I write a monthly planetary update column called Skywatch, and as I worked tonight on the column for June (which is a power packed month!) I felt it was important to lay the groundwork by summarizing the powerful influences that we have experienced over the past year, which are still in effect and calling us to the dance.

2006 has been an intense year so far, with planetary dances creating a cycle that alternates between a building of tension through the hard aspects: squares (between Jupiter and Neptune and between Jupiter and Saturn) and oppositions (Saturn to Chiron); and an opening of the doors of consciousness and awareness through the flowing aspect of the trine (Uranus and Jupiter):

The current square cycle between Jupiter in Scorpio (expansion and possibilities, particularly in the realms of emotional connection, other people’s money (including the stock market), sexuality and death) and Saturn in Leo (contraction and disappointment, the downfall of mundane rulers, the need to dissolve the personal ego) began in December of 2005 and will make the second hit this month (June 2006), concluding the cycle in late October of this year.

The square cycle between Jupiter (expansion, theology and faith) to Neptune in Aquarius (delusion, confusion, becoming lost in fantasy, problems of energy imbalance and spiritual emergency) began in late January of 2006, hit for the second time in March of 2006, and concludes in late September of this year.

This phase of the opposition cycle between Saturn in Leo (painful ego dissolution and the discipline required to shine without ego) and Chiron in Aquarius (wounding and healing requiring an adjustment of the inner energy force) actually began in 2003 and made seven contacts since September of that year. The conclusion of this cycles takes place this month (June 20).

The trine of Uranus in Pisces (mystical revolution, the awakening of conscious through that which is unknowable) and Jupiter in Scorpio began at the end of November in 2005, hit for the second time in May of 2006, and will complete its passage in late August/early September of 2006.

The past year has seen a great deal of violence all over the world, as issues of religion and philosophy face off in conflicts of ideology and culture. Yet at the same time, there has been an awakening of awareness across the globe, and a dawning of a consciousness that spans the cultural divides. The opposition of Saturn to Chiron I feel is particularly strong, especially since it has taken place 27 times since 1986, with 20 contacts between 1986 and 1994 (see table. The opposition of Saturn to Chiron has brought about a “healing crisis” that has forced (Saturn) an awareness of the pain and misery (Chiron) that is suffered in some cultures, which by necessity has resulted in increased communication and efforts by the global community to heal (Chiron) those wounds which are now forced into global consciousness.

The beginning of the current Chiron/Saturn cycle (in 1986) saw the nuclear accident at the Chernobyl plant, which arguably ended the first nuclear age. The oppositions of Chiron to Saturn during the late 1980s witnessed the massive casualties of the war between Iran and Iraq which one could argue were the beginnings of the current debacle in Iraq. This first Chiron/Saturn phase also witnessed the stock market crash of 1987, the largest stock market drop in history. This crash resulted in a major recession that lasted for several years.

The beginning of this Saturn/Chiron cycle also witnessed the birth of the Oprah Winfrey show, which arguably has done more to aid the self-help movement than any other single event. The self-help movement is perfectly characterized by a detailed self-examination (Saturn) which results in the healing of old wounds (Chiron) for greater wisdom and empowerment. It will come as no surprise to most of you that I revere Oprah for the work she has done to bring the work of personal transformation to the general public.

Because Jupiter is the keynote speaker of the other cycles, it is useful to really take a look at what Jupiter means astrologically. Jupiter is said to rule the sign of Sagittarius, and because Pluto is traveling through the tail end of Sagittarius the issues of Jupiter are in the process of being transformed by Pluto. Jupiter is said to be the “greater benefic,” and bestows good fortune and positive thinking. Jupiter is the principle that positive thoughts reap positive outcomes, and tends to be optimistic and expansive, ready to take advantage of all opportunities. Jupiter, of course, was King of the Gods, and as such he was the ruler of all and created his own laws. Jupiter is associated with law, theology, and our search for the meaning of life. Often this finds us in the realm of religion, which is the sharing of personal ideals with others. Jupiter represents blind faith – it also can show where we may find ourselves bigger than we actually are in life. It also rules expansion, and tends to bring an exaggerated manifestation of planets with which it comes into contact.

