Tag Archives: Skywatch

Lynn’s Skywatch: Planetary Illuminations for May now posted

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May horoscopesThings are heating up for the Uranus/Pluto square in June!  You can read the entire article here, but here is the general overview of the month to get you started.  If you’re not already on my mailing list please sign up in the sidebar and you will receive not only the latest planetary news but also a simplified translation that is easy for newbies to understand.

There are two big news stories for May and a few smaller headlines. Planetary activity over the past six months or so has been relatively quiet, with very few outer planet alignments that foster intense change and transformation on a global and personal level. This, however, is about to end as the upcoming square from Uranus to Pluto becomes tighter and tighter, culminating on June 24 th. Uranus is the planet of radical change and liberation from repression, and Pluto is the planet of death and total transformation. You can see how a challenging aspect between these two planets can be quite intense and inspire global upheaval as social and cultural traditions are forced to give way to new patterns of human life.

Follow the Astrological Musings blog for more detailed articles about the square from Uranus to Pluto, but this aspect actually began last summer when the two planets came within a degree of the exact alignment, fostering revolutionary fervor and a desire for change. This summer marks the first exact aspect, and the groundwork that has been laid for the eighteen months will culminate and there is likely to be a great deal of political upheaval. How we handle this in our personal life will depend upon our own chart and the planetary aspects that we ourselves are experiencing.

The second major news story for May is the retrograde turn of Venus, the planet of beauty and relating. Venus only changes direction every eighteen months or so, unlike the outer planets which are retrograde for roughly half the year and Mercury, which retrogrades four times a year. Planetary retrograde periods serve to encourage us to complete unfinished business and to perfect half-baked processes, so they are very important and useful. But because they necessitate a backwards view they can be somewhat frustrating which is where they get their bad reputation.

When Venus is retrograde we often reacquaint ourselves with people from our past, or repair broken connections that require mending. It can be difficult to begin a new relationship when Venus is retrograde, and any kind of partnership (personal or business) that begins under this influence may have a difficult time taking root. Venus will remain retrograde through June 27 th.

What makes this particular Venus retrograde period exceptional is that it coincides with a transit of Venus over the Sun, a relatively rare event that occurs in pairs eight years apart only every 243 years. The first transit of Venus over the Sun in the current cycle occurred in June 2004, and the next one won’t occur until 2117. The coincidence of such a rare astronomical event occurring during the dreaded 2012 has given rise to much speculation about the end of the world, but these transits of Venus are not associated with devastation. Transits of Venus always occur in Gemini and Sagittarius – the signs of knowledge and understanding – and they have been associated throughout history with breakthroughs in these areas.

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December Skywatch is posted!

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You can find it on my website here, or sign up for your own subscription with a translation into English.

Meanwhile here’s what you need to know about the first week in December, along with a synopsis of December’s major events.

OVERALL ASTROLOGICAL PICTURE

In December 2011 and January 2012 we will continue to see a relatively quiet planetary weather pattern. Jupiter and Uranus are highlighted now since they both change direction in December and they have both slowed down to a crawl in preparation of their direct turn. For most of December Uranus is at 0 degrees Aries and Jupiter at 0 degrees Taurus which puts them in an inconjunct aspect – a challenging aspect that creates friction without providing a release. In some ways this can be more difficult than a square aspect in which there is a resulting outer conflict that comes to a resolution, but it tends to be more of an irritation than a conflagration. Jupiter and Uranus both want change and neither tend to be satisfied with the status quo, so there is a great deal of pressure to shift now out of patterns that have become calcified and no longer fit.

During the first week of December Jupiter is approaching a harmonious sextile to Chiron which opens the door to healing and understanding that will help us to navigate through the challenges presented to us by the minor planets in early December. This is the second phase of a cycle that began in July, and because Jupiter is stationary right now and Chiron is also moving slowly having just changed direction in November, the two will be in a sextile formation until this cycle ends in February. Jupiter helps to facilitate the healing of wounds that Chiron inspires, opening opportunities and doorways for that healing to penetrate into the core of our being. This is a very positive aspect, but like all Jupiter events it will require that we pay attention so that we can use the opportunities that are provided to us.

