The Capricorn New Moon 2011

As we enter the winter season, Mercury has now gone back to its regular, direct motion and on Dec. 25th, 2011, when Jupiter turns direct, none of the planets will be in retrograde. This will be true until Jan. 24th, 2012 when Mars goes retrograde. I will be writing a great deal about this very significant transit later. Actually, it is not rare to have one or more planets in retrograde. Most of the time at least one planet is in retrograde motion. What is rare is to have all of the planets moving forward as they are about to be. This means that we can move forward in the latter part of this year and the first three weeks of January quite easily. The energy for this is there, but that may not help unless one can push past the inertia or lack of desire for movement that often occurs during the holiday season and the first few weeks of January. It may feel like a push-pull which will require us to really decide if we want to engage in action or wait until it feels better.

Having said this though, Mars is now moving much more slowly than it does normally. It usually moves almost one degree a day. But, right now it will only go about one degree per week. This tells us that the normal speedy Martian desire for movement is just not there. Many of us may be sensing this already. Hopefully this information will help us in that we can know that it isn’t just us feeling lazy. To act, we will have to really be conscious about it.

Right now, we are at the end of a Moon cycle. It is called the balsamic phase and lasts until the New Moon, which occurs on Dec. 24 at 10:06am PST. This is a phase of slowing down as the energy that began at the last new moon is running out. It is a time for evaluating where you are and looking forward to the coming new beginnings made possible by the next New Moon. The New Moon on the 24th is at 2°Capricorn which means that it is very cardinal. The Sun has now reached the bottom of its descent (latitude) and is now returning towards the north. We won’t feel it for several months, but the days will be getting longer again. So, even though the winter months represent dormancy in the northern hemisphere, new beginnings are both possible now and encouraged. But there is a caveat. With Mars going retrograde, something it only does once every two years, we can’t really depend on being able to start something completely new. What? OK, then. So, what is possible?

What is possible now is thinking about new ideas, new directions, and new possibilities. I have found that long before I actually make a significant change in my life that it is prepared for by many months, or sometimes years, of thought about it. It can’t go from the idea realm to the manifestation realm without having to go through many steps and even many levels of both contemplation and research. This New Moon is interesting because it contains an exact square to Uranus, the planet of sudden shifts, revolutions and independence. So, the next month is a time to consider major and even radical new ideas and concepts of where you would like to go in the coming future. It is not an ideal time to start completely new projects, though if you are in one now, it is necessary to use this time to move strongly towards furthering its development. And, if you can, try to bring it to some kind of completion.

The best use of this time period is to be very open to new ideas of what is possible for you.

Along with the square to Uranus, this New Moon also trines Jupiter. This is what makes me believe that there are a lot of opportunities presenting themselves. They may not be spectacular as Jupiter is in the stable earth sign of Taurus, but they can be important in a practical way that should not be underestimated. What we do now has a very good chance of succeeding. And, the more you have done the research and the ‘due diligence’, the better the odds.

This holiday season has Venus in Aquarius dominating the landscape. It is a great time for socializing, connecting with family and friends in a casual way that brings people together. Lively communication, some of it even being a bit out there is the way things can go. It should be a fun time for all of us. Maybe there will even be some sharing of astrological ideas. It can certainly stir up a party.

So, here’s wishing you a very happy holiday season.

Best wishes,

Jim Sher

Scorpio New Moon – 2011

I want to take a break from the Pluto series to talk a little bit about the Scorpio New Moon. It began last week on October 26th, 2011 at 12:55pm PDT at 3° Scorpio. As many of you know, Scorpio is the sign of the harvest, a time when we are surrounded by varying forms of death as we now can sense the approaching winter and the need to prepare for it.

It seems I cannot completely escape the Plutonic theme as this New Moon is in Scorpio which is ruled by Pluto and in this New Moon chart Pluto sextiles the Sun and Moon as well.

