But, may I ask… Who taught you to live in yours?

I suspect that you, like the majority of people learned to move, walk, climb stairs, etc. by mimicking those models that were around you, namely your parents.

Is it really such a surprise that as we age, our parent’s likeness begins to emerge more and more from within us? Have we even noticed those old body patterns and habits that we didn’t know we had? We couldn’t think to un-learn something that isn’t brought to our attention.

That is until now.

Now, you’ll have to take heed that your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual or energetic bodies are all interconnected, interwoven like fibers.

Your whole experience of “you” that you inhabit is within and surrounding your body.

Now we can all contemplate how, because of this inter-connection, shifting our physical patterns also shifts our mental, psycho-emotional and energetic patterns.

Have you ever contemplated this?

Quite possibly you’re not really present in your body unless you are truly, consciously focusing on being present within your body and with your breath.

Consciousness is free to roam and travel in this free will section of the galaxy.

Just because one “has a body” doesn’t mean that one is fully present and living within one’s body.

I know that may sound a little far fetched, but observe some people moving through their lives, walking from here to there or standing in the grocery line.

Check out how they stand and move through space and see if you can notice if they seem conscious of themselves moving through space, walking down the street or standing in line, simply breathing and being, conscious and aware of their surroundings.

Not self-conscious in the traditional sense of “Are people watching me and thinking things about me?” More self-aware like, “Feeling my feet on the floor, I breathe in… the present moment, I savor the moment and dwell in the present moment”.

I suspect, if you’re paying attention, you will notice most people are ahead of themselves. They lead with their chin like their head must arrive faster than the rest of their body.

It’s not their fault that they have been taught and shown to live this way.

I don’t suggest this is intentional; in fact it is totally unconscious. I see these body habits and patterns as deeply embedded in our physical structure and thus affecting our mind, emotions and spirit. “Our body is our sub-conscious mind”, to quote Candice Pert.

How I came to this awareness and what I purpose we do to shift these patterns…

Because I was a wiggly mover from the start, even in the womb, my parents had the bright notion to enroll me in dance classes as soon as they possibly could, which gave me an outlet to channel and discipline my tremendous energy.

For many years… ballet, jazz, improvisational dance and acting.

When I arrived at college, fresh out of a successful academic high school career, I enrolled in a broad spectrum liberal arts program, which I quickly decided wasn’t for me, partly because there was just too much sitting! I told you, I’m wiggly.

So I began dancing in the small modern/post-modern dance department and you know what I discovered?

I had all of these body habits and patterns from all my years of ballet and training.

There is a reason someone can tell that one is a “dancer”, because they have recognizable posturing.

In this progressive dance department with a focus on efficiency of movement, I learned many techniques and practices for tuning into our bodies natural alignment and clearing out old body patterns, which is an ongoing process.

You don’t just clean out your body and be done with it.

As each day is a mini-lifetime… being and becoming present within ourselves/cells is an ongoing process of unfolding discovery, which takes time, attention and intention.

The pay-off is tremendous because as one commits themselves to being present within themcells and their life, the experience of living shifts and changes.

That’s right, as you align and integrate within you, your life and whole “reality” can’t help but follow suit. And what lies beyond the experience of the known habits and patterns is a more authentic, feeling, knowing, sensing, open to observing and more deeply interacting self, a truer, brighter more empowered version of your self that is more of who you are and in alignment with who you probably want to become if you’re tuned into the spiritual reality of life, which is the foundational basis of all existence!

Copyright 2009 by Nicole Christine Porcaro
All rights reserved.

I like to include this prayer of remembrance and dedication:

The true you is a deep mystery that cannot truly be known.

May these words glance off the great mystery to reflect the multi-facets of being human, living life…

May these words communicate the language of the stars as a description of the archetypal energies at play within our personalities, elemental selves and souls, as we unfold in this collective dream of earth.

May it all be shared for our highest good and healing, and for the benefit of all beings as we grow into our truest-highest-selves!

Get down to it…

The outer planets, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, move slowly so their transitory effect is more noticeable over a duration or phase of time. I tend to look to these planets first as major transits.

OK, now for a couple of the big boys…

Saturn (structure, solid, father, law, led, boundaries – it has rings remember, organization, discipline, authority = internal author-ability, accomplishment, status) is currently in Virgo. It’s in a sign for about 2 1/2 years and comes around every 28/29years.

