The Real Astrology with Kevin B. Burk

Mars Retgrograde: How Do We Get There From Here?

2009-12-22T09:12:00.000-08:00

Over the course of our lives, we often ask ourselves what it is that we want. Our desires, our goals and our intentions are what fuel us. In order to accomplish our goals, it’s important for us to be clear about what it is that we want. But occasionally, we must look even deeper than this.

Sometimes it’s not enough to know what it is that we want. Sometimes, we also have to ask ourselves why we want the things that we want.

In astrology, the planet that rules the things that we want is Mars. Every two years or so, Mars appears to change direction and move backwards, or retrograde. And while we’re under the influence of a retrograde Mars, it’s important to look more deeply at the things that we want. Mars retrograde is an opportunity for us to perform a course correction on our lives. It’s a chance for us to make sure that we’re pursuing the goals that really matter to us.

The first pass of this Mars Retrograde cycle began on October 17, 2009 when Mars first entered Leo. The second pass began on December 20, 2009, when Mars turned retrograde at 19 degrees Leo, and will continue until March 10, 2010, when Mars stations at 0 Leo. The third pass will be from March 10, 2010 through May 16, 2010, when Mars finally moves into new territory. As we are currently in the middle of the Mars Retrograde cycle, now is an excellent time to investigate the nature of our desires.

In astrology, Mars is the planet that represents our warrior energy. Mars is our drive and our power. Mars wants us to expend energy in a focused and direct manner. Mars wants us to take action and do something. However, Mars does not have any perspective or objectivity. It’s best to think of Mars like the engine of our car. Mars just wants to express itself; it doesn’t care who’s doing the driving, or where it’s going.

There’s one more quality of Mars that we need to consider—one that is buried in the depths of classical astrology. Planets are either Diurnal (day), or Nocturnal (night). Diurnal planets are always true to their own nature: they are completely honest and forthright. The Sun is, of course, the most Diurnal planet in astrology. Nocturnal planets, on the other hand, are more mysterious: their appearance changes and they do not easily reveal their true nature. The Moon is the most nocturnal planet.

Mars is the second most Nocturnal planet.

That Mars is Nocturnal in nature means that Mars is not always what it seems to be. Mars is not always honest. In fact, Mars is very much the used car salesman of the Zodiac.

Mars wants us to expend energy. Mars wants us to get up off the couch and do something. The way Mars accomplishes this is by getting us to want something. Mars was known as “the light that commands.” Mars shows us a bright, shiny object, and we are compelled to go out and pursue that goal.

Of course, since Mars is Nocturnal in nature, when we actually achieve that goal and get the thing that we wanted, we often find that it’s not nearly as perfect as we were led to believe. But that’s okay, because Mars is ready with another want, and before we know it, we’re off in pursuit of another goal.

This is exactly as it should be. Our higher selves know that the path of our lives takes many unexpected turns. We rarely get to see the big picture. Often, we take what appear to be detours in our lives because it’s simply not possible to get to where we’re going from where we currently are.

Our higher selves understand that while the ultimate path of our lives will take us from point “A” to point “Z”, that it’s essential that we visit all of the intervening letters as well. As long as our higher self is driving the car, Mars will get us where we need to go in perfect order and timing.

The challenge is that we’re not alone in the car. Our higher selves may be doing the driving initially, but our egos are riding in the back seat. And our egos are ill equipped to see the big picture.

What happens then is that Mars entices us to set a goal, and we drive off in pursuit of that goal. Our egos believe that if we reach our goal, if we get the thing that Mars has made us want, that we’ll be happy and fulfilled. Of course, when we get there, the experience is always noticeably lacking in perfection. We’re not as happy as we thought we’d be. But before we can wallow in our disappointment for too long, Mars makes us want something else, and we’re off again, pursuing our next goal.

The ego will only put up with this for so long, however, before it starts to complain. We make it from point “A” to point “B” and point “B” isn’t as perfect as we believed it would be. Our higher self knows that “perfection” isn’t the objective, and now that we’re at point “B”, it’s time to move to point “C.” But our egos step in and insist that we’re not done with point “B” yet.

Our egos believe that if we just worked a bit harder, point “B” could actually make us as happy as we hoped it would. Our higher selves step aside and let the ego do the driving. And Mars is only too happy to oblige, because Mars doesn’t care who’s doing the driving. It’s all the same to Mars if we’re heading on to point “C” or if we decide to spend more time exploring the suburbs of point “B”. All Mars cares about is that we’re taking action.

Every once in a while it’s important to ask ourselves who’s driving our lives? Are our higher selves doing the navigating, or have our egos taken control? We determine who’s doing the driving by asking ourselves “What do I want?” and “Why do I want it?”

The areas of our lives that we need to investigate are the ones that are demanding the greatest focus and energy from us right now. The stage was set during the first pass, from October 17, 2009 through December 20, 2009. This was the first of three times Mars would activate these areas of our lives (and our charts). During this time, as Mars approached its retrograde station on December 20th, Mars was asking for more awareness of our short-term and long-term goals. Look back at your life during this three-month period and ask yourself the question, “What do I want?”

Because Mars is retrograde in Leo, the focus during this period is likely to be on ourselves. Pay attention to stories you may be telling yourself about being acknowledged and appreciated. The lesson of Leo energy is that our true source of value and worth lies within, and we do not need to be dependent on other people’s approval or appreciation in order to feel loved. You may notice that other people seem to be overly sensitive, and touchy, taking even the smallest things personally. When you do notice this, remember that you’re seeing a projection of your own issues, and take the opportunity to look within yourself and notice where you are giving your power away to others, seeking approval.

During the retrograde period, it’s time to look beneath the things that we want and explore why it is that we want them in the first place. The objective is to uncover the original goal; to remember the choice and the desire that fueled this part of our journey.

If the ego is at all involved, we may find that we have to dig very deeply to uncover our original path. For example, we may be working sixty hours a week to finish a key project at work because we believe that that project will help us to get promoted. Our immediate desire is the promotion.

When we investigate that goal, we realize that we want to get promoted because a promotion will mean more money. The underlying motivation then, is to have more money.

When we explore this desire, we may realize that we want more money because we want to go on vacation. And when we explore this desire, we may discover that we want to go on vacation so that we can relax and not spend so many hours working.

