Friday, July 31, 2015

Full Moon in Aquarius: Feed Your Inner Rebel



Today we celebrate the Full Moon in the fixed air sign of Aquarius, sign of the eccentric, the genius, the revolutionary. The future-oriented Water Bearer is not born to fit in; she is here to stir up the status quo, to disrupt things in order to help us evolve. Folks heavily influenced by this sign, or by its ruler Uranus, will tend to feel like misfits or outcasts until they start steppin’ to the drumbeat that is uniquely theirs.

At this time of the full moon in Aquarius, we benefit by heeding the voice of our Inner Rebel. Are we trying too hard to fit into society’s box? Are we feeling squished? Are family expectations starting to strangle our spirits? If you’re paying attention, you can hear the inner rebel whisper before it starts screaming and creating earthquakes.

My own inner rebel starts poking me in the wee hours of the morning, when I most need to get to my writing desk. Or when I need to take a few days off to go into the woods and howl at the moon.  Or (and this is the most important rebel yell to heed) when I have to disappoint another to be true to myself. Ugh. Groan. The latter is a practiced art, one that gets so much easier over the years. It’s never fun to feel like you’re letting down those you love. But the alternative is bitter poison, lingering resentment. Much worse.

"Revolution doesn’t have to do with smashing something; it has to do with bringing something forth."

~ Joseph Campbell

Once the Aquarian part of us begins to honor the ‘inner quirk,’ life opens up dramatically for the better. We stop trying to be understood, trusting that the rest of the world will catch on – eventually. Aquarius is far ahead of its time, bringing us information from the future. It’s easy to reject these ideas because they seem odd, impossible, bizarre. But if we wait just a bit longer – maybe a few years or a couple decades – you’ll see that the Aquarian was onto something, indeed.

The Full Moon in Aquarius’ mantra could be, “I gotta be me, at all costs.” We can do our best to bring kindness and compassion to the table when we are challenging the status quo. But when the zany Uranian-ruled is piloting the rocket ship, come hell or high water, at the end of the day, we will break away.

There’s a method for the madness, a reason for the revolution. If you’re not busting out, you will only feel the frustration fester because, as Joseph Campbell states, “you didn’t have the guts to bring up your full moon and live the life that was your potential.”

So maneuver, squirm, stretch, claw your way out of the box. Bring up your full moon. The world is begging for your rebel yell!

Wildcat Peak
 Erin Reese is an author, spiritual guide, astrologer, and modern psychic reader based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She works with clients all over the world. For readings and spiritual counseling by Skype, phone or email, contact her directly. She can be reached for bookings at erin@erinreese.com.

Friday, July 17, 2015

Venus Retrograde Special: Love and Money Readings!

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 Venus Retrograde: Love and Money Readings
Astrology and Tarot Special Offer
From July 25 to September 6, Venus will turn retrograde and spend a tremendous amount of time juicing up our hearts in a specific, in-depth way. Venus is the ruling planet of love, relationships, money, creativity, attraction, desire, and pleasure. How will this astrological event impact you? Find out with a special Venus Retrograde "Love and Money" Reading!

Astrology Consultation ~ only $125
Tarot Consultation ~ only $95
  
Offer ends July 31, so make your booking now!
I look forward to reading for you!
Erin
* Consultations are 60 minutes via Skype, phone, or email.
* For astrology, include your time, date, and place of birth.
Erin Reese is an author, spiritual guide, astrologer, and modern psychic reader based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She works with clients all over the world. For readings and spiritual counseling by Skype, phone or email, contact her directly. She can be reached at erin@erinreese.com.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

New Moon in Cancer: Radical Self-Care


Today and for the next week we welcome the influences of the New Moon in the cardinal water sign of Cancer. We are now in ‘seed planting’ time, the hours and days following the lunation in which the influences and energies take root in our lives and being. Cancer is the sign of the feminine, mothering, womanhood, nurturing, and self-care. No matter whether we are male or female, we all have a feminine side that must be honored in order to feel whole, sane, in-balance, healthy, and full-filled. Happy and satisfied.

I have been receiving intuitive ‘downloads’ about this New Moon for several days. As I’ve stated before, I never write a forecast from my head, listing astrological aspects without integration. No, I have to viscerally feel the influences of the planets – embody them – in order to relay them to you, my beloved readers. In this case, the building New Moon energies in Cancer were so potent that I was literally incapable of writing until I had passed through the vortex of channeling!

