Venus and Mars in Aries: Trouble in Paradise

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We may want to think it's all hearts and flowers (and sex!) when Venus and Mars get toghether, but this time it's anything but--by Ernst Klimt pre-1892 {{PD}}

We may want to think it’s all hearts and flowers (and sex!) when Venus and Mars get together, but this time it’s anything but–by Ernst Klimt pre-1892 {{PD}}

So Mars and Venus meet on Martian home turf (Aries) and as my subscribers know (from the forecast in ECLIPSE), I’m not one to rhapsodize about this combination. This is a meeting where one of the parties is distinctly uncomfortable–and the other is possibly overly-sure of himself or overly-assertive about uniting–making things even more awkward, even coercive. Internally this can mean we strong-arm ourselves in Venusian areas, perhaps demanding something of ourselves that doesn’t quite come naturally at this time; we may insist on beautifying, earning, or the exercise of values that are having a little trouble expressing in the present situation. Or we may play one part and externalize the other, with the person wearing Mars being entirely too aggressive and ‘I want’, while the one wearing Venus may be feeling aggrieved and believing that one more seductive push or tantalizing taste may force the Love or Money out of others (particularly that Martian she’s engaged with). Self-focus makes the whole encounter dissatisfying. If only there were something we could do? There is! Look to the Houses in your own natal chart ruled by Mars and Venus; the matters of these areas are the ones that you can act to successfully combine that will result in reward or pleasure. Take advantage of this while you can; there’s a last hurrah for this combo as the Moon passes over them April 10th–and by the 13th they’ve broken off the collaboration.

Tried and Tried Again: Amanda Knox

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'Le Bateau Atelier' Monet 1876 {{PD-Art}}

‘Le Bateau Atelier’ Monet 1876 {{PD-Art}}

Tried and acquitted for the 2007 murder of her British roommate, Meredith Kercher, while both were students in a study-abroad program in Perugia, Italy, American Amanda Knox found that the Italian justice system allows for the prosecution to appeal the verdict, a step unheard-of in the United States system without the surfacing of new evidence. A new trial will now go forward, though at present it does not appear that Knox will be required to attend, and if convicted, there will be an automatic appeal; only after a final conviction would Italy then move to extradite Knox, though her American lawyers have already sited our ‘Double Jeopardy’ rule (where an individual, once tried and acquitted, cannot again be tried for the same offense) as a reason not to hand her over. Of course, how sorry is Knox that her book is coming out in just about one month, concurrent with her first interview since her release? Not too, I’m thinking, as I assume her publishers were watching proceedings in the Italian Supreme Court, waiting for just such a sales-spurring ruling.

Do I sound cynical about this case? Yes, I am, largely because from the very beginning, I felt that one’s perception of Amanda Knox was based on just how willing an individual is to see what’s really in front of them.  She’s the classic Rorschach test for each and every observer: for those who are co-dependent, who carry someone in their own life they want to see in a soft light (and so must see that in others who ‘fit the profile’), those who want to pretend darkness doesn’t exist, or those who genuinely don’t see the evil in others, because they don’t have it in themselves, these individuals seem to feel her trial is a travesty, that such an obvious innocent couldn’t have bound and slashed another young woman, slowly torturing her to death. For those who can accept that a book is not so easily summed up in its cover, there are dimensions to be seen in Knox, and possibilities, both for the night in question and for other choices and statements, to be examined–but we will look through the lens of the natal chart, for what it may tell us.

Amanda Knox (9 July 1987  2:47 AM Seattle Washington USA) has a natal chart that perfectly describes this mirror quality, this way in which others look into her physical being (and this is an important point–more in a minute), and see only what they are capable of believing. She has her Earth (the material state we must create in order to live our Soul–Sun–Purpose) in Capricorn conjunct Neptune in the 8th of other people’s resources=we think we are looking at hard realities, but we’re seeing an illusion that bounces back what’s within us. With this conjunction, it’s even easy to forgive the too-generous assessments of Knox’s character; these reviews are informed with an idealism (Neptune) imported by the observer. The key to seeing Knox clearly, though, isn’t found only in the ability to withhold one’s projections, it’s also found in the realization that the physical beingness (Earth) is providing the illusion (Neptune). We read her and think we ‘know’, but we are taking cues from the physicality that are deceptive, not necessarily deliberately, but certainly played upon by the canny Knox. The Italian and world tabloid press dubbed her ‘angel face’ and ‘foxy knoxy’ during her trial, a good illustration of the physical influence.

