'Bajo la Luna I' by Cme





Welcome to the last of a long line of scheduled ' monthly' ( and mont hly event) posts here at astroPPM ... which now that I’ve looked back through my files I can say is not just the end of seven years of blogging, but the completion of twenty-two years of writing astrology to the public with (I am happy to say ) fully three-quarters of that work having been available to readers entirely free of charge.



Why? Because I've always believed in helping others who may not be in position to pay for assistance, astrological or otherwise. So yes I've done my 'bit' ... and yes, I know astrology can be of life-changing assistance to people, as was proven to me early on in private practice t hrough two particular cases .



In the first, I was cont acted by a reader who had been orphaned. A fter fighting to gain access to their adoption records they found the birth time missing and that their place of birth had been listed as being one of two locations which were (as I recall it) about 50 miles apart.



Could I help?





Sensitive to identity problems (growing up with narcissist ic parents will do that…) I took on the challenge. The technique to answer such questions is called rectification, and what with computers and the software which would help with such re search being still decades in the future, sharpened my penci ls and - after getting several dozen 'life event' dates from the client - sat down and did a few weeks of calculations in order to find the one chart at the one time of day in the one town which would y ield all those events and client dates.





Once I had an answer, I telephoned my client. And when they heard the news I was treated to a flood of garbled thanks about how happy they were now th at they could be ' l ike everybody else .' They could fit in. They knew where they were born. They didn 't have to 'hid e' any more.



A nd while we are talking about hiding, t he other client was a young woman who came to me at the end of her teens asking for a general consultation. Her request wa s a bit vague, but that’s not unusual - many people seem to have no idea how to talk to an astrologer.



(Hint: it isn’t hard. Just say what’s on your mind.)



Yet when I began looking at her horoscope, at least one reason for all the vagueness came clear. She was clearly hiding something very deep, dark, and tragic.



She was also proving to me that 'like attracts like ,' and how we are always drawn to people w ho whether we understand it or not, are in a 'like' place. So the whole situation was fairly uncomfortable, but when it came to the appointed moment of our phone conversations (phone consultations being the order of that day), I waded in, taking a very deep breath before setting out to walk the astrological plank - something every astrologer worth their consulting salt is called upon to do when a client shows up with painful baggage.





That's p art of a great societal irony, I suspect. Aft er all, there are so many 'authoriti es ' so well accepted by s ociety who are always left to wonder whether clients t elling the truth or even telling them all the important data. Astrologers don't generally have that sort of problem, yet we get little societal respect - at least in western countries, that is.



In any case, it's s till no happy task talking to someone about something they plainly don’t want to know - hence the plank-walk , an act which never gets any easier, no matter how many times you do it.



I put the truth out on the conversational table: ‘You need to do something about the fact you are being sexually abused. Your family needs to know. It's either your uncle, a cousin or a sibling who is doing it , and you need to tell.’





When that last word left my mouth there was a long and empty silence. I wondered whether she had hung up.



But she hadn' t . A sob finally broke that silence. ‘I thought no one was ever going to know ...! ’





After the tears subsided, she confirmed it was her uncle and I provided her with phone numbers for several rape crisis clinics and shelters in her city. And though unfortunately (if predictably) her family exploded in angry denial when she finally confronted them, with help from a crisis ce nter she was able to get out of the house, find a place to live and get a job, ending what had been years of sex abuse hell.





As someone who grew up in , and who has paid a lifetime of penalties for early abuse, I will always feel good about having been able to use astrology to see past the curtain of silence which shrouds so many victims.



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Those two cases not only taught me the value of astrology, but the value of helping someone no one else can help, or perhaps be bothered to help , impressing me so profoundly I have made the personal effort to use astrology for its most human and humane benefit even after I came to understand how with the onset of the Aquarian Age, all things and all in teractions will be a nd be becoming ever more (and ever-increasingly) transactional.



Now as I bring up the magic 'transactional' phrase, please know three things. The first is how not all parts of human interaction work well when approached as a transaction, just as how during the preceding Age (that of Pisces) they were not always won , or even a question of good and evil. Why? Because no Age is perfect - each comes with its own challenges .



Se condly: transactional interactions are not co-dependent, as transactions are an intellectual and non-personal ( not impersonal, non-personal) process. Tha t differ s from co-dependence, which is emotional an d entirely per sonal (or at least personal-feeling ) on both sides of the equation .



And t hirdly (and perhaps most importantly), by the term “transaction" or "transaction al” I am referring to processes which manifest in many forms and in vo lve many modes, means and metho ds of d oing the deed of 'transacting. ' In other words, this is not just about money - though as Aquarius is the sign of income, money is going to be a very popular measure and reference . Yet the 'transactional' sense of this Age is not ABOUT money, per se.



Nor should it be when we consider how any of us feels 'rewarded' (or ‘compensated’ if you will) by different things in different situations. Sometimes all we want is a pat on the back. Or a vote of support or confidence. Or a thoughtful word of advice.



The essence of transaction as a to-fro, cause-effect , agreement -based process is however , intrinsic to the overall Aquarian Age. And in being the first house of the Age, Aquarius and its tendency to function on an in dividual basis within a group (or collective function) is the basic 'curren cy' of the Age. So the id ea of 'transacting' is bound to p ervade and be (become) part of everything we do, think of doing, or attempt socially and societally .



And it's not an easy shift. But then, if you look back through history at those moments when the Ages change, they never seem all that easy.



As for 'transacting,' just as a 'for instance,' let's take an idea like charity. Charity is a quintessential 12th house, non-egotistical astrological process - whatever the Age, charity is 'read' through the qualities of the chart's 12th house.









So i n the Age of Aquarius, with Capri corn is on the 12th house of the Age and with Capricorn being the q uinte ssential sign of business, achievement and 'structure,' ('ways' by which things can be done, achieved, built or enacted), with Capricorn on the 12 th house of the Age, our g reatest and most enduring achievemen ts as humans (collectively) , people (individual experience) or as cultures (corporate, governmental, cul tural, etcetera) will occur where achievement meets charity and our ability to be charitable to others , specifically where those who are the most vulnerable , lost, or injured are concerned.



Or to put it another 12 th house way, we will achieve when we (a.) appeal to the greatest number o f people (i.e., those who are not 'like us') and where we mentor, assist or look past the failings of those in greatest need - or where we work to structure or re - structure things which b enefits all .



And as this is a 12th house ac tivity, our greatest achievements will earn great love through our not seeking appreciation. The 12th is a 'behind the scenes ' sort o f house, which in the incoming Age says there are many who will ach ieve while (or through) working behind the scenes, and many 'of achievement' who se greatest accomplishments will not occur in public, but through sustained (Capricorn) efforts made in a 'behind the scenes' or 'not-for-credit' manner.



In spite of this, much will go wrong during this Age. Capricorn on the 12th house of the Age also tells us not all transactions are goi ng to meet that mark or be fair... or even a ltruistic. When and where they are not, ills will result from such ch oices . Plus the list of entities (besides governments and successful individuals) most likely to make things better and worse includes many institutions which under the previous Age were trust ed to do only good . Chariti es, pharm aceutical companies, oil companies, prisons, pension s, hos pitals and others will now (and going forward) come to be seen more and more as 'unfair' or simply greedy wherever business overtakes charity of purpose .



And y es, a ll this will happen in our personal lives too - which will pose a lot of new qu estions about what it means to be human, or to have faith in human beings and humanity.



In spite of those negatives, Caprico rn’s worldly capacities actually work well with the 12th house in that both the 12th and Capricorn are 'yin' or responsive signs. However, given the 12th as a water sign house and Capricorn as an earth sign, th e combination can either be quite 'fertile' (supporting growth) ... or it can be come the signature of 'muddying the waters ,' which when we think of the 12th as the house of mass emotion, emotionality and that which ultimately 'sustains' us - be that money, love or faith - and how any of that might manifest or become a vital negative if (or) where entities representative of Capricorn (governments, authorities, leaders and those with public/collective authority or position) will use mass emotions, vulnerabilities or emotionality as a tool of ( or) in the service of authority and/or authoritaria nism, or where any idea of 'emot ional flux' (or emotional incapacity) comes to be either exploited as a weapon or dismissed as a weakness.



Of course, this is the 12th house we are talking about . And as the 12th is where we all tend to experience 'the distance b y which we fail our own expectations ,' that which is not to the b e nefit of all is always likely to end up backfiring or becoming a detriment, particularly where we have used power, po tential, achievem ent, status or exp erience to limit, eliminate, imprison , enslave or otherwise exclud e others or their eff orts, particularly where applied to issues of - or people whose loyalty is founded in belief, inspiration or v u lnerability.



Then again, the combining of Capricorn with the 12th house could make this the very age of mentors, professional gurus and professionals who guide others , singly or en masse. This may be done in person, or from some 'unseen ' (behind the scenes) position - which brings up the negatives of scam s and deception on one side and the positives of wh erever business and ‘invisibility’ marry to give us things like crowd funding and social networking as ways for people to connect and be supportive on the other. Some will use such avenues to drag others down , and some will use such methods to li ft others up , with this combination ultimately speaking to the opportun ity to connect and whatever faith we have in working together as a means through which we can benefit all.



A gainst this however ( and as part of this) , Capricorn on the 12th also speaks to the ‘shutting out’ and the ' shutting in' of ideas, businesses, efforts, people - which w hatever the means (through marginalization, imprisonment or other) may work well or not at all - and which may be (or) become a goal unto itself , and all of which depends in some very real and ultimate way on our ability to accept facts as facts ... which of course also says that lasting success throughout the Aquarian Age depends on our ability and willingness to find and accept facts.



It's a challenge, perhaps. But it evidently is bo th necessary and a standing vulnerability of this time.





The point here is how we are indeed in a new as trological Age. And as such, more and more, people will value that which is achieved ( and which they achieve) through transactional means. A hundred and fifty years ago, things which were handmade were thought on a par - or indeed better - than ‘store bought’ things. Now however, handmade things are most greatly valued when they come to be ‘store bought , ’ as the 'mainstream' and 'commercial' aspects serve to 'validate' standards and/or quality, both of which are Aquarian notions - and unpredictable ones a t that .



