embroidery

Listener's answers to Trish's embroidery question from the March 24 show
(now including Trish's comments on their accuracy at the end!)

Ok, Benjamin, you've asked for questions and I've had one I've been dying to ask...

I practice embroidery quite avidly. Nowadays is mostly cross stitch. I've noticed that throughout my life my engagement in this craft has waxed and waned - that is to say that years of interest follow years of disinterest and then again.

I'm wondering why this is and if there is an astrological reason for it. Seems like I'm slipping into disinterest - have been for months now but it's becoming more acute. Normally this would not bother me but in the past 5+ years I made this hobby also social, in that most of my friends are also stitchers and my lack of interest also affects my friendships as we get together mostly to stitch or to attend stitch-related events.

My friends are great. They look at my showing up to stitch with books, Nintendo DS, and other things with great humor. I don't believe I will "lose" my friends if I stop stitching, but I'm starting to feel like the odd duck.

Yesterday's consultation was extremely insightful. You've certainly given me a lot to think about and I can't thank you enough.

I shared your podcast with my stitching friends this afternoon and they all enjoyed it, even though they're not into astrology. They asked me to bring the new one next week, so I guess they do want to hear more.

I was thinking about your challenge question, or rather "my" challenge question. I haven't studied astrology since the early eighties, and I can't even begin to presume to actually know anything, but I thought I'd give it a crack.

First I went looking for asteroids, which I know less than nothing about, but I do remember reading that one ruled arts and crafts. I came across Pallas Athena but it's at 12 degrees Pisces on my chart and I can't tell that anything is aspecting it.

So at this point I thought that maybe we are looking at it the wrong way. Maybe is not so much a disinterest in the needle arts but:

4) strong aspects to the stellium that send my focus elsewhere - this one would kind of explain the off and on part of it.

So, anyway, you're the expert. I wouldn't know where to begin to prove any of this, but I do know that 1) I've been in a purge cycle for over a year now (close to two), 2) I do have more energy now that a condition was accurately diagnosed and treated (15 mos ago), and 3) I do have a desire to express my creativity in different ways, so switching from one thing to another wouldn't surprise me, even though there's nothing tugging at me right now.

For the sake of reference, the last time I became disinterested in needle arts was around 1998. When I picked it up again was around 2002. Both give or take a year. I honestly can't remember.

Thanks again for yesterday - you were amazing and exceeded all my expectations. I can't wait for my CDs to arrive so I can listen to it again.

I was intrigued by the challenge to explain the waxing and waning interest in embroidery in Trish’s chart, so I hope that I may have something of value to offer in response to your request.

Benjamin, as I listened to you describing the steps you took to answer Trish’s question, I had a sudden flash. The asteroid, Pallas Athena, came to mind. Pallas is the goddess of the arts and crafts. Pallas instructed humanity in many of the trades and arts, as well as medical practices. Embroidery is one of the crafts ruled by Pallas Athena.

As a reference, your readers may wish to buy or borrow the book, Asteroid Goddesses, The Mythology, Psychology and Astrology of the Reemerging Feminine by Demetra George with Douglas Bloch, ACS Publications, San Diego, CA. All of the information I included with regard to the asteroids and their aspects was taken from this book.

I do want to include some background information, since this may help to explain the energies at work in her chart over the last number of years, and may help to shed some light on the waxing/waning interest in her embroidery. I feel though that Trish’s curiosity or concern may run deeper than her fluctuating interest in embroidery. Perhaps, she has an unconscious need to know and understand how this may have all been the “window dressing” for the emergence of a more powerful and deeper expression of her inherent abilities over the next number of years. If you wish to edit out a lot of the information that I’m including, I understand. I simply wanted to lay out my thought processes that led me to the conclusions I made.

Pallas is at 13 degrees 56’ Pisces in Trish’s 10^th house. It is opposite Pluto and the Moon, both at 10 degrees Virgo in her 4^th house. The Pluto-Moon conjunction may have led Trish to experience powerful and intense feelings about her relationship or lack of relationship with her mother. Pallas, in combination with the moon, may signify an ongoing conflict between the mind and feelings, alienation from their mother, and possibly with their own female identity. With Pluto, there could be unconscious blockages in the expression of one’s sexual identity and creative potential; there may also exist powerful mental obsessions and fixations that dominate her thinking. Adding to this dynamic, Ceres and Vesta are conjunct in Taurus, in the 12^th house, trining the Moon and Pluto, and sextiling Pallas. Pallas trines Neptune at 12 degrees 51’ Scorpio in the 6^th house. She has special talents that can manifest in the arts; she may also possess telepathic abilities and the capacity for psychic healing, using colour and music.

