The Total Lunar Eclipse – June 2011

We have just experienced a total lunar eclipse that was unusual in both its length and strength. It occurred on Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at 1:14pm PDT.  The Sun was at 24° of Gemini and the Moon opposed the Sun at 24° Sagittarius.  We weren’t able to see the eclipse in the U.S., but the people in the Indian Ocean had a first rate seat to an eclipse that lasted for 100 minutes which is only 6 minutes shy of the longest possible lunar eclipse.  Because of these factors, this eclipse is much stronger than most, which means that those of you who have planets or angles in aspect to the eclipse are likely to be quite affected by this particular one.

It is very important to avoid doom and gloom imaginings to eclipses.  In astrological circles, they do have a generally negative reputation.  But this is just not true. In my astrology class last night, we looked at each student’s chart to see if they were affected by the coming eclipse and if so, in what way.  Every student who did have aspects to the chart of the lunar eclipse was already noticeably being affected.  And those who did not have aspects were not experiencing much of anything, at least not yet.  But, as I just mentioned, not all of the effects were negative.  One person is going to Hawaii.  The eclipse is favorably affecting her 5th house of fun, amusement and joy and she is taking time to do just that.

Solar eclipses, like the one we had on June 1 and the one we will have on July 1, change the inertia of any affected situation, sometimes very significantly.  The lunar eclipse is different in its nature.  The Moon affects our emotions, so at any Full Moon those emotions are often more sensitive and conscious to us.  One can think of it this way.  Normally, we are unaware of all the feelings and emotions we have in each moment of every day.  At a Full Moon, however, those emotions which are mostly unconscious suddenly become conscious and we think they have just suddenly appeared as if they weren’t there before.  In fact, they were already there, just not seen or recognized.  What the Full Moon does is bring them to the surface.  Now this occurs every month, so what makes the lunar eclipse different is the fact that it is like a regular Full Moon, but much stronger.  This means that everyday emotions and feelings can suddenly surface in an explosive and disturbing way.  In the long run, this is a good thing, since sooner or later, they will come up for us anyway, but usually in a negative way.  Buried emotions cause all kinds of physical ailments and psychological ones as well.  So it is best to use the lunar eclipse for what it is good for.  We need to take notice and move forward on what is coming up for us or is being revealed.  It isn’t really new at all, but often very old stuff that is sitting there, stagnant and unmoving, waiting for the inevitable day when it will surface.

Not surprisingly, a lunar eclipse can create a catharsis, where much highly charged material explodes out of us, but which leaves in its wake a great sense of relief and even, what this Virgo calls, a sense of purity and clarity.  It is sort of like the beautiful, clear air after a huge thunderstorm occurs the night before.  As a kid, I couldn’t wait for the morning after a storm.  Well, this is quite similar.  This eclipse also is conjunct Mercury which rules communication, rational thought, reason, and the process of mind.  So, bringing rational thought to bear right now is going to be helpful.  But I would describe what is really needed a little differently.  What seems to be best is to use this time to witness as impartially as possible what is coming up and to see it, and then process it. When we do this, we gain a sort of distance on it and this lets us see it so well, that we begin to be able to see the fullness of what it really is.  We do not have to ‘get rid of’ anything.  To try to do that not only doesn’t work, but often sends that issue in us back into the subconscious where it already was.  This activity is disastrous for our psyche. We want to see things and move past them.  So, instead of trying to deny or get rid of something, all we have to do is see it as completely as possible and on its own, the charge of that area will begin to release.  This is the kind of process that leads to freedom and happiness.

This is what a lunar eclipse is good for, if we only allow ourselves to see, feel, and experience whatever is emerging for us right now.

About Saturn Turning Direct

We have just finished the retrograde movement of Saturn.  On Sunday, June 11, 2011, Saturn went back to its direct motion.  Let me take a moment to describe the value and purpose of the period when Saturn is retrograde.  Saturn rules our ability to progress and develop in life.  This includes projects we are working on, training we need in order to progress to a new level of authority or responsibility, etc.  Although we might like it if we could just progress and move forward, life isn’t actually like that.  There are times, and Saturn retrograde is one of them, when we must go back and pick up something we need that is missing before we can safely or confidently move ahead.  When it comes to Saturn, we are not allowed to miss steps.  If we do, sooner or later it will catch up with us and we’ll have to deal with it in one way or another.  So, hopefully we have used the previous four months to discover what we needed to pick up and have done so.  If we have, then we are now on track to move ahead successfully as Saturn moves forward all the way to the end of the sign of Libra, before its retrograde dance starts again.  This won’t occur until early February in 2012.  So, let’s begin to focus our attention and energy towards developing whatever we know that we need to do.

The Active Aries New Moon – 2011

On Sunday, April 3, 2011, we had a very unusual New Moon at 13° of Aries. As the recent articles on Aries suggest, this sign is one of the most active of all of the signs of the zodiac. It is the true archetype of Spring in that it represents the return of life with all of its hope and natural enthusiasm. I am from the Midwest, where we had hard winters. The truth is that while we do have spring in Los Angeles, it is just not the same as it was in Missouri, where there was a sudden, astounding growth of life that could change one’s mood every time one walked out the door. We couldn’t wait to go outside and run, play sports, or just lounge around in the new green grass. Suddenly there were all kinds of smells and the contrast between the winter’s dormancy and the sudden return of the life force was, in a word, ecstatic. That is the Spring I remember and is the essence of this New Moon.