Never forget: in the Aquarian Age, knowing what the other person values in any given 'transaction' is the path to success. Convincing them of your values is a secondary way to go, but ultimately such convi ctions will form weaker b onds of loyalty and understanding than when we ask, and then meet the specific 'value du jour' the other person is seeking to fulfill in any given moment.





Got it?





So while there is going to be much ‘coming together to celebrate’ individually and as individuals which is part and parcel of the Aquarian Age, there is and will continue to be much ‘separation.’ And unlike th roughout the Age of Pisces - an age typified by two fi sh swimming in opposite directions while tied together by an immutable gold en cor d - the image of the Aquarian 'water-bearer' holding a jar while pouring out its contents speaks to our separation from our 'outpourings ' or wha tever 'pours' out of us into our world.



The image itself is a whole - but in that image, we are 'separate' and therefore, in a sense, 'separated' from what we are doin g, which is one way of seeing the tendency to think it okay to do something simply because we have the ability to do it ... and which on a totally different leve l is very much the image o f our feelings of being isolated, separated or simply feeling separate ( o r separated) from that which we need ... or from that which will 'quench' our mortal thirst.



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The important thing about this image is that it is all about us. So who we are will not always 'connect' (or seem connect ed) to what we do, or how we are seen by others as we go forward. And w ith water being a me taphysical image of that which does 'quench' our most mortal needs , the image of the Aquarian water-bearer alternately speaks to a 'pouring out ' of our feelin gs, women, money, memory, reflection, values and whatever else may have consciously or unconsciously triggered our reactive nature as well as our ability to be isolated from our feelings, women, money, memory , values and all the rest. The image is basically one which displays action and purpose , if no intrinsic connection between the actual water (our emotionality and values) and that mentality of the mind which is making all the decisions.



The result of this will be much which we do not think workable (or possibly even acceptable) ... and many forms of alienation , evasion, avoidance of responsibility and claims of non-culpability, even when we are caught not with our hand in the cookie jar (as it were) but certainly while holding the jar itself.



And let's not forget: Saturn is the 'in door' ruler of Aquarius with Uranus being th e Aquarian outcome ruler. That means the thing we go in doing wrong never turns out the way we thought it would , whet her that turns out for good or ill.



One more thing about Aquarius the constellation: the water we poured out of the jar is said to be that of constellation Eridan us , the river , which ends with fixed star Achernar at 1 5 Pisces , a degree Neptune has moved into orb of as of last year and which Neptune will transit conjunction during 2018 and 201 9 . This will have many effects , bringing many things to a head while eliminating questions as to our responsibility for that which happens, and that which has happened, w ith Uranus' shift into Taurus at about the same time bring ing ho me how foolish we are to focus so much on th at which is esoteric when so much which is so ba sic and vital is in need or at stake.



What this comes down to is how, t hroughout the past several thousand years (each astrological age being 2,160 years in length) there has been an implicit energetic ‘contract’ which due to the Pisce s/ Virgo polarity ruling the age has ‘caused’ us to care about how we (Virgo ) respond and the responsibility of our response , whatever form it has taken. Our motivation having been Piscean, it represented that 'd o unto others as you would have them do unto you' concept . Virgo represented the golden cord connecting our emotional pro's and cons, causing us to understand how if we went too far afield th ere would be moral, ethical and physically consequential (Virgo) hell to pay. We understood how in ord er to be seen by others as responsible and 'worthy' we had to seen and taken (by those Virgo others) as ‘thorough , ’ meticulous, skilled and moral in order to attract and validate the Piscean Age trust.









But all that is over w ith the advent of the Aquarian Age. All of that is now changing - and indeed, there is a lot of evidence t o suggest the change has happened a nd is now in full effect.



What this means is that with Aquarius as the new rising sign of the Age, Leo is now on the descendant. So we can perform for oth ers (or show we are capable of 'performing' in a capable manner) ... or we can entertain them. We want everyone to be connected, and yet we want to be special - and especially unique. With Aquarius being an airy, mental signs our minds will now work towards and with a n expanding emphasis not just on the state of being famous, accepted/acceptable, unique or celebrated, but to 'show others' and to 'show off' that uniqueness - which is very much in keepi ng with the 'outpouring' of water in the constellation of the Age. The desire to be noticed is - and will increasingly become a basic form of validation and to some extent, a 'bad ge' of acceptance as a member of the many groups and facets of society which are likely to be predicated on achievement as the 'ticket' for admi ssion. And that we are attracted to such things i s - and will be a form of answering a developmental challenge from our Self which asks ‘do you have what it takes?’ to achieve those (Aquarian) hopes and dreams as outlined in our individual natal chart.





Who are we? Who will we be seen as? Are those things consistent - or even contiguous? B eneath the s urface, that is bound to be at question - at least for many , as feelings we have about our Self may (or) may not differ from Who we are seen as by others - through lif e's (Capricorn) structures .

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The uniqueness that we ‘are’ is and will be, or at least seem to be ‘everything’ throughout the coming Age. And that essence, along with our happiness or unhappiness with that essence will cause us all to pull away from one another in search of new and better ways to power/empower that uniqueness and thus achieve our ends, aims, goals and freedom, however we choose to define that.





Yet there is one more trick there. Under Aquarian Age dynamics, with every ‘freedom’ comes more responsibility - which is generally not how we want to think of things (or live) . Yet that is how Aquarius works - and as Aquarius succe eds where things are universal, systemic, cyclic, functional and representative of our most productive and interactive 'marketplaces' (personal, social and societal) , it doesn't al l ow for ' opting out' (or exclusions) , even when we feel disconnected or isolated, and for whatever reason such situations exist .



In other words, this is ju st not a vacationer's Age - no matter how appealing the 'spin' we want to put on appearances.



Mixing metaphysical metaphors to make this more simplistic, all Aquarian Age functionality and success i s much like a power grid which provides power as needed, but which does not 'empower' one user or outlet over a nother whether the 'power' is that of electricity, gas, money, respect, access, voice, thought, opi nion or anything else - which is why Aquarius does not honor bias by gender, color, origin, ability (disability) or thorough human iden tifications with 'groups' of any sort, be they organized around any of the former (or) in the service of anything which excludes rather than includes.



Because of this, and because the outgoing Piscean Age did allow for (and support ) such segmentation, isolation and bias es emotional, financial, spiritual and cultural in a way the A quarian Age will not, a reas of bias are being expo sed, challenged and clung to by those who see personal advan tage to be gained through things they want to be true as without them, feelings of vulnerability would have to be faced.



Mind you, this is not necessarily about any real vulnerability - merely the feeling of it. The bottom line with the Aquarian Age is how nobody c an gain exclusivity of power or control without damage or compromise to the whole , eventually undermining exactly that which h as been gained.



Or to put it one other way, in the Age of Aquarius the rewards of achievement bec omes a form of ‘freedom.’ But with that freed om comes something of a carrot in the form of responsibilities which require that we preserve and maintain whatever we have achieved, with that serving to keep us far more actively involved than in times (and Ages) passed.



One more observation about our new and increasingly pervasive Age: w ith Scorpio on the 10th h ouse and Taurus on the 4th of the Age, our race is in for a few thousand years of learning how to cope in spite of feeling insecure, w hether in our own mind or because of those around us - and whether real or imagined, too. A world which has long aspired to ideals will now aspire to power over life - their own, that of others, and life as a whole, with th e whole o f the fixed sign axis of this Aquarian Age bei ng ripe for the development -- and separately for the purposeful installation of - - anxiety and paranoia , and just as surely capable of getting past that to the truth of any matter, when and where people care enough to seek truth ... or at least the truth behind why people seek and crave power (and the power of authority) to begin with.



In a nutshell, we will act in an Aquari us/ Leo manner while dealing with a Taurus-Scorpio internal world - which suggests some of the greater we will face will concern difference s between reality and what we want reality to be even as we also sort (or struggle) through grappling with a greater understanding of p ower as a tool of competence versus po wer as a compensation for feelings of vulnera bili ty, whether acknowledged or unconscious .



We each need to learn that we do (and always will) c reate situations we fear most out of a need to banish th ose fears. In other words, the only way we can harness the power of the Scorpio phoenix is through confr onting whatever instinctive monsters are hiding under our psyche's T aurus bed.



(And no, none of us like having to tackle that task ! )



Power will continuously be yearned , earned and used as often for the good as bad where the Aquarian Age requirement for open information is unserved or unserviced. And just as surely as that is going to be one hallmark of the Age, there inevitably will also be those who willfully and deliberately choose ignorance for themselves or others ( embodying Scorpio on the 10th in negative mode) - which will result in some form of ultimate un dermining or rejection of th eir own goals . Why must it end that way ? Because in the Aquarius Age, the 'foundational' idea upon which the Age 'rests' or is 'built' is Taurus - an earth y sig n all about realities , not ideals



That the Piscean Age (the one just ended) had Sagittarius (an idealizing fire sign) on the 10th house and Gemini on the 4th of the Age is why things are still being p hrased in ideal terms . But the fact that there is so much inequality of tangible assets ... the quintessential earth sign thing ... plus the fact that said inequity has been growing during the past several deca des is the tip-off .



Those who can , will change - and are now chan ging over to the new set of parameters. Unfortunately , looking at just that growing rate of inequality around the world, those who have had the (Aquarian) resources with which to make their change 'ahead of the pack' are choosing to leave others behind in the process, using (rather interestingly) the 'old way' of speaking in ideals to placate, pacify and bamboozle others.