Cancer is a cardinal water sign, symbolized by the crab. Her colors are silver and purple, the stone is Moonstone. Her ruler is the changeable, intuitive, sensitive Moon.

At this lunation, the Sun and Moon are joined by a tight conjunction with Mars, the planet of action and will-to-power, and Mercury, mover ‘n shaker, communicator and neural networker – also in watery, receptive, reflective Cancer. These four planets need us to rest, to mother ourselves, to take needed downtime. A screen-free day, evening, hour. A slew of home-cooked, classic meals – comfort food. A day by the river, a hike in the forest. A languid lovemaking session with self or partner. Siestas in clean sheets. Star gazing and imbibing the sweet air of a summer evening.

However, there is a proverbial fly in the ointment. Opposing this Cancerian entourage of self-care suitors lies powerful Pluto in Capricorn. There’s a showdown, a challenge to our efforts to relax, to soothe the nervous system, release the jaw tension, and take a timeout. Pluto is the Boss Man here, compelling us to find the inner authority, new strength, from our very bone-depths. You can find it: it’s there! It may be hidden below a pile of superego garbage, but the feminine voice of self-love, acceptance and gentleness must prevail at this New Moon.

The superego may say, “No, you have to go to work, work, work. You have to finish these reports, remodel your kitchen, landscape your front yard, go to every social obligation offered, earn more money no matter if you’re completely wiped out, and pay the piper!” Pluto can be quite intimidating, a shadowy, imposing character. But if we look past the dragon breath and red blazing eyes and understand that our demons actually encourage us to find inner power, we will find something richer in the transformation: our deepest, truest authentic self, and the strength to say “No” right back.

We take a down day, or half day at least. We tell the superego, “I will get back to you. I’m resting.” We may even let him go to voice mail, and wait until he cools off before responding at all. In short, Pluto entices us to find our own power – the power to protect our own self sanctuary. Pluto forces us to honor our id, the pleasure principle, and to heed our inner shouts and tantrums that demand we give ourselves what we need.

Nothing should get in the way of self-care during this New Moon cycle. For what happens if we ignore the voice of our inner Healing Woman? We become enslaved, locked in jail cells of our own making. We go slowly mad, whether we are male or female. Our sleep is disturbed, we lose our dream time. We go semi-postal on the freeway, we yell and bicker and bitch with our mates, our co-workers, our children, the government. These are all clues that we haven’t been listening to a deeper need to self-soothe before it is too late and our efforts become twisted. We get more than a little kooky, and others notice it too. Maybe they’re also overtaxed in some way and have been handcuffed in their own minds. Maybe they need self-acceptance, too.

Perhaps we can take the initiative, exemplifying gentleness and belly-breathing until they also get the hang of it. If not, if they're too addicted to the incessant superego, we can let them run ragged and instead go solo, take a time out, hide away, turn off the phone, and trust that the world will turn without us.

If even for a moment, at this New Moon cycle, we are called to Honor the Feminine.We all need it.

Wildcat Peak
 Erin Reese is an author, spiritual guide, astrologer, and modern psychic reader based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She works with clients all over the world. For readings and spiritual counseling by Skype, phone or email, contact her directly. She can be reached for bookings at erin@erinreese.com.

Friday, July 3, 2015

Freedom and Independence ~ Client Appreciation Special!

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Erin Reese is an author, spiritual guide, astrologer, and modern psychic reader based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She works with clients all over the world. For readings and spiritual counseling by Skype, phone or email, contact her directly. She can be reached at erin@erinreese.com.

Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Full Moon in Capricorn: How to Get Results




Today we have a Full Moon in the cardinal earth sign of Capricorn, the Sea Goat. Full Moons shed light on the progress of any seeds we have planted over the past two weeks, since the New Moon. How are our ideas and projects coming along? Do we see growth, fulfillment, signs of success? Or do we need to face facts and scrap some of our best-laid plans? When Luna shines full and bright, the intensity is turned up. It is a quickening, and can be unsettling if we’ve been on the “wrong” road.  Conversely, if we’re humming along in tune with our inner and outer natures, Full Moon time is affirming, encouraging, and rewarding.