The current cycle of Jupiter transits throughout the year are creating opportunities and expanding awareness, but the danger with Jupiter is that like a balloon that becomes too full of air, our confidence could pop and the air could drain out of the lives we have built. The confidence of Jupiter creates debt, it expands the housing and stock market, it can create an illusion that things are better than they actually are. On the other hand, Jupiter opens us to fresh possibilities that we haven’t before noticed.

We are experiencing simultaneously the trine of Uranus and Jupiter, which opens our awareness (Jupiter) to new ways of thinking (Uranus) and creativity of which we were previously unaware. However, the square of Jupiter to Neptune brings in the possibility of deception (Neptune) and an overblown sense of our own abilities (Jupiter).

The Jupiter/Saturn square cycle deals with our ability to balance an openness of mind and optimistic viewpoint (Jupiter) with our ability to be practical and reasonable and be aware of our limitations (Saturn). Often the square aspect between these two planets creates expansive periods (Jupiter) that are followed shortly by a heavy dose of reality (Saturn).

Each of these planetary cycles is a powerful combination that is working to transform our own sense of our world view (Jupiter). The key to successfully managing these planetary cycles is to stay open (Jupiter) to new possibilities, be prepared to radically change your thinking (Uranus), keep you feet planted firmly on the ground and work hard (Saturn), while following the call of your inner self to realize that there is more to life than this mundane reality (Neptune).

Image by Crowolf

What could be more Neptunian than a cloaking device? Neptune is the god of mystery, of that which is hidden. Neptune cloaks us in darkness, shrouds us in mists, and with Neptune stationing retrograde in the sign of Aquarius, which is ruled by Uranus, scientists have taken a page from Star Trek and are working on building a cloaking device.

The concept of a cloaking device, which would create an illusion of invisibility around aircraft and tanks by manipulating light or other electromagnetic waves, was previously limited to science fiction novels and Harry Potter. This sort of electromagnetic activity is ruled by Uranus, which in its current trine by Jupiter is inspiring a great deal of technological gadgetry and inventions.

In other Uranus/Jupiter news, Japanese researchers have announced the ability to control robots using brain signals from an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machine, and Danish researchers have created a new method for transferring data signals to light waves, accelerating the communication between computers. Jupiter expands all that it connects with, and in its current trine with Uranus it is opening doorways and facilitating the creation of radical and unusual technology and ideas (all of which are associated with Uranus). The unlocking of these creations is just beginning and I am certain that we will see a rapid acceleration of of these amazing ideas and inventions.

“ New Beginnings”, by Mary Lou Falstreau

The New Moon occurred Saturday at 1:25 am EST (sorry, I took a day off!), but its effect will continue over the next couple of days. New Moons are times of beginnings, and in Gemini they are times of change as well. Gemini craves new experiences, and the New Moon in Gemini lends itself to beginning new projects and engaging in exciting new endeavors.

This New Moon is sextile the stabilizing force of Saturn, which lends discipline and structure to the airy nature of Mercury-ruled Gemini. It’s a good time for beginning new goals (Saturn) and planning (Saturn) for new opportunities to learn and create new ideas (Gemini). The solar conscious principle is fused with the lunar instincts now, and the subconscious can link more easily to the conscious mind.

Barbara Hand Clow, one of my favorite writers on Chiron, writes about this New Moon:

“This New Moon is especially interesting because it coincides exactly with the midpoint of Night Four of the Galactic Underworld, as defined by Carl Johan Calleman in The Mayan Calendar: Transformation of Consciousness (2004), which all of you must read in order to really understand Astroflash! through 2012 AD. Since there are thirteen midpoints of the Galactic Underworld occurring from January 5, 1999, through October 28, 2011, the chances of a midpoint coinciding with a New Moon during the same period (about 165 New Moons) is around 1 in 10,000 probability.”

If you haven’t read Barbara’s work it may sound a little far out to you, but she has always been on the cutting edge and it’s wise to keep an open mind when reading her articles. Her work on Chiron is really excellent, and brought in some of the more esoteric aspects of the way that planet works with energy.

