I've always instinctively known not to get too wed to astrological mechanics, as the end all, be all. It's like I've been keeping an observer's mind, to look at patterns and learn from them. But looking too, as if from the outside.

In his latest book, Remember Who You Are, David Icke confirms an as above, so below effect, making astrology a science in his view. He sees astrology as a tool for understanding who we are -- within the planetary matrix -- but we are so much more. He says of his own relationship with astrology, "It was part of the 'tramlines' that kept me 'on track.' It is the same with all of us, but there comes a time when we need to break through astrological patterns -- with Consciousness."

One habit in astrology is looking at ourselves through these different parts -- planets in signs and houses, aspects, etc. And creating a narrative to do with these, even excuses for behavior. For example, "My Moon square to Pluto makes me emotionally intense and sometimes surly....sorry."

I found a timely read this morning along these lines called, Becoming whole by letting go of your parts. There's a parts model prevalent in therapy and how we talk about ourselves. It's a kind of detachment from these "parts," that lets us off the hook in relationship. From the part perspective, an example from the article would be, "I'm sorry I said what I did, but I have an immature part that occasionally acts out." Author Mike Bundrant says, "What I believe is that if we demand more of ourselves, if we demand we behave maturely, we don't need to rely on the parts model."

We could spot here some currents of Saturn (maturation, responsibility) in the sign of relationships (Libra) -- happening in an eclipse sandwich, in signs of mutating the parts (Gemini-Sagittarius), with leaps of knowing. We're coming out of the Gemini solar eclipse, potentially with a shake-up about these parts of the self.

In this in-between time, we can get glimpses of the big picture of who we are, and celebrate that we're more than the sum of the parts. The mystic poet Khalil Gibran wrote of that larger self, in The Prophet. On Self-Knowledge:

The hidden well-spring of your soul must needs rise and run murmuring to the sea; And the treasure of your infinite depths would be revealed to your eyes. But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure; And seek not the depths of your knowledge with staff or sounding line. For self is a sea boundless and measureless. Say not, "I have found the truth," but rather, "I have found a truth." Say not, "I have found the path of the soul." Say rather, "I have found the soul walking upon my path." For the soul walks upon all paths. The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed. The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.

I was compelled to look at this image today, a famous one that you can now have put on a t-shirt or hoody. See more images from Around About for Photo of the Week/Wordless Wednesday.

It's a relief to sense the lighter air when Sun is in Gemini, when people and situations crack up. The ease with mixing it up and humor breaks the death grip of different kinds of holds on our energies. There's movement, freedom and change all month!

The solar mood is one of casting seeds, cross-pollinating ideas, collaborating and innovating. It's taking what's fixed after Sun Taurus, and busting it up, for a big rearranging of the parts, to shape new forms.

I chose this image since Gemini is a sign of the curious, playful child. Also, it's Sun and Earth, and the sign for Earth is Sagittarius -- the Earth "sign" is always 180 degrees opposite the Sun sign. This is the time to dance our way out of beliefs and mind frames that keep us from seeing new pathways.

An article from Waking Times, caught my eye today -- The Matrix is Unwinding has stellar tips on different healthy shifts, or transitions. There's the shift to a soul-led life, which is a reliable compass in chaotic times. And timely for Gemini, there's the coming together in new ways, to weather the economic shake-ups today. From Waking Times, "One way to reduce debt is to combine resources with kindred spirits - the emergence of 'micro-communities' is a strongly growing trend."

Speaking of kindred spirits, on his special eclipse radio show, Robert Phoenix and Gemini Sun astrologer Melody Scott Zindell discussed a quickening urge to know what's happening in our world. The energies now, with the Gemini-Sagittarius eclipses, get going that curiosity to understand and share with others what's learned. Robert forecast a lot of movement, with people moving in together and suchlike, especially after Jupiter goes into Gemini (June 11th). Jupiter rules travel and Gemini is a sign of siblings, neighbors, friends, roommates -- this makes it a good time to form cozy, mutually beneficial collectives.

• Satire, funny skits, improv, storytelling, especially that triggers new ways to see things we don't question, that are part of the perceived 'givens' of life.
• Breaking apart stuck situations, through seeking new perspectives.
• Everyday miracles from talking in person -- meet ups, gatherings, ritual circles -- changing your mind and changing everything.

My sister asked if we'd be able to see the eclipse here on the East Coast - US. NASA shows that just West Coasters will see it this time, but we'll see a bit of the June 4th lunar eclipse before moonset. Most of the eclipse watching action is happening out West and at points around the Pacific.

On tonight's eclipse, Spaceweather.com: "The path of annularity, where the sun will appear to be a ring of fire,stretches from China and Japan to the middle of North America." It'll start at about 5:20 PM Pacific time, and last for two hours. Spaceweather has a few tips on viewing the solar eclipse indirectly, so as not to sear your precious eyes! Enjoy and have a great evening....

• Tara Greene Astrology: Ring of Fire/Reboot the System: "Eclipses change the electro-magnetic frequencies of the earth, everything in space around us, our own bodies and all life on earth in a very powerful way."

The Eagle flew into my Medicine Cards today, a timely sign to connect with the element of air. There's anticipation in the atmosphere, here at the eve of the (air sign) Gemini New Moon and Solar Eclipse (Sunday, May 20th.) From the guidebook, "Air is of the mental plane, and in this instance it is of the higher mind. Wisdom comes in many strange and curious forms and is always related to the creative force of Great Spirit."

The Gemini New Moon chart shows the Sun and Moon within orb to the South Node (at 5 Gemini). The South Node is the evolutionary past and as an astrologer friend described it long ago, the inheritance. So one theme here is busting up thought-frames created by the mind or "inherited" by the programming of culture, but that now feel limiting. Like the eagle, it's time to go beyond "walking in the shadows of former realities."

Eclipses always come in a two-fer, and the next is a partial lunar eclipse, with Full Moon in Sagittarius. The chart for the June 4th Full Moon/Eclipse, shows Sun-Venus-Mercury in Gemini, with the messenger forming an exact trine to Saturn in cardinal air sign Libra. One impression of the pair of eclipses, for me, is gaining balance and stability, by releasing crazymaking or outgrown thought habits. The June 4th eclipse will activate Mars (Virgo), for putting the new awareness into daily practice.

I'm sensing the need to unravel, psychically roam and create a New Moon collage now, so will see you on the other side! Here are more themes for this eclipse cycle:

• Moving from absorbing and collecting others' information, into expressing a synthesis of what's true for you.
• Unsubscribing from/unfollowing people and newsletters that are not adding to your knowledge.
• Demonstrating a commitment to your new, more expansive and fluid worldview.
• Finding some psychic space in stillness, to rest in, imagine, digest what you've taken in.
• Letting go of habits in conversation that you know aren't "who you are" anymore.
• Giving yourself freedom to move forward, even if very few are on the same page.
• Looking for ways to share your wisdom, putting your authentic voice out there in the collective stream.
• A sense of seeing as if from above, to get some much-needed distance from any current stresses.
• Seeking a vision or personal philosophy that'll keep you encouraged through dark times.
• Falling in love with the adventure of growing in knowledge, with so much accessible now.
• Healing physically, as the mind is released from toxic thought streams.