In other words, we may discover that we’re working ridiculously long hours because we want to have more time to enjoy ourselves. The original objective was to be able to work less not more. We were willing to invest some extra time and energy into working more for a short time so that we would have the resources to reach our original goal. But the ego took over, and our goal became getting a promotion to a position where, yes, we would make more money, but we would also have more responsibility and far less time to actually enjoy it.

If we go back even further, looking at the choices we made that led us to our current job; we may even discover that what we really want is a new career. We may discover, in fact, that we’ve been devoting the majority of our time and energy to moving ahead in a job that we only intended to keep for a very short while.

This questioning process isn’t limited to our careers (although our careers do tend to be the areas of our lives most vulnerable to ego interference). We can investigate and explore every goal and objective in our lives. Often, we have little choice in the matter: while Mars is retrograde, our goals and projects have a way of slowing down and forcing us to take a closer look at them.

If we are on track we have discovered that we are, indeed, following our higher guidance, we can expect to see great progress towards our goals during this period. On the other hand, if we discovered that we missed our metaphorical exit, we can use this period to make any necessary course corrections.

Sometimes we become aware that we’re pursuing things that we no longer want, but we aren’t clear about what it is that we do want. In these cases, this process is about letting go of our attachments and our ego-based wants.

For example, we may discover that we’re devoting all of our time and energy towards advancement in a job or career that we no longer enjoy. However, as long as we’re still attached to our job, we’re not able to see any other path or entertain any other options. Before we can choose another path, we first must stop pursuing our current one. We don’t have to quit our current job, mind you. All we have to do is to choose to no longer pour our energy and focus into it. We simply release our attachments, and let ourselves come to rest.

The present moment awareness exercise on page 48 of The Relationship Handbook: How to Understand and Improve Every Relationship in Your Life can be very helpful in this process. You can download an MP3 of this meditation at http://www.TheRealAstrology.com/PMA.

When we’ve come to rest and are no longer entirely focused on following our ego’s directions, we can take stock of our current position and consider where we would like to go next. Knowing the truth that we can do anything we choose to do, it’s time to ask our higher selves what it is that we truly want.

Once we identify what we want, then we can go about mapping how to get there from here. And the more awareness we take with us on the journey, the harder it will be for our egos take control of the wheel. We can set out on our journey knowing that we don’t need to know what’s ahead. We can accept that the long-term goals we set for ourselves now may simply be illusions designed to get us to the place where we can see what it is that we really want. We can appreciate that our lives rarely follow straight lines, and that just because one goal didn’t bring us the happiness we expected, doesn’t mean that we wasted the trip. We can remind ourselves that every part of our journey is perfect, and that we are being guided by our higher selves.

Of course, should our egos lead us off our path, we’ll have another Mars retrograde in two years to help us to reconnect with our higher selves again.

Meet the Planets: Jupiter

2009-11-19T18:35:00.000-08:00

Jupiter is the Archetype of The Dreamer. Traditionally, Jupiter is associated with growth and expansion; but how is it that we expand in our lives? We expand through our dreams. Our dreams are where we escape the illusion of our “little s” self and enter the realm of infinite possibility. Where we misunderstand Jupiter is when we assume that all of our dreams will be pleasant and enjoyable. Sometimes, in order for us to grow and expand, we must confront our fears. The “little s” self is the part of us that believes that it’s not big enough to overcome our fears and slay the dragon, but the “Big S” Self is bigger than we can easily imagine. Of course, letting go of the “little s” self and allowing the “Big S” Self to take over requires a leap of faith.

Jupiter, like Mars, does not discriminate, and therefore being in Right Relationship with Jupiter requires that Jupiter be guided to seek out experiences that support the Sun and the Hero’s journey. When we are in Right Relationship with Jupiter, we experience easy and effortless expansion. We greet each new experience with a sense of optimism and joyous expectation. We have absolute faith that we can rise to the challenge, and that everything about the experience will enhance our enjoyment of the Hero’s Journey. Jupiter is the archetype that is the most powerfully associated with Spirit, and with the experience of Faith.

When we are in Right Relationship with Jupiter, we feel completely guided and supported by the Universe. We are plugged into the power of co-creation with Spirit, and gratefully accept the inexhaustible flow of Good into our lives. The growth and expansion that we experience is almost incidental. True, we grow and expand with each new experience, but we are so engaged in each experience, so nourished by it, that we spend little time reflecting on other matters. Although we feel abundantly prosperous in all areas of our lives, we also make use of and derive tremendous pleasure from everything that we have acquired. We are certainly grateful, but we also don’t pay much attention to size, or how much we have, because when we are in Right Relationship with Jupiter, we always have whatever we need exactly when we need it.

When we are out of alignment with Jupiter, however, we are acutely aware of how much we seem to have, and no matter how much we have, it never feels like enough. Without the guidance and balance of the Sun (and the limits and boundaries of Saturn), Jupiter can grow to a nearly infinite hunger, consuming everything it can, and always needing more. This can show up as gluttony, greed, and conspicuous consumption. Out of alignment Jupiter fuels many addictions, including addictions to risks that are common to thrill-seekers and compulsive gamblers. Left to its own devices, Jupiter represents uncontrolled growth and a relentless drive to expand. This may not sound like such a bad thing, but consider that when this behavior manifests in the cells of our bodies, we call it cancer.

Jupiter makes things bigger, and ironically, being out of alignment with Jupiter can also manifest as big experiences of lack, poverty and deprivation. These experiences are usually the consequences of extravagant, wasteful consumption and utter disregard for conservation of resources. We often see it in the aftermath of individuals who win the lottery and a few years later are homeless and destitute because of a misplaced faith in the flow of resources. When the resources dry up, excessive consumption turns to hoarding.

Getting into Right Relationship with Jupiter requires cultivation of Faith. We must begin by remembering the Truth that we are infinitely powerful, multi-dimensional beings having a human experience. We have created everything in the virtual-reality game that we are playing. The perception of lack is nothing more than an illusion. Our resources are truly infinite; however, we must remember that the Source of our resources is the Universe, not any person, place or thing that we experience in the game.