If you look at the chart of it, you will see 6 planets in Aries, including the expansionistic Jupiter, which makes us want to climb the highest mountain and conquer that biggest challenge we can imagine. Nothing is impossible right now, or so it seems. Except there is just one little thing to consider in addition to this. In the midst of this joyful, innocent enthusiasm, there is also an exact opposition to Saturn that counterbalances the Aries energy.

Saturn – is the archetype of structure, order, planning, and it slows things down so we can create some kind of form or system. It is an opposing force to the Aries excitement, but it does have its purpose. I do not believe that Saturn in this position automatically puts up obstacles that block the development of anything. Some people think in this way and that belief does in fact create the feared obstacles themselves. A much more constructive way to look at this is to regard Saturn as having an intention that challenges the youthful Aries energy to take what is being considered much more seriously. Right now, something important is happening, and while a new impulse can be wondrous, in this case, some of these impulses are important enough to really matter. They are meant to endure and develop much further that a mere impulse or spontaneous eruption of excitement that lacks follow-through. Right now, I suggest you focus on examining what is coming up for you that is really important and something that demands your attention, effort and hard work.

Saturn retrograde – the stabilizing planet, the rings that set boundaries and asks us to make conscious choices is still retrograde and will be until early June. We can get frustrated with Saturn’s slow pace and delays, but actually this period is not just mere stoppages. There is a purpose to the Saturn retrograde period and it is this. There is something we need, before we can go forward successfully in whatever we are working on and this is the time to go back and pick it up. We often do not know what that is exactly. It could be knowledge, information, etc., or it could be a person we need to meet and perhaps partner with, before we can achieve the aims we’ve set for ourselves. We are in that period now, and in fact, it may have already appeared.  This is due to the completion of the opposition of Jupiter and Saturn that has just occurred as well as the Aries New Moon.

Mercury retrograde – As I wrote in the last newsletter article, usually a Mercury retrograde period asks us to review and reconsider some area of our life. Often, new information comes in that requires that we look at things from a new, fresh perspective. Also, we are advised not to act on this new information yet, since more may be coming. Thus we are urged to ponder and even digest what is coming forward, but…..

Mars Conjunct Uranus – is at 1° of Aries. This placement of Aries is an incredibly active and potent starter of new and exciting events. I have already heard from quite a few students and friends as to how they are being affected by this fast-moving and shocking transit. One friend has so many things on her plate she can barely see straight, while another had a bicycle accident. To ask someone to go slow at a time like this is absurd. The energy is too high to be ignored or just placated.

My Suggestion – let’s take a look at these contrary forces and try to make sense of it. The energy demands we really be open to spontaneous inspiring ideas, concepts, and possibilities. And, to me, some of them need to be acted upon, even with all of the reservations I have spoken of in this article. So, the obvious suggestion is to separate thinking and pondering from actually acting and to handle them differently. It is best to be totally open to new thoughts, suggestions, and to follow up on any leads that are developing. When it comes to acting upon them, though, try to keep your cool and slow down enough to really think and see if it’s time to act yet and even if it is, try to determine what the most effective action is right now. Allow yourself to be led by the emerging events and if you really feel you must act, then go for it and see where it leads.

Aries can be incredibly intuitive. Sometimes its just blind luck, and at other times, it’s that sixth sense that knows what to do while not knowing why or how it knows. It seems to me that sometimes astrology can be interpreted as being a little like an old grandma or grandpa who seems to only know two things to say: It’s either “Shhhhh” or “Don’t do…..” So, if you’re in the mood to really ‘go for it” and it seems right, then do it and see where it leads. To ignore the opportunities for inspiration and change is too high price to pay.

I’d love to hear from you on how you are being affected by these opposing forces. So, let’s hear from you.

Is Our Economy Recovering and Where are We Going?

 

This week’s article is different than most. I am going to focus on what’s going on in the economy and what astrology has to say about it. Also, since we are in the midst of the Venus retrograde, which in part does rule money and finances, we indeed are in a period where it is important to try to understand the true nature of things and by implication, where things might be going. We are in the midst of another important transit that can easily be overlooked. I am referring to the opposition between Jupiter and Saturn. To put this into perspective, this is a very important 20 year cycle that has a lot to do with the general shifts in one’s personal as well as the national economy. That cycle began at the conjunction in May of 2000, which means we are now at the mid-point of that same cycle. A conjunction is like a New Moon in that it sparks the beginning of a new phase of developments that is often fundamentally different from the previous one. The opposition, which is where we are now, is like a Full Moon in that it brings to full fruition the ‘essence’ or ‘seed’ of what was born at the conjunction. In other words it takes some time for the new impulse to begin to manifest as the nature of the previous cycle slowly gives way so that something new can be born. The Jupiter/Saturn conjunction occurred in the sign of Taurus, which is a fixed earth sign. In economics terms it asks us to pay as we go, to focus on what is of ‘real’ value, not just created value and to create a foundation that we can really trust. If this is not done, then sooner or later, there will be severe consequences. If we examine the first 8 years of this cycle (2000-2008) we see that the exact opposite of Taurus was occurring. Debt was rising, values had become distorted and very few people were yelling at us to stop the coming train wreck. For example, no longer were people buying homes to live in. They were buying investments to be turned over. No longer were people motivated to pay down their debt, but were instead financing major remodels thereby increasing their debt. And all of this was due to the popular belief that the price of real estate was going to rise forever or at least for a very long time. Now, when in the history of mankind did everything go up forever? Answer: NEVER. Yet, this was overlooked and the result was that this new ‘Taurus” demand for focusing on REAL value was ignored and we have been just waiting for the crash that MUST inevitably come. It came in 2008 and is still with us today.

