I have not tried to write the history of that language,
but rather the archaeology of that silence.
Michel Foucault
Madness & Civilization: A History of Insanity in the
Age of Reason
::::::
Libra Sun
Scorpio Mercury quintile Leo Neptune
Grand Fixed Cross
Mars Rx, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune
::::::
Peace
GMA
The need for change bulldozed a road down the center of my mind.
:::::::::::::::::The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious, the desire to reach hearts is wise.
Maya Angelou, American writer, poet, performer, autobiographer, and much-loved sage died today. Her life affirming work is a woven tapestry – her testament – of bravery, courage, love and compassion in the face of cruelty, violence and emotional hardship.
Maya was an Aries, with Jupiter conjunct Sun opposite Libra Moon both in square to Pluto in Cancer as focal planet in a T-Square.
Having both luminaries tied up with metamorphic power was no small matter – struggles with working positive changes in conscious / subconscious states leaves very little peaceful ground to rest.
Pluto forces change in spirit/intuition, leadership/withdrawal in the home/family as well as tribe and close partners. Her opposition falls on the 3rd/9th axis.
An eternal student of life, she spoke out for all silent women struggling everywhere. Through her words, the trauma she saw and felt was translated into hope and faith for countless others trying to make their own way to the light.
Plowing forward with creativity via a trine from Pluto to Mercury/Venus conjunct in Pisces is the higher ground where she took flight. Pisces is the sign of inspired art, music and dance, also poetry.
When Maya was the victim of violence at the tender age of eight, she (understandably) went mute for years. This can be seen in a tight Mercury Venus conjunction square Saturn Rx in Sagittarius.
Here is also found the silver lining, a neighborly woman gave her books to read. Young Maya, through reading and exploring other worlds, began to blossom, she discovered and cultivated her life-long love of the arts.
Saturn Rx trine Neptune Rx in Leo, are both inspired, creative fire signs, and with the addition of Mars in Aquarius conjunct descendant opposite Neptune rising in the first, we have an artist with not only a sharp mind, but also a freedom loving woman who while writing of her own innate feminine power, challenged women the world over to stand tall and proud in their power as well.
She had the focal Pluto quintile Chiron – she healed through teaching others how she rose above her own tragedies, so they might do the same.
Phenomenal Woman
Maya Angelou 1928–2014
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s sizeBut when I start to tell them,They think I’m telling lies.I say,It’s in the reach of my arms,The span of my hips,The stride of my step,The curl of my lips.I’m a womanPhenomenally.Phenomenal woman,That’s me.
:::I walk into a roomJust as cool as you please,And to a man,The fellows stand orFall down on their knees.Then they swarm around me,A hive of honey bees.I say,It’s the fire in my eyes,And the flash of my teeth,The swing in my waist,And the joy in my feet.I’m a womanPhenomenally.
:::Phenomenal woman,That’s me.
:::Men themselves have wonderedWhat they see in me.They try so muchBut they can’t touchMy inner mystery.When I try to show them,They say they still can’t see.I say,It’s in the arch of my back,The sun of my smile,The ride of my breasts,The grace of my style.I’m a womanPhenomenally.Phenomenal woman,That’s me.
:::Now you understandJust why my head’s not bowed.I don’t shout or jump aboutOr have to talk real loud.When you see me passing,It ought to make you proud.I say,It’s in the click of my heels,The bend of my hair,the palm of my hand,The need for my care.’Cause I’m a womanPhenomenally.Phenomenal woman,That’s me.
:::::::::::::::::::
Maya Angelou,
“Phenomenal Woman”
from And Still I Rise.
With the utmost respect,
in peace,
GMA
Saul Williams
Poet, singer, musician, actor
Volcanic Sunlight
Pisces Sun, Mercury
inspired, highly artistic
opposite
Virgo Moon
keen analyzation of
feelings, fluctuations, public tides
brings thrift and form to collective unconscious
through sharp spoken word
Saturn in Gemini
North Node in Aquarius
savvy, observant, innovative communicator
Capricorn Jupiter trine Mars in Taurus
truth-seeking visionary arts brought to form
via
Poetry SLAM !
