October 06

The vast amount of scary and disturbing information, such as the United States’ legalization of torture, will continue to keep pouring into our collective consciousness during October. Remember what I’ve been saying lately; we’re on a hell of a ride until the end of the year.

Last year at this time we were riding out the throes of Hurricane Katrina. Oh, it was over as far as the physical destruction that wasted a vast geographic area. But the psychological damage was still hammering our minds and Souls.

This year we stand shocked, though not so much at President Bush’s criminal negligence in not making sure aid was delivered in timely and ordered fashion to New Orleans and surrounding areas on the Gulf Coast. That is still with us and will be for a long time. Today we Americans must stand in overwhelming disbelief and sorrow, broad-sided by the fact that Congress allowed itself to be bullied by Bush into passing a bill which allows torture on a legal basis.

This law was voted in during Chiron’s (the Wounded Healer) conjunction to the US South Node, or past karma needing to be resolved. We often forget that the United States was founded with slave trade being a centerpiece for commerce. We moved forward to heal that, at least somewhat, after the Civil War, and again with the Civil Rights Act of the early 1960’s. But we have now taken a significant step backwards, and I do not think the majority of Americans support this tragic departure from decency.

The Democrats, on track at least theoretically and in the polls to win back the House and possibly the Senate, lacked the testicles and the moral fortitude to stop this outrageous travesty from occurring. Figuring it was worth the trade to get back Congress in November, the leaders of the Democratic Party sold out their souls, sold out the American people, and sold out many innocent foreigners who will indeed pay a terrible price in the near future (most of those arrested as “enemy combatants” are found innocent or freed without charge). As well, they sold out American soldiers abroad who no doubt will find themselves targets of revenge and redemption for those soldiers or insurgents who already feel justifiably wronged and harmed by Guantanamo, Abu Graib, the secret CIA prison camps, and other infringements by the United States on the Geneva Convention.

My personal commentary is that the Republicans who pushed this law through probably do not know any better on account of their skewed world view, but the Democrat lawmakers should be above this.

Shame on them.

You might well ask, “What does Joshua know about it? From whence comes his righteous indignation?”. Well, the truth of it is that I was tortured, though in a different context, and I have more than just an idea about what it is like. Unless you have been tortured, or at least been severely abused, you just cannot imagine how damaging this shameful activity truly is.

One more thing before I continue with the Astrology, and that is this: What are you thinking, John McCain? A POW in Viet Nam and now this? Shame on you most of all.

Chiron’s intent while transiting, and indeed stationing upon, that karmic point on the US chart is to get this country to move past fear as the prime mover and to begin to take the high road as a world leader. If not, I predict there will be hell to pay. So far, there has been little indication of a moral turn around. The Democrats taking back Congress would be a first step, and impeachment of the whole Bush Administration would be the next. What is truly needed, however, is for America to develop a collective conscience, and its not about to happen without some kind of drastic impetus.

So there are two planets to station during October. Chiron goes direct on the 12^th, and Neptune goes direct on the 29^th. Whatever “October Surprise” Karl Rove has in store for drama happy citizens should come on or around the 12^th. Another possibility for that time would be a surprise for Karl Rove! All the news lately has been bad for Bush and the Republicans up for election in November. Two major reports have conclusively determined the war in Iraq is not only failing but fomenting more and more terrorism. While I do feel Rove will counter, I think we are not done officially discovering more of what we already know in spirit.

All month has a Neptunian feel to it. The outer planet is slowing down in its orbit, and as it does, confusion and forgetfulness cover us like a mist. Clear thinking is difficult, and we need to beware of lies and deception, even if its self-deception. Just into the US 3^rd house (of communication and media), we need to be sensitive to messages, subtle and otherwise. Last month I mentioned that some voting fraud might be discovered and exposed. Already there have been serious complaints during the primary elections.

The November 7^th midterm elections fall well within the Neptune station. So first of all- remember to vote! Next, we need to be alert when we vote. Pay attention to details because ballots can be confusing.