Bearing this in mind, we must then adjust our thinking, our beliefs and our values. We must let go of the belief that more is better and replace it with the faith in our sufficiency. We do this by redirecting our attention to the present moment, and recognizing that now, in this moment, we have everything that we need. Shifting our attention to the present moment connects us with the Sun, and struggle though he might, Jupiter must always bend to the wishes of the Sun. All of the other archetypes serve the Hero. As we begin to appreciate that we always have enough and that we live in sufficiency, we will discover that that sufficiency will naturally, easily expand. We will attract and enjoy more good fortune and more prosperity, but we will be in Right Relationship with it and it will always be enough. And enough is, by definition, enough. We have no need or use for any more than enough.

To begin to connect with Jupiter, meditate on some of these questions:

What do we dream about?

How do we experience?

How do we grow?

In what (and how) do we have faith?

What is our context?

How do we access our imagination?

Where does our faith end?

How do we express compassion?

Where are we not big enough?

What do we fantasize about?

What are our nightmares?

Where and why do we lack faith?

Where is our context too limited?

Where are we too much?

How and why do we grow uncontrollably?

What are we addicted to?

And Now, A Word From Our Sponsor

2009-11-13T10:47:00.001-08:00

This is just a brief update to let you all know what's going on with the blog, and what you can expect in the future (and when).

I hope to have the final installment of the "Meet the Planets" series posted in the next few days (it's Jupiter, in case you haven't been following from the beginning). After that, there may be a brief hiatus with the blog entries, because I'll need to write some new content. The "Meet the Planets" articles are the intial drafts of part of the book I'm working on, which is now called Astrology & The Law of Attraction. Once I get the Jupiter piece revised (that one has changed substantially since I originally wrote it), I'll start working on the next series of articles.

The delay (if there is one) would be because most of my energy is now focused on editing down the DVDs of the "Astrology & The Law of Attraction" workshops I just completed teaching in Houston, TX for the Gulf Coast Chapter of NCGR. I'm incredibly excited about these DVDs, and I hope you will be, as well. They will include all of the guided meditations that take you to meet your own, personal, Astrological Archetypes, and some wonderful live-action examples of what goes on in a typical Board of Directors meeting for any given planet.

I hope to have these ready to ship by mid-December. Check www.AstrologyLawofAttraction.com or the CLASSES section of www.TheRealAstrology.com for more details.

I've already got 7 additional "Ask Kevin" videos in the queue, so I don't anticipate any interruption in service there. You can expect a new "Ask Kevin" video about once a week through the end of the year. They're posted on Facebook first, so if you're not yet a Facebook Fan, that's just one of the benefits.

Thanks for your patience, and we now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

Meet the Planets: Mercury

2009-10-22T08:18:00.000-07:00

Mercury is the archetype of the Storyteller. We underestimate the power and importance of story. Our lives, our experiences are nothing but a story. We are immersed, engrossed and utterly transported by the story. The story seems utterly real to us. And yet no matter how true, how real the story appears, it is, underneath, merely a story. What we experience as real and as true is nothing but a collection of well-chosen words declaimed by an expert storyteller.

Story is what drives us. Story is what we live for. And yet, as important as story is to us, we seldom give any thought to the Storyteller. In order for there to be a story, there must be one outside of the story, one who tells the tale and lies the lies and transports us with words and images to far-away worlds. Mercury is the part of us that tells the story. Mercury is the part of us that narrates our lives. Mercury is the part of us that convinces us that everything that we experience is absolutely real, is absolutely true. And Mercury is the part of us that lies, and then convinces us that those lies are true.

None of what we perceive is real. Our entire world, our entire reality can be changed with a word, transformed with a single thought. We are so engrossed in our story that we utterly forget that we are at once the story and the Storyteller. If we do not like the way the story is unfolding, we are the ones who have the power to change it.

When we are in right relationship with Mercury, we experience near absolute mastery of the story. We are skilled in changing the words (and the world) in ways that please, delight and entertain us. We absolutely know that this entire experience of reality is a grand and glorious game, and we have the freedom to play the game in any way that we choose. Of course a good story requires challenges, conflicts, adversaries and unexpected plot twists to keep us fully engaged. Being in right relationship with Mercury does not protect us from the trickster energy. However, it does allow us to stay connected with the fun, the challenge and the gifts that always accompany the tricks and traps that Mercury builds into the story. Without quests, adventures and insurmountable obstacles to overcome, the Hero can never fulfill his potential. But most importantly, being in right relationship with Mercury affords us the perspective, the intelligence, the wit and the creativity to beat the Trickster at his own game.

When we are out of alignment with Mercury, we are trapped by our own words and limited by our belief in the story that we are writing. Our mind runs constantly, gathering evidence that supports the false belief that the way things are is the way they will always be, and there is nothing we can do to change it. Our minds repeat self-limiting, self-sabotaging and self-defeating stories that manifest as self-fulfilling prophecies. We are engaged in a constant battle with reality, insisting that it should be other than it is, and yet unable to accept that what makes our experience of reality real is how we describe it to ourselves and the meaning we give it in the story.

In order to get into right relationship with Mercury we must first begin to disengage from the little “s” story that keeps us small. We can begin to cease our struggle with reality and free up the energy bound up in that fight for more creative pursuits. Begin by developing Awareness of when we are caught up in story. When we are Aware that we are creating stress in our lives because we’re engaged in a story that is absolutely not true, we can accept Ownership of that story.

Finally, we can make the Choice to stop telling the story. When we become aware that we are gathering evidence to support an old story, we can choose to stop. As we begin to interrupt the old patterns, we create the opportunity to choose new words. We can shift from telling the little “s” story that keeps us small, and begin to tell ourselves the Big “S” story that calls us to our greatness.

To begin to connect with the Sun, meditate on some of these questions:

What kind of story do I tell?

What are the major themes of the story?

What kind of world do I live in?

How do I communicate?

What defines my story?

Where do I give up my power in my story?

Where and how do I get lost in the “little s” story and forget to advance the plot of the “Big S” Story?

