AstroCast: February 7 – 18, 2012

*Times are Pacific Standard Time, unless stated otherwise. Planetary positions are expressed as the degree (rounded to the nearest whole degree) followed by the sign.

**If you aren’t already, be sure to follow Sher Astrology on Twitter to keep up with the daily astrological events.

Are you wondering why you feel some of the transits we talk about and not others or why a friend may feel one but you don’t? If the transiting planet affects a planet in your natal chart, that is, where the planets were at the time you were born, then you are more likely to feel the transit or may feel it stronger than one that does not affect a planet in your natal chart. Don’t have a chart? Would you like one? Let us know.

As is often the case, the faster moving “personal” planets will be acting as go-betweens for the outer “transpersonal” planets during this time period. The Messenger of the Gods, Mercury, activates the ongoing alignment between the titans of the sky, Saturn, Neptune and Jupiter, asking us to take a deeper look at how we go about achieving our dreams. The Goddess of Love, Venus, does another dance between the planets that can and will rock our world – Pluto and Uranus. She’ll be kicking up the dust of their square now gearing up for their big game next summer. This passion play may seem to be staged from the other side of the looking glass. As time stretches in powerful ways, integrity, resilience and daily reality checks are in order.

Clarity may suddenly appear on February 7th when Mercury catches up to the Sun, passing on the far side away from earth, reaching the “superior conjunction” (or “full Moon” phase) of the Mercury/Sun cycle at 1:03 a.m. This cycle began with Mercury’s inferior conjunction (“new Moon” phase) on December 4, 2011 at 12° Sagittarius. This also marks Mercury’s transition from morning star to evening star. In Aquarius, the heart and mind of the sky may offer us a high tech blueprint to objective reasoning power. With Saturn stationing retrograde at 29° Libra at 9:03 am, we would do well to take advantage of that detached position to learn how to find balance and stability in relationships. Saturn will be retrograde until June 25th when he reaches 22° Libra, during which time we may be asked to revisit all the events he triggered since November 3rd. By 1:54 pm, the full Moon at 19° Leo opposing the Sun at 19° Aquarius could catalyze the theme of this lunar cycle – how to balance, in Dane Rudhyar’s words, the “heroic intensification of personal magnetism” with the revolutionary with a “powerful incentive to social action.” By reaching across the divide to join these opposing fixed energies, the liberator can become king in heralding the future. At 10:01 pm the energy towards relationships will shift as lovely Venus bids adieu to diaphanous Pisces and enters daredevil Aries. Venus here brings her unique talent for reaping bounty from experience to the Aries explorer just setting out on a new adventure. “Venus in Aries,” writes Rudhyar “may develop a prophetic sense which can be used to evaluate both personal and social issues and to inject a quality of wisdom into every act.” Being able to see the end of the road before its been travelled may give the wanderer some pause before embarking on anything with typical Aries impetuosity.

On February 9th Venus conjuncts Uranus at 2° Aries putting yet another unusual spin on the way we approach relations with others. Expect the unexpected in areas of love, wants and desires. We would do well to avoid impulsive behavior in acquiring lovers or anything else of value as we could just as soon become detached from them. Any amount of high level energy or expense put into such efforts should be well considered. Whatever sparks fly will certainly be an enjoyable show in the moment but will require solid logs underneath to sustain a fire. This aspect will remain in effect for about a week and could make it a very fiery Valentine’s Day. The caution light on the evening is the Moon going void-of-course in Virgo at 9:11 pm after conjuncting retrograde Mars. We may feel restless but without strong support for decisive action.

The moon finally gets direction 14 1/2 hours later when she enters Libra on February 10th at 11:54 am giving a social stamp to the day. Shortly thereafter, the Moon opposes Uranus and then opposes Venus adding emotional intensity to their volatile conjunction still operating. Venus is also approaching a square to Pluto who will amplify all her passions, wants, desires and needs. This challenging period, which will reach a peak when Venus hooks up with Pluto in five days, has the potential to shake loose some shocking taboos. Be prepared to let go of anything that is not authentic.

There may not be any exact planetary aspects for a couple of days, but the Moon continues her transits through the sky and the planetary aspects discussed earlier in this article continue to grow and wane. On February 13th Mercury at 29° Aquarius trines Saturn at 29° Libra bringing some mental stability to this potentially unstable period. For any of us out there who are feeling a need to get organized, this is the time to do it. Cool, efficient and steady, Mercury’s perceptual abilities will be honed by Saturn’s meticulous approach to discipline and order. Mercury then leaves intellectually focused Aquarius for stream-of-consciousness Pisces. With the advent of Neptune’s long stay in his home sign of Pisces promising a spiritual resurgence, Mercury here may prime our minds for transformation. As Dane Rudhyar writes: “Mercury in Pisces may be a sort of oracle, uttering deep and mystical statements which ‘just come to her’ and which surge from the treasures of the Collective Unconscious.”

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! February 14th begins with poetry as Mercury conjuncts Neptune at 0° Pisces whispering sweet words of love. Although Saturn’s undertow may temper a complete loss of reason in favor of the vast, mystical realms, Mercury in such close quarters with Neptune will foster acutely sensitive perception that can dissolve even the most rigid walls of thinking that choke off growth. Authenticity will mitigate any penchant for disillusionment. This is a good day to just BeLove. Shortly after waking the Moon at 25° Scorpio makes a third quarter (“crisis of consciousness”) square to the Sun 25° Aquarius bringing us to the climax of this monthly lunar cycle. The Aquarius New Moon was compelling us to take a giant leap into the future. If we haven’t yet done that, we may do it now!

On February 15th the square between Venus at 9° Aries and Pluto at 9° Capricorn becomes exact. Rising passions, or obsessions with others, may reach a peak. This is a first quarter (“crisis of action”) square, which means we may feel the need to act but are uncertain about what action to take. In this case our focus will be on relationships and we’ll feel a need for dramatic change. Some kind of “death” may be required, or letting go. As always, it is helpful to remember that we are fellow travellers on this journey of life and compassion is the fuel that will ensure we all get to our destination together and intact. For several days on either side of this aspect reactive emotions may be irresistible, but if it is at all possible, take a step back from the heat and check in with the Neptune/Saturn/Jupiter configuration for a little intuitive, rational and philosophical help.

Mercury making the rounds to these planets during this period will facilitate an understanding of their archetypal energies and give us a better intellectual grasp of what they are asking of us. Mercury at 5° Pisces sextiles Jupiter at 5° Taurus on February 16th activating the deep thinking module of this configuration that is concerned with applying our natural resources in support of evolutionary growth. The higher mind Jupiter combined in harmonious aspect with the lower mind Mercury creates a sharp holographic tool for assessing what needs to be done. It could also lift our spirits with ebullient conversation.

The Sun at 29° Aquarius makes its last exact aspect while in the sign of the Genius on February 18th with a trine to Saturn at 29° Libra. This is a very good time to embrace Saturn with so many easy aspects to this demanding planet in effect. We may find being disciplined a delight rather than a chore, which could lead to taking on added responsibility or becoming a trusted partner in some effort of material manifestation. While this particular aspect lasts only a few days, it could at least be good for patient groundwork. With Mercury at 9° Pisces sextiling Pluto at 9° Capricorn we may feel compelled to know all about the deep and profound roots associated with any endeavor – helpful preparation for the Sun entering Pisces on the 19th which we’ll cover in the next AstroCast.

AstroCast: January 20 – February 3, 2012

*Times are Pacific Standard Time, unless stated otherwise. Planetary positions are expressed as the degree (rounded to the nearest whole degree) followed by the sign.

**If you aren’t already, be sure to follow Sher Astrology on Twitter to keep up with the daily astrological events.

Are you wondering why you feel some of the transits we talk about and not others or why a friend may feel one but you don’t? If the transiting planet affects a planet in your natal chart, that is, where the planets were at the time you were born, then you are more likely to feel the transit or may feel it stronger than one that does not affect a planet in your natal chart. Don’t have a chart? Would you like one? Let us know.

The out-of-sign opposition between Jupiter at 1° Taurus and a very slow moving Saturn at 29° Libra discussed in the last AstroCast is still in effect and will be activated in a T-square configuration by the Sun, Moon and Mercury during this period.  An “out-of-sign” aspect occurs when two or more aspecting planets are in signs that are different “modes.”  In this case, Aquarius and Taurus are both “fixed” signs whereas Libra is “ cardinal.”  While the planets are in orb for the squares and opposition, because Saturn is not in a fixed sign, it is called an “out-of-sign” T-square.  While this doesn’t diminish the effect of the T-square, it can modify it with its mix of cardinal (initiating) and fixed (sustaining) energies.  While the Sun is waning off it’s exact square to cautious Saturn, it is now in sights of the square to optimistic Jupiter, and the Moon and Mercury aren’t far behind.  Issues of faith and commitment may come into focus and require attention, or be tested to determine the authenticity of our purpose.  Also at play at this time is the fact that both Mars and Saturn are moving very slowly in the degrees at which they will station, hanging motionless in the sky for extended periods:  Mars at 23° Virgo until January 23rd and Saturn at 29° Libra until February 7th.  Any aspects made by either of these to your natal chart or to any of the other transiting planets will be greatly intensified or exaggerated.  The correlation for us here on earth is that it will be difficult to start anything new or move forward on an existing project or idea, so our efforts would be best put to use by reviewing, reassessing, readjusting and refining that which is already in motion.

We may receive some impartial help as the Sun enters Aquarius on January 20th.  This naturally aloof sign is deeply concerned with humanity and its progress.   Being able to stand back from the fray and be the observer allows greater perspective for determining paths to take and solutions to broker.  The deep social consciousness associated with this third of the air signs, according to Dane Rudhyar in The Universal Matrix is a synthesis of the “natural type of thinking developed in Gemini” and “the individual type of mind flourishing in Libra.”   As with all air signs, the challenge for the Sun here is to allow feelings to be taken into account rather than dismissed, no matter how prickly or awkward they are.   With Aquarius however, feelings must be invested with a social cause.  “Aquarians,” says Rudhyar, “are called upon to give civilization a Soul.”   Revolutionaries and reformers are associated with Aquarius, which is governed by perennial rule-breaker Uranus, because they are tasked with disintegrating any crystalized form that ceases to function within the growing organism that is society.  Ironically, it is in breaking up outmoded institutions where Aquarius is most constructive.  “Aquarius is a sign of release of power,” states Rudhyar.  Whether that power is socially “creative” or “explosive” entirely depends on our collective state of consciousness.  Venus sextile Pluto on this day has the potential to infuse any release of power with relationship-transforming love.

On January 21st, the Sun at 1° Aquarius sextiles Uranus at 1° Aries.  As the ruler of Aquarius, Uranus will imprint the suns’ transit through his home sign with a pride in uniqueness and insistence on independence.  Later in the day, the Sun at 2° Aquarius ends the “translation” of the Saturn/Jupiter opposition with a square to Jupiter at 2° Taurus.  This should be the point of maximum intensity for the Sun/Jupiter/Saturn T-square.  From Earth’s point of view, expansive Jupiter is traveling faster than during the end of his retrograde period on Christmas Day, and during the next four months will more than triple his speed before he too gradually slows down in preparation for his next retrograde in October.   The conflicting energies of the fast-forward moving Jupiter and a very slow Mars and Saturn preparing to retrograde can bring tension or anxiety to our endeavors over the next several days.  Additionally, Saturn’s restraining energies are still in play.   However, this restless aspect may propel us to commit visionary acts with the fearless feeling of indestructibility.  The explorer in us will want to open our hearts to the joy of living so that we may experience whatever it is many call God.  Once that happens we will have tapped the ultimate authority to become the leader in our own lives.

Furthering the explorer spirit, the New Moon at 3° Aquarius on January 22nd (or January 23rd in China) marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year.  This is the Year of the Black Water Dragon.  It also is the start of a new cycle that may propel us to take a giant leap into the future.  Aquarius is the sign of the genius who shuns common knowledge expounded over generations in classrooms, boardrooms and living rooms worldwide.   Aquarius is the quintessential outside-the-box thinker able to resist pressures brought to bear by society.  This sign of the water bearer brings about evolution by pouring advanced consciousness over society so that it may grasp more enlightened ways of being.   She stubbornly lives by her freedom-loving individuality even if it means being in exile away from all those who think her crazy, including loved ones, which is the great irony because she does it for her love of humanity.  She knows anything that has crystalized ceases to be an effective driver of growth and thus becomes the bringer of death.   Under this annual union of the luminaries in Aquarius, we may meet our inner rebel, but one who will be the “Mother of Civilization” nurturing innovative social ideas in their infancy.  With the stimulating squares to Saturn in Libra and Jupiter in Taurus, and the energizing sextile to Uranus, this New Moon will be concerned with finding original ways to ensure social equality and care for our natural resources.

