Web of Life

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This is a Darwins Bark spider web…a very impressive piece of work !

Spiders are Saturn ruled, of course !  
The long-term builders of the zodiac, the patient ones because they have to be.
Capricorn types able to climb the mountain / build the web when the going gets tough.
I am Saturn-ruled, and I love spiders.

Spiders (8 legs) have the vibration of strength and willpower.  Eight here.

Spiders spin incredibly strong silk webs.  Spider silk is ruled by Neptune, as are nets, and poison.  Spiders use poison to sting their prey so they can wrap them up for a snack later !
Orb spider webs are spiral.  Spirals and vibrations (indicate prey caught in web) are ruled by Uranus, as are science and astrology !
Just wait until you read where this post ends up, spiral indeed…and oh.. so Saturn.

Spiders spin many different types of webs each depending on what the spider needs for the time/place.


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When I look at my natal map and the current planetary transits to it — I see a giant web of life, my life–when one silken strand snaps, I build another somewhere else to shore up the loose end.  Don’t we all…?  Better to focus on what needs done than dwell on what didn’t work out.  Tie a knot and move on.
Special shout-out to my Virgos, next time someone is up your whatzit about being too Virgo… just remember : we see the web of life.

Zoologist Ingi Agnarsson and colleagues have found Darwin’s bark spider webs as wide as 82 feet (25 meters)—about as long as two city buses.  WoW.
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A close relative to the spider above, the Nephila komaci has an unusual mating ritual.
The female of the species has a leg span of up to 5 inches (12 centimeters), while the male—which spends much of its time clambering on its partner’s back—barely reaches an inch (2.5 centimeters), a new study says.
Highlight below if you want to know what it is …
~> In addition, the males are “sort of fanatically monogamous” during their roughly one-year life spans…when ready to mate, a male will usually make his move when the female is molting, he added.  Her legs are soft and her body’s soft, and she can’t prevent being inseminated by the male,” Coddington said. “Once he’s inseminated her, he’ll break off his genitalia in hers, thereby plugging her up.” The male, which is left sterile, then drives away other males until he dies. This strategy should stymie other males’ mating attempts—though some females have been found with several dismembered male organs lodged inside them, he said.

source for the above: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/10/091021-largest-web-spinning-spider.html

If you would love even more spider info, I encourage you to look here: http://www.americanarachnology.org/JOA_online.html

peace
GMA

Creative Thinking

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Mercury is retrograde from August 2 through August 25th.

Planets that are retrograde (Rx) only appear so from the vantage point of Earth.
Click here for a visual of retrograde motion:

Mercury rules the signs of Gemini and Virgo and represents communication and travel of all forms.

Retrograde motion in the natal as well as the transit, indicates an inner working of the energies of the planet.  It is a time to re-view, re-evaluate, re-vise.  Check the house Mercury retrograde is transiting in your chart for an indication of what areas of your life you will be re-working.

Mercury retrograde begins at 1 degree Virgo; resumes direct motion at 18 degrees Leo.  During these times it is advised to avoid signing any legal documents, or binding agreements as they are more likely to need revision.

Malfunctioning equipment is more likely to occur, (power surges & blown fuses here today/dvd’s not loading properly) and it is advised to think carefully before you speak or write.

Mercury is still in ‘shadowzone’ or slowly catching up to where it began retrograde, until the 9th of September.  While Mercury is in the shadowzone, communication matters will improve, but remain slow.

Mercury is also a quick, restless planet with a high-strung nature, so please remember to take a moment and breathe deeply if you feel jittery, and remember to nurture yourself if you feel a need to.

I plan on watching this transit carefully as Mercury rules my Virgo stellium, is closest to mid-heaven, and by transit it will be knocking off my natal squares in Leo.  On the plus side, it will be great for the metaphysical and occult research and writing I will be doing while it is in my 8th house.

Mercury retrograde in the fire sign of artistic Leo will charge up some inspiring and creative thinking for everyone !
The mercurial, trickster or Magician card pictured above creatively uses the tools of Water (emotions), Air (thought), Fire (action), Earth (building), to blend an alchemy of sacred new life.
Take this time to listen to the voice within for guidance from your spirit…
All the best~

Suspension

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With the coming of the new moon in generous Leo, I have a gift for you…a free tarot reading !

Activated for my readers at whatever time you choose to read it.  Its purpose being to align us all with the highest good energies for all earthkind~ I was asking for directions; the best path to take for the future good of all, as seen through the lens of astrological energies.