Meet the Planets: Venus

2009-10-08T16:07:00.001-07:00

Venus is the Archetype of The Beloved. Wherever we experience love or appreciation, we find Venus. Venus is the archetype who determines our values, and fully appreciating and aligning with our values is the first critical step to discovering our personal standards of integrity. Our values are what give meaning, purpose and direction to our Hero’s Journey. Venus is what motivates us to take the Hero’s Journey in the first place. We set out on our own, we face challenges, pass tests, and claim our greatness because doing so will bring us into closer relationship with The Beloved. Love, after all, is the most powerful and most important force in the Universe.

When considering Venus, it is important to understand the difference between what we Value and what we Desire. We do not value things or possessions; rather we value concepts and experiences. For example, we may value Love, Peace, Beauty, Harmony, Balance, Freedom, Joy, Wisdom, or Creativity, to name but a few. Our Desires, on the other hand, are more tangible, and we believe that when we attain the things that we desire, that we will have an experience of what we Value. Desire seeks to acquire, to conquer, and to possess, and therefore is an expression of Mars. Venus exerts no effort whatsoever to attract the things that she values and appreciates. She simply magnetizes them to her. On occasion, she may manipulate Mars into going out to bring things to her, but Venus never lifts a finger to get what she wants.

The glyph for Venus resembles a hand mirror. And while the Moon is the archetype of The Mirror, Venus, the archetype of The Beloved, is perhaps the reflection in the mirror. The true Beloved is within each of us. All things that we Value, all things that we Love are within ourselves. And we must learn to look within in order to find them.

When we are in Right Relationship with Venus, we are carried along by an infinite river of abundance, prosperity and love. We are the embodiment of the Law of Attraction. Everywhere we turn the Universe seems to shower us with love, appreciation, and opportunities for fun. We are in a constant and continual state of gratitude, and the more we open our hearts and give thanks, the more reasons there are for us to feel grateful. We experience a deep sense of personal satisfaction in our lives. The joy we experience from being in the flow has less to do with the material prosperity and more to do with the knowledge that we are absolutely in alignment with our true Self. Each and every relationship in our life is joyous, and loving. We are loved, appreciated, and respected, and in turn, we love, appreciate and respect every single person in our life.

When we are out of alignment with Venus, however, we are unable to experience any of the sweetness of life. We perceive little reason for joy, or for gratitude. Nothing comes easily, and everything is a struggle. We are immersed in a consciousness of lack. There isn’t enough money, there isn’t enough time, there isn’t enough pleasure, and there certainly isn’t enough respect. We feel unappreciated, unnoticed, unacknowledged, unloved, and unworthy. We are driven by the illusion of status, of power or of glamour. We believe that Love must be earned; that it is a limited resource that can be hoarded or purchased. We look for ways that we can change ourselves, our circumstances, our lives so that we will be more attractive to others, believing that this is the way to be loved. However, even when other people do express love and appreciation for us, we are unable to enjoy it. The person being loved is not our true self, it is the persona we created to please other people. And since we are not that persona, we still do not feel loved.

The key to moving into right relationship with Venus is the practice of Gratitude. By consciously choosing to develop our Gratitude muscles, we begin to align with the flow of Love and Appreciation. Taking even five or ten minutes a day to contemplate things that we Love and Appreciate can create powerful and lasting shifts. It’s enough to begin by just saying the words; as the intention begins to open the heart, the experience of Gratitude will begin to grow on its own.

Once you have begun to develop your Gratitude muscles, you can begin to uncover some of your core Values. Consider some of the things that you love and appreciate. What is it about these things that calls to you? What do you experience when you think of these things? Explore some of the things that you want and desire. What is the experience that you believe you would have when that desire has been fulfilled? As you become aware of your Values, you draw closer to The Beloved.

To begin to connect with Venus, meditate on some of these questions:

What do you value?

What do you appreciate?

How do you express affection and gratitude?

What do you want to attract?

What about you is the most loveable?

Where and how do you adopt other people’s values?

What kind of status do you seek?

How do you want to be noticed?

Where do you compromise your values?

Where do you lack gratitude?

Meet the Planets: Mars

2009-09-28T08:09:00.000-07:00

Mars is the Archetype of The Warrior. The Warrior sees the world in black and white. The Warrior chooses an objective, and then follows the most direct path to reach that objective, overcoming any obstacles in the path with single-minded focus, and utter disregard for the consequences. All that matters is the goal. Mars, the Warrior, is the part of us that goes after the things that we want. What Mars lacks is perspective. Mars excels at achieving immediate objectives; however, Mars is not capable of long-term planning or strategizing, and as a rule, Mars relies on force rather than negotiation, cooperation or finesse.

We may be most familiar with Mars by other names. We know mars as the “ego” or the little “s” self. In Freudian terms, Mars is also the id, the inner child who wants and desires and gets angry and frustrated when he is not instantly gratified. However, desire is merely a tool that Mars employs to motivate us to take action. What Mars really wants is to expend energy in a focused and directed manner. The Warrior doesn’t care what he’s fighting for; he simply wants to experience the sheer joy of channeling energy. This is of critical importance. In order to be in right relationship with Mars, Mars must always be operating in service to the Sun. The little “s” self must follow the guidance of the Big “S” self. The Warrior must fight to defend and support the Hero. Without this guidance, Mars can easily run amok.

How Mars goes about getting the things that it wants, and to some extent, how Mars chooses what it wants is determined by the Sign that Mars inhabits in your chart. Although the how is solely determined by Mars’ Sign, the what is also influenced by Venus’ Sign, because what it is that we want is always informed by what it is that we value and appreciate.

When we are in Right Relationship with Mars, our lives are the epitome of elegance. We know exactly when it is time to take action, and the action we take is simple, precise, focused, and perfectly balanced. Martial arts masters are, not surprisingly, masters of Mars. They know how to apply exactly the right amount of force at exactly the right moment to create the maximum power with the minimum effort. We become masters of manifestation because rather than forcing things into creation, we simply remove the obstacles and allow the Law of Attraction to do the rest. We experience deep satisfaction and fulfillment as we achieve each goal and overcome each obstacle, because our energies and our efforts are in full alignment with the expression and expansion of our true Self. Right Relationship with Mars also gives us a truly healthy and supportive relationship with anger. We understand that it is possible to defend without attacking. And we are able to channel the power and energy that anger provides in ways that are creative and supportive rather than destructive and aggressive.

