Dear Friend and Reader:

During the Mercury retrograde that ended Monday evening, I discovered the Twin Peaks series. For a few years I’ve been engaging with a movie that came out after the series ended, called Fire Walk With Me. I’ve watched the film perhaps 10 times and in the course of studying it scene by scene, David Lynch became my favorite director. The other night, I found the 30-episode series in Netflix, with a little time on my hands. Starting with the pilot, I soaked in the first season’s episodes.

FBI special agent Dale Cooper and Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks.

If anything provides a lively, accessible metaphor for the astrology of the coming week or so, it’s Twin Peaks. We don’t need literal references to plot elements like the murder of a 17-year-old girl; what happens in the aftermath of her life tells the story.

For those who don’t know of those events, they fall into a branch of science fiction that emerges like its own world, with its own internal logic. The story is structured in a way that approximates real life: the truth is stranger than fiction. Lynch, the director, saw no need to ‘make things’ make sense; they either did or they didn’t, and all of the plot elements don’t fit together — just like in reality.

Our lives don’t often seem this interesting, though often they are organized in much the same way. The plot structure of Twin Peaks is what we feel and experience inwardly, contrasted with what we express to the world. These are like the two poles of a battery that seems to charge the whole psyche, and direct the flow of nearly all events — until you tap into soul level, when another source of energy and clearer, more dependable information becomes available.

The passion, pathos, layers of deception and truth, the double lives of seemingly ordinary people, and all the things we figure out that we don’t know — that’s what the astrology for this week looks like. It’s the subtle, often un-admitted forces that are driving things forward now, and it would be an excellent idea to make conscious contact with them, if you haven’t begun to do so already. Mercury, which stationed direct Monday, will bring more to the surface than we’ve already seen these past few weeks.

I am not implying that this is unfriendly astrology, though for some it will be experienced as ‘intense’ or challenging. The aspects are genuinely intriguing and also are revealing of the deeper layers of what you may be feeling or experiencing. Mercury stationing, whether direct or retrograde, can come with the experience of the truth coming out. That’s not easy for some, though you can make it easier by making contact with the truth within. Once you’ve done that, what might be known to those around you is of secondary importance.

Wednesday’s lunar eclipse, as well as many other planets, are involved in a yod pattern. That’s the arrow-like shape pointing toward the Moon and Jupiter in Gemini. That in turn brings Mercury back into the story, which rules Gemini and just stationed direct Monday.

There is a touch of the dark side to the current planetary movements, and there is a rich quality of healing available as well. Yet the setup offers compelling reasons to stay in contact with the shadowy dimensions of your emotions, your sexuality, your quest for healing and your creative process. Anything that is (or has been) subject to denial is relegated to the world of shadows. If anything emerges in shadow form, for example as something fearful, something associated with guilt or shame, or something seeming to have undue consequences, see if you can trace the developments back to a moment of denial somewhere in the past.

Before I give some additional interpretations for these events, here’s a brief rundown of the aspects so you have an itinerary of these unusual few days. Mercury stationed direct in Scorpio at 5:47 pm EST Monday, ending a relatively short 20-day retrograde. [The retrograde began the day of the U.S. presidential election, which I am planning to recap and review sometime this week — possibly in the subscriber edition or on Planet Waves FM.] A few hours later at 8:19 pm, Venus and Saturn formed a conjunction in Scorpio.

Tuesday afternoon, Mars and Pluto (the ancient and modern rulers of Scorpio, respectively) form a conjunction in Capricorn. This conjunction, which is likely to come with a long, slow burn of energy, makes a sextile to Venus-Saturn.

There is an exchange of energy called mutual reception between Saturn in Scorpio and Mars and Pluto in Capricorn, accentuating the potency of the alignment. (Mutual reception is when the rulers of two signs occupy each others’ signs). Then Wednesday morning at 9:46 am, there is an eclipse of the Moon in Gemini. This is called a penumbral eclipse, a very partial lunar eclipse, though the Moon touches the foggy shadow of the Earth — the penumbra.

The eclipse, while involving the Gemini Moon and Sagittarius Sun, is involved in the above two aspects because they flank the Sun and form a yod to the Moon. That is to say, the Moon gathers up the energy like a condenser, focuses it through Gemini, and ties it back in to Monday’s station direct of Mercury (which rules Gemini). In other words, everything is related, no matter how unrelated it may seem.

We have four separate events — Mercury direct, Venus conjunct Saturn, Mars conjunct Pluto and the lunar eclipse, each of which is lavishly interesting — though they are all focused into one pivotal event, which is the eclipse. Remember that this is in the background of the first eclipse of the Sun in Scorpio since 1995, which happened two weeks ago and has indeed stirred many conversations.

The giant speaks to FBI special agent Dale Cooper in Twin Peaks.

Mercury’s change of directions addresses the power of words as a means to healing. Communication and awareness — the specialties of Mercury — can be the most accessible and useful means to healing, though for many reasons they need to be used with precision and with caution. Those reasons involve the next few aspects.

