September and October 2019 Snake Oil
Polishing Our Diamonds
In my younger years I was mesmerized by looking at the moon, stars, and planets through a telescope and enjoyed books about the planets in our solar system. The different shapes, sizes, colors and how many moons they each had were fascinating. No planet in our solar system was more beautiful than Saturn though, with it’s icy rings. Years later when I began to study Astrology I learned what part of us Saturn represents. Saturn in our natal chart is the place where we explore caution, difficult lessons, struggle, doubt and fear. It shows us the tests we go through that require circumspection, reevaluation, vigilance and often falling down a bit until we get stronger. Through the tests of Saturn over time we have the potential to become durable, confident, and often surprisingly wise and skillful in that area of our life. Saturn reminds us that if we are not understanding of the value of being disciplined and even frugal in some areas by our own choice, then Saturn will uncomfortably do it for us!
All oracles and divination tools express similar concepts in their own unique ways. Within the 22 Major Arcana cards in a Tarot deck the symbol for the Devil (15) presents an ominous image. We see the image of the devil holding a man and a woman almost like puppets enslaved. The imagery of chains is notable and we can ponder whether the chains are real or if we simply believe we are chained. The concept of an actual red man god with horns running around with a pitch fork and sending people to the pits of a world where one will supposedly eternally burn is in and of itself a fear based idea. The deeper truth of what this archetype expresses is that fear itself can enslave us. We can be trapped by circumstance, inhibition, dread and lack of experience. We can get caught up in focusing only on our belief and frustration in the trap itself, and not about how it can be resolved.
In my natal astrology chart I have Saturn in Aquarius in my 11th house of hopes and dreams, group associations, and the ability to receive. This placement can heighten the feeling of “being a square peg in a round hole.” It can have us feeling uncomfortable with our peer groups. We often will be more comfortable in the “giver” role and find receiving in general to be uncomfortable. The classic interpretation is success later in life. All of this was unquestionably true for me in my younger years. Saturn in the 11th can show what kind of friend we are to others. I have always been the reliable one, solid, dependable, and a bit of a big brother or dad to most everyone. I hid my fears of expressing myself comfortably around people and worried often about being judged or accepted by others. The agreed upon interpretations among most astrologers about Saturn and it’s aspects were definitely valid for me.
I can clearly remember the first time I had to read a report in front of my classmates in the 10th grade. I barely slept the night before and worried about how I would be seen by my peers. I probably actually did fairly well but was hyper critical of my own performance. Even the first time I sang publicly in karaoke at around age 19, I wanted to sing, but made sure to be hidden in the background so I would feel more comfortable. Within a few years of doing this and a bit of practice I become a lot more at ease. Now, when I sing, I want a stage and a microphone. I want people to pay attention, and love to move the audience emotionally and shine. I am now definitely a bit of a “ham.” Years of practice doing radio, public speaking, teaching classes, my years as a waiter and bartender, and now television have not only honed and improved my skills, and now I really love doing all of it. Saturn at the time made the process uncomfortable but now its mostly easy for me.
I have worked with thousands of people over the years and I see so many variations of how people stay trapped in fear. Staying with an abusive partner because you “can’t financially survive without him or her.” Staying locked into a job you don’t even really like because “you need the insurance,” or fear you are “too old to make a change.” Hiding your true sexual orientation, or other aspects of yourself from your family and friends because “they might not accept you.” The list of potential fears and ways we often cage ourselves is vast. Yet, facing these fears head on at some point is the key to not only finding a way out, but part of how we find happiness and fulfillment. Each time we face a fear and move through it we inevitably become more confident, secure, and more likely to make better choices in the future. The very process of doing this makes us less fearful in general in other area as well. Adversity can make us phobic or take us in the direction of confidence acquired through experience, the choice is ours.
The Devil card in the Tarot reversed is actually far more positive in its interpretation. It means we reject fear, we do an 180 degree turn, we let go of restrictions both emotionally and physically. We throw off our own chains. The strange reality of fear, and Saturn’s influence, in the sign, house placement, and angles to other planets in our natal chart is that often over time these things inevitably become the areas in our life where we are most talented and skillful. Caution has value when it helps us hone our skills. It can make us really good at something precisely because we were so painstaking about how we dealt with the issue. The Saturn part of us may take years or even decades before it becomes something truly strong in us. Yet, the lump of coal we uncomfortably polish overtime will become the part of us that truly shines like a diamond.
