Tag Archives: The Astro Essence

Mercury and Pallas, Co-Conspirators 16-20 October 2015

16 Friday Oct 2015

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Johann Heinrich Füssli - Sketch for 'The Three Conspirators Swear an Oath on the Rüthli Meadow' 1779 {{PD}}

Johann Heinrich Füssli – Sketch for ‘The Three Conspirators Swear an Oath on the Rüthli Meadow’ 1779 {{PD}}

Mercury and Pallas are players during this period, though certainly Vesta, Neptune, and Jupiter have something to say, as well. The prominence of these entities suggests we’ll expend a lot of energy trying to discover if our thoughts and ideas are wise ones–and our values, our imaginations, and our social sphere all play a part. Today, Friday the 16th, the emphasis is on sorting the influence of hurt or unprocessed material from the mental processes, and attempting to pinpoint whether or not we are reasonable in our assumptions will not be easy. There is the chance we’ll delude ourselves, especially if our financial state or our relationship status benefits if we do so; instincts and/ or ‘blind spot’ materials may muddy the waters further, making us unsure of what’s smart and what isn’t. The answer comes in keeping our eye on the future. Where we’re headed, or should I say, where we want to be headed, is the most accurate marker guiding us at this point. Keep goals in mind and measure everything against that; ask yourself, will this get me closer to where I want to be? If not, put it aside for now. (Pallas qnx Sedna, Venus opp Neptune, Merc parallel Chiron and the NN)

By the 17th we find we must deal with neglected or denied material, and it ain’t easy. Our empowerment, however, depends on it, along with a requirement that we sort what’s wise from what we merely want. Face head-on whatever dark or dredged-from-the-depths issues arise, and use instincts to guide actions and choices in dealing with the social sphere, or in expanding your world. (Juno parallel and Merc conjunct Black Moon Lilith, Pallas contra-parallel Zeus, Mars conjunct Jupiter and parallel Sedna)

18 October and we experience a rush of creative energy–but it’s not meant to be channeled through the mind, and doing so will only make problems. This is a ‘zone out and tune in’ kind of day–enjoy it. (Merc qnx Neptune, Sun parallel Neptune and qnx Sedna)

Monday the 19th we are chiefly concerned with aligning highest values with what’s smart; secondary to this is how and where we will express these within the social scene. Expect the unexpected when evaluating what we consider wise; we may be a little too driven by instincts linked to material comforts, benefits, or results, and so may inadvertently skew our actions and choices toward physical interests, especially ones supported by the social sphere. To serve both goals and material interests adequately, let material matters and your surroundings ‘speak’ to you–what you learn by observing will tell you where you have been ‘investing’, and how you might like to alter that. (Uranus parallel Pallas, Mars parallel Jupiter, Venus parallel Sedna, Sun sextile Pallas and parallel Vesta/ Earth trine Pallas and contra-parallel Vesta)

20 October we may spend a good deal of time considering how our values and commitments in the past have formed where we are now, all in service to fine-tuning actions to support ambitions and to making the most of ideas, which are keyed to empower us, to handle what has been ignored, and so to eliminate ‘blind spots’ in our reasoning. This is a powerful force for realizing goals and setting us on our chosen Path; we can sense that the benefits that await us if we implement what we’re thinking are far greater than we may currently imagine. (Vesta conjunct the SN, Mars contra-parallel Zeus, Venus parallel Jupiter, Merc seq Sedna, parallel Juno and BML)

Have a great weekend! Feeling lonely? Have my voice in your head for hours–read one of my books! 🙂

Contra-Indicators: 8-12 October 2015

07 Wednesday Oct 2015

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Parallel and Contraparallels

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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

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!