January 23rd begins a week dominated by fast moving Mercury who networks with stationing Mars, Saturn, Uranus, Jupiter, and changes signs.   As he cross-pollinates the planets, sending and receiving messages on a diverse array of affairs, in Capricorn he’ll be all about the business of life.  It will be interesting to watch the correlations trending here on earth in the media, social and otherwise.  When he trines Mars at 23° Capricorn/Virgo we’ll have the competitive edge for clear, incisive thinking. Mercury channels Mars’ aggressive behavior into sharp communications.   In Virgo, which is ruled by Mercury, Mars is mentally efficient so words will come swift and raw, without embellishment.   With this aspect the pen is indeed mightier than the sword and cuts to the chase in all matters.  It can cut deep too unless we find a proper outlet for the nervous tension associated with this planetary pair that favors impulsive action before thought.  The challenge is to find a way to engage even the slowest of minds if we are to avoid frustration or simply boredom.  Amplifying this energy, Mars stations retrograde this day, drawing Mercury in even further as a player during his long retrograde period to emphasize strength of mind and conviction of purpose.  Welcome to mental boot camp.

On January 27th, Mercury at 29° Capricorn has his chance to activate the T-square to the Saturn/Jupiter opposition beginning with the square to Saturn at 29° Libra.   He’ll have to slow down a bit to be able to discern Saturn’s purpose.  This serious minded aspect is opposite to the Mars/Mercury pair as it will definitely think before acting and won’t speak out unless it knows what it is talking about.  Deliberate, uncluttered reasoning makes for the voice of authority.  Here the Ph.D. is mightiest of all; together this pair represents tested mental ability.  As Saturn rules cardinal Capricorn, Mercury here will have to work doubly hard to resist negativity or overcome barriers to being understood.  Thoughtful expression could be the key, at least until Mercury enters fixed Aquarius and elevates the chatter to a futuristic level.   Mercury moving into Aquarius morphs from being the builder of society to the reformer of it.  He endeavors to help society transform with state-of-the-art perception and will talk to anyone who will listen to his far out ideas.  The challenge for him here is to stay grounded and find practical means to launch his innovations.   Cool and detached, Mercury in Aquarius will help us tap into our inner group leader.

With Mercury’s sextile to Uranus on January 28th at 2° Aquarius/Aries, he will favor free speech and contrary opinions.  Again, Mercury’s planetary partner rules the sign he is in so, in this case, Uranus has the upper hand and may open us up to unexpected understanding if we dare to speak the truth.  That truth will be concerned with improving the future of our land as Mercury completes the T-Square configuration with a square to Jupiter at 2° Taurus.   While we may be prone to over-mentalizing, this aspect could open us up to big ideas.  It puts a wide-angle lens on perception that prefers philosophy over facts and broad-based knowledge over specialization.  We may expose our arrogance as we grandstand for a cause, but hopefully with Saturn still linked in we will make sure we know what we’re talking about.  The intuitive energy of Mercury/Jupiter is excellent at synthesizing myriad components to get to the heart of a subject in dramatic, inspirational fashion.  It’s like taking a short distance trip to get a long distance experience.

The Romantic adventurer in all of us will definitely want to come out on February 1st as Venus opposes retrograde Mars at 23° Pisces/Virgo.  In the sign of service, Mars will want to go with Venus wherever she is, and in Pisces, she’ll want to go out of this world, interested in merging with her beloved as a means of transcending the mundane.  Mars’s strong need for love may find a cooperative partner in Venus, if he doesn’t make a competitive game of it. Outside of romantic relationships, this pair could spur creativity or it could just be a good day for relations of any kind with the opposite sex where charm, warmth and personal magnetism could win over hearts and minds.

Neptune returns home to Pisces on February 3rd for a 14-year stay.   During Neptune’s last sojourn through Pisces 164 years ago we experienced the abolitionist movement and the beginning of the American Civil War.  As early new thought movements and religious groups emerged, it was a time of scientific and intellectual expansion and advancement.   At the dawn of 2012 we hope for a renaissance of the New Age that was defined by its goal of self-awareness.  We dream of a world with a peaceful heart that lives by love and long to dive into the vast ocean of consciousness just waiting to be explored by all.  Amid the despotic turmoil at the outer edges of our lives we’ve but to conquer our fear of the unknown, to shift our perceptions every so slightly and look through the gauze of physical reality where we will see the map to transcendence.

All happily grows towards knowledge and towards bliss.

A divine Puissance then takes Nature’s place

And pushes the movements of our body and mind;

Possessor of our passionate hopes and dreams,

The beloved despot of our thoughts and acts,

She streams into us with her unbound force,

Into mortal limbs the Immortal’s rapture and power.

An inner law of beauty shapes our lives;

Our words become the natural speech of Truth,

Each thought is a ripple on a sea of Light.

-  from Savitri by Sri Aurobindo

AstroCast: January 6 – 19, 2012

*Times are Pacific Standard Time, unless stated otherwise. Planetary positions are expressed as the degree (rounded to the nearest whole degree) followed by the sign.

**If you aren’t already, be sure to follow Sher Astrology on Twitter to keep up with the daily astrological events.

Are you wondering why you feel some of the transits we talk about and not others or why a friend may feel one but you don’t? If the transiting planet affects a planet in your natal chart, that is, where the planets were at the time you were born, then you are more likely to feel the transit or may feel it stronger than one that does not affect a planet in your natal chart. Don’t have a chart? Would you like one? Let us know.

A couple of lunar transits open this period offering up a challenge to rise above our personal dramas. On January 6th the talkative Gemini Moon trines aloof Venus in Aquarius, trying to engage her with sweet declarations of love. If he doesn’t get a response by the time he squares Mars in Virgo more defensive postures may take over. Understanding our emotions may help us navigate this seeming contradictory set of aspects. It may also help to look within for the love we seek.

Mercury has a lot to say during the next two weeks as he will aspect all the outer planets, asking us to stretch beyond personal realms of thought and pin our perceptions to the destiny of collective man. Beginning in the wee hours of January 7th Mercury in Sagittarius sextiles Saturn at 28°39’ Libra, then seven hours later sextiles Neptune at 29°04’ Aquarius. In the process he activates the developing trine between Saturn and Neptune, engaging our intellect to search for meaningful ways to link discipline with imagination to make our dreams become reality. Before bidding adieu to Sagittarius, Mercury goes “out-of-bounds,” which technically means it is extending beyond the “normal” north/south relationship to the earth’s equator. Symbolically this means that Mercury is no longer “bound” by usual rules of behavior; his archetypal energies become more intense and uninhibited. The best way to handle the planet of communication under these circumstances is to think first, then speak. It is similar to Mercury retrograde wherein we need to choose our words carefully, except in this case we don’t get the chance to revisit them. The consequences therefore have greater impact, for good or bad, without the opportunity to correct course, so be alert to all forms of communication for the next two weeks until Mercury goes back in bounds on January 20th. Before the clock strikes midnight, Mercury, after more than two months in fun loving, mutable fire Sagittarius makes his exit and joins the Sun and Pluto in practical cardinal earth Capricorn, shifting the overall planetary emphasis to matters of state. Dane Rudhyar in The Universal Matrix writes that Capricorn’s main focus is the welfare of humanity and each individual only in terms of his contributions to humanity. Mercury in Capricorn, he says, “is a constructive position which is of real value for anyone operating, in ever so small a manner, as a builder of civilization; thus many people of note have it in their natal charts: writers, statesmen, inventors, directors of large social movements or heads of collectivistic groups.” Setting the tone for the inaugural month of the mythical 2012, this is our collective moment to be the builder of a civilization that will mark a new era in our history. How do you want to write it in your life?

On January 8th, as music lovers everywhere honor the 77th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s birth, the Mercurial action continues when the thinking planet trines Jupiter at 0° Taurus, then squares Uranus at 1° Aries. Under this influence, it is conceivable that we could tune into an expanded consciousness so unconventional we would be challenged by the more conservative elements within society, our personal social network, and even ourselves. Just imagine what could happen if we would embrace new forms of thinking and not resist change even though we and everyone around us may be apprehensive about doing something unfamiliar and untried. The key is to tap into Jupiter in Taurus’ practical resourcefulness to identify what can reasonably manifest in the foreseeable future. All we need right now is that first step to begin building our new civilization. The Full Moon at 18° Cancer opposing the Sun at 18° Capricorn will undoubtedly impose its flavor into this aspect gumbo. The Moon is all about personal feelings, the way in which we sense the environment around us, without using our mind. Sublimely at home in Cancer, the Moon at her highest expression intuits the outer environment, focusing and integrating the energies within to a high level of concentration from which she creates form, her “shell” of protection against the cacophony outside. Her constant challenge is to bravely emerge from the secure confines of that shell to outwardly express all that she has discovered deep within using her extraordinary sense perception. The Sun in Capricorn is occupied with building solid walls of structure through which the network of society buzzes with activity. He is not programmed to understand the essence of what he is building; he just knows it is his responsibility to do it. While in his highest expression, the Capricorn Sun is integrity personified, he often times identifies that which he builds with his own personal ego and loses sight of its collective purpose. The dynamic polarity inherent in this annual Full Moon is the pull between the inner experiences of the exquisitely sensitive Cancer Moon and the externally engrossed Capricorn Sun. The key is what separates them – the membrane between inner and outer reality that contains the code to existence understood by both. It is the essence of relating. If we can put our vulnerable sensing nature under the full protection of our inner statesman, and if our inner statesman will allow himself to be touched by his soul nature, we will infuse our capitols, our temples, our universities and societies with their essential purpose to reveal higher truths so that our consciousness may evolve. As a secondary focal point to this Full Moon, Mercury is within orb of major aspects to Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto activating our minds to reach beyond the personal to the transpersonal for creative solutions to build the bridge to our new collective reality.

On January 9th the receptive Moon trines ingenious Uranus at 10:29 p.m. giving us a brief window of opportunity to understand how to navigate the energies of transformation without feeling threatened by them. Then we enter another period of relative planetary quiet as Luna spends the next 47 hours without making an exact aspect to any planet. Finally she breaks the spell on January 11th at 9:28 p.m. when she opposes Venus, setting the stage for us to look at any unresolved issues between the need for security and the need for love, and how we may roll over to satisfy those needs. For several more days the Moon is still the only celestial body making exact aspects to the planets, which means that the only means of communicating they have with one another is through the Moon or our individual natal placements.

On the evening of January 12th the Sun at 22° Capricorn trines Mars at 22° Virgo. While this should indicate easy action, Mars is slowing down and within one degree of the point at which he will station retrograde, so he may not be in the best place to act or at least not act appropriately. While the slow pace Mars is keeping may make it seem like it is hard to get up to speed on anything the trine to the Sun should give us confidence that our core principles will guide us in the right direction, and that self-confidence may inspire others to follow our lead.

Friday the 13th may get a bad rap in certain circles, but the one on January 13th may give us reason to believe differently as Venus gets her chance to co-star in the dream building trine between Saturn and Neptune. First, she trines Saturn at 28° 57’ Aquarius/Libra shortly after 1:00 a.m. This is a harmonious aspect that favors long lasting love and stable relationships. Shortly after 7:00 a.m. she teams up with Neptune at 29°15’ Aquarius elevating her sense of love, beauty and art to the sublime. Not to be completely silenced by Venus’ scene stealing movements, in the midst of it all Mercury conjoins Pluto at 7° Capricorn to give us a profound message. Our deeply probing minds may reveal hidden truths but we must be aware of any mental obsessions. Returning for her final curtain call of the day, Venus detaches herself from Aquarius and enters, exalted, into Pisces. To Rudhyar, Venus is “full of charm and mystery. Venus in Pisces is the dream-lover, the mystic Beloved, Dante’s Beatrice, the ‘redeeming woman’ of the Romantics.” He describes her as fascinating and indefinable. Here at the end of the zodiacal rainbow, Venus wafts in the clouds of memories and fantasies where ideals are made and becomes compassion at its highest expression. Willing to sacrifice herself for the greater good, she would die so that collectively we may be rebirthed at a higher level of consciousness. Venus’ challenge in Pisces is to emerge out of the idealistic ocean of consciousness long enough to feel her individual form and use it to set some boundaries in relations with others and not be doomed to romantic martyrdom.

On January 14th Saturn reaches 29° Libra and will remain at this degree for the next 48 days as he continues moving slowly forward, stations on February 7th, then turns retrograde, not returning to 28° Libra until March 2nd. The Sabian symbol for the last degree of Libra is “Three mounds of knowledge on a philosopher’s head.” The keynote, from An Astrological Mandala by Dane Rudhyar is: “The fulfillment of man’s power of understanding at whatever level of existence the person operates.” Rudhyar goes on to say about this symbol: “A true philosopher is one who is able to ‘understand’ not merely ‘know’ the processes of life as he comes to experience them directly.” He calls it “a holistic approach to knowledge.” Giving us a little relief from Saturn’s long stationary dominance, early in the evening Venus at 1° Pisces sextiles Jupiter at 1° Taurus to give us the sweet taste of the good life. Then things seem to go quiet again with not even the Moon making an exact aspect for more than 30 hours.