There are positive aspects of Neptune transiting in the sign of Aquarius. Please refer back to the latter part of my July article on the Newsletter page on the website (click on below) where I explain the Neptune/Saturn opposition for more details. For the sake of the present let me say that the other side of confusion and despair is spiritual awakening both to personal and wider truths. When we allow ourselves to perceive what is actually happening then we have creative choice in our lives. October and November are months to move beyond our illusions to create what is more real for us.

Notice I am moving forward with “Dynamic Mind, Creative Heart” workshops. I encourage those in the Denver area to join us. (click here for details)

The t-square involving Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune is still in place until late November. It feels like a pressurized time to make difficult choices. Talents and powers must be called into play to avoid defeat. It is not exactly now or never, but it is close. We often suffer later if we miss potent chances.

The Full Moon coming soon in the sign of Aries, on the 7^th, comes opposing Venus in Libra and within the Chiron station. Aries being a feisty sign, conflict often arises at this time. Let’s be creative with conflict should it raise its battering ram, so to speak. Self definition within the context of relationship or group should be what is sought. Keep an open mind to the bigger picture.

I don’t often mention the New Moon, but this month its worth taking a look-see. On the 22^nd there comes a line-up with four planets conjunct in late Libra (Sun, Moon, Venus, and Mars). This is an auspicious time for renewal of relationships. Whether through ceremony or simply by mutual agreements, personal relationships can benefit here through a new start. Additionally on this day there is an exact conjunction of Mercury and Jupiter in the sign of Scorpio. This aspect can serve to deepen understanding within the principles (of a relationship) and also increase the magical potential of intentions sent out to the Universe for manifestation. Let’s not miss this juicy opportunity.

Okay. NIE and UN reports have been released which show military strategies in the Middle East have failed. We have Bob Woodward’s book coming out about how Condi Rice ignored Tenet’s warnings about Al Qaeda before 9-11-01. We have Rep. Foley (Rep. Fla.) resigning in the wake of a gay sex scandal involving 16 yr. old pages. We have three school shootings, in Colorado, Wisconsin, and now in Pennsylvania. And so much more. This is all information with a message that staying the course in not an option. I suggest that progressive people choose to model the future in the NOW by living our lives as consciously as possible. We can BE THE CHANGE or we can forever hold our peace.

Emphatically yours,

Joshua Hayward, Co-Director of LSI

September 06

First a little note to say what an awesome trip Esther and had to the Denver area! We want to thank everyone for making our stay both successful and enjoyable- especially Dr. Eileen at Crossroads Chiropractic in Evergreen.

September of the year 2006 starts off with a bang. As I have foreshadowed in the last couple of issues, the “big stuff” begins here, and it will continue until the December holidays. I would be surprised if we do not see some interesting developments within the first two weeks of September.

On the first day of the month Saturn and Neptune come into their first of three exact oppositions. The next one comes on the last day of February, and the last falls on June 24th. Be sure to pay attention to the news on and around these dates because the polarization of such forces is bound to produce awareness concerning the areas where our collective energies have not been effective in creating the life we desire on Earth.

At the same time some clarity might be available as to where we actually need to put our creative attention. I feel that this long term opposition is crucial to bridging us into the new times of Aquarius. This period of time- from September 2006 to September 2007- is pivotal in determining whether the nature of our transition will be cataclysmic or just extremely difficult.

For more detailed information about the Saturn/Neptune opposition refer back to my July edition of All Planets Healing. If you don’t still have it on your email, it should be up on our website, www.lightsourceinstitute.net, hopefully in a few days.

This first opposition (Saturn/Neptune) falls within a Pluto station, coming on the 4th (figure about a week on either side of that day). One year ago, during the stationing of this same planet, Hurricane Katrina battered the hopes and dreams and lives of the good people of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast area. If you remember, I forecasted some sort of disaster happening in the States at exactly that time- almost to the day.
I am not saying there is necessarily going to be a repeat of that, but it could happen- on the Gulf or somewhere else. What I am saying is that these two astro-events, occurring simultaneously, make the US vulnerable to all sorts of possibilities. Hurricanes, real or feigned terror threats* or actual attacks, as well as more (and possibly intensely) revealed lies from the likes of Rumsfeld, Cheny, et al, are among the potential circumstances for this time period.

