Steve Nelson, “Mythic Astrologer” and good friend of “The Shift Doctors” (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.), returns to share his wisdom. Steve is an astrologer who follows a Jungian mythological tradition. He was raised by a part Cherokee shaman Aunt Maude who learned much of her lore from Molly Runningwolf, the mother of Amanita Sequoyah, the last Cherokee medicine man officially recognized by the Eastern Tribe. Steve’s Indian name is Steven Red Wolf, his lineage is of the wolf clan, one of the 7 tribal groups of the Cherokee. Steve follows many of the Cherokee traditions especially as these relate to celebrations, the use of ritual fire and star lore. For more information about Steve Nelson see www.GaiaAstrology.com
September begins with the Moon Hare Full Moon when we bring in the harvest and glean the essence of the year. The alchemical lunar rabbit gathers the Elixir of Immortality, the eternal essence of what is to be.
At the Sept 1-2 Gate of Inspiration Mercury rises before the Sun in home sign Virgo bringing new fire to mortal minds. Mercury’s higher octave Uranus moves through Aries with Athena quickening understanding and effective communication. Mercury aligning with Neptune in Pisces dissolves shadows of the astral world. Whatever makes the heart heavy is illuminated to be eliminated during the Melpomene Muse Season 9/1-10/12. Venus square Saturn with Persephone in T-square exposes emotional wounds and invokes the healing soul of the world. All past patterns that hold back from love are dissolved in this time. As old patterns break energy is set free for new creation, new love, a new world awakening. All we need do is breathe, feel through and focus on the light of the new.
This month begins a 7-month period of extraordinary discoveries and new enterprises that transform the world. New couples forming, reuniting soul mates, partner successfully in global business as this influence grows. Awakened global woman mediates the emergence of the new masculine. New Woman and New Man come together in the 7th Moon (9/16 – 9/30) and from their union the new creation flowers.
Now slow moving Neptune parallels Spica (Arista) the bright star of Virgo representing Ceres/Demeter, the star-crowned Empress in Tarot Key 3. She is the revealer of the sacred mysteries in Greek mythology and she is the Woman of Revelation pursued by the Dragon (Sauron, Saturn’s shadow) in our time. The Woman is aided by the great Eagle Aquila that wields the thunderbolts of Zeus. Now we enter the great drama of our Age, “the war in heaven” or Ring War that is to be won in 2012 so we can enter the new millennium of peace and prosperity that is due.
The appearance of the lunar crescent Sept 16 begins a 10-day / 9-night celebration time when the world is recreated according to Cherokee, ancient Chinese, Hindu and Greek Mystery traditions. All say this 7th Moon of the zodiac year is when the world was first created and is recreated each year. During these 9 Nights (Hindu Navaratri) Kali is welcomed into homes to consume the old year’s discord and Cherokee celebrate “Nuetiegwa” the Big Medicine Moon. Cherokee women dance from the time the crescent appears until the Moon sets to help the world be reborn. Their dance continues for several evenings. All deemed worthy of the new creation will be empowered by the close of this celebration. Re-creation in spirit makes way for the New World to be. All fortunes turn on the tide of the 7th Moon.
Everything is weighed on the scale of Libra at Autumn Equinox Sept 23-25. Balance is restored within and without as the Sun moves through Libra, the sign of Maat. The Egyptian goddess of Truth and Justice is seen standing on the western horizon in this season and at every Sunset. In her left hand Maat holds a scale balancing a human heart with the Feather of Truth. In her right hand she holds the Goddess Eye in a fiery golden triangle. This Eye is key to the old Egyptian religion and it is the Eye in Triangle on the U.S. Great Seal. When the Eye retreats from the world evil reigns for a time, when the Eye returns old world shadows are dispelled and a new world begins. From the Eye comes a beam of light or bolt of lightning that appears in Tarot Key 16 The Tower. The Goddess Eye eliminates all that makes the heart heavy so it becomes as light as the Feather of Truth.
