Part 1: Neptune, The Awe-inspiring Pisces Stellium, Tips & Tricks to survive this MURKY Mercury Retrograde

"What we do not make conscious emerges later as FATE."  - Carl Jung

YO.   How are YOU doing?  Is anyone else feeling slightly frazzled this week?  Or like they are SWIMMING in it.. whatever IT may be.

Let's hash this beast out. NEPTUNIAN energy is dominating the heavens and therefore running your life right now in SO many ways.  MAN is this a big massive magical mythical planet, named after the Roman god of the Sea.  It is THE watery planet in the solar system- representing all of those Jungian water archetypes-  the SUBconscious, dreams, the collective, the underworld, creativity, healing, FATE and DESTINY...
And there are currently SIX, yes, SIX celestial bodies located in the sign of Pisces, which is ruled by NEPTUNE.  And NEPTUNE is one of them.  We've got the SUN, Retro-active Mercury, Venus (as of today), Mars, Neptune, and Chiron (the asteroid teacher healer guru).  That's more than half of the planets in our solar system up in PISCES.  Noteworthy to say the least...

NEPTUNE - MAN OF THE MOMENT

YES THESE ARE STRANGE TIMES WE LIVE IN.  YES you should go slower.  YES you should meditate.  I'm currently in the process of adjusting to this and by adjusting to this I mean, rolling with it. Personally I think SELF CARE is one of the best uses of this energy.  That and any kind of creative project.

So Here's the trick with NEPTUNE and all this PISCES up in your field:  As great as it is for dreaming/scheming, It's confusing as all HELL, too.  Everybody is moving at a different pace and often preoccupied with their own personal daydreams or MOODS.  So we have to be easy and careful not to take on other people's BAGGAGE.  Or to unload our emotional CARGO onto others.  Because let's face it... It never turns out well.  As represented by the ocean and the element of water.... Boundaries are at an all time low right now.  Peeps are somewhat all over the place emotionally, physically, mentally- So BE EASY with it.  Resist the urge to merge completely.  Harness and utilize this to come out REFRESHED and ready to go when the emphasis switches to FIERY BADASS Aries the Ram next month.  SELF KNOWLEDGE and CREATIVE IMAGINATION is where it is AT... no doubt.  What are you DREAMING about?

"Knowledge is limited; imagination encircles the WORLD."
Einstein.  Could he BE more PISCES? 

Basically you should start to think of this next 3 weeks as a DEEP water expedition into your SOUL.  This will help you understand the how-why of all the unforeseen and potentially strange events that may occur and ease the fact that this time may be laden with confusion, misunderstandings, misfirings, and possible delusion when it comes to the outside world due to Mercury the planet of communication being RETROGRADE (moving backwards) in the sky...  But don't let me sound too GLOOMY.    This is ALL AMAZING for art, romance, music...  Just be aware things may not be as they seem.  Give proper space and time to any important decisions-projects-relationships-remodels.

Check my silly little list of suggests to not just avoid disaster but to THRIVE in the coming weeks.

THE SUPER STELLIUM IN PISCES- DOS and DO NOTS 

with the Mercury Retrograde in mind:

• DO pay attention to your nightly dreams.
• DO NOT wallow in any emotion or passing wave of nostalgia for TOO long.  Resist the urge to isolate
• DO be creative-romantic-musical... but not DELUSIONAL
• DO NOT indulge EXCESSIVELY in booze-addictions-television-chocolate-bacon.  Moderation.
• DO seek knowledge of the infinitely vast and awe-inspiring universe.  Meditate.
• DO NOT look up-call-message-harass your EX-something-sorta-not-really.   Thank me later.
• DO keep track of your keys-car-computer-appointments-e-mails-phone-SANITY.  Triple Check.
• DO NOT forget to forget something.  It is INEVITABLE.  
• DO excercise, get massages, do yoga, drink HERBAL tea, sleep in.  Zen the F out.
• VERY IMPORTANT- DO NOT (or use extreme caution and get a warranty when and if you) buy a major appliance, sign a written contract, or start a new ENTERPRISE.  Consider all options but commit to none.  TRUST

DEEP BREATHING NECESSARY.  See PART 2 of this post in a couple days time with a sequence of yoga postures designed to help you LET GO and LET GOD, herbal chill out suggestions, and some other stuff that's awesome.  Thanks for stopping by.  STAY LUCID. xo

PS.  Enjoy the Venus - Neptune conjunction tomorrow.  This is SWEET

Why every Aquarius you know is a genius, Why all things are a GO in the skies above, and notes on a potentially insane Detox

HELLO!!  My imminent return is upon us.  Needless to say that keeping up with a blog is hard work! Props to those avid every day bloggers who no doubt lose innumerable amounts of shut-eye/sleep-in/eating time.  So here we are, Sun in Aquarius, the time that produces some of the zaneyest whack jobs and creatively BRILLIANT innovators to grace this planet.  Google it if you have your doubts, or look no further than the birthdate on Facebook of that friend who just dances to their own tune and doesn't give a WHAT.  I mean who ELSE could make green overalls or tie dye look AMAZING.  Let's be honest.

