Sun into Aries 2011: Perilous Problems and Inspired Solutions

On Sunday, March 20th at 4:21P.M. PST the Sun rolls into spirited, action oriented Aries where it will find Mercury, Jupiter and Uranus already transiting the sign of the Warrior. Fearless, agitating upstart Mars will arrive in enlivening Aries on April 1st and a new Aries moon on April 3rd will bring the planetary total in this Cardinal fire sign to an impressive six. Stern Saturn will sit opposite of Aries in Libra and reforming Pluto at a hard right angle to Aries in Capricorn, and the T-square formed by these planets will be highly energized during this solar transit. We will have a Mercury retrograde from March 30th to April 23rd, and Neptune will return home to watery Pisces on April 4th where it will merge with healing Chiron. Lately much attention has been given to the term Spiritual Warrior. The forthcoming mixture of Arian courage and leadership and Piscean insight and compassion offer this archetype sustenance.

When Uranus reentered Aries on March 11th one of the more volatile forces in the cosmos reconnected with one of the more explosive sources of energy. Uranus’s new location also added kindling to an existing Cardinal sign T-square. Uranus is associated with disruption and chaos as well as innovation and radical breakthroughs. A T-square is an alignment under which planets oppose and square one another, and in astrology oppositions and squares represent tensions between the forces involved. This T-square is considered an especially potent one because two of the planets forming it, Uranus and Pluto, are outer planets and all of the planets involved are in the Cardinal signs of the zodiac. Outer planets express generational and collective experiences and the Cardinal signs initiate the four seasons and thus reflect times of great change. Uranus is in Aries until 2018, Libra is in Saturn until October 2012 and Pluto is in Capricorn until 2023, So as of March 11th we entered a powerful 19-month-long T-square. During the Aries solar cycle immediately ahead, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, the Sun and new moon of April 3rd will be adding energy to the impulsive Aries component of the T-square. Mars and Mercury will continue to fuel it on into May and Jupiter through early June.

March 11th was also the day of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the beginning of a nuclear crisis. By March 16th the literal forces of uranium and plutonium had forged to pose the threat of a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Dai-ich facility. While the planets of astrology do not cause things to happen, they are symbolic reflections our reality. In this case, the erratic energies of Uranus in provocative, irrepressible Aries began forming a rough square to the planet of destruction and renewal, Pluto, in Capricorn, the sign ruling governments, business and institutions. Severe Saturn, the planet representing both lessons and limitations, was and continues squaring Pluto and opposing the planets in Aries from Libra, the sign of balance, diplomacy and the collective good.

That in the wake of the unfolding Japanese nuclear event, we see a global review of nuclear safety underway is not surprising. However, Aries is infamous for getting all fired up and instigating change, but then lacking the resolve to see it through. It will be interesting to see if the initial reaction to Fukushima will be sustained long enough to institute meaningful or permanent reform in energy policy. On the bright side, original and progressive Uranus in trailblazing Aries offers great potential for technological breakthroughs and advances, and this transit will last for seven years.

Mercury is associated with quick thinking and Aries with rapid action, and together the two can prove rash and reckless. Helping us slow down enough to review conditions on the ground and the possible consequences of our actions will be a Mercury retrograde from March 30th through April 23rd. Since Mercury entered Aries on March 8th you may have noticed that people are doing a lot more talking than listening, with little to no editorial exercise. The forthcoming Mercury retrograde will give us a chance to pause between sentences, collect our thoughts and consider our options before acting. Given the array of planets in impatient Aries, Mercury’s retrograde and slowing influence should prove beneficial. But don’t expect boredom to set in any time soon.

The planet of drive, power and passion, Mars, brings its audacious brand of excitement home to fiery Aries on April 1st where it will be until May 11th. Fierce and fearless, Mars represents raw force. Often through anger, it puts us in touch with our needs and desires. It also inspires bold and decisive action. Where and how we direct its power is up to us. Saturn in Libra and Pluto in Capricorn will be poised to combat Martian aggression. But the planet of War, in step with five fellow Aries travelers, will fight unjust restriction and authority in his push for independence. Even during times of conflict, the Spiritual Warrior remains aware of his motives. He then consciously directs his actions to a greater purpose.

To assist us with tapping into a deeper source of awareness, as well as vast stores of serenity, compassion and creativity, oceanic Neptune will return home to holistic Pisces on April 4th. Named for the Greek god of the sea, Neptune is another one of those influential outer planets. An immeasurable source of guidance, it represents our dreams, psychic abilities and connection to the collective psyche. Being the final sign of the zodiac, Pisces promotes understanding, unity and wholeness. Healing asteroid Chiron moved into its curative waters back in February. Together Neptune and Chiron will remind us of the human dimension of any challenges we face. Moreover, and oddly enough, this combination of Neptune and Chiron in intuitive and inventive Pisces and quirky, ingenious Uranus in Aries may prove to be the perfect elixir for our Spiritual Warrior. Empathy, insight and imagination blended with original leadership may be just the concoction She needs for the tenuous days ahead.

