Bitcoin: Uranus square Pluto in action

April 22, 2013 By 8 Comments

BitcoinThe story of Bitcoin has the Uranus square Pluto story written all over it.

Pluto entered Capricorn in 2008 and began to turn the structures of our life (Capricorn) upside down, tearing down our economy so that it can be rebuilt.  Of course our economy didn’t actually break down and it’s not being rebuilt in a healthier way.  In fact, things are progressing pretty much as they did before the Great Recession which means that we are heading for ANOTHER breakdown.  If a tornado (Pluto) tears down your home because it sits on a weak foundation (Capricorn), and you rebuild your house the exact same way, you can’t really expect a different result.

Uranus represents new ways of doing things, and it also represents technology.  Uranus is in Aries right now where it is radicalizing individuals and forging fresh new ways of innovating our society.  Because it is in a challenging aspect to Pluto in Capricorn right now, these fresh new ways are challenging the old ways and potentially leading us to radically different forms of business entities, family structures, and money.

One such radically different forms is the Bitcoin, a form of currency that lives exclusively on the Internet.  There are no actual coins, and the value of the Bitcoin isn’t tied to anything tangible.  It isn’t administered by any state or nation (Capricorn).  It is a purely Uranian form of currency.  It’s an interesting “coincidence” that Bitcoin was originally conceived in 2008 when Pluto entered Capricorn.  But its use as actual currency didn’t begin until Uranus entered Aries in 2010 and began the square to Capricorn.

Of course, our whole financial system is not that different from Bitcoin.  In our family we hardly ever see any real currency.  Our salary is automatically deposited into our account. Our bills are automatically drafted.  We pay for everything with a credit card and then pay the credit card every month online from our bank account.  Our financial world is already on the Internet.

The fact is, as the Onion pointed,out, “money is, in fact, just a meaningless and intangible social construct.”

At one time our currency was actually tied to gold and silver, and the dollar bills were a representation of a tangible currency that had intrinsic value.  But in today’s world, money is just an idea – an agreement that something has value.

On March 18 of this year a division of the US Treasury, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, attempted to assert control (Pluto in Capricorn) over this independent currency (Uranus in Aries), something that Bitcoin is resisting.

Meanwhile, the aggregate value of Bitcoin is now somewhere around $1 billion and the currency is in somewhat of a bubble.  Hedge fund investors are seeking out Bitcoin plays.  When the financial establishment (Pluto in Capricorn) takes ownership of Bitcoin (Uranus in Aries), the currency will lose its anti-establishment qualities and become a part of the stodgy status quo. This will help Bitcoin to succeed as a market currency, but at the cost of losing its independence – the classic Aries/Capricorn dilemma.

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Full Moon in Leo, January 26 2013

January 27, 2013 By

Leo Full MoonThis Full Moon is one of ascension and expansion.  In Leo we celebrate our unique individuality and acclaim the treasure of the Self.  At the Leo Full Moon we must balance that against the transpersonal influence of the Aquarius Sun which urges us to transcend the boundaries of the small Self in order to connect with the greater collective.

The Leo/Aquarius polarity is an important one for the Baby Boomers with Pluto in Leo, a placement which has led to a fanatical and sometimes destructive (Pluto) obsession with developing, improving and acclaiming the individual Self.  Every sign is balanced by its opposite, and each sign has its strength and its weaknesses.  When we are bound by our attachment to an intense focus on our own life (Leo) we are unable to see the Universe around us and the way each of us is interwoven with every other being on the planet.  This is the lesson of Aquarius.

Aquarius has its own negative attributes, which include a coldness and lack of emotion or true connectedness.  This coldness is balanced by the warmth and generosity of Leo.  At the Full Moon we find ourselves positioned on the see-saw of this polarity and must find balance between the two.

Aquarius is ruled by Uranus, the planet that connects us to multidimensional layers of human consciousness.  The Uranian theme in this Full Moon is particularly strong since Uranus forms a harmonious sextile to the Sun and trine to the Moon, offering a doorway of ascension and expanded awareness.