Because most of December’s planetary interactions involve the fast-moving planets, these phases last only a few days at the most. The faster planetary cycles can provide needed stimulation and trigger us to move in and out of changes that may be occurring in our personal lives due to planetary interactions with our natal planets.

Mercury has been traveling retrograde since November 25th and will turn direct on December 13th.

DECEMBER DETAILS

December begins with an alignment from Venus to Pluto. Venus rules relationships, but also values and assets, and with Venus in the highly disciplined sign of Capricorn we are likely feeling very responsible to those around us. Pluto brings intensification and powerful experiences, so our relationships are likely to feel that force and power struggles can be the result. Pluto demands authenticity and truth, so for a day or two we will need to strip ourselves of any artifice that keeps us from engaging directly. Venus is also involved with finance, and as I write this on November 30 we are already seeing some rocking and rolling in the stock market that is likely to continue for the first few days of December.

The Sagittarius Sun and Mercury are lining up to form a square to Mars in Virgo on December 2. This cycle lasts only few days but can bring ego issues to the forefront to be dealt with and can make communication more difficult. Challenging aspects involving Mars carry a huge amount of energy that we can channel physically to improve our ability to temper emotion with wisdom, but they also tap into areas where we may feel frustrated or powerless. Identifying these areas will go along way in helping us to gain empowerment under this transit. This period is not favorable for negotiations of any kind since tempers can be short under this influence.

Fortunately a trine from Venus to Mars on the 5th will smooth out the rough edges of the more challenging Mars period. Venus seeks connection with others and Mars desires satisfaction of our individual needs, so this harmonious aspect brings out the best of both planets, making it easier to balance our interactions without sacrificing our own needs. And the sextile from Jupiter to Chiron discussed at the beginning of this article culminates on the 6th, further facilitating the healing of our interpersonal relationships but also of our own soul wounds.

for daily planetary cycles visit my Facebook and Twitter pages.

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My Saturn Return ate my Skywatch

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At least that’s what I’m blaming it on.  Those of you on my mailing list already know this story, but after spending over two hours writing the November Skywatch a template glitch ate the entire thing before it could be posted.  Thanks to those of you who suggested writing the article in a Word document and then transferring it into the website  - I will definitely do that next time!  The weird thing is I kept saving the document because I had a feeling something was going to happen.  Anyway… Saturn transits tend to create delays and disappointments and events that frustrate us, all in the name of keeping one’s nose to the grindstone. My chart has Saturn, Sun and Neptune all in a nice little triad and while Saturn has completed the transit to my Saturn and Sun it is now sitting right on my Neptune.  A very apt significator for the confusion of the disappearance into the ethers of my writing (Neptune rules fogs, mists, illusion and all things confusing, as well as the higher aspects of transcendence.)

But I will make up for it by posting everything that WOULD have been in Skywatch here at Astrological Musings.

During the month of November there are still no major interactions between the outer planets to create havoc, which means that any planetary transits to our own chart will be singular rather than the influence of a collective.  It also means that we are likely not to have any significantly huge global events, so this continues to be a time of rest and rehabilitation as we gear up for the fun with Uranus and Pluto in 2012.

Neptune turns direct on November 9th after traveling retrograde since the summer.  Since mid-October Neptune has been virtually stationary, shining its laser beam of inspirational light on us, and that will continue until late in November.  Neptune urges us to transcend the boundaries of our ordinary day-to-day world, but can also lead us into confusion and delusion so care must be taken to honor that line between them.

Venus and Mercury both move into Sagittarius today, lightening the mood and bringing us out of the Scorpionic darkness into the more social season of adventure and travel.  But both planets are in a square to Chiron over the next couple of days which may bring us into experiences of old wounds and deep feelings that perhaps we would rather ignore.  Recognizing that feelings are just energy is a big help in allowing that energy to simply flow through and be released, and this is the Chironic process of healing.  That process will be made easier by the trine of Mercury and Venus to Uranus, the planet of innovation and new ideas.  As we open up to new ways of looking at the world the old wounds fall away effortlessly, releasing us into a new future.

So far so good!  Stay tuned for more planetary guidance.

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Skywatch is posted, and Gemini New Moon

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I am having technical issues and for some reason right now Skywatch is only visible for me in Firefox, I can’t see it in Chrome or Internet Explorer.  If you can see it you’ll find it here.

