Chiron ingress Aries
Sorry I completely forgot to mention Chiron’s change of sign last week –
- Tuesday 17 Apr 2018 Chiron ingress Aries 09:10:21 am BST
Chiron’s changes of sign are not listed in my Ephemerides so thank you to Andrew Ifandis for sending me the exact time. I like his commentary as posted on The World of Astrology group page –
https://www.facebook.com/groups/131108987086161/
THE CENTAUR AND THE SELFISH GENE
(Chiron in Aries 2018-2027)
Negative Expression –
We want to be better than the rest and it hurts us when this is not the case.
We are conceited and all our actions are aimed solely at self-confirmation.
We do not believe in ourselves and we feel inadequate with regards to expressing our sexuality and healthy egoism.
Positive Expression –
We feel and know that we do not have to compare ourselves with others. We forgive ourselves if in the past we did not believe so much in ourselves, and we go forwards having love for ourselves and awareness of our value. Loving ourselves in the right way, does not make us conceited, but instead allows us to be well within in moments of stillness or loneliness. It gives us the power to heal our own wounds and to be an example and an inspiration to others.
https://www.facebook.com/AndrewIfandis/
Why is this ingress important?
At the risk of stating the obvious any planet arriving at 0 degrees of Aries (first degree of the zodiac) has to travel through 29 degrees of Pisces first (last degree of the zodiac). The Sun and the faster moving planets – Mercury, Venus, Mars – do this every 1 or 2 years but Chiron completes his orbit only once every 51 years. As he is the Wounded Healer, and 29 Pisces is the position of a Fixed Star called Scheat, associated with suffering and misfortune, then this rare transition takes on weightier significance.
Psychologically this symbolizes the shift from victim to warrior. Interestingly it was early last week that I first came across this fabulous quote from artist Frida Kahlo, who suffered polio as a child and nearly died in a horrific tram accident when she was 18. Looking at her horoscope she has Saturn at 27 Pisces, conjunct Scheat, in her 8th House (death and surgery amongst other things):
https://www.astrotheme.com/astrology/Frida_Kahlo
How better to encapsulate the transition from sad Scheat to 0 degrees of fiery and proactive Aries? So if you haven’t got enough healthy egoism going on in your life it’s time to grab your share!
Note that Chiron will turn retrograde early July and will slide back into Pisces at the end of September. Themes that are important now and which reflect this Chiron/Scheat symbolism may therefore repeat, or signal another significant stage in a chain of events. Chiron will enter Aries for the second time 18 February 2019 and will then continue to travel through this sign until 2027.
The Astrology Blog – What’s Happening This Week?
It’s not the most lighthearted of weeks but it does at least get off to a lively start:
Tuesday 24 April
- Mars 20 Capricorn sextile Jupiter 20 Scorpio 06.14 BST
- Venus ingress Gemini 17.41 BST
Mars is supremely purposeful in Capricorn, his sign of exaltation. Students – note that he is also currently the dispositor of Jupiter (as this planet is travelling through Mars’ sign of Scorpio) and is therefore lending his elbow to Jupiter causes.
So, if you have something urgent, that thing on the very top of your to-do list, then Monday is the time to do it (as it’s exact early hours of Tuesday) or at least to set the wheels in motion. Any Mars/Jupiter combination is fantastic for getting fast and positive results. Add the signs of Capricorn and Scorpio into the mix and you get something really powerful and determined. Even if you haven’t got a specific goal look out for events, invites, opportunities – or people – that grab your attention and make you want to find out more. Remember that Jupiter is generosity too. If you can do something to help someone in need, don’t hesitate. It could make a massive difference.
On the love front the Mars – Jupiter is also looking very sexy! If you’ve been lazy in the passion department it’s a bit of a wakeup call. Couples who make love stay together. Take the initiative. In fact, take the initiative with anything you feel passionate about. New sexual attractions look like steamy stuff but may be more complicated, especially as Venus arrives in the sign of the Twins on the same day. Look out for themes of duality, the most obvious one being someone who is still involved with someone else. Venus is love, Gemini is two – or more! But Venus in Gemini is also very flirtatious and interesting. Look out for the person who’s a breath of fresh air and full of ideas. Great for having or planning a girls night out as well.
Mars’ next aspect is a tough one, the union with Pluto –
Thursday 26 April
- Mars conjunct Pluto 21 Capricorn 11.55
Pluto is mostly about endings/beginnings and this can take many forms. This conjunction with Mars usually happens once every two years but the last one (owing to being preceded by Mars retrograde for a couple of months) was actually only 18 months ago in October 2016. That is a month that is burned indelibly into my memory as it was when Sue’s daughters and their young children travelled to Greece to see their mother, knowing it would be the last time. They were both incredibly brave.
