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A shorter version of this post was publishe in issue 126 of 'The Uki Village News'
Between the intensity of Scorpio-Taurus Eclipses, the Retrogradation of Mars and the ongoing Saturn-Uranus’ square we will need to be flexible, because our long term plans may need significant adjustments to eventually succeed.
On October 25 a Solar Eclipse (02° Scorpio New Moon) will energize the early degrees of the Fixed Signs (0-5 of Scorpio-Taurus-Leo-Aquarius), potentially altering our perspective on life in profound ways, and thus creating pathways for future progress.
On November 8 a Lunar Eclipse (16° Taurus Full Moon) could have an emotional impact on the middle degrees of the Fixed Signs (Taurus-Scorpio-Leo-Aquarius). An emotional climax of sorts may be on the cards, resulting from the way we may have dealt with previous experiences. This could be a time for profound realizations about the past, when you will look inward for answers.
The Saturn-Uranus’ square: this ongoing transit is maintaining its formidable hold on world affairs and many people’s lives. The degrees 16th to 20th of Taurus-Aquarius-Leo-Scorpio will be especially under this transit’s radar. We could be driven into taking some serious decisions, between contrasting, even conflicting choices, creating inner tension as well as strain in our personal relationships and environment, while hopefully moving us on from humdrum situations (see 2021).
Collectively, economies and governments around the world could also witness the escalation of tension and be forced to make hurried choices to implement urgent socio-economic changes. Make or break decisions, for better or worse, will decide the world future direction for the next ten years or so.
The Sun, Mercury and Venus will become catalysts for the manifestation of the Saturn-Uranus’ edgy energy, between the first and second week of November. Furthermore, on November 8, the last Lunar Eclipse of this year (Taurus-Full-Moon), will conjunct Uranus and form a 90 degrees angle to Saturn in Aquarius. The US crucial mid-term elections in early November will have to deal with a share of this disruptive energy. Lunar Eclipses represent the climax of matters that have been maturing for a while, like a crop ready to be harvested; and also the start of more conscious new cycles. This particular Eclipse, aligning with the most transformative transit of the year could indeed carry a punch and not just for the US.
An escalation of the Russia/Ukraine conflict and others around the world is very possible too. While the same transit was active, on and off, in 2021, when relations between the two countries were becoming steadily worse, the invasion itself took place at the end of February this year, when Saturn had temporarily separated from the transit but was sitting on the very same 18th degree of Aquarius that it will occupy in October and November; the November 8 Taurus Lunar Eclipse will be part of the mix too!
The United Kingdom is also closely aligned to the Saturn-Uranus’ unsettling transit, as well as the Lunar Eclipse, via Neptune in Scorpio 18° and Venus on 16°Aquarius, within England’s Natal Horoscope (January-1-1801). The Solar Eclipse (Scorpio-New-Moon), on October 25, will also be conjunct the United Kingdom’s Natal Jupiter. These synchronicities could indicate a difficult and uncertain transition for the present king and the British monarchy in general, marred in controversies and unforeseen events.
New Zealand’s Natal Pluto (Natal Chart cast for June 18 1852) will be aligned to the October 25 Scorpio Solar Eclipse, while Jupiter and Saturn are loosely aligned to the November 8 Taurus Lunar Eclipse as well as the Saturn-Uranus’ transit.
The Natal Chart of modern, non-imperial Japan (April 28, 1952) has also Pluto in Leo at right angle to the November 8 Lunar Eclipse and the Saturn-Uranus’ transit. Some important event may befall both countries in the next few months.
Jupiter’s Return into Pisces
For a brief spell of seven weeks (October29-December21) Jupiter will be retracing its steps into Pisces. For people with the last two degrees of the Mutable Signs highlighted in their Birth Charts (Pisces-Virgo-Gemini-Sagittarius) Jupiter’s return visit could bring to fruition a wish, a dream, an opportunity they recently thought was close to be realized but then seemed lost. For some though attaining it may not bring the perfect fulfilment they hoped for.
Mars’ Retrogradation in Gemini
In October Mars is slowing down because it is due to turn Retrograde on the 30th, an event taking place every two years. Turning Direct on January 13 Mars will exit Gemini only on March 25 next year. This planet signifies the function of assertion in action: when we want to achieve something how we go about it: in a timid, self-doubting way; or in an overly assertive, insensitive way; or fairly? This Retrogradation represents an opportunity to reconsider the way we usually act to get what we want and also the way we handle disagreements and conflicts in our lives. How effective and fair is the way we assert ourselves when we are challenged? Do we give our opponents space to make their point, or we just want our viewpoint to be heard? Perhaps we have the opposite problem: we let others win an argument for the sake of peace or become overly emotional, to gain the upper hand by manipulative ways?
A 90 degrees angle from Mars to Neptune, becoming exact three times, during and after its Retrogradation (October12-November20-2022-March15-2023), happens to be one of the most challenging in the coming months. The function of these two planetary energies is in fact naturally at odds. Mars is physical and ‘yang’; action and assertion its key words. Neptune is instead a ‘Yin’ planet, yielding and metaphysical in nature. The square aspect always tends to pit one planet against the other. So it is action or non-action? Is it assertion or surrender? It could get confusing to decide the right course when torn between these conflicting drives. I could compare their successful combination to a type of martial art, where physical skill and stamina combines with a dance form and spiritual philosophy to realize the perfect, non-aggressive self-defence practice.
Welcome to my astrological survey of the 2022 Australian Federal Election.
First of all a disclaimer: the purpose of this post is not to pick the winners in this upcoming election. Astrology is not an exact science but rather an amazing and age proven craft whose aim is shedding light on the connection between cosmic phenomena and events on earth. If read properly it can indeed clarify the reason behind any turn of events and thus also guide us to see the potential outcome of any situation.
It is amazing how the current transits reflect the level of ambivalence the electoral polls are showing. Few hours away from voting the pollsters are still very much muddle-headed as to who may end up holding a clear majority, if anyone. Some experts are even mentioning the possibility of a ‘Hung Parliament’, a rare event in modern Australian federal politics,the two most recent occurrences dating back to the 2010 and 1940 Elections. After winning by a narrow margin in 2010 Labor Julia Gillard formed a minority government with the support of three Independents and one Green MP. Seventy years earlier, in 1940, a conservative coalition won also by a narrow margin, but,only forty days after forming a minority government under Menzies, was beaten by Labor, led by John Curtin. Menzies had to wait until the 1949 Election to become Prime Minister, office he held until 1963.
Considering the significant impact that Independents, minor parties and an estimate 5/8% still undecided voters, and the fact that Labor has lost some points while the Coalition has gained a few since the campaign started, the polls as well as the astrology seem to indicate a very tight race whose winner may not be decided immediately.
The odd choice of date
Here is Canberra Sunrise Horoscope for Election Day, May 21 2022.
Astrologically speaking the chosen date is odd for many reasons:
The Sun will be moving from Taurus, a traditionally conservative Sign, to Gemini, a more progressive Sign, at 11.22 am on the very day. The last degree of every Sign is a sort of twilight zone, often a place of confusion and uncertainty, when a change is close at hand but not yet materialized, the pull of the past remaining strong for a while, slowing progress.
Mercury is still retrograde and also shortly moving from Gemini back into Taurus (on May 23), the reverse of what the Sun is doing. Sun and retro Mercury will meet, while moving in opposite directions, just before sunrise on Sunday May 22, in what is called their Inferior Conjunction, when Mercury aligns with our planet while orbiting between the Earth and the Sun.Any student of astrology could tell you that the period of Mercury retrograde is not ideal to begin new ventures, sign important contracts or make long term plans. All sorts of misunderstandings and delays are often the outcome of action taken during these periods.
The Aquarius Moon will be waning;also not an ideal phase to start anything, while the Moon’s Sign seems to indicates also a shift toward more inclusive and progressive trends.
All the above describes a time of transition but also of great uncertainty, with the results of the polls perhaps delayed, and a clear majority difficult to ascertain; with the real potential for a minority government or even a hung parliament, a rare but not unheard of event, especially in times of general turmoil like the ones we are living. In 2010Labor Julia Gillard won only by a narrow margin, during a retro station of Mercury. Also in 2010 as well as 1940 the Sun was closely approaching a new Sign on Election day, but not as close to the cusp as it will be during this coming election.
Looking ahead the Gemini New Moon, on May 30, and Mercury’s return to direct motion, on June 3-4, may indicate a more suitable time for the emergence of clearer results and the beginning of a new political phase.
The two contestants
The transits affecting the two main contestants in the race, Scott Morrison and Antony Albanese, could shed more light on the possible outcome. Unfortunately neither of the two leaders’ time of birth is available, denying us some crucial information that could have helped filling in more details into the picture. In particular we are missing the general orientation of the celestial bodies, above or below the horizon, east or west, defining their respective areas of influence.
I have cast their horoscopes for the time of the local sunrise in the birth place on the day of birth, a traditional method recommended in such cases.
Scott Morrison: Taurus Sun, Scorpio or Sagittarius Moon
Here is Scott Morrison’s Sunrise Horoscope and Data Page:
We need to remember that in this horoscope the Moon could be either in Scorpio or Sagittarius, depending on the birth occurring before or after 11.53 am. The Scorpio Moon typically gives a secretive, intense personality that could attract enemies, but also attain to positions of authority and control through the use of will power and sometimes emotional manipulation. The Sun in Taurus coupled with a Scorpio Full Moon will in fact strengthen the will considerably and also the need to control one’s environment. If born after 11.53 am Morrison would have a Sagittarius Moon instead. This usually gives a brash, self-confident and gregarious personality. A Sagittarius Moon, coupled with his Gemini Mercury and Mars, would make him a natural salesman, skilled with words but not necessarily trustworthy. The Sagittarius Moon would be my choice for him if I were into guessing,with perhaps boisterous Jupiter rising in Leo (Leo Ascendant).
Scott Morrison’s current major transits
Scott Morrison is at present experiencing the intense emotional effect of the May 16 Scorpio Lunar Eclipse (the major phase during which the election will be held), when transiting Sun and Moon in Taurus and Scorpio aligned closely to his birth Sun, Sunrise Moon and Neptune, also in Taurus and Scorpio. The South Lunar Node was very closely aligned to the sunrise Moon and to Neptune during the Eclipse itself, while the North Node will be exactly on his sunrise Sun, at election time.
Morrison was born few hours after the Scorpio Full Moon, fact that accounts for his forceful personality and compelling ambitions; the May 2022 Full Moon Eclipse is certainly testing both. These special lunar phases, when aligned to planetary positions in the Birth Chart, represent significant turning points in life with the potential for profound realizations through crisis, helping the development of personality and unfolding of destiny. In particular an Eclipse Season in Taurus and Scorpio is bringing to light things which were hidden, hopefully encouraging some serious soul searching for our current leader.
Here is again Morrison’s horoscope surrounded, in the top image, by the planetary positions at the time of the May 16 Lunar Eclipse in Scorpio, and, in the bottom image, by the positions on Election Day 2022, on Canberra’s sunrise time.
Transiting Saturn in Aquarius has recently reached a 90 degrees angle (square) from Morrison’s Natal Sun (April 2) and it will return in August and at the end of December, very much covering the whole year, with a square to natal Mars looming for next year as well.
The transiting Saturn will shortly also begin to square his natal Neptune (first pass in direct motion on June 1, second pass on June 8, in retro motion; third and last pass, in direct motion, on January 27, 2023). Both Saturn’s square to his natal Sun and Neptune are happening for certain on the given dates, not depending on an exact birth time.
Saturn is also squaring his sunrise Moon, but the dates for this transit cannot be certain, due to the lack of a birth time and an exact degree placement of the natal Moon.
Saturn is aptly known as the ‘reality check’ planet. Its major transits to an individual’s Sun degree force him/her to experience the world in a starker light than usual, lowering self-confidence and often dashing expectations in order to build character and limit ego expansion. So, even if the Liberal Party is meant to win this upcoming election it will be very difficult for Morrison personally to keep the level of confidence he has displayed so far. External challenges and inner doubts will make his leadership experience far from smooth, as we have seen happening already in recent times.