While the planets appear to be quiet with only the Moon making exact aspects to them from the 16th to the 18th, all may not be as it seems. While the Universe may be giving us more time to ponder the significance of Saturn hanging in the last degree of Libra, there is a planetary configuration setting up to make some noise: Jupiter at 1° Taurus is in orb for an out-of-sign opposition to Saturn at 29° Libra while the Sun at 25° Capricorn is in orb for squares to both creating a powerful, potentially anxiety provoking T-square. This T-square will continue to get stronger as the Sun moves into an exact square to Saturn, which happens in the early afternoon of January 19th at 29° Capricorn/Libra. Sun square Saturn in itself may present obstacles at every turn. Everything that is being built needs to withstand all tests if it is to succeed. We’ll need to rely on discipline, endurance and determination to achieve our goals. A little sense of humor couldn’t hurt as well. Hopefully, the Jupiterian influence here will add a little levity to the uber seriousness of this configuration, if we can manage to maintain self-assurance in the face of whatever challenges arise. No respectable civilization builder ever left home without the notion that she was all in. Mars moves into 23° Virgo in the evening and will spend a week in this degree space before stationing and moving back to 22° Virgo. Aspects Mars makes to a natal chart or aspects made to transiting Mars by other transiting planets during this time will be greatly amplified. The Sabian symbol for the 24th degree of Virgo is “Mary and her little lamb.” Referring again to An Astrological Mandala, the keynote is apropos: “The need to keep a vibrant and pure simplicity at the core of one’s being as one meets the many tests of existence.”

On January 20th the Sun will bid adieu to Capricorn so stay tuned for the Aquarius AstroCast wherein we will explore this ingress and the other astrological events that await us.

AstroCast: December 21, 2011 – January 5, 2012

*Times are Pacific Standard Time, unless stated otherwise. Planetary positions are expressed as the degree (rounded to the nearest whole degree) followed by the sign.

**If you aren’t already, be sure to follow Sher Astrology on Twitter to keep up with the daily astrological events.

Are you wondering why you feel some of the transits we talk about and not others or why a friend may feel one but you don’t? If the transiting planet affects a planet in your natal chart, that is, where the planets were at the time you were born, then you are more likely to feel the transit or may feel it stronger than one that does not affect a planet in your natal chart. Don’t have a chart? Would you like one? Let us know.

Winter Solstice arrives on December 21st at 9:30 pm as the Sun moves from high-flying Sagittarius into down-to-earth Capricorn.   While each sign seems to be an antidote to its immediate predecessor in the zodiac, each one also comes equipped with the capability to take the gift of the preceding sign to the next level.  According to Dane Rudhyar in The Universal Matrix, Capricorn “gives stability and substance to the metaphysical, religious or social enthusiasm of Sagittarian thinkers, seers and prophets.  It establishes the dream into the soil of human collectivities and makes it take root in normality – in our ‘common humanity.’  Capricorn puts to practical use what Sagittarius has released.  It builds substantial vehicles for the operation of ideas, engines for the operation of new powers, a body for the divine Spirit to function through, states and empires to serve the purpose of social revolution and social creativeness.  Through states and empires, Capricorn glorifies and perpetuates culture-building power and those that hold collective power.”   The Sun in Capricorn gives us our annual opportunity to focus on the foundations and structures of our lives and to build them up using the elements of our life’s purpose.  Tuning into our internal CEO could give us the inspiration we need to take charge of our lives and slowly but steadily steer it towards our goals.

The Capricorn ingress is the chart most frequently used by mundane astrologers to analyze the energies that will be in play in the coming year for sovereign nations.  For the United States, we look at the chart based in Washington, D.C., December 22nd, 12:30:03 am EST, which features the Sun 0° Capricorn 00’ in the third house of communication and short distance travel straddling the IC with Pluto in the fourth house of home.  The focus of the powers that be in our government will therefore in 2012 likely turn to our country’s domestic challenges.  Mars is rising in the east in Virgo, the sign of service, in the twelfth house of secrets, institutions and self-undoing.  Will this bring greater awareness and attention to serving the needs of the masses or will those needs continue to be placed in the closet while tending to the needs of the few?  Clandestine military maneuvers are also probable.  Retrograde Jupiter is setting in the west, in Taurus in the seventh house of significant relationships, known enemies and contracts, and within orb of an opposition to Saturn in the first house of self. What challenges might these two pose for us?   Saturn demands that we be forthright and disciplined.   Jupiter will expand whatever is foremost in our minds – positive or negative. Are we focusing on our blessings or our misfortunes?  Focusing on the poor economy, unemployment and other negatives could exacerbate the existing conditions.  TIME’s Person of the Year “The Protestor” will certainly have a lot to shout out about in 2012 as the Uranus/Pluto first quarter square tightens its grip.  The Moon, which represents the people, is in Scorpio in the second house of personal finances, how money is made and what is valued.  The Moon is in the balsamic phase, the last of the waning crescent and going dark, possibly meaning that the needs of the 99% may be overlooked again in this election year.  Mercury in Sagittarius joins the Sun in the third house asking for dialog about issues that are close to home.  Our collective philosophies and belief systems ask to be addressed but, as Mercury is unaspected, the discourse may fall on deaf ears.

On December 22nd, six and half hours after the winter solstice, the Moon leaves fixed water Scorpio for mutable fire Sagittarius, leaving no planets in water signs for more than six days.   This means that we will need to make a more conscious effort to tune into our emotions and those of others.  Resist the temptation to stay numb over the holidays.   Connecting with others on an emotional level, even if it seems negative, can be cathartic, especially if done with even a hint of conscious self-observance.   Nine hours after entering Capricorn the Sun has the first of a series of major aspects during this period that offers up the theme of creativity, will, vitality, and perhaps most importantly the heart, the symbolic center of our being.  When the Sun trines Jupiter, still retrograde but stationing at 0° Taurus 23’ it has the potential to pump up us with enthusiasm and add a sense of philosophical purpose to our daily lives.  With the Sun in ambitious Capricorn and Jupiter in resource-conscious Taurus, both practical earth signs, we may find sensible tools to manifest our desired future for the coming year.  And perhaps surprisingly original ones as, less than eight hours later, the Sun squares Uranus at 0° Aries 42’.  We may also feel pulled by conservative or radical forces, depending on which side of the fence we’re on and how these aspects are hitting our natal charts.  Uranus in Aries is the call of freedom squared, which liberates the mind of standard notions and formulas that inhibit the magic of invention.  The Sun in Capricorn favors the inch-by-inch, brick-by-brick stable, reliable (i.e. predictable) approach to life building.  Insisting on a truthful dialogue between the extremes of these two positions could foster a significant break-through where we most need it.

The New Moon on December 24th at 2° Capricorn 34’ sets the tone for the coming month.  What better time for planting new seeds than Christmas Eve as we celebrate both giving and receiving.  However, the annual conjunction of the Sun and Moon in industrious Capricorn strengthens selfish ambitions.   Being so concerned with organizing, building and running the world, Capricorn does not always feel the love and so can act without conscience to achieve its goals.   Amplified by the trine to stationing Jupiter and Square to Uranus, this New Moon is a powerful one so it is important to be conscious of what is motivating us.   Under the influence of this heavy Capricorn energy, we could lose sight of our own humanity.   Only if we are empowered with a higher purpose will the means justify the end.  “We envision a future society,” says Rudhyar, “in which every individual who, having consecrated his or her life to the whole of humanity in Libra, having felt the power of our common humanity in Scorpio, and having seen the Pattern of a truly universal Order in Sagittarius, attempts to courageously and in utter self-sacrifice to perform, in Capricorn, the creative act of positive participation in the building of the new global society. In Capricorn, everyone can become an incarnation. This is the zodiacal Promise, the eternal “Glad News.”

Merry Christmas Day, December 25th, Jupiter stations direct at 0° Taurus 21’.   Hopefully this will translate into a truly joyous day with our hearts expanding to encompass the universe.  Excess is also possible, but what would Christmas be without a little over-indulgence?  Now we enter a period of more than four weeks during which no planets will be retrograde and forward motion will seem easier.  While the general energy may feel like full speed ahead, there is also a point of caution as both Mars and Saturn are slowing down and in their shadows (in the degree space that will be revisited during their upcoming retrogrades).  With Mars having slowed down to just slightly more than 1/3 its normal speed, it may be more advisable to concentrate our energy on existing projects rather than starting new ones.

On December 28th the Sun completes its trio of aspects with the outer planets as it conjuncts Pluto at 7° Capricorn 13’.   After walking through the expansive trine to wise Jupiter and the fractious square to rebellious Uranus, the Sun, which represents our Spirit, touches deep and profound places with Pluto, the source of our power. In Capricorn, this combo could bring forth a ruthless nature that could quash just about anything it wants to, and an intense will that can move mountains.  Imagine what we could accomplish with this power if it were purified by a divine purpose.   Then we could become a steward for real effective change.

On December 30th the Moon in Pisces goes void-of-course at 5:37 am for the next 20 hours giving us ample time to review our dreams of the past year and have a sense of which one we will ride on into the new year.  Best to do this now as tomorrow will leave no room for reflection.

The last day of the year, December 31st, starts with the Moon charging into Aries ensuring all eyes will be forward to the year ahead and not sentimentalizing about days gone by.  As the year draws to a close on the west coast, Mercury finally leaves its shadow at 20° Sagittarius 07’, ready to tread fresh ground in our way of perceiving and making new contacts.   One hour later, at 10:14 pm, the Moon at 10° Aries 13’ makes the first quarter square to the Sun at 10° Capricorn 13’ and 10 minutes later Mercury at 20° Sagittarius 10’ makes a first quarter square to Mars at 20° Virgo 10’.   This brings 2011 to an end on the west coast with a “crises of action” making it a potentially contentious rather than celebratory New Year’s Eve.   The tests we encounter between what we feel (Moon) and what our hearts will (Sun) will be juxtaposed to the clashes between what we think (Mercury) and what we want (Mars).  With the Sun and Mars in realistic earth signs and the Moon and Mercury in inspirational fire, we could best be supported if we look for balanced cooperation above the noise of complaint. Rather than succumbing to argument get out the Erector Set and build a bridge of hope into the New Year.

As 2012 begins the planets seem to be giving each other the silent treatment, as there are no major exact aspects between them until January 7th.  However, we aren’t completely free of the astral dialogue as the Moon makes her rounds, touching every one of them during this time.  With no other planets in water signs (other than the Moon) until Venus enters Pisces on January 13th, this makes the Moon our main resource for emotional awareness.  While the Sun represents our Spirit, the Moon represents our Soul, which has the wisdom gained from living this all before.  As we move into the symbolic new chapter of our lives in the legendary 2012, we would do well to look to the Moon and what she reflects back to remind us of what we’ve learned and the leaps we’ve taken to get where we are at this moment in history.

AstroCast: December 7 – 21, 2011

*Times are PDT, unless stated otherwise. Planetary positions are expressed as the degree (rounded to the nearest whole degree) followed by the sign.

**If you aren’t already, be sure to follow Sher Astrology on Twitter to keep up with the daily astrological events.

***Are you wondering why you feel some of the transits we talk about and not others or why a friend may feel one but you don’t? If the transiting planet affects a planet in your natal chart, that is, where the planets were at the time you were born, then you are more likely to feel the transit or may feel it stronger than one that does not affect a planet in your natal chart. Don’t have a chart? Would you like one? Let us know.

We left you on December 6th with a lingering note to enjoy a period of relative planetary calm. Hopefully the transient Moon has been kind to you as she danced with all her partners. While the exact aspects coming up for this next two-week period will undoubtedly liven things up, there is an underlying note worth mentioning. By December 7th, Saturn, at 26° Libra comes within 2° of a trine to Neptune at 28° Aquarius. Although the aspect won’t be exact until late next year, the planets of structure and spirituality remain within a 2° orb of the trine until next February when Saturn begins to pull away during its retrograde period. Although the more complex and potentially volatile energies building through the holidays may draw our attention away to more immediate matters at hand, if we can manage to also pay attention to these undertones, we may be able to tune into the fog-lifting partnership adept at distinguishing real from unreal when in this harmonious aspect. Of any planetary pair, it seems this may be one that could give us the tools to make our dreams come true. All we have to do is pick them up and master their use.

On December 9th the “wild-n-crazy” revolutionary Uranus at 0° Aries, after five rampant months of retrograde motion, is stationing direct shortly before midnight. With Uranus stopping dead in his tracks, his potency is concentrated; at the 0° Aries point, what some regard as the most powerful degree of the zodiac, this is raw, unfiltered energy with freedom as its calling. Winter temperatures can’t cool the heated social, political and economic conditions that continue in the US, Europe and the Middle East, and a new flare up is possible during this time. While it could lead to social chaos, on an individual level it could also lead to significant strides in self-realization. For more on Uranus in Aries, read Jim Sher’s article here. The countdown now begins to the first exact square with Pluto on June 24, 2012 at 8° Aries/Capricorn. It is unlikely there will be a singular event at the moment of exactitude as the revolutionary and transformational archetypes of these two slower moving outer planets seldom manifest that way. Rather the energy that has been building this year will grow even more intense and, if we lose our heads, our reactions to it could become more erratic and extreme.