Ceres in the 12^th house trines the Moon in the 4^th house and emphasizes the need to exchange emotional energy with others, possibly due to loss, resulting in empathy for the suffering of others. The Ceres-Pluto trine emphasizes the theme of loss and return, teaching that she can’t become attached to the life she has created and nurtured. With Ceres conjunct Vesta, she can experience nurturing through her work; possibly, this may explain her dedication to her embroidery work. Vesta in the 12^th house also denotes strong unconscious needs for isolation and retreat, which may play into her periodic withdrawal from the embroidery group that Trish is a member of. The Vesta-Moon trine reinforces the Ceres-Moon aspect and the Vesta-Pluto trine highlights service to others. In addition to these configurations, there is an opposition between Ceres-Vesta and Neptune (6^th house), which may lead to confusion about one’s commitments and misperceptions of reality. Vesta’s powers of focus and concentration can be used to effectively deal with physical reality and other dimensions, and the Ceres-Neptune conflict may be resolved in finding one’s source of nourishment through the experience of oneness that connects all living beings.

Trish also has Juno at 29 degrees 47’ Pisces in her 11^th house. This signifies one’s “relationship unit”, which she needs to be able to extend into friends and group associations, which she does through her embroidery group.

I checked back to May/June 2001 when Saturn was in Gemini and formed a T-Square to Pallas and the Moon and Pluto; it was exact to the Moon and Pluto in July for about nine days, and moved into exact square by degree with Pallas in August/01, where it remained on 13 degrees for about two weeks. Saturn went retrograde and exactly squared Pallas again at the end of October and through the first two weeks of November/01; then, it was exactly square the Moon and Pluto for two weeks in December/01. It exactly squared the Moon and Pluto after going direct in the last week of March/02 and the first week of April. Saturn exactly squared Pallas again at the end of April/02, and for five days at the beginning of May/02. This was the last pass of Saturn over the respective degrees of the Moon, Pluto, and Pallas. I’m not sure how wide an orb one should give between Saturn and Pallas, but if it were 10 degrees for the square, then Saturn was completely out of aspect by the last week of July/02. Throughout the period between May/01 to July/02, Trish’s interest in embroidery may have waned as a result of the T-Square and, possibly, also of Saturn creating stiffness in her fingers, since not only was Saturn in Gemini, but also inconjunct Mercury, the ruler of her first house, and of her hands and mental processes. Perhaps, she was also experiencing mental anxiety and headaches that would have interfered with her ability to focus on doing the embroidery work. As well, transiting Saturn was inconjunct Neptune, which also tied in with the Pallas, Ceres, Vesta configuration. The inconjunct may have triggered the opposition of Neptune to Ceres and Vesta to manifest in more confusion and lack of focus. Trish may have pulled out of participating in her embroidery group, or even showing up for it, when Saturn was close or in exact square to Juno at 29 degrees 47’ Pisces in her 11^th house. Trish may possibly have shown up but not participated in the group throughout July to September/02, and she may have stayed away completely when Saturn was exact at 29 degrees in October/02 for about three weeks. Saturn would have continued its square aspect to Juno over the next few months, going exact again at the end of May/03 and the beginning of June/03. Her interest may have returned when transiting Saturn, at 13 degrees Cancer in October/03, trined Pallas, and made a Grand Trine with Neptune in Scorpio. This would have been preceded by an exact sextile of transiting Saturn to the Moon and Pluto at the end of August/03 and beginning of September/03, possibly stimulating her desire to renew activity within the group. Transiting Saturn continued back and forth in Cancer until mid-July/05. Uranus in Pisces, meanwhile, had also been dancing around the Moon, Pluto, Pallas configuration for several months, making an exact opposition to the Moon and Pluto in May-July/05, and an exact conjunction to Pallas in April-May/06.

Transiting Saturn entered Virgo in Sept/07, moving first towards conjunction with the Moon and Pluto, and then towards opposition with Pallas, over the next several months. The closest it has come to the Moon and Pluto and Pallas is at 8 degrees Virgo, beginning at the end of November/07 and continuing into the first two weeks of January/08, when it turned retrograde. It is currently at about 2 degrees Virgo; perhaps, while Saturn remains retrograde, and moves down to 1 degree Virgo, Trish may do her embroidery, but once Saturn turns direct in May/08 and moves into exact aspect with the Moon and Pluto, towards the end of August/08, her interest will have waned again, perhaps permanently by the time transiting Saturn is in exact opposition to Pallas in September/08. The stimulation of Uranus on these configurations may awaken all of her latent healing abilities, leading Trish to express the inherent energies of those configurations in a completely different way. Saturn may have been preparing her for something new through its more challenging aspects and its nagging insistence on pulling her away from the conditioned response pattern of those configurations. Uranus may have already awakened the desire for change as it passed over Pallas and aspected the other planets and asteroids involved. As transiting Pluto conjuncts each of her natal planets within her 8^th house in Capricorn over the next seven years, Trish will most likely undergo a deep alchemical transformation, at the end of which she may use her hands and mind for some form of energy work in the healing arts, rather than for embroidery.

