Dateblog: April 2015

 There are a lot of things I could say about April 2015 even if we’re just limiting that to the astrological in nature. For instance, I could point out how all that fresh green in the ‘April 2015 by Sign’ graphic - an increasing green which increasingly asks ‘how Taurean is my outlook?’ as the month goes along.

And for the uninitiated (or merely forgetful), ‘more Taurean’ means stubbornly peaceful on the positive side ... and perfectly placid about anything and everything up to (and possibly including) that which grows out of nurtured resentments and steadfast (even stubborn) allegiances to judging everything on a physical basis to the negative side. (Aren’t you happy you asked?)

I could also point out how the whole of April’s second half - as always - is going to be sprinkled (literally, on the metaphysical level) with asteroids, those ‘sparks of insight or inspiration’ and on occasion those ‘shots in the dark’ we not only take and see others taking but associate with the two meteor showers (the Lyrids and the Eta Aquarids) which happen every year about this time.

But no, that wouldn’t be where I would think we should start with considering April, as a personal astrological ‘ranking’ (i.e., how my big dog brain sees it) would start with the Lunar Eclipse at 14 Libra which will occur on April 4th with barely a hiccup in time passing before Jupiter goes direct four days later, on April 8th. And while I was saying that, I would point out that Lunar Eclipses represent ‘feeling’ or emotional times, and how while they’re neither as magically life transformative if spectacularly hard to see (in our own lives, at least for a while) as solar eclipse effects, lunar eclipse are at least polite enough about our time and effort to exude their effects downright promptly - which means that anyone with a major (planet, dwarf planet, node or axis) point between 4 and 24 Libra, Aries, Capricorn or Cancer (the cardinal signs, in other words) ... those people should not be expected if something arises or originates in the area(s) of life associated with those lunar eclipse “sensitive points.”

And then there’s Jupiter, for which the same suggestion goes, with the difference being that Jupiter is going direct at 12 Leo, which means the degree spread is from 2 to 22 degrees of Leo, Aquarius, Taurus or Scorpio should take special note.

More on both subjects in individual posts, of course - but that’s where I was thinking we should start. While not precisely a symbol of emotions or feelings, things which are associated with Jupiter  ... the effects, the opportunities, the encounters, the challenges, the news, the discoveries and enlightenments ... those Jovian (Jupiter) things tend to be associated with emotionality.

So how interesting that these two things are laid out (eclipse first) so that as we enter April things get more interesting and expressive, whatever else that may mean!

Plus Pluto will be going retrograde this month. And that Pluto does that (on the 17th) as Planet Earth (our lives) moves into the ‘meteor zone’ suggests a time when many things are being considered, parts or pieces or segments of which has us the (Taurus) necessity or value involved in doing or even thinking that we need anything other than the being content in any ... or every ... or various given moments.

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Maybe with so little in the way of air sign influence in this month’s mix (not to discount the Libra lunar eclipse or Venus’ impending transit of Gemini - shown above in light blue) ... maybe that will cause people to stop talking about the ‘idea of the thing’ or spending time and energy dissecting notions in favor of dealing with (earth sign) facts, evidence and history.

Then again, with as much fire sign energy (above, in golden yellow) being present in the mix, maybe what we need to deal with is how many people are simply unable to deal with realities - and why that is, or has come to be true. Fire plus earth influences tend to trend either towards the highly dynamic and often creative, or forms of what we might call ‘scorched earth’ policies as we simply discard or disregard all manner of facts, realities and necessities as, blind to all else, we follow some notion which may or may not have any real world basis or application.

How all these things are going to work out in - and through each one of our lives is still a mystery, of course. And in the wake of the 29 Pisces eclipse, some part of that is likely to be lived out through the (lunar eclipse) relationship venue or through how we (do or don’t, can or can’t) relate to someone. With the solar eclipse having occurred on March 20th, as April begins a good number of us are going to be coming to the ‘end’ of some alliance, relationship or  need to attend to a particular issue. Or their tolerance is wearing thin. Or they’re disenchanted (disappointed) with someone or something for having not lived up to some internal standard which isn’t about them at all, but rather about something we long to delude ourselves about as if we don’t ... well, then we’d have to feel all some sort of negative we really (REALLY) don’t want to feel.

That ‘thing’ ... if there is one ... we will project and ascribe to being about ‘them’ or ‘that.’

But it isn’t. It isn’t about ‘them’ - it’s about us ... which would be why this month being so Taurean holds so much promise, and a chance for much insecurity - not with ‘them,’ but as (or because) we finally figure out how the security we seeking so ardently is never solidified or damaged by things or people on the outside.

It’s all about who we are - and how we got that way, which is plenty to think about (and live the experiencing of) throughout April.

