August: a general reading

August 2010 is shaping up to be a month of reevaluation, with the retrograde cycles of Pluto, Neptune, Jupiter, and Mercury aligning to remind us that appearances can be deceiving.

Although it may seem to you that your relationships and life's decisions are taking you in the direction you've been planning, it may be merely a product of perspective: an illusion, if you will. Try to step outside yourself and objectively examine why and how you've gotten to where you are, and what steps you need to take to start some momentum towards your eventual destination. Perspective, after all, is what gives humanity its unique dynamicism; when one sees determination, another may see stubbornness. Some see success, and some see greed, which is all the more reason to take with a grain of salt the pressures of the opinionated peanut gallery that commentates your life, i.e. your social critics or workplace superiors.

The month kicks off with an ongoing square between Jupiter and Pluto, which causes us a great deal of stress whenever our financial future or career is concerned. A concentration of planetary energy in Libra will hopefully inspire us to be honest with ourselves; mighty Saturn will help us to identify our inherent faults that spearate us from out ideal roles in society and the workplace. The pressure you're feeling now should be somewhat relieved come the 13th, when Uranus slips backwards through the zodiac into compassionate Pisces. Here it will find an explaination for the somewhat erratic decision making you've recently been making, be it in your love life or regarding your professional ambitions.

Speaking of your love life, you've probably felt a rising uncertainty in your sexual relationships. In a classic role reversal, Venus (the woman) chases Mars (the man) through Libra. Although they are both moving in the same direction, the two bodies move at different speeds, which makes for a less than stable relationship. Here, the duality of the Libra territory will come into play; as the sign of balance, it will instill in us (and our partners) a sense of comfort and harmony that may overshadow the underlying issues that generate our disagreements. However, the Libra scales also help us to make a more objective assessment of our situation; by weighing the options and examining both sides of an arguement, ideally we can make the right decisions that will bring us closer to a balanced state. The two planets conjoin perfectly on the 20th, so it is around this time that you should start to see some progress made in your relationships.

Unfortunately, just as we're starting to feel the love, Mercury begins its retrograde movement on the 20th, a cycle classically associated with confusion and miscommunication. But there is another side to this event; Mercury retrograde can also be a reflective period ideal for rejuvination. When Mercury shifts gears, it is time to assimilate and learn from the knowledge we've gained since the last Mercury retrograde ended in early May. While this time can be quite challenging for all interpersonal communications, it also provides a nice break from the tiny responsibilities associated with companionship that sometimes make our friendships seem to be more trouble than they're worth.

Alas, another opportunity to step outside yourself and take an intellectual approach to assessing the bigger picture; the stars suggest that you take advantage. You will learn a lot about yourself in the next three weeks.

Fortunately, the Sun's transit to Virgo (23rd) affords you an opportunity to act upon your newfound introspective wisdom. A Virgo sun is an ideal time for fixing anything that's broken. Take this time not only to help yourself, but to help others. Your compassion will be strongly supported by a full Moon in Pisces (which shortly thereafter sextiles Pluto, adding an extra emotional element to this lunar cycle) on the 24th. Reaching out to another person can be a great way to intellectually enlighten and emotionally fulfill yourself; however, remember to proceed with caution as Mercury remains in retrograde, playing tricks on us by disrupting communications not only with other people but within our own thought processes. You may quickly find yourself in over your head if you say "yes" one too many times. Do not be upset when your selfless endeavors don't receive the attention and appreciation they deserve.

The month closes out with Venus and Neptune moving towards a trine (not to be perfected until September) that will start to stimulate some inventive ideas. The Moon's transit to Gemini on the 31st will bring out our keenest intellect, making the end of August a perfect time to start a creative project such as making a piece of art or redecorating.

Stay tuned for a breakdown of the August horoscope by Sun sign.

From Examiner.com.