Just as an aside, my natal Moon and her natal Saturn are exactly conjunct at 29 degrees Capricorn.

I wish you and Spiritsong all the best of health and continued success….I love your podcast!

Spritsong--I do hope you are feeling better. Missed you on the show and sent you some healing wishes (please don't read that on the show).

Pallas in Scorpio is in the sixth house of work and service and is conjunct Neptune. She probably has great visualization skills and I would bet the embroidery is very beautiful and she probably feels this work is very spiritual and healing.

To me the chart indicates that the weaving is not really a social affair (despite the fact she does it in a group) it is probably more a spiritual duty.

I see that progressed Pallas is now in orb of conjuncting her natal Ceres ( 4 degrees of Sag in the 7th house) as well as opposing her natal moon (28 degrees of Taurus in the 12th house). Sometimes these weaving arts are handed down from mother to daughter and if this true in Trish's case, these aspects might make weaving a more emotionally charged affair. It's interesting that she brings a book to a place where she would sit and talk and weave. Pallas is also a weaver of ideas--the integration of themes. She is substituting one Pallas activity for another in her group.

If I had to guess, there may be mother/daughter issues that have to do with something hidden (12th house) in terms of relationships (7th house) that might be happening and the embroidery triggers this.

Rather than look at these issues, it is easier to read. I do see that natal Pallas has some very good aspects to progressed Pluto and Chiron (a sextile and a trine, respectively). This leads me to believe that she has an excellent opportunity to transform and heal whatever this issue may be.

Of course I have no idea if this is anywhere near correct, but thought I would put it out there in Trish's best interest.

While I certainly can't attempt to answer Trish's question, I do have some comments for your consideration so you can.

I think the ruler of embroidery/cross stich in her chart is Venus. Embroidery is a craft, very precise and detailed, very virgoian (is that a word?) still ruled by mercury for the hands. but I don't think gemini is involved. the sign on her 6th is libra, ruled by venus. so

she mentioned it is this past period of interest, not the earlier ones, that involves a very social experience - pVenus has been in Aquarius has it not? (I don't know if you can do progressed transits to natal but her natal MC would have been transited by pVenus )

perhaps the waning of interest recently has been the pluto to venus transit transforming the value she places on the activity.

or if she does stitching over the years as a moon in virgo security need, then the times she loses interest are the ones when she doesn't need it as much.

and with moon in virgo natally, opposite chiron , with saturn transiting, I am not surprised she feels like an "odd duck" with her peers as her interests change.

What do you think? (I don't actually expect a personal response by the way - looking forward to your next podcast with the condensed, combined results of the emails you get)

P.S. this was alot of fun, trying to stretch my astrological brain in response versus being a sponge soaking up information.

I just now finished listening to the complete show...because there is so much good information I sometimes listen to the show in parts...I wanted to give my feedback about the woman's chart in Part III.

When you read her letter, the first planet that came to my mind was Saturn! Ruler of Capricorn and known for its feeling of heaviness and limitations. When I looked at her chart, I saw that Saturn fairly recently squared her AC (and although she said that she had been feeling this way for a few months I wasn't sure when the letter had been submitted or the relativity of the term). Saturn also recently conjunct Uranus, so I was wondering if she might be a little bored with her embroidery practice, maybe she needs to think "outside the box" for new inspiration and projects. I am also going through a similar Saturn transit, and I am feeling more introverted and unsure of my next creative steps.

Keeping with this theme, I noticed that Saturn also recently opposed Chiron. Perhaps she originally joined her embroidery group for guidance, mentorship, etc. but may feel limited by the group's bent and not as open to her creative impulses? Or at least perceives it that way? I am less familiar with the dynamics of Chiron (I only recently with your show began looking at it), so maybe you have some ideas there?

In her letter, she also mentioned she joined this group 5-6 years ago, which would mean that Saturn was transiting her Ascendant. Perhaps at the time, she felt excited about the possibilities and the group helped in forming a new sense of identity. And now, again, she's just a little bored. Or perhaps she would prefer to do more with her friends than just embroidery? I noticed that she still attends her meetings, but just does not participate in the activity, so she comes for the friendships instead. Which led me to the 11th house where again Uranus pops up. And although I did not do the exact aspects, Uranus could have conjunct Chiron at the start of her membership in this group.

So maybe the question is really two parts: 1) her tendency to "wax and wane" in her interest in embroidery and 2) her recent involvement in her embroidery group.

