Astrology Gemini New Moon May 28th: Mercury Retrograde Nears

“Nothing endures but change.” ― Heraclitus

“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” ― Albert Einstein

Turbulent Waves, Hookena Beach, Hawaii
iPad Energy Sketch by Joseph Mina

The season of Gemini-style change is upon us. Gemini energy imbues change into everyday life. It's Gemini's nature.

Ruled by Mercury, Gemini thrives in the realm of communication, thoughts, movement and ideas. Usually, this playful nature manifests as spontaneous, humorous, connective, highly creative and changeable.  Yet, these are no ordinary times. In this current vibration, Gemini becomes a ninja-like shape shifter, ready to turn the energetic tables in the blink of an eye. Are you ready for more spontaneous change???

This Gemini New Moon also brings Neptune in Pisces into the conversation, evoking Neptune's connection to imagery, dreams, inspiration, and most importantly, confusion. "What is real and what is not?" will be a powerful theme generator in the coming months, especially in Pisces' realms of spirituality and illusion.

Gemini New Moon arrives on the 28th at 8:40 am in Hawaii, 11:40 am PDT, 2:40 EDT, 6:40

Astrology May 2014 Scorpio Full Moon: Emotional Intensity 101

“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost.”  Martha Graham

"Big Wave Day Hawaii" sketch by Joseph Mina

The month of May nears its half way point (these months are sure flying by) as the Scorpio Full Moon takes center stage. Each year, the Scorpio Full Moon lights up the mid-spring sky (or mid-autumn sky for those down-under). Here, we are encouraged to go deeper into our life force, exploring new ways to use this precious vibration in our day-to-day lives.

Full Moon arrives on the 14th at 9:16 am in Hawaii, 12:16 pm on the West Coast; 3:16 pm on the East coast; 7:16 pm UTC; and on the 15th from western Russia east to the international date line.

This Full Moon joins Saturn in Scorpio in the current sky story. Over the past 90 years, this is only the 4th time the Full Moon and Saturn in Scorpio have come into close aspect (2nd closest). Archetypally, the Moon's

Annular Taurus New Moon Solar Eclipse April 28: Earth First

“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one destiny, affects all indirectly.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us the less taste we shall have for the destruction of our race. Wonder and humility are wholesome emotions, and they do not exist side by side with a lust for destruction."
Rachel Carson, Marine Biologist, author of Silent Spring

"Forsythia" sketch by Joseph Mina

Spring is that unique time when life quickens without hesitation after a deep, long slumber. The speed with which life rebounds is rather startling. As if on universal cue, an environmental renaissance takes place before our very eyes. During this time, the vibrant smell and sight of new growth speaks to the depths of our human form. Our body has evolved over millions of years of trial and error in this magical brew. It innately knows this essence and awakening. Equally, it innately knows when this eon old eco-system is out of balance. Are we attuned to what we instinctively or innately know about planet Earth? This Taurus New Moon vibe offers a gut check for that very question.

In the Northern Hemisphere, we celebrate the Taurus New Moon in the springtime. Unlike any other astrological sign, archetypal Taurus, one of the 3 earth signs, connects and grounds us to planet Earth. We put our hands in the soil; we breathe deeply the fresh air; we revel in the experience of liquid H2O; and we consume Earth's gifts for nourishment and strength. Our senses become intoxicated with spring's rush of life.

This eclipsed Taurus New Moon arrives with strong lunar intention. For the most brief of moments, the shadow cap of the Moon barely grazes the Earth over a very remote area of Antarctica. Annularity

Total Lunar Eclipse Libra Full Moon April 15 and Grand Cardinal Cross: Intensity Clarifies

"...Intensity clarifies. It creates not only momentum, but also the pressure you need to feel either friction, or fulfillment." Marcus Buckingham, author & motivational speaker

©Energetic Expressions2014: "Emergence" by Joseph Mina

"A Wizard's Hat", as described by astronomer/philosopher Chet Raymo in one of my favorite books Soul of the Night, resembles the shadow area lurking behind every object, large and small, as it orbits our Sun. It is mostly a dark zone, seemingly oblivious to the Sun's brilliant light. In the case of the Earth's cap, its shadow light is a very dusky red, infused with the scattered remains of crimson solar light not held captive by the Earth's atmosphere. Tonight in Hawaii, or in the very early morning hours for North and South America, the Full Moon dips into this hallowed area, creating one of nature's infrequent sublime spectacles...a total lunar eclipse.

