09/20/21

Autumn Equinox 2021

 

 

Girl Walking in Autumn Leaves by Jessie Wilcox Smith

Autumn Equinox 2021 arrives on September 22 at 3:21p EDT, 12:21p PDT and 19:21 UT

It is Spring Equinox for those in the Southern Hemisphere which is on September 23 at 5:21 AEDT

The Old Farmers Almanac has all the basic info and some beautiful photos too, and Mental Floss gives you ways to celebrate the Equinox. China and Vietnam and other Asian countries celebrate the Moon Festival which is on the full moon nearest to the equinox, and this Equinox is called Mabon in the modern pagan tradition named after the God of Welsh mythology – the Child of Light and the son of the Earth Mother Goddess.

All seasons have their beauty but Autumn’s beauty is outrageous! Here in the US we know about New England’s riotous colors and the stunning golden aspens in the West, but Autumn’s beauty spans the globe. Here are images of Autumn glory around the world 10 best places outside the U.S. for fall color, it has a link for the best places in the US and Canada too.

The September Equinox marks the beginning of this new season and the chart for the Equinox indicates astrological trends for the season. Here is the Equinox chart cast for Washington, DC.

Autumn Equinox 2021

This equinox marks the moment the Sun enters Libra each year. This year Mars is also in Libra riding close to the Sun and Mercury is in this airy balanced sign too.. Venus rules Libra so her placement is always important and this year Venus swims in the dark waters of Scorpio exerting her power in deep and mysterious ways to be revealed later.  The Moon is in fiery Aries, Chiron retro is too. Saturn and Jupiter are both retrograde in icy Aquarius. Neptune continues his retro journey in Pisces and Pluto, retro too, remains in Capricorn. The Karmic South Node (pull to the past) is in Sagittarius and North Node (future direction) is in Gemini.

Mars represents action and the last time Mars joined the Sun in Libra on the Autumn Equinox was in 2008, just before the US election when Barack Obama became President.  At the 2021 Equinox Mars forms a close trine to Saturn and also to the Gemini North Node, forming a Grand Air Trine and the Sun plays into this positive pattern too.  This uplifting energy as the new season begins bodes well for better interaction helping average people understand each other better (let us hope!).

Communicator Mercury enhances this, forming another airy trine to Jupiter in Aquarius. Mercury helps spread the Libra ideas of fair play for all with the ability to see both sides of an issue to provide intelligent solutions and this trine to bountiful Jupiter adds more impact. However Mercury moves slowly now in prep for his retrograde phase 5 days after the Equinox and Jupiter is retrograde at the Equinox so Mercury’s uplifting message may fly over people’s heads for now. On November 1st this same trine repeats with both planets moving direct so the message has a better chance of connecting.

Tiny Mercury plays large in the Equinox chart again because along with this trine he forms a tense exact square to Pluto retro in serious Capricorn. Pluto has been in Capricorn since 11/27/2008 another push back to that significant year, and this Mercury square repeats challenges operative since then to the corporate and government top down patriarchal power structures.  Pluto moves forward on 10/6 and on November 2nd, the day after the repeat of the positive trine between Mercury and Jupiter, this Mercury – Pluto square repeats too.  Interesting contrast.

To get a hint about what this means let’s look at how the Equinox Moon in Aries plays in. The Moon in the Equinox chart represents public mood and Moon in Mars ruled Aries is passionate! The Moon forms a see-saw opposition to Mercury and also squares Pluto forming a tense T-Square which demands action to resolve the challenge. Texas just passed the most rigid anti abortion law not only in the US but in most other countries across the world. Libra’s symbol, the balanced scales of Justice, indicates the connection to law and courts like the US Supreme Court which formally denied to freeze the Texas law even though it violates Roe v. Wade.

The outcry after this law passed was swift with rallies across the country protesting the law and even corporations like American Airlines and Lyft are  against the law . One of the most draconian parts of the law is that it encourages average citizens to turn in anyone violating the law and allows them to sue too! Ironically the very Republicans who crafted and passed this law and who spit and rave about “socialists” must have forgotten how similar this law is to the old Communist Party in the Soviet Union and China which also encouraged people to turn in their neighbors for violating Party regulations.

Venus rules Libra so her placement in the Equinox chart is always important and she is in potent and powerful Scorpio and forms a tight opposition to change agent Uranus in Taurus and both planets also square Lord of Karma Saturn in Aquarius. Another strained T-Square! Venus rules females and you don’t want to undermine women when Venus is in Scorpio! Venus in Scorpio keeps her intentions well hidden and pounces like a panther to capture her prey.  Since both Uranus and Saturn are retro it might take a while for her plan to unfold but don’t doubt that it will!

These T-Squares also point to the ongoing civil war between Q-anon fanatics and those who will do anything to avoid getting a covid vaccination even ingesting dangerous substances versus those who don’t believe Democrats drink baby blood and who do believe in following scientific data. It’s definitely weird out there – hang on because the Libra scales look to stay wildly out of balance through the season! Read more at A Whiff of Civil War in the Air

Here is an Equinox post I like from Jude Cowell. She says the, “Mars-Venus vibes… is the blend of the cool-headed “peace-making crusader” who can be “jolted by emotional conflict and criticism from others.” There’s a sociability and a sense of “great expectations” to this blend and romance is not out of the picture! There can be quite a tussle with independence vs dependence issues in some partnerships so watch out for this. ”

At the personal level the way to avoid those swinging scales is to tap into the positive Equinox trends activated by the uplifting Air Trines. The Libra angle invites you to reach out to your community and friends to help each other stay positive and  share good times together. It also motivates you to put extra energy into making your own personal relationships – family and romantic partnerships, better. Venus in juicy Scorpio helps with this and the Aries Moon provides a lot of passion to pull it off!  The Aquarius angle from Saturn and Jupiter encourages you to look to the future and rise above the unhinged media messages including those from your own social media sources. Trust your own intuitive inner guidance and use it to rise to your personal bigger picture understanding and you’ll see through any outer illusion.  As the wonderful poet Rumi, born with Sun in Libra, says, We carry inside us the wonders we seek outside us. ~ Rumi

My sister Heni Sandoval painted this painting in honor of the International Day of Peace which is on September 21st. Here is a quote she included with it, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days government had better get out of their way and let them have it.” ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower
Let us hope that day comes soon!

Dove for International Day of Peace by Heni Sandoval

06/18/21

Summer Solstice 2021

 

The 2021 Summer Solstice arrives on Sunday, June 20 at 11:32 p.m. EDT 8:32 p.m. PDT and 3:32 UTC

This is Winter Solstice for those in the Southern Hemisphere which is on  Monday June 21 at  13:32 AEST

The June Solstice is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and is when the Sun enters the sign of Cancer each year.  It is Winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.  EarthSky has good background info on the Solstice, Wanderlust shows how the Summer Solstice is celebrated in different traditions, you can watch a livestream at Stonehenge, and here is info on the Winter Solstice from the Southern Hemisphere This year’s solstice chart (cast for New York City) is a blend of flowing positivity and challenging snares!

Note: In my never ending quest to help you understand how the influences of astrology manifest., check out the links you’ll see as you read on, with “as above, so below” examples.

Summer Solstice 2021

The Solstice chart is cast for the moment the Sun moves into the sign of Cancer each year and indicates upcoming  trends for the season. Water signs dominate the chart with the Moon, ruler of the Cancer Sun, in steamy powerful Scorpio, Venus in Cancer and huge Jupiter along with Neptune in Pisces. Mars is in sparkling in fire sign Leo, Mercury is retro in airy Gemini, Saturn also retro is in air sign Aquarius, Uranus is in earthy Taurus and Pluto, also retro, remains in earth sign Capricorn.

Trines are 120* aspects representing ‘ease-flow-harmony’ and there are some lovely ones in the solstice chart. The Sun forms a trine to Jupiter and brings the Moon in too, and Venus forms another trine to Neptune – very beautiful patterns! The Sun’s trine to generous Jupiter brings in the unconditional love of Cancer blending with the empathy of Pisces, which indicates people are eager to love one another more, and since Cancer rules families mothers and children, folks want more help to lift up average families.

Ironically Jupiter turns retrograde a few hours before the solstice arrives, so this ‘uplift’ may face delays. President Biden’s Infrastructure Plan called The American Jobs Plan focuses on much needed infrastructure repair and also on raising up the American workforce is currently stalled in the Senate (largely because Republicans resist raising taxes on the wealthy). Seeds are planted now and will hopefully bear fruit after Jupiter turns direct again on 10/17.

Moon in the solstice chart represents the public mood and the Moon participates in this trine too. The emotional expression of Moon in Scorpio is tough love and ruthless compassion.  Consider how people are demanding to get a living wage in the face of the soaring bonuses for CEOs who made out like bandits during the pandemic and   American workers flex their muscles. People are not in the mood to let the powers that be roll over them as they flex their muscle with so many businesses needing more workers as the pandemic restrictions lift.  Currently there are protests all over the world where people are courageously standing up for their rights as these current 10 World-Changing Protests indicate. These protests are likely to continue if Moon in Scorpio has her say!

