Sagittarius Season: Shine a Light

From now until the Winter Solstice on December 21, we are keeping warm by the spiritual energy of the mutable fire sign of Sagittarius, the Archer. As we near the darkest night of the year, we benefit greatly by drawing the essence of fire, of spirit into our lives. Sagittarius is a visionary sign, reminding us to open and expand our minds and hearts, increasing our capacity for Life. At this time, we need Big Picture thinking and soulful wisdom to keep things in perspective.

“This too shall pass”

Sagittarius helps us to find spiritual fortitude, a strength to keep going even when we feel challenged. We would do well to have compassion for those individuals that aren’t feeling great at this time. Some folks feel a bleakness at this dark time of the year, whether affected by less daylight or difficult times in general. Perhaps that person lost someone dear this year, or they are in the midst of a separation or divorce. Maybe the kids are gone, or maybe the holiday season simply brings up sadness. It is helpful to remember that not everyone is feeling that it’s “the most wonderful time of the year,” even if the songs on the radio would like us to feel that way in order to spend more money at the shopping malls.

Shine a Little Light

It may be useful to light a candle for yourself or for a loved one that may be in a dark space – maybe they’re wrought with grief, or maybe they’re depressed or anxious. Prayer and meditation are simple, portable, free aids available to each of us. Remember, it’s necessary to ask for help and receive guidance and protection when the world is just too much for us. Even if we know that it will pass, we can still reach out and get support.

It’s important to remember, too, that some people cannot handle intensity and so try to fix it when we bring up our sadness, pain, or grief. Remember that offering solutions is a dicey business when someone is in a hard place. Rather than offering advice, we can gently ask the person if we can help in any way. Perhaps they just want to be heard, and don’t need our latest 'n greatest remedy. A few super sentences that always seem to help are: “I know you’re going to get through this. I love you and I believe in you. You are doing a great job.”

This is the wisdom of Sagittarius – to believe in our selves and each other, no matter how dark the times may be. This season, keep a candle lit in your heart or on your mantle. Someone may need that light, and it may, in fact, be you.

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.

Intuitive Readings and Energy Clearings ~ December Client 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.

 

 

Full Moon in Gemini: The Saturn-Neptune Square

 

Today is the full moon in the mutable air sign of Gemini, the Twins. Mercurial Gemini is the sign of duality,‘the other,’ and the power of a versatile, flexible, curious mind. Unfettered, hopped-up Gemini energy is so buzzy that it can feel incredibly ungrounded, disorienting when left to its own devices. This mentalizing lunation arises in the atmosphere like an agitated nervous system. It is hard to focus, it is hard to decide, it is hard to complete tasks. An untrained Gemini mind is a mischievous monkey mind.

“The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.” ~ C.G. Jung

The beauty of a voluminous Gemini moon is that we are incredibly stimulated and have a lot of mental energy. But what to do, what's a priority? It can feel like scrambled airwaves, a bunch of static. How do we handle this when the holiday season is just starting its ramp-up? We have places to go, people to see, and things to do. Some of us are finishing up end-of-year projects, school semesters, business deals. Because it is a full moon, we are hyper-aware of what has to be finished up, cleaned up, and cooked up for the next two weeks. It can feel like, “Oh me! Oh my! I’m so disorganized!” Where do we start?

Saturnine Sobriety vs. Neptunian Drifting

Part of the problem might be the current influence of the Saturn-Neptune square, exact at this Full Moon. Saturn wants us to stick to a structure, make a plan, build for the future, and be practical. Neptune, on the other hand, tempts us to check out, pop open the Prosecco, watch another movie, and wistfully dream of what could be. How in Heaven’s name do we reconcile these two major influences? The aspect is a 90-degree square, so it is filled with maximum power, albeit hidden in challenge. We only have to find the exact right key to unlock the potential.

Ideally, we look to our birth charts to see which houses contain the two transiting planets. Therein lie clues to your personal solution. For instance, perhaps Saturn is transiting your Sixth House of health and discipline, while Neptune squares from the Tenth House of career. Well, you might need to reel in your eating and exercise habits (or splurges, as it were), in order to benefit from a period of high creativity in your profession. Just one example of how one planet's discipline can open up another planet's potential. (Contact Erin for a personal consultation to look at your influences more deeply.)