Enter Sun in Leo

At 6:21 EST Thursday, the Sun will make its annual transit from Cancer to Leo. We've spent the past month in a water sign, which has cooled our summer impulses and perhaps brought a reality check to our lofty goals and fantasies. Like the Cancer crab, you've probably been feeling as if you're moving sideways instead of forwards. That's all about to change, so make sure you're pointed in the right direction come Thursday.
Enter Sun in Leo, a time for celebration, self-indulgence, and letting your ego shine. The astrological weather on and around this transit will help us to discern exactly how to approach this drastic shift of energy.
On Wednesday, Saturn will transit to Libra, the sign in which it started the year 2010. Saturn entered retrograde in January, regressing to Virgo and stationing direct there. Now, Saturn is finally moving on, and it begs the question: why aren't you? Although Saturn is classically known as the rule-maker, and is therefore branded as a combatant against change, it is only through Saturn that we can understand the laws and systems that hold us in balance. Saturn's rule from Libra will be harsh but just; only through understanding its controlling nature can we attempt to make plans and make changes. The fuel behind progress is the breaking of habits, and Saturn finds a perfect context in the harmonious scales of Libra for doing just that.

Thankfully, perfectly staged to break all the rules for us is mighty Uranus, God of gods before Saturn or Jupiter, regressing through the incredibly powerful point of Zero Aries. Its opposition to Saturn is certain to shake things up, and it won't be a gentle shaking, as both of these opposing planets square Pluto, another strong planet that is notorious for bringing about very exciting and intense circumstances. Expect that some peoples' energies and emotions will run far too high over the next two days.
As if called to action by this energetic intensification, Jupter springs into retrograde movement the day after the Sun's transit to move towards an unfriendly square with the increasingly popular Pluto. These planets are about to enter a power struggle of epic proportions, and the anticipation is building. This aspect does not bode well for our finances as individuals or as a nation. Be wary of any business interactions; greed will not be uncommon this week, and if you're not aware of it, you'll quickly become the victim.
Emotion. Excitement. Intense energy. These words are all too common (however inevitably appropriate) in any astrologer's reading when a cardinal t-square of this magnitude is in play: Saturn in Libra, Pluto in Capricorn, and Uranus in Aries, all planets resting within the earliest degrees of their respective cardinal signs. However, as Saturn is just settling into its new home in Libra, Uranus and Pluto teeter uncomfortably as they prepare to regress into Pisces and Sagittarius, respectively. I've included at the bottom an image of the zodiac upon the Sun's transit; in it you can clearly draw a "T" among these three planets.
For now, all eyes are on Saturn, and as astrologer Len Wallick says of the situation, "it’s comforting to know that the planet of conformity is behaving like we have a future". While Saturn's ingress into Libra is a hopeful endeavor, we must have ourselves oriented properly or we will quickly find ourselves traveling in the wrong direction. Set your sights, figure out where you want to go, get your finances in order, and most important, get ready. July 22nd is go time.

Note: This will likely be my last update at "Practical Astrology" for awhile. I've accepted a position writing for The Examiner, an online newspaper, so I'll be publishing my writings there. Don't worry, nothing's going to change, except that I'll be getting paid!
I'll post up a link to my Examiner page once it's up and running. Thanks to all who have followed Practical Astrology, and please continue to read my work!

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.

Monthly Horoscopes: July

As mentioned in a previous update, The Summer Solstice, the Lunar Eclipse, and Beyond, the Sun's transit to Cancer takes us on a journey through the collective subconscious as we attempt to place ourselves in this vast community we call Earth. July is not only a great time for figuring things out emotionally, but for making decisions about your life and beginning the projects necessary to generate progress. While we tend to be a bit introverted under the Cancer Sun, the Leo Sun (beginning at 6:21pm on the 22nd) will provide us the energy and confidence needed to "make moves", so to speak. The effect of your circular energies developing into linear or directional energies is commonly associated with a Sun transit from a feminine to a masculine sign, i.e. Cancer to Leo.
July provides us somewhat of a break in the action-packed astrology that has caused the past two months to fly by us. However, that does not mean that this is not a time for action. On the contrary, the time for development could not be clearer; Uranus' retrograde motion begins on the 5th, ushering in a time of sudden changes in decision making that is likely to jolt us out of any ruts we may be sitting in. The Solar Eclipse (on the 11th) in combination with a Venus transit to Virgo (10th) not only serves as encouragement to move on, but reminds us that we can make no progress if we are not in tune with our emotions. On the 21st, Saturn transits to Libra, the first of three planets (Mars on the 29th, Venus next month) to make this same transit within three weeks of one another; this shift of energy into Libra will hopefully show us the balance we've been trying to achieve throughout June and July.
An undercurrent of tension will develop as the slow-moving planets Jupiter (retrograde in Aries) and Pluto (retrograde in Capricorn) move towards a square, which will be completed the morning of the 25th. Pluto, the planet of inevitable change, will clash with goal-oriented Jupiter in a not-so-comfortable 90 degree dance that will likely have us falling victim to a compulsive "grass-is-greener" syndrome; while July is certainly a time for change, avoid making hasty decisions with the intent of quickly or easily reaping the benefits. This aspect is also commonly associated with beliefs, spirituality, and doubts thereof, and is a good time to remind ourselves of the difference between religion and faith. That same day, the 25th, brings us a Full Moon in Aquarius opposite a Sun in Leo, presenting another instance of collectivism vs. individualism during which we will struggle with our individual roles in the greater schematics of our respective communities. The Moon also forms two friendly trines at this time; one with Mars, the other with Saturn, which will provide stability as well as an air of cheerfulness. Although we may be wrestling with our internal thoughts and debates, our social interactions should be rather amicable.