Mercury (also in Gemini) makes a trine (harmonious aspect) today to Saturn, reinforcing the connection between the mental pursuits of Mercury and Gemini with the solid structural support of Saturn. Venus is just leaving a square to Mars, where it created some disruption in relationships, but its trine to Pluto has facilitated transformation wherever we were stuck. This process will continue over the next few days. Meanwhile, the trine of Jupiter (expansion) to Uranus (awakening) is still in effect, offering a free ride to a world where life is full of new opportunities if we choose to make the trip. This is an opportunity to let go of patterns of living our life that have become stale and sour, and to gain a new trust and faith in letting go to the miracles that life has to offer

Art by Marius Fine Art

This is Part II – catch up with Part I here (I’ve corrected the dates as well and added the Age of Leo).

The Age of Aries (1,662 BCE – 498 CE) was the Age of the Hero and the Warrior. The eruption of the volcano Santorini in 1680 destroyed the Minoan civilization and along with it their Bull cult (age of Taurus). This age was marked synchronistically by the Indo-Aryan (Aries) migration and the beginnings of cattle domestication (conquering the Bull god). Rituals of the Mithraic cult involved slaughtering of bulls, which has come down to us today as the bullfight. The gods of the Age of Aries, as in each age before them, eradicated the gods that preceded them.

Little is known about the origins of the Aryan people, but they were warriors possessing military technology superior to that of their neighbors, facilitating their takeover of much of Asia during this period. The Arien Age also witnessed the first Olympic games in Greece and the development of the Greek and Roman empire. The Hero archetype was central to the Greek and Roman cultures, with their gods who were constantly doing battle. Yahweh, the god of the Jewish people who gained prevalence during this time, combined characteristics of both the Warrior and the Hero. He demanded the transformation of the Hero in his disciple Abraham, and advised on military conquests.

Finally our own Age of Pisces (498 – 2,658 CE ), symbolized by the Fish, and representing the Sacred descending to the Mundane world. Pisces rules universal compassion, sacrifice of the individual Ego, and martyrdom. Pisces is a feminine sign, yet during the reign of Pisces we have seen the suppression and re-emergence of the feminine, and no story tells this quite as dramatically as the transformation of Mary Magdalene, the real story behind The DaVinci Code. The Church recently admitted that Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute but a true follower. However, when the Nag Hammadi scrolls were discovered and translated, it was revealed that Mary was more than a follower but an actual apostle, giving rise anew to theories of Mary having been wife to Jesus.

The story of the life and death of Jesus the Christ and the evolution of the religion that bears his name mirrors the Piscean age perfectly. Pisces is sign of the water element, and the origin of Christianity finds Jesus being baptized in a river, symbolizing the dissolution of the personal ego into the river of faith, a ritual that continues today. Even in pre-Christian times, the sacred wells of the British Isles were places where the gods and goddesses would be present. The teachings of Jesus express the Piscean values of compassion, universal love and brotherhood. However, last 2000 years have not always expressed those concepts in their highest form.

The call for the end of individualism and the necessity for blind belief that marks the evolution of the Piscean age has led to the more negative manifestation of Pisces: illusion and delusion. The famed Dark Ages in western civilization occurred because the ruling Roman Catholic Church wanted to suppress all knowledge and keep their adherents in the literal darkness. At that time the realm of knowledge spread to the Arab world, which is now in its own Dark Age.

The date for the end of the Piscean age is in much dispute. As earlier discussed, most would like the Ages to fit into a nice 2000 year package which would put us squarely in the beginning of the Aquarian age. However, astronomical calculations tell us that this is not true, and that the Aquarian age technically will not begin until approximately 2600 CE. Regardless, we are in the last decan of Pisces and moving away from the Pisces influence of sacrifice of the individual ego. As the Piscean mists begin to separate, the knowledge and understanding that Aquarius demands is beginning to make itself known.

