Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will… (as tweeted by @womenshealthmag

The other night I did a reading with a wonderfully switched on client who has some seriously exciting Uranus transits ahead- including a conjunction with the Midheaven, or career zone.

The concept we spoke about was

What would you do if there was no chance of failure, and nothing to lose?

This question is usually followed by an answer that (rightly so) lists financial considerations as a blockage. But not this client.

So I asked the question yesterday on my Facebook Fan page- and got some great answers. I’d added the proviso- if resources were not an issue.

The thing is, as one reader pointed out, very often resources are (rightly so) an excuse that stops us from doing what we want to be doing, but the real obstacle is fear.

• Fear of failure
• Fear of discomfort
• Fear of rejection
• Fear of success (yes, really)
• Fear of disappointment
• Fear of abandonment
• Fear of ridicule
• Fear of exclusion

Do you want me to keep going?

The thing about fears is that we all have them- but usually try to avoid them. The other thing about fears is the longer we avoid them or ignore them, the bigger and hairier and nastier and uglier they get.

This is all Uranus/Sun stuff. Uranus is our quest for freedom, individuality, authenticity, to live life unedited and without apology.  The Sun is the ego. The Sun needs people around to approve the choice, provide the dancing girls and hallelujah chorus when all goes well, and the excuses when it doesn’t.

When you listen to Uranus you risk disapproval. When you listen solely to the Sun you risk losing yourself.

This is one of the reasons Leo is misunderstood. We see Leo standing proudly under the lights in centre stage. What we don’t see is the insecurity behind the façade- the lion from the Wizard of Oz who wishes for the courage to lead and be the real King of Beasts.

It’s that leonine pride that often is the downfall of Leo- a fear of failing…or of being seen to fail.

Both Aquarius and Leo (the signs spot lighted in this Full Moon) are fixed signs. The ego is fixed and ideas are fixed. The balance point is somewhere in between…in a place of self love and acceptance.

Tomorrows Full Moon (at 7 Leo 24’) falls in the 5^th house for me- spotlighting 5^th/11^th house issues. In my case it is my creative expression vs my hopes and dreams. In order to achieve my hopes and dreams I have to face the things my ego is most afraid of in order to shine.

My stumbling block has always been a general fear of rejection- I don’t like to put myself out there…in case any of the stuff listed above happens. My Pisces Mercury (actually, all of my Pisces planets) doesn’t like to put herself out there. I’ll sit on my arse and wait for an invitation- and even then will curl up into a little ball at the nanoest of nanograms of even potential rejection.

This Full Moon forms a quincunx (or inconjunct) to that Mercury (and exact squares to the nodes). Quincunxes (don’t say it fast or under the influence) are like a blockage in the sewerage pipe of life. You need an almighty great plunger to clear it- and then the water can flow free. The quincunx heralds a change or a move to a new situation- whether you are ready for it or not.

The squares to the nodes basically says I can either go the easy way (to South Node in Scorpio) and hang onto my fears, or move forward. Moving towards the North Node is uncomfortable, but ultimately rewarding.

Completing a T square to this Full Moon is Saturn in Scorpio, representing the fixed fears and paranoia we’ve been talking about.

As always, when we see a T square, we look for a release point- in the case of this Full Moon we have two- Uranus, and a Jupiter who is champing at the bit to move forward. The Sun is sextile Uranus and trine Jupiter, while the Moon is sextile Jupiter and trine Uranus. Opportunities abound to do something about whatever it is that is stopping you from shining.

Leo is aligned with the 5^th house, with play, creativity, self-expression and the inner child. In this whirl of modern living it is that inner child which is forgotten- if indeed he/she ever really existed. It is that inner child that is drowned out by all the authority figures telling us what it is that we should be doing, what we should be wearing, who we should be seeing etc.

Think about this honestly- when was the last time that you let yourself have fun- simply because you really wanted to? Guilt free, fuss free, judgement free, responsibility free fun?

What about this one- when was the last time you picked up your hobby, and I don’t mean planted your bum on the lounge and watched a game on the TV? By hobby, I mean something that allows you to creatively express yourself. We all have a 5^th house, and we all have something that is creative if we could only give ourselves permission to indulge in it.

So, this Full Moon, I’d like you to do two things for me:

• Confront a fear- look it square in the eyes, shine a torch on it and laugh at it.
• Do something creative or fun. Anything. If you’re writing, don’t edit yourself. If you’re painting, let the colours happen. If you’re designing, see what shapes emerge. No judgement.

NEW ZEALAND: 5.38pm, January 27

SYDNEY: 3.38pm, January 27


WEST COAST AUS, SE ASIA: 12.38pm, January 27

LONDON: 4.38am, January 27


NEW YORK: 11.38pm, January 26

LOS ANGELES: 8.38pm, January 26

Oh, and the song? An oldie by Vanessa Amorosi Shine.

wattle

New Moons are always pretty special. Part of this is because for those couple of days before, the sky is pitch dark. There is no light. Things are ending and they’re ending there in the dark behind the blackness. Past where you can see.

