The Cardinal T-Square Continues

The last several articles have been covering the potentially eventful period between July 15 and August 15, 2010 which I am calling the cardinal T-square. Other astrologers have referred to it as the cardinal climax. It can be thought of that way because this series of transits actually lasts for several years but is right now reaching a climax since so many of the aspects being made are exact. It can be helpful to think of this period of time as not just likely to create events, though it can. Instead, it signals that many things are up in the air and/or changing directions. This is a time when people leave jobs for new ones, decide to do something that they feel is not just better for them but also more appropriate, and in so doing many people are deciding to downsize so that they will have more freedom to do what they want or need to do. Today’s article is going to look at some of the specific transits that are the most intense right now and how they may be affecting us.

Saturn enters Libra

This transit actually began in late 2009, but since Saturn went retrograde and went back into Virgo, it is only now entering Libra completely. When Saturn is in Virgo, we find that we can be very picky, critical and fault-finding. The ‘feel’ of Saturn in Libra, however, is very different. This important planet is exalted in Libra and is concerned with justice, fairness, and balance. Also, Libra is much more people-oriented than Virgo and this suggests that this is an especially good time to pay close attention to how we operate in relationships. Wherever Saturn is in our charts, this is where we will need to watch, observe and take care for this is the territory where we will be held to account and also where we will benefit if we take care of what needs our attention. While Saturn can be restrictive, in Libra it doesn’t ‘hurt’ so much, so to speak, because we may want to cooperate and collaborate at this time. By the way, a student with special sensitivity about Libra observed that Libra does the best not when it compromises. To her, compromise meant that each side or each person was losing in some way. Instead, she suggested that people make the effort to reach a level of understanding that resulted in a successful collaboration which would mean that both sides can find a way to win. Her observations about this are worth considering.

Jupiter and Uranus are now Retrograde

As I have written, the entrance of both Jupiter and Uranus into Aries give a great spark to the initiating of new behaviors, projects, enterprises, etc. It is the archetype of excitement and risk-taking. Suddenly almost before we had time to get started both of these planets have gone into retrograde. Not only that, but both will return into Pisces. Uranus enters Pisces on August 14, 2010 and Jupiter does the same on September 9. This is likely to dampen our enthusiasm about what was just about to emerge, but if we understand the astrological meaning of this it might not feel so bad. After all, by late winter and early spring of 2011, they will both reenter Aries and this time for good.

What this all suggests is that there is something to review, or even something or someone to go back and pickup. I know that retrograde periods can be frustrating, especially this one. But if we go back and look at what actually happened during any retrograde cycle, we will discover that something happened that was helpful to us. We will find that something important was missing without which we could not have succeeded. So, there is still something to do. One need not give up on whatever has emerged in the last 3-60 days. Aries is a time for vision, expansion and exciting new challenges. It’s time will come. So, instead of giving up on the vision, take a good look to see what is still needed before the new cycle can be born. You will likely find that there is indeed something important to consider or accomplish in order for the new to be as successful as it can be.

Mars Joining the Fray

Mars transits are triggers for events and are therefore often found in event charts. Mars can really stir things up and create events. Transiting Mars is already very close to conjuncting Saturn, but on July 30th, this Friday, it will enter Libra and conjunct Saturn, oppose Jupiter and Uranus and square Pluto. Watch the news during this period and you may see a lot of pressures meeting each other. Some astrologers will predict an earthquake or volcanic event, but whether that happens or not, for many people, it could feel like one is happening inside us. Is this a time for action? No, not necessarily. There may be great pressure to act, but it should be considered carefully, if possible. The implications of whatever this transit triggers is going to be substantial, so great care may be needed even if one feels a lot of pressure to just do something. If you have considered it, then fine. And if you simply have to act, then fine also. One must do what is necessary. But if there is no reason to rush, one should wait before acting and just note what you are feeling and what is coming your way. This is the beginning of a very significant period that will become even more intense in the first 10 days of August when Venus and the Moon enter the critical degrees where these transits are playing out.

By the way, if you have planets or your Ascendant or Mid-heaven in early cardinal (0°-3° of Aries, Cancer, Libra or Capricorn) or the middle (14° – 17°) of the fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius), it means that you are especially affected by these transits. All in all, this is a period of change and most people will be feeling it. This also means that people can be especially irritable, worried, and even unstable. So, be extra alert when driving or whenever you are in an especially tense situation. Avoid as much negativity as possible. If things escalate, you don’t want to be in the middle of the action. And if you are the Mayor of Bell, CA or an unusually wealthy City Councilman of that fair city, you might want to resign as soon as possible. We’re not in Dodge City and Wyatt Earp isn’t the sheriff, but I think your days are done and the expression “I think it’s time to get outa Dodge” really does come to mind.

For the readers of this blog, as always, I hope you will write comments on how you are experiencing this time period. I will answer as many questions as possible. Thanks for listening.

Spring Has Arrived and More

On Saturday, March 20, the Sun entered Aries marking the beginning of the new Spring season. This along with the increasing speed of Mars, as it begins to accelerate in its direct motion, informs us that after a long time of review, we are now able to being to move forward again. This will be growing in strength for the next several months as Jupiter is also accelerating as it moves quickly through the sign of Pisces where it will conjunct Uranus in Aries. In fact, what is emerging now for us, is apt to become very important in the coming months.

