Alacazem: Astrology & Metaphysics

Alacazem            by Cynthia Zehm         September 18 to 25, 2014

       Visible planets: Morning: Jupiter     Evening: Mercury, Mars, Saturn

    Beauty, Bounty, Balance, Peace, Harmony, Love and Joy...

This week we move from end-of-summer Virgo into beginning-of-fall Libra, as well as see the initiation of the year’s Libra lunar month. The Sun moves from virginal Virgo into lovely Libra on September 22^nd @ 8:29 pm MDT and marks the official end of summer and beginning of autumn. The Libra new Moon takes place on September 24^th  @ 12:14 am MDT.

As the celestial balancing act of Spring Equinox, the Autumnal Equinox is the only other day in our annual journey around the Sun when the hours of sunlight and no sunlight are of equal length - days of harmonic, cosmic equilibrium - and days when the Sun rises and sets on the horizon exactly east and west.

At Spring Equinox we are moving toward longer days and shorter nights. Autumn Equinox heralds the opposite, shorter days and longer nights. In spring we “spring forward.”  We get out and about, escape the confines of winter, take action and get busy doing what we want to do. Spring is the time of Aries, when we go into a “me first” mode, tap into our instinctive sense of survival and go in pursuit. We are predators in search of prey.

Autumn balances fiery Aries with Libra air. Both energies are inherently self-oriented and self-aware, seeking the fulfillment of desire. In Aries the focus is on self-fulfillment via individuality. In Libra the focus is on self-fulfillment via relationship. Aries fire is quick to ignite, impulsive and explosive. Libra air is ethereal, balanced and strategic. Both initiate, lead and create.

Just as the increasing daylight of spring [Aries] pushes out of hearth and home, encourages exploration and the discovery of the world outside our inner and outer doors, the increasing darkness of autumn [Libra] pushes us inside. The Libra sun-time pulls at our heartstrings. We are instinctively looking for partnership, someone with whom to pair and share, chop or gather firewood, help pay the cost of heating bills and keep us warm throughout the cold days and long nights of winter.

And bless us all, it’s Indian Summer in Colorado. How lucky to be alive and living here. Cerulean blue skies, golden leaves kissed with orange, peach and crimson, green fields streaked with blonde, crisp mornings and warm-hot days.

Happy Autumn. May your season be filled with beauty, bounty, balance, peace, harmony, love and joy.

Aries (Mar. 20-Apr. 19) Autumn Equinox and a Libra New Moon pave the way for a week of great import and impact regarding relationships. Take a good look at the condition and quality of your commitments and responsibilities where others are concerned. Are you giving and receiving? Have you given or taken too much? Are financial equations in balance? This month is all about equality, serenity and peace. Work to make it real.

Taurus (Apr. 19-May 20) Saturn in Scorpio continues to shape and restructure your important relationships. The ups and downs, challenges and changes of those nearest and dearest are more or less controlling or strongly influencing your personal decisions and choices. Funny thing, you are accepting it all with grace and good will. Being of service and helping others is a good thing. Just make sure you are also taking good care of you.

Gemini (May 20-June 20) As the Sun moves from Virgo into Libra and autumn begins, the Twins experience a subtle but major shift of heart. Transforming landscapes invoke soul and spirit; feelings buried deep within awaken to the miracle life and death, the world is charged with magic. This is a powerfully creative time of year for you. Release the child artist within. Romp in the forest, dance in the light. You are here, so be here now.

Cancer (June 20-July 22) Internal fires smolder with the life and death of the forest. Leaves change in color, harvest tables are set with abundance and you feel yourself scurrying to take it all in. Setting store for winter, gathering firewood and/or simply taking stock of yourself and your life are themes. Daily inventories and nightly reviews are phenomenally rich and rewarding, after all, you are the most important person in your life.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 22) Generous Jupiter in Leo continues to shower love, opportunity and abundance upon your golden path of life. Take it all in and focus on balance as autumn equinox and the Libra new Moon favor serenity, peace and equanimity. Relationships – all relationships – take centerstage. It’s time to recognize the interconnectedness of all things and beings. The stars, the planets, the bears and bees; respect it all. You are it, all of it.

Virgo (Aug. 22-Sep. 22) Velvety vamp and vixen Venus in Virgo seduces you with her sultry charm and sexual charisma as nights grow colder and days shorten. Autumn Equinox heralds the end of birthdays and initiates a zodiac month of personal responsibility and self-fueled effort. Focus on inner and outer resources. Call upon your angels and commit to a daily practice of productivity and right action. Love thyself and true love will follow.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 22) Your happy birthday month arrives on Sept. 22^nd @ 8:29 pm MDT, when the Sun enters Libra and the magically transformational season of autumn begins. Congratulations on another revolution around the Sun! You are here and the year ahead promises manifestation of many cherished hopes and dreams, if you are willing to work for them. But you must do the work. It’s up to you, ready or not!

Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 21) Your modern planetary ruler Pluto resumes forward motion in Capricorn on Autumn Equinox, Sept. 22^nd, ending its yearly retrograde phase. This heralds a giant step forward personally, as well as a profound leap of consciousness regarding perception, thought and communication. Relationships on every level are in line for this beneficial new awareness. Keep your eyes, heart and mind open for business.

Sagittarius (Nov. 21-Dec. 20) With motivator Mars now moving through the early degrees of Sagittarius, you may feel the first tremors of earth-shaking desire rumbling beneath the surface of everyday, daily consciousness. Pay attention to what you feel, as it’s a clue to understanding the workings of subconscious, deeply buried soul wants and needs. Follow your intuition and instincts. Knowing what you want is the golden key to manifesting it.

Capricorn (Dec. 20-Jan. 19) Pluto, the mythic god of death and rebirth, resumes forward motion in your sign on Autumn Equinox. Congratulations! You have reached the destination on a long, karmic journey and are now ready to go back home. Take a good, long look at where you are today and prepare to meet and greet the people you passed along the way on your return. Cultivate equal rights, co-creation and peace-making rather than control and domination.

Aquarius (Jan. 19-Feb. 18) Libra endeavors to establish mutually beneficial relationships – physical, emotional and spiritual – that do not compromise or inhibit one’s essential self and values. It’s all about equality and balance, cooperation and equanimity. A worthy bodhisattva in the battle for peace and non-violence, you find solace and support in the Libra body, mind and spirit. Dance the dance, walk the talk and stand strong amidst the winds of change.

Pisces (Feb. 18-Mar. 20) The autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere signals a time of increasing darkness and inner development. As one who understands the workings of soul and spirit, Pisces is well-attuned to and in karmic harmony with the energies and forces in orb at this time of year.  That said; don’t be surprised if you are suddenly in demand as a counselor, psychologist or spiritual advisor. Simply do your best.

Alacazem            by Cynthia Zehm          September 11 to 18, 2014

Visible planets: Morning: Venus, Jupiter    Evening: Mercury, Mars, Saturn

Value systems are awesome and amazing. Each of us has one. Carved out of childhood experience and exposure, family influence, friendships and fate, we shape our likes and dislikes, attractions and repulsions, visions and dreams. Like trees, we establish roots, grow branches and leaves, blossom and hope to bear fruit. Whether or not we do, depends upon our genetics and our luck. Destiny? Nature or nurture, a time-honored puzzle. Are we born with the DNA that determines our fate, or does it all depend on what we are born into and what happens to us along the way?

My value system brought me to Telluride and southwestern Colorado, where I have stayed. Something about this faraway land called to me, hit me deep, heart and soul. The first time I saw it, I knew I would come back. I knew I would live here, and do my best to stay. 

I love my home and my husband, my life in the wild West End. I moved to Telluride from Denver in September of 1977 and September will forever bring me back to then, the day I arrived in my 1968 Volvo with the help of my Mom and Dad. All my stuff packed in the back of my Father’s pickup truck. Ready to start my life. Age 24 and hoping to bear fruit. Hoping to create, find the love of my life, fulfill my dreams and follow my destiny.

In those days, there was no Telluride Blues and Brews Festival. Only Film and Bluegrass. But September was destined for greatness. Magnificent music and metamorphic microbrews amidst the magic of the San Juan summer’s end. Mystical mountains and golden aspen. Blazing sunshine and deep blue skies. Shimmering stars and silver moonlight. A peace flag shining above a happy crowd…tipis standing tall…

Today, I am blessed and happy. My heart is grateful and I feel the grace of humility; the grace of living in the hands of Mother Nature. I value my life, my home and my family, my freedom. And above it all, I value peace, inner and outer.  So today, I pray for peace.

May we find our way through the forests and follow our hearts…on the road of Happy Destiny.

Aries (Mar. 20-Apr. 19) Mental Mercury recently in Libra and love-planet Venus recently in Virgo has you thinking about others and wanting to make yourself more attractive to them. Whether it’s an existing relationship or a new one – romantic, professional or social – you will get what you want by focusing on your own good health. Self-improvement is a magically charmed way for the world to fall in love with you.

Taurus (Apr. 19-May 20) Your ongoing spiritual transformation – for several years now – continues as summer morphs into autumn. Pay attention to feelings in your heart – current and recent – and unlock the golden door to your own personal health and happiness. The needs of others has kept you busy and occupied lately, but giving is good. Satisfaction and rewards come in mysterious packages. Trust in goodness and keep doing good.

Gemini (May 20-June 20) The last full week of summer awakens bittersweet memories and connects you to some rather deep; powerful feelings that you are most often are out-of-touch with. An evocative song, film, encounter or Mother Earth experience opens the heart and ignites the soul. Hang on and enjoy the ride. We are sparks of divinity, miracles of creation. You have just opened the door to mystery and magic. Dance in the light.

Cancer (June  21-July 20) As motivator Mars moves into Sagittarius, your solar 6^th house of health and well-being, you may discover a powerful, newborn desire to improve yourself and your life. Body, mind and spirit awaken to the responsibility of self-care. Healthy boundaries, daily routines, a plan of action and a program you can stick to are tools for crafting a way of life that sustains, enhances and builds strength and confidence.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 22) Busy-ness continues as you see - more and more each day - the power and impact of personal responsibility. You have been motivated to take care of what you need to take care of regarding home, family and personal self for a couple years. Now it’s starting to pay off and get fun as the world opens it’s jewel-laden doors to love, romance and creativity. Focus and attention are powerful tools. Use them wisely.

