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Eclipsed Planets

Welcome to the final post of my Eclipse web series. In this post, we are going to focus on eclipsed planets.

If you do not have a copy of your horoscope, you can get one from astro.com. You can enter your date, and the site will generate one for you. If you do not know the time of your birth, you can still get a copy of your chart. Use noon as your time of birth, and although we can’t depend on the location of the Moon, the rest of the planets will be accurate.

I want to repeat something I put in my article on eclipsed houses:

Since the bulk of my work involves natal astrology for life coaching, I am going to gear this article towards self-improvement and using an eclipse as a tool. Remember, eclipses are potent lunar phases, meaning they are still New and Full Moons. New Moons reflect new beginnings, new opportunities, planting new seeds, and the beginning of a new cycle; whereas, Full Moons reflect things that come to a culminate or climax, revelations of circumstances that are hidden from view, and the completion of a cycle. So, not surprisingly eclipse season can be a powerful month of intention and magical work.

Before we begin, I want to let you know that eclipse cycles have a 19-year span. So, an exercise you can do to see the themes of this eclipse for you is to look at what was happening in your life 19 years ago. The themes will repeat themselves, even though the events may be different.

Now, let’s dive in…

So, pretty much everyone knows what sign they are. For example, I’m a Leo. This really means that my Sun is in Leo. But there are several other planets (and some asteroids, dwarf planets, centaurs, and other debris) in the solar system, and each one of them has a location in your horoscope, and they represent dynamic archetypal patterns in our lives. To state this more simply, the horoscope is our personal feature film, and the planets are the actors.

Every day the planets are in constant motion. Some of them move very quickly through the zodiac, like the Moon, which moves through every sign in about 28 days, and some of them move very slowly, like Pluto, which moves through the entire zodiac in 248 years. This movement through the heavens in astrological terms are called transits. While planets are transiting, they come into contact by making angles to other planets in the sky, and these angles are called aspects. For example, if Venus is at 19 Aquarius and Saturn is at 19 Taurus, then this angle is 90 degrees, and this is known as a square. Furthermore, the lunar phases move through the horoscope relatively quickly and constantly form aspects to different degrees of the zodiac, and occasionally these aspects occur during an eclipse, which supercharges the planet, or in astrological terms, eclipses it.

I am going to go through the planets, but I am only going to use the two luminaries (the Sun and the Moon are called planets in astrology for simplicity), the inner planets, the social planets, and Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

The Sun:

The Sun is the CEO of the chart, the big dog. He is the center of personality, and it is through the Sun that you work out your destiny. If your Sun is eclipsed, then important issues that correspond to your personal development occur. It can be a new job opportunity or a new path in life, but it’s usually a period in which you are called to become your Hero in your journey. If your Sun is aspected by a solar eclipse, then new opportunities for you to shine will develop. You could get a promotion or recognition for your efforts. Doors easily open for you that may have been closed previously, and you seem to level up in the game of life. If your Sun is aspected by a lunar eclipse, then you may question yourself, experience self-doubt and feel like you are wandering down the road to nowhere. It can be extremely crippling and force you to look at your personal path and direction. As we go through life, we often fall off the track, but lunar eclipses help us get off the road to nowhere by forcing us to find the right path once again.

The Moon:

The Moon in astrology is how we express our feelings, but it is also how we feel safe and secure. She reflects our early childhood and our connection to home and family. If your Moon is eclipsed, then changes to your living situation or situations with family members become a significant focus over the next six months. If your Moon is aspected by a solar eclipse, then opportunities to change homes, build a stronger safety net, or become more open to your true feelings may occur. If your Moon is aspected by the lunar eclipse, then you may need to let go of your emotional attachment to things, including family members. I have seen on numerous occasions issues surrounding family members health conditions become a major concern when the Moon is eclipsed.

Mercury:

Mercury is how we understand life. He is our connection to learning, communication, how we view and process our experiences in the world, and how we think. When Mercury is eclipsed issues surrounding ideas, thoughts, and the mind, in general, become activated, and often, this can lead to feelings of great optimism or tremendous anxiety. If your Mercury is aspected by a solar eclipse, opportunities to learn, engage in the process of the mind, or develop new interests are possible. If your Mercury is aspected by a lunar eclipse, it may be time to change course or take continued education classes. Further communication could become an issue, and you may need to watch what you say very carefully. Since Mercury is the natural ruler of travel, be careful if you are taking vacations or trips because the trickster planet creeps up in the most unexpected ways.

Venus:

Venus is the planet of love, and in the horoscope, she seeks relationships and connections with others. When Venus is eclipsed, relationship issues are bound to surface. If your Venus is aspected by a solar eclipse, this could reflect new relationship opportunities. If your Venus is aspected by a lunar eclipse, relationship problems could occur that leads to reassessments in the relationship. Relationships that are dysfunctional or existing solely for security purposes could go through a crisis or possibly end. Since Venus also rules money, financial issues could potentially surface.

Mars:

Mars is the action planet of the horoscope. He reflects our will and desire. When Mars is eclipsed, we tend to like to fight for what we want. If your Mars is aspected by a solar eclipse, then conflicts may lead to an ultimate win as you overcome obstacles that are preventing you from getting what you desire, or it could lead to success after a long struggle. If your Mars is aspected by a lunar eclipse, then you may need to learn the art of compromise and realize that getting part of what you want is still a win. Since Mars rules accidents, be careful of taking any unnecessary risks over the next six months.

Jupiter:

In astrology, Jupiter is considered the great benefic. He is deemed to be lucky and helps us renew our faith in life. An eclipsed Jupiter could easily mean a change in luck and that our fortunes may vastly improve, or it could mean time in life in which we need to expand our place in the world. Often, during an eclipsed Jupiter, we need to pursue spiritual matters because expanding our belief systems is also highlighted. However, since Jupiter is expansive, it could reflect that you have taken on too much and need to reanalyze your commitments. Since Jupiter rules the law, legal issues could surface and need to be resolved over the next six months.

Saturn:

Saturn is the last planet in the solar system that we can see with the visible eye, and with his large rings, he represents boundaries in the horoscope. These Saturnian boundaries can often occur through frustrations and obstacles that teach us patience and to have the willingness to take life more seriously. An eclipsed Saturn can bring trials and tribulations into your life, but these trials, if you are willing to work through them, offer enormous rewards. Issues surrounding career and business concerns could surface, but once you get through them, a more permanent structure can be relied upon. Saturn also rules our fears, and eclipse season is a good time to let go of ones that are not realistic.

The Outer Planets

I want to discuss the outer planets as a group before I begin delineating their eclipsed meaning. The outer planets are beyond Saturn and are generational planets that reflect collective urges and are not concerned about personal issues or motivations. You need to look at the other planets that the outer planets aspect to personalize them. Otherwise, an eclipsed outer planet may trigger concerns of a generational group that we filter through their connection to the personal planets.

