The Astrology Blog – 4 May 2015
All times stated in BST
Apologies for the late post of the weekly blog. Judy Hall’s course here at the Greek Island Summer School started today and we’ve had a fascinating first day with a wonderful group of many different ages and nationalities. Judy is teaching us how the energies of all the different crystals correlate with the symbolism of the planets, and demonstrating how the world of astrology is not just a “head” thing but about connecting at many other levels, and how it is the feelings that lead us to true understanding.
The next course will be Discovering Astrology on 8 June
Lift astrology out of the Sun sign columns and discover horoscopy – you’ll be working on your own chart throughout the week and learning about Sun signs, the symbolism of the planets, houses and aspects, and taking your first steps in prediction. Reply to this newsletter for more information or email joannaw@otenet.gr
What’s happening this week?
Mars is on the move. Overall this is good news as he exits Taurus, one of his signs of detriment, and enters Gemini –
Tuesday Mars ingress Gemini (03.41)
In terms of the cycle that’s now closing Mars in the fixed earth sign of Taurus is an achiever but a plodder – things do get done eventually but not in a blaze of glory. Some things are held up purely by financial restraints – Taurus ruling money – or important issues can get stuck and bogged down through stodgy officialdom or a lack of imagination. Taurus rules the throat in the physical body and Mars is the signifier of pain as well as action – it’s notable how many people have been suffering from bad throats and colds. A virus has been doing the rounds here that is characterized by a sore throat and lethargy – a text book showing of this detrimented Mars!
Mars moving on into the spirited air sign of Gemini is therefore a breath of fresh air – or is it? Before we get too excited just note that as Mars travels through this sign he doesn’t pick up positive aspects from any other planets until the first week of June. For now, there’s a re-run of the pattern that happened when Mercury went into Gemini at the beginning of the month, starting with an opposition to Saturn who is currently reversing through the early degrees of Sagittarius. This aspect is exact towards the end of the week, but may well make its presence felt during the few days beforehand. As I wrote last week, symbolism gets “fatter” as the moment of an astrological event moves closer (applying), the actual unfolding events putting the flesh on the bones. They get “thinner” once they’re past their point of exactitude (separating). This applies to the minutiae of life as well as the big issues” –
Friday Mars opposite Saturn (07.04)
Traditional astrology would deem this aspect difficult and highly restrictive. Both Mars and Saturn are “malefics” – Mars being the god of war and Saturn, amongst other heavy things, is the Grim Reaper, and rules endings of all kinds. If there’s something you want to kill off and put a stop to now’s your chance, but otherwise beware arguments and ultimatums. Mars in Gemini is a war of words – and with the opposition to Saturn could all too easily signify a battle that can’t be won. Divided loyalties or opposing viewpoints, of the “ne’er the twain shall meet” variety, could all too easily create conflict, rifts or resentments that will be hard to heal. Look out for negative scripts too, your own or other people’s, and the damage that these can do. Entrenched beliefs or giving too much power to the past can block the road ahead, stopping us from going for what we want, keeping us stuck in negative patterns and holding us back in our career or personal relationships. The old saying of you can’t change the past or a current situation but you can change your attitude to it is especially poignant right now, and on this theme this was my favourite read of the week by Shirzad Chamine –
“In my Stanford lectures on Positive Intelligence and Saboteurs, I invite students to raise their hand any time they feel skeptical about something I’ve said.
A lot of hands usually go up when I make this statement:
“Stress and unhappiness are always a choice. Any negative feelings you experience are because you’ve chosen to listen to your Saboteurs.”
The reactions from my students are usually along these lines:
“But, Shirzad — Sometimes things happen to us that are truly awful — such as losing a job or botching a presentation. Isn’t it normal to feel upset about it?”
“If I don’t feel bad about mistakes that I make, I won’t learn from them and will probably just repeat them.”
“When it comes to a major project, stress energizes me and drives me to do my best. If I don’t feel stress, won’t I under prepare or under perform?”
I typically respond to them with an exchange that goes something like this:
Me: Are unpleasant physical sensations, such as pain, ever good for us?
“Yes, of course,” they say. Invariably someone will point out how pain is useful when it warns us of danger, such as when we accidentally touch a hot stove or tweak a muscle when working out.