Possibly even more difficult could be Saturn’s square to his Natal Neptune, with him for nearly another year. This is an extremely difficult transit to experience during such an important contest. While the role of Saturn is to establish firm foundations with focus on achieving goals through hard work and discipline, Neptune has the power to erode all the above, making all efforts null and void, aiming instead to attain non-ego-centric ideals. These two planets are in fact natural enemies, one busy creating structures and security while the other is intent at dismantling them. This difficult contact can cause great confusion, irrational thinking and behaviour, and grave disappointments, especially in the sphere of worldly ambitions. I feel this particular transit is one that indicates losing rather than winning this election.
The birth position of Morrison’s Saturn in Aries often indicates a powerful father complex potentially leading the individual to become extra competitive, in need to prove himself at all cost. This trait could lead to aggressive and bossy behaviour, to make clear who is in charge. Any transit of Saturn, like the ones I just described, will stimulate this tough, uncompromising side of his personality.
Antony Albanese: Pisces Sun, Taurus or Gemini Moon
Here is Antony Albanese’s Sunrise Horoscope and Data Page:
Same as before, when looking at his opponent’s horoscope, we need to remember that, in Albanese’s own horoscope, the Moon could be either in Taurus or Gemini, depending on the birth occurring before or after 7.38 am. The Taurus Moon typically gives an intense, affectionate but also wilful personality that may find difficult to adapt to changes or to move on from stuck circumstances. If born after 7.38 am Albanese would have a Gemini Moon instead. This usually gives a lighter, more social, intellectually curious personality. A Gemini Moon, coupled with his Pisces Sun and Jupiter would make him more adaptable and easy going, but not the best at focusing his will toward a set goal; sometimes easily swayed by events and others’ opinions or stronger personalities. A study of his lifestyle, family life, interests and hobbies could help me to make an educated guess on his Moon Sign and possible Rising Sign. I don’t know enough of the man, apart from his often unassuming public image, to even start guessing.
Antony Albanese’s current transits
Here is Albanese’s horoscope surrounded by the positions of the Sun, Moon and planets on Election Day 2022, on sunrise:
While Saturn is prominent in transit for incumbent Prime Minister Scott Morrison, forcing him to face some hard facts and accept unwelcome limitations, Pluto, planet of destruction and regeneration, and Uranus, the ‘shaker and mover’ planet, are instead prominent in transit for Antony Albanese. Jupiter too is playing an important role especially at election time.
2022 is also a Saturn Return year for Albanese, the second in his life, as he will turn sixty next year. The Return itself took place on February 13, only one pass. This once in thirty years transit is neither positive nor negative. It represents just a coming of age when, having reached a degree of psychological maturity, the individual should be ready to embrace the final years of his/her life assisted by the wisdom of experience.
Pluto: no matter if he will end up winning or losing this election, some profound inner transformation is taking place and difficult experiences are testing Albanese’s resilience and personal power right now, making his life feeling all together more intense than ever before. Pluto began its once in a lifetime conjunction to his natal Capricorn Venus in January this year and will remain very close to Venus at least until the end of the year. Despite its difficulties this is an empowering transit at the end of which the individual should be able to identify with a more authentic version of oneself, if he survives the test without cracking under the intense stress.
This conjunction, despite its negative potentials, seems to me a sign that Albanese could win this election because he is giving it everything he has got, and more.
Uranus: thanks to Uranus the wind of change could reach cyclonic strength in Albanese’s life this year and beyond, another sign that this is a turning point for his life and career. He should expect disruptions to his best laid plans and face the need to embrace a less conformist, more radical outlook on many matters, in his personal and political life.
Uranus in Taurus is in fact forming a 90 degrees angle (square)to his Saturn and Mercury, conjunct in idealistic, friendly Aquarius in his Birth Chart.These challenging but potentially exciting and life changing transits, already brewing during the election campaign, will become exact for the first time between the middle of June and the end of July, return between September and November, and finally complete their course between March and May 2023.
Transiting Jupiter in Aries is forming the first pass of a difficult semi-square with Albanese’s natal Saturn, starting just on Election Day. Later it will be doing the same with his natal Mercury. These challenging angles will remain active, on and off, until January 2023. When Jupiter, planet of expansion, challenges Saturn, planet of restriction, the need arises to find a working balance between realism (Saturn) and idealism (Jupiter), an opportunity to curb exaggerated expectations without losing sight of one’s dreams and aspirations.
Conclusion
In my view this is going to be a tight race whose outcome may not be certain for a while (Sun between two Signs; Mercury Retrograde and also moving Sign). Neither of the two contestants really emerges as a clear winner; both are going through some major challenge that could represent a turning point in their careers.
Scott Morrison is going through a big reality check at the moment, but one not too dissimilar from others he has experienced before, part of the ups and downs, learning curve of life. He is also going through an intense emotional time due to the recent Lunar Eclipse, but none of the slow moving, life changing planets, namely Uranus, Neptune or Pluto, will achieve prominence in his life until next year, when Uranus in Taurus will reach the degree of his natal Sun.
Personally I put my money on Albanese. I feel he has more chances than Morrison to win this election, not because his transits are easy and wonderful but because they are actually life changing. The fact that Pluto and Uranus are becoming active at the same time show that a critical point has been reached and there is no turning back; it is a make or break situation for him.
It is now just past midnight on Election Day. I need to publish this post immediately, but run out of time to discuss the crucial role the Minor Parties, the Greens in particular, could play in this election; as well as the significance of the women and LGBT community’s votes to reshape Australian government’s approach to fundamental issues such as climate change, sexual, racial and religious discrimination, the Aboriginal question, human right, treatment of refugees, affordable housing, mental health, environmental protection, sustainable living etc. Because all the above topics are becoming more and more relevant to an ever increasing number of people it is perhaps a good thing if elections, still based on the traditional and obsolete two parties system, do not lend themselves to reliable polling and experts’ predictions anymore. More independents candidates and minor parties will be needed in the future to reflect the diversity of the modern electorate and the wide range of ecological, social and economic reforms people are clamoring for.
During the weeks of unending rain, I mused about the astrological dimension of the extreme weather event that was unfolding. I knew that some challenging transits had become active from late February, remaining in force at least until the first week in March. They started with the most difficult and far reaching: the Jupiter semi-square Pluto on February 24, coinciding to the day with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, threatening security in Europe and the world. This has been in fact the first instance in a great numbers of years when a world first power leader has used the threat of nuclear weapons as a deterrent against its opponents’ intervention in aid of Ukraine. The same transit also marked the onset of major flooding in South East Queensland. More difficult transits continued, in close sequence, in early March, especially around the March 3 Pisces New Moon, and soon after.
The Pisces New Moon phase has been, in my view, central to the whole event. It has been significant, in regard to the floods, because of its watery nature, of course, but also for its alignment to Jupiter, the cosmic amplifier, and Neptune, the water and tempest planet, also in Pisces. The disaster, while bringing great sorrow and loss to many and much destruction to the environment, has also strengthened our sense of community and human compassion. Friends, family and complete strangers have come to each other help and comfort (the Neptune’s effect). These now all too frequent climate calamities hopefully will force us to develop a radically different vision for the future and a new environmental philosophy, to guide our policies and actions, individually and collectively (the Jupiter’s effect).
Other transits, becoming active close to the March Pisces New Moon, also added their own flavour to the flood’s story. Many hard conjunctions happened in fact on the same day or during the same week.
On New Moon day, March 3: Mercury became conjunct Saturn in Aquarius. This is an alignment often described by astrologers as marking a time for serious, practical and focused thinking, and, because it happened in Aquarius, indicating also an occasion for becoming more aware of the needs of our global village, lending a hand to our fellow people, while keeping mental cool and detachment.
Negatively this conjunction is also said to manifest as limitations in our ability to communicate with others, frustration originating from these restrictions or inhibitions; with possible sense of isolation and feelings of alienation and depression. One of the unusual consequences of the floods has been the near complete and prolonged breakdown of communication by phone or internet for a great number of people (Aquarius ruling science and technology, in particular the internet). This inability to connect, as we are all so used to do, compounded the isolation caused by overflowing rivers and creeks and by the numerous mudslides blocking access roads for weeks. The conjunction Mercury-Saturn may have had a hand in this!
Here is a list of the other transits that became exact on New Moon day and for few days afterward. They are worth noting because of the numerous interactions between the destiny makers slow moving planets and the fast moving ‘personal’ planets: powerful experiences fostering evolutionary changes.
March 3: Sun-Moon semi-square Venus and Pluto; Mars conjunct Pluto; Moon semi-square Mars; Moon conjunct Jupiter and Neptune.
March 4: Sun semi-square Mars; Venus conjunct Pluto; Moon semi-square Uranus and sextile Pluto, Venus and Mars; Moon semi-square Mercury and Saturn (conjunct since March 3).
March 6:Venus and Mars, after aligning to Pluto in Capricorn one day apart, on March 3 and 4, having been on/off conjunct in Capricorn since the first week in February, became conjunct each other again on the very threshold of Aquarius, on March 6.
This is one transit, among others, that show the possibility of friendship and tolerance to emerge from the collective difficulties we are facing, and not just in Australia. The naught degree of Aquarius is the very same in fact where Jupiter and Saturn had their rendezvous at the end of 2020. That historical alignment promised that the world’s mind will be evolving in the right direction in the next twenty years. Venus and Mars may hopefully be catalysts to this promise in the shorter term.
The proof in the pudding of astrological meteorology
Of course the same phase and accompanying transits were also active all over the world, even in places where they are experiencing a drought or where the weather is just fine!
A clue to the different effect of the same transits in different places, meteorologically and otherwise, is the planets’ orientation to the local horizon, changing from place to place, more markedly the farther the places are from each other.
In astrological meteorology New Moon, Quarter Moons and Full Moons are important indicators of weather trends for the weeks and months ahead. In this instance, at the time of the Pisces New Moon the unpredictable planet Uranus was found very closely aligned to the nadir of many localities on the Australian eastern seaboard, particularly close to it between Gympie and Sydney. Meanwhile the other difficult alignments, exact during the same period, could be found grouped around the local Ascendant (Rising Sign’ degree) in the same localities where Uranus was aligned to the nadir.
When attempting to predict the weather via Astrology the four cardinal points of the horoscope are those to observe for signs of good or bad outcome, from mild to extreme weather etc. In particular the nadir degree and the rising degree are traditionally considered the most important for weather forecast.
In this case Uranus’ placement right on the nadir in the localities worst affected by the floods showed a potential for upheavals of great magnitude.
The nadir’s degree moreover fell in Taurus, Sign traditionally ‘ruled’ by Venus, at the time of the New Moon embroiled in an intensely difficult conjunction to both Mars and Pluto in Capricorn (death, anguish, drama, loss, destruction)! This and the conjunction of Mercury to Saturn (communication breakdowns), another transit that contributed to the sad and trying nature of the event, were all grouped around the Aquarius Ascendant (Rising Sign’s degree). The Capricorn conjunction was in the Twelfth House of unavoidable, fated events, and the Mercury-Saturn’s conjunction in the very active, prominent First House. Both Capricorn and Aquarius are traditionally ruled by Saturn, while Aquarius is also co-ruled by Uranus. All the above set of circumstances certainly highlighted a time of rather uneasy planetary fellowship.
And finally the Pisces New Moon itself, with its alignment to Jupiter and Neptune, fell, in all the horoscopes under consideration in the Second House of security and finance, showing the enormous and ongoing economic impact of the floods, as well as the community and government financial and overall help provided to the victims. Pisces and Neptune in particular signify charitable institutions and acts of compassion, while Jupiter indicates general good will and support coming from high places.
Horoscopes of the Pisces New Moon in nine different localities
Here are the horoscopes I’ve cast for the March 3 2022 Pisces New Moon, in nine different locations, to provide a visual for the above statements. They are nine places, from North to South: Cairns, Rockhampton, Gympie, Brisbane, Murwillumbah, Lismore and Ballina, Orange, Sydney and Melbourne.
In all the Charts I have highlighted Uranus’ distance from the nadir and also the other relevant transits, the latter grouped around the Rising Sign of each Chart: Venus-Mars-Pluto’s conjunction in Capricorn + Mercury-Saturn’s conjunction in Aquarius + Moon and Sun, on the same degree at New Moon, and conjunct Jupiter and Neptune in Pisces.
What it’s very telling is that Uranus, the extreme weather planet par excellence, shifted away from the nadir in places north of Gympie, south of Sydney, or further west from the coast!