Pluto and the Principle of Dormancy

The seasons represent physically as well as psychologically the Sun’s vibrant energetic movement. In spring, the Sun awakens from its winter slumber and begins to pour forth in innocent exuberance, creating feelings of hope and optimism. In the summer, that solar energy reaches a peak and we can hardly remember when it was cold and nothing could grow. Now, as the fall season fully arrives, we are reminded of the cycles of life, that death follows life just as life follows death. What this tells us is this: the life-death process is one process, one principle, unified as the one true Life principle.

So, what is happening to the solar energy now? Is it dying? No. Energy cannot die. The life-death principle shows that the movement of the seasons reflects two sides of the same coin, always interconnected and flowing back and forth in their yearly dance. The outflow of energy that we see and feel in the spring and summer now reverses. Symbolically, it begins to draw inward or downward into the ground. Vegetation dies and becomes the fertilizer for future growth. The seeds created by the life force of summer enter the ground, nestled safely within the soil, lying quietly while waiting until they are called back into action in the coming spring.

Dormancy, then, is not a lack of energy as much as it is a refocusing of energy into the creation of potential. No, we cannot know what the growing energy of this dormant period will produce or yield. That’s for next year’s growth process to tell us. But, this period is as important as any other as the vitalizing force is drawn into the underworld so that our inner world can come alive again and grow outwardly during the next cycle.

In last month’s article in the Libra New Moon, I said that protests would grow. This was due to an exact square between that Sun-Moon conjunction and Pluto. And indeed, that monthly cycle did birth what was called the “Occupy” movement. It was and is inevitably unfocused, diffuse, chaotic and without any clear goals. It represented the first outward expression of citizen discontent about the abuses of the banking system and the super-rich’s abuses of the financial system. In many respects it is the opposite of the Tea Party and other regressive pressures aligned with Christian fundamentalism. Right now, the movement seems to be in a very messy, incoherent stage. But in my view, this winter, the coming dormant period, will cause the participants of this movement to take a look at what they stand for and refine their message, so that by the time, next spring arrives, it will probably be much more focused and clear. Then we will see the first real conflicts emerge.

What is the nature of this conflict? One of the interesting statements by Steve Jobs was that he believed that the terms or labels of ‘conservative/liberal’ or ‘Republican/Democrat’ were obsolete, outworn and completely false. Instead, he believed that the forces in this country should be seen as either constructive or destructive. He apparently even spoke to Rupert Murdock privately about this as he took Fox News to task about this. He referred to them as one of the most destructive forces in America today. I would term this slightly differently and call these forces ‘regressive or progressive.’ Obviously, the anti-science view of the fundamentalists I am terming regressive, to say the least.

Next summer we will have the first of seven squares between Uranus and Pluto and right now this is what is setting up. What I believe is that a titanic struggle between old and new paradigms is coming between the forces that want to take us back to the 1920′s and earlier and those that want to look afresh at all of the economic and political models, to question them fundamentally. There is no clarity about this yet, but those who can extrapolate can see it coming just around the horizon.

What this Scorpio New Moon Means for Us

I offer to my readers my thoughts about the power and importance of dormancy. It is the process that inquires internally to reach greater clarity, to understand what has not yet been seen, and to take stock of things in preparation for the future birth of the new cycle. This is the time to feel the coming winter in ourselves and begin to identify the forces within that now will begin to grow, if we can look inside. We benefit from paying attention to our inner drives and motivations and reflect on what we discover. We can ask ourselves what do we need to learn including how we can shine the light of our own ‘inner Being’ onto the world.

This is a potent period, not a dead one in the sense of no energy or life. In fact, this is what the transformation process is about. Without self-reflection, who are we? Are we not mere robots or automatons if we do not engage in this very fruitful aspect of every cycle?

I hope some of you might share your thoughts and experiences of this potent cycle.

The Taurus New Moon – 2011

Hello Everyone,

The nature of the international news right now is as focused on one thing as it ever gets with the announcement that Osama bin Laden has been killed. We don’t know exactly when it happened yet, but we do know that the event occurred during the balsamic phase of the Moon cycle. This does tell us several things. Since this phase is the last of the eight Moon phases it represents the end of a cycle as well as the looking forward to the new cycle that is just about to begin. We can also be assured that this operation was prepared for by many years of training and in specific by many months of thinking about how to carry out this mission. One can only imagine the amount of detailed preparation that went into the assassination.