Stacking the human deck often feels good to people. Unfortunately on th e metaphysical level, that choice also damages universal potential, often for multiple generations. In other words, given human nature , there will undoubtedly be many attempts to create and maintain 'success' (however that is defined) through power, or the power of authority, heritage or any established (or even previously establi shed) structure, status quo or accomplishment. However, as absolute power corrupts without exception (a very S corpio/ Pluto exp ression , that) and to an 'absolute' extent (given time and opportunity) , such attempts ultima tely lead to that which some refer as 'karma' - the in evitable self- undermining and downfall which in the end is most expressive of the (Taurus) lacks of satisfaction which drove the (Scorpio) attempt into (negative) self-biased terri tory to begin with , instead of holding to the 'universal caretak ing' position which will typify Scorpio in its more positive mode over the next two thousand yea rs or so .



A ll that is just part of the Age and that we are each of us born to whether we are just 'the everyday individual' or not. And in spite of the fact Scorpio is ultimately far less (read: hardly ever) about 'them' and always about whatever has the capacity to evoke, provoke, test or teach us about our own personal and internal feelings of security, vulnerability and worth (so a s t o motivate us to fix our own internal glitches ), not only are external things g oing to be the thing s which test us, but we are all going to be prone to trying to establish control (and feel more secure) through 'managing,' or the management of others rather than through the taking on of the solution to this puzzle, a solution which is about the detoxification and clarification of facts rather than through the empowering of suspicions, fears and conflicts. That the 10th sign derivative to whate ver sign is 'rising' throughout the Age speaks to the positive of achievement as well as the negative of that which 'hangs over us' puts Scorpio in this position tells us we will never have a peaceful life or world, in other words, until we come to understand the problem isn't 'them' - it's in our feelings about who we are, and are not and how we feel about life, considering such ultimate truths . Karmic Sco rpio being a water sign, it operates through feelings – principally ours, which means understanding how metaphysically, other people and events are not there and do not occur in order to ‘do’ things ‘to’ us, but so as to prompt recognitions and understandings about life , our Self and our potentials.



And that is the part of being human astrology is so very good at, as within your natal horoscope is all the information you could ever want about y o ur life and times. Astrologers are merely facilitators. We hold up a mirror so you can see your Self in reflection. W e prompt you with questions drawn from signs and symbols in your chart so t hat in answering those, you co me to understand and feel more comfortable living with an d as your mortal Self.



So there's my last word (here) on that - and with all that duly discussed, we will begin this l ast scheduled post with Venus in an Aries retrograde, a dynamic which is mirrored in our doing things (or needing to do things) which benefits that Self we were just talking about - with Venus' position in Aries being a general indication of working on, or by our Self. As April begins we may well be putting efforts into things which will benefit us in time. Or we may be doing things with an eye to caring for our physical Self or psyche. We may even be focused on matters which require our attention due to some qualifi cation we may posses s, even if things do not currently stand to benefit us directly.





Ve nus also happens to be in position so that we a re starting the month with a n out-of-sign Venus square to Saturn conjunct the Galactic Center , things of importance or which we may benefit from paying attention to may well occur or 'enter the picture' in some manner . Considering the astrology of black holes (the G alactic Center being one) , this implies some sort of alternative or alternate idea or perspective . Or it may simply indicate a need, opportunity or effort to fully understand a situation or its potentials in d etail. With Venus in retrograde, some factor or facet of this moment may be challenging or not to our liking . It may give us cause to consider or bring up factors indicating some form of modification which might prove beneficial.





This conjunction of the Galactic Center by Saturn began bac k on March 6th and will continue through May 7th. And while it is 'in force' (that being the astrological term for an active transit) realities, lacks, missed opportunities and the reality of various potentials become evident, outlining both what we could have done, and what we may yet do, or cause to be done. With the degree Galactic Center currently being 27 Sagittarius (it does move, if very slowly) some quality of personal 'calling' (or ) purpose is also being touched on, which means with Saturn being the transiting ob ject, work (or) effort yet to be done along with the pluses and minuses of all we have done (or cou ld have done , or could be doing) are now being 'realized ' - wheth er by us or the world around us. Have we done well? Have we played by the 'rules' ? Have we fulfi lled our commitments and promises? Have we been responsible about what we have done and how we have gone about doing it?



And lastly ... a re we serving some real, true and productive purpose – or are we limited by some personal facet of an ethical, experiential or ability-oriented nature ?





Being that Venus is in retrograde, even kudos and applause are unlikely to feel entirely satisfying or balmy - while critiques (even the mild ones) may feel terribly sharp or barbed. Everyone's sensitive quotient is elevated, and with Mars in Taurus representing the stirring up of insecurities and the exact sort of stubbornness which tends to keep us from focusing on the reality and size of challenges, some of us will back away while others will become more assertive or aggressive with either polarity speaking to feelings of in ternal vulnerability.



Even those vulnerabilities we do not want to admit to our Self.





Tannhaeuser und Venus (Tannhauser and Venus)

(1873, Alte Nationalgalerie)

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Yet this resistance is not about strength. Yes, some of us will take strong positions or issue orders, demands or even ultimatums now, but these things are really just the manife station of our own attempts to resist feeling weak - or even just weakened or weaker by comparison, wheth er the c omparison is valid or merely the reflection of some emotional goblin rattling around in the cellars of our soul.





Plus, let us remember: we are all still working through the reverberations of February’s 8 Pisces S olar Eclipse, an eclipse which has stripped most of us of our most convenient defense s , particularly those we have used to shield our Self from feeling all those things we have tried long and hard to ignore, deny or otherwise eliminate.



And that, in combination with April 2017 as a month which plays host to four separate planetary stations i s a pretty clear indication of a 'playing field' which i s soon to change, however that c omes about. With Mars is trining Pluto (by sign) for most of the month, our ongoing desire (and most of our efforts) are aimed at creating more stable, ‘fertile’ and productive dynamics. Yet with April also playing host to a couple of transiting Yods, we are also given to know that certain ' guidelines’ and limitations (or limits) are going to come into play.





So! While bearing all that in mind, let’s explore the April ban quet of days and dates:





April 1

Orpheus and Eurydice by Michel Martin Drolling (1820)





Known t o most of us through the story ‘Orpheus and Eurydice’ as teroid Eurydike reflects the choice of the story's heroine when she elects to sacrifice her Self for the sake of preserving the talents and gifts of another. It's a mythological tale of life cho ices, choices we knowingly make which we know will ‘cost’ us something, even if that 'something' simply involves chosing Path A over Path B. All parts of any mythic story being about us, this suggests Eurydike turning to direct motion may be either the moment of such a choice, when we l earn where we have chosen well ( or not so well) or , given overarching Venus, Saturn and Galactic Center influences, when we face having to do something worthwhile, if not precisely or particularly enticing.



So, which wa y will this go? In going direct at 7 Leo, Eurydike is happily tapping into an energetic known for ‘luck’ and a specific capacity to ‘turn' things towards betterment or improvement . Does this mean we will make (or have made) some sacrifice which turns out well for us? Might it mean we will now let go of some idea which we recognize will not work as we seize the moment and execute some sort of 'course correction' ?



That could be. Then again, with this station taking place less than a week in advance of Saturn’s station, whatever we have bee n working on or towards and things which we have worked to ‘earn’ may well get touched on now. Or our choices of the moment may get ma de in light of something we have been working on (or) which we have earned over time or through effort.





With this station taking place just as Venus is retrog rad ing into Aries' earliest degrees, we also know two other things. One, that th ere is something 'basic' a bout this moment ... and two, that Venus will be exiti ng Aries and retrograding back into Pisces in a day or so - which heralds a change of personal and g eneral mood. Does this mean something is going in our desired direction? Might it be an indication of this as a m oment when that we take on (or) let go of leads to easier days, if also a few moments of wondering how we could have not known that which is - or is becoming - entirely evident?



April 3

Once Venus retrogrades into Pisces at 0:26 a.m. (UT/+0) on April 3rd, att itudes will become easier to accept, whether that means we agree with what we come to understand or not. However we feel about ‘priorities’ being expressed, we will understand their place and purpose in some ‘greater scheme,’ all of which will be/ become a factor taken into consideration during the remaining (just shy of) t wo weeks of Venus retrograde, smoothing things out to the extent we are able to understand the needs of emotional commonalty.



Against this, with Venus in retrograde there is some chance we will reject the idea of emotional connection or of being as human and mortal as anyone else - or that having that proven to us now causes problems. Should that be the case, these next weeks of Venus in Pisces , which includes Venus' direct station, will be more likely to manifest as situations which cause us to ‘see’ our Self differently, principally b y dissolving or removing our ability to resist.





Why any of this occurs, of course, will be individual. But with that said, something about what we go through now may also be being influenced by Terpsichore's going retrograde as of April 4 th - and t hat Saturn will be going retrograde two days after that, all of which would tend to emphasize the serious rather than we do just for fun .





Plus there is also Mercury to think about. Having entered Taurus on March 31st, Mercury is now moving towards an April 9th retrograde station - which means we are likely to be feeling 'pressured' or v ery much focused on something (or getting something done), whether all is going swimmingly or not. This is entirely typical and not anything to be obtu sely concerned about though as things slow down during the days prior to a Mercury station there is a natural tendency to ‘press’ too hard which astrological lore c autions against, suggesting that thing s which do not come about naturally but are 'pushed through' tend to end up being less than satisfactory.





'Dance 8' (photo credit: mani10mn)





April 4

Representing either the literal or figurative talent, grace or ability to ‘dance’ o ur way through things, having Terpsichore take a turn to retrograde motion at 16 Sagittarius combin es that sense of 'ease' with something which bubbles up or comes to a ‘boil’ now, with writings on 16 Sagittarius making very specific references to things which we normally do well enough out of habit or rote wh ich now may go suddenly, or uncharacteristically awry.



Is that in some way a product of our doing so mething more or less uncon sciously, because we are so well 'practiced' with it? Or might this be when we see and reflect on something about our abilit ies and talents and how we differ f rom others in some regard ?