On December 10th, as the Sun rises at 18° Sagittarius and the Moon sets at 18° Gemini, we have a full Moon Lunar eclipse, the sixth and final eclipse of 2011. The culmination of what was set in motion at the Sagittarius New Moon (also an eclipse) marks the turning point in this monthly cycle between development of the seed and the harvest of it. This is the moment when we put it all on stage and see what works and what doesn’t. The annual opposition of the Sagittarius Sun and the Gemini Moon highlights the differences between the Message and the Messenger. The Gemini Moon is driven by the need to procure and disseminate information and the mental connections to others this process brings. The Sagittarius Sun is the quintessential idea man, reaching not just for the Moon but the Stars, other galaxies and beyond, the colossal hologram of existence. The challenge, as in all full moons, is to find the bridge between the two so that the best of each is allowed to shine with the support of the other. If Gemini deals in information just for the sake of being informed he could be lost in a sea of distractions. If he works with Sagittarius and pulls back to see the broader view then those bits of information will come together in purposeful context to aid in the evolution of our knowledge, and his value as a messenger is exalted. If Sagittarius comes down out of the clouds long enough to see the natural networking talent Gemini brings to the table then he will find the natural partner to take his insights out into the world. Sagittarius is concerned with the links between God and Man, Gemini with the links between humans. Imagine what can happen if the two get together, especially during an eclipse where time and space is warped and portals to new ways of being are opened to us if we seek them.

In the early afternoon of December 12th as Mars 14° Virgo continues to slow down, he finds himself in an unusual situation – he is alone, with no major aspects to any other planets. Generally, angular relationships reveal how planets communicate with each other and within our personal charts how we are able to access and utilize the archetypes represented by those aspects. When a planet is unaspected it is no longer able to connect with the others and the archetypal energy can become difficult to access or control. With the exception of a few hours when the Moon is within orb of a conjunction to Mars on December 16th and 17th and then on December 21st when the Moon sextiles Mars, the God of War will be unaspected by any of the other planets until late on Christmas Day, December 25th. Unanchored by other influences, tempers could flare, we could be more irritable or anxious, or unfounded fears may take hold. This can be a time to be wary of “war-mongers” and others who cry “foul” or “the sky is falling.” Caution and self-awareness is required before we assert ourselves so we can calmly choose our words more carefully and consciously act rather than impulsively react. It would be well to remember that during his retrograde in 2012 Mars retreats over this same territory in Virgo, and back for a third time before moving on in July 2012. With Mars in Virgo’s energy field fighting words are more likely than raw punches; precision-oriented strategies prevail over brute force; pre-planned military maneuvers are preferable to rag-tag rebel attacks. However we go about getting what we want, we’ll need to make an extra effort to access the help the other planets bring to balance out any approach. The benefit of this may be finding unique ways to manifest our desires as Mars is forced to go outside normal channels of communication to get guidance from his colleagues in space.

On December 13th at 1:48 pm, the Moon leaves its home sign of Cancer and moves into fixed fiery Leo. With this shift, there are now no planets in water signs, making it difficult to connect to our emotions and feelings. Conversely, Mercury stations direct at 5:43 pm at 4° Sagittarius emphasizing our thoughts and words. In Sagittarius, according to Dane Rudhyar, “Mercury here is the interpreter and recorder of social transfers of energy. Mercury loves to deal with big things; to give a brilliant formulation to vast social enterprises, or to broad abstract ideologies.” In essence, he is the “secretary” of Jupiter, and as such, he may “escape into social wittiness and superficiality, playing intellectual games or clinging to a wordy idealism while the tide of social evolution rolls mightily under his scaffolding of abstract phrases and concepts unrooted in the realities of human nature.” As Mercury is the second planet to change directions within a few days this could be a period of significant shift in direction for us here on Earth. It would be interesting to mark this time and take mental notes for when Mars stations direct at 4° Virgo in square to this point next year. Whatever we think and say today may manifest into action on April 13, 2012. As always, exercise caution and restraint now and make sure big words are backed by the equivalent in deeds lest the action then becomes “eating” one’s words.

December 14th is a rare day as neither the Moon nor any of the planets make an exact aspect to another. This is another opportunity for us to take note on how we feel. Without being moored by the archetypal energies, it is possible to experience anxiety, disconnection or the potentially nerve-wracking anticipation of the imminent unknown that is ready to descend and make its mark on our lives. If we do play the observer now, this short window of time becomes a great opportunity to assess where we stand in our emotional development.

On December 17th the Moon 25° Virgo makes its third quarter square to the Sun 25° Sagittarius. This monthly “crisis of consciousness” moment can be a practical time to reassess our beliefs on the issues at hand – which are founded in reality and which no longer hold water. Being able to let go of outmoded beliefs will always lead to our next stage of growth. The key to any readjustment or reorientation during this phase of the lunar cycle is to look at the signs – is there an obsession with details (Virgo) that may be inhibiting our view of the big picture (Sagittarius)? Is our desire for adventure and reaching for the stars (Sagittarius) lacking a firm foot on practical ground (Virgo)?

While never a speed demon, Saturn is moving slower than usual now, storing up energy in preparation for his retrograde cycle that commences on February 7, 2012. On December 18th Venus 27° Capricorn squares Saturn 27° Libra in what is called “mutual reception,” which means one is in the sign ruled by the other. This gives them a kind of kinship, or more harmonious working relationship, which should help to soften the normally tense nature of a square. Venus may have a hard time expressing femininity in Capricorn and in square to Saturn can be the archetypal old maid who has never known love. The key here is look inward – where are we unloving to ourselves? If we can see where we lack self-worth that is the first step to accepting ourselves for who we are and to be able to radiate love outward. Saturn is exalted in Libra so will have a dominant influence in making love pass the test of time. Saturn gives Venus the endurance to hold onto love through thick and thin. Adding the power of illumination to counteract the potentially stressful emphasis on our ability to give and receive abiding love, the Sun 27° Sagittarius sextiles Saturn still at 27° Libra the following day, December 19th.

December 20th could make us feel like Betty Davis: “Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.” The Moon in sociable Libra starts the day with aspects to disciplined Saturn, the heroic Sun, dreamy Neptune and charming Venus, then shifts into penetrating Scorpio and aspects to retrograde philosophical Jupiter, rebellious Uranus and healing Chiron. That we may be engulfed by mixed emotions is putting it mildly. On a more positive note, if we can manage to deftly navigate this kaleidoscope of planetary energies, we would be able to synthesize them all into a multifaceted perspective. But there’s more: Venus jumps into the energy stew as she finds the antidote for passionate Scorpio by shifting into aloof Aquarius. “Venus in Aquarius,” says Rudhyar, “gives a decided trend toward social consciousness and a love of culture and beauty. This position stresses the refined aspect of all social processes, the factors of meaning and of social wisdom. The affections are usually very broad and rarely set upon any one personality.” We may be attracted to unconventional relationships or avant-garde art. While independence in relationships is highly desired under this influence, we should take care to honor commitments else we lose our precious connections. Then the Sun makes its annual conjunction with the Galactic Center, the highly sensitive point in our Milky Way galaxy that is a powerful source of radio waves and gravitational pull. When any planet conjuncts this point it could open a window in us to an otherworldly connection. The Sun’s visit will be brief but even an instant of psychic awareness can be life changing. Thus touched with galactic truth, the Sun then sextiles mystical Neptune as if to make the moment seem timeless, and the Moon then sextiles Pluto enabling us to feel the profoundness of it all. As the day ends, Venus 0° Aquarius squares still retrograde but almost stationary Jupiter 0° Taurus and then closes the day at 11:56 pm with a sextile to Uranus 0° Aries. We may feel ultra generous and want to give big, but also expect big returns, perhaps going overboard in pursuit of life’s pleasures, but we’ll do it with a gleam in our eye as if to say we’ve touched the divine and can’t go back to less than that.

As a coda to the previous day, on December 21st the Moon sextiles Mars to give us the energy to emotionally process what we’ve just been through before the Sun reaches Winter Solstice, which we’ll cover in the Capricorn edition.

AstroCast: November 22-December 6, 2011

*Times are PDT, unless stated otherwise. Planetary positions are expressed as the degree (rounded to the nearest whole degree) followed by the sign.

**If you aren’t already, be sure to follow Sher Astrology on Twitter to keep up with the daily astrological events.

Are you wondering why you feel some of the transits we talk about and not others or why a friend may feel one but you don’t? If the transiting planet affects a planet in your natal chart, that is, where the planets were at the time you were born, then you are more likely to feel the transit or may feel it stronger than one that does not affect a planet in your natal chart. Don’t have a chart? Would you like one? Let us know.

The undertow of Uranus in the 90° first quarter square to Pluto is continuing to build. While we won’t see the wave break until next summer when the aspect becomes exact for the first time, a quick scan of the headlines is telling us what this “crisis of action” is about. The Arab Spring has turned into Europe’s Fall. Many heads of state have been unceremoniously deposed these past months and many more may be added in the next year. In the Arab world it was by the power of the people, represented by Uranus, but it is a different story in Europe. Here the Plutocracy, ruled by Pluto, is bringing down the economic hammer and hard. The large-scale protests by Greek citizens haven’t stopped the severe bank-imposed austerity measures, and their Prime Minister is now out. Silvio Berlusconi survived sex and fraud scandals galore over his 17 years of rule, but when he threatened the banks’ bottom line it didn’t take long at all for him to get the boot from Italy. Even here in the States, the 99% of the Occupy Wall Street Movement have found out just how far they could go before the 1% decided they were becoming a credible threat and stepped in with major police force to try to crush their stand for equality, trying to wash away any evidence of discontent with power hoses. This is not over by a long shot. The next couple of weeks will see this aspect, and the shorter but powerful ongoing “I can move mountains” Jupiter/Mars/Pluto grand earth trine triggered by the planet of love and money, Venus, who will also conjunct the Galactic Center. Let’s hope her feminine force will help to balance out the seeming disparity between the social and economic forces at loggerheads and remind us of the promise of transformation that was birthed at the Uranus/Pluto conjunction in the mid-1960s – in mind/body/spirit integration, sustainable development of natural resources and, oh yeah, peace and love.

On November 22nd the Sun moves out of brooding Scorpio and into fun-loving, philosophical, sometimes commitment-phobic Sagittarius. Now the dominant elements are fire, earth and air. While practical, balanced drive should be available in great reserves, with no major astral bodies in water signs (other than the Moon) until Venus moves into Pisces on January 13th, our emotions may be hard to access or express. Also, compassion for others may be in short supply so we’ll need to make an extra effort on this front to consciously act rather than react when strong feelings are triggered – that’s right, during the entire holiday season! With the Sun in Sagittarius, the Big Picture becomes much more important than pesky details. As Dane Rudhyar puts it, “Sagittarius begins the realm of that vast and all-inclusive reality which is the product of the creative activity and creative thinking of millions of individuals throughout the centuries; the realm of culture and civilization.” Think of the hologram – the perfect Sagittarian tool to see the totality of something. (Dennis Gabor, who had a Uranus/Jupiter conjunction in Sagittarius, won a Nobel prize for inventing holography which led to the first hologram in 1964.) But Sagittarius also looks beyond the horizons of the Wholes into far reaching areas of thought and brings back entirely abstract concepts to the rest of us where they are eventually assimilated into our ever evolving way of being – that is if we can find a practical link to transform them into concrete reality!

In the wee hours of November 23rd the action heats up as the Sun squares Chiron and less than one hour later trines Uranus. Sudden revelations of our destiny, collective and individual, may make their mark as Congress’ Super Committee meets its deadline to deal with the debt crisis. As of our press deadline, they’ve already signaled that they were unable to make the tough choices and will let the draconian auto-cuts go into effect while blaming each other for intransigence. These aspects also set the tone for what some consider to be our nation’s most important holiday. On the day of giving thanks, it may be especially important to trust those quiet thoughts called intuition, as our true calling may surface to consciousness only briefly to be seized upon before we become stuporized by tryptophan, alcohol, and/or the stuff of everyday family drama. Adding a tremendous focalizer to the day is Mercury stationing retrograde at 20° Sagittarius at 11:19 pm. That’s Thanksgiving eve, folks. With the planet of communication in Sagittarius, known for its “I-don’t-care-what-you-think truth-telling,” we may be serving up “crow” instead of turkey. It may help to approach this holiday by tuning into what it is really all about. Rather than fighting, ask for forgiveness. Rather than insisting on your way, be thankful for friends and family who know us for who we are and love us any way. Help may come when Venus conjuncts the Galactic Center at 26°  Sagittarius giving strong gravitational pull to the desire for balanced relationships. Additionally the concentrating force of Mars trine Pluto that has been building for the past couple of weeks peaks this day at 6° Virgo/Capricorn. With retrograde Jupiter at 2° Taurus, the grand earth trine we discussed in the last AstroCast between Jupiter, Pluto and Mars is still in effect. The mountains we’ve been trying to move, at least the internal ones, may finally start shifting now. We may not see external manifestation of our efforts to create seismic shifts in our lives until next March when retrograde Mars comes back for a repeat performance in this muscle building ménage a trois. In the meantime we would greatly benefit from these formidable energies by practicing yoga, martial arts or other mind/body/spirit integrating disciplines.