Venus rules women and is in Cancer in the solstice chart, which further emphasizes women’s issues like more child care and financial support for caregivers both within families and for those who care for the elderly in nursing homes. The close trine Venus forms to spiritual Neptune in compassionate Pisces spreads ‘one love for all’ and helps people’s hearts open to their fellow humans. This flowing trine helps water and fertilize people’s growing awareness that we are all connected and when you share to help uplift others you ultimately benefit all of humanity including yourself!

Mars also forms trines in the solstice chart, reaching out to the South Node in Sagittarius and pulling in Chiron in Aries too. The South Node is the karmic past which we must move away from in order to evolve and wounded healer Chiron is a key waiting to be turned so that healing can begin. When Mars is in Leo people’s energy returns and everyone wants to get out and roar! Sagittarius is all about ability to travel freely and Aries favors individual freedoms, all of which line up with pandemic restrictions rapidly lifting. Everyone is on the move again!

Trines are usually associated with positive energy, but a 3 prong trine can also activate an easy flow of challenging force too, especially in fire signs like this one.  As we all get up and going again, we need to remember to be more aware and sensitive to others, but this trine pushes “It’s all about ME” I don’t care if I roll over everyone else. For example as thousands more people begin to travel again the rash of violence on airlines is getting insane, as this article point out, Unruly behavior from plane passengers has never been this bad . At the same time Mars makes this trine he also forms a challenging square to the Scorpio Moon, so this type of selfish behavior is likely to continue.

Not to be left out  Saturn in Aquarius also makes a trine to the North Node in Gemini which stretches out to Mercury in Gemini too.  The important North Node in Gemini is like a compass pointing to the need for better communication, releasing anxiety and improving mental health in general. (Here is a good article on the current nodes). Ideally this airy trine is uplifting.  Gemini rules average people – the tribal mind, which Saturn in lofty Aquarius has been valiantly attempting to lift up to a higher, more mature perspective with emphasis on working together for the greater good, versus egotistical shortsightedness.  However Mercury remains retrograde in the solstice chart and Saturn is retro too – there is progress, but at times it seems to stall. Similar to the trine with Jupiter retro we can trust that seeds are planted for positive energy to manifest later. In fact Jupiter plays into this too because when he moves forward again this Fall, he’ll be in Aquarius where he’ll give Saturn a nice boost.

Uranus, Lord of Enlightenment (and chaos!) is in earthy Taurus and creates a major challenge in the solstice chart. Uranus forms a tight square to Saturn and an opposition to Moon in Scorpio while Saturn also squares the Moon. This configuration makes a tense, dynamic T-Square where 3 parts are swinging out on the T and it takes effort to stabilize the parts so they can be utilized. Since 2019 Uranus in Taurus has been beaming in the need to become more enlightened about protecting and healing our planet. This T-Square in the solstice chart indicates the challenge remains as people get lax again, while large agribusiness and other corporations along with government municipalities seem eager to get back to spewing pollutants back into waterways, oceans and landfills after the new awareness during pandemic lock-down that nature was actually getting cleaner by the day! Here is an article on why you shouldn’t even consider living near a  pig farm.

Despite the challenge Uranus in Taurus has been getting his message through. Here are some positive examples to inspire you: Renewable Energy Boomed in 2020; New super-enzyme eats plastic bottles six times faster ; How abandoned strip mines are being rescued .

Retrograde Pluto stands alone near the last leg of his lengthy Capricorn journey (at 26* Cap) in the solstice chart. This potent transformer is moving retrograde patiently waiting for those in positions of power in government and corporations and specifically white male patriarchy, to recognize that the old power structures are already transforming to the point of no return. Pluto in Capricorn knows that no matter what Proud Boys and other white supremacists, backward thinking clergy, ayatollahs and other regressive dogmatic leaders across the world believe and who don’t want things to change, – too late boys –  it’s already a done deal!

An important indication of this here is the US is the passage just days before the Solstice to make June 19th a US federal holiday the  Juneteenth National Independence Day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.  In one of the most divisive eras in US history, this bill passed unanimously in the Senate with only 14 members in the House voting against it. Contrast this with the passage in 1983 of Martin Luther King Jr. holiday with passed with 90 representatives and 22 senators voting against it. Times have indeed changed. The Summer Solstice chart for 2021 expresses these changes along with the pressure against the rising tide of more care, concern and love for all.

Here is advice for you to tap this loving flow. When you begin to feel discouraged that things will never change, might makes right, people never change, etc. simply make the choice to tune out the ‘real world” idiot box and tune into your higher self who will help lift your vibration to a kind and loving one. Tap into the Solstice one love flow – truly feel it in your heart and soon your lifted vibration expands throughout the whole world and beyond! Here is a quote from a wonderful person who knew how to uplift people, Robin Williams born with Sun in Cancer, Please, don’t worry so much. Because in the end none of us have very long on this earth. Life is fleeting. And if you’re ever distressed, cast your eyes to the summer sky.  ~ Robin Williams.

Here is a note about the art I chose for the Solstice-  a sculpture by Bill Worrell whose art I discovered last year and used a painting of his for the Summer Solstice issue then. The sculpture I used for Summer Solstice 2021 is named Shaman of the Benediction . In researching Worrell I learned his sculptures are always accompanied by a poem of his which you can read here . I also sadly learned that he had recently “left for that final journey to the infinite possibilities of the Universe’s Great Mystery” (as his obituary said) on April 29, 2021. I feel fortunate to have found his inspiring work which lives on.  Here is a poem written in 2003 which he put on his website. I would add, the energy of now at this time, this Summer Solstice 2021 helps us know this truth!

THERE MUST BE PEACE
IF THERE IS TO BE LOVE
THERE MUST BE WILLINGNESS TO LOVE
IF THERE IS TO BE PEACE

THERE MUST BE FORGIVENESS
IF PEACE AND LOVE ARE TO BE SUSTAINED

IT IS TIME
WE PUT TO AN END
THINGS THAT DIVIDE US
IT IS TIME TO BEGIN
TO LET PEACE AND LOVE UNITE US
IT IS TIME
TO LET LIGHT AND REASON GUIDE US

THAT ALL PEOPLE RE-DIRECT WARS AND AGGRESSION—
NOT TOWARD FELLOW BEINGS
BUT DIRECT THEM AGAINST IGNORANCE
AGAINST POVERTY
AGAINST PREJUDICE
AGAINST DISEASE
AGAINST SUFFERING
AND AGAINST THE VIRAL AND MICROBIAL FORCES
WHICH HAVE ALWAYS PLAGUED HUMAN WELL BEING

IT IS TIME FOR PEACE
AND FOR MUTUAL SYMBIOTIC CO-EXISTENCE

IT IS TIME
IT IS TIME
IT IS TIME

~ Bill Worrell

03/18/21

Spring Equinox 2021

 

Light in the sky – painting by Noriyuki Kobayashi

Spring Equinox 2021 arrives on March 20th at 5:37a EDT, at 2:37a PDT and 9:37 UT
This is Autumn Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere on March 20, at 21:37 AEDT

This Equinox marks the beginning of the spring season in the Northern Hemisphere and the autumn season in the Southern Hemisphere. EarthSky always has good background info and has a nice visual of the Sun’s path across the sky too.

This Equinox is the moment each year when the Sun enters Aries and begins the annual journey around the Zodiac Wheel . The chart for this Equinox represents the birth moment of the new season and reveals upcoming trends.

What a difference a year makes! The chart for Spring Equinox 2020 was tense and conflictual, not surprising as this was when the entire world was in or heading into covid lockdown and all the chaos that followed. The chart for Spring Equinox 2021 (cast for Washington DC) is SO much lighter and brighter!

Spring Equinox 2021

The Sun as always at this Equinox is at 0 degrees Aries, the first sign in the zodiac and the first fire sign too. When the Sun moves through Aries it is easier to feel more confident, to stop hesitating and dive into new areas of life. Mars is the ruler of Aries and this year Mars is in airy Gemini which plays well with Aries. Mars is the planet of action and motivation and in Gemini motivates people to lighten up, become more flexible and to have more fun and enjoy life more. Mars entered Gemini right before spring break and the college kids sure did embrace Mars’ energy with pics to prove it! College students return to beaches .

The Moon represents public emotions and is in Gemini too which means people are feeling much happier this year as vaccinations role out and the future seems brighter. Along with this, Mars and the Moon also flank the karmic North Node (at 14* Gemini) highlighting the current compass point guiding humanity toward enlightenment. Gemini rules average people going about their daily lives, so this Mars/North Node/Moon connection at the Equinox brings much happier energy to us all. It’s easier to follow the North Node path to a brighter future!

The mighty planets of Jupiter (expansion) and Saturn (structure) are stationed in elevated air sign Aquarius at the Equinox and continue to put extra energy into helping people lift to a higher perspective to take the long view and make smarter decisions, verses reactionary responses that lead to dead ends. Aquarius rules group effort and collective cooperation which bodes well for people being able to come together more, as the divisive energy so pronounced over the last many years gradually begins to wane. Adding to this, at the equinox both Mars and the Moon reach out harmoniously (trines) to Saturn and Jupiter which further expands this positivity!