Virgo (Aug. 22-Sep. 22) The last week of your birthday month awards you with the beauty and bounty of Venus in her most luscious, lavishing shape and form. The world awaits you with plenty of good will and happy hunting, all you need is an open heart filled with arrows of love, peace and joy. There is no room or reason for negative, down-in-the-dumps thinking and being. We create reality with perceptions, words and actions. Create what you want.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 22) Thoughts and ideas run through your head and bounce off your heart as mentally charged Mercury sparks a bounty of fiery internal dialogs that serve to awaken spirit and soul. Personal self-alignment requires understanding the importance of value systems and the power of desire. It also takes an uninhibited act of surrender. To get in sync with the Universe, lay down your weapons and ride the peace train to the stars.

Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 21) Mars is moving out of charismatic, seductive Scorpio and into happy-go-lucky Sagittarius this week, ending a two-year stint in your sign. Congratulations! You have been awakened to a plethora of personal wants, needs and desires. You have also been given the gift of self-fueled action when it comes to pursuing what you find attractive. Now it’s time to be responsible, stable and productive. Lucky you!

Sagittarius (Nov. 21-Dec. 20) Following a couple months of some rather subterranean, seemingly invisible energies and adversaries working against you, the etheric skies have cleared and you are facing a new dawn. Motivator Mars is moving into your sign this week and will remain there through October. This is a fabulous time to gather up courage and will, identify what you want and pursue it. Physical health is good, honor it with self care.

Capricorn (Dec. 20-Jan. 19) You may feel a subtle shift of will and desire, a lessening of hope and a semi-mysterious undercurrent of doubt when it comes to people who may be working to undermine your success or process of goal achievement. Rather than fight with fear, embrace faith and practice self-love. Take care of yourself and do your best work, maintain focus. It really doesn’t matter what others think; it’s their business, not yours.

Aquarius (Jan. 19-Feb. 18) Fleet-footed messenger and metaphysical magician Mercury, recently a guest in your solar 9^th house of expanding horizons and higher-self awareness, opens doors of enhanced perception and elevated perspective when it comes to your daily and ultimate world view. Remember the power of positive thinking and focus on solutions rather than problems. Necessity is the mother of invention, invent!

Pisces (Feb. 18-Mar. 20) Numinous Neptune and chiromancer Chiron retrograde in early Pisces may tint your days with a slightly out-of-focus, mystical view of the world and people in it. You may be idealizing or demonizing, picking up on a variety of energies and feeling generally intuitive regarding the emotions and feelings of others. Wounds and healing are themes. As always, forgiveness, compassion and acceptance are allies.



Alacazem            by Cynthia Zehm       September 4 to 11, 2014

Visible planets: Morning: Venus, Jupiter    Evening: Mercury, Mars, Saturn

                 May it be Beautiful, Bountiful and Bright...

Happy Harvest Moon! [September 8th @ 7:38 pm MDT 16 degrees 19 mintues Virgo/Pisces] May it be beautiful, bountiful and bright…

Aries (Mar. 20-Apr. 19) This week’s Virgo/Pisces full Moon brings issues of self-esteem and self-healing to a head. The last few years of your life have been a raucous, wild ride. The function has been to awaken you spiritually, get you out of dysfunctional ruts and let go of what no longer serves you. And it has not been easy. Today you understand the power of personal responsibility and the freedom of honesty. Be kind and gentle with the process.

Taurus (Apr. 19-May 20) As your heart continues to open, you are poignantly aware of when you feel compelled to close it. Some people and their behaviors just don’t work for you and your proclivity for facts takes precedent over diplomacy. The ongoing restructuring of your most important relationships continues; your help to others is greatly appreciated.  The long-term rewards here are great, even if you cannot see it now.

Gemini (May 20-June 20) The Virgo Sun and Pisces Moon oppose each other this week in the September Harvest Moon. As the fifth of five “Super Moons” this year, be certain you will feel the powerful tidal forces – literally and figuratively – of this lunation. Family, self and others square off, along with career demands and responsibilities, in a dynamic dance of priority.  Focus on health, cultivate compassion and simply do the best you can.

Cancer (June 20-July 22) The magnetic magic of the Harvest Moon evokes spirit, stimulates memories and brings a bountiful basket of emotions to the surface of your conscious awareness. Pay attention to what you think and feel. Is this reality – what you can see, smell and touch - or are there hidden, invisible forces at work in the Universe much more powerful than you know today? Surrender to the mystery. Relax and let it flow.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 22) Body, mind, spirit is the mantra for the week. Everything and everyone is interconnected, we all affect each and every second, moment and hour with our thoughts, words and deeds. Harvest “super” Moon energy puts you in the driver’s seat when it comes to results. For every action, there is an equal and like reaction. Life is an equation and karma is cause and effect. Do your best and pass the test.

Virgo (Aug. 22-Sep. 22) Voluptuous Venus moves into Virgo this week just prior to the full Harvest Moon in your sign, adding hugs to kisses and love to romance. Lucky you. Guardian angels, invisible forces and even people you may have thought were enemies are ready now to help and assist you. Forgiveness and compassion are themes, so start first with you. Next tune in to internal dialogs.  Change the channel if you don’t like the show.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 22) Messenger Mercury now moving through Libra may have your mind racing with plans or projects of self-directed desire and will. Yes, it’s true you are multi-talented and full of creative ideas, just simply lack the time to bring it all to fruition. Good news is that self-disciplined Saturn in your solar 2^nd house of manifestation keeps you on task. You’re getting more done than you realize. Ask the angels, follow the light.

Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 21) With two masculine planets and two feminine asteroids now transiting Scorpio, these days are blessed with a certain type of primal power and cosmic balance that can be tapped and channeled to create and manifest your highest hopes and dreams. The golden keys are acceptance, responsibility, desire, self-discipline, honesty, right action, patience, kindness, nurturing, self-care, compassion and perseverance. Good luck!

Sagittarius (Nov. 21-Dec. 20) The September Harvest Moon takes place in the Virgo-Pisces polarity, creating a mutable T-square to your Sun-sign. This translates as a dynamic week of personal acceptance and responsibility, when and where you may be asked to face and take care of what you most need to face and take care of. Rather than dread and avoid it, embrace it. Focus on the facts and embrace the freedom of living in the solution.

Capricorn (Dec. 20-Jan. 19) Autumn beckons as the full Harvest “super” Moon comes to fruition in the Virgo-Pisces polarity, your solar 3^rd/9^th house axis of perception, communication, learning, teaching, exploring and discovering. Your higher and lower selves dance in the light of both physical and spiritual worlds. Practice the art of second attention - take note of your first thought and make the second one more enlightened. It’s an art you can master.

Aquarius (Jan. 19-Feb. 18) Your most intimate relationships and the most important people in your life emerge physically, spiritually or emotionally this week as the Harvest Moon grows full. Money and finances are also at issue as you inventory assets, consider investments, scrutinize spending and gather resources. This is an excellent time for balancing the books and moving realistically toward your goals.

Pisces (Feb. 18-Mar. 20) The annual Harvest Moon takes place as the Sun crosses your solar chart’s western celestial horizon, the symbolic point of ascension regarding you and others. Partnership, marriage, commitments and the outside world in general glisten and glow before you, heart and soul. Seasonal changes evoke powerful feelings and poignant emotions, powerful memories of love and loss. Embrace it all. Live and love.



Alacazem      by Cynthia Zehm       August 28 to September 4, 2014

Visible planets: Morning: Venus, Jupiter      Evening: Mercury, Mars, Saturn

Organic Tomatoes, Yellow Schoolbuses & the TFF

Last Tuesday I drove to Telluride with 10 pounds of ripe organic heirloom tomatoes for Marta, the stunning Icelandic diva who runs the Telluride Bistro - my favorite Italian restaurant in that cool, swanky, magnificently beautiful town – manifesting my desire to become a participating, contributing member of the locally grown, farm-to-table movement going on in little towns and big cities all across America today.  Sweet!

It’s "film festival" week in Telluride and the streets were busy; parking at a premium, people wearing festival passes  – obviously with things to do and places to go - and police bearing badges, with marking sticks and ticket pads, keeping the peace and maintaining order. [No parking in the middle of the street without a permit, even if you are unloading tomatoes for a restaurant and there’s no place close to park. The good news – the officer let me finish and didn’t give me a ticket, since I only had three boxes to deliver and just one left to go. Thank you sir!]

On my way up, I noticed several yellow-orange school buses on the road. Yellowing aspen dotted the mountainsides and bright yellow sunflowers danced along the highway. Everywhere I saw yellows and golds tinted with orange, awash on a canvas of green. The first colors of autumn. And, with the yellow school buses back on the road, the sign of summer’s end, I could feel the seasons turn.

Earlier that morning I opened a text from my niece Devan with a photo of her 5-year-old son Grant holding a sign “My First Day of Kindergarten.” He didn’t exactly look happy, but he was trying. Milestones and memories, the stuff late August and early September are made of. The same scholastic stuff that Virgo is made of - schoolbooks, schoolrooms, students and teachers, new school clothes, fresh-scrubbed faces, school supplies and football practice. Brand new notebooks filled with clean white paper, subject dividers and three-holed, zippered plastic bags for pens, pencils and erasers. New backpacks and tennis shoes, socks and underwear. “Am I good enough?”

The first day of school. Nervous tension, veiled excitement and questions of the unknown. A brand new school year stretched out before us. Lots of hope and plenty of anticipation. It’s a time we come back to ourselves, look within and take inventory - inside and out. We evaluate who we are and what we want. What we can do. We hope for the best. We want to be good and do good. Have a good year. Be recognized for our gifts and talents. Do the best we can.

Good luck, good hope, good feelings, good doings and good work. And our best to the Telluride Film Festival and all the people, places and things that come and go with it. Including Marta and my organic heirloom tomatoes. Viva la vida fresca! Body, mind and spirit.

Aries (Mar. 20-Apr. 19) The Virgo zodiac month favors all aspects and efforts of self-improvement, so why not do whatever you can to be happy, healthy and well? And with ruler Mars and self-disciplined Saturn in high-focus Scorpio, it’s the perfect time to make “hay.” Mental Mercury’s entrance into peace-loving, partner-oriented Libra encourages pairing and sharing. Practice health and wellness in your relationships, one at a time.