Focus On: The Hard and the Soft–Neptune and Pluto 6-7 October 2015

05 Monday Oct 2015

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"Seljalandsfoss, Suðurland, Islandia, 2014-08-16, DD 201-203 HDR" by Diego Delso. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Seljalandsfoss,_Su%C3%B0urland,_Islandia,_2014-08-16,_DD_201-203_HDR.JPG#/media/File:Seljalandsfoss,_Su%C3%B0urland,_Islandia,_2014-08-16,_DD_201-203_HDR.JPG CC BY-SA 4.0

“Seljalandsfoss, Suðurland, Islandia, 2014-08-16, DD 201-203 HDR” by Diego Delso. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Seljalandsfoss,_Su%C3%B0urland,_Islandia,_2014-08-16,_DD_201-203_HDR.JPG CC BY-SA 4.0

We may be angry or want to take action, but what are we responding to (because this is a response, even if we think we’re being original): is it our delusions that have us so reactive, our ideals (either at their violation or the possibility of bringing them to reality), or are we misperceiving or being totally mislead? We may see the world divided into ‘hard and soft’, a dream or the harshest of realities, a beautiful fantasy or a dark dance of obliteration, drifting versus the sharp edges of our own particular hell. And we are especially prone to less productive reactions if our empowerment position or status is being threatened. What to do?

First, stick to reality as it is right now, to the facts, to what we consider knowledge; using these to guide our thoughts is the only way we can sort what’s true from fantasy and fiction (even normally trustworthy partners can’t be counted on, only because they may be as misinformed or mislead as we). Second, be aware that our attention is currently being drawn to darker and more destructive alternatives; change or decay may seem inevitable at this point, but knowing this is simply a perceptual window may allow us to gain some distance, and so some perspective. Power may also be in focus, and to those of us who struggle needlessly to prove our ‘independence’, or who jockey for supremacy within any interaction, this might be a particularly difficult period, if only because we’ll be sure power machinations are behind everything–an exhausting stance that diverts our energy to a crisis that likely doesn’t exist.

We can create the basis for change that embodies our dreams or ideals, if we avoid fear-based thinking and also tune in to reality–without both components operating, we may go seriously off-track–and then would have to devote far too much energy to recovery, if we do go astray. Think of power wrangling, fear, and anger as distractions, and you’ll be halfway to giving the prevailing influences a positive shape.

This is all in preparation for the chance on the 7th to bring one or more of our highest ideals into reality, to embody it, to manifest it, to act it out–but we have to be willing to give up the need for individual attention or ambition realization–this puts the success of the idea ahead of our personal sense of achievement–so only those truly Selfless causes gain ground. Too, we are aware that the wrong thing can cost us–and so may lose because we don’t move forward. Choices today form the contours for the future–keep that in mind as you go through your day, because you’ll make better choices by remembering that–and have a great couple of October days!

(Perfecting over these two days: Neptune opposed Mars, quincunx Juno, parallel Vesta; Mercury sextile Saturn and parallel NN, Chiron, and Juno; Uranus contra-parallel Zeus; Earth sesquiquadrate Venus)

Understand what you care most about, which explains why you’ve shaped your life as you have, with my new book on Vesta. Thanks to all who’ve ordered, and reviews and ratings are always welcome on Goodreads or the Dog & Sunflower Press pages.

Relationships, Instincts, and Power: 2-5 October 2015

02 Friday Oct 2015

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"Gone are the shockingly bright pinks, yellows and purples of summer, replaced by deeper and darker reds, yellows, greens and the beginnings of brown, all of equal vibrancy and beauty. And soon, as the 34 degree weather and diminishing daylight would lead us to believe, a blanket of white will fall upon the landscape. Enjoy the change of seasons wherever you may be!" NPS Photo / Katie Cullen 8 September 2012,19:18 Stunning fall colors at Serpentine Hot Springs, Bering Land Bridge National Preserve Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

“Gone are the shockingly bright pinks, yellows and purples of summer, replaced by deeper and darker reds, yellows, greens and the beginnings of brown, all of equal vibrancy and beauty. And soon, as the 34 degree weather and diminishing daylight would lead us to believe, a blanket of white will fall upon the landscape. Enjoy the change of seasons wherever you may be!” NPS Photo / Katie Cullen 8 September 2012,19:18
Stunning fall colors at Serpentine Hot Springs, Bering Land Bridge National Preserve Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