In our society, so much is politicized that at times we, as a people, may not be able to see straight. Economics is one of those areas of life. So to take a look that is as objective as possible, I often turn to Fareed Zakaria. He makes an effort to bring on guests that he feels are smart and very well-informed; he asks great questions and follows up in ways that truly clarify the matters being discussed. If a guest can’t handle that, they don’t come on his show. This Sunday he had a special show called “Restoring the American Dream.” His guests were CEO’s of Alcoa, Google, Coca-Cola and an Executive who had been CEO of both IBM and American Express. By the way, did you know that Coca-Cola is manufacturing its drinks in 260 countries? That’s more than the number of countries in the United Nations. To some of my readers this may seem like a group of men (and yes they were all men) who are biased. Yes, they are. But none of them could get anywhere if they were not grounded in reality and all of them are quite familiar with how the global economy is affecting this country, so they are worth hearing out. For example how will we deal with unemployment when most experts believe that due to tremendous improvements in technologies, when the economy does improve, that 30-40% of the old jobs will not come back? Those jobs will NEVER come back. A huge transition is happening in the world and we are only now beginning to become aware of its nature.

I will summarize as succinctly as I can what their main points were:

• About the role of government – since the early 1950′s, government financing of research and development of new technologies (primarily but not exclusively through the Dept. of Defense) totally fueled the growth of our economy. Recently, China publicized its achievement of having developed the fastest computer in the world which was funded by its government. For the past few decades, the U.S. government has been spending less and less on R&D, especially on new technologies as well as ‘green’ technologies, which has resulted in the fact that now the U.S. is ranked #6 in the world. China is #1 in the development of new ‘green’ technologies. Most of us believed that certainly the U.S. would want to be the leader in this newly emerging field. This does not bode well for our economy since more and more future jobs will be in this field. To the executives on this show, we need to become #1 again, especially since we no longer have an economy based on manufacturing.
• Education – Believe it or not, 40% of the doctorates (PhD’s) awarded last year were given to foreign-born students, the majority of whom were forced by our immigration laws to leave the country after receiving their degree. That’s a lot of brain drain leaving a country that is quickly losing ground to the rest of the world. The percentage of PhD’s that are given to foreign-born students is a severe condemnation of our present school system, but at least they had to come here to get advanced degrees. Why not encourage them to remain here? By the way, the U.S. ranks #52 in the world in the quality of science and math education, slightly behind Viet Nam.
• Training and Retraining employees – Many countries work hard to retrain employees as they realize that their national economic security and interest depends on this. In Germany, for example, unemployment has been DROPPING the last several years while ours has been steadily increasing. Most feel that this is due to their strong emphasis on retraining workers as they regard this as an investment rather than as just an expense.
• How we regard teachers – for a long time now, teachers and teacher unions have been the whipping boys and girls of politicians, but that’s not how the executives see it. If you look historically at teachers, it has never been regarded as a profession. During and after World War II, teachers were women who wanted to make a little ‘extra income.’ Fortunately many of them were very good. But since then, teaching has not been given nearly as important status as it needs to be. If it were regarded seriously as a profession two things would have to occur. Salaries would have to rise significantly and the quality of teachers would also have to rise with that. At this point, how will this be paid for?

The group of CEO’s made four general recommendations:

1. All were concerned about the high degree of divisiveness in our political discourse. It has gotten so bad that we cannot agree on anything which, of course, prevents us from doing anything. Finding a way to come together as a nation on a commitment to national goals was the first recommendation they made. This includes politicians ceasing to have a mentality of ‘my district first.’
2. Find ways to encourage startup businesses knowing that many will fail, but that some will not and may then become real forces in the creation of a new economy.
3. Revive manufacturing to some degree, even if it does not reach levels it used to be in the past.
4. Changing the nature of our economy – for the past 30 years we have bought into the idea that we could have a sustainable economy based solely on consumption. This means borrowing money is seen as a way to fuel the economy. But it cannot be sustained forever. The economy must change to the focusing on creating either things or new ideas and information. Fareed recommended we create a value added tax (a national sales tax) for the sole purpose of funding new innovation, just like we did in the 1950′s and for decades after that.

All of this is actually what the Jupiter opposition to Saturn is encouraging us to look at. Here are some ideas that Fareed suggested we might do as individuals:

1. Do something unique (remember that we are in a Jupiter conjunction with Uranus ruling uniqueness?). Find a field you enjoy and become an expert in it. Bring back artisanship, craftsmanship and focus on customizing rather than on just making commodities. China can make commodities, but no one country can compete with people who create unique or customized things.

2. Go local – do something within your community that cannot be outsourced.

3. Make yourself indispensable by becoming an expert. Such things are learning a new craft that is difficult (like astrology?); or learn a new language since the global economy is here to stay, etc.

These are just some of the things we can do, but all of them and many more depend on one thing. We must recognize the fact that things have changed forever. The old economy has died. It is not dying, it is dead. For many of my readers who are already in varying degrees alternative, some of this is not new. Many of you have been doing this for some time and will continue to do so. Because Jupiter and Uranus have begun a new cycle, what I’ve written here is likely to be the wave of the future. Innovation will be accelerating in importance and hopefully many of us will be either on board with it or founders of something that is unique.