Aries:
You will experience some unexpected good fortune towards the beginning of the month. Enjoy it while it lasts, because while Uranus conjunct Jupiter in your sign brings good tidings, their conflicting motion is generating some mixed reviews for the second half of the month. Although you may feel uneasy, take comfort in the Sun entering Leo (a fire sign like yours) on the 22nd; be yourself, and everything will work itself out, just as it always has. Your appetite for new experiences and new travel destinations is as voracious as ever, but don't expect your friends (especially water and earth signs) to be as eager as you are.

Taurus:
Venus void in Leo has you a bit more fired up than usual, and while its transit to Virgo on the 10th will return you to your typically collected demeanor, the tension in a relationship with someone close to you has you feeling unsettled. Expect your interactions with your peers to be more volatile and possibly even melodramatic (a description you tend to avoid) towards the middle of the month as the Moon conjoins Venus in Leo. Despite some minor set backs, your consciousness will be in harmony with your expressive self if you keep in mind that your major plans remain intact, and for that you should be thankful.

Gemini:
You may be feeling a little bit empty or unfulfilled, probably due to your portion of the zodiac remaining basically barren since the Sun left your sign last month. Whether you feel you lack fortune, excitement, or a special someone in your life, remember the "grass-is-greener" syndrome, and count your blessings. You've always made good company for yourself, and the middle of this month might be a good time to get to know yourself a little better. Excitement will come to you leading up to the Full Moon on the 25th; let quick-thinking Mercury in Leo (alongside our Sun) direct you toward active and fulfilling endeavors to expel your excess energy.

Cancer:
Sun conjoin Moon (also known as the New Moon) is always a time for revitalization, as well as a jumping off point for new endeavors. However, this New Moon on the 10th bring an interesting twist: a total Solar Eclipse in your sign. With the asteroid Juno conjunct this special happening, be prepared to experience some fiery emotions and even jealousy from a loved one. You will feel somewhat uncomfortable the week of the 19th with the Moon in a fire sign applying square Venus. The Full Moon in Aquarius on the 25th, combined with Uranus in retrograde, will have you feeling rebellious and confident enough to break out of any situations that may be stifling your expression and/or creativity.

Leo:
Venus in your sign at the beginning of the month will provide you a well-deserved break and afford you a time to enjoy the company of those you love and appreciate. Your knack for meeting new people may be more than just a social tool, and the relationships you develop this month could become more than just superficial. Be aware of opportunities for a new meaningful relationship, be it centered around work or play. Your energy is at its strongest when the Sun enters your sign on the 22nd; make sure you find something to occupy your time, or your energy will quickly build up and make you quite restless!

Virgo:
Mars in your sign is urging you to do something big; whether its a change in your appearance, your social circle, or your romantic life, now is the time to explore and find some new ground to cover. Venus moves into Virgo on the 10th, chasing Mars through your sign in an applying conjunction that won't be completed until late August when both bodies have left your sign. Unfortunately, July could be a time of complicated romance and unrequited love. Be prepared to accept the fact that not everyone will think as you do, and not every detail can pan out according to your visions.

Libra:
Your Sun sign is about to become a hot spot of astrological action with imminent transits from Saturn, Mars, Venus, and Mercury. You should feel very excited, and your atypically abundant energy will be aided by Venus in Leo. The New Moon / Solar Eclipse on the 11th will be a good time for you to put your energy to work; start a long-term project that will keep your focus linear and provide direction for your ideas over the next couple of months. You value harmony in your social life, which often translates into attempts to please all; however, Sun in Leo (beginning the 22nd) is a time for you to serve yourself first.

