| This week we have 4 planets in the sign of | | | | fantasy bound than reality bound. One of their |
| Pisces, the last step in the evolution of the zodiac, | | | | biggest challenges is to carve out a successful life |
| inviting us to relax, retreat and rekindle our | | | | that takes reality into account. They also need to |
| connection with the divine spirit and what is truly | | | | seek more balance in their relationships by placing |
| important for us. Pisces is the sign of | | | | their own needs on par with the needs of others. |
| contemplation, meditation and transcendence. You | | | | Being very sensitive, they need to take care to |
| could say it is all about the invisible dimensions | | | | protect themselves from other people's negative |
| behind the physical appearances of the world. | | | | emotions and manipulation. They are gullible and |
| I don't know about you but I feel often quiet | | | | easily taken in by ruses. |
| overwhelmed, my life has speed up tremendously | | | | Career |
| with all the demands I feel, as well as all the ideas | | | | Pisces are drawn to the helping |
| and projects I love to get to. I always feel like I | | | | professions-medicine, psychology, social service, |
| am behind and am reminding myself constantly to | | | | teaching-and to spiritual work. In their choice of |
| enjoy the journey and that things will never get | | | | profession and their commitment to their work, |
| done. I remember a documentation I have seen | | | | they are led more by their deep personal values |
| about aging and that the brain's perception of | | | | than by ambition. Water is also a common theme |
| time really changes with growing older. That | | | | in Pisces careers-fisherman, marine biologist. |
| makes total sense. Imagine the duration of an | | | | How Gemstones Can Enhance Your Pisces |
| hour for a baby must seem like eternity and I | | | | Experience |
| remember being a teenager I could not wait to | | | | Gemstones are the perfect way for Pisces |
| get older and it took forever. Now it seems like | | | | people to focus and balance their energy in order |
| time is flying by with lightening speed. | | | | to be successful in their endeavors and to |
| I strongly believe we need the qualities of Pisces | | | | maintain mental and physical equilibrium. |
| to tune into timelessness and eternal qualities of | | | | Gemstones have both physical and metaphysical |
| our soul to stay sane. | | | | qualities that can enhance all aspects of your |
| Each month with the Moon moving through Pisces | | | | well-being. The perfectly aligned crystal structure |
| you get an invitation for a mini vacation from | | | | of gemstones creates an energy field that |
| spirit to get your priorities straight and realign with | | | | interacts with our own when you hold it or wear |
| your true needs and soul purpose. With the Sun | | | | it on your body. In this way, the gemstone can |
| transiting through Pisces for a month each year | | | | be used to calm you, bring you mental clarity, |
| you are given more time to regroup and fine tune | | | | increase your energy, enhance your creativity, |
| your spiritual aspirations. If you like to partake in a | | | | and much more. |
| meditation or healing retreat this would be the | | | | Amethyst: A Pisces Stone to Connect Us to the |
| best and most powerful time of the year to do | | | | Divine |
| so. | | | | "Amethyst is one of the true birthstones of |
| I like to invite you into a contemplative posture | | | | Pisces. It is a very common six-sided, pale- to |
| and ask yourself some questions right now. What | | | | dark-violet-colored crystal of the quartz family. It |
| you can do to add that inner divine connection on | | | | originates most commonly in Brasilia, Uruguay, and |
| a regular base to your life. Do you spend time | | | | Madagascar. The quality and depth of color of the |
| with yourself allowing that busy mind to unravel | | | | stone vary widely. The most desirable and |
| and quiet down? Do you have a meditation | | | | clearest material will be cut as faceted (cut along |
| practice? Do you just sit and smell the roses? Do | | | | flat faces) or cabochon (dome shaped, polished) |
| you allow down time without filling your mind with | | | | stones. |
| reading, computer, TV or conversations? I have | | | | Amethyst is an excellent stone to begin with to |
| written another article about Neptune and the Art | | | | introduce yourself to the subtle energies of |
| of Meditation if you like to get more inspired. | | | | crystals. It comes in huge clusters large enough to |
| As you might know I love to use the specific | | | | contain your hand. In fact at gem shows I have |
| healing properties of gemstones for meditation | | | | seen bathtub-shaped pieces that were large |
| and jewelry purposes. Gemstones are such | | | | enough to lie in! When you put your hand into one |
| beautiful allies to harmonize your body, mind and | | | | of these clusters, you feel a pulsating sensation |
| soul. Allow yourself some time to play around | | | | similar to an ultrasound device. I used to have a |
| with Amethyst who comes in so many beautiful | | | | huge sample of Amethyst in my studio in |
| forms as crystals, wands, clusters, faceted and | | | | Germany that I used to provide my clients with |
| cut stones. Amethyst has been called a spiritual | | | | an immediate experience of crystal energy. |
| vacuum cleaner because of his personality and his | | | | Large amethyst clusters function as a sort of |
