Venus Retrograde 2018

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Venus begins its retrograde phase in Scorpio today and then pushes back into Libra at the start of November. The entire process will take us until November 16th, at which point we’ll have to retrace its steps again. Plenty of opportunity to integrate the lessons.

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Venus rules our relationships, to each other, to money, art, and beauty, to love, and to our own sense of self-worth. So, when it’s in Scorpio, we become a bit all or nothing with what we want, who we want, and how we want he/she/they/it to be. We can intensify conversations and situations, at times for no reason, just to get our point across and take up space. It can become a war between the masculine and feminine, so apparent in this current political landscape. We must be careful not to wage war within ourselves but instead to use this energy to fight and accomplish something good for the collective.

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This retrograde time asks us to make sure that we’re self-respecting ourselves enough to not take any bullshit from outside sources. At times, we can’t help it. We’re under the thumb of an unaware somebody (boss, government, partner) and their issues. But we do choose how we respond. We choose how we let it affect our hearts. And we cannot allow another person’s insecurities in to mingle with our own well-being.

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With Scorpio and then Libra affecting, continue to align yourself with people who share your vision for the world. Those who share your values. Whose example you take. Think about those who light you up. Who when you’re together, you can go all the win in with. Consider the company you keep to be reflections of you. If you keep company with petty minds, what does that say about you? We can’t always be “love and light”. It’s not realistic. But we can still do our best to bring our best to the table. Ultimately, this retrograde time wants to challenge you to take greater responsibility for your relationships, for your integrity, and for your future.

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If you haven’t yet, please check out The Spiritual Gayz. It’s the twice-monthly podcast my husband and I started to explore the wide reaches of spirituality without pretending that it all makes sense. We deep dive into subjects like, astrology, crystals, and energy healing, as well as interview folks whose daily lives intersect with spirituality on the regular. This latest episode has an interview with Hollywood triple-threat, Lena Waithe. We had a blast discussing all things writing, vision boards, Whitney Houston, and manifestation.

Click HERE to check it out!!

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Sending you all love and vibes!

That Libra New Moon When Your Truth Came Through

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“Just be you.” It’s such a spirituality buzz-phrase and concept, the idea of just being “you” in every situation. Some of us have no issue with it. I feel like I have folks in my life who bring the person I know them to be one on one to every situation. But that’s not always the case for myself. So much so that I’ve made it a mission this year to get fully in touch with my authenticity and live it everywhere at all times. But then I do find myself in some work-related environment and there I am again, modulating some aspect of myself, usually related to either my queerness or, funnily enough, my spirituality. I don’t respond to something in the way I would if I was just hanging out with my gays or with my fellow witchy spirit folks. I’m muted. I’m thinking one thing but presenting another, just so I don’t have to get into some deeper conversation or open myself to judgment. Trust, I know that’s my shit and what it’s about, but it’s a tired battle. Because really, at the end of it all, who gives a fuck?

The Libra New Moon is here to offer us a chance to begin again in this quest to be our fully unique selves with those around us. It asks us to ponder if we are able to reveal the most important pieces of ourselves, even just to the ten most important people in our lives. If we can’t do that, then just how “important” are they? Also, our closest relationships are a reflection of the relationship we have with ourselves. So if we don’t feel completely in truth or in balance with those we consider to be our besties, then how are we expected to be in balance within ourselves?

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So how are you doing in relationship with your uniqueness? Would you say there are pieces of you that stay hidden or only find their way out in certain situations? Of course, some would argue about boundaries and the need to protect your self in certain areas of life. And I don’t disagree. I don’t need everyone in my life knowing all of my business. But I also shouldn’t feel the need to protect someone else’s feelings as a compromise to my truth.

Libra can be a real people-pleaser energy. It’s about keeping the peace. But in its best form, Libra wants us all to win, including you. So take a look at how you sacrifice your inner self and needs for the sake of other’s happiness. And notice if you’re afraid in some area of your life to rock the boat by speaking some truth about your feelings or desires. Again, I feel you on this.

