The study of astrology becomes really interesting when we have several significant astrological factors happening at one time. The period we are in right now is one of those times. Here’s what is happening:

1. Mercury is in retrograde, which began on November 23, 2011 and will continue that way for two more weeks.
2. We had a Solar eclipse on November 24th and will have a Lunar eclipse on December 10th.
3. Mars is in its ‘shadow’ period.
4. There will be the Inferior conjunction between the Sun and Mercury on December 4th.

Any one of these is important by itself, but together it creates a confusing, but active period full of cross-currents and complexities that can defy our attempts to navigate if we only use logic as our guide. You may want to refer to my previous article for more information on the Solar eclipse and Mercury retrograde which you can find here.

What I want to talk about in this article is how the Mars transit fits into all of this. To understand the Mars cycle, you will need to know that ordinarily Mars moves along smoothly at a fairly rapid speed. It moves almost 1° a day for most of its two-year cycle. Thus, unless it is transiting a particularly important part of our chart, we may not take notice of its influence. It takes about 2 years for Mars to orbit the Sun, but for 6-7 months, Mars does something very different and this 6-month period is actually 25% of its 2-year cycle. What makes this so important is that it spends this period in only 20° of the zodiac. This means that during this time, we are going to be very focused on a very small portion of our chart when it comes to Martian matters.

What Does Mars Rule?

The Mars energy is how we assert ourselves, how we project our Will out into the world, to affect it the way we want or, as is often the case, the way we must. It rules our strategies, approaches to projects and the way we act or behave to get what we want and need. During this high focus Mars period we are forced to really consider what we are doing. We will need to take a really good look at what we want to achieve and how we should go about doing that.

The Mars Cycle Itself

Mars will go retrograde on Jan. 23, 2012 and stay in retrograde motion for 11 weeks. Ordinarily, Mars is retrograde for only 8 weeks.  So this upcoming period of review is going to last much longer than normal and therefore be more intense.

Why Talk About this Cycle Now?

On November 17, 2011, Mars entered the territory it will retrograde back to by April 14th of next year. So, it is already in the area of your chart that will be a part of the “review and discovery” process that will last until early summer of 2012. That’s seven months. So, even though Mars will not go retrograde for another 7 weeks, the Mars cycle has actually already begun.

What This Means

Let me first say that this does not mean one should not act or do things. Such a notion would be ridiculous. But it is going to be helpful to note that whatever is set into motion right now, could be reviewed and/or modified over the next months. I’m suggesting that one ‘expect unanticipated results or effects from whatever we begin at this point.

Remember that with Mercury retrograde right now and a coming lunar eclipse, we are in a state of great transition. This is not a stable period of time, especially if your chart is affected by these transits. What I do during periods such as these is make sure that whatever I choose to do is as well thought out as I can possibly make it. I will tend to avoid snap decisions if I can and wait until I’m sure of whatever decision I’m thinking of making. But it is just as true that amazing new ideas can begin to come in to us. We should not refuse them, of course, but we also should not act on them yet as they are not likely to be fully formed for quite awhile.

Mars in Virgo

Mars is now in Virgo and will be for 7 months. Virgos love to break things down into their parts and see what is out of balance or what isn’t working the way it could. Then, after that, they want to organize it into a comprehensive whole. That’s the hardest part for them as they can focus excessively on details and not see the whole picture. They also love to improve the techniques or style of whatever they are involved in. This is a great time for all of us to focus in on health, diet, and nutrition issues as we can discover new ways to take care of our body and mind. Also, any health issues that come up for you now or in the near future, should be taken seriously as they could be hints of problems you will want to address.

Mars square Mercury While Retrograde

In the middle of all this, we also have a potential crisis that we would do well to handle without falling into a severe argumentative approach. This transit which happens on December 4th and January 1st, 2012 is a time I would suggest all of us watch carefully. These two periods are a time where people could take belligerent or argumentative stands. Things could easily turn nasty and create long-lasting effects. What this period is good for, if both parties of a dispute can remain composed and focused on solutions, is to find creative ways to look at their conflict from a new perspective. Another constructive aspect of this transit is that if two people are trying to work something out AND one of them has been less powerful than the other in the past, then this period could allow for things to equalize. The weaker person may suddenly want to be heard and seen. The outcome will depend on how well the stronger person handles this ‘new’ approach by the other. If the dominant one doesn’t like the change they see, they could fight back aggressively and become intransient, which would make moving forward impossible. For some, this could be a trying time. Patience and calmness is extremely important now. With the Sun/Mercury Inferior conjunction also occurring on December 4th, clarity is possible as we can see more than ever how things really are. What we do with that clarity is important, but I suggest that we not rush to resolution. Issues coming up now may be significant ones, so much so that they cannot be solved quickly. It will be enough to agree to enter a process with the other person, if both sides want to work through the problems. But it may be that the conflict cannot be resolved. This is another reason why it is best to wait and see rather than push towards a solution that cannot happen right away.