Uranus:

Uranus reflects an urge to break free of conventional norms based upon a particular political vision of the times. An eclipsed Uranus can be exciting because it creates a sudden change in your life. Often things that you hold onto too rigidly are blown apart or fall apart at the seams, which could include career, relationships, financial matters or even your health. The warning here is to try to embrace the change that occurs even though it may provoke anxiety. Further, an eclipsed Uranus could trigger increased interest in politics and political affairs.

Neptune:

The keyword to associate with Neptune is idealization. Idealization is when you imagine things to be perfect, and then you are emotionally let down when the fantasy fades. An eclipsed Neptune can bring idealizations into your life, especially in relationships, which could lead to co-dependency issues. On the positive side, an eclipsed Neptune can foster creative inspiration and spiritual interests. On the negative side, an eclipsed Neptune can lead to self-deception, drug and alcohol abuse, confusion, and uncertainty. It is essential to stay grounded during the six-month window if your Neptune is eclipsed. Additionally, you should be wary of individuals who are too good to be true; it is easy to be scammed while this eclipse cycle is active.

Pluto:

Out of the three outer planets, Pluto is probably the most difficult to personalize. He reflects deep collective issues of survival, and perhaps an activated Pluto in your chart will bring forth the collective survival issues of your generational group. Pluto in the horoscope tends to reflect issues that need to be amputated for growth to occur, and as a result, permanent changes are often required. The necessity for change could lead you into the underworld to understand yourself on a deeper level. However, eclipsed Pluto’s can also lead to relationship issues, power struggles, jealousies, and bitter resentments if it is ignored. In the case of an eclipsed Pluto, it is always best to work with the energy rather than ignoring it, because ignoring it tends to project it into the outer world in destructive ways.

I want to discuss one more thing before closing out this blog post. The eclipse degree is highly sensitive, and if the eclipse is in hard aspect to one of your natal planets, then any transit to the natal planet will retrigger the urgency of the eclipse.

“Everything that has a beginning must also have an end.”

The Oracle, Matrix Revolutions

Jupiter in Sagittarius – The Age of Hope and Optimism

Jupiter in Sagittarius

So, in February of 2007, then-Senator Barack Obama announced that he was running for President of the United States. During his announcement speech, he uttered a phrase that would reverberate over the next eight years, “Yes, we can!” Now, whether you agree with former President Obama’s politics or not, his phrases, his taglines, his demeanor, his promises, and his amazing oratory reflected the optimistic spirit of the times – Jupiter in Sagittarius.

Jupiter is one of the big guns in astrology. Whereas Saturn transits through the heavens are often feared, Jupiter is not only welcomed but seen as “cosmic Santa Claus’ bequeathing his gifts. Jupiter gives us a bigger, better, and brighter glimpse of a potential future that if we are willing to believe enough, have certainty and hope, will ultimately happen.

One of the keywords associated with Jupiter is the curious word ‘luck’, and when Jupiter transits one of your natal planets, good stuff can happen, and usually does; however, according to the mystical Kabbalah, luck is not given simply because of happenstance, luck happens because you are intuitive enough to notice opportunities and turn them into reality. In many ways, luck is our ability to leap from our secure porch of the now and have the certainty to leap into an unknown future.

Surviving Venus Retrograde

So, we have another planet that’s going retrograde.

Yes, I know, after retrograde mania this summer many of you are going through retrograde fatigue, but it’s not over yet.

On October 5^th through November 16^th, Venus the love planet goes retrograde in Scorpio. And, like her brother Mercury, she can be troublesome, especially in relationships. Do not be surprised if you see relationships breakups on social media. It’s just going to happen, and with Venus being in Scorpio, it’s going to be more intense than normal.

I think the key is attempting to understand how Venus operates and using it as a tool to achieve the results we desire rather than just allowing Venus to do her thing unfettered. So, let’s dive in…

Scorpio

Now, Scorpio is a deeply misunderstood sign. Its symbols (snakes, spiders, crocodiles, and scorpions) are intimidating, and it is difficult for good-natured people to stomach. However, Scorpio is not evil; it just represents the side of human life that most of us would rather not deal with and we attempt to hide this side of life from public view.

One of the primary keywords associated with Scorpio is transformation, which is a tricky word on its own. Dictionary.com defines it as a metamorphosis during the life cycle of an animal, and I feel that this is a telling definition. Scorpio has to do with change and eliminating things that are no longer working by actively working to create something new and more durable. It is a necessary sign that gives us the capacity to have experiences that move us to the next level – even if this is sometimes painful and difficult.

On to Venus…

Venus rules love, money, and values and is the planetary ruler of Taurus and Libra. Venus is about peace and harmony with a dash of physical pleasure thrown in for good measure. However, every planet has its dark side, and that is no exception for Venus. When Venus is not working properly in a chart she can be vain, domineering, jealous, conniving, deceitful, treacherous, and a vamp, and I believe we need to understand Venus’s duality to get a full grip on her retrograde cycle.

Signs in astrology are like adjectives. They describe how a planet is going to operate. In watery Scorpio, Venus likes her relationships to be deep, intense, and all-consuming. She is extremely loyal and will often sacrifice her desires to devote herself to her partner fully. She is idealistic and has a particular vision of what love is supposed to be. She seeks relationships that will allow her to grow and develop, even if those relationships are dysfunctional and painful. However, she demands all the same qualities out of her partnerships, and if her partner fails to oblige, she can become dark, possessive, paranoid and jealous. She is fearful of alienation and being abandoned by those she loves, so she will often attempt to bind someone she loves to her, which often leads to its own set of problems.

Now, this isn’t a Venus in Scorpio hater blog, many people with this placement are capable of healthy relationships that are strong and filled with love and makes them a different person as a result of their relationships. But I think that both sides of the placement need to be explored to understand her as a transit and to use her as a tool we can all use to make our relationships better.

Venus Retrograde

Whenever Mercury goes retrograde you get a straightforward list of things that could occur including communication difficulties, avoid signing legal paperwork or documents, avoid buying and selling, the possibility of mechanical problems, schedules go awry and avoid starting anything new.

Rightfully so, Venus has her own set of warnings:

Avoid getting involved in a permanent relationship. Yes, you will meet people that are exciting, and the sex may be off the chart, but wait and see if you feel the same way about the person after Venus goes direct.
Avoid engagements. I know, your man (or woman) asking you to marry them is exciting but try to avoid saying yes until Venus goes direct. Frequently, engagements that happen during a Venus retrograde will end.
Avoid breakups, if you can. This one is the hardest, especially if you are in a dysfunctional relationship. However, breakups that occur during a Venus retrograde (even the most toxic abusive ones) tend to reconcile afterward.
Avoid getting involved in a new business partnership. In case you did not know, Venus rules Venus partnerships, and business partnerships that begin during a Venus retrograde could quickly end.
Avoid going to war. Strangely enough, Venus retrograde likes to spawn wars. Since Venus naturally rules the 7^th house and Libra, she also governs adversaries and enemies. You may be goaded or baited into going on the offense but avoid doing so. The person that begins the conflict tends to lose. Stay defensive and keep it classy.
Avoid making any large purchases, financial expenditures or investments. Venus rules money, and you should keep yours in your wallet until Venus goes direct.

