Keywords & Cancer in a Nutshell (including a bit of technical stuff)

Cancer is the sign that kicks off the summer, aligning with the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. The first day of Cancer season, the Summer Solstice, is celebrated by contemporary witches and pagans, some of whom visit Stonehenge and attempt to recreate what little we know about ancient pagan rituals (i.e.: of the ancient Celts and Druids) at this world-renowned stone circle. Since it begins a season, like Aries, Cancer is a cardinal sign. Cancer is also the first water sign of the zodiac. (Unless you’re an oddball like me who launched this entire series with the final sign of the zodiac, Pisces, which is also a water sign). What can I say, the alpha and the omega/the beginning and the end? 🙂

[Read more…] about Cancer Season Book Recommendations (June 20th – July 22nd): The Nurturer & The Therapist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keywords & Gemini in a Nutshell (including a bit of technical stuff)

Gemini, the cosmic twins, one human and one divine, of the zodiac is a sign associated with quick thinking, sardonic wit, and the questioning mind: Who am I? Why am I here? What shall I do with my life? Gemini folks tend to be highly intellectual, as the sign is ruled by the planet Mercury, associated with the mind and communication. However, they tend to be generalists rather than specialists. We need a bit of both in the world, don’t you think? 

This sign is an air sign, which like Mercury connects it to mental and intellectual pursuits. “I think, therefore I am”, the old aphorism attributed to the Enlightenment-era French philosopher, Descartes, perfectly encapsulates the nature of Gemini. The fact that this sign, like Pisces, is mutable contributes to the jack of all trades quality of Geminis, who move from one idea to the next like pollinators moving between flowers (an apt metaphor for late spring into early summer…a.k.a. Gemini season). In a more positive light, these folks can be thought of as polymaths and/or Renaissance men/women/people (to be gender inclusive but acknowledging that historically, due to the reality of our extremely patriarchal past in the Western world, these folks were almost always white men).

[Read more…] about Gemini Season Book Recommendations (May 20th – June 20th): The (Quick) Thinker & The Trickster

 

 

 

Keywords & Taurus in a Nutshell (including a bit of technical stuff)

Do you have a difficult relationship with pleasure… any and all physical pleasures? For instance, if you’re a foodie, you may very well have prominent Taurus placements in your birth chart. Taurus is one of the most embodied signs of the zodiac. Taurus is symbolized by the bull and it moves slowly, but steadily. And as the old adage says, slow but steady wins the race. In some ways, Taurus serves a corrective purpose, challenging the impulsivity of the previous sign, Aries. 

This sign is ruled by Venus, goddess of love, and it is associated with all things beautiful, especially gardens, architecture, arts and crafts, and even cooking! This isn’t a book, but the Great British Baking Show is very Taurean (albeit not in terms of its pacing). Have you ever seen the famous medieval unicorn tapestries housed at the Met Cloisters in NYC? These are the epitome of Taurean beauty. By contrast, while Libra is also ruled by Venus, as an air sign it represents the less earthy and more ethereal arts, especially music! Finally, Taurus is a fixed earth sign, meaning it can be immovable (i.e.: stubborn like a bull), but it is also very reliable, stable, and grounded. A Taurus would make a very trustworthy friend or confidante, someone you could truly lean on during difficult or tumultuous times. 🙂

[Read more…] about Taurus Season Book Recommendations (April 19th – May 20th): The Hedonist & The Romantic

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keywords & Aries in a Nutshell (including a bit of technical stuff)

Aries, the baby of the zodiac, emerges from the oceanic womb of Pisces without a backward glance. Fiery, aggressive, impulsive, bold, courageous, brash…These are just a few of the qualities, both positive and negative, of the zodiac’s warrior. Like Sagittarius, a fellow fire sign, Aries folks tend to be adventurous, although the Sagittarian approach tends to have a more philosophical bent. When I think of the Aries adventurous streak I picture the American Wild West vs. the Sagittarian adventurer as the nomadic expat living overseas or traveling around the world, experiencing different cultures and ways of being.

In both traditional and modern psychological astrology, Aries is a fire sign (inspired and passionate), a cardinal sign (associated with beginnings), and it is ruled by Mars (or Ares), the Greco-Roman god of war. Remember, not all warriors are male or masculine-identifying. Many are queer and many are women…Think of the lore about the Amazons, fierce women warriors who rejected the brutal patriarchy of ancient Greek society. (In honor of the Amazons, I’ve chosen to capture the essence of the Aries archetype with two contemporary pop culture references, Xena, Warrior Princess and Wonder Woman). 

Fun fact: The actress who played Xena, Lucy Lawless, is herself a triple Aries meaning she was born with an Aries Sun, an Aries Moon, and Aries rising. Talk about a triple threat! I am generally not a fan of type casting, but in this case it’s almost too perfect to be true.

While quick or hot-tempered, Aries doesn’t get into fights over nothing. At its best, the Aries archetype is embodied by the impassioned social justice warrior. That said, Aries folks can be dangerously reckless and impulsive. They may shoot first and think later. When it comes to warfare, the Aries type will be found on the battlefield. They usually aren’t long-term strategists and while they may win the battle, they also may lose the war. Let this be a cautionary tale. 🙂

[Read more…] about Aries Season Book Recommendations (March 20th – April 19th): The Adventurer & the Warrior