Gazing upon the blue sky, Moon or the stars and planets can do more that be an appealing sight of the jewels that make up the background sky. They are a setting that can help us navigate our lives.  They are an open source of assistance in bringing active participation in our lives beyond the mundane routines we develop to sustain a living.

No matter one’s level of knowledge of astronomy and/or astrology, a person can actively be a part of the unfoldment taking place from horizon to horizon.  The celestial objects in our solar system and beyond the solar system are there as guides, teachers and initiators for us all and the Earth in understanding our place in time and the cosmos.

These celestial objects are some of the greatest teachers and guides we can have in our lives, be it spiritual, psychological or intellectual.  An underlying rhythm is experienced within us in relation to the dance of the seasons, stars and planets and the Moon. There are patterns within patterns within patterns in these movements above us.  For most of the populace, in general, we hardly notice these patterns, or if we do, we don’t think to look at the planetary phase or the timeline.  Perhaps a quick look at a blurb about a Moon phase or what the planets are doing explains something and then the reading stops.

The entire solar system and the stellar background (as seen from Earth) should be accounted for but it is challenging to take in everything at once, especially when one doesn’t have the time and/or desire to spend months or years studying astrology.  A few important foci can help direct to what astrological alignments are most vital to bring into our attention.

The first knowledge in this area comes from noticing the relationship between the Sun, Earth and the Moon (the only moon in the solar system without an official name).  The most noticeable are the seasons of Earth along with the phases of the Moon.  Just in that, the vast majority of people celebrate holidays every year that align closely or on important points in the regular rhythms of the Sun-Moon-Earth relationship.

This celebration or a given holiday is a form of ceremony that are passed down from one generation to the next by the families and cultures.  Religions are constructed around these three primary spheres of energy and matter.  To see this, one only has to look at where the Christian holiday or Christmas falls to see its ancient connection to Winter Solstice (in the Northern Hemisphere).

Beyond the collective holidays that are activated by the Sun and Moon with Earth, there are times when we can create ceremony in our lives without having to have knowledge of our personal astrology charts.  This knowledge is readily available in many places online or otherwise.  For example, setting an intention or doing a ceremony when the brightest planet in the sky, Venus, becomes visible for the first time after a period of time.  Another example can include when the planet Mercury begins to go Retrograde (one of the most well known planetary “movements” in astrology.

While it is always good to consult with a person who has some understanding of astrology, that resource may not be available.  So, when doing a personal ceremony yourself or with a group, here are some factors to consider or items you may choose to include in it:

• You! (exception: not optional)
• The four major directions and the 3 Worlds (Under, Middle and Above)
• The classic elements of Fire, Earth, Water and Air
• The planet / planetary alignment being invoked
• The astrology sign(s) involved (usually whatever sign the Sun, Moon or a planet is “in”) – this info is easily found on websites like astro.com or quick look on an online or printed ephemeris
• The stellar background or particular constellation/star, but this is entirely optional

No physical objects are necessary, but can provide a way to create focus in a symbolic way.  Items that represent the elements or planets, including a tarot deck (or shamanic astrology card deck).  One could even use musical instruments like a drum or rattle or flute to assist one in making an experience more visceral.

A more simplified way to do this is through meditation (or if a person is familiar with shamanic journeying, this can be done too) and simply setting an intention which could be something like clarity about an upcoming major decision.

Becoming familiar with the rhythms of the sky is the best way to start one’s knowledge about timing and ceremony.  The quickest way is having awareness and actually fixing your eyes upon the Moon, seeing it as it appears in different parts of the sky each night and into the morning.  Without any calendar (except of your own devising), a person can roughly estimate when the major phases will take place.  This can lead into the flowing of the seasons themselves including the creation of a lunar calendar.

The most vital component in any ceremony you wish to create is yourself!  This was something that author Taylor Ellwood stresses in multiple books.  Much of a purpose for ceremony to set an intent for something in one’s life.  Shamanic Astrology is one tool in which a person can utilize to do that, including the timing of one’s personal planetary cycles.

I, myself, have had success in working with the signs and planets as an astrologer.  These astrological “energies”, for lack of a better word, have been with humanity since the beginning of our existence in one way or another.  When we work directly with the sky, the seasons, Earth and all that goes into our participation in our life, we can truly help ourselves to making manifest what we want, especially if it is in harmony with our soul’s intent.

Shamanic Astrology is not here to create any dogma around only certain ways a person should do ceremony.  It is an open-ended tool that can be utilized in a multitude of different ways to express ceremony.  After all, the sky, planets, Sun, Moon, etc., are no one’s domain and we are all a part of it.  Each of us can foster our creative and imaginative expressions to connect into the mystical and magical places of creation itself, including our heart and soul.

What is going on with the Planets?

I would like to share some observations about what is currently happening with the planets, Sun and Moon.

• With the recent alignments that appeared in October and the subsequent release when the alignments separated out, it is important to recognize the period of time in which the “aftereffects” of alignments create on collective humanity. That it isn’t simply just one or two exact alignments, but the build-up to them and what events take place upon the breakup of the planetary alignments.
• Much has been made of the Blue Moon in January and now also this month of March. We can thank Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar for that.  Those two emperors each “stole” stole a day from February and added a day to both July and August.  This means that sometimes, we can get two full moons each in January and March.  Also, the true essence of a “Blue Moon” is having 4 Full Moons in a given season, not 2 in one month.  The reason is that the seasons are about the natural Earth-Sun relationship and the calendars are artificial constructs to measure time.
• After about 2 months of time, a planet is now moving Retrograde. It was a rare and long period of time where “all planets” were in direct motion as perceived from Earth.  With no retrogrades happening over that period of time, it can be seen as an acceleration of the collective in continuing the direction that was happening at the start of the process.  Each planet would be sharing its clarity through the sign it is currently operating.  Jupiter is the first to go retrograde, tracing back its path “retrograde” across the Scales Constellation, but in the sign of Scorpio.  Mercury will be next in line and station Retrograde on March 22^nd, only 2 days after the coming Equinox.
• The coming Equinox marks the time when the Sun moves north of the Earth’s equator (from a more accurate perspective, this is when the planet’s tilt is accelerating to bring the northern Earth pointed at 23.5 degrees toward the Sun 3 months later). The Sun would be just inside the constellation of the Fish.  Centuries from now, this Equinox point will be at the constellation of the Water-Bearer.
• Venus slowly begins to brighten in the evening sky with Mercury nearby for a short time. Look for it in the early evening sky just after sunset.  Venus represents the Feminine principle within us all.
• In the early morning sky, Mars can be seen “catching up” with the planet Saturn for a rendezvous on April 2^nd. First on March 12^th, Mars (representing the Masculine Principle) will be at the Galactic Center, then make its way through the Archer Constellation to come into a completion with Saturn that began in 2016 during the beginning of the Mars Synodic Cycle.  This potent rhythm of the 2 planets (that have traditionally been looked at as negative) is a point of fruition when they re-conjunct on April 2^nd.  It is a completion of the masculine’s coming up to the limits and boundaries of what it once was, looking for guidance to plant something new for the masculine that is more healthy expression prior to 2016.  After the conjunction, it is time to look for major developments in the shattering of old patriarchal structures.