| mediating qualities. | | | | "spiritual vacuum cleaner," cleansing rooms with a |
| This week's highlights areo The Sun Floats into | | | | lot of traffic passing through. They are also |
| Peaceful Pisces (February 19-March 20)o Loving | | | | perfect for cleaning other stones or jewelry by |
| Venus Joins with Extravagant Jupiter in Pisceso | | | | simply laying them in the cluster. |
| Moon in Pisces, Aries, Taurus and Gemini | | | | In olden times Amethyst was known as an |
| Pisces: The Sign of Fantasy and Creativity | | | | amulet against black magic and homesickness, and |
| Pisces is a feminine water sign ruled by Neptune. | | | | as a bringer of good fortune. I see Amethyst as |
| It rules the 12th House-the Personal Connection | | | | Merlin, the old sorcerer who looks harmless |
| with the Divine & the Invisible Realms. Pisces | | | | enough but in fact wields great power. In the |
| is the last month in the astrological year, and in | | | | myth he was the spiritual teacher and magician of |
| this sign we see some of the best qualities of all | | | | King Arthur. |
| the other signs, representing an accumulation of | | | | Amethyst can become our individual teacher as |
| learning. | | | | well. This gem's greatest gift is its ability to open |
| Pisces are gentle and have sensitive souls, well | | | | us up to higher realms of reality, higher states of |
| developed both spiritually and in their relationships. | | | | consciousness. It enhances meditation, connects |
| They care much more about matters of the | | | | us with our higher self and the supreme reality. |
| mind, heart, and spirit than about practical or | | | | The meaning of the Greek name for Amethyst is |
| material things. They enjoy a rich fantasy and | | | | "not drunken" and it is considered to aid sobriety |
| dream life, which may be expressed through | | | | When we access higher planes of consciousness, |
| creativity in all of the arts. Pisces are idealists | | | | where we feel ourselves held, comforted, and |
| rather than realists. | | | | nourished, our longing for the anesthetizing effects |
| Connections to the Universe | | | | of substances such as alcohol and drugs slowly |
| Pisces do not see themselves first and foremost | | | | dissipates as we become open to a more |
| as individuals, but as connected to others and to | | | | enjoyable and beautiful experience. |
| the universe. They would rather experience this | | | | When there is a strong influence of Neptune in |
| connection than protect their own ego. This | | | | our chart, there is an ever present yearning for a |
| spiritual sense of connection guides all that they | | | | higher realm of consciousness, a longing for God, |
| do, from their relationships to their choice of | | | | a search for something more than our daily |
| career and their spiritual expression. They seek to | | | | reality. People who fall under this astrological |
| elevate their consciousness beyond the confines | | | | configuration are often tempted to take a |
| of the material world. They are highly intuitive | | | | shortcut to that plane by using chemical |
| people. Their exquisite sensitivity to the world | | | | substances to escape reality. But their efforts fail |
| around them can even rise to the level of psychic | | | | in the long run because they are disappointed by |
| abilities. | | | | the false world of chemical highs. |
| Relationships | | | | By uplifting our consciousness, Amethyst |
| Pisces' gentle side leads them to be very | | | | becomes the messenger who reminds us of our |
| sensitive, loving, and trusting. They seek harmony | | | | eternal connection with God. It is the bringer of |
| in their relationships and will do whatever they can | | | | bliss and understanding, of expansion to our being. |
| to avoid conflict-winning a fight is not meaningful | | | | It helps to clear the mind and to transform our |
| to Pisces. They approach everyone in a friendly | | | | limiting beliefs about who we are. It is our guardian |
| manner that draws many allies to them, but they | | | | and ally who accompanies us on our visionary |
| are intimate only with a small group of friends and | | | | quest to find greater truth and meaning in life." |
| family. They are romantic, need to be with a | | | | I wish you a very enchanted journey into the |
| partner, and commit themselves for the long | | | | mysterious world of healing gemstones and |
| term. | | | | looking at them in a new way! Have fun! If you |
| Compassion is a trait that stands out in Pisces. | | | | enjoyed this article and my perspective on things, |
| They are born care takers. Pisces people very | | | | and if you like to stay informed on the astrological |
| often chose careers that allow them to give to | | | | events in the heavens you can sign up for my |
| others, or engage in volunteer work. They are | | | | free weekly newsletter, the Astrological Signs |
| very aware of the needs of others and devote | | | | Weather Report where I discuss the actual |
| themselves to helping others wherever they see | | | | astrological qualities of the moment and inspire |
| the opportunity, even to the point of self-sacrifice. | | | | you to use them wisely for a life full of success, |
| Challenges | | | | joy and inner growth. |
| As a water sign, Pisces people have a preference | | | | Have a wonderful inspired week, aloha and many |
| to lead "fluid" lives, going with the flow rather than | | | | blessings, Shakti. |
| pursuing a specific life plan. They are more | | | | |