Sun focal point of T-Square
Gemini Saturn – Sagittarius Neptune
building philosophical bridges
teaching, raising the mundane to divinity
through a wealth of chosen words
Aries Venus opposite Libra Uranus
artistic instincts run
fast and lean
raw and edgy
Gemini Saturn trine Libra Pluto
words will change the world
Saul has
polarities, dualities, dichotomies
strong
Sun conscious opposite Moon subconscious
Saturn form opposite boundless Neptune
attracting Venus opposite separating Uranus
Aries Chiron trine Sagittarius Neptune
wise working wordsmith
healer, teacher, philosopher of SLAM poetry
::::::::::::::::
The Wind’s Song
by
Saul Stacey Williams
the square root of a kiss is a hum
i hum under my breath when i contemplate
the drum of your heartbeat
and my heart beats for your breath
i revel in the wind for mere glimpsesi’m tornado over you
would you look into the eye of my storm
i whirlwind through your life like breeze
and fill your lungs
as we achieve the second power of a humI love…
as instruments come to life through breath
the wind sends my high notes to indigo communions
with Coltrane’s “Favorite Things”
…this is my body
which is given for you,
this is my blood
which is shed for you…my love like the wind, uncaged
blows time into timeless whirlpools
transfiguring fear and all of it’s subordinates
(possession, jealousy, fear)
into crumbling dried leavesmy love
is the winds slave
and, thus is freemy love
is the wind that is shaped
as it passes through the lips of earthly vessels
becoming words of wisdom
songs of freedom
or simply hot airmy love is the winds song
if it is up to me, i’ll never die.
if it is up to me, i’ll die tomorrow
one-thousand times in an hour
and live seven minutes laterif it is up to me, the sun will never cease to shine
and the moon will never cease to glow
and i’ll dance a million tomorrows
in the sun rays of the moon waves
and bathe in the yesterdays of days to come
ignoring all of my after thoughts
& preconceived notionsif it is up to me,
if it is up to me.
and thus my love:
untainted
eternalthe wind is the moons imagination wandering:
it seeps through cracks
explores the unknown
and ripples the grass
my love is my souls imagination
how do i love thee?
imagine
::::::::peace
gneissmoonastrology.net
Rassouli
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Join Me in the Pure Atmosphere – Hafiz
translation Daniel Landinsky
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I slip in and out of the Sea at night with this
Amazed soul I have.
I am like a magnificent, magic ocean turtle
Who sets aside his vast wings of
Blue effulgence
When I crawl upon your shores
To leave my divine seed of verse.
Let me remain cryptic tonight
All the way till dawn
As I orbit God
In this holy, ecstatic mood.
Grab hold of the corners
Of my luminous, tender shell
And I will whirl for you,
For I am covered with eminent crystals
That I have gathered from the infinite depths
Of love.
Follow my tracks in the sand that lead
Beyond thought and space,
For I can see deep down
That you are really a golden bird
That needs to
Dance
With your spirit enraptured and ascending
On the currents of Light –
On the currents of His
Breath.
Join me with your hands, wings, hoofs or fins
In my sublime applause.
Join me in the pure atmosphere of gratitude
For life.
I slip in and out of the Moon each night
With a gracious ease
With this brilliant heart I have.
The Beautiful Friend, the Exquisite One,
Sometimes steps from His Invisible Body
And walks upon our shore
So that we might see and know
His radiant Tender Shell-
His eminent crowns
That are the three worlds.
O grab hold of the hem of His skirt
As He spins this Universe on an emerald
Dance floor!
Cling to the Transcendent Elements in His glance
As the Beloved forever whirls
His Love.
Hafiz
Slips in and out of God at night
Tied to his own amazed
Soul.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
namaste
gneissmoonastrology.net
Full Moon at 17 degrees Libra approaches…..Friday at 2:19 pm CST, USA
Viggo is Libra Sun. Aquarius Moon.
Full Moon in Libra will be trine Viggo’s Chiron.
He is a beautiful diplomat (Libra stellium) who knows the actions (Aqua Moon trine Mars Rx in Gemini) must be thought out, researched, explored – for there are two sides to everything. Possiblities are endless. Life, time is in a constant state of flux, always.
Yet Saturn is exalted in Libra…he knows some things are timeless. Love and kindness, for example. (Viggo has Libra Sun, Venus, North Node and Chiron all sextile Saturn)
The right word, gesture or tiny seed of an idea planted at the precise right time can change everything for the better. (Mercury conjunct Jupiter, both sextile Pluto in Virgo)
Saturn Rx currently rests on his Libra Sun, is approaching his North Node at 22 degrees Libra. Saturn will go direct on his North Node (conjuncts his Venus) on Monday the 25th of June. A project, an agreement, a labor of love years in the making will flower or reach culmination at that time. It will likely involve travel and a respected mentor.
Viggo has Saturn in Sagittarius. The serious thinker and traveller, he works (photography, poems) while he plays, he documents and records what he sees.
If you are very lucky, he will tell you what he is thinking.
Viggo’s Libra Venus is conjunct my Mercury.
Gehn hahn-nohn
No in elenath hîlar nan hâd gîn
gneissmoonastrology.net
Nikki Giovanni
I was thrilled to have the opportunity to hear one of my favorite poets, Nikki Giovanni speak recently ~ she was dazzling, vivacious, insightful, bawdy and very direct !
