Things Fall Apart

Through in-depth conversations with correspondents of mine in various locations and social circles, it has been made clear to me that the past week has seen various forms of upheaval: that is, a shift away from a certain habit, constant, or way of life that has become a source of comfort through repetition and duration. In the approach to the Solar Eclipse of Sunday, I listened to and took notes on several tales of firings, theft, bankruptcy, breakups, and even hospitalization. In attempts to piece together this puzzle of poor fortunes, I turned to my trusty ephemeris chart and current astrological map. Surely enough, I found some answers too clear to be considered "coincidence".
It all started last Monday, July 5th, when Uranus entered retrograde. Uranus has always been a planet associated with bringing sudden change, and with its recent transit to Aries, it also inspires within us a sense of self-empowerment that could direct our decision making towards deviance. Moreover, an active sextile between the Sun and Mars (perfected just before the Solar Eclipse) has given us assertive confidence and the ability to initiate decisions we've been sitting on for some time. Meanwhile, Pluto and Uranus are at ends again, now forming a square that lays an emotional foundation for a time of inevitable change, which usually manifests itself as loss, be it of capital, health, a job, or even a loved one. Pluto is also moving towards a square with Jupiter, an aspect that in the past has brought bad tidings for financial matters.
The key operator here? The Solar Eclipse amongst the formation of a cardinal t-square has an incredibly intensifying effect; think of the phrase "playing with fire", except that you've soaked both arms in gasoline beforehand. This heavy-hitting cosmic dance is a perfect example of the dense, powerful, and rare astrology we've seen this year. So what next?

The past week has brought us many changes in our sky, and these past three days have felt more like a month than a weekend for many. I wish I could say that we've emerged unscathed from this turmoil, but that seems not to be the case. Although you may feel a bit downtrodden or even exhausted, go on about your business as you always have. Now is not the time to make any adjustments to your daily routine. Do what makes you feel happy, comfortable, and relaxed; if that's your job, then good for you. But if you're like most people I know, that means feeding a passion that you may have been neglecting as of late, be it arts, sports, cars, tanning... whatever. Do it.
Whether you're feeling down from recent loss or misfortune, or just feeling apathetic, confused, or restless, today's Leo Moon provides a starting point for moving on. However, Venus (having just entered Virgo, shining bright here in the New York sky this past weekend) cautions us that progress can only made through emotional understanding and compassion for your peers. Keep in mind that every person you encounter is just about as dynamic and multi-faceted as you are; they have an array of moods and a selection of personalities of which you likely only see a fraction, so try not to hold them at fault for any confusing signals they send you. They don't always mean exactly what they say, and they rarely can say exactly what they mean. Most of our relationships exist in the context of a complex and dynamic network that poses so many variables that it's hard to clearly identify our roles in the lives of others: or, as they would say on Facebook, "it's complicated".
The political and economic events of late, although concurrent with the small-scale social issues I've been observing, are far too plentiful and complex to start digging into right now. Still, ever present is our struggle with the relationship between self and society. Although the challenges and frustrations that have been plaguing the headlines for over a year now seem distant and somewhat removed from our personal lives, now is a time to figure out just how important these issues really are; pick your battles, and take on a concept that you previously considered too vast for the spectrum of your existence. The strength of the cardinal cross manifests itself here, specifically in the opposition of Aries (self) and Libra (relationships and harmony). Trial, error, and more error inform us that it is ourselves and ourselves alone who prevent us from achieving a happy balance amongst friends and acquaintances, love and kinship.
Use the image below to go outside sometime this week and find Venus in the sky. She will remind you that progress towards balance and happiness is made only through understanding and patience.

Saturn and Mercury: In Cahoots?

For the entire month of June, we've been feeling the effects of both Mercury and Saturn's extended stays in Earth signs (Mercury in Taurus and Saturn in Virgo) as a result of their retrograde cycles. Taurus, a fixed sign, has a tendency to resist the energies of transiting planets: to stand its ground, so to speak. Mercury seems to have been empowered by its dance with the bull followed by a transit to its home sign of Gemini, where it joined the Sun in its growth toward the solstice. If you've been feeling exceptionally scatterbrained, blame it on Mercury, a planet associated with opposites, inner dualities, and general confusion.
Meanwhile, Saturn's transit through mutable Virgo generated within us an elevated sense of self-hypercriticism. Fortunately, both Saturn and Virgo are known for their ability to analyze details and fix seemingly small problems that may affect us more than we realize. Take the opportunity of Saturn void in Virgo (having no more major aspects before its transit to Libra) to organize your life with lists and schedules; even if you haven't found success in these methods in the past, the planets suggest that you give it another go.

We should have known that Mercury and Saturn were up to something when Mercury began covering new territory (after retracing its steps via retrograde) in the 13th degree of Taurus just as Saturn stationed direct in Virgo. Currently, these two bodies are approaching a conflict-oriented square to be completed at 12:23pm EST tomorrow. While the two planets in any square (a 90 degree angle) tend to aggravate each other, their back and forth antagonism actually stimulates their energies. Saturn, a planet based on structure and rules, is consistent in making us aware of our faults and shortcomings, and will make us deeply regret any inappropriate actions we make. Its battle with Mercury provides us with some hints on where to exercise caution; since Mercury rules our thought, reason, negotiation, and communication, make sure you tread lightly when talking to your peers about anything of importance. Now is not the time to make agreements or definitive statements of any kind. Regardless of whether or not you normally speak with confidence, keep in mind that it's better to second guess yourself than to say something you really don't mean.

This aspect of Saturn and Mercury will cause restlessness, an often inevitable side effect of any square. However, squares can also be an opportunity for growth. Although Mercury square Saturn seems to be an unyielding deadlock, it will help us learn to be more responsible about our decision making processes and social interactions. In addition, Mercury moves on to square Uranus on Friday, which will be a more laid back aspect that will ease our desire to criticize and appreciate the beauty within ourselves. Uranus, the planet of change, recently entered Aries, the sign of self, providing us an opportunity to make the necessary adjustments to keep our lives on track as we enter the second half of the year 2010.