As you can see, the first 10 days of December are quite difficult for some of you. We will succeed if we can hold our tongues while still asserting ourselves in as constructive a manner as possible and remain patient and non-reactive.

I will be writing more through December as so much is going on.

This article takes a look at the potentially important date of November 23-24, 2011, when two significant transits happen within hours of each other. Each of these by itself can bring about important changes, but when they coincide, one can pretty much count on it bringing some interesting effects. This will depend, of course, on whether or not, a particular chart is activated by these transits.

Mercury Retrograde

Astrology has become more and more popular in the last 10-20 years. In fact, as a result of this growth, much of the scientific community seems rather irritated and concerned with it. Even those rascally comedians, Penn & Teller have attacked it with great vigor. Yet, astrology grows in spite of or perhaps because of this criticism. Also, because more and more people are seeing the accuracy of astrology in describing what and why is happening in our daily lives. The reason why I’m so confident of this growth is that I find that many people are aware of the effects of Mercury retrograde. In fact, many people blame all sorts of things on Mercury retrograde, unfortuantely even when Mercury isn’t retrograde at all. Still, a lot of people know about the phenomenon and include it in their voccabulary.

Part of the problem with interpreting Mercury retrograde cycles is that its effects don’t just occur during the 3-week period itself. It’s actually a 4-month cycle with at least 8 sub-cycles, all of which are part of a holistic understanding of the retrograde cycle. I say this because Mercury doesn’t turn retrograde until Nov. 23rd, 2011at 11:21pm PST, but is affecting us already. It will turn retrograde at 20° of Sagittarius and will then go back to 3° Sag. on Dec. 14th , 2011. It is affecting us now because it is already slowing down and is in what is called the ‘shadow’ period. This is the territory in which Mercury will travel three times. This means that wherever it is located in a person’s natal chart signifies an area on one’s life that will be given focused attention for almost 2 months. Specifically, from Nov. 5, 2011 through Jan. 1, 2012, Mercury will be traveling between 3° – 20° of Sagittarius. If you are a serious follower of astrology you may want to know where this territory is located in your chart and what aspect of your life will be receiving special focus and understanding.

This is much closer to how Mercury retrograde cycles affect us. The view that Mercury retrograde periods bring about computer crashes, car repairs, problems with phones and other forms of communications, delays in deliveries, cancellations of appointments, etc. are all a common part of this cycle, to be sure. There are often a lot of inconveniences that come up for us at this time. But, frankly, this is due in part to not caring for these ‘predictable’ problems much earlier. Maybe we were too busy with other things to change the oil, fix the heater, and so on. Suddenly, Mercury retrograde strikes and problems occur that could have been prevented if we chose to get them fixed earlier. Still, surprises do occur as a natural part of the cycle.

Basically, this is Mercury retrograde is a time to focus on two things:

1. It is a time to review.
2. It is a time to finish projects that are near completion.

The Solar Eclipse

Solar eclipses are inertia changers. They can suddenly change the direction and momentum of events in a person’s life. This eclipse takes place about 23 hours after Mercury changes direction. It happens on Nov. 24th, 2011 at 10:10pm at 2° Sagittarius. If your Sun, Moon, or Ascendant occurs with 1°-2° from that point, then there is a strong likelihood that you will notice this eclipse. People who have the same degree in the mutable signs of Virgo, Gemini or Pisces will also be affected.

I will be going deeper into the chart of this eclipse in next week’s article but I would like to mention the Saros cycle that this eclipse activates. It is called 14 North and is considered to be an indicator of odd or strange effects. Specifically, it can bring about a time of confusion in personal relationships (Venus and Neptune dancing together), unexpected happenings in financial matters, and even a degree of disappointment and despair. However, it may be more of a feeling from within than a reaction to a specific event or happening. This is not a time to make important decisions as one’s response may not be accurate, due to confusion, miscommunication and even delusion from others. By the way, this is also not a good time to make significant decisions due to Mercury going retrograde.