Bon voyage to us all!
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Blogpost (May 26 - June 1): Mercury, Venus and a Gemini New Moon

(photo credit) The solar eclipse of August 1, 2008 as photographed from

Helsinki, Finland by Jonas Holmstrom

When the subject Mercury retrograde came up in the last post (on the Sun entering Gemini), I’m sure more than a few people inhaled with more than the standard amount of input. 

(They gasped, in other words.)

How could I possibly be celebrating the end of Mars retrograde and discussing the seemingly unending pressures we’ve been through since....well, since last December (when Venus went retrograde)? How could anyone possibly be suggesting that it was any sort of ‘good thing’ to experience yet another period of retrograde - in particular one where the planet in question (Mercury) is so obviously (not to mention notoriously) associated with the sign (Gemini) the Sun is moving through now, and for the next several weeks?

Really? Is this a positive?

Astrologically, yes - provided we are willing to (theoretically) deal with not only what we’re thinking (or what’s going on in our heads) but why we’re thinking it.

Plus there is that other fact: as irritating as Mercury retrograde can be, such transit periods (Mercury retrograde lasts 21 days, give or take a planetary nonce) are defined as a time when we catch up with ourselves or some factor or facet of life. We of Planet Earth get three-to-four Mercury retrogrades a year... year in and year out..and while they are associated with a slowing in the rate or pace of things, we obviously weather them quite well.

However...there are some caveats which come with any Mercury retrograde - especially with the Sun in Gemini, the more ‘basic’ and ‘personal’ of Mercury’s two signs of rulership and the one which has entirely to do with us and how we think...what we think, why we choose to think one thing and not another - and all that goes into being informed, conducting the everyday activity (business) of life through which we learn so much... choosing the ‘what,’ figuring out the ‘how’ - all in light of understanding the ‘why’ is the nuts and bolts of Gemini.

The net of all this is that life is continuing to ‘bend’ our thoughts inward. Whatever Gemini is and whatever Mercury (in ruling Gemini) retrograde brings, we will like as not utilize the natural Gemini duality to deal with whatever needs dealing with on an external basis, yes. But at the same time we will be having some sort of internal ‘conversation’ (or period of intermittent reflection) which is less about the immediate details of life and more about life itself - and what we think about life, and our own place in that life replete with why we are who we are and what we think of that.

Yes, the eclipse is still with us. That’s the handwriting on the proverbial mental wall - the important part of which to note is that it’s OUR wall. It’s in OUR head.

What we are perplexed, convexed or convoluted by at this time is at least as much about what we see than our own thinking, seeing as its our reaction we will experience, think through and respond to. Our times and the energetics thereof are evidently ‘supposed’ to be milky...or maybe in part ‘veiled’ at the moment - that much we were put on astro-notice about back in late April when just in advance of the solar eclipse the relative positions and speeds of Earth and Neptune brought on a case of energetic fogginess as big blue Neptune took up what may seem like virtual residence at 7 Pisces.

Planet Neptune (photo credit NASA, JPL)

- link to-

Mercury in Taurus/Neptune at 7 Pisces

Setting aside the idea that people who have Mercury retrograde in their natal charts seem to mind our yearly retrogrades far less than those with Mercury direct in their natal chart (much to their added chagrin, no doubt) Mercury retrograde is about ‘slowing down in order to catch up,’ which seems perfectly reasonable (on an astrological level) after Mars’ lengthy retrograde in Libra has brought so many of us either to where we need to experience what or why who we are “doesn’t work” (particularly in the greater spectrum of our ‘outside’ life)...or to the point where we are willing to consider where or why whatever our approach is to ‘being’ in this world - replete with whatever it is we do - why that is, or isn’t working, is or isn’t being received well or is/isn’t earning us the ‘reward’ we were hoping for.

With Mars having now gone direct, we can see the issue(s) and we sense the ‘scope’ of what’s ‘out there.’ Possibilities abound - but which ones are important, and what precisely does ‘important’ mean to our personal evaluation of [Gemini] priority?

As to this week in particular, the odd bombardment of ‘global/globalized’ input we’ve been going through is likely to settle out a bit as the Eta Aquarid meteor shower ends on May 28th, prior to which we will all be hearing much about...and astrologically, experiencing effects associated with a ‘new’ meteor shower Earth has apparently been moving/moved through.

- link to NASA.gov/Science News -

“A New Meteor Shower in May?”

Putting aside the idea that no comet we’re likely to see is actually ‘new’ (only ‘new to us’) the ‘appearance’ of a new-to-us meteor shower does raise the specter of this as a time when new ideas or ways of handling things in light of what we learn is apt.

However...just in observation...considering where the comet involved here (209P/LINEAR) hails from, we have some reason to be thoughtful.

And from whence does it come, you ask?

Answer: just north of Cassiopeia and therefore Schedir, one of the two stars eclipsed by the April 29th solar eclipse at 8 Taurus.