Communicator Mercury swims lazily through the calm waters of Pisces singing sweet messages of healing and love. Mercury’s lazy river vibe encourages people to relax and let the healing unfold but clashes with Mars in Gemini’s “I want to have fun NOW!”  This challenge is not a major one, but does indicate the contrast between those who want to go back to ‘normal’ life quickly versus those who say to wait until more of the population has been vaccinated and it’s safer to move around freely again.

Satellite dish Neptune remains in Pisces too (in year 9 of his 14 year Piscean journey) vibrating closely to lovely Venus in the last degree of Pisces, the sign in which she is exalted – a beautiful and spiritual signal at the beginning of this new season!  Neptune tunes us into higher spiritual vibrations, but also is the planet of delusion and irrationality. At the Equinox the Moon in Gemini (public mood) forms a square to Neptune, not a heavy-duty slam, but represents  the challenge we are all too familiar with – the way many people believe only what they want to believe, damn the facts! So folks who see a conspiracy everywhere they look are not likely to see anything different soon.

Cell tower Uranus is in year 3 of his 7 year journey through Venus-ruled Taurus and forms the only tense major challenge in the Equinox chart – a 90* square to Saturn in Aquarius. This challenge between Lord of Chaos Uranus and Lord of Structure Saturn is a familiar one. Earth sign Taurus resists change while Aquarius, which Uranus rules, is the sign of revolutionary change. The worldly power structures that have had their way for decades (millennia!) are not ready to let go of their strangle-hold on common people, but as 2020 proved people are rising up and demanding change! How long does it take to turn this massive ship around? The answer is as long as people let the captain fool them into thinking they are heading in the right direction.  People are finally waking up and looking out the portholes to see where the world has been heading and are beginning to demand new captains, yet this square lets us know it is still a difficult process.

Pluto is the planet of ultimate transformation and is the only planet left in Capricorn after last year’s Capricorn planetary stampede. Pluto has only 3 more years in his lengthy Capricorn journey and will enter Aquarius in 2024. In the Equinox chart Pluto stands alone with no big challenge but does have a nice sextile to Venus in Pisces.  Sextiles similar to trines are favorable aspects, but need a push to get the positive energy moving  (trines flow without effort). This means if you want to help transform the existing structures in the outer world and in your own life, tune into the higher love that Venus in Pisces brings. In other words, stop judging what’s going on in the world and stop judging yourself too. When you consciously add more love and understanding,  you will help the inevitable transforming of reality as we know it into a better, more harmonious future. Won’t that be nice!

To sum it all up, if you are sensing that energy is shifting to a more positive level, you are right! There will be fluctuations but the spring tides will carry you through if you maintain an optimistic attitude. Aries represents new beginnings and Spring Equinox 2021 encourages you to leave the past behind. Yes keep your beautiful memories, but let go forever the negative, shadowy past which only exists if you hold onto it. It is time for the world and all of us upon it to wake up and move into a new and better era!

William Wordsworth, poet for all time who was born with Sun in Aries, expresses so well what I wish for you as the new season dawns:

Serene will be our days and bright,
And happy will our nature be,
When love is an unerring light,
And joy its own security.
–William Wordsworth

 

 

 

 

 

12/19/20

Winter Solstice 2020

Winter Solstice Tapestry
by Frida Hansen

Winter Solstice 2020

Bright Solstice Greetings to All!

Winter Solstice 2020 arrives on December 21 at 5:02a Eastern Time, 2:02p Pacific Time and 10:02  Universal Time. (This is the Summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere – at 9:02p AET)

This Solstice has a special and rare event occurring the same day – a conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn in the sign of Aquarius. (More on this below). EarthSky always has good solstice info December solstice: All you need to know  and here’s a good article on Winter Solstice traditions 13 Fascinating Winter Solstice Traditions Around the World

The astrology chart for the Solstice represents the birth of this new season and gives indications of what to expect.

The Sun always arrives at 0 degrees Capricorn the moment of the Solstice and this year communicator Mercury  is exactly conjunct the Sun echoing the major Capricorn themes of 2020. Pluto remains in Capricorn but the 2 largest planets in the solar system, Jupiter and Saturn have finally left Capricorn to enter Aquarius.  These mighty planets line up together at 0*26″ Aquarius at the exact moment of the Solstice. If you are lucky enough to have clear skies on the 20th and 21st, you can see this conjunction in the night sky. Some are suggesting this conjunction which looks like a huge bright star is like the “Star of Bethlehem” which was not an actual star but was an astrological configuration (like this conjunction) that the Magi (most likely Chaldean astrologers) were following.

The Moon in this type of event chart represents the public mood and is in sensitive Pisces communing with Neptune also in Pisces. This adds a highly spiritual element to Solstice gatherings and adds a loving touch in general to the season. This combination also increases sentimentality which in the pandemic year increases sadness if you can’t be with loved ones. Luckily sweet Venus is dancing merrily  in Sagittarius with a hand out to Chiron in Aries helping lift everyone’s mood. Let’s hope she lightens up  wounded healer Chiron too, because he forms a challenging, aggressive angle to the Sun and Mercury. Warrior Mars is in the last few weeks of his 6th month long Aries visit and after a nice spell of playing well with other planets during December, has decided to give one last gut punch (an exact square!) to Pluto before he leaves. These angles from Chiron and Mars in war-like Aries suggests the combative tone over the last few months (especially the US election!) lingers longer.

Lord of Chaos Uranus in Taurus is looking forward to a nice exchange with the Sun and Mercury. This earth-sign combination brings a bit of comfort in terms of the potential for covid to finally lift. Uranus is also anticipating major clashes with Jupiter and Saturn soon to come – pressure for more people to get vaccinated and agitation to get more financial relief from their governments are likely. Uranus also happens to be the only planet retrograde in the Solstice chart so his energy is more subdued now, but will activate again early next year when he turns direct on 1/14/21.

The most exciting event of this Solstice is the exact conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius which last happened 8 centuries ago in 1226!  Both planets were in Capricorn throughout 2020 and were major players in the pandemic. Capricorn is a sign of boundaries, and the whole world became boundaried – shut inside by covid restrictions for months on end! Now as these huge planets come together in icy-clear air sign Aquarius they ring a new message – that doors will open soon and let in the fresh air we have all be waiting for! This lines up with the vaccines currently being administered in the first wave with millions more doses due to arrive. People in the UK  and Russia are already being vaccinated and vaccinations just began in the US too.

Aquarius is the most cutting edge and forward thinking sign in the zodiac, so we can expect more medical and scientific discoveries as well as more progressive political policies and societal shifts to evolve. Here is an excellent article by one of my favorite astrologers, The Oxford Astrologer Thoughts on the Great Conjunction which outlines the effects of earlier Jupiter/Saturn conjunctions, technical and societal advances along with the darker edges of Aquarius. I love what she says about this conjunction, And we should all feel optimistic, this is extraordinary, clear, symbolism. A breath of fresh air is blowing across the world. In January and February 2021, expect high winds. Reef you sails, throw out the old ballast, and get ready to sail as close to the wind as you dare. ~ Christina Rodenbeck

Saturn has an orbit of 29-30 years and was in Aquarius from 1932- 1935 during Franklin Roosevelt’s presidency when he instituted the New Deal programs with progressive policies like the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) which helped thousands of people during the darkest days of the Depression and  the Social Security Act which is why we have this safety net now (thank you FDR! who was born with Sun in Aquarius). When Saturn was in Aquarius from 1962-64 this marked the beginning of major societal changes. The Beatles were revolutionizing the music world and the Hippy era, sex, drugs, rock and roll was born, Martin Luther King Jr was leading the Civil Rights Movement and gave his “I have a Dream” speech. When Saturn was in Aquarius during 1991 – Jan. 1994 Apartheid ended, the Internet was born and Grunge began to shake up the rock music scene. Here is a clever article which covers this Saturn in Aquarius – three years of technology progress and justice  by the AstroTwins

Jupiter has a 12 year orbit and not long after Saturn left Aquarius in 1935, Jupiter followed in 1938-39, adding heft to FDR’s progressive New Deal policies. The next Jupiter in Aquarius pass was in 1949-1950 when NATO was established, President Truman gave his speech about how every American should expect a “fair deal” from the U.S. government and middle class prosperity began to flourish, color TV was first broadcast, and the DNA Double Helix Discovered. Jupiter returned to Aquarius in 1961 when President John F. Kennedy was inaugurated, the Peace Corps established, Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space, and the first lasers were developed. Next Jupiter Aquarius visit was 1973 to March 1974 when the Skylab was launched, Watergate Hearings began,  and the Supreme Court ruled on Roe v. Wade.  Next visit was in 1985 when CDs were introduced, the first .com was registered, the first version of Windows was released and Live Aid concerts were held.  Next time was 1997 when NASA’s Pathfinder landed on Mars, Dolly the Sheep the first successfully cloned mammal was revealed, the first Harry Potter book was published and the movie Men in Black aired.