When we are out of alignment with Mars, we experience driven behavior. We are always expending energy, always taking action, always doing something, and yet we are never satisfied with the results. While we may be powerful at manifesting our desires, everything that we manifest is created through sheer force of will and tremendous effort. Nothing comes easily, and everything is a battle. We are obsessed with reaching our goals and obtaining the things that we want, and a part of us believes that the end fully justifies the means. We are so driven to get the things that we want because we believe that when we get what we want, then we’ll be happy. This is never the case, however. We experience little or no satisfaction when we complete a task or reach a goal. We are convinced that we just need to work harder, to be better, to acquire more, and then we’ll be happy. But happiness is not on Mars’ agenda. All Mars wants is for us to keep driving, to keep fighting, and that’s what we do. When we are out of alignment with Mars, we experience the world as a hostile, competitive, aggressive place. We are always defensive, fearful of being attacked. We lash out with anger to defend ourselves from attack, which only provokes retaliation in kind.

Restoring Right Relationship with Mars is a two-fold process. First, it is essential to create a healthy outlet to channel Mars’ need to expend energy in a focused, directed manner. Martial arts are, in fact, an excellent way to channel the energy of Mars, but any strenuous physical exercise can serve to channel Mars energy in healthy and supportive ways. Opening a consciously-directed channel for Mars to express can help to alleviate the pent-up energy of Mars from leaking out in other, less appropriate areas of our lives.

If we are out of alignment with Mars, the underlying reason is universally that we are out of alignment with the Sun and/or Venus. If we are not feeling fulfilled or satisfied when we obtain the things that we desire, the reason is that the things that we desire are not aligned with the things that we Value. As we get into Right Relationship with Venus, connecting with our values, and the Sun, identifying our core standards of integrity, Mars will once again act in service to these directives.

To begin to connect with Mars, meditate on some of these questions:

What do I want?

How to I take a action?

How do I attack?

How do I defend?

What motivates me to take action?

How do I manage energy?

How do I manage anger?

How am I cooperative?

How and why am I competitive?

What is my driven behavior?

What pulls me out of the present moment and into the future?

Meet the Planets: The Moon

2009-09-18T20:42:00.000-07:00

The Moon is the Archetype of the Reflection. The Moon reflects the light of the Sun, and like all reflections, it distorts and filters the essence of the Source, depicting a facet, a shadow, some single element of the original for deeper reflection. In a very real sense, our lives are a journey through an endless hall of mirrors. Everyone and everything we encounter is simply a reflection of our True Self. And yet, we wander, endlessly, searching for the one that is Real. We seek safety, security and comfort. We long to make a connection with the reflections we encounter, but the connections we perceive are themselves merely reflections. We long to reconnect with the true Source, and must discover that contrary to all appearances, the Source is within us.

The Moon defines the Nocturnal sect. It is all appearance, and appearances are always deceptive and changeable. Everything is reversed in the reflection of the Moon’s mirror. We must discover the Truth that what we perceive to be without is merely a reflection of what is within. To navigate the maze, we must develop our intuition. Our eyes are deceived by appearances and reflections. Our feelings are our only true guide. We long to be whole, and yet we resist the simple truth that we already are whole, and all we need to do experience this truth is to close our eyes to the reflections and illusions that surround us, and allow ourselves to align once more with the true Self and Source within us.

When we are in right relationship with the Moon, first and foremost, we feel Safe. We are free from fear and anxiety. We have confidence that all of our basic survival needs will continue to be met, and do not require our conscious attention. We experience comfort, balance, harmony and sufficiency. We have enough money, enough food, enough shelter and enough love. We are willing and able to be present with our feelings, both enjoyable and uncomfortable. We are able to feel them without needing to react, simply allowing them to express, acknowledging them, and then releasing them. We trust our feelings, our intuition, and our emotional guidance system. We are self-sufficient, yet not self-contained. We freely exchange energy and emotional connections with others. We give and receive nurturing easily and without attachments.

When we are out of alignment with the Moon, we feel unsafe. We live in a constant state of fight or flight. We are stressed, anxious, and fearful. We are obsessed with lack, with the idea that there is not enough, and with the belief that we must protect and defend things so that we can continue to survive. We actively avoid feelings, especially uncomfortable ones. We are disconnected from our intuition and react out of fear rather than respond out of wisdom. We are needy and believe that we cannot survive on our own. We either depend on others, or else we become a caretaker, meeting others needs as a way to distract ourselves from the pain and the fear that our needs are not and cannot be met.

Getting into right relationship with the Moon requires practice. In a very real sense, we must learn to navigate using a mirror. We must learn to move in the exact opposite direction that we think we should move in. We must learn how to disengage from the story, ignore appearances, and follow our intuition and emotional guidance, even when our intellect and our perceptions scream at us that we are moving in the wrong direction.

The most important thing that we can do to facilitate this process is to cultivate a new experience and awareness of Safety. Remember that we are infinite beings, and that everything that we experience in the hologram comes from within us. It is all story, and none of it is real. The only thing that is real is this moment. The past and the future are all illusion. Cultivate an awareness of the Present Moment. This will immediately begin to alleviate fear and anxiety.

As we begin to feel more safe, we can then begin to soften any judgments we may have on our feelings and emotions. Consider that feelings do not require action; they simply need to be felt. When we are willing to be fully present with our feelings, witnessing the experience without judgment, the feelings move through us quickly and then are gone. Each feeling experienced deepens our unconscious understanding of who we are. While our feelings are valid and important, they are also independent experiences that have no meaning other than what we give them in the story. Our feelings have nothing to do with anyone or anything. They simply are. When we are able to detach the feelings from the story, we are able to surrender fully to the experiences, and maintain right relationship with the Moon. We become more attuned to our inherent emotional guidance system, and are able to navigate the maze of mirrors with confidence.

To begin to connect with the Moon, meditate on some of these questions:

How do you feel safe?

What threatens you?

How do you react when you feel threatened?

What emotions are safe? What emotions are unsafe?

What do you remember? How do you remember?

How do you experience the past?

How do you stay in the present moment?

What pulls you out of the present moment?

Where and to what do you create attachments?

What keeps you locked in the past and fearing the future?