Our interactions, what we treasure, and perhaps our finances, are severely challenged this weekend by authorities or the power structure–and by challenged, I mean we are put in a position where we may have to choose between our values/ what we care about and complying with a demand, probably delivered obliquely, so we don’t see that there’s no room for negotiation. This power play may be subtle, and we may question ourselves rather than the ‘request’ or requirement; instincts may stir in protest, but we could be tempted–or encouraged–to see this as our own unreasonable or selfish nature. We’ll recognize the situation by the way we become very uncomfortable–accept this warning, as one of the things we may not see is how this will cost us, once it all plays out (Venus perfecting hard aspect to Ceres, Pluto, and Sedna). Staying empowered calls for both clarity on our ideals and a willingness to face the unpleasant or ignored. Do this and you’re likely to come out the other side of this transit period personally much stronger, and with a small wound healed, one you didn’t even know you had.

Have a great weekend, and try my books; the newest on Vesta helps you connect to what’s most important (and so plays the biggest role) in your life. And if you’ve already read it, reviews and ratings at Dog & Sunflower or Goodreads are very welcome!

The AstroEssence 1 October 2015

01 Thursday Oct 2015

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Martin Johnson Heade -'Blue Morpho Butterfly ATC' c1865 {{PD}}

Martin Johnson Heade -‘Blue Morpho Butterfly ATC’ c1865 {{PD}}

I just had to talk about today–why? Because we’ll be thinking a great deal about ourselves, our viewpoint–so much so that we might lose perspective on the things and people that surround us. Somehow we’ll see situations where our highest values are contradicted by what’s wise in the moment–and our urge to act and do, to make ‘it’ happen, may not mesh with our need for more refined, unique expression, to be our own beautiful butterfly (as we say around here, when someone needs to feel special!) Our thoughts may be fixed on empowerment and status no matter what we’re actually thinking about, and for many of us that’s not our usual priority–and that means thoughts and intentions may be more competitive and Self-centered than we typically want or need them to be. The result may be a terrible myopia that could short-change the future and our relationships, with our focus so firmly on the present. Give others a pass (they’re just as susceptible to excessive Self-concern as you), and concentrate today on those things where intent Self-interest is actually appropriate, even necessary, for best results. Perfecting today: Vesta contra-parallel Pallas, Mars sesquiquadrate Uranus, Mercury conjunct Juno

My latest! Discover what’s truly important to you, and how that shapes everything you are and do–We Are All Vessels: VESTA IN THE NATAL CHART

Focus On: Neptune, 29-30 September 2015

29 Tuesday Sep 2015

Posted by in astrology, current events in the sky, Neptune

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Neptune can lure us through the idea of rescue--our own or that of another--if we eschew responsibility for ourselves, or if we need to see ourselves as rescuers, feeling our armor could use a little shine. Giulio Aristide Sartorio - La Sirena, 1893 {{PD}}

Neptune can lure us through the idea of rescue–our own or that of another–if we eschew responsibility for ourselves, in the first case, or if we need to see ourselves as rescuers, in the other case, when the ego feels our armor could use a little shine. Giulio Aristide Sartorio – La Sirena, 1893 {{PD}}

Neptune is currently transiting through the sign it resonates most strongly to (and along with Jupiter, rules), making it as characteristic of Neptunian energies as it can get; by this I mean there’s a purity to it to which, when we ‘tune in’, we have access to–but even inadvertently, we absorb or otherwise allow that Neptunian fog to permeate the atmosphere–and today’s contacts tell a story. Neptune receives a quincunx from retro transiting Mercury in Libra, and contraparallels Pallas. This suggests a few things: messages, communications, even our own thoughts might be difficult to fathom–or perhaps it will be the hidden messages, the ideas beneath the words and thoughts, that are tough to discern–so that we somehow miss at least some of the meaning of all that’s conveyed. Our own cogitations might not go any better, as the mind obscures what’s really motivating our conclusions and compelling our thoughts to go ‘here’ not ‘there’. We may be moved by the spiritual, the imaginative and the imaginal (in both the positive and negative senses), and Collective mind influences to think along certain lines or to believe certain things, and bouncing ideas off others (Libra) doesn’t really help–but know consciously that you have only part of the story (or that you have the story but are missing some important element), and your ability to respond and think effectively jumps markedly.