As always, I look forward to your responses, but especially to this article. Tell us what you are doing to yourself to make these things happen in your life. If the difficult times we are clearly in result in a resurgence of innovation and creativity, we can use these harder times and put them to good use.

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 Cardinal Climax is Here

If there is just one day when it could be said that this is the true day of the Cardinal Climax, it would have to be this Friday, August 6, 2010. When so many slow moving planets (like Saturn, Uranus and Pluto) are involved in a configuration (a group of 3 or more planets in aspect to each other), it isn’t really possible to pinpoint just one day where we can regard the transit as being the most potent. In fact, the truth is that this type of cycle is one that actually lasts for several years or more. They create long-term trends and paradigm shifts that will influence all the areas of life for many years.

Nevertheless, even a novice can take a casual look at the chart to the right and you will see that 7 planets are either conjunct, square or in opposition to each other. This is not going to be seen more than once in a lifetime for it is that rare. In a few words, this configuration creates dynamic tension. It can be a very creative period, but it also has built into it a great deal of resistance. It is common sense to know that the greater the desire and/or need for change, the greater is the likelihood of there being resistance to that very change. We can take our hints from looking at the news and even now we see that Sen. John Kyle (R-Ariz.) has come out for the repeal of the 14th amendment, which allows children of undocumented immigrants to be automatically granted U.S. citizenship. The repeal of an amendment to the constitution is a radical change . So, we can be certain that the seeing of this now means that the sentiments behind it are very significant and will be affecting the political life in this country for a long time.  Most things that happen in the news right now are apt to be important. How we are affected personally depends on where this is happening in one’s chart and also what has been building on one’s life. It can affect one psychologically, emotionally, physically and spiritually or in all of the mentioned ways. On the physical plane, it could manifest as one moving to a new city or home. It could mean that one gives birth or its opposite that one is dealing with the death or possibly death of someone dear to the person. Psychologically, it can manifest as the need to confront something or someone, to face what has been important for some time but which must now be handled. Finally, while it can create events, it may not do so immediately.

The Planets Involved

In this particular chart, the fast moving the Moon, Venus and Mars are acting as triggers which stimulate whatever is in the works and this is why events could occur at this time. The stress for action is very strong. Some people have expressed their feeling that an earthquake here in L.A. is coming or is likely. Such a severe event is not impossible, but that’s not necessarily the way this energetic tension could express itself. What it does signify is the feeling that whatever is happening now is going to be experienced as shocking, intense and extreme. Part of the tension is due to the geometric angles in which the planets find themselves but it is also due to the nature of those planets. Jupiter, the principle of expansion, philosophy, religion and spirituality is opposing Saturn, which is the archetype of restriction, delay, but also manifestation. Saturn is slow because it asks us to bring something into reality, to master something and to avoid missing any steps. This can produce frustration, but only if we try to rush something and do not accept the necessity that things must develop naturally. And with Uranus also involved in its conjunction with Jupiter, we see that the desire for radical change of something can also bring about fear of that change just as quickly.

The Best Strategies to Deal With This Transit

Here are some general ideas of how we might handle what is coming forward right now:

Openness to the New – a new paradigm or structure is emerging for us right now. With it come new challenges, but most of all it signifies some type of  new set of circumstances that we must either adapt to or with which we must work. The famous astrologer, Dane Rudhyar, regarded this type of moment in time as one in which a new seed is planted which will ultimately create an entirely new plant or new cycle. (By the way, this cycle will emerge must more clearly in the late winter and early spring of 2011 when Jupiter and Uranus enter Aries completely).

Intention – Once we understand or can feel what the new seed is about for us, we must then do what we can to embrace it fully, to own it, so to speak. Whatever it is, it is coming about as a necessity, so it is best to intend to work with it, to cooperate with its demands of us and see it as beneficial in the long run. For some this will be easy as the new seed is welcome, but for others, it can be resisted or even fought against. To do so is not helpful, since the coming changes are inevitable. We must learn to hold and even nurture the new seed, so that as it sprouts, we do all we can to help it grow into the new structure that is promised.

Patience – for a variety of reasons, the changes being signaled right now are just emerging and have a ways to go before becoming solid and clear enough to be acted upon fully. What is more likely is that we need to approach whatever we find ourselves being moved toward with openness, but also without any rush. It is too big to be something that can be handled quickly. Saturn is part of this process which means that we must not miss any steps and must go slow enough to build a solid foundation. Saturn provides the rules for all that develops, so respect for that process is so important.

Awareness – In any process that is truly new, there is an inevitable arousal of fears since we are always more familiar with the past that we can be with the future. The future is unknown and different, so if we find ourselves confronting fear as the new approaches, we do not need to be surprised or ashamed. Our job in that situation is to make the effort to continue moving forward.

Mercury Entering the Shadow

I will speak more about this in the next newsletter article, but I’m mentioning it here because it could cause delays in manifesting what the present intense transits are bringing about. Mercury will retrograde at 19° of Virgo on August 19, 2010, but is now in the area in which it will retrograde back towards, so whatever you are considering you can be certain that there will be a review process about it. More on this in future articles.

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.

 

The Coming Cardinal T-Square of 2010

We are now in the beginning of the most interesting period of transits we’ve had in a very long time. It will combine many of the specific transits I’ve been writing about for the past year, but now, all of them are in play at the same time. I intend to write shorter, but more frequent articles in the next few weeks to paint a picture of how things are emerging.

