Epiphanies in Job Hunting

As my life has entered the realm of the six house, it’s not surprising I spend most days counting calories, stressing about work, making checklists, and skipping out on the gym. Perhaps, it is even less surprising that I have suddenly had a miraculous epiphany about this house itself.

The 6th house, according to modern astrology, represents our daily activities. It is the house that is associated with things like work and the workplace, employees, co-workers, the work-environment, services to others (and to ourselves), health and health-related issues, small animals, etc.  In knowing this, the house often gets limited to the label of “health/service/work” and nothing beyond that.  It’s so easy to simplify things to the point of forgetting their true value. Trust me, I did it too! And I would have kept doing it, if I didn’t just get kicked in the butt.

As some of you may know, I’m graduating from college in December. Naturally, I’ve begun looking to the career houses (2^nd, 6^th, and the 10^th)for any clues about what path I should take and the path I’ve been taking.  For the past two years, my Progressed Moon (timing) had been transiting my 6^th house, so I spent a lot of my time focusing on “jobs” that would look good on my resume.  My natal 6^th house ruler, Venus, not only rules “health/work/service” but it also rules my 5^th house (Fun! Fun! Fun!) and my 10^th house (careers).  I figured the jobs I applied for and accepted, as well as the hobbies I embraced in my free time would help me launch that “dream career” I’ve always wanted.

Or so I thought.  The Progressed Moon has just left my 6^th house, and I’m no longer interested in that “dream” career.  Why?  Because it was never my dream.  This horrible, yet awakening epiphany forced me to look up the word “vocation” (another 6^th house term) on Wikipedia (clearly, the best source for information…).  Lo and behold, what I found knocked me backwards.

Definition per Wiki: A vocation, Latin for “calling”, is a term for an occupation to which a person is specially drawn or for which they are suited, trained or qualified.

Whaaat?   How could I not see it before?   I shouldn’t be looking for “jobs”, I should be looking for my “calling”.  My skills, my gifts, my talents. That’s what I should be using to fuel my job search, not the need to work (6^th), earn money (2^nd) and make a powerful career (10^th).

Needless to say, my job search has just flipped on its face.  I feel like I’m back at zero, and I think I need to remind myself that I’m okay with that. Some people have solid 6^th houses which allow them to clearly define what they could ‘excel’ at in life.  My 6^th house, like everything else about me, is as complicated as it can get.  At the very least,  this can make for an interesting post grad adventure.  In my next post, I’m going to analyze the possibilities and see where it leads me.

Until then,

Erika Alana <3

When Astrology DOESN’T Work

As far back as I can …research… every major event in my life has been synonymous with a transiting aspect to my natal Uranus. For the past 2 years, transiting Uranus has been square my natal Uranus…making this fact even more plausible as the trigger is extremely sensitive. Don’t believe me?

When I graduated high school, 19’ degrees Sagittarius was rising. The Ascendant of the Graduation event was conjunct my natal Uranus at 19’ Sagittarius. At the same time, the transiting Sun, Moon, Mercury, and Venus were all forming oppositions within tight orbs. Transiting Pluto was exactly conjunct my Uranus and the event Ascendant at 19’ Sagittarius as well.

When I ended a 3 year relationship with a guy who had 3 of his personal planets within 14-19 degrees Sagittarius, the transiting Sun and Uranus were both square my natal Uranus.  Transiting Mars was exactly opposite at 19’ Gemini, and transiting Jupiter and Pluto were sandwiching my Uranus between them. I planned to marry the guy, and the break up completely overhauled every life plan I’d had. This was definitely for the better (Jupiter (benefits), Pluto (extremes)).

So long story short, Uranus activations have always been around when something major goes down in my life. Everyone has these; they’re called “triggers”. Some of us have may even have more than one (I have 3!);  it really all depends on one’s chart.

This time around, however, I find myself looking not for the aspect, but for the results.   Granted, astrology doesn’t cause events, but with my track record, I expected to see something.