Maat Magic: Be aware of the patterns of behavior or thought that are causing problems (whatever makes the heart heavy). Imagine the pattern separate from the person or people involved, it’s not who they are as souls, just trappings picked up along the way that inhibit soul expression. If the pattern is truly inappropriate and out of sync with their inner being that person’s soul will work with you to eliminate it. Feel what you feel about the pattern while taking several deep breaths, then on a final out breath release your emotion as a bolt of lightning to break the pattern. See the pattern break, then shift attention to a good purpose or an ideal you wish to make real. Energy flows where attention goes. This is transformation: breaking an old form and moving the energy released to a new and better form. Social justice and economic democracy become realized through the liberating influence of Libra / Maat / Key 11 Justice and her divine yin counterpart Key 2 the High Priestess, Kwan Yin, Persephone, the feminine soul of the world.
Moon Hare Full Moon / White Rabbit! Sep 1 – New Magic
Say ‘White Rabbit’ first thing today for luck throughout the month. This is a widespread folk custom for the first day each month, the day of the Magician, the #1 card in Tarot. The Magician pulls another rabbit from his hat and this is the Moon Hare, the rabbit of magic, alchemy and the Moon. The Moon Hare is seen standing on the Moon pounding out the Elixir of Immortality just as our psyches (perhaps with the aid of a timely storm) pound out the good of the passing year. Gathering the Elixir at the Full Moon is key to psychic alchemy. The energies of the 7th Ray planets Uranus and Persephone (aka Eris), our new world planetary guides, come to us through the Moon. The Full Moon (Aug 30-Sept 2, exact 9:58 pm 8/31) is a pitcher pouring out healing elixir we raise our cups to receive. Cosmic energies flow for 3 days following. Revelations come in dreams, chance encounters and flashes of inspiration.
Gate of Inspiration, Sep 1-2 (9:50 pm – 9:50 pm edt) – Dance, Be Free
Muse Gates open every 40 days, 9 each year. (To find out more about the Nine Gates of Inspiration click here. ) Whatever blocks our energy flow comes before the Gate to be let go. It’s time to release body tensions that hold outmoded ways of thinking and feeling. Breathe deeply and move freely (dance!) to shed the old and be present to the magic of this new time.
3rd Quarter Moon, Sep 8-10 (exact 9:15 am 9/8) – Realizing Dreams
This Moon cuts away all that distracts from putting dreams into action. 3rd Quarter integrates new ideas into creative expression; it’s time to follow our bliss and do what feels good in concert with the whole.
Balsamic Moon, Sep 11-14 – Make a Wish!
This is the Wishing Moon, the best time to put wishes on the air. It is also called the Witches Moon, a time to bring to mind those who need healing.
Feeling invokes healing, the deeper we feel, the deeper we heal. This wishing Moon with Venus trine Uranus is opportunity to invoke new love, peace and creative prosperity. The deeper we feel, the more Moon magic is invoked for this cycle. Shadows before New Moon are cleared by deep breathing with attention to the light of the crown. See the waning crescent rising before the morning Sun.
Dark of Moon/New Moon, Sep 14-16 – Going Within
The day before New Moon until Sunset a day after is ideal inner work to release shadows of the past and seed the new cycle; outer activity is favored after the new lunar crescent appears. The New Moon (exact 10:11 am 9/15) is a cosmic spring that flows freely as we slow down. Nostradamus calls this “the day of Diana, a time for silent rest.” This is when mystics descend to drink from the magic well within.
Rosh Hashanah / Crescent New Moon, Sep 17-20 – A Time to Sow
It’s time to bring forward what we wish to be realized. Farmers plant seeds when the crescent appears, seeds become fertile on every level, all new beginnings are favored now. At the sighting of this 7th Moon, the Cherokee women start their new creation dance, the 9 North Star Spirits begin their descent (China), Jews blow the shofar, Kali enters homes to consume the old year’s discord and initiates gather at Eleusis to receive the Mysteries. Moon magic is strongest Sunset to Moonset when the Moon is in the 7th House. Meditation opens doorways, wishes take wing, prayers bring blessings for this Moon and the Year to be.