Jupiter’s most recent trek through Aquarius was in 2009 the year Barack Obama became President, the movie Avatar was released, Grindr was launched, H1N1 flu was declared a global pandemic and the first International Day of Climate Action was held. Of course there are so many other events that happened during all of these years, but this gives you a taste of what happened in the past and hints about what might happen in this new Aquarius age arriving now when both of these colossal planets meet in Aquarius for the first time in 800 years!

Aquarius is the sign most closely related to Astrology in general and one thing that struck me when I visited sites to link with this post and for general information about what other astrologers have to say about this important conjunction, is how many excellent astrologers there are! I am very proud of our profession. So heads up all you astrologers out there – you are going to be in high demand!

Here is a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. born with Sun in Capricorn to inspire you at this Solstice/Great Conjunction time, We have before us the glorious opportunity to inject a new dimension of love into the veins of our civilization. ~ MLK

The Ten Brightest Stars In The Sky — Simulating the Universe

Hubble Space Telescope image

With the help of the amazing “Star” above us now, this opportunity is very real! And this is my Solstice wish for you.

 

 

 

09/19/20

Autumn Equinox 2020

Autumn Leaf Witches
by Arthur Rackham

Autumn Equinox 2020 arrives on September 22 at 9:31a EDT, 6:31a PDT and 13:31 UTC

It is Spring Equinox for those in the Southern Hemisphere which is on September 22 at 11:31p AEDT

EarthSky has All you need to know about the Equinox and Mental Floss has Traditions associated with the Equinoxes (Article is from 2014 but info is good background)  China and Vietnam celebrate the Moon Festival which is on the full moon nearest to the equinox, and in the Pagan tradition this Equinox is called Mabon.

The September Equinox marks the beginning of this new season and the chart for the Equinox indicates astrological trends for the season. Here is the Equinox chart cast for Washington, DC.

This equinox marks the moment the Sun enters Libra each year and this year Venus, ruler of Libra, shines brightly in fire sign Leo – a regal queen at the top of the chart. (Note this is for the DC chart, in other parts of the world Venus will be in different house placements.) The Moon, which represents the public mood, is in fire sign Sagittarius vibrating nicely to Venus and to Chiron in Aries too. Messenger Mercury is well balanced in airy Libra and makes a perfect trine to the karmic North Node in Gemini. Jupiter, Pluto and Saturn remain congregated in Capricorn. Jupiter just turned direct  (on 9/12) while Pluto and Saturn are still retrograde. Mars, retro now in fierce Aries, forms a tense square to these important planets and an opposition to Mercury who in turn squares Saturn and Pluto. The outer planets of Uranus and Neptune are still retrograde (which adds up to 5 major planets moving backward as the season begins). Uranus in Taurus makes a loose square to Venus. Inconjuncts or quincunx  are a major feature in the Equinox chart.  Neptune in Pisces has no major aspects to any planet, but does form an itchy quinqunx to Venus, so does Jupiter in Capricorn, and the Moon inconjuncts Uranus.

Major news here in the US lines up with these dynamic Equinox factors. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on 9/18 right before the Equinox and on the eve of Rosh Hashana which in the Jewish tradition indicates a person of great righteousness.

Ginsburg  (RBG) was the second woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court where she sat for 27 years. RBG was loved and admired by all for her fierce spirit, even with several bouts of cancer she valiantly sat on the court through it all.  She is an inspiration especially to young women and girls who look up to her as a role model. Her wisdom and wry sense of humor will be sorely missed.

In the Equinox chart RBG can be seen as Venus in Leo and when you understand that a quincunx (weird word fitting a convoluted aspect) indicates the planets involved don’t understand each other (basically live in different realities entirely!) it is easy to see how this is manifesting. The divisive politics between Republicans and Democrats is bad enough and worse now leading up to the US election on 11/3, and with Ginsburg’s death leaving a vacancy on the Supreme Court the polarization has ratcheted up to another level.

It was reported that RBG’s last words were, “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.” The Democrats say honor Ginsburg’s dying wish to wait until after the election (only 43 days away) to appoint a new Justice, while the Republicans are saying full steam ahead – appoint one immediately! As many point out, a very hypocritical position since the Republicans fought and won against Obama appointing a new Justice 9 months before the election as this article Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight points out. Which reminds me of a quote by another significant wit, “Politicians and diapers must be changed often and for the same reason.” ~ Mark Twain.

Two of inconjuncts in the Equinox chart involve Venus. Jupiter in Capricorn on the downside represents the fear based need of status quo power moguls (and your own inner control freak too) to expand harsh control, as the old structures are crumbling around them. Neptune ideally tunes into higher, refined vibrations but also represents delusion and confusion. The inconjunct with Neptune in Pisces represents confusion which leads to public willingness to turn over power to a stronger person who makes the choices for them. Jupiter is moving forward again in the Equinox chart, therefor more potent, while Neptune is still off in retrograde land, so his influence is weaker. Neptune turns direct on 11/28, after the US election, so time will tell if the public finally wakes up from their delusionary  dreams. Interesting to note that RBG has both Sun and Venus in Pisces, both near the degree where Neptune is now. See her chart at Astrotheme. To get an idea about Neptune, here is a fun and witty article by astrologer Matthew Currie, Neptune In Pisces And “Fake News”: Fact Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

Mars in Aries is both motivational and formidable and even while retrograde shows up as a major player in the Equinox chart. On the Equinox Mars forms a tense 90 degree angle to Saturn and Pluto and pushes his testy self on Jupiter too. This challenging aspect repeats the same squares active since August – the major explosion in Beirut on 8/4 happened when Mars tightly squared Jupiter. At the same time Mercury in Libra is opposite Mars retro and also squares Saturn and Pluto forming a wobbly T-square.

Libra is the sign of fair play and equality for all whose symbol is the Balanced Scales of Justice. Mercury in Libra is ethical and high minded while Mars in Aries says, “Self First!” damn the consequences. Oppositions are not negative, they play off against each other and ideally come to a balance combination. However when a T-Square is involved it stresses things and is more challenging to resolve.  This again highlights the difficulty to find resolution between the entrenched polarization of our current time. Not just in politics but in the divided responses to covid restrictions, environmental concerns and the current  BLM protests and other uprisings throughout the world. Is a resolution possible soon? It looks difficult given the Equinox dynamics.

One last Equinox aspect to look at is another quincunx, this one is very tight from the Moon in Sagittarius to Uranus retro in Taurus. Moon indicates public emotions while Uranus is like a huge cell tower tuning into revolutionary change. The Moon in galloping centaur Sagittarius, indicates that people are in a rowdy mood, up for anything!  Taurus is a conservative sign, slow to embrace change, but when Uranus is in Taurus  (once every 84 year) he says, change is here, ready or not! Taurus rules nature and planet Earth and Uranus in Taurus was a big trigger for the pandemic. Uranus is retro (until 1/14/21) and his revolutionary power is more restrained now, so the Sagittarius Moon can trample right over Uranus’ green Taurus meadows without a thought. Like more rage parties in park lands over the Fall if covid restrictions continue, which considering the other aspects it looks like these constraints will maintain through the season.

At the personal level, the Equinox energies if not outright challenging, (unless you have a lot of Capricorn and Aries in your birth chart, if this is you get a reading already!) are certainly an itchy fit, like those annoying face masks we’re tired of wearing. When you feel frustrated and stuck in place look to Venus in Leo, the most creative sign going! She says don’t focus on the whacked up outer world, instead concentrate on making your own personal world more creative and joyful. Inspire yourself and the ones you share space and time with to have more fun and to be joyful. Communicator Mercury in Libra also encourages you to be more creative and to find beauty wherever you can to balance out the media noise and helps you remember to let go of judgement and have more empathy for your fellow humans. Do tap into the optimism of the Sagittarius Moon and find inspiring places to (respectfully!) roam and enjoy, and amidst Autumn beauty all of this is easier to do! Here is a quote to inspire you from Thich Nhat Hanh, born with Sun in Libra, The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

And for more uplifting inspiration here is the latest painting from my sister Heni Sandoval painted for this year’s International Day of Peace  on September 21st, called Soaring Dove of Peace. 

May you and yours have an uplifting Autumn season filled with beauty and peace!

Soaring Dove of Peace by Heni Sandoval

 

 

09/7/20

Mars Retrograde

Mars Retrograde 2022-23

 

 Mars turns retrograde on October 30 2022 at 25° Gemini
and returns to 8° Gemini on January 12, 2023

 

Mars was the god of war for the Romans and through the years war-like attributes became associated with planet Mars. In Astrology Mars has come to represent the aggressive principle. Fearless Mars is courageous, reckless and driven by passion. Mars indicates action generally, along with motivation, your “get up and go”.  Mars is associated with physical energy, willpower, intense focus, determination, anger and all aggressive instincts. Mars also governs men and traditionally male dominated activities like sports, police, the military, war and testosterone driven male energy in general especially young men.

In your own birth chart Mars reveals how you go about getting what you want and need, your personal energy patterns and passion – your own distinctive style of moving through life. Mars in the birth chart for women also reveals the type of men you attract into your life and for men Mars indicates your male role models and the type of male friends you attract.