Inevitably then I think about how Pluto symbolism demands our courage and resourcefulness. Often we face situations that test us, or we have to accept that something really is at an end. Pluto stuff is about total change, but usually not in the sense of our being able to make any difference. Usually the agent of change is not us, it’s time, it’s circumstances, it’s the matters beyond our control. One of Pluto’s symbols is the phoenix so our real power lies in resurrection, arising from our ashes. So don’t try to breathe life into something that is passing out of your life. Be ready and willing to move on to the next thing, don’t beat yourself up over mistakes (nothing is really a mistake anyway) and think in terms of new cycles.
This message is especially potent as this Mars – Pluto conjunction falls immediately after Pluto turning retrograde (last Saturday 22 Apr 16.24 BST) and is going to be “stuck” at 21 degrees Capricorn for the next 6 weeks. In other words, a turning point is even more marked but may take a while to make sense or bear fruit.
Saturn is also in the picture this week, another indication that certain issues may feel very slow or even irresolvable –
Wednesday 25 April
- Mercury 9 Aries square Saturn 9 Capricorn 22.29 BST
Sunday 29 April
- Sun 9 Taurus trine Saturn 9 Capricorn 11.05
Mercury has recently turned direct (15 April) but Saturn has recently turned retrograde (18 April) so this combination spells friction, two forces pulling in opposite directions, trying to get past each other but reaching an impasse. Everything under the communication umbrella is getting thumped, from crossed wires to deafening silences. Top advice is not to get locked into arguments that you can’t win, especially on long running disputes. The chances of getting someone to think as you do are practically zero. Accept differences and other people’s points of view. It doesn’t mean that you have to give up your own. Also don’t agree to anything that you know in your gut to be wrong for you or unrealistic. It’s okay to say no.
The Sun – Saturn trine at the weekend is much easier. Harmonizing in earth signs this combination is great for any kind of closure or for learning the true state of affairs. It’s gentle but firm. Psychologically it’s ideal for assuming personal responsibility, for recognizing your own or someone else’s limitations, for putting in clear boundaries or making commitments. All practical and financial issues will benefit from a definite game plan. And health matters also get a boost, such as finding out what your body does or doesn’t need, or finding the right authority/practitioner. Saturn is the planet of gravitas and experience.
The grand finale of the week is the Full Moon, which falls in the early hours of next Monday and therefore will be coming to fruition throughout Sunday –
Monday 30 April
- Full Moon 9 Scorpio 01.59 BST
Full Moons are witchy at the best of times, but the Scorpio one tops the bill. In traditional astrology this is actually the Moon’s sign of “fall” – her most troubled placing. Here is what I write about this Moon as a natal placing in Be Your Own Astrologer – which is especially relevant on this week of the Mars – Pluto conjunction too –
Moon in Scorpio (fall)
Note that Mars thrives in Scorpio where the Moon is at her most vulnerable. Then throw in the fact that Scorpio is also co-ruled by all or nothing Pluto, planet of power, sex, death and rebirth, and you begin to have a taste of what Moon in Scorpio people are up against. Formative experiences amongst my own client work include early bereavement, the wicked stepmother, being rigidly controlled or suffering abuse.
These Moon people absolutely have to find their own power or they can abuse in return or self destruct. Often this means rebellion or flying in the face of convention in order to embark upon the healing journey. Louise Hay was raped at age 5, dropped out of school, had a teenage pregnancy and, on her 16th birthday, gave up her baby daughter for adoption. Gynecological problems are common for women with this Moon sign and in her early fifties she was diagnosed with “incurable” cervical cancer. She refused conventional treatment and cured herself. She is now world famous for her book You Can Heal Your Life which investigates the physical – metaphysical nature of disease.
Nancy Friday also embodies the awesome “powerful woman” archetype of this Moon. She exploded the taboo around women’s sexual fantasies with her first book My Secret Garden, and explored the psychology of guilt about sex that women hand down to each other in My Mother, My Self.
A psychologically and spiritually enriched life is possibly this Moon’s paramount need. The gift of deep insight often extends into psychic abilities too. This is Nostradamus’ Moon.
In a nutshell: wounded, resilient, transformational.
So all sorts of deep emotional, control and health issues can come clambering into the light under this Full Moon. There’s an “all or nothing” mood and feelings will be running extremely high. Tread carefully. Amongst the most destructive scenarios will be those fuelled by jealousy or revenge seeking, but the world of psychotherapy teaches us that such impulses are linked to not recognizing or claiming our own power or worth. The good news is that this Full Moon at 9 Scorpio falls sextile (harmonious) to Saturn at 9 Capricorn. So stay grounded, stay centered and don’t exert or give in to emotional blackmail in any shape or form.
To get the best out of this Full Moon use your common sense but also listen to your instincts. The two are not mutually exclusive. Be willing to get into all the murky stuff of your own emotions – or someone else’s – in a non blaming way. Right now acceptance is possibly the biggest healer of all.