Libra ~ Mandala Art as a Healing Tool October 10, 2009
Posted by cjwright in Libra and Venus, Symbols of the Zodiac.Tags: art, astrology, auntie moon, cjwright, libra, mandala art, mandalas
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Celestial Temple ~ Clare Goodwin
Several years ago, while browsing in a bookstore, I picked up a copy of Mandalas for Meditation kit edited by Zoe Frances and read this, “Suddenly the doctor noticed the most amazing changes in her patients. Not only did they seem calmer and more centered, the overall atmosphere had become more harmonious and lighthearted.”
During that time, my mother had been in a nursing home for about two years due to her age and advanced Parkinson’s disease. The tremors were very bad in her hand, and she was exhausted and agitated from the constant shaking. I thought I might give this mandala thing a try. Test the theory. Nothing else was working. What did I have to lose?
Moon Phase Mandala ~ Zodiac Arts
Another quote from the book struck me, too. “Often, if people are aware of their centers, they tend to color mandalas from the center out.” My mother was always centered ~ in herself, in her world, and in her faith. No pun intended, but she was unshakeable. It was her body that betrayed her.
I packed up my little mandala kit and went for my daily visit. She was very interested in the black and white drawings and a bit shocked when I told her we would color them together. “But I can’t color,” she said. I explained that she would pick the mandala and the colors and I would do the actual coloring. I didn’t mention what I had read about a mandala’s ability to calm a person. It was mid-afternoon, and she was already very tired. The tremors were increasing by that time, and with sundown approaching, they would get worse. We started with a very simple drawing ~ not too complex, with larger areas that would be easier for her to focus on.
“Where shall we start?” I asked.
“Why, in the center, of course,” came her soft reply. Ah, yes. That’s my mom. In the center is right.
And so we colored. Shades of blues and pink, highlighted with some golden yellow. She never took her eyes from the page.
I would do an occasional check and notice that the tremors had calmed. Medication was still more than an hour away, and she was calm. By the time the hour had passed, the tremors were gone ~ just from watching me color. We colored almost every day for the last few weeks of her life.
Since that time, I have taken great enjoyment from coloring mandalas. Each time I color one I find it to be very relaxing. In many ways, it’s time I get to spend with my mom again because it always brings back memories of our last days together. As I complete the mandala, it comes to life with color and form, and always brings me back to a center I may have strayed from.
The astrology community is fortunate to have excellent sources for mandalas ~ Clare Goodwin’s Mandala Page and Sandra and David Mosely’s Zodiac Arts. There are amazing mandala galleries on each site that you can get lost in for hours. You can also download and color your own mandalas, and sign up for their newsletters. Clare offers a New Moon Mandala newsletter that arrives on each New Moon ~ a gentle reminder of that tender time of the month. Coloring a mandala at the New Moon can bring focus to your intentions and displaying it throughout the month will remind you of your New Moon wishes and goals. You can write your wishes right on the mandala ~ a source of inspiration and encouragement. By clicking on the mandalas above, you’ll be taken to Clare’s and Zodiacarts’ respective pages. They are absolutely gorgeous.
If you think mandalas aren’t your thing, rethink that a little. 
If you’re an Astrologer, you already practice mandala art everytime you look at or cast a chart. Every natal chart is a mandala ~ the planets and stars, even the sun, radiating from our center ~ our earth, our world. Here’s an old chart form from…well, who knows where. I have tried to find the chart and the artist online, but have not been successful. I have a few left in the pack and they are true treasures. I’ve scanned it so I’ll never run out. Take the time to draw a chart on this form and color it. The chart will come alive as you work on it, and it will be a true prize for the client you present it to…unless you decide to do your own chart and keep that little treasure for yourself. After all, you do deserve a gorgeous copy of your own chart ~ your life mandala ~ handcast by you.
Libra ~ Astrological Symbolism of “Gone with the Wind” October 5, 2009
Posted by cjwright in Libra and Venus, Planets and Signs, Symbols of the Zodiac.Tags: astrological symbolism of gone with the wind, astrology, auntie moon, cjwright, libra, patricia lantz
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When Margaret Mitchell wrote “Gone with the Wind,” she gave us the most passionately romantic couple of the 20th century. Would it surprise you to know that Mitchell was a Scorpio with Venus in Libra? Would that remind you of Scarlett O’Hara just a tiny little bit?
