©1999 Lesley Rokjer
Astrology, being all about cycles of growth and experience, reflects
the unfolding of our lives on many levels. For me it is an indispensable tool
in selecting essences for myself and my clients. Natal astrology -- the study of one's
birth chart -- helps to illuminate ongoing issues. Transits and progressions -- the
movements of the planets in the heavens at any given time -- provide clues about
what we may be experiencing right now.
One of my favorite ways of combining astrology and vibrational essences is
the "monthly bouquet."* Together, my
client and I take a look at what's going on in her life and how the current movements
of the planets reflect this. We discuss what she wants to accomplish.
Then we select an essence or mixture of essences to ease rough transitions and help
her take advantage of opportunities. This blend or "bouquet" will be
used for the next lunar month (approx. 29 days).
All transits are not created equal. When slower moving planets
make contact with planets in a natal chart, this can indicate a period of one to
several years when we will be dealing with a major issue or cluster of related
issues as a kind of "background music" to our lives. Here, we might
select one or more relevant essences to use throughout the period. Faster
moving transits last only a few days, weeks or months. In these cases, using an
essence or blend for a shorter periods works better.
I'll give an example based on the chart of a real client.
Lisa was one of my "regulars." We had done an annual update a few
months before when she asked for an essence consultation by e-mail around New Year's Day.
For everyone, not just Lisa, the upcoming weeks would be quite
energetic astrologically. Saturn and Neptune were transiting in a stressful
square aspect to each other (i.e., they wereroughly 90 degrees apart in the sky)
for the first several months. Mars would step into the picture from about
January 10 to February 5, when it opposed Saturn and squared Neptune.
In a very basic, universal sense, these transiting Saturn-Neptune-Mars aspects
have to do with energy and initiative (Mars) meeting with blockage, a need for
focus or refinement (Saturn), and possibly confusion or dissolution (Neptune).
Anger, frustration, creative block, fizzling or thwarted efforts, and other
similar situations tend to manifest for everyone. We may feel others are
trying to control or deceive us, or that we must act covertly to get
anything done. Or, we may find we're denying or blocking our own assertive or
ambitious instincts. The Saturn-Neptune square, which continues long after
Mars has moved along, reflects a sweeping mood of disillusionment, confusion
and possibly depression.
Lisa had been especially affected by these transits, since they contacted
several planets and sensitive points in her birth chart: Neptune in Scorpio
in her second house, Mercury in Gemini in her ninth house (closely conjunct
and ruling her Gemini Sun and Midheaven), and Saturn in Sagittarius on her
fourth cusp opposite the Gemini planets. Lisa was a very capable and creative writer
and graphic designer. She's a hard worker and always goes the extra mile to do the
job right. But lately her work life had been very frustrating for her.
The company she worked for was in turmoil and, perhaps because she is so versatile,
she often ended up doing more than her share of the work. She told me her job
description was unclear and she was not being paid enough. She said she sometimes
felt as though she was being used but she feared changing jobs.
Lisa also mentioned feeling exhausted physically and emotionally by the demands
made on her at work, and "out of her depth" when it came to office politics.
She felt intimidated by some of her coworkers and was afraid to confront them, but,
she said, "Something's got to give."
We looked at her chart and discussed how the current transits relate to her
situation. I also pointed out some harmonious aspects she might try to take
advantage of: Saturn trining her Pluto, ruler of her third house, perhaps indicating
her learning to appreciate her own ideas and insights more, tapping her own power
and creativity, not caring so much about what others think. Also, at
the same time that Mars joined the stressful configuration with transiting Saturn
and Neptune, it trined Lisa's Mercury, Sun and Midheaven from her second house.
Maybe she could use this energy to make a stand at work and ask for what she
wanted assertively and confidently.
We chose and tested a number of essences, and at last decided on this
bouquet of yellow, orange and red blossoms:
- Aloe (orange-pink, Desert Alchemy and others) helps restore vitality during periods of burnout. Often helpful during Saturn transits and for natal Sun-Saturn aspects, like Lisa has.
- Bouvardia (red, Desert Alchemy) is a great remedy during Neptune transits. It fosters directness, positive response and action.
- Desert Marigold (yellow, Desert Alchemy). When we feel out of control, overpowered, victimized or motivated by guilt, this essence can help us tap our own power.
- Scarlet Monkeyflower (bright red, Flower Essence Services). We tested several remedies for assertiveness, and this one gave the strongest positive. Lisa had been keeping a lid on her anger and, perhaps as a result, she often felt tired and tense. Scarlet Monkeyflower may help her face her anger and express it appropriately. Not coincidentally, Mars rules both anger and the color red.
The above is how this article first appeared in the March, 1999 issue of Vibration -- click on the image to see that entire issue.
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I recommended that she start using the mixture a few days after the new moon.
It's possible to begin taking an essence at any time, but for a "bouquet," I prefer
to start just after a new moon and continue through the lunar month. Often there is a
dawning awareness around the full moon, after the essence has had a couple weeks to work.
Then, as the moon wanes, we begin to put the pieces together and make use of what we've
discovered. The energies at the dark moon seem perfect for a pause in the cycle.
During this time the essence or mixture can be reassessed and either continued,
stopped or changed.
The next new moon after Lisa began using her bouquet mixture would be the new moon/solar
eclipse falling into Lisa's sixth house of work,
health and daily routine and would aspect her natal Moon and Pluto. Perhaps
it would bring up new ideas and feelings for her. We decided to get in touch
around then to assess how the mixture had worked for her. Also, the transiting
Mars-Saturn-Neptune aspects would repeat again in the spring, so she would have an
opportunity explore those issues further. I would include an update later on,
perhaps with some feedback from Lisa herself.
If you're an astrological novice and want to try a monthly bouquet,
you could work with an essence practitioner and an astrologer or computerized
transit report to help zero in on the hot issues in a given month.
Or, choose the essences yourself and use the moon's cycles to help with the timing.
More information is available in our
essence FAQ and in our
Virtual Booklet on astrology and essences.
(*This idea and the name "monthly bouquet"
were devised by astrologer Donna Cunningham, one of Vibration's editors.)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lesley Rokjer
was one of the contributing editors for this publication in its early issues.
She uses vibrational essences in her astrological practice.
For more information, visit her Stellalune Astrology web site.
CREDITS: Page design created by Donna Cunningham of Word of Mouth Web
Design. Photos from Phtos.com.
The World Wide Essence Society does not mean to imply any recommendation of nor give certification to any individuals or companies above. This article is provided purely for informational purposes. We ask consumers to make their own determination as to quality of the services and products offered above. This article is not meant to be advice, and the information is not meant to replace medical or psychological treatment.