Jim Ventura 8-2019
“If you say you can or you can’t you are right either way.” Henry Ford
“There is no education like adversity.” Benjamin Disraeli
Notes:
I posted some information back in June on FaceBook that explained about the Saturn retrograde this summer through Capricorn (I have put that in this newsletter if you would like to read it again or for the first time). There were a number of other astrological influences that made this summer feel like a bit of a time of potential accomplishment or actual accomplishment, dotted with movements of real fear and doubt surfacing along the way. We were likely to have often “questioned if we are on the right course.” September 14th Saturn moves direct again. While it may have been a difficult ride in some areas this summer, typical of forward movement of Saturn, the lessons are valuable and notable. If we did it “right” we tend to feel a new maturity that can often be permanent. Kind of a “been there done that, feeling confident now about our skills, abilities and the future” disposition. Or some people will choose to stay stuck in fear and phobia. Which choice you make is of course ours to choose...
My 86 year old mother did pass in late August. I will of course write about this in more detail in a future column and talk about this more on my radio show. I can’t say it was an easy process to deal with, but rather than sadness, I felt more relieved honestly when she passed. She was often in various stages of dementia, and physically very limited and in a lot of pain. In many respects I am glad she is free of her pain, back in the Otherworld with my Dad and the many doggies Mom so loved during her time here! She rescued many dogs in her day and loved them all. My older sisters and brother were incredibly helpful in this difficult process, I knew at some point some of my siblings would prove useful, it just took decades for this to actually happen lol.
The fall is here although in Phoenix we generally down’t really feel this notably until early October. But it is truly the season I personally love the most. Wishing everyone a happy Fall, Halloween, and all that good stuff this time typically brings. I will be back with another column this November. Cheers, Jim V
From FaceBook Post June 2019:
Saturn is retrograde in the sign of Capricorn from April 18th through Mid September of 2019.... Retrogrades tend to bring something from our past back into focus for revaluation again. They can be challenging and often a little uncomfortable.
Saturn in astrology represents the part of our experience that deals with limitations, restriction, uncomfortable tests, fear, a need for caution, yet will lead to the benefits of experience and wisdom. Saturn is the seeming “lump of coal” or part of us that we usually struggle with when we are younger but leads inevitably to a stronger constitution and the coal can become our diamond!
Saturn is “at home” in Capricorn. It moves through each sign for about 2 and a half years. Everyone will experience a sense of re-looking at what fulfills us in our work and our career when Saturn is retrograde in Capricorn. We are likely revaluate how much responsibility we take on, and whether taking that responsibility is worth it! We can get more cautious when Saturn moves through Capricorn in a negative way and feel inhibited. We can also become more circumspect in a positive way when we learn how to mull over things before making decisions and seeing why moving deliberately has value.
I recently did a show for the ListTV that actually had some substance to it! This is not easy to do in a two minute segment meant to be primarily entertainment, but with other talented help I pulled it off!
The way this retrograde and primarily Saturn's move through Capricorn can feel is different for each sign and gets more specific with the house placement and angles in your natal chart. If it is hitting your sign in a challenging way, the last few months can be bringing up some old fears. Things can feel like they are taking a long time to come to fruition. There is still clearly a light at the end of the tunnel, but you may feel some doubts and be questioning your path a bit more than usual.
If the planet is hitting you in a more positive way, you are willing to move ahead with work, practical matters, financial decisions, and even be thinking of taking on more responsibility at this time.
In either case (or somewhere in between) while adjustments may be required and some added hard work may be ahead there is a very good chance you are on the right path and perseverance is what is needed. Remember the wisdom of “be afraid and do it anyway.”
Here is the ListTv clip and info about each sign (its simplified for the web lol). Cheers, Jim V
“I’ve never known anyone yet who doesn’t suffer a certain restlessness when autumn rolls around... We’re all eight years old again and anything is possible.” Sue Grafton
Channeled corner. I read many, many books from different trance channelers in the 80s and 90s. Unfortunately many of them are now out of print, but I still have a huge collection and will share some of the best material I have collected over the years.
from Kunda in Spirit Speaks magazine. 1988
You must make choices
“Like it or nor, agreement shapes your reality. For all things happen by choice. You are not here by accident, nor are you a victim of fate. You are here, quite simply and empathetically, because you WANT to be here. Because you are an integral extension of the cosmic soul, know that on some level you consciously chose to evolve spiritually within the physical environment as a part of your divine constitution. And before you reentered the physical realm, you made certain agreements which supported not only the continuance of your spiritual lessons here, but the advancement of other entities who are also evolving in clusters with you.