Meet the Planets: Saturn

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Saturn is the Archetype of the Judge. Saturn represents the Law, the ultimate authority, at least within the context of the story and the game. Saturn is what creates the appearance of form, the experience of structure. And Saturn is the enforcer of the rules and regulations. One of the ways that we experience Saturn is as our internal authority figure. Saturn is the archetype that monitors when we step out of integrity with ourselves, and creates the appropriate consequences so that we can become aware and choose to move back into integrity. Saturn represents responsibility, both as individuals, and to society. The experience of being limited, and of being told “No,” is rarely pleasant, and so from a very early age, we develop very strong opinions about Saturn. Generally, we resolve to have as little to do with Saturn as possible. Saturn is, to put it mildly, no fun.

Most of childhood and adolescence is spent rebelling against Saturn. And yet no matter how far we run, Saturn is always right there with us. We cross boundaries and we are chastised for it. We break or ignore the rules and we are reprimanded and punished. We refuse to listen to directions or warnings, and we run full-speed into brick walls. During the first part of the game of this human experience, this is how we learn about the shape of the story. Our passage into adulthood, however, is marked by our readiness to shift our relationship with Saturn.

When we are in Right Relationship with Saturn, life is infinitely more pleasant than when we are not. The secret is that we finally accept that if we don’t break the rules, we don’t get punished. And once we know where the limits and boundaries are, we don’t have to worry about crossing them, and can enjoy absolute freedom to create and express within them. Instead of feeling trapped or limited, this relationship brings a deep and abiding sense of security. Being in Right Relationship with Saturn means that we accept personal responsibility for our actions and our choices. We have a clear and healthy understanding of where our personal responsibility begins and ends, and we steadfastly refuse to exceed those boundaries. And when we stand in this place of personal integrity and power, we discover that while Saturn enforces the rules, we are actually the ones who create the rules. If we decide a rule does not serve us anymore, we can petition The Judge to review the law. And we discover to our amazement that Saturn, The Judge can indeed say “Yes.”

If we are out of alignment with Saturn, we have given away our power to Saturn, and we operate out of Victim Consciousness. We whine and complain and argue that life is unfair, that the rules—clearly stated and impartially enforced though they are—should not apply to us. We plead our case arguing that we are special, we are entitled, we should be the exception to the rule, and Saturn is entirely unmoved. We are unwilling or unable to recognize that the laws exist to help us to align with our standards of integrity and claim our power. We project the inner discomfort that we feel from being out of integrity onto outer manifestations of Saturn as authority figures who punish, limit, or discipline us. We, of course, believe that this treatment is utterly unfair. We fear the pain of punishment and believe that the way to avoid that pain is to avoid accepting responsibility for our actions. Of course, the more we avoid accountability, the more we are out of integrity, the more pain we experience, and the more we project and externalize that pain experiencing it as authority figures who victimize us time and again.

Often we are not aware that we are refusing to accept personal responsibility for our actions because we tell ourselves that our lives are nothing but responsibility. In fact, we are weighed down and burdened with all of the responsibilities that we have to live up to. Closer inspection, however, will reveal that the responsibilities that we have taken on are not, in fact, ours. We are crossing boundaries and taking on other people’s responsibilities as a way to distract ourselves from the fact that we are not taking care of our own.

Getting in to right relationship with Saturn requires shifting our relationship to authority and accepting full responsibility for our choices and our actions. We must step out of victim consciousness and let go of our need for excuses. We must begin to be accountable for all of our choices and actions. The first part of the process requires that we begin to honor and obey the rules—all of them. And we must increasingly do so without any story that tells us that the rules are wrong or we shouldn’t have to follow them. We must accept responsibility for when we cross boundaries and break rules, and with genuine humility. Only when we are in right relationship with the rules and structures that are currently in place can we, from this place of integrity and personal responsibility, begin to petition that the rules be changed. We must also recognize where we are taking on responsibilities that do not belong to us, and relinquish them. Our responsibilities to others do not begin until we have first met all of our responsibilities to ourselves.

To begin to connect with Saturn, meditate on some of these questions:

• How and why do we limit ourselves?

• How are we responsible?

• What is our relationship to authority?

• How are we accountable?

• How are our boundaries?

• Where do we set limits?

• Where and to whom do we give away our power?

• Where and why do we take on too much responsibility?

• Where do we overstep boundaries?

• Where do we judge too harshly?

Meet the Planets: The Sun

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The Sun is the Archetype of the Hero. Each of our lives is a Story, and although the details of our stories are infinitely varied, the Story itself is the Hero’s Journey. Just because we’re the protagonist of our lives, just because our experience of (little “r”) reality revolves around us, that doesn’t mean that we’re automatically the Hero of our own Story. A Hero is made, not born.

The Sun represents who we truly are, the “Big S” Self, but most of us live from who we think we are—the ego, or the “little s” self. (We’ll meet the “little s” self more formally when we explore Mars.) It’s perhaps the most accurate to say that the Sun represents our potential. As we live our lives, and discover who we are, we have the opportunity to fulfill that potential. The journey of our lives is the Hero’s Journey.

Consider that when Arthur pulled the sword out of the stone, that was only the start of his journey, not the end. Yes, his destiny was obvious (that he would be the rightful King of England), but at the time, he was still just a boy. He had to embark on the Hero’s Journey, learning from teachers and friends, overcoming obstacles and passing tests. Each challenge that he completed increased his power and strength, which was a good thing, because each subsequent challenge was even more difficult.

The first step on the Hero’s Journey is to make the choice to align with the Sun, and to begin the real journey of self-discovery. We ask the question, “Who am I?” and acknowledge our utter ignorance and innocence of the answer. Few people ever have the courage and the strength to genuinely ask the question, and fewer still are willing to discover the answer.
This is a question that we alone can answer, although for most of our lives, we have looked to other people to answer it for us. We define ourselves based on our relationships to other people. We define ourselves in terms of our jobs, or our social status. We define ourselves in terms of the things that we create or the things that we believe, and yet, if we choose to take this journey of discovery, the first discovery we make is that none of these things really matter.

The only guide we have on this journey is our sense of personal integrity.

