Uranus Enters Aries

The Uranus transit to Aries is pretty big time. After a 7 year stint in Pisces, Uranus moves to Aries (the first sign of the zodiac), restarting it's cycle around the sun. This happens about every 83 years. Uranus is a planet notorious for bringing out the unexpected in any situation; it revels in suddenness and delights in last-minute plan changes, complete reversals, and shock effects. As a result, it's also good for jolting us out of any circumstances that may have us feeling stagnant, or even trapped. In this transit, Uranus' energies will likely become empowered, driven to action (sometimes as far as a complete ignorance of obstacles or consequences) by the Aries ram, which is considered the symbol of self. The intensity of impetuous Aries, a masculine cardinal fire sign (pretty much the boldest of the bold), combined with the uncertainties of Uranus make for a very exciting time.
Uranus last transited into Aries on March 31, 1927; one week later, the Bell Telephone Company transmitted its first television image from New York to DC. I'm expecting some major technological advances over the next few years, as Uranus tends to carry with it some serious genius potential. However, these advances will carry consequences, which is where Aries will come into play; as we boldly ram our way into worlds of new technologies, we'll likely (in true Aries spirit) overlook the potential externalities of our developments. Will these new technologies destroy our labor markets? Will they widen the gap between the rich and the poor? Will they even further destroy our Mother Earth than we already have?
Archie Dunlop, a professional astrologer, has his own concerns:
"My most disturbing suggestion about Uranus moving into Aries relates to cell phones. The planet Uranus is about technology, and is also about radiation - after all, in symbolic terms Uranus has a link with uranium. The sign Aries, in traditional astrology, relates to the head. Under these circumstances, Uranus' stay in Aries could see the first hard evidence that use of cell phones can lead to brain tumours.
Interestingly, a WHO study has just been released, looking at the correlation between cell phone use and cancer. The results have been labelled 'inconclusive', and that's probably not surprising. Cancers can take decades to develop, yet use of cell phones only really took off in the late 1990s. Still, the study did suggest that very heavy use of cell phones could increase the chances of getting certain types of brain tumour.
The WHO study has received a lot of press coverage, and it came out as Uranus was moving through the last degree of Pisces, in preparation for its switch into Aries. Few people seem worried by its findings. However in a couple of years time, when Uranus is firmly in Aries, another study could come out, that's a complete bombshell.
In the mean time, play it safe. Your cell phone is a useful device, that can save your life in an emergency. However until Uranus leaves Aries, in 2019, you shouldn't make assumptions about its safety."
Interesting.

Pseudo-Black Thursday

Around 2:30pm yesterday, May 6, 2010, Wall Street experienced a scare reminiscent of the stock market crash of 2008. Amidst a day of downwardly sliding stocks, the Dow suddenly plummeted an alarming 998 points in under half an hour. Our ongoing fears that the debt crises (one of which is coming to heated point in Greece, but we'll talk about that later) in Europe would spill over into American investments had been realized. Or had they?
Certain sources have received information that a trading glitch may have triggered the initial decline (marked by a 40% plunge in Procter & Gamble, a commodities mega-corporation considered one of the most solid investments on Wall Street) which sent stockholders into a selling frenzy, abandoning their more volatile assets for safer holdings such as mutual funds.

This activity is a textbook play for Mercury's retrograde cycle; throwing a wrench into the machine that is the American economy matches the classic M.O. of our favorite trickster, Hermes. Amongst three quarters of encouraging economic growth comes a mini-crisis that almost sparks a nationwide panic founded upon a simple miscommunication or computing error.
Keep in mind that electronic forms of communication are highly subject to the woes of Mercury's anti-communicative influence. Just because your messages are contained within your trusty computer-box does not make them invulnerable; in fact, electronic messages often work on a delay, and are much less reliable than face to face communication. Expect Mercury to take every advantage it can in disrupting these forms of communication.

Meanwhile, Greek's economy spirals as it bears the burden of a debt crisis combined with a regional economic downturn. The European Union as well as the IMF have proposed "bailout" measures for the country, but are debating it amongst their respective governing bodies. The people of Greece can only pray that the Moon's travel through Pisces will leave an air of compassion and sensitivity for the less fortunate, inspiring the EU or IMF to come to their aid.
These issues plaguing the Earth's globalized political economy draw strength from an opposition in our sky; Jupiter, ruler of the Gods and symbol of power and growth, opposes Saturn, which represents conventions and boundaries. When power (assuming it intends to grow, as capitalist economies do) clashes with systems and structure, some degree of crisis is inevitable. Political divisions become most apparent, the economy's cash flow diminishes, and a confidence in the system is lost. However, oppositions are not necessarily deconstructive; these two planets may likely come to an understanding to yield change. Therefore, this will be a time for crucial decisive action by Greek leaders. But enough about them... how does it affect us?
As the value of the euro declines against the dollar, America seems to be riding the waves of Jupiter through our Moon, which are both currently moving through Pisces. Jupiter, a ruling planet of the Pisces sign, can foster the rapid growth of the economy as well as bring out a large economy's excessive wastefulness, often manifested as an increasing division between the rich and the poor. As our country still boasts a 9.9% unemployment rate (which beats the hell out of Greece's 20%), hopefully the Moon's transit through Pisces will inspire in us a sympathy for the human condition, and an awareness of the economic and social oppression that many people refer to as "misfortune". Poverty and unemployment are not necessarily synonymous with misfortune, but rather the byproduct of a wasteful economic structure. As Greece's economy flounders and forces economic reform, perhaps we best heed their example and evaluate our own situation to ensure that the same "misfortunes" do not befall us. Pluto (which ironically also tends to incite power struggles) currently rests in Capricorn, telling us to accept the changes, losses, and economic woes, let go of them, and to start planning responsibly for the future.