Even if we don’t know where the planets are pricking our personal charts, we can be honest with ourselves enough to know where we need reining in, vs. loosening up and trusting the Divine Order of things. Saturn is probably poking you to grow up and become more realistic in some area that you’ve let go for too long. It’s gotten messy, disorganized, dusty, or vague. Go there. Whether it’s an internal or external discipline that’s called for, tend to it and you’ll feel a whole lot better, stat. Think of Saturn as an anchor to ground nebulous Neptunian influences, to bring Heaven to Earth, imagination into form.

This Saturn-Neptune square influence will continue through September 2016, so now’s a good time to take this structure-v.-dissolving lesson to heart. Here are the exact dates: November 26, 2015; June 17, 2016; and September 10, 2016.

We must keep in mind the Ultimate Oneness of Neptune, the nothingness and everythingness of non-duality, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, acknowledging that Life Happens in Duality, the Saturnine realm of this and that, yin-and-yang, self and other, you and me reality. Just like Gemini, consistently seeing both sides of the equation, it is both being and becoming, everything and nothing, form and formless. Such is the challenge, the awakening, and the potential hidden in the Saturn Neptune square. May you find the key to unlock its power NOW.

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.

Giving Thanks! ~ Client Appreciation Special

Giving Thanks!

Client Appreciation Special

Sliding Scale Readings with Erin Reese

through November 30

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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.

New Moon in Scorpio: The Courage to Change

On Wednesday, November 11, we welcome the New Moon in the fixed water sign of Scorpio. Scorpio is the sign of rebirth. The sign of the serpent eagle asks us to face the symbolic deaths in our lives that help us rise up, more powerful and clearer than ever, like the phoenix rises from the ashes.

Real growth is not for the meek of heart. Massive transformation requires massive courage. This lunation is about finding the strength to endure, and mustering the guts, grit and fortitude to grow. It is not just about self-willfulness, though. We don’t just ‘white-knuckle it’ to get through, and we don't make knee-jerk decisions; we approach change with a new wisdom – a Scorpionic tenacity, heartiness, and mastery.

Finding Strength

“Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final.” ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

Think back to all the times before that you’ve faced your darkest fears and – somehow, somewhere – you've been lifted to a higher level of awareness, a better position in life. What got you through?

For some, it’s the support of community or family; for others, it’s the belief in a higher power – the faith that we’re being looked after by the greater good in Life. Some folks pray or meditate; others dig in their heels and take action, compartmentalizing emotions and soldiering through. For most of us, it’s a combination. But no matter what area needs bolstering, it must go deep, to the quick. This is because Scorpionic change occurs at the root level, the core of existence. There is nothing superficial about it. 

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” e.e. cummings

At this New Moon, we thrive when we ask ourselves the difficult questions: what do we need in order to thrive in the long-term? We may have to defer short-term comforts when we realize that what will truly help us soar requires a greater vision. We may have to hold out a bit longer for the gold; we may have to dig a bit deeper – but we will hit pay dirt so long as we don’t give up. Scorpio is the ultimate survivor, giving us the steadfastness to hang in there as long as we need.

When root-system rebirth is occurring in our lives, whether it be a relationship ending or changing form, a career goal taking everything we’ve got, or a health issue we can no longer ignore, it’s hard to remember that it all takes place in the Now. There is no rush. In fact, trying to do it too quickly – to patch it up before the wound is cleaned or even before there’s a thorough diagnosis – can create infectious problems later. Better we take the time we need for a complete inspection. Give it a couple more hours, days, weeks or months. Go for the x-rays, get the deep cleaning, have the exam, talk to your therapist. See what’s in the underbelly, assess the situation, take your time.

Remember: massive change requires equally huge helpings of patience, fortitude, and courage. Gather and draw on all that you need. As a result, at the absolutely perfect time, you will rise up, stronger and wiser than ever before.

“Life shrinks or expands according to one’s courage.” ~ Anais Nin

Where is the New Moon affecting your chart? Do you need a personal astrology update? Email Erin for a look at your horoscope.

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.