 Constellations Camelopardalis (the source of the 'new' meteor shower) and below at

right, Cassiopeia - home of fixed star Schedir (alt. spelling: Shedir). Our current pole

star Polaris can be seen in the upper right hand corner.

(image generated by Stellarium)
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That suggests that there is yet more which will yet surface which somehow connects back to whatever level the April solar eclipse is working on in each of our lives.

- links to posts on April's Solar Eclipse at 8 Taurus -

Part One: The Map and Basics

Part Two: The Sun in Taurus/Eta Aquarids

Part Three: Stars and Patterns

As far as this astrologer knows (which isn’t very far on some days, granted) 209P/LINEAR has not yet been studied extensively by astrologers. But from what we do know - it’s proximity to Cassiopeia and how said proximity puts the alleged radiant point (read: source) of this comet more to the north...between constellation Cassiopeia and Earth’s current fabled “guiding light” (pole star) Polaris...that suggests LINEAR and any meteor shower associated with it may bring out a need or propensity for cooler/logical thinking/communications, and how that pertains to our own ability or choice to focus on our own capacity for [Polaris] temporal leadership - which is to say the ability to be self-determinative (at any level) in our own life and/or affairs.

(Evidently I have nothing to say on the subject...you can tell.)

In any case, LINEAR effects will have been at their peak over May 24-25 and the Eta Aquarids (along with their ability to ‘spark’ social or societal matters) will end as on May 28th at 6:41 in the evening (UT/+0) time a New Moon occurs at 7 Gemini, a degree which speaks to avoidance of various mental types necessary or optional, initiating a round of experiences and contemplations on the many ways mentality operates - or maybe doesn’t operate so well, whether that’s for reasons physical or preferential regardless of right or wrong...with most everything coming back to one rather bothersome question: can we be “bothered”?

However you take it, that would seem to be a major question for much we will undertake...or decide against this coming (lunar) month - and in a rather personal way, what with Mercury going retrograde.

With the Sun and Mercury already in Gemini and Mars (as you may well remember) that’s four major markers in air: much discussion, much postulating and posturing, much theorizing, conversing, reading, reading up on and reading into things. Manipulation of facts, general confusion and misconnections or misstatements are likely to abound, and while some are likely to be innocent enough (or even funny) June will see a lot of people using emphasis to sound like passion (which its not) which may be of no importance, but can be air sign ‘noise’ being used for its own purpose.

Sometimes people just need to make noise because they need to. It’s a peculiar form of personal expression, one might say - but at some level, isn’t all expression particular. Or shouldn’t it be?

Once we arrive at the 29th, two things happen: Mercury moves into Cancer, evidencing as a bit of calm...or perhaps pensiveness -  and Venus moves into Taurus, a positive which in enhancing our feeling comfortable in our own skin helps us get along with others and achieve our chosen aims. Whatever is in the works at this time may conclude in short order (in which case Mercury retrograde will be a preparing to move on to a ‘next step’)...or our aims may take a good amount of time to work to or through in reflection of Mercury’s impending turn to retrograde on June 7th with the station/direct not due to occur until July 1st.

In theory, this can speak to calmer waters and a greater sense of personal peace for many of us, though there will be many who will spend June  struggling (pondering?) about things which have been ‘eclipsed’ but which they can’t seem to let go of.

Why do they seem so important? What is it about us that such things appeal to and where does that come from in our life?

As Mercury moves into Cancer as of 9:13 in the morning (UT/+0) on May 29th, we will in begin moving past our discussions of why something matters (and feeling aggrieved that others don’t see things as we do into a week which softens our theoretical focus through feelings or feeling situations which force us to consider what we do...or don’t understand about what means what to us and our world and how to get on track (or back on track) with the right people either so that we have someone to relate to (talk to, work on our problems with) or so that we lower the level of mental icon-ization - the tendency to think in abstract and leave out the people/reality part - which has been at the center of our recent [Mars retrograde in Libra] polarizations.

Gemini is always about seeking to learn about the Self, whether we do so politely, aggressively, on our own or as part of (or in coordination with) some group, cause, collective, organization, or methodology. And so long as the Sun remains in Gemini, we will remain conscious of our [Gemini] search for understanding and better comprehension, seeking better options in the moment with which to move forward, whether or not they lead to our 'goal.' To those who think all things happen for a reason and that knowledge is power in that comprehension helps us make better choices (the polarization, success and ultimate lesson/s of which are astrologically delineated by Sagittarian application)...then we will be tolerant of all and whomever promotes whatever testing or testiness we encounter. There are those who will refuse to choose... or who will choose to simply take some time to think, explore and contemplate - all of which may well be apropos, remembering that we are approaching the Mercury station/retrograde point and how traditionally the best solution during this time involves not 'pushing' to get something done while not avoiding, delaying or otherwise postponing that which naturally comes to a head or falls into place during these days. Whoever we are and whatever we are doing, we will all face a few moments of decision, determination and  self-determination - which may involve some earth-shaking big decision or may just be about how to deal with daily chores.