Cardinal= activity, where the action is, self-starters & go-getters
Fixed= stable, building from ideas of cardinals, desires and emotions
Mutable= adaptable, changing, people people, the glue between the two

Cardinal————Fixed———–Mutable

(teacher card/bottom of things)

2 of pentacles (earth, material) in the cardinal position represents the active form of choosing what we value, the act of choosing goals

6 of cups (water, emotions) in the fixed position represents building solid foundations; good relationships with self and others through generosity and kindness

Ace of swords (air, communication) in the mutable position represents logic, and successfully adapting between material and emotional needs

Hangman as teacher card represents the need to see issues from another perspective, slow down and take stock of what you have, need or want.  He can also represent sacrifice for the higher good.

(Hangman is the card of Anglo-Saxon god, Woden / Odin who hung from the world tree, Yggdrasil, for nine days to gain insight which resulted in the Runic alphabet.)
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What the entire spread vibes to me is the shedding of goals that do not suit the present situation.  If it’s not working for you, change goals.
The numerology of this spread is a total of 3= creation + growth.
All the best~

quiet moon

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It’s a dark void moon in the sign of Cancer.
The moon rules Cancer which is a yin, or passive water sign.  People with strong Cancer in their chart tend to be quiet, moody, love home, family, cooking and gardening.  These energies or moods may be swaying your emotions on the moons 2 day stay in this sign.

The dark moon is a quiet time of incubation and preparation for the future.  (Visualize garden seeds underground sprouting.)  It’s also a good time for some house-witchery cleaning of the corners; setting goals and using energies for manifesting the most positive future that will be growing with the moon as it reaches its full moon potential.

Presently it is also a void of course moon (a moon making no significant aspects before leaving the sign it’s in) which is a period of wait-and-see, do nothing of importance while the moon, emotions, or any other moon ruled issues are adrift (void) and hidden (dark).  Traditionally astrologers believe actions taken during void moons will not come to fruition as planned, or not at all.  I suggest caution, see how the void moon works for you in your life.
(The New Moon breathes in some fire in Leo at 1:16 pm CST USA on the 30th)

So let’s all order pizza and watch movies in the dark, I’ll light the candles and the musky incense …
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The Lunarium Universal Calendar in the astrology links can be adjusted to your time zone world-wide.  Great for lunar info, including void of course moons.

Planetary Pool

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I am mega earth with Capricorn rising, Sun Virgo and Toro Moon.  So here’s a Toro tour of some of my earth stuff while I talk astro. (Translation: Toros like stuff, are earthy, and my Toro moon is on the 4th house of home.)

Earthy people= practical, skillful, grounded, sensate
Fire people= energetic, courageous, inspiring, adventurous
Air people= intellectual, social, thoughtful wordy ones
Water people= emotional, romantic, intuitives, secretive

Sounds simple doesn’t it…?…but what is so great about natal charts is they are as richly textured and layered as the most finely crafted spiderweb.  For instance, my ruling planet, Saturn (earth) is in fire (Aries) on air (3rd house of Gemini (air).  Fire likes fire and air.  Fire does not like earth and water.

Translation: Saturn (limits) wants to stay, Aries (risks) wants to go, and Gemini (air) is here talking about it.  It has taken 40 + years to talk about it because my Saturn is Rx (retrograde) which means it works inwardly until ready to manifest outwardly.

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Cardinal= activity, where the action is, self-starters & go-getters
Fixed= stable, building from ideas of cardinals, desires and emotions
Mutable= adaptable, changing, people people, the glue between the two

Going deeper still, my chart ruler, Saturn, rules a cardinal sign (Capricorn), is in a cardinal sign (Aries) on a mutable house (Gemini).  Translation: The tenants (planets placed in the sign visiting natural house) like to get their way, but the landlord (the natural house) is more easy-going.
Who wins..?
Ask me any given day and you’ll get a different answer because transits (what the planets are doing overhead now) will be knocking vibrations off my natal chart positions like Minnesota Fats shooting 10 balls into the side pockets.  Some days the energies drop hard, other days just a gentle little tap.
The same is true of your chart.
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contact me to learn about your natal map at gneissmoon@rocketmail.com

Hum a few bars

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Ahhh…The Look.  You know the one…the look you get when you speak something Not of Status Quo, the look generally followed by a chuckle + eye roll.  Perhaps the odd bit pops out of your mouth in polite conversation about : astrology, aliens, crystals, crop circles or in my case today~ the Taos Hum.  The curious Uranian blurt followed by knowing glances around the room.  Yes.  I am, once again, safe in the knowledge that I have raised the freak flag in the academic crowd; aka the weirdo in the room just stood up.
I have heard the Taos Hum and here is my story…
I was planning on driving the enchanted circle after leaving Taos heading home toward Eagle Nest Lake along the river on my way to 64 East to Cimmaron.  I had driven this route before and fell in love…it is a winding road that follows the river on the south side with bluffs on the north; trees and forest lush on both sides.  There is a little Buddhist monastery tucked up in the bluffs too, and as you can see by the map, that’s not all.

