Journeying Between Worlds: Week Of June 15

Just as the planets are clearly bodies in motion, so are we all. And the journey is about to get more exciting (or weird, depending on your viewpoint). If you’re a mystic who hopes to travel to other realms, the Cosmic travel agency has your ticket prepared.

Since all journeys begin with planet Mercury, let’s begin there. In Greek mythology, Mercury was the only god permitted to travel to the Underworld – Hades’ realm. (Hades’ name – like all of the Olympian gods’ names – was appropriated by the Romans and he was re-named Pluto. Don’t get me started.) Currently Mercury is in a tense angle with Pluto. This uncomfortable aspect (called a quincunx) between Mercury, guide of souls and Pluto, speaks of an uneasy albeit necessary journey to the river Styx. My mind automatically links this Mercury-Pluto relationship with Chris De Burgh’s song, Don’t Pay The Ferryman. If I can extend the metaphor, though, of course we must pay the ferryman. It’s not merely a simple matter of commerce for services rendered; if you consider the deeper implications, it is in your best interest to relinquish (Pluto) whatever it is that you’ve been holding onto – at considerable cost to your well-being – in order to get to the other side (whatever the other side represents to you). Moreover, the awkward nature of the quincunx angle suggests that it is not through the mind alone (Mercury) that one can release the deadweight. Only total acceptance of the greater forces of change can help us relinquish the deadwood in our lives, if ever we are to bring new life or energy in.

Cue Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune. This stellium reveals that enlightenment comes through spiritual efforts. The mind (Mercury) must be aligned with the heart (Sun). Let’s review this planetary trio: each is in the universal sign of Aquarius. Whereas Chiron and Neptune recently began their retrograde phases, Jupiter just went retrograde on Monday. Now the search for a guru leads us within. The message is that you cannot find it out there if you haven’t yet found it inside. This energy is about locating the divine spark that glows eternally within you. To that end, along comes Sun, representing your solar (or soular) journey. Sun in curious Gemini makes a favourable trine to retrograde Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune. This has the effect of pointing a flashlight (Sun) at your interior landscape. Now, with clearer eyes, you can see what kind of shape your spiritual centre is in. Because Jupiter is conjunct Chiron and Neptune, their energies are very much mixed in with this planetary cocktail. Include healing techniques (Chiron), insight, intuition, compassion, creativity, imagination and union with Source (Neptune) in your expanding (Jupiter) toolbox.

Lynn Koiner has said that Neptune retrograde specifically opens our inner sight in a way that is more obvious than when Neptune travels direct. Based on my own personal experiences with this energy I agree with her. What I’ve noticed specifically is that when I’m experiencing a cosmic download (please tell me some of you understand what I mean by this) in which information just comes to me – unlike the period when Neptune is moving direct – I retain and synthesize the info that comes through when Neptune is retrograde. Just my own observation, and I’d be interested in hearing from you about your own Neptunian downloads.

And, while we’re at the far end of the flake spectrum, let me make mention of Venus and Mars. They are currently paired in earthy Taurus, grounding some of our idealistic visions from the Aquarius stellium into reality. The aspect I want to note is their brilliant quintile to Jupiter, Chiron and Neptune retrograde. There’s a subtle ability to tune into the music of the spheres, to dance with the Cosmos, and to see how the Universe has imprinted itself upon your internal search engine. Google could only dream of such an ability! If you consider such information to be of value, then structural Saturn in analytical Virgo will help you to build and fortify your information system. Blessed be!

*Artwork provided courtesy of Wikimedia Commons