In any case, here’s the introduction which includes the description of tonight’s New Moon:

The month of June begins with a bang and a New Moon in Gemini. This is also a solar eclipse because the lunar nodes are within 15 degrees of the Sun and Moon, but just barely – they are actually 12 degrees apart. So as eclipses go this is a pretty weak one and not likely to stir up too much trouble. This eclipse is the first of a series of three, and you can read more about the eclipse series here.

Three planets change direction this month: Neptune will turn retrograde on June 3rd, Chiron will turn retrograde on the 8th, and Saturn will turn direct on the 12th. (Planets don’t actually change direction of course, but as we observe their motion through the sky they will sometimes appear to move backwards and we call that “retrograde”. When they move forward again we call that “direct.”) As a planet is getting ready to change direction its motion slows down to a crawl, just as a car does when it is preparing to make a U-turn. At that time its influence is stronger than ever as the energy of that planet beams down with its full force and this is especially true of the outer planets which are transformational forces. With three planets changing direction this month we will almost certainly feel like the sands are shifting; that we are being realigned for a new direction.

Neptune is at a virtual standstill now, so the creativity and imagination of Neptune, which is now in Pisces, is more powerful than ever. Neptune isn’t all peace and love however – there is also a tendency for delusion and illusion to occur under the Neptunian longing for transcendence if that longing is not activated in a way that is for the highest good.
New Moons are always times of new beginnings, and the Gemini New Moon brings us a fresh new start in all matters of learning and communication. If you’ve been wanting to start writing a book, or take an online class, or begin a journal, this is the time to start it. There is a nice comfortable trine from the New Moon to Saturn that helps to bestow a layer of discipline and structure to our lives so that we can organize effectively, something that’s not always so easy with Gemini energy.

Gemini is the shapeshifter – it’s mutable and changeable and seeks a multitude of experiences in order to learn more about the way the world works. This is not a time to try to control your world, but instead to see how the flow of life’s experiences takes us into new worlds of learning and wisdom. A strong square to Chiron, the planet of wounding and healing, at the New Moon suggests that we may encounter some painful memories or blocks as we relax and unwind to permit these new experiences to affect us. This is a positive thing as it helps us to release any stored emotion from past wounds. The stationary Neptune in the chart of the New Moon enhances the fluidity of our experience now, urging us to seek the truth within from our spiritual selves as well as through the mental understanding of Mercury.

The Geminian experience continues on June 2nd as Mercury, the planet of communication and learning, enters its own sign Gemini where it will remain for a couple of weeks. This is a double whammy of Mercury/Gemini which will speed up the mind and mental processes and facilitate learning, but this mercurial energy is less supportive of experiences that require focus and determination. Fortunately Mars, the planet that drives and inspires us to action, is still in Taurus where it is powerful and stable, helping us to stay grounded while we move through this period of acceleration.

For daily planetary news, visit my Facebook and Twitter pages.

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Skywatch for February is posted

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February horoscopesFebruary is a short but mighty month that brings us a big alignment of six planets in Aquarius (seven if you include Ceres).  You can read the whole article at this link, but here is an introduction to get you started.  I’ll be posting a more complete article on the New Moon tomorrow.

If you are not already a subscriber to my newsletter, please sign up in the sidebar.  You’ll receive a monthly translation of Skywatch into English each month as well as notifications of important astrological news.

As February begins, Jupiter has just moved into the fiery sign of Aries for the first time since last summer, igniting the energy of fire.  The element of fire is inspirational and energizing, but it can also foster destruction and chaos.  Fire must be harnessed with conscious intention in order to be utilized with the greatest effectiveness, and for this all of the other elements must be incorporated as well: air for intelligence, water for sensitivity, and earth for grounded practicality.

On February 1 there are four planets in Aquarius, and on the 2nd the Moon joins the Aquarian lineup for the Aquarius New Moon.  This is an intense influence that demands our attention, insisting that we refuse to settle for the ordinary, the every day.  Aquarius demands nothing less than the ultimate solution to any problem; that we force a situation into our view of the perfect outcome.