The sign of Aries is cardinal fire and archetypally is the ultimate in the creation of new cycles and new beginnings. Also, it is where we must initiate, originate and self-motivate. The willingness to face new possibilities requires courage and faith. Without this, Aries cannot thrive. It will become weak and even depressed, for too much safety can diminish and even damage the Aries gifts. Although Aries is focused on oneself and can be unaware of others in its considerations, this is not a bad thing, for self-sufficiency is the Aries way. Aries learns its lessons from doing, not from thinking or analyzing. Can the Ram get itself in trouble this way? Of course, but a few cuts and bruises are signs of a life well-lived and even badges of courage. Wherever Aries is located in our natal chart is where the newly emerging freshness and vitality is taking place for us. It is where we must learn to be a warrior fighting for what matters to us at our deepest Soul level. And it is something we can feel, for it is our Spirit that is guiding us toward a distant future. When we are connected to the Wisdom in us, faith ceases to be blind, but is an unseen, yet real force that guides us as a beacon of light that can lead us safely to shore. Feel the excitement of Aries yet?

Health Care

With Mars turning direct, the so-called death of health care reform that had been forecast during the Mars retrograde cycle, has been resurrected and turned into reality. There are a lot of reasons being given for why this has occurred and certainly how the American public really feels about it is yet to be determined, but the astrology of it is most interesting.

What has been propelling the desire to reform the health care system is the very unusual transit of Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces alongside the fact that with Neptune in Aquarius, a mutual reception is created between these three planets. What mutual reception means is that two planets are in the signs ruled by the other. In this case, Neptune is in the sign ruled by Uranus while Uranus is in the sign ruled by Neptune. Further, Jupiter in the sign of Pisces rules Neptune as well. This means that the planets act as if they are together and powerfully strengthens this planetary pair. Neptune is the planet of compassion and the sense that all of us are connected and need to be willing to sacrifice self-concern in favor of a greater good. The mutual reception I just referred to has been in play for the last several years and so has the issue of health care.

At the same time, there is a significant opposition between the planet of change (Uranus) and the planet that often resists change (Saturn). The way Saturn can work is to bring up all sorts of fears about what change could or might mean. It wants to keep the comfort of the status quo and so when they oppose each other it brings about deadlock and stalemates until finally the side of change wins, at least for the moment. Saturn basically says that what has worked so far, will continue to work long into the future. We see this operating in the health care issue as the passions on both sides have been and still are extremely high. It is my feeling that what brought this around finally was the Mars retrograde review process and the realization by the Democrats and Obama that they had to do something to show real results. The election of a Republican to the Massachusetts Senate, a very liberal state, was one catalyst as they saw that even their own base was unhappy with their not taking action. Another factor was, I believe, the unintended consequences of the decision by Anthem (one of the largest health care insurance companies in the U.S.) to raise the rates of its customers by 39% in California and other Western states. This action seems to have catalyzed many people while also convincing many undecided politicians that reform was necessary. When the enormous increase was announced under a Mars retrograde, I suspected an outcome like the one that has occurred. Mars retrograde is a terrible time to make this kind of announcement because unintended consequences and reversals are quite common at this time. I suppose that for those who favor reform, however, this unlucky decision on the part of WellPoint is turning out to be quite helpful. Life is often odd like that, it seems. Neptune rules the process of letting go or sacrifice of ego and personal needs in favor of something higher. It is the planet of mysticism. With it being so strong right now, many are seeing a need to cease the ignoring of those of us who cannot help themselves.

However, and this is a big however, the Saturn opposition to Uranus and the upcoming square to Pluto is creating an enormous crisis in this country. The capitalistic system itself is seen by some as being in great jeopardy. The hostility about this is enormous. Not only is their significant growth in the tea party movement but the intensity of the hostility is extremely high. An incident that demonstrates this occurred last week at a tea party rally where men berated and vocally humiliated a man with Parkinson’s who was asking for charity. They threw money at him, told him to go to the other side of town where people gave handouts and so on. The tape of this went like wildfire through the internet, demonstrating how high the passions are right now. And. the wife of Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas, is involved in creating a tea party chapter herself. Sides are being drawn and intensifying while the truth is that the transit of Uranus square Pluto hasn’t fully begun yet.

Many of my readers hope for great progress in the coming years and though I wish that also, what I see for the U.S. is not consistent with those hopes. An example of what is coming is that already the governors of 14 states are planning to sue the U.S. government as soon as the Health Care Reform Bill is signed into law. The conflict between the two very different visions of what America is supposed to be, is growing and hostilities are increasing by the day. This is not likely to stop intensifying for the next several years.

I’d love to hear your thoughts about this. If you would like to make a comment, I would encourage you to do so.

The Coming Mars Retrograde

On December 21, 2009, Mars will go retrograde at 19 degrees of Leo and will remain retrograde for about 10 weeks when it will return to its normal direct motion on March 10, 2010 at 0 degrees of Leo. If you have the Sun, Moon or Ascendant in Leo or Aquarius in that range, it is likely you will be doing a lot of fundamental review of your life. However, as many of my readers may know, my view of retrograde planets is that the cycle actually starts much earlier. The moment Mars touched 0 degrees of Leo, the Mars retrograde cycle actually began. That was on October 17, 2009. Let’s go into this more deeply.