There are four sub-periods worth noting and we are in the first period right now. The second period occurs between July 29-31 and the third period happens about a week later on August 6-7, 2010.

What is happening right now is that Saturn is at the end of its transit in Virgo and will enter Libra on Wednesday, July 21 at 8:09am PDST. As it does so, it immediately moves into an opposition with Jupiter and Uranus in Aries. This is what is being felt right now and will be for the next week or so, when more will develop as well.

I want to quickly summarize what I’ve presented concerning Jupiter and Uranus in Aries. It is the perfect expression of an exuberant embracing of change and, further, the desire and need for a new birth. It is a bright shining star of hope, optimism, technological advancements and unexpected appearances of things we can hardly imagine. However, as strong as this is, and it will actually weaken before it gets going again in 2011, Saturn is opposing it and has been for a year. Saturn is holding us back more now than ever right now. Saturn has us being cautious, tentative, and reluctant to risk too much. We feel the need to hold onto reserves. For example, many corporations have lots of cash to invest with, but are not doing so because of a general pessimism that investment will lead to a sufficient return. Will consumers open up their pocketbook and spend money, especially while unemployment and the uncertainty it brings is still growing? When they don’t do so, the corporations hold back on investing even more and things get even tighter. All of us see the downward spiral this set of considerations is creating.

So, let me ask you. Are you holding back? Not just about money, but about everything? Are you in some way feeling like you are on hold, waiting for something to happen or to receive some signal that you can move forward? I do know some people who are moving forward, but those who are, have been moving slowly toward something in particular for many months now. They are the ones who are now finally getting moving, albeit slowly. In other words, even the ones who are moving forward are doing so pretty slowly and only after a great deal of effort, hard work and patience. This is how we succeed when it comes to Saturn.

An example in the news today is that finally after a great deal of argument and delay, the Senate broke the filibuster and approved aid for 2.5 million unemployed Americans. This is a classic example of the Saturn opposition to Uranus. Change finally arrives after much thought, delay and arguing.

This can be a period of great frustration since we might want to move forward so badly that we can become angry that we are not able to do so. But, more often, we are apt to just feel tired and some people are telling me that they are feeling a bit hopeless. Actually, this is one of the reasons why I write this Blog. If we understand the cycle we are under and that it will end, we are more able to go with the flow, or lack thereof, and wait it out patiently. Or we adjust to the times and work patiently and do what we can do. This is what this period of time does allow us to do. Do what you can, be patient, and take what comes and work with it. The rest will have to wait until the times allow more movement. AND the good news is that…..

Very big changes are in store for us in the coming year. Its tone will be very different from what we are feeling now, such that we will hardly remember this time. But, for now, we have to deal with what we feel right now, and that can be difficult.

I’ll be writing more soon, but would love to hear from you. If you would like for me to post something anonymously, please send it to my email address and I will do so.

Hope you write in.

The Solar Eclipse – Endings and Beginnings

Eclipses always come in pairs, thus the period in between the two eclipses are always important. We are in that period right now. The Lunar Eclipse that occurred on June 26, 2010 will now be followed by a Solar Eclipse that occurs this Sunday, July 11, 2010 at 12:40pm PDT. The exact position for the eclipse is 19° Cancer and will affect most significantly those who have planets activated by this point. Specifically, 17°-21° of all cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn) and 2°-6°of mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces) are points of special significance for us.

A Solar Eclipse always occurs at the New Moon, which means that it is concerned with the emergence of a new cycle of some sort for us. However, it is considered to be as much as 100 times stronger in its effect, than a regular New Moon. We can already begin to feel its effects as eclipses are said to begin before they actually occur in the heavens. There is a ‘set up time’ that brings forward the actions that will be precipitated on or near the date of the eclipse. This is why it’s so helpful to know when the previous eclipse occurred, for they are connected. Both eclipses change the inertia of a situation, meaning that they demand our attention. Something must be taken care of or examined and sometimes action must be taken.

So, let’s take a look at the nature of this particular eclipse. It is part of the Saros cycle called 12 South. Its meaning according to Bernadette Brady is that it “will bring successful outcomes to long-term worries or illness. An issue which has worried or drained the individual for some time will at first seem to be worse and then clear, with generally successful outcomes.” The reason for this is that Jupiter is strong in this particular eclipse cycle and that usually brings about success. I would add, however, that Jupiter is concerned with freedom so that the nature of the success may have a lot to do with the gaining of freedom for someone, which means that a person could decide to leave another person to pursue their own path or purpose. It can often be helpful to have a consultation with an astrologer at this time to help clarify matters and see where things may be leading us, especially given what is developing in the latter part of this month and early August.

On a personal note, I have seen several breakups developing over the last several weeks as well, but what is more important, is the reason for the breakup. In each case, what is bringing the breakup about is a discovery or a set of discoveries about what the person really wants in their life. A major clarification has taken place resulting in the realization that one has little choice to remain in a present situation if the person wants to be truly themselves and pursue the goals and types of relationships that they really want.

This is in part, the nature of Uranus squaring Pluto, where the ‘essence’ of a matter is not only revealed but also the need for authentic behavior is being demanded. Illumination (Uranus) meets the deepest Soul needs (Pluto) and one MUST act to save one’s Soul. That’s how strong the need can be. It is my belief that when the need for action is ignored or refused, profound frustration develops leading to even more dissatisfaction. The present transits are very strong and will not allow us to act in a way that is inauthentic, if we are to be happy.