This is the March 3 New Moon Horoscope for Cairns, Queensland. I have highlighted the position of Uranus at the nadir and the other relevant conjunctions. The distance between Uranus and the nadir was 09°32’ in Cairns, quite large.
This is the March 3 New Moon Horoscope for Rockhampton, Queensland. I have highlighted the position of Uranus at the nadir and the other relevant conjunctions. The distance between Uranus and the nadir was 04°37’, still large, but not as large as Cairns. We are moving south on the Eastern Australia coast.
This is the March 3 New Moon Horoscope for Gympie, Queensland. I have highlighted the position of Uranus at the nadir and the other relevant conjunctions. The distance between Uranus and the nadir was 02°25’, much closer than in northern localities. We are moving south on the Eastern Australia coast.
This is the March 3 New Moon Horoscope for Brisbane, Queensland. I have highlighted the position of Uranus at the nadir and the other relevant conjunctions. The distance between Uranus and the nadir was 02°02’, less than Gympie, meaning Uranus was closer to the nadir in Brisbane.
This is the March 3 New Moon Horoscope for Murwillumbah, Northern Rivers of New South Wales. I have highlighted the position of Uranus at the nadir and the other relevant conjunctions. The distance between Uranus and the nadir was 01°40’, less than Brisbane, meaning Uranus was closer to the nadir here than in Brisbane.
This is the March 3 New Moon Horoscope for Lismore, Northern Rivers of New South Wales. I have highlighted the position of Uranus at the nadir and the other relevant conjunctions. The distance between Uranus and the nadir was 01°47’, more or less same distance as Murwillumbah. The Horoscope cast for Ballina gave same results as Lismore, with Uranus extremely close to the nadir.
This is the March 3 New Moon Horoscope for Orange, in New South Wales’ interior. I have highlighted the position of Uranus at the nadir and the other relevant conjunctions. The distance between Uranus and the nadir was 06°04’, a large distance, due to the fact that Orange is quite far from the coast.
This is the March 3 New Moon Horoscope for Sydney, New South Wales. I have highlighted the position of Uranus at the nadir and the other relevant conjunctions. The distance between Uranus and the nadir was 03°54’, less than the Northern Rivers or Brisbane/Gympie, but still close enough to cause trouble.
This is the March 3 New Moon Horoscope for Melbourne, Victoria. I have highlighted the position of Uranus at the nadir and the other relevant conjunctions. The distance between Uranus and the nadir was a whopping 10°22’, even larger than in Cairns. No extreme weather recorded in Melbourne around this New Moon.
What next?
Since the start of this year all celestial bodies, excluding the Moon during half of its cycles, have been transiting within a narrow span of five Signs, in a 150 degrees arc. This lopsided configuration will last until June/July. The same tight pattern happened during the first half of both 2020 and 202, a great visual reminder of the worsening lack of harmony in our world, in personal and political relationships. We feel we have no choice but to take one side or the other; compromise appearing now more difficult than ever. At the time of all Full Moon phases, for example, the Moon will again transit alone in the opposite hemisphere to all other bodies, heightening the emotional struggle to reconcile many opposites. And to put this trend in even greater relevance the Lunar Nodes, representing the world axis of destiny, connected to the current eclipses and at right angle to karmic Saturn, are the points closing the half hemisphere’s grouping!
Paradoxically though, while many astrological indicators are showing the potential of widening the already deep fractures in the collective psyche, triggering personal confrontations and even full blown wars, other significant transits seem to tell a very different story. Like the flood’s tragedy bringing the best out of people, even helping many to resolve differences that have divided us during the Covid outbreak, the positive transits of Jupiter, in particular its conjunction to Neptune (already active in March, exact on April 13 and in force for a few weeks after that) offer us hope that things could get better; that good will could prevail in the long term, if we give peace a chance.
Important Dates in April
April 12: the Lunar Nodes in Taurus/Scorpio at right angle to Saturn in Aquarius. Only a day shy of this year’s most important transit, the Jupiter-Neptune’s conjunction, this difficult angle is here to remind us that excessive optimism is not warranted at this time and that the world is as yet due to pay some karmic debts before we can move forward and in a new direction.
April 13: Jupiter will conjunct Neptune on the 23/24 degree of Pisces. Due to the ‘aquatic’ nature of this alignment there is a potential for more heavy rains in the next few weeks, but also for more sharing, loving, forgiveness and mutual understanding, a great plus at a time when antagonism is rife.
Between the two, Jupiter is the fastest moving body, so it represents the energy that activates and expands the role of Neptune. Astrology credits Water for more than just rain and floods. First and foremost this Element represents emotions, empathy, the sensitivity needed to feel someone else pain, with the desire to alleviate their distress. Water helps us to merge with one another, to erode away the barriers that stifle our connection with each other and with nature.
In a better world this combination would be indeed very positive, fostering peace rather than war, enhancing our more humane and spiritual side. Some even hope it could mean a cease fire in Ukraine and other hot spots around the world. It could, of course, especially considering that the conflict has now reached a stalemate, no side winning/losing outright. With all else going on, this remains only a wish though. Realistically, lasting peace on the planet seems to be yet remote to a born pessimist like myself.
There is a darker side to all planetary alignments, and the Jupiter-Neptune’s conjunction is no exception. One of the most obvious at present is the continuing spread of misinformation, principally generating from social media outlets, the focus shifting from the pandemic to the war in Ukraine and other topics. Everything is out for grab, apparently; documentary evidence is worth nothing; trust of serious, fact based reporting is dwindling, while boundaries of what is actually believable are breaking down. The fluid energy of Pisces, so powerful in the last few years, is showing its irrationally dangerous side, when trust in democratic principles is threatened by propaganda that services only despots and others with not so concealed interests in spreading lies.
Important Dates in May
Eclipses in May could bring profound experiences and realizations, even the foundation or culmination of important life cycles, especially for some whose birth Sun, Moon, Planets and Angles fall within a couple of degrees from the Eclipses’ degrees.
May 1: the Taurus 10°28’ Partial Solar Eclipse fosters new beginning in the areas of creative imagination and relationships because, on the same day, a perfect conjunction is taking place between Venus and Jupiter, both very well placed in Pisces. At the same time Uranus is extremely active too, positively promoting originality, a spirit of adventure and risk taking. Coupled with Venus-Jupiter’s exuberance the Uranus’ effect could make many feel too restricted by committed relationships and all forms of set routines and creative work that seems to have lost its spark. Negatively Uranus’ radical, uncompromising stance could even produce estrangements, emotional isolation and wild goose chases bringing us nowhere in particular. Positively taking risks in relationships and creative work at this time could open new and exciting prospects.
From May 10 to June 4 Mercury will perform its magic loop (from Gemini 04°49’ to Taurus 26°05’). This is a shift between the abstract thinking and swift mental adjustments of Gemini to Taurus’ solid, factual thinking. It shows the need to concentrate our brain power, stay focused and realistic in our personal communication, work and study projects. Slowing down could be frustrating but necessary at this time.
May 11: the big shift! Jupiter will enter fiery Aries today. Our giant neighbour will remain in this combative Sign until October 28, making then a brief sortie back into Pisces until December 20. The Aries transit will end on May 16 2023.
Jupiter’s yearly Sign change always shows us a different way to tackle social, political and ethical issues. While during the Jupiter in Pisces period our views have been basically motivated by emotional responses, ideals and beliefs, during the Aries period we will seek to manifest our principles and standards through right action, unplanned intervention, moving quickly and boldly in order to bring on the desired changes. We will need to beware of aggressive confrontational stances to prove a point, one of Aries’ less desirable traits, endeavouring to remain sensitive to other peoples’ viewpoints and rights. Positively this could prove a helpful transit to tackle all range of social problems with greater urgency and courage.
Just after stepping into Aries Jupiter will form the first of three instances of a difficult angle to Uranus, a semi-square. This transit will return on September 29 and December 24.
Looking back at the events that unfolded at the one and only pass of the Jupiter-Pluto’s semi-square (Feb24), we cannot underestimate Jupiter’s role in adding momentum to the power of the planets it meets in transit. Pluto in fact confirmed its more destructive and ruthless side when amplified by Jupiter, in particular via the Ukraine invasion.
Uranus, orbiting with Neptune and Pluto beyond the ‘safe’ boundaries of Saturn, becomes activated when necessary but unsettling changes have to happen. Uranus is the key symbol of rebellions, of all calls for freedom and self-determination. This year and into early next year the transits of Jupiter are again bringing into sharp focus the same theme of authority versus individualism that the world experienced in 2021 via the long lasting square Saturn/Uranus. This is because, in July, September this year and up to March next year, Jupiter will also semi-square Saturn, thus becoming the amplifying go-between Saturn-Uranus’ conflicting powers.
The combination Jupiter/Uranus is also known for causing freak and intense weather events and earth tremors, the locations potentially affected depending on local factors difficult to determine beforehand, as I explained earlier.
May 16: the Scorpio 25°17’ Total Lunar Eclipse will be rather a time of realizations and harvesting the fruit of previous actions and thoughts. Sun and Moon will be at 90° angle to Saturn, all in Fixed Signs, indicating constraints caused by external circumstances as well as inner insecurities and fears. To overcome the impasse it will help working through these with dogged perseverance and awareness of all that’s involved.
Australia has recently entered a new phase in the pandemic saga. The reopening of businesses and states borders has in fact coincided with the much more rapid spread of the new Sars 2 Omicron variant. As a result the number of infections, hospitalizations, fatalities and general pressure on the health system has never been as severe in Oz as now. Can Astrology help us to throw some light on the possible outcome of this new phase? Let’s see what we can gather from the transits trend in February and March 2022.
For the whole of this year Jupiter, transiting between Pisces and Aries, appears to be the main actor in the cosmic play. This is good news, our giant neighbour usually bringing opportunities for improvement all round, including in people’s mood and expectations.
Despite the climbing number of casualties from this insidious virus we all feel a return of hope and a degree of optimism that the situation seems hardly to warrant! This is the Jupiter effect, always projecting the psyche toward the future and to problem solving rather than pessimism grounded on past negative experience. Through Jupiter energy we perceive the evolution of situations and feel definitely less stuck and powerless. Jupiter in fact may even have the effect of exaggerating positive expectations, anticipating too early a happy end to the crisis. The transits of Sun, Mercury, Venus and Mars in February and March are in fact still difficult and seem to suggest that, despite improving trends, with the end of lock-down and borders closures and a milder variant of the virus, we may better remain cautious and patient in our response to the situation.
The most significant transits will be:
February 1: the 12 degree Aquarius New Moon will be conjunct Saturn and at right angle to Uranus in Taurus, thus becoming a powerful trigger for the square Saturn-Uranus whose last exact pass occurred at the very end of 2021. Possible outcome: more issues regarding people versus government mandates and regulations. The New Moon setting the tone for the whole monthly lunar cycle.
February 5: the conjunction of Aquarius Sun to Saturn, a yearly reality test, demanding a practical and responsible approach; no flight of fancy.
Between February 6 and 12: Aquarius Mars and Sun square the Taurus-Scorpio Lunar Nodes, a temporary block of collective energy, cause and effect in stark display for all to see.
February 17: the Leo Full Moon (27 degree) usually indicates a creative/social time of the year, enhanced this time by the Venus-Mars’ conjunction in Capricorn, happening on the same day. The combination of a Full Moon with Venus-Mars alignment could be conducive to new romance and friendships, stimulating creative impulses, intense and somewhat unexpected (Aquarius Sun, Leo Moon), but not ephemeral (Venus-Mars in Capricorn).
February 18: Pisces Jupiter sextile Uranus in Taurus, the most positive transit of the period will be exact today, active for a week or so, before and after. Sextiles in Astrology (60 degrees angles) are considered positive, stimulating creative way of expressing the energy of the planets involved. Here we have expansive and forward looking Jupiter working in harmony with Uranus, the planet of breakthroughs and lateral thinking. A novel approach to problem solving and eureka moments all around.
February 24: Pisces Jupiter semi-square Capricorn Pluto. This is undoubtedly the most difficult angle for the period under review. Jupiter in fact tends to exaggerate the effect of any planet it forms significant angles with. The semi-square is a difficult angle, not as powerful as the square but still challenging. And Pluto is a symbol of hardships, always testing our strength and resilience in adversity.