Meanwhile Jupiter, which has been stationary as it prepares to change direction, also harmonizes with the Sun and the Moon AND Uranus, so there is a continued opening vortex of expansion. This is a major change from the earlier Capricorn practicality that we saw earlier in the month, although Saturn forms a square to the lunation and maintains an anchored presence in the midst of cosmic consciousness. Jupiter is especially powerful now since it is preparing to change direction on the 30th and meanwhile is at a virtual standstill in the sky, shining a beam of positive energy in our direction.

So this Full Moon is particularly mind-blowing and can carry us to new levels of awakening if we are able to pay attention and utilize these energies rather than become overwhelmed by them.  Letting go of the bounds of ego (Leo) can  be frightening, but when we do let go we find ourselves more connected to our true Self than ever before and THIS is the lesson of the Leo Moon.

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The astrology of the Autumn Equinox, September 22 2012

September 22, 2012 By
astrology autumn equinox

Art by Ernestine Grindal

The autumn equinox takes place every September in the northern hemisphere when the Sun enters Libra.  The equinox is a time of balance between day and night, and Libra is itself the sign of balance and equilibrium, so at the autumn equinox we find our own inner balance between what lies within and what is outside of ourselves; between what we need for ourselves and what we need to do to nourish and nurture our relationships.

The chart for the Autumn Equinox this year includes a first quarter Moon.  The first quarter Moon is the opening square (90 degree aspect) of the lunar cycle, and squares create conflict and challenge.  This aspect echoes the opening square between Uranus and Pluto which is currently creating such a huge need for adjustment on the global stage, so we are witnessing this crisis of adjustment and change as a macrocosm (Uranus/Pluto) as well as a microcosm (Sun/Moon first quarter) at the Equinox. The square between Uranus and Pluto reached its culmination just a few days before and the two are still tightly locked in the alignment.  The pressure to transform our lives is at its most intense right now, yet the Equinox inspires us to find balance and create equilibrium in our lives where we are able to find it.

Since 2008, the Sun has been in hard aspects (conjunctions, squares and oppositions) to Pluto at the Equinoxes and Solstices as it entered the cardinal signs, since Pluto is in Capricorn which is one of the cardinal signs (the others are Libra, Aries and Cancer).  Last year when Uranus moved into Aries it joined the intense dynamic and created further intensity and conflict.  Because the charts for the Solstices and Equinoxes set the tone for the unfolding of the seasons, these interactions are significant.

WIth Uranus and Pluto now at nearly seven degrees, the intensity of the relationship to the Sun is beginning to weaken.  While the transformative power of Uranus and Pluto still reigns, it is becoming less personal as the two planets separate from the quarter point Suns.

The need for balance and integration is further highlighted by a square in the Equinox chart between Mars and Venus.  Mars represents our needs and desires; Venus our need for connection and harmony.  When Mars and Venus interact in a stressful way we must learn to find a way to achieve healthy relationships with others (Venus) while honoring our own wants and wishes (Mars).

Fortunately, Mercury is in Libra helping us to gain the understanding of where balance is needed, but Mercury is in a 90 degree angle to Pluto, creating intensity of thought and intellect, and opposite Uranus, inspiring thoughts of change and revolution.  This creates a powerful “T-square” of three planets, all putting pressure on each other to create transformative crisis in areas of our lives that have not been very functional.

The theme of this Equinox is finding the anchor in the storm in the heart of our own being, and then reaching out to others in ways that foster harmony and peaceful coexistence.  Whether you are in the southern hemisphere, marking the beginning of Spring, or in the northern hemisphere where Fall is beginning, this integration is a gift we can all appreciate.  For those of us who are beginning to feel a chill in the air that begins the process of shutting down for winter, this Equinox offers another opportunity: that of retreating into the heart of Self (Sun) to gather strength for the personal growth and expansion that lies ahead.

For daily planetary updates visit my Facebook and Twitter pages. For a free subscription to Skywatch, a monthly report on the planets and how they affect our inner and outer worlds, visit my website.

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Pluto turns direct and transformation continues

September 17, 2012 By

personal transformationIf you feel as though your life has intensified over the past week, you are not alone.  If you open up a newspaper you will see that all over the world conflict is heating up as old failing systems begin to break down so that new paradigms can take their place. It is 2012 after all!

