Astrology and Healing Magazine May 2018

Welcome to the May 2018 fifth Edition of Maggie and Michael’s Astrology and Healing Magazine, brought to you from their Healing Centre on the wild Atlantic way coast of Sligo in the West of Ireland.

This month’s issue covers the Healing modality of Befriending Your Unconscious Mind.

Plus clear and empowering inspirational expression of the Astrology of May 2018, especially:
Key dates to watch the working of your mind
and also
Understanding two key opportunities for developing occult insight and your necessary personal magical Will.

Astrologically speaking, the big theme for May 2018 (and beyond up to November) is:
1. that Mars enters Vedic Capricorn to create a conjunction there with Ketu, which is square Uranus.
2.  Saturn remains transit in Sagittarius.
3.  the Moon always faces challenge affecting the management of our minds, each month, when it goes through the sign of Vedic Scorpio.
So, note that what is created now, until November, is a sequence of three malefic signs for the Moon to pass through each month so as to create a big and palpable three-sign challenge to our management of our Minds. The dates are given below for each month. Note these and be prepared, and don’t be negatively affected.

BUT, above all, this can be a case of ‘out of darkness light’. Note that this can be a huge opportunity for you to use the distress or disempowerment to take two magical empowering steps:
a. You have opportunity and reason to develop Occult Awareness, and
b. This is a crucial chance to identify, develop and use your Magical Will.

There’s a video to go with each section: the healing and the astrology.

First of all, Maggie’s wonderful presentation on Healing:

Maggie’s Healing Modality: Befriending Your Unconscious Mind

All the approaches I use with clients focus on empowering them to be more in touch with their own inner resources and to find solutions and insights that are unique to them and that work for them.

Many years ago, an old trainer of mine said how clients come to us because they are out of rapport with their own unconscious and that my job was to act as a mediator or translator to improve that relationship. That is very different to me making up my mind about that is right for them and imposing my own version of their ideal life on them, or even worst imposing the same preconceived idea of what is right on everybody!!

So, let me give you my understanding of the role of the unconscious mind and how it really deserves to be seen as our friend and ally. Our unconscious mind is that part of us that controls and maintains our body functions, that stores our memories, that helps us access learned skills and habits easily (for good or bad!!), it connects us to the energies around us and gives us information and runs programs that it thinks are keeping us safe. I use the word ‘think’ here because sometimes it needs updating. Programs that kept us safe at the age of 6 may now be ones that restrict us and we may need to negotiate to enlist its cooperation to now give us a different response.

To me, it makes a lot of sense that when there are issues concerning our health and body energetics to work with that part of us that is expert in that area. Equally important is to communicate with it in a way it understands and is clear. For example, wanting to be confident at public speaking whilst focussing on all the times we messed up is giving it very confusing messages. So, understanding that the unconscious does not understand negatives (e.g. I don’t want to panic) and responds to images, we can see that the example I gave would produce images of panic and the resulting body response which is not what is intended. We can create a different strategy to communicate what we actually do want. And if there is some underlying memory that is causing that panicked reaction then the unconscious is the place to go to update that memory, to release the energy and the unwanted conditioned response.

The unconscious is very resourceful and creative and can offer responses beyond what we would have been able to come up with just relying on logic and what we consciously know. The famous American hypnotherapist, Milton Erickson, was known to send some of his patients up the nearby mountain Squaw Peak, with the invitation that they would have reached a different understanding or healed an issue by the time they came back down. And invariably they did.

Years ago, I attended a short Huna (Hawaian Shamanism) workshop and was intrigued that in Huna there are seen to be three selves, or three minds, and it is the Basic Self/Unconscious Mind/Body which is the bridge to higher consciousness. And I had been trying to think my way to higher wisdom and largely ignore my body! It was a wake up call to become more embodied and listen to my body’s signals and hunches much more. I believe, in the society we live in, the intellect is generally valued much more than instinctual wisdom so we aren’t encouraged to dialogue with our unconscious. In fact we may learn to fear it, believing that it is irrational (because it is unique to us and may not conform to what those around us believe or be easily justified with logic) or unreliable or make contain lots of murky memories we would rather avoid. What if it could be our friend and ally and help us to live more creatively and happily?

