The Astrology Blog 29 February 2016
What’s happening this week?
All times in GMT
As usual start by noting that if you have natal planets or angles at or close to any of the signs and degrees featuring this week then unfolding events will be especially significant for you. Here are the usual links for checking the position of your own planets and angles:
http://www.alwaysastrology.com/birth-chart-calculator.html
You can also try this calculator, which lists all your planets and angles rather than bringing up the visual of the horoscope, so for non astrologers it’s easier to use.
http://astro.cafeastrology.com/cgi-bin/astro/natal
Last week Mercury was the prime mover, linking into Saturn and Uranus. This week it’s Venus’ turn as she is also moving through Aquarius and repeats exactly the same pattern –
• Tuesday Venus 16 degrees Aquarius sextile Saturn 16 degrees Sag (01.08)
• Thursday Venus 18 degrees Aquarius sextile Uranus 18 degrees Aries (01.14)
Firstly a reminder that slow moving Saturn and Uranus themselves are both in fire signs but they don’t actually make an exact alliance until Christmas Day, when they both reach 20 degrees of their respective signs. However at the moment they are in trine (harmonious) to each other but a couple of degrees apart. If the above degrees are relevant for you then unfolding events may well be part of a much bigger picture that will be connected to longer term plans or which will culminate at the end of the year.
For now, and as noted last week, the sextile is a harmonious aspect that happens when planets are exactly two signs apart. Last week I commented on how fast Mercury is moving now (up to full speed of nearly 2 degrees a day) and the same applies to Venus who is also moving at her swiftest (just over 1 degree a day). What does that mean? As I’m always saying, remember the “as above, so below” mantra which reminds us that astrology is not causal – the planets don’t make us do things. Rather astrology enables us to look into that huge celestial mirror that reflects our lives back to us, showing us how to stay in synch.
With regard to these Venus aspects then, note the things happening quickly in your own life, matters that can be dealt with immediately or the input of others that make a significant difference. In particular note the events that link into Venus symbolism, planet of love and money, but also of all the sweet things of life, the things you can buy and the things that you can’t that both bring their own kind of pleasure and enjoyment. Saturn is good for closure or for putting things in order, Uranus by good aspect is associated with brilliance, the unexpected that works in your favour or, again, things happening quickly or suddenly.
Mercury and Venus are currently travelling through Aquarius, the sign which in turn is ruled by Saturn (traditional ruler) and Uranus (co-ruler), so these aspects have an extra clout. Aquarius is also an air sign, element of the mind, and all the air signs love to talk and philosophize, and Aquarius in particular is brilliant at lateral thinking, objectifying and list making. More precisely Aquarius is one of the fixed signs, so is the sign of fixed air, so the word of warning is that we may need to guard against rigid thinking and categorizing, or be “on to” those who are trying to box us in. The links to Saturn and Uranus symbolize ways in which we can get out of the “thinking about it” mode and into the “doing something about it” mode, ways in which we can link up with others and find the help or answers that we need. If you’ve been deliberating over a love or money issue then this is the week to swing into action and get results. It also feels important to invite opinions, to consider them, to do research and to check our own spin on things.
The end of the week is more complex as Mercury clashes with Mars before they both change sign. Here’s the sequence –
Saturday
• Mercury 29 Aquarius square Mars 29 Scorpio (05.44)
• Mercury ingress Pisces (10.25)
Sunday
• Mars ingress Sagittarius (02.30)
Tough Mercury – Mars aspects are the classic war of words. As this aspect happens at the end of their respective signs look out for closure on a matter but in a way that may be acrimonious. Mars by difficult aspect often signals pain of some kind. If at all possible try to avoid those who are argumentative, angry or hyper critical. Last word freaks also come to mind! However, if you have to play hard ball to get a matter sorted then you may have to bite on that bullet as this aspect is a “last chance” scenario. Otherwise, at a more general level, Mercury- Mars crossing swords is a warning against saying anything that will be hard to take back, think before you hit that “send” button, to avoid risk taking, to kill your speed when driving, to guard against injury to the hands or fingers (eg Mars rules all things sharp) or not to take on tasks that are beyond your own expertise. Don’t create your own headaches, especially if you often find it hard to say no.
Mercury and Mars then embark upon new journeys and open new cycles, and I’ll be talking more about this next week, especially as this coincides with the beginning of the next Eclipse season. For now note that this difficult transition is followed by two more tough aspects –
Sunday
• Sun 16 Pisces square Saturn 16 Sagittarius (06.05)
• Jupiter 18 Virgo quinqunx Uranus 18 Aries (11.48)
Saturn under a difficult aspect always equals “no” in some shape or form. Barriers, blocks, delays, disappointments – they are all there for a reason, even if that reason is not apparent at the time. So this coming weekend is not the time to force any square pegs into round holes. It’s also a time for rest rather than overdoing things as the Sun is the life force/good health and Saturn is the opposite, being the enemy of “the Lights” (the Sun and Moon) as shown by being in detriment in their respective signs of dignity (Leo and Cancer). Slow down. You’re only human.
This is heavily underlined by the “blind” aspect between Jupiter and Uranus, the quinqunx which is formed when planets align exactly five signs apart. Any tinderbox situation will be highly sensitized at this time and, again, it’s a no to risk taking or playing with fire. Love issues and triangles are top of the list as Venus is also quinqunx Jupiter earlier in the week (Thursday 12.05)
Other possible takes on this aspect link to “blindness” in terms of not being able to find a solution or a way out (both these planets are linked to liberation), disputes of “ne’er the twain shall meet” variety or somebody forcing your hand or taking you unawares. Any situation that relates to subterfuge or secrecy of any kind is now the classic pressure cooker waiting to blow its lid but that may be just what is needed.
So the second half of the week is not easy, but unfolding events that culminate at the weekend will at least be decisive.
Until next week
With love from Greece
Joanna
Recommended Reading
Binary Stars – the Astrology of Marriage and Divorce
by Karon Meakin
Karon writes in her introduction –
It is a reasonable bet that the subject of human relationships has consumed more ink, celluloid and guitar strings than were ever spent in disseminating the wisdom of all the philosophers and the biography of all the generals who have shaped the world.
Her book addresses the following –
What do the birth charts of people who are happily married look like?
How do they compare with the charts of the divorced?
Is there a difference in their wedding charts?
How does what we already know about astrology help us understand what makes a relationship work?
How does what we already know about two sets of real life relationships help us to improve our astrology?
Is there any hope if your chart looks more like the ‘wrong’ sort?
Find out more or download free pdfs on Karon’s site –
https://karonmeakinbinarystars.net