The religion of Christianity is built around the death and resurrection of Jesus, yet for 2000 years that very tenet has been in doubt. The four gospels each tell a completely different story of the end of the life of Jesus, and there are no details of the resurrection. As with much of the Christian story (and I mean no offence to Christians here), the story of the resurrection must be taken on faith. There are some questions as to whether Jesus even died on the cross – a mysterious individual named Simon the Cyrene offered to carry Jesus’s cross, and some theorize that it was Simon that actually died on the cross and not Jesus. Others question whether the “vinegar and gall” given to Jesus wasn’t snake venom that caused him to fall into a swoon, thereby fooling the Romans into thinking he had died when in fact he was in a deep unconscious state. Pontius Pilate “marvelled if he were already dead” and changed the established procedure of leaving him on the cross to be eaten by carrion, but instead authorized that his body be brought down to leave in his tomb. Many believe that Jesus and Mary were then spirited out of Jerusalem and taken to Europe where they lived happily ever after.

For centuries these ideas were suppressed and their adherents tortured and murdered for heresy, but in the 20th century these ideas began to spring forth anew such as the book Holy Blood and Holy Grail. First published in 1982, this book was a cult classic until the Dan Brown’s novel “The Da Vinci Code” appeared on the scene. Evidently the collective consciousness is now ready to absorb these ideas and begin to examine the truth that lies behind the faith.

As we enter the Aquarian Age, what will our new gods be? Aquarius rules technology and radical thought, invention and ascension. The last Aquarian age (around 28,000 BC) marked the end of the Neanderthal and the birth of Cro Magnon man. Will our species be similarly transformed over the next 2500 years? We can try to predict the future, but life has a way of evolving in a way that we cannot imagine.

As a species, we are currently crossing from the Age of Pisces into the Age of Aquarius. Although many people consider the Age of Pisces to begin at year 0 with the birth of Jesus with Aquarian Age beginning at 2000, most astronomers agree that the Age of Pisces actually begin in year 498 C.E., indicating entry into Aquarius in 2658 C.E.

Under the Age of Pisces we have seen the Piscean archetypes of sacrifice of the individual ego, universal love and compassion, assimilation, and the more negative projections of illusion, fantasy and delusion. Each astrological age has been represented by a deistic pantheon; the end of each age is marked by the ending of the worship of that pantheon. The Piscean Age has been marked by the growth of the three major monotheistic religions, each of which claims to be the only correct one, and the attempted dissolution of the individual ego. As we move from the Piscean age into Aquarius, the awakener, we are being shown that the Emperor doesn’t have any clothes, that any unreality upon which we have based our religious foundations will be shattered in the upcoming years. The ideas in The Da Vinci Code have been around for 2000 years, but they are only now erupting into the public awareness. What will this mean for humanity?

This will be a long article, and will therefore be serialized into manageable segments over the next few days.

Part I: The Astrological Ages

The equatorial bulge of the earth causes a shifting in the earth’s axis and the point at which the Sun at the vernal equinox points to the zodiacal constellations. This phenomenon is known as the “Precession” and creates the period of 25,920 years that we call the “Great Year.” The “Great Year” is divided into twelve “Great Ages” each of approximately 2160 years. Because of the “orb of influence,” or “orb,” which describes the fact that a change in sign makes itself known several degrees before the actual change (also known as the “cusp”), there is some flexibility to the 2160 figure.

While the Great Ages certainly go back to the formation of the Earth itself, the Ages that are known to us are:

Age of Leo: 10,300-8,140 BCE. Modern scientific techniques, looking at erosion patterns, agree with the great sage Edgar Cayce, who dated the great Sphinx of Egypt back to a period of great rains in that country, something which hasn’t happened since the end of the ice age (typically considered to be 10,500 BCE). Although little is known of this period, it could have presided over a “Golden Age” (Leo rules gold) where the Sun was worshipped as the primordial god of light and life.

Age of Cancer: 8,140-6,000 BCE. Cancer is the sign of the Moon and the Mother, and this Age corresponded to the worship of the Great Goddess and the Moon. Cancer is a water sign, and many scientists believe that this period corresponded to the end of the ice age and the Great Deluge of myth that resulted from catastrophic melting of glaciers. As humans began to form tribes they became more concerned with family groupings and geneaology, another hallmark of Cancer. Women were considered the source of creation since they bore the children.

Age of Gemini: 6,000-3,800 BCE. Gemini rules communication and speech, and this age saw the development of the first written languages and establishment of villages. The cult of Twin Gods in creation myths began during this period (twins represented the masculine and feminine principle). The wheel and plough are invented (Gemini rules thoughts and ideas), aiding in the spread of agriculture.

