Bruddah and his story pinned with safey pins

Listen to the recording of my story of Bruddah David Calizar Jr.

Uranus-Mars-Pluto: Rebellious Change in Old Age

The outer planets (Uranus, Pluto, Saturn, Jupiter) travel the sky in orbit around Earth in slower lanes with longer lasting affect on each and every one of us (collective energy). The personal planets, the ones closer to Earth (Mercury, Venus, Mars) move more quickly, but have a markedly personal effect on us individually. Uranus squares Pluto in a transit to my 3rd House (Communication and Siblings/Neighbors) and 12th House (Deep emotions, secrets). Uranus is also in a long square transit with my Ascendent (The way one appears). It is possible I could make a rebellious change to the way I communicate, and appear to others. My astrologer gave two bits of advice, and two seemingly different stories, to describe how one could handle personally acting out (Mars) in rebellion (Uranus). In Elsa's Newsletter, "this is going to be my new picture. If you don't like it, the unsub link is at the bottom of this mail. USE IT. As for the astrology, Uranus is opposing Mars, exact today. Consider this to be my rebellious challenge.  You may be staging one yourself!" Elsa's photo? Frankenstein. I wrote back to my astrologer and said I could relate too closely, and sent her the photo of the elder Annie Oakley pictured above as the one I would like to use. Will I? In response to that question I read, and commented on Elsa's second bit of advice, in her post today. "I have conjunct Saturn-Mars, and Pluto in Leo. I suppose all that Capricorn, plus a Capricorn Moon has tamped down (most) of the outrageous activity in my life. Has it all been for my best good? I wonder sometimes whether that outrage must sometime surface anyway! I suggested, in response to Elsa’s Newsletter today, that my updated avatar would be Old Annie Oakley … gray, cool, smilin’ and tottin’ her rifle!"

I was drawn into a neighborhood circus that could easily turn me into a gun tott'n Old Annie Oakley. But as my husband said on his way out, "Now you see what I've been faced with ... for a long time. You could go on and on. And get more pissed about it. I just let it go, and talk to you about it." So I took the bait, get involved as Agent of Change, only to experience the neighborhood circus. I do have LOTS of Saturn and Capricorn, and if, and when, I do cross the line, the reputation and my karma demand a lot from me. It's really not worth the price for the power struggle. I was advised many years ago to keep no fire arms in my home, or in my hands. It's advise I heed, but, I something I DO feel Annie's rifle.

So what's an Old Annie Oakley Wannabe to do? Write stories, thresh about at the Gates and put that gun down!

Are you staging a personal rebellion today? Here's what I did.

Inspired to free myself up, I watched this DIY Short Hair Bob Cut, and LIGHTENED UP! I feel great.

The threshing work: when one opens the gates of initiation

The ritual work and daily initiations that are what the makua o'o practices become more fully felt thanks to the guidance of unexpected strangers, and teachers. I have written more about that here, where the Eight Gates of Wisdom await.  Are there others of you who are doing the threshold work?

When less is more ... Pluto transits (my) 12th House

"Pluto strips away things you don’t need…boils it all down to what is essential." - Elsa Panizzon

The longest day and the most light has come to the northern hemisphere; the time of light is big. Traditional People have long known the Summer Solstice (yesterday) is a great time for ceremony. Ceremony marks an event. We walked down the hill and through the woods to join our neighbors for a Solstice last night, shared food, talked of dis and dat, and I met a new person. But, in the main, my energy has turned even more internal as Pluto transits my 12th House (death and endings) and is in close proximity (conjuncts) to my natal moon  My emotions are deep, and burdensome. When I do communicate (write or talk) it's about deep stuff, and the period of mourning for my brother adds to the heft of the journey.

A little goes a long way. I don't need a lot of extra but what I do need must be authentic, deeply relevant, and supportive. Give or get out of my way! A little piece of delicious pound cake, PLEASE!
The Plutonic energy lasts through 2015, there is little ease about it. My son and I have created, and sent through the mail, a eulogy and commemoration for my brother. It was a collaboration of depth compressed (Plutonic) onto a DVD with small cards stuck with safety pins. The sentiment recorded into digital bits and the symbolism of safety pins is an offering of all that is good.