Looking at the different approaches I use with clients I can see how each modality helps build that better rapport with the UM in its own way:

• Emotion Cody & Body Code – uses muscle testing to get answers from the unconscious. We sometimes find that blocked energies can go back generations or be related to issues we would not have imagined
• Hypnotherapy – allows a space of relaxed inner focus where we can access and reframe memories, release energies, rehearse new positive scenarios, send messages to our unconscious of what is important to us right now. We can dialogue with it through body signals and ask it to make inner changes.
• OldPain2Go® dialogues with our unconscious in a very direct and straightforward way to ask the unconscious to reset old pain messages with often startling responses, such as the removal or significant reduction of pain in the body, including emotional pain
• EFT Tapping and Psy-Tap connect directly with the body’s energetic system
• Metamorphic Touch uses a gentle touch on the feet, hands and head on areas relating to the prenatal period and provides a space for us to contact our inner wisdom and unique reason for being here
• Bodywork and energy work allows the body greater freedom and ease which affects us on all levels

Other ways of getting in touch with that deeper inner wisdom include mindfulness, meditation, music, dance, any form of creativity, myth and storytelling, asking questions that open us to more awareness (e.g. what else is possible?), yoga, channelling, breathwork, walking, daydreaming and more. Find out what works for you. And if you feel like having a guide or interpreter to help you, then do get in touch and I’d be happy to work with you. Visit my website to learn more. And apart from hands-on bodywork all the modalities I use can be done over the internet to wherever you are in the world.

BOOK A SESSION: https://maggiepashley.com/

The Astrology of April 2018, from Michael Conneely:

The energies of the planets are presented in both the Sidereal Zodiac of Vedic Astrology (which has a destiny unfoldment focus), and also using the Tropical Zodiac of Western Astrology (which is focussed on our psychological identity and unfoldment).

To see the charts showing the planets’ positions for the start and the end of the month, also lunations and eclipses, go to Michael’s Starwheel Astrology website: www.starwheelastrology.com/2018-astrology.html
and information about the Planets in 2018 are covered by going to: www.starwheelastrology.com/2018-planets.html
Dates and times in this newsletter are for Sligo, Ireland. You can find your own dates and time here: www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html
You can book a Reading at: www.starwheelastrology.com/buyanastrologyreading.html
Or enroll on one of my courses at: www.mastervedicastrology.com, www.nakshatrasadvancedcourse.com   www.advancedvedicastrologycourse.com   www.enlightenedastrologycourse.com

So, now to turn to the Astrology of May 2018:

What are the top news items for May for you to be aware of and deal with?

1. The Big One: Mars enters Vedic sign of Capricorn and joins Ketu, the South Node of the Moon – and this conjunction is squared by Uranus:

Ketu – Mars – Uranus really rock the boat! This creates a big challenge and also a big opportunity:

The Challenge: Read below the Key dates to watch the working of your mind
and also
Understand two key opportunities:
For developing your occult insight and
For developing your needed magical Will.

On May 3rd, Mars enters the Vedic sign of Capricorn, occupying Vedic Capricorn for a record time, until November 5th.

So, in terms of the wonderful Nakshatras, the 27 Lunar Signs of Vedic Astrology, this transit starts with Mars in UttarAshada Nakshatra (Lunar Sign) entering Sravana Nakshatra on 28th May.

Ketu is in Sravana, but enters UttarAshadha on 31st August.

And note that using the Western astrology Tropical Zodiac, this Mars transit is 24 Western Capricorn to 23 Western Aquarius.

And a really big note: Mars will be conjunct the lunar eclipse on July 27th.