Now let’s get into the good stuff:

Remember the deepest issue of Scorpio is one of the most important factors to working with Venus proactively. Venus in Scorpio seeks relationships on a deeper level. What does this mean? Simply put, society has a collective view of relationships. It can be extremely superficial, materially driven, and people often get married for the wrong reasons, such as getting married for material security rather than love. Venus in Scorpio looks for a relationship based on depth of emotional feeling and connection, enduring loyalty and devotion.

While Venus is in retrograde, we first need to review our relationships honestly, and if our expectations about relationships are unreal, unobtainable, or overly idealistic, then problems may begin to occur. We need to view our partners as human beings with all human frailties and imperfections, and we need to allow them to be that way. Sometimes we need to open dialogue with our partners and find out what they need out of the relationship and come to some form compromise so that both parties are happy. In severe cases, couples’ therapy is always an option. Finally, we need to be real about our financial situation and create a financial plan if needed.

These suggestions are to help you avoid some of the more difficult problems associated with the retrograde and by working through the issues proactively you will learn about yourself. You will transform (Scorpio) your relationships into ones that are lasting and are more prepared to take on the struggles of ordinary life.

How Venus Retrograde Affects the Signs

Although Venus rules love and money, she lands in a house in your solar chart. The house is the stage or backdrop for Venus to do her work, so pay attention to the other areas of your life that Venus may influence.

Aries (and Aries rising): Love is a battlefield. That will be your theme throughout Venus retrograde. Intense feelings may erupt that will cause difficulties. Not addressing these problems could cause feelings of suspicion. Conflicts with your friends could happen around October 10^th and resolving them proactively could be your best bet. Towards the end of the retrograde cycle, you will have an opportunity to repair relationship difficulties, but it will require compromise.

Taurus (and Taurus rising): Like your Aries neighbor, relationships are under the gun. Although problems are sure to surface, listening to your partner and considering their needs is the simplest resolution. Part of the difficulty may be that you are so busy being focused on your goals and objectives that your partner feels pushed aside. On Halloween, Venus slips into Libra in your solar 6^th house, and your relationship with your body will become your focus. Venus in your 6th is a great time to review your fitness program and take care of yourself.

Gemini (and Gemini rising): Make sure to book a spa day during Venus retrograde because you may need a bit of pampering because internal focus will be part of your Venus cycle with your ruler Mercury conjoining Venus on October 15^th. You may be forced to make changes to your daily schedule, which could prove annoying. New insights into yourself could prove important around October 26^th, and you may need this knowledge when a prior relationship tries to reopen a closed-door around Halloween – proceed with caution. If you are in a relationship, be careful of reacting to shake-ups that occur because old issues may resurface.

Cancer (and Cancer rising): Venus retrograde will transit through your solar 5th house of romance and pleasure. You will begin to question whether your romantic needs are being met or satisfied. Venus in the 5th could lead to some interesting solutions, but at least the sex will be good, especially around October 10^th when Venus squares Mars in your 8^th house. Difficulties and disagreements with friends could occur towards the end of the month. Try to resolve any problems proactively. Listening to others is always the key.

Leo (and Leo rising): Do you need to do some home repair or redecorating? Beautifying your life could be a major theme throughout the retrograde cycle. You may be interested in doing some interior changes around your home to spruce it up a bit, especially in Venus’ natural abode, the bedroom. Also, relationships may need a bit of remodeling when Venus squares Mars on the 10^th. You might want to try spicing things up a bit and do something different or focus the attention on your partner rather than yourself for a change. Relationships at work could prove problematic towards the end of the month.

Virgo (and Virgo rising): Communicating your needs in relationships may prove important with Venus retrograde in your solar 3^rd house. Normally, during this transit of Venus, it’s easy to ‘feel the love’ in your daily life, but during Venus retrograde, you may feel disconnected. The best way to resolve this is to reach out to those around you and try to be more social. You may need to express to the people that are important in your life how much you love and need them. Towards the end of the retrograde cycle, you may need to re-examine your values because many of them may have changed.

Libra (and Libra rising): Your relationship with money will be your primary focus throughout this retrograde cycle. Difficult financial news will get you to examine your purchases and whether they are necessary. It is best to keep financial purchases practical through this cycle. Try to circumvent financial negotiations until after Halloween because they may not be favorable for you. Additionally, avoid borrowing money, and you may need to invest in your everyday life. On Halloween, Venus will slide into your solar 1^st house, and a little bit of self-focus may be necessary.

Scorpio (and Scorpio rising): Normally, Venus moving through your first house would make you feel social and connected to others, but you may feel the need to isolate yourself during this retrograde cycle. Conflicts with others could easily occur, and you may have little stomach for it, especially with family members. You may feel manipulated by others towards the end of the month, and it’s best that you stand your ground or defend yourself. As Venus returns to your 12^th house on the 31^st, you may need to reach out to your close friends or siblings to resolve any problems that may occur. Since Venus retrogrades in your sign, you will experience it stronger than everyone else – proceed with caution, but you will understand yourself on a deeper level when it is over.

Sagittarius (and Sagittarius rising): Venus moving through the 12^th house is usually one of the best 12^th house placements because Venus is naturally exalted. However, Venus retrograde in the 12^th can be problematic. Normally, Venus is rather self-sacrificing when moving through the 12^th, but Venus retrograde can make you feel victimized by the people you are helping. You may need to set some solid boundaries lest you fall into co-dependent behavior patterns. Towards the end of the month, shakeups may occur that can be difficult to manage, but the resolution of these problems will occur in November. Standing up for your values may be important for you to navigate through this retrograde cycle.

Capricorn (and Capricorn rising): In traditional astrology, the 11^th house is the house of hopes and wishes, and with Venus going through the 11^th you may feel that luck isn’t on your side and that situations in your life are not working out for you the way you would have liked. Just remember, this cycle is only temporary and before you know it things will turn in your favor. Since the 11^th house is also the house of friends and your social network, you may need to do some pruning and decide who holds value in your life and who doesn’t. Later in the month, Venus moves into your 10^th house and conflicts may occur at your job. It’s not recommended to be reactive when dealing with others while this placement is active.

Aquarius (and Aquarius rising): Your career is your primary focus during Venus transit through your solar 10^th house. You may feel disconnected at your job and question whether your current career path is bringing you joy and contentment. Towards the end of the month, sudden changes in your career may make you feel a bit disoriented and could create unintended conflicts with others. The 10^th house is also the house of success, and your self-esteem may take a hit. However, once Venus moves into your solar 9^th house, you will begin to see your big picture objectives once again, which will release some of the pressure. Stay in a goal-oriented mindset.