Scorpio:
Pluto retrograde in Capricorn will bring you to the realization although you sometimes revel in spontaneity and even rebellion, it is the practical, business-minded side of your personality that most people find attractive. With Mars in Virgo, take the opportunity of the Moon in your sign (18th-20th) to investigate the details of your life that have long remained a mystery. Anything that sparks your curiosity is a lead worth following. Mars quincunx Neptune in the last week of this month will cause a dip in your energy, at which point you should rest, think, and decide on the best way to use the rest of your summer.

Sagittarius:
Jupiter in Aries plays a large role in your horoscope for July. In pondering questions larger than your immediate surroundings, you may feel inspired to travel in the interest of learning something new. A great time for such a trip will be Mercury trine Jupiter upon the Solar Eclipse (11th), which will initiate a period of growth and learning. The Sun enters Leo while the Moon is in your sign, followed shortly by Jupiter's shift into retrograde; therefore, the end of this month will be a time to think small, as you will be most satisfied by smaller accomplishments and highly unnerved by the larger issues.

Capricorn:
Although you are usually very practical and detail-oriented, you are at your most picky this month before the Sun's transit to Leo on the 22nd. Try to avoid acting possessive, be it over money, friends, or territory, or your peers are likely to label you as a control freak. This is a month for change, and you over all other signs are most likely to resist it. Pluto retrograde in your sign reminds you that change is inevitable, and an informative Sun sextile Saturn as the Sun transits to Leo urges you to be patient; although small changes may not have things going your way immediately, Saturn in Libra's scales will balance everything out in the long run.

Aquarius:
A hot topic of recent astrological news, Uranus in Aries, has filled you with some brilliant ideas. Write them down! Uranus' transition to retrograde on the 5th will bring sudden changes that are likely to distract you from any plans you've been formulating. Stay focused. July is a great month for you to get some work done, and the fruits of your labor are likely to show after the Full Moon in your sign on the 25th. Saturn opposite Uranus at the end of the month will have you torn between your fickle, rebellious nature and the calm, calculated persona you often assume.

Pisces:
Although the Cancer Sun is a great time for you to develop, July is not a time for you to get much accomplished. Neptune retrograde in Aquarius is likely to catch you nostalgically daydreaming about past events that you tend to over-romanticize in distant hindsight. Snap out of it! There is much to be learned in the present world around you, and if that's not enough for you, Jupiter encourages you to travel and expand your knowledge base. The end of the month will be particularly rewarding for you, as Saturn opposite the Moon in your sign (as it conjoins Uranus) brings high hopes for your tangible goals.

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.

The Summer Solstice, the Lunar Eclipse, and Beyond

As I mentioned yesterday, the astrology of this month, especially concentrated around today, is some of the most powerful, dense, and unique that we've seen in our lifetimes. For those of us in the Nothern Hemisphere, the sun will shine at its brightest, longest, and highest in the sky today. The blazing Sun's finest moment corresponds with its transit to Cancer, ushering in a new sign and a new season here on Earth. The Sun's transit into 0 degrees, 0 minutes Cancer at 7:28am (on the East Coast) today is one of four times the Sun encounters the Aries Point, also known as the cardinal cross, a literal cross shape created by drawing two lines across the zodiac between the four cardinal signs (Aries to Libra, Cancer to Capricorn).
The history, significance, and complexities of the Aries Point are far too vast to indulge in detail at the moment. As mentioned, the cardinal cross has four points, which are the zero degrees (cusps or beginnings) of each cardinal sign. Most crucial and influential is zero Aries, which is where the tropical (seasonal-based) zodiac is precisely aligned with the sidereal (star-based) zodiac upon the Vernal Equinox, which is why it is also known as the Sidereal Vernal Point or SVP. The other three points also correspond with seasonal changes. The axes of the of the cardinal cross are highly sensitive to transits as well as other astronomical events such as eclipses. For some reason, the power of the SVP has been especially noticeable on Earth over the past decade, given that its timing has coincided with such disasters as September 11th and the Asian tsunami: once again, a much more detailed explanation for perhaps another time. Just know that this phenomenon is explained by most astrologers by its a alignment with several distant but powerful forces, including our galactic core in Aries, the Uranian orbital body Kronos (associated with power and superiority) in Cancer, M87 (a massive galaxy and black hole) in Libra, and the Road to Xibalba in Capricorn (a band running through the center of the galaxy that corresponds to the Mayan creation myth and the reason humanity is supposed to make its exit on the cardinal cross, 21 December 2012).