That Venus is moving into Taurus signals not just a comfort in our own skin but the desire to be comfortable in that skin or in life as a whole...which after several weeks of [Venus in Aries] ill-feeling, 'bad fit' moments is totally understandable. Whatever has had us waxing evocative about things (or others) is not just what it is 'in its own right' but also how life gets us to notice where we aren't yet [Venus] comfortably productive [Taurus] in being/not being...or how we are (or have) invested in our self-worth department.

About now, a few questions are coming to light. They're what they are to be sure...and yet with Mars still sitting at 9 Libra until June 1st, we are still - and just now - reaching the point where inner and outer life factors are coming into balance. For you that may involve who you are. For others it may involve what they do. Some of what occurs will clearly exhibit the classic Libra ability to 'relate' or tie 'cause' to 'effect,' offering insights and overarching understandings. Some situations will call upon us to look at what we're doing and how that creates, or can create (influence, affect) what we're learning about from others through what they do or how life 'becomes' what it is that we are then left to live through, with and sometimes for - or even in spite of.

From the first century, the 'Ceres of Mérida'

(photo credit Oscar Marin Repoller, December 2010)

New Moons are always about a new 'round' of activity and this one, in being in Gemini speaks to some new thought, understanding or determination. Ideas speak loudly, yet provide no guarantees - only opportunities to increase our knowledge, better our perspective, and from that move forward.

The impending Mercury retrograde tells us nothing will be 'concluded' quickly. But then, apparently we need to take some time. In moving past (Thursday) May 29th towards the weekend a triad of objects (Ceres, Achilles and Nessus) going on station suggests a willingness to consider new [Ceres] plans...and probably how there will be a need to do just that. Skill [Achilles] is implied here, as is a rather 'sideways' notification that there is some sort of [Pisces] acceptance (perhaps resignation) that we need to do or face 'this' again [Nessus].

And as soon as we get that far, something else will need attending to - which no, we probably won't like. Of the many things Mercury in Cancer can represent (affectionate conversations, a trip through memory lane, a review of traditions, a relaxing into that comfortably private zone of thought where free of input and removed from temporal judgement we free ourselves to roam an inner mindscape...) it can also represent verbal haste and the sort of fractious energies which often manifest as touchiness, impatience, nagging and sniping. With the Cancer-Capricorn polarity always referencing who we are and where we come from in life (culture, land/home, nationality, family, personal history, etc.) though we may feel like we're frustrated with others, it's far more likely that we are 'venting' or projecting our own inner confusion or impatience with those many, many things in life which aren't precisely 'ours' to deal with...

...and yet which are ours to deal with (responsibly) just because we exist in this world.

Ceres going direct in Libra and in advance of Mercury's retrograde asks us to check our plans. It suggests we may need a new plan - or at least some [Achilles] sharpening of our point, some cutting away of unneeded or less-than-necessary frills with regards to the old one.

Do we know how to do that yet? Some of us do, some of us don't - which given the combination of Ceres (an influence which plans in order to protect and provide for supportive conditions down the line) and Mars' last day at 9 Libra at the end of our week asks us how willing we are to tolerate working through current events and/or much which we may not like, want or see as optimal...but which we (and others) understand as the path to a final outcome which in the end will probably be worth it.

Or at least that's the (Gemini) theory.
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Dateblog: May 2014

In the wake of April’s solar eclipse, Mars retrograde in Libra continues. It's an indication that though we are busy trying to meet needs or goals immediate and long-term, getting things on track (or finding resources or gaining "traction" in your endeavor) is probably not 'connecting' with others as effectively as we might want, hope or have expected.

And what does that suggest? It suggests questions - lots of questions being asked, especially of ourselves and especially after Venus enters Aries (above, in red).

Yet why would that be? That would be because Venusian energetics, somewhat in keeping with those of Libra (a sign Venus rules and which Mars is in)...Venus is about connection and all that comes from connecting with others and our the world, to which gets added that very 'first person' quality of Aries. Venus is all about results and in the case of Venus in Aries, our best results come from us.

And yes, they may be about us - our feelings about the results we are capable of generating, the results we have generated, or those we are (or aren't) likely to generate as time rolls along.

Much is in flux. But then, with a solar eclipse barely a week behind, that's not surprising - solar eclipses often take a couple of weeks to settle out. And while they're settling out, we tend to be a little...undecided.

Or insecure.

Or puzzled.

Even intrigued.

The point is this: it's all part of a greater process, one which is asking us to see what in us (the Aries 'first person') isn't working or not being all that well received - or maybe just not getting done. (Don't you hate that?)

