The Radical Virgo is Price-Less!

All Kindle and PDF Ebooks Now US $2.99 - $4.99

Dear Radical Readers,

The world has rarely needed healing as much as it does now. Since my Astro-specialty has long been the healer-centaur planet Chiron, I'd like to do my part to make my books more accessible by offering them at a lower cost. This price reduction also commemorates my semi-retirement from astrology--at least for now because I never say never. My astrology books will hopefully help people heal with insights. My fiction book, The Crystal Ball, has astrological overtones and info, too. It may help heal with laughter as well as giving you some tips about longevity, healing and helping others. It is also seasoned with some more information about Chiron. My favorite among my Astro books is Keywords to Unlock Chiron, which delves deeply into Chiron's various symbolism in a way that will help you find your custom resonance to his teachings. (See sidebar for purchase information.)

Chiron: The Myth About Duality

As a dual being, Chiron is about self-integration. There were two types of centaurs, the wild ones who had no control over their beastly ways, and the wise teacher-mentor Chiron. Chiron's dual body represents heaven in his upper body closer to the stars, 

The Education of Achilles by Chiron

and earth in his lower, animal/horse nature. We incarnate in the image of All That Is. We bring the spark of heaven to earth. Chiron became more spark than horsing around in a no-kidding kind of way. (The wild centaurs raped, pillaged and destroyed everything in sight, presumably just for the fun of it.)

The difference between Chiron and his wild look-alikes was the way he grew from traumatic issues, such as dual parental abandonment and looking like a freak. Chiron developed his upper half (thinking, spiritual side) and used the best of his animal nature to work with what earth has to offer: herbs, medicine and "taming the wild beast" by teaching adolescents on Mt. Pelion to channel their masculine energy into life-affirming activities and to honor the environment. He balanced his light/dark, heaven/earth nature and evolved into the best composite of both.

Chiron: Sign of the Times

Today we see an awful lot of wild centaurs in the news creating mayhem from plain meanness to gun violence and senseless wars.  People spew us/them hatred like it might solve anything or make them happy. I can barely read the news as a sensitive empath. What we are witnessing today is the intensification of darkness before the light. It's like a boil. The healing can't happen until it pops and the infection oozes out. (Sorry for the eww metaphor for the weak of stomach. It just fits so well.) 

Unfortunately, we see the world through a limited window. Think of life as a parade passing by your home that you see through the glass in your living room. We only see the part of the parade that's passing by now, not all that came by before now or how it will march on and conclude after we are gone. 

We need integration on all levels to turn humanity into wise beings who thrive on the best of their dual nature. As with many things psychological, the light/dark or heaven/earth duality often gets played out by projection. The people, governments or things we hate are often a projection of our own darkness that we don't own.

The Prescription

In Chiron's story, he did the hard work of self-integration. When we are balanced within ourselves and love ourselves no matter what the world thinks of us, we become heroes. We give birth to one more lover and one less hater in the world. Chiron's school on Mt. Pelion was for the development of heroes as he mentored Jason, Hercules and many other mythological notables. Ask yourself often, "Why does this thing about ___ bother me so much?" Discover what inside of you that you may not be owning, may need to integrate, and do it with compassion for yourselves and others.

One of the most potent ways we we can heal our world is to start with what we actually have the power to change--ourselves. I hope my work in some small way helps feed the divine domino effect of a world with more Chirons and fewer half-horses gone mad. In no way am I downplaying the importance of getting involved in various practical and direct ways of making the world a better place. Everything you do adds to the momentum. Some people have a gift for making a difference in the community and world and the passion and energy to do it. Their love and enthusiasm is contagious.

How we evoke change most is by example. Chiron was above all a teacher. May you never stop knowing the hundreds of ways you help others just by being yourself.

Be at one--with yourself--to be at One with all.

Every blessing,
Joyce

"Wisdom" Book Review - Keywords to Unlock Chiron: 50 Passageways to Healing and Wholeness by Joyce Mason

Review © 2014  by Anne Whitaker

To my pleasant surprise, astrologer and writer Anne Whitaker—colleague, friend and periodic guest  on this blog—sent me an unsolicited review of my latest Chiron book. It seemed like the right time to share it during Book Month on The Radical Virgo. ~ Joyce

Weaver - Mentor - Centaur - Stuck - Stringed Instruments - Healing Humor - Shame - Left and Right Brain - Abandonment - Evolution: just a few of the keywords Joyce Mason uses to unlock the doorway to deep, deep wisdom contained within the archetype of the mythical being known as Chiron: half man, half horse – best known in Western popular culture as the Wounded healer.