You can also sign up for my free astrology newsletter at http://www.awakeningqueenmaebh.com/contact-us.html.

Sun into Leo 2010: Got Lemonade?

Several days into the average heat wave, many a withering spirit desperately searches for news of an impending cooling trend. During 2010’s massive T-Square and Grand Cross, many of those with strong Cardinal sign placements in their charts are similarly seeking refuge from the intense Cosmic action. Then there are those Souls who love the heat, those oddballs who thrive in its infernal ferocity. No matter your preference, this year’s solar journey through the spirited fire sign of Leo is going to be a scorcher. Cooler winds will begin to prevail by the time it winds down on August 23rd. In the meantime, a July 25th full moon is set amongst more massive squares and oppositions, Mars and Venus will add more fuel to the T-Square by joining Saturn in Libra, and a Mercury retrograde starts on August 20th. If ever a sign was invented to cheer us all up and on to the completion of this celestial marathon, it is Leo. The Sun arrives in the effervescent, magnanimous sign of the lion at 3:21 P.M. PST on July 22nd.

Gallant, confident and boundlessly enthusiastic, Leo loves to lead, inspire and perform for others. To earn their adulation, this fixed sign is ever willing to roll up his sleeves and work hard for those coveted applause. His natural tendency toward extroversion, seemingly endless supply of creativity and passion, and lion-sized heart make Leo a magnet for those seeking encouragement and optimism. And generosity? Leo has learned that the true gift of his wealth lies in his ability to share his riches with others. With the sky heating up, in 2010 Leo is in fact on a singular mission to turn every lemon in the Kingdom into ice-cold, thirst-quenching lemonade. Given the Cosmic forecast, sitting down and sharing a glass with this regal creature might be just the recipe for getting through the dog days ahead. After all, the King of the Jungle knows a thing or two about conquering beasts and living sovereignly.

On July 21st, Saturn moves back into Libra thus reenergizing the T-Square by forming a more precise square to Pluto in Capricorn and closer oppositions to Uranus and Jupiter in Aries. Remember that Pluto is already simultaneously squaring Uranus and Jupiter. On July 25th indeed the square between Pluto and Jupiter will be exact, recurring on August 3rd. Also on July 25th, the moon will be full in the fixed air sign of Aquarius, and on July 26th the next Saturn Uranus opposition will be exact. Squares and oppositions bring matters to the fore and tensions to a head, and all the planets involved in these are in the provocative Cardinal signs. Under such challenging aspects, what’s a glamourous, pampered and pleasure seeking sign like Leo to do? That’s simple; he dawns his designer shades and views it all through those famous Leo-tinted glasses.

For example, while some will claim that the Pluto Jupiter square is a clash of conflicting values with Pluto in stern Capricorn imposing the rules while exuberant Jupiter in Aries wants to run amok. Leo sees this as a winning combination for life’s go-getters. Capricorn builds stamina and Aries just can’t say no to taking action. To Leo, the 25th is a fabulous time to launch an exciting, long term venture. On July 29th Mars, the Warrior, will join Saturn in Libra. With Mars’ infamous battle-lust and Saturn’s reputation for restrictions, some fear these two in league. Leo agrees with astrologer Sue Tompkins who maintains that this pair teaches us how to balance fear with courage, assertiveness with control and impulse with discipline. With the two sitting under heavenly arbitrator Libra’s watchful eye, the potential for conflict resolution is even greater. And really, who wouldn’t want to master this stuff? On August 7th Venus arrives home to join these two, bringing her quest for beauty to the affair.

Then there’s that pesky Mercury retrograde sitting at end of this cycle ready to roll on August 20th. Mercury will be in discerning Virgo, the meticulous sign that the Sun will travel through for most of this retrograde. The perfect opportunity to review details says Leo. Moreover Leo asserts, by then Uranus will have already ducked back into peaceful, dreamy Pisces (on August 13th) where it will be followed by Jupiter on September 9th. This is a great chance to rest, relax and let the our intuition mingle with those newly discovered facts. For somewhere between the two, along that Virgo Pisces axis, lies a solution to one of life’s persistent questions or problems. Ah, a golden opportunity to rejuvenate reasons Leo. With that, his official royal proclamation is announced:

“Spa time! Leo-tinted glasses and lemonade for all!”