But wait. There is more. A pair of eclipses also highlight the month of September. The Lunar eclipse will fall on the 7th at 2PM, and the Solar eclipse will occur on the 22nd at 7AM, both listed at Mountain Time. So it should be noted that the Lunar event falls within the Pluto station. The Moon aligns with Uranus in the sign of Pisces during the eclipse, both on a trine to the US natal Sun. Also at that time Jupiter is within a trine to the US Sun from the other side in Scorpio, forming a Grand Trine by transit. Uranus, joined briefly by Full Moon, is also square to the US ascendant.

So, what does all this mean? This is a heck of a lot going on in the short period of a week (all except for the 2nd eclipse). The Grand trine I just mentioned appears to be very fortunate for our country. But for whose version of what is good for the country? That is the rub. Uranus square ascendant usually forces some kind of substantial change. What would seem terrific to me would make the Bush Administration shudder. Change is not what these people want.

Obviously, Pluto Stations often bring disaster and violence. But they also push us, individually and even more so collectively, toward evolutionary development. With the positioning of the Grand Trine to the US Sun, and the lunar eclipse accenting that configuration, things look less frightening than last year when Pluto stationed on the exact degree of opposition to the natal US Mars.

The Lunar eclipse features the Moon in the 3rd house along with the Sun in the 9th house of the US natal chart. These houses have to do with communication and understanding. Too long has the true voice of the American people been ignored or thwarted by an uncaring government with an agenda thoroughly its own. Perhaps this month signifies a time for everyday Americans to begin to be heard.

Saturn just now has moved into the US 9th house. When this transit happens to a closed minded soul with a tight, unrelenting philosophy that soul is then forced to look at things differently. Outer circumstances arrange themselves for just that purpose. In its opposition to Saturn, Neptune has just moved into the US 3rd house. Perhaps it is time for the lies to take their toll on the governmental churls who have continuously repeated them. With Neptune now in the US 3rd I am concerned even more about voting fraud in the November election. Voting is supposed to be the true voice of a democracy.

An article by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in an issue of Rolling Stone about 3 months ago clearly documents (his team did research which is totally sourced) an overwhelming amount of fraud in the Ohio Presidential race in 2004. Kennedy concluded that Bush would not have won there had it not been for hundreds of revealed cases of outright fraud affecting several hundred thousands of votes.

What would be refreshing during the upcoming November elections? If fraud were to be discovered during the process and the criminals were actually exposed to the public. Not out of the realm of possibility. The election takes place during a Neptune station. Let’s see what happens- it should prove interesting.
The Solar eclipse- an alignment of the Sun and the Moon together, occurring on the 22nd, falls on the mid-heaven of the US chart. This is definitely a power angle and is very community oriented. The eclipse comes at 29 degrees of Virgo, which is a healing-oriented sign. I hope that this event might trigger an awakening that much, much more need to be done to heal the Gulf coast area. Of the approximately 8 billion dollars earmarked for New Orleans only 1.7 million has arrived for their aid. Literally nothing is being done to restore the area. People are not moving back. The tragedy remains exactly that, a tragedy.

This Fall marks another collective shift in consciousness. Last year Katrina imposed many lessons upon us. How unprepared we are for emergency due to an unwieldy, cumbersome government locked in its untenable ways. How an uncaring Bush needs to be removed from office, him and the whole incompetent lot of neocon fascists who are more concerned with lining their pockets than helping the people of America. On a more positive note, how simple Americans tend to bond together with compassion and vigor to help one another in times of dire stress and chaos as they did a year ago in New Orleans, even when abandoned by and sometimes actually harassed by government officials.