The contraparallel to Pallas just piles on the uncertainty, and brings to the party an inspiration to recklessness and impracticality. How do you behave when you know you’re teetering dangerously close to making a series of bad decisions? Do you listen to your more cautious nature, and pull back, or do you plunge in, out of an addiction to drama, an inclination to make the internal chaos visible, or an urge to fan the spark of Self-destruction? The current state of your natal Saturn and Uranus (what transits they’re receiving, where they are by Solar Arc), and secondarily what those transiting bodies may be contacting in your chart will tell the story of your current responsive nature (that, and the Moon) or susceptibility to unwise behavior based on a Neptunian fantasy, delusion, or awareness of one’s individual speck-ness within the Cosmos.

Neptune can beckon to us, inviting us toward doing something decidedly unwise, through illusion, through something that can appear perfectly reasonable–and that’s where we must remember, that between today’s contacts and the Merc retro, we are unable to perceive clearly–no matter how clear the matter seems to be.

Tomorrow, the 30th, we see the Sun-Mercury Inferior Conjunction, with the Sun quincunx Neptune. This suggests that what is seeded with the Inferior Conjunction has an element of fantasy, imagination, or the unreal that will need adjustment as the matter grows.

Just to let you know, I won’t be posting much forecast material, anymore–review of my practices during this Merc retro makes me feel that this is a maw that can never be filled–and that kind of Sisyphean effort is not for me, much as some of you may appreciate it. So, I’ll post on focused topics like this, or in a broader observational vein when I’m moved to, and you can sign up to follow the blog and be notified if and when it happens. See my books here; the ones on the asteroids Chiron, Juno, and Vesta are very much like having a class with me, if that would interest you.

And a reminder: unless you are a current client with an active order, please do not write directly to me–check the Services page, and if it says I’m booked, I’m booked!

Your Week Ahead 22-25 September 2015: Be Prepared

21 Monday Sep 2015

Posted by in astrology, forecast, The Daily Word Image

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'La Montagne Sainte-Victoire' by Pierre-Auguste Renoir c1889 {{PD}}

‘La Montagne Sainte-Victoire’ by Pierre-Auguste Renoir c1889 {{PD}}

The 22nd sees material situations (possibly literally) hurt, wound, or demand our Chirotic skills be used, brings confusing, inspiring, or out-of-touch communications, and yet we can’t avoid some spontaneous, surprising, or forward-thinking rewards, and could enjoy an abundance of Love or Money. The particular variety and tone of current aspects implies a jumble of influences and some crazy-positive results, even if they come from what initially appears to be negative, and vice versa, good things may lead to something less-than-positive. The biggest factor may be that the influences, seen or unseen, will have a Rube Goldberg-esque quality that keeps the various traps, trips, and connections from drawing a straight line between first step and last; many will remain hidden, so that luck appears to play an almost magical part in what occurs. Our motto for today should echo the Scouts: be prepared.