March 2 to 5: a cluster of potentially difficult transits could mark an another knotty period for the world, calling for all the resilience and positive thinking the overall power of Jupiter can provide us. These transits are: March 2: Aries Chiron semi-square the Lunar Node. On March 3 and 4: Aquarius Mercury conjunct Saturn; Capricorn Mars conjunct Pluto; Pisces Sun semi-square Pluto and Mars; Capricorn Venus also conjunct Pluto. And, to top it up, the Pisces New Moon, on March 3, may cause the above transits to stretch their influence for the whole lunar month ahead.
There will be many shifts from March 6 onward, with the fast moving celestial bodies entering new Signs, Venus and Mars Aquarius on the 6th, and Mercury Pisces on the 10th, and Aries on the 27th. Between the 6th and the 13th the Sun will also form its yearly conjunctions to Jupiter and Neptune, enhancing optimism and greater receptivity to spiritual influences. These alignments are also precursors of the much anticipated conjunction of Jupiter to Neptune, exact on April 12/13. Jupiter-Neptune’s conjunction is the one transit this year most astrologers believe to promise greater understanding and tolerance between people and a general improvement in the collective psyche. Notable is also the fact that, after the first week of March, all the fast moving bodies will be out of Aquarius and Capricorn, the Signs occupied by Saturn and Pluto, the planets at the center of the still current crisis. These two slow moving trouble makers need in fact the fast bodies to be stimulated into action. To see however the end of this dark period we will have to look more toward 2023 when they too will move Signs, Saturn entering Pisces and Pluto Aquarius.
March 18: the Virgo Full Moon will not just oppose the Pisces Sun, but Neptune also. A Neptunian Full Moon could positively be full of mysteries, romance, aesthetic pleasures, even out of this world experiences, but negatively could foster instead confusion, mistrust and a vague sense of unease we cannot quite put our finger on.
Welcome to my thoughts on the 2021 October-November‘s astrological highlights.
This year’s third and final retro period of Mercury began on September 27 and will end on October 19, between the 25th and 10th degrees of Libra.
Extremely significant, during this time and into early November, is the thrice recurring and difficult 90 degrees angle (square) from Mercury to Pluto in Capricorn (September 22, October 2, November 2). This is an intense transit, affecting in particular they way we are communicating with each others, personally and collectively. Deep resentments, feelings of mistrust, desire for addressing what we perceive as wrong doings and to explore hidden agendas are prevalent and could cause violent and divisive clashes of opinion, where emotions and prejudices can overtake reason and balance (Libra).
Great examples of this effect are the events that took place around the time of the first pass of the Mercury-Pluto square (September 22); just to pick a few: substantial and rare earthquake in Victoria (September 22); first (ongoing) volcanic eruption in fifty years in the Spanish Canaries Islands, that began destroying homes and livelihoods on September 19. As volcanoes were blowing fire and the earth trembled, violent protests also erupted in Victoria and elsewhere, where negative sentiments against anti-covid measures reached a fever pitch. I believe that more of the same is in the cards for October and early November. Saturn and Uranus will be more highlighted instead in November.
In October the Mercury-Pluto square will be compounded by the October 6 Libra New Moon, when Sun and Moon will be aligned to fiery and antagonistic Mars; the October 10 conjunctions of Sun to Mercury (when Mercury orbits at its closest distance from us, within the Earth’s orbit) while both will conjunct Mars; the 90 degrees angle from the Sun to Pluto, on October 17, and of Mars itself to Pluto, on October 22; as well as at the Aries Full Moon, on October 21, when both Sun and Moon will be in square to Pluto. Navigating these severe transits will be a challenge for everyone, no matter your view on things. To positively deal with these difficulties we need to cultivate self reflection, to cast light on our psychological projections, always at the heart of fierce enmity and obstinate postures. We could then find in ourselves what it is really that we are fighting against, the enemy within.
Pluto, Saturn and Jupiter turning Direct, October 7, 11 and 18 October, respectively
The end of these cosmic timekeepers’ retro periods seem to me important, considering that it was they which marked the 2020 global crisis we are still deeply immersed in, with their conjunction in Capricorn. It has to be a positive development that Pluto will be slowly but surely moving on from the degree/s that were highlighted by the conjunctions. Saturn, by moving forward, will be getting closer to the third square with Uranus, authority versus rebellion, in Fixed, highly opinionated Signs of Aquarius and Taurus (the very last pass exact on Christmas Eve), hopefully putting an end to the intense antagonism that has brought so much disturbance at the collective and personal level, fuelling feuds within countries, communities, families and friends. In December also Neptune and Chiron will turn Direct; and Uranus in January 2022. Things should start to move on in new directions because we may have done, for a while, revisiting the past, over and over.
November 2021 Highlights
The Scorpio Sun will square Aquarius-Saturn (October 30) and oppose Taurus-Uranus (November 5). Then Mercury and Mars, also in Scorpio, will conjunct on November 10 and also form the same square and opposition to Saturn-Uranus on November 11-14-18. Furthermore the Scorpio New Moon, on November 5, will oppose Uranus and square Saturn also. And the Full Moon, on November 19, will be the last Lunar Eclipse of the year, when Sun and Moon will instead form a right angle to Jupiter. This Eclipse Season will end on December 4 with a Solar Eclipse in Sagittarius.
In November then the Sun, the Moon, Mercury and Mars will all become suitable conduits for the polarizing square Saturn-Uranus, by anticipating and perhaps enhancing its disruptive nature: more wars of words, more emotionally charged confrontations, and an even greater need to find some middle ground, where different viewpoints can be shared without escalating into full blown conflicts. As Pluto in October warned us not to project our dark shadows into others, Saturn-Uranus in November warns us against becoming again pray to rigid and uncompromising ideologies.
It is interesting to notice that the Glasgow Climate Change Conference will take place between October 31 (the same day Mars enters Scorpio) and November 12, when all the transits described above will be active.
A summary of this article has been published in issue 119 of the Uki Village News (August September 2021)
The big picture: darkness and light
‘Allegory of Life ‘ by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
Watching the news or connecting with world events through social media we know that our beautiful planet is going through a difficult period of transformation. We are all asked to master our inner resources and be ready to change ingrained habits in order to restore some balance to a severely lop-sided world.
It is often difficult to remain hopeful and upbeat when things seem to be getting more difficult for many of us. A serious astrological assessment of the global situation may sound negative at times, but it simply reflects the enormous challenges we face, while also showing how the same energies that are disrupting the status quo are also harbingers of future renewal, fostering the vision of a better, cleaner, more just and united world.
The present difficulties should truly force us to embrace the changes we need to make. In Astrology we call ‘transits’ the ever shifting mutual relationship between Sun, Moon and Planets, meaning that those relationships, by their own nature, are, transitory. Good news if you are looking for the light at the end of this tunnel.
Many Planets in retrogradation
In August and September 2021 all the major planetary players, Jupiter, Saturn, Chiron, Neptune and Pluto will be traveling in retro motion. And Uranus will join them soon, turning Stationary Retrograde on August 20. Between October and December they will all turn Direct again. A period with many Retrograde could mean that time seems to stand still; things do not change as quickly as we wish, while unresolved issues are still simmering below the surface, ready to fully manifest again in the near future.
Saturn versus Uranus
For instance, the most important transit of 2021, the 90 degrees angle between Aquarius Saturn and Taurus Uranus, is not anymore exact (the second pass was in mid June) and will be exact again only on December 24, moving away for good after that.
This is the transit epitomizing the severe limitations the Covid19 pandemic has placed on everyone (Saturn), as well as the resentment and desire to rebel against those same limitations (Uranus). The same transit has also manifested into the rapid escalation of conflicts around the world as well as the weather extremes coming fast upon us: sweltering heat in Canada and Siberia, deadly unprecedented floods in Asia and Europe, destructive bush fires in North America the Middle East and Europe; as well as many countries on the verge of economic and social collapse, civil unrest, even civil wars; and a new Cold War afoot. All these events, in a relatively short period of time, should make us more aware of the need for urgent and radical measures to uphold unity in the face of many mutual dangers; to counteract social inequalities, the global threat to democracy and the ultimate challenge of climate change, with the very survival of the planet at stake.
This divisive combination of antagonistic energies will remain active the whole year, more keenly felt when close to being exact or when other celestial bodies set it off by transit.
In August, for instance, Sun and Mercury in Leo will connect with the Saturn-Uranus’ transit, by opposition and square, between August 4 and 8.
The August lunar cycle will also tend to activate Saturn and Uranus: on August 1, the Taurus Last Quarter Moon will be conjunct Uranus, while at right angle with Sun and Mercury; on August 8 the Leo New Moon will be opposing Saturn and squaring Uranus too; and, on August 22, the last degree Aquarius Full Moon will instead align to Jupiter, another major player in the evolution of the global crisis we are still caught up in. The fact that the Moon will be so involved in the current planetary dynamics could stir even deeper emotions, leading to outbursts of passions, falling out between people, more clashes with authority and social unrest.
Where is the positive in all of this? Is Saturn just a sadistic master squeezing the world into its authoritarian fist? Doesn’t Saturn represent rather the sense of responsibility that we need to develop, as people and nations, to become truly adult individuals? Does it not represent also the willingness to make personal sacrifices for the benefit of society as a whole (Aquarius)? The need to be more realistic, limiting our wants to reduce their destructive impact in an ever more fragile environment?
Is Uranus just a destroyer of peace, source of divorce and war, alienating people and countries from each other? Or is not rather the light of intelligence illumining the new paths we need to take, to bring the changes we can imagine possible? Is it not Uranus anticipating future trends and overcoming negative past conditioning and prejudice? In Taurus Uranus is here to especially show us alternative ways to make a wiser use of the Earth’s depleting natural resources.
Stationary Pluto
What about Pluto in Capricorn? With his ‘God of the underworld’ persona, not a reassuring bedfellow either! This planet has been one of the main actors in the pandemic’s play, bringing personal loss and a sense of fate to our collective experience. We are facing a global catastrophe, the virus just the tip of the iceberg. In many unhappy places this is a war of people versus the virus, people versus authorities; people versus people; the environment versus people. Opinions abound and they are all fiercely defended as the gospel. From now to the end of 2021 Pluto will remain stationary on the 24th degree of Capricorn. This degree is the same that was activated in a big way by the transits of Jupiter in 2020. For this year, at least, this degree will remain the focus for the expression of Pluto’s dark energy.
There is another side to Pluto’s coin though: the Pluto’s experience, at the personal or collective level, should ultimately empower us, making us aware of our resilience in the face of very difficult, even unprecedented circumstances. Pluto is a symbol of survival, of defeating the greatest odds, of facing the deepest fears and come out winning.
Jupiter and Chiron
Retro Jupiter re-entered Aquarius on July 28, ending then a two and half months foray into Pisces. Jupiter will transit Aquarius until December 29. The second pass of Jupiter semi-square Chiron in Aries, exact again on August 18, is a reminder that this is still a time for greater collective vulnerability to negative external agents (from viruses to misinformation). Gentle healing will be needed, to restore hope and confidence in better things to come. This transit too will not be over until nearly the end of 2021 (third pass on November 18).
Jupiter’s function is to seek the philosophical aspect of all our experiences, to view our personal circumstances as part of a much bigger, universal picture, thus gaining a wider perspective on everything. The difficult link between Jupiter and Chiron, the planet of wounding, illness and healing, has an obvious significance. What larger understanding of life and ourselves can we glean through the ongoing difficulties and dangers? What are we learning from this historical crisis that could make much better prepared for other unavoidable challenges? I believe that Jupiter will help us to become more aware of the profound connection we share with all other people on earth, of one nation to all other nations (Aquarius/Pisces). Tackling this medical crisis in one country will be only part of a more global solution. The same can be said for all other crisis facing the world, climate change in the first place. We could tackle the challenge successfully only if we work together toward a solution.
This article has been already posted in issue 118 of the Uki Village News
The dragon has been the symbol of the two aspects of the Lunar Nodes since great antiquity, in both eastern and western cosmologies. Their zodiacal positions are indicators of the current Solar and Lunar Eclipses.
Welcome to my take on the main astrological events of June-July 2021
Note: where I mention specific degrees in the following readings I mean for these degrees to be highlighted by the Sun, Moon, Planets or Angles in a Birth Chart, a necessary distinction to avoid generalizations.
June 1: the Gemini Sun aligns with the Moon’s North Node, announcing the imminent New Moon Solar Eclipse, on June 10: a time, right now, for setting new long term goals guided by our inner light rather than external pressures. This eclipse could prove a transformative experience for the degrees 10 to 12 of the Mutable Signs (Gem/Sag/Vir/Pis).