It happens right before the Taurus New Moon, which occurs tonight at 11:51pm PDT on May 2, 2011. This New Moon is best understood by seeing that a large archetypal shift will occur as many planets will be transitioning from the sign of Aries, a cardinal, fire sign to the steadfast, earthy sign of Taurus. The last Moon cycle occurred in Aries but it also had 5 planets in this fast-moving sign. Now, the transition to Taurus begins in earnest and develops as this cycle proceeds in the coming month. In fact, there are still 5 planets in the sign of Aries, but in the next month, these same planets will all be in the sign of Taurus.

What It Means

Many of us are starting new projects and even creating new goals. This is especially true if your Sun, Ascendant or Midheaven is in a cardinal sign (Aries, Cancer, Libra, or Capricorn). This is a good time to be willing to take a look at what you really care about and be willing to take some risks in order to do something truly new. Aries is about pushing forward and not caring too much about any resistance you may find, especially since the planet of good fortune, Jupiter, is still in Aries and is also conjunct Mars.

What I particularly like is the fact that when all the planets that is now in Aries move into Taurus, what we have started will then have a really good chance to actually be built. The image I think of is that now the drawings of the new building are being made, when Taurus comes along one can begin moving from planning to the start of the actual building of the new project. Taurus is fixed earth. It is determined, focused and steadfastly goes about fulfilling whatever was started in Aries. Jupiter enters Taurus on June 4, 2011 and this truly begins the period in which we must create a real foundation for the new structure we now are beginning to imagine.

This transition is a period of importance since times like this do not come along all that frequently. We don’t want to miss any opportunities that may be appearing to us. I need to add that depending on one’s personal chart, this period might only be inspiring new ideas, thoughts and exciting possibilities. It might it not yet be time to do anything, possibly because one may not yet have the resources to begin to try to manifest anything. In this case, one should hold onto these new ideas and then in the Taurus cycle, start to look for ways to take it to the next level. This would include finding support from others, which could begin when these same planets enter the sign of Gemini, which occurs in June.

Taurus is gentle and patient, so it is best to slow down now and look and see what is really possible. We may have to let go of the many ideas being generated now and determine which ones we should focus on. Also, whatever skills we may need to develop in order to be able to create the new project will be revealed now and we would benefit from finding ways to learn what we need to so we can safely and confidently move forward. Taurus is about slowly building momentum, but in a stable way. The excitement of Aries will need to slow down considerably, but it will be replaced by a determination and resolve that won’t let go of whatever it decides to commit to doing. Simply put, it’s a time to get real and decide what you value and seek to establish on your life.

About bin Laden

Given what I’ve said about the nature of the present cycle, his death marks a new beginning on many different levels. It is as if much of the planet has been holding its collective breath until the inevitable finally happened. Yes, he has been regarded over the past few years as quite irrelevant and even less significant than we thought. But symbolically he has been very present. Human beings make meaning more in an unconscious way than a conscious one. Osama bin Laden is representing something bigger than we would want to believe. So, this next month is likely going to be a time of assimilation in the world as the reality of his death seeps into the collective consciousness of the planet. We don’t know what it will mean, but it going to change things in ways we cannot foresee now. I doubt he will thought of as a martyr by most of the Arab world, but I cannot know how this will affect the struggles going on in many Arab countries for more democracy. I do strongly believe that the coming square between Uranus and Pluto that begins in 2012 will be bringing about quite a few governmental revolutions in the many of the countries where for now there is only unrest.

Please feel free to reply to this post with your own comments, including what you think bin Laden’s death will mean.

Thanks for reading.