I’ve been in the closet before and it’s painful. And living in a world where some hate me without even knowing me, simply for who I love, is bullshit. But I can’t allow that to scare me from being all of me. The same goes for my spirituality. I’ve lived through so many years of not wanting to talk about being an astrologer or my connection to spirit out of not being taken seriously in other areas of my life. But fuck those people. I don’t need their acceptance to validate the truth of what I’ve lived and my experience.

Neither do you.

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Let’s take this chance together to not hide or hold back the things within us that make us one hundred percent who we are. The spirit of this is already in the air. It’s in the spirit of the current discussion around sexual harassment and violation. It’s in the spirit of political discussion and standing up for one’s beliefs. The time has come to shift the power dynamics toward our selves and away from others. The time has come to not be quiet about our truth.

Try this. Go back to the idea of the ten most important folks in your life right now. Ask yourself, how much of your authenticity do they know? How are you “in the closet” with them? And does it matter, is it important for you to come clean and shine your heart’s truth out to them? If so, then give it a whirl and push yourself to meet them at the greatest level of you. And if not, then maybe it’s time to shorten that list. It’s all good, because you’re just making room for others to join it who will meet you at the level of your authenticity. And that is what you need right now. It is time to live a life among those who can champion and support your authenticity. It is time to make yourself number one on your list. It is time to love you, all of you. Others will follow.

Happy New Moon in Libra!

That Sagittarius New Moon When The Perfect Illusion Died

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The Sagittarius New Moon wants us to bust through the perfect illusions we have built up in our lives so that we can take responsibility for our actual emotional truth

I’ve been away from writing because I just got married last weekend and have been immersed in the world of wedding planning. But it all went off perfectly and I’m in love with being a married man. Now being an astrologer, I of course had to pick a date that had some planetary meaning behind it. The date we chose coincided with Saturn being conjunct my Neptune in the 7th House. What does that mean? Well, Saturn is that planet all consumed with us growing up and taking responsibility in our lives. The 7th House is the house of partnership and marriage and because my Neptune, the planet of illusion, lives there, I found myself having to break the illusion of what I thought a wedding day should look like. Instead, I embraced the day and each moment for what it was and I could not have been more content and joyful throughout it.

As Saturn asked of me, I was taking responsibility for my approach to marriage and not entering into it from a place of delusion. I allowed myself to move through the illusions I had built for myself so that I could grasp the other side of Neptune, that of spirituality. I am a spiritual being. That is my truth. And my pure approach to my wedding allowed my ceremony and reception to reflect my spiritual truth. And my timing was spot on, as this new moon is all about this.

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Put your authentic self at the forefront

The Sagittarius New Moon wants you to bust through the perfect illusions you have built up in your life so that you can take responsibility for your actual emotional truth. You can no longer subscribe to the lies that you have told yourself. And you have been singing those lies so strongly for so long, that you believe them to be the truth of your own inner voice now. But that is some bullshit. And you know it. When you can get quiet with yourself and get in touch with the disharmony you feel in your heart about your relationship, your career, your health, etc, you will find access to your real truth. So stop allowing the behaviors that perpetuate your poor emotional habits.

It’s time to only take action from a place of authenticity. Stop trying to curve your feelings so that you can please others. You must put your needs at the forefront. And by doing so, put your authentic self at the forefront. Breaking through those illusions of what you think you should be doing or who you should be will connect you to the spiritual core of who you are, and that is what you need to be doing right now. Focusing outward will only garner you empty experiences. Allowing your inner self to be your guide will garner you the true experiences you need in your life right now.

I know, this can all sound a little easier said than done. Or maybe vague. But if you drill down into your general relationship with how authentic and truthful you are being in all aspects of your life, you will see where the holes are and the work that you need to do. And I bet you already know where those holes are. So don’t get caught up in responding in the usual way – the people pleasing way. Bye to that shit.

Be you. All you. That’s the Sag New Moon way.

