beeden96

[beeden96]

A thought inspired by Ibn Arabi (who was inspired by the Quran)

Since there is nothing other than God, and there is no distinction between self and other:

When I am kind to others, I am being kind to myself. When I hurt others, I am hurting myself. It works the other way too. When I am kind to myself, I am being kind to others. When I hurt myself, I am hurting others.

This is so simple, and such a repeated moral refrain, to the point that it sounds like a metaphor. But I mean this very literally and concretely. It's not a "what goes around comes around" type of situation, the effects of any action are direct and immediate. And the principle is applicable to any action or attitude I could possibly have.

If I lie to someone I'm lying to myself. If I smile at someone I'm smiling at myself. If I brush my teeth I'm brushing everyone's teeth (this example is a little more abstract and yet equally literal). I think the important thing following from this insight is choosing to act with love (which is expressed in truth, respect, care, justice, kindness, etc.) in all the small moments of daily life.

Now I just have to try my best to act in accordance with this reality. No easy feat, but worthwhile.

#ibn arabi

[beeden96]

It's not the love you get that makes you feel whole, it's the love you give. Being a tender, reliable presence in the lives of others is incredibly stabilizing to the spirit.

To give without the expectation of reciprocity, and trust that I will be sustained regardless, is what makes me come alive.

[beeden96]

Petition to introduce words for the concepts/categories/social roles of "masculine female" and "feminine male" into the English language... I think this would solve a world of hurt

#yes I am a butch lesbian #yes I am transmasculine #but above all else I am simply a masculine female!

[beeden96]

God in all things, all things in God

I am a human. My body and identity are whole, a united being. When I talk about myself I am referring to the sum of my parts, which are greater than themselves.

But I am composed of smaller living beings. Inside me there are bacteria, and fungi. There are mites living on my face. My body is composed of individual cells. My organs carry out unique roles in my bodily ecosystem. My heart is alive. My stomach is alive. My brain is alive.

God, the Dao, the Universe, are whole the way I am whole. They are also composed of smaller parts. Everything exists in a fractal relationship to itself.

So to me there is little distinction between monotheism and polytheism. It's just what aspect of existence you are choosing to emphasize in a moment. Universal truth can be accessed in the worship of the spirit of a single river, and appreciation for the spirits of all things can be accessed in the worship of God as a single entity.

If God and the Universe are the same, and they exist as a single body, then worshipping the heart (or a lesser deity) is simply a focused appreciation of the whole. We would not understand or appreciate the meaning of a heart, if it did not exist in a broader context. What is the function of a heart, if not to pump blood to other places throughout the whole body? And what is the function of lungs, if not to provide oxygen for the blood pumped by the heart? Meaning arises and is defined through relationships.

Am I God to my cells? Do they worship me as the sum of their creation and existence? Do they know that I am in them, as much as they are in me?

And do I worship God or the Dao as the sum of my creation and existence with a community of others? Do I know that God is in me, as much as I am in God?

#god as in higher truth #god as in dao #god as in the way of life and death #it's fun to be embedded in the web of all things

[beeden96]

A sheep in shepherd's clothing.

This phrase came to me a few minutes ago. Journaling about how at different points in the past I have adopted a posture of "knowing" and "teaching" things to others, as though I am not at the same maturity level and on the same journey as they are.

#i'm literally just a sheep #what if sheep can learn how to govern their own behaviors and one day shepherds will become obsolete? #sheedom. sheep freedom. #sheep are kinda slay ngl

[beeden96]

Gumption is one of my favorite words

[beeden96]

When Hozier said

Do you know I could break beneath the weight? Of the goodness, love, I still carry for you That I'd walk so far just to take The injury of finally knowin' you

#i listened to this for the first time on a train ride and started crying because the ambiance took it way over the top #i was like wow he's so right... i do carry goodness. and am also injured.

[beeden96]

"Mindfulness" for mental health?

One of my hot takes is that "mindfulness" as a practice to reduce anxiety is not effective when divorced from its origins in Buddhist philosophy and cosmology.