Virgo is a mutable earth sign. It has a strong desire for perfection. Virgo is ruled by Mercury, which rules Gemini as well, so it can be very strong in the mental realm (analytical, critical, discerning, judgmental, organizing, meticulous). Virgo also rules the digestive and assimilating process.

Virgo likes efficiency of systems and because of the desire for perfection and meticulous attention to detail, there is an incredible ability to create beauty on the physical plane.

The shadow side of Virgo is that it can be too hard on itself (judgmental) and everything else. And it can get stuck (like all earth signs). Both Virgo and Saturn can be too harshy-harsh on self and other(self). Remind the Virgo/Saturn parts to be gentle and say self-supportive things or nothing at all.

When the monkey mind has turned into a pest, or even just to get into the Virgo zone, it’s good to get Virgo energy into a project on the physical plane; cooking a meal, accomplishing a task, cleaning the house, making something, project-ing. I’ve seen numerous Virgos and those with strong Virgo in their chart go into wonder Virgo mode!

Saturn has been in Virgo from September 2007 till November 2009. It’s good to reflect on the house in your natal (birth) chart that Saturn is currently moving through, re-structuring and any planets it may be interacting with.

OK, now a look at Uranus – Did you know Uranus orbits on its side? I think it is the only one in our solar system to do that. Uranus is quirky and unique like that! And it rules the sign Aquarius.

Its element is electricity and it operates as that flash of brilliance and genus, that spark of invention. It’s that new awareness that just comes out of nowhere (now-here). And the spirit of rebellion, power to the people!

Saturn creates structures and Uranus electrifies them with truth power, breaking them down. There can be some un-nerving ground rumbling and shifting when the structures quake. And the cracking creates the space for the new energy, the creativity with vision and originality to spring forth. As Uranus moves through a house in one’s natal chart, it radically transforms over a duration of time.

Uranus is in Pisces and has been since January 2004 – till March 2011 – I told you those outer planet transits have long term effects! They are called “generational”.

Pisces is the mutable watery opposite of Virgo and is ruled by Neptune. Pisces is dreamy and imaginative, sensitive, empathetic, intuitive, creative and mystical. It wants to merge. Where Virgo is exacting, Pisces is diffuse.

Working with opposites is like a teeter taughter or balancing scales. There is a continual flux to find the balance point between the two very different forms of energy. Opposites are innately connected and complimentary.

Both Pisces and Virgo are Care and Service oriented signs.

This opposition between Uranus and Saturn is radically transforming the structures of our lives. Whatever doesn’t truly serve our highest good could become uncomfortable. Choices that are not in alignment with truth will be shaky and not supported long term.

So focusing on being really honest with ourselves about the choices we make in our daily lives (do they serve?) and how that contributes to the whole “human experience” as we live our part of the collective – is important!

And we need to take care of and be in service to, that which is truly going to serve the vision and the intention that we each hold for our lives and the collective.

One of my favorite astrologers Caroline Casey says (and it especially applies to this Saturn in Virgo opposite Uranus in Pisces), “Imagination lays the tracks for the reality train to follow”.

In the midst of a cyclone do what you can to keep your eye focused on what is beautiful and brings you joy in any small or grand way. Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. And take care of both your physical (Virgo) and emotional (Pisces) needs.
Being grateful is good medicine!

The last time Saturn and Uranus were opposite was from 1965-1967.

These two will be exact by degree on November 4, 2008, February 5, 2009 and September 15, 2009. One planet will go retrograde and they will dance on and off their exact opposition degree several times in the next two years.

These are potent times for change. I’ll be singing some little victory and comfort songs to myself (and others) to keep the faith!

Copyright 2009 by Nicole Christine Porcaro
All rights reserved.

Pluto is the bright fire under the deep waters. It is the phoenix rising from the ashes and the snake shedding it’s skin. Pluto is also ruler of the underworld, Hades.

In Evolutionary Astrology, which I’ve been studying since I moved to Ashland, Pluto represents Soul.

Pluto is the slowest moving planet in our solar system. It takes 248 years to complete one highly elliptical orbit around the sun. And it spends about 12 years in Scorpio and 31 years in Taurus.

It is very much a generational planet.