Mars takes around 2 years to travel the full zodiac wheel and once during this period appears to slow down and back up in orbit. In comparison, every other planet retrogrades every year (except Venus). When Mars turns retrograde it orbits closer to Earth and shines more brightly in the night sky making its influence stronger.  Mars usually stays in a sign 6-8 weeks, but when retro it stays in a sign for around 7 months.

On 10/30/22 Mars goes retrograde for the first time since 9/9/20.  Mars retrogrades on 10/30 at 25° Gemini and stays retro 2 1/2 months until 1/12/23, reversing to 8°  Gemini before moving direct again. Mars rules pioneering fire sign Aries and is the co-ruler of powerful water sign Scorpio so these two signs tend to be the most affected by Mars retrograde and people with Sun, rising sign or other significant planets at the degrees Mars retrogrades through need to be more aware of Mars retro effects too.

Mars has been retrograde in Gemini many times in the 20th and 21st centuries, however most of those times Mars retrograded through 2 signs. The last time Mars was retrograde in Gemini the full time was from Oct 28, 1943 through Jan 10, 1944 – in the midst of World War II. Gemini rules average people and think how many were affected by this major world war! Europe once again is facing war as the Ukrainian war spills thousands of evacuees into neighboring Eastern European countries and all of Europe is dealing with energy problems from Russian oil disruptions which they depended upon. Will Mars retrograde slow things down and tame this type of negativity, let us hope so!

Mars is all about action and energizes the sign in which he travels. Mars in air sign Gemini activates communication and other mental activities. Mars in Gemini is quick witted and crafty and knows how to use words to delight, and loves to have fun! Gemini/Mars is extremely talented, very social and is the master at lightening things up. Famous comedians are often born with a Gemini Mars like Steve Martin, Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Damon Wayans and Kevin Hart. Mars in Gemini often breeds great writing talent too as Charlotte Bronte, James Joyce, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Erica Jong prove.

Mars in Gemini can also use their intelligence in sarcastic and snarky ways and is a dizzy juggler with way too many balls in the air. Testy-Warrior Mars can bring strife to the sign in which he travels. Gemini is the sign most closely connected to ‘the people’ – average folk, going about their daily lives. Gemini rules the media (the talking heads out there) and on the downside Mars in Gemini can whip people up with shallow platitudes urging them to do stupid things. This trait is definitely one to be aware of now!

When a planet is retrograde the energy is more internalized, and when active Mars reverses if not handled appropriately energy can back up and implode. Think of Mars retrograde as a classic muscle car speeding down the highway when suddenly the red engine light comes on. You’ve got to pull over to figure out what the situation is or risk engine failure. It means you need to slow down and pay attention to figure out what needs to be done to get your energy moving again. It only becomes a problem if you ignore the indicator eventually causing major damage.

Mars retro can mean things which were going full steam ahead get off track for a while or seem to dissipate altogether. They will come back though, and like the muscle car metaphor, if problems aren’t dealt with during the retro phase things do move forward again, but the problems continue too and can get worse!

Mars retrograde in the birth chart needs interpretation because it can indicate different things, depending upon what sign and house it is in and how Mars relates to the rest of the planets in the birth chart (the aspects involved). For example Mars retrograde in the first house could indicate early life health problems held the person back from physical activity and if Mars is in a water sign (Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces) it might mean emotional issues arising from this setback take a long time for the person to get over. But if Mars retro is in a fire sign (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) the person has more ability to bounce back and move forward more easily.

I like this article by astrologer Nadia Gilchrist Mars Retrograde in the Natal Chart: When Yang Energy Goes Yin  Here is an excerpt: Its energy is internalized. Think about what Mars stands for: moving forward, being aggressive, starting something. This is true no matter what sign it’s in. If there is an internal focus, you’re going to express its energy very differently. You’re rebelling, but it’s an internal rebellion. A common misconception is that Mars retrograde is weak. This is simply not true; its energy is redirected.”

Mars retro in the birth chart can also indicate a delayed start in life for any number of reasons such as having no male role model in early life so that getting in touch with traits like will power, the ability to initiate and learning how to handle aggressive instincts takes longer to achieve or is never actualized at all. And for a women it can mean their early male role models (or lack of any) gave them a fractured concept about men so they tend to choose inappropriate men to bond with along with all the problems that brings.

Mars retrograde can also mean the person’s timing is off kilter. They might hesitate to take a chance at something when the time is lined up for them, then when they finally do get up the nerve circumstances have changed so things don’t manifest for them.  It could also be outer conditions delay them or get in the way. For example a young person is ready to leave for college, but a parent dies or gets an illness so the person feels the responsibility to stay home to help out and their education is put off and may not resume until much later if at all.

Having Mars retrograde does not mean lack of success however.  Many famous people who have achieved much were born with Mars retro. Mozart, born with Mars retro in Cancer, was a child prodigy and musical genius for all time. Mikhail Baryshnilkov considered one of the greatest ballet performers ever, has Mars retrograde in Virgo, and basketball legend Michael Jordan has Mars, which rules sports, retro in Leo. Joan Crawford who is ranked as number ten among the greatest female stars of all time by The American Film Institute, was born with Mars retro in Libra which rules glamor and the arts.  Judy Garland whose fame began in young age and is still known world wide as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz has Mars retrograde in Sagittarius. These famous examples let us know that Mars retrograde may actually help individuals dig deeper to find their inner passion and strength of purpose, and when they do, their achievements can be astounding!

This current Mars retrograde in Gemini

Here is a list of other famous people born with Mars Retrograde from the Celebrity Astro Search Engine from Astro Seek. A great resource especially if you’d like to do your own research. One interesting thing I noticed when I listed these Mars retro people by sign, is that certain signs have many famous people born with Mars retrograde while others had few, like Taurus and Aquarius. Seems like a good subject to do some more research about, maybe while Mars is retro!

People tell me I’m from Mars all the time. ~ Joni Mitchell, born with Mars retrograde in Gemini.

Famous People born with Mars Retrograde

In Aries
O’Henry
Elia Kazan
Bernie Sanders
Peter Coyote
Otis Redding
Paul Simon
Art Garfunkel
Tom Fogerty
Anne Rice
Chubby Checker
Anne Tyler
Cass Elliot
Sally Kirkland
Anne Seymour
Eddie Steeples

In Taurus:
Bram Stoker
Louisa May Alcott
Leon Trotsky
Chuck Berry
Richard Crenna
Louise Hay
Lee Grant
Jamie Lee Curtis
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Neve Campbell

In Gemini
Ludwig van Beethovan
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Virginia Woolf
Martin Luther King, Jr
Ben Kingsley
Sam Sheppard
Joni Mitchell
Billie Jean King
Tim Robbins
Jim Morrison
Viggo Morgensteen

In Cancer
Mozart
William S. Burroughs
Noam Chomsky
Mikhail Gorbachev
David Lynch
Dolly Parton
Diane Keaton
Kenneth Branagh
JuliannaeMoore
Wayne Gretzky
Daryl Hannah
Ashton Kutcher
Tara Reid

In Leo
Benjamin Disraeli
James Dean
Robert Duvall
Rip Torn
Boris Yeltzin
James Earl Jones
Claire Bloom
Eckhart Tolle
Dianne Wiest
Billy Crystal
James Taylor
Jennifer O’Neill
Steven Tyler
Bernadette Peters
Michael Jordan
Seal

In Virgo
Henry Wordsworth Longfellow
Rasputin
Clarke Gable
William Holden
Bing Crosby
Betty Ford
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Michael Caine
Phillip Roth
Kim Novak
Barbara Hersey
Yoko Ono
Nina Simone
Alice Cooper
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Robert Downey junior
Martin Lawrence
Sarah Jessica Parker
Chelsea Clinton
Christina Ricci
Zooey Deschanel

In Libra
Sigmund Freud
Irving Berlin
Pope John Paul II
Joan Crawford
Ida Lapino
Anais Nin
Peggy Lee
Dudley Moore
Eric von Daniken
Cybill Shepherd
Peter Gabriel
Karen Carpenter
Bobby McFerrin
Tim McGraw
Seth Rogen
Kirsten Dunst

In Scorpio
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Henry Fonda
Robert Penn Warren
Ravi Shankar
Morgan Freeman
Colleen McCullough
Sally Kellerman
Waylon Jennings
Liam Neeson
David Byrne
Mary McDonnell
Steven Seagal
Marilu Henner
David Icke
Mark Zuckerburg
Emily Beecham
Sophia Turner

In Sagittarius
Czar Nicholas I
Ho Chi Minh
Stan Laurel
Judy Garland
George Talei
Roger Zelazney
Saddam Hussein
Christopher Lee
Bill Blass
Pierre Cardin
George Carlin
Jack Nicholson
Angela Merkel
Hugo Chavez
Cate Blanchette
Steffi Graff
Anne Heche
Ricky Scaggs
Ice Cube
Peter Dinklage
Wes Anderson