Libra seems a fitting time to honor this bedazzling couple and the author who created them. Patricia Lantz, Atlanta astrologer, wrote a very interesting article about the astrological symbolism behind “Gone with the Wind” for the Atlanta Examiner. I asked her if I could share it with you and she has graciously agreed.
Gone With the Wind is a thinly disguised astrological allegory…urban legend or fact?
It’s said by some Atlanta astrologers that Margaret Mitchell was an astrologer before she was a writer…and the book that brought “Hollywood to Atlanta” and fame to it’s author had a very surprising beginning.
“Gone With the Wind” mythologised the Old South, immortalized Atlanta and transformed a modest Atlanta newspaper woman into a Pulitzer Prize winning novelist and one of the 20th Century’s most famous authors. So it was quite a surprise in 1978 when an astrologer, teaching at an Atlanta convention for The American Federation of Astrologers, was shown xerox copies of Margaret Mitchell’s early notes and discovered the notes contained clues (that possibly only an astrologer could interpret) that Margaret Mitchell had based the characters of her torrid epic story on the zodiac.
It appeared that what Mitchell had done was take each sign of the zodiac and develop a character around that archetype. Essentially, making “Gone With the Wind” a thinly disguised astrological allegory and the unforgettable cast of charactors…the signs of zodiac.
Scarlett O’Hara, with her “I’ll think about that tomorrow” attitude and her ability to pick herself up and start all over again, proves true to the Aries nature. Her father, a Taurus, is alway talking about ”his love of the land” and even owns a farm named, in true earthy Taurean fashion, the Tara Plantation. Prissy and Scarlett’s twittering aunt Pitty Pat, are a pair of Geminis whose words and names conform to the sign’s love of word play. Rhett Butler, of course, is a passionate Leo. Bonnie, Scarlett and Rhett’s cheerful and carefree young daughter, is a Sagittarius ( being born under the sign of the centaur, it’s sad but appropriate to the sign that she should meet her end in a horse-riding accident). Melanie, always insisting that Scarlett is misunderstood, is a Cancer. Ashley Wilkes with his enduring adherence to honor, is a Capricorn. And the list goes on …
Watching this classic film again with even a little bit of information about each astrological sign will open up a new level of fun and understanding…urban legend or fact…there’s much to be learned in how well Margaret Mitchell portrayed the archetypes of the astrological signs in her cast of characters.
Good films, like good stories, are unforgettable. The original purpose of a good story was to bring about wisdom, needed knowledge for survival, evolution and spiritual transformation. These original stories are the myths generated by the ancient peoples. A successful screenplay is a modern day myth that has been immortalized.
Myths are allegories that explain why the world is the way it is. Ancient people used myths to explain creation, animal instincts, and natural disasters. Later, myths were used to explain love and to teach morality, politics, and law. These myths transcend time because they touch the heart and stir the minds of all who listen. Myths that were concocted by tyrants, religious zealots, and cunning politicians as a means of brain washing the populace soon fell away as they lacked true archetypal substance.
Myths with staying power touch on universal archetypes…which are to a certain extent, universal personality types that have been observed through out time and across cultures, especially oversimplification of the various types…and this oversimplification of the personalities of her characters was what Mitchell did so well. When characters stay true to their archetypal personalities, the story flows easily and the plot develops in a natural, cohesive manner.
Shakespeare wrote that life is but a stage and the men and women of the world are but mere actors upon it. It’s true, every life has a story…an astrological allagory…and when we are able to identify the primary myth that is playing itself out in our own life, we have the free will to improvise and create story lines with characters that stay true to our myth. Yet, the myths are bigger than we are and often difficult to see. You could say that when you live in the middle of the forest…you can’t see the forest for the trees.
Perhaps it’s not too bold to suggest that astrology is an indispensable tool for a proper understanding of your own life’s drama.
So, thanks Margaret Mitchell for being so astrologically aware and astute…and for channeling the astrological archetypes into your powerful and enduring allegory of survival, romantic love, and the societal structuring of gender and class in the Old South.
