Enhancing Fertility: A Medical Intuitive and Nutrient Approach

In my column at About.com,a New York Times company, I am frequently asked to advise readers on how to conceive and carry a healthy child to full term. The intimacy and individual character of each couple’s concern does not lend itself to really going into each case in detail online. To really look at all of the various physical, emotional, mental and spiritual energies involved in fertility, a personal consultation is needed. The purpose of this article is to provide some basic general information on infertility that would be helpful to enhance fertility for both partners.

For many couples, the inability to conceive a child is one of the most stressful and heartbreaking times in their relationship. In the early 21st century we are faced with issues of exposure to environmental estrogens, low sperm counts, and a wide group of other factors that affect fertility.

There are many causes of infertility for couples. Some are from the physical body and others are from the emotional, mental and spiritual bodies. It is beyond the scope of this article to cover all of them. As many infertility treatments are costly and time consuming, I would recommend consulting a Medical Intuitive or other healing practitioner before starting standard infertility treatments such as fertility drugs or IVF.

Infertility occurs almost equally in men and women. 30 % of infertility is attributable to women and 30% to men. An additional 30% is attributable to both partners and remaining 10% is unknown. A recent study published by the CDC stated that one out of every 132 men in the U.S. is infertile.

What are the Causes of Female Infertility?

There are many physical body reasons for infertility in women. Some of these are anovulatory cycles (a menstrual cycle that has varying degrees of menstrual intervals and the absence of ovulation and a luteal phase). amenorrhea (suppression or absence of menstruation), luteal phase defects, premature ovarian failure, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and prolactin levels that are too high.
Sometimes anatomical problems in women’s fallopian tubes from a previous surgery or past pelvic inflammations will prevent the eggs from travelling through the tubes.
Other factors such as uterine growths fibroids and endometriosis are common causes of infertility in women. Thyroid conditions, diabetes, celiac and inflammatory bowel disease may also cause infertility.

Additionally alcohol and certain hormones, antibiotics, antidepressants, and pain medications will impair conception.

What can a woman do generally to enhance her fertility?

Have a hair analysis test. This test will show what exposure you have to toxic metals and/or other chemicals that will lower fertility.

Limit exposure to second hand smoke, as cigarette smoke contains toxic metals known to have negative effects on fertility.

Avoid caffeine.

Taking an organic acid metabolic profile test will also show your exposure environmental toxins and pollutants.

Nutritional supplementation to enhance female fertility

Note: Unless otherwise stated all dosages described in this article may be divided and taken with meals.

Folic Acid – increases cervix health and also interferes with HPV infections. 800-1200 mcg per day.

B Vitamins – A full spectrum B complex that includes 100mg of each of the B vitamins and 100mcg of B-12 (Methylcobalamin)

Iron- As part of your normal blood tests have your doctor order a test for ferritin and a complete blood count (CBC) which will show how much iron you would need. The best form of iron is carbonyl iron. Take iron with vitamin C.

Vitamin C – 1000mg per day of Vitamin C will help to increase ovulation.

Chasteberry (Vitex agnus castus) 500-750mg per day. – Reduces prolactin release and lengthens luteal phases and improves progesterone production in the body.

Natural progesterone cream – rub into soft skin areas. Massage well into skin. Use in morning and evening. Works well with Chasteberry to enhance female fertility.

Tribulus terrestris fruit extract (standardized to 40% total saponins) 500 mg 3x per day. Tribulus terrestris increases incidence of productive ovarian cycles.

Prenatal vitamins – Prenatal vitamins are excellent to use while a woman is trying to become pregnant. Many studies have shown that woman who used prenatal vitamins had a significant increased number of conceptions.

What are the causes of Male Infertility?

Male infertility is caused by problems with sperm production and delivery. Sometimes a man may have some anatomical problem such as one or more testes that do not descend, or a ductal obstruction from infection, or inflammation. Hormonal dysfunction is also a common cause of male infertility.

As discussed above just as with women certain drugs may also cause infertility in men. Common high blood pressure, arthritis, and digestive drugs effect sperm production and mobility. STD’s also will affect male fertility.

What can a man do generally to enhance his fertility?

Note: Unless otherwise stated all dosages described in this article may be divided and taken with meals.

Zinc (zinc monomethionine) 30 mg per day. Multiple studies have shown that low Zinc levels have a very negative effect on sperm production.

Antioxidants (selenium, Vitamins A, C, and D) Selenium (selenomethionine) 200 mcg per day, Vitamin A (natural beta carotene) , 1500 IU per day, Vitamin C 1000mg per day, Vitamin D 1000 IU per day and Vitamin E 1000 IU per day.
Antioxidants are needed by the male body for sperm function, viability and to increase sperm count.

Glutathione: 500mg per day on an empty stomach. Glutathione is a molecule synthesized in the body from the three amino acids L-glutamic acid, L-cysteine, and glycine. Glutathione is one of the body’s most powerful and important antioxidants. Both Glutathione and selenium are needed by the male body for a protein that enables sperm mobility.

