The Coming Lunar Eclipse

Every six months the dance between the Sun, Moon and the Earth causes two eclipses – the Solar and Lunar Eclipse. The time is set for the pair of eclipses to begin again. On Saturday morning at 4:30am PDT, June 26, 2010 we will have a very powerful Lunar Eclipse at 4° of Cancer (the Sun) and 4° Capricorn (the Moon). It will be followed on July 11, 2010 with a Solar Eclipse at 19° Cancer.

What happens during a Lunar Eclipse is that the Earth lies exactly between the Sun and Moon, which casts a shadow over the Moon. My view of eclipses in general is that they are ‘inertia changers.’ Whatever has been static or resistant to movement will in some way be forced to move, thereby freeing up energy that will result in a flow that balances out whatever has been held back. To understand the nature of the Lunar Eclipse, which occurs at the Full Moon, first we need to understand the nature of a Full Moon. Each month we experience this and it is best described as the culmination, fulfillment or bringing to a head of something that has been building during the present month or sometimes even longer. The seed planted at the New Moon (which represents beginnings) comes to fruition at the Full. A Lunar Eclipse however is much stronger in its effects than the regular Full Moon.

The Nature of a Lunar Eclipse

So, what is the nature of a Lunar Eclipse specifically? Most of these eclipses will bring about some kind of emotional catharsis that while being difficult, will conclude with a clearing of the air and a clarifying of actual positions or stances someone is taking with you and you with them. The location of the eclipse in your chart determines how it will affect you personally. However, even if the eclipse does not affect us personally, don’t be surprised if others around us are. Most of us will know someone who is affected strongly and we will be dealing with them in some way. There is an axiom in astrology that posits the notion that eclipses happen before the date of the eclipse. In other words, nothing really happens totally out of the blue. There is a build-up, with the time around the eclipse creating the final release or revelation of what it is that has been emerging. Feelings are expressed that may seem sudden, but in fact, it is what the person has been feeling for quite a while, they just either didn’t consciously know what they were feeling, or they did know and felt that it was best to remain silent.

Here are some more effects of Lunar Eclipses:

1. When handled well, they often enable us to grow in wisdom and maturity. How we handle the harder times of our life is so important in the development of our character.
2. New events can occur such as marriages or divorces, birth of a baby or business, significant encounters that move us forward in some important way. It is the cleaning out of the old that paves the way for the new cycle that will come at the Solar Eclipse.
3. Whatever happens at this time should be regarded as extra important since their effects are likely to last longer than a regular Full Moon.
4. An increased sensitivity or emotionality is likely at this time. It is helpful to be aware of this so that you can be prepared to handle the demands made on you now. And, if you are rather unemotional, you may find that others around you are, and you will have to deal with them in some way.

The Best Way to Handle an Eclipse

I must admit that often events happen to us and we have to react. We may not have a choice. But because feelings run rather high right now, it is best to wait, whenever possible, to have that very intense or important talk with someone until the eclipse period has passed…. at least a week or so. And if you cannot delay the matter, then be aware that the softer and more subtle you are able to be, the better the outcome. Take a look at how President Obama handled the Gen. McChrystal firing and you’ll see a good example of this. He carefully prepared his response and had everything in place before acting. In fact, the outcome may improve things considerably. It’s interesting that Obama has been criticized for not showing anger more. First of all, it is not his nature with Aquarius rising. But how would people react in the long run if they saw their President reactive and unpredictable? Being calm under pressure demonstrated confidence and that inspires trust.

This Particular Eclipse

I must say that I do not remember seeing a more intense Lunar Eclipse than this one. This eclipse has what astrologers call a Cardinal Cross in it which includes the Sun, Moon and 5 planets. There is a conjunction between the Moon and Pluto (creating very intense emotions) and a Sun-Mercury conjunction as well. The feeling that one needs to say what is on one’s mind is very strong, and it can come out very strongly and quite suddenly due to the square to Jupiter-Uranus. This eclipse is a true ‘inertia destroyer.’ Much will be revealed and said, some of which may not be able to be taken back, so be very careful about what you say and do. However, when there are a great many squares and oppositions in a chart, it also means that it is a great time to do what you need to do to finish a cycle that has been moving slowly towards greater clarity. This is its best use of all. I know quite a few people who are going through just this thing. Sure, with Uranus involved, there can be some surprises, but with Saturn also in play, we will know what to do for the most part. If there is conflict, then we must deal with it calmly and strategically, but also we must face it. In other words, if action is indeed required, then we must not shirk or shy away from it. Take it on and deal with it honestly and kindly, but one’s future depends on acting in a way that frees us to be ourselves.