Pisces (and Pisces rising): Normally, Venus moving through your 9^th house encourages personal growth through your relationships. You would feel that your love experience is opening new horizons. However, with Venus retrograde, your difficulties in relationships or finances may make it difficult to get beyond your day-to-day life to experience something life altering. Venus retrograde in the 9^th could make you feel frustrated and uninspired. On Halloween, Venus will slip into your 8^th house, and you may need to revise your credit strategies or repair any damage. Be careful of overly expressing rigid opinions that do not consider other people’s points of view. If you do, people may feel alienated from you and cut off communication.

Looking for personalized insight into your Venus retrograde cycle? You can schedule a consultation with me at anytime or use my on demand service.

The Astrological Signs — Keywords

The Astrological Signs Pt. 4

Welcome back to Astro 101. We have already covered gender, modality, and elements. Now we are going to put them all together, which will give us some information about all the astrological signs.

Let’s begin with the fire signs…

The Element of Fire:

The element of fire consists of three signs – Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Fire is concerned with potential and possibilities. It is deeply intuitive and focused on what ‘could’ be rather than what is. In fact, ‘what is’ is very mundane and boring for fiery types, and they attempt to avoid reality as much as possible. This isn’t because the physical world is too much for them to deal with; it’s because the magical kingdom with dragons, prince and princesses, and a glamorous tomorrow is more palatable. If positively expressed then fire is spontaneous, intuitive, creative, and magnanimous. However, if fire is burning a bit too bright or is negatively expressed it can be egotistical, impatient, compulsive, and reckless.

Aries:

Symbol: The Ram
Natural House: The First
Orientation: Masculine
Modality: Cardinal
Planetary Ruler: Mars
Myth: Jason and the Argonauts
Key Phrase: ‘I AM’

Positive Keywords: initiating, daring, pioneering, energetic, enthusiastic, competitive
Challenging Keywords: reckless, impulsive, irresponsible, impatient, combative, headstrong

Leo:

Symbol: The Lion
Natural House: The Fifth
Orientation: Masculine
Modality: Fixed
Planetary Ruler: The Sun
Myth: Apollo
Key Phrase: ‘I WILL’

Positive Keywords: self-confident, radiant, regal, self-expressive, creative, generous
Challenging Keywords: prideful, vain, pompous, egocentric, melodramatic, spendthrift

Sagittarius:

Symbol: The Archer
Natural House: The Ninth
Orientation: Masculine
Modality: Mutable
Planetary Ruler: Jupiter
Myth: Zeus, Chiron
Key Phrase: ‘I UNDERSTAND’

Positive Keywords: wise, aspiring, visionary, optimistic, exploring, adventurous
Challenging Keywords: self-righteous, zealous, dogmatic, scattered, exaggerating, insensitive

The Element of Earth:

The element of earth consists of three signs – Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Earth is the element that is concerned with concrete reality; the things that you can see feel and touch. Earth is deeply sensual and often enjoys the finer things in life. So, they are more than willing to get out the checkbook and spend big if it is on something they find beautiful or gives them pleasure. Since earth is based on the ‘real’ world (whatever that is), it is often annoyed by speculation and risk-taking. It likes to take the tried and true road because it is safe and secure, and they deeply fear to risk everything for the sake of momentary adventures. If positively express then earth is practical, dependable, serious, and enduring. However, if earth is too bound to material structures then it is stubborn, rigid, materialistic, and inflexible.

Taurus:

Symbol: The Bull
Natural House: The Second
Orientation: Feminine
Modality: Fixed
Planetary Ruler: Venus
Myth: Theseus and the Minotaur
Key Phrase: ‘I HAVE’

Positive Keywords: earthy, practical, stable, reliable, patient, domestic
Challenging Keywords: materialistic, possessive, stubborn, lazy, self-indulgent, uncontrolled appetites

Virgo:

Symbol: The Virgin
Natural House: The Sixth
Orientation: Feminine
Modality: Mutable
Planetary Ruler: Mercury
Myth: The Rape of Persephone
Key Phrase: ‘I ANALYZE’

Positive Keywords: practical, discriminating, meticulous, organized, helpful, economical
Challenging Keywords: petty, picky, judgmental, nitpicking, obsessive-compulsive, neurotic

Capricorn:

Symbol: The Goat
Natural House: The Tenth
Orientation: Feminine
Modality: Cardinal
Planetary Ruler: Saturn
Myth: Chronos/Hera
Key Phrase: ‘I USE’

Positive Keywords: cautious, responsible, conventional, perfectionist, hardworking, economical
Challenging Keywords: domineering, fatalistic, stubborn, brooding, egotistic, status-seeking

The Element of Air:

The element of air consists of three signs: Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. Air is the element concerned with ideas. It rules the mind and everything that goes with it. Air is concerned with putting things together into a strategic formula so that life is civilized, fair, and decent. This element is the most connected to humans and its three signs are represented by symbols that are the most disconnected from the animal kingdom. As a result, air finds emotions suspect and often used as a tool of manipulation and will detach themselves from these experiences if pushed. This can lead to strained and difficult relationships. If positively expressed air is mental, intellectual, communicative, and social. However, if air flies up too high or is too detached from their emotions it can be wordy, gossipy, detached, and inconsistent.

Gemini:

Symbol: The Twins
Natural House: The Third
Orientation: Masculine.
Modality: Mutable
Planetary Ruler: Mercury
Myth: The Dioscuri
Key Phrase: ‘I THINK’

Positive Keywords: intelligent, bright, rational, sociable, versatile, inventive
Challenging Keywords: superficial, shallow, gossiping, nosy, inconsistent, high-strung

Libra:

Symbol: The Scales
Natural House: The Seventh
Orientation: Masculine
Modality: Cardinal
Planetary Ruler: Venus
Myth: Judgment of Paris
Key Phrase: ‘I BALANCE’

Positive Keywords: relating, cooperative, balanced, fair, diplomatic, harmonious
Challenging Keywords: dependent, indecisive, vacillating, overly delicate, gives away power to others, fence straddle

Aquarius:

Symbol: Water bearer
Natural House: The Eleventh
Orientation: Masculine
Modality: Fixed
Planetary Ruler: Uranus (Saturn)
Myth: Prometheus
Key Phrase: ‘I KNOW’

Positive Keywords: reforming, independent, eccentric, unconventional, innovative, inventive
Challenging Keywords: disorganized, anarchist, deviant, erratic, unpredictable

The Element of Water:

The Element of Water consists of three signs – Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. Water signs are the most elusive of all the elements and they thrive on emotions. This means that relationships and connection to other people are highly important, and isolation and loneliness can be quite overwhelming. They deeply fear to be alone and will often compromise their personal happiness to keep others close. Although ideas and concepts are important to water signs, they will often feel that talk is cheap and that actions trump words. If water is expressed positively then it is nurturing, emotional, receptive, and protecting. If it is expressed negatively it can be overprotective, fearful, insecure, and dependent.

