Blog

Welcome to 2012. It sure feels like “full steam ahead” in my neck of the woods. If you’re feeling a forward whoosh of energy, you’re right on track, as we speed towards the earth trine of Mars in Virgo to the Sun in Capricorn on January 12. We’re just coming out of a Jupiter retrograde cycle (which ended in December 2011), in which you likely did some re-visioning of your big picture plans. You might be itching to put some of those plans into action. If there are projects that have been waiting in the wings, now is a great time to get them moving. The first part of this month is great for spending a little more time working, and less time playing. Take care of the details, get the structure in order, establish the foundation. Because just a couple of weeks later, it’s going to be time to put the brakes on.

Read more

The year is coming to a close. I love this time of year, as it affords the opportunity to look back on a mini segment of life and reflect on the choices I've made, the experiences I've had and the things I've learned. It's also a time when I take that information and use it to formulate a revised game plan for the next cycle. And every year at this time I join a group of friends on the Winter Solstice, and we share those intentions, stating them out loud, solidifying the energy firmly within ourselves and with others as witness. If you've never experienced a Winter Solstice ceremony, why not make one up yourself this year, even if you do the solitary version. Light a candle, make a list, and speak your heart. Begin to let 2011 fade into memory and prepare to bring in the next year with even more wisdom, love, and wonder than you've ever had before.

Read more

I ate a jellyfish. I did it in order to redeem the dignity I had lost when I could not bring myself to eat a frog. Many of you have probably guessed already that I am talking about my recent trip to China. Mars was transiting over my 9th House Pluto when I left, so I was a little nervous about the trip. Also a very skilled Vedic astrologer had warned me of various dangers during that same period. I try not to be astro-paranoid, but I admit I was edgy. All in all, it felt like a dumb move to go to China under those kinds of astrological energies.

Read more

I've been thinking about the increase in revolutionary activity and social tension in the world, which as we know exists in resonance with the current planetary alignments. And I’m feeling excited about what this means for astrologers because it just might be that people are perfectly primed to take in what we have to say.  

Take some time to enjoy Steven's thoughts in this newsletter, and then talk about these ideas with friends. People know something is happening - they can feel it in their bones. This is a perfect time to share with them what you know astrology can do. There is relevance in the heavens right now that’s truly hard to ignore when you understand how to interpret the planetary archetypes.

Read more

I have found Placidus house cusps to work consistently the best for me. I am not rigid about it except with my students — astrologers should celebrate diversity, I think! But I would always use Placidus, and just trust the message of the symbols from that point of view. For House positions I also allow …

Continue reading "Is the Placidus House System the Best?"

Read more

My attitude is that any kind of birth, whether natural or induced, is still valid astrologically. Here’s my reasoning: If we imagine a soul mis-matched with a personality (i.e., someone having the “wrong” birthchart), then it would follow that such people would be more poorly adjusted to life than the rest of us. Since I …

Continue reading "How Does Induced Birth Affect the Birth Chart?"

Read more

Drama reigns in the skies lately, with the long series of exact Pluto-Uranus squares looming from 2012 through 2015. As I write these words here on September 3rd, the major astrological event of the next few weeks is the upcoming Pluto Station on September 16 as it turns Direct at just under 5° Capricorn. In broad terms, when a planet is retrograde it tends to be inward and reflective. When it turns around to go forward, it becomes more assertive and oriented toward material experience. And when a planet is Stationary, it is extremely focused and intense. The tide is turning. With Pluto, this intensification naturally means either the culmination of some deep psychological work – or the emergence of catastrophic situations that illustrate the consequences of the lack of such work!

Read more

 

Mercury Opposite Neptune

As I write this, Steven has just arrived in Australia for his annual Apprenticeship program. He always looks forward to his trips "down under" because he loves the unique vibe of the group there and really appreciates the privilege of getting to teach in diverse locations.

And also as I write this, Mercury is exactly opposite Neptune, so I'll be spacing out frequently as I type and making sure to spell check at least 3 times before sending! If you've been feeling like the upcoming Mercury Retrograde in Virgo cycle started ahead of schedule, you're likely noticing the effects of Mercury opposite Neptune, which is exact today, July 31.

Read more

The Blue Sky AP Store is for past attendees of ANY AP Program in ANY Location We faithfully protect the AP confidentiality agreement. Therefore we only sell AP Audio programs to attendees of the program in order to uphold and maintain the safe environment for sharing personal information. This is why we do not sell …

Continue reading "Blue Sky AP Store"

Read more

As I sit here contemplating the New Moon Solar Eclipse in Cancer July 1st, I'm struck by images of threats to our collective security circulating via fears of nuclear meltdown in the U.S. I'm also saddened by they ways in which our insecurities lead us to treat each other without care and tenderness as reports circulate of grandmothers and small children receiving inappropriate treatment by airport TSA staff. With the energy of Cancer in the air, it's time for some care and healing, and a return to a right relationship with our mothering instinct, our care for children and respect for our matriarchs.

Read more