In my personal experience, it is not possible to reduce anxiety through mindfulness unless the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path and Five Precepts, etc. are understood and internalized. Because without understanding attachment, clinging, the five aggregates, dependent origination, etc. there's no sufficient basis for a "mindfulness" practice to be effective and lead to insight.

I feel like the main thing Western "mindfulness" emphasizes is stillness or clearing the mind. But there is very rarely any explanation about attachment and its origins. By trying to "secularize" and "popularize" (and really, commodify) what are fundamentally Buddhist practices, the substance and efficacy of those practices is lost.

At best, all that these reduced forms of mindfulness can offer is a temporary feeling of calm. At worst, they can be used by corporations and other bad actors to try and pacify workers, and further the alienation of people from important emotions and feelings.

Because of the watered-down (and quite frankly annoying) way that "mindfulness" is presented in the West, it has taken me until very recently to understand what meditation and mindfulness actually mean, and what the point is. The point is not just to empty your mind. That is only the means to the end, which is generating insight into the fundamental nature of reality, practicing concentration, letting go of attachment, etc.

And "meditation" doesn't only refer to sitting completely still and focusing on the breath. That's just one form of meditation, among others which include but are not limited to chanting mantras, creating mandalas, moving mala beads, doing physical and breath exercises, etc.

Different traditions of Buddhism tend to emphasize different forms of meditation, with Zen emphasizing what we're most familiar with in the West (sitting still and breathing, emptying the mind) and Vajrayana traditions emphasizing the use of mantras and mandalas and other yogic practices. Buddhism isn't one uniform thing, there are many different strands and practices in many different parts of the world.

I hope that as more people are exposed to the idea of mindfulness, particularly as a strategy for managing mental health conditions, that they will look to the roots of the practice and find the larger context.

#hot take about mindfulness #mindfulness #meditation #buddhism #mental health #western mindfulness #the purpose of meditation #corporations #capitalism #commodification of mindfulness meditation

[beeden96]

Lessons for contentment in life and relationships, which I have been internalizing recently (drawing heavily from Daoist and Buddhist wisdom traditions)

Time is always shifting. The only moment that ever exists is the present, which resides in memory once it has moved away. We are all time-travelers, exploring the future and past as they come to life in every second.

Everything is impermanent. Everything is transient. Everything is always changing.

Acceptance of impermanence is the first step to releasing attachment and craving. Impermanence is difficult to accept and I have to re-accept this reality in every moment, as things continue to change. Time continues to move and every present moment is different than the last.

Attachment and craving (resulting from lack of insight/acceptance of the ephemeral nature of reality) are the root of anxiety and most forms of psychological distress I experience. They are the source of my desire for control. They are the reason I do not want to change and let go.

Releasing attachment does not mean alienating myself from my feelings and emotions. It does not mean avoiding emotions. It means accepting feelings and emotions as they are, without judgement, and with awareness that they are impermanent. Riding the waves, without clinging to them.

In relationships of all kinds, myself and the other person should choose each other freely. We should be together because we both want to, and we both continue to value each other's presence. If someone does not want to be in a relationship with me, or I don't want to be in a relationship with them, that is okay. There must be room for freedom and change. It is only healthy and fulfilling to be with someone who truly wants to be with me, as I am. And it is only healthy and fulfilling for someone to be with me if I truly want to be with them, as they are.

In relationships of all kinds, for the dynamic to be healthy and loving, I must accept the other person as they are in each moment, without judgement. I can support and encourage them on their own journey in life, but I cannot control them, and I should not try to have that kind of influence. Attempting to exercise power over others in the spirit of "helping them grow" is not helpful, it is very damaging to both people involved. To feel supported and loved, others need to experience my faith in their ability to be the authors of their own lives.