Coenzyme CoQ10: 200mg per day. CoQ10 increases sperm count fertilization rates and mobility.

Arginine: 3000mg per day on an empty stomach. Arginine significantly increases sperm mobility. Caution: Do not use Arginine if you are diabetic, have cancer or have had ocular or brain herpes. In some people, a high level of Arginine will cause reactivation of herpes viruses in the body such as cold sores or genital herpes. Also persons with phenylketonuria (PKU) should not use Arginine.

Korean Ginseng (Panax Ginseng) 900mg per day. Multiple studies have shown that use of Panax Ginseng will increase sperm count and mobility.

Pygeum africanum: 100mg per day. Pygeum africanum affects male fertility by helping the survival of sperm outside the male body. It also helps with the pH balance of prostatic fluid.

** Disclaimer

The material in this presentation is provided for information only and does not contain or convey medical advice or instruction. Always consult with your Doctor or other medical professionals before making any changes in medication, diet, or exercise.

Christopher Stewart Medical Intuitive


[infertility]
[ivf]
[fertility]
[pregnancy]
[medical intuition]

The Gift in the Wound

We will all have an opportunity to heal old wounds as Chiron, the “wounded healer,” aligns with the Sun in a solar eclipse in Aquarius on February 6. During this extra-powerful New Moon eclipse, a time when electromagnetic patterns get short-circuited and rerouted in the heavens, a giant leap in awareness is possible. Whichever house and/or planets in our charts fall at or near 18 degrees of Aquarius are about to be triggered for the purpose of healing and growth. Old wounds reflected by our natal Chiron placement may also be activated. We’re asked to move past our knee-jerk reactions, reflect deeply on the conflicts revealed within our own psyches and find the beauty and healing that lie beneath them.

Simone Butler

Go to complete article

Solar Eclipse February 6, 2008

Februare, in Latin, means 'to purify". Cross-culturally, this is a time of prophecy and purification. Midwinter was celebrated in many cultures as a fire festival, symbolizing the return of the light. Ancient Celts observed the ritual of Imbolc, the Irish commemorated the feast of St. Brigid, the Aztecs and Iroquois ceremonially extinguished their hearth fires and relit them at this time. Renamed Candlemas by the Catholic Church, midwinter was celebrated as a feast of the Virgin Mary, continuing the promise of hope and renewal. This weekend, do something that honors and strengthens your inner light, your sacred flame, your divine essence.

Because of Mercury’s retrograde phase (January 28 to February 18), the Messenger’s transit time in Aquarius is doubled this year (January 7 to March 14), emphasizing the importance of redefining priorities, thinking out of the box, and networking with like-minded souls. Intuition and creativity are heightened as Mercury makes the second of three exact conjunctions with Neptune this weekend (the first was January 22, the third will around March 8). "It's in Everyone of Us", a beautiful song written by David Pomerantz and popularized by Cliff Richards, describes what happens when Mercury and Neptune combine. The answers to our questions and problems are within easy reach; all we have to do is slow down, ask, and listen with our heart.

A Solar Eclipse forms on February 6 at 7:45 PM PST at 17º44’ Aquarius). During an eclipse, electromagnetic streams are disrupted; matrices dissolve, new pathways open, consciousness reconfigures. This Solar Eclipse is closely opposite the powerful Grand Cross Solar Eclipse that formed on August 11, 1999 at 18º20’ Leo. That eclipse galvanized millions forward on their spiritual path, in particular the Baby Boomers who have their natal Pluto in the mid-degrees of Leo (especially anyone born 1946-1954). What happened in 1999 for you? What are you being guided to do now?

The Aquarius Water-Bearer stands for our baptism into collective consciousness, the realization that we are each unique, and an integral part of a larger whole. Every one of us, along with the Earth and the Cosmos itself, is participating in a grand experiment. We are in the midst of a huge paradigm shift, transitioning towards a new age of unity, equality, and diversity. Each one of us has an important gift to share. What is your vision, your hope and dream for the world? Chiron, Mercury, Neptune, Vesta, and the North Node are all in Aquarius as well, stressing the importance of embodying our ideals. It’s time to face the truth, live our truth, and share our truth. Where do you want to make a difference? What is your mission, your part to play at this momentous time on Earth?

“Be the change you wish to see.”--Mahatma Gandhi

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
360-379-3060
www.EcoAstrology.com

Neptunian New Moon

The New Moon in Leo takes place on August 12, just in time for the Perseid meteor showers! The darkness of the sky at the time of the New Moon will help make the meteors easier to see as they fly across the sky.

Remember that New Moons are times of new beginnings, when the Sun and Moon are conjunct and the conscious mind (Sun) and emotions (Moon) are in alignment. There is a great deal of power in the New Moon and this one is particularly strong since it is exactly opposite Neptune in Aquarius.