Cancer:

Symbol: The Crab
Natural House: The Fourth
Orientation: Feminine
Modality: Cardinal
Planetary Ruler: The Moon
Myth: Tethys and Achilles
Key Phrase: ‘I FEEL’

Positive Keywords: emotional, sensitive, nurturing, domestic, patriotic, maternal
Challenging Keywords: insecure, defensive, hypersensitive, smothering, overprotective, stuck in the past

Scorpio:

Symbol: The Scorpion
Natural House: The Eighth
Orientation: Feminine
Modality: Fixed
Planetary Ruler: Pluto (Mars)
Myth: Perseus and Medusa
Key Phrase: ‘I TRANSFORM’

Positive Keywords: regenerating, transforming, penetrating, erotic, mysterious, magnetic
Challenging Keywords: power-hungry, obsessive, extremist, vindictive, deceptive, paranoid

Pisces:

Symbol: The Fish
Natural House: The Twelfth
Orientation: Feminine
Modality: Mutable
Planetary Ruler: Neptune (Jupiter)
Myth: Atargatis and Icthys
Key Phrase: ‘I BELIEVE’

Positive Keywords: imaginative, idealistic, visionary, compassionate, empathic, sacrificing
Challenging Keywords: chaotic, impractical, delusional, self-destructive, addictive, misunderstood

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The Astrological Signs Pt 4

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The Astrology of 2018

Astrology of 2018

So, do you know who Dorothy Morrison is?

If not, you should. She has authored several books, has an amazing set of products, and is a member of the Coventry family.

She recently called me in frustration and asked me the following question:

Is 2018 going to be better?

And, I responded calmly, “No.”

Now if you know Dorothy, the great Taurean she is, that answer was just unacceptable, and she will do everything she can to make the most of it – because that’s what witches do.

And, you should make the most of it as well!

Every year we get cosmic obstacles that need to be worked through for change and self-fulfillment to occur. Invariably, since the New Years chart is a collective map, and signifies energies that we all will experience on one level or another. Some personal charts may be more influenced than others, and I suggest that you get to know your chart.

This year, the biggest highlight was the spectacular eclipse season, Jupiter moving into Scorpio, and Saturn returning home to Capricorn.

2018 will have its own astrological signature, and although we do not have the cosmic spectacles that we had this year, two more planets – Chiron and Uranus – change signs, and we are at the start of a new ball game that will conclude in 2023.

Before I dive in, I would like to do a bit of a recap because I think it is helpful to understand the big picture in astrology. We tend to look at the day to day events, and although these events have meaning, they often are not helpful in creating change and happiness.

And, what do we all want? TO BE HAPPY!

Clash of the Titans

Recently a client was discussing the current state of the world with me. She told me she was very nervous and that this was causing her distress. She asked me whether this was the transit of Saturn and Neptune that was making her this uneasy. I discussed it with her for a while, but there is no really concreate answer for this. It comes down to this: what comes first, the chicken or the egg? I personally am convinced it is the rooster. However, there is much in the cosmos that we must consider.

At the beginning of 2008, Pluto moved out of Sagittarius and into Capricorn. During its transit through Sagittarius, we experienced a rise in terrorism, terrorists using planes as missiles, two wars in the Middle East, a massive Hurricane that hit the Gulf of Mexico and destroyed much of New Orleans and the Mississippi coast.

Pluto is the planet of survival and it will uproot issues within the sign it is transiting and eliminate what is no longer working. Sagittarius has to do with religious idealism, higher education (whatever that means), and our relationship with things that are foreign. Essentially, the transit of Pluto in Sagittarius was a clash of civilizations.

As Pluto moved into Capricorn, the issues regarding hierarchy, class status, and government became the object of Pluto’s crosshairs. We had two very different Presidential candidates – Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton – that did not fit the mold of what Presidents normally look like (white men), and the stock market crashed and led us into the Great Recession.

Barack Obama would eventually become President of the United States, but there were several issues that came out of his Presidency; most notably, was whether he qualified to be President of the United States or not. And, although recently, Donald Trump has claimed that Hillary Clinton was responsible for the beginning of ‘birtherism’, she was not. It was a politician from Illinois named Andy Martin, who claimed that Obama had multiple citizenships and was a Muslim. Of course, on March 23, 2011, Donald Trump effectively started his Presidential Campaign for 2016 appearing on the View claiming that Obama had something to hide on his birth certificate. He went on to claim that investigators had proof that Obama was secretly born in Kenya forcing Obama to release a long-form birth certificate, and despite the proof, Trump continued to claim that he was unsure of whether Obama was an American. During the 2016 Presidential Campaign, he refused to answer questions about it and deflected interviewer’s questions. Eventually, he admitted that Obama was a US citizen.

On the surface, questioning whether Obama was an American was simply a civic questioning of who can be legitimately elected President. But beneath the surface, was a larger issue about hierarchy, class status, and nativism.

As Uranus began its square to Pluto in 2011, the issue about government corruption became the focus of the evening news with groups such as Occupy Wall Street, labor union squabbles, and revolutions in the Middle East. Uranus in Aries is concerned with freedom, and its combination with Pluto became a stew that everyone wanted to taste. The rights of LGBT citizens, women’s pay issues, marriage equality, and religious issues all resurfaced, but the feeling was not about the desire to have them, but more about people denying individual rights because of special interest groups that politicians were beholden to.

The square between Uranus and Pluto would eventually be enhanced by the square between Saturn and Neptune. Saturn and Neptune tend to bring out ‘populism’ and fear of ‘unknown entities’ regardless of what the aspect is. At the turn of the 20^th century, Saturn was in opposition to Neptune and a wave of populism was ignited by Theodore Roosevelt who brought the issues of the “little guy” onto the national stage. During the mid-30’s, a rather curious Governor turned Senator from Louisiana – Huey P. Long – road another wave of populism, and if anyone was a predecessor to Donald Trump, it would be Senator Long, who had an ongoing war with the media that he considered corrupt and adversarial. And, this past square between Saturn and Neptune involved individuals on the left and on the right who felt that they were left out of the conversation and that their needs were not addressed, and these groups formed the base for both Senator Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump.

When you combine all these aspects (and for sake of brevity, I am not going to go into Uranus conjunct Eris), then you can clearly see how we have got to the point of hyper-partisanship we are in. This is not just a US phenomenon; it is happening in other countries as well. But, the issues of government corruption, the general population is left out of the conversation, and the battle between the have’s and the have not’s rages on.

Will it continue in 2018?

Unfortunately, yes.

Planetary Sign Changes for 2018:

I have already written about Jupiter in Scorpio and Saturn in Capricorn, so I am going to refer you to those articles for review. In this article, I would like to discuss two other sign changes which are important and should be considered – Chiron moving into Aries and Uranus into Taurus.