For more astrology news, be sure to listen to Elizabeth’s visit with astrologer CA Brooks on Tuesday, July 20th, at 11 AM PST on “Simple Tales” on 12Radio. Then, to celebrate the Sun’s arrival into Leo, Elizabeth joins Julia Stonestreet Smith on Thursday, July 22nd, at the “Stonestreet Cafe” at 7PM PST also on 12Radio.com. You can also sign up for Elizabeth’s free monthly newsletter at her site..

Sun into Gemini 2010: Prometheus’ Flames Burning Brighly

Conventional wisdom in astrology asserts that the mutable signs are the subdued ones, those gentle, affable energies responsible for finishing up their respective seasons. For example, Sagittarius closes the autumn, Pisces winds down the winter, and so forth. To say the least, 2010 is a year when convention is being turned on its head. While the 2010 Sun through Gemini cycle brings spring to its annual conclusion, in keeping with the revolutionary sentiment abuzz on the airwaves, it also ushers in the start of the T-square and sets the stage for the Grand Cross. a series of impressive alignments we have not experienced simultaneously for centuries. So rather than a mild cycle of finishing affairs, major events will just be getting underway during this transit. Gemini’s versatility, ability to think on its feet and adaptability are our keys to peacefully maneuvering through the headline-making solar cycle and summer ahead.

To put the upcoming events into context, we need to understand the mechanics of the T-square and to distinguish it from the Grand Cross. Visualize the face of a clock with Saturn in Libra at 9 o’clock, Pluto in Capricorn at 6 o’clock at the bottom and Uranus and Jupiter in Aries at 3 o’clock. This alignment is what astrologers call a T-square. Now add the Sun in Cancer at 12 o’clock to the top of the picture. This is what astrologers call a Grand Cross. In both alignments the planets form oppositions and squares to each other. As the names imply, oppositions and squares are the more contentious angles in astrology. They tend to bring things to a head and force decisions. Note how Saturn opposes Jupiter and Uranus in both charts and how Pluto and the Sun come into opposition in the Grand Cross. In the T-square, Saturn squares Pluto which also squares Jupiter and Uranus. In the Grand Cross, Jupiter and Uranus square the Sun which also squares Saturn. Next, four of these planets, Saturn, Pluto, Jupiter and Uranus, are outer planets, those thought to represent our larger world and collective experiences. Finally, all of the signs involved in both formations are the cardinal ones. These are the zodiac’s provocative energies, the instigative energies responsible for starting their respective seasons, Aries spring, Cancer summer, and so on. They set things off so to speak.

But the Sun isn’t in Cancer you astutely note; it’s at 11 o’clock or Gemini. Yes, on May 20th at 8:34 P.M. PST it moves there, but by the summer solstice of June 21st, it arrives in Cancer. For those of you paying even closer attention to your astrology these days, you’ll likely also note that Saturn is also presently not in this exact alignment because it has retrograded back into late degrees of Virgo, to about 8:54 on our clock. Correct you are. But on May 31st, the planet ruling lessons, structure and discipline turns direct and sets its course for Libra where it will arrive on July 21st. As the Gemini solar cycle begins indeed Jupiter and Uranus are spending their last days in dreamy Pisces, at about 2:58. However, on the full moon of May 27th wired, rule-breaking Uranus heads into the aggressive, fire sign Aries, and expansive Jupiter follows suit on June 6th and also heads into the feisty energies of the sign of the Warrior. What is important here is that these planets are traveling in very close degrees in their respective signs, thus creating more precision and intensity in the T-square and Grand Cross. It is also worth noting that on the full moon of June 26th the moon will join Pluto in the cardinal sign of Capricorn, strengthening that Cross on the day of an eclipse.

To get some insight into how the T-square, which will last into late 2012, might play out, we can look at the history of some of the transits involved, such as Pluto in Capricorn. The last time the planet of destruction and transformation traveled through the sign that rules governments and institutions was 1762-1778, when the American Revolution brought the beginning of the end of monarchy as the world’s ruling “system.” The previous Pluto Capricorn transit was from 1516-1532. In 1510 Martin Luther traveled to Rome where he witnessed the extent of the corruption, including the sale of Indulgences, of the then almighty Roman Catholic Church. Determined to change what he saw, one year into this tumultuous transit, in 1517, Luther initiated the Protestant Reformation. Protest and reform are indeed an integral part of the language of Pluto in Capricorn.