On the 23rd we are empowered and/ or productive in direct proportion to how willingly we deal with reality and face those issues we’d rather ignore. Consequences of not taking care of ‘What Is’ include being the target of aggression (especially if our own aggressive stance is something we’re in denial about), injury to the identity or reputation, and being presented with what seem to be insurmountable barriers in our path. Progress accrues to those who don’t look to the social sphere for answers, who don’t accept injury as ‘just part of life’, and to those who are willing to make commitments (yes, even during Merc retro!) and accept the parameters of the game–then play the hell out of it with eyes wide open.1280px-Ecclesia_romana_(particolare),_XII_sec._d.C.,_mosaico_policromo,_dalla_Basilica_di_San_Pietro

By the 24th our thoughts may not know where to go; both our own reflections or advice from others seems unnecessarily gloomy or destructive, and we may not realize that it’s in allowing the dark thoughts to play out mentally that we find the new direction we must take. You know about the Jack Pine, right? Its cones are shut tight with resinous sap–the seeds can only escape when the cone burns. This is something like the process we’ll go through today. Don’t allow yourself to get so distracted by your own negative outlook that you miss the new thing, concept, or idea pushing up to the light–and what you choose to do about this idea in the material realm will help shape your future.

The 25th our power will be derived from following our instincts–but that requires we don’t confuse those with our Will, our emotions, or our mind. If we keep our thinking aligned with our highest values, we’ll find ourselves empowered, so don’t sweat it if you can’t immediately turn off the usual decision-making processes. In spite of this, it’s not a good time to take material action–and too, those who let the ego run the show will run up against a brick wall or three, when it comes to getting their way.

Seagulls (painting by Arkady Rylov, 1910) {{PD}}

Seagulls (painting by Arkady Rylov, 1910) {{PD}}

We have an image for the week, as well: At the edge of the water, on a sandy beach, a gull eats a young crab. The crab did nothing wrong, to make him something else’s dinner–but the gull didn’t do anything wrong, either, in catching and eating him. This week we may be more than a little aware of the natural order of things, and of the fact that Nature isn’t always gentle. We don’t have to like it, but we do have to accept it, and we’d be wise to respect it, as a part of that Vestal ‘Greater Than’ of which we’re a part.

See all my books, including my latest on Vesta, here–and thanks to all for the fabulous response!

Credit for mosaic: Ecclesia romana (particolare), XII sec. d.C., mosaico policromo, dalla Basilica di San Pietro. Museo Barracco, Roma (Italia) Uploaded by Archeologo to Wikimedia Commons released under CC BY-SA 3.0

Your Weekend 18-21 September 2015: Reaching Equilibrium

18 Friday Sep 2015

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"Lawson Spring Night" Harlem River by Ernest Lawson - Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

“Lawson Spring Night” Harlem River by Ernest Lawson – Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Things have seemed inordinately complicated of late–or maybe we’ve just had too many responsibilities, too much to handle–but this weekend, influences consolidate, simplify–we can catch up with ourselves. First, though, there’s Saturn into Sagittarius, this time to stay for 2.5 years. A few points: no, as soon as it enters a new sign, it does not affect every placement you may have in that sign–like anything else, it only affects what it aspects. That said, it may feel like there’s an effect, but that’s a perception of the shift in those energies that are Saturn-oriented–they take on a kind of Sagittarian sheen–so you may notice it in your work, in the way the rules are implemented, you may see a certain willingness to make adventures and exploration a reality, to acquire knowledge or training, to get into publishing or broadcasting or religion–but overall these are mostly seen in subtle shifts in attention that may or may not lead to change in the reality picture. Right away Saturn trines the South Node and sextiles Juno, suggesting that we may mine the past for effective empowerment methods (or to hit up old contacts!)

Today we can reach a kind of power equilibrium, within ourselves (energy in equals energy out) and with others (we negotiate so that everyone is satisfied, and this is likely done instinctively). It’s a good feeling, and allows for significant recovery from recent events, if we refuse to get into a values-related struggle with the social sphere. That’s the one thing that can drain us, that and overreaching in those areas we care most about.

On the 19th we need to measure actions and choices in the light of what kind of future they’ll create.

The 20th says Love is the Answer–relationships, finances, and aesthetic pursuits all go well, supported by the inner wisdom and a sense of the practical. The only thing that can derail us is a refusal to deal with reality as it is, warts and all. Remember, everything can use a little love. Avoidance of issues brings ugly temper tantrums and spoils any reward we were heading toward.

