NMR ISSUE 29

An Urban Wicca
Astrological Forecast 29
Editorial 29
Flamingo, Centipede & Falcon
Gratitude
Letters 29
Mari
Media Manipulation
Outing Children
Spirit of the Night
The Goddess of Writing Speaks
The Magical Flute
The Magickal Diary
The Split Between Spirit and Nature

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Astrological Forecast

January February, 1994

By Terry Lamb, M.A.

You've spent nearly 18 months on the bridge, and you're about to set foot on solid ground once again. Like any sailor, you've acquired your sea legs, and it will take some time to lose the sense of the undulating waves beneath you as you get used to the land again. After that long time at sea (and with the storms you endured), you feel off balance. Your metabolism is out of kilter, your sense of reality skewed, so the shift in motion and modality is a welcome change.

Such is the feel as we complete one of the rarest (and hardest to deal with) energy patterns that the skies have produced in recent memory. We've been dealing with the immovable object, and it has been tenuous at beast, living with this incredible resistance in our lives. Still, there is a time for that in the experience of human reality. It toughens us and strengthens our resolve. It gives us time to refine our approach and attitude toward life and teaches us how to deal with the unforgiving aspects of nature. It also teaches us patience, we who tend to identify with our mortal flesh. Only if we identify with our spiritual nature can we ride out this forceless force with calm and inner independence.

I fought mightily against the trends for over a year. When I finally gave up, I found the source of tranquility within myself. That came at the end of October. What has emerged out of surrender is hope and an incurable optimism that we are through the worst. Perhaps not in the world around us, but on the inside, in that sense of the dark night of the soul. Which is worse, the desolation within or without? If we bring wholeness to what occurs around us, surely that cannot be as bad as if we bring drooping shoulders and a beaten spirit to what occurs. So we must find that wholeness within. While we cannot stop the pain we see around us, (for we cannot control others who follow a destructive course through lack of vision and integrity), we can look for what we can influence—the minds of the young, the health of the planet and child within any person. We do this most profoundly by setting an example of personal responsibility and kindness, and we can only do this if we come from our center.

Globalization is at hand, or we die. If we cannot cooperate, we will kill ourselves, either directly or by killing the parts of our planet, which support our life forms. Time for the planet is running out, but there is time for humans to learn to get along and to come to one mind on critical environmental and economic issues. We cannot win the Chinese or Mexican governments over to a healthier way of supporting the planet or their people by shutting them out. Nor can we win anyone if we cannot manage our own nation's environment more responsibly. Those who are reluctant to change their lifestyle now may wish in ten years that they had been more flexible. Sadly, the Oregonian lumberman is hit more squarely than the New York executive, even though they both support an ecologically unwise way of living. But who said life was fair?

To listen to me, you'd think I was an incurable pessimist, but I am not. In spite of the apparent outlook for the future, I think that brinksmanship is a strong trait of homo sapiens and that innovation and adaptability will ultimately rescue us—although as we have seen, not without a certain level of pain and discomfort. It's all part of the plan, part of life on this earth, this experiment in consciousness.

1994 is a year of relatively unfettered new beginnings, but if we come into it limping and disillusioned, we can at least know that there is an end to the tunnel—even if we can't yet see the light there. In fact, 1994 will be a year of dissolving—dissolving of hatreds, boundaries and divisions, yes. It could also bring dissolvings of a more negative nature—toxic matter into water and homes out from under people as the Midwest floods yet again. Or it could bring a new energy of spiritualization to the planet. Chances are, we notice all these effects, and the effect upon which we can have the most influence is the spiritualization process. By meditating, praying and doing ritual, we can do more to enlighten the consciousness of every human being. Because it works on the unseen level, we may tend to underrate its impact, but the need for this work has never been greater.

With enough effort, the hundredth monkey phenomenon can be triggered. This is named for the now fabulized true story of the monkeys on the islands of Japan, where one monkey learned to wash her sweet potatoes in the sea to clean off the sand and soon taught it to young and the other members of her social group. As the story goes, after a certain number of monkeys learned to wash their food in this way, the monkeys on another island, with whom these monkeys had no contact, began spontaneously to wash their food in the same way. The hypothesis that explains this is the morphogenetic field, wherein a field of consciousness is created as many minds move along the same path. At some point, the awareness of this field is precipitated into the minds of others spontaneously where no mental awareness had heretofore existed.

If there was ever a time when the hundredth monkey phenomenon could be potentiated, it would be in 1994. It is a time full of possibility and innovation, the time when the new beginning forged over the next few years can begin to be put into practice.

JANUARY: As in previous years, the yearly cycle is commencing near the beginning of the year. However, it is slipping away from the New Year holiday and occurring more toward the middle of the month. Look for your activities to follow this broad planetary pattern as they have for the past few years.

In fact, we have what could be called a superconjunction in Capricorn this year. While it is not of the magnitude of the one which occurred in October of 1984, where all the planets fell within 72, this one occurs with all the planets within 107, and in the sign of Capricorn rather than Scorpio. What is particularly exciting about this one is its involvement with Uranus and Neptune, the great conjunction that occurred last year, beginning a new 176-year cycle.

Thus we can expect January to be a time of seed-planting and new insights. This energy will pervade the entire month but be especially strong from the 1st through the 18th. Within this time frame, we will find a core focus around the 11th, the date of the New Moon.

Capricorn is an energy that has been greatly misunderstood, and yet it must be comprehended if we are to work successfully with our reality in 1994. Typically, Capricorn is thought of as the sign of limitation, restriction and depressive emotional energies. It does give us a sense of structure and the foundation of civilization. In fact, its energies can be seen in the forms of government, civilized life and the benefits we reap from waking up to the same political world every day. It is really more a form of consciousness than anything else is, however, and it is how humans use it that, if anything is less than optimal.