June 2 to 27: Venus’ yearly transit through Watery Cancer should help us feel more keenly the sacredness of our close relationships, family, lovers and close friends.
June 6: Mars in Cancer opposes Pluto in Capricorn. The trouble maker in chief is now again setting off Pluto, at 24th Capricorn, the very same degree activated by the Jupiter-Pluto’s conjunction in 2020, with such dire consequences for the planet. With Pluto Stationary on this degree all the way to October 7 the current Mars’ transit could again provide an outlet for Pluto’s dark energy, globally bringing once more into sharp focus the still raging pandemic. On a more personal level feelings of Jealousy and resentment could surface from unfathomable depths in relationship, with the risk of hurtful confrontations and even break ups, especially for degrees 23 to 25 of the Cardinal Signs (Can/Cap/Ari/Lib).
June 6 and 14: Mercury has been retracing its steps in Gemini since May 30; its retrogradation will end on June 23. The highlight of this phase has to be the 90° angle with-Neptune, its second pass occurring today (it was exact also on May 23 and will be again on July 6). The Sun and Mercury will become conjunct on June 10; and, on June 14, the Sun will also form a square to Neptune, expanding the influence of this transit. When both Sun and Mercury transit Mutable Gemini the accent is on mental adaptability and restlessness. Our heads may be filled with ideas, or plagued by mind changes or too easily distracted. This time the Sun-Mercury’s square to dreamy Neptune in dreamy Pisces, around the latter’s ultra sensitive Retro Station degree, carries the added risk of our minds being swamped by a flood of psychic content from within ourselves and/or our surroundings. Neptune’s energy can be uplifting, intuitional, inspiring, even mystical, but also confusing at the best of times and downright delusional, occasionally. More affected by these transits could be degrees 22/23/24 of the Mutable Signs (Gem/Sag/Vir/Pis).
June 10: New Moon Solar Eclipse, 19 degrees 47 minutes of Gemini. See June 1 reading.
June 11 to July 30: Mars transits Fiery Leo, marking an active, creative, enthusiastic and adventurous period especially for the Fire/Air Signs. You could develop a strong passion for a project or a relationship. You might accomplish much in intense bursts of energy, wherever you focus your attention. The danger could be physical and emotional burnouts if you keep on going even after running out of puff. This time though Mars will also emphasize the difficult angle Saturn-Uranus (June 14), by opposing Saturn on July 1 and squaring Uranus on July 4. These transits could be problematic, heightening the risk of serious conflict worldwide and even causing personal unexpected upheavals, especially for degrees 11 to 15 of the Fixed Signs (Leo/Aqu/Tau/Sco).
June 15: retro Saturn in Aquarius forms the second pass of its square to Uranus in Taurus, the most important transit of 2021. Since its first inception on February 16 this transit has contributed to the escalation of conflicts, in the form of actual wars, civil unrest and even civil wars in many regions of the world. This transit in Fixed Signs, typically resisting changes, is guarantee that this year that the regressive forces in this world (Saturn) will be severely pitted against the progressive (Uranus), creating huge obstacles to the drive for change signified by the Jupiter-Saturn’s Aquarius December 2020 conjunction. The second instance of this transit today has already proven difficult, with Saturn’s slow retro motion extending its period of influence, before and after the actual hit. Obvious examples of this are the recent escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, ongoing civil unrest, military repression, blatant war on democracy all over the globe. The list is very long. The third and last pass of the same difficult angle will be on December 24; by then its effect should begin to wane.
June 21: we celebrate the advent of winter at 1.32 pm local time, Cancer Solstice 2021. Today also Jupiter begins its Pisces’ Retro Station, eventually returning to Aquarius on July 28, until December 29.
June 23: Mercury turns Stationary Direct at 16°07’ Gemini, time to move ahead with our plans and projects, with a clearer sense of direction.
June 27 to July 22: Fiery Leo’s great vitality and power will now shine through Venus, making the world feel warmer and more welcoming, enhancing our social lives, passions and creativity.
July 5: Sun in Cancer square Chiron (Chiron’s Retrograde Station on 13° Aries), another problematic transit, fortunately of short duration. Degrees 12 to 14 of the Cardinal Signs (Ari/Lib/Can/Cap) may be faced with some painful soul searching, to acknowledge how hurtful past experiences have become stumbling blocks in life’s progress, hindering true fulfillment.
July 13: Venus and Mars conjunct in Leo: a time for romance, art, fun and laughter.
July 18: Sun in Cancer opposition Pluto in Capricorn, another difficult angle actively focussing on Pluto’s dark side for a few days.
July 22 to August 16: Venus transits Earthy Virgo, helping us to transform daily routines into soulful rituals and to consider others’ emotional and practical needs above our own.
July 23 to August 23: the Sun in Fiery Leo: Happy Birthday to all warm, brilliant and proud Leo. The world would be a darker place without You!
A shorter version of this article was published, in late March, on the Uki Village News
Astrology and the Australian Floods
In ancient times the art of predicting the weather was one of astrology’s most valuable uses. In the absence of scientific instruments astrological weather forecast was naturally of the greatest importance for early agricultural people who relied on it to decide the best times for sowing and harvesting.
Meteorological astrology is an art in itself, with very complex sets of laws of its own. I am not an expert in this specialized topic, but I can very much appreciate the cosmic synchronicity that I observed at play during the recent Australian floods.
Astrology is an amazing mirror of both ‘reality’ and ‘psyche’. In its cosmic mirror the two merge: the outer life of events and experiences and the inner life of thoughts and feelings. Becoming aware of this underlying nexus is at the heart of our art, opening up a fascinating view of the world and ourselves. That is why for me it’s not farfetched to hear the sound of rain in the Water Signs; to feel warmth, dry weather in the Fire Signs; temperate, moist weather in the Earth Signs; cooler, windy weather in the Air Signs; as well as identify possible extreme events in some intense planetary configurations.
The lunar cycle, during which the peak of the floods has occurred, began at the Pisces Water New Moon, on March 13, with increase in rain activity in many parts of the country. During that phase the Moon and Sun weren’t just transiting a Water Sign but were also in close conjunction to Venus and Neptune in Pisces too. At the time I began writing, March 20, day of the Aries Equinox (yearly ingress of the Sun in Aries, a crucial time in the cosmic calendar), Venus was still in Pisces and again conjunct the Sun! Early on March 22 the First Quarter Moon, another crucial phase of the lunar cycle, fell in Water Cancer, at a significant distance of 120 degrees (trine) from Pisces Mercury. All the above suggests water events and also translates as a highly emotional period, when compassionate and loving feelings prevail (Water), within families (Cancer) and communities (Pisces).
April 2021
During the first two to three weeks in April the focus will be on the Fire and Air Signs: Venus transiting Aries from April 1 to 15; Mercury will be in Aries also, April 4 to 19; Mars, in Gemini since March 4, will be in this Air Sign until April 23; Jupiter will remain in Aquarius until May 14; Saturn will be in Aquarius all the way to early 2023; Chiron in Aries until 2026. Only the trans-Saturn planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are found in Earth and Water Signs.
The Fire and Air Elements cause a planet to express its particular power in an outgoing and sometimes even forceful manner, showing more oomph, but also less sensitivity. This will be a great time then to walk the talk, putting into action our ideas with confidence and optimism. Aries Mercury and Gemini Mars are in fact bouncing off each other by occupying each other Signs for a while, what is known in Astrology as ‘mutual reception’.
Venus in Aries encourages us to be more assertive in our relationships, if less emotional and diplomatic.
Jupiter and Saturn in Aquarius remain a great stimulus for everyone to participate more in the life of the community, getting involved in collective projects, making new friends and trying new and exciting things, including social dissent. Independence and self-motivated actions are the keys to make the best of this period.
By far the most important transit, exact on April 7, will be the 45°angle (semi-square) between Aquarius Jupiter and Aries Chiron. This difficult transit between the planet of expansion and the planet of illness and healing, peaking again in mid August and mid November, seems significant, with the world still in the grip of a pandemic and the southern hemisphere entering the year’s colder months that have proven so difficult for many during the North American and European winter.
On April 19 Mercury and on April 23 Venus will enter Taurus, the same day Mars will leave Gemini to enter Cancer. Mercury and Venus’s transits in Taurus will last only until May 4 and 9 respectively; while Mars will remain in Cancer until June 12. These are the three faster planets, affecting the way we deal with life from day to day and week to week. Their shift into the Earth and Water Signs indicate a less independent period for many, when relationships and feeling will come more to the fore, helping us to establish stronger emotional connections with family and loved ones.
May 2021
The month of May opens with the yearly conjunction of Sun-Uranus in Taurus, in itself a sign that some unexpected and sudden events are on the cards. The Sun will become, at this time, a powerful catalyst for the energies of both Uranus and Saturn by also squaring Aquarius Saturn on May 4. These transits could anticipate the challenges of the upcoming second pass of the Saturn-Uranus’ 90° angle, exact again on June 15. Escalation of personal and collective conflicts is likely, as we have seen happening around the world recently. The need for change in our social structures, laws, cultural bias etc. are compelling this year but also enormously challenged by the world’s most conservative mind set. As it was impossible to sugar coat the difficult transits of 2020 so it is for the Saturn-Uranus square, the most powerful and difficult transit of 2021, another clash of Titans.
Jupiter in Pisces, May 14 to July 28
The Mutable Signs will become more active this month and in June-July. Mercury and Venus will enter Mutable Gemini in May 4 and 9 respectively.
Most importantly, on May 14, Jupiter will leave Aquarius, Sign it entered only on December 19 2020, to enter Mutable Pisces. Jupiter’s stay in Pisces will not last long, covering only the first two degrees of the Sign.
Jupiter in fact will re-enter Aquarius in retro motion on July 28 (until December 29). Jupiter will end its transit in Pisces on May 11 but will return to this Sign again for a short period, between October 28 and December 21 2022, date of its final ingress into Aries.
Jupiter enters the last of the Water Signs about every twelve years, ushering a period when we are encouraged to listen more to our inner self, be inspired by heightened imagination and sensitivity. We could also become more responsive to the feelings of others, seeking to identify with their souls, their emotional needs and suffering.
And, on a grander scale, we could become more open and receptive to the soul of the planet and all its creatures; an especially urgent need during the immediate drama of the Covid pandemic and the ecological tragedy looming on our world. Feeling of collective empathy and compassion should inspire our life philosophy if we are able to respond to Jupiter’s amazing prompting.
Of course there is always another, darker side to all coins, including ‘beneficial’ Jupiter’s. Pisces sensitivity often means a lack of boundaries and proper discrimination, the qualities of its opposite complementary Sign of Virgo that Pisces is in great need of consciously cultivate. We could then run the risk, as a collective, to be contaminated (for lack of a better word) by all sorts of fanciful notions, from wild conspiracies theories to actual physical infections. These could in fact spread even more readily under this influence. Let’s hope that rational thinking and Pisces’ uplifting spiritual insight will prevail, for the good of the planet.
Upcoming Mercury’s retro period in Gemini and the first Eclipses of 2021
The Mutable shift will be also significant because of Mercury’s Gemini retro period (from May 30 to June 23), causing our little brother to transit Gemini for a protracted period, until July 12.
To add to this, the first Eclipses of 2021 will fall in Mutable Signs too: a Lunar at the Full Moon in Mutable Sagittarius, on May 26, and a Solar at the Gemini New Moon, on June 10.
The emphasis on these Signs will make this period feel more transitional and uncertain, on the bright side stimulating us to adapt better to swiftly evolving circumstances.
Just as it began, this fateful year ends with two eclipses, major planetary shifts and a historical conjunction. As different planetary patterns take hold things around the world should start to improve.
My Ganymede, Cup Bearer of the Gods
Critical Dates
In December 2019 and January 2020 the focus was on eclipses and conjunctions in Capricorn-Cancer, while all the major alignments involved Pluto. This planet in astrology is symbol of all ultimate experiences, death, loss, as well as profound personal/collective transformations. Pluto, in Capricorn until 2023, still remains active in the short term though, especially from late December 2020 to end of January 2021. Dates to watch are those when fast moving bodies will form challenging transits to the slow moving ones, in particular to all mighty Pluto. Here are some: December 24: Mars in Aries square Pluto in Capricorn – December 30: Venus in Sagittarius square Neptune in Pisces – January 7: Mars enters Taurus – January 9: Venus enters Capricorn – January 13: Mars in Taurus square Saturn in Aquarius – January 18: Jupiter in Aquarius square Uranus in Taurus – January 21: Mars conjunct Uranus in Taurus – January 23: Mars in Taurus square Jupiter in Aquarius – January 29: Venus conjunct Pluto in Capricorn.