Remembering that Neptune is sitting at 7 Pisces, this is a period of weeks which ask us to allow ourselves not to know - which isn't always easy, as most of us are going to meet up with this and that which tries our faith in exactly that way which triggers our urge to be sure or to "glue" something down.

It's so very Neptune/Pisces - and once Venus enters Aries many will be tempted to blame things on others whether doing so is even sensible.

It's just that kind of time. The issue is greater than us but we all have personal needs. A lot of people will solve these issues by 'schooling' with a group (again, that Pisces fish thing...) as in various ways we all get to experience and 'take stock' (or estimate the measure of) what it means to be human.

And what that means to us.

With Mars going direct on May 20th, most of May will feel polarized and we can expect some unraveling of patience as well as the adjusting of plans. By the time Mars goes direct the need to get things done (seeing as this station is in Libra) will either prompt us act or react, depending on individual mindsets of that moment.

This Mars station in the end of five (very long) months of life feeling jumbled, pressured, confusing and challenging and it's to be expected that we will be giving up a few things (reluctantly) as we come to the station...and resolving ourselves to move forward on a slightly different tact coming out of the station.

Productivity is likely to seem 'easier' towards the end of May, with new factors being entered 'into the discussion' around May 28th (the date of a Gemini New Moon and end of the Eta Aquarid meteor shower)...which more or less which give us all something to think about - thinking being the prime Gemini modality and 'choice' as the Gemini goal.

One other May item deserves a note here: Mars will enter the degree of its May 20th station (9 Libra) on May 7th - and Mars will remain at 9 Libra through June 1st.

The degree speaks to introspective consideration undertaken in a time when old methods and ideas no longer serve our purpose, and throughout the weeks of Mars at 9 Libra (initially in retrograde and then in direct motion) there will be a lot of contemplating, doing, sharing, conversing, rejecting and negotiating of ideas which have to do with the search of some 'new way' of (Mars) doing things.

Some of us will do all of this through conversations with others, some will be sparked by things they see or hear - and some will do their contemplating in private. That fixed star Diadem (the "crowning glory") is currently at 9 Libra metaphysically increases our focus and what we can learn about matters which seem vital to our personal or long term interests.

But here's the thing - Diadem is a star which tends to manifest positively when we capitalize on a lesson learned, not one we want to teach others.

Most of May continues the eclipse process. Though not devoid of meaning and activity unique to itself, we're all realizing that things have changed.

Have we? Maybe we have...and maybe we haven't.

The good news is we have a couple of weeks to work on things now that the rather 'compacting' energetic of the eclipse has passed. Now we can take a bit of time and think our way through to who we intrinsically are - and who we are no longer becoming..
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April’s 8 Taurus Solar Eclipse (Pt. 2: Sun in Taurus / Eta Aquarids)

Taurus (1907) by Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis

It’s about now in the lengthy March 1-May 20 Mars retrograde that things begin feeling really questionable. Mars retrogrades are always long and by nature tend to drag or slow us down. We are now about two-thirds through the retrograde and things are ‘coming out’ which are not one’s finest moments. About now there’s a ‘gap’ - or inability to achieve what we want…and the maintaining of  connections or activities we’re grown used to is likely to raise a couple of question. Are we willing to keep pushing ourselves? Will we continue to believe in what we’re doing should we find we’re alone in our belief?

- link to -

Mars and Saturn Retrograde

Eclipse Effects in Libra

And that’s not all. Even while slogging through mental Mars quicksand, there are all the intricate convolutions so very typical of the ongoing Ixion/Ras-Alhague conjunction which began back on February 22nd.

- link to -

Ixion/Ras Alhague

Amidst all that, the Sun enters Taurus – an act which on a metaphysical level sets many a thing in motion.

The date: April 20th.

The time: 3:57 in the morning, UT/+0.

Elementally, this moves us from the fiery world of Aries visions and personal conviction-insight-consciousness into the more ‘giving’ and ‘earthy’ Sun in Taurus zone – a time which is about whatever sort of stability, security, nourishment we need in life. Information, food, respect, abilities, money – whatever the basic need is in life, what that need tests is Taurean, as it tests our internal and intrinsic ability to deal with being confronted by the realities (not the ‘vision’) of what will support life…ours and that life in which we live (the world around us, in other words).

Normally this entrance would be one colored by fixed star Mirach at 0 Taurus, supporting a reigniting of the desire to interact in a more-or-less supportive manner because under Sun in Taurus the concept of give-and-take is brought into a basic, almost simplistically easy form. Yet with our 2014 Sun-Taurus ingress also comes a South Node at 28 Aries – just to begin with, and that’s something of a notice about internal-versus-external influences or opinions or ‘directives’ which are raising questions for you, me – and everyone else, too.