This is what the Uranus/Pluto cycle is all about.  Pluto tears down old and outmoded structures that are no longer working, and this is especially true when Pluto is in Capricorn as it is now.  Capricorn is the sign of the power structures, and ever since Pluto entered Capricorn in 2008 we have seen a shift in the way we look at how power is held by organizations and individuals.  Uranus, on the other hand, is about authenticity and liberation – radical change that shakes us to our very bones.  Uranus is in Aries, the sign of the individual and the warrior.  It is no wonder we are seeing the balance of power shift from the Superpower era to an era of small splinter groups that rule through intimidation and warfare.

Pluto turns direct on the 18th, meaning it will change direction after a retrograde turn that has lasted since April.  Planets don’t really orbit backwards, but because we observe the movement of the planets from our own perspective they sometimes appear to do so.  Outer planet represent transformational forces and when retrograde they tend to operate primarily on an internal level, and when Pluto turns direct (to appear to move forward again) there is a sense that the buildup of tension is released along with the transformative force that is pushing from behind.

Pluto turns direct just one day before the second exact alignment of Uranus and Pluto in a 90 degree (square) aspect of conflict and challenge, which means that pressure for change and evolution is extremely strong.  On a personal level the stories of our lives are being completely rewritten, and this necessitates a letting go but also a visionary approach to the magic and mystery of our lives.

When we are dealing with this kind of power and majesty there is a certain amount of surrender that is required.  But at the same time we are the co-creators of our destiny, and we must always remain aware of the fact that every moment brings us the choice whether or not to step into a conscious future.

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Virgo New Moon: September 15, 2012

September 14, 2012 By

Sorry for the light posting over the past few weeks – I’m out of town this week and feeling quite refreshed and ready to get back to blogging!

September 15th brings the New Moon in Virgo which highlights Ceres, the former asteroid which was reclassified in 2005.

Ceres represents the nurturing of the body and our connection to our own bodies, and Virgo itself presides over the mundane details that we must attend to when we live in a human body. The food we eat, our personal hygiene, ordering the details of life – these are important qualities that Virgo manages and the inclusion of Ceres here makes this New Moon the perfect time to begin a project of self-care or making changes in the personal ecology of our lives to better support ourselves. Cleaning projects, new systems of managing our time and resources – all of these are highlighted under the Virgo New Moon.

It is a mistake to believe that VIrgo is virginal – there is an earthiness and sensuality to Virgo just as with all earth signs.  The key here is to integrate that earthiness with our understanding so that we can gain greater comfort as spiritual beings having a human experience.

Ceres aligns in a harmonious trine to Saturn and conflicts in a square to Mercury which sets up an interesting dynamic of comfort combined with stress in this relationship between the body and the spirit that culminates at the New Moon.  With this energetic tension at work in new lunar cycle we can discover new ways of looking at our relationship to the world around us – what it means to be incarnated in the physical reality in which we find ourselves.

Mercury is also active in the chart of the New Moon since it conjoins the Sun AND rules the sign of Virgo.  The desire to perfect oneself through an understanding of the way the details of life come together are important now. Virgo is firmly grounded in the world and specializes in handling the details of the mundane reality in which we live.  But with such an active Mercury, it will be important to cultivate an awareness on an intellectual level as well as the instinctive realm of experience which Ceres brings to the party.

The square between Uranus and Pluto is embedded into the New Moon chart which means that any endeavor begun now will have that transformational quality that Uranus and Pluto demand. It will be necessary to leave something behind and let go of outmoded realities and habits (Pluto) as we shift our energies into something new (Uranus).

This New Moon is a turning point.  We are in the middle of the three-year Uranus/Pluto cycle, and the past year has seen a breakdown in many of the outmoded structures which underpin our lives.  At this New Moon there is the potential to carefully examine these circumstances and create a plan for a new way to live in the world and fully activate our own unique potentiality.

For daily planetary updates visit my Facebook and Twitter pages.

