Tipping Points, the Lifting of Shadows and why Roger Federer got beat
If you want to see the sign and degree of the planets in your own or any other natal chart – so you can check these against the signs and degrees important this week – here’s the link to Astrotheme. Enter your data into the boxes provided:
https://www.astrotheme.com/horoscope_chart_sign_ascendant.php
The Astrology Blog 21 January 2019
All times given are stated in GMT
‘One perceives a subterranean current, one feels the grip of destiny, striking coincidences occur and the world is full of signs: such things…can indeed be the shadows of a real and not yet apprehended metamorphosis. Coming events do cast shadows.’
– Iris Murdoch ‘The Black Prince’
At the end of last week’s blog I included Monday’s astrology, because a major aspect and the Lunar Eclipse both fell in the early hours of this morning – followed by the Mars – Saturn square which is exact just before midday.
Monday 21 January 2019
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Venus 14 Sagittarius square Neptune 14 Pisces 04.17
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Full Moon/Total Lunar Eclipse at 0.52 Leo 05.17
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Mars 14 Aries square Saturn 14 Capricorn 11.49
Mmm, not exactly an easy or cheerful start to the week, although you may be surprised at how quickly some shadows will lift. New horizons are already coming into view. But for many this is a time of major transition, acclimatizing to a new landscape, accepting the inevitability of what has recently happened or is currently unfolding.
To reiterate, Eclipses throw shadows. The symbolism of this can show by one person moving in between two others, or someone moving in between an individual and a prize or goal, someone stealing the light or the glory.
One person is empowered at the expense of another being disempowered. Leo rules kings and queens. There’s only room for one person on the throne.
Eclipse shadows
As I said last week Eclipses often sort out winners and losers. Ask Angelique Kerber who just got totally hammered by relative newcomer Danielle Collins at the Australian Open. (Danielle Collins has got just about everything in Sagittarius and is enjoying stupendous Jupiter transits).
But both women epitomize the Moon in Leo archetype – it’s irrelevant that they’re not Leo Sun signs. I don’t have a birth time for either woman, but I wouldn’t mind betting that Angelique Kerber has a Leo Ascendant or Descendant.
But symbolism often works at a universal level when we see things being played out on the world stage. Leo, with the strength and grace of the big cat, is ruled by the Sun whose colour is gold.
In the physical body Leo rules the back, especially the spine. It’s notable how often Leo Moon symbolism shows as blonde statuesque or athletic type women. Charlene, Princess of Monaco; Renee Zellweger; Charlize Theron; Paris Hilton and Jane Fonda are all examples of natal Moon in Leo.
Roger Federer
At the Australian Open the Eclipse didn’t stop with the women. There was a shock defeat as Leo Roger Federer got beat by the Greek Leo, 20 years old Stefanos Tsitsipas, in the fourth round.
Remember that a Lunar Eclipse occurs when the Moon is obscured by the shadow of the earth at the time of a Full Moon.
The other vital astronomical detail is that Eclipses occur when a new or full Moon is also conjunct the Moon’s Nodes. These are the imaginary points at which the Moon cuts across the Ecliptic. All personal horoscopes show the position of the natal North Node (the South Node is exactly opposite).
Roger Federer’s natal North Node is at 1.30 Leo – only half a degree away from the exact position of this Eclipse. So it was a double whammy. It’s not the end of the amazing Federer’s career, but it is the beginning of the inevitable end of his reign as the invincible King of the courts.
Being overshadowed and dethroned by the younger new players has to happen sometime.
Full Moon symbolism
Let’s not forget that we’re still looking at Full Moon symbolism, which links to things going a bit crazy, a matter coming full circle or a matter being illuminated.
But throw Eclipse symbolism into the mix and we then get changes linked to the things that until now have been invisible. Such as unknown information or secrets that then change the way we see something or change the way we feel about someone.
Changes that come about at Eclipse time tend to be final and absolute.
As this is a Lunar Eclipse, note that the Moon rules women and often relates specifically to the mother and to all home, family or property concerns.
The Moon is our emotional world too, so again a reminder from last week. Try not to make moves or decisions that are fear-based – especially if you’re experiencing any kind of loss.
Mars – Saturn square
The Mars – Saturn square, the two traditional “malefics” in conflict, also paints a picture of force meeting an immovable object.
This is the ultimate picture of ‘no point in bashing your head (Mars in Aries) against a brick wall (Saturn in Capricorn)’. What can’t be changed has to be accepted, and the sooner the better, if only for our own sanity.
Moving on, the rest of the week is a ray of sunshine as we emerge from these shadows, starting with the most important aspect, the conjunction of the ‘benefics’. And then Mars also aligning harmoniously with Jupiter at the end of the week:
Tuesday 22 January
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Venus conjunct Jupiter 16 Sagittarius 12.27
Friday 25 January
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Mars 16 Aries trine Jupiter 16 Sagittarius 17.54
Venus is love and money, but she’s also all about life’s pleasures, comforts and sweetness. Jupiter (currently at his expansive and optimistic best in his own sign of Sag) is opportunity, good luck, blessings, generosity, freedom, liberation, education, travel – and all things connected to overseas.
So it’s easy to see why these two planets are known as the Benefics. When they come together it can be a wonderful double act.