Our questions don’t sound the same, but they are: they’re about security – starting with how secure we feel about life, moving from there to how stable or secure we feel with our Self and who we’re being…and moving on from there to others reflecting what we’re feeling, which just may be why so much about life is likely to get us focused on our values.

And specifically, where we are out of kilter with our values. Or where we say we value one thing and do something which demonstrates some dichotomy in our personal character as well as the inaccuracy of stated or ‘vouched for’ standards.

The additional modifiers here are Tantalus at 3 Taurus (conjunct the Sun from ‘ahead’) and Juno at 26 Aries, conjuncting the Sun from ‘behind.’ Sometimes this ‘ahead-behind’ dynamic manifests as things we’ve done or experienced against things which are yet to be done – or even situations which are yet to arise, people we will yet meet, opportunities we will yet choose to avail ourselves or not.

Seeing as I posted on Tantalus just recently, if you would like to read up on Tantalus details here is that link.

- link to - 

Tantalus, Station-Retrograde

Otherwise, with a brief nod to Tantalus as an indicator of our ability (or choice to/not to) weigh decisions correctly for both short-and-long term purposes, this solar ingress looks like exactly what we might expect at a point in time when Earth is rotating towards begin eclipsed from an area of the zodiac where the sense of survival is vital even if the necessity of physical survival isn’t.

And the way metaphysics works, to teach us that…to get us through our ego walls and to the point that we separate those two standards…we are going to come to the solar eclipse having perceived various forms of both. We may see that clearly. Then again, we may not want to see anything.

It’s a question of honesty – not with others (which is yes, what they may think), but with our Self.

This incoming eclipse is about values. Not ‘theirs,’ ours. It isn’t about ‘them’ – it’s about whether our values are what they should be…need to be…can be…and all the falsehoods we may be living, all the  structures we’ve built in the name of defense which really amount to fear. More specifically, ego fears – those threats (real or imagined) that we may not live up to who others think we are – or to the measure of the person we have long told ourselves we’re being.

And once we get that far? Then we have an option to change or not change, depending on the status of that self respect which underlies our self worth – and thus our personal and individual values….and the response that raises in us to whatever others are doing, prioritizing, opting for or investing the strength of their values, their resources, their abilities in.

Also – it’s unlikely that anything which is coming to a head has been ‘of the moment’ or swift coming on. Most of what is at stake now or up for consideration (or lack thereof…) has its origins in the past, separate from the fact that this April’s solar eclipse is a ‘recalling’ of situations and cycles either set off, avoided, initiated, instigated or ‘bought into’ back in April 1995.

Yes, in case you didn’t know eclipse degrees repeat – as do all lunar phases. Known as the Metonic cycle (so named for a fellow named Meton who lived long, long ago) the 19-year eclipse cycle continues to raise questions and issues in our life over and over again, asking us if we’ve ‘settled’ for something which seems comfortable enough…or good enough…or whether we’re living a life which is true to who we are (really) at our core.

Obviously anyone younger than 19 years old has not met up with this particular eclipse degree as yet, and there’s nothing to say that your experience…no matter how old or young you are…is going to be positive or negative when it comes to solar eclipse effects.

The key is your chart. So if you’ve run into any sort of quagmire over the past several months which challenges either how you feel about yourself or those values which you extend into the world or use in managing or operating in your world… this eclipse may well have your name on it. If so, you are not only currently in a state of unresolved flux (a feeling common during the last few weeks before any solar eclipse) but you are feeling challenged in a way which right or wrong, real or imagined has everything to do with how you’re going to feel about yourself.

You know…how you feel when at night you close your eyes and wait for sleep to come.

We are all mortal. That’s one note very much on point here. No matter who we are, no matter where or how we live, there are things we all need like sleep, like food, like the oxygen we breath. We all have feelings, longings, vulnerabilities and dreams. Some will happen, some will not. Some we hold onto as balm and motivation while we struggle towards some goal even if deep inside we know the dream will never be real.

At least we tried.

Yes, at some level, that’s the question now: will we try…or will we simply be trying – or even tried?

That last version could lead to a whole ‘other’ kind of ‘conviction’ – as opposed to being convinced - to be sure…but no matter who we are, no matter what the issue or outcome of some issue currently is, why we care (or don’t care) about Self or others remains the central question.

At least for now. After all, solar eclipses – particularly those which we find difficult, disruptive or destructive – are only in part about the issue of the moment, though that will have to be dealt with one way or another to be sure. And that we don’t (or haven’t) dealt with? That will deal with us through mechanisms set in motion at this time.

All of which brings up another point about Taurus. Though Taurus is the testing ground for inner security, it’s tests most often have some external or externalized factor which must be negotiated in connection with others or your world. Why?

Because it is only through tests and negotiations that we prove our inner security.