The Cardinal T-Square

The most critical part of the well known T-square is nearing and will be felt in the next month. Saturn will be in opposition to the Jupiter/Uranus conjunction. In fact, the chart of August 6, 2010 has 7 planets squaring or opposing each other. This chart indicates very high tension and almost always results in either a significant disclosure or event. The market is dropping again but this time, were there to be a real downturn as there was in 2008, there are no reserves to be able to prop the economy back up. Interest rates are so low that they really can’t be lowered any further. Economists are very split on what, if anything, to do, which is a classic condition of so many squares. Obama and some of his advisers would prefer a stimulus package, but the nation, for the most part, wants to cut spending with no added taxes. Feelings are running very strong, but no one knows for sure what needs to occur. There is seemingly no consensus on anything.

There is a lot going on in the U.S. chart right now and will be intensifying in the next year. I will be speaking more about this in future articles, but it is clear that the divisions in this country that we are already seeing are likely to be increasing. This country will be experiencing its Sun squaring Uranus in a year or so and this combination usually brings about some kind of rebellion or revolution. It is usually anti-government in nature. This may not be much of a surprise to many of the readers of this Blog as we have been talking about these things for over a year. The news reveals a growing sense of dissatisfaction with government and it seems to be growing by leaps and bounds. Meanwhile, the more government is attacked, the less the leaders want to do, so we are not seeing any significant actions from the President or Congress. Whether this is a good or bad thing, of course, depends on one’s political viewpoints, but whatever your view, it seems safe to say that the people have less confidence in their leadership no matter which party one is affiliated with. This is quite typical given the conditions that the T-square this country and the world is facing.

As always, I welcome the responses we are getting form our readers. I hope your responses will give some indication of how the eclipses are affecting people in a specific manner. I also hope you check back to the Blog from time to time to see what people are saying.

Thanks for reading and for writing in.

Rising Tensions and Great Transformations

Today’s newsletter is going to run a bit longer than usual. There is a great deal happening right now and therefore a lot of ground to cover. I thought about publishing this in two parts, but have decided to just go for it all at once. There are some very significant world events occurring that are important markers for our future and simultaneously there are also profound culture-changing forces at work as well. So, I’d like to start with the more mundane events, if you can refer to the tragedy of what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico as a mere mundane event. Then we’ll travel into much deeper waters as we look at how Uranus and Pluto are bringing forth new paradigms from the universal and archetypal depths.

Many of my family, friends, students and readers have been emailing me this week asking pretty much the same question- “What’s going on in the heavens?” Well, a lot is going on and I suspect many of you are feeling it in some way. For the past two years we have been going through a lot of tension-producing transits, but it is now that they are all finally coming together as we move into this summer’s cardinal squares between Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Pluto. The activation of this has been what has been emerging this week with special force.

In the Mundane World

Jupiter is moving closer to its conjunction with Uranus, which occurs on June 6, 2010. But on Sunday, May 23, the day this newsletter is being written, Jupiter is in exact opposition to Saturn. Let me begin by looking at the long-term effect of Jupiter opposing Saturn, because, by itself, it is a very important transit. The Jupiter/Saturn cycle is a 20-year cycle that rules the economic and social life of a person, family, business, or nation and the principles that guide these areas of life. The mid-point of this cycle (the 10-year mark) is occurring now, which is what is signaled by the opposition. Any opposition is similar to a Full Moon in that it brings things to a head, a fulfillment, so that the seed of what was planted at the conjunction can now be fully seen. The conjunction in 2000 was at 22° of Taurus, which is an earth sign. Yes, an earth sign. Maybe we ought to look at what the earth is telling us.

The Great Oil Spill(?)

There are a variety of astrological factors that can explain this increasingly horrible event. But I believe that the chief thing that has triggered this is the very transit I’m writing about now. As of now, we do not have a clue as to how big this spill is going to be nor what the effects on our environment and economy will be. This is not a spill. The images we are finally beginning to see show that huge amounts of oil are pouring into the Gulf of Mexico. We are discovering that we are not being told anywhere near the full story about the amounts flowing out of this gash in the Gulf or when it will be stopped. We do not know what things will look like when the crisis has ended. Will there be oil on the beaches from Mexico to the north Atlantic? How many animals will perish and how severely will the economy be affected? A friend described the gushing forth of oil in a particularly accurate way when he said, “Mother Earth is bleeding out as if a surgical knife had accidentally hit a major artery.” It seems that sometimes images and poetry are the only real way to comprehend the truth.

Let’s return to the Jupiter/Saturn part of this event. To this author, there is a connection between this event and what happened in 2000 when George Bush and Dick Cheney were elected. In the following years Cheney held private meetings with the energy companies only the purpose of which was to ‘create’ an energy policy (?). This resulted in relaxed oversight of the oil companies in many areas. We are only now finding out about what this meant specifically. We were not allowed to know what was decided and what role the government would play in the new policies. But as we look at what is happening in the Gulf, the first question is “Why was there no contingency plans in place for an event like the one we are seeing?” It seems that no one thought this could happen. But can we be that naïve? There doesn’t seem to be a solution in place for this eventuality. How can this be?

This is but one example of what an opposition between Jupiter and Saturn can reveal. The nature of oppositions is that they reveal the truth or effects of something decided upon much earlier at the conjunction. The world is now seeing this in all of its disgusting and alarming images. I suspect that what will be revealed from this has only just begun.