As in all matters, sometimes we are forced by life situations to make decisions whether we like or not, so if you are faced with that necessity, then use as much caution as possible and if possible, see if one can delay having to finalize the matter.

Next week I will be going deeper into both the Mercury retrograde and Solar Eclipse areas.

Although eclipses are not rare, this particular one is extremely so. In fact, this type of eclipse will not occur for another 1,200 years. This is the first of 72 eclipses in a new Saros Series called 13 New South. I am not going to go into the details of what a Saros cycle is for that discussion is too long, but it is one of the longest cycles that we have in astrology. A new Saros Series begins at the South Pole which is exactly where this one has just occurred. The birth chart for this series which will be active every time it repeats, which is every 18 years or so, includes a Grand Cross involving the New Moon in Cancer, Uranus in Aries, Saturn in Libra and Pluto in Capricorn. The closest midpoints are Pluto on the midpoint of Mars/Jupiter and Jupiter on the midpoint of The Sun/Neptune.

This Solar Eclipse occurred on July 1, 2011 at 9° of Cancer at 1:54am PDT. It is a very high tension chart since a configuration known as a cardinal grand cross highlights this dynamic set of aspects. The fact that it is a cardinal cross means that there is strong need for conscious action in order to handle the stresses inherit in this chart. If this doesn’t occur, the stresses can cause damage with one’s relationships. Why? Because a grand cross means that there are 4 squares and two oppositions which bring forth long-lasting issues in such a powerful way that they can no longer be ignored. The truth, whatever it might be, must be faced, acknowledged and some sort of actions must be taken. With Pluto involved a transformation is possible, but for that to be successful, one must recognize the fact that material from the depths of one’s unconscious is coming to the surface. Pluto transits are never easy because the material is in the unconscious for a reason. The material I am referring to is often called ‘shadow’ material. We can think of this as aspects of our psyche that we do not approve of, such as guilt, shame, or fear which comes from events in our lives that have wounded or shamed us in some way and which we are afraid to see. This is the time to face these issues so that they no longer control us and create needless havoc in our lives.

This eclipse has two very potent mid-points. The first is Pluto is on the Mars/Jupiter mid-point. It will push us to engage in some project or issue with great intensity and effort. One will want to expend great energy as one senses that this might be the beginning of an important endeavor that one has desired for a very long time. In other words it could signify the ending of a stalemate or blocked period of time when it seemed impossible to move ahead in the way one wants. While obstacles still remain, there is a good chance that with great effort, the logjam can be brought to an end.

For those of you who are sports fans, we see that there are lockouts in two sports, football and basketball. One is rumored to be coming to an end, while the other is seen as so intractable that an entire season may be lost. Pluto rules the super wealthy and they will want to keep and even increase that wealth and power. Obviously, the hot issue of Washington right now is whether or not to extend the debt ceiling. Both sides are dug in with one wanting to raise taxes on the very wealthy and the other refusing to do so in any manner. It is likely to be a huge battle with severe outcomes for the nation if the nation is not able to pay its debts.

As many of my readers know, my view of astrology is that it is important to make a distinction between how a nation or culture responds to astrological forces as compared with individuals. The reason is that individuals have freedoms that a nation as a whole does not have. Individuals can choose to become more conscious and aware, but a nation is a composite of multiple forces, beliefs, opinions, and generally acts in an unconscious manner. It seems that nations, states, etc. must act out the drama in front of the entire citizenry, whereas each person is allowed the freedom and wisdom to work things out before a huge crisis has to be enacted. In our country right now, politics is as much theater as anything else. The problem is that the consequences are not just acted out on stage.

The second very important mid-point is that Jupiter is aligned with the Sun/Neptune planetary pair. This has the potential of bringing long and tough issues to a gentle conclusion due to Neptune’s ability to bring compassion and understanding of other people into the arena. It can also bring confusion and deception, but we can hope for better, can’t we? The biggest problem for Neptune is being unrealistic. When it is involved in a transit, we can imagine something as being true, which isn’t. Our perceptions could be confused and one can imagine that things are either worse or better than they really are. It is helpful to ask people we can trust to verify whether or not we perceiving things accurately for there is a real chance for misjudgments.

As always, we love replies to our newsletter articles, but especially during potentially big events such as eclipses.

We wish you a happy and safe holiday.