Mars rules the principle of self-assertion, how we act in the world and go after what we want. It rules strategy, such as the process of deciding how to take on the enemy and win a war. Obama has been going through a painful, slow process of deciding how to handle the Afghanistan problem and his Sun is 13 Leo, so this Mars retrograde affects him enormously. His Afghan strategy is likely to go through a further re-evaluation in the next several months that is likely to result in very significant changes in his war strategy. As in all retrograde cycles, this is an opportunity to examine things that could never be looked at while Mars is going forward. This is why it is so important. Mars only goes retrograde every two years, so when it does, the significance of this cycle is much greater, due to the infrequency of its occurrence. Also, it remains retrograde for what often seems like forever, so it can feel very frustrating.

TIME – one of the most interesting things about Mars retrograde is how slow things feel at this time. You may already be feeling it as Mars is barely moving now, even though it is 16 days before it will go retrograde. If you think about it, one of the primary ways we experience time is through our activity. When we are busy solving problems, talking to people, doing errands, etc., we hardly pay attention to time. It goes by very quickly. But if we are quiet, nothing is going on, or worse we feel frustrated by something in our lives that we aren’t able to affect, we feel that time is lasting forever. Perhaps the worst case is if you are depressed about something that has happened, you know you cannot do anything about it and simply feel totally stuck. In that state, we feel that time has literally stopped. Every breath can be counted, almost. Well, that is what Mars retrograde can feel like unless we understand what its intention actually is. Although we may be busy handling life problems, the Mars retrograde is about reviewing a fundamental strategy or approach we have in our life. This is what this cycle is for. And the timing of this review is not under our control. That alone can be more than a little frustrating. So, often we are forced to wait for more information or revelation. We want to move forward, but feel blocked and that is what is creating the frustration. Were we to expect nothing, and simply take what comes and do what we must in every situation that arises, we would not feel frustrated at all. The ‘review’ process will take care of itself, for we will be forced to examine something whether we like or not.

REVIEW – so what will be reviewing? The key date to pay attention to is back in October when Mars went into the ‘shadow’ of its retrograde cycle. The date, as I said, was October 17th. Whatever has been going on since then is exactly what areas on one’s life that will be re-examined. You won’t be able to cheat on this. We often believe that we have looked at everything we need to look at, that there is nothing more to see, and then Mars goes retrograde and everything changes and we see that something important isn’t working the way it should or needs to, so we are forced to look again at our strategy. Well, in a sense, we weren’t wrong to believe that that we were done. From the events back in October, November and December, everything we could know, is what we knew. We can’t prepare for something that has not yet been revealed. I know this is obvious, but astrologers often debate about how we can ‘prepare’ for a coming transit, and the good ones, at least in my opinion, know full well that one cannot cheat a transit. We try to figure out what will happen, but we know from experience that we can’t, yet we continue to try anyway. So, it is good to remember what our limits are. That’s our way of warning oneself and others about ‘hubris’, which from an astrologer’s view means believing one knows more than the gods. We are not set up to know more than what is given to us to know. So, what does this all mean for us? That we can relax and live in a calm state knowing that we cannot know more at this moment that what we do. We can’t do better than what we are doing. That can be a hard one, eh?

EXAMPLE – I used to be an athlete when I was younger and although my interest in sports has decreased enormously, there is one sport I follow and in particular one team. I follow basketball and specifically the Portland Trail Blazers. They are always teaching me something about astrology and frankly they really do need my help, but that’s another story. Hope Paul Allen is listening, though somehow I doubt it. Unfortunately for my little team, the leader and coach of the team have their Sun in Leo and have been suffering from this Mars retrograde cycle even though this little devil of a planet hasn’t even gone retrograde yet. Right from the start of season, the leader of the team, Brandon Roy, has been off his game. He’s been confused, saying things he would never say in the past about being frustrated, and so not only has he been playing poorly, but as a result the team has been losing. No one seems to know what to do, least of all Brandon. But that’s not enough. The coach, Nate McMillan, also a Sun in Leo, has never been as criticized and blamed as he is now. He doesn’t seem to know what’s wrong, everything he tries ends up failing, and the chemistry of the team has completely been off. Also injuries (ruled by Mars) on the team have piled up which upsets team chemistry and creates a lot of confusion. Even the owner and one of the coaches have been diagnosed with cancer. This is a team that appears to be snake bit. But that isn’t the end of it at all. To make matters worse, yesterday in practice, because there weren’t enough players on the floor, the coach steps in to help for a few plays and tears his Achilles heel and will need surgery. He will have to miss at least a few games, something he never does, and the team will have to go along without him. Sometimes I do think the gods must be laughing at us humans down here trying to make a go of it.

Now, Mars hasn’t even gone retrograde yet, but the set up occurs now. That’s my message to you. What occurs during the retrograde has been created ever since last October, so if there are surprises, it will be because we’ve not yet been able to see something that needs to be seen in order to know what to do OR we have seen it and do not know what to do about it OR we’ve seen it and know what to do about it, but haven’t figured out how to make it happen. All this will become clearer in the next few months and when March rolls around, we’ll know what to do and why. We will probably have already begun to institute the changes needed. So, although patience can be difficult when it comes to Martian energy, it is the best approach if you want to avoid frustration.

As you can guess it is the Sun in Leo’s who are apt to feel this the most. In fact, all the fixed signs (Aquarius, Scorpio and Taurus) will feel it too.

I’ll be writing much more on this topic as the retrograde cycle begins. Also, the next newsletter will introduce “Jack” in my “Jack & Jill” series and should be out soon.