I’ll let you in on a little secret- I’m scared of the dark. But it’s more than dark, it’s about what’s out there or under there or in there- the things I can’t see and therefore can’t know about that I’m scared of.

When I was younger, probably about the same age as Miss 14 is now, or perhaps a little older, my family used to holiday on Greenmount Beach at Coolangatta on Queensland’s Gold Coast. Every year Mum & Dad would pile all of us in the car for the long journey and every year we would stay at this old fibro Queenslander right on the beach. Dad used to throw his flip flops at the cockroaches. Of course it’s gone now….

Anyways, in those days I used to swim the length of the beach before breakfast, out there past the breakers. The ocean didn’t scare me, but what I couldn’t see under me in the dark water did. Every time I was out there, I was trying to beat my own fears.

These days what I am scared of gets pushed away or under the carpet as I pop my fingers in my ears and do the whole lalalalalala not listening thing.

But these few days before the New Moon are the best time for banishing fears and things we no longer have uses for. Whether it is ideas, habits, stuff in your head that shouldn’t be there. Hopefully you’ve done this.

The New Moon is like a blackboard just waiting to be written on with a bright highlighter- much like this wattle is brightness here in Aus after the darkness of the winter.

I’ve been writing a lot this week about stages, plays and directions. Some signs are naturally at home behind the curtains, while others van petulantly stamp their beautiful feet and demand their rightful spot just there- centre stage, under the spotlight and with the best lines.

This is Leo. Normally. Sure we all know some Leos who, for whatever reason, may lurk around the edges rather than be front and centre, but at the heart of all Leo is a need to express. Talents, passions, voice- all require you take risks…all require a great big, brave heart.

In the body, Leo rules the heart- both physically and energetically. In nature, Leo is the King. In the Wizard of Oz, he was looking for courage. But above all, he wants to feel proud. Not necessarily flamboyant, but just proud.

The Leo New Moon is, therefore, the most creative of new starts. Leo, ruled by the Sun, is about ego, self expression, creativity. Given the Sun’s propensity to send out its’ warmth, Leo is also arguably the most generous sign. Leo is the Sun and the Sun is the hero.

With Leo, though, the fear of potential exposure of something coming out from the dark or grabbing your leg when swimming is never that far away… metaphorically speaking. Leo’s challenge is to find heart, strength and courage without losing himself in the process.

In any case, at this New Moon, supportive links from Mars and Saturn provide the opportunity for you to have a practical look at who you should be taking on this journey with you.

OK, the technical details. This New Moon is at 25 Leo 8’, so those most impacted will be Leo, Aquarius, Scorpio and Taurus planets at or around, say, 23-27 degrees of those signs. Aries, Gemini, Libra and Sagittarius planets between 24-26 degrees may also feel it. But as with all lunations (that’s a technical astro word for New Moons and Full Moons), the closer the orb the better…well the more likely you will feel it in some way.

Check out where this falls in your chart. It is that part of life where you are being asked to look for courage and strength, but above all self-expression, generosity and creativity. It is where you are being asked to follow your heart and be who you are, not who you should be. There is a difference.

I’ll leave you with this incredible view of the milky way from Mars…

Leo is, after all, also about fun…

I was asked to write this piece months ago- by a regular reader on the Facebook page.

She wanted me to write about the physical characteristics of Scorpios.

When we talk about appearance, though, what we’re talking about is the Ascendant. When we have that inevitable question at a party “so if you’re so clever, tell me what star sign I am?” Inevitably we will get it wrong. At least until we get to know the person- then we will see the Sun.

First things first. Read this with an “all things being equal” mind. Why? Because planets that are in the first house or aspect the ascendant will also have an impact on how you look- and seriously, if I was to go through all of the possible combinations, I’d be here all day- and that won’t help my word count target.

As an example, if you’re lucky enough to have Venus on the Ascendant, it can be like wearing a great big sign on your head “I’m gorgeous”…and you probably will be- even when dressed in a hessian sack.

Jupiter on the Ascendant usually suggests size- either up or out- and bum and legs that can jump high buildings in a single leap…or star in a rap video.

Moon on the Ascendant suggests roundness, lushness, curves.

This differs too between day and night births. Again using Jupiter as an example- day births the body will tend to grow up, and night births grow out. All other things being equal.

Further, if you are a Solar type, ie the Sun in the 1^st and prominent in your chart you may read the Leo spiel and identify with it- regardless of what sign your Ascendant is in. This goes also for Jupiter types and the Sagittarius and Pisces profiles…in fact each planet has a “type”.

In fact, your appearance is likely to be a mix of Rising sign and other types. Eg I’m a Pisces Rising, with the Sun and Moon in the 1st house close to the Ascendant. I have the hair of a solar type and the roundness of a night birth lunar type. Jupiter and Neptune aspect my Ascendant, so they also add to the picture. Get it?

So, before you reject this as  complete guff, have a look at your chart and see what else is happening on and to your Ascendant.

So, to Leo…and Solar types.