The New Moon in Leo is a time to take an active interest in expressing the Self in a creative and powerful new way. This is not a time to be shy or restrained - the Leo New Moon demands complete and full expression of the unique attributes of a healthy ego. On the spiritual path we are often taught to destroy the ego and become selfless. This is the voice of Neptune, and with the opposition of Neptune to the New Moon we find ourselves exploring a balance between the death of Self and the celebration of our own uniqueness as special beings of creation that Leo teaches.

The addition of Neptune adds a yearning for oneness, a longing to experience the divine. We do this in many ways: through meditation, church, music, artistic creativity, connection with a loved ones, or a walk through the woods. When the New Moon is opposed by Neptune, the doorways between worlds grow thin and we are able to move more freely between them. Romance and creativity are powerful influences now, and we are able to glimpse the Divine in all of our endeavors. Caution must be taken, however, since as with any strong Neptune experience though, there is potential for disillusionment and confusion.

This New Moon also marks the second conjunction of Venus to Saturn as Venus retrogrades back to meet the old guy. Many writers have taken the negative aspects of Saturn's effect on Venus (bad relationships, need for solitude, insecurity) but we can also look at the softening effect that Venus has on Saturn. Saturn is well-aspected now in a trine to Pluto so we have an opportunity to get the best of what Saturn has to offer: discipline, strategy, responsibility and commitment. Venus lends a hand of grace as we follow Saturn on the path to our goals and aspirations, and Saturn and Venus combined can help to cement our relationships (Venus) into structures (Saturn) that support us in our growth process.

Lynn Hayes

Leo New Moon August 12, 2007

The next New Moon forms on Sunday, August 12 at 4:02 PM PDT at 20º Leo. The word destiny comes from the same cognate as destination, and is “a purpose for which somebody or something is intended” (Websters Dictionary). This New Moon calls us back to our soul intentions and sacred destination. What were we born for? What special gift do we have to offer? Why did we choose to incarnate at this momentous time on Earth?

Not only are the Sun and Moon in Leo, but Mercury, Venus, and Saturn as well. With five of the ten planets in Leo, it's easier to hear and follow our heart. The day after this New Moon, on August 13, Venus and Saturn make the second of three exact conjunctions this year (the first was on July 1, the third occurs on October 13). Whenever the mythic Goddess of Love and Beauty meets Father Time and The Reaper, relationships and priorities undergo a reality check. Do we have what we want? Do we want what we have? What would Love do? Saturn says to Venus: Be truthful. Be prudent. And be real.

Neptune at 21º Aquarius closely opposes the Sun and Moon, and more widely opposes Mercury, Venus, and Saturn in Leo, helping shift our identity from our ego to our essence, and also extending a major reorientation process that began last year when Saturn made the first of three exact oppositions to Neptune on August 31, 2006 (the second was on February 28, 2007 and the third was June 25, 2007). Saturn’s opposition to Neptune has starkly exposed the consequences of elitism, as well as the disparity between our ideals and our current reality. The Saturn-Neptune opposition in the mid-degrees of Leo-Aquarius has especially affected the Pluto in Leo generation, nudging millions of Baby Boomers to reclaim their power. During this opposition The Secret was first released as a film (Neptune), detailing the Law of Attraction (Saturn), and the mechanics of creation (Leo), to the masses (Aquarius). Watch or read The Secret for reminders on the importance of focusing on what you want, rather than energizing what you don’t want. Check your inner compass when Neptune opposes the Sun on August 13. Clarify goals and eliminate distractions when the Sun makes its yearly conjunction with Saturn on August 21. You are the captain of your ship. You are the master of your fate. Focus on your destination, your destiny. Everyone counts. Everyone matters.

Schedule in some soul time around this New Moon. Watch the Perseid Meteor showers if possible. “Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty” (Anne Herbert). This New Moon encourages us to remember our dreams and our mission, for "We are stardust, we are golden, we are billion year old carbon. And we got to get ourselves back to the garden." (from Woodstock by Joni Mitchell).

Namaste,

Stephanie Austin

New Moon in Cancer - Another look

Cancer New Moon and other planetary news

The New Moon takes place the morning of the 14th with the Sun and Moon conjunct in the water sign of Cancer. As a water sign Cancer deals with the realm of emotions and instincts, but being a cardinal sign of action, Cancer take an active role in seeking to nurture and care for others. The New Moon begins a new lunar cycle; the conjunction of the Sun and Moon in which the pure and simple conscious solar principle obscures the darker and more complex lunar instincts. At the New Moon we seek the highest form of the lunar energy, and in Cancer that takes the shape of love and protection for our family and our tribe. In Cancer we seek to make a home; not just for our bodies but also for our souls. Here we feel at home in our inner life; our inner world becomes richer and more nurtured.