If you want to learn more about how you are specifically affected by the Mars retrograde, I’d like to encourage you to contact me for an appointment.

An Intense New Moon – Part II

We all know that life is full of strange contradictions, a kaleidoscope of patterns weaving in and out of our lives and the mysterious sense that for every moment of clarity there will also be an equal number of moments of uncertainty and mystery. The New Moon that occurred on November 16 is certainly an example of this. On one hand, we have the first Sun-Moon cycle that contains the newly formed aspect between Saturn and Pluto, which is a contractive, consolidating set of energies. But on the other hand, the Sun/Moon conjunction squares a tightening conjunction between Jupiter and Neptune. Well, sure enough, the stock market went up this week, despite the forces that would defy that movement.

This coming week will likely maintain this upward, optimistic trend as not only does Jupiter continue to get closer to Neptune, but Venus (which rules joy, aesthetics and money) is moving right into that square to Jupiter/Neptune and a trine to Uranus. Reversals in the market seem to become likely after this week in the beginning of December as other transits begin to kick in, so this week is one in which we can enjoy ourselves. Thanksgiving should be very nice one this year. I hope you enjoy the festivities.

On a personal level, this suggests that it is a good time to focus on the solving of problems, especially if we do not lose our footing in the real. Jupiter rules opportunities, but can also pressure us to take such an optimistic approach that we avoid making the necessary shifts. We can think things are better than they are. Saturn is lurking just right underneath and if we avoid that, it will catch up with us soon. Back to the macro level for a moment, the Obama trip to China was historic in the sense that this is the first time a U.S. President has traveled to China with our nation and economy in a weak position, while China’s is strengthening by the day. Our ability to influence Chinese policy is at an all-time low. They are concerned about the free fall of the U.S. dollar, which now appears to be part of a deliberate policy of the Federal Reserve to increase U.S. exports. But, we are not going to be able to dictate to China without repercussions from them. We are in very new territory with the Chinese.

To put into a simple sentence what I believe these contradictory forces mean for us I would say: Take advantage of any real opportunities that appear, while also remaining cautious and patient. This may be more difficult than it sounds right now as it will be easy to ignore the ‘slow down warning signs’ that are also there if we are observant. We are in the waxing or growing phase of the Moon cycle, so we are urged to expand and develop whatever projects in which we are engaged and in fact, with the Moon moving into a conjunction with Jupiter, this is the best time of the month for this.

Mars, the archetype of self-assertion is now slowing down significantly as it prepares to turn retrograde on December 21. It will only travel 4 degrees in the next month whereas it usually travels at a rate of a little less than a degree per day. This is another telltale sign that changes cannot happen at a fast pace right now. Prepare to adjust to a slower pace and pay attention to any temptation to race ahead, because anything that is done prematurely will certainly have to be redone during the Mars retrograde period. See what I mean about flows and counter-flows.

The “Jack and Jill” Series

The final selection of Jack and Jill has been made. I want to express my many thanks to the readers who were kind enough to be willing to participate in this project. Also, I want to express my gratitude to the graduates of the School who assisted me in setting up the best parameters in the selection process as well as in the decision-making process itself. The final decision was based on the intensity of change in the charts selected. They are both going to be strongly affected by both the coming Saturn square to Pluto as well as by the Mars retrograde this winter.

The articles will begin soon and will appear about once a week. The articles will be numbered so if you miss one, you can find it by doing a search at my website for Jack or Jill and be able to read the articles in order or any other way you prefer. I hope this series will be interesting and enlightening as its intention is to help you see how alive and relevant astrology can be. I have an expression I tell me students all the time. It bothers astrologers sometimes, but here it is. “Astrology is only a description and is therefore inferior to the person themselves.” Another way to say it is that if you find that an astrological description doesn’t make sense to you, the problem is likely not in you. It’s in the astrological interpretation. This series is intended to help you discover this for yourself.

Final thanks go to Jack and Jill themselves who have invited you to look at how their lives develop in the next several months. Although they will remain anonymous, I greatly appreciate their willingness to share their personal lives so openly. As Wayne and Garth have said: “Game on!”

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

All the best,

Jim Sher

Wishing for Clarity

There are times when we know what we need to do. We see that things are clear and apparent. We may not like what we know we have to do, but at least we know we have to do it. The time period we are in right now is not even close to being like that. There are several reasons for it astrologically, but the chief culprit is the opposing nature of two very strong transits which are actually getting stronger each day. So, don’t be surprised if confusion and uncertainty continue operating for some time.

The first transit of interest is Jupiter moving toward its conjunction with Neptune on December 21, 2009. This will be its last conjunction and has lasted for the last 7 months or so. I’ve called this the theme of exuberant optimism. It’s so optimistic that one can feel good about things even if there’s no reason for it. It’s like the character played by Geoffrey Rush in “Shakespeare in Love” who, no matter how bad things were, when asked if things would work out he would always respond in the affirmative. The bewildered Shakespeare would then ask, “How can this work out?”, and his steady and consistent response would always be, “I don’t know, it’s a miracle!” Often, things did work out, which is why it is so important to have faith in ourselves and in life. Yet, there can always be too much of a good thing.

