The Astrology Blog 27 August 2018
All times given are stated in BST
Mars Stationary Direct
This time last week I was writing the blog as Mercury turned direct, and I hope that you’re finding that matters are starting to get sorted out, in your world or in your head! Personally I’m finding that short term matters are starting to move but longer term concerns are still hitting speed bumps. This was to be expected as things have been compounded by the fact that this recent period of a retrograde Mercury coincided with a retrograde (reverse) Mars (speed), but this week it’s his turn to start moving in the right direction.
To give you the story so far Mars had entered Aquarius (16 May) but then turned retrograde at 9 degrees of that sign (26 June), slid back into Capricorn (14 August) where he’s now turning direct and will re-enter Aquarius in a couple of weeks time. Add into the mix that that Saturn is now “stationing” – ie now at 2.37 Capricorn and will turn direct at 2.32 Capricorn next week – so turning points are currently a major theme and will continue to be so for the next few weeks. But a sense of a great big cosmic foot coming off the brakes should now start to make itself felt –
Monday 27 August
- Mars stationary direct at 28 degrees Capricorn 15.06
- Mars ingress Aquarius for the second time 11 September (five days after Saturn turns direct)
So, Mars is the dominant feature this week and it’s as if he’s come out of neutral, where he’s been idling, and selected first gear. Mars will now start to inch forwards again but will take a while to pick up speed. So even when a matter takes a turn for the better the golden rule is still not to rush anything. It’s happening slowly at first, but it’s happening.
In terms of what to expect generally a good place to start is by being aware of the issues and practical matters that Mars traditionally rules, and also how he pairs with Venus. From Be Your Own Astrologer –
Mars is the god of war and symbolizes everything to do with how we go into battle, and how we handle the cut and thrust of life. Psychologically he symbolizes heated emotions and he rules anger, passion and pain.
In traditional astrology Venus is feminine and rules women, Mars is masculine and rules men. Together they are the love planets, Venus in terms of pleasure and relating skills, Mars in terms of pursuit, lust and libido. Mars in a woman’s chart, regardless of sexual orientation, often describes the kind of partner she attracts or to whom she is attracted.
That is Mars’ “universal” symbolism but in terms of his more “particular” symbolism, here’s a checklist of the kind of things to expect and look out for, depending on your own current life situation –
- Mars is action – we stop dragging our feet or procrastinating
- A to-do list shifts from theory to practice
- We start putting energy into the things that really matter to us
- We find the discipline to organize our time more effectively
- We find the discipline to exercise and get fitter
- Mars is courage – where we have been cowed, intimidated or disempowered we get the message about fighting back
- Mars is angry – express yourself. Don’t let anger turn inwards and fester
- Mars is purposeful – if we’ve lost sight of our goals these can now be redefined, renewing and directing our focus
- De-motivated? Clock the new faces or opportunities that present themselves at this time
- A business project gets the green light – all systems go, but note that a personal plan or vision will become a team project in order to succeed
- Any work or career moves are well starred, including job changes or promotions – we’re ready to roll up our sleeves and not be afraid of hard work
- Mars is sexy – A broken relationship gets a second chance, through resolving the issues that drove you apart, including shared goals, resuming sex or one of you ending an affair
- OR we find we are able to release a relationship that’s been on the rocks/is unhealthy for us
- OR we stop hiding our feelings from someone to whom we’re attracted, moving from casual to serious
- Single? Clock the person who enters your stage at this time
- No matter what the issue, dream or desire, PASSION is the fuel that will drive things forwards and keep up the momentum
The Mercury – Jupiter Finale
Mars’ change of direction also coincides with the third of a series of squares between Mercury and Jupiter –
- 9 July Mercury 13 Leo square Jupiter 13 Scorpio (less than 24 hours before Jupiter turned direct)
- 11 August retrograde Mercury 15 Leo square Jupiter 15 Scorpio
- 28 August Mercury 16 Leo square Jupiter 16 Scorpio 06.33
If you keep a diary of any kind it might be helpful to look back at the first two dates to see what was unfolding for you at those times, especially if you have planets or angles between 11 and 18 degrees of the Fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio or Aquarius. Jupiter’s main principle is expansion and by square his “over the top” qualities become even more apparent and potentially troublesome, so one theme to look out for is any kind of reality test and determining not to learn the same lesson twice – or thrice!
This series of aspects is important in my own horoscope and actually relate to several things. On that point, it’s worth noting that major aspects often work out in more than one way and not always as an isolated event, especially when they are part of a sequence that play out over several months. One of the themes for me is financial, identifying more than one drain on my income and having to be more realistic about my London trips! Being a Jupiterian type I’m a natural optimist and enthusiast, and am passionate about my work, but the reality is that long distance travelling, hiring venues, paying dog minders and so on amounts to considerable costs.
In terms of “particular” symbolism you can identify which matters are Jupiter ruled for you by finding the signs of Sagittarius and Pisces in your horoscope, ie which houses begin with those signs. In my own chart Sagittarius is on the cusp of the 2nd House of money and resources, and Jupiter therefore rules this house.
Getting the Message
It was literally at this point of writing that I saw an email from a student of mine to point out that the planned Saturday 20 October workshop is going to clash with a huge Brexit demonstration in central London. I then instantly remembered that I managed to schedule the last workshops for 14/15 July, on the weekend of the Wimbledon finals (one of my own favourite events of the year) and the final of the World Cup, which was not ideal! I left for London on 10 July.
I immediately looked at the time of the email (an astrologer’s knee jerk reaction!) and it was within a few minutes of the Full Moon opposite my 9th House Pluto. And this third Mercury/Jupiter square at 16 degrees will fall exactly in aspect to my natal Uranus 16 Leo/Moon 17 Leo, and square my natal Jupiter at 18 Scorpio. This is textbook astrology of Mercury picking up speed, transiting natal planets, a Full Moon also falling in aspect to a natal planet, and all of the planets in question being in the 9th, house of long distance travel and teaching. Both themes are connected with new information and bringing things to light.
In my view the message was clear. There’s no point in trying to run a workshop on that Saturday when London will quite possibly be in gridlock, with the risk of tube stations being closed or roads blocked off. I thought about it for the rest of the day and have decided to do a separate mailing about Plan B, with possible date changes.
How Astrology Works
This “showing” is a good example of how astrology actually works. Non astrologers would say to me, “But surely you could see in advance that you would have to make changes to that weekend, or that you might not go at all?” But astrology is not clairvoyance, it’s a guide. I can now “see in advance” that changes will have to be made and that it would be overly (Mercury square) optimistic (to Jupiter) to expect people to travel easily on that Saturday.
This information came to me by checking the past dates of the previous Mercury/Jupiter squares and its significance was underlined by noting also that this “came to light” literally within minutes of the Full Moon being exact (which was 12.57 BST yesterday – I saw and replied to the email at 12.51, thank you Christina!). It’s now up to me to respond accordingly.
What else is Happening this Week?
The short answer is, not a lot. There are no other major aspects being formed. The only aspect of the week is the Mercury square Jupiter finale, which is at its loudest today and will start to decrease in volume after 6.30 tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. This puts the main focus on Mars turning direct, which should keep us all busy enough, especially as Mercury is now starting to pick up speed and Saturn is also poised to turn direct next week, and I’ll be talking more about what this means next time.
Until then, keep it real, keep it focused
With love from Greece
Joanna