So what happened,  you ask? *Shrug*   Transiting Mars opposite my Uranus happened.   It came and went–   no catastrophes, no accidents, no break ups or make ups,  nothing. I was really busy and a lot more honest—unusually so. That’s about it.

Sometimes people think that just because an aspect is happening, they should expect results a, b, and possibly c, to unfold before their eyes…but sometimes it just doesn’t happen.   Life can’t be predicted, if it could, no one would ever get sick, no one would ever have problems, it would probably be pure communism, because what’s the point? There’s no need to strive for anything because you already know how it’s going to turn out. Life just doesn’t work that way!

And astrology doesn’t either. So this is just another one of those blog entries everyone posts to kick all the astro-fanatics in the butt and bring them back down to reality (just a LITTLE bit). If you see a transit coming, don’t freak about about it. There’s only so much you can do. Free will makes up like 89% of this stuff anyway. Don’t stay in this weekend because Mars is transiting over your Pluto.  Don’t go buy a shirt two sizes too small just because Venus is transiting your Ascendant.

Let life happen as it may, you win some & you lose some. Nothing is perfect…and neither is astrology.  The sooner we all learn that, the better.

Until the message gets through,

Erika Alana <3

Dropping in…

CHRIST! I’ve been so busy.  However, I guess that’s the price you pay for hard work.

Anywho,  yea, a lot has happened in the past month and I’ve not had much time to stop by here and fill you all in.  I promise I’ll come back with a bang later today.

I have about 2 or 3 posts I wanna make on here, maybe a post or two on the Chubby ‘n Fabulous blog, and then another post on my newest blog, Sitting Up Straight.  Forgive me, I’m working on a crazy novel that is consuming all my time, as well as an internship paper, and an article for the school newsletter. My brain is spinning but I promise I’ll be back in full swing in no time!

Until then,

Erika Alana <3

Entrepreneurship…Smantrapreneurship??

It’s a big deal starting your own business.  It’s absolutely terrifying.  Which is exactly why I’ve put it off for so long.  Contrary to what you may have heard, Scorpios are more easily frightened than you think–   at least this one was.

This is all so very new to me.  Not the astrology aspect, but the entrepreneurship concept.  I’m a consumer–  not a producer.  That was always my relationship with the world:  take, take, take, and never give anything back.

Well, as Pluto aligns with my natal Neptune and the transiting Jupiter/Neptune/Chiron conjunction straddles my 3^rd house cusp, I think its time I do something about it.  I’m learning lessons of sacrifice (SELF sacrifice—the conjunction is in my 1^st house of the self) and find out all the good and bad aspects of my true nature.   It’s high time I integrate the messages from above with the will deep within.  The path is lit for me and for the first time in my life, I intend on following it.

All that jargon aside, I’ve opened an Etsy account and I currently in negotiations of setting up an astrology consultation business.  So, keep your eyes open, because pretty soon I’m going to get this ball rolling, and you’re invited to join me in the endless quest for self-knowledge and understanding!

Until then,

Erika Alana <3

“Hi, I’m soooo Pluto! Who are you?”

If you’ve ever been lucky enough to stumble upon an astrology forum (my preference is Lindaland), you’ll find a peculiar trend unfold before your eyes.  Some person– a newbie, a regular, a troll, or a seasoned vet will create the infamous thread that gets everyone going.  The Pluto thread.

I don’t know what it is; it must be similar in logic to that of the high school concept.

You have your popular kids (Venus and Jupiter)

Your athletes (Sun and Mars)

Your smart kids (Mercury)

Your weirdos (Uranus)

Your “nice” girls/guys (Moon)

Your super-mature, too-old-for-high-school  kids (Saturn)

Your druggies (Neptune)

And then you’ve got THAT kid.  The one that doesn’t fit in, and doesn’t try to.  But he’s not like the weirdos in that he just stands out on purpose.  No, this kid is different.

He’s different because he could be popular Monday, an athlete by Wednesday, a druggie by Thursday afternoon, and by Saturday morning he’s in a study session with the smart kids.  Regardless of what’s he’s doing, he’s doing it well. He kicks butt at everything, but makes it look so easy.  He’s doing it because he can, and when he’s done.  He’s done. No one messes with him because for a guy that’s THAT good, you can only assume he’s equally as good at beating the crap out of you.

