All posts by Colin McPhillamy

Did astrology see it coming?

Here are 3 views on the macro effects of the planets from 3 distinguished sources.

The natal chart of the UK gives the Sun in Capricorn. Currently Pluto is transiting Capricorn. There is a very interesting article by Liz Greene here, not least because it was written in 2005.

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The natal chart of the EU has a stellium in Scorpio. And here is a very interesting technical analysis by Anton D’Abreu given in the blog of the Oxford Astrologer (Christina Rodenbeck) here.

And there’s this too not directly on the Brit/Euro dynamic but interesting about Neptune from Steven Forrest

And then, In the English natal chart (25th December 1066) transiting Saturn in Sag has been back and forth over natal Saturn in Virgo, Pluto touching the natal Sun/Mercury in Cap, and the Sun presently in Cancer trine natal Pluto. Does the English chart still apply? Scotland voted to stay in the EU – more referendums, perhaps?

To Me Fair Friend …

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This is the encouraging image in the RW Tarot deck for the 2 of Cups. Well we got past those challenging images in the 9 and 10 of Swords — Mars and Sun in Gemini, respectively — more on that another time … I just didn’t want to go there this year.

And hey, I have a Gemini moon, so I’m not dissing the sign.

But now here we are at the start of northern hemisphere summer with lovely Venus in Cancer. The esoteric title of this card being ‘The Lord of Love’.

 

 

Should I Consult The Cards?

The Page of Swords is one who likes to question, to gather information: … Here we continue the occasional ongoing conversation …

60I’m curious, but I’m also skeptical.

Me too.

I want to know what the stars and the cards can show me …

Right …

But I don’t know if I should …

Ah …

But if I don’t, I’ll never know.

There is that.

Interested, big time …

swords08Jupiter in Gemini rules the last 10 days of May.

Multi tasking, many pursuits, books to read, people to see, coffee to drink. All done expansively.

Ah, but is it that simple?

The mound in the background of the picture reminds me of the Mont St. Michel, where indeed at this very moment people are eating gourmet meals, drinking fine wine, with possibly amusing digestifs to follow …

But down on the sandy flats where the tide is out, a transition is occurring. An adventurous figure has crossed a threshold, s/he is neither bond nor free.

Is this what therapists call “a growth opportunity”?

If so, what insights, what developments will the new territory reveal when the blindfold comes off?

 

 

And This Happens Three Times a Year … !?!

… And it happens to however many billion of us there are on the planet at the moment, but when the following occurs, it’s hard not to think the planet has singled you out:

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  1. I got an excited message from the admin office at my actor’s union, telling me that several thousand dollars in repeat fees were waiting to be claimed. I returned the call. After a brief discussion, the lady explained that there was a mix up. A little later I received a check for $10.97
  2. After several grueling sessions with the filing, the paperwork, my own temperament, I went to see my accountant only to find I had forgotten to bring a vital sheaf of papers.
  3. I will do a Tarot and Astrology presentation with a good friend and colleague in Winston-Salem next week. We sent out a flyer with a typo in the contact details. We wondered why the phones were silent!

But yes, the splendid astrologer extraordinaire Ms Sheila Roher, lately of New York City now relocated to North Carolina, and I, will be hosting a fun evening talking about the cards and the stars on Wednesday 18th May in Winston-Salem.

If you know anyone who might be interested, please contact me for details.

How was your weekend?

I went to an event called the Readers Studio and it was (as we say in England), brilliant!

What is the collective noun for about 200 Tarot enthusiasts? A prediction”, maybe?

I include a link to the Tarot School site where details can be found of what they do. It was three days (four if you went to the psychology & tarot day) of inspired presentation, practical work with the cards, and meeting extraordinary people, and all occurring conveniently across the road from the La Guardia airport.

Attendees included (but were not limited to, in alphabetical order), British, Chinese, Icelandic, Italian, Indian, Russian, and of course a diverse squadron of Yanks (a Brit-word for American) of many ethnicities. All this diverse sample of humanity united in a quest to deepen understanding, and ranging from first time people, like me, to prolific authors and teachers well-known in the scene. For example, a gentleman passed by the table where I was and took a seat. His name tag said Stuart Kaplan, and I thought, “That’s not Stuart Kaplan as in the Stuart Kaplan?!? – the bloke who published the Rider Waite?” But it was …

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It’s kind of hard to describe the magical vibe, so I won’t try. But I will say that I got my first tarot deck aged 19, and I learnt more this past weekend, than since I was that distant young man 39 years ago.

Big personal thanks to all involved, and especially to Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone.

 

From each … to each …

6puThe six of coins relates to The Moon in Taurus. The actual moon passes through each sign in about two and a half days, completing a round of all twelve each and every month with drumbeat regularity. With the six of coins the Moon rules the first ten days of May.

I’ve found this an unsettling card. I mean, ask yourself, with which figure in the picture do you identify? The one dispensing, the one receiving, the one supplicating? Could go either way, right?

There’s a Mullah Nasruddin story that resonates here:

One day the Mullah was walking along the street when he was approached by a beggar.

“Oh please,” said the beggar, “help me.”

“Well,” responded the Mullah, “What kind of man are you?”

“Truthfully,” said the beggar, “I like to sit in the coffee house all day and smoke a hookah. I’m not very keen on working.”

With no further discussion the Mullah gives the beggar three coins.

A little while later, a second beggar approaches the Mullah. “Please, Mullah,” says he, “give me some assistance.”

“Tell me about yourself,” says the Mullah.

“I’m very devout,” the second beggar says, “I like to read the scriptures. I go frequently to the mosque to pray. I can subsist on very little food.”

Without hesitation the Mullah hands the second beggar a single coin.

“What!?” exclaims this second beggar, “You gave that scoundrel who sits about all day gossiping in the coffee house doing no  work, three coins, and me who is a holy man only one. Why is that?”

The Mullah says, “his needs are greater than yours.”

The six of coins. The ultimate get what you wish for card.

Steps backward, steps forward

five-of-pentaclesThe five of Pentacles is Mercury in Taurus. Corresponding to the last ten days of April. It’s a swift transit, Mercury is the sprinter among the planets taking just 88 Earth days to orbit the Sun.

So Mercury doesn’t stay long in each sign. And maybe that’s ok with this challenging image of the Mercury in Taurus image.

But when the planet goes retrograde, the sign has a longer visit.

Today is April 25th 2016, and in four days the planet Mercury will begin some apparent backwards motion in the sky, going direct again on the 22nd of May 2016. It’s one of three times a year that Mercury does this.

Which means that this year Mercury will linger in the sign of the bull.

The coming retrograde is a great time to check up on details in all departments. Catch up on the filing, emails should be written with extra care, listen carefully when on the phone and keep an eye on the postal service!