With Sedna obscuring things from the unconscious 12th, in generous trine to both Earth and Neptune, Knox may keep a lot riding on this combo: it may allow her to project the image she wants, without too much conscious thought, making the image seem all the more valid to onlookers, and hiding the life-death-life associations, and the play between roles and expectations, even from herself. And speaking of identity, the Cancer Sun in the 2nd quincunxes the 7th House Saturn in Sagittarius, uniting the 4th and the 8th and 9th, family/ feelings about deepest Self, other people and their resources, and foreign travel, among other things, suggesting that the Self is uneasy in situations that combine these, and/ or that the Self is uneasy in reality itself (Sun qnx Saturn). This little complex, and a lot more, was activated on the day of Meredith’s murder.

Did Amanda Knox murder her roommate? Her frequently changed story in the early days of the investigation did not help her case; she blamed a lot of other people, at various points, with further court actions aplenty. I have a very strong opinion on the case–but so do many others, and all of us may be under that Neptunian spell, judging nothing but our own illusions

See Amanda’s chart here.

Just a Little AstroEssence: Sun-Pluto Pre-Retrograde Square

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'The Third of May 1808' Francisco Goya 1814 {{PD-Art}}

‘The Third of May 1808’ Francisco Goya 1814 {{PD-Art}}

The 31st of March/ 1st of April sees the pre-retrograde square of the Sun to Pluto, illuminating the lord of the Underworld as he prepares to backtrack in Capricorn. This is the point when we get a glimpse into the shadows; the door swings open and just for a second we see the tooth as it’s pulled, the sobbing man, the child about to step into the street and in front of a car he can’t see, but you can. We get a look at something dark and usually hidden, or as with the child, we see a usually unnoticed action, as from most vantage points it seems harmless, the approaching car hidden by another car parked just so. Pay attention to what you glimpse; even though it can be shocking or disorienting or produce anxiety, it can also tell us something: the dentist is a sadist, avoid him; the man needs help; the child needs supervision. What we see may appear minor or disconnected from the larger picture or even none of our business–and yet the Universe has opened that door, just as you walked by and turned your head, and observed–now what will you do?

Mercury-Chiron Conjunct: ‘Healing Talk’

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'The Discussion' c1900 by Henry Wilson Watrous

‘The Discussion’ c1900 by Henry Wilson Watrous

Merc and Chiron meet in Pisces, trine Saturn, sextile Pluto, and square Jupiter, giving us a very specific framework through which to heal our wounds, if we so desire. It’s talk and dream therapy that deals with reality, that is willing to imagine obliterating the causes of our hurt, and that may not be acceptable on the social front. What plagues us may not be an acceptable topic socially: if we break out in hives every time Mom calls, if we call in sick more than we should because we feel we can’t face another power play, if we talk our creative life more than live it, now may be the time when we can turn things around. We may think it’s the exterior that’s the problem, and in strictest terms, it is; what we must do now, though, if we want to re-make our world and heal, is to stop caring about what the social circle will say about us, clean out what’s truly bothering us (and often as not, this is a wounding thought in our own imagination, as much as it is a person or circumstance external to us), and then build from our own ideals a new frame through which to view our reality.

The new ECLIPSE features commentary on Amanda Knox and the Italian Court’s decision to re-try her for the murder of her roommate, Meredith Kercher, and on the allegations surrounding Jane Goodall’s new (now delayed) book, plus the aspect and Lunar hour-by-hour forecast, and More! Subscribe now through April 2nd and receive 2 free months with a 6 month sub!

Just a Little AstroEssence for 27 March 2013 + The Libra Full Moon: ‘Partnership’

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'Two Beauties With Bamboo' Utamaro c1795 {{PD-Art}}

‘Two Beauties With Bamboo’ Utamaro c1795 {{PD-Art}}

From the current ECLIPSE:

27 March sees a Full Moon but also two strong aspects: Jupiter square Chiron and Mars square Pluto. Volumes could be written on the potency this pair might evidence, in the social sphere and in personal conduct; what we need to be aware of is how easily these influences can insinuate themselves into our everyday affairs, and though we’re unlikely to consciously notice what’s happening, we could become aggressive and destructive in the name of ‘standing up for our rights’, or we could witness society taking a wounding tack against some of its members (with Chiron in Pisces, that’s likely to be the idealists, the disenfranchised, the lost, the mentally unstable, the creative, and the generally vulnerable). There are many other possibilities, as well–our alertness to needlessly caused hurt or destruction is our best defense, along with a willingness to employ our energy actively and assertively for the good of all.