I am not certain this time, this year, will be as cataclysmic as last Autumn. I am sure there will be plenty of fuel for change. Pretty soon we are going to be deciding what we will do with this planet, one way or another. The old paradigm which is hell bent on using up the Earth with no thought for quality of life and no consideration for the future. A new paradigm that is accountable, responsible, fair, and sustainable. What we do this Fall will have much to say in which way we are going to go.

I still call for impeachment of Bush and Cheny. If Republicans hold onto control of the House and Senate, there will be no hope of calling them up on the carpet. If Democrats wrest control from their antagonists there is still little hope of impeachment, but at least there would be hope.

We need to see the truth of our recent past if we are to successfully move on to more progressive ways of living. We would do well in our individual lives to face our own truths and to treat ourselves and others with compassion. If we do, then we model the new paradigm, and that is all we can do. With compassion and creative imagination we may fashion a future for ourselves and our children.

There is no time like the present, so how about September?

*It is my firm belief that the whole “liquid bomb” scare coming from the UK was a fear and control oriented hoax. There are plenty of sources that support that view, other than intuition and common sense. If you go to www.mercola.com and type in “Can liquids on planes really bring one down?” on his search deal Dr. Mercola explains how this method is literally impossible.

Responsibly Yours,
Joshua Hayward, Co-Director of the LSI

August 06

July 06

Two of the three planetary stations occur early in the month of July. Mercury goes retrograde in the sign of Leo on the fourth of July, and Jupiter goes direct in Scorpio on the sixth. The only other station comes late on the twenty ninth, and that is Mercury going back direct from the sign of Cancer.

I do not see July as a “big event month”. We do have a lengthy Mercury retrograde, lasting just about the whole month, but we have until September before things bust loose again. Mercury is not heavily aspected to other planets at this time, so there might not be as much confusion as is usually associated with a retrograde. Mercury will spend most of the time in Cancer during this event, so the focus is upon trusting intuition with creative choices. Venus is going through Gemini, a very heady sign, during this period so ideas won’t be lacking. But it would be best to let ideas follow impressions and inner guidance.

The Jupiter station comes on a hard square to Saturn on one side and Chiron on the other. This t-square replaces the two Grand Squares of the last two months (see the last two installments of APH). The focus here is a challenge to balance inspiration (and intuition) with structure and healing creativity. During the month of July we should be checking out how the energy in our lives is flowing. Is it flowing in such manner that there is proper support for directions and desires? There was a lot of blockage the last couple of months, but now things can begin to flow into the future more readily- I’m talking on personal levels here, not the big picture.

Later on in July the Saturn/Chiron opposition (part of the t-square mentioned above) I have often spoken of pulls apart, and these two heavy weights get to go their own ways. This was a long, extended aspect whose intent was to get humans on Earth to learn how to access conscious co-creation. Creative more from the inner planes than from controlling externalized situations and circumstances. How well we have learned necessary lessons concerning creative energies only the future can tell.

The next challenge we face from Saturn will be an opposition to the planet Neptune. These two are by nature the most karmic planets. By karmic I mean we are forced to face shared difficulty. With Neptune we face spiritual lessons; with Saturn the lessons are more earthly. With the opposition of these two planets come a great tension between the material and the non-material, or spiritual planes. The theme of conscious co-creation will continue, but it will be put to greater tests, on personal and public levels.

This transit will sustain until next summer, about a year. Where it lays out on one’s natal chart will cause great stress, so remember I am available for consultation on how this opposition and other astrological transits might be put to best use. As well, I am about to publish a handbook, or treatise, on working with co-creative energies. “Dynamic Mind, Creative Heart” will be available later on this summer or early fall. I’ll be giving workshops using the written material as a handout. I’ll be posting info on the website when it is ready. But so much for the commercial…

The Saturn/Neptune opposition will challenge us to bring a better balance between the seen and unseen worlds. There will arise a pressure to be more spiritually responsible concerning our actions. We’ll be needing to honor other people, for instance, even though we may tacitly disapprove of them morally or politically. There will be a sense of power in this endeavor. For myself, not needing to be right fits into this kind of spiritual growth. Strength in surrender would be an issue for many people.