Thanksgiving Day (November 24th) goes out with a bang. After dinner and football in the western US, there is a New Moon Solar eclipse at 10:10 pm at 3° Sagittarius. This fourth and final solar eclipse of 2011 will only be visible in areas from extreme southern South Africa, Antarctica and Tasmania to most of New Zealand. While this is only a partial eclipse, at the height of it the Moon will block more than 90% of the Sun. In such close quarters with Mercury stationing retrograde and within two degrees of a trine to Uranus, any holiday meal induced apathy or lethargy will be severely challenged by this particular monthly conjunction of the Sun and Moon. As Jim Sher wrote in his article on this eclipse: “Solar eclipses are inertia changers. They can suddenly change the direction and momentum of events in a person’s life.” While this time isn’t good for making major decisions, being prepared for a new chapter is definitely warranted. That means being willing to let go of outmoded beliefs and behaviors. Use the wide-visioned Sagittarian energy to look over the mountain and beyond to see where your true path is leading, then gather all the insights and accomplishments of the past to build a new reality. The Sabian symbol for 3° Sagittarius is “Two men playing chess; the transcendent ritualization of conflict.” In Dane Rudhyar’s An Astrological Mandala, he writes, “The chess game trains men to be more objective, more careful, more aware of whole situations – and less impulsive and intent upon side issues. This third stage symbol deals with conflict, but at the level of group culture and psychological symbolization. It brings to the objective consciousness the basic realities in interpersonal interplay.” Being a great chess player means being able to see many moves ahead and plan how to get there while taking into consideration the likely actions of others who will thwart your path. Tapping into our sense of humor is one of the best strategies we can use to counteract resistance in others. This is one of the greatest gifts of the sign of the Archer, who aims his arrow to the heavens seeking a full understanding of Existence. Probably everyone can see the hilarity in the incompleteness of a staunch position when the person holding it seriously believes it to be perfectly absolute. Which reminds us an old new age joke: Want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans.

November 26th starts with Venus moving into practical, business-minded, cardinal earth Capricorn. Eschewing the romance of the wayfarer, Venus in dutiful Capricorn is more concerned with traditional values of love and art. Reliability and trust are gold to her and she will spend them on those who she regards as worthy. The downside of this of course is limitation – either she withholds love or it could be withheld from her, or love is given for reasons that have more to do with material or social status than idealistic soul bonding. Under this influence, however, when trust is built with a partner (of any kind), power in building great social structures is also created. This is where Venus in Capricorn shines like a beloved Queen presiding over her court. Fourteen hours later, Venus 0° Capricorn squares retrograde Uranus 0° Aries sealing her sojourn through the sign of leadership with a sense of the avant-garde. Although impulsive behavior with regards to relationships or purchases is possible, so is stepping out of the box for a glimpse of what the future could bring to her in the way of new alliances. This is Venus’ first step in activating the ongoing Uranus/Pluto square and she is coming into orb of the Pluto/Mars/Jupiter grand earth trine, so mark her trails while she adds some much needed yin to the yang of all those titans of the sky. Venus and the Moon are the only feminine archetypes in the “major arcana” of astrology. Not being broken down into so many sub-categories of femaleness makes them that much more potent. Since Venus is all about relationships, any new connections formed at this time may (Uranus) or may not (earth trine) be short-lived, but with Pluto so integrally involved they could be life changing. She is also about what we value, including self-worth, so we would do well to avoid denial and face our desires for what they are, no matter how taboo. We may be surprised at what we learn.

On November 27th, we have a potential occasion to celebrate as Venus at 1° Capricorn trines retrograde Jupiter at 1° Taurus. The ancient lesser and greater benefics make an easy connection that favors the good life. With Jupiter in Venus’ home sign of sensual Taurus, thoughts of love ever growing, ever expanding may prevail. Capricorn offers practical resourcefulness to attract abundant affection or high value targets of any sort. However, a word of caution about too much of a good thing as Jupiter may not be able to say “enough.”

Continuing along in her feminine pollination of the virile archetypes, Venus conjuncts Pluto at 6° Capricorn on December 1st. On an individual level, this can provide considerable, possibly obsessional, sexual attraction. But this interaction has an intense passion for transformation, even if it means death, symbolic or otherwise. In the cardinal (action) earth sign, who knows what might shake loose. It is bound to be complex and perhaps not easy to fathom until some space comes between these planetary energies allowing for reflection, but that may not happen until after Venus completely travels outside the degree space of the grand earth trine with Pluto, Mars and Jupiter and the square between Pluto and Uranus. This day is a focal point of those compelling aspects, with Venus stimulating the kingpin Pluto so that his deep hidden powers will be called forth in our relationships, for better or worse. The tyrannical and power-hungry can manifest as easily as a sacred sense of destiny. Whoever scheduled the TEDxWomen conference on this day tipped the scales to destiny – at this bi-coastal event happening in L.A. and New York, and streamed live to dozens of gatherings internationally, prominent men and women from around the world will speak on how women and girls are re-shaping the future.

On December 2nd the Sun at 10° Sagittarius squares Mars at 10° Virgo, which may amp up the competiveness in all of us. High energy and drive, as well as sheer cockiness may fill us up at this time, so we should endeavor to exercise some restraint as Mars is in his shadow (the degree space he will travel when retrograde next year). Any actions forced now without thorough consideration may come back to bite us in the butt during the review period. Speaking of “butt,” this is not an excuse to do nothing, as failure to act on what you should or must do at this time can also come back to haunt you when Mars retreats over this space and back in the first half of 2012. Virgo’s love of details hopefully will balance out Sagittarius’ horror of them; desire and will may clash but the friction can motivate us to accomplish much, especially if we focus on a worthy cause.

Retrograde Mercury has his “inferior conjunction” to the Sun at 12° Sagittarius on December 4th and just a few hours later Mercury at 11° Sagittarius squares Mars at 11° Virgo. Mid-way through the Mercury cycle, this may be the point where we begin to regret or rethink any decisions made at the time Mercury went retrograde (Super Committee anyone?). With Mars in the picture, impulsive speech is likely. This is the time to think twice before speaking or suffer the consequences of unfiltered rants. If Mar’s passion of the moment wins out, Venus will have to work extra hard to smooth things out when she comes into the picture.

And she does the next day, on December 5th, when she trines Mars at 11° Capricorn/Virgo, completing her passage of the grand earth trine. The Free Hugs campaign should get a boost this day, as everyone will want to be embraced and to embrace the humanity in all of us. If you fought it before, you won’t today! This sexy, earthy feeling can make us more accepting of others and the Plutonic and Jupiterian forces could open up a reservoir of deeply felt love to enrich our interactions with others.

We get to linger on this last note, as there are no major planetary aspects for the next four days. The Moon, of course, will still be very busy making aspects to Chiron and all the planets, most of them twice. Stay tuned for Part II when we will look at planets changing directions and another eclipse.

AstroCast: November 7 – 23, 2011

*Times are PDT, unless stated otherwise. Planetary positions are expressed as the degree (rounded to the nearest whole degree) followed by the sign.

**If you aren’t already, be sure to follow Sher Astrology on Twitter to keep up with the daily astrological events.

Are you wondering why you feel some of the transits we talk about and not others or why a friend may feel one but you don’t? If the transiting planet affects a planet in your natal chart, that is, where the planets were at the time you were born, then you are more likely to feel the transit or may feel it stronger than one that does not affect a planet in your natal chart. Don’t have a chart? Would you like one? Let us know.

We left off on November 6th at 2:00 a.m. with daylight savings time ending and the Sun at 13° Scorpio and unaspected. While our attention has been diverted by the Sun’s wildcard position, the Lord of the Seas, Neptune, has been slowing down in preparation for a change of direction, making its influence much stronger and setting a mystical tone for the next couple of weeks. Are your dreams increasing in frequency and intensity, or focusing on a particular subject? Does the fog seem to be lifting or is it getting thicker?

On November 7th, Mars at 28° Leo opposes Neptune at 28° Aquarius, giving us a power play between our corporeal drive and the indefinable, often unobserved, forces that seem to be guiding us to our soul’s purpose, in spite of anything we think we may want. When asserting ourselves, if we do not align with our spiritual purpose we may find all efforts undermined, either because we lose the energy to move forward or the perceived goal simply dissolves in a sea of uncertainty. Adherence to the truth at the core of our being is essential as others could easily pick up on any hint of deception and withdraw trust, or we could deceive ourselves into believing that what we’re after is all right and good in order to justify questionable behavior. If we can manage to balance the physical and intuitive energies, we may open a channel that allows our dreams to manifest. At the highest level, Mars/Neptune is the archetype of the Spiritual Warrior, characterized by increased physical sensitivity and selfless action. If we can wake up the cells of our body to “listen” to Neptune’s call, we may be able to defy earthy laws of mass, weight and resistance. For inspiration, watch Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

As discussed in the last AstroCast, Mercury and Venus have been traveling in close conjunction for more than a month, never more than a few degrees apart, and by November 8th Venus at 7°59’ leads Mercury at 7°56’ Sagittarius by just a few minutes and the energy of this aspect is peaking. Mercury will now start to fall back as he prepares for his next retrograde period that begins on November 23rd. Have you found others easier to get along with lately? Hopefully, Venus is softening any tendency Mercury may have in Sagittarius to blurt out raw truth without concern for others’ feelings. Her influence here may also give space for others to have their say and be open to considering differing points of view. Talking comes easy, which helps us slide on silk into the heart of another. Use this time to make peace, love and laughter.

On November 9th, Neptune comes to a complete stop to take on a full load of fuel, passengers and freight as he prepares to bid adieu to Aquarius and head home to Pisces where he will arrive on February 2, 2012 and stay for the next 14 years. During the next three months we can celebrate the accomplishments of this historic era. The last time Neptune was in Aquarius – 1835 to 1849 – we saw the invention of the telegraph and railroads come into wide use. This time around the decidedly Aquarian souvenir Neptune will take back home is the global brain he created and developed into a worldwide phenomenon that became a part of our daily routine – the Internet. More socially connected than ever, we’ve just taken a giant leap in the development of the universal consciousness. This period has truly been the birth of the Aquarian Age.

On Thursday, November 10th, the Moon at 18° Taurus opposes the Sun at18° Scorpio. Exalted in Taurus, the Moon is strong in this configuration, representing the feminine seed in the womb of mother earth. At this Full Moon phase of the cycle, the seed planted at the New Moon is fully gestated and ready to birth. And this Moon has the full force and wisdom of the ancestors behind her. While the Sun in Scorpio always has thoughts of death lurking somewhere in his mind, the Moon in Taurus concerns herself with fertilization, always sweetening the earth with elements that will nurture and make her progeny grow. Is it possible to reconcile the opposing Taurean and Scorpion approaches to life on this planet? On one hand the earth is a bountiful, placid environment that is the solid ground beneath our feet giving us sustenance, comfort, shelter and beauty. On the other hand, it is a giant rock “hurtling around a gargantuan nuclear bomb,” as Steven Forrest puts it. “Million-ton stones blast randomly around you at a hundred miles per second. You are protected only by a thin haze of gas. And within that wiry shield, you share living quarters with madmen bent on destruction. Some have .38s. Some have neutron bombs. And even if you escape them, it does not matter: you are bound to a physical body as doomed and fragile as an orchid in a buffalo stampede.” The answer here is to know of our death. That is possibly the greatest fertilizer we could give to our life to infuse it and all its gifts with meaning and purpose. That would give us courage to take risks and to master the fear of giving birth to our soul. The Sabian symbol for the 19th degree of Taurus is: “A new continent rising out of the ocean.” To Dane Rudhyar, this powerful image implies a new level of being: “When the mind has been emptied and light has been called upon to purify the consciousness freed from its attachment and contamination, a new release of life can emerge out of the infinite Ocean of potentiality, the Virgin SPACE.” For the 19th degree of Scorpio, the Sabian symbol is: “A parrot repeats the conversation he has overheard,” which Rudhyar likens to “the capacity to transmit transcendental knowledge… The mind that has learned to be silent and attentive can become attuned to the rhythm of utterances which he may not comprehend intellectually, yet which may truly manifest superhuman realizations.”

Also on November 10th, Chiron stations direct at 1° Pisces, having completed his rounds following up on his patients. Chiron isn’t about self-pity or playing the victim. He inspires us to stand up and take ownership of our lives, including our mistakes. As with any stationary celestial body, there is added strength to open windows of opportunity, in Chiron’s case for harnessing the energy of old wounds rather than leaving them festering in the unconscious. Time to take off the band-aids and acknowledge our scars of battle for what they have taught us and pass on the wisdom gained to those who are right behind us on the path. We don’t live life alone on this planet and any growth even a hermit gains has a ripple effect throughout the consciousness of the man. At 9:15 p.m., Mars moves into practical and discriminating Virgo where he will be until next July due to his long retrograde period beginning in January 2012. “Mars gives added intensity and sharpness to the operation of the Virgo energy,” says Rudhyar, and “suggests an eagerness to throw oneself into the process of transformation.” Rudhyar talks about Joan of Arc and Napoleon, who “threw themselves intensely into their work, with a sense of destiny, with a never-failing belief in the value of their goal. This intensity, however, is cool, detached and objective, efficient and sharp like a surgeon’s knife. The earth is to be ploughed, old roots to be cut. In the realm of spiritual devotion, Mars in Virgo acts as ruthless self-denial, and perhaps as the will to martyrdom.” During Mars’ long stay in Virgo we have the opportunity to hone our skills and work on tasks with military precision while paring away the frivolous or unnecessary elements that can bog down a mission. Our cautionary note is to not become overly critical or nit-picky and lose sight of Virgo’s big picture, which is to ready ourselves for transformation, the “metamorphosis of the personal.”