Personal integrity is more powerful and more subtle than the morals and rules of society. It is an inner compass that we must follow, more exacting than the civil laws that govern us. For most people, personal integrity will keep them within the bounds of society’s laws because most of the laws of society are grounded in integrity. The shift often has to do with the reasons that we obey the laws or choose to behave the ways that we do. As children, we obey the laws because we are told to, and we will be punished if we transgress—whether by our parents, our teachers, or by a Higher Power. We are inculcated with a sense of what is RIGHT and what is WRONG, and given a rudimentary sense of morals and ethics. The more we become aligned with our personal standards of integrity, the more we make choices based solely on what is right or wrong for us, as individuals, even when other people may not agree, approve or understand.

Each time we make one of these choices, we discover another clue, another piece of the puzzle that, once completed, will reveal the answer to the question “Who am I?” Occasionally, it can be quite frustrating because the individual pieces may seem to have little in common, little connection to each other. We must continue, trusting that the longer we follow the path, the more the answer will begin to take shape.

The first part of the Hero’s journey is leaving behind all that is familiar. The Hero must leave his home, his family, his friends, all, in fact, that he knows, and set out alone into the unknown. The fear of letting go of what is familiar is the reason that so few people choose to heed the Call and have the courage to follow the path that leads them to their greatness. And yet, it’s important to realize that while occasionally a literal and physical separation is required, the main part of this journey is within, and the separation is more subtle. As we choose to move into right relationship with the Sun and heed the call to follow our personal standards of integrity, we leave behind our attachments to other people’s opinions. Being true to ourselves becomes more important than pleasing other people, or making them feel comfortable.

The choice is to align ourselves with the “Big S” Self, our true essence. This means letting go of the story and the battles of the “small s” self, the ego, which is the archetype of Mars. We find that we must give up so many of the things that we once wanted. We must give up the small payoffs and petty rewards that we obtain from fighting the battles of Mars. And we’re giving them up for something intangible, mythical and apparently beyond our comprehension, let alone our reach. The Joy of being in integrity with our Self at first seems so thin. At times, it is cold comfort. And yet, the Truth is that it is the only thing of real value in the world.

When we are in right relationship with the Sun, we experience physical vitality and strength. We have abundant health, boundless energy, and infinite joy. We look forward to the challenges and opportunities that life presents, and we have absolute confidence that while these challenges will test our limits, we will always rise to the challenge, master it, and doing so acquire more skills and abilities.

When we are out of alignment with the Sun, we experience lethargy, depression, apathy, and illness. We lack joy, anticipation, or even any pleasure from life. We may long for an escape—this is the call of the Sun—and yet feel trapped by our circumstances.

To begin to connect with the Sun, meditate on some of these questions:

• How do I want to be a Hero?

• What are my personal standards of integrity?

• What are my greatest strengths?

• What inspires me to greatness?

• What are my weaknesses?

• What tests my integrity?

• What is my Authentic Self?

• What is the inauthentic self that I create to please others?

Meet the Planets

2009-08-15T11:07:00.000-07:00

When most people thing of Astrology, they think of the Signs of the Zodiac. Popular Astrology is all about Sun Signs—“I’m a Scorpio,” and “She’s a Gemini.” It may come as a surprise, then that the Signs are not, in fact, the most important elements of Astrology. In fact, you can use Astrology to improve and enhance your life without knowing any of the qualities associated with any of the Signs. What matters in Astrology are the planets.

And to make things even easier, you don’t even have to learn about all of the planets. Once you understand your relationship with the seven visible or “Personal” planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn) you will be able to use Astrology for personal growth and guidance.

Are the Signs and the Outer Planets important? Of course they are. But they only have meaning when applied to the fundamental understanding of the seven Personal Planets.

Think of the seven planets as Archetypes. They are energetic patterns that exist inside of each of us, and each Archetype governs a different aspect of our experiences. The objective of this “human game” that we are playing is to get into right relationship with each of the Astrological Archetypes. The better our relationships with each of the Archetypes, the more enjoyable, exciting and fun our experience of life.

Down the road, we’ll explore the nature of reality, and the ups and downs of having a human experience. But for now, let me introduce you to the planets.

The Sun: The Hero

The Sun is the Archetype of the Hero. The Sun represents who we truly are—the “Big S” Self. We are each, ultimately, the Hero of our own Story. However, we must make a conscious choice to take that journey. The Sun represents our potential, but it’s our life’s journey to begin to fulfill that potential. Think of it this way: when Arthur pulled the sword from the stone, he was technically the rightful King of England; however, he had to embark on the Hero’s Journey in order to manifest that destiny.

The Sun relates to our personal standards of integrity. As we progress on our journeys, we discover the things that define us. While we are always at choice, and have absolute free will, certain options become less open because choosing those paths would deny the truth of who we are.

Saturn: The Judge

Saturn is the Archetype of the Judge. Saturn rules the world of form. Inherent in form are boundaries, restrictions and limitations. When we first encounter Saturn, it is an unfamiliar and unpleasant experience. Saturn is our first experience of the illusion of separation: there are things outside of us that limit and restrict us. We encounter Saturn as external authority figures who impose and enforce the Law: first as our parents and teachers, and later as our bosses, and the elected officials that support and maintain the integrity of society.

Stepping into right relationship with Saturn is critical, because so long as we are out of alignment with Saturn and perceive authority as being outside of ourselves, we give away our power. Saturn’s purpose is to help us to reclaim our power, and to guide us to discover our personal standards of integrity. When we reclaim our power by accepting accountability for our actions and our choices, our experience of authority and of Saturn shifts dramatically. And from this place of power (and only from this place of personal accountability and right relationship with the rules and laws as they currently exist), we discover that as we were the ones who created the rules in the first place, we also have the power to change them.

The Moon: The Reflection

The Moon is our emotional guidance system. All we need do in order to master this game and reach Enlightenment is to avoid experiences and thoughts that feel unpleasant and choose experiences and thoughts that feel good. If we simply choose the best-feeling thought available to us at any given time, we will easily navigate the hall of mirrors and return to the Source.

The challenge for most of us, however, is that rather than recognizing uncomfortable and unpleasant feelings as indications that we’re facing the wrong direction, we begin to believe that they are real, and that we must take action to protect ourselves from these experiences. All the Moon can do is reflect; she is powerless to stop Mars from getting involved.