Eclipse chaser and observer extraordinare Fred Espenak tells me in his Observer's Handbook the Moon will first touch the outer regions of the Earth's penumbra at 4:53.37 UT today (6:54 pm in Hawaii; 9:54 pm on the West Coast US)...a moment in time no one will perceive. Yet within a matter of 65 minutes, the Moon will begin to lose its brilliant, silvery luster, as the Earth's shadow seemingly takes a bite out of this fabled block of cheese. For an astrologer, or someone who dwells in the realm of metaphor, this "as above, so below" moment opens the human psyche to our own archetypal shadow...that place hiding humanities inner secrets about the more primal parts of our lineage and heritage. Your cosmic homework assignment for this lunation: "look within".

This particular eclipse is one of the more unique ones in recorded history. No, not because of the Moon's passage through the Earth's shadow...a journey replicated every 18.6 months or so. Rather, an extremely rare geometric association of four planetary archetypal expressions occurs at the same time. On its journey tonight, the  Libra Full Moon carries a metaphorical cross on this shadowed trek...a "Cardinal Grand Cross", if you will. We have arrived at the 2014 Crossroads. What will we discover within our psyches about who we are and our potential to co-create on planet Earth??

As I have shared here over the past few years, this evolving grand cross dynamic is nothing short of

Aries New Moon March 30: Are You Ready???

"Re-examine all you have been told in school or church or in any book, and dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem, and have the richest fluency, not only in words, but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes, and in every motion and joint of your body." - Walt Whitman, Preface to Leaves of Grass

"Let the beauty we love be what we do...there are hundreds of ways to knell and kiss the ground". Rumi

AstroActivators© 2002 Kathryn Andren

We arrive at the Aries New Moon. A gong sounds...loudly. We begin anew...yet this time the ground is highly fertile and ripe for significant shifts in your individuated expression, how you relate to others, what fuels your persona in the world, and what nurtures you to the core.  Yes...cardinal sign energies are building for the Cardinal Cross of late April...this fiery Aries New Moon opens a significant door for that vibration, rippling its vibration through early June. Wow O Wow!

Archetypal Aries is raw, primal, highly creative, in the moment, passionate about their inner dance and ready to set the world on fire. Abraham Hicks might have been considering Aries-types when this came through "people will love you...people will hate you...and none of it will have anything to do with you." And I'll add "your life won't be boring"!

Pure Aries is entirely self-focused on individuated growth and experiences. To others it may seem narcissistic or self-absorbed. Yet, someone has to take the lead...someone has to get the ball rolling in a particular direction or trend. Oh yes...Aries types are rarely around to see things completed, especially anyone with Ascendant, Venus or Mars in this individuated vibration. "On to the next greatest thing" is their fuel and passion, and sometimes their greatest challenge. As such, following impulsive urges can prove to be a 2 edged sword. Learning the art/balance between discernment and action is very helpful for the Aries mojo.

This New Moon invites you to conjure new ways of expressing your passion in the world. How do

Virgo Full Moon March 16: Endings & Beginings

"Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending."
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~

There comes a time in life when a door closes to allow another door to open. This Virgo Full Moon signals the end of the astrological year, and on a personal level, the significant end of a life chapter.

Kathryn and I have been in relationship for almost 14 years. We met at a Dolphin Mediation Night here in Hawaii back in May 2000. "Hi I'm Kathryn" were her first words, as she extended her hand to me. That wondrous meeting set in motion a most amazing ride...one with many twists and turns, ups and downs and much growth. And now sadly the ride has come to its conclusion: endings and beginnings.

In part, Gemini is the "lovers", "twins", or "troubadours" sharing information and raising consciousness. We created Gemini Awakening in 2002, reflecting our desire to share astrological news and tandem healing services with the world in new and innovative ways. Our creative expressions through imagery and video have been a wonderful way to reach out and connect with many people. We thank you for supporting the expression of the life we love to share.

In the realm of completions, and being aware of what this coming Virgo Full Moon offers (more below), the other day we returned to the place where we married in Hawaii...Pu'u Honua O'Honaunau...the City of Refuge. There, we created a 4 direction design made from plants from our land. Through the symbolic nature of each offering, (Ti leaf, fig, noni, herbs, fruits etc) we acknowledged how that energy had been expressed, and been an integral part of our lives together. Amazingly, especially as we were in a remote part of the Refuge, someone appeared unexpectedly (how Uranian) to give us a donation and tell us how much he appreciated all that we generously share in our astrology work. Perhaps he was a Universal emissary for everyone who has been the recipient of our healing work over the past 14 years? We were deeply touched by this unexpected gesture, and "out of the blue" Uranian visitor.

Kathryn has now created her own web site where you can contact her at KathrynAndren.com.  There, Kathryn now features her "Cosmic Collage" Gallery, Astrology Consulting and Insights, and Massage and Bodywork services. Check it out here. You can also "Like" her new Facebook page: Kathryn Andren Art.