Venus is active on the 2nd, with a sextile to Neptune and square to Uranus.  There is tremendous creative force available now, and this force is embedded in the New Moon which occurs at 9:31 pm at 13 degrees Aquarius.  Uranus challenges Venus to break free of relationships that restrict us, but Neptune enhances the emotional connectivity and compassion of Venus.  This combination can be the key to breaking free of relationship difficulties that seem to have no solution.

We also have an exciting sextile of Mercury to Uranus on the 2nd which also becomes a part of the New Moon energy, awakening us to a cascade of new ideas that facilitate change and transformation.  The energy of this New Moon may be somewhat overwhelming, however, because the planet Mars which governs warfare and defense is in a nearly exact conjunction to the lunation (lunar event).

The energy of Mars is a powerful force of the fire element that can be difficult to tame.  The strong Aquarian component, with five planets in Aquarius, keeps us mostly in the head where the fire of Mars can intensify without providing a real outlet for all of that energy other than a fever of excitement and potential stress.  Fortunately Mercury (planet of the mind) is in grounded Capricorn which will help us to devise a plan so that we can focus this incredible energy into a project that can have some lasting impact.  Physical activity will be extremely helpful in grounding and maintaining a calm center.

For daily planetary news, visit my Facebook and Twitter pages.

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Skywatch for January is posted!

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Skywatch for JanuaryI’ve posted the January Skywatch article on my website, so take a look. If you are not already on my mailing list please sign up in the sidebar and you’ll start receiving my newsletter each month which includes a translation of Skywatch into English which is easy to understand and strips out the technical language.

Here’s a tidbit to get you started for the month:

(Happy New Year!  For an overview of the planetary energies for 2011, please listen to this free mp3 of the Astrology of 2011. While the upcoming cycles of change are larger in scope than what we have been experiencing over the the past few years, they are less personal in nature and will likely offer relief from the intensely emotional transformation that many of us have experienced.)

As January begins Mercury has just turned direct after a three-week retrograde period, and for most of the month no planets are traveling in retrograde motion.  There is a sense here of forward movement now after a long period of apparent stagnation. It’s important to remember, though, that even when we feel stuck as we often do during retrograde periods small changes are occurring as we are forced to find greater perfection in “that which is” as we prepare for “that which will be.”

Jupiter and Uranus made their first conjunction last year in Aries, and the second phase occurred in Pisces.  For the past few weeks they have been moving ever closer towards their final conjunction which culminates on January 4th.  This is an explosive planetary combination that demands authenticity and freedom from restriction, and the dance of these two planets has fostered revolutionary fervor throughout the globe over the past year.  Both Jupiter and Uranus seek freedom, but they manifest somewhat differently.  Jupiter seeks the freedom to expand personally – to feel more confidence; to engage in adventures that expand the mind.  Uranus is more of the revolutionary, resisting confinement and shattering the status quo.  Together they create opportunities for breakthrough that are exhilarating but can also be challenging to those of us who are afraid of or distrust change.

During the first week of January we are approaching the second in a series of eclipses that began with the lunar eclipse at the Winter Solstice.  This eclipse, a solar eclipse at the New Moon in Capricorn on January 4th, features a lineup of four planets in Capricorn including not only the Sun and Moon, but also Pluto and Mars.  An eclipse occurs when one of the lunar nodes conjoins the Sun or Moon at the time of a lunation (a full or new Moon), and in the case of this eclipse Pluto is the bridge between the New Moon and the North Node.

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Lynn’s Skywatch for April is posted!

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Just one date late, but we can chalk that up to April Fool’s Day. :)  I’ve posted the Skywatch article on my website, and you can read it here.

Here’s the introduction to give you an idea of what we’re in for in April! If you’d like to join my mailing list and receive an abridged version of Skywatch that’s translated into English with a minimum of geeky astrology language, just sign up in the sidebar to your right.

They say when March comes in like a lion it goes out like a lamb, and the same can be said of this astrological period. April begins with lamb-like astrological weather – there is a nice elemental balance with the Sun and Mars both in fire signs, Jupiter in watery Pisces, Mercury and Venus both in Earth, and Saturn, Chiron and Neptune all in air. There are no major problematic aspects to contend with in early April, but as the month progresses Saturn will retrograde back into Virgo and begin to face off against Uranus in Pisces. But more on that later!