In Capricorn
Thomas Mann
Annie Oakley
Robert Heinlein
Frida Kahlo
Barbara Stanwyck
Wes Craven
Peter Bogdanvich
George Hamilton
Ginger Baker
Valerie Harper
Kathleen Turner
Sonja Sotamayor
Freddie Prinze
Jim Belushi
Shia Lebeau
Lindsey Lohan
Cody Lightening
Elijah Kelley
Mary-Kate Olsen
Kellie Pickler

In Aquarius
Haile Selassie
Mae West
Lauren Bacall
Buddy Hackett
Martin Freeman
Allison Krauss
David Arquette
Jason Loesenstein

In Pisces
Art Tatum
James Baldwin
Carroll O’Connor
Fess Parker
Phyllis Shafly
Theresa May
Linda Hamilton
Kim Cattrall
Debbie Boone
Adam Arkin
Maren Jensen
Gary Cole
David Copperfield
Tsai Ing-wen
Quvenzhané Wallis

06/18/20

Summer Solstice 2020

Kindred Spirits by Bill Worrell

The 2020 Summer Solstice arrives on Saturday, June 20 at 5:44 p.m. EDT 2:44 p.m. PDT and 21:44 UT

It is Winter Solstice for those in the Southern Hemisphere which is on Sunday June 21 at 7:43 a.m. AEST

The June Solstice is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and is when the Sun enters the sign of Cancer each year.  It is Winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. This year within hours of the Solstice moment there is a Solar Eclipse, a beautiful Annular ring of fire eclipse.  The Farmers Almanac has good Solstice facts and folklore and EarthSky does too, and due to covid restrictions for the first time in history people will not be able to celebrate in person at Stonghenge but will be able to celebrate virtually so let’s meet there!

Here is the chart for the Solstice cast for Washington, DC.

 

The Solstice chart is the birth chart for this new season and indicates trends to expect. The Sun is always at 0* Cancer at the Solstice and this year  Mercury is also in Cancer moving retrograde. The New Moon and Solar eclipse a few hours after the Solstice occurs at 0* Cancer too, making this a more potent Solstice. The Moon is the ruler of Cancer and she is in Gemini at the Solstice near the karmic North Node. Venus is in Gemini too and like Mercury is retrograde along with 3 other planets – Pluto, Jupiter and Saturn also moving backward at the Solstice with Neptune turning retro 2 days after the Solstice, a total of 6 retrograde planets! Not surprising in this strange year of 2020. Uranus turns retro on 8/15 and Mars does too on 9/9 continuing the backed-up energy this season.

Cancer is a healing, loving water sign filled with emotion and rules family specifically mothers and children. When the Sun arrives at Cancer family relationships become emphasized. When you are part of a loving family this feels wonderful and you appreciate your family more than ever. Mercury represents communication and in Cancer adds to this, but when retrograde messages of love and concern become more internalized and harder to express. Consider the pandemic restrictions this year and the pictures of family members outside windows of elderly relatives in nursing homes that can’t be visited, and loved ones dying of covid without family by their side and you get the idea. Love has to be expressed differently.

The Moon in the Solstice chart represents the mood of the public and is more significant because Moon is Cancer’s ruling planet. This year she is in Gemini, the sign associated with average people going about their daily lives. The Lunar Nodes recently shifted to Sagittarius South Node and Gemini North Node the signs they’ll be in until January 2022. The South Node is energy that needs to be integrated and moved away from while North Node indicates the new  direction that must be followed in order to evolve.

To have the Moon right at the North Node on the Solstice reveals what people are longing to do now – get back to their ‘normal’ lives and routines, but is this even possible in these times? The nodes shift every 19 years and the last time the nodes were in Sagittarius/Gemini was from October 2001 – April 2003, which means they shifted only a month after 9/11/2001 another time the public mood was agitated and emotional. A case can be made that nothing went back to normal then either, public surveillance increased exponentially and the police forces began to be more militarized Here we are full circle reaping what was sown.

Energizing this further, at the Solstice moment the Moon has a major clash with Mars in Pisces, forming a 90* tight angle. Mars = energy and in Pisces energy becomes foggy and confusing, like all the mixed information around the pandemic which has the public (Moon) still confused – Is it safe yet? What can I, should I, do or not do?! Satellite Neptune is also in Pisces and is part of this challenge too, the public is trying to tune in, but mostly all they get is wavy fuzz.

At the Solstice Venus is in Gemini and also retrograde. Venus in Gemini is light and airy and loves to have fun, but is trying to figure out just what it means to have fun with a deadly pandemic still hanging its blade above everyone’s heads! Lord of Structure Saturn is in air sign Aquarius on the Solstice and plays well with Venus, reaching out a helpful angle (trine) reminding folks that we can still connect via the electronic tools and online airwaves which Aquarius rules. Saturn is in reverse too and will re-enter Capricorn on 7/1, but the fact he is in Aquarius on the Solstice is an indicator of the continued necessity to keep social distancing, working from home etc. particularly as work places begin to open up, and also represents a new structure of freedom is taking hold that the powers that be are going to have a hard time containing!

The Black Lives Matter protests moving across the US and the world are a major indication of this energy. Mars rules police and has been in Pisces since May 14. Mars in Pisces promotes peace and cooperation and rejects rabid, out of control police force.  The ongoing protest marches began on May 26 when George Floyd was murdered by police, just 12 days after Mars arrived in Pisces. These clashes are not likely to end, and may escalate with opposing rallies of pro gun racist white supremacist groups rearing up, as just happened in Bethel, Ohio. This is because on the Solstice, Mercury and Chiron in volatile Aries form a tense clash which began on June 4 repeats at the Solstice as Mercury backs up and remains active through July 25 after Chiron turns retro on July 11.  Chiron represent wounds and was also in Aries when the Civil Rights Act was made law in the US and the beginning of  better race relations was the hope then. Now decades later that hope seems like a dream that never manifested as the BLM supporters march to make it known to the world.

Chiron was in Aries on the Summer Solstice last year too. Here is what I wrote then:  “Chiron in Aries is begging us to turn a key into new ways of action. Let us hope we have learned that war, death and destruction never achieve a lasting positive solution. Cancer at its highest vibration is unconditional love. The challenge for now is cultivating ability to act from this beautiful vibration, versus knee-jerk reactions from old limiting belief structures”

Perhaps for individuals this challenge was met and the months of sheltering at home was a catalyst to leave limiting structures behind. But at systemic, public policy levels nothing changed and much went backward.  It’s interesting to note the tern ‘knee-jerk’ unfortunately relates to current police policies which kill and which protesters call out to change.

Potent Pluto and expansive Jupiter are both retrograding and stationed together in Capricorn on the Solstice. This powerful meeting began on March 29, as the world was thrust into pandemic lockdown and is repeating at the Solstice which means this conjuction is in operation throughout this season and continues through most of the rest of the year.

2020 began with major Capricorn influence and this Pluto/Jupiter conjunction on the Solstice keeps up the pressure as this new season begins, and echos the once in 500 year conjunction of Pluto and Saturn in January. As I wrote then, ” When these 2 planets come together in Capricorn, powerful heads roll and decaying, rigid structures crumble!” Well here we are 6 months later and mighty Jupiter and powerful Pluto make sure the rocking and rolling of old structures continues!

Change Agent Uranus maintains his position in Taurus and stands alone with no close relationship to the other planets at the Solstice except for a loose square to Saturn in Aquarius.  Uranus is the planet of revolution and has been in Taurus since March 2019. Taurus rules nature and mother earth and Uranus is noted for pulling the rug out from underneath to create change, so was also a major trigger to the coronavirus strain that swept the world and locked humans down. And what happened when humans had to cease their polluting ways – nature and the natural world flourished!

At the Solstice Uranus stands aloof as if watching what will happen now that humans are easing out into the world again. His square to Saturn is loosening even further because Saturn is set to re-enter Capricorn on July 1. However, stay tuned because this square becomes tight and active beginning in February 2021. It is then we’ll begin to see results of the new structures forming.

There is good news too! This week leading up to the Solstice the US Supreme Court made some unexpected and progressive rulings. In a major victory for the LGBT community, on June 15 the Court ruled that Federal Civil Rights Act protects gay, lesbian and transgender workers.  Then on June 18 the Court blocked the elimination of DACA instituted under the the Obama administration which protected against deportation of the “Dreamers” children born in the US to undocumented immigrants, which the Trump administration wanted to end. Both rulings were unexpected under this current Supreme Court which appeared to lean heavily to the right after two Trump administration  appointees.

This is the plus side of Venus and the Moon in Gemini at the Solstice. Gemini is associated with youth, like the Dreamers, and is also connected to Pride month in June, ruled by Gemini. Gemini is also a sign of flexibility which the Supreme Court seems to be exercising. May it continue to be so!

Emotions never get locked down and at the personal level the Solstice energies encourage you to continue exploring the deeper revelations you’ve gained during the months of pandemic restrictions and make stronger your bond of love with family and friends too. You have help to recognize your tribe of like minded people and also to expand further to realize that your tribe is the whole human family. There is strong energy urging you to move beyond old limiting structures and to leave hatred and violence behind and embrace Love one another as a plan of action for life!