Joyce is a healer herself with many strings to her lyre: prolific writer, seasoned astrologer, flower essences practitioner, dreamworker, to name but a few. Here in her own words is the essence of her book:  

“ Seldom in life do we get such a personalized prescription of what’s wrong and how to fix it.” ~ Joyce Mason, Keywords to Unlock Chiron

These 50 keyword essays will help you identify where you’re stuck and suggest how you can get from pain to breakthrough and healing–and ultimately to being yourself in your full glory. Your personal message lies in which keywords ‘hit home’ for you.”

As the reader will discover from Other Astrology Books by Joyce Mason on pp 279-281, Joyce has written extensively on Chiron in the past, both in published books and on her blog The Radical Virgo. This book, however, is somewhat different in that Joyce’s focus is on the Chiron archetype itself and an exploration of 50 branches arising therefrom.

Chiron symbolises the deep wound present to a greater or lesser degree in all of us, fallible imperfect creatures, uneasy blends of body and spirit; endlessly curious, forever seeking answers to why we are here and what we are supposed to do with our brief time on Earth. Chiron also symbolises the depth and wisdom we can gain by addressing and seeking to heal that wound, both in ourselves and others. Ultimately, facing and accepting our vulnerability, together with realization of our inter-connectedness with the whole of life, and the healing power of love: these are our salves and our saviours.

Joyce’s Keywords to Unlock Chiron is surely a ‘wisdom book’. It is a wonderful distillation of her knowledge, personal and professional experience drawn from a deep and wide range of sources: science, myth, symbol systems including astrology and Tarot, astronomy, and culture both contemporary and ancient.

She writes so well, with wit, reverence, irreverence and above all compassion both for her own frailty and ours. Open sharing of core aspects of her personal story demonstrates that she is not trying to tell us how we should live from her somewhat higher plane of existence. She makes it clear that, in the struggle to come to terms with the wounding which hopefully in the end makes us a bit wiser and more skilled in the fraught business of living, we are all in it together.        

There are many examples which I could quote of deeply helpful wisdom offered in this book. In Chapter 24, Disowned, there is a very challenging question posed: ‘What would you rather die than do?’ Joyce’s answer to this is ‘I’d rather die than move (house)’ which leads into a discussion of how we all to a greater or lesser extent, disown parts of ourselves, to our detriment. 

Joyce then offers seven “Tips for Not Disowning Yourself” including ‘Listen objectively to things others point out that you’re missing or denying, especially if you hear the same thing from several different people.’ I commend this section to any individual honest enough to be working towards personal growth and change, as well as any therapy practitioner looking for some inspiration to bring to their client work

In Appendix 3, p273, Joyce provides information for people with little or no knowledge of astrology who wish to obtain a copy of their own horoscope and find out where Chiron is placed in their case. The whole book is also filled with useful web and other references to a wonderful range of resources – arising from the core Chironic keyword of Wholeness.

The book is of value also to students and practitioners of astrology. From that perspective, this reviewer certainly felt as though she had been comprehensively re-acquainted with the depth and practical value of understanding Chiron’s natal position as well as Chiron transits.

But it is important to stress that Keywords to Unlock Chiron should not be seen primarily as a book for astrologers or those interested specifically in astrology. As I said earlier, it is a ‘wisdom book’, a great resource for anyone of a reflective nature, or who may be practising as a healer of others, to have in their library to turn to for inspiration, information or support in difficult times. Be guided by how you are feeling in seeking help from the book’s wisdom. As Joyce says herself:

 “Your personal message lies in which keywords ‘hit home’ for you.”