I want to encourage our readers to consider sharing their experiences of this challenging Lunar Eclipse. It can be helpful to all of us.

An Intense New Moon – Part II

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

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

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

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

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

The “Jack and Jill” Series

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

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

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

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

All the best,

Jim Sher

An Intense New Moon

As the New Moon begins its monthly cycle of new beginnings (it occurred yesterday at 11:14am PST at 24 degrees of Scorpio), we also have the testy transit of Saturn square Pluto making its first actual pass. One of the best ways to understand the nature of a transit such as this is to look at the major stories in the news at this time for these indicate the outer form of an inner process that begins to tell the emerging story of the transit itself. The way these stories will play out in the next year may tell us a lot about the meaning of this difficult transit.

It seems to me that there are 4 major stories which will likely expand in importance in the collective consciousness of our nation and all are demonstrating the Saturn/Pluto archetypal pair.

1.  The first story is the killing of 13 people in Ft. Hood, Texas by Major Nidal Hason. Only a few facts have come out so far, but since he did survive, we are likely to know a lot more in the next year about what was in this person’s mind as to why he committed these brutal murders. It is helpful to know that Saturn was opposing Pluto in the time of 9/11. An opposition informs us of any problems that exist, but the third quarter square of a cycle, which is what we are in now, will reveal where we are now in dealing with them. Since 9/11, this nation has engaged in two wars and for the first time in its brief history has also taken a public stand in favor of torture along with a ‘do whatever it takes’ attitude toward its enemy. I say this more as an objective truth than a commentary on the values it represents because astrology itself is merely showing us what happens if we engage in certain kinds of behaviors. Let’s be clear about something though. Many of those in the U.S. government do feel that this nation is at war with Islam. No, not all have this belief and Obama does not seem to, but the murder of these 13 people obviously reveals a rage and frustration by Muslims that is linked to this nation’s response after 9/11. This does not justify the murders in any way, but it is important, in my view, for this nation to step back and take a hard look at how it is being perceived by the Muslim world and the Muslim citizens of this country. A third quarter square was called by the wonderful astrologer, Dane Rudhyar, a crisis of consciousness and the trial of Major Hason will likely bring this about for the nation. He will, of course, be held responsible for his actions as he should be, but something deeper is also going to occur as many people realize that there are dark effects from the way we have responded to the challenges that 9/11 brought to bear.
2. To continue the theme of #1 above, the U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder with presumably the support of President Obama has decided to put the accused 9/11 terrorists including Khalid Shaikh Mohammed on public trial in New York. This has created a great controversy as it will be a security nightmare as well as being a risky move politically. Ex-Mayor Rudy Giuliani has said that Holder is ‘too concerned with the rights of terrorists’ and many have argued that this trial should take place secretly as a military tribunal. Here again we see the nation grappling with its relationship to both the Islamic world and the larger world in general.
3. Last week, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee proposed a comprehensive financial reform bill that would strip almost all bank supervision powers from the federal reserve and FDIC. This bill is very controversial and is already being opposed by the Obama administration and many from both sides of the aisle in Congress. Right now it appears the bill has little chance of passage, but if the economy suddenly turns negative for a second time, the climate might shift such that there would be a clamor for radically new and different regulations. Note that the recent unemployment figures are very disturbing and are continuing to rise. They are around 17% in real terms with no end in sight. Meanwhile the stock market continues to rise and salaries and bonuses at the mega-banks are at all time highs. More and more people are asking why this is as the economy limps along and foreclosures continue to rise.
4.  President Obama in China – this newsletter is hardly the place to go into the complex and mysterious relationship between the U.S. and China. What we do know is that there is a very noticeable trend showing that the Chinese economy is growing, even now, and that the U.S. economy is still very troubled. Is China on the way to surpassing the U.S. economy and becoming an economic superpower? Are the two countries moving towards an inevitable conflict or is there a way to maintain a somewhat cooperative relationship? What are the long-tem effects of the huge debt the U.S. carries with China? The best minds don’t know, but the timing of Obama’s visit to China does signify its importance, though the real outcome may not be known for some time.

I know that some readers prefer I write about the more personal matters of life and how transits will affect us personally. I hope the coming ‘Jack and Jill’ series will help with that. But to those readers who object to the subject of this article I would offer the idea that there is a ‘mirror effect’ between these outer events occurring in public life and our personal lives. Where the Saturn square Pluto transit occurs in our personal chart is likely to mirror the outer events of the coming year.