Taurus (Apr. 19-May 20) The waxing Harvest Moon shimmers rays of love and romance into your heart and soul. Childhood innocence, fun and frolic appeal to those willing to feel and find the joy within and all around them. Open body, mind and spirit to the beauty and bounty of nature. Create and express, laugh and live each and every moment of your precious life. Great pleasure is found close to home. Hug and kiss, count your blessings.

Gemini (May 20-June 20) As multi-faceted, messenger Mercury moves into peace-and-love Libra – your solar 5^th house of fun and romance – you may find yourself thinking about the people, places and pastimes that fuel your heart and spark your soul. Embrace the magic of the creative force, the fire of desire and the mystic power of inspiration. Calm your mind, still internal dialogs and awaken to the natural grandeur of the Universe.

Cancer (June 20-July 22) As the waxing Moon marches toward fruition, awaken to the mystical, magical transformation of the world outside your door. Mother Nature is changing her clothing, donning the colors of autumn. Discarding summer greens for shades of gold, peach and crimson, she invites you to shape-shift the inner terrain of heart and soul. Follow her lead, invoke the goddess and feel the metamorphic power of spiritual change.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 22) With voluptuous Venus moving through the last degrees of Leo, you can see and feel the awesome nurturing power of Mother Nature’s love and beauty all around you. And with generous giant Jupiter also in Leo, the abundant bounty of your personal world and resources is stunning and phenomenal. Recognize the unlimited potential of the Universe and cultivate the grace of gratitude. Good works, good words, good life.

Virgo (Aug. 22-Sep. 22) Happy birthdays continue as candles are lit and cakes are cut. Rejoice in life as you celebrate another revolution around the Sun. After all, this is your time to shimmer and shine, cultivate goodness and embrace the beauty and bounty of nature. Happiness is an inside job and you have everything you need to be happy. Birthdays herald rebirth, treat yourself with gentle, loving-kindness. Every moment of every day.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 22) Labor Day weekend is an unofficial end to summer. Schools are in session and the languid, lazy, luscious days of sizzling heat and warm-hot starry nights shape-shift into autumn. And in the name of seasonal change, you surrender to the magic of the Virgo sun-time and go within. This is a magically transformational time of year for you, a time to embrace the power of soul and spirit. Follow the goddess, feel the power.

Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 21) As the world has recently observed and recognized your natural beauty and inherent creative abilities, you may be feeling rather lucky and blessed. You feel rather capable and confident these days, willing to show and share your gifts with others. Good news, with jovial, good-luck planet Jupiter in for a yearlong stay, the stars are aligned for success. The trick is seeing the magic and embracing it.

Sagittarius (Nov. 21-Dec. 20) As mutable Virgo morphs summer into autumn, the Archer looks within. Cooling days and colder nights favor the inner work of soul and spirit, attention to physical wellness and overall efforts and activities of self-improvement and self-betterment. Great gains come to those willing to do the work, and it works if you work it. Whatever you do, wherever you do, cultivate a daily practice. Body, mind and spirit.

Capricorn (Dec. 20-Jan. 19) Higher ground and higher-self awareness, actions and activities put you on a path of health, wealth and wellness. Soar like an eagle and view your life from a higher perspective. What type of energy are you giving and receiving? Where is your focus and attention? The world is a fascinating place, filled with options and opportunities. Consider the possibility of a daily spiritual practice. What’s holding you back?

Aquarius (Jan. 19-Feb. 18) Transforming landscapes, seasonal harvests and cooling temperatures awaken deep, inner desires that are asleep or lay dormant at other times of year. A practical realist at heart, instincts tell you that summer’s end heralds autumn, the time to gather what you need for winter. A full pantry and a good partner are on that list. Feel your feelings, and follow your heart. Remain open and willing to pair and share.

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20) Schoolbooks and school bells, lessons and learning morph into your conscious awareness. Whether it’s you or your children, friends or family, you know that daily schedules and activities have changed. The final days of summer loom on the horizon as we walk toward autumn. Virgo marks the second half of your solar year, a time to focus on commitment and marriage. Accept responsibiity for your part and be the best you can be.

Alacazem            by Cynthia Zehm            August 21 to 28, 2014

Visible planets: Morning: Venus, Jupiter             Evening: Mars, Saturn

Welcome to the solar month of Virgo, the 6^th sign of the tropical zodiac, one of the most poignant, productive, point-on energies of the year. Virgo takes place as summer morphs into fall, when cooling evenings and crisp mountain mornings invoke feelings of seasonal change. Autumn is in the air.

Verdant greens slowly surrender to shades of blonde; streaks of rust and auburn line roadways and river corridors as bright yellow sunflowers dance against the backdrop of our cerulean blue Colorado skies. Virgo is the official season of harvest, when our instincts tell us to prepare for winter; get busy and do what we need to do while the days are still warm and long.

And with that comes a mix of joy and sorrow, gratitude and grace. We want to grasp the moment, seize the day and immerse ourselves in the pure beauty and bounty of nature as our Mother Earth changes her garments, discarding her emeralds, lime, avocado, jades and olives for brilliant golds, peaches, orange, ginger and purple. And every now and then we see the sparkling rubies of her gold and crimson crown, the reds of summer’s end, the last dramatic jewels of harvest.

And, of course, by nature, the pure and pristine symbol of the Virgo zodiac month is the one and only virgin, the keeper of the flame, the goddess of purity, potential and promised passion. The Virgo virgin is often depicted with a shaft of wheat and a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables from harvest. A feminine mystical icon of holistic healing and herbal medicine, the Virgo virgin symbolizes the interconnectedness of body, mind and spirit. It is our inner and outer health and wellness; our mental, physical, spiritual, emotional and psychological well-being – the metaphysical magic of transformation as a conscious process of daily practice. As the opposite polarity of watery, oceanic, soulful Pisces – the ultimate sign of Oneness – earthy Virgo is grounded and connected to the physical plane, a sister to the Mother Earth, a facilitator, helper and healer of suffering and sickness. She is willing to serve and sacrifice, an authentic curandera who accepts her role and responsibility as a virtual Mother to all.

May we find and follow our inner curandera, self-nurture, self-improve, and heal ourselves and others with good thoughts, good words and deeds, good work and – of course! – Good food! Happy season of Harvest y vaya con la diosa [go with the goddess.]

Aries (Mar. 20-Apr. 19) As the Sun moves into virtuous Virgo, you may feel the strong pull of self-improvement tugging at your heart and soul. Health is wealth and it’s time to embrace the power of love - for body, mind and spirit. Reality is perception and life is action. Recognize the supreme connection of doing the next right thing and living a magnificently rewarding, happy, healthy life. Virgo New Moon is the time to start.

Taurus (Apr. 19-May 20) Harvest season coincides with the Virgo zodiac month, your solar 5^th house of love and creative self-expression. It’s a time to feel and follow your heart, celebrate the beauty and bounty of life, have fun and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Children, grandchildren and the spirit of youth encourage you to laugh and play. Rekindle the flame of innocence. Explore new territory, ask questions, mile and be happy. You are here.

Gemini (May 20-June 20) Virgo New Moon energy turns attention to the dance of matter and spirit, the interplay of head and heart. It also aks us to look within and outside of self, determine what needs bolstering or improvement, and then go about doing the work to make it better. What is the best use of your time, energy and talent at this point in your life? Focus on efficient, effective efforts and actions. One day at a time.

Cancer (June 20-July 22) Another New Moon graces the heavens and shimmers in beauty above the western horizon in twilight. As always, Moonchildren are more sensitive than most to the phases and signs of their ruling celestial light. Lucky you! Time to start anew when it comes to the way you see and define the world and all life upon it. Then comes your relationship to it. Pay attention to perceptions and be impeccable with your word.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 22) The Virgo lunar month awards great gifts to those who accept life on life’s terms and take responsibility for their actions, words and deeds. Self-examination and self-review are also favored, why not take a personal inventory of what you have said and done at the end of every day? Right action and good works are a recipe for a healthy, happy, full-of-grace life. You can do it if you want to. Step by step, day by day.

Virgo (Aug. 22-Sep. 22) Your happy birthday month begins with a mystically charged, metaphysically rich new Moon in your sign, a heavenly portent to the year to come. The recipe for success includes a strong sense of spirit, the willingness to cultivate faith in the divine magic and miracles of life, as well as the practice of daily self-love, courage, compassion and forgiveness. Healing takes place within the heart, guided by angels.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 22) This week’s Virgo New Moon illuminates many paths to wellness and provides you with all the mystical maps and messages you need to navigate the trail. Take the time and energy you need to find a quiet, peaceful place in nature or personal sanctuary where you feel the presence of spirit. Ask for guidance and assistance and pay attention to what comes. Practice daily acts of loving kindness and stay on the path.

Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 21) Wise Saturn’s tight conjunction with headstrong Mars in Scorpio, square romantic Venus in passionate Leo [in tight trine to rebellious Uranus in me-first Aries] as the Sun and Moon come together in health-conscious Virgo paves the way for a lunar month of heartfelt healing and ultimate physical, emotional and spiritual liberation. Holistic happiness comes as you break free from limiting perceptions and beliefs.  Yes!

Sagittarius (Nov. 21-Dec. 20) Numinous Neptune and mystic Chiron in Pisces oppose the New Moon and Mercury in Virgo this week, emphasizing those areas of life and living where we need to incorporate a more holistic view and daily practice. Our deepest wounds can become our greatest teachers, gifts and pathways to wholeness. Pain – physical, emotional, spiritual - is a message that we need to heed. And, remember, love is the ultimate healer.

Capricorn (Dec. 20-Jan. 19) The power of love and the importance of healing are powerful themes of transformation and liberation as the Sun and Moon come together in Virgo this week. Mystical, metaphysical energies dance and dive with both visible and invisible force in the 3D material, physical world. Reality is a condition based on perception and definition, and individual belief, like God. Consider the power of health. And love.

Aquarius (Jan. 19-Feb. 18) As the Virgo New Moon opposes the fixed star Formlhaut – one of the four royal stars and heavenly sentinels of ancient Persia and Egypt – on its precessional path into Aquarius, you may feel a powerful, spiritual awakening. This is a rather transcendental experience, an open door to other worlds and dimensions, a place where material realities dissolve in the truth of spirit. Have fun, enjoy the ride.