Why Humans Often Learn the Hard Way and How Change Takes Place

One of the basic principles I offer is that individuals and collective entities are not the same. Individuals can choose to become aware of something before a huge crisis forces them to pay attention. We can extrapolate and prevent the worst effects of something before they strike. Large or collective organizations rarely do this. So, now, as a people, we are reaping (Saturn) what we have sown. I’m not really blaming the Bush administration. It is the entire nation that will bear the results of this. I say this because this nation loves its cars and the cheap gas that enables us to do what we want when we want. We have absolutely refused to change our lifestyle and have continued to regard views that we should pay attention to the potential damage to our environment with great disdain. Politicians always end up doing what the voters want. For the most part, they are followers. It’s the way of things.

I would like to add that before writing this blog article, I have spoken with many conservative friends about this event. Most of them agree with what I’ve said here. They do not see this article as a political one, but as a simple description of where we are as a people. It is my belief that both political parties represent ‘old ways’ of operating. Real rebellion will be seen when the entire system itself begins to be questioned. This is likely to come from more than one direction. The Tea Party movement is one arm of this process. It is not the only one. The change of which I am speaking goes much deeper and is more inclusive than what any one organization can bring forth.

What We Can Learn – Building for the Future

The implications of this massive spill are likely to be felt for many years. They will likely result in a new look at our energy policies and could become a springboard for the funding of research for alternative energy sources and many other things. As a people, we will learn from this and begin to regard the warnings of those who have been concerned about this as real and we will begin to do something about it. This is what oppositions are really for. They make us aware of something that has not yet been seen and felt, so they we can then act in a better way. It may even lead to the emergence of a new paradigm. This takes us to the deeper aspects of the present transits.

Rising Anxiety Accompanied by Rising Potentialities

I am giving an example of a real life crisis that is illuminating an area of life that is important. But underlying all of this is something much deeper. Because the outer planets of Uranus and Pluto are involved, something much bigger lies just below the surface of the world’s consciousness and for each of us as well. To understand the significance of the transits that are just beginning we must take a new look at Uranus and Pluto.

Uranus Challenging Saturn’s Power

The nature of Uranus is to bring about a revolution, a new way of thinking about the nature of reality. As such it must challenge Saturn’s power, its exclusivity, dominance and rigidity. When active like it is now, Uranus projects a fundamentally new image or paradigm into the world view of the people. It creates a new ‘ego’ in the sense that we don’t recognize ourselves after the change takes place. It asks for a transformation that brings to us a new way of perceiving reality. Uranus is called the “Illuminator” in that it brings forth the light of the Universal Principles so they may be seen in new forms and capable of fulfilling new needs at a particular time and place. It is a higher vibration which means some of us will be able to have new understandings that are more inclusive, holistic and integrated. When Uranus transits with Saturn as it is doing right now, it can bring about a confusing mixture of the old resisting the new, which simultaneously frustrates while also giving us hope of a new approach at the same time.

Pluto as the Sower of the Celestial Seed

The marvelous astrologer, Dane Rudhyar refers to Pluto in a poetic way as the ‘sower of the celestial seed.’ A seed is created as part of the plant’s way of surviving, but that seed isn’t the plant itself. It is in the plant, but not of it. Thus, the seed is an archetypal image of transformation or the death-rebirth process. Before rebirth can occur, however, there must be a descent into the depths, for one’s very identity must die before anything truly new can be born. This is what makes the Plutonic process evolutionary in nature. It calls forth a leap into totally new territory. In this sense it follows the new insights of Uranus with the call for the creation of a truly new plant or way of being. One might ask the question – “Where does this new creation come from?” Certainly an aspect comes from the old plant in part, but that alone couldn’t create anything truly new. Something more essential is at play here.

Pluto is attempting to concretize or bring substance to the Divine itself. It is universal in nature, but becomes specific for an individual. This occurs through the realization that by confronting both sides of the life experience we can be transformed in a fundamental way. Can we know abundance if we never experience poverty? Can we know health if we have never experienced disease? I do not refer to a mere intellectual understanding. That is not enough to bring about the kind of rebirth that may literally change one’s DNA. This process is visceral, in one’s body, and changes us forever. In its highest sense, it can take us so far from one’s old understandings that an entirely new paradigm or way of looking at reality is created. This can be resisted and often is, at least at first. When that happens, things turn ugly as we attempt to force things in a ruthless and manipulative way. But for some of us, Pluto calls us to go through a life-changing process that opens us up to a totally new way of Being

Summary

We are going through a very unusual period now and there will be many different ways in which it will manifest. It can be helpful to acknowledge the fact that a fundamental, cultural shift is emerging for us, both as individuals as well as the collective society. For some of us, it can lead to a deep transformation that enables to see ourselves as Divine beings, with a purpose that transcends mere personal matters. Every realization we make can be thought of as a doorway to a profoundly new understanding of ourselves and the World in which we live.  But the fundamental changes to which I refer are not here yet. There are the feelings of tension, frustration and anxiety that always precedes major changes, but they are a part of the coming future. The bigger changes are not quite here yet. We have more to see and discover. For some people that I know, relationships are ending. These endings are best seen as indicators of a bigger shift in terms of the way one regards relationship in general. Every change one goes through now may end up being bigger and more significant that what we are able to see in the moment. It is a very exciting time to be alive, especially because of all the challenges we may be facing. Why? Because there is a very good chance that some real change will become possible as a result of what is coming to the surface. Pun intended.

Please feel free to make comments and express personal experiences to the readers of this Blog.