The ruling institution most likely to be radically altered this time around, 2008-2023, is the corporation. Current examples of its authority being challenged include the sweeping financial reform bill now in Congress and President Obama’s recent decision to better regulate the major oil companies by separating the revenue collection and enforcement powers of the Minerals Management Service. Activist Jamie Oliver has launched a widely embraced “Food Revolution” and Buddhist scholar and Columbia University Professor Robert Thurman an “inner Revolution,” and we have one political party relying heavily on imagery from the American Revolution while a growing trend amongst voters is to register as Independents. With this T-square, the already charged political atmosphere will be given extra voltage from electrifying, innovative Uranus moving through pioneering Aries (from May 27, 2010-May 15, 2018). The last time we experienced a Uranus Aries transit was 1927-1934, when it was part of another T-square. It’s also interesting to note that during the 1762-1778 Pluto through Capricorn cycle, Uranus transited through confrontational, autonomous Aries from 1760-1768, when the British government passed the Stamp Act and other incendiary legislation that would ultimately lead to the War for Independence. Also, during that Pluto transit, Saturn went through justice-seeking Libra from September 1774 through December 1776, during which time the American Declaration of Independence was signed. What is significantly different in the summer of 2010 is that all three of these major transits will occur simultaneously, from July 21st - August 13th, they will be very close in degree to one another, and Jupiter will be adding its magnifying energy to the mix as it travels along side Uranus. The two are in fact conjunct (at the same exact spot) on June 8th.

The sign of journalism, travel and international commerce, Gemini will have a keen eye on global events. International affairs in the spotlight while the Sun moves through the sign of the Twins include the World Cup in Johannesburg, South Africa, the escalating push of the U.S. military into the major urban front of Kandahar, Afghanistan, the European financial crisis and activity at the Federal Reserve. While we in America are inclined to think of the Fed as a domestic entity, its role in global markets is noteworthy. Its chart is set to be heavily impacted by the coming T-square and Grand Cross, and on June 3rd and 21st we may get a glimpse into what’s ahead. I’ll be writing more about the charts of the Fed and Cancer born U.S. next month in the Sun through Cancer/Grand Cross edition of this series.

While 2010 may or may not be the official “dawning of the Age of Aquarius,” a dramatic and transformational time is clearly upon us. Remembering the legend behind the namesake sign of this New Age, the story of Prometheus, can serve and inspire us. From Mark Husson’s “Lovescopes”:

“One of the ways Zeus maintained power over the mortals was to keep them in the dark-literally. He forbade anyone on Olympus to teach them how to wield fire. Being one of the brighter gods, Prometheus didn’t like the suffering this caused humans, so he brought them this forbidden element, forever changing their existence. Because Prometheus broke the rules, Zeus chained him to the top of a mountain and ordered an eagle to eat out his liver - only for it to re-grow and be eaten day after day.”

In times of uncertainty, and in the face of seemingly invisible hands that ravage the earth, loot the financial systems and fund corrupt political systems, what Light, what Fire, will you be in the world?

For more on the T-square and Grand Cross, be sure to tune into “Simpletales” this Tuesday at 11am PST/2pm EST on 12Radio.com where astrologer CA Brooks and I will be talking about the upcoming cycle.

Sun into Taurus: The Bull Stops Here

Warm rays of sunlight stream down from a white sun lazily sailing across an afternoon sky. Ripples of water gently flow across a quiet lake after a fishing line dips beneath its placid surface. Birds share the latest news as they languidly work their way through springtime chores. The shoreline is rich with lush emerald fauna, stretching as far as the eye can see. The monkey mind wants to interrupt this splendor with its endless litany of problems, incessant chatter, worries about the future concocted with every imaginable worse case scenario and their attendant reactions, and its ultimate weapon, your story, the one about what’s wrong with your life. But on this long, glorious May afternoon, your canoe drifts effortlessly with the mild currents. Your soul is enraptured by the symphony being performed by the soft breezes through rustling leaves and the songs of cranes, hummingbirds and bluejays. One casual glance at the 200-year-old pine trees majestically reaching heavenward, and you are reminded of your truth. You are not your problems. You are not your income. You are not your story. You are not your relationship, your workplace, your issues nor any of your labels. You are eternal. You are unnamable. You are love, and you are safe and sound.

On April 19th at 9:30 P.M. PST the Sun enters the sign of the bull, Taurus. From then until May 20th you are granted an all-access pass to the voice of spirit, centeredness and serenity. Supported by Saturn retrograding back through fellow earth sign Virgo, Pluto churning backward through the zodiac’s other earth sign Capricorn and Mercury retrograding in Taurus, this solar cycle is the ultimate grounding tool and an excellent time to strengthen business, financial and career endeavors. With Jupiter and Uranus spending their last days in dreamy Pisces until late summer, prescience also abounds. A Saturn Uranus opposition close to the April 28th full moon challenges the tranquility, yet this solar cycle is no less than a Cosmic meditation on security.