The simplicity of the Saturn/Pluto transit is that it brings about a radical-foundational transformation of structures. These structures can be as large as an economic system of a government or even of a government itself. Or on the micro level it can signify a deep psychological restructuring. Priorities will be questioned and perhaps in a powerful and compelling way. Emotions can run high as people are triggered in ways that defy logic and rational thought. This newsletter will monitor this in the next year and as always, I hope you will reply with your own experiences.

Jupiter Turns Direct – Let’s Get Even Happier

I guess the title gives away my teeny weenie bias about the present Jupiter transit. I have a pretty strong Jupiter in my chart (it’s in Sagittarius conjunct my Ascendant) so I know a lot about the tendency for Jupiter to go to the side of excess and over optimism. During its dance with Neptune, though, we have seen the DOW balloon from around 6,500 to nearly 10,000, which mystifies some as unemployment figures have risen steadily throughout the same time period. Also, consumers and businesses are still finding it difficult to get loans as banks are holding onto ‘their’ money so they can be sure to remain stable just in case things worsen. Is that what they are anticipating? So, why is everyone so excited about the economy? From an astrological point of view, the reason is that Jupiter conjunct Neptune brings about over-exuberant optimism and a tendency to gloss over the more severe aspects of any situation. Of course, this is why this planetary pair has gotten the reputation of being the archetypal ‘bubble that bursts.’

Jupiter is stationary right now and actually turned direct last night, October 12th at 9:36pm PDST. This amplifies the influence of Jupiter and makes things seem even better than they usually are. It is a good time to get things accomplished that you’ve been working on for some time, because Jupiter does open doors and breaks down barriers. Also, it is a great time to turn our attention to the philosophical and spiritual side of life. For example, in my astrology classes, this week is concerned with examining the issue of fate vs. free will and we are going into what the ancient Greek philosophers had to say about it. They knew about concepts we don’t even have words for in the English language. Imagine trying to have a discussion about something that one does not have even the right words with which to examine the subject one is trying to understand. That’s how it is for us when we try to understand this most fascinating subject and unfortunately, we don’t even know it. I’m telling you of this because this is the territory of Jupiter. Understanding the limits of knowledge is an aspect of its domain, just as expanding one’s understanding is as well.

The main message for my readers however is that this exuberant optimism, while still quite high, is moving toward its end. It makes its last conjunction with Neptune on December 20th and will then move on into Pisces. At that time, the square between Saturn and Pluto will take on its full influence and we will find out much more about the things that have been hidden from us. Also, it could signal an end to the stock market run up, if it doesn’t occur on November.

More on Where We Are

We have a New Moon coming on Saturday, October 17th at 25 degrees of Libra, which means we are in the Balsamic Moon phase, the end of the present Moon cycle. This is important for us since it tells us so much about we can and cannot do at this time. The Balsamic Moon phase tells us that we need to finish up what was started at the New Moon phase. We are looking forward to the merging new cycle that is yet to be born, but there are still things to do and that’s where our focus needs to be. But it is not time quite yet to begin something completely new. Why? Because the new energy has not yet been supplied to us. That will happen at the New Moon.

For those of you who haven’t tried this, I recommend that you follow the Moon cycle as it moves from its starting phase, the New Moon, through its 1st quarter square right into the Full Moon, the completion or fulfillment phase. It then moves from its waxing or growing phase to its waning phase where we harvest what we have started. At that time we can also notice that the energy begins to decrease as we work to finish some aspect of what we started and prepare for the new energy to come. In other words, even though we are experiencing the expanded state gifted to us by Jupiter, we won’t be able to activate it fully until the New Moon begins. It’s worth following this cycle, which has been done by humans for thousands of years. Humans don’t do such things for so long if it doesn’t work, but to find out if its influence is real for yourself, you have to make the effort to follow its movement. It shocked me when I first discovered it and it could shock you as well. I must also express the sentiment that many of you have already mentioned to me that the act of ‘bombing the Moon’ is archetypally both significant and dangerous. The Moon represents the feminine and interestingly, I saw the picture of the engineers at NASA cheering when the bomb went off and all of the participants were male. They were so excited. I know the science of it and that they were looking for water, but this act is alarming, in my view. The Moon is the archetypal Mother and most scientists know that without the Moon, there would not be life on this planet.

Well, hopefully, I’ve expressed some controversial things so that some of you will be irritated enough to tell me off. Please feel free to do so. And if not, I promise to keep trying in the future.

I hope you will check back to my blog from time to time as people are posting new opinions all the time and I do try to comment on some of them.