Me: “Quite right. Now, for how long do you need to feel the pain to get the message?”
“A split second,” they usually respond.
Exactly. A split second is all it usually takes. Once you benefit from the informative warning of a negative sensation, you automatically want to take action and let the pain go.
Yet our Saboteurs keep us in a cycle of replaying our disappointments and anxieties over and over again…
…the Judge beats you up steadily and uses shame and guilt to teach you a lesson.
…the Controller, Stickler, and Hyper-Achiever consume you with anxiety about the terrible consequences that might ensue.
…the Avoider tricks you into procrastinating, which leads to more anxiety.
And so on.
Disappointment over a setback or mistake is only useful for about 10 seconds until you switch to curiosity about how to learn from it.
And feeling stress over an important presentation or deliverable is of limited benefit at best – only up until the time you start preparing. About 10 seconds worth! Beyond that, it can actually hinder your performance.
Whenever you find yourself in a negative feeling or reaction for more than the informative 10 seconds, I encourage you to try this easy practice:
1. Pause. Ask yourself if you’ve already heard the message, and if there is any value in staying in the reaction.
2. Chuckle to your Saboteur and say, “I’ve got it and I’m on it. Now get out of my way!”
Take your hand off the hot stove of life’s challenges. You’ll see how much easier life instantly becomes.”
Back to Gemini the sign of the Twins look out, as ever, for themes of duality. There is a sense of the left hand not knowing what the right is doing, problems with situations that involve too many people, an increased risk of problems with any kind of official paperwork or form filling that then has to be processed by different departments etc.
In love matters any kind of love triangle will be super sensitive and existing affairs may well reach crunch point. Mars is passion but two’s company, etc – Saturn’s presence under the difficult aspect of the opposition is more likely to spell frustration and thwarted passion than satisfaction! Single? It’s time to body swerve anyone who’s unavailable, no matter how attracted to them you may be.
What else? Mars is speed, Saturn is roadblocks and likes to do things slowly. Kill your speed and avoid any kind of risk taking. Mars is knives too and anything sharp, stinging or feverish. Take precautions and think ahead. I’ve given my students here this week strict instructions on mozzie and sun protection – we don’t want anyone laid out with sunstroke or dehydration!
The better news is that once this aspect is separating the weekend picture is much more satisfying. Venus is now in the water sign of Cancer and is travelling towards a harmonious aspect with Neptune, dignified in his own sign of Pisces –
Saturday Venus trine Neptune (19.50)
This is as different from the Mars – Saturn opposition as you could possibly get. Venus is of course the main love planet, and Neptune is the biggest romantic of them all. If you’ve been having a tough time in your relationship, or if you haven’t spent enough time together recently, then this is your top choice for a date night, either at home or out. If you’re unattached and ready to find love don’t even think about staying in! Girls night out, saying yes to a dinner party invite or any invite – be sociable and be receptive. Venus/Neptune is all about fusion and the urge to merge. This is also a wonderful aspect for healing as well as for falling in love, so time spent on any relationship that is important to you is time well spent.
The weekend feels like the chance to shake off the Mars – Saturn effect, no matter how it may have manifested for you – reaching the end of a period of hard work, personal difficulties, conflicts, challenges, feeling physically under par and so on. Venus – Neptune can be total bliss, relaxation, doing whatever makes you feel happy or meeting someone special. The chance to regroup is also reflected in the New Moon that is exact in the early hours of next Monday morning –
Monday New Moon at 27 degrees of Taurus (05.14)
New Moons, new beginnings – pay special attention to ideas, thoughts or events that surface throughout the week as the New Moon is the time to “birth” whatever will lead you onwards and upwards. This New Moon is especially rich as Taurus is the Moon’s sign of exaltation and is a symbol of fertility and prosperity. If you have planets or angles at or close to 27 degrees of Taurus – or the other fixed signs of Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius – then this New Moon will be especially significant for you. Here’s the usual link for checking the signs and degrees of your natal planets.
http://www.alwaysastrology.com/birth-chart-calculator.html
Next week I’ll be away for family reasons but I’ll do my best to post a mini blog before I go – although I’m extremely conscious of the fact that Mercury is getting ready to turn retrograde next Tuesday …
Until then,
With love from Greece
Joanna