It is a time to remember the words of Nelson Mandela, born with Sun in Cancer, who said, Our human compassion binds us the one to the other – not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future. ~ Nelson Mandela

 

 

 

 

 

 

04/30/20

Saturn Retrograde

Saturn Retrograde

Note: In 2022 Saturn goes retrograde on 6/4 at 25* Aquarius and turns direct on 10/22 at 22* Aquarius.

Saturn takes 29.4 years to travel the Solar System and once every year turns retrograde for around  4 1/2 months. Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system, a beautiful planet with its famous rings.   CoolCosmos has good info about Saturn.

In astrology Saturn represents form, function, discipline and governs worldly authority structures like government and corporate bureaucracies and bureaucracies in general. Saturn creates boundaries and requires discipline. We chaff at Saturn’s demands, but we need boundaries and discipline or nothing would ever get accomplished. Saturn is like the stern teacher we hated, but we learned how to write a good term paper! Saturn is the ruler of the third Earth sign, Capricorn and rules the knees along with the skeleton  – the inner supporting structure of the body, and the connective tissues of the body, like ligaments and skin – the ultimate boundary of the body!

Saturn turns retrograde every year so it’s not an unusual occurrence. When Saturn turns retro we all need to work a bit harder to stay focused on goals, and look inward to find order in your life because external structure may be illusive.  Saturn is known as the Lord of the Material World so when Saturn backs away our sense of grounded structure feels less solid, you have to work a bit harder to stay focused on your larger goals, dig a little deeper to find order in your life and might notice you have more trouble sticking to disciplined routines. Saturn rules Capricorn who tend to feel the effects of Saturn retro more, but as the 2nd largest planet Saturn affects everyone especially those with the sign he is transiting.

Saturn enters a new sign around 29-30 years and stays in each sign for 2 1/2 years. When Saturn comes back to where he was in your birth chart this is called the Saturn Return  happens (at ages 28-30 and again at 57-59) it is a significant time when you must look at the structure of your entire life and determine what you want the next 30 years of your life to be like. You must consider the structures you need to build for a better life and shore-up ones already working well for you.

It feels similar when Saturn transits your Sun sign. At personal levels when Saturn transits your Sun sign you need to review your entire life and introduce better structures and also recognize any framework you need to tear down in order to progress positively in the years to come.

When Saturn turns retrograde and re-crosses your Sun sign degree (and is also significant if Saturn crosses over  your Rising Sign again) you have more time to review this restructuring process. And if you have not been disciplined enough to do the life review Saturn requested when he first contacted this point, when Saturn retrogrades back again you might feel like you are being boxed in until you figure things out! Here’s the deal – when you do the work Saturn demands you get more strength and extra stamina, but if you ignore Saturn his other alias the Lord of Karma gets into gear and pushes you to a place you might not want to go! So the best advice is to go along with Saturn and do the necessary work, then that stern teacher rewards you with an A+ and a gold star.

 

 

03/18/20

Spring Equinox 2020

Cheshire Cat – Atlanta Botanical Garden photo by Jean Williams

I chose this image of the Cheshire Cat from the exhibit at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens – Imaginary Worlds Alice’s Wonderland, because I know we all feel like we have slipped down a very, very strange rabbit hole. Alice says, It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then. The Cheshire Cat says, The Proper order of things is often a mystery to me. You too? as all but his smile disappears.

Spring Equinox 2020 arrives on March 19th at 11:49 PM EDT and on 8:49 PDT and 3:39 UT
This is Autumn Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere on March 20, at 2:49 PM AEDT

This is the earliest Spring Equinox in 124 years (Autumn Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere). You can read about why at Space.com  EarthSky always has good information March equinox: All you need to know

This Equinox is the moment each year when the Sun returns to the beginning of the Zodiac wheel, leaves the waters of Pisces and rises to fiery Aries.  The chart for this Equinox reveals trends for the upcoming season.

Chart for Spring Equinox 2020 cast for Washington, DC

There is no way to discuss this year’s Spring Equinox without addressing coronavirus and how it has been affecting the entire world. I’ll analyze how this shows up in the Equinox chart, but want to mention more about it here and also give you links to good articles about it too.

A Medical Intuitive Take on the CoronaVirus by Susan Corso

Spiritual Practice and Awareness to Navigate Crisis by Janet Straight Arrow

Astrology Musings on the Coronavirus   by Lynn Hayes

All astrologers knew that 2020 was no ordinary year with the monumental Capricorn emphasis, most especially the widely (and wildly!) discussed once in 500 years conjuction of Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn exact on January 12th.  In ordinary times effects of these important planetary connections manifested later than the actual conjunction, years or even centuries. But in the current moment the effects are manifesting  in lightening speed – life as we know it has changed almost instantly! Yet the seeds of this head whipping time were planted as far back as 1989, with the approaching connection of Uranus and Neptune in Capricorn (the Berlin Wall fell down) and more potent seeds were sown when Pluto entered Capricorn in late 2008  (the Great Recession). Now in 2020 the results are in full blown bloom.

One definition of corona is “crown”. Five hundred years ago the last time transformer Pluto and Lord of Structure Saturn were traveling together in Capricorn the power and dominance of the Catholic church began to be toppled with the Protestant Reformation. The next time Pluto was in Capricorn was during the American Revolution which initiated the fall of long reigning  monarchies – toppling their crowns! And now the perfectly named coronavirus is collapsing the structures of the entire world! Consider this – when you have tried to change ingrained negative habits without success, often the only thing that forces you to make appropriate changes is illness. Society at large with its greed, over consumption and disregard for the planet itself is sick and in dire need of change, but politicians, world leaders, powerful corporate “monarchies” and financial institutions along with fractured for profit health care industry here in the US resist change and like things just the way they are.  Enter coronavirus to say, “Guess what? Like it or not time’s up!”

What new structures will eventually manifest is unknown, but the exciting thing is that we all on the front line! You are not just a witness you are part of the process. Decisions and choices each of us make effect humanity at large into the future, just like the coronaviris pandemic wave pushes through affecting the world at large. It truly is a powerful and fascinating time to be alive! My personal belief is the more we embrace this unavoidable change with light hearts, expanded minds and loving thoughts and action, we will create the best world ever known! May it be so!

Now onto the Equinox chart. The Sun is always at 0 degrees Aries at the moment of the March Equinox and this year like last year finds Centaur Chiron near the Sun both creating a tense T-Square to the North Node (new direction) in Cancer and the South Node (past patterns) in Capricorn. Chiron acts like a key and in Aries wants us to open a door into new and better ways of doing things and leave past paradigms behind and the Aries Sun shines on this dynamic. This T-square represents the challenge of action indicating the choice between lagging behind in old, static structures which only serve the few, or moving forward into new more nurturing and supportive frameworks that benefit all. This challenging pattern also accentuates the Capricorn themes already so obvious this year.

Mars, planet of action, is in Capricorn and as the ruler of Aries is more dominant now. At the Equinox moment Mars forms an exact conjunction with massive Jupiter both at 22* Capricorn.  Mars in Capricorn is exalted and manifests as the adult in the room while Jupiter in Capricorn expands the need for better boundaries and works best by holding steady focus on long term goals. Exact conjunctions manifest more forcefully and this one is extremely obvious in the quarantines, boundary closures along with mandatory school and all nonessential business closures too. (Who could ever  believe this could happen in our lifetime?!) Jupiter is also near Pluto and not far away from Saturn re-emphasizing the major Capricorn structural themes. Mars connects with Pluto on 3/23 continuing to pressure Pluto’s transformational power.

Saturn is at the very last degree of Capricorn (29*51′) on the Equinox, a ‘charged’ degree even more dynamic because Saturn is the ruler of Capricorn. Saturn is like the stern teacher we hated but we sure learned how to write a good term paper! Saturn at this degree says, “This is your last warning, you must complete the test or fail!” Just a few days after the Equinox Saturn enters Aquarius on 3/22 for the first time in 29 years to give us a taste of what the new structures will be.

The Equinox Moon, which represents the public mood, is in Aquarius in sync with the new energies emerging. An Aquarius Moon longs to bring equality to the common people and the largest asteroid Ceres representing mature nurturing is near the Moon in Aquarius too. Here in the US as I write this there is a multi-billion dollar stimulus bill in Congress for emergency aid to off-set the economic impacts of coronavirus. There is even talk of giving people $1000 in UBI (universal basic income) during this crisis. (What a great idea, thanks Andrew Yang ‘-)

Venus at the Equinox is showing her strength in Taurus, the sign she rules. Taurus rules resources like income and money markets like stock exchanges which have been so volatile lately that it makes you dizzy to look at the ups and downs. Not to mentioned if you own stocks or have a 401K being scared shitless! Is this why everyone is hoarding toilet paper? Venus reaches out to Mars and Jupiter in fellow earth sign Capricorn letting it be known that her helpful hand is here to grasp. All will be well eventually, says Venus, just stay calm and carry on. In other words stop jumping around like a silly jelly bean and let things play out.

