Beginner’s Corner with Sheridan

December solstice sunset over southern “Mount Solstice”

We’ve got the March equinox in our sights now. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, this marks the kickoff to spring. Considering it was -8 degrees at my house this morning, spring isn’t coming fast enough! For southern hemisphere dwellers, you’re moving into autumn. As one cycle begins, another ends. We continue along the wheel of life.

Most astrologers refer to the tropical zodiac as “seasonal”. That’s not accurate. In the north our spring equinox occurs when the Sun enters Aries. In the south, the autumnal equinox happens when the Sun enters Aries too. The Sun is entering Aries for ALL of us earth beings. North of the equator that means spring, and south of the equator that means fall.

How can we call the zodiac seasonal if each hemisphere is experiencing a different season? Does Aries mean spring or fall? Neither. If you’re used to explaining Aries as a sign of spring, then how does Aries work in Australia? How does spring growth, bulbs pressing up from the earth, and the Sun growing in strength compare to leaves changing colors, falling to the ground, and becoming winter’s compost? Both are indicative of the Sun entering Aries.

Zodiac is directional, not seasonal

Let’s start with the March equinox. The Sun will rise due east and set due west… for everyone. That’s one of the magics about the two equinoxes. The Sun goes due east to west in March and September. That’s the only time it does that. See the image below courtesy of Stellarium.org (an amazing free astronomy software). The Sun is rising due east. I’ve included the degree marks to better understand in the following pictures. See how the ecliptic (the yellow line) that shows the path of the Sun will set due west?

If you’re in the southern hemisphere, the Sun will rise due east and set due west as well, but you need to reverse the image… sort of. East will be on the right and west will be on the left, but you’ll be looking north, instead of south like in this image. The important part is we’re still viewing the same rise and set of the Sun directionally – east to west.

I encourage you as part of your Shamanic Astrology studies to go outside on the equinox and notice where the Sun rises or sets (whichever is preferred from your view). Take a photo and save it because the Sun is going to move from this location on its journey to the June Solstice. This is an excellent practice to deepen your orientation to the natural world around you.

The directional solstices

As we move toward the June solstice, our next marker in the year, the Sun is going to move to the north. See in the image below how far the Sun has moved to the northern side of east. From the March equinox to the June solstice northern hemisphere days get longer and the Sun moves higher in the sky. In the southern hemisphere the Sun gets lower as the days get shorter. But, both of us will experience the Sun moving north of east and west.

Again, let’s explore our erroneous “seasonal” bias with the signs. The June solstice occurs when the Sun moves into Cancer. Is Cancer a summer sign? Are we northern hemisphere chauvinists? Mostly we are. Cancer works in Brazil well as in Canada. It’s still a sign of mothering, nurturing and encouraging growth. If we’re used to explaining that by saying, “Cancer has nourished its seeds and now they’ve grown into summer flowers” how will a southern hemisphere resident relate to that imagery, when she’s scraping ice off her windshield? The signs work in both hemispheres, so it’s much more than a seasonal zodiac.

September equinox returns to east and west

After the June solstice the Sun begins moving south again, for all humans. It’s a returning of the light for the southern hemisphere and a lessening for the northerners.

Notice how the Sun will set due west, following the yellow arc of the ecliptic, the Sun’s daily path. We’re entering Libra season now. Is Libra about autumn, falling leaves, snuggling up for the coming winter? In the southern hemisphere, Libra marks spring. What is the essence of Libra without the seasonal bias?

December solstice – south of east and west

Lastly, we come to the December solstice, where the Sun rises and sets more southernly. See in the image below how far the Sun has traveled south of east on its rise? We’ve arrived at Capricorn season. Is Capricorn a summer sign? For people living in the southern hemisphere, it marks the summer solstice. How does Capricorn express itself in the summer vs the winter? Is it a different archetypal energy? No, right?

We need to examine our biases towards labeling the tropical zodiac as seasonal. It just doesn’t work, and it leaves the whole southern hemisphere out of the equation. What do the signs mean without layering the seasonal flavors over them? What does a Capricorn Sun that is south of east and west mean? How do the directional changes teach us about the signs?

To dive further, check out this video Daniel Giamario and Gemini Brett made in their series titled, “Further Adventures in Shamanic Astrology”. If you haven’t watched any, I highly recommend them. I learned this information from the two of them.

Happy March Equinox to you!