New Moons are of course times for new beginnings, and the New Moon in Cancer is a good time for watering the garden and propagating new plans. Our inner gardens are more fertile as well; we are better prepared to connect with those we love and to nurture our relationships. Because the Moon is a ruler of Cancer, it is very much at home there and helps to facilitate Cancer's work in building and sustaining safe and secure emotional environments. The Sun/Moon conjunction is trined by Uranus, adding a note of excitement and an ability to create change where needed and move forward from the past where Cancer has a tendency to become stuck.

Coming on the heels of the conjunction from Mars to Ceres, this New Moon offers an opportunity to leave past issues of neglect and self-abuse behind as we allow a purer love for others and for ourselves to flow from the source within our own hearts. Uranus in Pisces trines the Sun and Moon which suggests that the creative impulse is strong now and that flashes of insight help to guide us toward the new beginning stimulated by the New Moon. The approaching trine of Saturn to Pluto is also a part of this lunation which facilitates the transformation that is necessary in order to be able to fearlessly reveal the truths of our deeper being.

However, the approaching square of Mars and Ceres to Chiron suggests the possibility of confrontation and button-pushing that may provide the stimulus for a deeper experience of healing if we don't run from the emotional discomfort that this confrontation may engender. Ceres, as the higher octave of the Moon, represents not only our emotional security but the safety of our very being, and the heightened sensitivity of the Mars/Chiron square will bring up any unresolved fears now. The Cancer New Moon offers the possibility of washing the emotional state clean in the pure unconditional love of the Divine Mother archetype but getting there is not always easy when Chiron is involved.

Lynn Hayes

http://astrodynamics.blogspot.com

New Moon in Cancer on Saturday July 14th

The next New Moon forms on Saturday, July 14 at 5:04 AM PDT at 22º Cancer. New Moons are always good times to envision our future and set new intentions. A New Moon in Cancer invites us to reflect on the current level of sustenance in our lives. Are we taking good care of our body? Are we conscious of our thoughts? Our feelings? Our soul desires? What are we yearning for? This New Moon reminds us of the importance of monitoring each level of our being.

What we need changes. Like the crab, we must periodically molt and let go of what has defined and protected us, in order to grow. What was once beneficial later becomes constrictive and even toxic. We outgrow clothes, jobs, relationships, and paradigms. The crab offers further analogies. If we have too thick a shell, we become isolated and imprisoned in our own little world. Too thin a shell, and we are unable to meet life’s challenges. Too far from the water, too removed from our emotions, and we shrivel rather than thrive. Where this New Moon falls in your chart is where you are requiring extra nourishment and preparing to go to the next level.

Pluto at 27º Sagittarius is very close to the Galactic Center (exact on July 17th); such a conjunction, which only occurs every 240 years, represents the closing of an era and the dismantling of the beliefs and structures that supported it. This is the second of Pluto’s three exact alignments to the Galactic Center (GC) at 26º56’ Sagittarius. The first was on December 29, 2006; the third will be on October 26, 2007. Like remodeling a house, things can get quite messy until the new constructs are in place. Pluto also represents the shadow and the necessity to confront all that has been suppressed in order to ascend to a more unified level of consciousness. The mythic Lord of Death and Rebirth reminds us that, just as there is no real death but only transformation, there is no real darkness—only places where light (i.e. consciousness) has not yet shone. Pluto’s conjunction with the GC activates our cellular memories of other times and dimensions, holding open a door to a much more expanded awareness of who we really are and why we came to planet Earth.

It’s never been easier to move beyond our wounding and into our wholeness. Our feelings will guide us, like a Geiger counter, toward what we need now. Listen to your body, watch your day and night dreams, and remember: "You grow only by coming to the end of something and by beginning something else.” (John Irving)

Namaste,

Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
www.ecoastrology.com

Solar Eclipse Sunday March 18th

This Sunday March 18, there is a powerful eclipse. An eclipse is like a super new moon, and shines a spotlight on specific areas of your chart. I have chosen 3 astrologers all of whom have a unique take on this eclipse. I hope you enjoy all of them.


Dear Friends,

We’re approaching an extra powerful New Moon, a Solar Eclipse, which forms on Sunday, March 18th at 7:43 PM PDT at 28º Pisces. A New Moon marks the ending and beginning of a monthly cycle; a Solar Eclipse signals that we are closing out a major chapter in our life. Exactly nineteen years ago, on March 18, 1988, there was a Solar Eclipse at 28º’ Pisces. What was happening for you that spring? What is calling you now? What was important last autumn, when there was a Solar Eclipse at 29º Virgo, closely opposite this eclipse?

Pisces represents the alpha and omega, the infinite, endless journey of creation. A Solar Eclipse in Pisces draws us towards a more unified consciousness, towards seeing beyond the illusion of duality and separation. Having been and done everything , we come to see every aspect of life as part of the divine play. The Course in Miracles speaks to the ultimate goal of Pisces: “When you want only love, you will see nothing else.”