It is spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically dangerous to have sex with someone when genuine love and friendship are not present. Sex is an extension of the partnership, and should be an expression of deep care and commitment to the wellbeing of the other person. It is vulnerable and sacred. Having sex with someone to satisfy craving, to acquire validation, or from any place of insecurity, is not safe. When in a partnership, I should always be mindful of my motivations. I should not initiate or consent to sex unless I am already feeling secure and loved, and the other person feels that way too. If one or both of us are not feeling secure and loved, the cause of that needs to be resolved first. Additionally, sex should not be used as a replacement or stand-in for other forms of intimacy, vulnerability, and trust. It can and should be a natural outgrowth of the relationship, not a tool used to create artificial depth when the relationship is weak in a given moment. Cultivating a profound friendship will provide a solid foundation for everything else.

Attachment and craving go hand in hand with objectification. Instead of understanding another person as an ongoing process, craving necessitates thinking of them as an object to cling to, even if you are aware of their consciousness. It is very hard to be attached to a process, because it is always changing. But that is the reality of what everyone and everything is. Respecting that ongoing flow means that relationships are reinvented and reborn in every new moment of interaction. Therefore, letting go of attachment and craving also allows you to avoid stagnation and boredom. Everyone you know, as well as yourself, is changing and unfolding in every moment. Stay curious!

If anything in my life that I am holding onto is not compatible with my evolving self, and is restricting me from growth, then it is not for me anymore. I can let it go, to allow for new experiences and journeys to take place.

Knowing who I am, and maintaining awareness of myself in every present moment, I am free from the effects of others' perceptions of me. They can put me in boxes in their minds and speech, but I have nothing to prove. I just am. Who others think I am, does not change or reduce my self-knowledge. I do not defer to others on the subject of my existence. I also remain open to change, and am curious about who I will become as I am reborn in each moment.

Everything is connected and everything is sacred. All living and nonliving beings are reflections of myself, each other, and of the wider universe. We all form a web, and depend on each other. We are also always changing, and spinning new strands of connection while disintegrating others.

Trust in my belonging to this cosmic web, allows me to let go. Trust in my belonging to this cosmic web allows me to accept change, and release attachment. Trust in my belonging to this cosmic web allows me to have faith that I will be okay, and encourages me to remain flexible. I have trust that I am supported, and that I am never alone.

#life lessons #contentment #daoism #taoism #buddhism #thoughts #reflections #relationships #relationship advice #time #interdependence #things i've been thinking about lately #ideas that have given me comfort

[beeden96]

when gerard way sings "the broken, the beaten, and the damned" and when kermit the frog sings "the lovers, the dreamers, and me" they're talking about the same people btw

[beeden96]

Coraline as a Buddhist parable

Last night while I was writing down the Four Noble Truths with a brush pen in my sketchbook (I do stuff like that sometimes), my roommate put on the movie Coraline. This was entirely coincidental but I was struck by how much the themes of the movie relate to everything I've been learning recently about the core teachings of Buddhism.

There is a concept in Buddhism called "right view." It is the first practice in the Eightfold Path. I think of this as referring to a person's understanding and perception of reality. When a person does not see the true nature of reality, they are vulnerable to illusions and delusions, which cause cravings and excessive attachments.

The Other Mother in Coraline has buttons for eyes, and she sews buttons into the eyes of other people who she lures into her illusory reality. She literally lacks "right view," and she tries to force other people to share her distorted view. She craves, and clings, and she wants other people to cling to her, so she offers them the things they crave. She controls others because she is so attached to them.

The moment when all of this hit me was at the end of the movie, when the Other Mother screams, "Don't leave me! Don't leave me! I'll die without you!"

The reason it hit me is because I suddenly saw myself in her. I think a lot of people live like this without realizing it. I am one of those people, or at least I have been. This "I'll die without you!" sentiment can be applied to any kind of addiction. The "You" could be food, it could be alcohol, it could be sex, it could be attention from others, etc. The sentiment behind the Other Mother's words can be related to any pattern of compulsive thought or behavior. But in this movie, and in my own life, that theme most often plays out in relationships with other people. Codependence is a key word to describe the pattern, at least the way I understand it.

I'm trying to develop the inner strength and acceptance of reality, to move beyond that way of existing. It is really painful to live like that. And I found myself feeling sad for the Other Mother, who is trapped in a world (resulting at least in part from her lack of "right view") where she never has enough, is never satisfied, and is never happy. Things change, and everything is impermanent, so clinging and controlling is only ever going to end in heartbreak.