Age of Taurus: 3,800-1,660 BCE. Agriculture (Taurus is ruled by the Earth and Venus) makes its way throughout cultures in the Americas, Africa and Asia. The first temples were built in Mesopotamia and the first jewelry and aesthetic objects (Venus) are created. Bull cults (Taurus is symbolized by the bull) were dominant in Greece and Egypt, and the worship of the more sexualized goddess Innana/ Ishtar/ Ashtoreth also became popular.

continued tomorrow…

Astrologers usually follow a code of ethics in their work, just as most professions do. The National Council for Geocosmic Research, one of the oldest astrological associations, has a code of ethics on their website that includes some of the following standards of practice:

Avoid making statements that could cause harm through confusion, misunderstanding or fear. This includes predicting the client’s death, the death of someone close to them or other disaster.

Make predictions with appropriate qualifying statements, not as final pronouncements. Although our egos would all like to be Nostradamus, it is more helpful to the client to prepare them for a climate of change rather than predict, no matter how accurately, specific events.

Disclose to the public only that information which is publicly available without permission. It is generally thought acceptable to publish birth data which is available in the public records, but when discussing the chart of a third party with a client it is unethical to include personal information that is not in the public domain.

The code of ethics of the American Society of Vedic Astrologers includes a specific reference to the charts of public figures:

Interpretations of the charts of public figures are confined to areas that are considered public domain due to specific achievements or notoriety as revealed in interviews, published documents, or recorded observations. When interpreting charts of public figures, astrologers refrain from making slanderous comments. Information should be presented in a manner that is respectful to the individual whose chart is being discussed.

A reader yesterday was concerned that a profile I wrote about Tom Cruise was disrespectful and made assumptions based on my opinions about him, and I really pondered this. I do have a fascination for gossip (Gemini rising) and the lives of public figures which fuels the writing of this daily column. My Scorpio Mercury isn’t content to learn the superficial details – I want to understand what motivates people, what makes them tick. In doing so, I am writing about people I admire as well as those I don’t feel respect for and it is often tempting to use the astrological signatures to express criticism of that indidividual.

My greater goal in these pages is not only to explain character traits through the astrological profiles but also to demonstrate the pathways that each individual can follow to maximize the potential found in their birthchart and take advantage of the gifts and challenges that have been given to them in order to achieve greater wisdom and self-understanding. If I fall into the gutter and miss the mark, I expect you all to let me know!!

photo by William Schick, courtesy of Corbis.

Mundane astrology is the study of world events (mundus in ancient Greek means world) by examining the horoscopes of nations and events as if those entities were living and breathing beings, with personalities and characteristics just like humans. I confess that this branch of astrology has never held much meaning for me — my field of interest is in the evolution of the human spirit and character. But there is a lot of buzz right now about one specific event that is getting ready to occur: the change of direction of the Progressed Mars in the chart of the United States.

The date and time of birth of the American nation has been a matter of debate for centuries now. Most astrologers use the “Sibley” chart for the US, named after Ebenezer Sibley, a prominent American astrologer in the late 1700s. According to Benson Bobrick’s excellent work The Fated Sky, Sibley a Freemason was well practiced in the field of mundane astrology, known for his accurate political predictions regarding both the American and French revolutions. Sibley also predicted that America would one day “have an extensive an dflourishing commerce; advantageous and universal traffic to every quarter of the globe, with great security and prosperity amongst its people,” and eventually be “a new Empire that shall soon or late give laws to the whole world. ” This is rather startling considering the fact that Masonic historian Manly P Hall has reported that the US has a secret destiny: “Thousands of years ago, in Egypt, these mystical orders were aware of the existence of the western hemisphere and the great continent which we call America. The bold resolution was made that this western continent should become the site of the philosophic empire. Just when this was done it is impossible now to say, but certainly the decision was reached prior to the time of Plato, for a thinly veiled statement of this resolution is the substance of his treatise on the Atlantic Islands.” (from Manly P Hall’s Secret Destiny of America). But I digress… that is an issue for another discussion entirely.