Joyce, thank you for this wonderful compendium. It truly deserves to be widely read.

~~~

Cover Art for Keywords by Karen Phillips. For more on the contents of Keywords to Unlock Chiron, now available in PDF, please visit the launch post.

Postscript - Thank you, Anne! As my newsletter subscribers already know – and I wanted to share this update with all my readers for its irony – my personal Cardinal Grand Cross Year has me facing my "rather die than do," as I'm prepping to move to a new home. The reason couldn't be more Chironic. We need to relocate to a more user-friendly place because of my husband's disability. He can no longer safely navigate the stairs in our split-level home. Trusting I will actually survive: Once I get to the other side of rocking my 4th House off its foundations (Jupiter crosses the IC in mid-June), I'll have the time to bring Keywords to paperback and eBook formats such as Kindle and Nook. Meanwhile, the PDF version works great on most devices, as described in the launch post.   ~ JM 

Keywords to Unlock Chiron: One-Month, One-Time Sale

15% Off PDF Version – Regular $9.99 for $8.49

Dear Radical Readers,

 

As most of you who visit often know, I normally give discounts on books and services only to members of my mailing list. During September 2013, I’m offering a rare, general discount in honor of my sweet cat, Duffy, who left us on July 31, 2013 after almost 18 years on the planet. He was love and beauty incarnate and such a healing presence in my life. It didn’t take me long to think of this wonderful memorial to him—to bring more healing into the world via my newest, full-length Chiron book at a reduced price.

The way my other publishing projects are queuing up, the paperback and e-reader versions of Keywords will not be available until 2014. This is your chance to get the PDF version for less than it will cost you for any of the others. If you want to read it sooner than later, now’s the time to do it at a discount.

 

Duffy as a Kitten

For those pet lovers who want to know the backstory on how Duffy and his littermate Darrin reincarnated to me from their prior lives as my cats, Phineas and Georgie, read Baby Angels. The D’s were born on Sept. 28, 1995, time unknown, with their 4+ Libra Suns exactly conjunct my Venus. Not hard to understand why they were the kitty loves of my life or why their loss, each in turn, was so huge.

If you’d like more information on Keywords, read the launch post for all the details. Since this sale honors Duffy—and Darrin, too—the reduced price will be in effect to celebrate what would have been their 18^th birthday on Sept. 28, 2013. I’m throwing a few extra days to make the sale effective now through all of September.

Please use the link on the sidebar or purchase via this link at the Radical Virgo Store. (There's a nice capsule of what's in the book on the RV Store link.) The price will be modified temporarily  to reflect the September Sale.

Gentle healing to all, however you need it—

Joyce

"Keywords to Unlock Chiron" - New Book Now Available in PDF!

Dear Radical Readers,

I’m thrilled to announce the release of my new, full-length book in PDF format, Keywords to Unlock Chiron: 50 Passageways to Healing and Wholeness. In my previous post, Chiron: Wounded Healer, Wholeness Weaver, you got a preview--a collage of the 50 most important words or phrases that, together, weave the tapestry of Chiron’s meaning. 

I cover each one in depth in this new book. Not only is there a standalone chapter on each of the keywords or phrases; how they interrelate becomes obvious by the device of bolding the keywords as they are mentioned in other chapters. The same ones repeat throughout the “conversation.” You soon will see not just the big picture but the stitches of reiterating words that hold together the substance of Chiron’s interpretation. I cite the “discovery source” of each word or phrase—whether it comes from the myth of Chiron, the astronomy of the centaur planet Chiron or the cultural changes around the time Chiron was discovered. Folklore even finds its way into the mix as we learn both superstitions and some of the more frequent "omenclature" of comets, half of Chiron's astronomical identity.

Astrological interpretation is built on metaphors. Keywords reveals how the underlying concepts behind these words help us grow toward wholeness—words such as hero, mentor, healer, weaver, catalyst and stuck. As I mention in the post cited above, a good starting phrase for Chiron is Wounded Healer, Wholeness Weaver.  The book begins with Weaver and ends with Wholeness. You’ll have a sense of the process and healing curve Chiron brings into our lives. When pain or disowned parts of ourselves finally hurt enough, we are pushed by discomfort or misery to break the logjam and dare to become more of ourselves.

Chiron is both personal and outerplanetary. It is the archetype for the Third Millennium. The tight conjunction of Chiron and Pluto at the Big Turn on January 1, 2000 foretold the cosmic importance of our current global issues with the healing of power and the power of healing.

Your personal message from Chiron lies in which keywords “hit home” for you. There’s a handy reference tool at the back of the book that suggests which keywords are the likeliest home runs for you based on your Chiron sign and aspects to Chiron in your chart. Two chapters match your Chiron configuration with specific healing modalities.

The PDF version of Keywords is now available at $9.99. This is a bargain, considering it’s the download of my 25 years of research and focus on Chiron. You can purchase the PDF e-book on the sidebar of this blog or directly at The Radical Virgo Store. Other versions will become available over the months to come—e-reader and paperback with other possibilities to be determined.

Why Choose PDF?

One of Chiron’s key words is Ecology. Besides saving trees, there are many advantages to buying the book in PDF:

1. It’s the first available and the most unabridged version. You’ll have the information at your fingertips early-on. (This perk is especially for the Aries and Mars-prominent folks.)
   
   