Pluto at 29º Sagittarius closely squares this Solar Eclipse, symbolizing the necessity to let go of what is no longer serving us. A square is a turning point, a need to “square” things. Pluto’s exact square to the Sun on March 19th helps us see what we need to weed or prune in our lives in order to grow. What is no longer working? What is true now? What is your intuition telling you? Pluto challenges us to question everything that closes our minds and hearts.

This Solar Eclipse interrupts old patterns, and offers instructions for a higher level of understanding and being. To more easily tune into your next step, schedule some quiet time around this weekend and meditate during the peak of the eclipse if possible. If you’re feeling a bit lost, read Jennifer Hoffman’s words below and remember: “The only limits are, as always, those of vision.”—James Broughton.

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
http://www.ecoastrology.com



AstroFlash! Pisces Solar Eclipse March 18, 2007 6:43 pm PDT
Spring Equinox March 20

Deeper, wider.
The knife of consciousness slices open
buried dilemmas to awaken stories that challenge belief.
Yet we cannot hold onto the past.
Endings and beginnings are marked by this eclipse.
The tug-of-war
holding on / letting go
is exacerbated by indecision, disorientation
and the intensity of gut experience.

Dare to imagine
that you are exactly where you need to be.
Dare to imagine
chaos is divine.
You are divine in the chaos.
Dare to embody your divinity.
Dare to listen. Dare to envision. Dare to say YES to life.
The design of this time
challenges us to see the larger picture
as our deep rooted values are being shaken.
While the earth quakes below us,
beyond our fears is the wisdom of our intuition
that guides us through the mysteries that we must face.
There is no turning back. Life is present now.

A Solar Eclipse changes the way we perceive the order of our lives. We see a shadow where we depend on seeing light. We may be startled by our own shadows and try to throw them on someone else! The darkness accentuated by an eclipse can bring a sharp focus of clarity into our field of vision. The infinite unknown must be taken into account. Eclipses are supernatural passageways that accentuate the uncertainty of daily life. The challenge of incorporating streams of new information into a foundation of unconscious beliefs is very stressful. How may we accommodate truth into our lives?

Eclipses dredge the past, wrinkle the present. Within the confluence of awakening and mystery are the study of cycles. We can gain perspective from looking back to the dates of previous eclipses that were closely aligned with the present cycle. Do you recall anything significant around these dates of these previous eclipses: September 22, 2006 March 7, 1989 March 18, 1988 ?

Pluto closely squares this lunation as it prepares to go retrograde on the 30th. This emphasizes that we must face and release the past in order to move forward. There is a potential for breakdown, overhaul, repair and healing. 3/30: in addition to Pluto retrograde, Uranus conjuncts the Moon's North Node and shakes us, awakens us to rapid evolutionary change. 3/22-25 Mars squares the ongoing Saturn Neptune opposition: a stressful passage that urges us to be persistent to bring our dreams into reality.

Jacqueline Lasahn
www.AstroSpirit.com

Alpha/Omega

The Sun's annual, 360-degree journey now reaches completion, passing through the final degrees of Pisces and the last degrees of the zodiac.
This is the Omega Point of the Sun's annual round of the zodiac, a time for endings and reckonings. On March 20, the Sun will cross into the first degree of first sign of the zodiac, Aries. This is the Vernal Equinox point known to astrologers as the "Aries Point" or "Alpha Point"
that lies at the gates of Aries and the birth point of the zodiac. Not only does this mark the first day of Spring, but the Zodiacal New Year as well.

Two days before the Vernal Equinox, we encounter a solar eclipse as the Sun and Moon join together in the final degree of Pisces - symbolically reflecting and supporting the theme of endings and completions. Two overlapping cycles now come to an end, speaking of a time to purge, end, finish, clear, clean, empty, harvest and release, literally and figuratively, in ways large and small. This coming weekend would be an ideal time for cleaning out your attic or garage and doing whatever you can to finish or consolidate projects. Make room in your life to allow something new and wonderful to take form in the solar year ahead.

Solar Eclipse

The Pisces New Moon/Partial Solar Eclipse takes place on Sunday, March
18 at 10:42 p.m. (EDT). A solar eclipse has a strong symbolic resonance with the Past, in that the Future (Sun) is blocked or filtered by the Past (Moon). It seems obvious that something needs to be resolved before we can move safely into the future. Outmoded behaviors, attitudes and belief systems are pressured to stand down, even without an accepted model to reframe the energy that lies behind these patterns. Reactionary attitudes, defensive posturing and collective overheating are possible for those who can't or won't let go of things that aren't working.
Looking to the past to see our way into the future is only as instructive as those who take past lessons seriously. Repeatedly failed and ineffective past approaches to solving problems offer no assistance in guiding our way through to the future. A Solar Eclipse at the tail-end of Pisces underscores this theme, perhaps prompting us to search for a deeper, more universal vision of Truth - one that embraces consciousness and compassion.