Pisces (Feb. 18-Mar. 20) Virgo is the sign most concerned with integration and wholeness, the connection of health to wealth and the process by which we can achieve true happiness. Daily practice, work and service are essential to a happy, healthy life. Satisfaction comes via accomplishment, right action, love and laughter. And it’s all about relationships – to ourselves, to others, to the world. Body, mind and spirit. Integrate, practice and play.

Alacazem                by Cynthia Zehm             August 14 to 21, 2014

     Visible planets: Morning: Venus, Jupiter     Evening: Mars, Saturn  

   As Above, So Below...the Venus and Jupiter Dance of Love    

This week we have the awesome opportunity to view giant planet Jupiter and sister-to-earth planet Venus come together in a super-tight conjunction in the predawn eastern sky. This unusually close pairing of the third [Venus] and fourth [Jupiter] brightest celestial objects – the Sun and Moon rate first and second – in our solar system takes place on Monday morning, August 18^th, but watching these two magnificently bright planets pair up and dance on the mornings before and after that date promises to be a starwatcher’s delight. And for people with megazoom digital cameras - especially professional and amateur astronomers - it’s a veritable photo-optic dream.

There is nothing like witnessing the stellar beauty and grace of our ever-evolving Universe. It often happens by chance and with little effort. Other times we have to work for it, get up early or stay up late. And this is one of those times. For those of us willing to rise in darkness before dawn, in a hopefully cozy place where we have an unobstructed view of the northeastern horizon, it will be a very starry sky. Enjoy the show.

Aries (Mar. 20-Apr. 19) Venus and Jupiter conjunct in dramatic Leo – your solar 5^th house of romance – on Aug. 17^th in a wildfire of passion and desire. Love and creativity are themes as flames of love flicker in the embers of heart and soul. Experience the power and peace of acceptance as you cultivate compassion for yourself and others. Life is a miracle, enjoy the joy.

Taurus (Apr. 19-May 20) You need not go far to find love and happiness this week as voluptuous Venus and jovial Jupiter join force in your solar 4^th house of home and family. Take a deep breath and look around you. The world is a magnificent, magical place, full of mystery and miracles. Open your heart to the multi-faceted jewels of potential in our ever-expanding Universe.

Gemini (May 20-June 20) Leo symbolizes the expression of our individual light, the creative force and the divine spark within us all. Venus is love and beauty; Jupiter is the courageous, open heart of spirit. As all three energies come together in your solar 3^rd house of perception and definition, you may see and feel the world as you have never seen or felt it. Magic is real, embrace it.

Cancer (June 20-July 22) All things are possible, especially when it comes to love. And love is in the heart. The heart is where we find our compassion, acceptance, joy, passion and desire. Here we also feel pain, sorrow and loss. Life is a rich tapestry of experience; the road winds through valleys and ascends peaks. Embrace the fullness of it all; count your blessings, live the journey.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 22) Voluptuous Venus, now in Leo, embraces jovial giant Jupiter and opens your heart to the magnanimous power of love, in every size, shape and form. Your world glistens and glows with beauty, art and romance, igniting the creative spirit and expanding consciousness beyond physical, material limits. How did you get so lucky? Smile, laugh, and enjoy the joy!

Virgo (Aug. 22-Sep. 22) Metaphysical Mercury moves into Virgo this week for a quick, two-week stay, stimulating thought and prompting communication. Be open to new ideas and perceptions, think out of the box. The Universe seeks resolution and every problem can be solved, eventually. Patience and perseverance are allies. Ask your angels and trust what comes.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 22) The two planetary “benefics” – Venus and Jupiter – join force in lion-hearted Leo, your solar 11^th house of hopes and dreams, friends and fellowships. This portends a week of inspirational experience and far-reaching effects. Keep your feet on the ground, eyes to the skies and heart wide open as you move through the magic and mystery of life.

Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 21) With Mars moving ever-closer to its conjunction with Saturn in Scorpio on Aug. 25th, you may feel more motivated than ever to focus on and accomplish your goals. And with sweet Venus and good-luck Jupiter together in your solar 10^th house of achievement and recognition, the stars are aligned for success. Feel the gratitude, embrace the grace.

Sagittarius (Nov. 21-Dec. 20) Travel and exploration with sweet, attractive partners brings great pleasure and mind-expanding enlightenment to those willing to hit the road and follow the signs. Distant horizons and faraway places beckon discovery, it’s time for new vistas and higher perspectives. Release expectations; open your mind and heart to goodness. Enjoy the ride.

Capricorn (Dec. 20-Jan. 19) Romantic Venus has recently entered Leo to join the Sun and Jupiter there, turning up the heat and increasing the intensity of intimate pairings and sharings. Whether it’s sexual, emotional, financial, physical, psychological or mental, you can expect the dial to peg on passionate. Embrace spirit and focus on heartfelt love, peace and joy. Practice kindness.

Aquarius (Jan. 19-Feb. 18) The last week of the Leo zodiac month comes on an embracing, gentle breeze of passion, hope and inspiration. Sweet, romantic Venus and generous giant Jupiter unite in a dance of open-minded, openhearted trust, faith and love this week. Good things come via sharing and pairing; be calm, gentle and kind. Smile and laugh. Give and you shall receive.

Pisces (Feb. 18-Mar. 20) You may discover a diet, health routine or exciting way in which to enhance your life and self this week as expansive, enlightened Jupiter joins hands with beauty-loving Venus in your solar 6^th house of self-improvement. Remain open to higher-self spiritual practice and physically relaxing routines of exercise, such as meditation and yoga.

Alacazem           by Cynthia Zehm             August 7 to 14, 2014

           Visible planets: Morning: Venus                 Evening: Mars, Saturn

Passion, Heat & Sizzle, Nostalgia and Memories of the Leo Heart

I have to admit, I’ve been caught up in all the passion and heat of the Leo summer sizzle. And the Leo cross-quarter week super-electromagnetism was just right. A quick trip to Denver gave me a break from my ever-growing [weeds included] garden, daily cooking schedule, domestic chores and faraway country lifestyle. High country wildflowers and low country hayfields - glistening in the sun and shimmering in the rain – have graced my days and nights, but a trip over the Continental Divide to the land of my birth gave me a better perspective on the world at large.

I love to travel, and I love to stay home. I am torn between the comfort and solace of my peaceful, sweet, backyard home-on-the-range and the vibrant, up-to-the-minute, rich, racing lifestyle of the city. Art and culture, diversity, sports, color, chaos and cuisine.

I met my younger sister Karla, brother Jeff and nephew Blake for dinner at Maggiano’s Little Italy, one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the world. Shrimp scampi and fresh strawberry cheesecake amidst the company of lifelong companions - my family - sweet! I also rendezvoused with Molly - one of my favorite BFFs - for another Italian dinner at a restaurant in Hilltop - my childhood neighborhood - located in the old Aylard’s drugstore, where I used to go for lunch at the soda fountain in the 6^th grade with friends on Fridays, and buy candy bars a few years later walking home from Junior High school.

Molly dated my older brother Jeff in high school, went off to college at Yale and now lives in New Orleans, Louisiana – a place I love to visit. She works as an English professor at Tulane University, is a brilliant psychotherapist, scholar, author and my own spiritual advisor – lucky me! – and she is currently on sabbatical. She was visiting her folks and family in Denver, so it gave me [an extra] reason to go.We also had a chance to take a fast walk – and I do mean fast - through Washington Park, the place, at 16, where I attended my first “be in," saw Gracie Slick and the Jefferson Airplane perform “White Rabbit” and witnessed a plethora of hippies in tie-dye and bell-bottoms, smoking marijuana and wearing flowers in their hair. Summer 1968.

I also experienced a very special evening with my other sister Pam, her husband Johh and brother Jeff at the annual "Hilltop Party" hosted by a couple of my no-longer-here-on-Earth brother Nick's friends and high school classmates. It was there I saw several of the neighborhood boys I used to babysit, totally grown up now - ha! - and in their 50's. What a trip.And to top it off, the night before I left, I got to see my sweet niece Devan, her awesome husband Robert, and their darling, smart and loveable children Grant and Presley. She drove me to the site of their new home, a fabulous, magical place east of Boulder, an intriguing 60's ranch style house surrounded by giant grandfather spruce, gnarly apple trees and enormous broadleaf cottonwoods. Lots of work, lots of dreams...young and beautiful, good and willing to do what it takes to raise a strong, happy, healthy family. The circle of life...

Strolls down memory lane. Nostalgia and sweet sentiments of love. Here and there. Here and gone. I love the Leo zodiac month, the power of passion, the fire of desire, memories of youth and visions of love.

God bless and may the goddess of love, peace and joy be with you. Happy Leo Full Moon!

Aries (Mar.20-Aprl19) Every year, the Leo cross-quarter day and week is one of great potential and power, a time of electromagnetic pull. Taking place in your solar 4^th house of the heart, be prepared for plenty of heartfelt experiences and emotions. Remember that a wise warrior is one who takes pause in the face of fear. Right action is your ally and only the heart, the true heart, not the emotionally charged mind, makes the right choice.

Taurus (Apr. 19-May 20) A dynamic week presents itself and fills your heart with love. Align with the powerful Lion and cultivate the strength and courage of compassion. War is not the answer and peace-loving Bulls know that. Unfortunately, many others do not. You may find yourself involved with a family or close relationship that stretches your patience. Maintain equanimity amidst the passion. Lead by example, show the way.

Gemini (May 20-June 20) Leo cross-quarter passion, strength of heart and a willing spirit assist you in the journey upon which you are traveling. Body, mind and soul unite in a dance of mid-summer magic. Are you ready to enjoy the magnificence of live? Relax and let your imagination flow. Look for fairies; take time to watch a sunset, dance in the light of the Moon. You are a player and creator, one who loves the world. Enjoy the joy.

Cancer (June 20-July 22) The Leo-Aquarius full Moon is one of the year’s most exciting “party” lunations, a time when the love in our hearts pushes us out into the world to find romance, have fun and express our passions. And this one takes place during the Leo cross-quarter week, a time of extraordinary cosmic magnetism, so be prepared for power. Each one if us is special and unique, yet an equal part of the collective whole. Love the paradox.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 22) Happy birthdays continue as the brilliant Leo Sun and silver-lit Aquarius Moon oppose each other in a magnificent, magic mid-summer full Moon on August 10^th. Do not be surprised if you are called up and out into the social madness of fun and frolic. Fairies dance and romance glimmers as you see the exponential power of love. Embrace the Lion within and roar with passion. Enjoy the heat, share the bounty.

