CELESTIAL LIVING ARTS
How best to enjoy the art of living for May 2006
© Liz Howell
Aloha to all,
May Day arrives today on the heels of New Moon energy in Taurus which invites us all to consider and appreciate the value of the material and sensual world that surrounds. This month's astrology forecast comes to you by way of the oracles of the Sabian Symbols. Enjoy!
ARIES (March 21-April 19): This could be a month where you will have to make a choice which suggests a conflict between doing what you and your heart want to do and the call of a social obligation, or what by way of appearances, seems to be right. Without promising more than you can deliver, take an honest appraisal of the situation. Balancing your outer and inner worlds - both expectations and realistic deliverables - will liberate you from your quandary and your Catch 22 will resolve itself.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): As Henry Davis Thoreau once said, "He enjoys true leisure who had time to improve his soul's estate." Are you in a balanced state of work and play Taurus? Your leisure time needs to be tended to and organized as much as your work life. Allowing time and space for others should also be balanced with individual needs for privacy and this month of May is an excellent time for you to observe how this works in your life.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20):
Gemini, I think you're going to like the Sabian Symbol I'm playing with for you this month. It goes like this: "A Gardener Trimming Large Palm Trees." Meaning? It is important to let powerful energies within rise up and grow toward the heavens. What is past is past and once it has revealed its purpose, it's time to carefully and lovingly trim any unnecessary elements away. So, make like the palm tree, shoot for the heavens, trim the non-essentials and take as many trips to the dump as necessary.
CANCER (June 21-July 22):
Cartoonist, philosopher and author Ashleigh Brilliant once quipped "All I want is a warm bed and a kind word and unlimited power." You may in fact feel a powerful descent of energies taking over your being this month Cancer. And with all new infusions of power, it is always wise to remember the downfall of many a megalomaniac who fall victim to the lure of corruption and abuse of privilege. Be sure to ask yourself whether you are using your shawls and cloaks for empowerment or as cover up as you find your quiet, unassuming strength.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22):
I'm delighted that your Sabian Symbol I am contemplating advises protecting one's self from spiritual "sunstroke." It alludes to camels, caravans, oases, mirages, water, deserts, stamina and fortitude. So if you feel as if your are about to embark on a vast and forbidding journey, I would recommend you follow the wisdom of the ancient Persian proverb which advises, "trust in God - but tie your camel tight." In other words, if you prepare properly, you won't run out of reserves.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22):
Virgo, you are my invitation this month to view and consider the celestial puzzle from a different perspective. I see an interesting planetary pattern in May with your corner of the celestial sky quietly void while sparks are flying all around you. Like a parental radar, I can't help but feel the need to go check on the child who's been silently out of sight for a little too long. What I see is a change or an experience of someone or something passing on that you are quietly and respectfully acknowledging. As you remember things that have passed from your life, take in to account the words of drama critic William Winter who said, "the past is utterly indifferent to its worshippers."
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22):
Key words for you this month Libra from the Sabian oracle are as follows: autumn leaf, pilgrim, revelation, mystery, and life and death. Translation? Tune in to nature's rhythms, feel the seasonal changes, allow for angelic visions and by all means, strike up spontaneous conversations with God. Look for the answers to your problems in simple everyday moments - fleeting as they may be, yet profound.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21):
This promises to be a month for you Scorpio where you can really put your powers of perception to the test. The oracle alludes to x-rays and diagnosis but for you, I think we can expand that view into the realms of the creative. Psychic spying would certainly be an elevated option for you this month but I would instead encourage you to contemplate this remark by Bill Moyers, "creativity is piercing the mundane to find the marvelous."
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21):
Sagittarius, your Sabian Symbol rolls off the tongue almost like a limerick. The philosophical sound bite for you this month goes like this: " A Chubby Little Rich Boy Rides Upon a Hobbyhorse." Get it? It offers you the opportunity to consider any possible boredom you are experiencing with all the big plans and endeavors that go nowhere and largely come to nothing. But before you even consider deflating your spirits over this, remember that looking upon life's experiences as a lesson will help you move to the next stage of any situation.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19):
The oracle calls upon recognition of both your highest and lowest capabilities this month Capricorn. Key words of contemplation are oriental rug, precious, store, ornamental and dealer. We're talking goods and we're talking commerce. On the elevated side of the equation we've got refinement of cultural understanding and values with appreciation in excellence of quality. Pitted against this we're looking at the potential for the archetypal "used car salesman" to appear. Both you and society flourish when you use your knack for buying, selling and valuing with fair trade born of appreciation for one's goods as well as another's.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):
There may be a situation forming where you are applying your rational logical mind out of balance to your intuition and creative wisdom. The oracle's symbol for you this month Aquarius points to issues with language or ability to verbally express feelings. It's not that the rational or the emotional is any more right or wrong than the other - they are simply seeking to have a conversation with each other and to find an inherent balance.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):
Sometimes getting rid of people or ideals that hold one back can open up situations to more trust, sharing and enjoyment. You may have to consider dismissing someone or a group of people from their duties or their ability to affect your life in some way. Whatever your situation, defining your truth and staying with it is the best option. As the Romanian proverb goes, "he who serves at the alter ought to live by the alter."
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