O broken town of Bethlehem
your people long for peace but bombs and raids and barricades have brought them to their knees Yet still they long for justice and still they make their stand We see their tears and pray God hears 'Come heal this Holy Land'. When I think of New Orleans in September, three things come to mind- Saints football, Second Line Sundays, and WEDDING SEASON!! Here's a little glimpse of Gina and Kelly's wedding to give ya'll an idea of how we do things down here in the Big Easy. I recently found out about two men (with whom I am acquainted) that took advantage of their social positions to groom, seduce, and take advantage of friends in my community. I'm having a lot of feelings about it, so I needed to sit down and clear my head. If this is not your cup of tea, then by all means stop reading. Otherwise, here goes. ... Considering the precarity of online dating, getting to know someone through a social outlet or work environment seems wholesome by comparison, and yet most victims of sexual crimes know their abusers, see them often and have had regular interactions in environments which would otherwise be considered "safe". And while the word seduction sounds harmless under the assumption that there is mutual consent- we are, after all, humans with very natural instincts- there is a difference between honest consent and coercion as the result of emotional manipulation. But before I get ahead of myself, what is consent by today's standards? By definition it is the granting of agreement and permission. However, a proposition that is deceptive, harmful, or presumptuous renders that consent invalid. Consent is a moment to moment contract that can change under any given circumstance defined by the person in a lesser position of power. A social contract between two people is under constant negotiation because people, by nature, are not stagnant beings. We are thinking, feeling, experiencing, evolving, chemically motivated creatures. Re-negotiating agreements is essential to functionial relationships. For instance, if you consent to romantic involvement are you also consenting to someone's unaddressed trauma, addiction, and/or mental illness? Asking because I know women who were filmed in the shower without permission. Women who found themselves on a spreadsheet that listed their partner's sexual infidelities, replete with graphic details and goals for future "conquests" aka PUA (pick up artistry). I know women who have been lied to so thoroughly that they have lost all belief in their own intuition. And women who left or set boundaries only to become stalked, harassed and victim-blamed. When we consent to dating or sleeping with a man, do we also consent to being contacted by other women who, having experienced a similar pattern of pathological behavior, are seeking validation for their experiences? Do we consent to sexually transmitted diseases that we weren't told about, to the effects of porn and sex addiction we didn't know about, and to other toxic behavior we were clueless about? From the time we are born, we receive messages about our roles, our aspirations, our value, and our appropriate responses to a world that operates under a capitalist patriarchy. Unfortunately, due to the oppressions of our great great grandmothers which trickled down the line, many of us were sold a fairytale along with instructions to compete with each other, defend our abusers and use sex to secure our positions (and self-value). Honestly, it makes me want to go full mental some days. When we downplay another woman's story by defending a predator, we are perpetuating violence against women. Please, believe women. Even if it's not your experience. Those examples of creepy behavior described above aren't imaginary scenarios. They are stories from women I know and love and trust and believe. They are my story and your story. And if you are a man reading this, they are very much your story. We simply cannot eradicate sexism and misogyny by turning a blind eye or staying in denial. A friend asked me if I thought it was a good idea to post this essay on my website instead of my personal blog... in case it turned away business. And that's a perfect example of how capitalism and patriarchy thrive, sweeping things under the rug because we put profit over people. These predators will continue to fly under the radar until we, as a collective society, decide that enough is enough. For me it was enough as a young person, but it took 50 years to get to this place where I can speak truth to power without worrying about repercussions. That is also the reminder of Pluto retrograde in the last decan of Capricorn (you knew there had to be some astrology tied into this). Once it stations direct, we won't see this astrology again in our lifetimes. This year brought major energetic shifts, challenges and opportunities. Our personal relationships, finances, and values were put to the test- some resources fluctuated while others tanked completely. Some of us found ourselves reevaluating an approach to living that had been handed down, not chosen, and we saw the cracks in our foundations. We were stretched. And right when it felt as though we might snap, we expanded in unexpected new ways. Uranus’ rare conjunction to the N. Node in Taurus moved things swiftly, leaving us no time to catch our breath, and left with two options- to let go or be dragged- we followed our instincts accordingly. The soul wants what it wants. Breaking old patterns, ending cycles, facing addictions and meeting new aspects of shadow is the holy grail of our collective hero / heroine’s journey. And now we cross the threshold of a new year where it’s time to ask, “What am I building? Who am I building with? How will it serve humanity?” Because in this age of Aquarius, we gotta put our creative thinking caps on and consider the BIG picture. With Mercury’s station retrograde, there’s still time to reconsider, revisit, and revise the blueprint. Happy New Year from the Temple Blacksnake 🖤 With Sun in Scorpio and Moon in Taurus, this eclipse challenges us to face fears around very particular scarcity issues so that we can truly know our inherent value.
Mercury is conjunct the Sun, and it wants us to be direct, honest and clear. It’s also conjunct the S. Node so expect revelations and secrets… Scorpio rules unconscious depths and things we weren’t able to look at before are coming into the light. Because the eclipsed Moon is conjunct Uranus, our emotional stability is tested. How do we find it during such turbulent times? Venus, the ruler of the eclipse, has been rising in her power ever since 10/22 when she and the Sun met in Superior conjunction at 29° Libra. Venus has been doing THE WORK. Her journey during the Solar Eclipse last spring taught us that love and boundaries are interrelated. We can’t have one without the other. Emotional stability doesn't come from hiding in safety, it comes from standing in our truth and showing courage. In a nutshell, BIG PRIESTESS / ALCHEMIST ENERGY. Uranus invokes change, wants to free up what’s no longer meant for us, and with Mars in retrograde, expect to be re-routed… a lot. Patience and counting to ten can go a long way. When the Nodes are this close to an eclipse I can’t stress enough that impulsivity is not your friend unless you’re willing to sign on for the long haul. What we do now has long-standing repercussions & rewards. It's the perfect set up for karmic entanglement so choose wisely. Folks who accept whatever is happening as part of the bigger plan will have an easier time of it. People who try to force or enforce their will while ignoring the signs will have a struggle on their hands. For a deeper dive, book a reading with me. Oooh lordy there’s a lot of hyped up energy out there. I’m here to remind you that regardless of what you read or hear about this week’s astrology, you are never bound to someone else’s reality. Take what feels helpful and leave the rest.