Getting back to July, the Full Moon comes on the evening of the 10th. The Moon will be in Capricorn with the Sun, of course, in Cancer. The lunar event is virtually unaspected, so the only issues pertain to the two signs. Intuition versus practicality. Home versus business. The mother versus the father. Reflection versus activity. There is not too much to say.

In fact I have decided to keep it short and simple this month. The politics will heat up in September, so why mention anything now? Let’s do the best we can to put our own lives in order.

Harmoniously Yours,
Joshua Hayward, Co-Director of LSI

June 06

We enter the month of June with planetary activity slowing down somewhat in terms of the big picture. We still have Uranus moving into a stationary position, so there will be an underlying feeling of unrest tugging at our collective subconscious, but with the general tenor of today’s society being as shaky as it is we should not notice it too much. The actual station occurs on the 19th and it is the only planet changing direction this month.

Possible occurrences at this time would be flare ups around religious differences, like in Iraq, upset around court rulings concerning right wing agendas such as abortion or gay marriage, and a likelihood of hurricane, tsunami, and earthquake disasters. You know, the usual fare.

Opportunities for personal growth around money, relationship, creativity, and healing issues will be plentiful this month. Another Grand Square will be forming during the first half of the month. As in a similar formation last month, the planets Jupiter and Saturn are involved (in the signs of Scorpio and Leo, respectively), but Neptune has moved on in favor of Chiron (in the sign of Aquarius). The other player is now Venus (in the sign of Taurus). Venus will move out of the configuration in mid month, but then Mars will move into it by way of a conjunction to Saturn (again, in Leo) at about the same time, as the Grand Square transforms into a T-square.

With the subtraction of Neptune and the addition of Venus and Mars comes a personalization of energies, bringing us into deep consideration of our own lives. Saturn will be pressuring us into self examination of what we want, how we act, what we might be willing to do to achieve our desires, and just how open our hearts are to being conscious creators. We will be examining our close relationships to see if our interactions (energetically) are taking us closer to our goals, or not. Patterns of interaction, believe it or not, can be changed. It takes considerable focus and determination, but it can be done.

Here is where Chiron, the Wounded Healer, comes into the mix. In the Grand Square Chiron opposes Saturn (and then Mars as well) while squaring Venus and Jupiter from opposite sides. When our interactions are playing out our wounding, creative focus is stifled. It is necessary to take a loving yet sober look at dysfunction to rebalance the energies. If conflict and/or lack of harmony becomes apparent during this time period, here is an opportunity to determine whether or not we are reacting to our partner(s) from early imprints of wounding. If so, then the situation needs to be addressed.

Acceptance and acknowledgement of what is happening leads to creative choice. Open and gentle communication is of inestimable importance for healing to take place, so we need to be willing to acknowledge and honor both our own and our partners’ wounding. It requires conscious growth to keep from projecting past wounding onto current situations, and growth here comes from recognition, perhaps grieving, and then moving on by resetting the energy with clear intent.

One of the toughest aspects of spiritual growth is running up against what we judge and resist in the mirror of reality. Everyone knows what it feels like to be confronted with those people or situations we would least like to see. It is one thing to grasp an issue mentally, but it is quite another to be presented with what still has a significant emotional charge. From the mundane traffic incident, to post modern politics, to relationship-oriented power struggles, it is quite difficult to meet the resistance that can come up. When emotions are flaring, it is hard enough to recognize resistance, no less work with it in consciousness.

The reason I mention resistance has to do with the fact that the Grand Square and the T-square have all the planets configuring in Fixed Signs. I have fixed signs at the angles of my astro-chart, and I still struggle at times when I need to change an attitude I know needs changing. Hopefully reading my article will be helpful in identifying resistance, especially within relationship, during the month of June. But do not stop with relationship issues, let us all take a long look at whatever resistance that might present itself.

An opportunity for releasing deep seated energies and issues occurs on the 11th of the month when the Full Moon (emotions) conjuncts Pluto, the planet of deep transformation. Since the lunar event happens in the sign of Sagittarius, significant comprehension can come as energies are released.