Despite all of that now that Jupiter and Saturn have separated from Pluto its power for destruction is definitely reduced. Regeneration comes after destruction; hope after despair, and resilience too, allowing us to tap onto those inner resources we all need to thrive in a difficult world, the very positive aftermath of all Pluto’s transits.
Jupiter-Saturn momentous conjunction in Aquarius
As they quickly move away from Pluto Jupiter and Saturn are getting closer to a right angle to Uranus. But, first of all, they have a date to keep: December 22 (few hours past the Capricorn Solstice) when they will finally become conjunct on the threshold of Aquarius, marking the beginning of a brand new twenty years cycle. These recurring conjunctions are important because they show the direction the world is going in the areas of government, law, religion, ethical issues etc, for the whole of two decades. The current twenty years event is particularly special because it begins an even greater cycle. This will last roughly two hundred years, during which Jupiter and Saturn will become conjunct mainly in Air Signs. Astrological researchers have found that the transits of Jupiter-Saturn in Air Signs (also known as the ‘humane Signs’) tend to move the world’s political needle toward progressive trends, strengthening a collective spirit of reform and innovation. Aquarius in particular is the Sign of individualism and friendly cooperation.
With Aquarius and Uranus thus strongly highlighted progress seems certain, if slow and fraught with difficulties. In the coming year, for instance, Saturn will undoubtedly attempt to slow down the process of reform and innovation (square Uranus), manifesting the karmic consequences of the Covid19 crisis that has widened rather than reduced the gap between the ‘have’ and ‘have not’ of this world. 2021 critical dates for the difficult Saturn’s square Uranus will be: February 18, June 15 and December 24.
Witness the conjunction with your own eyes
Even visually this conjunction is an event we could do well not to miss, the two planets appearing closer to each other than they have been in 800 years! Look west in the early evening, on December 21 and 22. Jupiter, the brightest, and Saturn will be so close to appear as a double star. We will need not only a clear night though, but also a clear view of the westerly sky. The two planets will be in fact near the horizon and quickly sink out of sight.
Uranus in Taurus, a come back
With all the attention given in 2020 to the fateful Capricorn alignments, no much thought has been given to the transit of Uranus in Taurus, one of the most significant in recent years. It was easy enough to predict that, during the seven long year of Uranus’ passage through Taurus we could see changes of great magnitude happening in the financial and business world; as well as major challenges to our sense of security and wellbeing. Uranus in Taurus is coming to the fore again in 2021.
Jupiter will be the first to reach the right angle to Uranus, one and only time on January 18, a transit that could bring significant breakthrough in the area of collective cooperation, to do with the global availability of Covid19 vaccines and therapies for example, also inspiring greater confidence in the eventual improvement in the economic and security future of the world, and encouraging more risk taking in the areas of alternative technologies and more sustainable ways to do business. We could even experience an excess of enthusiasm for a while, driving us to make changes before we are truly ready for them. The same transit could bring also some unusually extreme weather globally and worsen the autocracy/democracy conflicts proliferating around the world; change will not come without formidable global grassroots movements. Negative outcomes possible, especially while other challenges are active from Mars and Venus to the end of January and afterward when the Saturn square Uranus will become active (first pass exact on February 18).
Saturn in fact will significantly make three passes of the square to Uranus, the most significant planetary theme of 2021. Uranus always suggests the need to do things differently, to find new untried ways, to re-invent ourselves if necessary. Saturn in 2021 will severely limit our collective drive toward real deep reforms, a new economic model, or enacting sufficient countermeasures to climate change and social injustice. In a period when the drive for change is so compelling this slowing down will be a frustrating trend, but it could prove necessary to obtain more ground braking results in the long run. Personal responsibility and greater grassroots involvement in social issues will be a must.
Gemini-Sagittarius Eclipse Season: Lunar at the Gemini Full Moon, on November 30, 7.29 pm; and Solar at the Sagittarius New Moon on December 15, 2.16 am.
The Eclipses in Mutable Signs end the year showing the need for greater adaptability and a more optimistic and open minded approach to problems. If, in your Birth Chart, the Sun, Moon, any Planet or Chart Angle happen to fall around the 8th degree (Lunar Eclipse) or 23rd degree (Solar Eclipse) of the Mutable Signs (Gemini, Sagittarius, Virgo, Pisces) these cosmic events may affect you in more personal and tangible ways.
The Lunar Eclipse could manifest as a significant emotional climax in the area of experience indicated by the sector of your Birth Chart where it will take place (the Houses of the Horoscope). For some will be relationships, for others work, career, health, study, family etc. And not just for now but possibly for many months to come, depending how close the alignment is.
The Sagittarius Solar Eclipse will be a very special New Moon if closely aligned to sensitive points in your Birth Chart. It could mark the beginning of a brand new phase of your life, extending far into the future. The area of your Chart where the eclipse falls will determine the experiences and opportunities driving you toward the goals you seek.
Capricorn Solstice 2020, December 21, 8.02 pm
The seasonal Capricorn Solstice is this year simultaneous to the double ingress of Jupiter-Saturn into Aquarius and their rare conjunction. This synchronicity indicates that the Aquarian effect will strongly persist over the whole three months of the new season, summer in the southern hemisphere, winter in the northern. This is indeed a real opportunity to choose the collective good above more ego-centered tendencies, striving toward humane reforms against stale conservatism.
October and November 2020 will be abuzz with cosmic events. We are nearing the last stage of the planetary saga that began at the end of last year and has dominated the world since. In December Jupiter and Saturn will finally align in Aquarius, ending this tough Capricorn year with a promise of redemption. Here are the highlights for this interim period, as I see them.
Saturn and Pluto packing a punch during their stationary periods
Between mid September and early October all three history making planets transiting Capricorn, Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto, turn Direct, beginning thus the last lap of their 2020 momentous alignments. When planets begin and end their retrogradation they enter a stationary period during which they sit on one degree of the eclipse for a sustained period of time. This makes their influence more intense and longer lasting. Saturn will pause on the 25th degree of Capricorn until the end of October and Pluto on the 22nd until the third week in November. If these same degrees of Capricorn, Cancer, Aries, Libra (the Cardinal Signs) were occupied by Sun, Moon, Planets or Angles in your Birth Chart this is for you a time of serious adjustments and even profound changes. It could become a necessity to establish more realistic foundations for your future, moving away from past choices, even if the process of doing so can disheartening at times. The whole of this year we have been urged by circumstances and inner feelings to take a stand, to reinvent ourself using untapped before inner resources. This is one of the last calls this year to embrace courageous if difficult choices because they feel deeply right.
An example in point: transiting Saturn and Pluto will be, for a long while, stationary opposite US President Donald Trump’s birth Cancer Venus-Saturn, the challenge of a lifetime, just during his struggle for a second term. At the same time the USA itself is preparing for its first Pluto’ Return since independence from Britain, one of the most intense period of transformation any country can go through; a lengthy and difficult process of shedding its old skin, very close now and in 2021, exact in 2022/23 and ending only in early 2024.
Jupiter last historical passes in Capricorn
In October and November it is Jupiter though that will take front stage again, forming the last ‘passes’ of two major transits: the harmonious angle with Neptune in Pisces, exact for the last time on October 12; and the difficult but transformative conjunction to Pluto in Capricorn, exact for the last time on November 14. Both these transits influence will last until December, when a new shift is on the cards. We can thus expect Jupiter to amplify again the current health/economic crisis, as well as manifesting as extreme weather events, social-military conflicts and social unrest on a grander scale than usual. As it has already done this year Jupiter could be also prying open boxes full of secrets and scandals, exposing corruption, propaganda and misinformation,
The conjunctions of Jupiter and Pluto are not rare events, occurring roughly every thirteen years. At times they acquire greater significance however, happening simultaneously with other major planetary shifts, as it has been the case this year, when Saturn also aligned to Pluto. Here are just a couple of examples astrologers have ascribed, at least in part, to the effect of the Jupiter-Pluto’s conjunction.
1930-31 in Cancer: the Great Depression that spread from Wall Street to the world and its aftermath.
1955 in Leo: the day of conjunction, November 1, became the earliest date for the official recording of American combat deaths in Vietnam, as well as the start of the social unrest against it that continued to divide America and the world to the war’s bitter end in 1975.
2020 in Capricorn: the first pass of this conjunction occurred in early April when the pandemic became more widespread and serious. The second pass happened on June 30, four days shy of the horrible explosion that rocked Beirut, exposing the criminal neglect and corruption of the Lebanese government. July was also the month the pandemic took a turn for the worse in many regions of the world. On November 14 we will witness the last of these fateful alignments. It is not all bad news though! Being the last of these alignments this should also bring the beginning of closure to the issues that have plagued the world thus far. Whenever Jupiter is involved in a major transit, even a difficult one, the aftermath is often a collective expansion of consciousness, greatly helping to make sense of otherwise inexplicable misfortunes.
Mars still extremely active and influential
Mars, Retrograde since September 10, ignites the current period with the second pass of its frustrating angle to Saturn in Capricorn (90 degrees) on September 30, an alignment whose influence will spill over the first two weeks of October and yet return in mid January 2021. This is the transit so far principally responsible for the social unrest we have seen enacted in a number of countries all over the world: related to the intense frustration caused by the unprecedented government measures to minimize the spread of the pandemic, as well as exasperation with rigged elections (see Belarus), governments’ failures and corruption, endemic racism and police brutality. Retracing its steps through Aries, Mars will also reach again its challenging angles to the other two planets in Capricorn, forming a 90 degrees angle to Pluto on October 9 and to Jupiter on October 19 (both angles to be repeated for the last time on December 24 and January 23 respectively). These transits could again escalate social unrest all over the world, exasperation with governments’ failures, political and ideological divisions. We have seen the power of Mars (the God of War) to instigate conflicts and rebellion, to jump into the fry without thought of consequences, following an often blind instinct to head on address real or perceived wrongs. Another period likely to produce open conflicts and widespread intolerance is approaching. More of the same is on the world cards, not just for the rest of this year but also the beginning of 2021, when things should hopefully begin to ease up.
Retrogradation of Mercury from Scorpio back into Libra (October 14 to November 4)
Last but not least Mercury will go through its last retro period of 2020, from on October 14 to November 4, moving direct only after the US presidential elections. This seems to highlight the potential for communication breakdowns, general chaos, mistrust and flourishing of misinformation during the last league of this historic campaign.
On October 14 Mercury will become Stationary Retrograde between the 11th and 12th degree of Scorpio. On October 28 Mercury will re-enter Libra and continue to transit this Sign all the way to the 25th/26th degrees, becoming then Stationary Direct on November 4, to re-enter Scorpio for good on November 11. Of great significance during this Retro period will be three passes of difficult angles to Uranus in Taurus, Neptune in Pisces and Chiron in Aries, in early and late October, and again in mid November. During the whole of Mercury’s Retro period avoid, if you can, to make serious commitments or big purchases, as circumstances are likely to change in the near future, so that early choices may give cause for regret.
Lunations in October-November: Aries Full Moon, October 2, 7.05 am – Libra New Moon, October 23, 5.30 am – Taurus Full Moon, November 1, 0.49 am – Scorpio New Moon, November 15, 3.07 pm – Gemini Full Moon, November 30, 7.29 pm, also a Lunar Eclipse.