Patricia Lantz is a practicing astrologer and hypnotherapist living in Atlanta Georgia. She can be reached by calling (678) 763 0552 or by visiting her home on the web at www.astrology-hypnotherapy.com. Patricia is a former StarIQ columnist and currently writes as the Atlanta Astrology Examiner. She invites you to follow her on Examiner.com as she examines life on this small planet through the mediums of astrology, hypnotherapy and other related topics. Patricia is also the Astrology Editor for All Things Healing, an online community for spiritual and healing practices.
New Moon in Leo ~ Get Creative August 17, 2009
Posted by cjwright in Symbols of the Zodiac, The Sun and Leo.Tags: astrology, auntie moon, cjwright, creativity, dan goodwin, Leo
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We are all artists, even if we don’t know how to draw. ~ Kyle Knight, age 8
If you’re one of those folks that think you’re not creative, think again. The Leo New Moon is a great time to explore that and learn just how creative you actually are. Every single one of us has a talent of some kind, whether it’s considered “artistic” in the traditional sense or not. In addition to all the artists among us, scientists, economists, homemakers, babysitters, carpenters, dogwalkers, secretaries, physical therapists, you name it…everyone is creative in many ways.
Let this New Moon in Leo inspire you to get creative with something, even if it’s creating a better way to balance your checkbook. It will make you feel good, and the Moon is all about being happy. Start thinking about a creative project of any kind and begin it with the New Moon in Leo. If you can’t think of anything, look at the issues associated with the 5th house or the house Leo occupies in your chart for plenty of ideas. Visit astrologyzine.com for a refresher on the meanings of houses.
Guest Blogger Dan Goodwin on Creativity
I’m on Dan Goodwin’s Create! Create! ezine mailing list, and have found it to spark my creativity when I’m feeling stuck. This recent post from his ezine and blog points out that our creativity is juicier than we might imagine. Each of us is multi-talented. We just need to stop selling ourselves short.
Why Your Creativity Is More Juicy Than A Bucket of Blackberries
by Dan Goodwin
Do you consider yourself an artist in one specific form or medium? Or across many different areas?
Let’s take a step back. Do you consider yourself creative at all?
I’ve lost count of the number of times people say to me: “I’m not REALLY creative, I’m only dabbling” or “I’m not a proper artist because I don’t create full time and I’ve never sold any work” and a hundred other variations and reasons.
You are creative. Every moment of the day, ideas are forming in your mind.
Ideas that are yours, unique to you and all of your talents, experiences and imagination. That’s before we even get to all you actually bring into being by developing those ideas. You are creative. There’s no argument! Agreed? Good, let’s move on.
Once we accept we are creative (switched on 24/7 creative – yes even when asleep), the next way we often dismiss or belittle our creativity is by saying things like: “I do paint yes, and take photos, but I’m hopeless when it comes to writing or anything musical.”
We undersell our talents, abilities and achievements in two major ways:
1. We set unrealistic or impossible expectations. Say you’re a writer. But you don’t paint, or sing. As a result you don’t think you’re all that creative. What if you did paint and sing too? It’s likely you’d say: “Yes, but I don’t quilt or sculpt or dance or photograph or act. I’m not all that creative at all…” And so on. If you created in a dozen different forms and media, my guess is you’d still manage to convince yourself you’re not really that creative because of all the other forms you DON’T create in. Which brings us to the second way we sell ourselves short.
2. We overlook what we DO create. There are always new ways to create. And in every creative form there are subforms, and then subforms of those. It’s very easy to compile a list of all the ways of creating you’ve never tried. But what about what you do create. Not just the obvious times where you take a photo, paint a picture or write a poem. Your creativity influences everything you do. The way you plan your day, how you come up with ideas where others never could, the way you cook, your relationships, the way you decorate your home. The list is endless. Your list!
And so, to the title of this article. What’s this all got to do with blackberries?
You are crammed to bursting with creativity. Take a look at a blackberry, or a picture of one. You’ll notice it’s made up of lots of tiny round juice packed pouches that make up the whole fruit. One blackberry might represent all the ideas you have, or all the projects you created in one media. Maybe it’s an anthology of poetry, or a collection of photographs.
But, your creativity is not just ONE blackberry.
Because, as we’ve seen above, you’re creative in a whole multitude of different ways. Your creativity is more like a whole bucket of blackberries. A bucket that’s ever growing and just as large as you want it to be.