There is a concept in Buddhism of the hungry ghost. They are ghosts who are stuck in a state of constant craving and dissatisfaction, and they can be extremely destructive as a result. I think that the Other Mother is a perfect, almost textbook example of a hungry ghost. I mean, she would literally consume children because she was craving their love so much.

The word "love" here is interesting to me. The cat in Coraline says that the Other Mother loves Coraline and wants to be loved in return. But the word love in this context indicates an unhealthy, all-consuming obsession, rather than mutual respect and care. A really helpful and succinct explanation is actually right in the book (which the movie is based on). Neil Gaiman writes: "It was true. The other mother loved her. But she loved Coraline as a miser loves money, or a dragon loves its gold."

Now, turning my attention to Coraline herself: I see this movie as a story about how Coraline developed "right view" after undergoing a process of reckoning with her previous approach to life. She was unable to accept reality as it was. She was unhappy, and craved a different life with different parents and different friends and different material possessions. She wanted more. And in this way, she was very like the Other Mother.

As a storytelling device, the Other Mother is useful. Characters are useful for illustrating dynamics of growth and change over the course of a narrative. But I think that ultimately, the Other Mother was inside of Coraline, and a part of her. Just as she had been a part of all the other people living in that house who were dissatisfied with their lives. She is a symbol of the attachments and cravings that all people have, taken to their extreme but logical conclusion.

In the first part of the movie, Coraline resists change. She has just moved to a new place, and she has not accepted her new reality. She has trouble connecting with the people around her, who are either overworked and exhausted (her parents), or who she barely knows at all. Because her material and social conditions are not acceptable to her, and she does not yet have "right view," she develops cravings. She lives out those cravings in the fantasy world inhabited by the Other Mother.

Sometime in the early to middle part of the movie, Coraline goes to a shop with her Mom and asks for some colorful knitted gloves. She wants them because nobody else will have them and she thinks they look pretty and interesting. Her Mom says no. This makes Coraline angry, and causes her to go even deeper into the world inhabited by the Other Mother, because that is a world in which she believes her desires can be fulfilled.

Over time, she begins to understand that the Other Mother (this dissatisfied aspect of herself) is not a good person to hang around, and that her perspective on life is warped. She begins to see the dangers of living in delusion, and clinging to sense pleasures. She becomes a firsthand witness to the instability and violence this way of living can create.

So she lets go. She lets go of her expectations, she lets go of her cravings, and instead she decides to honor her love for her parents, which is based in mutual care, rather than obsession and excessive catering to desires. It is only once she lets go of any attachment to an outcome, that she begins to receive the things she originally wanted. Love, care, attention, and even some nice physical items. Her Mom gives her the gloves she wanted as a surprise gift. But now, she is wise enough to appreciate these things for what they are. She can be happy and present in the moment, appreciating the little things while they last.

#coraline #coraline jones #buddhism #addiction #codepency #four noble truths #eightfold path #right view #other mother #hungry ghost #buddhist #attachment #craving #neil gaiman

[beeden96]

Astrological observations about Taylor Swift and her fans

The two people in my life who are the most obsessed with Taylor Swift, have Moon conjunct Uranus in their birth charts. So I started wondering: is there something in Taylor's birth chart going on with Uranus and the Moon?

I just looked, and yes there is! She has Moon in Cancer opposite Uranus in Capricorn. If I had to guess, I would say the aspect is probably exact (her birth time isn't known but I am assuming she was born at 10:30 am, given my hunch about her Moon opposite Uranus, placing them in her 5th and 11th houses!)

Anyway- it appears that what Taylor does in her music is some kind of dynamic synthesis of Moon/Jupiter (which are conjunct in Cancer in the 5th in her chart) and Mercury/Uranus energies (those are conjunct in Capricorn, opposite Moon/Jupiter, in Capricorn in the 11th house). The two pairs of oppositions are Moon-Uranus and Jupiter-Mercury.

