The Shadow Side

Today's New Moon in Leo signals the start of an intense late summer/early fall journey that eclipses the old and invites the new into our lives with "quantum potential," says astrologer Allison Rae.

In her latest issue of Cosmic Time, she observes, "Eclipses deal with the shadow, both individually and collectively. Every six months, the Sun, Earth and Moon are aligned precisely to create the effect of light being blocked, or eclipsed, from our vantage point on Earth. Eclipses are portals, quantum choice points. What we hold in our thought and intention at these times reverberates throughout time, space and all dimensions. What will we choose to create?"

We'll welcome a total lunar eclipse on August 28th, and a partial solar eclipse on a date that holds remarkable meaning worldwide, especially for Americans: September 11th. Interestingly, while the lunar blackout will be visible from the Americas, Antarctica, New Zealand, Australia, Asia, and Indonesia, the solar eclipse will not be seen from the United States ~ only from parts of South America, Antarctica and the Atlantic Ocean.

When 9-1-1 happened six years ago, Rae recalls, Saturn and Pluto (the planet that defines form and structure, and the Great Transformer, respectively) opposed one another. "Now in trine (mutual support), these planets urge us to integrate our learning and experience since then."

Rae offers simple, eloquent guidance: "We live in the Between Times, the cusp period between world ages, a stillpoint in consciousness. This is the twilight of what has been. The edges of reality blur, inviting us to create a new world from Essence, the Divine Source within.

Return to Love. Breathe, ground, center. Be gentle with yourself and each other. Respect each one's right and choice to be exactly where they are.

Honor the Earth. Live sustainably. Participate in ceremony and ritual. Visit sacred sites.

Create community. Connect with others who share your values, vision and commitment.

Express your creativity. Allow Love to shine through as you make art, music, ritual, poetry, handcraft - whatever feeds your soul. Lighten up. Learn to laugh and play, run, swim. Hang out with children. Invent new games."