The New Moon/Solar Eclipse falls at 29 degrees of Pisces, a potent zodiacal address that contains a concentrated version of Pisces. Themes involving dreams, escapes, visions, beliefs, deceptions, hyper-emotional states and compassionate responses represent universal Pisces (not to be confused with your sunsign). Neptune-ruled Pisces is also associated with water and the oceans; oil and gases; alcohol and drugs (including pharms); music, religion, films and poetry; invisible agents; innocent victims; deceptive practices and collective hysteria. All of these themes could be in motion during the days that surround the eclipse, if not through the rest of March.

Partial solar eclipses - where only a portion of the Moon passes in front of the solar disk - aren't quite as powerful as total and annular solar eclipses, yet they still often coincide with decisive turning points. The Moon's close proximity to the Earth (perigee) also raises the possibility of earthquakes and other geophysical disruptions. The rise and fall of world leaders are often marked by a solar eclipse - occurring in Pisces, a religious figure or someone with a lot to hide seem to be the likely candidates.

In addition to all of this, Pluto at the Galactic Center is forming a hard, right angle with the Eclipse, emphasizing large-scale disasters and collective extremes in an unconscious quest for closure. The possibility of a terrorist attack is very high, not only with this being the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, but with religious zealotry reaching a screaming pitch.

As to witnessing the eclipse, only those living in Alaska and eastern or central Asia will have the opportunity to watch the Moon take a bite out of the Sun.


Gary Paul Glynn is a professional astrologer with over 25 years experience in personal birthchart interpretation and is available for consultations by appointment. His bimonthly astrology forecast can be found in the March-April edition of Branches Magazine or at http://www.branches.com
You can reach Gary at mailto:gpg@bluemarble.net

Solar Eclipse Sunday March 18th

Dear Friends,

We’re approaching an extra powerful New Moon, a Solar Eclipse, which forms on Sunday, March 18th at 7:43 PM PDT at 28º Pisces. A New Moon marks the ending and beginning of a monthly cycle; a Solar Eclipse signals that we are closing out a major chapter in our life. Exactly nineteen years ago, on March 18, 1988, there was a Solar Eclipse at 28º’ Pisces. What was happening for you that spring? What is calling you now? What was important last autumn, when there was a Solar Eclipse at 29º Virgo, closely opposite this eclipse?

Pisces represents the alpha and omega, the infinite, endless journey of creation. A Solar Eclipse in Pisces draws us towards a more unified consciousness, towards seeing beyond the illusion of duality and separation. Having been and done everything , we come to see every aspect of life as part of the divine play. The Course in Miracles speaks to the ultimate goal of Pisces: “When you want only love, you will see nothing else.”

Pluto at 29º Sagittarius closely squares this Solar Eclipse, symbolizing the necessity to let go of what is no longer serving us. A square is a turning point, a need to “square” things. Pluto’s exact square to the Sun on March 19th helps us see what we need to weed or prune in our lives in order to grow. What is no longer working? What is true now? What is your intuition telling you? Pluto challenges us to question everything that closes our minds and hearts.

This Solar Eclipse interrupts old patterns, and offers instructions for a higher level of understanding and being. To more easily tune into your next step, schedule some quiet time around this weekend and meditate during the peak of the eclipse if possible. If you’re feeling a bit lost, read Jennifer Hoffman’s words below and remember: “The only limits are, as always, those of vision.”—James Broughton.

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
Stephanie@EcoAstrology.com
www.EcoAstrology.com






AstroFlash! Pisces Solar Eclipse March 18, 2007 6:43 pm PDT
Spring Equinox March 20

Deeper, wider.
The knife of consciousness slices open
buried dilemmas to awaken stories that challenge belief.
Yet we cannot hold onto the past.
Endings and beginnings are marked by this eclipse.
The tug-of-war
holding on / letting go
is exacerbated by indecision, disorientation
and the intensity of gut experience.

Dare to imagine
that you are exactly where you need to be.
Dare to imagine
chaos is divine.
You are divine in the chaos.
Dare to embody your divinity.
Dare to listen. Dare to envision. Dare to say YES to life.
The design of this time
challenges us to see the larger picture
as our deep rooted values are being shaken.
While the earth quakes below us,
beyond our fears is the wisdom of our intuition
that guides us through the mysteries that we must face.
There is no turning back. Life is present now.

A Solar Eclipse changes the way we perceive the order of our lives. We see a shadow where we depend on seeing light. We may be startled by our own shadows and try to throw them on someone else! The darkness accentuated by an eclipse can bring a sharp focus of clarity into our field of vision. The infinite unknown must be taken into account. Eclipses are supernatural passageways that accentuate the uncertainty of daily life. The challenge of incorporating streams of new information into a foundation of unconscious beliefs is very stressful. How may we accommodate truth into our lives?