No, not to them – to our Self, which is why the truly secure person is immune to what others say…not in the uncaring sense, but in a manner which acknowledges differences without judgment in an accepting and caring manner.

With Taurus, manners count. They don’t have to be perfect, they don’t even have to be polite. They simply need to acknowledge realities – whether we like those realities (or want to admit them) or not. The importance of this may not seem immediately apparent until you consider Taurus as the sign before Gemini – the signature of mentality and communication. That makes Taurus the “12th derivative sign” to Gemini, making it not all that unlikely that a smattering of glitches which test our notions of security and/or what we think is (or isn’t) secure(d) in our opinion…or in reality.

A couple of other items on the menu, at least one of which I suspect will bring great cheer:

ITEM ONE: The Eta Aquarid meteor shower begins on April 19th and lasts through May 28th. As the Lyrids will continue dappling our night skies until April 25th, this means Earth is currently enjoying a double helping of what we might call “meteoric influences.”

Meteor showers are said to bring us ‘sprinkles of inspiration’ and the Eta Aquarids tend to be big scale, large scope and greatly ‘universal’ (if you think of the term ‘Aquarids’ as being akin to ‘Aquarius,’ you’ll be rather close). And perhaps – given the solar eclipse in Taurus – this indicates a time when new ideas are ‘sparked’ which help us see what isn’t working in our lives and what to do about it…or where our actual talents may prove useful.

Perseid meteor shower by John Walker (July 2011)

Then there are the Lyrids, a shower which has its in constellation Lyra – where Pluto is currently applying several-years worth of transit pressure to fixed star Vega, a process which will ultimately result in ‘transformations of charismatic forces,’ whether that means some source comes on line, disappears entirely or is transformed in essence or effect. We’re in “year two” of this 2013-2017 evolution of our time and lives and as astrological symbols go, Pluto isn’t known for manifesting as the ‘situation genteel.’

The bottom line here is this is yet another indication of our changing times…and changing minds. Whatever it is we’re supposed to be learning, as we move through the next week (through the end of the Lyrids on April 25th) things are still in revelation mode. We’re seeing what to do…we may even know how we want to do it…

And yet it’s not time. Something isn’t established or doesn’t yet exist.

So…what has to change before it does?

Well…probably several things. (After all, the eclipse doesn’t take place until the 29th.) But among all of those, astrologically the one thing I think you’re going to care about most is as follows: do you remember that t-square we keep discussing?

You know, that Pluto-Uranus-Jupiter t-square? The one which started rattling our personal ‘change is in the wind’ chains back in late July 2013?

Yes…that one. Well, it’s over.

(insert: sounds of cheering)

Not so fast...it's only the t-square which is over. But in that regard, all you have to deal with there is another few days - and the slackening of the t-square effect after that (call it the better part of next week).

So here’s the schedule of the t-square break-up (which to paraphrase the famous song may or may not be hard to do):

1. Jupiter squares Uranus on July 20th at 7:26 in the morning (UT/+0)

2. Jupiter perfects its opposition to Pluto (conjunct Vega) on Sunday, April 10th at 11:06 in the evening, UT/+0.

HOWEVER…with this comes the fact that Uranus (see above) will square Pluto (conjunct Vega) on Monday the 21st (at 6:39 in the evening UT/+0 time).

And that means yes, the t-square is ending. But that only removes the Jupiter goal.

So we’re ending the need to get past some need to break out of limitations or change priorities or recognize our greater potential through greater perspectives.

On the other hand, we’re also ending some opportunities – namely the one which says we could break out of limitations or change priorities through recognition of greater potentials and personal perspectives.

Whichever ‘end’ of this you’re on, your challenges are likely to become more simple and direct as we move through this time, but the shift to get there will require harnessing both ability and willingness to connect to others not through aims, but through whatever Taurus issues are now becoming apparent. Seeing as the 'remnants' of this t-square will become a Uranus/Pluto square lasting through 2015 into early 2016, we are being told that our lives are going to change - in some cases, radically and that those among us who are willing to grow, innovate and remain flexible will do best.

Also...whether you know it or not, the specific and terribly human values which underlie those dimly defined yet all-prevalent mortal forces being felt...? Within that...within whatever vulnerability you feel as you recognize your humanity or that of others, there lie your keys to greater benefits.
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Eta Aquarids: The 2013 Edition

  The great comet of 1881 as drawn by Etienne Leopold Trouvelot (1827-1895)

The Lyrid Meteor Shower is already underway…and now Earth is diving into the realm of the Eta Aquarids, one of the two meteor showers produced by that most famous of comets, Comet Halley.

Halley’s other meteor shower is the Orionid shower, which happens in October. Both the Orionids and the Aquarids are rather lengthy (as meteor showers go), which is a tribute to the fabulousness (like that word?) of Comet Halley’s tail.

