Photo quote de jour


Is the holiday season making you feel squirrelly or like a monkey with it's tail on fire? Are you thinking no, no, no instead or ho, ho, ho?  It's estimated that our brains are bombarded with seven times more stimuli as our grandparents. I deliberately abstained from all social media during my travels and it was bliss. This holiday season, try less stimulation for more peace. I find the chemical-free method (no not spiked eggnog!) that helps is any form of meditation, breathing, chanting, praying or yoga to tame the monkey mind of its chatter. Even during meditation thoughts pop up, but with awareness we can observe them drift away like clouds as we return to our focus to our breathing and the present moment.

The photo above is of my guru Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, simply known as Amma or the hugging saint. She's hugged a mind-boggling 30 million people over the past thirty years. Even the most skeptical person melts once they see her in action. I felt lucky to snap this photo of this altar at a recent retreat in Dearborn Michigan where I learned some new meditation techniques. I can't share them here, but they are free for anyone to learn, as are her darshan or sacred hugs. Amma.org

If you're having communication, techie, electronic or computer problems of late don't despair. It's that time again astrology's bugaboo, Mercury in Retrograde again. I'm double-checking everything. No wonder this is so late! If you are into such things, please read what astrologer Sparrow Moon has to say.

Well, little Mercury is passing between us and the Sun once again. Because his orbit is so fast, he does it 3 or 4 times a year. Typically when Mercury is in retrograde, issues from the past resurface. Past relationships are more likely to reunite during Mercury's retrograde. Also, its easier to connect with the other side, and we may receive messages from past over loved ones in ways that are not always so subtle. Its not a good time to sign contracts or start something new, like a new job. Often things initiated during a Mercury's retrograde with fizzle out.

This Mercury's retrograde is going to be most difficult when Mercury is at his retrograde station and a few days before and after. When a planet is at retrograde station, it is at the point where it is changing from a forwards to a backwards motion. Mercury will cross Pluto, the planet of death and rebirth, on the New Moon, December 5th. There could be jealousy, arguments, transportation problems, and especially computer problems beginning then. Then from the last day of Hanukkah, December 9th, through December 14th, Mercury, Pluto, and Mars will all move to an exact conjunction! Mercury rules communication, transportation, and short trips. Pluto governs passion, criminal behavior, and transformation. Then add Mars, the warrior, who represents sex, energy, and fights! There will be all kinds of mishaps, misfortunes, and misunderstandings, especially on Monday December 13th.

Once Mercury, Pluto, and Mars begin to separate, and Mercury gets moving along his backward path (around December 15th), we should see the typical Mercury retrograde behavior. An old friend may call, or we may find ourselves digging out old boxes of stuff and sorting through them. Leave extra time for travel, and make sure important files on the computer are backed up.

There could be a second Mercury retrograde flare-up around December 20th and 21st. Mercury will be at negative aspects to Uranus and Jupiter while we have a Full Moon lunar eclipse. There could be a lot of misunderstandings and just plain selfish decisions in the air, and the eclipse will be amplifying them.

Mercury will turn direct on December 30th (29th in some areas), and luckily, we should find this transition almost uneventful.

Mercury's retrograde path will begin at 5 degrees 56 minutes Capricorn, and will end at 19 degrees 39 minutes Sagittarius. If you have any inner planets (Sun through Mars) or any power points on your natal chart in Mercury's path, you may want to consult an astrologer for more information.