Venus conjunct Saturn emphasizes one side of the power aspect of sex. There is something here about an obsession with secrets, and the way that they help us accumulate power. That is THE purpose of secrecy. If you can raise this to full consciousness, you may discover some exquisite modes of contact, including exploring the dance of domination and submission, the interplay of female and male, interesting attributes of age differences and how good it feels to use personal revelation and self-disclosure as a means to intimacy.

Mars conjunct Pluto provides the energy to deal with, and move beyond, the past. Look for even a moment and you will notice the obsession with the past that keeps us trapped in its patterns, ideas and compartments. Nothing says busting out of the box like Mars-Pluto in Capricorn, especially when aligned harmoniously with Venus and Saturn. You don’t need to apply much force, or any at all. Use intent and precision instead.

The eclipse suggests that the way to the center begins at the edge. It’s not necessary to dive into your feelings all at once; rather, make contact with what is moving through you, and proceed inward gently. The eclipse has momentum and if you set yourself in a direction you want or need to go in, that momentum will carry you there dependably. Everything in your life may not change in a day — though this is certainly a moment that contains the seeds of change, and some fully manifested progress.

Lovingly,

PS for Sagittarius Sun or rising readers — I will have your birthday reading later in the day. Check the main blog or your email for purchasing information. — efc

 

Blue Studio Sessions — Conversation with a Dom

In this week’s edition of the Book of Blue sessions, I speak with Victoria — who was for many years a professional dominant. We talk about consensual fantasy play, power exchange and this thing misnamed bd/sm. This is a lively conversation lasting about 90 minutes. A regular edition of Planet Waves FM will post to our main blog this afternoon.

 

Planet Waves Inner Space Monthly Horoscope for December | By Eric Francis

With lots of other astrology behind us this year (many inner planet retrogrades, the Venus transit of the Sun and two Uranus square Pluto events), one remaining item is the fabled winter solstice of 2012. That’s the one that thousands of articles, countless books and a diversity of New Age cults have arisen around — the supposed ‘end’ of the Mayan calendar. (It’s not the end of the calendar, just the end of the 13th baktun.) This event falls on a Friday. What have you got planned for that evening? Share your ideas with me if you want (email to dreams@planetwaves.net with ‘Winter Solstice’ as the subject header). Mercury stationed direct Monday, Nov. 26. The Gemini Full Moon is Nov. 28. The Sagittarius New Moon is Dec. 13. The Cancer Full Moon is Dec. 28.

Aries (March 20-April 19) — Everything is not true, though the power of belief can be persuasive. Yours is especially so right now. Make sure you believe what is true, and in order to do that, you must subject your perceptions to some scrutiny. There’s an intricate relationship between what you believe, what you believe is possible and what you want. As you filter out what is not true for you, you will make room for what is. That will help you focus a vision for the next year of your life. I suggest that you use an unusual celestial alignment to reach for your biggest, most significant, or most dearly held aspirations. As you clear the little stuff out of the way, and let go of outdated plans, you’ll become aware of the gems. These are the ones to develop; they are fertile seeds.

 

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — You seem to be invested in a relationship as if your life depended on it, yet with the feeling that you don’t really have a choice. The thing to be careful of is rooting your self-esteem in the feelings of another person (whether positive or negative). In an intimate relationship this will almost always happen — relating closely to another person changes us, and there is always some overlay of self-image. Yet whatever may be happening in the relationship aspect of your life, it would be wise of you to draw your self-esteem from a diversity of sources, including and especially from your own sense of who you are rather than who anyone reminds you that you are. This is a delicate balance for you right now, and I suggest you take your steps consciously.

 

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — I suggest you do an inventory of what you have said and committed to in the recent past. You’re about to experience a surge of what looks like crusading energy — and now is your chance to keep all your promises. Or at least it’s your chance to keep the ones that you want to keep, though I suggest you politely acknowledge the ones you don’t want to keep. The idea is to focus your energy on a few projects rather than many. It would be asking too much of a Gemini to get your ambitions down to one thing. Therefore, do what you must to condense your energy and rid yourself of unnecessary distractions. I suggest you do this as a conscious project. One clue for where to focus may arrive in the form of an unusual creative collaboration.

 

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — The year ends on a passionate note — with an aura of finality and transition. Use this energy to bring to a close what is ready to end, and to rise to the occasion of what you want to create. Once again the story of your life is finding your confidence in the presence of those who seem to outshine you, or have more power. Yet you possess something that is all your own, which is authentic sensitivity. Don’t hide this under any veils of denial — keep your feelings where you can access them. Remember above all that you’re driven by the desire to nourish and care for the world. In that same spirit, make room for others to take care of you. Receive their gifts graciously. Remain open and you will start to see all of the good things in store for you.