Virgo (Aug. 22-Sep. 22) Full Moons are oppositions and require balance. Leo symbolizes the expression of our individual light, the unique gifts we have to give to the world and the power of heartfelt love. This week, you may feel the divine spark of spirit ignite deep feelings of compassion and communion, calling you to surrender to the Great Mystery of life and death. Smile and know you are blessed. Cultivate patience and follow your heart.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 22) This week’s cross-quarter Full Moon forms a close T-square with Saturn in Scorpio, catalyzing the breakdown of long-standing patterns. Falling in your solar 2^nd house of personal responsibility and structural reality, you are willing and wanting to become your own taskmaster and authority. Focus, prioritize and maintain healthy boundaries. Dedication, discipline and integrity are allies. Just don’t forget to have fun!

Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 21) You may feel strongly pulled in one direction or another as the Sun and Moon oppose each other in the full Moon lunation of a powerful cross-quarter week. Stand your ground as you maintain the patience to let the water settle. Take a deep breath and examine motives as you move through the ever-changing emotional terrain of relationship. Cultivate courage and practice the art of compassion.

Sagittarius (Nov. 21-Dec. 20) A wild week presents itself and solar and lunar light illuminate the heart and soul of living life as a human here on planet Earth. Congratulations on your increasingly broad understanding of other’s faults and frailties. After all, we are all the same and different, no better and no worse. Pantheons and passions may appeal to you now; go for fun and fanfare as you maintain an even keel with indulgence. Be sweet and cool.

Capricorn (Dec. 20-Jan. 19) Moving with the groove and going with the flow may be challenging this week as celestial energies come together in a week of dynamic force and power. Fixed signs compel us to look at long-standing patterns – mental, physical, emotional and psychological – and face our fears regarding changing what no longer works. You may feel magnetically attracted to something or someone. Move in rhythm, follow your heart.

Aquarius (Jan. 19-Feb. 18) The Leo-Aquarius Moon combines with the dynamic force of a fixed-sign cross-quarter week for several days of heightened activity and electricity. Threatening skies, thunder, lightening and torrential rains are followed by shimmering rainbows and magnificent sunsets. Remember that no feelings are final, emotions are like the weather. Good fortune gives you the wisdom to accept life on life’s terms. Lucky you.

Pisces (Feb. 18-Mar. 20) Falling behind or jumping ahead, either one keeps you out of the present. Recognizing how you got to where you are today is important and creating via right action the future is essential to a happy, healthy life. This week, you may feel unusually in touch with celestial beings or angelic forces. Keep your eyes and heart open to the magic in and all around you. Surrender to the light and stay on the path.

Alacazem          by Cynthia Zehm             July 31 to August 7, 2014

       Visible planets: Morning: Venus                 Evening: Mars, Saturn

  The Magical Mystery of Heart: Happy Leo-Aquarius Full Moon

Here it is, the first week of August in southwestern Colorado. I see the first signs of impending autumn; a golden aspen here and there, blonde streaks and auburn tints in verdant green hayfields and tall, swaying grass heavy with seed, catching the light of the setting Sun.

I love summer and the way it gracefully ripens into fall. Bright yellow sunflowers and rose-kissed peaches, Olathe sweet corn and brilliantly colored zinnias. Harvesting garlic and tasting the first, unbelievably luscious  tomatoes of the season. We live an amazing life here in America, no matter what. Always the opportunity to do the right thing, get up and face the day with courage, strength and fortitude. Accept responsibility for our freedom and recognize how precious it is to happiness. Face ourselves in the mirror and know that we – each one of us individually - is the most impactful, important, powerful person in our life.

Leo reminds us that it’s time to be creative, to have fun, to follow our hearts. In the magical mystery of the heart, we find everything we need. Good luck and may the power and path of heart be your ally, guardian, advocate, angel and guiding light. And here’s to a beautiful, bountiful, happy full Leo-Aquarius Moon!

Aries (Mar. 20-Apr. 19) August begins with plenty of firepower, desire and will as the Sun in heart-ruled Leo and Mars in passionate Scorpio sharpen arrows of intention and encourage persistence in pursuit of goals. The main thing is to remain realistic, grounded and true to goodness in everything you do. Selfish motivations and ego-fueled agendas put you in the doghouse fast. Honesty, truth and right action are allies. Stay the course.

Taurus (Apr. 19-May 20) A powerful, super-charged fixed square involving generous Jupiter and masculine Mars is infused with spirit and will as the Leo Sun shines light upon issues of home, family and personal self. Physical and emotional security in your most important relationships are themes, as well as individual needs and wants. Do your best to be attentive to others while remaining true to self. Focus on the power of love and acceptance.

Gemini (May 20-June 20) The brilliant light of Leo sunshine illuminates perception and opens doors to seeing the world and others with more clarity and beauty than ever. Keep your eyes and heart open, magic and magnificence is all around you. Mid-summer nights and ethereal dreams dance in flower and song. Strong desires of intimate sharing may emerge as you feel Mother Nature’s awesome, seductive power. Embrace it all; you are here.

Cancer (June 20-July 22) Energy builds as the Earth approaches the annual Leo cross-quarter day of August 7^th and electromagnetism peaks. Add to the pull a dynamic Jupiter-Mars square in Leo-Scorpio, and it’s time to hold on tight and ride to the bell. Whatever happens and whomever you meet, recognize the power of personal choice. You and only you are living your life; responsibility is the greatest gift of freedom you can give. Smile and laugh. It’s all good.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 22) Happy birthdays celebrate another revolution around the Sun. Congratulations! Candles flicker and cakes are cut, it’s time to be the best you can be. And, hallelujah, this is your year to shimmer and shine. With jovial giant Jupiter in your corner, all you need is faith, love and gratitude. The rest will come. And, of course, natural goodness, honesty, integrity and fortitude help tremendously. Follow the light.

Virgo (Aug. 22-Sep. 22) Voluptuous Venus in nurturing Cancer encourages love and romance, inspiration and excitement via friends and friendship, common interests, sisterhoods, brotherhoods and fellowships. Whatever your color, shape, faith or preference, now is the time to accept others exactly as they are and see the common bonds and experiences that unite us all. Trust faith; seek divine guidance and practice compassion with yourself and others.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 22) Where are you going and what do you want? The long transit of “me first” Mars in Libra is over, leaving you with a very good idea of what you like and don’t like, what you want and do not want. Now it’s time to go about carving out a new structural reality, based on what you’ve learned about yourself and your desires. At first, it may seem daunting, but good luck Jupiter is there to help. Keep the faith, follow the dream.

Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 21) It’s a big week for the Scorpion as motivational Mars in your sign squares off in an electromagnetic dance of will and power with bigger-is-better Jupiter in fiery Leo. Just remember, it’s elemental. Fire under water creates steam and water on fire puts it out. Consider the dynamics and options. Finding a balance of will and desire is key here. Take a deep breath, pause and refrain from impulse. Simply do the next right thing.

Sagittarius (Nov. 21-Dec. 20) You may feel an uncomfortable snag in the river of life this week, as if something or someone is holding you back from pursuing your most cherished hopes and dreams. The good news is that angels are watching and waiting for you to call upon their guidance and assistance. The only requirement is letting go of your attachment to the outcome and trusting that the Universe will provide. Cultivate faith and go with the flow.

(Capricorn Dec. 20-Jan. 19) Passion, seduction and desire are themes as me-first Mars in charismatic Scorpio magnetically attracts a variety of paramours and lovers your way. Whether it is you or they, the recipe remains the same. Make sure you are honest and forthright when it comes to sexual engagement and emotional entanglement. Feel the power of love, pure motive and good intention. Open your heart and enjoy the heat.

Aquarius (Jan. 19-Feb. 18) A rather enticing, exciting and yet challenging week presents itself as planetary power in fiery Leo ignites passion and fuels action. Balance is the key here; take a good look at what you have to do, your commitments and responsibilities before taking that big risk or giant leap of faith. It’s not that you won’t make, chances are you will succeed with flying colors. It’s all about ego. Check motives and consider karma.

Pisces (Feb. 18-Mar. 20) As motivational Mars moves through the first degrees of fellow-water sign Scorpio and squares jovial, jolly Jupiter in Leo, open your heart and mind to the unlimited potential, possibilities and power of our ever-expanding Universe. What are your deepest desires, what sparkling jewels lie hidden beneath the multiple layers of past experience? Embrace the beauty and bounty within, trust in goodness and mine the gold.

 Alacazem                by Cynthia Zehm              July 24 to 31, 2014

     Visible planets: Morning: Mercury, Venus        Evening:  Mars, Saturn

   The Courage & Strength, Beauty & Bounty of the Leo Lion

The Lion, the proud, courageous king (or queen) of beasts. What a perfectly appropriate symbol for the fixed fire sign of Leo, the 5^th sign of the tropical zodiac, ruled by the Sun and blessed by the Moon.

The Leo sun-time takes place in the middle of summer, when flowers blossom, fruits ripen and hearts fill up with love.

Days are long and hot, nights are seductive and enchanting. Verdant greens blush with the first shades of autumn gold, grasses sway in graceful abandon and wild sunflowers pop up along ditches and highways. Afternoon clouds build and break with monsoon rain, dramatic lightening and rumbling thunder roll across mesas, dance on mountaintops and echo through the canyons. Shimmering rainbows paint magical arcs in glistening sunlight. It’s a very romantic time of year - a time to enjoy life in all its beauty and bounty.

And this week, on July 26^th @ 4:41 pm MDT, the Sun and Moon come together in the conjunction aspect of the Leo new Moon, initiating a lunar month of power and passion, drama and desire. As kings and queens of light and life, rulers of self and beings of consciousness, we are all being called upon to open our hearts, follow our bliss, create and recreate. It takes tons of courage and strength to love, to live, to face our fears and express our unique and special gifts to the world. Leo connects us to our inner child, encourages us to play and laugh, sing in the rain, dance in the moonlight and sleep under the stars. Good luck and may the power and grace, courage and strength, beauty and bounty of the Lion be with you. Have fun and live each and every moment of your precious life...