Messenger Mercury has returned to Pisces where he was on 2/5 a few days after public health officials like the WHO and CDC made public proclamations that the coronavirus outbreak was a public health emergency of international concern. Mercury in Pisces is a bit fuzzy and was also retrograde from 2/16 – 3/9.  Here in the US while Mercury was retrograde in February President Trump was giving the public mixed messages about this outbreak like “It’s a hoax, and will be over by April”.  Finally on 2/26 he announced that VP Mike Pence was taking over the cornavirus task force indicating a much more serious approach. Now with Mercury back in Pisces we can expect communication to continue to be confusing about the pandemic and the potential ramifications. At the same time Mercury makes a nice trine to the North Node in Cancer. Cancer is a healing and nurturing sign so even if messaging is confusing the intention is toward the good.

Neptune is in Pisces too, making this the 8th Spring Equinox he has been in the sign he governs. Neptune rules the highest spiritual vibrations along with deception and confusion. The Sabian Symbol for this degree is: In A Gigantic Tent, Villagers Witness A Spectacular Performance. Wow, could this be any more appropriate for this time?! Neptune also rules the oceans and shipping and look what is happening to the cruise line industry!

Finally lets look at Uranus which is at 4* Taurus on the Equinox.  If I had to pick one major trigger to this Corona Pandemic it would be Uranus who entered Taurus for this first time in 84 years in May, 2018, then went retro and re-entered Taurus on March 6, 2019 to stay until April 25, 2026.  Taurus rules Mother Earth, our home planet and Uranus is both the planet of chaos and enlightenment. Uranus’ symbol looks like a cell tower and has been trying to get us humans to tune into better ways to take care of Mother Earth. Many people are listening and making positive changes, as well as many governments, but sad to say, most are not. Here in the US the Trump administration has rolled back much of the legislation in place for decades that protected the environment, which has also happened in Brazil with the continued destruction of Amazon rain forest, and the same in many other countries too, while the whole world is still heavily dependent on fossil fuels.

When expansive Jupiter entered earth sign Capricorn on 12/2/19 which was another portend of major changes (Jupiter was last in Capricorn in 2008 during the Great Ression) Jupiter made a trine (positive connection) with Uranus on 12/15 but Uranus was retrograding and more internalized then. Now that Uranus has come back to the degree of this trine he is in full active mode. It’s as if Uranus finally got tired of sending out his “Protect Nature” broadcast but getting no response. So in his coyote, lighting bolt guise Uranus Lord of Chaos, said ok folks if you refuse to wake up and take stronger action, I’ll send one of my bolts to jolt you awake! Already it is working as the pandemic reduces carbon emission air becomes cleaner and lives are saved in the process. Even the usually murky Venice canals are clear and dolphins have been seen in them after 60 years!  After the pandemic recedes, it’s up to us, the people, to keep pressure on governments and corporate polluters to maintain better practices into the future. Also at the Equinox, just as Mercury forms a beneficial exact trine to the North Node, Uranus forms an exact trine to the South Node adding more positive potential for the changing structures to be much better than ever before. Yay.

And here is a wonderful quote that you may have seen already, but is worth seeing over and over in these kind of times by Kitty O’Meara who interestingly enough seemed to spring from nowhere, no information on who she is except for these words.

And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened,
and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games,
and learned new ways of being,
and were still.
And listened more deeply.
Some meditated, some prayed, some danced.
Some met their shadows.
And the people began to think differently.
And the people healed.
And, in the absence of people living in ignorant,
dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways,
the earth began to heal.
And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again,
they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images,

and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.

So my friends as we welcome a new kind of spring spending more time in the corona boundaries, may you stay healthy and strong and remember to use joy and laughter as you best medicine.  Stay close to your loved ones, look out for your neighbors and keep connected to your friends and your community in all the wonderful ways our electronic era allows us. You are never alone, you are always held in the hands of Love.

Here is a quote by Ram Dass born with Sun in Aries, Remember, we are all affecting the world every moment, whether we mean to or not. Our actions and states of mind matter, because we’re so deeply interconnected with one another. Working on our own consciousness is the most important thing that we are doing at any moment, and being love is the supreme creative act.

 

 

12/20/19

Winter Solstice 2019

Yosemite in Winter

Winter Solstice 2019

Bright Solstice Greetings to All!

Winter Solstice 2019 (Summer in the Southern Hemisphere) arrives on December 21 at 11:19p Eastern Time, 8:19p Pacific Time and on December 22 at 4:19 Universal Time.

For good info on the Solstice visit Vox Science and EarthSky’s  Solstice article discusses why this season (between the Solstice and the Spring Equinox)  is 5 days shorter. And here are 7 examples of how Winter solstic is celebrated

This Solstice is when the Sun enters Capricorn and marks the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest in the Southern – the very moment when the wheel of the seasons turns. The world may be in turmoil but one thing is constant – the seasons change as they always have since the dawn of time.  The arrival of the Solstice reassures of this, which in itself is worthy of celebration. In the Northern hemisphere it marks the return of the light, as days begin to grow longer, another reason to celebrate!

The astrology chart for the Solstice represents the birth of this new season and gives indications of what to expect.

The Sun always enters Capricorn at the Winter Solstice, and Solstice 2019 marks the beginning of a very Capricorn time! This gathering which includes the 2 largest planets in the solar system is momentous in its influence. The Sun joins Jupiter, the South Node, Ceres, Saturn and Pluto all in the masterful earth sign of Capricorn.  The Sun and Jupiter (who just entered Capricorn for the first time in 12 years on 12/2) are conjunct the karmic South Node while Lord of Karma Saturn rides next to transformational Pluto, with Ceres the wise nurturer, nestled in-between. This Capricorn convergence echoes and emphasizes the bellwether moment when Pluto entered Capricorn on 11/26/2008 for the first time since 1776 – in the midst of the American Revolution!

Think of the major change the world was going through then. This era marked the end of thousands of years of monarchy rule and the transition into the democratic state systems of today. During that era Saturn and Pluto did not come together in Capricorn. In fact, the last time Pluto and Saturn were conjunct in Capricorn was during another time of revolutionary change – January 1518 soon after Martin Luther defied the Catholic church’s dominant rule and sparked the Protestant Revolution.

The addition of Jupiter this time around makes this convergence even more significant, because the last time Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto were conjunct in Capricorn  was over 4000 years ago! And when you consider that Pluto was not even discovered in those earlier eras, but is fully in our conscious awareness now as the planet of total transformation, you can see how powerful this time is! This Solstice moment rings the bells of change for sure, but the whole year of 2020 continues to chime which I will be writing more about in future posts.

Capricorn dominates this Solstice, indicating major structural changes are inevitable now, but other factors are significant too.  A challenge comes from the Capricorn Sun in tight square to Chiron in fiery Aries. Considering this is the beginning of the Summer Season in the Southern Hemisphere this tense aspect is evident in Australia where temperatures are at 40 degrees C, equivalent to 104* F – ouch, with bushfires raging throughout the entire country. As stressful as this is, at the same time the Sun along with Jupiter also make a favorable trine to Uranus in Taurus.  An article at TIME states that the widespread bushfire crisis has made climate change a reality for many Australians, so in the midst of these ever increasing disasters exacerbated by climate change, people are waking up. Capricorn at its best, creates positive foundations for the future, which encourages Uranus’ mission of raising awareness about the need to protect our home planet.

The Solstice Moon, representative of the public mood, is in smoldering Scorpio and opposes change agent Uranus in Taurus which forms a tense T-Square to Venus in Aquarius. You don’t have to look far to observe this challenge represented by the impeachment of President Trump.  Mars is in Scorpio too pushing emotions even deeper. Christian Evangelicals have been very supportive of Trump but the Evangelical magazine founded by Billy Graham, Christianity Today, did some soul searching and just called for Trump’s removal , while a Republican Congressman stated that Jesus Christ had more due process before his crucifixion than President Trump received in the impeachment hearings. At the macro level we can expect more soul searching and dramatic wringing of hands from politicians, along with the media and other news outlets.  Doom, gloom and controversy attract readers which sells ads, a very worldly driven Capricornian model.

Luckily Mars reaches out positively to Neptune in Pisces which helps deep emotions feel more caring and loving – perfect for this season of love and peace. Communicator Mercury in uplifting Sagittarius also adds to a more positive feeling. Here is an article I like by AstroAnislie – she says this is a very positive Solstice which is especially true for anyone who has major Capricorn in your birth chart, it is your time!

At the personal level it is up to you to tap the Solstice energies positively. Just as people living in those earlier eras of major transitions had no idea how what they experienced and participated in would create such a radically different future, we too cannot imagine what the world will be like in the centuries to come. What you can do to benefit from this rare Capricorn concentration is to build positive structures in your own life.  No matter what kind of negativity the outer world throws at you, remember to harness your inner drive and determination. If you need more discipline, it is here! If you are learning to stick to your priorities and gain the endurance to master your goals, you’ve got all the help you need. The future is calling and each and every one of us help create it. As Carlos Castaneda Born with Sun in Capricorn said, I want to convince you that you must learn to make very act count, since you are going to be here for only a short while, in fact, too short for witnessing all the marvels of it.

As this new season dawns and light begins to return, my solstice wish for you is to become more aware of all the marvels in life and add your own beautiful vibration into the web of life that connects us all!

 

We’re Designed to Connect by Molly Costello