On the 21st taking action can get exceptionally tricky–everything has power considerations behind it, and we may too easily see destructive options as effective ones. Consider what kind of wounding may occur, to both individuals and to one’s causes, investments, and interests, before moving forward.

And a reminder: we can’t rely too much on the mind, right now–use the feelings, the intuition, and the senses. And get my latest book, on Vesta, if you’d like to explore the asteroid of attitudes toward the sacred and the way this manifests through interactions with home, mate, and those causes to which we’re dedicated. To those of you who already have it, Thank You! Reviews/ critiques are welcome on the page at Dog & Sunflower and at GoodReads. Have a great weekend!

Jupiter Opposed Neptune September 2015

17 Thursday Sep 2015

Posted by in astrology, Cardinal Activity, current events in the sky, Jupiter, Neptune

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There are pairs, and there are pears, and there are 'Pears and Oranges in a Bowl' - William Glackens 1915 {{PD}}

There are pairs, and there are pears, and there are ‘Pears and Oranges in a Bowl’ – William Glackens 1915 {{PD}}

With Jupiter opposed Neptune, knowledge and ‘the facts’ face off against illusion, against what might be–and if we aren’t truly clear on who we are and in our connection to reality (and how can we be during Merc retro in Air?) then we may come out the worse for it. This aspect initiates an even more serious gap between those who believe in the rational and those who cling to fantasy–and the problem is that both sides see themselves as the rational ones! Jupiter in Virgo, moving into trine with Pluto, quincunxing Vesta and sesquiquadrate Ceres, tells us that the devil is discovered via the details, in critical examination that is not overly respectful of authority, and in a certain willingness to question our values and then adjust them according to what we find. If we fail to do that, we are definitely living Neptune at the moment, feet firmly planted in the fog of our own hazy reasoning. Look around: it’s Mulder and Scully, George and Gracie, Cheech and Chong, Lucy and Ethel, Bert and Ernie, Bart and Lisa, Holmes and Watson, Spongebob and Patrick, and I’m giving no hints as to which of the two in each of these pairs was the one really being realistic.

This is the only aspect for Neptune at the moment (and we’re not counting the fleeting touch of the transiting Moon); that suggests that those disconnected from reality have no touchstones, other than the Jupiterian facts, to pull them back into this dimension. When you hear an assertion, look for the reality behind it; don’t trust, verify the reality of what you believe, before making it your anthem. Normally I would say something about creative types and creativity getting a boost from this, but this time, No–a big part of true creativity is about being able to work with reality, to mold it, to see the potentials–and that’s only possible when we work with what is. We can try to turn water into wine all day, but if we don’t acknowledge that wine comes from grapes, and so must be our starting point, we’re going to serve one weak-ass beverage this evening.

Also of note: Juno and the North Node meet up at 00 Libra, showing us (if we’re paying attention) precisely how much the shaping of our future relies on our own empowerment. If you have placements within two degrees either side of this, or in hard aspect from the other Cardinals, that energy contacted will be instrumental, especially over the immediate future, in determining which way you go and how successfully you do it. Who used it best? might be the Universal question at this point, focused on your natal contacted energy.

Zeus and Venus are also sextile; should you have anything at 14-18 Virgo you have a temporary Finger of God that implies your ambitions plus relationships, finances, or values, when working together, will successfully bring about a positive expression of the Virgo energy. With Venus trining Pallas and catching Zeus at the midpoint, be smart and/ or practical about the use or role of that Venusian asset, for best results. And if you have anything at 14-18 Taurus, that becomes apex to a Finger with base of Zeus (ambition and desire) and Pallas (wisdom, practical skills), making for the obvious formula of applying wisdom to ambition creates, what, at this time? Whatever you’ve got at that point in Taurus.