Sheridan Semple

https://sheridansemple.com/

Dance of Venus and Mars

Image courtesy of https://stellarium.org

If you’ve been outside in the early morning recently, you’ve definitely seen Venus. If it’s been really early you may have seen Mars as well. I love the backdrop of Antares and Vega in a wide frame to this get-together. Perhaps, you’ve been blessed with a Mercury sighting too. It’s quite the lineup walking us into this Leo Full Moon, opposite our brilliant Aquarius Sun. We’re in the powerful cross-quarter time, signifying a lengthening of the Light for us northern hemisphereans and a deepening of the dark for those who reside in the southern half. Out of the stillness, or into the stillness, we go. How heavenly that our two Earthly halves mirror reflect each other. Simultaneously, we are graced to witness the Sacred Masculine and Feminine planets doing their dance in the morning sky. The seasoned Aries God is meeting the newly born Capricorn Goddess. Both are in Capricorn now but will be moving their slow encounter into the stellar rhythms of Aquarius soon. I love how this council of Venus and Mars begins in Capricorn and moves into Aquarius on the day of their next conjunction. What intentions are they reflecting for us at this time?

If Capricorn represents the Circle of Grandmothers, the wise ones who know how to live sustainably, smartly, correctly, then this gathering of the Masculine and Feminine principles in that archetype is our first clue. We are collectively striving to find union between these two energies within and without. Capricorn teaches us to work within the cycles of the Earth and to honor our Great Mother who feeds and nourishes us. We do this by loving on her, ourselves, and each other. That means EVERYONE. I’ve been thinking a lot about how the Gemini Venus cycle recently transformed into the Capricorn Venus cycle and what that’s teaching us. If Gemini is about moving beyond what the mind knows, beyond polarity and duality, then Capricorn comes in to show us how… for the sake of our survival. If we want to stick around, we have to unify, somehow, some way. Venus and Mars seem to be inviting us to do just that, find union between our Feminine and Masculine.

We all are clear on how the patriarchy hasn’t been healthy for any of us, male or female. Men are often misperceived as synonymous with patriarchy, taking all the heat. One could make a cogent argument for the damage patriarchy has waged on men. It’s undoubtedly been bad for women. We’ve all been in serious imbalance for thousands of years now. In some spiritual circles you’ll hear a call to swing back to matriarchy, for women to get control. But… shouldn’t our next step be no-archy? Isn’t it time to explore Gemini’s teaching to move beyond polarity? How about we try union and equality? Skip the rulership altogether. From the Shamanic Astrology perspective, aren’t we finally ready for the ultimate sacred marriage trip? That’s what Venus and Mars coming together demonstrates for me. Then, you throw in the Capricorn aspect of teaching us how to do things for the ultimate benefit of the community, especially those who aren’t even born yet, and it feels unmistakable that this is part of our current intention. (fingers crossed)

The Aries God gets a lot of the heat within the patriarchy – the military meathead, machine gun slung over his steroid-muscled shoulder, ready to blow down anyone in his path. Isn’t this Mars in Aries cycle helping us to compost this damaging stereotype of Aries and masculinity? His meeting with Venusian Capricorn feels like the Grandmothers and Grandfathers uniting to tell us what’s up and get us back on track. Sitting in council with Pluto confirms this desperate need for transforming our masculine and feminine into the empowered Sacred versions. How interesting the first Venus/Mars Capricornian conjunction occurs on this Full Moon on the Leo/Aquarius axis enlivening the themes of self-love and conscious awareness. We move into self-love through the union of all of our parts, through the sacred marriage, by honoring all of our creative aspects, and bringing this into our consciousness, into the light. The next exact conjunction occurs March 6, in Aquarius. Mars moves into Aquarius, followed minutes later by Venus and then the two meet exactly once again about 45 minutes after that, at the very beginning of Aquarius. First, we get some well-needed schooling by Capricorn and then we become conscious in Aquarius. That is my prayer for this Mars and Venus spin through the cosmos, both inside and out.

I love the Artemisia plants to support this union as these shrubs encourage us to find union between our Masculine and Feminine within. Leaders in the environment, the Artemisias literally lead the way and let us know an area is viable for us to live and set up shop. Mugwort is the most common Artemisia many know, but there is also Davana (known as Goddess in a bottle), Sweet Annie (Artemisia annua), Great Western Sagebrush, and Artemisia vulgaris – who helps us move from our minds into our hearts. If you’re struggling with making peace with one of these aspects within yourself or the world around you, try using an Artemisia, with intention, over these next several weeks, and see where it takes you.