All the best!

The Mixed Tone of the Times – A Mixture of Energies

To this writer, we are in a very confusing period where there are certain indicators of emerging movements forward, while at the same time, there are other indicators that suggest the opposite. What this usually means is that both are true and that all we can do is attempt to move ahead on the projects we have decided upon and then to be willing to adjust and even change direction if it becomes necessary. Let’s take a deeper look.

The Sun/Moon cycle

On Friday, May 1st, we experienced the 1st Quarter Moon as we march forward to the Full Moon on May 9th. This is called the waxing Moon and is an indicator that energies are growing and developing. Also, we are in the sign of Taurus which represents the fullness of Spring and is often associated with slow and patient advancement. In addition, as mentioned in previous newsletters, Venus (which is now direct) and Mars are dancing together as they advance from Aries into Taurus. All these things create a feeling that this is a great time to get moving again and make things happen.

The Other Side of the Coin

Mercury goes retrograde on May 6th

Already Mercury is barely moving as it slows in advance of its change of direction on May 6th. Mercury retrograde, which occurs every 4 months, is a time for review of our plans and a time when old ideas can be seen as either something to be changed or held onto as those ideas have already stood the tests of time. But even more important than this is the movement of Jupiter into a conjunction with Neptune. It’s first introduction seems to be the utterly confusing swine flu scare.

The Swine Flu: a Sign of the Times?

Is it a real global pandemic or something that will pass with a few deaths and nothing more? We don’t know, at least not yet. Schools are being closed, many functions and trips cancelled, and no one knows whether or not this is an over-reaction. This is classic Jupiter conjunct Neptune. Neptune confuses, obscures, and creates a fog of uncertainty around the issues of that period of time. The Iraq war was declared when Jupiter was conjunct Neptune’s north node, and we all know how much confusion, uncertainty, and even deliberate deception was going on then. I’m not saying anyone is deliberately lying in the swine flu fear, but it’s true that the entire planet is strongly affected by the fear of this pandemic. It is my educated guess that the feared pandemic will not occur. The massive fog is, I suspect, clouding our judgments and blowing things out of proportion. I certainly hope this is true.

The essence of this is that it is not a good time to make any final decisions. We’re not able to be clear at this time. When Mercury, often called the ‘trickster’ in ancient mythology, is about to go retrograde, decisions made now are questionable as they are subject to review. And with the Jupiter conjunction to Neptune, which officially begins on May 27th, there can be confusion and unrealistic optimism. It is also my belief that the economy and financial problems this country is facing has not yet faced the severity of the situation. Much more is likely to be revealed and there are other banks and financial institutions that we will discover are in greater trouble that we thought.

At the same time that there is confusion and uncertainty, this is not a time to operate from fear. Should we move forward slowly, carefully, and prepared to change if we learn something new? Yes, of course. But when we are informed of the nature of the mixed signals we’re getting, we would be wrong to think that we shouldn’t take advantage of the opportunities we are encountering and visualizing.

The Economy

Right now, Venus is finishing its square to Pluto, which rules debt, bankruptcy, re-structuring, and mergers and acquisitions. We’re seeing the bankruptcy of Chrysler and its reorganization with a real possibility that GM will be forced to do the same. And the U.S. government may take it over. Obama is already forcing the issue and dictating terms. The fact is that no one knows where this will lead. My biggest concern is that if indeed these huge corporations are as badly run as it appears, what will the affect be if the government takes them over? How big will the government’s involvement be? Who will take care of the debt? How deep will it be? How much will it affect this country for many years to come? At best, the government is taking a huge risk, and it will take quite a bit of time to really know what all this will mean. As I’ve mentioned for several years, 2010 is a very difficult year as there are four planets forming a T-square configuration that can create huge crises. The fact is that before we actually enter that period, we have this confusing, optimistic period of Jupiter conjuncting Neptune that could easily bring about decisions that will only make matters worse as they are made in an idealistic and confusing time.

I’ll be writing more soon about the Mercury retrograde.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Westside Beginning Astrology class: There is one open slot for anyone interested in learning astrology. The class is on Thursday evenings. If you think you might be interested, please contact me as soon as possible as the class has begun. Makeup lessons are available at no cost during the first session. The cost is $150 for each 6-week session.

All the best,
Jim Sher

The Inferior Conjunction of Venus Retrograde- Endings And Beginnings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Announcements

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

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

All the best,
Jim Sher

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

Hello Everyone,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ANNOUNCEMENT

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

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

Best to All,
Jim Sher