The big thing to note is that Mars stays such an exceptionally long time in Vedic Capricorn. This is because he includes a Retrograde whilst in this sign:

Mars turns retrograde on 25th June at 15 deg Vedic Capricorn, turning direct again at 4 Capricorn on  28th August. Usually he’s two months in a sign; this year he’s six months in a sign. And often the energy of Mars is more malefic when he’s Retrograde.

The other very big thing to note is that Mars is Exalted in Vedic Capricorn. So, because Mars is very strong in Vedic Capricorn, you need to note what House Capricorn is in your Vedic Chart, and you assess the effects that you might need to prepare for, plan for, deal with, capitalise upon and also the potential difficulties that you might need to manage in your mind, and in the material world, and also heal. Mars in Capricorn is practical and achievement-orientated.

And the very big thing to note is that Ketu South Node is already there transiting in Vedic Capricorn, and so this means that we have a long-running Mars-Ketu conjunction until November – see below.

Now, Ketu brings inspiration or meltdown; it’s antimatter: mysterious and unpredictable. And Uranus is the planet of radical disruption, liberating change and futuristic innovation and inspiration.

And another twist to this tale, is that when Mars enters Vedic Capricorn, the long-running conjunction of transiting Saturn and Mars in Vedic Sagittarius ends. It’s over at last with all its delays and frustrations.

And the endlessly building transiting Mars-Pluto conjunction at 27 Vedic Sagittarius also ebbs now, and people with temporary irritating Mars issues can now calm down!!!

BUT what energy will the long-running Mars/Ketu South Node bring us until November this year?

It can be quite assertive, even violent, especially in world military affairs. There can be fear, anger and uncertainty.

So, if Vedic Capricorn is your 7th House of Marriage, be prepared to spend extra effort to calm down irritations and confrontation and make special effort to build love.

And remember, Mars activation in Relationships can be problematic, this is the basis of Kuja Dosha in the Vedic Astrology of Love and Marriage.

And if Vedic Capricorn is your 4th House of Home, this is good for technical work in the home. Build that extension!

Mars does best when transiting your 3rd, 6th and 11th signs, and not so good when transiting your 5th, 9th and 12th Houses. But it’s not as simple as that because Vedic Astrology also has a wonderful system of assessing how supported (or otherwise) you and your life will be whenever a planet transits one of the signs in your birth chart: your Ashtakavarga score for each planet for each house. Just one of Vedic Astrology’s many special unique interpretative wonders, which means it takes more than one life-time to study! So do get in touch with me for a reading about your year ahead, and including this Mars-Ketu transit. See: www.starwheelastrology.com/buyanastrologyreading.html

Mars’ transit in Vedic Capricorn will be high-powered, full of energy and creative, full of endurance.

Avoid this being a case of intensity leading to explosion.

You can use your Mars transit to boost the affairs of the House that is Capricorn in your birth chart. So, if it’s your 11th House, use it to make money.

But during his Retrograde period, Mars will not be so active and florid, and you will have to take stock and assess what you have done since May 3rd! And evaluate what steps you need to underpin those areas of your life.

And, believe it or not, and this is big: Mars and Ketu will be square Uranus (transiting at 5 – 8 deg Vedic Aries, in Ashwini Nakshatra, during this period).

What lightning is unleashed! What inspiration!

OR how destructive, combative and impatient!!!

There will be explosive happenings and earthquakes. Ketu magnifies Mars! Uranus electrifies Mars! It’s up to you how you handle it.

You have received this invaluable perception. It can be innovation, zeal and inspiration. You decide!

There will be an energy that will include consciousness changes and metaphysical energies. Cultivate harmony. Use this energy for its electric best. Go for that project!

I myself will be using this time working with an artist and musician working with a theatre in Chicago, Douglas Chamberlin, to create a magnificent website to project the Gods and Goddesses, sacred sites of the ancient Irish round here and the Ogham, the Tree Alphabet of the ancient Irish Druids, the earth energies with presentations and vision journeys about them. The website will be called ‘Returning Corra’, seeking to reinstate a local Goddess of the ancient Irish, whom Saint Patrick overthrew from nearby Croagh Patrick in 432 AD, when he did a forty-day retreat on the summit before setting out to convert the Irish to the Roman Catholic Church.

