The Stars Are Out
| The Stars Are Out Being With Aries |  |
by Glo Daley
Spring happens. With it, striding up the road as mud season reaches its full glory, comes Aries, the youthful warrior. If that seems too macho a metaphor – and there are metaphors galore – imagine the new sprout or bud, up and opening, with a “now what?” attitude.
Aries begins our cycle around the seasons, starting with the spring equinox and continuing, traditionally, until April 20 or so.
One of the questions we might ask ourselves is how can we be in synch with the energy of the astrological/seasonal changes. In this particular case, how can we “be with” Aries in a creative and healthy way.
As with any sign in the zodiac, there is always the possibility of “being with” Aries in some of the not-so-wholesome manifestations of the astrological energies of the moment. With the warrior energy of Aries, for example, a head of state could attempt to “Ram” a war down the throats of huge and unwilling global populations, or an ordinary dyke could pick a fight with her boss. We get to choose ... for better or for worse.
Learning courage is the name of the game with Aries, and we can easily see how that head of state or that ordinary dyke could be fooled into thinking their actions are courageous. A question we can repeatedly ask ourselves during this time is: Am I acting courageously in this instance?
Duality will be heightened during this time, and it’s so tempting and easy to fall into the either/or, oppositional patterns we all seem adore. Here the freshness and creativity of Aries can help us to see something new and more beautifully original. Now comes the opportunity to let go of past resentments and tired beliefs we've clung onto. We can now challenge our own status quo and come up with new, constructive, and cooperative ways of being. This requires looking beyond the Self, stepping back to see the broader picture. How can I/we move toward something greater than my/our own agenda ... toward harmony, commitment, and ultimately a feeling of greater wholeness?
If this starts sounding a bit lofty it can be viewed on the most mundane and microcosmic levels. Am I going to take out the trash? Will I give this pedestrian the right of way? Do I really need to interrupt in this conversation?
It's so easy to be addicted to turmoil and struggle. Although it does seem to have entertainment value ... eventually, it’s a Big Bore. Our defiant, stubborn, petty, reactive and argumentative ways are not really our strengths though they may be somewhat colorful and therefore seductive. Being colorful is great and wondrous. It can feed us, and we may also be able to see, in the words of one of my favorite bumper stickers, “Being Weird Is Not Enough.”
In this time we can use our talents and abilities to participate in doing what needs to be done. We now are able to access the powerfully creative energy of this season to move from self-centeredness toward a more balanced integration with others. We become more able to contribute to the whole. This can take us beyond the tired and illusory definitions of winner/loser to a more juicy and joyful reality. We are using the inspirational stuff of Aries, the highest form of warrior, when we are able to forgive the insult, remember to be grateful, become peacemakers and practice patience when anger arises.
And now comes the fiery brilliance of Aries to lead us toward theses acts of courage. Are you ready for this? As people who have the gonads to be out about our sexual orientation and to honor the vast and varied potentials of our gender identities, we have had practice on a daily basis at asserting our right to be who we are. It is, in part, highly personal. We can then look beyond the personal, become increasingly more able to expend and expand our courage and broaden our circle of compassion to include the well being of others.
With the help of Aries lighting a fire under our butts, we have the potential for being our biggest and bravest selves.
Glo Daley is an astrologer living on women's land in Huntington.