Mercury Retrograde 17 September 2015: A Change Is Gonna Come

15 Tuesday Sep 2015

Posted by in astrology, Mercury retrograde, Retrogrades + Directions

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'i want change' Author m.a.r.c. from Berlin https://www.flickr.com/photos/43846837@N00 Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

‘i want change’
Author m.a.r.c. from Berlin https://www.flickr.com/photos/43846837@N00 Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

I’ve always found the point at which a planet representing major energies begins apparent retrograde motion as important in terms of the ‘statement’ this seems to make about what we can expect during the retrograde period itself. The relationship to other bodies appears to speak reliably of what we will see during the symbolic (that sometimes feels literal!) withdrawal of related impetus and momentum. It’s not so much like the retrograde builds a dam holding back the energetic waters, but like a large boulder falls into the stream of a narrow, rushing river; the energy is still flowing, but is suddenly forced to find another path. Of course, a new course can feel a great deal like denial and can foster frustration at a lack of expected progress–but that’s just it, our expectations failed to take note of the subtle shift that was building. Knowing where and when a body will retrograde gives us a preview of where and in what manner that forward push may stall.

The more I do these ‘moment of retrograde charts’, the more I see the bodies as interconnected; it’s not just the turnaround of one planet, but a shift in every single relationship this body has. It tells a bit of a story; here’s the one I see for the Mercury retrograde at 15 Libra 55 at 11:10 AM Pacific time on September 17th.

Mercury is turning around in Air, asking us to review what we think, especially about relationships. But, we have a bit of a surprise if we have been thinking we’ll come up with something definitive during this period. We instead may have our attention taken away from direct scrutiny of both love and money (Merc was within one degree of perfecting a sextile to Venus). Ambitions and desires, too, will take a back seat (Merc was near conjunction with asteroid Zeus). Our ideas in these areas will change; we may feel successes or bonding with another slip away after appearing to be inevitable. We’ll be asking ourselves in all things Libra, as well as in the subjects of the House in the natal chart where the retro happens: ‘What do I think about that?’ And we may not form an answer right away–though we may get a feeling (the first body to aspect Mercury will be the Moon, by sextile). So what will occupy us?

On the surface it may appear that we are still in relationship territory, or reviewing finances or cooperative efforts, but we may actually be taking a trip into mental darkness, an exploratory into the depths that will allow not just for relationship examination but demolition, refurbishing, or complete transformation. (A square to Pluto is the first aspect retro Merc will make to another body.) It all starts because we’ll be thinking about what’s fair. We’ll be vetting and tidying up what already seems more or less as we want it, or we may see talk or thought as the big reformer in relationships and over money (Merc is in Air) but we’ll soon find that it’s really the structure of our interactions, those things we’ve ‘invested’ in, the current parameters of relationship, the restrictions and unspoken warnings and ‘Do Not Touch!’ signs that we normally negotiate and play along with which will disintegrate, reconfigure, and regenerate in an entirely new shape, with entirely new rules  (Capricorn).

Look for the strongest effects, of course, in the House of the natal chart where the turnaround occurs; the matters of this House will likely be the starting point for examination and change. Though I characterized this period as one of “mental darkness”, I don’t mean depression, anger, recriminations, sadness or madness–I mean a kind of seriousness that will actually be more below the surface than it will be conscious, with the majority of the change in perception and thought happening, iceberg-like, out of our sight and awareness. The darkness will still the mind long enough for what we really desire to make itself heard.

What will be the result? Anything that doesn’t offer passion of one kind or another could be destroyed–or, current affections could be ignited into something truly exciting, as each person discovers depths in the other they’d never seen before. Shared material matters and finances might also move in the direction of passion (in the form of volatility or excitement about new ideas and plans), and our review will likely take into account alterations in aesthetics that we experimented with during Venus retro–we may decide by the end of Merc retro that that style or image or enhancement we toyed with is just what we need to build into the life, to make, for now, permanent.

‘We Are All Vessels: Vesta in the Natal Chart’ comes out tomorrow.