First and foremost is the hair. The mane- often of strong colour- eg Jerry Hall, Morgan Fairchild, Debbie Harry.  The hair can resemble a sunburst.

Leo men are particularly sensitive to and about hair loss.  They tend to either keep a full mane  (eg George Michael) or suffer frontal and top balding (eg Bruce Willis).

Leo types are proud of their hair, will look after it, and may decorate it or draw attention to it (or away from it, in the case of baldness) with hats or other accessories. Many Leo Rising men will make a feature of their baldness (eg Bruce Willis) or try to hide it (eg Elton John).

Leo Rising may have a broad, angular face- almost cat-like, with high cheekbones and upwardly slanting eyes. Here nose will have fine and straight lines- like a cats- with slightly flaring nostrils.

The Leo body is of medium height with relatively broad shoulders and narrow hips. Leo rules the heart, so the Leo type will have a well- developed chest and upper back. This description isn’t about bulk, but rather strength and vitality. She will have a slow and regal way of moving.

In fact, when thinking about Leo, you won’t go too wrong to look at a Greek hero statue.

Regardless of the sign that the Sun is in, with a Leo Ascendant, you will have a warm and generally cheerful manner. Leo Rising will look confident, even if she doesn’t always feel it.

She will dress well and enjoy quality. If the Sun is also in Leo, she will enjoy wearing high class brand names and logos…and gold…lots of gold. This is not a sign who will allow herself to be seen in any other situation other than well turned out- not for her the tracksuit and ugg boots to grab a carton of milk from the local shops!

Oh, and the car… or should I say the chariot? Leo likes their ride to be of the same quality as everything else in their lives. All other things being equal.

If you want to know more about astrological body types, check out Judith A Hills’ The Astrological Body Types.  This book was my main source for info. Sasha Fentons’ Rising Signs is also a valuable source.

in numbers too big to ignore…sorry, wrong song. Anyways, here is my latest post for Your Career & the Cosmos…

I posted this last year, but seriously just wanted another excuse to use this photo! So, Mercury in Leo and one I prepared earlier.

Thou goatish rump-fed strumpet!

I was having some fun on Facebook the other day with Shakespearian insults. Lines like the above or this one:

Thy lips rot off!

Or even:

[Thine] face is not worth sunburning.

I could amuse myself with these for ages, but would be avoiding the point of this post which is (insert fanfare and drumroll) Mercury in Leo. But, if you want to duck out of this post now and have some fun with Shakey’s insults, check out this link. Or to make up your own, this link can bring hours of entertainment on a long boring Sunday afternoon. Simply choose one word from each column and add an obligatory “thou art” and you have the perfect, supremely dignified, insult. Thou be-slubbering clapper-clawed fustilarian!

Anyways, Mercury is now in Leo and if you have this placement, communication is not just about getting a message across, it is about “projection” and “self-expression”.  In Leo, Mercury is playful, generous of spirit, flamboyant and dignified. In Leo, Mercury can have a little more fun with words, a little romance with words, even.

Ruled by the Sun, Mercury in Leo is a creative thinker, an ambitious planner and yes, quite possibly even a little boastful. But even when you are in full show off mode, your audience can’t help but be carried away by your warmth and charisma. Think of someone like Bill Clinton (who has Mercury in Leo) in full voice- that absolute and unwavering (dogmatic) confidence was eminently believable- even when you suspected that what he was saying was perhaps not, shall we say, strictly true. With Leo, often the show masks an insecurity or fear of being found out.

A big picture thinker, Mercury in Leo has the eloquent ability to persuade others to follow the same path. When under the spell of the Suns’ rays, it is hard to see anything else or consider any other outcome.

Mercury in Leo can do hearts and flowers, pen a romantic message to the flowers his secretary has ordered and rarely indulges in cheap and tawdry gossip. It isn’t that she thinks that she is above it (even though she probably is), but rather that she is way to generous to enjoy it.

And that isn’t to say that she doesn’t have a temper- she does…of diva proportions. She does, however, prefer to always express herself with dignity. For this reason, even though she does remember past slights and hurts (Mercury in Leo has an excellent memory), she does rate low on the bitch scale and will generally waste no further words or thoughts on the peasant who had the temerity to upset her.

This dignity extends to her vocabulary- Mercury in Leo is rarely heard using the type of language that others may descend to…she is so much more creative than that

Darling, you were wonderful, you really were quite good

I enjoyed it, though, of course, no one understood

A word of what was going on, they didn’t have a clue

They couldn’t understand your sense of humour like I do

You have a certain quality, which really is unique

Expressionless, such irony, although your voice is weak

It doesn’t really matter ’cause the music is so loud

Of course it’s all on tape, but no one will find out…

…And someone said: “It’s fabulous you’re still around today,

You’ve both made such a little go a very long way”

Lyrics from Yesterday When I was Mad by the Pet Shop Boys

Feel like you can identify with this post, but don’t have Mercury in Leo? Perhaps you have Mercury in the 5^th house, or conjunct (or even trine) the Sun….