It is customary for our planet Earth to have a Solar (New Moon) and Lunar (Full Moon) eclipse once every six months, but this month is a bit different. This time we have two Solar eclipses with a Lunar eclipse right in between creating three eclipses, back to back, all happening during the month of June. Although this does happen occasionally, we can expect this month to be an important turning point for those of us who have planets in their birth chart in close aspect (3°) to the location of the eclipses. The first in the series occurs at 11° of Gemini on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 2:03pm PDT. The second of the series is the Lunar eclipse on June 15, 2011 at 24° of Sagittarius at 1:14pm PDT. And finally, we will have a second Solar eclipse on Friday, July 1, 2011 at 9° of Cancer.

I’m going to focus on the first eclipse of the series for this article and will talk about the others in the next newsletter. Many of my readers know that I regard a Solar eclipse as an ‘inertia destroyer.’ Things can be going along pretty well, or shall we say, normally, and then an eclipse occurs on a sensitive point in our chart and suddenly it seems that everything is shifting. The other way we can experience an eclipse is that it can trigger changes that have been brewing for some time but which have seemed to be stagnant and unmoving. In other words, eclipses tend to break the momentum of the past and create or force us into a new direction.

In astrology, eclipses have very bad reputations. Many astrologers regard them as ‘bad.’ Nothing good can come from an eclipse, many say. But this makes no sense to me. And, from my personal experience I know it isn’t true. My view is that what makes an eclipse feels good or bad is how we personally experience it in the short term. In my case, I once had a significant eclipse on my Jupiter and wondered for months what it would elicit. Would it be fortunate or unfortunate? Would I be lucky or unlucky since Jupiter rules luck? In actual fact, however, this particular eclipse resulted in my deciding to start the Sher Astrological Institute. Jupiter also rules education and this is exactly what was triggered by that eclipse. It was not unlucky for me to say the least. Also, it is helpful to be aware that what can seem terrible in the short run may turn out to be quite necessary for our personal growth later. It is not possible to avoid pain in life, so if there was a destructive aspect of an eclipse, often we see later, that we could not have progressed into new territory in the future without that pain. This principle can be hard to hear when we are in the midst of loss, but if it does occur, at least in the back of our minds, we can remember or feel that there may be important meaning for us even if it seems impossible to admit while we are in the midst of its effects.

This particular eclipse is characterized by a trine to Saturn. This adds a seriousness and purposefulness to this eclipse. Most of all, if you are in a process of creating or expanding a business, this is a great time to move forward as long as you have already determined the kind of structure or plan you need. If not, then this is the time to do it, so that when Saturn goes direct in a week, you will be ready to take advantage of new opportunities coming your way.

Of greater interest to many who pay attention to Saros cycles, this eclipse is called 13 South. Saros cycles are extremely long cycles that repeat every 19 years. The meaning of this one as interpreted by Bernadette Brady is that it carries two opposing forces. One is quite expansive, while the other is restrictive and delays progress. The reason for the expansion and optimism is that Jupiter is connected to the New Moon of this series. But due to the influences of both Mars and Saturn with it, there can also be frustration, inhibition, delays and separations included in the mix. In order to get an idea of how difficult this eclipse might be for a person, one would have to examine the natal chart of the specific person very thoroughly as the more negative aspects possible here are quite rare.

Jupiter and Saturn

In addition to the series of eclipses, this busy month has two additional factors to be considered. On June 5, 2011, Jupiter changes signs and enters Taurus for a one-year stay. And on June 13, 2011, Saturn turns back to its direct motion. Together these changes signal that important matters can move forward strongly. I will be going into this in future articles, but Jupiter’s entrance into earthy Taurus indicates that the inspiration and enthusiasm of Aries is now turning into opportunities for some of the things we have been considering to actually be manifested. Slow, steady and determined work is Taurus’ signature, so it is best not to seek fast results. But with Saturn also moving ahead again, we are entering a great time of steady progress as long as we are practical, do our homework and remain steadfast. The doors are opening fully now, so if you are involved in a project that you take seriously, this is the time to move with confidence and optimism. At times like these, one can achieve real results that can endure.

As always, I’d love to hear about your experience of this month’s shifts and changes, so please reply if you feel inspired to write.

We would like to wish all of our readers a very Happy New Year. The coming year promises to be a very exciting one with many new cycles being born that will change our lives in exciting and unpredictable ways. The first major astrological event comes quickly as there is a Solar Eclipse on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at 1:03am PST. A Solar Eclipse always occurs at a New Moon, but becomes perhaps 100 times stronger in its effects than a regular New Moon. I refer to a Solar Eclipse as an inertia destroyer, as it seems to force us to make a significant shift in some aspects of our lives.