Aries (Mar. 20-Apr. 19) With the Sun and magnanimous Jupiter now transiting your solar 5^th house of love and sweet Venus in your solar 4^th house of home, family and personal self, you may be feeling more amorous and open to the possibilities of romance and creative pursuit. Open your heart and trust the goodness you find within and without. Others are more than willing to support your efforts of self-betterment and happiness.

Taurus (Apr. 19-May 20) With plenty of Leo energy in the ethers, and motivational Mars moving into your solar 7^th house of long term commitments, you may find yourself to be more courageous and forward regarding your intentions and desires in sharing and pairing. Saturn’s transit in this sector of your chart has forced you and others to take a realistic look at interactive roles and responsibilities. Now it’s all about action.

Gemini (May 20-June 20) Venus moving into your solar 2^nd house of personal talents and abilities enhances and encourages any and all creative expressions and pursuits, while Mars now entering Scorpio pushes you toward deeper intimacy in relationships. Perhaps it’s time to consider soul and spirit in your relationships. Are you feeling connected and close, or estranged and lost? Whatever the manifestation, be kind and gentle as you go.

Cancer (June 20-July 22) Voluptuous Venus – planet of love, art and beauty – moved into Cancer on July 19^th and will remain there until August 12^th. This celestial event heralds a month-long period of favor regarding romance, recreation and personal pleasure. Others are mysteriously and magnetically attracted to you, and it’s a perfect time to be as sweet and as you can be. Financial opportunities are also in the ethers. Just smile and be happy.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 22) As the Sun and Moon conjoin in Leo to initiate a fresh lunar cycle, look up into the magnificent night sky and count your lucky stars. Generous giant Jupiter has moved into your sign for a year of magic and magnanimity, asking you to open your heart, think positive and express your inherent, creative spirit. We are all artists, life is our canvas and it’s time to paint your Opus Magnus. Explore, expand and discover.

Virgo (Aug. 22-Sep. 22) Wrapping it up and starting anew are tandem themes for the week and upcoming lunar month. Venus in your solar 11^th house of hopes and dreams may deliver money or bring romance very close to heart and home. Stay attentive to details as you close deals and sign contracts. Mars now in Scorpio favors clear, concise discussions and communication. Be realistic, focus on progress and stay on the path.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 22) Motivator Mars moves from Libra into Scorpio just hours prior to the Sun and Moon conjunction on July 26^th in loyal, loving Leo. This translates as a subtle but distinct shift of personal energy and direction. Recent tests of stamina and strength have proven your intention and desire. Now it’s time for tenacity, focus and commitment. Embrace your natural artistic abilities and express them. Creativity thrives on love.

Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 21) A fresh new Moon in love-loving Leo initiates a lunar month of happy achievement and accomplishment, as long as you open your heart and mind to the many multi-faceted opportunities and options available to you now. A couple years of trials, tests and tribulations may have forced sacrifice or demanded a realistic, practical approach to life. Now you it’s time to settle down, count your blessings and go forth in beauty.

Sagittarius (Nov. 21-Dec. 20) Fire and air, water and earth. It’s all-elemental. Balance and resolution are inherent, natural qualities in our ever-expanding Universe, embrace the ebb and flow. Live and let live. Let go of your attachment to the outcome, lower your expectations and accept life on life’s terms. Stay focused as you do your chores, take care of business, love your children and stay in the moment. Cultivate faith, find and follow your angels.

Capricorn (Dec. 20-Jan. 19) The Leo sun time and new Moon shine light upon what lies hidden deep and buried within the soul and psyche. Intimate sharing, financial commitments, secrets and privacy are issues that emerge as summer blossoms in all its grandeur. Find a sanctuary or sacred space where you find solace, serenity and peace. Seek out the beauty of Mother Nature, and feel your heart. Romance glitters, share the beauty.

Aquarius (Jan. 19-Feb. 18) As the Sun moves through and Jupiter enters Leo, your solar 7^th house of partnership and marriage, you may feel more attracted to commitment than you have in years. Whether it’s a romantic relationship, a professional goal or personal project, recognize the necessity of focus and sacrifice for success. And just so happens, you have reached a point of maturity to make it happen. Good luck.

Pisces (Feb. 18-Mar. 20) As sweet love planet Venus moves into intuitive Cancer, you may feel more artistic, creative or romantic than you have in months. Hands down, it’s time to have fun, enjoy nature’s bounty and discover how fabulous life can be. Creativity is nurtured with love and encouragement and withers under fear and judgment. Surround yourself with inspiration, relax in beauty and let it flow. Open your heart.

Alacazem        by Cynthia Hansen Zehm                July 17 to 24, 2014

Visible planets: Morning: Mercury, Venus      Evening: Mars, Saturn

    Jupiter Thunderbolts Ignite the Wild, Passionate Fires of Leo

Giant planet Jupiter, a.k.a. the Great Benefic, moves from intuitive, feeling-oriented Cancer into creative, action-oriented Leo this week, ending its one-year transit through the zodiac’s first water sign. This event heralds a 12-month period that favors all things “Leo” – fabulous news for all those born from July 22 to August 22/23– and indicates that the happiest, healthiest people on the planet this year will be those who cultivate the love, generosity, open-hearted courage, passion and loyalty characteristic of the animal kingdom’s royal king and queen of beasts.

Today, in the modern astrological world, Jupiter is known as the planet of spiritual and social consciousness, exploration, discovery and faith. It rules individual and social belief systems, religion, religious doctrine and dogma, philosophy, philanthropy, politics and political ideology, foreign culture and travel. Jupiter is the planet of the higher mind and higher self, as opposed to messenger Mercury, the planet of the lower mind [i.e. our everyday conversations and learning, general communication, perception, thinking and thought] and lower self [the self that gets up and makes the bed, feeds the kids, pays the bills and figures out how to get from A to Z on any given day]. As the ancient, mythological god of gods and supreme ruler of heaven and earth, Jupiter [the Greek Zeus - god of thunder and lightening] has the divine, golden, metaphysical power that can bestow and beget good luck, good fortune and goodness to whatever or whomever it touches or chooses. And like lightening, it hits like a bolt out of the blue.

Whenever Jupiter moves from one sign into another, the world experiences a subtle, but major, shift in collective social and spiritual consciousness. The heavens and etheric field surrounding our Mother Earth begin emanating the energy and vibrations of the sign into which Jupiter has moved, sending sparks of higher consciousness and spiritual enlightenment to all those willing and open to receive it.

In Leo - a fixed fire sign ruled by the Sun - we will be given a myriad of muiti-faceted opportunities to follow our hearts, pursue romance, be creative, express ourselves artistically, find our passion, honor our friends and family, find love via trust and faith, smile and laugh, act like children, reconnect with our inner child, have fun, take pride in our appearance, cultivate beauty in ourselves and our surroundings, be the center of attention, show off a little here and there, do the next right thing, get excited, take risks and roar like a lion.

Courage and strength, excitement and grandeur, Leo is truly a power and passion that loves life. It’s time to open our hearts and shine like the Sun.

Aries (Mar. 20-Apr. 19) Big cosmic news! Giant planet Jupiter moves into fiery, passionate Leo on July 16^th for a yearlong stay. Center yourself in goodness and open your heart, beauty is in and all around you. Romantic pastimes and creative pursuits are favored over the next 12 months as the Greater Benefic moves through your solar 5^th house of love. Strength, courage and truth are allies. Be the best you can be. Simple and free.

Taurus (Apr. 19-May 20) You may find yourself expanding your domestic environment, welcoming a new addition to the family or traveling to be with those you love as over-the-rainbow planet Jupiter moves into your solar 4^th house of the home. This is a fortuitous time for healing childhood and/or emotional wounds; making amends to loved ones or simply moving forward with confidence in your personal life. Hope and faith are allies.

Gemini (May 20-June 20) You can look forward to a year of mental expansion and spiritual enrichment as inspirational Jupiter moves into your solar 3^rd house of perception, definition and understanding, Maintain an mind open and be willing to explore a variety of diverse perspectives, philosophies and cultures. Travel is an option and learning via the written word, media, life experience and interactive conversations are themes.

Cancer (June 20-July 22) Generous Jupiter exits steamy Cancer and enters fiery Leo this week, putting the finishing touches on a year of significant challenge, change and important choices.  As the first year of this 12-year cycle morphs into the second, count your blessings embrace the many natural gifts with which you were born. It’s time to move confidently into the present-moment, conscious creation of your magnificent life.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 22) Congratulations! You are entering the first phase of your recurring 12-year Jupiter cycle, a major and important cycle of personal expansion, exploration and opportunity. Prepare for a powerful shift of priorities, increasing optimism and periods of apparent good luck and good fortune. A positive attitude and an open heart are golden assets on the journey. Smile and be happy, life is good and getting better.

Virgo (Aug. 22-Sep. 22) Welcome to the mysterious, magical world of great good hope and mystic fortune. Jupiter, planet of guardian angels and spirit guides, is entering your solar 12^th house of the numinous and divine, illuminating a golden path to inner peace and universal oneness. Look for the signs and pay attention to information coming from invisible sources. Compassion, forgiveness and faith uplift and support you now. Stay on the path.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 22) Fire loves air and Leos love Libras, as air feeds fire and fire needs oxygen to flame. This simple fire and air equation translates as an upcoming year of enhanced passion, inspiration and spirit, a year of dreams coming true and hopes being realized. The powerful potential of magic and miracle surround you, but the door must be opened with the golden key of goodness, faith and right action. Follow the fire.

Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 21) Step by step and day by day, you are moving forward on life’s magical, enigmatic journey of responsibility and freedom. As you know, self-discipline and structure are golden keys to happiness, success and overall well-being. Your natural gifts of focus and tenacity are useful tools now, as sacrificial themes have proven worthy. Professional options increase and you are in demand. Make wise choices. Go forth.

Sagittarius (Nov. 21-Dec. 20) Fellow fire-sign Leo has been awarded with the benevolent, good luck and good fortune that only golden-hearted planet Jupiter can deliver. Why not enlist in the King of Beast’s army of bodhisattvas – spiritual warriors - in the battle of good vs. evil? As right-hand assistant and strategic advisor to royalty, lead by example and embrace the power of attraction, rather than promotion. Ride happy and live free.