With today’s Full Moon in Capricorn, we now reflect: how did all that Gemini-buzz energy pan out last month? Did we run around like chickens in the barnyard, clucking here and there yet never really doing anything productive? Did we gobble and gab about our grand plans yet forget to put foundations under them? This week and into next, the writing will be on the wall. Capricorn, an earth sign, wants realistic results.

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them." - Henry David Thoreau

Capricorn rules the Tenth House in astrology, which is where we bring our wisdom and experience to the greater world. We own our authority, we take responsibility, we lead in some large or small way in our lives. The signs and planets in your natal Tenth House will indicate the tone and scope of this task in your unique experience. But for all of us, we are asked, are we making it happen? Not just talk, but real, concentrated, measurable action.

Capricorn, the Goat, climbs huge mountains, not for praise or publicity (though honors and recognition, when well-earned, are also part of Cappy’s realm), but because it is right and true and good to manifest ones potential in this world, in this lifetime. Call it lifespan development, call it maturation – call it what you will. It is a natural part of the human experience and can be summed up in three symbolic words: becoming an adult. Yep. We have to grow up sometime.

Capricorn is known for being wise beyond his or her years. Ruled by Saturn, aka Father Time, this sign has weathered its share of hard knocks and has earned its stripes. Capricorn does not shirk effort; she welcomes it, knowing it is a worthy venture. Sure, this sign also needs to ease up and be less of a taskmaster. She needs to know when to let off the gas pedal, stop pushing herself or others so hard. Adding a splash of gentleness to the mix is a wise idea. Any employee or family member knows that a good boss or leader attracts more bees with honey than vinegar. Capricorn rules management, fatherhood, and the military. A team or platoon will follow its captain anywhere with the right mix of carefully considered strategy, confidence, and respect for all involved.

At this lunation, we can ask ourselves, how are we managing our lives? Are we climbing worthy mountains? Do we have meaningful (to us) aspirations? Are we willing to do the hard work to get to the top? If we put in the effort now, over the next few weeks or months we will most definitely have something solid, lasting, tangible, and reliable to show for it. Keep climbing.

Enjoy Yourself: Venus conjunct Jupiter in Leo

Also exact on this Full Moon day we have two pleasure-seeking planets doing a happy dance in life-loving Leo: Venus/Aphrodite conjunct Jupiter/Zeus. When these two are partying, they do it in a big way, and they want you – no, they order you – to join in!

So if you’re wondering why you’re not feeling all productive and practical yet, perhaps you’ve forgotten to pay homage to the goddess of love and pleasure and the god of generosity and expansion. Give yourself a splash of indulgence, and see if you get reinvigorated for your tasks at hand.

Do you take breaks? Enjoy a splurge on a satisfying treat meal? Visit friends for a night of laughs or a day at the seaside? Wise managers, leaders, and parents know that cheerful employees and happy family members are healthier and more productive over time. So remember that part of the discipline of Capricorn-builder energy requires finding the right mix of play vs. focus, relaxation vs. work, push vs. let-go.
 
Steady as she goes. It’s important to remember that the best mountain climbers and expeditionists know how to take care of themselves. They’re in it for the long haul, whether building a new business, writing a manuscript, or climbing Kilimanjaro.  Water stops, pacing, weather patterns, supplies are vital to take stock of regularly. Pleasure and enjoyment must be built into the game.


Erin Reese is an author, spiritual guide, astrologer, and modern psychic reader based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She works with clients all over the world. For readings and spiritual counseling by Skype, phone or email, contact her directly. She can be reached at erin@erinreese.com.



Post-script Tip: The Timer Method

Got a task that you need to finish but can’t get started? Maybe it’s cleaning the house, working on your finances, writing another chapter of your dissertation, or dealing with other drudgery. Try the timer method. Set it for twenty minutes and focus on the task at hand for just that long.

We can endure almost anything for 20 minutes. When the buzzer goes off, see if you want to give it another go. I’ve written entire academic papers using the timer method again and again. And I often use it when packing for a big trip and I don’t know where to start, what to bring. The timer method helps us stay focused and make some progress without having the perfectionist monster breathing down our backs. Try it and beat the procrastination bug!