Pure Progress

I’d like to share with you an astrological principle that I have called “Pure Progress.” It is perhaps not totally ‘pure’, but as I have Sagittarius rising, I hope to be forgiven for exaggerating a little bit. There is a phenomenon that occurs for 7 weeks each year that is really worth noticing. The planet involved in this brief cycle is Saturn, which is the primary ruler of the principle of development. Since Saturn is what we look at when we want to find out how things will manifest in the world, it is also where we are not allowed to miss steps. If we do, we will be forced to come back, find the errors and fix them. For example, if a builder makes a mistake when constructing the foundation of a building, any ‘missed step’ could cause the entire building to fall after the project is completed, if it even gets that far.

So, let me describe how Saturn moves, since that will tell you exactly what part of the Saturn cycle we are in now. Saturn spends up to 11 months in territory that it goes over three times. Specifically, Saturn was at 27° Virgo on October 11, 2009 for the first time in this cycle. It then went to 4° Libra on January 13, 2010 when it retrograded back to 27° Virgo on May 30, 2010 and turned direct there and then for the third pass it moved forward again and reached 4° Libra on September 5. 2010. So, from October 11, 2009 until September 5, 2010, it was operating in the territory between 27° of Virgo and 4° of Libra. That’s almost 11 months and Saturn only moved 7 degrees. This means that Saturn demands that we be thorough with our plans and actions or we will have to come back and deal with it at some point in this period.

PURE PROGRESS – However, right now, Saturn is in territory that it will move through only ONCE. It began on September 5, 2010 and will end on October 23, 2010 at 10° Libra. Saturn then repeats the cycle again and spends 11 months in the territory between 10° – 17° of Libra. This part of the Saturn cycle occurs for only 7 weeks, which is just about the average time that “Pure Progress” usually lasts.

I have watched this Saturn movement for over 30 years as frankly it bugs me more than any astrological factor. Yes, it does bug me at times, since my enthusiastic Jupiterian nature tends to want to progress all the time. With maturity, I’ve come to see the value of the slowness of Saturn’s movement and therefore do feel much less frustrated than I used to feel, but still…..

What this suggests is that this is a good time to work on anything you are developing with as much energy and effort as possible. You can take advantage of this period because you can feel confident that the work you have been doing the last 11 months has prepared you for the progress you can make now. We’ve earned it!! We can also be pretty confident that whatever we are working on now will work out in a manner that is close to what we are envisioning as there will not be the need for review of this area. After Saturn reaches 10° Libra on October 23, it will be back into areas where it will be for 11 months, so this is why I have named this brief 7 weeks as the period of Pure Progress.

The reason it isn’t completely pure is that there are two retrograde cycles within it. The first is the Mercury retrograde period that has just completed. On Sunday, September 12, 2010, Mercury turned direct and is now accelerating back to its regular fast motion. So, right now, we are in the period of optimum advancement. What could slow us down a bit later is the fact that Venus goes retrograde on October 8, 2010. I will go into this in future newsletter articles, but briefly Venus retrograde periods ask us to review our values, which includes our relationships and how we are functioning in them, our finances and approach to money, our spending habits, and more.

Nevertheless, when it comes to progressing with our plans and the development of projects we are in already, this brief period is a time we can really use to our benefit. Many of you are already feeling this. In my own experience, I feel much clearer about where I want to go in the development of my second website which will enable me to go public with a new School I have planned for many years. It is aligned with astrology but will create programs that can assist us to grow spiritually in some very unique ways. What I’ve noticed is that I have been going back and forth about many factors and details of the School and now it has all cleared up. It feels like I know what I want to create and can envision the nature of the School more concisely than ever and can even see where it all can lead. Also, much needed help is coming forth right now that is necessary to help the school develop and grow. This is an example of what Saturn transits are all about as they push us to move ahead or slow us down if we need to clarify things in the attempt to create a structure or manifest something in our personal world or even in the outer one.

The New Moon – We also have recently had a New Moon. It was on September 8, 2010 at 15° of Virgo. As I’ve written a New Moon is a time for making new starts. But when you combine this with what I’ve just written about Saturn, there can be extra momentum right now as all signs point to progress. Did I just sound like the writing of an 8-ball prophecy? I may have to re-read this post many times before I post it as I’m just one step away from completely getting out of hand.