Capricorn (Dec. 20-Jan. 19) You may feel mysteriously passionate and inspired by someone or something that attracts and compels you toward uncharted territories and foreign destinations. Emotional frontiers and boundaries, as well as those on the physical, material plane, beckon exploration. You feel stronger and more courageous than you have in years. A willing heart and an open mind take you exactly where you want and need to go. 

Aquarius (Jan. 19-Feb. 18) As our solar system’s largest planet enters Leo, your opposite sign, and begins its year-long transit through your solar 7^th house of commitment and marriage, you may experience an exhilarating thrill and feelings of excitement when it comes to sharing and pairing. One way or another, you are more willing to explore the options, benefits and potential of long-term responsibility. Check it out and enjoy the R&D.

Pisces (Feb. 18-Mar. 20) The shift from Jupiter in fertile Cancer – your solar 5^th house of romantic pastimes and creative pursuit – into passionate Leo – your solar 6^th house of work, service and self-improvement, may feel at first like you’ve pulled the plug on fun or let the air out of your balloon. However, you are actually somewhat relieved. There is so much job security, and ultimate joy, in the rewarding work of healing. Body, mind and spirit.



Alacazem            by Cynthia Zehm                    July 10 to 17, 2014

Visible planets: Morning: Mercury, Venus         Evening:  Mars, Saturn

   Love, Light, Laughter & Lessons of July's full "Guru" Moon

In India, the full Moon of July is known as the “guru Moon” and throughout the land people celebrate, pay homage and honor the lives and teachings of their gurus – past and present, living or dead, physically here on Earth or alive metaphysically in spirit. What a wonderful concept and holiday.

I will always remember the first time I heard about the “guru Moon.” I was sitting at the subterranean bar in Telluride’s Moon Gypsy Saloon, falling madly in love with the man who would turn out to be terribly wrong for me, an undeniably important piece of my cosmically fueled, evolutionary puzzle. Destiny. He was devastatingly handsome – charismatic and clever, funny, relaxed and sexy. His voice and laughter struck a chord deep within me. The way he smiled. The sound of his laughter. As if I knew him.  I could feel him.

I was 22 years old and full of romantic dreams and fantasies - like many girls that age - looking for Prince Charming. And there he was, incarnate, sitting right next to me, at a bar in a dramatically beautiful mountain town, far away from everything and everyone I knew and loved. It didn’t seem real. I was enchanted. It was my first encounter with a master magician of soul and spirit. And just as I felt myself being swept away, the bartender/owner happened to mention that the enormous full Moon shimmering moonbeams upon the valley floor was a “guru Moon.” My fate was sealed.

That night, under the flooding silver moonlight of the July full Moon, James Bond reached in and took my heart. And although things never worked out the way I thought I wanted them to – thank God - just like a guru, this velvet-gloved, volatile, virulent, violet-eyed Don Juan of soul and spirit, painfully and ecstatically, taught me about my own body, mind and spirit; my evolving soul, my life and myself. Expectation, hope and disappointment; strength, courage and gratitude. Personal responsibility and the power of emotions. Most important, coming of age, I learned about the seductive power of illusion.

So here we are, once again, under the enchanting spell of July’s magical full “guru” Moon. Let us pay homage to our teachers, celebrate our lessons, keep our eyes wide open and recognize that spiritual masters and teachers come in many shapes and sizes, costumes and disguises. Good luck and may we have the strength and courage to keep our hearts open and our spirits free. Happy “guru” Moon!

Aries (Mar. 20-Apr.) The dynamic, dramatic effects of this year’s non-stop grand cardinal cross continue with the July 12^th Cancer-Capricorn full Moon – our problems don’t and won’t go away until we make the necessary changes. Issues of personal responsibility and self-care are themes. Victim mentalities are like quicksand now. You are exactly where you are supposed to be. Freedom lives via acceptance, honesty and right action.

Taurus (Apr. 19-May 20) Awakening, enlightenment and change have been powerful themes now for a year or two. Lightening-quick Uranus in your solar 12^th house of past and present life karma flickers images and information through your mind and solar plexus like a projector of numinous light.  Open your spiritual toolbox and get out acceptance, compassion and forgiveness. Just make sure healthy boundaries and honesty are close by.

Gemini (May 20-June 20) Voluptuous Venus in Gemini trines a powerful stellium in diplomatic, peace-loving Libra as the Moon grows full this week. This translates as a come-and-go feeling of deep understanding and inner serenity regarding other people, places and things. Acceptance is your ally here. We cannot control the weather or change others. We can change how we react and act toward them. Balance the yin and yang, male and female.

Cancer (June 20-July 22) Full Moons bring light to darkness. On a metaphysical level, they illuminate what lies out of our conscious awareness; subconscious desires, hidden agendas, patterns of denial and/or suppressed emotions. As this lunation takes place in Cancer, it is especially potent for Moonchildren. Pay attention to what emerges within and without, inside and outside. Themes of self-care and personal responsibility are big.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 22) The Cancer-Capricorn polarity of this week’s full Moon falls on your solar 12^th and 6^th house axis, shining light upon the illuminating road of soul and spirit. Happiness is an inside job, but its creation comes via right action and good works. Clarity, self-discipline, sacrifice and focus must be balanced with self-care, self-nurturing and inner peace. Everyone needs to serve and be of service; give your gifts to the world.

Virgo (Aug. 22-Sep. 22) This week’s full Moon lunation highlights issues of care and responsibility, family relationships, parental roles and situations where we may feel torn between taking care of ourselves and giving to others. If you feel victimized, compromised, taken advantage of or unappreciated, take a good look at your physical and emotional boundaries. Get real, be practical and focus on the facts. Organize, prioritize and keep it clean.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 22) The Cancer-Capricorn full Moon marks an important turning point in Libra’s annual revolution around the Sun. A point of reckoning and right action regarding personal, family, social and professional relationships and responsibilities, it’s a time to see clearly into the dynamics of your heart and soul. Balance compassion, assistance and help with facts. Attract rather than promote, and simply lead by example.

Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 21) The Cancer-Capricorn lunar axis of the July 12^th full Moon favors inner reflection and process before taking action, and taking action may be exactly what you feel compelled to do. Balance is the key to success. Tap into your higher self, take the high road and view whatever you are concerned with from a higher perspective. Communicate, explore and discover. Feel your feelings and express your truth.

Sagittarius (Nov. 21-Dec. 20) While you are being called upon to show up, suit up and do the job, you may find yourself reluctant to sign up and commit. Examine your intentions and desires. Take a good look at the motives and needs of yourself and others. Also recognize the inherent transitory nature of all things, everything and everyone is in a constant state of transition and transformation. Focus on the present moment, do your best.

Capricorn (Dec. 20-Jan. 19) Life is full and getting fuller. The long-lasting, ongoing grand cardinal cross in orb continues to push and pull, press and progress you through life’s many doors, rooms and windows. And this week, the full Moon illuminates the hidden hallways, backdoor basements and dark dungeons of body, mind and soul. Rather than shudder and run, face and embrace the fear. Feel, heal and follow the light of truth.

Aquarius (Jan. 19-Feb. 18) On July 16^th generous giant planet Jupiter will move from Cancer into Leo, your opposite sign and solar 7^th house of long-term relationships and commitments. This is the classic “marriage” transit and heralds a year of auspicious opportunity and involvement regarding others. Smile and breathe deep. You stand on the precipice of great, fortuitous sharing and pairing. In the meantime, ask the angels and practice prayer.

Pisces (Feb. 18-Mar. 20) A rather sweet and steamy full Moon rises above the mountains and valleys of your heart and soul this week. Cancer-Capricorn lunations manifest each year as a bi-annual balancing dance of romance and reality, illusion and fact regarding issues of love and creativity as well as your own personal hopes and dreams. It’s a big picture and the highest perspective gives you the greatest view. Take your time and trust what comes.

Alacazem               by Cynthia Zehm                   July 3 to 10, 2014

Visible planets: Morning: Mercury, Venus      Evening: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn

Happy Independence Day! Here we are, the 4^th of July and it’s 100% summer. In honor of Mom, home and apple pie, we experience Americana in all its glory. Flags and fireworks, parades, barbeques and water. We take a moment to feel what it means to each and every one of us to be an American, and the Cancer zodiac month is all about feeling our feelings. It is here we embrace the deep nurturing power of our true Mother, the Mother Earth, and feel whatever we feel about “home and family.” There is often a poignant yearning and romantic longing evoked during these days and times, complete with memories of childhood, youth, our earliest hopes and dreams. It’s a time to be soft and sweet, relax and take it all in. Honor thy Mother, love thy self and thy life.

Also this week, we will experience the occultations of both Mars and Saturn by the Moon. On Saturday July 5^th @ 7:30 pm MDT, the Moon will eclipse Mars and on Monday July 7^th @ 8:12 pm the Moon will eclipse Saturn. Although both eclipses take place in Colorado before sunset, by early twilight we will be able to see the unusually close conjunction of these two planets with the Moon. Just look to the western southwest sky and find the Moon. The bright “evening stars” right next to the Moon on both nights are Mars (July 5th) and Saturn (July 7th).

As we celebrate our certain inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, may we also feel the great honor it is to be living here on this beautiful, bountiful planet Earth, count our blessings and “Live each and every moment of our precious life.” – Lise Gausman.  Peace, Lise. Thank you for your love and light.

Aries (Mar. 20-Apr. 19) The Moon eclipses both Mars and Saturn this week, adding and extra dose of emotion to your will, desires, self-discipline and life lessons. If you find yourself flaring up or getting angry at someone due to issues of power and/or authority, calm your jets and settle down. You are far better off with patience, silence and discernment. Focus on the facts and open to the perspectives and wisdom of experience.

Taurus (Apr. 19-May 20) Mercury direct and two planetary eclipses add up to a week of relationship interaction and communication. Saturn still retrograde in your solar 7^th house of commitment and marriage continues to prune the bush where others are concerned. You are simply no longer attracted to superficial, phony baloney or untrustworthy, unreliable people. Take it slow, release from the outcome and just follow your intuition.

Gemini (May 20-June 20) As you move through the first zodiac month of your solar year, and enter your second, breathe deep and cultivate strength of heart. It’s time to accept total responsibility for the condition of your life and relationships. This is an incredible act of self-empowerment and one you will not regret. Understanding your supremely important part in your own life is magic. And after all, you are a magician.

