I’m deep in the first semester of my research degree at Monash University, and so enjoying breaking new academic ground for myself. It’s so engrossing that my intended blog post for this weekend on the cultural factors in menopause hasn’t been written yet. And I cancelled my planned webinar for Thursday because it just didn’t feel like the right time to launch something new. When I don’t do what I said I would do, (not my favourite thing at all), I check out the astrology to see what is going on. And yes, an answer came!
This is a real “Chop Wood, Carry Water” week. It is indeed, not a time to start something new. Saturn is stationary having just turned direct. It is not moving at all until Thursday when it starts to shift very, very slowly. At the same time it squares Neptune and the lunar nodes, while Mars approaches. That’s rather astrobabbly technical but what it means is, everything feels a bit squirrelly, elusive, and awkward. So don’t expect too much. Don’t push the river. Just be happy to do what has to be done. It helps if you can slow down and do whatever needs to be done carefully, mindfully and gratefully.
Be aware that people may be feeling isolated, gloomy, pessimistic, trapped and even hopeless. If you are feeling any of those things, integrate the archetype of Saturn by contemplating the reality of your present moment, and resist the temptation to indulge in whatever fantasy of doom or self-centred pity you tend to play with when life feels unexciting, restricted, or dry. Within such times the opportunity to actually learn something often arises. The depth of the psyche is available. Values come up for consideration. Make sure you are living in accord with the ones you believe in the most. That will soothe your heart and lighten your spirit.
“Chop Wood, Carry Water” is an old Zen saying for getting on with life, for doing what needs to be done. (The original proverb is “Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water; after enlightenment, chop wood, carry water”, meaning, among other things, don’t think life is going to be all sparkly and special because you got enlightened.) The short version, “Chop Wood, Carry Water”, is often recommended as a spiritual practice for times of trial, or for those who tend to over-dramatise life, or for when one is distracted to the point of losing touch with reality. It is healing for the nervous system to simply do what needs to be done, and not to look beyond the present moment other than in the context of purely short-term, practical considerations. So enjoy your simplified, low-expectation week, and make the most of the slowdown before the next round of new starts and major decisions, which will begin to kick off with the Full Moon on Thursday.
Thankyou for this astro wisdom Lara!
The perfect words I’m needing to hear this afternoon as I’m ploughing my way through my final assessment for the term.
Life feels so much easier when we work with the energy available to us
Hi Melinda! Yes, very true. Enjoy completing the last assessment and congratulations on all the work you’ve done this term. Lx
Thanks Lara for a supportive Astro overview. And yes it certainly does feel like a chop wood carry water time for me. So many creative ideas bubbling up, and feeling the need to go slow, and focus on what needs to be done, and rest in these last winter days before springtime!
Hi Jane, lovely to hear from you. Stay warm out there in the wintry countryside! Lx
Hi Lara ~ If ever I needed to hear exactly those words, it was now. This has been a horrible year, and part of the reason is this feeling of not being able to “get going”, which is extremely in play right now in my life. Busybusybusy but not getting anything done anyway, and being blocked at every intersection. I am very glad to hear that I’d might as well “chop wood, carry water”, and not consider it as waiting for the logjam to break up. Hope you’re happy and doing what you love down yonder! Thanks for the VERY pertinent information.
Hi Carolyn, good to hear from you. Yes, this year has been very sludgy with the long Mars retrograde. It will all start moving ahead soon, but not fully until the end of September after the Mercury retrograde (Aug 31-Sept 20). Although you might not feel much is happening, my guess is that progress is developing under the surface. Take care, Lara
Thanks Lara! the astro-report and your wise interpretation have helped me make a bit more sense of the energy of now!! Phew! love always Jane xxx
Hi Jane! Yes, it’s deep catch-up time. Getting very clear about what we stand for, where our boundaries are, and how we best serve. That’s what the archetype we call Saturn is all about, and it takes quiet contemplation and not apparently moving forward sometimes to achieve that. Love back to you, Lxx
lara, Thursday new moon cannot come soon enough. the last 5 months so slow, at time of hitting brick walls. nice tpo know that even with Saturn direct finally, it’s mostly stationery, add mars to that, no wonder. all about….be still and know. no chopping and carrying. thank you for insights.