Where this eclipse occurs in our birth-chart will determine the area of our life that is likely to be affected most. This eclipse occurs at 13°Capricorn and it is identified as 13 North in the Saros cycle system used by Bernadette Brady. A Saros cycle specifies the nature of a particular eclipse according to a very long (sometimes over 1,000 years) cycle of a repeating theme of 19 years in duration. I have found that this system is a reliable indicator describing the nature of any particular eclipse.

Let me describe the nature of this particular Solar Eclipse. “This family of eclipses is concerned with groups and associations. Its energy is about large, ambitious group projects. In order for these projects to begin, a separation or the breaking of a bond that already exists is likely. The individual affected may well experience this eclipse as a separation and then as a joint achievement.” The way I interpret Brady’s writing is that before a new group or relationship can begin, something old that is outworn or energetically dead, has to end before the new cycle can begin. This nature of this particular eclipse seems to be more disruptive than most but promises to also cause the bringing about of new starts and new relationships.

The chart of this particular eclipse affirms this theme as there is a Venus trine to the Jupiter conjunction to Uranus which suggests that there is an easy flow and harmony in the establishing of new relationships or partnerships that are needed for one’s future growth. Jupiter is accelerating now and will enter the sign of Aries on January 22, 2011. When it does, we can expect a tremendous surge in new activity and the start of many new projects that have been emerging for the last several months. What has been postponed or tabled can truly begin in late winter and early spring..

This issue of the newsletter also contains an article by LeeAnn Lambright on the sign of Capricorn. Because this eclipse is in this sign, I would like to urge you to read it carefully, as it will inform you about the nature of this momentum changing transit. Let me add that while sometimes these eclipses bring about events within days of the eclipse, it also is set up at least a month in advance and can last for six more months (which is when the next eclipse occurs) as the changes beginning now start to grow.

Mercury Goes Direct

On December 30, 2010, Mercury turned back to its direct motion ending the Mercury retrograde cycle. This tells us that whatever new information we have gleaned over the last 3 weeks is now established so we can move forward with more confidence. However, the issues that came up at this time are still being processed in terms of what actions are necessary to take. Because of this transit along with both the Lunar and Solar Eclipses, much has been revealed and some action may have already been taken as a result of what we are confronting, but dealing concretely with what has come up is still very much a work in progress.

In general, we are entering a very active phase right now. There are no major retrograde planets and Jupiter will enter Aries at the latter part of this month, so it may be a great time to be open to making changes in our life that lead to a greater sense of freedom and opportunity. The excitement is increasing and we can enjoy it if we’re able to embrace the new, emerging cycle.

As always, please feel free to share what you are experiencing during this Solar Eclipse period.

Thanks so much.

Astrology is best understood in terms of cycles, rather than regarding events as individual and isolated moments that are not connected to anything. Sometimes it is difficult to see these cycles operating, but one of the ways we can do so is when we are able to connect the transits occurring at present with previous cycles. Perhaps, I can describe this better by giving a specific example.

My natal Venus is 20° Cancer, which means that the recent Solar eclipse, was in close conjunction with that planet in my birth chart. I know that most of us think of Venus as an indicator of love and relationships, which is certainly true. But Venus is more than that. It rules our sense of the aesthetic and the way in which art, music, design, etc., connect us with the divine principles operating in the universe. Gurdjieff referred to this principle as “objective art.” This form of art is designed consciously by the artist to create a specific effect in the observer that speaks to not only the mind, but to the heart as well. It can even help us integrate the two, allowing us to experience something that takes us into new territories as we can apprehend something that speaks to our Soul, rather than to mere parts of our being.

In astrology, I often look for what I call ‘sensitive points.’ Today’s article is about this. A sensitive point is created in more than one way, but the one that applies to the recent eclipse is a very significant transit that occurred in 1993. I am referring to the conjunction of Uranus and Neptune, which last occurred in 1993. Its location was in the area of 20° of Capricorn. This means that the recent eclipse was in exact opposition to the newly born cycle of Uranus and Neptune that happened 17 years ago. This conjunction only occurs every 160-170 years, so it is very rare. Many generations can pass by without anyone experiencing this new birth or ‘renaissance’. The one word that best describes the meaning and effects of this conjunction is the word ‘Renaissance.’ By the way, the previous conjunction before the one in 1993 occurred in 1821 at 3° of Capricorn, which is also being activated by the present transits in the early degrees of the cardinal signs (Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn and Pluto).