Yesterday while out thinking I would shop for coconut macaroons dipped in dark chocolate (yum) I discovered the macaroon-makers took the day off. Oh no ... I know, what a disappointment. Fate had other things in mind. There's a wonderful garden center near the Saturday Farmer's Market, so I took myself there when I found my lust for chocolate and coconut would be unsatisfied. There I found a purple flowering bush that I have not seen since my brother and I were little kids growing up on O'ahu in Hawaii. The purple hibiscus grew in a time when we were younger. In the used to be times. Rather than a bag (or two)  of four confectionery I purchased a large Rose of Sharon to remember the 'used to be times.' My Pluto in the 12th House of Capricorn was deeply touched. My emotions were high. Others didn't see, nor understand the heavy import of that purchase, and there were clashes, small and large, over the Rose of Sharon. Residual damage remains. Pluto strikes deep and differently for everyone. I don't know how all this Pluto action will turn out, but I do have a pot of purple hibiscus and no chocolate dipped coconut macaroons.

What is less? What is more? Satori had something to answer this ... it's about being in the groove. She squeezed a lot of good out of the sky (astrology) and made me smile. She can do that, bless her!

Full Moon in Sagittarius, tonight, June 12, 2014

"Go home and re-dream our lives again." - Angeles Arrien

Tonight, the Full Moon in Sagittarius is closely aligned with Chiron. Read one more 'Grateful Today' post on The Safety Pin Cafe. 

Venus in Taurus opposes Saturn in Scorpio, June 12, 2014

"The Taurus-Scorpio opposition is exactly where my North-South Nodal Axis sits natally. It’s a powerful time for me as I grieve my brother’s death, write and record his eulogy, and experience what comes when one weighs up a lifetime of knowing, loving and losing. What counts? In the end … it is all about how well I have learned to love, and be loved.-my comment on Elsa Elsa's blog post  Venus Opposing Saturn, tomorrow, June 12, 2014

How did the Logitech USB Headset H390 bridge technology, astrology and a path with heart during the time of Venus in Taurus opposing Saturn in Scorpio? Read about it here.

"Good grief" working with the energy of a Trickster Moon Cycle; Maui Hawaiian 'Superman'

I am writing about the process of grief, and the loss of my brother, to make my way through the many feelings and confusion. Astrology gives me a rope to hold to as I flail against the bowl as grief, sadness, anger, guilt, alternately boil up. But sometimes all emotions simmer me like soup slow and long. This post on the Gemini, Trickster Moon, helped to see how the collective energy in general is tricky add to that my personal grief work and there it is "Oh, Good Grief!" Schultz's Charlie Brown says it all with his expression of resignation ... yes, resignation not acceptance. For that character was never what I'd call P.C. Charlie Brown is every man and every woman whose known life includes a lot of the G word.

Dietrich Varez's woodcut 'Maui Snares the Sun'

My good friend, and medicine woman had lunch the other day. It was the first time I had gotten out and needed the comfort and company of a compassionate mirror. We talked of many things, and approached the subject of grief from several angles, but in particular it is the mystical perspective that we can share that does me such good. Mystical and indigenous perspectives look at the Trickster as the one who will point out the attachments we have: to ideas, beliefs, ways of shoulds. At one point my friend related a story that exemplified Tricksters unpredictable antics. Much chaos could come from the Trickster. In talking about the role of Coyote-Trickster-and my brother who is among the clan, I thought of Maui in my own Hawaiian mythology. The Hawaiian Superman who snared the sun so his mother, Hina (the moon) could dry her kapa (bark cloth). I considered the untapped energy that Tricksters can have when they shed their skins during the movement from physical to spirit form. We talked about how often I feel my brother's presence in pointing me in unlikely positions. I remember how he turned me upside down one day when I had chicken bones stuck in my throat. He took action. He probably saved me life.

The grief work I experience now is messy, often, more messy than is elegant. But I am not trying to describe grief as elegant. Instead, I find some grounding in experiencing the grace and grateful responsiveness to grief. I take a lesson from this quote from St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, "Let us learn to skillfully draw good out of what would otherwise cause us harm." I am slogging through the experience of Good Grief, by writing grateful posts at The Safety Pin Cafe. It seems a perfect way to more firmly establish just what that cafe is all about. You might like to see what I mean by going there. In the right hands, in the right place, a safety pin is common magic at its best.