Blessings and Love,

Sheridan Semple

https://sheridansemple.com/

Started January 14

Let’s continue our exploration into this important cycle that began a few days ago.

Part 1 is available HERE.

Venus started her new 584-day (or 19 month) cycle on January 14. The cycle begins when Venus rises in the Morning Sky, ahead of the Sunrise. This is the heliacal rise of Venus.  Depending upon your latitude and horizon line, you may see Venus sooner or later than the 14th. She is a beautiful sight to see whenever you get the opportunity!

Venus is the third brightest object in the sky (after the Sun and Moon). Every culture has followed her movements and created stories to go with her motions through the sky. Venus will stay in the morning sky, ahead of the sunrise, until September 14, 2022 – exactly eight months. At that time, she will fade into the horizon and become hidden within the Sun’s bright light. Ancient people said this was the time that Venus went into the Underworld for the transmutation of death into rebirth.

Moon/Venus Conjunction and the Chakras

Each month the waning crescent Moon will get close to (conjunct) the Morning Star Venus. These conjunctions signify Venus moving through a chakra gate on her descent into the Underworld. You can use each month to move through your own chakras.

The first chakra gate, the Moon/Venus conjunction, occurs on January 29 and is the crown chakra. Focus for this month on releasing blockages or biases that prevent the fullest expression of your crown chakra and your connection to the Divine.

There are many ways to do this. A simple Google search will give you more options than you have time to do. I’ll share what I do to kick off your imagination, sans the Google search. I start by getting up early to see the Moon and Venus conjoin with my eyes. It feels so beautiful to be a part of this alignment.

I feel it in my body and know I am honoring a long-forgotten ritual. I’ll speak to Venus and the Moon and share my intentions for this month. Something along the lines of, “Please guide me and help me to clear my connection to Spirit” will do. You may want to focus on addressing any misperceptions you picked up in childhood around God/Goddess that twist your communion. Anything focused on your crown chakra is the idea.

I add an object or picture to my altar that reminds me, on a regular basis, to keep cleansing my crown chakra. I like to wear amethyst. You might want to wear violet clothing, put up violet post it notes with your intention, do crown chakra toning or frequency meditations (there’s an abundance on YouTube). Let your imagination go wild!

All that matters is your unique communion with Venus, Moon and this chakra.

Next month, on February 27, Venus will continue her descent into the Underworld by moving through the third-eye chakra gate. What needs clearing for you to perceive fully? Or, conversely, is anything distorted in your perceptions? Start again, with going out to see Venus and the crescent Moon in the morning sky, ahead of the sunrise.

Share with them your intentions for clearing your third-eye chakra, over the coming month. Throw on some indigo tops, add a reminder to your altar, put up some notes to bring your attention to your brow chakra throughout the month. An image of an Indian woman with a bindi would help me remember.

Following Venus, like your ancestors did, is a powerful way to commune with the Sky and yourself. It inspires a journey to reclaim your connection to the Earth and Sky. Ceremonially participating with the cycles of the cosmos encourages a return to your ancestral roots, to the knowledge still present in your DNA that you are a part of the greater whole around and within you.

Following the Venus cycle is a powerful way to begin or deepen this voyage back into wholeness. Get up early. Find Venus in the Morning Sky. Talk to her. Share your secret longings for yourself with her. Consciously travel through your chakras with her, month after month, focusing on one at a time and letting go of one thing that distorts each chakra within you. By the time you reach the Underworld in September you will be a changed human.

Seeing these Moon/Venus conjunctions will fill you with awe and reverence. You’ll feel the power of your ancestors coursing through your blood and bones. It will be a remembering in your entire being of a time when you were profoundly connected to the universe around you. It will bring tears to your eyes, as you start the journey home again.

We all benefit from your guiding light when you begin to remember who you truly are. Welcome back!

Diving Deeper

If you feel inspired to learn more about Venus’ synodic cycle, as taught by Shamanic Astrology’s founder Daniel Giamario, check out the Synodic Cycles: Living Wisdom of the Inner Planets online class here. The Venus and Mars information is based on the research Daniel did back in the 1990’s, click here to read that article.

If you are interested in participating in an online Ceremonial Journey with Venus, I am co-teaching with Cayelin Castell beginning January 23 click here for more information and to register.

Sheridan Semple

https://sheridansemple.com/