Another interesting thing, if I have her birth time correct, is that her Venus (Aquarius 12th house) is exactly sextile her Midheaven.

Right now, Pluto is ingressing into Aquarius, making a sextile to her Midheaven and a conjunction to her Venus. This coincides with her Eras tour, and I would say perhaps the height of her fame overall. This may be the peak of things.

I would think, given that Pluto is going to transit over her Ascendant and enter her 1st house to conjunct her North Node in the coming few decades, that she is about to transform as a person in a significant way.

I had a suspicion that Pluto entering Aquarius had something to do with her breakup with Joe Alwyn, but it isn't until now that I really see why. It's because her Venus is right there! Joe Alwyn's Saturn was/is at 1 Aquarius also, conjunct Taylor's Venus, so this commitment is part of what's getting shaken up by the Pluto transit.

This also definitely relates to her dating Matty Healy, who is highly Aquarian and Plutonian in some very controversial ways. I haven't looked at his birth chart, actually, but that is what I would expect to see from him.

.... Okay I looked, and yeah. He has Moon (conjunct Ascendant) opposite Pluto, and sesquiquadrate Uranus!! Assuming that his reported birth time of 7:30 am is correct, he also has Uranus in his 8th house quincunxing Jupiter in Gemini in the 1st, which would amplify/expand the Uranian/Aquarian components of his persona, especially since Gemini is an air sign as well.

So I would say this relationship with him is part of working through the Pluto transit to her Venus, and probably won't last after Pluto is beyond 2-ish degrees of Aquarius for good.

Anyway that's all, but I was just thinking about the connection that the Moon-Uranus people I know feel when it comes to her music, and as someone with Moon sextile Uranus myself, I can relate to an extent.

#taylor swift #eras tour #astrology #astrology observations #astro observations #birth chart #uranus #moon #uranus conjunct moon #uranus opposite moon #pluto in aquarius

[beeden96]

Chiron as guide to the Dao

I am used to seeing people in the astrological community describe Chiron as "the wounded healer" and stop there. But I have been reading more about Chiron, and doing a lot of introspective work about him, and I want to help everyone see him in a deeper, more well-rounded light.

For those who are familiar with Daoism, and the concept of the Dao, this post will be easier to grasp. But just as a brief description, Daoism (as illuminated in Daoist texts) is essentially the synthesized philosophy of much older Earth-based spiritual traditions in what is now known as China.

Because Daoism is a synthesized philosophy coming out of a much older animist tradition, and because all human societies and cultures once practiced animism (and most still do in various ways), it has a massive amount of resonance cross-culturally.

Anyway, back to Chiron. I see him as a mediator, a sage, who was a kindred spirit to LaoZi and other spiritual teachers. He taught those around him how to reconcile the different parts of their nature, how to integrate their base level instincts with their higher awareness. Astronomically, he is the mediator between the inner and outer planets, at the boundary of Saturn and Uranus.

In his lifetime, Chiron was trying to reconcile the differences and misunderstandings between centaurs (representing "nature," "instincts," "barbarism" etc.) and gods (representing "humanity," "rationality," "civilization" etc. ). He was trying to teach everyone that these concepts are a false dichotomy, and that it is possible for all of these things to coexist in a single form- after all, he was living proof!

His injury, which is why people refer to him as "the wounded healer" happened by accident during a fight between centaurs and gods. He was wounded in this battle specifically, but I think the story is just emblematic of the lifelong wound of rejection and misunderstanding he carried as a result of who he was, and the message he was trying to convey (which others were not always receptive to).

I find it important to say that Chiron was wounded by circumstance, and this myth takes place in a specific historical context, where ideas about "civilization" versus "barbarism" (read: empire versus indigeneity) were rapidly being formed. This is ancient Greece and Rome we're talking about here. This myth was being actively created through retellings in a context where the idea of someone like Chiron NOT being wounded was unimaginable.