The Dow Jones remains high, reflecting the conviction that the recession is nearly over, even though unemployment remains very high and seems to be getting higher. There is also the feeling that we don’t really know what’s going on behind the scenes, although there is the sense that there’s something going on, that it’s not good, but we’re not sure of what it is or whether or not it’s as bad as we think. Neptune rules mystery, things that are hard to see and even deception. But hopefully things will work out, right? No, I mean right, right? Well, probably it will. We hope so, we’re pretty sure, yeah, it’s going to be fine. Phew, that was hard.

Then on the other side of the coin we have Saturn closing in on its square to Pluto which occurs for its first pass on November 15, 2009. Its nature is opposite to the previous transit (what was that again?), in that it is dark and can be pessimistic as it asks us to let go of anything we don’t need. The mood of this archetype can feel like things are much worse than they really are.

Wow!! The fact is that we are getting closer now to the point where these opposing forces are each getting stronger. How can this not create great confusion and uncertainty? So, for the most part, we must simply stay in the present as much as we can and wait until we can see more clearly what, if anything, we need to do.

Yet, there are hints. No matter how subtle, we can smell where the tide is taking us and that we’re going to have be making some hard decisions. The lesson here is to recognize where we are resisting change. That’s what we want to do, and that’s what makes the Saturn square to Pluto so difficult. If change is inevitable, isn’t it better to go with it and accept it? Well. Logically we know that it is, but the resistance can be deep, visceral and compelling. What is the anxiety this nation is feeling right now and how are many handling it? Panic, fear and a need to act out against all the ‘bad’ folk who are responsible for all the bad things that are happening. Anxiety, when understood is often simply uncertainty about what is wrong and confusion about what one can do about it. Again, the complex set of transits we are experiencing right now are testing us both individually and collectively and asking us to dig deep and find a way to ride out whatever it is that is happening. But this isn’t all that is setting up.

Mars in the Shadow

Mars will go retrograde on December 21, 2009 just as the Jupiter/Neptune conjunction ends. To me, this marks a real turning point that we will want to watch carefully. But it’s time to begin to look at where we are now with the Mars transit. The ‘shadow’ period is one in which the planet in question has entered the territory that it will go back and touch. In fact, from October 18, 2009 – May 18, 2010, Mars will remain in the territory between 0 – 19 degrees of Leo. That’s 7 months in a range of only 19 degrees. The area of our chart in this territory is where we will be focusing our attention the most. What it means is that we will be examining our strategies for moving forward in an intense, focused way. The examining will start when it goes retrograde on December 21st. So, the ‘shadow’ period that we are in now is somewhat weird to describe, because on one hand we should make an effort to move forward on anything that is presenting itself, but at the same time, starting something truly new right now will have to be re-examined within the next 4 months or so.

This is a complex period to write about since there are many contradictory forces at play and we must live our lives and move forward in the best way possible. There is no choice but to do that. So, it seems the best way to handle all this is to really see if we can intuit the invisible path that lays hidden before us and to stay present in the life we live now. That’s always a good idea, of course, but now, more than ever, in a situation where we will have to determine whether we need to act or wait, the only guidepost will be to be as self-aware as possible and feel our way through. In some cases we will see that we need to wait for more information while in other cases we will need to seize any opportunities that do show up.

I hope my readers will write about their experiences with the Saturn square Pluto transit that is upon us since we can learn a lot from each other. Individual birth charts are quite unique, of course, but we will all have to deal with the general theme of these archetypal forces. I look forward to hearing from you in the next week or so.

Mars – Just Causing a Ruckus

One of the key themes we often talk about in astrology class is Mars, and more specifically, what happens when a transit of Mars comes around and aspects a lot of other planets. By itself, Mars doesn’t do much, but when it contacts other planets, everything changes as Mars acts as a major trigger for the activation of those planetary forces to which it is connected. Sure, sometimes it can bring about something that is somewhat out of the blue, but what happens far more often is that areas about which we’ve been thinking or feeling for quite some time will suddenly be acted upon. Something we didn’t feel the need to act upon suddenly changes and we are certain we must take action.

Well, this past week on into the next one demonstrate dramatic examples of this. To be specific, Mars is squaring three planets – Mercury, Saturn and Uranus at 25 degrees of Gemini, Virgo and Pisces. Squares bring about tension, conflict and the need for action. Something that was merely irritating can suddenly (Uranus) emerge and we think (Mercury) that we must act. The best example of this in current affairs has been the vocal and sometimes disruptive town hall meetings about health care. Mercury and Saturn urge us to consider things logically, focus on details, get our facts straight and then move forward when we’re ready. Uranus in opposition brings about the need for reform. But Mars squaring all three, adds spice and even anger/rage if someone feels threatened. Mars rules war and tells us to fight to protect what we hold dear, so the T-square we are in right now is inflaming the passions in an increasingly tense way.

So, what is Mars really triggering and is it doing so in a significant way? In September we will have the 3^rd transit of Saturn opposing Uranus. The first one was on Election Day last November. This is a very significant transit and will be in play for another year. What it signifies is that the opposing forces of holding to the present structure (Saturn) are opposing the forces of change and transformation (Uranus). It is again playing out in the national consciousness. No doubt it is also playing out for many of you in your personal lives as well. It is often characterized as a struggle between the past and the future. By the way, Saturn often resists change. But that isn’t necessarily bad. Saturn simply wants to have our facts right. But when it automatically blocks change, then the constructive purpose of Saturn becomes a problem. That is when Uranus urges us to break free from all those restrictions and resistances to an outworn past and set upon a new course. Uranus is a complete restructuring or overturning of something. This is what Mars is triggering right now and it will continue for a week or more, so we’ll see what happens next.