Imagine biting into a blackberry, the tiny pods bursting in your mouth and juice running over your tongue, down your throat, even trickling down your chin.
That’s your creativity. Just waiting to be bitten into.
And it’s more succulent and delicious than you can imagine.
Share your thoughts and comments on being more juicy than a blackberry with us below!
[photo credit: Idodds]
Creativity Coach Dan Goodwin is the author of “Create Create!”, a free twice monthly ezine for people who want simple and powerful articles, tips and exercises to help them be as creative as they know they can be. Sign up right now and get your free “Explode Your Creativity!” Action Workbook, at http://www.CoachCreative.com.
Leo: Wanna Play a Game? August 14, 2009
Posted by cjwright in Leo, Planets and Signs, Symbols of the Zodiac, The Sun and Leo, Videos.Tags: astrology, auntie moon, cjwright, games, Leo, playing, the winner takes it all
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Playfulness is one of those things always attributed to Leo because of the childlike quality involved. We watch children on the playground, making up games, laughing, having fun. Children do belong to Leo, but playfulness and fun are actually the territory of both Venus and the 5th house.
The “play” that Leo and the 5th house refers to is gaming ~ games that involve a risk or wager of some kind, like poker or other betting games. Casinos are also ruled by Leo and the 5th, and so are palaces. The Palace in Vegas is all Leo.
How’s your poker face? Do you have the strength to hold out for the high stakes, or do you fold under the pressure and get out before you lose everything? Are you a good winner, or do you go into diva mode, pouting or accusing others of cheating? Plato said, “You can learn more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” He probably wasn’t talking about playgrounds games, although you can tell a lot there, too.
We play so many games in life. The work game, striving to get ahead, dominate our field, or just hold onto a job. The popularity game ~ all about self-confidence, the Sun’s domain. The intellect game, the sexy game, the power game, whatever game we play ~ they all involve risk, demand self-confidence, and are ultimately a way to assure our importance in some area of life. It’s a way to shine, a way to be a star. And we all need that to some degree. Everyone has ego needs; very few have overcome it. And so we take that chance again and again, gaining confidence and self-esteem or losing them. It’s all part of the game of life.
Love is also a part of “playing the game.” It’s really the easy one to figure out as belonging in the Big Book of Leo Games. It has the thrill factor and there’s always a risk involved ~ risk of rejection, risk of looking ridiculous, risk of abandonment, even the risk of acceptance, the risk of endurance. Can you go the distance, fight the good fight? Saturn will eventually come to your 5th house, bringing some tests to your love affairs, and then it will move into your house of duty, and test you again in your 7th house of long-term commitment. Can you know this a sure thing? Can you bet on it? The odds are mostly against us, but I’ve never met anyone yet who ~ deep in their heart of hearts ~ wouldn’t jump in feet first if the odds were on their side, and plenty with the odds completely stacked against them.
Here’s Meryl Street in Mamma Mia! singing The Winner Takes It All. All about love, leo, and the 5th house. Listen for all the keywords in this song:
I’ve played all my cards, no more ace to play,
the winner takes it all, the loser has to fall,
victory, dice, no self-confidence, spectators of the show,
the game is on again, a lover or a friend?
The performance itself is quite dramatic, heart-wrenching. Streep has Leo rising, and Pluto in Leo in the first.
KnickKnack Zodiac ~ Leo and the Sun July 28, 2009
Posted by cjwright in Planets and Signs, Symbols of the Zodiac, The Sun and Leo.Tags: astrology, auntie moon, cjwright, knickknack zodiac, Leo, orange
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Everybody has a knickknack or two, or eighty or ninety. Our zodiac is a collector, as well, accumulating a wide array of jewels, plants, and everyday objects of all kinds. Everything you can imagine falls under the rulership of a particular zodiac sign or planet. Some of these items have become accepted by society at large ~ our birthstones and birth flowers, for example.
You don’t have to be a Leo to enjoy these symbols, and you can even display them publicly without getting labeled a nut-case by folks who don’t understand astrology. You won’t be limited to glyphs as astrological emblems if you get acquainted with all the symbols right at your fingertips. They will become your own secret garden, full of little pieces of magic and charm.