The March Full Moon in Libra occurs at 2:27 AM PDT of the 27th at 6 Libra 52:

‘Creative Development & A New Role’

The Full Moon in Libra comes less than a week after the Spring Equinox, and invites us into a partnership: with those who have status or who can offer us empowering circumstances (trine to Juno); with our own creative essence (a wide quincunx to Neptune); with an image-rich and intuitively-sourced form of communication and communion (wide quincunx to Mercury); to fight for beauty, for reward, for companionship and Love (opposition to Venus); and to take a new and possibly revolutionary place within the group, one bestowed through our own uniqueness (opposition to Uranus).

To receive the complete Full Moon report including the Sabian analysis for the event, plus detailed aspect and Lunar forecast for every day, articles, commentary, and more, please subscribe!

Your Weekend Compendium 23-24-25 March 2013 “The Satisfied Club’

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This is called 'The Cheat With the Ace of Clubs', so I don't know how satisfied they'll all be, in the end. By Georges de la Tour c1632 {{PD-Art}}

This is called ‘The Cheat With the Ace of Clubs’, so I don’t know how satisfied they’ll all be, in the end. By Georges de la Tour c1632 {{PD-Art}}

Here are a few bits ‘n pieces from the current ECLIPSE; order now to receive much more, Weekly or Daily! Includes your personal Solar Return Glimpse Ahead for 6 Month subscribers!

23 March sees contradictory energies prominent: on the one hand, the social circle tries to buck tradition, expansion meets barriers, and broadcasting meets censorship, but individuals, especially those with Fire sign Suns, feel empowered, and this is in spite of a sense that serious adjustment must be made to the life Path (Jupiter quincunx Saturn, Sun sextile Juno and sesquiquadrate the North Node). It must be noted that material matters will be the best guide to empowerment at this time for all Sun signs; don’t take it for granted or go on faith, instead take physical facts and material realities to heart–the only way to get where we want to go is to know where we’re starting from.

24 March Void begins 3:45 AM PDT; the Moon enters Virgo at 8:50 AM PDT.  2 PM PDT the Moon forms a Finger of God with base of Venus-Juno with Neptune at the base midpoint, and of course apex Moon. This looks to me like an incredibly fertile time for creative endeavors of any kind, including earning, innovating, and the Arts, and all steps taken at this time will be both empowering and satisfying.

25 March we may divide into two camps: the Satisfied and the Frustrated. I’ll bet you already know which camp you’ll be planting your bedroll in. The satisfied group will act effectively, be optimistic and pleasant, and make good progress, while the frustrated group will have a problem only because they will push push push with their egos and find a lack of co-operation available and most avenues to go forward cut off. In addition, those in authority may hassle you. Eliminate the insistent and Self-absorbed cries of the ego, and you too can be in the Satisfied Club. I’ll see you there! (Venus sextile Juno, Mars quincunx Saturn).

To see it all and support the blog, please subscribe! And don’t forget to visit Karen’s new Tarot site

The Forecast for the Sun’s Entry Into Aries 20 March 2013: ‘ A Build-Up, A Bellwether’

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Aries in female form: 'Queen Boudicea' by John Opie Several depictions of Boudicea showed her "haranguing" her troops; would they say that if she were a man? I think not.

Aries in female form: ‘Queen Boudicea’ by John Opie Several depictions of Boudicea showed her “haranguing” her troops; would they say that if she were a man? I think not.

The forecast for tomorrow, as the Sun enters the sign of Aries, as presented in ECLIPSE Weekly Aspect Digest:

20 March The Sun enters Aries, pulling our attention to the Self, aggression, anger, and the need to act. It’s almost spring, and the juices are flowing–no more of that relaxed, drifting, daydreaming Pisces for you and me! No sir. The Sun’s entry into Aries starts, of course, at the much-lauded Aries Point–so today may be a kind of bellwether for the coming Solar year. Note the tone, note the positives, note the negatives–and look for them as a running theme or subtext through to next first day of Sun in Aries.