The New Moon

Tomorrow, August 20^th we will have a New Moon at 3:02am at 27 degrees of Leo. This New Moon is not only activating the planets mentioned in this article, but will also oppose the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction I’ve written about along with Pluto. With all that is happening, it is likely to be a very volatile month, HOWEVER….. this is not a great time for major action. The intense forces of action are meeting what is called the period that preceded Mercury going retrograde, which is called the Mercury shadow (Kyle will be writing on this in his next installment). Mercury will go retrograde at 6 degrees of Libra on September 6-7 and return to where it is now. This means that everything going on right now is subject to review. Modifications are likely to be made at that time which means if we try to rush to make a decision now, it isn’t likely to turn out the way we thought it would. So, why rush? If we’re in the process of completing something, that is a different story. This is when we need to go ahead and finish and there should be enough time to do that in the next two weeks. Take the time you need and avoid missing steps is the best idea at this time, even if one feels a strong desire to push forward anyway.

I know our readers would enjoy hearing your comments on how you are experiencing these transits during the next two weeks, so if yu’d like to share, please leave your comments here.

Love is in the Air – or Is It?

For the last few months, Venus and Mars have been dancing together with so much ease that it could make it seem that it will always be easy for romance to appear. Lots of people have been telling me that they’re trying to figure out which person they’ve met is the one with whom they may want to build a relationship. (Of course I’m only talking about single people, since it is a well-known fact that love affairs between married people are extremely rare, especially among conservative Governors). Venus and Mars also affects our ability to create, have fun, and shows he we approach bringing joy into our lives. This has been a great time for us to take advantage of opportunities that come our way. The houses and aspects where this conjunction takes place in our chart will tell us where the action is likely to be.

Now, Venus is moving away from Mars, but as it does, they are both moving right into a square to the other planets dancing together.  Jupiter is conjunct  Neptune and it is these two giants that Venus and Mars are beginning to square. A square aspect brings tension and a lot of energy to any situation in which we are engaged. Perhaps there will be conflicts and difficulties as well. What will the nature of these be? Most likely they will involve confusion (Neptune), unrealistic expectations or hopes and conflicts over values and even spirituality.

I want to confide something to you. The planet I have the most difficult time writing about is Neptune. The reason is that this archetype is so enigmatic, inconsistent and subtle. Liz Greene, a Jungian therapist and astrologer wrote a very long book on this planet alone. The other thing I hate about it is that as one begins to describe its characteristics it always comes out negative. Here are some sample keywords – deception (to oneself and to others), disillusionment, disappointment, sacrifice, martyrdom, scandal, and so on. So, where can I go from here?

The fact is that the outer planets (Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) are all archetypal forms that have not yet been integrated into the mass consciousness of humanity. This is why they often manifest more negatively. As we discover how we can work consciously with these, their positive aspects also begin to appear. So let’s look at what Neptune can help us develop. Neptune rules what can be called the ‘mystic understanding’ or ‘mystic experience’. It is not just a matter of thinking or logic. It is an experience that informs us of how we are all connected to one another and to the World itself. It dissolves the sense of separateness, which is something we’ve worked hard to create ever since we were born and came out of the primeval waters of the unconscious. Now, we have to dive back into a world that we worked so hard to leave? Well, yes, but we’re not the same as we were then. If we’ve developed a good, strong ego, Neptune can help us experience amazing heights of beauty, surrender, love and awe—-WHILE we remain working in our roles in life, fulfilling our dharma or duties (Saturn). The archetype of Saturn can help us remain grounded in life while simultaneously venturing forth into the aethers of our imagination and fantasy life. It’s where we wonder if our dreams may be far more real than we think. Maybe we create our reality from these dreams. Or maybe in another dimension, they’re really real. One can never be sure.

Right now with Jupiter conjuncting Neptune, high spiritual experiences are quite possible for us if we are so inclined. But so are high hopes and dreams that may not be possible. Should we try to actualize these even though we don’t know whether or not we are standing on solid ground? Perhaps we should. If we remain aware that we don’t know what the outcome will be, we can stand in the midst of uncertainty and the groundlessness of not knowing and we’ll be fine. We may be better than fine as we must not underestimate the importance of living in the state just described for groundlessness can inspire us and make us feel totally alive. In this state amazing feelings and emotions are invoked as our spirit is taken to wonderful heights…… while also knowing that we could fall to the ground if we go too far. The antidote for this may be ‘faith’ in its highest sense. A faith that lets us be guided in every step by an internal knowing  of what is right and best for us. It exists in each of us and the present Jupiter/Neptune transit can help us find it and put it to use.

With Venus and Mars involved, this theme is likely to play out in relationships. And not just romantic ones. It will affect all kinds. Taking a risk can be exciting, but if you can remain connected to the deepest part of yourself that does know the truth, that risk becomes something worth taking. When we stay connected to That, we can’t go too far off base and even if we do, we can look back and know that it was a great ride, worth every penny. There can be no disappointment when we have that attitude, right?

Hope you are enjoying your ride!!

The Dance of Venus and Mars – Venus turning Direct

The six-week long Venus retrograde is about to end as Venus will turn direct on Friday, April 17 at 12:24pm PDST. It has already slowed to a crawl indicating that the issues we’ve been deeply looking into have, for the most part, been presented. Many of us are now working through what has been revealed and just beginning to either implement whatever changes we feel are needed or deal with the changes that have already been made.