I was stopped at the crossroads fiddling with my ipod -[must have road-worthy tunes for one of the best drives in the country]- when, it occurred to me my truck seemed really loud, even for my old Dodge.  So I put it in park and got out to look at the rear chassis.  Nothing out of the ordinary.  hmm…?…  So I climb back in and I hear it again…a very low register, but very loud, wave-like humming sound.  Ok, my truck had a lotta miles this trip: Colorado mountain top festival in the 14ers, Arches, Grand Canyon,  Monument Valley, Barringer Crater, Zuni Pueblo, Santa Fe, Taos…and that was only this vacation.  I have driven my truck coast to coast and I know how it sounds.  So this time I turned my truck off…and could still hear it.
Then I sit and wait for the dump truck hauling rock that I am sure will be appearing from around the bend anytime now.   ….nope.  All Alone.   Me, my silent parked truck, and The Hum.

I finally gave up, after several trips around the vehicle, knowing my truck sounded fine when I climbed out of it to hear it, and I had places to go.  ( Like the worst bathroom in the US- Cimmaron- fair warning- skip it !)
In case you are ever near Taos and want to try a ‘hearing the humming’ experiment…I was parked at the crossroads near the star marked Taos.
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Ok, so now a bit about The Hum~ the sound registers louder to the people who hear it while they are inside a structure than if they are outside a structure; standing in the yard, it can’t be heard.   The noise has driven nearby residents to petition Congress.  In 1993 residents asked the government to help locate the source of the disturbance, to no avail.  Some who are routinely subjected to the sound feel symptoms such as: dizziness, insomnia, disorientation, pressure on the ears, and headaches.  Among several theories of what causes the hum :  Infrasound, audible electro-magnetic earth frequencies, or the echo of undetected seismic activity.
Strangely, only 2% of Taos residents are able to hear the hum.  *When recorded by a Denver audiologist, the hum was a steady vibration of 17 cycles per second with a harmonic rising to 70 cycles per second near Taos. The low range of human hearing is 20 to 30 cycles per second. (Aquiziam.com)*  Similar humming sounds have been reported in the UK and New Zealand.
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Astrologically, I am thinking my Sun conjunct Uranus and biggie Neptune in 11th aspecting Toro Moon feels the vibrations ~ Saturn trine Mars on the 12th sign is getting the hidden dial tuned into the Earth.  ? shrug ?
What do you think..?

*edit: Check out the great convo on this subject at Mystic Medusa
http://mysticmedusa.com/2011/09/have-you-heard-the-hum/

Also check out The World Hum Map and Database here.
Hum Database on twitter here.

namaste~
gneissmoonastrology.net

Blue Mooneptune

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“I was determined to carve out a music of my own.  I didn’t want to copy anybody.” 

~May I introduce the ‘Father of Bluegrass’,  Mr. Bill Monroe.


Changing the face of American music forever, Bill Monroe founded the Monroe Brothers, later the Bluegrass Boys; culling the best pickers around to play in his band – including Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs and much later, Peter Rowan.

For five decades they created the ‘high lonesome’ sound.

I was very pleased to see his chart-> it’s another astrological slam-dunk, folks !

Virgo Bill Monroe is a life path 7.

Sevens are mystics, intellectuals- they are the builders of bridges between worlds.

Obviously a grand earth trine (ease of energies) anchored by rebel Uranus in hard-working Capricorn.  You don’t get to be the best without a LOT of practice and perseverance in your craft.

Neptune (rules string instruments) at the apex of the kite, exalted in Cancer. 

A kite formation indicates strong energies passing with ease along the trine, and more difficult energies in the opposition.

Uranus in Bill’s case is the inventive quality of his music expressed through the opposition with musical Neptune.  Powerful Mars in the dexterous sign of Gemini in square (inner conflict) to Virgo stellium, which includes Sun (Ego, spirit, creativity), Mercury (communication) and Venus (art, music) indicates Bill’s exacting work- Virgos are precise; seeking perfection.

He was also very demanding of those he played with.

Moon (feelings) conjunct Saturn (work, concentration) in methodical Taurus (ruled by Venus, his art) meant his music was his life, plain and simple.

Moon, exalted in Taurus, rules the throat.
Hello High Lonesome ! 