Our take on reality, meanwhile, is at odds with that of those in authority, or with nature itself, or requires some serious negotiation before things shake out into an acceptable state. We can either bash our own heads against barriers, walls, and other impediments, or we can modify our idea of what is to accommodate what we feel should be. Wounds come from ignoring what we know to be wise; though it may be tempting, don’t blow off what’s smart to indulge the urge to act out or act up. (Sun into Aries/ Earth into Libra, Saturn sesquiquadrate Ceres, Chiron semi-square Pallas)

2 AM PDT the Cancer Moon squares Uranus; that building Aries energy brings out the practical joker, the panicker, the rebel without a cause, the know-it-all, and the person who just wants to be left alone, and keeps interrupting you to let you know. Erratic behavior is the norm right now; try not to react. 8 AM PDT the Moon creates a Grand Trine with Chiron and Saturn. Overwhelming emotionalism arising out of hurt may make for a feeling that we’re confined in a watery grave–but know that the trapped feeling falls away when we are willing to let go of emotional immersion as a way of being. It may feel ‘more alive’, to some, but is really just a mechanism that keeps us from moving forward, so waterlogged are we by feeling and sensation. 10 AM PDT of the 20th the Moon opposes Pluto. If we haven’t lap-pooled our way out of the emotional morass that the Grand Trine invited us into, this will be the wake-up call that tells us we are way out over the deep end, with no ladder in sight. If we managed to stay cake-free and dried, as Shel Silverstein once said, we will at this point find that we are either dealing with another’s Plutonian energy (or, as we sometimes call it, an assault), or we will be dealing with our own Plutonian urges and their emotional consequences. Stay calm and take your time, in dealing with either situation. 6 PM PDT the Moon squares hZeus, showing us the emotional downside to getting what we want. Midnight the Moon trines the North Node and semi-sextiles Vesta. This offers a point of emotional alignment with our goals and values, and could call for slight course correction.

Mercury Direct: Hard Truths & Serious Fantasies

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'Fantasy' by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes 1866 {{PD-Art}}

‘Fantasy’ by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes 1866 {{PD-Art}}

Mercury goes direct on the 17th, at 1:03 PM PDT, at 5 Pisces 38. A chart for the moment of direction of a body can often tells us a little something both about what the retrograde meant, and what tack the planet will now take in forward motion. This kind of chart may resonate through the coming weeks simply because the planet will be at its most ‘still’ point at this time, as motionless as a body ever gets, and so may ‘mark’ the Cosmos with a particular vibe. Keeping our usual strict 2 degree or so orb, we see that Mercury turns it around in aspect to the Moon (a square) and Neptune (a conjunction)–and for depth we note the wide-ish semi-sextile to both Mars and Uranus in Aries.

This combination of aspects suggests some hard emotional and intuitive truths may be revealed, likely through exchange of info, gossip, or thoughts with others (Gemini), or through something written, which contradicts what we perhaps idealized, misunderstood, or were mislead about (Merc in Pisces conjunct Neptune). With Mercury having spent the entire retrograde in Pisces, we can be fairly sure that there is something we missed over this period, something we imagined we knew or understood, or some condition we assumed was in effect that was not.

To be fair, though, there was also the potential for something fantastic to be born in this retro period; many of us came up with the spark or idea that will change our lives, take us in a new direction–and we may not even recognize this, yet. Particularly if your new idea or direction involved both a creative and a co-operative element, you are already on your way to realizing significant changes to the way you   ——–  Fill that in with the matters of the House ruled in your natal chart by Pisces/ Neptune.

This retro period dared a lot of people to dream; now, with direction, the work of making those dreams realities begins, and the first order of business includes a confrontation with emotional realities and information previously not known (Moon in Gemini), and a re-forming and re-visiting of the creative entity birthed since the retrograde began (Merc conj Neptune–but you’ll notice Mercury is ahead of Neptune, and so will not make exact contact again, emphasizing that this will not bring new creative visions, but will only feature them over the time between direction and Superior Conjunction). The informal contact from Mars and Uranus in Aries says that our main ‘instrument’ will be our own Self-interest, Will, and initiative, driven by our unique point of view, the support of the group, and the general willingness of all to innovate–we’ve got nowhere to go but forward from here.

Mercury Direct 17 March 2013For much more, including the complete astro forecast that features an hour-by-hour Lunar forecast, articles, and commentary, please subscribe–thanks! And this week the issue’s a double!

