“We prefer to stay on schedule,” Ted adds. Margot’s eyes shine with what seems to me like gratitude for her husband’s support. Her chart already showed me that even though she’s bossy, she has trouble speaking up for herself.
“Of course.” Ignoring a prickle of irritation, I take a deep breath to steady my racing heart. “You get what you get and you don’t get upset. In other words, there’s no point in pretending away or contorting around your core identity.”
“But how do we know which parts of ourselves are our core identities and which parts are choices?” Eden asks.
“Eden, let me give you an example of the interplay between your fate and your free will. Your second house is in Cancer, which means you are destined to work with unconventional streams of income.”
Rick shakes his head. “You could say that because you know she’s the founder of the Eden Mitchell Method. A badass fitness instructor who’s also a deep-thinking life coach,” he says.
“A wellness influencer,” Eden corrects.
“Rick, your second house includes Leo,” I say. “Ever since you were a little boy, you dreamed about having a lot of money and success. It is directly related to your sense of security and self-esteem.”
He scoffs. “I’m an investment banker. That’s not exactly going out on a limb.”
Margot clears her throat and raises her voice. “Rick, we’re not here to have Rini prove herself to you. Can you let her continue without interruption?”
I nod. Margot thinks she’s interjected and saved the day, but she doesn’t realize this moment has its own rhythm in every group. The naysayer challenges me; the type-A sets things back on track. I return to Eden and my original point.
“Eden, when you were born, as I mentioned already, it was decided that you would work through unconventional streams of income. At the time of your birth, the job of ‘wellness influencer’ didn’t exist. There was no working from home. There was no online community through social media. And even if there was, you could have been a bartender who chose to sell craft cocktail boxes online, and that would have satisfied your destiny. It didn’t have to be about exercise and nutrition.”
“We have choices,” Margot says.
“But we also have destinies,” Aimee says.
“I’m here to reveal your core identity and to highlight the areas you have the most to work out during this lifetime. How you do that is up to you.”
“What if we’re experiencing issues that couldn’t have been obvious when we were born?” Margot asks.
“Very little is obvious when we’re babies, but as adults we have the capacity to dig deep inside rather than looking for external blame or fixes. Can I impose some of who I am on my current situation? If not, how can I bridge the gap between where I am and where I need to go? This inquiry will stop you from moving from one situation to another and repeating the same mistakes.”
Eden excitedly chimes in. “It’s not just jobs and partners. People jump from Peloton to CrossFit, from gluten-free to Paleo, and they’re making the same mistakes. Different diet or exercise fad, same person unwilling to look deeper than the number on the scale.”
I see Farah roll her eyes, but I don’t miss a beat.
“People are always searching out there for answers.” I frantically look around, eyes wide. “But when you gather insights,” I close my eyes, take a deep breath and press my hands together moving up and down in front of my torso, “then the path forward becomes clear,” I say.
“And how do those questions reconcile with ‘You get what you get, but you don’t get upset’? I take that to mean we can’t challenge it,” Farah says.
I couldn’t have planted a better student.
“Some things are set in stone. Farah, with all those Fixed and Earth signs in your chart, you are never going to be impulsive and radical. For you, change will always be organic and practical. But metaphorical mountains can be moved. Slowly, deliberately, but still drastically.”
Margot soundlessly sits up straighter, giving off intense pick me vibes.
“Margot, with your Pisces stellium, you’re never going to take off and live the nomad life. Not unless you can convince your whole family to go with you. Because you need them like you need air in your lungs.”
“What about me?” Aimee asks.
“With your Libra Moon and Leo Mercury, appearances are important to you. Not just because they’re pretty and nice, but because you believe they influence what’s underneath the surface. A tidy desk leads to a tidy mind.”
“I don’t use a desk, but for sure I get this.”
“Thank you for saying that. That’s exactly what I mean. This weekend, in my study and at dinners, what I tell you will be true. It is, I promise. But only you can decide what it means. In your situation, in your life.”
For a moment, I let them ruminate on what I’ve said. The responses from this group are similar to every other one. There are some, like Rick, rolling their eyes harder than ever. Others, like Margot, stare at me, desperate to hear more. Aimee tries to catch Farah’s gaze but Farah sees nothing; she’s turning inward.
“This weekend there will be surprises, even for those who don’t believe. You can’t control the people around you. These readings will conjure unexpected emotions, unforeseen actions, and even more shocking reactions. This is a normal result of that which is buried rising to the surface. Some of you will feel blindsided, while others will feel vindicated. This is your fate.”
The din of side conversation rises. The guests’ curiosity has been stirred, and they’re swirling in the mix of expectation and reality.
I reach for my sound bowl and dowel before continuing. “You get what you get and you don’t get upset. But you can get even,” I say.
The front door slams shut and seconds later Adam walks into the room with his weekend bag slung over his shoulder. Margot’s face breaks into a smile, which she then rearranges into a scolding grimace. Adam dutifully notices the gathering and plants himself in a wingback chair near the bar cart.
“Better late than never,” he says.
Aimee jumps up and falls into her husband’s lap. “Rini, you mean getting even like revenge?” she asks.
“More like Newton. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Karma is waiting to see how you’ll correct any lingering or past imbalances.”
I whack the bowl again, louder this time, signaling the end of my welcome initiation.
“Compatibility readings will take place in the living room that flows to the dining area. Cocktails and appetizers will be available, and these readings are open to the group. You’re all friends, right?”
This time I catch Farah and Aimee’s eye contact. They know they got away with a lot earlier: an extra reading, private for them.
“I’ll see you in two hours,” I say to the group.
I exit the house through the front entrance, knowing I left an impression. I doubt they’ve noticed the seeds I’ve planted, but I look forward to watching them spread over the next two days.
STARS HARBOR ASTROLOGICAL RETREAT
ASTRO CHEAT SHEET
GUEST NAME: Joe
SUN SIGN: Taurus
MOON SIGN: Virgo