Later on in the month the Summer Solstice (21st) signals a changing of cycles. Sandwiched between the aforementioned Uranus station on the 19th (when the planet slows down in its orbit and from our perspective here on Earth changes direction, this time from retrograde to direct) and a shift in the polarity of the Moon’s Nodes on the 23 rd (which I’ll discuss next month), the Solstice will bring a fresh perspective into our lives. The arrival of sultry summer is surely delicious, but perhaps a lighter social and cultural climate will grace us.

The transition could prove to be abrupt, given the edgy nature of Uranus, but then the Summer should settle down to an even pace. At the beginning of July Mercury goes retrograde on the 4th, making for an interesting holiday, and Jupiter stations to go direct on the 6th. I don’t anticipate a whole lot of confusion around those minor events, but of course I’ll still be writing the usual installment of APH.

By now the reader would have noticed that this is arguably the most personally oriented installment of APH ever. That is partly due the astrological nature of the month, but perhaps my focus is shifting a bit as well. I have reached a peak of frustration over George Bush- there, I’ve finally said the name- and the fascistic antics of the neo-cons. Though I am not saying this stuff won’t be discussed in the future in this column, I have decided to let it lie for this month. Apparently, my anticipation of the direction things would take the Spring was indeed correct. I guess now is the time to let nature take its course.

Have a Great Summer,
Joshua Hayward, Co-Director of LSI

May 06

As we enter the month of May it is impossible not to notice rampant turmoil in the country and around the world. The planetary transits of late March and early April, which I stressed would very powerful, have instigated a wave of events blowing in the face of tyranny. George Bush has said in the past, “Freedom is on the march,”. Irony is now striking back because freedom is indeed on the march, but not in the sense that “W” had intended.

Three hundred fifty thousand marchers in Manhattan certainly were not there to support his policies. And the May Day Immigrant protesting around the world was far from a pro-Republican statement.

May seems to be the month to move forward on the wave of change and freedom. The time is right to make personal and public statements of truth. The current surge of momentum should last through the beginning of July, and then things will calm down to ready for yet another surge in September. So let me mention three planetary events for May that could be very helpful in our choices and plans.

The Full Moon on the 13th is loaded up into a loosely formed Grand Cross in the fixed signs. The Sun is aligning with Jupiter in Scorpio while the Moon and Mercury oppose. Forming the cross which intersects that polarity are Chiron and Neptune in Aquarius along with Saturn in Leo opposing. Although Saturn and Mercury both have a very wide orb (distance of relationship), I feel this lunar event is significant.

It can be a time of release, a time for shedding what is no longer part of one’s path. This can also be a time of seeing what is necessary to move forward, spiritually and practically. As I said earlier, May is time to pursue truth, no matter what that might look like.

Shortly after the Full Moon two planets station. Chiron goes retrograde on the 15th, and Neptune the same on the 22nd, both in the sign of Aquarius. So we may see a very busy middle of the month. Saturn and Chiron are still transiting the Nodal axis of the United States’ Chart, and much of this month’s (planetary) activity is affecting that destiny oriented polarity. It could be May’s fate to decide whether or not the US invades Iran.

Like in the instance of Iraq, Bush has already decided to do the deal, but this time his political weakness, combined with intense pressure against such a move by the American people, the President’s desire could easily be thwarted. I would encourage like-minded peace people to keep up the good work in your efforts to prevent further war. Many of those three hundred fifty thousand in NY were not just protesting Iraq but were there to help prevent a military invasion of Iran.

Jupiter (from Scorpio) and Uranus (from Pisces) are forming a Grand Trine to the US Cancer Sun. George Bush’s Sun, incidentally, is at the same degree as our country’s, so the same deal is in effect for him. This is a very beneficial formation, so let’s see if what is good for Bush is good for the country (hah!). Note that the President has some difficult transits from Pluto and Saturn that could damp down the possible positive effects stated above. I feel that this Grand trine, to both entities, will bring forth revelations and pull secrets out from hiding during the month of May. When Uranus stations in late June some energy of response or reaction to any such findings could be put in motion.