Pluto rules the sign of Scorpio (fixed water sign), which is the only sign that has three symbolic representations – the snake, with it’s belly on the earth, living in dark underground places and shedding it’s skin. The scorpion, with it’s pinchers and stinger, overshadowing representations with the drama and effectiveness of it’s attack and defense. And third, the Eagle soars above all, holding the vision and perspective, integrating Pluto’s awareness to encompass from underground to highest height!

For the last 13 years Pluto has been in the buoyant sign of Sagittarius. Sagittarius likes to expand and explore. It’s ruling planet is Jupiter, so it is optimistic and philosophical. In these years we had the .com bubble and the house buying bubble, just to name a couple.

At the end of January 2008, Pluto ventured into the serious and industrious sign of Capricorn (ruled by Saturn), for just a few months. Then in mid June 2008 Pluto went retrograde back into Sagittarius, and in November 2008 it ventured into Capricorn where it will remain until the end of March 2023, tad-dum! Indeed!

This will be a time of major restructuring. That new earth that we’ve been feeling gestating… this period will be the time to birth and grow it.

Capricorn is a cardinal earth sign, and is all about structure – making things and re-structuring. It doesn’t “pull punches” and it gets down to “brass tax”, to share a couple of phrases that come to mind. Capricorn wants to get things done and achieve something tangible to show for it’s efforts and it will summon much strength and endurance.

Pluto is about power, personal and collective. When Pluto transits through our natal (birth) chart and changes houses or engages in aspects with other natal planets, a major transformation of self can occur.

It may not be evident in the middle of it, it could just feel like nothing is what it was and it’s hard to tell which way is up, but as one comes through (the gates of hell – Pluto does rule the underworld) a new self is there, one with more depth, ability, integration and resources to draw from.

I like this little story to illustrate Pluto – You are a garbanzo bean in a boiling pot. Pluto is there with the wooden spoon, smacking you back down into the spicy broth saying, “Not yet, you’re not seasoned enough!”

Pluto doesn’t stop and it doesn’t give up. In an arm wrestling contest he’ll win every time. There is a certainty to Pluto’s power that is un-shakable. We all need Pluto power driving our faith right now!

Both Sagittarius and Capricorn are associated with law. Sagittarius more philosophically in the idea of law and it is really aligned with “natural law” and “tribal law”, the innate sense of what is true that comes from connection to earth and nature (god).

Capricorn is more aligned with human law. Man’s laws, which are laid down to keep order and maintain the structure.

Pluto takes what is hidden underneath in shadow and brings it to light. If it’s not serving true self (soul), then it must be changed and it will be, either willingly or kicking and screaming.

So, what this means for us individually and collectively is that we have to face it, our shadow (personal and collective). We have to face it to learn from it, to grow and integrate anything useful back into the community of our being.

That which doesn’t serve true self needs to be composted!

This requires us to be ruthlessly honest with ourselves, not mean or harsh, just no bullshit!

What do we really need? Not just physically to survive, but that too.

What are the bare bones of our integrity that hold us up?

How can we be more real with ourselves and each other?

How can you claim your power and stand up for yourself and what you know in your deepest self to be true?

And if you need to keep doing those things that you know don’t help you – how long will you do them for until you say “enough”?

I am really not into predictive astrology. There are so many ways that these archetypes and symbols can play themselves out that I can not begin to wrap my little human brain around all the possibilities…

What I do feel coming through as I type is that this Pluto in Capricorn period is about growing up and making things “real” – all those hopes and dreams of the future…

We’re in the future and we have to claim our own authority, inner author-ability and write the script!

What has brought us to “now” is humans – not being a mature, wise species, making poor, short-sighted choices and fighting. Like big un-parented babies in adult bodies making a mess, we have to grow up as a species.

We can’t expect some knight in shining armor to make everything in the world better for us.

We have to jump on the horse ourselves and ride to what we know is true, to feed the fire of why you are on the planet – to live your unique life and bring your burning fire truth power forth!

It is time to begin.

All those things that you have wanted to do and accomplish in your lifetime – do more of what you can now! Don’t wait for 5 more years.

I also want to share that my girlfriends who are Capricorns or have strong Capricorn in their charts, they are the ones who travel around the world by themselves! Why wouldn’t they? They wouldn’t doubt or question that they can.

So please take that away, that Capricorn can do and Pluto will make sure of it!

Copyright 2009 by Nicole Christine Porcaro
All rights reserved.