Eclipses dredge the past, wrinkle the present. Within the confluence of awakening and mystery are the study of cycles. We can gain perspective from looking back to the dates of previous eclipses that were closely aligned with the present cycle. Do you recall anything significant around these dates of these previous eclipses: September 22, 2006 March 7, 1989 March 18, 1988 ?

Pluto closely squares this lunation as it prepares to go retrograde on the 30th. This emphasizes that we must face and release the past in order to move forward. There is a potential for breakdown, overhaul, repair and healing. 3/30: in addition to Pluto retrograde, Uranus conjuncts the Moon's North Node and shakes us, awakens us to rapid evolutionary change. 3/22-25 Mars squares the ongoing Saturn Neptune opposition: a stressful passage that urges us to be persistent to bring our dreams into reality.

Jacqueline Lasahn
www.AstroSpirit.com



Alpha/Omega

The Sun's annual, 360-degree journey now reaches completion, passing through the final degrees of Pisces and the last degrees of the zodiac.
This is the Omega Point of the Sun's annual round of the zodiac, a time for endings and reckonings. On March 20, the Sun will cross into the first degree of first sign of the zodiac, Aries. This is the Vernal Equinox point known to astrologers as the "Aries Point" or "Alpha Point"
that lies at the gates of Aries and the birth point of the zodiac. Not only does this mark the first day of Spring, but the Zodiacal New Year as well.

Two days before the Vernal Equinox, we encounter a solar eclipse as the Sun and Moon join together in the final degree of Pisces - symbolically reflecting and supporting the theme of endings and completions. Two overlapping cycles now come to an end, speaking of a time to purge, end, finish, clear, clean, empty, harvest and release, literally and figuratively, in ways large and small. This coming weekend would be an ideal time for cleaning out your attic or garage and doing whatever you can to finish or consolidate projects. Make room in your life to allow something new and wonderful to take form in the solar year ahead.

Solar Eclipse

The Pisces New Moon/Partial Solar Eclipse takes place on Sunday, March
18 at 10:42 p.m. (EDT). A solar eclipse has a strong symbolic resonance with the Past, in that the Future (Sun) is blocked or filtered by the Past (Moon). It seems obvious that something needs to be resolved before we can move safely into the future. Outmoded behaviors, attitudes and belief systems are pressured to stand down, even without an accepted model to reframe the energy that lies behind these patterns. Reactionary attitudes, defensive posturing and collective overheating are possible for those who can't or won't let go of things that aren't working.
Looking to the past to see our way into the future is only as instructive as those who take past lessons seriously. Repeatedly failed and ineffective past approaches to solving problems offer no assistance in guiding our way through to the future. A Solar Eclipse at the tail-end of Pisces underscores this theme, perhaps prompting us to search for a deeper, more universal vision of Truth - one that embraces consciousness and compassion.

The New Moon/Solar Eclipse falls at 29 degrees of Pisces, a potent zodiacal address that contains a concentrated version of Pisces. Themes involving dreams, escapes, visions, beliefs, deceptions, hyper-emotional states and compassionate responses represent universal Pisces (not to be confused with your sunsign). Neptune-ruled Pisces is also associated with water and the oceans; oil and gases; alcohol and drugs (including pharms); music, religion, films and poetry; invisible agents; innocent victims; deceptive practices and collective hysteria. All of these themes could be in motion during the days that surround the eclipse, if not through the rest of March.

Partial solar eclipses - where only a portion of the Moon passes in front of the solar disk - aren't quite as powerful as total and annular solar eclipses, yet they still often coincide with decisive turning points. The Moon's close proximity to the Earth (perigee) also raises the possibility of earthquakes and other geophysical disruptions. The rise and fall of world leaders are often marked by a solar eclipse - occurring in Pisces, a religious figure or someone with a lot to hide seem to be the likely candidates.

In addition to all of this, Pluto at the Galactic Center is forming a hard, right angle with the Eclipse, emphasizing large-scale disasters and collective extremes in an unconscious quest for closure. The possibility of a terrorist attack is very high, not only with this being the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, but with religious zealotry reaching a screaming pitch.

As to witnessing the eclipse, only those living in Alaska and eastern or central Asia will have the opportunity to watch the Moon take a bite out of the Sun.


Gary Paul Glynn is a professional astrologer with over 25 years experience in personal birthchart interpretation and is available for consultations by appointment. His bimonthly astrology forecast can be found in the March-April edition of Branches Magazine or at http://www.branches.com. You can reach Gary at mailto:gpg@bluemarble.net

Mars conjuncts Pluto and the Galactic Center

Lynn Hayes at the Astrodynamics blog has some very insightful thoughts on this powerful astrological conjunction:

Mars is approaching a conjunction to Pluto which is still conjunct the Galactic Center. Any combination of Mars and Pluto can be explosive, since Mars is the god of action and war while Pluto is the god of death and the underworld.

