This newsletter offers insights
into areas of spiritual development and
conscious preparedness, using astrology and mandalas. These two
closely-related modalities date back centuries and emphasize motion,
evolution, and enlightenment. Click on your area of interest, below.
Feedback is essential. Let us know what works and what doesn’t. chris@chrisflisher.com
Turning Of The Wheel
“You cannot
simultaneously prepare for and prevent war.” ~
Albert Einstein
AS ABOVE, SO BELOW - Astrology
SPIRIT IN ART - Mandalas
GRAPEVINE –
->Chris will be the featured artist for an organization called Saving Lives Through Art (SLTA). SLTA is an organization that works with artists (visual and music) to raise awareness of drunk driving. The program has been hugely successful on a national level and has produced compilation CDs in every major city in the United States. The “art” version of this organization has just launched and has asked Chris to join. A collaborative art show is scheduled for October 6th in Methuen, MA. To launch the program. Check out:
http://http://www.savinglivesthroughart.net/artists/Chris_Flisher/index.html
http://www.savinglivesthroughart.net
->Chris will be hosting his own radio show starting July 19th on the Contact Talk Radio (CTR) network. CTR is a web-based radio station operating out of Seattle. CTR delivers a wide variety of enlightening content across the globe to millions of listeners. Chris’ show will be called “Turning Of The Wheel” and will be educational and informative, focusing on astrology, art, and adventure. Stay tuned (literally) as more details become available. Chris was recently a guest on one of the network shows, called A Fresh Start. Click on the Radio link on www.chrisflisher.com for an archived copy of the show. The official start date is July 19th at 5:00 PM EST. Book mark this: http://www.contactradio.info/index.htm
->A recent article came to light reflecting on the impact of the now infamous Trading Spouses episode. The article was actually a sermon delivered by a Unitarian Universalist pastor from Stamford, CT. http://www.chrisflisher.com/Proud_to_Be_Judgment_Free1.pdf
->Chris is working with Lowell poet Walter Bacigalupo in an artist’s collaboration for the "Kerouac" Artists and Writers Project. The mandala chosen for this exhibit is a three-foot yantra mandala that incorporates male and female energy in a circular pattern with four keys at each point of the compass. The display will be held at the ALL Arts Gallery in Lowell for the month of June, opening June 9th.
AS ABOVE, SO BELOW: Mercury is about to go retrograde. On June 15th, Mercury, the planet of communications and all things mechanical begins its thrice-yearly backwards motion, going direct on July 9. Although this brings shudders to many people, this particular transit will be in the sign of Cancer, a calming water sign, so the effects are less volatile than in a fire or air sign. Of course, Cancer represents all things maternal and is ruled by the great mother, the Moon. Emotional issues may be confusing or become cloudy. All things must pass.
Relax and use it as a time to re-think your emotions and familial connections. Rather than worry about Mercury’s potential for trouble, use the opportunity to “re-view” anything in your life. All retrogrades provide an opportunity to stop, look and listen:
Re-think, re-do, re-discover, re-evaluate, re-join, re-cover, re-tell……etc. Also notable is the last of three Saturn/Neptune oppositions. These two zodiacal giants oppose each other for the last time in and around June 22. The last time these planets were in exact opposition the stock market took a massive hit and dropped thousands of points. This is no coincidence. Saturn is the planet of accountability and responsibility; the task master. Whereas, Neptune is the planet of dreams, illusions, escapism and areas of your life where things may not always be as they seem. When these two oppose, dreams can come to a screeching halt (or at least be handed a stinging slap of reality) as mighty Saturn rules accountability. Watch for excesses in any escapist activity.
Although, escape is a necessary mechanism for all of us, it can be dangerous. Whether it’s reading, movies, sports or too much partying; each is an escape. Choose your escape wisely and protect your spirit. After June passes, this affect will not be as prevalent.
I want to discuss the Modes this month. Modes are a critical, yet often overlooked, part of astrology. The modes indicate a 90° relationship, or a “square” in astrological terminology. Squares typically represent tension or stress points in a chart, and although that may sound threatening, it is actually where the greatest growth occurs in any chart. It is through the tension and spark that occurs in this transaction that greatness is born. This is true for all of the modes. Whether cardinal, fixed, or mutable, your greatest ally might one who pushes you. Read on….
->Cardinal - (1,4,7, and 10 houses). Cardinal signs are the initiators of the Zodiac. These signs start projects, initiate talks, design products, and have far-reaching visions. They are the trailblazers of the zodiac. Cardinal personalities are strong-willed, impulsive, and need to accomplish. Each of the four elements has a cardinal sign:
- ->Aries is Fire/Cardinal
- ->Cancer is Water/Cardinal
- ->Libra is Air/Cardinal
- ->Capricorn is Earth/Cardinal
->Fixed - (2,5,8, and 11 houses). Fixed signs are the stalwarts of the Zodiac. These signs are the hard, fast foundations of the zodiac. They form the firm constraints and boundaries. Boundaries and controls are necessary, for without them we are literally “out of control.” Fixed personalities tend to be cautious, stubborn, and firmly opinionated…in short, they are “fixed” and not likely to move. Each of the four elements has a fixed sign:
- ->Leo is Fire/Fixed
- ->Scorpio is Water/Fixed
- ->Aquarius is Air/Fixed
- ->Taurus is Earth/Fixed
->Mutable - (3,6,9, and 12 houses). Mutable signs are the adapters of the Zodiac. These signs are fluid, adaptable and the malleable glue of the zodiac. They adapt and offer co-existence as a viable option. Their willingness to adapt and change is a wonderful counter-balance to the cardinal and fixed signs of the zodiac. Despite this wonderful quality, mutable signs often sacrifice their own well being in an effort to calm waters and make things easy. Each of the four elements has a mutable sign:
- ->Sagittarius is Fire/Mutable
- ->Pisces is Water/ Mutable
- ->Gemini is Air/Mutable
- ->Virgo is Earth/Mutable
More to come next month….. Personal readings are always available by emailing chris@chrisflisher.com. Visit www.chrisflisher.com/astrologicalreadings for Fees and Services.
SPIRIT IN ART:
Forgiveness – This month’s mandala focuses on forgiveness. The following text is excerpted from Chris’s forthcoming book, “Mandalas: Spirit In Art”
“Forgiveness”
What does it mean to forgive? How do we let go of what once ruled our emotions? There is an element of freedom and liberation involved in forgiving. No longer must we hang on to the negativity associated with an act of pain or hurtfulness. All can be released and freed to the winds of the universal power that rules us all. So much depends on perspective. The diamond way. The diamond view must shift and new light must be shed on that which once caused us pain and fury. How do we force that view? It comes with intention, free will, and the desire to release all that which binds us and holds us back. Often we feel shame for our actions or those of others upon us. Yet the way forward is with an open mind, an open heart, and an open spirit.
To err is human
To forgive is divine
Visit:
chris@chrisflisher.com
www.chrisflisher.com
www.chrisflisher.com/astrologicalreadings
www.chrisflisher.com/mandalas.html
www.chrisflisher.com/blog
Spiritual Adventurist