This is URANUS the ruling planet of Aquarius.   Uranus is associated with change,  upheaval, reversals and NUTJOBS. Just kidding.  Sort of.

This energy is so bloody SPONTANEOUS and ABSTRACT just trying to write about it is slightly exhausting.  It is all about INVENTION and it's various processes... The thought, the dream, the goal, the CONNECTION and COLLABORATION that make all kinds of KIZMET things go down.  Like revolutions, masterpieces and ELECTRICITY- no really- Thomas Edison was an Aquarius.

Look at this dude.  He's clearly on some OTHER ish.

So, BAM!  What's your deal this month?  What work of Genius have you been cultivating?  In what way have you been collaborating with others to make your BIGGEST dreams go down in the most beneficial way possible for all parties involved?  WHAT ARE YOU CREATING AND HOW ARE YOU COMMUNICATING ABOUT IT WITH THE WORLD AROUND YOU?  I threw in that communication bit because Mercury the messenger has been hanging out with the Sun for awhile in Aquarius as well.  So this is all important stuff and honestly if you've got any ideas this is a great time to launch them, up until the last week on the month.  AFTER THAT,  on February 23rd, when that tricky little messenger Mercury goes backward in the sky- consider it a CHILL OUT period when it comes to major decisions. I will detail this more in a couple weeks when you are freaking out because your phone/computer/travel plans are experiencing technical difficulties.  Or just having second thoughts about something you thought was game-on.

HOWEVER, from the 30th of January until February 18th we have a beautiful window of time in which all planets are moving forward (Saturn stalls on the 18th and Mercury on the 23rd).  This is pretty nice and was brought about on the 30th when JUPITER, everybody's best friend... you know that friend at the party that brings you amazing gifts and keeps you smiling all night but is hard to kick out at the end of the night because they want to keep going.... moved forward in the sky.
TRANSLATION:
I wouldn't be surprised if just after the Leo full moon last weekend, something in your life finally started POPPING OFF after a period of waiting.  Hey, I didn't say it had to be good.  But chances are it is.  And if you haven't felt Jupiter yet (which I doubt) you've got awhile to receive the ABUNDANT blessings he will shower down on you.  Just keep in mind sometimes, TOO MUCH of a good thing is, just that.  Too much.

NOW- INSIDE THE CLEANSE OF A MADWOMAN....

WELL in case you were wondering- my personal form of Aquarian INSANITY this month seems to be popping up as the WHACKY idea to do the Master Cleanse.  Have you heard of it?  It's that insane cleanse where you drink lemon-stuff for ten days.  That's what I'm doing.  The recipe is super easy:

-60 oz of filtered water
-12 Tablespoons of Grade B Maple Syrup
-12 Tablespoons of Lemon juice (fresh squeezed)
-1/2 Tsp. of Cayenne Pepper
-100% pure, raw, CRAY

Also there is a salt water flush included that is necessary for reasons that I'm too much of a lady to discuss...  But you get it, right?  This cleanse is all about eliminating toxic BUILD up.  I eased into it with some delicious soups, salads and fresh juices like the one below.

Kale, Celery, Cucumber and Lemon

Now you know EVERYTHING.  I'm getting hungry and that either means I'm going to go fetch my lemonade and plan out my meals for the next month after my cleanse is over, OR I'm going to hit the hay.

 I think the list will go something like SUSHI, TACOS, SUSHI...

Goodnight, GOOD LIFE!! Blessings.

New Moon in Capricorn: Setting goals, Making Soup and Business as usual

HEY!  Thanks for your awesome response to the new blog concept.  Again, I am creating this to empower my friends and clients via health, nutrition, and astrological tidbits.  Learning to work with the current ASTRO and seeing how it effects you can be a great boon to your life and this New/Dark Moon in Capricorn ties in particularly well with the theme of health... GOD but doesn't everything?

Capricorn is depicted as a sea-goat.  Not to be confused with Aries the ram... 

Our bodies are our foundation which ALL other things build upon.  If you don't feel Astrology you can at least FEEL that!  You know it, you get it.  So let's look at this:  It is no accident that Capricorn, all about building, duty, method, structure, health and stability comes after our darkest days of the year.  We have reached the point in which we have turned the most inward, explored our darkest personal aspects and hopefully are on our way to CLEANING house, so to speak, for this BRILLIANT new year.  We can now move forward with a PLAN to kick ass and take names.  Whatever form this may take for you... And Venus just moved in to this area of the sky as well, making this process a lil' bit SWEETER.