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New Moon in Leo, August 17, 2012

August 17, 2012 By
Leo New Moon August 2012

Art by Michelle Snyder

by Lynn Hayes

The past few weeks have been rather challenging with Mars moving through Libra, where it is less than effective, setting off Uranus, Pluto and most recently Saturn.  Because Mars is the planet of drive and aggression, in the sign of Libra it softens and becomes more interested in what others think.  This is a lovely attribute, but it does diminish the strength and power of Mars to assert and dominate.  When Mars can’t find its full expression it acts out in more passive-aggressive or dysfunctional ways, and a high level of frustration can result. You can read more about that here in this earlier post if you missed it.

The New Moon in Leo occurs on the 17th just before noon Eastern time/4 pm GMT, and will actually help to balance the stress that the Mars patterns have created.  The New Moon occurs when the Sun and Moon conjoin, linking their energies in a new lunar cycle and offering an opportunity for beginning a new phase in our lives.

Leo is the sign that inspires us to express ourselves creatively and to celebrate our own unique individuality.  Under the influence of Leo we are more focused on ourselves, but that doesn’t mean we necessarily are more self-centered.  The Self needs to be expressed under the influence of Leo, and Leo inspires us to make sure that the Self being expressed is our very best Self indeed.  There is a focus on the Individual in Leo rather than the collective, so this New Moon is all about Me and You.

The Leo New Moon harmonizes and rebalances  the conjunction of Mars and Saturn that has been somewhat difficult over the past week.  When the Moon (representing our emotion and intuition) is new, it is actually at its darkest in the sky and it can be more difficult to know exactly how we feel, and when the Moon is in Leo, the sign of the Sun, the conscious Self (represented by the solar energy) is actually more dominant than it would typically be in a lunar event.

The New Moon in Leo is the perfect time to create a vision for personal evolution and transformation.  The connection with Mars (inspiration) and Saturn (goals) helps to stabilize our lunar dreams and make them a reality.

Uranus is still in a square to Pluto, as it will be throughout the fall, so this is no time to fall back to sleep.  We are in an awakening process through 2015, and under the New Moon in Leo we can become the co-creators of our own destinies.

for daily planetary cycles visit my Facebook and Twitter pages, and for a special monthly Skywatch report emailed to you each month sign up in the sidebar.

 

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Aquarius Full Moon, August 1 2012

August 1, 2012 By

Aquarius Full Moon August 1 2012by Lynn Hayes

Today’s Aquarius Full Moon is full of Uranian energy for change, stimulation, waking up to a new way of living and creating new paradigms for our experience of life on Planet Earth.

The Moon represents our emotional world – the inner realm of mystery and instinctive behavior, but this is not an emotional Full Moon.  In fact, the water element is under-represented right now, with only Chiron and Neptune in a water sign (Pisces) helping us to move through wounds (Chiron) of the soul (Neptune/Pisces) and bathe in the waters of divine inspiration.  But emotions and feelings take a back seat in today’s astrological climate – it’s all mental energy and electricity and fiery activation.

For all that Aquarius is an exciting sign of liberation and helps us to facilitate change, the Moon isn’t very comfortable there.  Aquarius is unconcerned with the small feelings and fears of being human – there is a larger view of human-ness and a desire to transcend these smaller emotions in order to align with more universal truths.  Yet it’s during the Full Moon that our emotions are illuminated by the solar consciousness so we may have to take a good look at our inner worlds without necessarily becoming stuck in them.  The Sun, of course, is in Leo which is where we not only become human but we celebrate the glory of our individual personality.  As in any Full Moon, the key is to find balance between the polarity of individual ego (Leo) and transcendent universality (Aquarius).

This  Full Moon demands detachment and awareness – there is a strongly mental quality to Aquarius (ruled by Uranus, the “higher octave” of Mercury).  In addition, the Sun is in a nearly exact trine and the Moon in a sextile to Uranus – both harmonious aspects that tend to bring out the best in the relationship.  At its best Uranus frees us from the trappings of the past – it shows us where our lives have become stale and drab and opens the door to a new vision that can facilitate our transition into the new world.