Uranus (rules vision) opposite Neptune (rules suffering as well as transcendence) indicates his life-long vision problems.

Saturn (time, building, father) conjunct Moon (public) shows the legacy of bluegrass music Bill has created, as well as the moniker, ‘Father of Bluegrass.’
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“You know, I never wrote a tune in my life. All that music’s in the air around you all the time. I was just the first one to reach up and pull it out.” – Bill Monroe

peace
GMA

Role it out

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Ta DA Leos !  

O dot has rolled out the red hot carpet for the big cats !  Can’t help but look, they shine like the sun !  They are effortlessly regal…eyes giving the slow perusal before prowling after you.  RAWR !   I have Leo on my 8th house, so I’m gonna serve up an astro story sexy, scruffy-style…  *lick*
Here we have mega-Leo, Daniel : Leo Sun conjunct Mercury – Venus conjunct Mars <- ok, that’s a doozy… tres, tres sexy Leo, yes..?!   He’s gotta lotta love in that heart of his.  Best yet, he’s a humble reserved Leo (hey~ anything’s possible) with Uranus, Saturn and Neptune conjunct in Capricorn.  Unusual career in film and stage ?  Bingo !  Who to better embody a courageous, noble hero who saves the world…?

Well….how about this sexy man who also saves the world, but from the opposite side of the wheel..?!

Here we have mega-Aquarian, Elijah.  Aquarius Sun, with Mercury conjunct Mars (both square to Uranus).  I’m going with Scorpio rising here (eyelids are sleepy, sexy).  Also Scorp rising puts Uranus (the unusual) on the 29th culmination degree of the first house which rules the eyes – and Elijah is well-known for his mesmerizing blue eyes.

Elijah is definitely a communicator with so much air. Mercury is exalted in Aquarius, plus being conjunct Mars gives it an extra kick. Expansive Jupiter Rx is conjunct Saturn Rx in Libra the sign of art, beauty and balance; and Saturn Rx is exalted here – meaning he will only get better as he gets older and his retrogrades kick in.

Obviously he is handsome, artistic and despite growing up in Hollyweird, he is relatively normal – but weird enough to fascinate. (Compliment !)  He’s a really hard worker (Jupiter conjunct Saturn in Libra) who actually enjoys it (Venus in Capricorn).  He respects the art of time honored crafts and traditions and has grown up learning from mentors in the business; both film and music. (Jupiter conjunct Saturn in Libra)

I gotta pop in some Neptune music trivia on this one ~> Elijah is a total music freak; seriously a walking encyclopedia of music of all genres.  He owns his own record company named Simian Records; he has directed, filmed, and appeared in many music videos. Also a huge photography aficionado, he has lucky, expansive Jupiter -quintile (spiritual gifts)- Neptune, which rules not only film, but also music.

OK, here’s the deal…Leos and Aquarians are on the same wavelength, but on opposite sides of the wheel from each other.

Leo motto: I WILL
Aquarians motto: I KNOW.

Both signs are yang; or expressive, direct and outgoing.
Leos have an insular pride; Aquarians an Earth pride of humankind.
Leos tend to be friendly; Aquarians, more stand-offish.
Leos love to be admired; Aquarians really don’t give a rat’s ass.
Leos are group; Aquarians, wild, more solitary.

Both signs are very caring, but show it in different ways.
Leos are fire in the belly; Aquarians are lighting flashes of intuition, tres cerebral.
Now onto my story…

Daniel and Elijah resemble each other; each has saved the world in blockbuster films, should be totally recognizable; yet they are still mistaken for one another on the street.  I have read this story more than once; cannot give you the source; but if you dig, you’ll find it in television interviews and/or print.  Found it ! 
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Elijah is riding in an elevator…doors open… guy gets on—keeps staring… searching inner data banks for recognition–then aha !  ‘I’ve got it, you’re Harry Potter !‘  Elijah’s response:  “Nope.‘  Guy quizzically shakes head…both resume riding in silence staring at the numbers lighting up as floors ascend… *
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Daniel is approached by a man: “Dude, I loved Lord of the Rings”…Daniel graciously says, “Thanks !’ signs autograph Elijah Wood because he doesn’t have the heart to tell him otherwise.
…and that folks, is how you tell a Leo from an Aquarian !

*Please note: Elijah is ranked # 7 in best Hollywood autograph signers, he is kind and patient with his fans, the above is only one. story. out of many many  good ones.

Bonus round :
Did I mention I have Venus conjunct Jupiter in Leo?
hee hee
Rawr !
*mwah*
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gneissmoonastrology.net