Advice

April 1 to 8, 2010

Visible Planets
: Morning: Jupiter  Evening: Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn
Icons Topple and Ivory Towers Tumble

StPeter-Apos The last two weeks – from the late degree Pisces New Moon on Mar. 15th to the Aries/Libra Full Moon of Mar. 29th, we have been rocked with scandalous news, accusations and testimonies from a variety of sources on a variety of subjects – all of them having to with either sex, violence, abuse or good-old-fashioned outrage. We have seen iconic figures and institutions topple from pedestals and ivory towers tumble to ground zero, where they must fight to survive. Special interest groups spout vehemence and angry politicians rally the disgruntled.

Jesse James, Tiger Woods, the Vatican, “Christian” militia, Russian [female!] terrorists, angry Tea-baggers, and shouts of Hell-no-you-can’t! are just a few examples of the collective angst. We have burst the dreamy, idealistic Pisces bubble and shot in to the rough-and-ready spring of Aries and “attention me”. It’s basically every man – and woman – for himself/herself. The elements reduce the agenda to instinct and intuition, survival and me-first action.

Our friend Ted Hoff  shares weekly videos with dog training tips, training sessions, or just views of a dog's life at Cottonwood Ranch and Kennel. This week Ted's young yellow Lab puppy, Drake, is getting training in retrieving. Looks like fun, and that's...

March 25 to April 1, 2010

Visible Planets: Morning: Saturn  Evening: Venus and Mars

  Tattoos, Guns and Ammo or Peace, Love and Justice?

MICHELLE-BOMBSHELL-MCGEE-PHOTO-PICTURE The last full Moon of March and the first full Moon of Spring deliver tailwinds of adjustment to our perspectives and environment, both personally and socially. The illuminating quality of full Moon lunations shine light on what we need to see and what we need to deal with before we can move forward. And sometimes we get stuck there; as the information exposed and situations experienced simply stop progress, require time and attention, deeper understanding and new awareness. We are often awakened to conditions that had been hidden from view – intentionally or unintentionally - swept under the rug or simply in the process of becoming.

The March 15th New Moon in late Pisces was all about “being One with” – soul and spirit, body and mind, individual and collective. It was about planting seeds of intention in the fertile amniotic waters of the cosmos. We were encouraged to go deeply within and find the divine spark that not only inspires but creates, connects us to the Great Mystery and reminds us that we are all made of the same cosmic stuff - one and the same, alpha and omega, eternal and forever.

For the past several weeks we have watched Ted Hoff of Cottonwood Ranch and Kennel work with his dogs, showing us the training techniques he uses to keep the dogs sharp and interested. Ted emphasizes that working breeds need a job to do....

March 18 to 25, 2010
Visible Planets: Morning: Saturn  Evening: Venus and Mars

Vernal Equinox and the Creative Spark of Spring

Michelangelo-creation-adam- On March 20th, at 11:32 a.m. MDT, the Sun enters the cardinal fire-sign of Aries and the emerging season of spring begins. We experience a day of equal light and dark, a brief 24 hours of celestial balance and cosmic equilibrium. We are entering the season of increasing light, planting and growth. It’s a time when we instinctively feel renewal and rebirth, intuit the awakening of our Mother Earth and are ready to explore, discover and go forth.

I always think of Michaelangelo’s painting The Creation of Adam this time of year. Mutable Pisces – the numinous, invisible and divine – gives way to primal Aries – the creative spark of selfhood. The gestation period is over. The amniotic waters of winter have broken. Man is born anew.

Cottonwood Ranch and Kennel's Ted Hoff always sends us some great stuff about training dogs, dogs playing, a dog's life at Cottonwood. This week's video falls into the latter two categories. But the training piece is always there in the background. Socialization (and...

March 11 to 18, 2010
Visible Planets: Morning: Saturn  Evening: Venus and Mars

Mars Direct in Leo and the March 15th 25º10' Pisces New Moon

Tomahawk-Indian The big news this week is the return to forward motion of our solar system’s “red” planet Mars. Retrograde since Dec. 20, 2009, this heralds an end to several months of subtle – and, at times, not so subtle - struggle regarding personal motives, desires and intentions. And as the tide shifts, we can look forward to an extended period of step-by-step progress in the most individually prized and precious areas of our life.

Ancient god of war and ruler of all things masculine, Mars energy stimulates, motivates and propels. It is the balancing yang of the feminine yin, complement to Venus, valiant warrior in times of trouble and instinctive life force attempting to get our soul’s needs met. Primitive and primal, Mars is all about battle and survival. It’s where we are willing to fight for what we want, defend what we value and pursue what we love. It fuels our sense of self, sustains our physical vitality and encourages us to take action – especially where personal agendas are at stake.

(editor's note: Somehow the post that was to accompany Ted's video went adrift. I am attempting to recreate the feeling of that post days later.) Ted Hoff of Cottonwood Ranch and Kennel is constantly working with his dogs and the dogs in...

March 4 to 11, 2010

Visible Planets: Morning: Mercury and Saturn  Evening: Venus and Mars

Cocoon and Self-Nurture, Relax and Rejoice

Mudpaw Last week’s foot of snow is quickly vanishing here on Wrights Mesa. In its place are fields of matted grass and frozen dirt, which turn to mud when temperatures rise. Today the skies are clear and the wind is strong. I’m alone in the house with my three dogs, listening to the chimney whistle and the fire crack.

BlueEggs I’m aware that Spring is on its way. I’m comforted that we’re facing the seasons of lengthening days and warming nights. This morning I cleaned bluebird houses and prepared them for the returning pairs, with hopes I’d see them soon. Yesterday I drove to the West End and watched newborn calves frolic in the slanting afternoon sunlight, curious but close to their mothers and the rich milk upon which their lives depend.

The Pisces/Virgo Full Moon of Feb. 28th has come and gone, followed by the very recent [Mar. 3rd @ 9:06 p.m. MST] conjunction of Venus and Uranus, also in Pisces. Issues of camaraderie, inter-connectedness, chaos and creation were balanced with the need for order and organization, work and health. Romantic and financial relationships popped up in new shape and form, themes of freedom and variety ran rampant. We were awakened to the overall necessity for and collective paradigms of unity in diversity and liberty in responsibility.

At 15 weeks, Drake's training continues. Ted Hoff, Cottonwood Ranch and Kennel, has engaged Cabela and Mae to help with Drake's socialization, and to model longer periods of Sit/Stay. Notice how Drake, the young yellow Labrador, pays attention to what the more mature...