Suffice it to say that Sibley had a mystical and Masonic background, and since most of America’s founders were Masons and therefore very concerned with matters of the occult, Sibley most likely had direct information regarding the actual time for the birthchart of the United States, and his is the chart that is predominantly used today.

The upcoming event that has mundane astrologers buzzing is the retrograde turn of the progressed Mars in the US chart. Progressions are a system to show the development of a characteristic through an individual’s lifetime; while we remain the same person, we grow and change through time and this is signified by the progressed planets. Before a planet turns retrograde it slows down and is almost “stationary,” and because the progressed planets move more slowly the stationary period is much longer. Over the past year, the US progressed Mars has been stationary in Libra and will turn retrograde this year (there is a question as to when this will happen: Michael Wolfstar says September 1 and other astrologers, including Alphee Lavoie and Gary Caton, says this event will take place July 20. Gary quotes Raymond Merriman as saying, “The implication is that the U.S. is about to make a complete reversal in regards to its entire historical military expression. And what would cause that? Well, obviously (to me) it has to do with this war in Iraq. It seems to me that this war will be the last war of this kind that the U.S. will engage in for the next 70-72 years, once the Bush regime is out of office. There will likely be a profound reversal of how the U.S. utilizes its military after the election of November 2008. The troops will likely come home, for better or worse — and I say that because if the job is not completed, much of the world will no longer depend upon the U.S. to keep its word about protecting its allies. “

Claire-France Perez has lined up a collection of predictions (listed below) – as always, it will be interesting to see how the cosmos brings events that are beyond what we could ever imagine.

1. A nuclear test on June 2 in Nevada. (bomb = Mars)http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/30/AR2006033001735.html

2. An attack with nuclear weaponry upon the historical sites and cities of Iran (bomb = Mars) http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/CHO505A.html

3. A bevy of retired generals (Mars = Military) requesting a change in the direction of the department of defense (Rumsfeld)http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=34007&dcn=todaysnews

4. The destruction of any civil peace in Iraq to continue (war = Mars)http://www.iraqbodycount.org/database/

5. From an interpretation from the Horary tradition, which signals Mars in the 2nd (just another Mars sort of thang) of a Horary chart could signify the “cutting of one’s purse strings,” in this case, for newborns. It is estimated that those born in the next three to five years will each be saddled with $15,000 to $30,000 of debt on their first day in life, along with the rest of the already-born American People. Here’s a painting from Georges de la Tour of Mars’ pickpocket action:http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/viewOnezoom.asp?dep=11&zoomFlag=0&viewmode=0&item=60.30

6. And of course we have the new militarily reinforced border, one that was underfunded a year ago, and then whoops! Brought back for another of the world’s greatest photo opportunities for this president. (this article reports on the fund cut from the border patrol a year ago…) I just wonder if a terrorists already living in the country are feeling any safer.http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/02/09/MNGOKB837T1.DTL

7. The right hand man (a “second”) for the US president, Karl Rove, is awaiting the announcement of his indictment. Impeding the investigation, and various other sins to be proven against him regarding the case of Valerie Plame. (arrest = Mars)http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/12/matthews-on-rove-indictment-it-could-be-today/

8. It looks like Dick Cheney, the Vice President, also had a hand in the Valerie Plame scandal and is awaiting the investigation to hone more closely upon him. (arrest = Mars)http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/17/AR2005101701888.html

Artwork by T Newfields

Neptune turns retrograde this morning, bringing the number of retrograde planets to four (Jupiter, Pluto, Chiron and Neptune). When planets are in “retrograde” motion, they appear to be moving backwards from our position here on Earth, and they tend to cause us to look backwards over issues that are governed by that planet’s energy. This is particularly significant in a year like this one, which has seen some strong planetary configurations. As these planets retrograde they will revisit some of the other contacts they’ve made over the past six months or so.

Robert Wilkinson gives a great summary of the effects we will be encountering over the next six months or so.