In many ways, it is the stereotypical “bad boy/girl” type.  When they “apply” themselves (I’ve never liked that term, a favorite amongst parents and teachers), they make the earth crumble under the sheer weight of their incredible willpower.  Most often though, they don’t.  Pluto by nature is the farthest removed from the solar system, so its universal awareness is the farthest from our conscious.  In Layman’s terms:   Most people don’t know a thing about Pluto because he does his dirty work so far away from where we function.

It’s like you live in a neighborhood.  Your house is the Sun.  The Moon is your ultimate best friend, she lives next door and is very busy, yet you still make time to hang out. Your other good friends who come over for coffee, gossip, and shopping trips are Mercury and Venus.  Mars is the guy a couple houses down; your husband plays basketball with.  Jupiter is that guy with the biggest house on the street who hosts all the neighborhood-wide barbecues, and lets all the kids swim in his pool.  Saturn is the old couple who has lived there for years and resents all the young people cramping their style.  Uranus is the neighborhood creeper, he can fix all your tools and yard equipment but you’d never invite him over because “you don’t know him like that”.  Neptune is the neighborhood charity case, you don’t know him/her personally, but you’ve heard so much about them in gossip that when you see them, you feel kind of guilty.  And Pluto?

Who the heck is Pluto?  Oh, that burned down house at the end of the road?  That was his. But who was he? And when did his house burn down?  And where did he go? You’ve never met him, or heard much about him.  You know he was there at some point, because his house still stands—destroyed and desolate.  You just don’t know anything else.

And that’s how Pluto works in relation to other planets.  We know that something is there, lying beneath; we just don’t know anything about it.  And most of us, if you’re smart (much unlike me); don’t want to do any digging to find out.

The only time we find out about Pluto is when he comes knocking on your doorstep, or when a personal planet or angle is transited, usually by hard aspect (conjunction, opposition, square).

So why would people then, be dying to affiliate with that guy? You’d think they’d jump to be aligned with Venus, representative of beaut, charm, and wealth. Or Mars, for strength or will. Or even Uranus, for its originality and independence.

I think it’s because deep down people want to know; they want to know Pluto, they want to be able to say “Hey, I knew that guy really well before his house burned down, it’s a pity what happened to him…” they want to understand those forces within us that challenge our will and desire to survive.  Most people aren’t willing to do the dirty work, so by listing off a million Pluto aspects, they think they’ve earned themselves some kind of badge that proclaims their “man/womanhood”. As if to say: “Don’t mess with me, I’ve been there, and I understand something you don’t”.

It annoys me because most of these people say things like “Oh I have Neptune sextile my Pluto in the 9^th house, so life has been really hard”.   Fair statement:   but why? Chances are- everyone born within 5 years of you has Neptune sextile Pluto.  And if there are only 12 houses that these planets can fall into, I’m not good at math, but chances are that Pluto in the 9^th house isn’t that unique. It becomes unique through life experience, it becomes unique when you’re able to identify this aspect manifesting in real life; THAT is how you use astrology.

Nobody’s Angel: The Uranus/Chiron curse

So, tossing the advice of a friend to the wind, I’ve decided to blaze a new trail with this blogging thing. I’m going back to writing about whatever I want, the intro series is over (sorry guys!). No hard feelings to anyone; it’s just that my passion for astrology comes from the research, not the textbooks. Call it a Uranus/Chiron curse– I sure do.

What the heck is that? Is it just some lame way of saying that she’s too cool?

Not at all. I was born with shocking and unpredictable Uranus in Sagittarius snuggling up to my Ascendant. What do we know about Uranus in Sagittarius? Well, we know he can’t commit, walks barefoot year round, and prefers a triple cheeseburger over the filet. But we also know that Uranus is the archetype symbolizing rebellion, change, and visionary-ism (that’s SO not a word). The Ascendant, like rose colored glasses without the …rose (who came up with that anyway?!), represents our outlook on life.

