 2 e-book copies (PDF, kindle or Nook format) of The Crystal Ball, #1 in the Micki Michaels metaphysical mystery series , 2 e-book copies of Chiron and Wholeness: A Primer. This is an introduction to the centaur planet and the parts of yourself you have disowned for one reason or another--with lots of hints on how to reclaim them to become all you can be, Grand Prize: paperback copy of The Crystal Ball signed by the author 

Hugs from The Radical Virgo,
Joyce

PS - Please share freely!