That Full Moon When You Got Real Clear

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We must be willing to dig into the truth of why we’re feeling so confused

Things just aren’t that clear right now. That’s what happens when Saturn, the planet of restriction and responsibility comes in close contact with Mercury, the ruler of the mind. Personally, I’ve been toiling over some decisions and driving myself to slightly epic points of insanity. Given that this is all occurring in Sagittarius means that it’s all trying to drive me toward a truth of some kind, but with Gemini in the mix, it’s hard to get quiet enough to clear the air. Whenever I sit with a client, I tend to always tell him or her that meditation is key to one’s success. And I always do my best to walk that talk and meditate daily. But even my recent meditations have been overrun with lists of things to do and questions about what’s right or wrong.

Today marks a Gemini full moon, which means it’s possible to connect to our minds in a way that helps us to release some answers to the questions on our thoughts. But we must be willing to dig into the truth of why we’re feeling so confused. Are we letting some fear or insecurity creep into the decision making process, clouding our best judgment and intuition? Or perhaps we’ve assigned some person in our life too much power over how we think or feel, causing our heart’s compass a lack of clarity. Whatever the case, we need to be willing to come to blows with our truest selves and face reality. We know what’s messing up. There just needs to be a willingness to accept what is a possibly a mistake we’ve made.

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This specific full moon time can feel challenging, but it can also be liberating

So how to know the truth? Well first off, trust your gut. You know your fears by now. You know what they sound like and you know what they respond to. If you’re not sure, then let me help. Your fears are usually excited by some need to be accepted by others. They can be enticed by the idea of being “left out” or considered a failure. They thrive on intimacy, and vulnerability. They don’t want you to succeed. Instead, they want you to stay put because it’s safe and free of change. So if you can’t get clear enough to make a strong decision, then take the time to dissect what is going on in your life and ask yourself if you’re being shrouded by some fear-based idea. Get calm and ask yourself what truly feels right and what feels wrong. You will know what makes sense for you. And let everyone else dictate their own lives, not yours.

It’s important to feel your thoughts and think about your feelings in a responsible way. Yes, these are two different things. Feel what you’re saying so that you know that you’re not saying something that can hurt another. If you’re thoughts are causing you pain and you can’t release them in a healthy way, they will only transform into hurtful words toward another. And this is never good, especially during the holidays when family is involved. Also, think about your feelings from an adult point of view. Are you overreacting? Are you being childish? Now is not the time to just react. Make sure your feelings about something or someone aren’t connected to some outdated pain or uncertainty. You may be bummed but it could just be about something that bears no resemblance to your actual reality. It’s just an old thinking pattern that feels ready to be released. So use this full moon time to release it in some constructive way, i.e. writing a letter you don’t need to send, some creative endeavor, or by simply beating a pillow for ten seconds. Um yeah, I do it. And it works.

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This specific full moon time can feel challenging, but it can also be liberating. It can be a time to release your old, “young” ways of thinking that don’t serve you anymore. You need to take responsibility for your thoughts and your feelings. No one is making you feel the way you do. You are simply choosing to respond. And you need to get a grip on how you do so. You deserve to feel good about your choices. You deserve to be confident. You have it within you. So have gratitude for your ability to change and grow, and have a fantastic Thanksgiving.

Hey New Moon, Balance This!

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When the Libra New Moon comes along and asks us all to attain some greater balance in our lives, I’m like, “Really bitch? How?”

I write this to you at 11:11 pm, after a remarkably long day. Hell, it has been a remarkably long week. But it has been full of very rewarding activities. I’m helping to wrap up delivery on a feature film that will be released in less than a month. I am working on producing a short film that is shooting in less than three weeks. I am starting to get into early prep mode on a short that I wrote and plan to direct in December. I am working on blog posts. I am reading charts for astrology clients. I am trying to get my health insurance changed. I am working out every day and meditating every morning. I am taking care of my dog and spending quality time with my man. I am seeing friends and making time to check in with my family. Now I am sure some version of this sounds familiar to you, as you could also probably fill up a paragraph with all the things that you’re juggling in your life. So when the Libra New Moon comes along and asks us all to attain some greater balance in our lives, I’m like, “Really bitch? How?”