SUMMARY – so, get crackin people. I don’t often see this level of possible movement, so let’s take advantage of it. If you are still not clear about some aspect of a project or direction you need to take, then this is the time to really make the effort to find out what you need to know in order to get moving.

As always, I love to receive feedback about how you are experiencing the transits I am writing about, I encourage you to write in and share what’s happening. If I’ve been too optimistic, forgive me, but I hope you will write in anyway.

The New Moon & the Inferior Conjunction between the Sun and Mercury

Within a short two day period we will have two significant transits each of which mark an ending of one cycle in preparation for something new to be born. There are differences between the ways these two will operate, but there’s a reason why many of you may be feeling like something is coming to an end, so let’s get to it.

The New Moon

At 11:44am PDST on Friday September 18 we are having the New Moon at 25 degrees of Virgo. It is in a very tight conjunction with Saturn which makes this cycle a focused and potentially very serious one. Saturn can be so exacting and demand that we approach every matter with so much realism that it feels cold, impersonal and severe. Yet, I used the word ‘demand’ for a reason. Saturn does not ask or request. We can interpret it that way if we want to, but the fact is that when Saturn is in charge, it will control the situation and demand that we show up fully, balance our accounts and if necessary pay for our mistakes. If a person has Saturn in significant aspect in their chart, they are going to be the responsible serious ones who make the sacrifices knowing that the day will come when everything balances out. They know that one must earn the reward in order to keep it. Saturn is exalted in Libra, the Scales, and so rules an impersonal justice that we may not ‘like’ but which we must handle. The coming month will have this theme as an underlying tone and since it is occurring when Mercury is retrograde it will ask us to take a look at any areas of our life where something that hasn’t been completed. In other words, it is an ending phase of a broader cycle. Endings are the phase prior to new beginnings and that’s exactly where we are cosmically.

The key principle whenever we are in an ending stage is ‘letting go.’ It’s all we can actually do, but it is human nature to try to hang on as long as we can and resist surrendering to the inevitable. The conscious and aware use of this time period then is to consciously let go of what you already know in your heart is dying or ending. This is rarely done at once, but is a process. How easy or difficult that will be depends, of course, on what it is that might be ending, bit it is important to realize that it is not a trivial process. Often we hear people saying to a ‘friend’ that they should just get over it. As if they didn’t know that. The truth is that it is helpful to remember that one is a process and that it will work its way out organically, if we let it.

Mercury Retrograde and the Inferior Conjunction

With Mercury retrograde nearing its conjunction with the Sun we are also in the middle of a cycle where we need to complete something which will take us to the emergence of the new. On Sunday September 20th at 3:05am PDST retrograde Mercury will align with the Sun. This phase of the cycle is an important one but is often difficult to see. It is like a New Moon, often called the Dark Moon because one cannot see it. The Moon is so close to the Sun that its image is washed out. We cannot see the Moon until a day or two have passed when we can see the tiny crescent in the early evening sky. It is also considered a dark period because it contains the seed of a new idea. In fact, the nature of the Inferior Conjunction is that a new ‘seed idea’ is born into us. But like a seed that is planted in the earth, we may not know its nature until enough time has passed. It will need time before it can emerge.

Ten days have passed since Mercury went retrograde and we have had to review areas of our life where decisions must be made or reviewed. We have gone over and over our options and may now have to make decisions. This is when we may do this. And when we do, something new is also born. One business owner has to decide whether he must close his doors. The decision has been in the air for months, but now the time has come when waiting is no longer an option. When the decision is made, it will begin a new cycle for him with many more decisions to be made, but the critical moment has now arrived. This is the type of thing that may be occurring for many people. Others who have been able to see the trends coming their way are prepared to act and move forward in a new direction. Depending on where this occurs is one’s chart, the shift may be big or small, but no matter how subtle, it is helpful to notice what is happening in one’s thoughts right now. What you are thinking the most about this weekend is apt to inform you of something that will be emerging in the near future.