In the the meantime, I'm continuing to post under the Gemini Awakening banner. However, this too will change over the coming months. I am creating a new web site with greater integration between my Astrology, Bodywork, Photography and Creative Expressions. You'll receive notice when this is

Pisces New Moon Feb 28: Sensitivity 101

“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one destiny, affects all indirectly.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

"Integration Station" iPad sketch by Joseph Mina

"To everything, turn, turn, turn, there is a season, turn, turn, turn...." Pete Seeger, American folk singer and activist, penned then sang these mystical words back in the 1950's. His recent death in late January brings to mind how seasons end...then begin anew. As we reach the Pisces New Moon on February 28, we embrace both the end of the astrological procession through Pisces...and await the new and seemingly exciting season to come through Aries. Turn...turn...turn....

Pisces calls us home to be part of the greater collective. Yet, despite its sensitive, compassionate and peaceful magnetism, this calling occurs in a sea of great planetary uncertainty, intensity, change and transformation. In some quarters, such as the Ukraine, Syria, Iraq or Pakistan, a boiling fervor ignites a call for freedom from oppression, while in other areas highly

Leo Full Moon Feb 14: Fueling Heart Desires

"Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground."  — Rumi

"Heart Activation" sketch by Joseph Mina

The desires of the heart move in mysterious ways. The brain does not understand this mystery. Where our mental perspectives are fueled by "this or that", the heart, fueled by love,  only knows desire and passion. Yet, our thinking and desires are potent forces. This Leo Full Moon invites you to reflect on what you truly desire to create in passionate, loving ways.

Full Moon occurs on the 14th at 1:53 pm in Hawaii, 3:53 on the West Coast; 11:53 pm GMT; and on the 15th from Italy, Germany, Eastern Europe east to the International Date Line.

This Leo Full Moon positioned at 26° arrives accompanied by a host of retrograde planets, or planetary energies in strong aspect to each other. Usually, a Full Moon period represents an

Cancer Full Moon Jan 15, 2014: Sustainability

"You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself."  Nelson Mandela

“The difference between what we are doing and what we are capable of doing would solve most of the world’s problems.”  Mahatma Gandhi

"Nesting" by Kathryn Andren ©2013

Last week, most of North America and Northern Europe felt the intensity of winter in no uncertain terms. "Polar Vortex" became a household word literally overnight in the United States. Extreme cold, snow, and ice brought structured life to a standstill.

Hundreds of millions of people were impacted directly or indirectly by this intense winter weather. Extreme, harsh weather on this scale is beyond comprehension. In a matter of a few days, this brute natural force literally shook the very pillars of life's 4 foundational anchors - self-identity, home, career, and relationship. These are the very 4 areas of life now being activated by the powerful planetary cycle named "The Cardinal Cross of 2014". [Maybe the weather stations ought to start naming storms after planetary cycles? ;) ]

Consider for a moment how a natural phenomena rapidly and unpredictably changed individual choices, economic and commercial flow, family and community interactions, and relationship connection time. This is a potent example of how the Cardinal Cross can express its energy through the consciousness.

And in the midst of these life altering events, we arrive at the 1st Full Moon of the new season, gracing our night sky on the 15th.  This Moon arrives at the fullness of its current lunation at 6:52 pm in Hawaii, 8:52 p on the West Coast, just before midnight on the East Coast, and continuing east, on the 16th for the rest of the world. (4:52 GMT) The zodiacal reference point is the sign of Cancer at 26°, an archetype for how

Capricorn New Moon January 1 2014: Happy New Year!

"To have the kind of year you want to have, something has to happen that you can't explain why it happened. Something has to happen that you can't coach."
Bobby Bowden, former football coach, Florida State (1929 - )

January 1, 2014 New Year's day is also New Moon in Capricorn, It occurs at 1:14 am in Hawaii, 3:14 on the West Coast and 11:14 am GMT. New Moon on the 1st day of the year has only occurred 12x in the past 300 years.

This New Moon occurs near perigee making it the closest New Moon in 2014. Perigee New Moon, also referred to as a Super New Moon, symbolically represents an enhancement or intensification of a lunar cycle. Do you generally make New Years resolutions?  This New Year’s day is a perfect time to do so. The astrology for 2014 suggests an extra special time for empowering thoughts into action!

The planetary patterns on New Years day 2014 hold extra potency to align your intentions for the coming year. Five planets in Capricorn plus other planetary alignments known as the Cardinal Cross are strong indicators for other rhythms occurring through the first half of the year, especially in April and May into June.

If January 1 were a hologram for the coming month and coming year, this powerful New Moon adds