What followed was their loss of land, sovereignty, language, inspiration and freedom, and even their children. But now is the time to end that.

Topics in the website will include the mystical energy work of the ancient Irish Druids, and how to identify and develop and ethically utilise your Magical Will.

Remember, Ketu is moksha karaka, or ‘salvation indicator’. Ketu can give us vast inspiration, sometimes out of horrible situations and karmas, sometimes in the form of melt-downs or sudden openings, or new portals opening wide in your life. The Mars-Ketu conjunction in Vedic Capricorn is in the birth chart of Soren Kierkegaard, whom I studied as an undergraduate at Oxford: logic fuelled by insight leaps and paradoxes! And I’m forever extending my advanced Vedic Astrology courses material. See:
www.advancedvedicastrologycourse.com/

So, what about the BIG CHALLENGE and the BIG OPPORTUNITY that Mars – Ketu – Uranus bring you?

First of all the big challenge. THE MOON: As you know, the Moon transits through all the 12 signs each month. You do need to know your Moon Ashtakavarga score for each sign to be aware how supported you and your Mind and your life will be as the Moon goes through each sign. Watch out for situations where a sign has a high Ashtakavarga score for you, and the next sign drops to a low Ashtakavarga score. This can really throw you into repetitive mind patterns or pessimism or conflict, etc.
Because of the energies I have described in this May monthly forecast, we will receive such forms of mental turbulence as paranoia, repetitive thinking, depression, anxiety, fear and conflicts, from the Moon, for seven days out of every (lunar) month from May to October, as Moon transits monthly through the currently very challenging differ energies of the three signs of Vedic Scorpio (ruled by Mars), Vedic Sagittarius (occupied by transiting Saturn) and Vedic Capricorn (occupied by transiting Mars-Ketu). If we have low or irregular Ashtakavarga scores in these three signs, the mental upset will be worse.

To make it even more difficult, the Moon will have to pass through the difficult Gandanta Zone accurately defined in your birth chart by the transition point from the first to the second of these three signs, from Vedic Scorpio to Vedic Sagittarius.

Please do be aware of the most dangerous dates each month from May to November:

May 1^st to 6^th and 28^th to 31^st.
May 28^th when there’s the Full Moon in Vedic Scorpio.
June 1^st to 3^rd.
June 24^th to 30^th.
July 21th to 27^th.
August 18^th to 23^rd.
September 14^th to 20^th.
October 11^th to 18^th.

And now the BIG OPPORTUNITIES, if you can make the effort to grasp them:

#1 Mars-Ketu Conjunction can open Occult awareness, especially as it’s aspected by Uranus, especially as the Moon’s transit towards it each month includes passage through Vedic Scorpio. People are often afraid of occult awareness, but when ethical and properly understood, it is the seed for our transformation, for us becoming the person we were born to become. It includes openness to energies and vision.

#2 This is a well-starred time to learn to develop your Magical Will. The difficulties for your Mind and life of Moon passing through the turmoil of Scorpio, the pessimism of Saturn, and then the wired ‘anti-matter’ of Mars-Ketu-Uranus can impel you to develop and learn to utilise your magical will. Vedic remedies and mantra are valuable, but they are more often ‘management’ than empowering and they can be robotic. Defining the needed goal for your magical will is the needed first step to charting your way forward to become your destiny. It includes visualising the goal. There are a number of deeply ancient ways or reifying the goal and creating a firm constant impetus of manifestation. When the Moon passes through these three signs every month, and because of the energy of Mars-Ketu-Uranus, the resto f 2018 is actually a magical opportunity of the greatest importance, if you can grasp it. As I said, Topics upcoming in my courses will include the mystical energy work of the ancient Irish Druids, and how to identify and develop and ethically utilise your Magical Will.