I noticed that her AC and Uranus are exactly squared, so any transit to from Saturn will hit both simultaneously (and both her AC, Uranus (and even her own Mercury) are ruled by Mercury. That's a lot of mercurial energy.

That's what intuitively came to mind. Maybe it can help? At this point I am not advanced enough in my studies to do too much work with transits. You're show is really helping me, though! Very educational and inspirational.

I am excited to hear the feedback you receive from other listeners on next week's show.

Sorry for the length of the e-mail. Please feel free to edit! or just mention my name on the air! With my Virgo Rising, I don't really desire the spotlight too much. But if I win, please announce that! My Leo Sun would like that very much:)

I have been listening to your show since January 08 and really enjoy it and find both yourself and Spiritsong very informative. I have been studying Astrology for the past 4 years and do charts occasionally. My name is Breeda and I live in Dublin in Ireland. I am responding to your request with regard to the query from your listener Trish. The following is my theory:

When I was listening to you reading out Trish’s letter, I felt the Planet involved was Saturn. For the embroidery and stitching I also looked to Mercury but from my studies I would associate Virgo rather than Gemini with Arts and Crafts. Virgo is on the cusp of Trish’s 5th house relating to her creativity in the house associated with Leo. Saturn began its progress through Leo in her 3rd house associated with Mercury in July 2005. This was a time when her focus could have been on her creativity and when she may have showed more interest than usual in her craft. She mentioned that she loses interest at times and this may be when she is being pushed by Saturn to concentrate on other issues. Home/family/old childhood issues may have been her focus when Saturn hit her IC cusp in August 2006. Also she would have been under lot of pressure when Saturn hit Uranus in September 2007 perhaps causing her to break away from a situation either at work or at home. When Saturn hit her Leo North Node in September 2006 and April 2007 her creative side was probably in focus again. This may account for the waxing and waning of her interest in her craft. When transiting Saturn contacted sensitive areas of her chart her energy levels may have been low and she may not have felt very sociable. She may have avoided practising her craft as it is a sociable activity that she normally enjoys with her friends.

September 2007 – August 2008 seems to be a pivotal time in Trish’s life as transiting Saturn conjuncts her stelium in Virgo which trines her stelium in Capricorn. She has a Virgo/Capricorn theme in her natal chart as the most populated areas are planets in the 4th house in Virgo trining planets in Capricorn in her 8th house. I suggest that Trish has been challenged with regard to her creativity since the summer of 2005 and is being urged by Saturn to focus on this area and ask herself: “Am I using my creativity in the best possible way to benefit me?” What type of embroidery does she do? Does it have a mystical, spiritual, new age or fantasy flavour? Has she considered turning her hobby into a business venture? I have come up with these theories as Neptune is in her 6th house (associated with Virgo) indicating the possibility of undertaking a creative endeavour on a daily basis. Aquarius is on her MC suggesting an unusual career, perhaps in the New Age area. Her Moon in Virgo also indicates creativity relating to a Virgo-type activity. Could she market her craftwork under an interior design niche label and sell it commercially?

With three personal planets in Capricorn Trish is a natural at business and probably has a corporate career such as handling other people’s money or property portfolios. Could the Saturn Transit be about shifting the emphasis to a creative and more meaningful career which brings joy not only to her but to others also? As she has trines flowing between the steliums, turning her talent into a business venture should be easy for her but she may not be driven to do so - perhaps this Saturn transit is providing the push that she needs.

Benjamin I hope this is a useful interpretation. I would be chuffed to win as I would love a reading with you. It is a lengthy response so please feel free to edit it should you decide to read it on your show.

Best Wishes,

Hi Benjamin,

I am responding to your request for responses to the question posed by Trish

As I express in my letter, I greatly enjoy your podcast. You and Spiritsong are very talented and lovely individuals. Your contest was fun and inspirational to me in a way that I didn't expect...so thanks for the challenge.

I've attached an MS Word document which is a reading that I did for Trish using my skill sets (advanced tarot and beginning astrology). My challenge for myself in answering the question was to explore the skills I have and to see how well I could answer the question.

Please let me know if you have any problem opening up my letter and my reading for Trish. I hope you find my methods and/or results interesting. I would love to know any thoughts that you have.

Keep up the great work!

Sincerely,

Valerie

I have been a professional tarot reader since 1999. My interest in tarot led to my interest in astrology. I thought it would be great to do a reading for Trish and to integrate the use of tarot with what I’ve learned about astrology so far. I’m a beginner in astrology but I feel I can cautiously integrate them in a grounded and sensible way (due to my Virgo sun sign perhaps).