Either one may apply. Then again, w ith Saturn about to go retrograde on April 6th, Terpischore’s station fal l within Saturn's two-day (before and after) ‘station allowance,’ implying that whatever occurs now has yet to ‘play out’ to full effect - which considering this is now Saturn's station we are talking about, as Saturn is the astrolog ical symbol of (and grand pot stirrer with regards to) all things having to do with th e earning and gaining of, utilization of or chall eng es to our achievements, status, sense of responsibility, lasting structures and efforts to s tructure , stability (personal and worldly), earning capacity, history, time, reputation and career ... well, let's just say things which arise now could end up meaning a good deal in short and long order.





Saturn (Kronos) by Ivan Akimov

(1802, Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow)

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April 6

Saturn’s two yearly stations are always times when we both undertake things and let things go. It's also when things are assigned or given to us, whether that means we begin a task or are receiving the reward for having completed one.



On a practical and pragmatic basis, that Saturn is currently executing its direct-to-retrograde stations under Sun in Aries speaks to what we are making of our Self, life and world - and the fact that we need to do things which benefit, support or hold that Self to standards, sometimes in spite of we like, want or hold as a personal priorit y , lest we (Saturn) earn the cost or loss for not having done so. And because the Saturn nature asks that we consider others and Aries isn't a sign which always does th at , thes e years of Saturn stationing during April ( under Sun in Air es) are bound to set up or reveal various 'conflicts ' every time Saturn comes to this point in its yearly schedule .



With this year's edition of said station occurring under Venus i n retrograde (and now in Pisces) we may now come to 'adjust' to some reality - or need to. We may also need to take some kind of ' movement' or emotional expression (not ours) into account, lest the necessity expressed end up undermining or invalidating some 'cause.'



Saturn doesn't always station during April. Every year, it s stations move forward through the c alen dar as part of life's efforts to get us to grow. By 2020 Saturn will be going on station during May and under Sun in Taurus, indicating a time wh en we are all going to be working on what our values are and aren 't because of things we would rather believe than face the reality of. And by the time we get to 2023-2024 when Pluto will leave Capricorn and enter Aquarius, shifting life's transformational focus away from things national or ' self' oriented in the public sense and onto that which concerns the 'marketplace,' things economic, political, and 'plural' in the sense that all things social and societal represents something which affects many indiv iduals ... by then Saturn will be stationing and turning to retrograde under Sun in Gemini during June, mirroring events and life challenges which empha size how we think, the necessity to think, and the need to understand life and life structures through the ideas of ambition, realis m and all the be nefits as well as the li mitations of time, mind and choi ce - both on the individual and collective level , whether that 'collective' is a group of like mind, or some sort of more formal social/societal affiliation.



With this particular station occurring under Sun in Aries and with Saturn's turn to retrograde occurring in conjunction with the current location of our Milky Way Galaxy’s Galactic Center, th e ' black hole effect ' is something to take into account. Capable of capable of bending and twisting time-space itself, this conjunction (among other things) will tend to represent some ‘bending’ or a ‘twist’ in things which either affects our efforts (or) our willingness or ability to do things - and in some cases, to even try. Plus with this effect occurring under Venus retrograde, that which is ' unanticipated' (or unwanted) may end up changing many a plan or planned response.





That said, because the Galactic Center can also be a point of metaphysical connection between our Self and our c ommunity, society or world, this moment may also provide us with a rea son or opportunity to try harder , do better - or when the purpose, aim or some quality involved in our efforts changes, whether because we finally understand or learn somet hing ... or because we recognize that without tweaking our purpose, goal or method, we are unlike ly to reach the 'greater goal.'



Given the reputation 27 Sagittarius has as a degree, whatever arises or comes to be at stake here , something about the moment (or the issue) will also involve or touch on a ' lack of subtlety,' what ever that may mean . Maint enance of balance is essential, and with Saturn involved may need work, partic ularly as this degree often manifests with (or through) a n assertive or possibly brash sort of har sh ness which is often the produc t o f, or proof of internal insecurity which has arisen from a lack of either aptitude (or) investment in understanding and learning about some process , method or approach.

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Saturn Station-Retrograde (glyph chart)

April 6, 2017 - 5:07 a.m. (UT/+0) - Aries Wheel (Location Not Specific)

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Saturn Station-Retrograde (text chart)

April 6, 2017 - 5:07 a.m. (UT/+0) - Aries Wheel (Location Not Specific)

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Being this is Saturn we are talking about, this station has an equal chance of manifesting as that do not like as that we do based on what we have e arned , whether professionally or from others in that singular 'for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction ' sort of way. L imits , challenges and a feeling of things as being 'severe' are also as likely as opportunities, and as with all Saturn turns to retrograde, this time may indicate a need to consider, recon sider, plan anew, consolidate ... the success of which is likely to be played out (a.) over time, and/or (b.) at some time in the future (hint: aft er Saturn goes direct aga in in late August a couple of days after a solar eclipse I will be laying out the outlines for before this post ends).



Unkindness and feelings of an inability to cope may well relate no w to an inability to cope with severe chall enges or handi caps. It is also quite possible we will no w see (or hear about) injudicious decisions and the penalties which come from s uch unbalanced choices.



With the ruler of Sagittarius (Jupiter) in an inconjunct to Mars while also in opposition to the Sun, things are likely to feel, seem or truly be inconven ient. Jealousy - prim arily as a projection of re gret - may also arise now, p articularly where we have acted in some insistent or headstrong manner, only to find our persistence did not ' work' or has not come to be 'favored.' C onflicts of time, resources and priorities may well complicate matters now, either making things more difficult or by leading to a need to pull back (or) to try something again at some other time.



And that’s just the tip of the iceberg here. In g oing retrograde in conjunction with Ixion, Ras Alhague / Industria, Acumen, Pholus (a ll in Sagittarius) and Hebe at 1 Capricorn, any effort we are making - or thinking of making - intended to (a.) endure and (b.) support that which supports us in serving our ultimate purpose is going to have to survive whatever tendency we may have to (Ixion) do what we want in spite of knowing better.



With Saturn being the 'baseline' ruler of the Aquarian Age, this mu lti-month con junction of Saturn and the Galac tic Center may well test or exacerbate 'divides' in culture and opportunity. Then again, solving the questions and chall enges which such divides represent is the core business of the next 2,000 years - so it should. In Sagittarius, Saturn sometimes represents everything we know. But i ts transit of Sagittarius is also about what we are afraid to learn - particularly about our selves .



And it has a curious ha bit of making that which we didn't - or couldn't imagine - become a reality, theoretically so that we will learn something about how to deal with our (Gemini, as the polarity sigh) mentality and brainpower in the true Saturn style, which is to say responsibly , consistently, reliably and yet not restrictively, as Saturn always encourages slow, substantial , deli berate , considered and ultimately enduring growth.





So a s Saturn turns to retrograde at 27 Sagittarius at 5:07 am (UT/+0) on April 6th, all which we are bringing to the moment (or which the moment is dumping in our proverbial lap, be that in real time or in our mind ) .... all that is in focus and up for contemplation.



Plus the re is yet more. B ecause there is a square between Saturn and Chiron (in Pisces) at the moment , with transiting Chiron happening to also be conjunct Venus (which yes, is still retrograde), Chiron' s position at 26 Pisces indicates something which we do not really know how to handle or deal with (the Chiron part ) having to contend with something ' underhanded' or even criminal. And that issue - whether past tense or current - is likely to present an unexpected notion specifically in regards to something we value a good deal.



This may cause us to see some flaw in our plan or a gap in our estimations. Or it may simply confront us with having to choose what we are willing to give up in the face of not being able to have (or keep) everything we want.





And no, that’s not the end either. At the risk of this station delineation beginning to sound like a late-night infomercial, Saturn is also going into retrograde in trine to a tidy little coagulation in late Aries/early Taurus which is composed of Eris, Uranus, Euphrosyne and Charybdis in late Aries and fixed star Mirach along with asteroid Kassandra at 0 Taurus.





S itting at the heart of this grouping, Eris and Uranus represent changes which aim to free and inform us, whether what we end up learning is what we came into some situation (or period of time) want to think - or think about something.



Where Eris is concerned, doing that which is needed vies with personal preferences and priorities, seeing if we understand the fuller nature of our life as a function of our times - often surprising us in the process . As opposed to that, Uranus represents all those moments and life forces which effectively 'break us out of' old molds, limits, perceptions and outmoded ways of thinking, acting, or the methods with which we respond. Neither one of these objects being known for their genteel nature, if (or as) we find ourselves embodying their energies (or if we meet up with them through someone else), such moments are likely to seem harsh, out-of-place or out of character - which whether a one-time display or the start of a newly established trend is generally part of the metaphysical point .



And with Saturn also active at the moment, also part of the process which is continuing to break down old ways and 'old regimes' (mental and otherwise), all of which is part of the continuing shift out of the Piscean and into the Saturn-Uranus ruled Aquarian Age.





The Mirror of Time by Cornelis van Haarlem (August 2012)





With Mirach conjuncting asteroid Kassandra, good intentions may go astray or awry now. Or we may have something to offer which gets ignored or ‘tossed aside’ without proper consideration. There are two central ideas involved in this little meeting: the (Kassandra) ‘disbelief’ factor and the idea of being ‘secondary’ to that which we may think m ore important but which is likely problematic u ntil/unless we are w illing to face (or) face down our innermost fears as to who we really are - and are being . In the degree 0 Taurus, both these objects are focusing through whatever about us or our history has molded our cha racter, with its chief challenge (to us) tending to be how we go about handling ego issues and the n ecessary expressing of our ego, needs and positions.





Mov ing on through our list of modif iers and cl ues here, i n addition to Mir ach and Kassandra we have Euphrosyne as a symbol of ' merriment’ and everything positive or amusing, which in being positioned at 24 Aries is telling us there is some sort of energetic which if in a positive m ode will be more or less purely creative, and which, to the exten t or where n egatively utilized (or negat ed) surfaces or manifests through sexuality or unneeded sexual energies.