Gradually slowing down for the past three months in preparation for his 2012 retrograde, Mars at 0° Virgo opposes Chiron at 0° Pisces on November 12th. With Neptune less than three degrees away from Chiron, together they put pressure on the Martian impulse to fight for a cause – for the oppressed, the disadvantaged or the underdog. There is a sacredness to the battle that fights evil and tyranny. With Chiron in Pisces, that could be anything that separates us from the force of balanced Unity. If any old traumas are triggered they may be from the fights that were not fought, or those that were lost, due to fear of retribution or obeisance to mainstream societal “values” that are merely constructs of a powerful few. This time presents an opportunity to look at those wounds from a trans-personal point of view, find the courage to heal and release them, and to go out and fight the good fight.

Mercury reaches maximum elongation ahead of the Sun (zodiacally) on November 13th, with only 22°35’45” between them. As Mercury continues to slow down in preparation for his next retrograde, the Sun now begins to close the gap and Venus continues to pull ahead changing the dynamic of self-expression from relationships to ideas.

On November 16th Mars at 2° Virgo trines Jupiter at 2° Taurus, making it an excellent time to marshal our forces into action – tremendous earth energy is available now for the crusade of our choice. But keep in mind that Jupiter is still retrograde and perhaps it would be wise to tune into our deep inner faith to ensure the motive behind any action is sound. Well-laid plans can expand at an appropriate rate if they are not forced. Excessive, unbridled energy could lead to over-expansion and with Jupiter in Taurus this could lead to over-indulgence in material comforts or obsession with amassing wealth – think waistlines and market bubbles for example. But Mars’ exacting nature in articulate Virgo should temper any excessiveness with practical, lean efficiency. Additionally, Pluto at 6° Capricorn is in orb to create a grand earth trine with Mars and Jupiter that adds an extra dose of power and persuasion to problem solving.

Except for aspects made by the Moon, there are no exact major planetary aspects for several days. Planetary activity continues however, as there are aspects that are still within “orb” (depending on the aspect, up to 10 degrees on either side of the exact hit) and therefore still active. The game-changing Uranus/Pluto square for example is continuing to pit the markets and governments against the people who have been stirred into protest against inequality. The faster moving aspects weave in and out of the slower ones adding depth and focusing energy to the longer lasting aspects that define a generation. Chances are between now and next summer, when the first exact Uranus/Pluto square hits, Mars goes direct and hits his third trine with Jupiter we won’t have to ask what the Occupy Movement is about.

November 18th brings the third quarter square of the Moon at 26° Leo and the Sun at 26° Scorpio and a “crisis of consciousness.” This is the time for reviewing what was “harvested’ at the recent Full Moon to see what is working, what isn’t and what we need to let go of. In these fixed signs, it may be hard to leave behind fearful feelings that sabotage our creative endeavors. If we tune into Leo’s courage and Scorpio’s willingness to face death, we could achieve a breakthrough, and any psychological wall that topples, no matter how minor, takes us a step further along spirit’s evolution road.

On November 20th, the Neptunian theme of this period continues with Sun at 28° Scorpio squaring Neptune at 28° Aquarius. For some who are “squarely” identified with ego, the vagueness of the Neptunian influence can be disconcerting. However, the lesson here is to find a way to navigate in the dark so to speak, to close our eyes in order to see. It is well known that those who have lost physical sight have developed tremendous abilities to interpret their environment and the people in it using auditory and sensory faculties, and not just those on the physical plane. Neptune is about tuning into spirit. Lack of clarity on the material plane does befuddle the best of us when Neptune is activated but it is there precisely to get us to develop new tools for piloting our course in a trans-personal direction. This too is a third quarter square as the Sun begins its final approach to its next conjunction with Neptune. We have the choice to align with the mystics to see life in a new way or try to escape from this strange reality and continue to be undermined by others who would take advantage of one who would retreat from destiny. With these planets in water and air, and especially with Neptune’s nebulous presence, it may help to look to where earth is in our charts to keep us grounded. We could also tune into that transiting Mars/Jupiter/Pluto grand earth trine to give us the strength and ingenuity to proceed with a practical approach to maneuvering through the fog of external reality in order to get to the core of our internal one.

Now there is another brief period of no major planetary events until the Sun moves into fun-loving and philosophical Sagittarius on November 22nd. Don’t miss our Sagittarius AstroCasts as we have Mercury retrograde and a New Moon Solar Eclipse followed by a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse.

AstroCast: October 23 – November 6, 2011

*Times are PDT, unless stated otherwise.  Planetary positions are expressed as the degree (rounded to the nearest whole degree) followed by the sign.

**If you aren’t already, be sure to follow Sher Astrology on Twitter to keep up with the daily astrological events.

Are you wondering why you feel some of the transits we talk about and not others or why a friend may feel one but you don’t?  If the transiting planet affects a planet in your natal chart, that is, where the planets were at the time you were born, then you are more likely to feel the transit or may feel it stronger than one that does not affect a planet in your natal chart.  Don’t have a chart?  Would you like one?  Let us know.

On Sunday, October 23rd, as the “Occupy” movement gains momentum around the world, the Sun leaves people pleasing, let’s all be fair Libra for the intensity of Scorpio. Gloves will come off as we passionately explore the deep, dark Root of whatever it is that occupies our soul’s purpose. Whether it is equalizing society in a “Levelution” or revealing painful personal truths that are holding us back, Scorpio can take us there. In the most simplistic terms, Scorpio is most associated with sex, but actually has less to do with the physical act itself and more to do with the very act of penetration – for the purpose of re-merging with that which it was separated from. Be prepared to commit to truth – as we probe to the depths of others feelings, so should we allow others to see inside us. Rather than not trusting that others will hold our darkest feelings sacred, our willingness to be vulnerable could lead to the greatest devotion to unity between souls.

On October 24th, the Sun 0° Scorpio trines Chiron 0° Pisces providing an early theme for this year’s solar transit through the sign of the Detective – get to the Root of the issue to find the mechanism for healing. The Sun provides an inherent creative approach to life and in dialogue with Chiron in Pisces, understands the natural fluidity of the universe – all things must change. We have but to tune into our Scorpionic delving nature, wherever it lurks in our charts, to tap into the power of change at the base of any structure and see what topples and what is liberated. Nothing is immune to the march of time.

As if to attest to that, the Moon speeds through Libra in less than 48 hours giving us a quick window of opportunity to work on issues in significant relationships by looking at them from the other person’s perspective. As she passes by Saturn on October 25th, and they both sextile Mars, we are given the directive to “walk a mile in their moccasins.” The old Native American adage suggests a responsible way to act on our feelings about others.

On October 26th, the Moon joins the Sun, Mercury and Venus in Scorpio, tipping the balance of modes heavily on the side of fixed with some cardinal and still no mutability (other than the Moon’s quick transits). The lesson of Scorpio is elimination and as with all fixed signs, that means letting go. While hanging on through thick and thin certainly has its merits, doing so because of fear of what will take its place (what is unknowable) is a weak substitute for a long sustained campaign with a higher purpose. Less than five hours later we have the New Moon at 3° Scorpio giving us a chance to view the process of “leaving behind” on a manageable scale – it’s something we do every 28 days.  While the New Moon represents the symbolic planting of a new seed, it may be helpful to remember the fate of the seed from the previous New Moon.  While this isn’t the most micro of cycles in the astrological play book, it is still one that we can perhaps view as less threatening because the changes it brings are usually less dramatic than those brought on by the outer planet cycles.  Also, the essence of the previous seed is part of the DNA of the new seed developing in the new phase.  Paying attention to these cycles attunes us to the rhythm of letting go and renewal. What better time to focus on this than during the Scorpio New Moon? Dane Rudhyar says the miracle in Scorpio “is the revelation of Humanity to the individual. It is the identification, through immediacy of feeling, of the individual with Humanity, of the part with the Whole. In this identification the individual finds his destiny and purpose. What he has gained as an individual he offers as a sacrificial gift to his Community. The unique gifts of the individual are surrendered to Humanity, that the level of his humanness may rise.” The Sun in Scorpio, according to Rudhyar “has at his disposal the vast accumulation of power stored in humanity’s common life. He is like a tree with a powerful tap-root, able to draw sustenance from the hidden springs of life. There is no depth which the person may not reach if he dares to sink himself into those basic organic energies which are the foundation of human behavior… It is energy which comes from identification with an ocean of life whose tides and storms are tremendous.” With the Moon in Scorpio, there is added emotional depth and an ability to intuit the emotions of others. “The Scorpio Moon,” says Rudhyar, “reflects the passions of humanity’s common ancestry and symbolizes the individual subservience to collective moods. … There is strength in the body and a dark power of will in the emotional life. In combination with other constructive factors, this can lead a person to great power and make of him a mouthpiece of his group.” Tied to the ongoing Pluto/Jupiter trine in Capricorn/Taurus, this New Moon is given added strength to transform dysfunctional structures. With all this power and depth – Scorpio is after all ruled by Pluto – purity of intention is essential less we succumb to the darkness and fail to “ascend to the surface of conscious and individualized being with a rich treasure to use in terms of a clear purpose.” The Sabian symbol for 3° Scorpio is “a youth carries a lighted candle in a devotional ritual; the educative power of ceremonies which impress the great images of a culture upon its gathered participants.” Let us carry a candle with us as we descend into our psyches for this brief moment in universal time so that when we meet our soul’s intention face to face we can let it imprint our mind with its consciousness. Three and a half hours after the New Moon, Venus 22° Scorpio squares Mars 22° Leo. Passions may get the best of us as we do what it takes to satisfy our soul’s desires. As always when experiencing challenging aspects, it helps to put the observer’s hat on to get a better look at what is propelling the intense yearning. Venus in Scorpio deeply believes in the power of love to transform. An intense drive to have a sexual encounter could conflict with the deeper need to have true intimacy. Hopefully Mars in Leo’s noble intent will give us the strength to hold out for the real deal.

On October 28th, Mercury 23° Scorpio follows closely in Venus’ path and squares Mars 23° Leo adding a think/want conflict to the mix that may propel the need to talk about what came up when Venus squared Mars. If we condemn any action we or someone else may have taken, anger could arise, or at least regretful statements. Rather than resorting to arguing, we could use the great Scorpio skill of sleuthing to find the source of our internal rage and bring it to light with compassion. The heavens will provide powerful help as just over one hour later, retrograde Jupiter 5° Taurus trines direct Pluto 5° Capricorn. This aspect has been building for a while and its strongest effects last for weeks on either side of the exact aspect. Others may not see the depth of our understanding and faith due to the underground nature of Plutonic energy. Any government or organization out of touch with the natural rhythm of the universe may not know what hit them as their structures crumble with ease (trine). The expansion (Jupiter) of energy for the long-term changes in progress (Pluto) is redefining our sense of wealth and greatness. Further supporting this mission is the Sun 5° Scorpio opposing Jupiter 5° Taurus just nine hours later. Watch the news for this day could be big, or we could just ride the tide of this tsunami in our own lives and put all that power of high-level focus and profound physical stamina to good use. With the Sun also in sextile to Pluto, we could experience an entré into the soul of others in a big-hearted way. We’ll be bursting at the seams to grow beyond our self-imposed limitations so we can create a faith that is big enough to allow room for growth. Symbolic re-potting of all varieties is recommended. For those keeping score, the Moon moves into Sagittarius today providing a brief influx of mutable energy. Score 6 fixed, 3 cardinal and 1 mutable.

The Moon is now beginning to slow down seemingly having over-exerted herself traveling through the signs so fast. But the Moon is not the only one slowing down. The fleet-footed Mercury has also been slowing down in preparation for his next retrograde cycle. We may finally get some relief from the hyper-drive energy we’ve all been experiencing these last weeks and hopefully the whole world will accommodate us by slowing down too, allowing a little more reflection before action. Hot on the heels of Venus, the Messenger of the Gods has been not more than three degrees away from the Goddess of Love, Beauty and all that we value for most of October. He finally catches up to within one degree of her on October 29 and stays on her heels, no more than one degree apart, until mid-November when he starts to slow down before going retrograde on November 24th. Venus and Mercury sharing such close quarters for this extended time will bring an artistic flare and refined expression to all we do. We may experience the golden touch of Grace and find the way into others’ hearts through poetic words or music. With this pair in Scorpio, our declarations of love may come out with operatic passion.