First I looked at Trish’s chart as I felt my exercise would be incomplete if I didn’t make this a first step. Next I wanted to find a planet I felt connected to the art of embroidery and to then do a tarot spread around the issue.

I did a bit of research and found an interesting connection to Pluto and crafts. Among other things, Minerva (known also as Pallas Athena) was thought to be the goddess of crafts. I’m interested in the Jungian technique of mythological amplification so I created a tarot spread that I called the Minerva Pluto spread. I based the spread on the challenges of a use of the lower level of Plutonian energy and the higher use of Plutonian energy and how that would impact Trish in terms of her embroidery. Learning about Minerva gave me the link between crafts and Pluto that I would say falls under the technique of mythological amplification.

Also, I found a book I wish I had to read now for the purpose of my tarot reader for Trish called “Pluto or Minerva the choice is Yours” by Isabelle Hickey.

I’d like to make a very humble offering to share the results of my spread. I created an 8 card spread, the Minerva Pluto Spread and added the astrological attribution for each card. I used a deck based on the Rider Waite deck, called Tarot of the New Vision.

Since this e-mail will be so long as it is, I’m simply going to summarize the parts of the spread that I found most interesting.

First, the overall spread was very helpful. It focused in on Trish’s ability to work hard shown by her significator, the Knight of Pentacles. She does have a great ability to concentrate on her work. There is Virgoan energy with this card and I know that Trish has that in her Moon, also. There is a bit more Virgo elsewhere in her chart as I recall, also.

The 10 of Cups (corresponds to Pisces) validates that the love and support of friends and family and the friendships within this social circle are enjoyable for Trish. The watery energy shows that relating to her loved ones and her friends brings her joy and sustenance. Connectedness to others helps Trish to find energy for her embroidery.

The card placement for what impedes Trish in focusing with enthusiasm on her embroidery work is:

Interestingly, what came out as impeding is the Hierophant (which corresponds to Taurus). Like astrology, tarot is complex and the hierophant has various meanings. In this case, I feel that this shows the energy of conforming within a group and fitting in with others. Something about how Trish is preoccupied with fitting in with the group and trying to conform is draining Trish’s energy. I feel she is getting encouraged to not think of herself as an “odd ball.” It’s possible that the way that Trish is conforming within her embroidery group might be dulling some of her originality. I think Trish needs to embrace and love her inner oddball, so to speak. She can make conforming less stifling and allow her own Divine Spark to shine!

In terms of the alternating years of interest and disinterest. I would ask Trish if she can see a connection to how she much she has felt she owned her personal power and individuality during these off and on periods? Did she feel more comfortable in her own skin in the periods when she has more energy for the embroidery? Did she push herself to conform in her life in times when her energy is low? These are the questions posed by the Hieorphant card.

Are there group dynamics that make Trish feel out of place that she can remember? Did events to Trish that might have increased Trish’s need to conform to societal expectations and to maintain the status quo?

Trish needs to explore the meanings of fitting in and what it means to stand alone and own her own power. Her friends will be more accepting of Trish than she may think. This is draining energy that she could use for her crafts and in other areas.

The only reversed card (which I interpret as being very close to the upright meaning…a reversal just asks for extra attention to be paid to an issue) is the 4 of Pentacles (which corresponds to Capricorn). This card shows some concern about finances, the acquisition of wealth or possessions and a resistance to changes that could come from the Higher Self.

I think that Trish is growing and evolving in positive ways and has a great potential for even greater changes. My message to Trish is to go with the flow more, open up to the potential for spiritual growth and don’t be afraid that you will lose financial ground if you open yourself up to possibilities around you.

Understandably, Trish is not taking advantage of the higher levels of Plutonian energy because she may be inhibited by some very practical fears.

This couldn’t have been clearer. Trish received the 2 of Wands (connect to Aries) and to finding your own place in the world. Both in terms of tarot and astrology this is the clearest message on in the spread….don’t be afraid of change. This encourages a bold and dynamic energy to enhance manifestation!

The tensions between cards that I found in the tarot reading are between the energy of the 4 of Pentacles reversed (Capricorn) in the placement of use of the higher energy of Plutonian energy and the card for the steps Trish needs to start to take for the purpose of her question (2 Wands, Aries).

In additional, the tensions between these energies are shown in the card that came out for the lower level of the use of Plutonian energy 2 Cups (corresponds to Cancer. In a Jungian psychological approach within tarot, the 2 of Cups can show reconciling the opposites within ourselves. I think that Trish is meant to grow and and integrate conflicting roles for herself into one new role that has the potential to create for herself. There is a lot of room for Trish to expand if she just goes for it!