 

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — Life is part camping trip, part adventure story and part art project. For you lately, the art project is the most meaningful aspect of existence, and you’re what is being created. Or rather, you and existence are on a co-creative adventure. For the past couple of months, your life has been about preparation, arranging yourself and sorting out the past. Now that you’re feeling more solid on your foundations, I suggest you take advantage of the energy and move on to greater adventures. Once you get started, you won’t want to stop, and this is the moment to allow your whole life to be consumed by creative process. Leave no exceptions: supermarket shopping, taking the kids to school, planning a holiday party — tap into inspiration and pour it into everything that you do. May there be no such thing as boredom.

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Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — There is an awesome idea from A Course in Miracles: when I am healed, I am not healed alone. In many ways this is the story of your life, though it’s especially true now. Healing is a collective experience, though when we’re in human form, it begins with the commitment of an individual to heal themselves. You’ve likely been feeling many forms of inspiration to do precisely this — mainly in the form of your life force energy coming to a boil, and the desire to crack open your shell and crawl out into the daylight. You know that at a certain point you will want to share this experience. Keep an eye out for people who are aspiring to live consciously rather than merely in survival or recreation mode. Don’t let others dilute your energy — notice what you offer them and what they have to offer you, and remember your core purpose.

 

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) —
The direction of your life and your love is into yourself. Yes, this raises many issues, from your investment in relationships, to your fear of abandonment, to your ongoing quest for self-esteem. Remember, this is subtle — it’s easy to forget, especially if you get distracted by projects or adventures. Try to maintain self-awareness of what you’re learning about yourself on the deepest levels, and bring this into everything you do. You have a truly unusual opportunity to build emotional confidence, as well as to experience yourself directly outside of the context of close personal relationships. Being your own person — emotionally, sexually, creatively and every other way you can imagine — takes practice, and it’s the kind of learning you must apply to every aspect of your life. There’s an irresistible pull drawing you inward. Honor that and anything is possible.

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Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — You can afford to be generous with yourself — that is, generous offering who you are and what you have. Among the life lessons I would actually file under the category ‘spiritual’ is the one about not knowing how much you have until you share it, and this is what your charts have developed into as 2012 draws to a close. Challenge the feeling that you must withhold from others, or keep what you have to yourself. Listen to the voices of your parents instructing you in this particular way of life. You have many examples of how this does not work, though few dare to draw from the well of their soul and offer themselves to others in the spirit of something bigger than we think the world has to offer. This will teach you how abundant you are — and how much life has to offer you and everyone.

 

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — You may finally be feeling like you have your life in order. Many questions that lurked beneath the surface of your existence have resolved themselves, or are now out in the open as more practical issues about what to do with what you learned. I suggest you keep this as your focus — focusing on the things that mean the most to you, in a disciplined way. You have so much energy that working with it consciously is imperative. It’s too easy for you to get so distracted by socializing, popularity and various other shades of glamour that you can forget your purpose. The truth is, it’s taken you long enough to remember — and forgetting is the last thing you want to do. It’s time to remember, and it’s time to remember by applying yourself to what you want with your full devotion.

 

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — At least you’re not expecting everyone — or anyone — to do it for you. You may be in the most self-determined moment of your life, with more options than you’ve ever had. I suggest you make a point of noticing them, especially if you’re feeling limited. Yet far from feeling hemmed in, you might be feeling like you have way too much energy and you don’t know how to contain yourself. You may have the feeling that you’ll never live up to your potential. That is a feeling — not the reality. Yet no matter how much energy you have now, I suggest you remember, and trust, the fact that real progress takes time. Be content with the fact that your life is going in the right direction, and do yourself a huge favor: avoid unnecessary conflict like it’s the best thing you can do for yourself. In actual fact, it is.

 

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — The beautiful thing about paranoia is that the things we fear so rarely turn out to be true. Indeed, you could use those spontaneous, shocking moments of panic as a map to what’s the least likely to happen. Yet one thing we can say for sure is that fear is a huge waste of creative energy. Often I think that’s its purpose. Negative self-talk, that endless chatter of why you’re not perfect enough (sometimes disguised as how you’re going to be a better person) can turn a truly creative person into a neurotic mess. If you or anyone needs any self-improvement, the first step would be about not reminding yourself of that fact all the time. This will allow your creative flow to be what guides your life. Remember that everything that happens on Earth happens in a community of some kind, and it influences that community. If you need a code to live by — that’s the one.

 

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Current aspects suggest that this is a moment when your career could really take off. Make sure you focus on your longterm goals, particularly ones on your mind around the time of last month’s total solar eclipse (around Nov. 13). Focus on these goals, and as the month develops, point your mind and your daily activities directly into the vortex. It’s true that you’ve got a lot on your plate right now, as you often do this time of year, though you always rise to the occasion. Now is the time to work with precision, because you’re about to encounter a powerful wellspring of energy that will be difficult to contain otherwise. When in doubt, slow down, even if that means pausing for five minutes to reassess the course of your day, your week or a particular professional commitment.