Put simply: Don’t rely on me for anything but a good time. Then we throw Chiron (recurring problems) in the mix and lo and behold, we’re cooking up spicy, unusual, tough-as-nails, wild-woman cocktail on the rocks.

I can’t keep my feet on the ground long enough to teach the basics of this stuff. I got Neptune and Uranus funking up my “glasses” with psychedelic, kaleidoscope colors, Jupiter stretching my thoughts beyond the limits of human understanding in my 3^rd house, Chiron giving me beef with everyone I meet (7^th house), and Mercury & Saturn in the cosmic wastebasket (12^th house) where they’re no good to anyone.

All these practical jokes fate has played on my chart combine to make one nasty astro-drink, that should be banned in all 50 states! But practical joke or not, those of you who share the Uranus/Chiron opposition know what I’m talking about.

It’s as if you are seesaw in the realm of self and others. At one end is Uranus, determined to do what HE wants, listening to no one; no matter the costs. And at the other sits Chiron, sensitive and wise, trying to help and heal everyone that crosses his path. It’s a constant tug of war between and I WANNA BE ME!!! and Love thy neighbor…..

But how do we strike a balance? Integrate, integrate, integrate! Be 100% true to yourself, but don’t lose your compassion and sympathy for others in the process. And make yourself available to aid the suffering of others, but take care against letting them run your life.

Like this blog, which I have fully regained custody of (wahoo!), you’ll feel rejuvenated, liberated, and all other -ateds when you do finally reach that magical point!

Until then, blessings to all and good luck!

-Erika Alana <3

In like a lion…

I figured this is the perfect month to introduce everything Leo, seeing how March certainly stormed in “like a lion” this year…and isn’t quitting anytime soon.  Much like Leos themselves, who are born with a fierce determination and unbending will, we’ve had days of soothing warmth followed by an unpredictable chill.   I used to think there was a method to meteorology, however, as the week drones on and the weather gets more psycho–  I’m starting to wonder if science has thrown the rulebook out the window and meteorology is just doing whatever the heck  it wants.

I know what you’re thinking;  “What does this have to do with Leos?”  Well, what is Leo but the sign of self-expression!  Leo, like the lion who rules the jungle, is the monarch of the zodiac;  marching to its own tune and blazing trails with unbelievable self-confidence.  But do not mistake this boisterous sign for rebellious,  Leos are all about respect and as long as you give it, they will bask in the light of your authority, no questions asked.

 

A sign that represents the natural born entertainer;  Leos often experience life as one big drama after another, in which they (and ONLY they) are the star.  Because of this, they often get stereotyped as selfish and unconcerned with anyone’s needs but their own.  Having a Leo Moon myself, I can assure you this is a false assumption and a terribly frequent misconception. 

There’s a grave difference between selfishness and Leonine self focus.  One who is selfish habitually places their needs and desires before those of anyone else, no matter the circumstance.   Leo by nature is one of the most generous signs in the zodiac, thriving from extravagance and receiving joy from sharing it with others.  The Leonine self focus comes from Leo’s governance by the Sun, planet of the self.   Leo is constantly trying to discover exactly where they fit in their world so they can adapt to their surroundings and make the best of what they’ve got (Leo rules natural creativity).   Due to this habit,  they tend to place themselves in the center of everything, in an attempt to relate it back to themselves in order to grow and reach full potential.

 At the most basic level, any planet placed in Leo functions “loudly and proudly” and needs attention, respect, and admiration to flourish.  Though they may strut with more confidence than Mufasa himself,  inside every Leo is a kitten just waiting to be stroked.   They are creatures thirsty for love and desperately seek it at all costs.

Physically,  Leo tends to be associated with thick and healthy hair that grows quickly and often low upon the neck.  The hair may be full and quite radiant.  Leo Ascendants,  those with the Sun close to the Ascendant, or in the 1st house tend to have ruddy complexion, be of average stature, and often have strong upper bodies, especially the shoulder region.  The forehead is broad, and often, the individual will have a “widow’s peak”.  The rest of the chart can and will greatly modify this, however, so it’s always best to check all aspects and placements.