Pluto takes center stage this month as it prepares for its retrograde turn on the 7th. Pluto has been at a virtual standstill at 5 degrees Capricorn since early March, and if Pluto is aspecting your own chart you are certainly feeling it now! The intensity of Pluto dredges up old memories, emotions and situations from the past but also helps us to let go of anything that no longer serves our personal growth.

Mercury enters Taurus on the 2nd, and because it will turn retrograde on the 18th it will remain in Taurus for a longer period than the few weeks which it usually takes to travel through a zodiacal sign. In Taurus, the mental function and communication (Mercury) becomes very practical and grounded, with a tendency to want to define firm ideas and ways of thinking about the world we live in. In Taurus, Mercury has an easier time during its retrograde path because there is more introspection and planning than there is when Mercury is in the more active signs.

Venus is active during the first few days of the month. This Taurus Venus is grounded and calm, with a desire for serenity and comfort. It does not want disruption or chaos to disturb the hard-won peace of its inner world, and that helps to bring a greater level of serenity to our interactions with others until later in the month when Venus enters Gemini. Venus trines Ceres on the 2nd, helping us to be more aware of the needs of others and our own inner connections between our emotions and our spirit life.

On the 3rd Venus forms a challenging square to Mars which is presently in Leo. Mars in Leo is very self-oriented, and Venus in Taurus desires peace and comfort so when these two face off there could be some minor conflict for a day or so. However, when Venus makes a harmonious trine to Pluto on the 4th it will become easier to transform (Pluto) any disharmony into positive change and personal transformation. The trine of Mercury to Ceres that day will also help that process as we discover new ways of thinking (Mercury) about the things that are important to us (Ceres).

On the 5th and 6th communication takes center stage. A challenging square from Mercury to Mars on the 5th can energize the mind and help to sharpen our focus and solve problems, but it can also result in arguments and disagreements. Both planets are in fixed signs and a stubborn attachment to personal opinions can make it difficult to compromise. This will be assisted by a trine from Mercury to Pluto on the 6th, and because Pluto also retrogrades that day Pluto is at its most powerful and helps to ease the tension and push through the desired results.

Any time we are dealing with Pluto it’s important to maintain a balance between clarifying our intention for what we want to see happen, and surrender to the powers of the Universe and our higher Self. Pluto empowers us, but it also wants us to be empowered at the highest level and not just from a place of ego. If our desires are not in harmony with the goal of the higher Self, they will not find fruition under Pluto’s influence.

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Skywatch for March is posted!

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My Skywatch article for March is now available on my website, and I’m working on the simplified version for my newsletter.  (If you’re not already on my mailing list, please sign up in the sidebar!)

Meanwhile, here’s the information for the first week or so of March:

March begins on the heels of a powerfully optimistic Full moon in Virgo that included a conjunction of the Sun to expansive Jupiter, and the energy of that lunar event continues into the first few days of March. We also see the continuation of the alignment between Chiron and Neptune which has been gathering and releasing so much emotional drama for us over the past year. The exact conjunction occurred in mid-February and the planets are separating now, but they will be entwined and working as a team for most of the year so this process has not yet abated.

The other big news for March is, appropriately, Mars. The month of March is named for the planet Mars, because in the Julian calendar this marked the end of winter and the time to go back into battle. Mars in the sky has been traveling retrograde since December (planets don’t really move backwards, obviously, but sometimes they appear to and we call this retrograde motion), and March 10 it will change direction again. When a planet is preparing to change direction its motion slows down to a crawl and its influence is stronger. This will be particularly true this month because Mars is changing direction on the zero point of Leo where it is most powerful, and we are already seeing a heightening of aggression and combative behavior. Watch for this to become more pronounced as we get closer to the 10th, and then Mars will begin to pick up speed again. The faster a planet moves, the more quickly its influence fades.

On March 1, Mercury enters Pisces which will internalize our attention for a few weeks. Mercury, ruler of the mind and the mental function, is creative and full of imagination when in Pisces, but can be prone to fantasy and dreaminess. This is not always a bad thing but it does require care and attention that may be lacking now. However, it’s the perfect time for creative endeavors that require imagination, or for spiritual practice that involves stillness and connecting to the inner source.