New Moons are a great time for being quiet and putting clear intention into whatever it is you are doing,  since this will potentially effect this entire next Lunar cycle for you.  This particular one I have been feeling very antsy and a little all over the place, so I've tried to just do things I like to do and WORK on (Capricorn is all about WORK).  YES, that's why I'm doing this post...   and YES, that may also be why a "quick" look at my friend's astrological chart last night became a 4 hour project... whilst eating copious amounts of NOURISHING chicken soup (see the recipe below).   So you don't have to write anything out or get crazy with it but just try to be CLEAR.  What do you want?  And How will you get it?  By all means if you are feeling it, STRATEGIZE and make lists!!  But because Capricorn is kind of a dense and physical energy, just DOING what makes you feel good is also GREAT.  Good things will follow. Intentional, supportive and goal centered action is where it's at right now. YES!!

HEY and if you are feeling less than stellar physically because of the INSANE flu bug that is carrying on all over the place... you are kind of FORCED to do things that are good for your BOD.  I can empathize if this includes sitting around with a necessary box of tissue at arm's length- I went through that last week-  LORD- but on the upside you have the opportunity to HEAL yourself, so maybe there can be some good in the whole ordeal.  And in comes the SOUP...

This is probably one of the most nourishing things you can do for your body at this time.  It is warming and supportive for your immune system.  After all the veggie soup for days, I felt like I need some oily chicken broth to provide me with a little more sustenance.  It's a spin on traditional Chicken soup that is a bit spicier, and this is to help cut through any congestion that may be present in your body.  The daikon radish is good for this as well!  However, feel free to tone it down a notch - sub out the hot pepper and don't add the cayenne.  It can be a little drying for people who are already DRIED up in this winter season as it is.   But PERSONALLY I like it spicy.  EXTRA spicy.   And also, if you are Vegan-Vegetarian it is totally possible to make a big supportive pot of veggies that can help cure you, like my last recipe.  Just add in some extra grounding veggies like red potatoes, zucchini, squash, etc. and throw some cooked lentils in there as well, and use the herbs/spices I suggest.

SPICED UP CHICKEN SOUP FOR IMMUNE SUPPORT

I used a 5 quart pot.  If you are going to use a larger 10 quart pot you should double up everything.

INGREDIENTS:



PLEASE USE ORGANIC CHICKEN, because LORD HAVE MERCY that other stuff is SKETCHY.

 -A chicken leg, cut into two parts (I got the butcher at my local shop to do this because I don't have the UMPH or proper knives to do this part), with the skin removed 
 -A boneless, skinless chicken breast
 -1 Red Onion 
 -2 to 3 carrots 
 -4 sticks of Celery-Kale!!!!
 -6 shiitake caps 
 -An entire small clove of Garlic, peeled 
 -1 serrano chile pepper or 2 jalapenos 
 -3 inches of Wakame seaweed, cut into little shreds (I put this in a lot of stuff.  It's great if you are making a veggie version of the soup because it provides that b12 that is hard to get from non-meaty sources)
 - 6 inch piece of Daikon radish diced into 1/2" slices 

 Herbs/Spices:
 - A couple Tsp/cubes Veggie Bouillon (this is not necessary but I had a couple to use up)
 - 2 healthy handfuls of fresh Parsley
 - 2 healthy handfuls of fresh Cilantro
 - 1 and 1/2 Tsp. Cumin
 - 1/4 of a Tsp Cayenne 
 - 1 Tsp Oregano- 1/2 Tsp Thyme
 - 1 bay leaf- Sea salt for taste



1.  Fill up your 5 quart pot with water leaving an inch at the top.  Throw in your skinless chicken leg, chopped in 2 pieces, with the bone intact.  The bone provides much of the flavor.  Dice up the breast into small pieces and throw this in as well.2. Dice up your all the Veggies on the list (excluding the Kale and fresh herbs).  Throw them into the pot.  Drop in your veggie bouillon. Turn the heat on to Medium and close the lid until the soup begins to simmer, just below a boil.






3. When you take the lid off and the soup is just beginning to bubble, turn the heat down a bit, and throw in all of your dried spices (cumin, cayenne, oregano, thyme, bay leaf, salt)  and 1 handful of each of the fresh herbs.  STIR IT UP!!  Save the other 2 handfuls of fresh herbs, along with the kale, for when your soup is ready and the heat is turned off.  This will give a nice fresh flavor and keep some of the nutrients in the kale intact.  


4. Heat at mid to low temperature for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour.  

5. When you are ready to grub down, turn off the heat and throw in your fresh herbs.  When I'm eating alone, I often just cut up enough kale (a couple leaves) to throw into my personal soup bowl, and don't put any into the actual pot.  This keeps the kale fresh in the fridge, and you can do this each time you have a new bowl.  

6. SRIRACHA OPTIONAL... SORT OF

New Soup Rule: YOU HAVE TO SHARE!!

BONUS!!!!!  When you've eaten half of your soup and you are bored after a day or two- or in the case that you forget that your soup is still on the stove being simmered at a low temp and everything gets super cooked (this is what I did the day after I made this!)  Make Chicken Stock out of the original soup, add more water, veggies, and spices, and make a whole new batch of soup.  Throw in some more chicken breast if you want.  

Enjoy...

Thanks for stopping by and supporting.  Come back soon lovelies!