Helpful re-tooling for the direction at Digital Journal

The Vatican Vote: A New Pope Is Chosen

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'The Prayer of St. Bonaventura About the Selection of the New Pope' Zubarán 1628 {{PD-Art}}

‘The Prayer of St. Bonaventura About the Selection of the New Pope’ Zubarán 1628 {{PD-Art}}

This is from the new ECLIPSE, out tomorrow; I’d just finished this section when they announced the election of Cardinal Bergoglio. Make of it what you will–

The Vatican Vote   The Cardinals seemed to be dragging their feet when it came to getting together to vote on a new Pope–and that made me wonder if they don’t have an astrologer on staff–I’m betting they do. Benedict announced his intention to resign on 11 February, with Mercury direct, square Vesta, semi-sextile Pallas, sextile Pluto, and close to trine with Saturn. That suggests a message that was itself direct, though in conflict with what is most revered (this could apply to the 600-plus years tradition since the last living Pope stepped down–until now the Pope has been expected to serve until death), but wise, particularly in choosing a point of easy transition, and that this is both permanent for Benedict (no take backs!) but may also have created a new tradition of retirement for Popes to come.

The foot-dragging on gathering the Cardinals for the Conclave only makes sense in astrological terms: with Mercury retrograde a vote on a new Pope might be a very bad idea, promising that whomever was elected would likely end up being significantly different in enacting the Papal role than he seemed as a priest; however, it is a good time for them to get together and re-consider, re-hash, and perhaps re-volutionze the Church with a progressive choice. Voting has already started (afternoon of the 11th); typically there are an average of nine days of voting in order to choose a new Pope. Mercury goes direct early afternoon Pacific time of the 17th (so even before the day’s voting begins in Rome, if they will indeed be assembling every day). It’s reasonable to expect that voting could stretch into Mercury direct, that perhaps it’s even intended to do so. Just after direction on the 17th the transiting Moon will conjunct Jupiter, symbol of the office of the Pope, and puts both very close in square to Chiron. This could signal the point of election, with a ‘hurt or heal’ scenario the challenge for whomever is elected

Update: A Pope has just been elected on 13 March, Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina, with Merc still retrograde. Does this mean they really weren’t using an astrologer? Not necessarily, since Bergoglio is known as a social progressive who is actively for a clean-up of both conduct and business within the Church, certainly a vote for effective re-vamping (Merc retro appropriate) of existing practice. At the approximate time of the announcement the Aries Moon was acting as a Finger of God base with Jupiter, apex North Node–so they may have listened to the Universe/ God, bending human emotion and Will to the need of the Church to re-make itself, in order to survive successfully into the future.

A Little Something on the New Moon in Pisces 12:51 PM PDT 11 March 2013 at 21 Pisces 24

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'Ariadne Watching the Struggle of Theseus With the Minotaur' by Henry Fuseli c1817 {{PD-Art}}

‘Ariadne Watching the Struggle of Theseus With the Minotaur’ by Henry Fuseli c1817 {{PD-Art}}

All the Lunar action this time around is contained within one quarter of the flat chart, between the NM in Pisces and its farthest aspect, a square to Ceres. This defines the activity as stressful, and possibly contentious, with the ‘new light’ of the Moon (a revelation, an idea, a new beginning) in conflict with Power and authority, with what up to now has been the ‘natural’ order, and the necessity of negotiation is obvious, indeed. Caught between the two we have Sedna in sextile the NM, and a semi-sextile from Pallas, which we normally wouldn’t count, except that it seems to comment so crisply on developments: we may be unaware of the depth of the power struggle that starts here; it likely plays on some deeply seated natural facets and long-ingrained beliefs about role and conduct (Sedna) that are at the heart of the conflict, though not obvious on the surface, and certainly about which we are likely unaware consciously (at least in terms of how they figure in to the power situation). Pallas tells us that it may be wise to allow this conflict to happen at this time–to smooth things out might push them down to fester for another day, not a good thing at all.

For the complete NM picture, plus lots more, please subscribe. I plan on taking the blog in a much more bloggy direction, with more commentary on current events and people, or general astrology, and less emphasis on bits of forecast or current astro ‘weather’, which is already available in the newsletter. This is a great ‘Wishin’ Moon’–grab a Pisces and maybe your dream will come true!

Julie Demboski's ASTROLOGY

Addressing the Individual Experience Within the Universal Truth

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