Neptune will be retrograde until October 29, reminding us that life is more than material reality. I love the way Kevin Burk describes it: “Neptune is the infinite creative potential of the Universe. Neptune is the Truth that everything we experience is illusion; but more than that, Neptune is the Truth that everything that we imagine is true.” Neptune dissolves our individual ego in a way that can be exhilarating and enlightening, or scary as hell, depending on the nature of our relationship with it. Neptune can bring confusion and cause delusion as it works to untangle our attachment to the material world, and requires us to go deep within ourselves for the answers.

Because Neptune and Chiron are both retrograde and both in Aquarius (a fixed sign), dancing in and around challenging aspects to Jupiter and Saturn (also fixed signs), those of us with planets in the fixed signs of Leo, Aquarius, Scorpio and Taurus will be particularly affected over the next six months. The fixed signs tend to be more rigid and unyielding with a strong need for control. Neptune necessitates the letting go of that control, and softening any hard resistance that keeps us from allowing the connection with our true self that lies within. Meditation, relaxation practices, dance and creative pursuits are the doorway to a successful Neptune experience.

art from Phyllis Mahon

(Honoring the Sun’s entry into Gemini late Saturday night.) Gemini is the sign of the twins, and ruled by Mercury which entered Gemini yesterday. This gives us a strong Mercurial focus for the next month or so, dealing with issues of communication and information.

Those born under the sign of Gemini or with Gemini rising in their birthchart tend to be somewhat Mercurial in nature – they crave change and seek out a wide variety of activities. Though others may call them dilettantes because they may not stick to one thing for very long, Geminis know that their pathway to transformation is through their life experiences. They are curious and changeable, with a facility for languages and mimicry. Actors often possess the Gemini skill of being able to copy exactly the language and demeanor of another – to shapeshift from one character into another.

Mercury/Hermes in mythology was not only the messenger god, he was also celebrated for his cunning and quick mind. A thief from an early age, he was able to charm the gods into forgiveness (the character Frank Abagnale Jr. as played by Leonardo diCaprio in the film “Catch Me If You Can” was probably a Gemini). Mercury/Hermes was also known as the god of the crossroads and the giver of charm.

Gemini is symbolized by the Twins, and in this archetype we see the two sides of Gemini: one dark and one light. Astronomically, one of the twin stars of Gemini is often inside the Milky Way while the other lies outside it. There are two faces to Gemini and they are rarely seen at the same time. As a result, there is a part of the Gemini individual that may become lost. The Gemini nature is light and airy and doesn’t enjoy traveling in the dark; consequently, they may tend to avoid situations that are necessary in order to reclaim the dark aspect of oneself. In relationships they may become frustrated as they attempt to find in others what they are missing within themselves.

Those with planets in Gemini tend to be extremely intelligent, with quick minds. They are fast learners and easily bored, and may have difficulty concentrating on one thing for very long. They have an open mind and are not judgemental of others. They are best suited to careers and relationships in which they are continually stimulated and learning something new. They may experience nervous disorders from time to time, an energy imbalance resulting from the inability to connect to the inner Self.

The quest for Gemini is to unite with the inner twin – to truly understand that while their outer experiences are crucial for their personal growth, it is the bridge between their outer and inner worlds that will offer the true pathway to greater understanding and peace.

Mercury rules matters of intellect and experience, and rules the sign of Gemini the twins. Its realm is all sorts of communication, and for this reason it rules the media and writers. For the past month or so, Mercury has been traveling through Taurus, which as a fixed earth sign has a tendency to be stubborn and unyielding. While Mercury has been in Taurus, very little has been accomplished in terms of diplomatic negotiations (the UN and Iran, for example), legal cases (the lacrosse rape case in Durham) or Congress (endless arguments over wiretapping and budgetary matters). Mercury’s entry into Gemini should facilitate all kinds of matters requiring communication, since in Gemini Mercury is able to process information much more quickly. Watch for unexpected turns of events as Mercury breaks up patterns it established while in Taurus.

Mercurius in the medieval alchemical language is a symbol of the process of integration. Mercury bridges the gap between opposites and acts as the process to transform lead into gold. It is therefore the perfect translator, the perfect mediator, and something that is desperately needed at this current point in time. On a personal level, the mind is more active – this is a great time to begin new projects as there is a great deal of mental energy available. It’s also a good time for short trips and learning as the mind will want to be busy!