There are going to be three eclipses between July and August. The first being a new moon on Friday the 13th in Cancer!

Eclipse Dates 2018: July 13th, July 27th, August 11th.

Astrologers give great significance to Eclipses. They are bringers of opportunity through change. Sometimes the change is dramatic. Because an eclipse blocks our normal  source light, it is seen as obscuring normal reality. But this can help bring a new perspective, as things look different under the rays of an eclipse.  "Part of what makes a total eclipse so breathtaking has to do with invisible light. During the “moment of totality”—the minutes when sun is completely blocked—observers experience the exquisitely odd and wondrous sensation of solar emissions, both visible and invisible".* Due to this obscuring/altering energy during an eclipse, astrologers say it is better not to make big decisions in the days around an eclipse...
This is a good time to observe and see how things are a bit 'off' and what new pieces of information come out of hiding. Observation, not action seems to  be wise! Although the Moon is reflective, it is still a source of light, so a lunar eclipse has the same message.
Astro-smiths say eclipses affect the next six months. Often times when you look back there is a 'before and after' sort of feeling surrounding an eclipse, as if  a line was drawn in the sky. Depending on your personal astrological chart ( and life!) these can be huge changes or just little blips. If you are stubborn and resisting growth and change an eclipse can really pull out the rug from underneath you!
A month after the 2017 total eclipse of sun in June I had a massive shift in my life. I had been in a difficult living situation I had been trying to get out of for years (3+) and I got word that I was accepted into a beautiful new living situation and I had to move....FAST! That is the energy of an eclipse, it really helps SHIFT! Be open to progress and positive change and an eclipse can be your ally!

*Wired Magazine; Bob Berman 08.07.17

July

Keywords for July: Party-time, Connect, A Break for Fun

July should offer some easy times for playing in the sun! The energy of the bouncing in is some of the most joyful in the whole tarot. The Four of Wands is about celebrating the light and bountiful side of life. I call it the 'Party Card'. This energy is external, as well as internal. It is one of the traditional wedding cards so some of you may celebrating a new partnership. On the other hand some people just seem to have a 'party' frame of mind, always looking for the good bits to celebrate! If times are challenging right now...it means brighter days ahead, or at least a few thrown in for a break! If you have been isolating, reach out. Under the influence of this energy you will be received with open arms.
4 of Wands

August

Keywords for August: Ambition, Personal Magnetism, Focus
 
This month, you are the Queen of charisma! She is the fire femme that burns through obstacles and strides through her life like she owns it (because she does!). If you have been feeling low energy or invisible , this queen says ' Listen to your favorite music, Put on a new outfit and get out and smile at everyone you meet. Then see what happens!' Her energy is like the warm sun on spring day. Leonine in character, her natural generosity and tendency to be the first to give, returns three fold. Follow her lead. Now is the time to present ideas and take a leadership position. Don’t be afraid of your own voice! It is not your business what other people think of you, it is your divine right and duty to be fully yourself. You will attract what you need. In love, this month, you can attract what you WANT.

Queen of Wands

September

Keywords for September: Master Manifest-er, Build It and They Will Come

If August was all about attracting what you want and need, this month the energy shifts into constructing what you want into form and shape! This is about practical, tangible  movement towards a goal.  Sit down with yourself  and  write down a goal you would like to achieve this month. It doesn't have to be huge....And then do it! This is practical magic in motion! Substitute the word 'cook' with any goal you have in mind in this awesome quote from Julia Child.

“This is my invariable advice to people:
Learn how to cook -- (  your dream here)
try new recipes, learn from your mistakes,
be fearless and above all have fun!”


Emperor

I am sure most of you reading this article have heard of New Thought Theory or Manifestation Magic. It is covered in movies like 'The Secret', 'You Can Heal Your Life' or 'What The *&%$** Do We Know?' The premise is that thoughts (and emotions) can affect our external reality. But is this true?
I have been a practicing Tarot Counselor for over twenty years and I can say with hardcore conviction that how a person sees themselves in their life affects their destiny to a great degree. A creative, flexible, optimistic and actualized person   tends to create a much  happier and more fulfilling life than someone who  is  acting out  of fear or  a victim mentality.   Perspective is everything! Two people may be handed the same difficult situation and one person says to themselves 'This sucks, I am getting out of here' and does the necessary work to get themselves back on higher, happier and safer ground. The next person says to themselves 'This sucks. Why me? Everything always happens to me' and lists every shitty thing as evidence. Who do you think gets stuck in the pain? We can all change everything if we believe we can.
There is actual evidence that consciousness affects reality. I believe in magic, but have been born into this western culture so I do find scientific data satisfying. (Although we all have confirmation bias, even stark materialists.)
There are startling, although on a deep level not surprising, results being seen coming out of different experiments.
One of these is called 'The Global Consciousness Project'. In a nutshell, what this project does, is record data from approximately 60 random number generators placed in labs all across the world. They call these machines eggs. Consistently, for the last two decades, when a huge event affects large numbers of people, the machines start to do show anomalies in the numbers. A type of synchronization happens at the time of the event. Spookily, sometimes the numbers will start shifting even BEFORE the event! This happened with the death of Princess Diana, the 9/11 terror attacks and the Obama inauguration of 2008. So maybe you really do know when your mom is about to call.
Dr. Dean Radin has also done a ton of lab work around consciousness and reality. In one study monks blessed food. In  a double blind study repeated with the same results over 12 times, the blessed food raised the mood of participants. Interestingly and significantly, those who believed that they received the blessed food had the highest mood elevation, those who believed they didn't receive the blessed food (even if they had!) had no mood elevation and often times a decrease in mood. Those who didn't  know or care whether they received the blessed or control food had some mood elevation if they received the blessed food.  So not only did this study show that blessed food affects a person's reality,  but that belief  plays a huge role in what we experience.
Dr. Radin also conducted a triple blind study with blessed and control water. This water was used to grow a very particular plant. Across the board and on all levels, plants nourished with the blessed water performed significantly better.
I have read many more studies proving that our consciousness affects reality. If this is true, imagine how you can use this cosmic technology to affect your own life. I have definitely started blessing my food and it feels so satisfying!