There’s a difference between dreams and fantasies. A difference not appreciated by my family, who has always accused me of living in a castle in the clouds and having no sense of reality for wanting more from life than what this thing called “reality” had to offer.
I felt immense relief, almost the glee of revenge, when I discovered Human Design and found out I’m a Manifestor. I’m meant to hold big visions for others, and see there’s more to life than the underpaid grind of the capitalist machine. But that’s a story for another time. This is the Aquarius season newsletter, and you might be wondering why I’m talking about Human Design.
One of the systems underpinning Human Design is astrology, and I’m fascinated by the discrepancies between the two languages. In the Gregorian Calendar we started the year during the season of a Cardinal sign, the Earth initiator Capricorn (in Astrology we start the year with Aries, Cardinal Fire). Human Design sees the new year as the sun enters Aquarius and transits gate 41, the gate of contraction, which sits in the Root centre and as such has the energy of initiation (the Root is one of the motor centres, which are those that move energy around).
The New Moon that’ll start the Lunar New Year is right after, ushering us into the year of the (Water) Rabbit in the Chinese Zodiac. If you are any familiar with Fruits Basket, you can anticipate what I’m about to say. The Rabbit, while a yin year in all the elements (not just water), isn’t quite as passive and quiet as we may think. In fact, a Chinese proverb states that “a crafty rabbit has three burrows”. It’s a quiet confidence and strength, holding many ideas and the ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances because of this inner compass meaning we never lose our way even if we are in a reacting mode rather than an initiating one.
Aquarius is, in Traditional Western astrology, governed by Saturn, the same as Capricorn, and in Modern Astrology by Uranus. Its disruptive nature, bringing shifts in the collective, may not look like it has much in common with the Rabbit, but Aquarius is a fixed Air sign and as such I can see the three burrows energy in it. As the story of Lord Mengchang, a statesman from the Warring States era of Chinese history, goes, the Rabbit was a cunning escape artist, nothing like the sweet and fluffy pictures of the animal that live in the collective imagination of the West.
This past couple of days, as I navigated some intense personal circumstances, I’ve been suffering even worse insomnia than usual and was able to borrow two audiobooks from my Library wishlist, that happened to be both about two further aspects of Chinese culture (medicine and Taoism, if you’re wondering).
The book on Taoism caught my eye because of its unexpected title. The Tao of Pooh. I’m writing this wearing a Winnie the Pooh jumper I bought in the Primark in the shopping centre in the town where Disneyland is, so it comes as no surprise that I am fond of the bear and his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood. Of the many concepts discussed, two stood out to me in particular: the way the author looked at Rabbit (and Owl), and the idea of Wu Wei.
The Rabbit must have been my subconscious simmering the ideas of this newsletter. My family on my maternal side has always valued practicality and resourcefulness above anything. My mother is a great example of Rabbit’s personality, although she can sometimes tend to be a downer like Eeyore. Like both these characters, she has always been somewhat irritated by my Tigger-like bounciness. Our only commonality was looking at Pooh, longing for the ability to be that simple-minded. I was surprised to realise I am more similar to Pooh than I thought, or at least than I used to be.
Wu Wei is the idea of surrendering to the way that things are, and working with their nature instead of trying to force outcomes. Women who have been trying to fit in too tight heels because it was the “perfect pair” in a sample sale know what I mean, but I’m sure you can think of your own examples too. Embracing Astrology and Human Design as meaning-making systems, for me, has been about working with the way things are. They provided me with different narratives to interpret things that are true about myself, and a framework of how to alchemise my weaknesses and harness my strengths. Without knowing, as I allowed myself to believe that life has a way to work itself out, even if not in a divine justice kind of way, I was embracing the flow of this ancient philosophy.
Mars and Mercury have, by now, stationed direct again, propelling us forward. The Sun conjunct Pluto may have brought stuff to light, it sure did for me. Today’s new moon marks, for many, a shift that the 1st of January did not yet bring. So, let me wish you a happy new year (again, if I have before), and send you off into the next astrological season embodying the spirit of the Water Rabbit. February’s sky looks far more inviting than it has been in many months, except maybe the old lovers (Mars and Venus) squaring on the 5th. Mercury entering Aquarius on the 11th is, perhaps, the one transit I’m most looking forward to, as I could do with a spurt of creativity to channel into some new fine art work.
Until next time, keep living in wonder,
What happened in my world this month:
I took a step back from pretty much everywhere and focused on figuring out my 2023 strategy, including what will happen with Starry Sky season 2 (if the tarot spread in Episode 7 felt confusing, it’s because I had no idea what I’d do yet). I can give you a sneak peek, you loved the Star Magic episode and so I’m bringing you more of that stuff. Feel free to message me if you have topic ideas, guest suggestions, etc.