Back in 1993, I was very aware of this conjunction and since it was opposing my Venus, I suspected I might be in store for some big changes in my relationships. This did not happen and I often asked myself what had happened. Why didn’t anything more obvious or noticeable happen? Well, one thing did happen, but it didn’t seem to be significant. I began taking harp lessons which I continued for about 6 years until I could play in front of people and have some fun. I was learning to play on a beautiful Dusty Strings harp that was perfectly made for Celtic and ‘troubadour’ music. I really enjoyed this, but still I wondered why something bigger didn’t occur. I knew that conjunctions mark beginnings so it can often be that the full importance of the new cycle isn’t revealed until later, which turned out to be the case for me.

Well, a Solar eclipse is exactly one of those periods where the ‘seed’ that was planted at the earlier conjunction 17 years ago can begin to come to some sort of fruition. I know that this is exactly what is happening to me now. The realizations I’m writing about in this article have only come to me in the last few weeks or so, although it feels like I’ve understood it for a long time. More specifically, what I’ve been focused on the last few months has been the reading of three books by Kathleen McGowan. Her books have covered many things, including the hidden role of women in history over the past 2,000 years, the nature of the Divine Feminine and the possibility of  ’sacred marriage’ (hierosgamos) and finally she presents a revision of the life of Jesus and his relationship with Mary Magdalene. To me, she goes way beyond the silly book by Dan Brown called “The Da Vinci Code.” She did a far better job of imagining a new scenario for what early Christianity might have looked like and connected it with aspects of early Christianity that Brown simply didn’t understand. In her third book, called “The Poet Prince,” she examines the historical period of the 1400′s in Florence, Italy, when there was a tremendous outpouring of art and philosophy that later became known as the Renaissance.

What captured my attention the most was the story she told about Marsilio Ficino. I had read many of his works before, but had not fully grasped the nature of the contributions he made to Western thought. He was an astrologer and revolutionary philosopher who was responsible for the translation of the ancient text called the “Corpus Hermeticum” which brought forth ancient Greek philosophy that was developed even before Socrates and Plato. What he was really doing was re-interpreting Christianity itself and revealing its connection to both ancient Egyptian and Greek thought. His works, in fact, were direct attacks on the Roman Catholic Church of his time and the form of Christianity that existed then. Ficino was not alone, however. Along with his patron, Lorenzo de Medici, his friend Sandro Botticelli, he and many others such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo were instrumental in transforming the lives of the people of Florence, which was then extended to all of northern Italy and in time, to all of Europe. This group of true artists changed the world and still are affecting us today.

Let me describe briefly what Hermeticism is. It is a philosophy that combines science and spirituality as well as other divisions in human thought into one discipline. Its purpose is to lay a foundation that can lead a person towards a spiritual path that is non-dual in nature, a unity state of consciousness that assists a person to truly align with the Divine spark within. This can be thought of as the definition of Wisdom. The Hermeticists combined astrology, numerology (the study of sacred number) and other systems of symbology and mythology into a system that can change the way a person thinks, lives and perceives the world. The system is integrative and holistic in nature and ends the separation between body, mind and heart. Astrology, then, can be seen as an aspect of the hermetic traditions and as such, reveals itself to be a tool for transformation of one’s consciousness and the expansion of a person so that the highest potentialities of a person’s birth chart can be realized. In fact, this view regards astrology to be a map of potentials, rather than an indication of a singular Fate.

So, what does this have to do with Venus and the Solar eclipse on my natal Venus? What this eclipse did is activate the transit of Uranus/Neptune opposing my natal Venus that occurred in 1993. As I look back on it, this transit changed my whole sense of relationships, art and most of all, my aesthetics. I just didn’t realize it at the time. It broadened my life in ways I couldn’t see back then. I have now remembered that this is when I began an intense study and practice of the ancient Greek hermetic tradition. I just didn’t think of it as being related to Venus. I began a study of the connections between astrology, numerology and the Tarot. Everything I was doing was somehow related to every other thing. It felt like a whole new world opening up for me.

Uranus brought about an openness to radically new ideas, and an attraction to new ways of knowing that are integrated and holistic in nature and which lead to a new way of understanding people and the world we live in. Uranus can take us to new modes of thinking that are non-linear and even outside the usual time constraints that we hold so dear.

Neptune brought a sense of divine love, a divine way of relating and even a new way of living that is full of joy and happiness. Neptune pushes us to a greater participation in our world and unconditional acceptance and love for each person as well as for the world itself. It touches our hearts and teaches us that the loss of ego does not diminish us in any way. It can never take us away from what in us is real or authentic in us. What it does do is dissolve the thoughts and considerations that divide us, that prevent us from being and feeling all that we can be and enables us to identify ourselves as citizens of the world, solar system and even the galaxy.