On September 22nd Mercury retrograde will conjunct Saturn bringing more reality into any situation one is facing. After this one will know pretty clearly with what one is dealing. Planning can then begin. Yes, Mercury will still be retrograde meaning that a bit more will have to be reviewed, but the new cycle will have begun and we will feel clearer than we may be feeling now.

Mercury goes direct on September 29th which will be when things are likely to be fully clarified, but we’ll deal with that then.

I have written quite a few articles on Saturn. Why? Because it is often regarded as forcing us to deal with something we wish we could avoid. But Saturn is also the archetype of subtlety. It asks us to master something. So the question to ask right now is this. What am I being asked to master? Know that when you face whatever is happening, one’s life will improve. Perhaps slowly, for the processes of Saturn do work slowly. But inevitably and inexorably. There is a wild and crazy truism about Saturn. The more we deal with it openly and truthfully, the less we feel its oppressive side. When we deal with it head-on, somehow it goes away and life move forward again with amazing ease. Dealing with Saturn is in fact the line of least resistance and the way to bring peace into our lives. I love and hate this irony.

The Saturn Opposition to Uranus #3- More Polarization

The coming week of September 14th – to the 20th is a very busy one astrologically. With Pluto turning direct last Friday, September 11th, we will have three major transits occurring this week each of which us significant by itself. By ‘significant’ I am referring to several key ideas. It is at times like these when new ideas are introduced into one’s life that can indicate a new path for a person. For example, each New Moon introduces something new for a person which will develop as the phases of the Moon progress. When there are three signatures of change in just one week, however, it indicates that the week could have a great deal of promise as well as bring about major revelations. I believe that is what is happening right now.

Let’s get into the details which are as follows:

1. On Tuesday, September 15th at 5:50am PDST Saturn will oppose Uranus for the 3rd time.
2. Friday, September 18th at 11:44am marks a very significant New Moon at 25 degrees of Virgo.
3. Finally, on September 20th at 3:05am we reach the mid-point of the Mercury retrograde cycle which is called the Inferior Conjunction.

Today’s newsletter article will focus primarily on the Saturn opposition to Uranus which has been strongly affecting our lives during the past year. Let me also mention to new readers that I often use political and current events occurring in this nation and the world to show how astrology is affecting us in a ‘macro’ way. Part of the reason for this is that some readers really do want to hear more about the way astrology affects mundane events in our world. Others, who are not particularly interested in outer events, can also benefit from this since it gives an archetypal look at the general nature of the astrological transits. Maybe we can apply the themes in our personal life in a more constructive way than nations can. A newsletter cannot show how a transit is likely to affect an individual, so perhaps readers can extrapolate from the general description as to how they are being affected personally.

I do have an idea I’m working on that may solve some of this problem and hope to announce it when Mercury goes direct in late September.

When an outer planet affects Saturn, some structure (Saturn) will need to change or be reformed. Saturn rules both sides of a difficult to understand dichotomy. On one hand, it reveals the structure that may need to change and does so in a very concrete and realistic way, while it also simultaneously evokes resistance to that change. This is an inevitable process and is a part of the way change takes place. It would certainly help if the agents of change and those who resist it could understand this fundamental fact. For if both sides did understand, the crazy emotions and fears that are being engendered in our political system, might be either reduced or handled in a more constructive way. Unfortunately this is not occurring in the U.S. right now, which brings us to what I believe the present Saturn opposition to Uranus is revealing.

The Culture Conflict Threatening the U.S.

The present transit is an opposition and like a Full Moon it reveals where we are as a people about some issue. Keywords for such transits are culmination and fulfillment. What was born at the time of the conjunction (like the New Moon) can now be seen in a stark and clear manner. Thus, an opposition goes way beyond politics or any political process. It also goes beyond the so-called health care debate, which in my view is not a debate in any manner whatsoever. The Obama speech on health care this week was overshadowed by the well publicized scene of Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina calling Obama a liar. He yelled out for all to hear- “You lie!” This is hardly by itself important. But that’s exactly what astrology can help us understand. At this time, that small scene tells us that something far bigger is being revealed. What he did is something not done in our political system. In England, it would not be a big deal. But here, it is a clear indication of tremendous disdain for Obama. It says that neither Obama nor the office of the President is worthy of respect. Yes, he apologized, but that’s not the point. Rep. Joe Wilson is not the point. This breach of Congressional etiquette shows us that behind his shocking words are tremendous fear, anger, resentment and a passion about something that is being cloaked in a political context.