The square to Pluto is still a very big part of what is still in play, though. In fact, Mars is about to join Venus and both will square Pluto from around April 19- May 4. This is a strange period. That’s exactly the words I am often hearing lately and will continue to be true for awhile longer. So, I ask people what do they mean by ’strange.’ I hear different things of course, but the flavor of what is being said is consistent with the feeling that something important is changing within oneself about their self-image, how they relate to others including romantic encounters, and the strong emergence of the priority we must give to being authentic and real in all we do.

To me, Pluto presents and can destroy those aspects within us that block us from being able to simply present ourselves to others as we are. I have heard so many people express feelings of being vulnerable in the past few weeks. But this vulnerability is stripping away the need to be ‘invulnerable’, whatever that is. Of course, it is a façade, a societally-created pretense that sometimes we need to succeed in the world, but which also makes our lives feel awful. When we allow ourselves to live with and fully feel that state of vulnerability, something magical can happen. We can begin to feel good about ourselves as we truly are and by living with that vulnerability, fear gradually gives way to feeling stronger than ever and able to deal with whatever life presents to us.

This is often how Pluto works. By intensifying negative feelings and considerations, we find that we are able to directly examine them and resolve to let them go and move toward more healthy expressions of our fundamental needs. The present transits are giving us a unique opportunity to engage in this process. It isn’t over yet, but is finally moving us towards a greater clarity of the importance of engaging fully in this process.

The Unusually Long Dance Between Venus and Mars

Usually, Venus moves much faster than Mars, but right now Venus is moving very slowly while Mars is chugging along at its usual pace. This results in these two sexy planets moving together from now until the end of June. In other words, we will have these two lovers dancing together for 10 weeks instead of just a few days. Yes, this is a great time for all kinds of romantic relationships as well as other types as well. Specifically, Mars will exactly conjunct Venus on April 21st and it will then take until June 21st for Venus to catch up and align with Mars again.

I believe the timing of this couldn’t be better. Venus retrograde is helping us discover what we truly enjoy, even love. Now, with Mars, the archetypal force of going after what we want, joining Venus, we are able to realize those very things we are now seeing as real needs. And it’s giving us time to begin going after these deeply held motivations and needs over the next 10 weeks. It’s like getting to the nub of something, having clarity and certainty, and then immediately having a chance to DO something about those things we have discovered that we really want and need. We are even being given the time to do get them started.

This 10-week period is likely to be a special time. And during the midst of it, Saturn will also help us out as it will go direct on May 16. This can become a very powerful time for us and is one of those rare periods where we are being urged to go after what we want and are able to trust that we’re not being fooled by blind, ill-considered urges that are controlling us. Act with what you know in your heart is needed and take the risk to go for it. That’s my suggestion. And it becomes especially true after the next New Moon, which is in slow and methodical Taurus, beginning on April 24th.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The new Westside class is not quite ready to start. There remains one open slot for anyone interested in attending the new Beginning Astrology class that will be held on Thursday evenings on the Westside. The first class begins on a Sunday, April 26th and on Thursday’s after that. If you think you might want to attend, please contact me as soon as possible.

know the economy is difficult so I am continuing the reduced price of $110 for a 60- 80 minute consultation. I welcome people who have never had an astrological consultation to give it a try as well as those of you who have.

If you haven’t already, please check out the website for Sher School of Wisdom at www.sherschoolofwisdom.org.

All the best,
Jim Sher

New Beginning Astrology Class on the Westside – Announcing a NEW Astrology Class Forming on the Westside

I have located a space near West L.A. and am now able to offer a Beginning Astrology class for those wanting to take astrology on the Westside. The class will be on Thursday evenings although the first class is being scheduled for Sunday, April 26. This date is contingent on having enough students to begin the class. If you’re interested in taking the class or desire to learn more, please contact me at 818-501-7114.

The Subject of Reversals

One of the most interesting aspects of watching transits closely is to notice when there is a reversal in the energy or momentum of a situation or matter. Financial astrologers do this all the time in their attempt to predict where the stock and commodity prices will go. Something odd occurred when Venus went retrograde. Usually this transit marks a time when stocks go down, but not this time. Since Venus went retrograde the stock market has risen 21% in just 14 days. That sort of radical rise last occurred in 1938. This has been a truly historic rise. Then we had the Inferior conjunction of Venus to the Sun and we have had a reversal. This is not unusual. Stocks are declining and in fact, there is a possibility that the decline will accelerate between now and April 4 as Mars is moving into an opposition to Saturn. NOTE: I an not advising anything here. I am not a financial advisor at all. I am simply reporting the trends from an astrological perspective. We can watch this together and see what emerges.

The Mars opposition to Saturn is a time where we must face some hard realities. Some will do so and as always some will resist. The macro events of this cycle seems to be pertaining to the automobile industry as Obama has forced out the CEO of GM and is sending all kinds of signals of what he wants the auto companies to do. The Republicans and citizens of Michigan are renouncing this, which is to be expected. My guess is that the intensity of this matter will be growing over the next week reaching a peak on Friday. After this, Mars will move over the next two weeks into a conjunction with surprising and volatile Uranus. We will certainly feel that things are changing (perhaps radically) but that feeling will likely be accompanied by a real fear as uncertainty will also rise. It may be exciting but people generally love stability and predictability and the period between April 4 – 15 will be anything but that. For individuals though this will be a very good time to make those changes you have been pondering for a long time. The feel of this cycle will be one of ‘breaking free’ from constraints, rules, limitations, etc. Uranus rules innovation so there can be a greater openness to new ideas than usual.

