Carrières de Lumières (English: Quarries of Lights), Les Baux-de-Provence. An old bauxite mine now a tourist attraction and art space in the Val d’Enfer. Taken 2013-09.
Date 23 September 2013, by Rhododendrites Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Contraparallels are the aspects of the week, it seems; this is when two bodies or points are at the same degree of declination with one north of the celestial equator, one south (see an excellent summary of the potential meaning of this here.) This aspect creates a kind of ‘force field’, but one that over time actually pushes the intent or action of the bodies in opposing directions. You’ve probably experienced this in reaction to someone else: the air is charged when the two of you are together, but not necessarily with a sense of attraction; in these instances we note that a repelling energy is as compelling as a more harmonious one. A contraparallel suggests a state of electrified awareness that grabs our attention and can be interpreted by the individual, and so acted on, in an endless number of ways.

With one exception, each of the coming days, through Monday the 12th, features one or more contraparallels that may describe real-world effects more accurately  than any of the perfecting aspects. We start with Thursday the 8th: we may act in contradiction to our ideals, values, and dreams, trashing what we care about, including relationships, and we might blame that on some seed planted by retro Mercury in Libra conjuncting the North Node, which almost guarantees that the problem is seated in some wrong-headed notion about the future of our relationships that we decide to embrace. Illusions can be heady things; we need to see that all ‘creative’ ideas aren’t necessarily equal. (Mars and Venus contraparallel both Vesta and Neptune, Mercury conjunct NN)

By Friday the 9th we may find ourselves in denial about some past hurt or, more perversely, in denial of some skill we’ve shown plenty of aptitude for in the past but now insist we don’t have. We do, however, find a good balance between outgoing energies and incoming ones, within male-female (or dominant-submissive, or animus-anima) relationships (hint: look to a combination of matters of the Houses ruled by Mars and Venus to see where harmony will prevail or cooperation will flourish, despite a rocky relationship or financial past). (Chiron contraparallel the South Node, Venus parallel Mars and quincunx the South Node)

Saturday the 10th comes pre-packaged shining a light on our ambitions and desires, and we can see how to make them happen–it’s just that reality, the material world/ circumstances, or actual physical circumstances encourage our rebellion–or is it our originality?–as a valid response. The test is this: if our response broadens our own or another’s understanding, then it’s the right one. (Sun conjunct and parallel Zeus, and semi-square, and  contraparallel Uranus, Earth in corresponding ‘reverse’ aspect to all the Sun’s contacts, and Mercury once again conjunct the NN)

Sunday the 11th is the exception. Though relationships and/ or the ego may still be smarting from choices that didn’t respect our own standards and values, we have the chance to recover, to heal, if we’re open to both opportunity and change–or maybe that’s opportunity that we can only take advantage of if we’ll allow or instigate change. Conceding that adjustments are needed, along with a respect for the needs of the group, may open the way for real transformation, on both a big (societal) and small (individual) scale. (Jupiter trine Pluto, Venus quincunx Vesta, Sun quincunx Chiron and opposed Uranus)

Monday the 12th, real-world opportunities present themselves, and we would be wise to take them; only rebelliousness in the relationship or financial realms, resistance to the social sphere, or an ego that resents what the instincts are telling us, can sink this chance for making positive, expansive changes to our world. (Pallas parallel Jupiter and Earth, contraparallel the Sun, Venus sesquiquadrate Uranus, Sun contraparallel Sedna)

I’ve got three books on asteroids available, and one on relationships; find out how each one works in your life–Thanks, and have a great week/end!