An ambitious, confident, and optimistic sign, wherever Leo falls in the natal chart shows an area of our life where we are proud and can best express ourselves naturally.  These are areas that bring us great joy, but can also be our downfall through hubris and arrogance.  Check your natal chart at http://www.astro.com  to find out where Leo sits in your chart and where you can “shine”.

• Element:  Fire
• Modality:  Fixed
• Ruler:  Sun
• House:  5th house
• Colors:  Gold, Yellow, Orange, Reds…sunrise/sunset colors
• Associations:  drama, confidence, rubies, gold, romance, pomposity, generosity, showing off, faithfulness, love, enthusiasm, optimism, impressiveness, creativity, children, men, entertainment, the theatre, actors and actresses, blondes, goldenrod, the back, heart, spine, sunflowers, marigolds, palm trees, citrus trees, saffron, cats, extravagance

Stay tuned, because in the next post I will explain how each planet reacts when it funkies its way through “le grande constellation Lion” (The South of France is a “Leo” region!)  and just how it impacts our lives for better or for worse!!

–Until then,

Au revior <3

By the grace of Virgo:

I have returned! I haven’t been back here in what feels like ages! I apologize to my readers, life can get so hectic sometimes you just don’t know what to do. Leave it to the Moon in Virgo transiting my Jupiter and Saturn to make me get up off my butt and get back into the swing of things.

The Moon in Virgo is an interesting placement for the Moon, by the way. if you recall from that previous post where I gave a basic rundown of how to put this astro-babble together, I stated that the Moon represents basic needs, instincts, and habits. The Moon when transiting (present placement in the cosmos) influences our general mood that day, depending on its relation to your natal chart. This is why Sun sign Virgos can get quite emotional or self-focused on days like these, and why a person with Mercury and Mars in Virgo may feel the need to tell you what they really think.

Virgo is arguably the most complex sign in the zodiac (calm down, Scorpios, I said ‘arguably’). Represented by the virginal maiden, this sign embodies themes of health, duty, and service to others. Those with significant Virgo placements are often known for their perfectionism, modesty (bordering on shyness), helpfulness, attention to detail, and their sharp analytical talents. They possess a clear and simple intellect that often appears far less complex than one would imagine.

On days when the Moon is tiptoeing through Virgo, the collective is tempered with a mild sense of duty and a need to dissect and criticize their actions for what they really are. If you’re like me, you may fret over small details you may have missed, or may consciously reconsider that second helping at dinner. If you were born with the Moon in Virgo, you’ll probably be having a relatively good day, as the energies of the universe are working in your favor, making you feel “in your element” so to speak. By converse affect, if you were born with the Moon in Pisces, Sagittarius, or Gemini, you may be feeling a bit more scatterbrained and disorganized than usual.

Either way, this is a good day to take those bills out of the drawer and recount last month’s credit transactions. It’s also a good day to take a walk and burn off the extra cheese from this morning’s breakfast sandwich. Check where Virgo falls in your chart at http://www.astro.com to get an idea of where a little extra detail will do you some good!

So… how do I make sense of this crazy stuff?

I briefly mentioned before how all this crazy stuff works, however, I felt like posting because it can all get very confusing. Planets, signs, houses, and aspects are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to astrology. Most people don’t know anything beyond their Sun sign, which only scrapes maybe 3.6% of the surface. Some get lucky when they read their horoscope because they find it to be extremely accurate; others abandon astrology because most of their reports have been a shot in the dark.

Astrology DOES work. How do I know? How does anyone know anything? It just does. And I can prove it– sort of. That’s what this blog is all about, isn’t it?

I’m going to bring it all back to basics. This week is designated to be SUN week. Everything about the brilliant “planet”, from its basic representations, to the 5th house and those fabulous little Leos themselves. I know I already posted about the basics of the SUN, however, I want to just give a little guideline on how all of this “stuff” works.

Once you understand the basics, it’s like riding a bike. Everything else will fall in place, but you need to understand how to put everything together first.