Mars: The Warrior

Mars is the Archetype of the Warrior—the part of ourselves that fights, defends, and goes after the things that we want. But we’re probably more familiar with Mars by another name: the ego. Mars is the “little s” self. Not to put too fine a point on it, but Mars is who you think you are. Mars (and the ego) lives and operates from the third Chakra, which is the energy center located at the Solar Plexus. It is essential that we learn how to get into right relationship with Mars, because only then can we begin to experience the Truth that we are infinitely more than our egos. While our egos support us while we have this human experience, we must remember that while the ego is limited, we are not.

Mars and the ego develop in response to the painful and unpleasant emotions we encounter through the Moon. Mars wants to protect and defend against pain, and is incapable of realizing that by focusing on the pain and “defending” against it, we spend far more time in that unpleasant experience than is necessary.

Venus: The Beloved

Venus is the Archetype of the Beloved. The real objective of the Hero’s Journey is to encounter and embrace The Beloved. Venus is what provides the sweetness and the satisfaction to life. On a practical level, Venus is how we give and receive love and appreciation, and this is how most of us know Venus. But Venus is far more than that. Venus represents our Core Values—the eternal qualities of the Divine that we are inspired to pursue, encounter, embody and express. These Values include Abundance, Balance, Beauty, Freedom, Harmony, Joy, Love, Order, Peace, Power, Wisdom and Unity. Because these qualities are aspects of All That Is, they can never be found outside of ourselves. The true Hero’s Journey is an inner quest, that leads us to the realization of the Truth that we are the Beloved, and that which we seek is the essence of who we are.

Mercury: The Storyteller

Mercury is the Archetype of the Storyteller. We frequently take Mercury for granted, dismissing Mercury as how we communicate, but we do so at our own peril. Mercury is far more important than that. Mercury is the Storyteller, and everything we experience—the entirety of this “little r” reality—is a story. Mercury is in charge of our experience of realty. Things are real because we tell ourselves they are—or more specifically, because Mercury tells us that they are.

The story we experience is so powerful that we get lost in it and forget that there is a Storyteller. We would do well to remember that Mercury is also the Liar. Nothing we experience in this “little r” reality is Real. It’s all story. When we step into right relationship with Mercury, we are able to choose what story we tell. We can shift from the “little s” story that keeps us small and separate, to the “Big S” Story that is the Hero’s Journey that calls us to our Greatness.

Jupiter: The Dreamer

Finally, we have Jupiter. Jupiter is the Archetype of the Dreamer. Our Dreams are how we grow and expand, and these are the areas of influence of Jupiter. Jupiter is in charge of our dreams, our imagination, and our faith. Faith is a critical element. Imagination is creative because we have faith that the things we hold in our imagination will manifest. Without faith, imagination becomes fantasy, which has no power and comes from Victim Consciousness. Imagination feels empowering; fantasy, although often a temporary distraction from pain, leaves us feeling worse because our lack of faith tells us that our fantasies will never become a part of our reality.

Jupiter is also the Context to Mercury’s Content. When we expand the context, the meaning of the content changes. Jupiter is how we develop the perspective on our stories so that we can begin to influence them consciously.

Stay Tuned!

In the coming weeks, we’ll take a closer look at each of the Astrological Archetypes and explore how to begin to step into right relationship with them.

How to Learn Astrology (Despite Years of Lessons)

2009-08-03T20:54:00.000-07:00

I’ve always wanted to be able to play the piano. I actually took piano lessons for eleven years, and was rather accomplished at playing, and yet I never learned how to just sit down at the piano and play. I told myself that I just never learned how to sight read, or that I never spent enough time learning music theory.

Over the past twenty-five years, I’ve resolved multiple times to learn how to play piano, because I miss it. I’ve tried various online classes to learn music theory. I’ve purchased music theory for dummies (and idiots) books. I even bought a book I remember my mother using years ago, called “How to Play Piano (Despite Years of Lessons)."

I still can’t sit down at a piano and just play.

The other day, I was watching television, and came across a program on PBS. The title was something like How to Play Piano in a Flash. The host explained that the traditional methods of learning piano are geared to creating classical pianists. Most people don’t want to be a classical pianist. Most people want to be able to sit down and make music.

Making music, he explained, does not involve any of the skills or theories or techniques that I spent eleven years practicing. All you have to do is to master a few simple building blocks and suddenly, you’re able to play the songs you always wanted to play.

I was absolutely fascinated by this demonstration. And what impressed me the most was how few notes were played. Even when he got a bit fancy, I recognized that he was using the same simple chords over and over again.

And I realized that the way most people learn to play piano is the way that most people learn astrology.

Most people study astrology. They read books, and memorize interpretations. They learn theory. They practice technique. And if they stick with it long enough, they can probably sit down with a chart and hammer out some kind of an interpretation in the same way that after eleven years of piano lessons I could sit down with some sheet music and hammer out a song: slow, tedious, halting, and not particularly enjoyable.

While the “traditional” path to learning astrology has merit, it’s analogous to the path to becoming a classical pianist. Most people don’t want to be a classical pianist; they just want to sit down and make music. And most people don’t want to become professional astrologers; they just want to be able to understand how to use their birth chart for personal growth and guidance.

If this sounds like you, then you’re reading the right blog.

Just as it’s possible to create wonderful music using simple techniques and short-cuts, it’s possible to become fluent in the language of astrology in the same way. If you’re new to astrology, this will be easy for you. If you’re not new to astrology, you may find it more challenging, because you’ll be asked to set aside the vast majority of the things that you “know” already. However, I think you’ll be quite impressed with how much astrological “music” you can make with just the most basic “notes.” This is the essence and the power of REAL Astrology!

So, stay tuned! There’s a lot more to come!

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2009-08-02T21:17:00.000-07:00

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Welcome to The Real Astrology Blog!

2009-08-02T20:58:00.000-07:00

Welcome to The Real Astrology Blog! I'm just getting things started here, so pardon my dust. This blog will take the place of the Astrology Updates eZine, so follow it, and become a fan on Facebook to get the latest updates, articles, and astrological information from me, Kevin B. Burk.