The fact that I am writing about this so openly is the result of the recent eclipse and its effects. I am aware that the symbology of Venus can take us far from the limits of our small and restrictive definitions of love and expand our hearts to where we are able to live in a state that takes us beyond our limited sense of self. This is when life can really be lived, in a way where our hearts are full and where being fully alive is an everyday occurrence.

This new state is when we are able to live in a state of Love and know that it is the highest expression of the Sacred. This was the spirit of the Renaissance in the 1400′s, which our world today so badly needs. It is seen in the great paintings of Botticelli and in the profound hermetic philosophy that Ficino translated and found in the Corpus Hermeticum. And perhaps more importantly, it can shine a light for us now and create conditions where we can experience the spirit of that very renaissance. Let’s hope for the emergence of a Renaissance in us and a new expanded vision of what is possible and even necessary, for us and for the world. May our experience of Venus go beyond the focus on ‘getting what we want’ from a relationship to an understanding that real Love is a condition that has nothing to do with a person, but is actually a state of consciousness that is an aspect of Divine Love.

As always, I hope our readers will continue to write about their experiences of this eclipse and perhaps also their thoughts about this article. Perhaps I am being taken away by idealism and imagination. OR, perhaps I am beginning to sense the existence of the divine spark that is in the center of my being and in each of us. I’d love to hear more from you.

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.

Jack's Transits

Purpose of the Jack and Jill Series

Although there are many readers with some degree of astrological knowledge, the vast majority do not have this education. So quite appropriately, I have been asked why I’m presenting articles that go into the transits of what a person is experiencing. It might be helpful therefore to state the reasons for this.     

The first reason is that I desire for my readers to understand what astrology can reveal and to a lesser but still important degree, learn what astrological counseling is and how it can be of assistance. While I don’t believe astrologers are capable of making concrete predictions reliably, I have seen that astrology can reveal the nature of the themes and cycles we are under at a given time. We can describe the “weather patterns”, so to speak and this insight can help us understand the meaning of what is occurring. This, I find, is far more helpful than knowing just what will happen.     

The second reason is that I believe even novices can discover how one can enjoy and benefit by understanding basic astrological principles and see how these can be applied to a specific person. This is the art of the astrologer. Our job is to bridge the gap (along with the participation of the client) between the archetypal universal principles and how they manifest for a particular person in any given time period.     

Today’s article regarding Jack is an example of the second reason because we are going to look at the meaning of Jupiter and how Jack is being affected by its transit to his Sun, Moon, Neptune and Mid-Heaven. Yes, this one planet is affecting these four very important points at the same time.     

The principle of Jupiter is that it expands what it touches. This expansion can be physical, but more often it expands our minds and consciousness, opening us to higher understandings and truths. It can literally bring things out into the open, occasionally in quitea  dramatic way. Often, Jupiter carries with it the need to risk, for any increase in awareness brings with it the possibility that what we discover could destroy old viewpoints and understandings that have confronted us. The fact is that when we formulate a belief system (or better said, it formulates in us), giving it up for a new set of viewpoints, however truthful and helpful to us in the long run, is often very disturbing and uncomfortable.     

Jack is living this right now. He has grown up with certain thoughts, feelings and viewpoints about his father and mother and all of these are having to be thrown out and replaced by an unknown, but much more truthful set of understandings. Transiting Jupiter is opposing his Moon and squaring his Sun. But it also is affecting what is called the parental axis – the Mid-Heaven/Lower-Heaven angles. What is happening specifically is that radically new information is coming to Jack ove turning his belief system about his parents. He is seeing his mother in a new way. Before he was her defender and protector. He described himself as in a co-dependent relationship with her therefore unable to really see her as she is. That is no longer true, as the Jupiter transit, lasting for the past six to nine months has been helping him wake up to the truth of his mother. A veil is being lifted from his eyes. He said to me that “I could not imagine seeing her the way I do now only one month ago.” He is seeing her as unable to take responsibility for herself. During the Mercury Retrograde he spoke to her about her refusal to reach out to him, she denied it.     

He described her as a person who “grabs on to whatever appears.” She has recently married an evangelical Christian who has total control over her, though she has never in the past been interested in religion. He described her past relationships as also being with narcissistic men who controlled her. In his last communication with her he has asked her to enter therapy and told her that if she chooses not to do so, he will cease having a relationship with her as she is too toxic for him.     

