Hello Everyone: 

In a recent article, in the Wall Street Journal, entitled, The Grown-Up Joys of Reading Children's Books, by Bruce Handy[i], the author revisits the hidden beauty of the simplicity and gentleness of favorite childhood tomes. There are many gems of information in the article, but the one consistent thread is that the most beloved of the stories are always written from and through the eyes of a child- the naïve yet amazed lens of a child's experience. Children experience everything as amazing and in their naiveté there is a natural beauty, but, eventually, as in the story of Winnie the Pooh, when Christopher Robin tells Pooh he is going away. Pooh is confused and doesn't understand Christopher Robin is leaving. Author Handy's thesis is that Robin's departure is about leaving portions of childhood because one must not 'do nothing all day'.

Much has been written about the August 2017 eclipses in Leo, the last of which were on the same dates 19 years ago in 1998 and 1979 on August 7 and August 21 and which continue until January 21, 2019. This month is the 'Great American Eclipse' for which much has been written ad nauseum so please forgive me if I am one of those who is throwing her thoughts into the ring. The theme of Leo - the fifth house of the zodiac -- is the house of children of our bodies as well as children of our minds, creativity and the creative process, taking risks either at the tables in Las Vegas, or, on love, or on starting a family or building an investment portfolio. Leo is about life and the heart and taking chances, buying the lottery ticket hoping for that big score -- Some risks pay off and some do not and regardless of whether they happened or not, keeping the heart open rather than shutting it down in harsh Aquarian response, which can be the negative manifestation of this opposite sign or those holding strong Uranian components in their horoscopes.

Life is about risks and keeping the heart open regardless of the circumstances we face. We gamble on friendships, family, jobs, and community and stay loyal regardless of how much the shadow erupts during this time. We grow by staying the course while navigating the narrow straits of emotion and love, regardless of the return. Learning to navigate skillfully during highly sensitive periods is the skill worth developing. Leo is about giving but also learning to receive. Setting aside pride and showing one's vulnerability is not a Leo thing, but is worth experimentation. Leo's other side, its shadow, can be self-centered, overbearing, and often overextends itself to the point of struggling financially. Everyone has Leo someplace in the chart. These eclipses challenge you in that area of your chart. Shadows facing you in those areas require a hard look at your self-centeredness and how that never serves. Facing it opens the creative process and takes it to the next level. This is shadow-boxing at its best.

During eclipses, we all experience psychological shadows wherever the eclipses are taking place in our charts. We choose to either address or ignore the issues. The suggestion is to address the issue, because the shadow never really leaves even if the cycle does. This requires a kind of death of the ego (Leo) and seeing the world from other perspectives rather than one's own. Try as you may, however, there is no point in having a relationship of the heart if it is only one way. Someone very wise recently shared that thought with me. With Leo eclipses, our childlike lens' dim and we realize we cannot always be the center of attention, the center of our own worlds without thought of the other. And this is also true of the opposite behavior where others are always center stage and we must relegate ourselves to the audience -- that doesn't work either. Where ever these eclipses are taking place in our charts is where these issues face us regardless of our age and at the present time as they did in 1998 and 1979. If we didn't address them then, they are back for us to address them again.

The Baby Boomer generation is one of the larger demographics where the eclipses are on their natal Plutos. Pluto remains in a sign for many years. For example, Pluto was in Scorpio between 1983 and 1995, Pluto was in Libra between 1971 and 1983. Pluto was in Leo between the late 1930s as Hitler invaded Poland and ran all the way through to 1958/59 after the Korean War and the McCarthy Era during which over 300 directors, actors, screenwriters and composers were condemned to not work. This very large demographic was affected during these times of turmoil and is why, perhaps, this same generation is where the arts, music, theater and anything involving creative expression flourished. They were children of war veterans, many of whose parents struggled so that they would thrive and it is the same generation that struggled with social issues like human rights, civil rights and marched extensively throughout the 1960s. It is a generation of mass.

This is also the generation that made large amounts of monies- contrary to the prior generation which struggled through the Depression. They spent large amounts of resources and because of its size has been the moving force behind social movements -- the morphogenetic field, or, the 100^th Monkey syndrome. An individual at age 80 is now quite different than the prior generations who were 80 due to new health information, exercise, surgeries, medical advances and opportunities. However, many of this generation did not always think about the future as they walked off the cliff of experience. Many are now contemplating their next life and career changes because they can and many are unable because of bad planning. The issue of sustainability and maintaining the same quality of life (Leo) is offered as a 'shadow' lesson right now as we move into a major economic shift (this author's opinion) over the course of the next four years, starting with late 2017.