Well, Benjamin. I wrote a book. I greatly admire your energized presence, your varied talents and your strong work ethic. I also really like your responsiveness and that you are actively working on how to keep improving your show. I hope my humble contribution and my method will hold up with the others results that your listeners will share. I don’t know if I qualify for your contest in that I am an experienced tarot reader who is integrated a beginner’s level of astrology…but your contest inspired me to get in touch with you. It’s been great fun to do it.

Please mentally rewind all of the positive feedback you’ve received and know that I’m in hearty agreement. Also, I do enjoy your work with Spiritsong as you are a very lovely couple. Her voice is melodious and so pleasing. I am sorry to hear she is dealing with health issues. I will say a special prayer for her today to feel revitalized.

P.S. Just FYI, I came to my interest in combining tarot and astrology through the delightful podcast, The Tarot Connection by Leisa Refalo (tarotconnection.net). Leisa’s podcast relates the most directly to my professional work as a tarot reader. As a result of listening to the podcast I had the joy of getting my first introduction to the parallels the languages of tarot and astrology in her fabulous segments with the gifted astrologer, Dena DeCastro. I’m hoping to keep learning about astrology and I’m so grateful for the exposure to the three of you that I’ve been afforded through podcasting.

Keep up the great work, Benjamin and Spiritsong! I hope the stars light your way…..every day….to use your phrase. : )

The other entries (which also contain some great insights). Thanks for entering!

I'm going to attack this from the opposite direction as you. Instead of assuming the astrological forces are energizing an interest, what if they're suppressing it?

Consider that all that Capricorn/Virgo -- structure/craft energy with a stellium in the fourth house (inluding Cancer as the third house ruler) makes embroidery (along with really any sort of homey, artsy craftwork) a likely possibility as a pastime for Trish; so much so that its presence defines her more than its absence. What then is slowing her interest?

Well, we know Saturn has been dancing back and forth across the Virgo/Leo boundary recently which in her case, hits Uranus a couple times (social networking, sudden loss of interest) and has made it just about out to 10° Virgo to pick at her Pluto/Moon conjuction. That conjunction is only marginally connected to Mercury (in this case, embroidery) by a trine, but by itself can be an indication of volatile moods in the persona. Saturn's constricting influence on that volatility may serve only to 'pinball' the effect, rather than actually calm it down (like dissolving Neptune might) Saturn is also slow enough and goes retrograde often enough to facilitate multi-year changes, though in this case, we don't know how many years "several" is.

Also, she's got Neptune in Scorpio in the 6th, which I would consider a 'loner' by some of Bob Marks' tests, thus funneling much of the chart energy to that point. (Like my wife's moon in Aries/4) Of course, this is a great configuration if you want to bury or release something from the depths (something like the infamous Pluto in 12, but lacking the sinister aspect). Sitting in the 6th house of daily work, I could see any number of large planets aspecting this "hole," so to speak, and alternatively burying and loosing her various interests from the grasp of day-to-day life. It would be interesting to know if this is the only hobby that cycles this way.

So there's my thoughts. I hope it triggers something in your mind to help Trish with her stitch in time.. get it.. in time.. stitch.. nevermind. It wasn't that funny. :/

-- Jason

I would like a little more info if possible. How long ago was it exactly when she last lost interest. It seems to me that would help to narrow down

You know, I think you're on to something here. Giving the listeners a challenge every once in a while would be so interesting.

I see that Trish has transiting Neptune almost conjunct progressed Venus and also SA Neptune almost conjunct natal Venus. Venus rules embroidery according to Rex Bills The Rulership Book so I think Neptune is the culprit, dissolving her interest in embroidery. I'll be listening to hear what you think is the best answer to this intriguing challenge.

Second, I am NO astrologer, but, I wanted to take a crack at Trish's dilemma on her artistic embroidery issue. I looked at her chart from a Tarot point of view and focused on the elements.

Mars (The Tower) drives and pushes to expend energy, and it moves approximately 2 years per sign.

I really don't know that much about astrology (only started learning this last september), but I was wondering if her progressed venus had anything to do with things. I don't have the software you do in order to check out transits and stuff over the years, but it looks like it has progressed over many of her natal planets. Please don't read this on air if I'm way off. Like I said, I'm really just learning. It's just what came to me even before I listened to you describe your thought process as it seem embroidery has been her creative outlet on and off for most if her life. I would really love your feedback on this idea though (even if it's just a quick email back letting me know that that's not how progressed venus even works! - ha)

Thanks for the podcast. I'm really gleaning so much knowledge from you and Spiritsong (even had her do a reading for me - very impressive. she's so kind and patient) You both are really helping me learn how to speak the language!