I think that the difference between Chiron as an archetype, and Chiron in mythological/historical context, is really important. Because at least in theory, Chiron did not have to be wounded by that poisoned arrow. It was not an inevitable outcome. And I think that as a collective, humanity is now being faced with the task of integrating Chiron's awareness, and healing everyone who has been hurt in the process of global patriarchal/colonial/capitalist expansion (which is actually literally everyone, in one way or another). We have the option now, to re-write the story. To stop the wounding.

What if the whole "mind vs. body, humans vs. nature" thing didn't exist? What if we learned how to relate to ourselves and all other beings in a non-dominating, loving way? What would it mean to let go of control? What would it mean to allow the Dao to flow, to stop trying to escape change and death, and just surrender to being a part of everything? These lessons are what I believe Chiron is trying to teach.

I think that the most painful separation for most of us alive today, is the separation we have from our own humanity- as contextualized by, and produced by, our relationships to all other beings. This pain is amplified for those of us who are especially spiritually sensitive, and who are the targets of dominating systems.

Dominating systems, extractivist systems, do not understand the lessons of Chiron. They position themselves as gods, ruling over nature and taking what they please.

It has been argued that Chiron rules Virgo and the 6th house. I think this is an interesting and keen observation. Chiron, as mediator between "heaven and earth" so to speak, rules over the connection between the mundane and the divine. He is the bridge between the two, as Barbara Hand Clow says.

I am reminded of a Zen Buddhist saying (which I suspect has Daoist origins): "Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water.”

I am also reminded of the line in Everything Everywhere All At Once, where Ke Huy Quan's character says: "So, even though you have broken my heart yet again, I wanted to say, in another life I would have really liked just doing laundry and taxes with you."

...

So then, what to make of Chiron as an astrological object? He has not really been labeled, which I think is part of the beauty of his symbolism. Nobody can fully decide if he's a planetoid or asteroid or comet, or something else entirely. And that is okay. As an archetype, Chiron represents embodied forms that cannot be easily categorized.

In a natal chart, Chiron is said to represent a person's deepest wound, but also the area of life where they have the most wisdom. I think this is true, but I also want to move beyond the surface-level symbolism.

I have come to see Chiron as representing the area where a person can experience their greatest sense of connection or disconnection from the Dao. From "God" or the "ground of being" or whatever other words people use to describe it. This makes it extremely powerful as a gateway, and because it unleashes all of these fraught themes about mind vs. body, humans vs. nature, etc. it is not easy to deal with.

Chiron is a reminder of all the ways we are limited in our connection to the Dao. All the ways we struggle to let go of power and control, the ways we get ourselves stuck in material issues or stuck in spiritual issues and struggle to find the balance between them. Chiron is about balance- I think the greatest balancing act of all. Think of the Yin-Yang symbol, which represents the Dao.

It takes a high level of spiritual awareness, coupled with a high level of skill in navigating mundane reality, in order to fully integrate Chiron. But Chiron in itself is the guide to the mastery of those realms. So I would say that in order to reach that place, we have to listen to what Chiron is asking of us.

In a natal chart, I feel that Chiron represents our potential. Where we could find our greatest sense of integration, wisdom, and joyful embodiment. Where we could find our connection to the Dao. It's getting there in this world, where "gods" and "centaurs" are fighting, which is the major challenge. The process of getting there is usually painful. But it can also be full of love, and beautiful lessons that are profoundly healing. It depends on how you approach the themes that are being brought up.

In synastry, I think of Chiron contacts as areas where the other person is supporting or pushing us to get into deeper contact with the Dao. It depends on whether the aspect is hard or soft. I think hard aspects with Chiron can be difficult to wrangle when people are young, but they are likely the most transformative.

In a composite chart, I think Chiron represents the greatest potential of the relationship itself. It is the area where, if it is focused on, both people in the relationship would feel most connected to the Dao. Any aspects it makes, especially conjunctions, are representative of planetary energies that are key to Chiron's mission and what it is asking of us in that relationship.

Chiron says: "This is the most difficult thing for you to achieve, but it is the thing that will be the most rewarding if you can get there."

Chiron sees potential. It pushes people to their outer limits, tries to help them break through to the other side (past Saturn to Uranus), then guides them to come back and tell the tale.