This is not to say sexuality is bad, but rather that at the moment it represents some sort of 'lack of involvement' or waste. It is also worth noting how s uch a 'sexual' (or overly intimate or personalized) qualit ies are also something we would see when Eris is being used less than u s efully.



And since thi s is Eris we ar e referencing, there is always that notable Eris abi lity to indicate the exposing of qualities about our Self that we had not yet sus pecte d to consider.



It's all worth noting - as is Charybdis, the last object in this particular grouping. Sometimes thought of as 'the monster of habit’ or that which 'rises up to get us' in our vulnerabilities just when we think we the worst is past , the image of Charybdis refers to a ‘whirlpool.’ Therefore, l ike any whirlpool, Charybdis moments are those which can ‘suck us in ,' or otherwise pose a danger to our ability to ‘think straight’ or to continue along some ‘appointed path.’



Typically, Charybdis manifests emotionally or through some situation which promotes or provokes emotional reactions, all of which is in keeping with metaphysical images involving water. And with Charybdis’ current position at 28 Aries outlined as a degree which bring s out th at which fails to be (or) become accepted, successful or part of ' mainstream’ act ivity or thought, the combination of Charybdis and Saturn’s station may well indicate something we stand to gain (or) lose in spite of all effort ( s). Or it may manifest as something we now realize the real (Saturn) ‘worth’ of.



Or maybe we are just didn’t believe how important certain things were (or have been) until we are threatened with some reality of loss .





With all of th ese objects serving to modify Saturn’s retrograde station, either some fact (or) the entire idea of 'my reality ' whether current, past or future is somehow sinking in . And with Venus still in retrograde, this is likely to arouse concerns about where things are going to lead or 'leave ' us along with a few feeling rounds of the 'could’a, should’a, would’a' type as we reflect on what we would have done had we had underst ood something earlier or if we had taken someone or s omething more seriously - none of which is about 'them,' but rather all about what happens when we follow the priorities of personal desire .





With this Saturn station also occurring in an out-of-sign trine to the North Node and Regulus in early Virgo ( with out Saturn being sextile the South Node in Pisces), can we count on the current moment to not ‘bleed’ into (or affect) other things?



Theoretically, if we attend to our North Node business, yes. How ever, given Saturn's position at 27 Sagittarius , our chances of achieving things in isolation (or through some idea or position chosen or formulated by Self alone) are less than otherwise . This notion comes from 27 Sagittarius as a degree known for difficulties arising from jealousy as well as one which manifests through issues having to do with defense or def ensiveness - which Saturn's station has every capacity to trigger . Wherever we are in life, Saturn is a ll about what we aim a t and whatever it takes to earn it, with nothing ever being truly permanent (or "ours" ) because nothing is as con sistent as the precept of evolution and those changes which come with , and over time.









The last aspect on this fairly long list is Saturn going on and through its station in an inconjunct to Sedna and Algol, with Sedna at 25 and fixed star Algol being positioned at 26 degrees of Taurus.



Inconjunc ts (or quincunxes, as they are also called) are 150-degree aspects which represent things which we may not like having to deal with, but which we need to deal with anyway , with the plu s-and-minus (or lack of same) which comes out of an inconjunct tending to be the opportunity, the success (and /or) the respect, trust or appreciation which is generated through what we do and (equally) through how we go about doing it. (And that last part - the 'how we do it' - tends to be a bit of a sticky point where inconjuncts are con cerned.)



With Saturn in this picture, the idea of earning is underscored, as every Saturn positive requires that we put some effort into achieving our aims and goals. So with Saturn going retrograde here on April 6th with Mercury due to go into retrograde on April 9th , these days may well become a time for decisions, a time when something is presented to us (or comes into focus) requiring a decision, when details, the need to get into details and the need to under stand details and nuances reveals expertise or skill (o urs or that of others) ... or when, given V enus retrograde, we pull back (or away) from something which gives is (or at least is giving the appearance) of being either 'unworthy,' or not what we want to commit to, b e associated with (or) devote furth er attention or effort to .





In general, Saturn plus Mercury combines as 'serious' or consequential thoughts , i deas, aims, interactions and processes - which may mean we need to think things through before proceeding , particularly where /if whatever i s at hand stands to affect us either over time... or through taking up a goodly amoun t of time. What this will mean in real time to any one of us will be (of course) individual, though Saturn's conjunction with the Galactic Center suggests that so me ratio or ‘balance’ between self-interest and interest in the ‘general welfare’ will ultimately affect what develops from this point whether we actively acknowledge that part of the metaphysical equation or not.



April 9

Following on the heels of Saturn’s retrograde turn, Mercury will be going o n station on April 9th just as the Uranus/Eris - Vesta-Jupiter-Pluto grand square we have been living with e nds by virtue of Jupiter retrograding out of orb to Vesta, which images the idea of ‘disconnecting’ (or) ending of some commitment or promise, whether to others or our Self. For some of us (even a lot of us !) this will simply echo things w e are al ready going through, and which we naturally associate with Saturn’s station. Then again, this could also be an indication that something we have been (Saturn) working on is now either being ‘broken down’ into components or 'separate parts ' - o r that what we have seen as some sort of ‘amalgamation’ or total quotient or goal has either revealed that it requires (or) involves a t least two separate ideas or ‘thrusts,’ each of which will need to be considered and dealt with separately.





On one hand this may indicate a ‘simplifying’ of things as we come to understand how to approach something. O n another, it may indicate a failure to uphold some form of ‘sacred duty’ which we owe to those others we are ‘connected’ or ‘related’ to through some tradition, heritage , family , tradition or obligation.





What this does NOT end are the c hallenges, travail and effort . (F ar from it, actually.) Once Jupiter and Vesta are no longer in orb, the astrological r esult is not one grand square, but t hree t-squares, each of which promises to pr esent us with a situation which we think is 'only' about us (or unique to us) - and which can only be 'solved' by seeing thin gs from that greater perspective which allows us to see our lives as equal to and connected to same problems or chall enges being experienced by others.



(How very Aquarian Age.)



The first two of these t-squares having Pluto at the 'hurdle' simpl ifies things somewhat, as that tells us the problem ( which is to say, what we're not seeing) is how the very passions and desires which have motivated us a very large part of the problem. Wherever we see Pluto, we know o ur desire to control (or be 'in control' ) is at issue, with there being every likelihood that we have made one - or a seri es of choices and assertions based not on something we are capable of, but out of a desire to 'fix' something inside our Self which causes us to feel insecure .



Insecure about what? That varies, but i t usually comes down to being insecure about the process of life itself with special emphasis on whatever causes us to think we are 'in control' of anything . Under Pluto influences, facts tend to get thro wn out in favor of emotional motivation s - and just as often turn out to be damaging to the cause (ours and that of others).



So here are those two t-squares. One has Jupiter on the motivati ng end and the other has Haumea, Spica and Arcturus in the motivating position, s uggesting both a desire/ need to 'grow ' or 'expand' our life or efforts (that being the Jupiter part of things) and a Haumea, Spica, Arcturus shift or change of position , presentation or approach ... or perhaps the need for a shift or change of position, presentation or approach .



With Sun, Lumiere and Child in the 'goal' position of one t-s quare and Uranus/Eris in the goal position of the other, we are seeking changes which will make life easier and clearer (at least for us ) even as we are able to 'free ,' ' free up' or 'come to be free' of some form(s) of external situations which we are experiencing as ' controlling' - whether they are actually controlling us (or) merely something we are surely certain wou ld 'fix everything' even though the injury or conflict is within us and our emotional psyche.

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Then there's the thir d t -square , a circuit which in having the Sun, Lumiere , Child, Eris and Uranus at its apex speaks to changes we (and everyone else ) are having problems with, greatly because we want things to serve our interests instead of that of a 'greater enlightenment' which we would all be a part of.

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And let u s not forget how t hese t -squares are comi ng into being on the same date Mercury goes retrograde a t 4 Taurus. That on e fact underscores the chance this moment may well be challenging, rewarding or of importance both now and down th e line. Plus there is a shift being implied here, one which may be vital with regards to what we are thinking about, how we are thinking about it - or in even the perspective which would ca use us to think as we do.





In the first t-square, Pluto's position at 19 Capricorn speaks to some 'gap' between how we think of things and how others (or the world) th inks of them, with this 'lack of universal application' - and how we feel about such things - being the part of what we are getting tripped up by. Of course, since this is Pluto we are talking about here, our feeling s of conviction (a long with all our other feelings) are likely to be strong, though why that is may hav e nothing to do with the current situation.



And that sort of gap - or any impulse which is triggering old feelings or emotional habits - can be tough to identify, control or to eradic a te . As P luto represents transpersonal energetic, we tend to not control Pluto situations or the dynamics involved . We might want to or think we do, and we may give it our bes t college try. But where Pluto is concerned, simply because the reference is Plutonic, there is something buried, something which we have not mastered which is in play . And with w ritings on 1 9 Capricorn indicating the possibility of violence or brute force being used to get our way, awareness of the need for choices and actions to reflect calm and a lack of personal bias (both of which are key to weathering Pluto challenges) is likely to prove useful .





Of course with Jupiter in this mix we may be tempted to go 'over ' some line or boundary. And with Pluto at the apex of this t-square , we may not be in touch with either our motivations or some inner (Haumea) tendency to justify our Self and to maneuver or say and do things in order to 'win' or get our way which with Mercury's turn to retrograde may become problematic, especially where we have been pushy or 'pushing' some idea, value, effort, project or position as we have come to this time and particular moment.



Maybe we need to think things over. Or perhaps we are going to need to wait for some piece of information , for things to 'fall into place' ... or simply for that ripe and perfect moment.





Mercury Station-Retrograde (glyph chart)

April 9, 2017 - 23:15 (11;15 pm, UT/+0) - Aries Wheels (Location Not Specific)

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Mercury Station-Retrograde (text chart)

April 9, 2017 - 23:15 (11:15 p.m., UT/+0) - Aries Wheels (Location Not Specific)

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Whatever the subject is, Mercury’s position at 4 Taurus speaks to too much rigidity of a metaphysically ‘masculine’ or assertive, pro-active nature being involved - which given Jupiter's motivating position in Libra suggests something we may need to ‘adjust to,’ or which we realize we need to change before moving forward.





