Feb

28

Virgo Full Moon : Practical Magic

Filed Under Illuminated Lunations, The Wandering Astrologer, Virgo | Leave a Comment 

Damascus Virgo Full MoonlightOld time greetings from the oldest inhabited city in the world: Damascus. One of the things about visiting a country so far away from home is that you just don’t know: whether your bags will arrive, the visa will be waiting at the airport, the internet will work (spotty as of this writing I don’t know whether I’ll be able to send this to you!) or if you’ll ever want to return. Travel is less about taking things on faith that it all will work out brilliantly (because sometimes it won’t) than endeavoring to appreciate and delight in everything that does.

But first, you’re curious about Damascus, aren’t you? Read more

Feb

21

Love Alchemy: Using Astrology for True Love in 2010

Filed Under Love Articles, Love and Relationships | Leave a Comment 

Looking for some awesome magical love mojo in 2010?

Once upon a time, the ancient art of astrology was tethered to magic. Today, for mysterious reasons, what was once one has become two. This perfect pair need no longer remain divided. By using astro-magical enchantments in the service of true love, we can take our enchanting powers up a notch, and marry magic to astrology again. Jessica Shepherd, author of A Love Alchemist’s Notebook, provides the year’s most favorable times for casting love spells. Click here to find out your perfect date for a magical love ritual!

Feb

12

Aquarius New Moon : Joining the Human Family

Filed Under Aquarius, Illuminated Lunations | Leave a Comment 

water bearerAnnouncement: Valentine’s Day Weekend, Mountain View, CA & Jessica Shepherd

I’m making a live television appearance on the Bay Area television station KRON 4 News, to be aired on Saturday morning, February 13 at 8:45 AM. So do tune in! That same evening I also have a book talk at East West Books in Mountain View, CA at 7:30 PM, to be followed by a Love Alchemy Workshop on Sunday, 2/14, (Valentine’s Day) from 1:00- 3:30 PM at that same location. For the workshop or book talk, call 800-909-6161 to reserve a spot.

Aquarius New Moon : Joining the Human Family

As I prepare for a smashing three event book tour this weekend, I am taking Saturday’s Aquarius New Moon message to heart. The most challenging thing in preparing for this weekend is my own insecurity, which is not just my own. Public opinion polls have told us that the fear of public speaking ranks right up there with death.  My ego gets that. Along with attempting to channel the embodied grace of Kate Winslet, I’m also trying to find that balance of practical preparation (can I explain this in a one-liner? what material should I focus on? should I memorize this?) and simple self-trust. Since it’s smart to seek out wise folk who have done this before, I’ve asked various professionals & friends for advice on how one should prepare oneself for a first-time media appearance.

Here it is:

‘You have a way with words (apparently after having explained Mercury retrograde to him so well)…I am not worried about you at all.’ (my dentist of 10 years) Read more

Jan

29

Leo Full Moon : Girl Finds Romance, Loses Mind

Filed Under Illuminated Lunations, Leo, Moon | Leave a Comment 

My friend Erin changed her Facebook profile picture to a celebrity. You’ve probably been invited to do the same. Her status update said something like: ‘it’s doppleganger week. Change your profile picture to the celebrity people think you most look like.’ She really did resemble Angie Harmon. I asked myself who that was and came up blank, so I asked my husband who said, ‘Winona Ryder’, who is not my favorite celebrity association. She does nothing for me. I went through a list of names who people have said I resembled and nope, I don’t resemble any of those people at all. I have my moments, my husband pointed out, when I resemble Angelina Jolie in spirit. Since I like Jolie, that was okay. Still. I look like me. Read more

Jan

14

New Moon Solar Eclipse In Capricorn: The Short List

Filed Under Astrology In Daily Life, Capricorn, Illuminated Lunations | Leave a Comment 

two goatsThe Angels of Capricorn clearly want our full attention; they’re putting an exclamation mark (it’s an eclipse!) on today’s Capricorn New Moon Solar Eclipse. Cap has an eye for putting in due diligence work on outstanding projects, especially those called ‘my life’s ambition’ and being a solitary, self-reliant sign, we often do this Great Work alone. However, since Venus in Capricorn figures strongly in this eclipse we’d be wise to open our lesson book to the page entitled: “Capricorn-ing” (here’s to using Capricorn as a verb, see below), and grab a dance partner to Capricorn with.

Saturn is retrograde (1/13-5/30/10). Saturn retrogrades in Libra through 4/6/10, suggesting a period of re-working, re-negotiating and re-strengthening our supporting cast – our partnerships. Great relationships are the foundations of our life. Capricorn’s/Saturn’s secret to successfully relating is not being dependent on others’ approval while knowing we cannot accomplish anything of importance in life, alone. Read more

Dec

31

Lunar Eclipse Full Moon in Cancer: The Great Inner Work

Filed Under Cancer, Eclipses, Illuminated Lunations, Pluto the Transformer | Leave a Comment 

oyster and pearlThe last week before Christmas, I flew out to South Carolina to assist my very sick and very dear grandmother. When I arrived, it was clear she was close to, if not actively, dying. I did what I could. If you’ve ever been a caregiver for a sick person who is fairly conscious, it is painful for both of you. You do physical things you’ve only ever done for your self; and if you think it’s humiliating for you, your heart breaks because they are doing what they can to hold onto a last shred of human dignity. When the beautiful machine called the body starts to fall apart, it is a glorious mess. what once worked so effortlessly and invisibly becomes effort-full and unpredictable. In one moment of biological truth, my Great Aunt looked me with tears in her eyes and said, “Jessica, getting old is terrible.” I wanted to disagree. I mumbled something like, Well, if we can all be there to help each other, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad…True, but… she lives alone. My grandmother’s husband left her when my father was three, and she never really trusted anyone after that. Her family has since dispersed to different corners of the universe, physically and philosophically. The reality is, she had never thought about getting sick or dying. She didn’t plan on this. Most of us don’t. Read more

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