Going Out of the Signs, Sep 20-28 – Out With the Old, Powering the New
The best time to break addictions or eliminate attachments is when the Moon wave moves down beyond vital organs from Sagittarius (thighs) through Pisces (feet). Now we can more easily let go outmoded patterns and eliminate toxins physical, emotional and psychic. It’s purging time and with Sun in Virgo and Libra, time to bring in the harvest and broom out the chaff.
Autumn Equinox, Sept 22-25 (exact 10:49 am 9/22) – Balance Within
Maat, the Egyptian Goddess of Justice, stands on the western horizon holding a scale with human heart on one side and feather on the other. This is the time to let go whatever makes the heart heavy so it becomes as light as the feather of Truth. All that’s heavy (personal and global) comes up now to be released. How to let it go? Breathe and release, breathe and set free. Maat is Libra, Libra is air. Emotions are converted from one form to another through the breath – especially at the Fall Equinox and in the Sunset hour.
1st Quarter Moon, Sep 22-24 (exact 3:41 pm 9/22) – Time to Choose
This Moon is like a scythe cutting across the sky, it’s time to cut free from trappings of the past and affirm our purpose moving forward. Sacred to the Druids, this lunar phase is pivotal in the cycle of creation. Choices made now are likely to be the right ones. Breathing deeply through the light of the crown frees energy flow up and down the spine to power our dreams.
Yom Kippur / Atohuna / Kali Victory Day, Sep 26 – Mystical Union
This is the Jewish Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement or At-one-ment.
This is the Hindu Dasha-Hara when Kali slays the demon bull ending the reign of evil. Heaven and earth are united as one. The Cherokee call this Atohuna, the Friends Made Ceremony when two are joined together as one in the presence of Yowa. A New Fire is kindled, vows of eternal friendship are declared. This celebration continues until the Full Moon on Sep 29.
Moon at the Equator, Sep 28 7:12 am – 5:38 pm – Imagine!
Lunar 0 Points are cosmic balance times for creative imagination. Moon at the Equator going North is time to envision what we wish to be.
Atohuna Full Moon, Sep 27 – Oct 1 (exact 11:19 pm 9/29) – Illumination!
This is Atohuna, the Cherokee Friends Made Moon, when two are joined as one in the presence of Yowa. Libra rules relationships. Each Full Moon brings revelation and opportunities for healing body, mind and soul. The Full Moon is a pitcher that pours out a magic elixir, we raise our cups to receive. Cosmic energies flow for 3 days following Full Moon. Meditation, deep breathing, music and dancing help open to receive. Revelations come in dreams, chance encounters and flashes of inspiration. Stay tuned!
Michaelmas Sept 29-30 – Celebrate Arts, Celebrate Community!
Each season has its angel and element, Michael the angel of fire rules the Autumn season. Michael leads a legion of angels to break the spell of astral evil in this time. Through Rudolf Steiner’s teachings, Michaelmas has become a harvest and arts festival when people come together to share the creative fruits of their year. Our work is done, it’s time to play.
Create anew this Autumn! Wishing you a blessed journey 🙂
Steve Nelson (Mythic Astrologer) with “The Shift Doctors” (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.)
***Steve Nelson is a professional astrologer who uses Tarot, name analysis, and traditional astrology to help clients understand personal myths and realize natural abilities. Find out more about him at his website www.gaiaastrology.com
***The Shift Doctors (Tracy Latz, M.D. & Marion Ross, Ph.D.) are available for keynote talks, classes, events or for seminars (1/2 day or up to 2 day) on personal transformation, team-building, motivation, anger management, intuitive development, or collaboration for private groups, conferences, corporations or corporate events. Contact them at info@shiftyourlife.com or find out more about them at www.shiftyourlife.com .
****Check out The Shift Doctors’ books and Meditation CDs by clicking here. See other articles on health, personal transformation, self-growth, and travel at ShiftYourLife.com