Venus – Jupiter conjunction
These conjunctions are rare as Venus catches up with Jupiter only once every 11 to 14 months. Here are the positions of the last two, and the next one. This will also fall in Sagittarius, at the end of the sign later this year:
- 27 August 2016: Venus conjunct Jupiter at 27 Virgo
- 13 November 2017: Venus conjunct Jupiter at 7 Scorpio
- 22 January 2019: Venus conjunct Jupiter 16 Sagittarius
- 24 November 2019 Venus conjunct Jupiter at 28 Sagittarius
If you have planets or angles at or close to the first two mentioned in this list you may be able to check back and see what they tally with, in terms of life events.
I have Neptune at 6 Scorpio, and I have Pisces on the I.C. (the cusp of my 4th house of home), which is ruled by both Jupiter and Neptune.
My perfect little house came to me through a friend, exactly on the day that Jupiter transited my Neptune, 6 November. The Venus – Jupiter conjunction on the 13th was the day the painters and workmen arrived to transform it into my little haven of beauty.
I rest my case, your Honour!
Oh and btw Jupiter rules the law as well. So if you’re dealing with legal issues of any kind and you have planets or angles close to 16 Sagittarius, it’s looking good!
Mars aspects
The Mars – Jupiter aspect is also extremely powerful as both planets are in their sign of dignity.
It’s a highly positive picture for moving onwards and upwards, forcibly reminding us that there really is more to the world than our own back yard.
Mars in Aries, sign of the self, tells us that it’s healthy to put some energy into the things that we personally wish for and to start doing that straightaway. Aries is all about immediacy and the end of procrastination.
It’s a fantastic time for travel or for making plans to do so. Contact me if you want the info for bargain flights to Greece for Summer School!
Mars in Aries is the ultimate symbol of effective independence. But as both Venus and Mars are the love planets this is an encouraging and optimistic picture for relationships too.
The sub-text is not to lose your sense of self.
These two planets have already been in harmonious aspect, at the end of last week. But as they both now move on to make positive aspects to Jupiter, the benefits and themes of progress are even stronger.
If you’re going through a break-up, this may be hard to believe, but the astrological evidence is stacking up to say that the right decisions have been made.
The man or woman-shaped space in your life is now being spring cleaned and is newly available. Needy, controlling, miserable or boring partners need not apply…
What Else is Happening this Week?
The other planet in the news is Mercury, who’s at full speed and not allowing us to sit back or let things drag on.
He finishes his journey through goal-orientated Capricorn midweek, squaring up to Uranus as he slams the door and goes off in pursuit of more interesting matters:
Wednesday 23 January
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Mercury 28 Capricorn square Uranus 28 Aries 11.14
Thursday 24 January
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Mercury ingress Aquarius 05.50
The communication planet in conflict with Uranus, the last aspect before changing sign, definitely has the feel of last word freak – but if it makes you feel good then why not?
And like the Eclipse symbolism, this is the kind of astrology that reflects tipping points. The moment when you tell someone what they can do with their thankless job, demands or unreasonable behaviour.
Uranus may be the unpredictable planet but ultimately he’s the rebel. This aspect may also flag up the moment when you realise that something just isn’t going to work, no matter which way you look at it. Back to the drawing board.
Mercury is often news. The kind of news depends on which planet he’s hooking up with, and how.
Squares to Uranus spell disruption or surprises at best, shocks at worst, of the ‘You’re joking!’ variety. As we work through this square mid-week, we can expect the kind of things that normally appear on the ‘look out for’ list when Mercury is retrograde.
Mercury is known as the Trickster and Magician as well as the communicator – and he could easily swap rapidly from one hat to another, as he ends one cycle and starts another.
Mercury in Aquarius
Some textbooks say that Mercury is in his sign of “exaltation” in Aquarius, although traditional astrology gives that placing to Virgo. Even so, the mind planet in the brilliant air sign of Aquarius is a highly workable and clever combination. Whoever coined the phrase ‘thinking outside of the box’ must have had this Mercury.
If this Mercury has a problematic side, it usually shows within the arena of personal relationships. This is where the ‘too much head and not enough heart’ approach can backfire a bit.
This Mercury can be dispassionate, aloof or dismissive. Sentiment has little place in this Mercury’s world of objective reasoning.
Be aware of the person in your life who finds it difficult to handle emotional matters, easily spotted by the fact that they come across as either indifferent or distinctly uncomfortable.
Mercury and passion
Note that there are currently no personal planets (Sun through to Saturn) in the element of water, the element of the emotional world.
This obviously doesn’t mean that we all stop having feelings! But it shifts the focus onto the other things that make relationships work and make them interesting.
As I was saying last week, passion is powerful right now. And with Mercury entering Aquarius the ‘meeting of minds’ message, the intellectual stimulus, is a lot more seductive than getting mushy.
Be aware of how you are interesting – and interested. Enter into conversation and debate. Grab any opportunity to discuss views or ideas. Be controversial and admire the same quality of ‘differentness’ in others.
Chelsea Handler, has this Mercury powerfully placed on her Ascendant. She rose to fame on the strength of wit, humour, writing, TV interviewing, hosting and commentary. All in her own distinctive irreverent style.
Finally, Mercury in Aquarius is fantastic for groups, for widening your social circle and getting involved in causes. This is underlined by Mercury’s first aspect. It’s a conjunction with the Sun and it happens next week. I’ll be talking more about that next time.
Until then, may your world reveal limitless possibilities!
With love from Greece
Joanna