As for the t-square which has Vesta, Apollo and fixed star Pollux (one of the Gemini twins) at 23 Cancer in opposition to Pluto, there is either a pronounced search and need for truth ... or t he desire to be released (or to escape) some 'known' or fact (i.e., the truth) involved in the negotiating of what some commitment is, or what we would like it to be. A nd with the Sun, Lumiere, Child, Eris and Uranus at the t-square apex, the problem being expressed by this t- square is how we are some how being stopped or limited by something we are either ‘blind’ to (or) ‘blinded’ by - with there being every chance (particularly given Mercury’s station) that we are (or have) overestimated someone 's understanding or capacity to do somethin g, whether that 'someone' is us or someone else.

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Also ... because Mercury is jump ing into this retrograde w ithout being in any 'standard' Ptolemaic aspect to any of the 'standard' astrological planets, some of us will feel 'isolated' in our though ts now. Or someone may a ct on their own and then claim nobody stopped them. Mercury not being in aspect to anything is ra ther akin and often manifests as the idea of a 'flight of fancy' or some thought or choice which is not 'connected ,' which has no bearing on anything else or which takes no thing else into account , which for some will manifest as productive concentration and which in other lives will manifest as being totally absor bed with one's own thoughts or ideas , whatever they may be or be about .



Given this lack of 'connection,' all the standard 'warnings' astrologers make about Mercury stations probably go double , so make sure you have everything before you leave the house , leave extra time for travel and try to attend to any needs for mainten ance - whether to your car, your body, your computer or anything else - before Mercury g oes into r etrograde, lest somet hing go awry at th e most inconven ient moment.



Messages and timing often go astray under Mercury retrograde. It is also said that signing con tracts or binding agreements under Merc ury retrograde seldom works out the way we th ink it will . However... when things of import coin cide with Mercury's station , that's another thing.



Thi ngs which occur at the time of any planetary station are often more than important - which is a thought worth thinking about at the time of any Mercury (or other planetary) station .





Mercury pausing to tie his winged sandals

(a Roman 2nd century copy of an original Greek bronze)

(photo credit: Wolfgang Sauber, July 2008)

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Writings on the Sabian symbol for 4 Taurus (‘A Widow at an Open Grave’) vary in interpretation . But most such lore alludes to that which astrologer Marc Edmund Jones wrote - ‘the impermanence of all material and social bonds’ - which as seen through a Mercury lens would seem to ask that we not pin our hopes or rest our thoughts on (or) in others, as that may lead not just to ‘loss,’ but th e kind of ‘loss’ which in this case would leave us 'open' to grieving over our (Mercury) thinking or some choice we have made - or which we perhaps are having to face making now.





Unaspected planets are said to act ‘in their own nature’ and without hindrance , which sounds good, but can turn into 'too much of a good thing' (or a bad thing, if we are headed in some wrong direction!) With Mercury on station and unaspected, this time may i nvolve , reve al, or teach the consequences of thoughts made without enough information and choices made without thinking. This is also a time when we are likely to speak without thinking - or when what we say may turn out to be thoughtless, lacking in substance , without sense, reason, taste or tact . This lack of Mercury being 'connecte d' to other planets may also play out through opportunities not playing out , or as communications, choices, actions or eff o rts which fail to 'connect' - at least in the manner, or at the rate we would have anticipated.





Known as a po sitive time for 'behind the scenes' work , repairs, investigations, recuperation , reworkings and research, Mercury retrograde favors efforts which allow us to catch up with ourselves and get organized (whatever that may mean in either the mental or physical realm) ... and just as thoroughly 'muffles' or tends to delay (or even block) that which is 'untimely ' or inapplicable. And as Mercury's retrograde s tations are also known for things 'slowing down’ or coming to a halt, we should not be surprised at delays or the need to r eschedule something or change plans due to the need to work out some last m inute quirk or situation .

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With this particular r etrograde beginning in early Taurus, this particular round of Mercury retrograde will move from Taurus back into Aries, thus representing some sort of connection between who we are and what we are conscious or motivated by (or not conscious of and not motivated by) and our 'instinct,' whether that refers to what we value or how we go about protecting or defending our values - all of which evidently now needs some Mercury 'work' or revision.



Might that mean we need to learn more? It might. Might that mean we are (or have been) being sufficiently distracted by Thing A that now we are having to double back and pay attention to Thing B, C and D? That could happen as well. During this Mercury retrograde we may be considering what to do, thinking of why we do things (or value them as we do) and - importantly and equally - why we avoid, 'instinctively' mistrust or think of our values as more vital than those held by others. Priorities will count during this retrograde as part of what we go through (or) learn during this retrograde - and as with all other Mercury retrograde cycles it pays to be aware that things which occur now as Mercury goes into retrograde may well 'play out' or 'take another turn' once Mercury reaches its direct station in the early days of May, with the start of this retrograde in Taurus' early degrees with its end being at 24 Aries also serving to inform us that this particular round of reconciling and re-balancing our mental batteries begins in something of a 'personal mode' but ends in one a n impersonal situation and mindset.



Given that and the t-squares with which this cycle starts, might that suggest a theme of 'change of approach' or perspective to this cycle? Indeed it might.

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As for the specifics of 24 Aries, the 24 Aries energetic is known to be highly motivated, with writings describing its energy as curious, investigative, assertive (particularly when prodded) and either sexual (overtly and otherwise) and creative - which may suggest some quality (or) anything which we do which is creative, or native talents which are creative by their very nature.



S o in some way, whatever this Mercury retrograde cycle brings, it's overall 'design' is meant to move us from some moment of loss, lack, possibility of loss or lack - or perhaps just feeling 'lost' (ignored, undervalued) to a place where we will be thinking in a more creative and 'fertile' manner.



Is that worth all th ose little moments of irritation we all so freq uently run into under Mercury re trograde?



We will hope so. Further more, as all of this initiating of Mercury's latest retrograde is occurring as we heading towards a Full Moon set to occur a couple of days from now on the 11 th, wh erever our efforts (or lack thereof) take us, more is likely to be learned in fairly short order, particularly if (and where) our efforts have been aim ed at reaching, attaining or gaining access to something.



April 11

Every Full Moon is an emotional time - or a time when things which happen cause us to 'check in' on how we feel about things. So with this Full Moon occurring in Libra, somet hing about this moment will pertain to - or call our attention to - relationships and whether (or how) we r elate to others, certain forms of potential ... and general (or) specific situational dynamics.



As part of that, whatever comes up now may say things about 'them' or 'that.' But a goodly part (read: the better part) of that which comes up now is both about us ... and about that which we may well profit from coming to understand, whatever that may mean in the given moment.





Full Moon at 21 Libra (glyph chart)

April 11, 2017 - 6:08 a.m. (UT/+0) - Aries Wheel (Location Not Specific)

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Full Moon at 21 Libra (text chart)

April 11, 2017 - 6:08 a.m. (UT/+0) - Aries Wheel (Location Not Specific)

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With that in mind, the Full Moon which will occur at 6:09 a.m. (UT/+0), in occurring at 21 Libra this Full Moon places an emphasis on relationship polarities - specifically as they specifically apply to trust, which is to say either our trust and ability, capacity and willingness to trust ... or who it is we do or don't trust, and why that would be.



And again : n o matter what anyone says , this isn't about 'them.' This is about our feelings , and - with Mercury freshly in retrograde - how we think, whether we think thing s t hrough, whether we know the truth (or not) and whether our thinking (in general) is based on reality or values 'of worth' (or) which will prove 'worthwhile' to us in the long run.



T his is a very particular issue here, as Venus - the ruler of Libra - is in retrograde. So it is equally likely ill feelings are part of this equation, with the negatives here being either supp lied not by 'them' but by OUR unwillingness to face some truth, so lack of truth, some miscalculation, or that we are simply wrong about something, someone or so me perspective we hold dear ... OR with negatives being brought out where some level of lack, loss , deprivation or ' inability to support' something has come to be of note or notice. T rusting too much (or) trusting the wrong people is possible here, as is a lack of trust in anything we are challenged by (or) un familiar (uncomf ortable ) with all of this being thematically powered by the fairly typical Venus re trograde dislike of feeling 'pushed ,' even if, where or when our following such promptings could lead to some reward.



Some of us may now act out or 'raise the stakes' - as much to get, retain or regain the attention of others, even without there being necessarily any guarantee of honesty, integrity, or follow-through implied. This may be intentional or not, as the Sabian symbol for this degree (‘A Child Giving Birds a Drink at a Fountain’) implies either an innocent act of caring about those who cannot provide something life-giving (water) for themselves ... or an ' immature’ act or a choice which is either as -yet incapable of fulfilling its promise (or) being made without regard for what is tr uly at stake.





Being that Mercury has just gone retrograde as this Full Moon occurs, this Full Moon also stands a better chance than many of being a time of internal 'reflection' on things which have happened - or which lie ahead. And with every Full Moon also represen ting a moment when logic and emotion stand 'in opposition ,' this is a natural time for 'seeing the light' or completing some task, either of which will cause a need to 'shift gears' and choose what to do from this point on .





With all that - and granting how unique chart factors indicat e individual e ffects - because this Full Moon will occur at 21 Libra that also says we are going to experience something of a temporarily ‘resurrection’ of the ‘too much of one thing, not enough of another’ complications (and feelings) we have associated with the Pluto-Jupiter-Vesta-Uranus/Eris grand square we thought we had just gotten rid of.









Mind you, this grand square effect, because it is being caused by the Moon, i sn’t going to last long - the Moon often moves one degree in just two hou rs. But at the moment of this Full Moon, the grand square does apply.