Critical days in October: September 30: Retro Mars in Aries square Saturn in Capricorn – October 2, 7.05 am : Aries Full Moon – October 8: Mercury in Scorpio opposition Uranus in Taurus – October 9: Retro Mars in Aries square Pluto in Capricorn – October 11: the Sun in Libra square Jupiter in Capricorn – October 12: Jupiter in Capricorn sextile Neptune in Pisces – October 14: Mercury turns Retrograde + the Sun in Libra opposition Mars in Aries – October 15: the Sun in Libra square Pluto in Capricorn – October 18: the Sun in Libra square Saturn in Capricorn – October 19: Retro Mars in Aries square Jupiter in Capricorn – October 20: Retro Mercury in Scorpio opposition Uranus in Taurus – October 23, 5.30 am : Libra New Moon –
Critical days in November: November 1: the Sun in Scorpio opposition Uranus in Taurus, as well as Taurus Full Moon, 0.49 am – November 4: Mercury turns Direct – November 14: Jupiter conjunct Pluto in Capricorn – November 15, 3.07 pm: Scorpio New Moon – November 17: Mercury in Scorpio opposition Uranus in Taurus – November 30: start of the last Eclipse season for 2020: Lunar Eclipse at the Gemini Full Moon, at 7.29 pm. The next Solar Total Eclipse, at the Sagittarius New Moon, will occur on December 14.
August 2020 timeline of major astrological aspects:
On July 21, the Cancer New Moon began the August lunar cycle in opposition to the Capricorn game-changer planets, showing that the power of their historic alignment is hardly spent yet.
August 1: Mercury in Cancer opposition Pluto in Capricorn.
August 2: Sun in Leo square Uranus in Taurus.
August 4: The Aquarius Full Moonand the Leo Sun will be at right angle to Uranus in Taurus. + Mars in Aries square Jupiter in Capricorn, first pass. + Mercury in Cancer opposition Saturn in Capricorn.
August 5: Mercury enters Leo.
August 6: Venus conjunct South Lunar Node in Gemini.
August 8: Venus enters Cancer.
August 10: Mercury in Leo square Uranus in Taurus.
August 13: Mars in Aries square Pluto in Capricorn, first pass.
August 16: Uranus Retrograde, on 10°41’ of Taurus.
August 17: Venus in Cancer square Chiron in Aries.
August19: at the Leo New Moon the Moon, Sun and Mercury are all at a very special distance from Saturn (150°). Saturn rules!
August 20: Mercury enters Virgo.
August 25: Mars in Aries square Saturn in Capricorn, first pass.
August 30: Venus in Cancer opposition Pluto in Capricorn.
August 31: Mercury in Virgo opposition Neptune in Pisces.
September 2020 timeline of major astrological aspects:
September 2: The Pisces Full Moon and the Virgo Sun are in aspect to Pluto in Capricorn by somewhat difficult angles, echoing the theme of the early months of this year.
+ Venus opposition Saturn.
September 4: Venus in Cancer square Mars in Aries.
September 6: Mercury enters Libra; Venus enters Leo.
September 10: Mars Retrograde, from Aries 28° to 15° (November 14).
September 11: Mercury in Libra opposition Chiron in Aries.
September 12: Sun in Virgo opposition Neptune in Pisces.
September 13: Jupiter turns Direct (17°24’ of Capricorn).
September 15: Sun in Virgo trine Pluto in Capricorn.
September 16: Venus in Leo square Uranus in Taurus.
September 17: At the Virgo New Moon Sun and Moon trine Jupiter, Pluto, Saturn in Capricorn while opposed to Neptune in Pisces.
+ Mercury square Jupiter.
September 21: Mercury in Libra square Pluto in Capricorn.
September 22: The Sun enters Libra. Libra Spring Equinox, with a Waxing Crescent Sagittarius Moon, 11.30 pm local time.
September 23: Mercury in Libra square Saturn in Capricorn.
September 24: Mercury in Libra in opposition to Mars in Aries.
September 27: Mercury enters Scorpio.
September 29: Saturn turns Direct (25°20’ of Capricorn).
September30: Mars in Aries square Saturn in Capricorn, second pass.
+ Sun in Libra opposition Chiron in Aries.
All serious practitioners could tell you that predicting anything via astrology is an enterprise fraught with difficulties and pitfalls. In fact, at any given time, many factors play upon the cosmic stage, creating a medley of often discordant voices. There are special times however, like the present, when it is relatively easy to match the planetary chorus with the exceptional events we are experiencing. The astrology has tellingly shown us the peaks and valleys we have gone through as the transits of the major actors, in the Sign of Capricorn, reached their climatic alignment, slowly separated, only to gain strength again. The peak times, so far, have been March/April and June/July.
August and September may seem less eventful as the slow moving planets Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto separate from their fateful alignment and the eclipse season is behind us, even if not quite spent. The next major peak, with the third and last Jupiter-Pluto’s conjunction should not happen before mid November. That is, if it were not for Mars’ prolonged transit in Aries; more of Mars later.
Capricorn Jupiter’s harmonious angle to Neptune in Pisces
A beautiful Jupiter-Neptune’s transit (second pass of a 60° angle, exact on July 28) shines a bright light on an otherwise difficult period ahead. This particular influence, whose first pass was one of very few positive aspects last February, will remain active this time well into August and then return, for the third and last time, on October 12. The energies of those two Planets, when in harmony like now, promise a reawakening of spirituality and goodwill, and an evolving philosophy of compassion and acceptance that could help us greatly to deal with the challenging trend still in the cards for the next few months. Considering the power Mars is gaining from now to the end of the year, through a long period of retrogradation and difficult transits, this harmonious alignment could help to develop the qualities that are now more than ever needed to avoid all out conflicts, in our personal and social lives.
Focus on Mars
Mars entered Aries on June 28 and, due to Retrogradation (Sep10-Nov14), it will transit Aries all the way to January 7 2021. This is very important because some of the Red Planet’s difficult transits, becoming exact at first in August and September, will re-occur from October to December, even spilling over into 2021. These transits will be triggering again the planets at the centre of the present crisis. A transit of Mars lasts, on average, from a few days to a week. In this instance however Mars’ motion will slow down considerably, fact that will cause its transits not only to last longer but also to be more intense and problematic.
The astrological Mars controls our physical drive, spontaneous reactions and the desire to act upon our impulses, to be direct and assertive or, negatively, manifests as our uncompromising, confrontational, aggressive, me-first tendencies.
Mars square Jupiter: August 4 – October 19 2020 + January 23 2021
The Mars in Aries’ transits will begin on August 4, with a right angle to Jupiter in Capricorn. The same will be repeated on the 19thdegree of same Signs on October 19 (and, from Taurus to Aquarius, on January 23 2021!). This is a transit for risk taking and the irrepressible urge for freedom of action and expression. A sense of self-righteousness may prevail in the collective, as well as an exaggerated sense of entitlement, lack of caution and forethought. While it could be a positive thing to fight with courage for our rights, personally and collectively, it could also lead to more severe confrontations and divisions. An exhalation of emotions and passions is likely around these times.
Mars square Pluto: August 13 – October 9 – December 24 2020
Next will be the right angle Mars-Pluto, on August 13. This transit will repeat on October 9 and December 24, on the 23rd degree of these Signs, the same sensitive degree where the Saturn-Pluto conjunction occurred in early January, the aspect at the center of the whole Covid saga and its aftermath. During this transit our drive for self determination will encounter obstacles that may seem at time insurmountable. We could find ourselves in a situation we cannot control, particularly resenting its negative impact on our lives. A similar transit became active in March at the heights of the restrictions most governments had to put in place to deal with the worsening pandemic.
Mars Square Saturn: August 25 – September 30 2020 + January 13 2021. This must be the exemplary transit of frustration and angry discontent. The desire to act out our desire is strong with Mars in Aries. It is now finding though powerful obstacles stopping us in our tracks. It could be anything, from bad luck to lack of opportunities, even other people standing in our way, making duties, obligations and commitments harder to bear than usual.
The Libra Spring Equinox, Waxing Crescent Sagittarius Moon,
September 22, 11.30 pm local time
click to view larger image
This is the yearly time to celebrate or sanctify the emerging of a new season, Spring in the Southern Lands and Autumn in the Northern, the Libra Equinox.
The Horoscope of this special event shows a near perfect opposition of Mercury in Libra and Mars in Aries, a difficult balance between the drive for direct action (Aries Mars) and the need for careful deliberation before taking action (Libra Mercury). Both Mercury and Mars are at right angle to Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn (t-square), stressing the potential for conflict and power struggles, and also again highlighting that the end of this global crisis is still in the future. Because the planetary configuration at this crucial time could mean a bumpy start to the new season, its celebrations could include some symbolical reminder of the need to create harmony and accord out of disharmony and discord, a balanced mind (Mercury) over unruly impulses (Mars).
This a longer version of an article published in the Uki Village News issue 112, for June-July 2020
The big picture
A highly unusual astrological narrative began unfolding in early December with the ingress of Jupiter in Capricorn, joining Saturn-Pluto as they approached their historical conjunction.
During the coming months of June-July we will see a continuation of the same, with a new Eclipse season, and Jupiter’ second pass alignment to Pluto.
In astrology Jupiter has the function of expanding our understanding but also of magnifying events, for better or worse. Capricorn is known as the Sign of Jupiter’s ‘fall’, a term indicating a uniquely challenging environment for this planet.
The long anticipated Saturn-Pluto’s conjunction in Capricorn was of concern to many astrological seekers because both planets portend difficult and even traumatic transitions in our personal and collective lives. Joining together they foretold hard times ahead. We know now that they brought even greater disruption and upheaval than anyone anticipated, marking a truly ‘karmic’ time for the whole planet.
Fortunately Saturn moved ahead of Pluto rapidly, leaving Capricorn by March 22. It will return to Capricorn between July 2 and December 17, but without reaching the degree of Pluto again, something we can all be grateful for. It could have been even worse!
The alignment of Jupiter to the Boxing Day 2019 Solar Eclipse, very close to the Capricorn Solstice, the start of a new season, was further confirmation of the powerful role Jupiter will play in shaping the major events of the coming year. Furthermore the January Cancer Lunar Eclipse was also aligned (opposition) to the Saturn-Pluto conjunction, another sign of the far reaching consequences of their encounter.
The narrative has not ended though because it has been and continues to be the role of Jupiter, and also of Mars, to trigger the darker energy of Pluto, until at least the end of this fateful year. A highly activated Pluto can manifest as grievous losses and serious control issues, as shown by the draconian measures governments had to put in place and the resentment some of these have fueled in many people.
Pluto also has increased the need for honest appraisal of any situation, no by embellishment or false hopes, but by dealing with the starkly sad realities life is presenting to us at this moment. We can choose to be empowered or be crushed by it. If radical changes are not implemented now, in the way we govern ourselves, the hard lessons will have to be repeated and things may actually get worse rather than better in the future.
While Pluto forces us to confront our deepest fears, Jupiter transiting Capricorn and aligning with Pluto three times (April 4, June 30, November13) is making the impact of the Saturn-Pluto conjunction more profound and far reaching, it is also offering a new vision for the future though, a new philosophical outlook on life that will stretch well beyond the present crisis. This is obvious observing how many of us are heeding the call for change to the way we live, accepting personal sacrifices to stop the abuse of the natural environment, the exploitation of resources and of people less fortunate than ourselves. The unprecedented emergency is showing that things could be different, that our future doesn’t have to be a repetition of the past. There is certainly hope, but the outcome is, to a great extent, up to us. The old maxim that ‘the stars incline, they do not compel‘ is forever true. We can make the best or the worst of any difficult transit; as we can enjoy or spoil the positive ones.
The Eclipses
The June Eclipses, Lunar (June 6 Sagittarius Full Moon) and Solar (June 21 Cancer New Moon) are showcasing a difficult Sun-Moon angle to Mars-Neptune, the latter becoming conjunct in Pisces on June 14, also aligning then to the Last Quarter Moon, a critical time in every Moon cycle. This whole configuration could aggravate the collective tendency toward flights of fancy and unrealistic thinking, challenging our ability to see through the fog of misinformation. It could also make us more impressionable and thus prone to errors of judgement, as well as aggravating our collective susceptibility to negative energies, psychological as well as physical. A healthy grip on common sense will be a must, in this confusing and anxiety riddled period. I fear that many could relax their guard too soon against the still clear and present danger of the pandemic (see the end of June second alignment of Jupiter-Pluto), or become easy prey to the numerous extravagant narratives that have been widely circulating since the start of the emergency.
The last Eclipse, a Lunar at the July 5 Capricorn Full Moon, concurs with the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction (already exact on June 30), the Moon aligning with them early on July 6. This particular event speaks loudly of the still present impact of all that went on previously, demanding a cautious and realistic approach to the crisis in order to master the unruly emotions and passions that could lead us astray.