Hi Benjamin & Spiritsong,

I'm still shaky on transits and progressions as far as interpretation skills but with the Trish embroidery conundrum, my immediate thought was to look at Virgo which rules details. Saturn may have been affecting her for a while with burden and work energy affecting her detailed embroidery. Cross stitch is one of the least detailed type (& easiest) of this type of sewing so as Saturn gets closer to her Pluto (intensity) and her moon (making her needs to be detailed more of a hardship) and going back and forth between the 2 natal planets, I think this hobby will become more tiresome and less fun. I'm not sure if it's affecting long enough to be the right aspect since Saturn will be out of Virgo on Oct. 3rd. 2008. Perhaps in other years, some retrogradation may make this aspect last longer.

Let me know if any of this rings true.

Karen

P.S. If you read any of this on your show, I don't want to push someone you don't agree w/ so just skip over whatever you need to.

Hi, in answer to the listener question in the final part of this weeks show – I’m not sure if anyone has pointed this one out but I’m thinking Chiron, both in reference to the hands and to crafts. Chiron has as its root in the Greek Chiro χειρο- "hand" - that it resonates with Virgo & the sixth house too I think it relevant especially in terms of a craft requiring skill & patience.

Chiron is in the tenth house and is the only 10^th house body in Trish’s natal chart: which would explain in some part the close relation between social life and craft in her life. Also natally Chiron is trine the Sun, Mars & Venus.

As regards the loss of interest in late 2007 there are aspects with transiting Saturn, which was in full opposition in the fourth house towards the end of last year which is when it would have been at it’s most intense.

Sorry to have taken so long to respond to last week's podcast. Been busy with the new job, a new computer, a new workout at the gym, new friends at the gym, a company trying to steal me from my new job... lot of new stuff for Trish!

My stitching friends heard the podcast along with me and were so amused that my question generated a special page. As they say, it's my place in the group to be the odd duck and it doesn't surprise them that I would come up with something that would make others wonder. I've been perplexing them for a long time. For one, I am the youngest (aka "the toddler"), almost always into something new, and a techie, always fiddling with the latest gadget or gizmo. You can say I have enthusiastically embraced my "inner oddball".

I think my feeling like an "odd duck" has more to do with feeling like I've become the slacker in the group. Everyone else seems to be making progress with their projects except me, and I'm so competitive and hard-working by nature that I don't like being outworked/outdone. Being first is best, in the middle, tolerabe, but last, unacceptable. On the other hand, I tend towards the biggest and most difficult of projects - pieces I hope will become family heirlooms - and these take longer to produce. Right now I'm 2.25 feet into a piece which will be 5 feet long, my largest piece thus far.

All the responses to my question have been so spot on for the most part. I'm deeply touched as how generous everyone has been with their time and energy and I would like to thank them all for their insights and efforts. So, if you don't mind, I would so much appreciate it if you would forward my thanks, since I can't do so myself. Sorry, but it's going to be long!

1) Jason: yes, I'm very much a loner. All my interests/hobbies tend to cycle. My parents would call them my "magnificent obsessions". I've been into so many things, but only a handful, like needlearts, come back for additional cycles, most just drop off. I view my needlework as a tangible representation of my time and energy.

2) Nancy - thanks for looking up needlearts. I didn't even know that there was a rulership book! Too cool!!!

3) Sherry - you've hit it spot on that embroidery is primarily spiritual and secondarily social for me. Stitching can be very meditative. I sometimes select pieces that have themes I want to think/meditate about, and other times, it's the other way around. I find myself gravitating towards certain themes and then have an "AHA" moment about why.

4) Debi - I guess I should be happy that I don't have much fire in my chart. I tend to have at least a dozen creative projects going and, if I had more fire, I might have more and that would drive me totally crazy!!!

5) Karen - The cross stitch my friends and I do is extremely detailed and difficult. You're probably thinking of cross stitch done on aida cloth like what can be found at Joann's and Michael's. Cross stitch nowadays is combined with embroidery and we use a lot of specialty stitches that can make the most sedate lady start cussing like a sailor. So maybe it's the other way around? When the transit that influences a desire for difficult detail passes, the interest goes along with it? That's really a very interesting answer. Thanks so much.

6) Pam - I've been wondering about transiting Pluto to my Venus, but from what I've heard/read, it ought to increase it, not decrease it. (I started my largest piece ever 9 mos ago) Of course, it may be that this is going to go through some sort of change and big ships turn slowly. We'll have to wait for this one.

Being part of the stitching group does give me energy for embroidery, but I also enjoy hanging out with my friends. I don't feel like I have a problem fitting in or conforming with the group. I have no problem showing up with my Nintendo DS and playing "The Simpsons" or "Zelda" while they stitch. They know I'm a little nutty (okay, A LOT!) and they love me for who I am. All my pressures are internal, not external.