Thanks so much.

When is Deadlock Really Deadlock?

There are quite a few very interesting transits occurring right now, the strongest of which indicates delay and even deadlock, but some of which also indicates progress and movement as well. I find that this is when astrology can really help us understand not only what is happening in the present, but also be able to extrapolate on where things might be going. Let’s get specific.

1. On Monday, April 26th, 2010, Saturn opposed Uranus. This transit has been in effect since it happened for the first time on the day when Obama was elected President, Nov. 4, 2008. His entire Administration up to now has been ruled by this significant planetary transit.
2. There is a Full Moon on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 5:18am PDST. The Sun will be at 8° Taurus and the Moon will oppose the Sun at 8° Scorpio.
3. Finally, there is the Inferior conjunction between the Sun and Mercury (the conjunction when Mercury is retrograde) also on April 28 only three hours after the Full Moon.

These three transits then are happening so close together that they are, in effect, acting as one very significant transit.

The headline in the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday morning, April 27th was “GOP unites to block Finance bill.” In the article we discover that the vote was regarded by most observers as political theater. On one hand, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that “a party (meaning the Republican Party) that stands with Wall Street is a party that stands against families and fairness.” In rebuttal, Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell states that the GOP believes that the Democrats plan does not do enough to ensure that the government would not again foot the bill for bailing out institutions deemed to be ‘too big to fail.’ Isn’t there a way for these two viewpoints to come together? It does seem a bit crazy to think that there’s no way for something that both sides could embrace.

The average citizen can only read this and wonder what is going on. It is next to impossible to be able to tell exactly what each party stands for and against. There is certainly the sense that Congress is almost completely deadlocked. It has been during the entire period when Saturn is opposed to Uranus. The general and simplistic meaning of this transit is that the forces of change (Uranus) are going to be met with resistance (Saturn). Most of the time, after a long and drawn out fight, the forces of change will probably win.

But deadlock is not the only way a transit like this can manifest. It is also true that any important changes should be examined carefully before being enacted, which means that the Saturn force is needed. It does have the potential to bring about a more studied approach rather than a knee-jerk reaction to the impetuousness of Uranian need for sudden change. I would offer the idea that frustration builds up over time when people feel that needed changes are, for some reason, not being made. This is when a transit like this one can become so difficult.

Increased Polarization

The fact is that transit oppositions often bring about increased polarization. This allows for a revealing of the different viewpoints around any issue. In other words, people do differ in their respective approaches to social and political issues, but most of the time, there is not great emphasis on this. When oppositions or squares occur, the situation changes and great emphasis on the differences become much more pronounced. This is especially true when there is great frustration around the issues.

Look at what is happening in Arizona, where the most severe immigration bill in U.S. history has been passed. This bill is quite complicated, but it directs the police to stop anyone who they deem as a possible illegal alien and to demand proof that they are in the U.S. legally. It even goes so far to allow citizens to sue the police if an officer does not enforce this new law. There are many legal reasons why this bill is unlikely to ever become law, but that isn’t stopping the state of Arizona from attempting to enforce it. Obama has already ordered the Justice Dept. to investigate the law to determine if it is unconstitutional. The oddity of this law is what is so striking. How can a police officer determine who they can stop or question without using race or ethnicity as the primary factor? It is illegal to do so. Yet, the Arizona lawmakers contend that there is a way. Now, the State of Arizona has actually asked the U.S. Justice Dept. to help them determine legal ways to implement and enforce this law.

Is this law not an expression of huge frustration and polarization? It has already increased the polarization, not only in the U.S., but also Mexico. Some in Mexico are already concerned about legal tourists from Mexico being harassed or detained. Many are calling for boycotts, a reminder of the boycotts of many organizations who refused to have any conferences or conventions in state due to Arizona’s refusal to enact the Martin Luther King holiday.

Yet, the point of this is that when people are extremely frustrated, they will often call for extreme actions or draconian measures, if only to bring greater attention to a problem that has been ignored. The polarization this brings about then demands that whatever issues are being brought forth now be addressed and confronted. Thus, a re-balancing or equilibrium can result from that.

How Can Individuals Can Handle This?

While it is quite interesting to look at how astrology is affecting events in our nation or the general collective, it is perhaps more relevant to my readers to look at how we can use this information to help us learn and grow as we handle these same transits on a personal level. The real purpose behind my mentioning the way that events manifest in the outer world is to help us extrapolate on them and apply the principles we can learn from them to our own lives and situations.

This is a great time to pay close attention to whatever polarities are operating for us now, whether they are in our relationships, career or life goals. We can begin to inquire into questions such as where do I feel conflicted, what do I need to bring to some form of resolution, what must I make an effort to clarify, etc.

The Next Full Moon and the Mid-point of the Mercury Retrograde

Since a Full Moon can bring things to a head or fulfillment, this is a great time to become clear about some area with which we find ourselves struggling. The fact that we are also experiencing the Inferior Conjunction between the Sun and Mercury, suggests that the idea(s) that will help us most are likely to be new and/or inspiring ones. At this stage of the Mercury Retrograde, more will still have to be reviewed, but at the mid-point of this cycle, something old is ending and that simultaneously means that something new is emerging. So, if you are connecting with a new idea, concept or approach to an area of your life, it is good to be open to it, while continuing to investigate and learn more so that one is able to make the right decision as we move forward.

Please feel free to express your thoughts to this article and to also let the readers know how you are being affected by these transits.

Thanks.