In April, Chiron will move out of Pisces and into the sign of Aries. Chiron is an interesting planetoid, which I feel reflects where life has been unfair and wounds that ultimately are incurable. Although the wounds of Chiron seem to be manageable through acceptance. While Chiron has been in Pisces, our loss of faith in a world that has seemed to be against us created wounds that have resulted in bitterness and disappointment in others, our bosses, our local towns and cities, and the government. Since Chiron is moving into Aries that energy is going to shift, and rather dramatically. Rather than our being disappointed in others, there is a deep sense of disappointment that occurs within ourselves. We will feel blocked and our sense of individual expression will be stymied and stifled leading many to give up on pursuing life because of resistance from the outer world. Although finding a personal identity may be difficult while Chiron is in Aries (and it is in Aries longer than any other sign), it is necessary for us to strive towards being our own person and realizing that although we may feel, at times, alone in the world, it is that sense of separateness that urges us upon our own journey.

In May, Uranus is going to move from Aries and into Taurus. Uranus is a rather interesting planet because many astrologers have given it the keyword, individuality. Personally, I find nothing individual about Uranus because it’s an outer planet that is concerned with collective ideals and operates on behalf of the collective rather than individuals. Uranus likes to break free of social norms that have become stale and is concerned with fresh ideas for the sake of progress.

While Uranus is in Taurus, it is going to come face to face with earthy reality in its most fixed form. Taurus does not like change and it rules areas of life like money, resources, the banking industry, and our values. So, this is going to be an interesting transit (let me get Dorothy Morrison a Klonopin) to say the least because during the past few years the economy, financial sector, and markets have been on the rise, and the last time Uranus was in Taurus was during the 1930’s, which historically is known as the Great Depression.

So, you can expect changes in areas that Taurus rules and we might even see a LARGE correction with the markets, but the underlying urge of Uranus in Taurus has to do with relying upon inner resources and not outer ones. Of course, since money is one of the most powerful symbols of security, our ideas of what it means to be secure and stable in life might also go through changes. It is necessary while Uranus is in the sign of the bull for us to redefine what money means to us and rely upon resources that might ultimately be more meaningful, so we can experience a true freedom in life.

Overview:

2018 bring us a new set of aspects to ponder.

Jupiter trine Neptune:

Jupiter trine Neptune could be the saving grace aspect of the year. I am not going to sugar coat things; it’s going to be tough. However, Jupiter and Neptune are the two planets that are associated with our belief in life and our connection to a spiritual existence. Jupiter trine Neptune is uplifting and an aspect that is needed when we are going through a crisis. It lets us focus on the positive and not get too bogged down by the events of everyday life. We all need to have faith in life or we would fall into a dark hole of depression, so no matter how difficult things get, we need to always keep our eye on what we can do to change our personal tomorrows, and the need to accept that WE CREATE OUR OWN MIRACLES.

The Great August Grand Earth Trine:

Last year, we had the Great American Eclipse in August, and this year we have another astrological phenomenon that takes place. The Sun in Virgo, Uranus in Taurus, and Saturn in Capricorn all form a triangle in the heavens, which is called a grand trine.

On one hand, I am always suspicious of trines. Trines make things very easy and some of the most horrific events in the world have occurred under them, including 9/11. The financial industry will continue to climb throughout the first part of 2018, but this trine makes me a bit uneasy. So, it is something to keep our eyes on. However, trines can also be favorable. Since this aspect includes the Sun, individual destiny is part of the equation. We can use this aspect constructively to learn from the past and make better decisions in the future. Uranus can give us insight and Saturn can give us the ability to bring form and structure into our lives. This combination could also reflect that we need to shut down the events of the outer world (not ignore them, but instead limit the control they have over us), and focus on how we are creating our personal worlds. Regardless, one of the main themes of the year is that it is not up to ‘THEM’ to create our realities, it is up to ‘US’.

5 Eclipses:

2018 brings us 5 eclipses. I am not going to cover theme significantly this year because they are in the signs they were in last year – Aquarius and Leo. However, I will cover them during eclipse seasons and the first one begins on January 31. So, watch this space for those posts.

The Chart for 2018

I am going to change things up a little this year with my forecast. Normally, I would use the chart for January 1^st and then read the energies that are available in that chart. However, I could never really get past the fact that Libra is always rising, and the Sun is around the 4^th house of the chart. The bulk of the planets would be below the horizon, which could reflect internalized energies that burst out onto the world stage, but I never felt that was good enough.

After studying several mundane astrology books over the last year, I have concluded that the chart that should be used to chart the new year is the Capricorn Ingress, which occurs on December 21^st when the Sun moves into Capricorn and is considered the most important ingress chart and the beginning of a new cycle.

Let me provide you a paragraph from ‘Mundane Astrology’ by Baigent, Campion, and Harvey:

“However, in modern times the great pioneer of astrology in Germany, the highly innovative Alfred Witte, and Britain’s leading astrologer Charles Carter, both independently suggested that in fact the more fundamental ‘birth’ of the year might be considered to be at the winter solstice, when, on entering 0 Capricorn, the Sun actually begins its journey northwards. This agrees with Julian’s reasoning in the fourth century. This is after all the time of the year when we do in fact symbolically celebrate the ‘birth’ of the year with Christmas, and the ‘New Year’ festivities.”

Let me explain what an ingress chart is.

An ingress chart is a frozen moment in time. It is when the Sun moves into one of the cardinal signs (Aries, Libra, Cancer, and Capricorn) and is known as the change of the seasons. Sorry to all of you that believe summer starts Memorial Day weekend, it does not. It starts when the Sun moves into Cancer, which is on June 21^st.

These charts are used in both Mundane Astrology (political) and Astrometeorology (Weather), and they are collective charts. However, we are all influenced by the collective and we can read them for personal astrological trends as well.

The sign that rises in an ingress chart reflects the people.

It’s us.

In this case, the rising sign is Pisces, which reflects that there is a deep emotional sensitivity to movements and trends that are going to occur over the next year. With the current political atmosphere and with nobody willing to budge, you can expect ‘true believer’ syndrome to continue and possibly stronger than ever. People have picked sides and they are going to stick with those sides regardless of the situation or consequences.

The ruler of Pisces is Neptune and it sits on the Ascendant of the chart. I have mentioned Neptune frequently over the past few years because of the Saturn square Neptune aspect in the heavens, and it is the planet that I associate with redemption. Neptune tends to be projected on select mouthpieces that are willing to speak the language we as a collective want to hear. He is a redeemer god, and Neptune being strong in a chart reflects the need for us to seek out other people to do our fighting for us. In many cases, messianic figures are not going to be able to deliver in this type of atmosphere and it historically ends badly for them. Further, you can expect more conspiracy theory activity on the state of the world, and #fakenews will continue to be the phrase de jour of anything that has been communicated that one does not particularly like or agree with.