On March 2 a challenging square from Uranus to Ceres will culminate. This has been building for some time and has likely created disruptions in the routines that we habitually practice to care for ourselves. Meals, exercise schedules – it may be that it’s been difficult to keep these things on track. Or perhaps we’ve been breaking up our routines to pursue new avenues of improving our connection to our bodies. This aspect was also involved in the earthquake in Chile.

Ceres is the goddess that presides over our attitudes towards caring for ourselves and for others, so when there is disruption (Uranus) in this area it can spill over into other areas of our life. But while Uranus has been challenging Ceres, Neptune has been soothing her with a sweet sextile and integrating our inner child with peace and divine love and compassion. This is a great combination, because Uranus pushes the limits and Neptune expands us spiritually.

On the 3rd Venus will conjunct Uranus followed by a challenging square of Venus to Ceres on the 4th and for a couple of days our relationships may require more attention which keeps us from our own needs, but after that point these issues will subside. With Venus moving into the self-oriented sign of Aries and trine Mars (ruler of Aries) on the 7th, it will become easier to maintain our center in our relationships.

We become more self-oriented under these influences, but the trine to Mars helps us to maintain balance. This is also aided by a conjunction from Mercury to Jupiter, helping our intellectual process (Mercury) to remain positive and to see Truth in all situations (Jupiter). By the 9th, however, some stress may have peeked into our relationships when Venus opposes restrictive Saturn. This will only last a day or two, and it could help us to strengthen our commitments and resolve towards others.

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Lynn’s Skywatch for February 2010 is posted

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Here’s the introduction to February’s planetary events – you can read the entire article here.  You can also sign up for your own subscription, which includes a simplified translation that is easy to understand, on my website or in the sidebar.

February begins on the heels of a powerful Full Leo Moon on January 30 that is full of fire with a conjunction to Mars , making it nearly impossible to ignore the necessity to balance our ideals (Aquarian Sun) with the urgency of our own needs (Moon/Mars in Leo). This powerful lunar event occurred on the very day of the square from Saturn to Pluto that has been requiring a realignment and recalibration of what we consider to be our reality.

This is the second phase of the square from Saturn to Pluto (the first one occurred back in November of last year). This combination is rather like the influence of a teacher who is gentle in his strong guidance, but who when crossed reveals a formidable temper. On a personal level this cycle can have the effect of forcing us to recognize what is real in our lives and what is illusion; on a global level it reveals all of the cracks and chinks in the structures upon which we rely for order and security.

To complicate matters a bit, we are also seeing Chiron and Neptune move ever so closer to their exact conjunction. As the month begins they are less than a degree apart, and their culmination will occur on February 16th. The opening of the heart and the soul and the flood of outpouring of emotion of this planetary combination can inspire us to the height of spiritual ecstasy if we allow the energy of emotion to flow through our physical bodies. If this emotional energy is uncomfortable or painful we may want to resist or repress the flow and this can result in a weakening of the immune system.

So the combination of the Saturn/Pluto square and the Chiron/Neptune conjunction is at its peak in February which is likely to intensify all of our experiences. The Chiron/Neptune cycle is all about healing and unfolding, and the Saturn/Pluto cycle is more about contracting and rebalancing. Don’t be surprised if you feel everything all at once under these two influences, and just let the energy of what you’re feeling move freely.

We are under a strong Aquarian influence right now with four planets in Aquarius including the Sun, Venus, Chiron and Neptune. Aquarius is a very mental sign that seeks rational explanations for everything, and that is less and less possible where Chiron and Neptune are concerned. Neptune is connecting us to the divine within through the assistance of Chiron’s emotional surgery, and the mind can get in the way. What Aquarius can teach us though is that emotions are energy, and it’s only the story that we attach to the emotions that create the emotional pain.

The chart for the Full Moon includes a harmonious sextile from Jupiter to Pluto which inspires us to seek the ultimate truth (Jupiter) so that we can let go of the past and anything which no longer serves us (Pluto) . This aspect continues to affect us until it culminates on February 6th so for the entire first week we have the beneficial aid of this thirst for knowledge and wisdom. A sextile from Mercury (mind and mental processing) to Uranus (higher mind and intuition) on the 6th helps to satisfy that thirst and opens our mind so that we can really process our experiences on an intellectual level and convert any emotional drama into divine understanding.