Well, the Libra New Moon wants you to keep moving forward on all the important things you’re trying to execute with your life, but in a way that doesn’t overwhelm you. With so much movement right now, it’s important to take the time to prioritize and bring some structure to the way you’re handling all of your tasks and responsibilities. Libra is also about working with a partner. So don’t feel like you have to take on everything alone. You have others to help you lighten the load. You just have to get out of your own head and way long enough to turn and ask for help.

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Take stock of everything you got going on and see if it’s all a necessity right now

At this time, there is also a shift trying to happen, to urge you more into your authenticity. But it’s forcing you to let go of certain elements of you that you thought were in it for the long haul. Be willing to say goodbye to those pieces of your psyche that were really just poor, stubborn habits. If you can do so, you will find yourself open up to more creativity, not just in what you do but also in how you approach continuing to build the person you want to be.

All of this is in the name of bringing more balance into your life. So take stock of everything you got going on and see if it’s all a necessity right now. If it is, then maybe you need to schedule yourself better so that you can fit it all in, but in a way that doesn’t make you hallucinate from sleep deprivation. Perhaps you just need to start putting everything into a calendar. Or again, maybe someone else can help you juggle it better. Just re-evaluate and see. Note that Mercury will be going retrograde on October 4th, so try to get some of this shift into motion before then. If not, you may just fall apart a bit. And that won’t be cute.

Here’s a brief closer look at where you can focus to unlock the door to greater balance:

Continue reading “Hey New Moon, Balance This!”

A Super Full Moon, and It’s Way Bigger Than You.

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We are here to affect our lives, but more importantly, the lives of those around us.

It’s a full moon in Aquarius. It’s happening right now. And it’s a Supermoon, which means it’s the closest full moon we’ll physically have to the earth this year. So, the effects of it can be pretty great. And pretty strong. For as the moon affects the ocean’s tides, it also affects the inner tides of our being. And with it being in Aquarius, we have to strive to focus its energy outward. We can’t just sit on it and keep it within. So what is this moon about then?

Well, we’ve moved into a Leo state, which can make us all a bit self-absorbed. And we should be, to a degree. We have ideas, goals, and responsibilities to tackle. Some of us are starting new chapters in various areas of our lives while others of us are closing the door on outdated ways of being. So we have to have some focus on us and what we need. But let’s not lose sight of the fact that we are spiritual beings. That means we can’t get lost in the ideas, goals, and responsibilities to a point that we forget that they are all just experiences we must take on in order to evolve. It’s not about the thing. It’s about what doing the thing has to teach us. And in turn, how it plays into our greater mission. And at the end of the day, our greater mission isn’t just about us. We are here to affect our lives, but more importantly, the lives of those around us.

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You are bigger than your life. Don’t ever forget it.

I had the pleasure of spending a recent afternoon with my mom, an Aquarius. And as we sat chowing down on gluten-free empanadas and drinking almond milk lattes (cuz that’s how we roll), my mom told me how she had sparked to a realization. “I am in everyone’s life for a reason. Yours, your father’s, your sisters.”, she told me. “We came together into this life for something that’s not just about me.” Smiling, I agreed. Yes, we aren’t just here to get ours and get out. We are here as messengers to the ones we share our days with, and vice versa. And the Aquarius Full Moon is the perfect time to honor that. And to be in the now of whatever contracts we set up and with whom in this lifetime. And to do so in a way that is still in alignment with that soul mission you know in your gut is yours to master.

What is your soul mission? And how are you working to make it not just about you? Remember, it’s bigger than that. You are bigger than your life. Don’t ever forget it. And upon reading this, do something that honors it.

And now for some greater clarity for each sign, here is some astrology realness:

Continue reading “A Super Full Moon, and It’s Way Bigger Than You.”