2. You don’t need an e-reader like Kindle or Nook to access a PDF file, though most devices can read this format. You can read Keywords on your computer—and more! See below.
   
   
3.  PDF is the least expensive version, although the e-reader versions will be similarly priced. Paper costs more to produce and requires higher pricing.
   
   
4.  The PDF version is full of rich, color images just like my blogs. That makes for a more comfortable read. It’s in 12-point type, easy on the eyes. Color printing is costly. It remains to be seen how “graphic” the paperback version will be based on quality  black-and-white conversions of the images I'm sure you'll agree help "make" the book.
   
   
5. You can print out as much or as little of the book as you choose, including your favorite passages.
   
   
6. You can keep a copy on your computer and have a searchable document any time you want to look up something you want to remember or re-explore.
   
   
7. Adobe has a free application to download PDFs onto your iPad, iPhone or Android phone. You can buy this book once and enjoy it on your computer, phone or pad. You can read it on the go. My preview readers say it's an easy read on an iPad.
   
   
8.    PDFs can also be read on most devices with two simple steps:
   
   a.   From your search engine, enter how to read PDF on (name of device).
   
   b.   Follow the instructions of whichever article looks the easiest.

Here are directions for Kindle, as an example. I tested these on my B&W Kindle. There are, of course, limits, since the PDF is not designed specifically for the Kindle format. Suggestions: Using your Aa button, increase the contrast to darker or darkest.  Increasing type size really doesn't work well as the formatting goes pretty wonky. The best read is on Fit to Screen. Though the print is small, it's surprising how legible bold, small type is with increased contrast. You can also move to landscape view which gives you bigger type without funky formatting. It allows you the experience of one of the key phrases, A Different Perspective. That worked best for me, as I have one of the smaller screens without color capability. Limits: A few photos are too dark and difficult to discern and footnotes do not link. Same on footnotes reported for iPad.

If you're an avid Note reader, wait till the Kindle or other e-reader versions are available--or purchase the  PDF and read whatever Notes you want to explore on your computer. The printed version, of course, has no linkability. Are we spoiled or what?  If you've got a Kindle Fire or another color reader, some of these PDF limitations will go away with the higher technology, larger screens and the ability to reproduce the color photos as-is.

What’s Inside?

Two preview posts give abbreviated examples of the kinds of essays this book contains on each keyword: Maverick and Spirit in Matter. There’s one key word or phrase per chapter. Keywords to Unlock Chiron expands on something I’ve been doing since the early days of Chironicles newsletter in the 1990s and on this blog, the Chiron’s Keyword Corner feature. Existing Keyword Corner features have been updated and expanded, plus many more were written  exclusively for this book. The handful of Keyword Corners already posted on The Radical Virgo has grown to 50 in this new book format.

It Doesn’t Look Like Other Astrology Books

Just as Chiron the mythical centaur had very unique looks indeed, Keywords doesn’t look like your typical astrology book. It’s light on astrological technicalities. People who aren’t even into astrology will get a lot out of it. Who doesn’t need healing and wholeness? Keywords to Unlock Chiron is all about interpretation of Chiron’s archetypal meaning.

By taking the journey into the background of each keyword, you’ll have a mental and emotional storehouse of Chiron’s message for personal evolution. This will allow you to tune into the most intuitive yet accurate interpretations involving Chiron in astrology charts, including your own.

Truth in Advertising

You probably don’t want to print out the entire book unless you’re willing to sacrifice two-thirds of a ream of paper and can talk yourself out of any resulting eco-guilt. I debated whether do a PDF version of a book this length, but Keywords has been long awaited and postponed due to some of my own Chironic healing challenges—and my husband’s. (Note the adjective form of Chiron has “ironic” in it.) This format allows me to bring it to you as soon as possible. If you still can’t live without a printout, plan on getting the fattest binder you can find and making enough confetti with the paper punchings to celebrate the New Year. (Please recycle.)

You can also consider doing what I do for my favorite Astro-references. Buy the book in electronic format now and paperback later. The PDF will be searchable and readable on your computer and other devices. The paperback will be good on your reference shelf for those who like the low-tech perks and the feel of paper, as well as the sound and smell of a squeaky yellow highlighter. After all, one of Chiron’s key phrases is Not Either/Or but Both/And.

You can always purchase it later when the paperback or e-reader versions come out … but, of course, I hope you can’t wait!

What Preview Readers Are Saying

“Your writing is like getting a letter from a friend containing golden advice.” ~ JT, United Kingdom

“A delightful blend of astrology, humor and valuable insights into our own human nature, Keywords brings the magic of Chiron alive and teaches us how to apply its multidimensional wisdom to our everyday lives. It is a fabulous fun-filled guide for anyone seeking greater self-awareness or simply wanting to 'amp up' their authentic self-expression.” ~ DS, California

Your feedback is welcome! Please sent your comments on the new book to me: joyce [at] joycemason.com or feel free to Comment on this blog post.

Publication Summary

Length:  301 pages (8.5 x 11)

Format: PDF

Publisher: New Inkarnation Media

Publication Date: June 18, 2013

Price: $9.99 US

Thanks for being part of my odyssey of learning and sharing about Chiron. I’m still as excited about this archetype today as I was on Day 1.

Healing and Wholeness,
Joyce

PS - Please click on by and Like the new Keywords Facebook Page.