This dovetails into the Moon sitting in Aquarius in the 11^th house, which needs people and needs a group. We all want to belong and be apart of something, but the price that we often pay for group acceptability is losing our own individual identities in the process. This is not to say that we shouldn’t belong, or we should shun everything we participate in; instead, it means that we should stay true to our own values and our core identity.

Politics:

The Sun sits in the 10^th house conjoined to Saturn, and I would like to quote from ‘Mundane Astrology’ again:

“Saturn or Uranus in the tenth or fourth house, with the Sun in one of the four angular houses. Signifies fall or overthrow of governments, revolutions; changes of government; beginnings of new historical periods; deaths of leaders.”

This does not bode well for Donald Trump who is currently embroiled in an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and a resurgent sex scandal. The Sun is the natural ruler of the leader of the nation in a mundane chart, and it is conjoined to Saturn implies frustration, limitations, and great difficulties – all of which President Trump abhors. Could this lead to an impeachment or resignation? With this combination it is possible. It could also reflect difficult problems with our current government, which is equally as culpable as Trump to the current problems that the country faces. It is becoming painfully obvious, that regardless of party, most politicians are interested in themselves and their own self-interests.

Job Growth:

Despite the claims of politicians, if a tax bill is passed, and it most likely will with Mars in the 8^th in sextile to Sun conjunct Saturn, jobs will not flourish as expected. The sign on the 6^th house (jobs) is Leo and its ruler is the Sun conjoined to Saturn. As I mentioned earlier, this means frustrations and limitations. Job growth could subside or go down in the next year, and the mass hiring of people that politicians are promising with the tax cuts will not happen. Most likely, corporations will use the funds they receive from tax cuts to purchase back their own companies stock. Remember, corporations are not beholden to employees, they are beholden to their shareholders. Of course, this could lead to some disillusioned voters who elected Trump on the promise of bringing back jobs to the mid-west and could lead to Democrats taking over the House and Senate in 2018.

Finances:

The financial outlook for the next year is rather curious. The 2^nd house is ruled by Mars, which is in the 8^th house of other people’s money. This usually means debt. It is conjoined to expansive Jupiter, which could reflect increased debt or an increase in lending might begin. My concern is that shocking Uranus is on the 2^nd house cusp and rules the unfortunate 12^th. Could we be setting ourselves up for a situation like the one in 2008? Pay close attention to your financial situation when Venus goes retrograde in October.

Media:

If I was a 17-year-old in high school, and I was preparing to go to college, the last career I would consider right now is one in journalism. If you thought accusations of FAKE NEWS was over the top in 2017, buckle your seat belt! Cancer is on the media 5^th house cusp and its ruler is in the 11^th house and on the cusp of the 12^th. In its quest to get the headline and eyes faster than anyone else, many media companies will have difficulties throughout 2018. Many organizations that are not in favor of the administration may go through hostilities and possible attempts to silence the media may occur. Coverage of the 2018 elections will be off the charts and will start immediately after Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. It’s going to be a bloodbath!

How Does This Affect Me?

Yes, an ingress chart is a collective chart and it tends to influence events on the world stage. However, those events ultimately have a great impact on your life, and as a result, you need to know about them.

It’s not suggested to sit with your head in the sand, allowing the world around you to dictate how you live your life. It is up to you to understand how things are working to operate your life effectively. All astrology charts are maps, and you can use maps to get to your destination.

Perhaps, one of the biggest aids will be to learn about your own horoscope. Energies are constantly changing, and they influence us in different ways, for good or for ill. It’s up to us to use the tools that are given to us; to make our life easier, and know how to manage in advance what is coming.

I wish each of you an amazing New Year!

Storm Cestavani
December 14, 2017

P.S. If you would like a copy of your horoscope you can get one for free on my site. I have also created a blog post to help you read them.

Saturn in Capricorn & How to Survive It

So, in October, I wrote about Jupiter’s transit into secretive Scorpio and how the Harvey Weinstein news story completely blew up. Since then, a day has not gone by without new allegations and an emboldened #metoo campaign initiated by actress, Alyssa Milano.

Sexual crimes are nothing new and not part of a ‘new’ society gone wild. Cases of women (and men) being abused by the powerful reach back for thousands of years, and there are three cases of sex crimes in the book of Genesis including the rape of Dinah by Prince Shechem. Allegations are not enough to stop rampant sexual abuses. Instead, we need legislation, prosecution, and convictions for the bulk of abuses to end.

But, how is that going to happen?

Enter Saturn:

On December 19, 2017, Saturn will move out of fiery Sagittarius and into earthy Capricorn. Capricorn rules governments, big business, corporations, the economy, authority figures, and banks. So, we will be dealing with some rather interesting folk for the next 3 years.

But, let’s first get to what Saturn means, which tends to be negativistic if you read most pop astrology blogs.

Saturn is restrictive, limiting, self-defeating, critical, disappointing, frustrating, envious, and considered the great malefic in traditional astrology.

After reading all that, you may need a cocktail. (May I suggest a martini, extra dirty?)

Even in mythology, the Greek Kronos (Saturn) is a rather peculiar and paranoid god. His story begins by leading his titan brothers and sisters to defeat their father Ouranos, who found the Titans disgusting and imperfect. Armed with a sickle, gifted by his mother Gaia, Kronos castrates his father and tosses his testicles into the ocean.

One day, Kronos decides to visit an oracle (never a good idea in myth) and is told that one day one of his children would overthrow him and take over the throne. Kronos then would snatch his children from their mother Rhea and would swallow them to prevent them from growing older and rebelling against him. Of course, Rhea becomes completely bitter and angry at the destruction of their children, and eventually deceives Kronos and disguises her newborn son Zeus as a rock, and feeds him to his father.

Rhea sent Zeus to be suckled by the sea goat Amalthea in the wild until he grew up. Allied by several of the Titans that were opposed to Kronos rule, Zeus led a rebellion and overcame Kronos and released his siblings from their gastrointestinal prison. The oracles prophecy comes to pass when Zeus becomes King of the Olympian Gods.

This version of Saturn is where the bulk of the keywords associated with the ringed planet comes from, but there is another part of the Saturn myth that is often overlooked, and this dimension of Saturn is equally important.

In Hesiod’s, “Work and Days,” he divided the timeline of humanity into ages — Gold, Silver, Bronze, Heroic, and Iron. Each of these ages represented a decline of individual values from spiritual to the material. Currently, we are in the Iron Age.

Kronos rules most of the Golden Age, which was a time of great peace and prosperity for mankind. As the god of time and cycles, he ruled over the seasons and earth was so fertile and abundant that humans were not forced to work because mother earth ALWAYS provided. During the Golden Age, people lived very long lives and died with honor and nobility. There was no such concept as war, pestilence, disease, or strife. And, the concept of the Golden Age exists within many mythic structures including the biblical story of Adam and Eve before Original Sin.