Probably the most immediate tangible effect of this grand square will come from Jupiter's position in conjunction wi th the Moon - a combination which indicates an ups urge of feelings along with a tendency to ignore or simply forget about rules and boundaries of various types. With Haumea conjunct the Moon but not conjunct Jupiter, feelings may now change, w hether that pertains to reactions, or the changing of some stance, attitude, opinion or allegiance - with some feelings being genuine, and some merely being a means to some end as we attempt to put our Spica and A rcturus abilit ies to 'lead ourselves forward' to the test.



A ll of that being here opposed by the Sun plus Child and Eris (tog ether at 23 Aries) underscores that notion of , and possibilities for ‘immature’ choices and acts - with Eris adding in the notion of something surprising, as well as something which tests our clarity and priorities, perhaps allowing us to see or understand some facet of our (Aries) personality as others see it for the very first time.





Not all of the objects in the grand square (above) aspect each other. For instance, Juno and Rukbat being in asp ect to the Sun, Moon, Pluto and Castor w ithout being in opposition to Vesta, Apollo or Pollux warns against being ‘too strong’ in our approach to things while also suggesting that standards and established patterns will provide reasons to consider (or reconsider) the effect s - negative and positi ve - which certain current dynamics may be having on our future potential.





Juno b eing conjunct fixed star Rukbat also sugge sts having (or needing to have) concern or consideration for our ‘standing’ and whether we do - or-don’t need to preserve or maintain some particular notion connected with the idea of ‘standing’ or reputation. Of course with Mercury in retrograde, we may be slow to notice many things which occur now – or perhaps understand their full importance. We may feel frustrated or constrained. Or we may be going through that very special kind of impatience we all experience when having to cope with situations and 'requirements' we do not yet understand.





All and all, this would seem to be Full Moon with a few feast-or-famine qualities which for some will recall recent experiences and t he desire to ‘fix’ ( or at least to not repeat ) mistakes. Yet within this - and to some degree, in spite of whatever happens, unbeknownst to some of us, this Full Moon is providing imp ortant keys to understandings of a deeper and forward -looking nature .



And what might we think divide negatives from positives here?





That answer is named 200 3 AZ84 - or AZ84 for shor t.



And what is AZ84?



AZ84 is a Plutino - which is to say an object which orbits beyond Neptune in the icy expanses of the Kuiper Belt , with AZ84's actual orbit bei ng 'governed' by Planet Neptune's powerful magnetic reson ance.



The P lutino part of this object means AZ84 astrologically represents that which represents our ability (and , often enough, our habit) of leading our Self astray, most often through preferring something other than that which is/represents reality or t ruth .



Currently in retrograde, AZ84 will be going into 'station mode' as we experience our Full Moon, which considering the Plutino Effect means this Full Moon may provide clarity ... and then again, may be a moment when we literally choose to ignore reality. And sinc e AZ84 i s due to go direct on April 14th with Venus scheduled to end its retrograde and go direct again on April 15th (at long, long last), that suggests this Full Moon is more of a specific 'check point ' with regards to reality and realities than we might suspect - even as we experience it.



That could mean anything, with the Plutino part of it all adding the note that the good or bad we experience may well depend on how well we curr ently are (or have been) dealing with realit y, realities and truth .





April 14

The thing about Plutinos which makes negotiating their stations a bit tricky is the Plutino tendency to trigger that (or thos e) areas of life , personality and mentality where that we are devoted to is untrue , in spite of all our cling to it because we so want it to be true - sometimes in spite of, and in the face of hard and fast facts to the contrary.



Dreams are fine, of course. But longing for something to be true to the point that s uch idealization causes us to fool or undermine our Self isn't. And that is the grand and even gra ndiose issue where Plutinos are concerned. In being 'tra nspersonal' by nature, where Plutinos are concerned we are unlikely to be in control of the origin of our thoughts, the full parameters of any current situation - and certainly not its outcome, no matter how much we would like to be in control, and in spite of all our asserting that we are . (I n control, that is.) Nor are we likely to be able to fully explain why we feel as we do as the 'Neptunian ' part of the Plutino 'drive' represents not the thing we are 'aim ed' at, but rather something we don't want to deal with and which is likely to be virtually invi sible in the current situation and to those involved in any current situation, including us .



By transit, transpersonal objects like Plutinos tend to confront us with situations and ideas we are neither experienced with (or) which we may not have even considered . Through Plutino moments, we (and others) learn more about who we are through how we respond , with Neptune as the anti-ego symbol generally manifesting through Plutino energies as that which defeats or eliminates that which is solely about our advantage , often through showing us why such notions are unnecessary (or) unlikely to achieve what we really and truly want .





As for this station in particular, AZ84 b eing an object only discovered in 2003 , its 'task ' and the full expanse of its e ffects are still being studied by astrologers. However, it has already shown a tendency to be associated with ‘magnification’ of various kinds, which in turn calls our attention to something, whether that refers to our being (or becoming over-focused on something (in true Plutonic style) , the need to get focused on something - o r even having attention focused (or over-focused ) on us as an individual.



Wh erever we are starting from in our own personal saga, as AZ84 goes direct we are sure to find out somethin g new about what we have - or cou ld be (or have been) doing. Something illusion o r delusion may be dispelled now. Or perhaps we will simply recognize how we have been focusing on the wrong thing or seeing something (or someone) incorrectly because we do not want to see what is truly at stake or at fault due to p ersonal feel ings, particularly those which pertain to , or which would lead us to feel vulnerability.



But truly ... h ave we made ‘a mountain out of a molehill’ as the old saying goes? And if so, what does that say about us?





Havin g gone retrograde back on the 2nd of November, Plutino AZ84 will turn back to direct motion on April 1 4 th , with the idea that it will be doing so at the degree 1 Leo placing that AZ84 ' focus' and capacity for magnification questions and issues of self development (as all early Leo degrees do) principally by bringing out or possibly exacerbating two things: our susceptibility to flattery (and) lacks of knowledge, confidence, self worth and/or courage which we tend to cover or compensate for using bluffs, bullying, showing off, shouting others down or behaving in any manner which can be described as either domineering or controlling.





With Mercury in retrograde and Venus on station and about to go direct, some of the pluses and minuses which occur now depend not just on our individual chart, but what we are trying to do (or not do ) . Venus being about t o turn direct says some vital , telling and important things may happen now - particularly if and where we have been working on our own or in some 'behind the scenes' manner towards some thing or some goal over the last six weeks while Venus has been in retrograde . Then again, with Mercury in retrograde, some part of something may not be 'on time' or 'on course' - at least not yet. Or we may find at the last m inute that something has been forgotten or remains in need of att enti on. With AZ84 on s tation, it will also pay well to remember how even when we who traipse through a Plutino station with no apparent scathing the ramifications of what we learn - the 'what it really means' to us part - may not be totally clear yet , too.



April 15

Famous in the United States as the date when income tax filing s are due, April 15, 2017 is also hosting a Venus turn to direct at 26 Pisces - which for many of us will not be happening a moment too soon, con sidering how unpleasant Venus retrograde can feel ... and sometimes actuall y be.



This being one of those s tations we actually tend to feel, a s (or just after) Venus goes direct at 10:19 a.m. (UT/+0), feelings will begin to soften and a s ubtle if per vasive feeling of gloom or feeling ‘put upon’ will tend to dissipate. And since Venus is doing its turn to direct in Pisces (a sign Venus is well aligned in) this date may also bring us a dose of good news , a gift, or some kind of opportunity to improve our personal situation.



However, this isn't necessarily a moment of sweetness and light. Despite the wish y -washy or 'weak' image many have of Pisces as a sign, the degree of this station (26 Pisces) has a pretty solid reputation for militancy, aggressiveness and a tendency to be motivated or driven to achieve one's own ends - most of which have to do with some form of desire to not come off as 'less than ' in some sort of co mparison, be that real or (as seems more likely) a product of some in ternal emotional issue - to such a degree and with such fervency and frequent disregard for others and consequences that one astrologer refers to this degree as being associated with 'gangsterism . ' Concern about what others may do , say or think without sufficient thought to the strength of our response (or delivery) seems consistent wherever 26 degrees of any sign is trigger ed - and since 26 is an even -number, we know i ts energies (in whatever sign) are going to be in 'response' to something. All of this goes to - and alludes to a lack of broader considerations (and considering) which tends to go with 26 Pisces, with this particular degree also being close enough to fixed star S cheat to pick up on Scheat's typical habit of m anifesting as some form of implacable refusal , 'denial' or assertive 'blocking out' of something (or someone) so as to provide ourselves with peace whether that ends up costing us (or our reputation) dearly in some short OR long run.



Of cour se there is a positive side here too. Writings on this degree also speak of its strength or determination, particularly where used in the defense or support of others or some process or standard which is believed in.



So why does one person follow one route and another follow the other? Evidently the division here has everything to do with that most innate of Pisces conflicts, that b eing the contra diction between material reality and spi rituality and how our tendency to favor one over the other cause s us to come to be in denial of essential truths - truths which s eeing how w e are talking about a third decan degree (i.e., a degree between 20 and 29) are not simply or uniquely about us.





In occurring in square to Saturn (which yes, is still conjunct the Galactic Center), matters of the moment are likely to touch on, and perhaps challenge our notion of ‘value’ or ‘worth,’ with this station having more than the usual chance of having application wherever money, economics or finance(s) are concerned. And with Venus stationing in an exact conjunction with Chiron, something we do not know the full parameters o f because of some lack where 'integration ' is concerned may be, or be coming into focus .



To all of this, Niobe’s presence at 24 Pisces adds a note on pride and what we can or cannot be proud of as a descriptor of what goes on now . And with Mars exactly conjunct Sedna at 25 Taurus and a degree away from Ceres at 24 Taurus with both in sextile to Venus, there is a suggestion of strong feelings and nurtu ring or protective desires to see things as we think they 'should' be .