Wilson, like many of the conservative base of the Republican Party is afraid that they are losing ‘their’ country. What could bring about such intense reactions? It is too simplistic to blame the media (Fox News and Rupert Murdoch in particular) for to do so is to avoid confronting the real depth of the fears that do exist in this country. This has been brewing, in my view, for 50 years. Ever since the revolutionary 60’s, there has been a portion of this country who have been scared and who further are also easily scared to heights unimaginable to me years ago. They are ready to be scared and watch TV hoping to be scared even more. Luckily for them, but not for the country, there are plenty of means at their disposal. When a person operates from or out of fear, ordinary logic does not work. No logic will appeal to their better sense. Wilson even admitted that he didn’t know what came over him. More importantly however, his words arose from the millions of people who are afraid just as he is. They are on the lookout. He, for a moment, was their speaker.

This one incident is the tip of a huge iceberg that the present transit is demonstrating for all to see. Unfortunately neither logic, debate nor rational discourse can touch this growing national emotional force that is beginning to culminate now. It is serious and in my view does threaten the ability for this nation to be able to come together for a single purpose. The transits coming soon (especially the transit of Uranus squaring Pluto) could literally bring about an increased desire on the part of some citizens to secede from the U.S. It is not inconceivable that this country could divide itself in the coming decade. That is itself an very shocking thought.

This speaks of a cultural phenomenon that is an underlying force ruling the political process today. If it continues, where can it lead? What is the natural outcome if nothing changes? Putting it even more bluntly, can the red states and blue states get along? Can the rural and urban areas see that they need each other? Can the religious right allow others to exist in “their” nation? This is what I am referring to when I speak of cultural polarization.

Saturn will oppose Uranus two more times before completing its cycle. It will oppose on April 26th 2010 at 28 degrees of Virgo and Pisces and finally on July 26th, 2010 at 0 degrees of Aries and Libra. This last opposition is highly volatile as the 0 degree of any cardinal sign marks the beginning of a new cycle and creates an influx of a tremendous amount of new energy. What we see emerging strongly now is going to continue to increase.

This Is No Way To End a Newsletter Article

It is never wise to end an article on a somber note. Also, it is true that oppositions occur all the time in life and can be handled in very creative and healing ways. In fact, it often takes a crisis of one sort or another to see the necessity of healing and the need for compromise or better yet as a close friend urged – collaboration. Oppositions ask us to see the other side and perhaps, to even respect it. That is the way we can not only temper our own arrogance and the belief that we are the ones who are right, but appreciate the viewpoint of another as an aspect of something whole and complete into itself. A viewpoint, no matter what it is, is incomplete. When will we as a nation understand this? There can be no liberal without a conservative and vice versa. Every dualistic thought is actually a set where the two sides obscure an underlying unity. When this is realized, something can transform. This is what oppositions can bring about. This is also how we, as individuals, can take advantage of an opposition. Whether a nation can handle such things in very stressful times, cannot be known. But it is certainly true that we as individuals can find creative ways to solve seemingly impossible conflicts and stresses.

Duality is something than may be transcended. But it has no chance of happening if one side denigrates and invalidates its brother or sister. Yes, its brother or sister. The relationship between two sides of one set is the same as a brother or sister. The moment a person realizes its dependence on the existence of two sides of one set, we are freed from the demand that the war between each side be enacted and re-enacted, over and over again. Am I being too idealistic?

Well, yes, maybe so. But with Jupiter conjuncting Neptune, I do have the right! This is a great time to envision a brighter future, even if it does seem unlikely. And perhaps most importantly- This is the way to end a newsletter article.