Capricorn's view of the world can be likened to that which is acquired by long observation of history and its lessons. One's perspective becomes broader, wiser and more responsible. Personal responsibility is the keynote of Capricorn; it is a Cardinal (initiating) Earth (nurturing) Feminine sign. Indeed, we may think of it as the matriarch in the sense of the wisewoman who preserves the wisdom, history and bloodline of the tribal unit that she oversees. There is nothing domineering or controlling about her, yet that is how Capricorn is interpreted by our culture, and most people fall into the mold of that interpretation if they have not yet broken the bonds of acculturation.

Certainly during this month the globalization of economies, political systems and perspectives will be very much in the front of everyone's mind. There may be semi-cataclysmic events to turn our attention to these issues and remind us that much needs to be accomplished here.

On a personal level, it will be a time of activation of the Capricorn principle, as described above. There will be an urge to shift from a lower form of expression of the principle to a higher one in innovative ways, using re-invention as a modus operandi.

Although events during the first half of January will blend together into a melange of Capricornian experiences, take note of what happens on or around the 11th and 12th. This is when the new year-long cycle mentioned above begins. Jot down what happens on those dates because they will tie in what happens at the end of April, second week of July and beginning of October.

On the 20th, the Sun goes into Aquarius. Aquarius represents the principle of freedom in individuality. It is known for its independence, objectivity and rebellious spirit. You may feel more detached, sociable and individualistic, even eccentric for the next month—you'll know where that energy comes from!

Intellectual activities and paperwork will be highlighted on the 21st. New insights may come to you at that time. These may be translated into action over the next three days and feed into the Full Moon on the 27th.

The Full Moon gives us a fuller taste of the Aquarius energy through its polarity with Leo, which is where the Moon will be. The role of the individual and his/her efforts in the group are highlighted at this time; it is a good time for globalization processes, whether you are meditating for global peace or developing a new awareness of how you can contribute to the new world we are entering. This is a good time to take stock of your position in the structured arenas of life—the worlds of business, government, politics and society.

On the 28th, Saturn enters Pisces, vacating Aquarius where it has been for almost three years. Beginning last May for 6 weeks we caught a glimpse of what the next 2 years will hold as Saturn dipped into Pisces. You may want to examine that period of time to gain insight into what the coming time will bring. Pisces is the energy of spirituality and finding our niche in the universe, our place in the greater realms of Lord and Lady. During the next 2 years then, you can expect to be focused on grounding spirituality and creating realistic visions. You may also expect emotions to be closer to the surface; to cleanse many things buried deeply in your emotional nature—burdens that it is not necessary for you to carry any longer. Pitfalls during this time may be inappropriate idealism (too much or too little), dogmatism and a tendency toward self-pity.

On the 30th, you may feel as though you are at a crossroads in your life, and you may finally feel like making those changes in career or other ways of fulfilling your life purpose. You may have the urge to put together a long-range plan, and your efforts will be well applied now. As you do this, take for granted that you will expect too much of yourself, and be willing to modify your plans, goals and timing as they unfold. Relationship issues may also come up at this time; just make sure that you are not being too idealistic.

FEBRUARY: February begins on a wistful, idealistic note. You may not be sure if your dreams are realistic or not. Allow time to be the teacher about this. From the 5th through the 8th, there are some minor stressful energies at play. Greeted with a sense of humor, they should be a healthy impetus to accomplishment and growth, although it is unlikely that you will make major decisions or accomplish great deeds during this time.

Candlemas on the 2nd reminds us that the light is returning, that hope springs eternal with the cycle of the year. Soon warmer, brighter days will be with us. In the meantime, we can cherish the cozy warmth of the home fires as we do our inner work.

The New Moon on the 10th brings a challenge to relationships, and your values may need minor realignment. Look for the seeds of what arises back in early November of 1993. Bigger issues may bubble to the surface on the 11th and 12th. Self-esteem may reach a low point on the 12th and 13th, but don't take it seriously; it's only a reflection of the forces holding sway in the universe now. Don't be too forceful around the 15th. You may want to take hold of an opportunity and run with it. Approach this just as you would any other step on your path.

On the 18th, the Sun enters Pisces. Pisces symbolizes the misty inner realms of consciousness where the truth lies. With Saturn there, it will feel more structured, stable and grounded than in the past. Pisces tunes you into your feelings, both mundane and spiritual. Expect to be in touch with your dreams and visions during the coming month.

This is also the time to plan ahead as the another year-long cycle begins. This has to do with structure, accountability and self-discipline. Look at your plans of how you intend to live up to your responsibilities in life for the next year. You will gain new insight surrounding this issue especially from the 19th through the 21st. Also at that time, you may feel embolden to initiate some changes in your life. This time of transformation, both inner and outer, will last through the 27th.

On the 28th, however, you may wonder if you've gone too far out on the limb. If so, you'll be practicing your brinksmanship for the next four months; but all should turn out well, if you balance the practical and rational with the drive of your forward motion. The coming five months will be a time of working toward your goals. While obstacles will appear during this time, especially now (the end of February) and in mid-May, you can look forward to some real progress as the fruits of your labor beginning in August.

Although January and February this year may not seem much different from any other year on the outside, internally you may feel the energies of renewal and change. We have much to look forward to as the plans we have cherished over the past two years (or more) finally begin to be fulfilled. Make the best of this time to center and focus your will and intent, to replenish and rejuvenate the soul.

Blessed Be!