Mindful Heart Astrology ~ Mercury’s Rulerships
Virgo is the second sign of the zodiac to have Mercury as the ruling planet, the other is Gemini. At first glance, Virgo and Gemini seem vastly different, one is an earth sign and the other an air sign. They are both however, mutable signs which means there is a high degree of flexibility and adaptability with each. When I began my studies in Astrology, I often wondered why these signs shared the smallest planet in the solar system as their ruler. The key to understanding this rulership is to consider the qualities of Mercury itself, rather than comparing the particular qualities of the signs.
Mindful Heart Astrology – Sixth House
The Sixth House of the horoscope relates to the areas of life concerned with Health, Service, Work and ‘day-to-day’ tasks and responsibilities. This is an ‘earth’ house so the activities that occur here are practical and relate to the underlying structure of one’s daily life. Naturally ruled by the sign of Virgo, some related concepts include areas of service and devotion, refinement (improvement), analysis, discernment and systems. Mercury is the planetary ruler drawing in the elements of skills, craftsmanship, intellect, ‘busy-ness’ and those things which require hands-on attention in one’s daily routine.
The 2017 US Total Solar Eclipse
Now, anyone reading the news understands that President Trump enjoys being at the center of attention. Well, the “Great American Eclipse” is certainly part of the script to “Make America Great,” and Trump may have been the man destined to make it happen. For starters, the Aug. 21 eclipse occurs conjunct the fixed star Regulus. As the lion’s heart of the constellation Leo, Regulus since ancient times has been associated with kings and kingship. A solar eclipse conjunct Regulus would have been an omen for the fall of the king. (And most certainly not news a court astrologer would want to have to deliver to his royal patron.) And, if that weren’t enough, the Great American Eclipse falls directly on the point that was rising over the horizon at the moment of President Trump’s birth (assuming the birth certificate released by the campaign is accurate).
Natal Sun Sign and the Influence of Leo
The Sun is one of two luminaries in the natal chart, though for ease of reference we generally refer to it as one of the 10 planets. Thanks to print media, Sun signs became a significant part of pop culture in the 1960’s, a phenomenon that does not appear to be experiencing any decline and, as a result, most people tend to know their own Sun sign. In the horoscope, the Sun is the central figure representing one’s life force, the conscious mind and one’s creative energy. Simply put, it is our ego, our basic identity, and how we want to shine in the world. The Sun is what makes each of us unique, reflecting our potential and our spirit, as well as our purpose in life. It is the vehicle for our “doing” self, reflecting the energy that gets us where we want to go.
Leo – Aquarius Full Moon 2017
This Leo/Aquarius full moon is inviting us to show up as our most radiant selves. With the Sun ruling Leo, we are given the opportunity to breath into and receive the warmth and healing powers of this sign. What gifts does Leo bring? The power of strong leadership. The self-discipline required to stand strong in our own sovereignty and the ability to look deeply within to find the Light that is always there.
The Difficulty of Choosing Stillness
Honoring stillness has always been a difficult choice for me. When I experience it I absolutely love it. Stillness is calming, and grounding, and balancing and ultimately leaves me energized and clear headed. So why is it so hard to choose? Why is it hard to carve out time to be still?