Scorpio gets a bad rap in astrology. Even I’ll admit that some of my most difficult lessons have happened while the Sun was in Scorpio. But at the end of the day, it was all necessary. It’s the season we collectively pick up the rock to see what’s wriggling around underneath. It’s the season we explore darkness and build altars to the dead and dress like underworld creatures and eat roots. The compulsion to see it for yourself, to really understand what’s beneath the surface… that’s Scorpio. This Scorpio New Moon is conjunct Venus and shares space with the South Node. If you have any relationships that feel karmic (like you came together for the purpose of settling some ancient dispute lol) this is your opportunity to let that shit go. Also, obsessive thinking, jealousy, shame, power struggles… let it all go before it consumes you. Time to clean the slate, make room for something or someone new. Use that karmic poo poo as compost, ya heard? I’m probably gonna turn off my phone, avoid traffic, stay home, eat soup, read a book and make some art. See y’all on the flip side. I swear even if I didn’t study astrology, I’d know it was an Eclipse Week. It’s hard to articulate “eclipsey” vibes vs your average 2020-2022 craziness; suffice to say if you are feeling out of sorts or wondering if someone is acting weird, just file it under this week’s astrology.
First, Venus is about to be all up in our bizness, especially folks with personal planets in Pisces, Taurus, and Libra. Venus rules our self worth and everything we place value on. She also personifies how we identify in relationships so when she shows up hard in a reading, brace your heart for an upgrade. On Tuesday Ms Thing aspects the North Node, on Wednesday she meets up with Neptune, and finally on the day of the Solar Eclipse, she joins Jupiter… all in the sign of her exaltation, the archetype of the High Priestess. Meanwhile, Pluto is stationing to go retrograde on Friday and that just adds a whole other shade of weird to the situation. If you feel a power struggle brewing, just don’t. Pause is your bff The Solar Eclipse happens on Friday, and it’s conjunct Uranus AND (drumroll) it’s the eve of Beltane aka peak springtime. Then on Sunday Venus makes one more aspect to Pluto thus wrapping up a weird AF week. Instead of telling you what I think about how this could play out, I’m just gonna sit here with popcorn and watch. I’m feeling some Sansa Stark vibes (that could just be menopause) but like she went to a bunch of CODA meetings, found a good therapist and realized what a bad bitch she was. I mean nothing was more satisfying than watching that dog eat Ramsay’s face right?? Look, there’s a million astrologers out here in the metaverse. I’m just here to remind you that you matter, you’re a bad bitch, and you got this. Again, my Pisces, Taurus and Libra people are in for a wild ride. Buckle up All my clients this week have mentioned loneliness. Whether single, partnered, with or without children, there is an energy floating around that has got my people feeling some kinda way.
Is it that Jupiter amplifies the Sun’s mood as it traverses emo Pisces? Or maybe capitalism has us all thinking that our most important connections come from having one partner who loves us exactly right and a certain kind of family / friend group that shows up in a certain kind of way etc. My teacher always said that life is a mystery school and we’re all here learning love. Bell Hooks wrote that love’s purpose wasn’t to provide a permanent state of bliss or security but to transform us. Thich Nhat Hanh said that love is a desire to find our true home which is inside of each of us. This is the work. And Pisces is the way… through radical self compassion, brave vulnerability, and loving boundaries. Love is more than a feeling, it’s a way of life and a spiritual path. It’s so much bigger than one can imagine, and we get to explore all the ways, in this mystery school called life. It’s a strange and wonderful time here.
Carnival season is happening whether we like it or not. Everyone has mixed feelings, understandably, but I feel it’s a necessary step forward. As I marched through crumbling streets in the French Quarter last night, I looked back at my friends and thought, “Where am I??” It could’ve been 2022 or 1422 and it hit me that we all just experienced another middle age which means we’re due for another renaissance and enlightenment. So that’s something to be cheerful about. It also hit me that my friends and I are growing older… together. And wiser and gentler and grumpier (me). And that was a very sweet thing to realize at the peak of my own, personal middle age. The astrology right now is asking us to review our commitments and love languages. Venus is retrograde for three more weeks and this week she’s making harmonious aspects to Neptune, Juno and the Sun. Venus shows us what we value most, and we’re learning through her relationships how to upgrade our own. Pay attention to what and who you love. Are you holding back in any way? If so, can you observe, with compassion, any fear that might be the cause? And going deeper, can you hold that fear tenderly and say “thank you for keeping me alive but I’m going to release you” 🕊 SOLAR ECLIPSE 12° SAGITTARIUS
I recently told a friend that I don’t mention quincunxes in my posts because astrology is complicated enough! And yet this Solar Eclipse is in Sagittarius, a sign known for holding many truths at once. Not a bad idea to embrace paradox in the search for truth & wisdom. This weekend when the Moon and Sun form a quincunx to Uranus, we can expect a groundbreaking of sorts- unexpected and sudden shifts that lead us to the next leg of the journey. Saturn’s square to Uranus reminds us that boundaries are the bedrock of opportunity, and with the South Node leaving Sagittarius prepare for endings- old stories, philosophies, and moral identities. Pro tips:
It’s a choose your own adventure kind of week. You got this. |
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