Not everybody makes it back. Not everybody even accepts being pushed to their limits like that in the first place. But those who DO make it back, especially those who have willingly gone on the journey, are essential guides for the rest of us.

Chiron is intimately connected to ecology. To relationships, to polarities, and to balance. Now more than ever, the world needs people who are ready to harness the power of their natal Chirons, and to harness the power of Chiron in their composite charts with people who they have important relationships with.

We can't do this work on our own. Even though Chiron was often depicted as a loner, in reality he had a large network of friends, and he even had a wife! Her name is Chariklo- but that's a story for another time.

I want to encourage people to start seeing Chiron in a new light. Let's not fear him, and run away from the pain. The pain is trying to tell us something. If we are in pain because of Chiron, that is because he is highlighting an area of life where we are disconnected from the Dao. He is telling us to "chop wood, carry water" and to maintain spiritual awareness at the same time. He is telling us to recognize and respect our limits, while pushing them at the same time. Chiron is paradox. He is Yin and Yang. He is the relationship of opposites. If we allow these lessons to sink in, our area of immeasurable pain can transform into the area of our greatest ecstasy.

Let us learn!

#chiron #astrology #synastry #natal #composite chart #daoism #the dao #chiron in astrology #ecology #spirituality

[beeden96]

Family astrology observations

In me and my sister's composite charts with our mom, both charts have Moon conjunct North Node in the 2nd house. The Moon represents motherhood, and the North Node is destiny or what people are working towards in this lifetime. The 2nd house is about values/possessions but also about immediate family and the stability of the family. In addition to the 4th house I consider the 2nd house one of the houses related to a sense of "home." I see this as meaning that part of the destiny of our relationships with our mom, was/is being part of her family and being mothered by her.

In synastry, me and my sister have a Moon-Mercury conjunction double whammy. This means that her Mercury is conjunct my Moon, and my Mercury is conjunct her Moon as well. The signs are Pisces and Aries. As mentioned the Moon represents the mother, and Mercury represents siblings. So I see this as very directly meaning, "You are siblings from the same mother!" which is true.

In synastry, my mom's Moon is exactly conjunct my Saturn in my natal 12th house, very close to my Ascendant. I had a very long and rough birth (the labor lasted over 36 hours), which I think is definitely reflected in this aspect. Saturn slows things down/restricts things, the Ascendant represents the moment of birth, and the Moon is literally my mom in this case.

#family astrology #astrology observations #composite chart #synastry #family synastry #family composite chart #sister #mom #saturn #moon #north node #sibling astrology #parent astrology

[beeden96]

Harsh aspects to Saturn: indicating rebellious planets?

When people talk about Saturn making harsh aspects, they often talk about facing restriction and limitation in those areas of life.

I think that is true in some respects, for example having Mercury square Saturn can make thinking and communicating more difficult, and having Venus square Saturn can make giving and receiving love more difficult.

But another thing I have noticed is that the planets which are being harshly aspected by Saturn often rebel against it. For example, Venus square Saturn does not just indicate delays in your love life, it can also indicate Venus rebelling against all kinds of limits and restrictions- it's like Venus has an adversarial relationship with all of the things Saturn represents. My own natal Mercury is square Saturn, and I often find it really difficult to gather my thoughts, almost like my mind is refusing to organize itself. But Saturn is there to force my Mercury to create structure.

Saturn may block or suppress the activity and energy of certain planets in order to force them to deal with restrictions and develop a sense of discipline and responsibility in the way they operate.

I think the squares and oppositions (and also quincunxes, semisquares, etc.) indicate that Saturn is acting to teach the planet about boundaries, limitations, restrictions, responsibility, reliability, and discipline. It's like the planet does not have a firm enough grasp on those things, and does not naturally understand its own limitations, so Saturn is there to teach it about those limits. But the planet might not always like it!

Same thing with the houses, the house where you have Saturn is the area of life that probably requires the most discipline to master, and might be an area where you tend to get carried away, but will give you the greatest rewards when you get to that point of mastery.

Does this ring true for you, with harsh aspects to Saturn in your own natal chart?

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