The Sun's transit into a cardinal sign (Cancer, in this instance) is when our personal lives intersect with larger groups, concepts, and events. The Summer Solstice is a time for us to feel illuminated not just as individuals, but as humankind. The cardinal cross reminds us that the personal is political, and vice versa. For example, we've been lamenting the disastrous BP oil spill for two months now, and although we sympathize for the devastation it has caused the economy, population, and ecosystem of the Gulf Coast, we've seen very little of its effects in our personal lives (unless we happen to live in the area). The power of the Aries Point provides us a perfect opportunity to remember that in our search to point blame at anyone for this catastrophe (government regulators, BP, Deepwater Horizon, etc.), the ultimate responsibility rests with those who provide these corporations the demand that drives their business models. That is not to say that you or I personally are to blame for the oil spill; if I decided to stop buying oil a year ago, that rig would still have been in operation, and the blowout preventer still would have failed. However, the beauty of astrology is that it is not bound by the factual limitations of time and space. It allows us to step back from our lives and think, "What if there really is something else going on here?", or, "What if the way I live my life has more impact on the world around me than I actually believe?"
Thus is the nature of the cardinal cross as well as the study of astrology itself: placing ourselves within a world that is more spatially and conceptually vast than we could possibly visualize or conceive.
As mentioned beforehand, the points of the cardinal cross are highly sensitive to astrological/astronomical happenings, and they provide an accelerated energy that brings us a certain sense of awareness of ourselves and those around us. The Lunar Eclipse this coming Saturday concerns me; although I won't be so bold as to predict a massive catastrophe or world changing event, I do hope that when the Earth prevents the Sun's illumination of the Moon, we do not lose our empathy to the human condition. Bear in mind that although you may feel that things are not coming easily to you, or that you are swimming against the tides, you are not alone. Millions of other people are on your level fighting the same fight, and millions are much less fortunate than you are. After you all, you are on an internet accessible computer, a luxury reserved for only 21% of the world's population.

My fear is that the people of Earth are on disaster overload; that is, so many things seem to be going wrong in the world around us that we don't know where to start when it comes to making repairs on a personal, communal, and global level. We become numb to even the greatest of catastrophes when we don't know how to cope with them, and we remain apathetic if the issue has little effect on our personal lives. The American population (and therefore, the media, and therefore, the government... yes, in that order) has such a short attention span that we acknowledge the results of disasters, but before we can breach the surface of the situation to assess its causes, we move on to another issue. Our dependence on oil, although acknowledged by the past eight presidents as one of America's greatest weaknesses, has been put off for almost half a century now. The issue has persisted, and exactly one month after the SVP in Aries, the political became personal for millions of workers and residents along the bayou.
I feel that we are at a point where our ignorance may start to catch up to us. Like the poor people and animals of the Gulf Coast, the time for larger, seemingly distant issues to permeate our daily personal lives will eventually come to us. With disasters in the gulf, the job market, the Eurpoean economy, the American economy, climate change, and the list goes on, all we need is a Lunar Eclipse after a cardinal transit to manifest these broad issues as specific problems affecting our lifestyles. I hope that this does not mean another disaster, but rather a gradual rise in humankind's collective consciousness about the ills that plague the world around us. Remember, it starts on a personal level, which is connected as a part to a whole by the Aries Point, or as the great boy band 2gether so eloquently put it, you + me = us.

There is a lot more going on in our sky besides the Solstice and the Eclipse, and I will discuss some of the other aspects and transits in an update later this week. For now, just remember; the political is personal, and there is no I in team (although there is a me). Enjoy the sunshine, and the emotional tidings provided by our Sun in Cancer.

Father's Day Quickie

Today should be a nice, relaxing Sunday not only for fathers, but for anyone who has felt the pressure of the dense astro-weather we've experienced over the past month. Father's Day presents us but one aspect in our sky: an understanding trine between the Moon and Neptune, making today more about thoughts and dreams than action. Under the comfortable Libra Moon, don't be afraid to speak your mind and bounce your ideas off people with whom you don't usually engage in deep conversation. Your interpersonal encounters will seem to have a firm and amicable foundation, and your discourse might help you to learn something about yourself. Most importantly, get to bed early! Tomorrow is a big day in the sky and on Earth.

More to come later about tomorrow's Solstice.