AstroCast: July 22 - August 5, 2012

**Times where noted are Pacific Daylight Time; degrees where noted are rounded to the nearest whole degree.

Now can we start a real dialogue on violence? Syria is reeling out of control and eerily right on cue we have what is perhaps the worst mass shooting in U.S. history as Mars, with Jupiter’s amplifying help, explosively triggered the Uranus and Pluto square.  Reality mirrored the archetypal dramas playing out in the heavens and on movie screens across the globe.   While Syria is a distant land, Colorado brings it to the heartland.  We need to start talking about what we collectively have created in the entity that is our society and what exactly is it eating away at its core.   The conversation gets some help on July 22nd when the Sun moves into Leo at that time of day where dreams seem to become more real and our thoughts turn away from the mundane to out there philosophy – 3:00am.  The Sun in Leo will want to talk about the act of creating.  It will also want to be noble and we’ll probably see a lot of that in the coming days and weeks as the tragedy is dealt with.   It will also want to be magnanimous, warm and loving but the joy that usually comes with the Lion-hearted may be hard to reach as pride could get in the way.  Can we admit that we’ve collectively created this monster?   Can we really face just how separated from Spirit we are?  It means having to take a look at ourselves, what part we play in all of this and what we can do to change it.  It will be interesting to see what transpires later this month when Venus instigates another agitating T-square with Uranus and Pluto.  Maybe she’ll be inspired by Aristophane’s ancient Greek play, Lysistrata, where all the women went on strike by withholding sex from their husbands and lovers in order to end an interminable war.  There is a lot of supportive energy for this dialog as Mars, Mercury, Jupiter and Uranus form a string of smart sextiles opening the door to a deeper analysis that may lead to a new way of thinking on this matter.

There may also be uneasiness as we attempt to express these difficult issues – acknowledging the need for change is never comfortable – and the support we get for it from the heavens will be challenged by a five planet (OK, one is a dwarf planet and one a major asteroid) configuration in effect from July 24th through July 30th, the so-called “Finger of God” or yod, involving the Sun, Mercury, Chiron, Neptune and Pluto.  The energy of a yod is often compared to oil and water, which together do not make a stable blend.  Metaphorically the Sun and Mercury, representing our inner core and way of thinking will seem out of sorts as it faces the Wounded Healer, the Mystic and the King of the Underworld.  We’ll need to dig deep into our personal and collective psyches to see the physical, psychological and/or spiritual imbalances perpetrating the disorder on the surface, then take our awareness of the weakness to turn it into a strength that can heal.  We have to find a way to reach out and touch the Divine to receive the inspiration needed for transformation.

Fortunately, the remainder of this period is graced with relatively quiet aspects that will give us a respite fom the intense pressure.  On July 25th retrograde Mercury trines Uranus giving us a mental boost of brilliance for problem solving and witty banter.

July 26th brings the monthly first quarter square between the cheerful Leo Sun and moody Scorpio Moon.  This “crisis of action” aspect generally brings with it a revelation of what this particular lunar cycle is about.   The seeds planted at the Cancer New Moon a week earlier can now emerge and take shape so we can take it to the next level.

Around mid-day on July 28th Mercury in retrograde motion backs up to merge with the Sun at 6 Leo 7.   This is called the “inferior conjunction,” representing the mid-point of the retrograde period, and usually brings with it great clarity – a meeting of the mind and will. With the Moon at 8 Sagittarius 38 and Uranus at 8 Aries 26, they are close enough to create a relatively tight grand fire trine with the Sun and Mercury.  Uranus brings the element of surprise and the Moon adds sensitivity to make it feel close to home.  This type of configuration may amplify the facility of movement in whatever action is taking place but even with the “easy” aspects, we need to be vigilant because it can be just as easy to lose our temper.

The Sun’s trine to Uranus becomes exact on July 30th at 8 Leo/Aries.  Uranus in Aries brings a bunker busting forcefulness to everything it touches.  This is a generational aspect that will play out over time (2010 to 2018).  We can see more clearly what it can do when other planets aspect it, as in the case of the epochal Uranus/Pluto square in effect 2012 to 2015.  Depending on the nature of the aspect involved, we may get only a glimpse of its power when the faster moving planets come in contact with it.  In this case, the Sun in Leo’s determination and leadership capability, his creativity and confidence aligning with freedom loving, out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new Uranus in Aries may be just the kicker we need to be our own authority and initiate the change we say we want.

Another trine is in store on July 31st so let’s hope we can choose to soak up the grace and put it to good use.  Venus at 24 Gemini trines Saturn at 24 Libra shortly after midnight to infuse our dreams with long and flirtatious conversations.  While Venus in Gemini is not known for her ability to sustain a relationship, with Saturn’s influence she may become grounded enough to put energy into sticking around.  The glue that will hold her dear is talking and lots of it.  Since Saturn is in Venus’ ruling sign he will have a natural understanding of this so that “responsibility” and “commitment” can be spoken of with artistry in such an enticing way that she won’t head for the hills.

Around 8:30pm on August 1st the Sun at 10 Leo opposes the Moon at 10 Aquarius.  This annual Full Moon between the Radiant King and the Mother of Civilization poses the question: shall we seek our creative potential for the purpose of self-fulfillment or carry the seeds of new ideas through gestation for the collective development of society?  While both sides have value, by themselves they are less potent than when working together.  If we take sides in this tug of cross-purposes perhaps all we will do is manifest the negative extremes of each side – an aloof feeling nature at odds with an attention-loving ego.  But if we have the consciousness to envision a way for the warmth of the Leo Sun to draw in the distant Aquarian Moon while also being able to sincerely take in the potentially pride-wounding advice from her unique observations, that’s a step in the right direction.  Uranus sextile the Moon and Jupiter sextile the Sun forms a trapezoidal configuration that ironically provides a sparkling bridge created with energies that enhance the archetypal profile of each side.  Who can resist crossing that?