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Skywatch is posted!

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Skywatch for September is now posted on my website, Here’s the intro discussing the big events occurring in September:

The big news for September is the third phase of the opposition between Saturn and Uranus in the middle of the month. This is a major planetary cycle that began on the US election day in November of 2008 and will have a total of five phases in which the conventional way of doing things (Saturn) will battle against new ideas and change (Uranus). Some of us are more conventional and conservative by nature (Saturnian), and some of us are more radical and rebellious (Uranian), and then there are those of us who are internally conflicted between the two. The opposition of these two planets is operating not only on a global level where it is affecting politics in nearly every country around the world, but also on a personal and psychological level.

Oppositions are polarities, and each side puts tension on the other. Just like a see-saw, sometimes one side is up and one side is down. The objective of the opposition is to create balance between the two. Saturn is like a stasis point where everything is predictable and known. Uranus comes to break apart the status quo that Saturn works so hard to preserve, destroying the old order and putting something new in its place. Oppositions follow the principle of dialectics, in which the thesis (in this case Saturn) must adapt to the antithesis (Uranus) in order to avoid destruction. Ideally, the useful aspects of the Saturn principle are preserved while the Uranian revolution occurs.

In our personal lives, especially if Saturn and Uranus are aspecting our own chart, this can feel very much like we’re being pulled in two different directions. The natural reaction to an opposition is to allow ourselves to go to one extreme followed by the other, but this is not the most helpful approach. If we remember who we’re dealing with here, we can face this planetary cycle in a conscious way that offers us the benefit of change (Uranus) while maintaining a sense of stability in our lives (Saturn). Saturn wants us to be responsible and disciplined and preserve order, and Uranus says forget the structures and start something new. Walking that tightrope is a challenge, but it can be done!

We also have Mercury going retrograde this month, and Pluto’s change of direction as well. When planets appear to change direction, they slow down to a crawl before making that turn. We call that making a “station,” because at that time the planet is virtually stationary. Stationary planets exert a powerful influence, and Pluto will be even more powerful this month at it changes direction at the zero point of Capricorn. This could bring about a severe reality check at a global level as it becomes obvious that the destruction and renewal (Pluto) of our financial systems (Capricorn) is not quite complete. Pluto seeks destruction only for those structures that are decayed and not serving their purpose, and if we remember that destruction must take place in order for the rebirth of something greater to occur we can embrace this process rather than fear it. Any Pluto cycle requires a certain amount of faith and trust in the natural order.

Chiron and Neptune are still within 2 degrees of a conjunction as they retrograde together, so this “call of the soul” is still powerful. Many of us are finding it more difficult to live a superficial life – the material world is less important now as we are cleansed (Chiron) of past wounds and seek a deeper connection to the realm of Spirit (Neptune).

During the first week of September we begin to enter the “shadow” of the Mercury retrograde period as Mercury slows down in preparation of its retrograde turn. During the shadow period we may begin to experience some of the communication challenges for which Mercury Rx is known so it’s not too early to begin applying caution to all matters of communication and travel. Small equipment can also be affected by Mercury retrograde periods so be sure to read instructions carefully.

When Mercury is retrograde we sometimes must sign contracts and make other commitments and agreements that are not ideal under these circumstances. DO NOT FEAR!! Just take the necessary precautions and move forward in your life with confidence. If you plan a vacation and it rains, you don’t cancel your vacation. Just bring an umbrella.

Remember also that Mercury retrograde periods are excellent times for meditation, writing, renovating, re-doing your website, re-writing a manuscript, communicating with old friends, cleaning out the garage.

The effect of the Mercury Rx period is likely to begin on September 3rd when Mercury (communication) forms a challenging square to Mars (aggression). Tempers are high now, and words can become reckless. Mercury is in Libra now where it tends to be rather polite and harmonious, but the square to Mars will take the gloves off and could result in some heated discussion. This heightened intensity will bring more focus to matters of the mental realms (Mercury) and activate the retrograde period.

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