The role of Mars
Let’s not forget that fiery Mars, who played such an important role in the escalation of the crisis in March, when transiting Capricorn and aligning to Pluto-Jupiter-Saturn, will enter Aries on June 28. Due to Retrogradation (September 10 to November 14) Mars will transit Aries until January 7 2021, again interacting by difficult 90 degrees angles with Jupiter-Saturn-Pluto, between August and October, December and January. So, in my view, it is not over until is over.
The good news is that Capricorn, the central character of this entire saga, is a highly productive and realistic Sign, so that, if we manage to navigate these troubled waters with patience and a down to earth attitude, we will find plenty of strength and amazing resilience to cope with anything life may throw at us. And, last but not least, the amazing conjunction of Jupiter to Saturn on the threshold of Aquarius, on December 22, is a beacon of hope for a better future if we embrace a spirit of reform and cooperation.
A shorter version of this article has been recently published in the Uki Village News
April/May Astrology: unprecedented challenges and opportunities
Welcome. The January Saturn-Pluto’s alignment, whose previous climax in 2001 fell so close to 9/11, is delivering a more powerful punch than was expected. It is a truly global, profound and unprecedented experience, at least for the modern world.
Right now, we found ourselves in the eye of the storm; and the prevalent feelings, depending on temperament, age and experience, are either of anguish and panic, or a sense imminent danger, or great uncertainty, or even incredulity. In this atmosphere it is much better to concentrate on the fact that this, like everything, is a transitory reality.
The cosmic events that we are witnessing are part of a much greater cycle of becoming. So, no matter how dramatic and potentially dangerous the transits may seem, they too will pass. They may last longer than we wish for though, and also leave behind an extended period of difficult re-adjustments.
At the time of writing (late March 2020) it is difficult to be too optimistic. Too many real everyday problems are affecting us in the wake of the emergency to allow flights of fancy. We are asked, not just by the government, but by our common sense to be self disciplined and practical, accepting necessary limitations for the good of all (Saturn). The older among us are the worst impacted (Saturn rules old age and Pluto all endings).
We may be pulled down the dark abyss of loneliness and depression, a common Saturn effect too; while Pluto is forcing us to look into our deepest fear, the unknown. If mismanaged, personally and collectively, this calamity could affect not only our physical health and well-being. As importantly it could impact our mental health and relationships. We could experience the tightening grip of authoritarianism, bigoted nationalism and xenophobia too.
It seems to me though that there is here also an opportunity to begin ending the sort of globalization that is polluting the natural world; escalating climate change and making us into shopaholic, globally wired robots. We have a chance to embrace the globalization of good will and cooperation instead, for a greener, cooler more peaceful planet (the passage of Saturn into Aquarius, temporarily from the end of March to early July, definitely from mid December). Aquarius, presently and even more in the near future is the light that could guide us out of this dark tunnel.
The famous phrase ‘think globally, act locally’ fits this era very well. It will be great if you could learn to self resource again, to make things, to learn practical skills, as individuals and individual countries. We could be brought down to our knees by this, in particular by the severe economic downturn that seems now unavoidable, but we could also learn to live more simply, growing our food, mending our socks, cooking our meals (exaggerating a bit here for good effect). We could discover that we can feel richer and more fulfilled rather than deprived. It is a big task but not an impossible one. Apart from nasty viruses, more sustainable, less wasteful lifestyles will also protect us from climate change and the wanton destruction of the natural world. It can be tough because we are so used to a ready made, button pushing way of living. So it could be time to toughen up while staying optimistic, there is no other way. If a crisis of this proportion cannot do it than nothing can.
The cosmic patterns
Here is a summary of the cosmic events involved in this global crisis, as they began to unfold in early December 2019. To unravel the mystery we need to observe different planetary cycles, involving slow and fast planets, as well as seasonal eclipses as they magically interconnect and overlap, creating the intense results we are all experiencing.
If an arbitrary beginning could be found it would be, for me, the ingress of Jupiter in Capricorn, on December 3 2019. Why? This was the first sign that emerging issues pertaining to Capricorn were going to be magnified during the year long Jupiter’s Transit.
Capricorn has a lot to do with the orderly working of government and business, our collective planning and practical concerns, already gravely challenged by the then imminent historical alignment of Saturn to Pluto. This occurred on January 13 2020, in the midst of a powerful Eclipse season, involving also Capricorn and its opposite complementary Sign of Cancer.
Let’s step back again. The Sun made its yearly ingress into Capricorn, on December 22. By Boxing Day the Sun was very close to Jupiter, nearly conjunct. This was the day of the Capricorn New Moon and a Solar Eclipse, the last of 2019 and the closest to the Capricorn Solstice, start of a new season. Jupiter right on the Solar Eclipse indicated that it was also going to magnify any effect, positive and negative, the Eclipse might have. The whole event was in turn aligned to the Moon’s Descending Node, what ancient astrologers called the Dragon’s Tail, pointing to what of our collective past has not been yet integrated in our consciousness and need redressing. On January 9 2020 Jupiter and the Descending Node became conjunct.
Eclipses nearly always come in pair, so a Lunar Eclipse at the next Full Moon in Cancer occurred on January 11. The Moon did not just oppose the Sun, as at every full phase, but also Mercury, the collective mind, and the largest of our closest asteroids, Ceres, symbol of Mother Earth herself, not in her nurturing but rather in her vengeful mode! To top this up the eclipsed Cancer Moon was also opposing the Saturn-Pluto’s conjunction, which became exact on January 13. This alignment as I described many times in earlier posts, is considered a make or break transit of great significance, the very same astrologers were waiting for with some trepidation.
We come to mid February, when things got even more interesting and complicated, with the ingress of trouble making Mars into Capricorn too, February 16 (transit due to last until March 31). And, like if the above wasn’t enough, Mercury of the collective mind began his retro period on February 17 in the Sign of Pisces, the most receptive and dangerously exposed to outside influences.
On March 8 the Sun, symbol of our collective consciousness aligned with Neptune in Pisces, setting the scene for a period of confusion, misinformation, anxieties, extreme sensitivity, but also compassion, sacrifice, redemption. Neptune is indeed a very spiritual energy when in its high vibration. We all have felt the universal sorrows the news were spilling everywhere and began praying, meditating, going within.
Mars in Capricorn has also been a leading character in March. It acted clearly as a catalyst of the energy packed into the slow moving planets, Jupiter, Pluto and Saturn. It became conjunct Jupiter on March 20, day of the Aries Equinox, marking the start of a new season with a big bang. Then Mars aligned with Pluto on March 23, extremely intense, unleashing hidden resentments and rage, mounting fatalities and suffering, a crude and cruel wake-up call.
Capricorn Mars also triggered the still energized degrees of the December-January Solar and Lunar Eclipses. Mars has definitely inflamed and worsened an already difficult situation. We must be glad to see him moving out of Capricorn on March 31st. The crisis will continue, I believe, with Jupiter soon to conjunct Pluto, as early as April 5; more of that later. To finish with Mars for the immediate future he will align with Saturn on April First, thus ending for now its direct link with the Capricorn big picture planets. On April 9 a right angle between Mars in Aquarius and Uranus in Taurus could add to the surprises of this amazing times, most possibly in an unsettling way but perhaps also in a positive way, with some exciting breakthrough.
On March 23 Saturn entered Aquarius, one of the silver linings of this emergency, Aquarius being the Sign of universal cooperation and mate-ship. For now this transit will last only until July 2, when he will re- enter Capricorn until December 17, with the definite ingress into Aquarius and soon after, on December 22, a very promising alignment with Jupiter by then also in Aquarius.
Now to Jupiter who, on April 5, will align with Pluto. This transit is one of the reasons why I feel that the emergency could escalate for another while, not necessarily for Australia but generally speaking. This transit cannot be underestimated in its potency because it will return two more times, on June 30 and November 13, more Eclipse Seasons. Jupiter seems to want to expand the situation, to its limits. This is a challenge to embrace a truer philosophy of life, to transform our beliefs in full blooded knowledge, to give up on what seemed so essential before and now may have to be discarded, surviving the whole things wiser and stronger. The other strong reason in my eyes for this situation to linger is the retrogradation of Mars in Aries from September 10 to November 14, again interacting by square with Pluto, Saturn and Jupiter, three times into January 2021. And finally also the Solar Eclipse on the Cancer Solstice, on June 21, sort of eclipsing another season.
I cannot see how this crisis could really end until, at least, the end of this year. With this I don’t mean that we will all be in lock down the whole time, but that there will be peaks and lows, the crisis abating in one place and surfacing in another. I am saying this especially thinking of the retrogradation of Jupiter and Mars.
Next favorable days for Sowing and Planting:
Tuesday to Thursday, April 28, 29 and until 11 am on April 30 Waxing Crescent Moon transiting Water Fertile Cancer
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To view a full interpretation of the Moon Sign and Phase please click the images below.
Taurus New Moon, 03°24′, Thu, Apr 23, 12.25 pm
The WANING/WAXING MOON TRANSITS TAURUS from Thursday, April 23, at 5.35 am, to Saturday, April 25, at 5.19 pm, entering then the Sign of GEMINI.
The TAURUS NEW MOON PHASE begins on Thursday, April 23, at 12.25 pm, and will end on Monday, April 27, at 12.45 pm, with the GEMINI CRESCENT MOON PHASE.
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Click any of the Little Helpers for more information
Sowing Planting
Herbs
Propagating Cuttings
Root Crops Bulbs
Ornamental Flowers
Liquid Gold
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Taurus Moon in the garden
The following are the Edible Plants, Herbs, Tees and Flowers since ancient times associated with Taurus, and also with Venus, Taurus’ traditional Ruler, the archetypal goddess of love, pleasure, beauty, harmony. All plants that make the garden beautiful, cheerful and sweet smelling, and those whose fruit are pleasant and mild tasting belong to Venus and the Signs she rules.
In the gardenEarthy Taurusis considered a fairly productive Sign, especially suitable for Root Crops, like potatoes and carrots, helping to strengthen the root system and to make plants sturdier. It is also a great Sign for `Flowering Bubs and other ornamental plants.
Great time to be lazy in the garden too, lull in a hammock and watch the grass grow.
Edible Plants: Mushrooms, many fruit of a red colour, like Cherries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Plums, Apples. Also Almond.
Healing Herbs: Some of the medicinal herbs associated with Taurus are suitable to treat kidney ailments, like Elderberry, Sassafras, Black Currants etc. Or to soothe a sore throat, like Liquorice, Peppermint, Black Currants, Golden Seal, Burdock, Willow. Also Taurus herbs are Lovage, Vervain, Fenugreek, Slippery Elm, Lavender, Catnip, Strawberries Leaves, Mother of Thyme.
Trees: Apple, Almond, Plum, Red Cherry, Birch, Sandalwood. Also flowering Trees.
Note that the garden activities associated with the Moon Sign depend also on the cycle the Moon is in. The Moon transiting through a fertile or productive Sign will no be so favorable if the Phase is not a productive one, and vice-versa. For best results the Sign and Phase of the Moon have to be considered together.
The New Moon Phase is traditionally a time to begin sowing and planting because the increasing Moon light will help plants to emerge and flourish. Moisture becomes more and more available as the light of the Moon intensifies, up to the Full Moon. Traditionally however no sowing or planting are recommended within twelve hours of the phase itself.
Everything can go in now, but in particular leafy vegetables and all plants that we grow for their above the ground parts, but only when the Moon is transiting through the very fertile Water Signs or the productive Signs Taurus, Libra and Capricorn.
With this particular Taurus New Moon occurring at 12.45 pm local time on Thursday, April 23, it would be better to start the recommended garden activities on Friday, April 24, continuing on Saturday, April 25, until 5.19 pm, when the Moon will enter Non Fertile Gemini.
Water Rabbit, coolest amongst Bunnies, January 22, 2023
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To book a consultation, in person or on the phone, please call Paola Emma on: 0407 359 607 or email: moonlivingmoon@gmail.com
I am offering astrological counseling on your most pressing questions: your Spiritual Journey, Love Life and Relationships, Career, Finance, Studies, Relocation, Travel, Future Prospects, etc. I am a holder of the Federation of Australian Astrologers’ Diploma, winner of the Gold Medal for Excellence 2007, and many other awards.
Since 1985 I've been working with hundreds of clients. I have also ran numerous Beginners and Advanced Classes on Astrology and personally tutored many more students. I welcome comments on my posts. Enjoy! Paola Emma
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