On October 30th, the Moon moves from mutable Sagittarius into cardinal Capricorn and the score is now 6 fixed, 4 cardinal and 0 mutable.

On October 31st, all Hollow’s Eve, when the veil between worlds is thinnest, the energy builds but then appears to dissipate – or does it? By mid afternoon, we are bewitched by a strong love potion as Venus 28° Scorpio squares rising Neptune 28° Aquarius while Mars 24° Leo, just setting in the west, is still in orb to both, forming a potentially volatile but also misty fixed T-square. We may find ourselves struggling to find clarity about our high ideals regarding relations with others. We’ll look for refinement in these matters, or perhaps be dazzled by all that which glamorously glitters and grasp for false objects of desire that seem to attract us with two-ton magnets. Who fills in the missing point in orb of 28° Taurus to provide an outlet for this energy and make this a fixed grand cross? The fixed star beta Perseus, also known as Algol, is a binary star system with a smaller star orbiting a larger one that is at 27° Taurus. Considered by the ancient Greeks to represent the blinking eye of the head of Medusa held in the hand of Perseus, this star represents where one might “lose one’s head,” in this case where matters of the heart are concerned. We may succumb to the seduction of our dreams or be forever lost in the pain and exaltation of romance novel love. The only antidote is to channel this energy creatively into art or refined physical activities such as dance, yoga or even surfing – what better way to learn how to ride the waves of planetary energy? Another way to come down from the clouds would be to look for the sublime glory in everyday expressions of love.

In the wee hours of the morning on November 1st, when only the most committed of Halloween celebrants are still awake, Mercury joins the party making this a spectacular four planet configuration when he squares Neptune at 28° Scorpio/Aquarius. This will add to our vivid fantasy life and deep sense perception. It may be hard to resist the potent love potion in the air, so rather than fight it, go with the flow of the experience – write a poem or sing a duet with someone. Or we could tap into the Shakespeare or Verdi in all of us and act out the mystery play in flights of lyrical fancy. Better to stick to the arts and higher forms of expression, as the material world will not yield any clarity – what looks like fact may indeed be fiction. Later that afternoon, the Moon moves from cardinal Capricorn to fixed Aquarius. Now the score is back to 7 planets in fixed signs and only 3 planets in cardinal signs with no planets in mutable signs. It may seem all but impossible to not dig in our heels at this time, but that may be a blessing as it is probably better to hold off progressing until we wake from our quixotic reverie!

On November 2nd, as most people are sleeping, Venus emerges from the depths of passionate Scorpio to enter fiery, philosophical Sagittarius, thus ending the fixed/cardinal domination and finally adding some mutability longer than the Moon’s 2-3 days. Venus breaks free from the shackles of do-or-die Scorpionic commitment and heads off to explore the mountaintops of Love, hopefully in some foreign country. Less than eight hours later the Moon 10° Aquarius makes the first quarter square (crisis of action) to the Sun 10° Scorpio. Mercury joins Venus in Sagittarius sixteen minutes later to ask, “What is life all about?” Sagittarius is about broad uninhibited strokes and the Messenger God here is all about freedom of speech. First Amendment advocates will love this, in any language. Just don’t expect details. Now the score is 5 fixed, 3 cardinal and 2 mutable. The Moon and Mercury are both continuing to slow down which may help to reduce the volume of racing thoughts in our minds. Five hours later, Venus 0° Sagittarius squares Chiron 0° Pisces. Then seven hours later, before the day is over, Mercury 0° Sagittarius does the same. Relating of any form could yield healing opportunities for personal evolution by triggering past life issues or karmic ancestrally learned traits about traditional gender roles. Intuition may be strong to help us through any rough waters that may ensue from the impressive planetary T-square configuration still in play involving Neptune and Mars along with Venus/Mercury/Chiron. But attending to the details could be the key to bringing balance between our internal animus and anima and the Martian and Venusian behavior we exhibit.

On November 3rd shortly after midnight, Venus 1° Sagittarius trines erratic retrograde Uranus 1° Aries. Still hot on the heels of Venus, Mercury 1° Sagittarius adds his energy to the mix and trines Uranus 1° Aries before Sunrise. Free Love! Live and let live! Do you see a trend here? The Uranian brand of freedom mixes it up with Sagittarian exploration to bring innovative ways of relating. Embrace the Bohemian in you. Eccentric groups on the fringe of society will have an extraordinary allure. Gypsies and Nomads of all varieties will be exalted. Ultimately, alternative anything will attract to liberate us from the ruts of our accepted but untried beliefs. The pieces of the puzzle we’ve been looking at may suddenly emerge into a clear image that shows us all the connections between us. After the Sun has set and as we settle in for prime time TV, Saturn slips into his shadow at 22° Libra.  The period of what Jim Sher calls “pure progress” is now over.  Look back from now to the beginning of the year when Saturn was at 17° Libra.  What was accomplished during this time?  When Saturn treks through a degree space only once, without having to revisit it, we can make tremendous strides in whatever it is we are focusing on.  But now that Saturn is entering the period when it will travel the degree space between 22° to 30° Libra three times, as it does during this retrograde phase, it is time to buckle down again.  Pay attention to what develops between now and next February when Saturn turns retrograde, as we will need to review it all when Saturn retraces his path back over this degree range, and then again once after he goes direct.

On November 4th, just after midnight, the Moon still slowing down enters mutable water Pisces where it will spend the next 59 hours in mystical bliss. Now the score is 4 fixed, 3 cardinal and 3 mutable.

On November 5th, just after 1:00 a.m., the Moon goes void-of-course for the next 34 hours. Six hours later Mercury enters his shadow at 3° Sagittarius in preparation for going retrograde on November 23rd. Just as the Sun sets, Mercury makes a break for it and goes “out-of-bounds,” into the degree range that is in the outer reaches of space from the Solstice points. When this condition afflicts a planet the rulebook goes out the window, or into deep space. For Mercury, this means the verbal/mind filter is decidedly off and we may speak or think in abnormal ways. Not only is Mercury now in his shadow, making his first transit of the unusually long space from 3° Sagittarius to 20° Sagittarius (the station retrograde point) he is like the dog off its leash, free to roam, or in this case to express himself any way he pleases. With Venus still in his neighborhood, he could drag her concerns with him making relationships or artistic expression seem erratic.

On November 6th at 2:00 a.m., daylight savings time ends with the Sun at 13° Scorpio and unaspected, meaning it can act like a maverick. With the Sun involved, identity crisis may arise, forcing questions to the surface of our minds: Who am I? How do I express my true being? Scorpio will use the Sun’s light to reveal the hidden places of pain deep within us we have yet to transform and give us the courage to bring them to the surface for healing.

AstroCast: October 8 – 22, 2011

*Times are PDT, unless stated otherwise. Planetary positions are expressed as the degree (rounded to the nearest whole degree) followed by the sign.

**If you aren’t already, be sure to follow Sher Astrology on Twitter to keep up with the daily astrological events

Are you wondering why you feel some of the transits we talk about and not others or why a friend may feel one but you don’t? If the transiting planet affects a planet in your natal chart, that is where the planets were at the time you were born, then you are more likely to feel the transit or may feel it stronger than one that does not affect a planet in your natal chart. Don’t have a chart? Would you like one? Let us know.

On the evening of October 8th, attitudes will shift from forming alliances to deepening them as Venus departs her refined home sign of Libra and enters Pluto’s dominion of intimate Scorpio. Relationships, or the desire for one, may become more intense. Expect to feel and love with your entire being. The life or death energy of penetrating Scorpio will insist that Venus commits to nothing less than total transformation. If we are willing to die a little death – of an entrenched part of our ego, an unhealthy habit or a fixed notion about the way things should be, then we could experience a glorious re-birth into something stronger and more fulfilled. How else can we truly know what love is unless we allow it to move us in a profound way. Compassion will be there to help us through this transition as the slow-moving Moon will take almost 60 hours to get through Pisces. We should also give the time over to reviewing, taking stock and regrouping over these issues during the Moon’s very long, 44 hour void-of-course period that begins at 9:51 am this morning.

During the evening of October 9th, Venus at 1° Scorpio trines Chiron at 1° Pisces opening a gateway to a higher consciousness that may stimulate latent healing talents. We may take a metaphysical approach to treat deep wounds from old relationships or enter into a new significant relationship that could be the catalyst to heal a broken heart and teach the true nature of human love.

Shortly before sunrise on October 10th, the Moon leaves mutable Pisces for cardinal Aries. Try to feel the energy shift, as now there are six planets in cardinal signs and four in fixed, but none in mutable signs. The cardinal energy pushes us to manifest and the fixed gives continuity and strength to whatever is being born. The lack of mutability, however, may mean that change will be difficult. We may be less willing to adapt to new circumstances and experience fear of facing the end of a cycle – that would entail giving up on known factors for something that may be at the moment utterly imperceptible.

On October 11th, the Moon at 18° Aries opposes the Sun at 18° Libra, the Full “Hunter’s” Moon. This aspect, marking the half-way point in the lunar cycle, represents the culmination of that which was started at the New Moon of September 27th, a coming out of sorts of the new thoughts or endeavors that were born a couple of weeks earlier. As noted in the last AstroCast, this particular moon cycle, with its significant aspects to the era-changing Uranus/Pluto square and the superior conjunction of the Sun/Mercury cycle, could mark some kind of important turning point in each of our lives. Now is the time to assess where the seeds of changes are taking root. What is being manifest that is significantly different from what has been before? How are we managing to keep the balance in the face of daily disruptions in our world? The opposition of the Sun to the Moon gives us a mirror to the polarity that exists in our lives on various levels. Dealt with unconsciously it could manifest as a tug-of-war between sides that don’t seem to have a way of integrating. We may feel forced to choose sides, or simply act out in rebellion against one of them. Approaching this point from a higher perspective, we would be more inclined to look for how the bridge between the two could be built. With the Libra/Aries duality, we’re jostling between the archetypes of the emerging collective and the emerging individual. In Libra, says Dane Rudhyar, the Godfather of humanistic astrology, “the creative ego expresses itself as a participant in the greater Whole that is a culture, a style, a common work. Here one contributes a stone or a pillar, a rose window or a fresco to the Cathedral of Humanity. Here, the individual ego and soul are extended into the new dimension: the Oversoul. Here every leaf and branch of the plant of Humanity finds itself integrated in the seed of universal Humanity – ready for some ultimate sacrifice that is dimly envisioned, though not clearly apprehended.” Looking across the great divide is Aries, living the dream of freedom, independence, answering to no one. Says Rudhyar: “Aries is the typical pioneer; the plougher of virgin lands, who moves ceaselessly ‘westward’; the eternal gypsy who ‘reads fortunes’ but can never gather a fortune, for he is always moving on to greener pastures. He may long for rest and stability, yet the nomadic urge is ever revived and he seems never so happy and free as when he leaves a place and faces the unfamiliar.” A good exercise would be to observe which archetype we identify with most. Which side do we take more often than not and where would our lives improve if we adopt the approach of the other side for a change? Then envision how we can acknowledge and assimilate the positive aspects of each in our daily lives.

On October 12th, Mercury at 28° Libra trines Neptune at 28° Aquarius and brings out the poet in all of us. Imaginative expression could lift the mundane to the sublime. Attuning to the thoughts of others may come easily if we are willing to turn off the external noise and simply listen. While it is always advisable to keep our verbal and mental filters clear of negative debris, not doing so now could lead to overly idealized proclamations that avoid the reality of a situation and may make others feel less-than and impel them to retreat from rather than reach for the stars. This is an ideal time to practice intuitive mind melding, with our own interior being or with another, to have a potentially mind-blowing experience. As the Sun sets this day, the Moon moves from cardinal Aries into fixed Taurus. Now the universal playing field is balanced between the cardinal and fixed signs adding more stability to projects, but without the energy of mutability there is the notion that perhaps the end is not yet in sight.

On October 13th, Mercury bids adieu to Libra and joins Venus in Scorpio. The balance is now tipping to the fixed signs giving us strength to sustain the long stretch through our current affairs. Other than the Moon slipping in and out of mutable signs, the first sense of planetary mutability we’ll see will be on November 2 when Venus and Mercury enter Sagittarius. Then we’ll regain a sense of being able to adapt to the environment around us. With perceptive Mercury in Scorpio, the natural home of the spy, we may find ourselves delving into our deep dark secrets to discover what makes us tick. Scorpio loves playing in hidden realms where nothing is taboo. Mercury is happy to take off Libra’s white gloves so he can jump right into Scorpio’s messy, passionate arena where intrigue occupies thoughts and where getting to the bottom of the matter is paramount to harnessing the deepest source of its power. We could emulate the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who all had Mercury in Scorpio, by tapping into the subconscious of those around us and voice what they are only vaguely thinking. It is the power of profound articulation. A few hours later the willful Sun conjuncts disciplined Saturn at 20° Libra, what Rudhyar calls the sign of Initiation. Feeling the need to consecrate our efforts to the greater whole, we may act with unwavering determination to see that fairness in societal structures prevails and tap our long-term alliances for help in furthering this goal. While the Sun’s creative impulse may feel inhibited by Saturn’s serious nature, both together have the potential for the slow and steady engineering of tomorrow’s promise. Before the day is over, Mercury at 1° Scorpio trines Chiron at 1° Pisces. Close on the heels of Venus’ walk with the Wounded Healer, Mercury may want to talk about whatever feelings may be bubbling up with respect to our relationships. Intuition and occult healing skills may surface and be utilized to further understanding and forgiveness.