Uranus is, of course, locked in a challenging square to Pluto that is only one degree from exactitude.  This is the planetary alignment that is causing the breakdown of the old structures (Pluto in Capricorn) and the fervor for revolution and change (Uranus in Aries) that does not yet seem to have a focus.  For the next few years this dynamic will be embedded in every astrological chart – lunations, eclipses, solstices and equinoxes.  Every event has within it this seed of revolution and change.

Meanwhile, all of this air and fire energy can create electrical imbalances for some that will require therapeutic care.  Baths in healing salts, swimming in cool and serene waters, yoga outdoors in nature – all of these things can help to ground us and cool overheated nervous systems.

All Full Moons offer an opportunity to look deeply within the heart as the Sun illuminates the Moon and makes the invisible visible for a short time.  The Aquarius Full Moon offers a higher vision of the heart’s contents and a viewpoint that may shift your awareness and give you a new framework of understanding.

for daily planetary cycles visit my Facebook and Twitter pages.

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Mercury and Uranus turn retrograde in tandem

July 13, 2012 By

Uranus retrogradeYou might want to read about the concept of “higher octave planets” if you missed that post before reading this one.

Uranus will turn retrograde early in the morning on the 14th EDT (late morning GMT) and Mercury will turn retrograde late in the evening EDT on the 15th (early morning on the 16th GMT).

Planets of course don’t really change direction, but astrology is person-centered. We are the center of our own universe, and that is how we observe the planets astrologically.  Sometimes the movement of the planets appears to retrograde from our perspective on earth, and during those times the operation of those planets functions differently, and usually in a more inward than outward fashion.

The outer planets are retrograde for about six months out of every year, and Mercury is retrograde for three weeks four times a year, so these events are not uncommon.  Still, they tend to arrive with a lot of weeping and moaning from the astrocommunity.

While it’s true that Mercury retrograde periods can be challenging for planning a trip, coordinating meetings, all kinds of communication equipment including email and voicemail, they are also valuable times to rethink any areas of life where additional processing is required.  Mercury rules the mind and the mental functioning as well as the transmission of information.  Mercury is involved in the learning process, as well as the method through which we communicate our understanding and in retrograde motion our knowledge and awareness of the interconnections in our universe can deepen past the superficial.

As the higher octave of Mercury, Uranus elevate the workings of the mind to a superconscious state.  The flashes of insight that come from scientific discovery or personal intuition – those moments of “Eureka” and “Aha” in which we suddenly are aware of a reality that is so absolutely true and certain, yet which has no basis in our previous awareness – this is Uranus at work.

As has been said over and over in this column, and will continue to be repeated for the next three years, Uranus and Pluto are locked in a challenging square at the moment.  The retrograde turn of Uranus during this cycle brings Uranus back towards the exact angle to Pluto that will continue to create more upheaval and release as the revolution, both internal and external, continues.

Ouranos was the sky god – from his viewpoint in the sky he could see all, and know all.  Thus the Uranian archetype expands Mercury and takes our ability to witness and observe to a higher level.  Under the Uranus influence we have a greater perspective and an ability to see the larger picture.

With both Mercury and Uranus turning retrograde within a day of each other, there is a powerful focus now on the way in which we translate what we see in the world into an understanding of it.  Any place in which we are blinded by emotion or a lack of reason will be highlighted now.

When Uranus is retrograde we tend to look more closely at areas of our life that need change.  When we’re in a time of great change such as we’re in right now, this can be enervating and inspiring.  It can also be somewhat terrifying if we stare too long into the abyss.  There is a lot of mind and mental activity right now, so any activity you can do to offset that headiness (yoga, swimming, meditation) will be very helpful.

 

 

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Capricorn Full Moon: July 3, 2012

July 3, 2012 By

Capricorn Full Moonby Lynn Hayes

Today’s Full Moon has the potential to bring more than the usual fireworks for Independence Day here in the US.  The Moon is in the pragmatic and practical sign of Capricorn where planning and a solid approach to the matters at hand is required.  However, the Moon has just passed through the gates of Pluto which has intensified and magnified its energy, which means that the Moon has also faced off in a challenging aspect (square) to Uranus, inspiring resistance and rebellion.