You helped create the working blueprint which outlines your entire life program and also parallels your chosen destiny.
Now, every life, every personality, every situation and every experience is carefully chosen-right down to the details of your so-called death experience. This is true for all on the physical plane. With the exception of karmic intervention (the Divine hand which evens the scale of cosmic justice and also ensures your spiritual best-good), the life that you live is the very life you chose. There simply are no exceptions. And the living of it all brings the necessary experiences and lessons to bear, all of which contribute to the ultimate growth and understanding of every soul-fragment.
The agreements which you made with your soul are the opening plans for the unfoldment of that blueprint. They shape the reality of your life environment. And a life in which every agreement is refused, avoided, or even broken will only serve to teach you what such avoidance brings. Regardless of whether the physical life was completed or not, that life still remains valid to some degree, and whatever was learned will contribute to the evolution of the soul as it moves into the greater essence of its soul community...”
New Client Special 2019:
January 1st 2019 thru October 31st, 2019 Special: New Client introductory offer:
$10-15 off listed rates for your first 45 minute session, 70, or 90 minute session! Ask for the special when you email at Venturasag@yahoo.com to book. Debit and credit card payments get $10 off for 45-90 minute sessions. Local in-office clients can get an extra $5 off for cash or check payments for sessions. If you want to buy a new client a thoughtful gift of a session you can also take advantage of these rates!
$10-15 off listed rates for your first 45 minute session, 70, or 90 minute session! Ask for the special when you email at Venturasag@yahoo.com to book. Debit and credit card payments get $10 off for 45-90 minute sessions. Local in-office clients can get an extra $5 off for cash or check payments for sessions. If you want to buy a new client a thoughtful gift of a session you can also take advantage of these rates!
My current rates (new clients can subtract the above discounts from these rates): 45 minute sessions $85. 70 minute sessions $110. 90 minute sessions $130. Sessions can be in-office or by phone.
“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn is a mosaic of them all.” Stanley Horowitz
Snake Oil Radio
Thursdays at 3:30 pm (there will be two live broadcast this period)
My next live broadcast of Snake Oil Radio will be Thursday, September 19 Th. at 3:30 p.m. mountain time. Usually one or two Thursdays each month you can catch a new show, and once a month on Sunday at 2 pm. Each 45 minute show will expand on my current column’s subject matter. It will also offer an opportunity for you to chat with other listeners in the chat room with comments and your thoughts about the topic of discussion. If you miss the live show, you can catch any of my previously recorded shows on the web site’s archive. You can also catch Snake Oil Radio on I-tunes (download my pod-casts there).
To hear a live show, all you need to do is be at a computer and tuned into: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Jim-Ventura You may also access it by going to the site and type “Snake Oil” into the search option. You can also go to the shows that are currently “On air” at that time and find me. The call in number is 646-200-3966 for questions and comments.
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive: and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. Maya Angelou
Here’s my contact information to make an appointment for a session, or information on current classes: Email: Venturasag@yahoo.com (best method for contact).
Phone calls: (602) 957-3035 text only: (602) 349-0746
Information about the different sessions and types of readings and services, past Snake Oil columns, and how to order my books and audio CD’s can be found at my website: Http://JimVentura.com
“Friend” me on Facebook to get other extra offers and in between column extras! Signing up for my fan page will get you even more extras and first shot at reading specials. Simply click on “like” on the fan page and you will automatically get my weekly updates.
You also may want to check out my posts on Tumblr.com: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/snake-oil-blog
All sessions/readings for 2019 are: Full (70 minutes) $110.00; Shorter session (45 minutes) $85.00; Extended session (90 minutes) $130.00 (two people can split an extended session back to back for $65.00 each, although no other discounts will apply). mini phone session 15-20 minutes $35. Email me for information about my Regular Client Program for even bigger discounts on session prices with the added benefit of monthly or quarterly check-ins.