Might this mean Venus' station represents a moment when life or our efforts are working at get something (or us) 'unstuck' from our past? Might we now be working to - or succeeding at - 'separating' our 'now' from our 'yesterday' or 'yester year' ? Indeed we might. Plus w ith Mars and Se dna sitting just sh y of fixed stars Capulus and Algol (at 24 and 26 Taurus, respectively) there is every chance that we will either perceive, utilize o r tap into the highly assertive and sometimes openly aggressive energies represented by these stars either in accomplishing our aims (or) as an example of that we want to ' cut off' or get away from.





The last of the immediate aspects involved with this station is Venus' semi-sextile to the Sun and Uranus at 25 and 24 Aries, an idea which is intriguing as Venus' station is occurring just as Uranus is initiating its next year-long cycle .





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Could this be an o men? Might this indicate a 'turn of fortune' for some of us? It could indeed, though things which start in this moment should not be expected to be predictable or to run a 'reliable course.' Flexibility is useful and i s likely to pro ve helpful particularly where V enus' turn to direct indicates a change of perception, schedules, priorities or goals. Given that this is a semi-sextile aspect we are talking about, some of what happens (or occurs to us) now is going to be less than thrilling - and maybe les s than pleasan t, as s emi-sextiles tend to manifest through situations, encounters and moments which can be embarrassing, annoying, frustrating or just painful to one's ego.



It is possible that for some, t he whole of Venus’ retrograde will have been about bringing us to a point or moment when we can (or will) understand g iving something up - w hether that 'thing' is an idea, a hope, an aim, or something else. Then again, the whole of Venus' retrograde may have been about learning the difference b etween that we find ‘rewarding’ and life 's the world's priorities, preferences, values and response mechanisms.



Whatever happens now, because this is also the day when Uranus does begin its next cycle, inclusive of pluses and minuses alike, things of this moment may also go on to change (or be related to changes) in the way we see or deal with things over the long haul, too.



Sometimes Venus’ direct stations indicate a release from confines or restrictions , causing us to want to sing. This one, however, isn’t li kely to feel quite that liberating.



Why not? Well, a long with everything else we have just mused through, there is also a Yod which will take effect just as Venus goes direct. And for all the good things Yods may represent our learning to do (or take into consideration), they do also tend to represent things which limit options and thus ‘guide’ us towards some specific end or solution which by its nature will tend to force us (in the short or long run) to relinquish some previously adopted definition of what we thin k of as right, correct, useful or p roper.









Having Saturn and the Galactic Center at its ‘base,’ this Yod is focused on something w e are (or) which we hav e either worked long and hard on with an eye to benefiting the world or our greater community ... (or) which we have had the capacity to do or work on, but wh ich we have resisted doing , supporting, participating in or some such.



Into all of th is comes the two inconjuncts which create a Yod. And as any inconjunct indicates an ‘adjustment ,' this means whatever 'point' we have been sitting on i s now coming under a lot of pressure as something changes. Or maybe our attitude towards something changes.



As for those two inconjuncts, though they share Saturn and the Galactic Center as a common point, the ‘adjusting’ comes from Vesta at 25 Cancer (Inconjunct A) and from Mars, Sedna and Ceres in Taurus (all of which sextile to Vesta) in Inconjunct B.





The Vesta part of this conversation concerns some sort of (Vesta) promise or commitment , whether to a person, company , tr adition, idea or anything else. Whatever that may concern , with Vesta at 25 Cancer something about security is being touched on, causing us to question whether we are strong enough to stand on our own should we have to - whether there is any real rea son to worry in the moment or not. Given the inconjunct, something about that is now affecting (or) being affected by our worldly efforts (or ) that which we s hould be doing , with the net being some sort of 'adjustment' to our expectations, methods or plans.





As for the other side of this equation (Inconjunct B), that also represents something currently affecting our ‘operational parameters’ and responsibilities. But as its ‘adjusting’ energy comes from a combination of Sisyphus, Mars, Algol, Sedna, Ceres and Capulus, some kind of resistance , reactio n or objection (ours , or that of someone else) is creating some sort of stress, strain or indecision - with Sisyphus and Algol adding a few drops of ' attitude' likely to manifest along lines which suggest the ability to do something is a valid substitute for doing something because it is correct, right or necessary.



With Algol conjunct Mars, something about what occurs now may not be entirely pleasant or comfortable. There is also some chance of overreacting, or reacting in haste.



F ortunately for us, Yods come with solutions – or at least solution points. Defined as the degree in opposition to the base (the Saturn/Galactic Center in this figure), the solution to this Yod is described by 27 Gemini, a degree which lore suggests is u nusual for Gemini in that it is oriented towards that which is ' tangible.’ Also thought to speak to c hallenges which pit p ossibility against reality inclusive of some need to choose, 27 Gemini prompts thought , insecurities and reactions of a ‘clingy’ kind (revealing emotional vulnerabi lities) in part by confronting us with that which is un familiar to us, and in part by presenting situations and choices which cause us to reconsider the relative worth (and balance between) being 'our own person' and the need to hear, understand, work with and/or please others.



And that gets us back into Venus terri tory thinking, as Venus is all about what we do, present and embody i n order to learn how to earn, evoke and pr omote those 'rewards' which are to our liking and bene fit . So that a ll of this is occurring as Venus is going directs su ggests a 'turn' in situations - whether that points to something we are doing of a worldly nature, or something we are facing in daily life or something we are con t ending with privately and in ternally as we seek to be able to function ever more effectively.



Whatever it is, once Venus turns to direct motion we will all be in a better position to feel a bit more like we know where we stand - both with others and our Self. And that will allow us to move forward with a greater understanding of what does – and does not matter.



April 16

Come each April, Earth moves through the tail of two comets while on its way around the Sun - an act which produces two separate meteor showers, the Lyr ids and Eta Aquarids .



The Lyrids are a product of Comet Thatcher and Thatcher’s 415.5 year-long cycle. The exact dates of any given meteor shower v arying slightly from year to year, this year’s Lyrid shower be gins on April 16th and ends on April 25th - which , if we think of this in basic astrological terms means the Lyrids begin while the Sun is moving through the hig hest and most soci al/societal (least personal) degrees of Aries and then taper off as soon after the Sun gets established in early Taurus, 'sparking ' us to do things, con sider things - and p erhaps serving to help with those moments where we are particular sensitive to our own insecurities which can be triggered in early instinctual Taurus - the first sign which causes us to consider the existence of others, our relationship to others (where we stand with them, in other words) and the entire concept of support versus abandonment, alliance versus enmity and security versus lack (or fear of lack).





Because the Lyrids and Eta Aquarids (which will begin on the 19th) overlap, it is easy enough to ‘lump’ or 'co -mingle' their effects and think of them pretty much as a continuum. But they are different, and that difference merits a bit of fac tual attention.



Thatcher’s radiant - or the place in the sky the comet appears to originate in or ‘radiate from’ - lies alongside constellation Lyra, a constellation which is nowhere near the Earth’s path around the Sun (the eclip tic) alon g and across which signs of the zodiac must lie in order to BE an astrological sign.



( We tend to hear of this rule every couple of years when someone again dec ides to lobby for Ophiuchus as a zo diac sign , an effort which is doomed to eternal failure simply because Ophiuchus does NOT lie across the ecliptic. )



As for Lyra, Lyra is astrologically known for something we have been discussing at length o ver the past few years : f ixed star Vega. P o sitioned currently at 16 Capricorn , Vega has been being conjuncted by transiting Pluto over t he past few years, bringing Pluto's 'transformational' and 'detoxification' energies to a star which represents charisma and th at which 'attracts' us (or which we find attractive) ... all of which has corresp onded to worldwide upheavals and 'changes of societal direction' while manifesting equally in a changing of what people have found attractive or 'desirable ' (or even tolerable) even if all of this also stands to bring out many of our (and our world's) most toxic and challenging, problema tic negatives, insistently prompting us to see and learn from our mistakes .



One thing to remember about this Pluto in Capricorn transit , namely how it is the opposition transit to Pluto in Cancer , a period (and generation of people) who built the world in the wake of World W ar I (which as a timeline of accomplishments takes us all the way into the 19 60s and 19 70s, as that would be when pe ople born to this 'Greatest Generation' accomplished some of th eir greatest societal (and therefore Cancerian) g oals. That in itself should tell us something about our times and the upheaval s which have come with it.



It also tells us that all this has not yet reached it's 'fever pitch' yet either, as Pluto has not yet reached 20 Capricorn (the beginning of Capricorn's third and most societal decanate) and has therefore not eve n begun signaling some of experiences w e would expect would be key during this passage.



Pluto will complete its transit of Capricorn during 2023-2024 , moving then into Aquarius , where it will help move our thinking from what can be gained to what will function, or prove functionally benefit - a process which is every bit as important to the newly present astr ol ogical Age (that of Aquarius) as the computer has already shown itself to be .



April 19

April 19th is a busy astrological date. For one, this is the date when the Sun will move from Aries into Taurus. It is also (as previously noted) the date on which the second of April’s meteor showers – the Eta Aquarids – begins.





The Tapestry of Bayeux (c.1077) records the appearance of

Halley's comet in 1066 (image courtesy of NASA/JPL photo archives)

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Beyond that, April 19th is also the day when Mercury (which is in retrograde) backs into 0 Taurus, c onjuncting the Sun as it does so, in advance of retrograding back into Aries.



As that is happening, Pluto is also on statio n . Due to turn to retrograde motion on April 20th, Pluto's being on station indicates an intensity of focus - or the need for same - which with the Sun and Mercury c onjuncting fixed star Mirach at 0 Taurus (trining Pluto by sign) suggests th e 19th (and the days on either side of the 19th) are ripe for determinations as well as the undermining of confidence (and all which may come from that ).





As for the Eta Aquarids, as a meteor shower they are a product of Comet Halley - probably the most famous comet known to us living here on planet Earth. And that fame fits Halley well, as w hen we look at the two mete or showers associated with Comet Halley (the other meteor shower being October's Orionids) mark periods of time when we face questions of how to advance ourselves and the p