Meanwhile Mars has just entered the sign of Libra.  When the planet of war moves through the sign of peace the aggressive instincts of Mars are not easily expressed.  There is an outward desire for harmony that belies the inner turmoil that will eventually require an outlet.  This conflicted Mars is preparing to get involved in the greater battle between Uranus and Pluto over the next two weeks and will serve as the trigger for any areas of life where change is needed.

Capricorn is all about Doing What It Takes to Get Things Done.  However, in the Full Moon the Capricorn Moon opposes the Cancerian Sun which takes us deeper into the realm of feelings and emotions, a realm which Capricorn would just as soon forget.  All Full Moons require that we balance energies that are in polarity with each other since the Sun is always in a sign that is opposite the sign the Moon falls in.  Here we are balancing the inner world with the outer – our home life with our work life,  our feelings with what we know must be done.

In any Full Moon, the lunar light of emotions and feelings outshines the solar light of rational thought and awareness, but in this Full Moon we have the Moon in the sign of earthly matters while the Sun is in the sign of feelings and emotions.  Don’t be surprised if there is a bit of a struggle between these two areas of life as we strive to integrate them into one cohesive and united experience of consciousness.  To live in the world in a practical manner (Capricorn) while remaining in full awareness of our inner feelings and connection to our tribe (Cancer) is the method to this lunar madness.

Uranus, the planet of radical change and innovation, squares the Sun and Moon in the chart for this Full Moon which suggests a radical departure from the old ways of thinking and an acceleration of personal development. This process is facilitated by a harmonious trine between Mercury (the mind) and Uranus (the higher mind) which helps to unlock our ability to understand the higher levels of awareness and gain greater perspective.

Venus is a great ally during this Full Moon since it forms tight harmonious sextiles to Mercury and Uranus, easing transition and encouraging interpersonal interactions that will help to facilitate the letting go and moving forward from past to future.

for daily planetary cycles visit my Facebook and Twitter pages.

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Lynn’s Skywatch! Planetary Illuminations for July are posted

July 1, 2012 By

To get your own subscription, which includes a translation into simple English from the original astrologese, please sign up in the side bar or on my website here.

Meanwhile, here is the introduction to get you started:

As July begins, Venus has just turned direct and is moving forward again after her short retrograde period. The Transit of Venus is behind us, as is the first exact formation of the Uranus/Pluto square which actually began last year and will continue through 2014.

You can read more about the square formation between Uranus and Pluto here if this is new to you. The two planets are still only 17 minutes of arc from the exact alignment, and it will be the middle of July before they really begin to separate. So throughout the first few weeks of July expect for this conflict between the structures of the past (Pluto in Capricorn) and the new ideas and patterns of individual self-expression (Uranus in Aries) to continue, especially between the 11th and 22nd or so when Mars enters the picture and acts as a trigger for the unexpected to occur. More on that in the planetary details below.

The Uranus/Pluto dynamic is intensified by the fact that Uranus will turn retrograde mid-month so its motion has slowed to a standstill in preparation for the change of direction. When a planet changes direction its influence becomes more insistent, and with Uranus we are dealing with energies of surprise, radical changes and a journey into the unknown. Pluto is also retrograde now so both of these behemoths are urging us to look back over our lives to see where we have stalled the progress of our own evolution – where do we need to break free (Uranus), what do we need to let go of (Pluto).

Mercury will also turn retrograde this month, creating the usual communication snafus but providing us with opportunities to go back and perfect areas in our communication that have been lacking. Mercury retrograde is excellent for writers and is a good time to purge and release small reminders of the past that we can’t take into our future.

Throughout July we have a severe shortage of the earth element. Mars is just finishing its long journey through Virgo and once it moves into Libra on July 3rd there will be no planet in an earth sign other than Pluto. Earth is the element that provides stability and offers comfort and security. It will be difficult to ground the tremendous amount of energy that the Uranus/Pluto square is creating, so we will have to create and participate in our own grounding rituals. Spending time in the outdoors, gardening, communing with nature, and with our own body – all of these things will help us to counterbalance the lack of earth in the skies.

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