Of course, Jack is still in the midst of processing all that is happening and there is a likelihood that his present feelings will continue to shift, but the process has begun and there is no turning back now.     

This is Jupiter in action – expanding Jack’s vision and understanding and pushing him to a new level of honesty with himself and others. By the way, on the other side, his relationship with his father has been improving at the same time as his respect for him has grown. Sometimes Jupiter puts us into a topsy – turvy spin and all we can do is hang on for the ride.     

The Solar Eclipse

Last night at 11:11pm PST, January 14, 2010 we had a Solar Eclipse that occurred at 25 degrees of Capricorn. An eclipse often brings about a shift in the inertia of a situation, breaking a particular pattern in such a way that it allows or even forces something new to develop. There are two ways to analyze the possible effects of an eclipse. One is by looking at the chart itself and the other is by working with the nature of the specific Saros cycle the Eclipse is activating. This is a technical astronomical matter that I won’t explain here, but I will describe its nature. In the system used by Bernadette Brady, this eclipse is called 12 North. She writes about it as an eclipse that can bring  far more responsibility that arises from another person being unable to carry on fulfilling those responsibilities. Although these opportunities may be difficult, they often bring about positive outcomes in terms of self-esteem and harmony.   

This particular eclipse is also conjunct Venus, which further increases the likelihood that the newly emerging forces are favorable for relationships, money and happiness. One student has already begun to experience this eclipse in a way that exactly coincides with this description. She has been involved with an organization with many failings and that organization has fallen apart. She is now considering creating her own organization as she has discovered that she has both the abilities and motivation to succeed where others have failed. Not surprisingly, her birth chart has been lit up by both the Lunar and Solar Eclipses of the past two weeks. How affected we may be by an eclipse will depend on where it connects with our own chart.   

As always, I urge you to write about your own experiences with this eclipse. I will make an effort to answer as many of your questions as possible.   

Good luck!   

We are about to have a most unusual Solar Eclipse. It takes place on July 21st at 7:35pm PDST. You may see this eclipse referred to as happening on July 22 but don’t be confused. It will be July 22nd in China which is the only country where this total eclipse will be seen in its totality. It will be visible in such cities as Shanghai and Hangzhou, but most of the eclipse will occur over the Pacific Ocean.

What makes this eclipse so unusual is that it is the longest Total Solar eclipse occurring in the 21st century. It will not be surpassed in duration until June 13, 2132. What this means to an astrologer is that the intensity of this eclipse is far stronger than most eclipses. An eclipse is what I have termed an “inertia changer” and this one could change things more than most.  They tip any situation into a new direction, sometimes radically. Although the reputations of eclipses are often negative, I have found that they can be experienced both positively and negatively. Perhaps it is human nature for us to feel that change is negative, but years later, we may regard what happened in a much different manner than when we first experienced it. This particular eclipse is likely to be much more intense than most due to its being a Total eclipse and its duration. But there is another reason.

Each Solar Eclipse is part of a much longer series which astronomers have called Saros cycles. They are 1,300 year cycles that describe a particular type of eclipse. The Saros cycle for this eclipse is termed 11 South. Bernadette Brady has done a wonderful job describing each of these so let me quote her work. You can find this in her outstanding work “Predictive Astrology: The Eagle and the Lark.” She writes- “This family of eclipses is concerned with the need to make sudden reforms. Old ideas or methods will fail and new systems are required to deal with the events brought by the eclipse. As a consequence the person will need to think of new ways of handling the issues. Any blocks could be violently or tragically removed.”

Also, the chart of this eclipse indicates the possibility of sudden changes as Uranus opposes Saturn and squares Venus. Thus, we may find that our relationships can be affected in a powerful way. The necessity of facing any issues that arise now as directly and truthfully as possible is important for us even though we may not like what we are asked to see. We will have to handle these as when Saturn is involved, we don’t really have a choice. Sometimes all we can do when the negative side of life happens is to accept and hope for a better future. However, for many others, this eclipse could free you up to be able to take advantage of new possibilities that are emerging as old systems or structures are destroyed.

How a particular person is likely to be affected by an eclipse depends on where it occurs on one’s chart and the aspects it makes. But it certainly is capable of overturning situations in such a way that something truly new can occur.

As always, I appreciate hearing from readers about what they are going through now and will post some of your responses. I am working on making my blog interactive which will enable you to post your thoughts on my articles on your own.

Wishing you all the best on the coming New Moon.

Jim Sher