Traditionally, what is planted in the Spring is harvested in the fall. As Chiron and Neptune station to go retrograde, alongside the already retrograding Jupiter and Pluto, the spiritual seeds we sow will germinate and grow firm in the ground of our dreams. While I do believe we can get some almost immediate and profound results, much of what we are putting forth will come into beautiful fruition in the Fall. On personal levels, in our relationships and in our businesses, as well as in our efforts to create a world with a more peaceful paradigm, results will be reaped with the planetary transits of early September through late October and early December. Please note that the November elections fall within this time frame.

Let me conclude this month’s offering with a suggestion to those who are inclined toward being active in the process of creating peace and freedom. I was correct in my prediction about recent transits pointing to activity in the area of impeaching Bush and Cheney. Momentum has been gathering; people have been talking about it, not only as possible, but likely. More than just talk, no less than three States of the Union have produced resolutions to hand to the Speaker of the House to initiate Congressional discussion of impeachment.

I have recently discovered that local resolutions are also a legal and viable means of initiating congressional process. If you are so inclined, there are websites which will help you draft resolutions for impeachment. We are proceeding with this here in Ouray, Co. Perhaps the best place for you to begin would be at www.impeachpac.org.

There will be lots of links for sample drafts, etc. Remember, “think globally (nationally, as well), and act locally.” If you think your town is too conservative, your County Democratic County Committee works just as well. I encourage your true patriotism!

Let’s live in the Light,
Joshua Hayward, Co-Director of LSI

First of all, a little heads up for you. I’ll be forwarding a couple of important petitions after sending the Newsletter. One is about voting rights and another from John Kerry about pulling the troops out of Iraq. Please sign these, if you feel so moved, and pass them on.

The tides are indeed turning as we push on into April. Almost all of my astrological projections for this time period have been overwhelmingly accurate, which is good for those of us who desire a healthy country and planet. Let us take a moment to review the socio-political-economic status of the moment before we move on to an assessment for the rest of April.

President Bush reaffirmed use of pre-emptive strike as a world wide strategy, leaving little doubt he is willing to invade Iran and/or Syria. This is going to come back on him.

In an ridiculously clueless statement, leaving heads shaking in wonder, Bush blamed Saddam, not the presence of US military, for the instability in Iraq. Leaves you wondering which movie he’s watching.

Causing a collective sigh of relief, Tom Delay resigned permanently from Congress. How you going to replace a guy like that?

The Democrats, finally in a pro-active spirit, released a plan for military strategy against terrorism, including eliminating Osama. No ideas? Hah!

A confidential memorandum was released by the British government stating Bush told Blair in January of 2003 that he was determined to invade Iraq without a UN resolution and even if UN arms inspectors failed to find WMD in the country. Well, we already guessed that, but here it is in black and white…

On March 30, the day after the Pluto station, one headline said, “Afghanistan Fighting Deadliest In Months”. Funny, you never hear much about Afghanistan anymore. Apparently, Taliban has not gone away.

Most importantly, Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald was told by defendant “Scooter” Libby that Bush and Cheney ok’d the outing of CIA agent Valery Plame. Last time I heard, this act constitutes a felony. Possibly even treason. The door, as I predicted, is now open for impeachment.

Oh, one more thing: Bush and GOP approval ratings just hit new lows, opening up the distinct chance of the Dems taking back the House and the Senate.

The only thing missing which I predicted is some of the violence I mentioned was possible. There are a few days left before we are totally out of that realm, but hopefully I’ll be wrong about that one.

Another issue that came up was concern on Wall Street about inflation. One financial pundit with whom I am acquainted has told me is that we are at the end of a thirty year cycle which describes a bell-curve coming back down at this particular time. I’d say we are now skating on thin economical ice. Reminds me of some lyrics off our friend Lynn Anderson’s CD: “When the walls come down, they all come down…”.