More on Venus retrograde – Venus does not turn direct until Friday, April 17, so the evaluation process inherent in this cycle is continuing. However, much has already been learned so that the last part of this cycle is usually concerned with processing what one has learned and discovered over the last few weeks. For example, people may have come out of the woodwork to check in with us, seeking some kind of resolution in understanding. Now we must work with all that to see where we want to go from here. When Venus turns direct we are likely to feel refreshed and ready to move forward on any matters that pertain to love, beauty, romance, and of course, personal finance. It can be like cleaning house, especially with the Venus retrograde squaring Pluto.

This square to Pluto however can be difficult as Pluto rules the underworld. When we work with Plutonic energy we are thrust into issues from our own subconscious. This is the realm of those things we don’t want to look at, areas around which there are wounds and painful memories, but where something fundamental must be released in order for us to truly feel whole, clean, and able to move forward into a new way of Being-in-the -World.

As always, I love your emails reporting on how the transits are affecting you and am very grateful for them.

Announcements

I know the economy is difficult so I am continuing the reduced price of $110 for a 60- 80 minute consultation. I welcome people who have never had an astrological consultation to give it a try as well as those of you who have.

If you haven’t already, please check out the website for Sher School of Wisdom at www.sherschoolofwisdom.org.

All the best,
Jim Sher

An unusually busy and interesting week – The Coming Full Moon and More

Hello Everyone,

We have a most interesting and possibly eventful week ahead, especially if you have natal planets being affected between 18-22 degrees of the mutable signs, Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, or Pisces. Beginning on Sunday, March 8, there will be three significant astrological signatures and each of these are meaningful when they occur by themselves. Together there are likely to be unusual and shocking developments in our financial systems as well as in our personal lives.

The first is tomorrow at 12:53 pm when the Sun opposes Saturn. This is a fast-moving transit whose effect is usually short but this time, it can trigger bigger events or issues for us. The meaning is that the Sun will shine its light on whatever we consider to be an area of duty, responsibility, or personal weakness but with which we must deal. It brings certain difficult issues to a head which we’ve already been dealing with for some time. Also, Mercury will enter Pisces, which can be great for creative, imaginative thought, but also contribute to some unclear or fuzzy thinking that will be tinged with more emotion than usual. Pisces speaks, not as much in words, as in the realm of images, archetypes, and above all, symbols. Pisces seeks to play in many layers of meaning, knowing that life is not composed of mere facts and figures. It knows that understanding is not a function of rationality/irrationality, but something more intangible yet no less important.

Also, we are in the midst of a Mars-Neptune conjunction at 24 Aquarius. Mars loves to act, but with Neptune, those actions are likely to be motivated by confusion and uncertainty. It is best when decisions are based on a finely honed sense of intuition. But when in doubt, it is often best to wait until the transit subsides a bit before making the final decision, especially if we know we don’t have all the facts. The bigger the decision, the better it is to wait. What this transit is good for is letting yourself go and indulging your imagination and dreams. Neptune softens us, makes us dreamy, and can enhance our desire nature. Mars/Neptune is a puzzle as it can activate deception and just plain lying, with approaching solving problems magically, through the use of a Will under control. And sometimes, it’s tricky to know which one is more in play. Enjoy the feeling of openness and even glamour. Let the mind loosen, unlocking one’s blockages that tend to close the door prematurely to all sorts of possibilities.

The Full Moon then occurs on Tuesday, March 10. This is what can trigger a great deal since the Moon will conjunct Saturn and oppose the Sun conjunction with Uranus, the planets of excitement and sudden shocks. Oppositions are full of dilemmas and paradoxes. The Moon coming upon Saturn is concerned with maintaining discipline, order, and in Virgo, details. And at the same time, with the Sun conjuncting Uranus, the natural instinct will be to rebel, break free from restricting circumstances, and avoiding awful routine. Now that’s a great example of what an opposition can be. What this Full Moon can do is break open stale or unmoving situations, bringing things to a forced conclusion so that as the Moon cycle proceeds, one will find oneself moving in a new direction.

Oppositions are very fertile times as well as active ones. They ask us to operate in ways we may not find easy but which are transforming. Here, it asks us to learn to handle responsibility with the need for freedom and new encounters of all kinds. Sometimes change can be orderly, but more often than not, it is messy, and cannot be simply regulated. Chaos is, after all, our chance for real change and at the same time must be full of uncertainty and unpredictability.

Since the Sun will not conjunct Uranus until Wednesday, the 12th, the change aspect may be delayed until then. I am looking for something in the news that will shock our society and whose effects will ripple through our society for the next few weeks. Revelations about our economy is one likely source of shock, but with Uranus, by definition, we cannot know since it rules surprise and the unexpected.

As always, I love the responses I get from my readers and enjoy them very much. Please feel free to write.

ANNOUNCEMENT

I know the economy is difficult so I am continuing the reduced price of $110 for a 60- 80 minute consultation. I welcome people who have never had an astrological consultation to give it a try as well as those of you who have.

If you haven’t already, please check out the website for Sher School of Wisdom at www.sherschoolofwisdom.org.

Best to All,
Jim Sher