Cancer (June 20-July 21) As our nation celebrates its day of birth, Moonchildren also celebrate another revolution around the Sun. Congratulations! You are a loving, living, breathing part and particle of the entire Universe and Cosmos. Welcome to your world! And you are busy! People and places, ideas and concepts, love and laughter, life is full! Jupiter has awarded you with golden opportunities this year. Follow the yellow brick road.

Leo (July 22-Aug. 22) Flags and fireworks, Mom, home and apple pie are the accouterments of Independence Day.  And Lions love it all. Indulge yourself in patriotic sentiment, sweet love and starry nights as much as possible. Romance is in the air. Just make sure you keep a handle on your emotions; refrain from illusionary ideals and unrealistic expectations.  A little sugar goes a long way in making lemonade out of lemons.

Virgo (Aug. 22-Sep. 22) Mercury resumes forward motion on July 1^st and Virgins can celebrate the liberation from confusion and doubt that often accompanies these recurring 3-week planetary phases. You may find things are suddenly falling into place, solutions emerge and situations in stasis are starting to move forward. As momentum builds, maintain as steady, practical, realistic pace. Cross your t’s and dot your i’s. Proof read your life.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 22) A delicate, slender crescent Moon eclipses Mars in Libra this weekend, shimmering rays of cosmic courage and celestial passion down upon your body and soul. Strength of heart and personal will are themes. Look for guardian angels and spirit guides amidst the magic of twilight, dance in the glow of sunset and embrace the power of now. You are capable, responsible and willing. Stay on the path, follow the light.

Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 21) On July 7^th the Moon eclipses Saturn in Scorpio, infusing the ethers with a blend of celestial ecstasy and earth-centered, time-honored wisdom. This is an unusually unique and powerful time for combining intuition and feelings with facts and realities. Keep a clear head and open your heart. The Universe is filled with unlimited potential and possibility. Identify desires and clarify intentions. It’s magic.

Sagittarius (Nov. 21-Dec. 20) Living and loving a life of freedom and independence is one of your favorite pastimes. And everyone knows that it’s almost impossible to pin you down. The free-spirited Archer, with bow and arrow pointed skyward, is the archetype of your essential spirit. Count your blessings and take a look around you. Consider the feelings of others this week and practice compassion. Empathy is your ally, embrace it.

Capricorn (Dec. 20-Jan. 19) You may find yourself celebrating Independence Day with a sense of renewed hope and unbridled passion, in spite of all that is wrong with the world. The down-home appeal of happy children, patriotic colors, picnics, flags and fireworks uplift the spirit and awaken your own laughing, loving inner child. Enjoy the festivities and soften to the sights and sounds of summer. Taste the sweetness, it’s all good.

Aquarius (Jan. 19-Feb. 18) Moving and grooving, getting out and about, seeing the sights and listening to the sounds of summer are themes this week and zodiac month. While there is plenty of job security at home on the ranch and in the workplace, remember that our high mountain summers are short. Explore your neighborhood, enjoy concerts in the park, swim in the river and eat plenty of watermelon. Have a good time, you can!

Pisces (Feb. 18-Mar. 20) Another summer of sizzle and fizzle is upon us, and it’s already the 4^th of July! As one of your favorite holidays, it comes with filled with fun and frolic. Warm days and enchanting nights encourage action and entice fantasy. Go ahead and indulge yourself, do something special, follow your heart. Romance beckons and love sparkles amidst flags and fireworks. Breathe deep and remember loved ones. Be here now.

Alacazem              by Cynthia Zehm           June 26 to July 3, 2014

Visible planets: Morning: Mercury, Venus        Evening: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn

     Sweet, Nurturing Cancer & the first New Moon of Summer

Here we are, on the brink of summer’s first New Moon. Taking place in sweet and nurturing Cancer, [on June 27th @ 2:08 am MDT], sign of the Mother, the Mother Earth and the Cosmic Womb from which all is created and born, Cancer energy is the heart and soul of where we come from and how we got to where we are today. It characterizes the emotional body and soul, our childhood, family of origin, home and environment in which we live or have lived. Mom, home and apple pie, the 4^th of July - our country and our birthright – all ruled by Cancer. And with this week’s Cancer New Moon, we start out once again on the road of feeling and healing; the road of self-care, self-nurturing and self-salvation. It is here we awaken to our inner life, our deepest wounds and darkness, as well as the illuminating light of spirit, creativity, joy and happiness. It is here we find strength and courage, embrace the child within and offer our young, innocent child the love, compassion, guidance, protection, security and kind-heartedness we may not have received as children. After all, what we can feel, we can heal…

And on a less personal, more universal plane, Stephanie Austin’s article in the June/July 2014 Mountain Astrologer on the June 27^th Cancer New Moon is superb. It is so good, in fact, that I’m compelled to quote her words rather than write my own.

“Nights are blackest on a New Moon; we can’t see the Moon since it rises and sets with the Sun. We’re in the dark, in the fertile Void from which all comes. Much is happening internally, below the surface of our awareness. It’s a time to pause, reflect and receive new light codes coming from the Cosmos. In modern Western societies, turning inward and being in the dark is not often encouraged, but when we do this, we are able to perceive new options and pathways…

Cancer is the sign most associated with feminine and the development of the emotional body, both of which have been brutally denigrated and suppressed in patriarchal times. Males have been deemed more valuable than females, logic more important than feelings, power more desirable than partnership…this New Moon calls us to make a perceptual shift in how we view ourselves, each other and the world.

Cancer is the first water sign and represents the realities of that element – that water and life are inseparable, on both a physical and metaphysical level. Water corresponds with feelings; both must flow. Stagnant water breeds disease, and repressed feelings can also make us ill. Feelings are intimately tied to our needs and inform us whether or not those needs are being met. We all have needs, not only for food and shelter, but also for creativity, community and much more. When we suppress our emotions, we block a flow of information vital to our well-being. Cut off from our source of knowing what we need and what is healthy for us, we become dependent on others for validation and direction. When we don’t know what we need, we can’t get what we want and we get lost in addictions and distractions of all kinds.”

May your inner goddess protect, guide and direct you toward outer serenity and inner peace. Blessings and good luck…

Aries (Mar. 20-Apr. 19) The first official week of summer is full of challenge, awakening, new territory and old patterns. While all you want to do is break out and be free, you must recognize that what you left undone must now be taken care of. Patience is not easy for “me first” adventurous Rams, but it is essential and absolutely imperative for success. Cultivate a one day at a time attitude and approach. Focus on finishing what you started.

Taurus (Apr. 19-May 20) Mercury retrograde in the sign it rules – Gemini – is always crazier and more complex than its backward transit through other signs. Because this effect is taking place in your solar 2^nd house of personal resources, money and values, you may be rethinking and reassessing exactly what you find meaningful and important to you in life. Relationships continue to teach lessons and call for patience. Good luck!

Gemini (May 20-June 20) If you’ve been feeling cuckoo, confused and like you are going in too many directions at once, forgetting what you’re doing and who you need to call, don’t feel like the Lone Ranger. Planetary aspects are complex these days and with your ruler Mercury retrograde in your sign, the sky is the limit. Just remember, words starting with the prefix “re” are favored. Revise, replace, return, reconnect, redo…and at the end of the day, relax!

Cancer (June 20-July 22) As your birthday month begins, take a deep breath and count your blessings. The Mother Earth is always here to comfort, guide and direct you. A natural life is the best life and if we lose touch with nature, ultimately, we get in trouble. Physical strength comes from good food, fresh air and exercise. Good spirit comes from living right, loving yourself and others and doing the next right thing, Happy, happy new year!

Leo (July 22-Aug. 22) Love planet Venus in your solar 11^th house of friends and fellowships, brotherhood and sisterhood, paves the way to a happy week of pleasure, romance and inspiration via interactions with people you admire and share common interest. Get out and about; seek camaraderie in groups and gatherings. Smile and keep your heart open to the new and different. Enjoy the magic of laughter and the sweetness of summer.

Virgo (Aug. 22-Sep. 22) The first full week of summer showers the Virgin with new hope and fresh visions for the future. Questions and relative confusion regarding relationships, finance and romance fade away in the brilliant light of awareness and the understanding that all is as it should be. Cultivate the calming sense of peace via meditation, prayer and acceptance. The last week of Mercury retrograde is a time to finish and fix. Do your best.

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 22) Mars continues its march through the middle degrees of Libra this week, stimulating activity and fueling fires of desire. Physical energy and strength are good now; just don’t overdo it when it comes to labor or late nights out. Balance is your keystone; make sure you get plenty of rest. Also find time to appreciate and enjoy the magnificent beauty of summer. Self-discipline comes easy, use it well and wisely.

Scorpio (Oct. 22-Nov. 21) Radical rebel planet Uranus in Aries challenges conservative master Saturn in Scorpio this week, demanding that you make a major attitude adjustment when it comes to yourself and others. Themes of self-importance, self-will and self-pity must be addressed. Remember the Buddhist dictum “do no harm” and examine whether or not you are living in accordance to it. For yourself and others. Make love not war.

Sagittarius (Nov. 21-Dec. 20) As Mercury stations direct and summer sizzles forward, relationships deepen and you open to the nurturing power of love. Embrace compassion and be kind and gentle with yourself and others. Warrior mentalities and behaviors must be softened and cushioned with wisdom. A true bodhisattva cultivates the courage of an open heart and takes off the armor of defense fueled by fear.

Capricorn (Dec. 20-Jan. 19) Summer solstice marks the beginning of the second half of your solar year, when your focus shifts from self to other. It’s a time of increasing social interaction and involvement, when you feel pulled up and out of your cocoon, into the world. Spread your wings and fly, there is much to discover and explore. Professional motivation continues, pursue career options and make connections. Keep the ball rolling.

Aquarius (Jan. 19-Feb. 18) Voluptuous Venus in your solar 5^th house of love and romance, creative expression and pursuit has you feeling more amorous and adventurous than usual. It’s time to have fun, laugh, enjoy life and explore your universe. Prepare yourself for a change of heart as Mercury resumes forward motion July 1^st – remain open and willing to follow your dreams. Spirits and angels surround you now. Tap into invisible forces.

Pisces (Feb. 18-Mar. 20) Family relationships and domestic issues do a turn-around as Mercury resumes forward motion in your solar 4^th house of the home. You may also feel powerful inner emotional shifts as new information illuminates situations and conditions of those closest to you. Feel the power of love in and all around you. Follow your heart.