The bull stops here. Ruled by beauty seeking Venus, Taurus veers decidedly toward the luxurious side of life. Perhaps the most physical of signs, earthy Taurus experiences reality through the senses. Consequently, its world is often filled with the most exquisite objects of pleasure, sensuality and comfort. We’re talking high-thread count, velvety dark chocolate, and typically a handsome portfolio here. This year however, Taurus’ opulent tastes will be curtailed by Saturn in Virgo and Pluto in Capricorn. The last time stern Saturn transited Virgo, the real estate market crashed, bank bailouts began and the current recession got underway. Back in the meticulous earth sign of Virgo until July, lesson baring Saturn will again be encouraging fiscal austerity and restraint. Ruthless Pluto in conservative Capricorn will echo the call to realistic and conscious financial planning and ethical business practices. Add a Mercurial review of money to the mix via its retrograde in materialistic Taurus, and you have a formula ripe for more banking and financial reform, publicly and privately. This substantial earth sign alliance is not here to crush caviar dreams per se. But irrational exuberance isn’t coming back on its watch either. This Sun, Mercury, Saturn and Pluto combination is all about building, values and responsibility. It will support sound foundations, reward hard work and give the needed stamina to reach worthy goals.

Contrary to popular myth, Taurus was not inserted into the zodiac to consternate Aries natives nor to unhinge Geminis. Taurus is a fixed earth sign placed between the two to anchor Aries passions and to solidify our values so that we might be “on message” when Gemini arrives. Rarely exceeding the speed limit, it’s the Cosmic point at which we can pause, listen to the ageless wisdom available, make decisions that feel “right” on a cellular level and begin deliberately moving toward our aims. Shortly into this year’s solar Gemini cycle, on the full moon of May 27th, Uranus enters Aries. The last time Uranus transited Aries was 1927-1934, when the stock market crashed, the Great Depression ensued and Hitler rose to power. During that transit Pluto was traveling through security oriented Cancer. This time Pluto is in Cancer's opposite sign, Capricorn. As I’ve mentioned previously, the last time Pluto went through Capricorn was 1762-1778, when the American War for Independence began. In addition to these history-making Uranus and Pluto squaring transits, the summer of 2010 will feature what astrologers call a T-cross. The term refers to an alignment of several planets, in this case the influential outer ones, squaring one another at precise 90 degree angles. Early June through mid August will be the time of greatest activity, and predictions abound as to how these harsh angles will play out. What the current Taurus cycle offers is a sense of certainty.

Mercury rules our thinking and will be retrograde in patient Taurus until May 11th. According to author Julia Cameron, it takes 90 days for the brain to groove a new neurological pattern. During this retrograde we can review our ideas about security and our inner-dialogue about insecurity. A Taurus Mercury retrograde further suggests that we can sprout some new neural pathways and perhaps adopt new grounding practices. Also assisting us access an enlightening perspective are Jupiter and Uranus now at the end of their Pisces transits. Before they move into boisterous, provocative Aries and those intense T-squares, they give us a little more time to connect with our inner musician, writer, painter or poet. Finding a psychological safe space now might serve us well when the atmosphere intensifies this summer. Gardening, chanting, hiking and playing a musical instrument are all excellent keys to Pisces’ peace and Taurus’ incredible centering power. And they can serve as touchstones for the times ahead.

On April 26th our newly found chill out practice may get a test run. On that day erratic Uranus will directly oppose staunch Saturn. Because two of the large outer planets are involved in this confrontation, its influence will be felt for a few weeks on either side of the exact date. With an added full Scorpio moon on the 28th, we’re likely to have a strong opportunity to try out those new grounding techniques. The last series of Uranus Saturn oppositions occurred from 1964-1966, a time of enormous political and social turmoil and transformation. This current set of oppositions began on Election Day 2008 and will end on July 26th near another very powerful full moon. No matter how dramatic the news or how tumultuous the times it reflects may seem, our perspective is what makes the biggest difference in how we experience these events. Taurus comes to help us plant our feet firmly into the terrain of eternal knowing. Deeply rooted in our connection to all that is, we see the transitory nature of the rest. Through the bull we are reminded of our resourcefulness, and our world is once again made calm, sturdy and steady.

For more astrology news, be sure to check out "Simple Tales" on 12Radio.com every Tuesday at 11 A.M. PST with CA Brooks. Elizabeth joins CA every 3rd Tuesday of the month to give you all the latest in cosmic trends and information.