Dear Friends:

I've been consuming too much news and it is affecting my sanity. As an astrologer, meditator, and wellness practitioner, I understand the need to prioritize my mental health, especially during specific transits. I marked March as the most highly charged month of the year with so much change happening quickly. I made no plans to travel, sign contracts, or undertake anything new or strenuous. So there's that.

However, I have been seeking answers to the chaos and cult of personality(s), in hopes of some relief that someone knows what is going on, and can make sense of it in a way I can understand. I have found reassurance in those fighting to make a difference, in the courageous and educational voices of Yanis Varoufakis and AOC, Bernie Sanders, and David Brooks.

Anything by Starling Arrow has been nourishing and uplifting.

Since the pandemic, I've been sipping news only from my highly curated sources: KUT/NPR, The Economist, and The New Yorker when friends would call something to my attention. I have logged off Facebook, but continue to post on Instagram until I can find another way to keep in touch with friends' events, offers, and insights. I justify/rationalize it by saying I am infusing positivity into the spaces I am consciously engaging in. I'd love to follow your Substack or Patreon. Here's mine. I have downloaded all my content from Meta. Let me know if you'd like to know how to do that.

The high winds in Texas today sound like a freight train with dense dust that can be mistaken for smoke. But inside my beautiful flowers keep me company. My bedside book is "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. I don't want the story to end. I'm with Venus.

What has been your salve in these intensely erratic times?

The Astrology

Mars has been in Cancer, the sign of his “fall” or "debilitation" since September 4, 2024. Mars is the fire energy of action and verve, but in nurturing, sensitive, emotional Cancer, he will only take action to protect his family and loved ones. Otherwise, there has been an aimless, half-hearted, erratic, stalled, false-start-ness flavor to our efforts. All this Pisces energy has added to our fatigue and exhaustion.

Mars entered Leo (Dec. 6 to Jan. 6) before he backtracked into Cancer. (#47 has his natal Mars on his Ascendant in Leo, so you can make the correlation.) Along the way, Mars has already made two tense squares to healing Chiron, who supports our evolution by helping us change our perspective, alchemizing our efforts to heal our wounds as medicine for others.

“Debilitated” Mars squaring the “wounded healer” may have felt like you were being given tests and opportunities to stand in your authentic power, unapologetically. This may have shown up as patterns resurfacing, go-to habits of coping that no longer comforted, or people you hurt or who hurt you, which required hard repairs.

During the eleven-week retrograde, a passion project could have stalled. You might have felt in low-gear, unsure and unmotivated. Perhaps if you read my last newsletter and hopefully rested...a LOT.

Now that Mars is back in forward motion, things might seem to slowly start moving ahead again. Mercury has left its detriment in Pisces and is ready for action in Aries. On February 27th, the New Moon in Pisces tapped into our faith while on March 1st, Venus stationed retrograde for the next 40 days and nights. Relationships, values, self-worth, beauty, finances, and harmony will be front and center.

On March 13th/14th there is a Super Full Moon and Lunar Eclipse in Virgo, resist the need to control stuff. Ride the wave of the eclipse energies until things smooth out. March 29th is the New Moon Partial Solar Eclipse in Aries, the last Aries eclipse for a while, asking us if we have truly stepped into our personal power.

Mercury retrogrades on 15th and will join Venus retrograde for more around communication and commerce, how we relate to others. They'll go back and forth from Aries to Pisces to Aries for a dance of action and reflection. Back up your files, drive carefully, and leave plenty of space for delays and miscommunication.

The Sun enters Aries on March 20th. Happy Astrological New Year! I'm thinking of hosting a vision board evening at my home in Hudson Bend or at Runaway Luna Lifestyle in Bee Cave. Let me know if you'd like to attend and where you'd prefer.

And Neptune will be moving into Aries on the 30th, which will require us to remove our rose colored glasses to determine what changes we want to make. Whatever you're not changing, you're choosing.

Reach out for support if you need help navigating this month's intensity.

Myth as Medicine

Before the 1800s the only two feminine celestial bodies in astrology were the Moon (mother) and Venus (mate). With the discovery of the four asteroid goddesses from 1801 to 1807--Ceres, Pallas Athene, Juno, and Vesta, we have gained new language, symbolism, mythology, capacities, and a redefining of gender roles. The 1800s saw the gathering of women's movements with activists like Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. I don't believe it's a coincidence that Ceres, Pallas Athene, Juno and Vesta (and Lilith!) have become prominent in astrological patterns recently.

At our Tea, Tales & a Telescope event, we were gifted with the clearest, warm evening where Joi expertly led us on a sky walk with her electronically assisted telescope. Dawn Davies, Night Sky Programmer at the Hill Country Alliance, also brought binoculars and a hi-tech telescope so that we could see Venus up close and personal.

Over dinner, we discussed the myths of asteroid goddesses and where they appeared on our personal charts, showing us where there might be some helpful lessons to learn. We continued to integrate some questions each of the myths posed on our morning hike on the Camino on the 100-acre ranch in Wimberley. We ended with sharing and creating ritual around bringing the medicine into our daily lives as our strength, magic, and inspiration for healing and planting seeds of action for what is ours to do. I posted some photos here. Joi and Dawn created the most beautiful gift boxes, which included a Starwheel Planishere, goddess bookmarks, buttons, and constellation stickers. Everyone received a workbook and personal astrology chart.

We're considering hosting this event quarterly with a two-night stay to spend ample time with the night sky and diving more deeply into the myths of one goddess per season. If you're interested in joining us for the Four Asteroid Goddesses Society, please respond to this newsletter and let me know. We'll have events in between the bigger retreats, to include those who can't take the time or expense, but would like to explore and find support for their emerging projects, businesses, crafts, and movements through the lens of the emerging feminine. A sort of embodied mastermind/mistressmind. Men are welcome, too!

Ok, this newsletter is getting long. I plan to write more about the Four Asteroid Goddesses on my Substack this week. Gabe arrives tomorrow afternoon to spend some Spring Break time with me this week, so I'll be offline for a bit.

A Private Invite

My client and friend Tad Hargrave from Marketing for Hippies will be coming to Austin for another strategy session with me and I'd love to invite you to come hang with us for a potluck dinner on Saturday night here at my home on Hudson Bend on Lake Travis. It will be on Saturday, March 29, 2025 from 4 p.m. (if you'd like to swim or spend time on the lake) with dinner starting at 6 p.m. I'll be sending out private invites soon, but since you're on my newsletter list, and if you'd like a seat at the table, we've only got space for 25, so let me know if you want one. He's promised to perform a bit of close-up magic.

Last time Tad was here, he hosted an Ethical Marketing 101 Workshop in Wimberley at Lotus Ranch. This time around, we're keeping it casual with nourishing food on the lake. We're gathering like-minded folks who are building beautiful businesses and projects that honor culture with ethical principles and practices. You get first dibs.

Nervous System Reset in Community

Please join me for Kripalu Gentle Yoga & Sound Bath classes on Sunday evenings, 6 p.m. at The Yoga Common at the Spicewood Club.

Normally I post my favorite things at the end of this newsletter, but I'll save it for my Substack to keep this short(er). I'm so grateful that you've read this far and for your support of my work. Let me know how I can support you and your project.

Big hugs,

Monica

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