Here are some ways to bring the Lion into your daily life without causing a roar among the skeptics, even in the most conservative places.
Screensavers and Desktop Photos ~ This is probably one of the easiest places to display anything Leo ~ all the large cats, sunflowers, horses, citrus fruits, royalty, or your favorite actors. It’s the perfect time to display pics of your children, since Leo loves them so. You can even put together your own slideshow of these images as a screensaver and change it as the sun moves into the following signs. Chances are that you can find something Leonine that fits with your hobbies and interests. When you discover them, use them. If you like displaying photos of celebrities or sports figures, you can find a list of famous Leos here.
Books ~ Pick up some bios about famous Leos from the local library or do some internet searches. Visit Astrotheme or Astrodatabank and do some charting to see how the major events in their lives match their transits or progressions. If you’re a beginner in chart analysis, start with a basic chart and see how they express their planetary energies. Here’s a tip: If you come across a biography you really love, think about giving it as a gift to a Sun or Moon Capricorn. The ones I’ve known have loved biographies.
Flowers ~ Put some big, fun, goofy sunflowers on your desk or table for instant sunshine. Have a spare pair of sunglasses? Stick them on the flowers and get a great big smile from everyone. If it’s the dead of winter in your part of the world and sunflowers are nowhere to be found, use yellow or orange flowers, or any really big flowers.
Bowl Arrangement ~ Place a bowl of oranges anywhere within reach. They smell great, give you plenty of vitamin C, and taste great, too. Prefer a bowl of walnuts or almonds? They’re all Leo and have great health benefits.
Tea ~ The classic Chamomile is ruled by Leo, but you can make a jug of sun tea by filling a jar with water, adding your favorite tea, and allowing it to brew in the sun.
Jewelry ~ Wear a ruby or peridot if you have one. They are birthstones of July and August, Leo territory. Or throw on any jewelry that evokes the colors of Leo ~ stones that are the colors of sunrise or sunset ~ and gold, of course. If you have any amber jewelry, now’s the time to wear it. Dig out grandma’s old brooches designed like crowns, cats, the sun, circus performers, playing cards, or hearts. Leo rules all those things. I’ve got a gold brooch in the shape of sunglasses that are rhinestone studded. Very cool.
Clothing ~ Add some yellow! It’s a feel-good color and will brighten anyone’s day unless they’re just an old sourpuss. If you don’t look good in yellow, simply keep it away from your face. Use colors that blend well with yellow instead. Lions aren’t yellow, after all; they’re rich golden brown and tan.
Get a great pair of gold sandals. Since it’s summer, they’re a perfectly acceptable way to be on the prowl.
Prefer the leopard or black panther look? Go for it! The famous little black dress was designed by none other than famous Leo, Coco Chanel. If you need something more vibrant, consider all the colors of the peacock ~ yet another animal that falls under the Sun’s rulership.
Guys can use all these symbols of Leo clothing by incorporating them into shirts, ties, and socks. No one will ever be the wiser.
Aromatherapy ~ Orange is one of the most luscious aromas, and we are able to enjoy it every day. You know the scent that erupts and stays on your hands when you peel an orange? That’s where essential oil of orange comes from. It’s in the peel, not the flower. Oranges are representative of our hearts, and that leads to thoughts of love, romance, and joy. Feeling a little blue? Fire up the essential oil in a diffuser and notice the blues fade. 
Decorative Household Items ~ Use candles in shades of gold, orange, or yellow ~ any colors belonging to sunset or sunrise. If you like aromatic candles, look for those with citrus scents, especially orange. (Save the lemon scented ones for Gemini/Mercury times ~ they’re great to increase concentration.) Toss a gold pillow on a comfy chair or lush throw across the sofa. Tealight holders can be found in the shape of the sun. Sun catchers hung in a window are demure symbols of Leo and come in any shape or color you desire.
There are endless possibilities to finding knickknacks that will help you remember the qualities of Leo and the Sun. Find the one that works for you, and enjoy it completely. Fall in love with it, treasure it. When the sun has left Leo, you can move it to a less conspicuous spot or pack it away until Leo returns in the coming years. Of course, you can always pull them out at the Full Moon in Leo which falls during the Sun’s transit of Aquarius, or any time during the year when the Moon is in Leo.