8) Cristin, I did join the embroidery group for guidance and mentorship. I realized in 2001 that my eldest son would graduate High School the following year and that all my sons would quickly follow suit. #4 even graduated a year early. I didn't know how it was going to affect me. I was pretty caught up in my identity as someone's mother and wondered how I would handle an empty nest. Being around other women who had already gone through this made perfect sense. Otherwise, this hermit would not have left her cave. I'm glad I did. I've made some amazing friends. I'm not bored with needlework and I can't ever imagine myself becoming bored with it. I can imagine other interests displacing it temporarily, but it really is an integral part of me.

9) Richard, I did begin to lose interest in late 2007, so maybe Saturn is to blame. Let's give him the bad rap. He's used it and probably won't mind. (Maybe he's mean to others, but he's always been nice to me - he's a good buddy to have!)

10) Linda, your answer just blew me away. Thanks so much for taking the time to write so much detail!

You were spot on with the mother issue. There is no relationship. We never bonded. I was raised primarily by a nanny until I was 8, after that, we still had a maid that handled the house and meals, and she just continued to do her thing. (She once confessed that she had children because it was expected of her, not because she wanted them). When my parents started having marital difficulties, I took the brunt of it because even though I have two brothers, I am the most like my father. I learned later that several family members attempted to rescue me and have me live with them, but she feared losing face if she allowed that. After I divorced my husband, she extended the same abuse to two of my sons - #1 & #3 - the ones that are most like my ex-husband, whom she despised. I cut off the relationship in 1996. At that point I realized that all of the abuse had nothing to do with me, she just chose to vent her frustrations on a target that wasn't able to retaliate. I know that INTPs tend to cut people off surgically when an undefined line is crossed, but this is a universally accepted line and I have no regrets.

I don't think I have a problem with my female identity. I love being a woman and can't imagine myself as anything else. My sons and their male friends are so brutal with each other I sometimes feel sorry for men - they put so much pressure on each other to be "manly". They need their own revolution.

Powerful obessions and fixations: I have OCD. Not like Monk. OCD comes in many flavors: from Monk (clean freak) to Monk's brother, Ambrose (hoarder/collector), to crazy cat ladies living with 20 cats in a house full of feces (ewww!). It runs rampant in my family, which is full of physicians, who also tend to have a higher degree of OCD as a group (chicken/egg conundrum). My father gave it to me and I passed it on to two of my sons (#1 & #4).

I've never admitted it to anyone, but I do have telepathic abilities, though I tend to second guess them a lot. It's so strong between my second son and I that he can literally send thoughts to me and I will answer him verbally. Unfortunately, most of the time he uses it to let me know what he wants to eat (men!). When he was younger, he thought he was influencing me mentally. Now he even knows when I'm ignoring what he's sending. I think he's a bit telepathic himself.

I was a confused about this for a long time. Knowing things. Not knowing how I knew them. The good thing about being telepathic is that I can pick up on things and tend to know the direction things are heading. I don't run around deliberately trying to pry into people's thoughts. It doesn't work that way.

I also have never admitted this, but I do have a healing ability. I used it once on son #3 in 1988 when I was in Peru studying Incan Archeology (a magnificent obsession, not my career) and had little faith in the local doctors. I didn't even know what I was doing. It worked, but it freaked me out. Lately I have been thinking that it might be a path for me because I also think it's son #2's path. I sort of feel responsible for helping him along. I just don't know that I can permanently make it over to the "weird side" (no offense intended). I'm fairly well respected professionally and that appeals to my Capricornian self. But then, Pluto is about to get busy with that...

As for the transits, Oct 03 was when sons #2 & #3 joined the Marines. I stitched up a storm. Both sons are now out and are fine. I know that I use needlearts to quiet my mind. Not so much as compensatory denial, though that can be the case from time to time, but because the work is so intricate that the focus it requires clears my mind of everything. It's difficult enough to stitch and follow a TV show. Thoughts just can't run amok when I stitch. It's great for decompressing from work.

As for Pluto and the next seven years, I'm both excited and apprehensive. I know changes are taking place, and that the groundwork for them has been laid for a long time. I'm seeing different threads of my life coming together from different directions. I'm also seeing things I deliberately buried and tried to forget about start digging themselves out. You call it a deep alchemical transformation, I call it a re-invention because the transformation isn't something that is going to happen to me, there is work to be done and I need to transform myself.

All of you who have responded to this question have contributed to my path. I don't think it's a coincidence that all of you were interested enough to answer my question any more than I think it's a coincidence that I woke up one morning with a desire to look into astrology and found this podcast. I sensed that changes were coming and even though I don't exactly know what they are or what I'll be when it's all over, you have all contributed not just with information but also with the encouragement. I'm deeply grateful.

Thanks again to everyone - you're all amazing!!! Thanks for putting up with this long-winded reply.