Mid Week Moon

The Moon, our closest celestial body, is growing full.
The shining silver goddess will soon oppose the Taurus Sun, leaving us in the middle.

In traditional astrology the Moon represents our inner life, our emotions, and our darkside. Just as the Sun was occupying a particular sign at the moment of your birth, so was the Moon. It is this sign that represents your private self. The self you share with those you feel the closest to and who you feel most comfortable with.

It takes the Moon approximately 28 days to orbit the Earth. As Luna travels through our sky, her appearance changes. The lunar cycle follows the Moon’s progression of phases and begins with a new Moon. This occurs when the Moon is positioned directly between the Earth and Sun.

As the Moon advances along its orbit the lit portion grows. Luna then takes on a crescent shape. This growth is known as waxing. The waxing crescent soon reaches first quarter phase (Often called a half Moon). This occurs when the Moon makes a 90° angle with respect to the Earth and Sun. Now called a gibbous, (Meaning more than half but less that full) the Moon continues waxing. Maximum illumination occurs when the Earth is positioned directly between the Sun and Moon.

Now, more that halfway through its cycle, the Moon beings to wane. As it approaches another 90° angle, the waning gibbous reaches third quarter phase. Waning still the Moon tapers back to a crescent until she disappears from sight.

Each phase of the Moon brings a different vibe. The new Moon brings a feeling of new beginnings. This is a great time to make plans, start projects, and set goals. As the Moon waxes through its first quarter phase our actions grow. This time is traditionally associated with building and gathering information. The full Moon is a time for understanding and reflection. It is here that we should take stock of our progress and use the Moon’s energy to adjust our plans. Finally as the waning Moon goes dark we are encouraged to clear our lives of any negativity.

Today’s Scorpio full Moon invokes the feeling of “bring it on.” The challenges of Spring have made themselves clear and as we move further through the season our path forward will appear. While the Aries new Moon on April 15^th encouraged action and re-invention of one’s self, this full Moon in Scorpio pushes us to look beyond what is visible and turn our attention to what exists below the surface.

Scorpio deals with things we normally save for an accountable professional or our next of kin. Themes involved here include death, sex, and consequences. Combined with Mercury’s current retrograde, this full Moon brings us either results we cannot yet see or a mystery we can’t keep our eyes from. Additionally Mercury’s meeting with the Sun brings forth ideas of self-awareness. Factor in the winged messengers retrograde and what we have are memories.

As we push through these forgotten moments the idea of empowerment through transformation arises. Where in your life are you in need of change? Or perhaps a better question: What in your life appears to be changing beyond your control? According to this full Moon the answer begins with the self. However, before change can occur there must first be a complete understanding of where things stand and where our motivations are formed. It would be beneficial to our hearts for our heads to hear the truth.

It is the beginning of the end that makes another beginning possible and today’s full Moon is that beginning.

Daily Reading

Although the main event is tomorrow morning's Full Moon, today's energies will set the tone for this climactic turn of the lunar cycle. When the Moon is full (or entering its third quarter), everyone on Earth feels her power in some way. From a physical standpoint, she can be seen at her brightest, shining white and fully circular in our night sky. As if to poke her head into our daily business, the third quarter Moon can be seen rising in the east long before sundown (depending on where you are on Earth, of course). But the Full Moon is an issue for tomorrow. Today, we prepare ourselves.