2. Saturn is Retrograde during May 2018:

Saturn is, of course, the ruler of Vedic Capricorn, the sign where the transiting Mars-Ketu conjunction described above is occurring, and so this brings us to look at the effect of Saturn through the month of May 2018. Saturn is Retrograde.

Saturn is Retrograde from April 17th to  September 6th.

Saturn has been in Vedic Sagittarius from October 2017 and Saturn will remain in that sign until January 2020.

Saturn commences the month of May 2018 at 14 deg Vedic Sagittarius, in PurvAshada Nakshatra, retrograding into Mula Nakshatra on June 5th at 13 deg Vedic Sagittarius.

Saturn turns Direct at 8 deg Vedic Sagittarius, in Mula Nakshatra, and finally returns to Purva Ashadha Nakshatra on 27th November.

Th Saturn retrograde effect and energy is so different from the Mars-Ketu energy. The aim is to be patient and diligent to manifest the inspiration. We may well feel frustration!

3. Jupiter is Retrograde all month:

Jupiter retrogrades from 25 to 21 degrees Libra through May. This is the call to earth and ground our expansionary plans.

4. The Nodes of the Moon:Rahu retrograded into Pushyami Nakshatra on 27th April, starting May at 16 deg Vedic Cancer, and ending May at 14 deg Vedic Cancer.
5. Venus entered Taurus on April 20th bringing pleasure, sexual energy, art and socialising, starting the month of May at 14 deg Vedic Taurus. In fact, Venus is sexual and strong in Rohini Nakshatra from April 28th until May 8th.
   Venus enters Vedic Gemini on 15th May, and ending the month at 21 deg Vedic Gemini.6. Mercury starts the month at 20 deg Vedic Pisces, moves into Vedic Aries from May 9th to 27th, then enters Vedic Taurus and reaches 11 deg Vedic  Taurus by the end of the month.Note that when Mercury is in Vedic Taurus and Venus is in Vedic Gemini, this creates an ‘exchange of signs’ called ‘parivartana yoga’, when both planets should express themselves well, creatively and fluently, lasting until June 8th, when Venus enters Vedic Cancer. Now is the time to write those songs!
   
   7. Chiron is in western Aries:A very special event occurred on April 12th. Chiron enters Western Aries (Vedic 6 Pisces). Chiron is in Aries for the first time since it was discovered in 1977! Chiron actually retrogrades back into Western Pisces in September.

Please do a conscious survey and ask yourself these questions and make a note of the answers:

1. Are the needs you are striving for your actual valid needs?
2. You need a healthy ego so that you can do the work you incarnated to do in this lifetime. Is your ego healthy?
3. Do you need to reorder your self?
4. How are you dealing with the challenges of your wounds?
5. Please embrace the Chiron in Aries energy to recognise what wound(s) you have to the way you assert yourself in the world! What are you doing to make them a thing of your past???8. Neptune starts the month at 21 deg Vedic Aquarius, and ends May at 22 Aquarius, in PurvaBhadra Nakshatra.9. Pluto is Retrograde from 22nd April to September 30th. Note this is the same time as Saturn is Retrograde, and note that a Saturn-Pluto conjunction is implacably building to be exact: see the chart for this moment on my website page: https://www.starwheelastrology.com/2018-astrology.html

10.The May 2018 Lunations:

The New Moon is May 15th at 11.48 a.m. at zero deg Vedic Taurus, in Krittika Nakshatra. Try to have a more restful day.

The Full Moon is May 29th at 14.19 p.m. at 14 deg Vedic Scorpio, in Anuradha Nakshatra.
Moon is debilitated. Don’t let the intensity take over your mind or actions. Check out your Moon Ashtakavarga score for how supported you, your life and your mind are when Moon is in Vedic Scorpio.
(These are the dates/times in Sligo Ireland)

11. Sun moves through Vedic Taurus from May 14 – June 15. Krittika Nakshatra has the last three of its four padas in Taurus, and Krittika is ruled by the Sun, so this could be quite a strong, settled energy.