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.

The Inferior Conjunction of Venus Retrograde- Endings And Beginnings

In the middle of the Venus retrograde cycle, there is a very important point when Venus itself aligns with the Sun. This is called the Inferior conjunction and occurs at 7 degrees of Aries this Friday, March 27th. What makes this unusual is that there is a New Moon the day before, March 26 at 9:06am PDST.

Any New Moon establishes a new beginning in some area of our life, but Aries is the archetype of Spring, the ultimate new beginning of the entire year as it sparks us into that wonderful optimism and feeling of renewal that lightens our load in those first moments of Spring. Anything feels possible, not only are the days getting longer, but the energy of life itself is growing. The Aries New Moon each year represents the beginning of the ‘feeling of Spring,” but this year the matter is more complicated. While there is certainly all of the feelings associated with this cycle of birth, Venus retrograde is still asking us to focus our lens on what we personally want and need. We are not yet certain as the discovery process continues, yet the Inferior conjunction marks the beginning of the new Venus cycle. But do we know yet what the nature of that new cycle is? No, it is too early yet. We will need to wait and see what is being birthed in us for if its given a chance, it will emerge organically, without effort on our part.

You can see from this that it is a time of extremes. This is very important to remember. Extremes by definition do not last long. So if we know we are possibly in an extreme state about something, or even our life itself, we will be able to recognize that no major decision should be made in this state, unless life is truly forcing us to act. People in despair should take steps to work on that despair rather than succumb to them and give up.

Let me give some examples. I heard from someone today who has been weighing what relationship she might want to have and was being pressured to decide. She asked for time to work things out for herself, but no one wanted to wait. They were feeling the urgency that often occurs during the Inferior conjunction. But the problem is that Venus is still retrograde. It’s not time to be absolutely certain yet. Wisdom tells us that it is best to not allow that urgency to control us, that it is best to wait and allow the process to continue both in us and in the other. Too much pressure will force a situation and the outcome will usually be that the person who feels the pressure will simply walk away since they know they aren’t ready to decide. Often astrologers urge clients to avoid conflicts at this time if it is at all possible. Arguments can occur and rarely will work out well, unless of course, they are truly unavoidable.

What is happening is that personal feelings are very strong right now, but are still internal and care must be taken before deciding to act.

At the same time I’ve said this, there are exceptions. For example if we are offered an opportunity and it is something we want, this may be the time when we will want to take advantage of that opportunity. This cycle does indicate new beginnings after all. So, what do we learn from this? The best way to handle this is to recognize that there is a ‘flow of life’ for each of us, that we can sense it if we are authentic to our own needs, and that we do know what we should do if faced with an important choice. Venus retrograde is exactly the time to inside and determine what our real needs are and to follow that star. If it leads to a new opportunity or relationship, then take it, and if leads to an ending of the old cycle, then that is what we must do. This next few days is a significant turning point. That’s the key idea on which we can focus.

Financial astrologers call this a ‘reversal point.’ For example the stock market has been climbing significantly ever since Venus went retrograde. It reversed its direction which was downward in the months prior. This reversal has been caused by significant policy changes that have created increased optimism that the government is taking the proper steps to get the economy and the financial system back in shape. The next few days could indicate another reversal, but if that doesn’t happen, it could mean that the trends will continue a little longer. The jury is still out on whether the changes are the best ones, so the radical improvements we are seeing in the stock market may be temporary. The next reversal point will be when Venus goes direct on April 17th. As of this writing of the newsletter, the Dow is up 140 points to 7,800 continuing the trend of the last several weeks. Let’s see if that trend changes after the Inferior conjunction.

To summarize, this is a time to enjoy the new optimism you may be feeling, and remain aware that the internal process of discovering what we truly want and need does continue. I hope you all are able to enjoy the emerging season of spring and whatever the new Venus cycle is bringing. And for those going through a tough time, have faith that you will find a way to work through whatever issues you are facing right now. Remember that the intensity you are feeling will soften and reduce and that things aren’t as bad as they may seem.

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