So it comes down to this for April of 2006: What are we going to do with our lives? Everyone I’ve run into in the last few weeks is going through enormous “stuff,” mostly in the vein of which I have previously spoken. Lots of challenge and lots of opportunity. No more planets will station until well into May, at which time Chiron and Neptune will go retrograde, both in the sign of Aquarius. Uranus will station to go retrograde late in June. Until then, we have some breathing room. Perhaps we can make use of a fairly potent New Moon on the 21st of April with the Sun just going into Taurus and the Moon just entering Aquarius, conjunct Chiron and opposing Saturn. This is a good time for planting seeds of whatever kind, literal or metaphorical.

One thing to note in the realm of planting, creating, and intentioning, is that the North Node of the Moon is in its final days (concluding an eighteen month stay) of being in the sign of Aries. The North Node, as I have mentioned in previous editions of APH, pertains to direction and destiny. For Aries, the keynote is “I am.” So we need to be focusing on our identities, but not in a superficial way. Venus moves into the sign of Pisces on the 7th, so we need to create from the spiritual realms at this time. Of course, all creativity comes from those realms, but now there is an emphasis on putting to use what we learned during the recent Venus/Chiron conjunction. Think, “I am Spirit, and I am like this in form”.

Here is an opportunity for us to move away from our “stories”. There is a tendency to overly identify with the circumstances of our lives. The truth is, life just “is”. Most of what we experience is connected to the ego and is a reflection of ego-involvement. If we ask, “who am I, separate from all this illusion,” then we can move closer to what Spirit desires for us. Dis-indentification is a big step to take because it constitutes movement into true Power. If we are not attached to circumstance we cannot be manipulated or controlled by fear.

There is no time like the present disown our stories and get in touch with what Spirit wants to create. A retrograding Jupiter (in Scorpio) is currently squaring the planet Neptune (in Aquarius). This square can be interpreted as a struggle between truth and deception, between false optimism and true freedom. This square will pull apart soon, but it is still in effect and will return to exactitude in September- right before the November elections. In addition, the planet Saturn will at that time move into an opposition to Neptune and hence into a square to Jupiter. So the current Jupiter/Neptune square will reconfigure into a more complicated t-square with Saturn at the “handle”. Talk about a reality check! Considering this t-square happens during a Pluto station (early September) and, yes, two more eclipses, voters will have plenty to consider.

The curtain of illusion cast about the Bush administration’s illicit activities is being yanked down, so why cannot we do the same with our “stories”? Of course, we might find we need to change what we are doing (Oh, no! Busted!). Consider that the change needing to be made might lead to freedom.

Another astrological aspect worthy of present consideration (mentioned in several other installments of APH) would be the Saturn/Chiron opposition (from Leo to Aquarius) which is at a peak right now. For some time now this configuration has been opening up the energy of “conscious co-creation” as a vibrational frequency on the planet. The more of us who work this line of reference, the closer we get to the “hundredth monkey,” which is like hanging out in Hollywood forever and then all of a sudden getting “discovered”.

Consider that the Saturn/Chiron opposition is working in concert with the other planetary positions mentioned is the article. We have an opportunity/challenge at this time of “critical mass” on the planet. This could be the most crucial juncture humanity has known up to this time. It is up to us to “hold the space” in order that the changes go toward healing and creating rather than toward the dubious alternatives.

What confuses me somewhat at this time is a lack of momentum for initiating the impeachment process against the Bush administration. The American public is suddenly caught up in the immigration issue. I think this is a diversion. I have to warn here that immigration is a sideline issue, much like gay marriage or abortion. Not that these realities are not important, its just that the preeminent order of the day should be getting the neo-conservative crooks out of our government.

I’ll leave you with a question you may have already asked yourselves: was Clinton’s lie about having sex a bigger deal than leaking national security secrets in the case of Valery Plame or the unconstitutional act of installing the NSA domestic spying program? Any sane answer to that question would lead to impeachment.

Yours In The Light,
Joshua Hayward, Co-Director of Light Source Institute