12. Here’s the May 2018 Summary:

May 3rd: Mars enters Capricorn, exalted, Uttara Ashadha Nakshatra (until Nov. 5th, 2018)

May 9th:  Mercury goes out of debilitation in Pisces/Revati and enters Aries, Ashwini (remaining in Ashwini until May 27th, 2018)

May 14th Venus enters Gemini, Mrigashira (until June 9, 2018)

May 15th Sun enters Taurus, Krittika (until June 15, 2018)

May 15th New Moon, Taurus, Krittika

May 27th Mercury enters Taurus, Krittika, 8.13am (until June 10, 2018)

May 29th Full Moon, 14 Scorpio Anuradha, where Moon is debilitated in Scorpio.

Book a Reading: To book for one of my expert natal chart interpretations, Prediction or Relationship Readings, go to:

www.starwheelastrology.com/buyanastrologyreading.html

Enrol on a Course: Transform your life by learning Astrology with expert individual teaching and guidance:

It would be great to work with you on one of my Courses:

www.mastervedicastrology.com

www.nakshatrasadvancedcourse.com    www.advancedvedicastrologycourse.com    www.enlightenedastrologycourse.com

IMPORTANT FOOTNOTE:

To conclude, let’s take a look at a useful retrospective question about last month:  What is Mercury’s Greatest degree of Debilitation?

On 26th April, Mercury was at his point of deepest debilitation at 15 deg Vedic Pisces, and I myself experienced all sorts of weird irregularities in postage and communications. Actually, there’s big food for thought in the issues raised:

Just for one example: a letter arriving to replace a lost letter posted in early March, AND the lost original letter also arrived on this day. For another example, receiving an email asking me to offer a Journey at one of the Irish sacred sites around here, and the email omitting the month of the tour visit. And if you want a third and fourth example (but there are more): well, our internet malfunctioning and giving a sixty hour upload time of a video to YouTube, and then being rejected for breach of copyright because someone was playing ‘into the Mystic’ in the background’! And also the Bank of Ireland website proved impossible to sign into.

BUT, remember, that although Mercury is problematic when at his degree and sign of Debilitation, the sign of Pisces is also inspirational, and I had great inspiration come through.

A first example was contacting healing energies in the rocks in a couple of the more remote sacred sites where I do tours, healing energies that I think were amplified by the megalithic builders, and have survived because these particular sites are not much visited.

A second example, was reading a book about the use of Will to deal with difficult states of mind due to difficult destiny as depicted by astrology natal chart and transits. The list is long and to be grateful for.

I’m mentioning this issue of the Debilitation degree of Mercury in inspirational Pisces, because I have been in contact with other people who similarly had logistical and communication and planning tensions and problems on and around this day of Mercury’s greatest Debilitation. But also special inspiration.

And there’s also a special and important twist to this tale. The point is that the declaration that Mercury is most Debilitated at this degree, only works if you use the ancient Sidereal zodiac of Vedic Astrology to provide this invaluable definition.

If you try to use the western Tropical Zodiac to apply the vast insights and declarations of Vedic Astrology, Mercury is stated to be debilitated at a wrong degree and date.

In fact, what drew me to Vedic Astrology in the first place, 25 years ago, is the concept of Gandanta Degrees: that the degrees either side of the transition from Water Sign to Fire Sign using the Vedic sidereal zodiac are particularly problematic, immaterial and insubstantial (though can provide difficult but potentially immense inspiration), and of course if you try to use the western Tropical Zodiac, your definition of this utterly invaluable insight is denied.

It’s very important to note that if you do have a planet in a gandanta zone. It is so essential to know, understand and heal. This is because you will have real problems in expressing the nature and energy of that planet, and the closer your planet is the transition point from water to fire (Vedic Sidereal Zodiac Pisces to Aries, Cancer to Leo, or Scorpio to Sagittarius), then the stronger and the vaster will be the challenges you will have to face will be. You do need to know and understand and heal. The inherent inspiration can be harvested.

If you would like to buy an astrology reading or discover more about the many healing and Astrology insights Maggie and Michael Offer then visit the link below