The galactic center is the center of our galaxy, a point the ancient Mayans called the "Hunab Ku." The Mayans worshiped Hunab Ku as the Supreme Creator, the source of consciousness which organizes all matter. You may already know that the Mayan calendar describes the end of the Fourth World in 2012. It seems likely that the conjunction of Pluto to the Galactic Center marks a turning point and a realignment of the destiny of our planet, just as it has throughout history. The addition here of Mars could provide the spark to the flame that speeds up the process.

One has to wonder if a Mars/Pluto conjunction was the best time for the US to attack Al-Qaeda targets in Somalia resulting in mass civilian casualties. The conjunction of Mars and Pluto is exact on January 13 but we are definitely beginning to feel its effects, and there is likely to be a strong buildup of intensity over the next few days.

On a personal level, particularly if we have planets or angles in the mutable signs of Sagittarius, Gemini, Virgo and Gemini, we may be feeling an inner adjustment at the core of our being. Pluto represents the higher self, removing from our lives anything that no longer serves us. As Pluto contacts our own Galactic Center, it is changing our course and adjusting our track so that we move forward in the intended evolutionary direction.

Geeky astrological detail: This event includes an inconjunct to Mercury. The inconjunct aspect creates discomfort without offering an outlet; unlike the challenging aspects which create a crisis that promote growth, the inconjunct brings a continual irritation. The inconjunct of Mercury in tandem to the Mars/Pluto/G.C. event suggests that we will have difficulty integrating the fiery energy of the event in a way that would provide intellectual meaning. This is a gut-level event, one that occurs at an instinctive and soul level and bypasses the intellect completely.

Eileen Caddy has gone home...

Eileen was a constant source of inspiration to me, and her presence as well as her writings are a powerful teaching of the light.


Eileen Marion Caddy, one of the founders of the Findhorn Foundation community, passed over peacefully on Wednesday evening 13 December. Her health has been gradually fading and she has been cared for at home by family and friends over the past two and a half years.

Our community, locally and globally, are celebrating her life and her release into the light of the Beloved, as Eileen herself has asked us to do rather than to mourn her death.

She has requested that a simple funeral be conducted as soon as possible and that media and public attention be held in abeyance until after her cremation. A memorial service to fully and publicly honour her life and all the gifts she has given to us, will be organised early in the New Year.

In this time of transition we ask that you share in our happiness, knowing (as she would want) that all is very very well . . .

http://www.findhorn.org/content/news/archives/000722.php

findhorn

New Moon/Winter Solstice 2006

Dear Friends,

The next New Moon forms on Wednesday, December 20th at 6:01 AM PST at 29 degrees of Sagittarius. This is another extraordinary New Moon, the fourth in a row occurring at the tail end of a sign, marking an important ending and beginning. Sagittarius is associated with the quest for meaning and truth. Why are we here? What's really important? This New Moon helps us to remember our soul contracts and spiritual origins. The Sun's annual conjunction with Pluto on Monday, December 18th illuminates what needs to be questioned and changed in order for us to move on. Mars' square to Uranus (exact on December 21st) nudges us to trust our intuition and try something new.

On Thursday, December 21st, the Sun enters Capricorn at 4:23 PM PST, marking the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year and the Return of the Light. Three days after the Solstice (which comes from the Latin words for Sun and to stand still), the Sun rises higher in the sky each day until the Summer Solstice. Both the New Moon and the Winter Solstice are excellent times for ceremony, prayers, and setting new intentions. What will you choose now? What you do want to create or experience next? What is your heart longing for?

This month the New Moon and Pluto align with the Galactic Center (GC), currently at 27 degrees of Sagittarius, where a super massive Black Hole, four million times more massive than our Sun, occupies the hub and heart of our Milky Way galaxy. Pluto, the archetypal energy of death and rebirth, focalizes and intensifies the electromagnetic radiation emanating from the Galactic core. This catalyzes evolutionary changes in both our bodies and our psyches; we're being rewired and recoded.

Although Pluto's astronomical classification is debatable, Plutonian transits still coincide with major transitions and initiations, where we integrate the unconscious and realize our true identity, purpose, and relationship with the Cosmos. Pluto makes its first exact alignment with the GC on December 28, 2006 and remains within two degrees of the GC through December, 2007. Pluto aligns with the GC only once every 248 years; the last pass occurred in 1758-59, just preceding the American and Industrial Revolutions. Those with natal placements or angles at 24-29 degrees of Sagittarius are being galvanized to join with others in creating a new template for human consciousness on Earth.

All of this means we are at another important crossroads. Give yourself some soul time around this New Moon and the Solstice; reflect on where you've been, and where you want to go. Take advantage of the transformative tailwinds; old patterns have never been easier to shift. Focus on what's most important and remember St. Theresa's Prayer: "May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you....May you be content knowing you are a child of God....Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us."

Namaste,
Stephanie Austin
http://www.ecoastrology.com

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