The Golden Age even exists and holds power over us today. You can see it come to life if you open Facebook and see a post from someone that has reverie over past times. We have even terms like ‘back in the day’ to remind us that the world used to be a different place and that we have nostalgia for what ‘once was’. There is also a throwback to times long past values. You can see this all the time when people talk about the values of their childhood, even though they abhorred the rules and regulations forced upon them then.

In myth, Prometheus, one of the Titans, eventually led to the end of the Golden Age by gifting humans with the gift of fire, which in Jungian terms is symbolic of inspiration, individuality, and foresight. The gift of fire made it possible for humans to abandon their devout worship of the gods and rely on their own ingenuity, creativity, and passions. Despite our musings of the past, most are concerned about their future. We tend to ignore the gifts of the now in favor of something wonderful that is going to happen next year. And, this is why Saturn is often so difficult.

Saturn is not a god of heaven; he is a god of the earth. His domain is reality and not the potentials and possibilities of tomorrow or an afterlife. Violating his laws have consequences and are not easily swept away by confessing your sins, and the belief that the price has been paid for in advance by a savior god that suffered for you. If you follow Saturn’s laws, then life blesses you with peace and prosperity, but if you force your own will upon nature, Saturn’s punishments are often brutal and unforgiving.

The word Saturn in Latin means ‘to sow’ and Saturn is usually seen in paintings with the sickle his mother (Gaia) gave him. He reflects that what we sow, we reap, and this can be for good or ill. It is through Saturn that we become responsible (he is the Karmic Cop, after all) for all our actions, and we will either get our reward or comeuppance.

There are a lot of rules (Saturn loves that) to receive Saturn’s rewards:

He requires discipline.
productivity
Building endurable structures
Security and order
Preserve values of the past
Self-sufficiency
Self-preservation

Most of the items on the list are boring and could be considered banal drudgery. But, we need structure and foundation to protect ourselves from a chaotic world, and the way Saturn expects us to do that is by going out into the world and achieving something.

The good news is that you always know when Saturn is coming, and you can offer him the homage that he requires. If Saturn is transiting a part of your chart, you can begin to build structures and foundations in that area and prevent some of the more difficult dimensions of the transit. For example, if Saturn is about to enter your 2^nd house, the traditional meaning would be frustrations and difficulties with finances. Now, a more productive way of working with this transit is to begin to look at your finances and honestly make choices and decisions to conserve more money. Since the 2^nd house is also about values, then analyzing what you value is also important.

(If you need to get a copy of your horoscope you can get it for free on my site, and I even include a guide to help you read it.)

Saturn moving into Capricorn:

I am always in awe of synchronicity when I am writing an astrology article and the news of the day seems to coincide with my content. As Saturn finishes its last few days in Sagittarius and gets ready to move into Capricorn, President Donald Trump is retweeting questionable tapes about Islamic extremism and on Capitol Hill, lawmakers in the Senate are about to sign a new tax bill, which many consider highly slanted towards the wealthiest of Americans.

Saturn in Capricorn will manifest in several ways, but one of the paths of least resistance is through hierarchy and the preservation of what has already existed. However, I think this go-around we are going to see hierarchy not just about who has more money than someone else and stations in life, but also through sexual roles and racial dominance. And, although there has been enormous progress made, the general attitude of this transit is to preserve the status quo. So, there could be heavy blowback in racial relationships, gender roles, and sexual orientation laws.

Each sign that Saturn transits through has a fear that needs to be addressed. In the case of Saturn in Capricorn, that fear is the chaotic aspect of human nature. Life is just unpredictable, and like Kronos swallowing his children to preserve his status and fear of the unknown, we may see laws enacted that attempt to protect us from ‘outside forces’ that are unknown and unmanageable. For example, net neutrality is one likely suspect, but the issue regarding cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin) and their tendency to attract alleged unsavory individuals could come under investigation and regulation.

Security and stability are also important to Saturn in Capricorn. Of course, the process of feeling secure and stable could ultimately lead to difficulties on the world stage and the potential for warfare, but with Uranus moving into Taurus (I will write about that transit in my 2018 article) issues surrounding money and sudden shifts financially could occur.

During Saturn’s transit through Capricorn, he will encounter Pluto in 2020. Pluto’s transits through a sign reflect an underlying need to eliminate what is corrupt or life-threatening to secure the survival of the species. Pluto is not concerned with individuals and individual desires, he is concerned with survival, and when conjoined with Saturn this can lead to some rather nasty business. Each sign Pluto transits through an enemy is invoked based upon the sign he is in, which in this case is Capricorn. Leaders and those at the top are under fire and Pluto will seek to root out those leaders that are corrupt.

Now leaders are not just going to roll over and give up power and the corrupt are not going to willingly reveal their schemes on the evening news, instead, they will try to hold vigorously onto their positions. Of course, we are seeing the seeds of this now beginning to blossom with the attack on the press and terms like ‘alternative facts’ making their way into pop culture. Information is being distorted to serve the powerful, and more of this will occur because Saturn in Capricorn likes preservation.

I am sure you are thinking, “Storm what can I do about it?”

Well, a lot.

Saturn in Capricorn does not just happen on the world stage. It happens to every one of us. We have a Saturn in our charts, Saturn is currently transiting through a house in our chart, and Saturn will make aspects to planets. As I discussed earlier, Saturn requires homage and if we are brave enough to listen to his cues, then we will be blessed with rewards, but if we try to usurp the god, then frustration and limitations will occur.

I think with any transit, we can begin by asking ourselves tons of questions. Let me give you the ones necessary to make a relationship with Saturn, and then you may experience some of his blessings, as well.

Are you building structure and foundation in your life? This is highly important because Saturn loves this. He doesn’t like that you just have a job and you are paying your bills, he likes saving for a rainy day, building up a surplus of funds (Susi Ormand recommends 8 months of salary in your savings), do you own anything, are you taking responsibility for your life or are you dependent on others?
Are you ambitious? Do you have goals for the future AND a plan to manifest them? Saturn does not like dreams, he likes what is real, and if you DON’T have a plan, it isn’t real.
What are the rules you live your life by? Do you REALLY live them?
What order do you have in your life?
Are you concerned with your social standing, and has this concern made you corrupt? In other words, are you doing things to remain in power (vilifying others, gossiping, manipulating situations, and preventing others from achieving their goals)?

These questions are just a start and I am sure that you can spend hours finding sub-questions to analyze where you stand with these. The best way to develop a relationship with a planet is to start living what it requires, and developing a relationship with Saturn is extremely important. Saturn is our psychic skin; he protects us from the outer world. He can provide us with tremendous gifts. But with Saturn, you must have the courage to work for them.

If you are frustrated and tired of the rollercoaster of life, then getting a full look at how Saturn is going to influence you over the next few years may be the answer. You can schedule a consultation with here.