On October 14th, loving Venus opposes retrograde Jupiter at 7° Scorpio/Taurus. This is the opposite of the same aspect of June 6, 2006, when Venus at 10° Taurus opposed Jupiter at 10° Scorpio. What has changed since then? Is anything from that time coming back up again? Remembering to take in the big cyclical picture in astrology can help us to become aware of and better understand the rhythms and patterns of our lives. How about May 10, 2011 when Venus was conjunct Jupiter at 24° Aries? That was the “New Moon” phase to this opposition’s “Full Moon” phase. Ready or not, it’s prime time! While we may have an insatiable appetite for love and see any current love interest as bigger than life, this aspect potentially can deepen relationships of any type, activate generosity with regards to resources of all kinds, or remind us that a healthy sense of our own self worth can greatly aid in bringing those relationships into balance. In that Venus is only the first of three personal planets to oppose the philosophical giant this month, followed by Mercury on the 17th and then the Sun on the 28th (to be covered more in depth in the next AstroCast), Jupiter’s ebullience and inherent need to expand beyond our perceived limits will be pervasive for the rest of the month in all forms of expression.

When Mercury opposes retrograde Jupiter at 6° Scorpio/Taurus on October 17th we may be inspired to paint verbal pictures of distant lands we find our minds traveling to. As our mental intrigues go into hyper-drive, Scorpio will take it deep while Taurus will keep it relevant, however sketchy or exaggerated the details may be. We would do well to have our research handy to back up big statements or at least the benefit of experience. If we do, the energy of the fixed signs will imprint that which we express with long-lasting impressions. As with Venus, this is the “Full Moon” phase to the Mercury/Jupiter conjunction, which was the “New Moon” phase that happened on May 11, 2011 at 24° Aries when they were together with Venus. From action oriented Aries to the feeling nature of Scorpio and down-to-earth Taurus, our faithful minds can now turn to deepening and sustaining that which we started at that time.

On October 21st, the creative Sun at 28° Libra trines intuitive Neptune 28° Aquarius. The highest form of art, love, music, poetry and spiritual healing all come from some place other than our minds and this aspect can take us there. It is the perfect antidote to boxed-in thinking and provides a sweet respite, a time to inspire, to attune to the higher vibrations of our soul. This is such a blissful, romantic aspect we may need to put some effort into expressing that which we are feeling. If we could but open the doors of our mind and let all boundaries dissolve we just might touch on the brilliant and transcendent repository of all life’s creative inspiration.  This is the last major event until the Sun joins Mercury and Venus in Scorpio on October 23rd.

AstroCast: September 23 – October 7, 2011

*Times are PDT, unless stated otherwise. Planetary positions are expressed as the degree (rounded to the nearest whole degree) followed by the sign.

**If you aren’t already, be sure to follow Sher Astrology on Twitter to keep up with the daily astrological events

Are you wondering why you feel some of the transits we talk about and not others or why a friend may feel one but you don’t? If the transiting planet affects a planet in your natal chart, that is where the planets were at the time you were born, then you are more likely to feel the transit or may feel it stronger than one that does not affect a planet in your natal chart. Don’t have a chart? Would you like one? Let us know.

 In the darkness of the early morning of September 23rd, the Sun slipped across the equator on its journey southward, marking the Autumnal Equinox and fall in the northern hemisphere, or spring in the southern hemisphere.  This seasonal transition also marks the beginning of Libra, the sign of the scales, and a major shift in focus from the individual to the collective. Libra is intensely interested in human beings and how they get along.   She seeks balance, justice and harmony in all relationships, but sometimes this comes at a high cost – Libra is also notoriously reticent to choose sides.  Standing for something is her challenge and true justice comes when both sides are taken into consideration.  At this time, however, there are no planets in water signs and won’t be until the Moon moves into Scorpio on September 28th.  Water signs keep us in touch with our emotions and without access to that vibration our feelings may run underground and be more difficult to express.  Additionally, the trine between Mars in Leo and Uranus in Aries is now exact.  This aspect’s high-energy kick has been building for more than a week and is generating an action-packed pace that is pushing many us beyond what we thought were our limits.  The “shocking” discovery at CERN, announced on September 23, that particles traveled faster than the speed of light has the Mars/Uranus imprint all over it and is sending earthquakes with far-ranging consequences across the scientific community.  It puts the well-anchored theory of relativity to the extreme test and could lead to a quantum leap into a deeper, perhaps radically different understanding of our universe. Revolutionary fervor is also heightened with this fiery aspect.  The Palestinians are jumping on the Arab Spring bandwagon with their bid to be recognized as a United Nations member state.  The diplomatic community’s annual gathering in New York, by the way, appropriately coincides with the Sun’s entrance into the sign of the Diplomat.  Libra offers us the opportunity to find balance between the radical individualism that is so prevalent today and collective compassion.

On Sunday, September 25th at 12:47 pm, the Moon in Virgo trines (120 degree aspect) Jupiter in Taurus.  Then the Moon goes “void-of-course,” making no major aspects until it enters Libra on September 28th.  This is an unusually long void-of-course period lasting over 33 hours.  The Universe does not rest, however, as less than two hours after that period begins, Mercury leaves his home sign of Virgo and follows the Sun into Venus’ home sign of Libra, moving thought processes from meticulous systems analysis to social-political concerns or artistic principles, anything that involves thinking about the invisible threads that bind us all and how not to break them – Mercury in Libra probably generates the fairest decisions of all.  Three hours later, the Sun at 2° Libra opposes retrograde Uranus at 2° Aries. Sudden, potentially radical changes are the order of this week, especially of a scientific, technological or metaphysical nature.  The timing of the CERN announcement was certainly within orb of this aspect as well.  Collective compassion will be put to the test, as radical individualism will be almost irresistible. Conservative elements of society may challenge any new ideas but this week is so packed with the energy for bind breaking that all varieties of bucking the system will probably be undaunted.

Late on September 26th, as the Moon ends her long void-of-course mode by entering Libra, we find ourselves in another unusual situation.   There are now no planets in mutable signs.  The energy of initiation and creative drive is rampant with seven planets in cardinal signs; the three planets in fixed signs add tenacity. Mental processes and perpetual curiosity are running on high as well as there are six planets in air signs; the two each in fire and earth provide a foundation of stabilized action.  Less than two hours after the Moon joins the Sun, Saturn, Venus, and Mercury in Libra, Mercury at 2° Libra opposes retrograde Uranus at 2° Aries, giving voice to new ideas and insights.  What could happen if we all dance to the beat of a different drum?   Restraint may be in order unless we can rise above the self-indulgence cacaphony that is created when we all do “our thing” and orchestrate our collective beats into a harmonious rhythm.   With five planets in Libra, that may not be too difficult as the emphasis is definitely on relationships – what we want and need from them, what we want to say about them and what we feel about them.  Remember earlier this year when we had five planets in Aries?   Well, now they are in the opposite position on the zodiacal wheel creating a huge energy shift from the focus on self to other.  “In Libra,” says Dane Rudhyar, “the sheer glory of human companionship is of itself a sufficient goal. And that glory, which begins in the “Soul-mate” ideal, ends in the realization of the universal and integral Community of humanity” that is “ready to know the true meaning of creative companionship and of a noble and harmonious, cooperative and free society.”

On September 27th, having passed Mercury, the Moon catches up to the Sun marking the new Moon at 4° Libra and the beginning of another new cycle, one that is marked by the urge to merge on a transcendent level. According to Rudhyar, the Sun in Libra feels the circle of companionship as a sacred reality.  “The awareness of a mysterious “Something” which unites the person and his companions is constant… Thus the transcendent and romantic idea of “Soul-mates” is typical of Libra.   The Two become One, and the essence of that oneness is Reality itself.” The Sun in Libra stresses “the value of the warmth of human relationship.  He plans for it.  He fights intellectually for it.”  With the New Moon in Libra, the Sun’s directive is driven to home sweet home by the influence of the moon.  “The energy of Libra under the Moon’s activation,” says Rudhyar, “produces a love of cultural values, of the arts, of social excellence.   It brings out a peculiar charm and personal sensitiveness, often a brilliant and idealistic mentality.   It is “the power of the anima.” In the striving for the ideal relationship, Libra typically finds it difficult to get down and dirty.  In order to achieve her ultimate balance, Libra must be willing to embrace herself and others, fully, wholeheartedly and with eyes wide open to anything she might find repulsive.   She’ll have to endure mucking in the corridors of her mind and others before she can experience the purified joy of mystical union.  This is an especially powerful New Moon as it is conjunct Mercury and is in the sights of the epochal Uranus/Pluto square creating a cardinal T-square that urges us to take inventive, ethical and sustainable action in whatever arenas of our life aren’t working.  It would be a great exercise to pay attention to how this moon cycle plays out: what seeds are planted at this time and what develops until the next Scorpio New Moon.  By the full Moon on October 11th this cycle’s purpose may be revealed. With all this Libra going on, it is certain the power of love will be a major force.

In the dark of early morning of September 28th, the Sun at 5° Libra squares Pluto at 5° Capricorn.  Five hours later, Mercury does the same.  Six hours later, Mercury catches up to the Sun, passing on the far side away from Earth to mark the “superior conjunction,” a Full Moon equivalent characterized by an active mind that can be a fountain of knowledge.  This culmination of the Mercury/Sun cycle as part of a dynamic configuration with Uranus, the New Moon and Pluto, could bring shocking revelations or profound convictions to decisions made during recent months.   Pluto especially demands authenticity so we may be challenged to face the dark side of our nature in order to tap his deep channel of uncontaminated power.  To get to the core of our issues we’ll need to consciously avoid getting caught up in an overly mental state that can be prone to excessive worrying and game playing.  We must overcome the fear of going to the depths of our soul or we will never touch Pluto’s power, much less be able to put it to good use in the world.  Meanwhile, the Moon cuts its usual 2.5 days in a sign down to less than 48 hours and leaves Libra for Scorpio – an interesting manifestation of the “quickening” the world is experiencing now.

On September 29th Venus catches up to Saturn and they conjunct at 18° Libra.   In mythology, Venus is Saturn’s sister, birthed when Saturn overthrew their Father Sky (Uranus) at the behest of their Mother Earth (Gaia) in order to free her other children imprisoned deep within Earth.  Saturn castrated Uranus, threw his genitals into the sea and out of the resulting foam came Venus.  While filial love isn’t necessarily the only kind of love to be experienced when Saturn and Venus get together, this is definitely the love tester.  Born of the act of taking away of a source of life, Venus/Saturn could represent a lack of or withholding of love or the feeling of not deserving it.  The greatest love prevails through thick and thin but the love does need to be honored from both sides.  This is the opportunity to focus on where our affairs of the heart need nurturing.  In order to have enduring relationships, we must do the right thing by them by showing deep respect for others and ourselves in our words and deeds.

After all this cardinal initiating activity we may finally get a bit of a slow-down while the fixed signs have their say. On Sunday, October 2nd, warrior Mars at 8° of fixed fire Leo squares faithful Jupiter retrograde at 8° of fixed earth Taurus. The crusader in us all may be activated with a noble forcefulness to ensure our precious resources are managed with integrity. We will have the potential to act with solidarity on whatever was recently initiated and will have the wherewithal to sustain it for the long haul.

After that, we should get a “real” break until the next major aspect, October 6th, when Mercury conjuncts Saturn at 19° Libra. Self-discipline is turned to the mind. We will be more inclined to go with thoughts that can stand the test of time. Flights of fancy are out; solid and trustworthy are in. While this aspect in isolation to any other may be predisposed to have a dry, barren perception of life, when included in a holistic perspective that includes the rich abundance the entire astrological universe has to offer, Mercury/Saturn has a unique talent for ferreting out the non-essential and leaving only the economical, the unadorned, the core structures of thought. When we strip away the frivolous we are left with the naked truth.

On October 7th, as Venus trines Neptune we may lift our hearts to the sacred relationship we have with something greater than ourselves, the Divine Romance, or whatever we call it in whatever corner of the world we live in. As always during turbulent times, we call upon that relationship to give us strength and pull us through. But we could aspire to something even more. In the words of Mirra Alfassa, who was affectionately known as “Mother” amongst her followers at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, India: “Instead of falling asleep in an easy quietude and letting things happen according to their own rhythm, if one strains to the utmost one’s will, ardour, aspiration and springs up into the light, then one can hold one’s head higher; one can have, in a higher region of consciousness, enough room to live, to breathe, to grow and develop above the passing cyclone.” During this time we have a great opportunity to package all the imagination, sensitivity and creative talent each of us have into the gift of love.