I knew she was a Gemini, but I couldn’t wait to get home and look up more details about her chart and the life she described so vividly.
Nikki is a life path 3. This indicates a life of creation, expansion, exploration, reconciliation and communication. Nikki is a Gemini Sun, Leo Moon with Cancer rising which makes Moon her chart ruler.
First thing I notice is the majority of her planets fall into the Eastern hemisphere – she is in a sowing incarnation and is in control of her life circumstances.
Second thing I notice is the lack of difficult (square, opposition) aspects between the planetary bodies. (Scroll down to the key to see her squares to Chiron, ASC and MC) Her one opposition is between the planet of poetry, Neptune, and Mars (power) elevated, in Aries the sign Mars rules. Mars in 10th is a powerful placement, it indicates a strong, self-assured go-getter in life and career. (10th is the natural house of Capricorn where Mars is exalted.)
Nikki has some whopping powerful conjunctions as well. (…possibly why the universe cut her some slack on squares and oppositions..?..) Sun conjunct Saturn makes Nikki serious and purposeful in speech (Gemini) and, in fact, all forms of communication.
Moon (chart ruler) conjunct Pluto, brings a powerhouse of intense emotional experiences, which in Leo, WILL (Leo motto) be channeled into creative endeavors.
Oddly, the universe pitches me another Venus conjunct Jupiter person this week, YaY !
Not only is the fabulous aspect in the sky above us (in the Grand Earth $$ Trine I talk about here) (and here), I have it (Leo), Smokey Robinson has it (Aries), and so does Nikki (Cancer) – odd that, everyone pops UP all at once …!
Cancer rising with Venus conjunct Jupiter (Jupiter is exalted in Cancer), shows tremendous sensitivity and compassion for others, great depth of generosity and kindness.
Nikki also has Mercury conjunct (out of sign) Uranus, its higher octave, which gives her keen perceptive abilities.
Leo is packed, so Nikki is firey and dramatic, she easily captivates her audiences, rousing emotions and stirring minds with her expressive words and ideas. She is a Gemini and, yes- she talks with her hands (Gemini rules the hands) as well, so I included this small pic.
I left Lilith for last, because Nikki made such an impression on me when she spoke of courageous women in her life, those women she admired and proudly praised for being leaders in the civil rights movement. She spoke of heroines that not only inspired her generation, but all generations following. The women she spoke of included Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Coretta Scott King to name a few.
Nikki has Lilith conjunct Venus (females) and it is placed in a very powerful rolling conjunction ~ Lilith in her case is a firey reactive goddess that springs from the creative depths to shine a light on social injustice.
namaste~
gneissmoonastrology.net
The Other Side of Time – Freydoon RassouliOpen up to the Roof.
Make a new water-mark on your excitement
And love.
All the hemispheres in heaven
Are sitting around a fire
Chatting
While stitching themselves together
Into the Great Circle inside of
You.
~Hafiz
Translated by Daniel Ladinsky ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hafiz (1320-1391), born Shams-ud din Mahommed, was a Persian sufi poet. He studied poetry was in the Sufic Order of Dervishes and was an interpretive professor of the Koran. He knew the Koran by heart – leading to his pen-name, Hafiz, or ‘one who remembers’.
His poetry was wild for his day – love and wine and enjoying life, he rejected Sunni law, causing him to be banned. He was a free – thinking heretic, wildly popular in his lifetime. When it came time to bury Hafiz – authorities questioned if it would be allowed on sacred ground.
By this time his poetry had become so famous that his works were used for divination.
(I mean really ~ how cool is that ?!)
The authorities consulted his work for the answer of burial.
Turn not away from the bier of Hafiz,
Steeped in sin, he will enter Paradise.
Hafiz was buried in the center of a cemetery in Shiraz.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Neptune rules memory as well as poetry, divination, and dance.
Could not find birth info ~ but Neptune, lots of Pisces and Neptune, yes..?
…words like waves…so lovely…
I needed this today.
comments welcome.
namaste~
gneissmoonastrology.net
I spoke of the solar Hobbit eclipse, but I did not speak of the men of Middle Earth, one of which is Aragorn, a fine King, a man of quality.
Sun Quintile Uranus
Viggo is a free spirit, a traveler, a multi-talented renaissance man, but most of all, Viggo is a kind man.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Viggo has Sun, North Node of Destiny and Venus conjunct in Libra – let’s face it, he’s handsome, but that’s not all. He is kind and fair and went to bat for his fellow actors in LoTR – seeking fair pay for work on the trilogy. A man of quiet power and strength, he has Mercury, Jupiter and Neptune all conjunct in Scorpio.
Click here for a fabulous interview in NY Times In Style Magazine.
I also recommend following Perceval Press, so click here to read.
Gneiss Moon Astrology 