Pluto is associated with the natural eighth house of the zodiac, whose issues include an assortment of issues good or bad regarding such things as: savings, secrets, sexuality, debt, compulsions, putting teams together, facing addictions and obsessiveness, developing intimacy while addressing the fear of intimacy, birth and death issues, letting go, releasing, repurposing, renovating and anything requiring attitude adjustments and soul reconstruction. These are not light-hearted issues they are the pivotal points in one's evolution. All this requires courage even though you don't know how it turns out! This is a painful process that asks you to let go of something. Those born in the middle of the sign of Aquarius, Leo, Scorpio and Taurus or who have many planets in these middle degrees are also facing these same issues along with the Baby Boomers.

If you know your chart, then use the following for both your Ascendant and your Sun Sign. If you do not, then just use your Sun Sign and these short statements may provide insight into issues begging attention. Do you have the courage to act? Are you willing to invite your shadow to the party?

• Leo: The shadow you face is about love, loving too much, not allowing yourself to receive which could affect such things as your heart. A new identity is being birthed requiring courage to state your limits. Can you learn to say no?
• Virgo: This is a time of seclusion offering opportunity for creating, researching, and clearing out your psychological past as well as the physical past--both of which are holding you back. The need for acknowledgement gets in the way of a peaceful existence. Incubation of something new is in the works.
• Libra: The shadow you face is that of being in the world and attaining your goals. No one goes it alone. This happens while cultivating new friendships, joining new organizations and letting go of the old. Friends are important and they are changing, too. Asking others to help you with your goals may be difficult, but it is 'the way'.
• Scorpio: The shadow involves your tenth house of how the world sees you. Changes in career or reputation or direction are all possible. Leo up here wants recognition and to be in charge, but the challenge is about being out there without necessarily being in charge. Can you do that and are you brave enough to stick it out?
• Sagittarius: When you change the inner attitude of your mind, you change the outer aspects of your life. Your belief system or philosophy is facing a shadow -- about your freedom -- and the question of whether is it really worth it. Freedom is a key factor for you, but at what price? Others have opinions and ideas and by listening, you actually shift your life experiences.
• Capricorn: The shadow is about feeling the lack of support, but the real question is how much are you willing to reveal the deepest part of yourself without expecting anything in return? Does fear of intimacy get in the way of support? Do you need to re-assess your financial challenges and let go of things that are taking up too much stress and time? Are you ready for release?
• Aquarius: The shadow involves the area of your life involving your closest relationships. Do you really get close or do you keep people at arm's length? Do you really open your heart or do you stay on the sidelines telling people what they should or should not do maintaining separation rather than immersing your soul with theirs? Can you be there emotionally for those who really need a friend right now?
• Pisces: The shadow requires a hard look at what needs release, sorting, clearing, editing, and processing in your immediate environment. Though tedious, addressing this shadow now frees you up during the next cycles of independence and creativity. . This prepares you for the next cycle of creative production. Health and diet need attention in order for that to work optimally.
• Aries: The shadow is your desire for love which seems paramount right now. First, do you love yourself unconditionally? Opening the heart for expression of self comes through physical children or children of 'your mind' requiring your voice. Where has your voice gone or is it just on hiatus? Time is coming for you to do just that.
• Taurus: The shadow of the family and its needs are upon you. How much is enough and what is the best course of action to help them grow into adulthood. With Leo here, one often gives too much, but does that really serve those you love? Issues surrounding your real estate, land, home all are highlighted now. Sort through that, set limits, allow time for the new behaviors to set. Transform your immediate environment into something expressive of your spirit.
• Gemini: Your thought processes are always active. However, the shadow you face now is perhaps talking too much and not listening at all -- to others or to your own inner voice. Reframing your response to the daily interruptions and creating a triage of important actions versus anxiety ridden moments is paramount. If you believe things are bad, the mind reacts badly. If you believe things will improve, they will. Taking responsibility for your part of the information is key. Catch your moments of doubt and still your mind.
• Cancer: The shadow is about your values, your spending, your liquidity and if or how you can change those values. We spend our monies on things we value. If those are changing, so is your spending. There are many skills, inner talents and gifts that beg cultivation right now. Add those to your arsenal of possibilities and things go more smoothly. If this requires further education, then make that happen. You may have to release resources in order to do this but it is worth it.

As many of you know, I don't go on Facebook very often, but recently have an associate and friend helping me with this. I find, frankly, it takes a lot of time, but I am trying...I really am. Many of you sent me messages after the recent uploads to both my page and Starcycles and I am overwhelmed. Forgive me if I don't answer or don't answer right away, but I remember every single one of you. I am trying to write more -- and cannot believe how much time it takes. I am having to make choices about my time these days and time is the most valuable commodity we have, but we don't get much of it!
 
...My thoughts are with all of you and your many activities. I do have a workshop coming up in Sacramento in September posted at our website and I was just asked to speak at the Berkeley Women's Conference on April 8, 2018 on Starting your own Business. Lots going on over here in my part of the world and I wish you all the best this month with these eclipses and the 90-days resolution period in November (you can see those listed in our 2017 Starcycles Cheat Sheet). We have a new one coming out soon for 2018; stay posted at Starcycles.com for its release. Warm regards, Georgia Stathis