Tonight, the Moon transits from Libra to Scorpio, tipping the scales towards our introverted, emotional indulgences. Feelings of passion, joy, love, and lust will all be intensified over the next few days. Neptune's relationship with our Moon comes into play once again; this time, they form a trine rendering both of them void (meaning neither will form another aspect before transiting to the next sign: Moon to Scorpio, Neptune to Pisces). As trines tend to foster synergy among planets, Neptune's dreaminess and the Moon's emotional comfort will leave us daydreaming and fantasizing to our hearts' content. Expect romanticism and idealism to be the norm today. The tricky part about Neptune's influence is its lasting impression of emotional sensitivity, which will be compounded by the Scorpio moon. As Neptune goes void, it may leave us with a feeling similar to the disappointment people felt after exiting the theater after watching "Avatar" (see Post-Avatar Depression Syndrome). OK, so maybe PADS is a bit ridiculous, but the notion that our physical world often falls short of our idealistic conceptualizations tends to come into play whenever Neptune is in our chart. As if to intentionally exacerbate the situation, the Moon also forms a quincunx with Uranus today, which will likely cause abrupt shifts in mood and attitude.
In other words, expect today to provide a degree of emotional instability. My advice: take today to buckle down on any projects that have been hanging over your head. A steady workflow can keep our focus off our dreams, fantasies, and emotions, not to mention that tomorrow's Full Moon will be provide a solid context for the completion of tasks and the culmination of plans.

Making the Most of Your Retrograde

Anyone who has read at least a few astrological texts in their day has probably heard something about Mercury in retrograde. It's a flashy term that's great for impressing people at parties... but what does it actually mean? Is it really all that important? How will it affect me?
Describing a planet as "in retrograde" (as opposed to "direct" or "in direct motion") refers to its trajectory through the sky as seen from Earth. Remember, all astrology relates to our positioning on Earth and the relative angles and courses of the celestial bodies around us. When a planet changes from direct motion to retrograde, it appears to the Earth-borne eye to literally reverse its course in the sky. If you were standing on the east coast of the US, you would have noticed this phenomenon around 12am on April 18th. Mercury's retrograde motion will last until about 6:30pm on May 11th.
Don't worry; Mercury is ok. In fact, it hasn't changed its orbital pattern one bit. The perceived shift in direction is actually a naturally occurring optical illusion caused by the Earth overtaking Mercury in its elliptical journey around the sun.
However, this reversal causes some serious chaos on Earth. As Mercury, master of all communications, loses its direct hold on our planet, expect messages spoken, written, and unspoken to miss their targets. We may often find ourselves making statements or accepting agreements based on a series of miscommunications or even a complete lack of communication, and therefore later regretting our haste. As a perfect example, does everyone remember May 2nd, 2003? It was the date that POTUS George W. Bush landed on the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln to announce our victory in Iraq, stating that all major combat operations have come to an end. Mercury just so happened to be in retrograde at this point in time.

In retrograde, Mercury's mythological role as a trickster (more so in Greek mythology as "Hermes" than the Roman conceptualization) truly comes into play. The breakdown of communication is not just an interpersonal hindrance; unfortunately, Mercury also controls communication within our own bodies, from our central nervous system to our emotions and thoughts. Sound advice from any astrologer for this time period would involve a lot of "do nots" and "should nots", including avoiding making any important decisions such as signing contracts or solidifying major plans. So, can we use Mercury in retrograde to our advantage, or is April 18th to May 11th just a wash?
Mercury's retrograde is a time not just to put our feet in our mouths, but also an opportunity to meditate on the past several months. Astrologer Erin Sullivan has observed that the ratio of Mercury retrograde to direct corresponds with the average human sleep cycle; that is, Mercury spends as much time in retrograde (compared to direct) as we do asleep (compared to awake). By her view, this chaotic period can be seen as a time to relax, reflect, rejuvenate, and wait out the storm.
My advice: sit back and reflect on your experiences over the past few months, assimilate them into knowledge, and grow from them. Stock up on your energy, wisdom, and communicative urges, because come May 11th, it's time to move forward.

Weekend Forecast

As the moon prepares to exit Leo and set the tone for our weekend with its entrance into Virgo this afternoon, don't expect many of your plans to come to fruition. The moon throughout its transit maintains an opposition to Neptune, which hangs on to the cusp of Aquarius for the next several days. This opposition in our sky cautions us to postpone any decisive action until this void-of-course moon settles into Virgo.

The relationship between Neptune and Aquarius is one that will guide our thoughts for the next few days. Neptune, the ruler of our dreams and romantic ideals, will fall victim to the woes of erratic Aquarius, which will emit unreliable and even contradictory energies throughout the weekend. Moreover, Neptune has an inherent connection with the poisons that enter our bodies, so be careful when indulging in drinking or drugs this weekend, especially while the moon and Neptune (the co-rulers of our bodily fluids) remain in opposition. Although Neptune's positioning will affect our thoughts and dreams, try not to let the spontaneous and rebellious spirit of Aquarius overtake your worldly sensibilities; look to our Sun in Taurus to keep yourself grounded and rational.

Wait for the moon's trine with Mercury Saturday morning to get down to business. By then, the moon will have settled well into Virgo, flooding our consciousness with practical thought and a keen attention to detail. However, keep in mind that Mercury remains in retrograde; expect communications to break down, and realize that we are in a period of time that is more suited for reflection than action.