There are 10 planets: The Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Obviously, the Sun and Moon aren’t literal “planets”, but in astrology they are given equal, if not more, importance than the other 8.

Planets are concerned with “what” or “functions”. I mentioned in the previous post that planets represent a basic concept. Below I’ve listed the 10 planets and their basic associations:

Sun: Ego, character, individuality. The Sun represents self-expression and who you are at heart. The Sun rules the sign Leo, and is the natural ruler of the 5th house.

Moon: Emotions, habits, basic instincts, and needs. The Moon rules the sign Cancer, and is the natural ruler of the 4th house.

Mercury: Communication, mental and reasoning ability. Mercury rules the signs Gemini and Virgo, and is the natural ruler of the 3rd and 6th houses.

Venus: Our desires, love and affection, beauty, and also finances, possessions, and values. Venus rules the signs Taurus and Libra, and is the natural ruler of the 2nd and 7th houses.

Mars: Energy, assertion, and motivation. Mars represents action. Mars rules the sign Aries, and is the natural of the 1st house.

Jupiter: Growth, expansion, optimism, and opportunity. Jupiter rules the sign Sagittarius, and is the natural ruler of the 9^th house.

Saturn: Limitations, fears, restrictions, obstacles, and caution. Saturn is the ruler of the sign Capricorn, and is the natural ruler of the 10^th house.

Uranus: Freedom, originality, and rebellion. Uranus is the ruler of the sign Aquarius, and is the natural ruler of the 11^th house.

Neptune: Dreams, imagination, and spirituality. Neptune is the ruler of Pisces, and is the natural ruler of the 12^th house.

Pluto: Extremes, obsessions, sex, death, and transformation. Pluto is the ruler of Scorpio, and is the natural ruler of the 8^th house.

Once you understand the basic concepts, it’ll become easier to make sense of HOW they work. Since this week is Sun week, I’m going to be focusing on the Sun and its influence by sign, house, and aspect.

Expose: THE SUN

Hey baby, what’s your sign?

I know you’ve all heard this one before. How could you not? Pop astrology boasts that the day you’re born defines you through and through, and that if you should ever run into a feisty Aries or a kind-hearted Cancer at the bar, you should thank your lucky stars-you’ve found THE one!

I wish it were that easy… Astrologically, the Sun is one of the 3 major parts that defines the individuality of a person, but that’s where it ends. The Sun represents our ego, self-expression, individuality, as well as our vitality. If it helps, I always tell people to think of yourself when you get up in the morning. You’re planning out your day and what you’re going to wear. You make your way into the bathroom and begin to undress. Staring at yourself in the mirror, the “big three” breaks down like so:

The Ascendant (which I will get into later) = the clothes we choose to wear

The Moon (which I will ALSO tackle later) = how we feel about ourselves and our appearance

The Sun = the naked body

In many ways, the Sun is what’s underneath the mask of the Ascendant. It is the true self– our purest sense of individuality and self-concept. Remembering how planets, signs, and houses work; it can be said that the Sun itself is a “what”. The planet will always be the “what”, or the most basic concept. The Sun’s most basic concept is expression.

For example, in the chart to the left, the Sun is in Aries. The sign is representative of energy, or HOW we execute the basic concept. The energy associated with Aries is passionate, ardent, direct, and at times, forceful. When the Sun (expression) transits through the sign Aries (energy/direct), we get assertive self-expression. Those born with the Sun in Aries generally have great reserves of energy; they are active, honest, and quite fearless when it comes to accomplishing a goal. They can be quite competitive and forceful at times, and may need to learn how to slow down and take a breath.

Of course this won’t be the case with every individual born with the Sun in Aries. The Sun sign influence will be heavily modified by aspects, house placement, and even by the condition of Mars (natural ruler of Aries) and its condition in the chart. However, the basic example provided gives an idea of just how the Sun sign truly works. It won’t secure you a date with the looker at the bar (that’s Venus’ area of expertise), but it will help determine if the person you’re talking to is at least 33% interested.