We might say Halley is the peacock of comets.

The astrological importance of that ‘opulence’ of duration is how both ‘sides’ of the Halley equation bridge multiple signs. And thus we might think that the Aquarids, in sprinkling their brilliance from April 19th through May 28th serve to give us ideas which connect and help us utilize the many facets of late Aries, Taurus and the beginning of Gemini.

All three signs pertain to knowing ourselves. Aries is the consciousness, Taurus is the reckoning with our abilities and Gemini is deciding what it is we really want to do, what we need to know to do it and the planning which gets us from there to there while taking care of all the rest of life’s doings.

All three of these signs are currently under strong astrological influence. With Uranus in Aries, we are being urged, inspired – or sometimes even required to change. When we don’t (or won’t) we will tend to either attract circumstances which change us – often against our will or desire.

And then there’s the other Uranus in Aries sort of energy: that which builds and builds until it explodes. Often that results in damage, though sometimes this type of Aries/Uranus energy manifests as a sudden sort of inspiration, discovery or insight which is as much like being liberated or ‘cured’ as anything could possibly be.

 Uranus and its Rings

(photo credit: NASA, JPL)

The general sense of Uranus in Aries is ‘the world is changing’ or “changing times,” if you want to be more colloquial about it. During the Aquarids we can expect to be ‘sparked’ to act or ‘sparked’ by someone else’s experience of change which may get us to thinking life’s different paths through.

Eris is also in Aries. But then, Eris has been in Aries since the 1920s. Yes, this passage is one of the hallmarks of the ‘modern world’ with all its technological wonders. But it’s not a big newsmaker at the moment. At least not on the global level.

And that, my friends, is probably good news.

Meanwhile, Sedna continues it’s slow, slow, slow wander through Taurus. Having slid into Taurus in the latter part of the 1960s, Sedna will be in Taurus until May of 2024, which marks the intervening eighty years or so as a time when we need to let go of being given and move towards what we can give, from which will come our greatest rewards.

More important and immediate-feeling is the fact that Saturn is currently in Scorpio, confronting us with various aspects about the need to get along in this world. For some this will be the need to get along with others. For some, this will be needing to get along with less than you would like. For most of us, this is a time which in one way or another is a challenge which is asking whether we are really living up to our potential.

And maybe as important (or more important) than that, whether we’re happy with the quality of our life, our relationships, our commitments, our general path.

Is it fulfilling? Who are we being: the person we are – or someone we’ve been “told” we should want to be?

Then there’s Jupiter in Gemini, which has us pushing at boundaries and overstepping a few here…and there. Oh yes – and over there, too.

We’re learning a lot, but is it useful? Can we really assemble what we’re doing into something cohesive and useful, or are we simply overbooked, overwhelmed, overstressed and overburdened and overly tired?

Think of it…the Eta Aquarid shower is spanning all these concepts. And while yes, as the Sun moves through each sign in sequence our days well may get hints and sparkles of intuition or understanding or opportunity or even genius as pertains to one sign or the other.

But as a collective?

This is just a suggestion, mind you…but considering the several years of Taurus/Scorpio Solar Eclipses we’re going through – between that and the fact that Pluto is in Capricorn (indicating changes of structure and direction) …why shouldn’t we think of this five weeks or so of ‘inspirations from above’ in terms of the radiant point from which this comet comes?

This is where Comet Halley’s two meteor showers differ. Halley the comet doesn’t actually ‘go out into the stars’ but over thousands of years, astrologers have noted a correlation between where any comet seems to be coming from – the radiant point – and the quality of the sparkle they seem to add to our mentality.

 The central section of the Orion Nebula (a mosaic overlay of 81 images) courtesy

of the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) at the Parnal Observatory (2001)

During the Orionid shower, Comet Halley appears to be coming from the direction of Orion. And during the Aquarids, Halley seems to be coming from close by one of the brightest stars in Aquarius.

Which asks us to think global. And to think adaptively. Aquarius is the sign of acceptance and success. It’s the sign of everything which comes to us as a result of all our effort, especially that which is about understanding what others want and will ‘buy into,’ as they say in Aquarian ‘mass market terms.’

It's also the sign 'of the masses' and society, including societal events - not that meteor showers are generally known for timing ‘events.’ But they are thought of as a time when we’re more open to ‘greater possibilities.’

Or when life exposes us to the 'greater possibilities' of life, pleasant and unpleasant - which obviously points to many things, including the explosive events at the end of the Boston Marathon which in occurring at the end of Pluto's station/retrograde and just as Earth moves into this 'double meteor shower' zone would seem to be both an event and a metaphysical "stimulator" of other considerations.

But let's be clear: when people get hurt, when violence is done, there's no question but that we need to tend to the injured and deal with the facts of the matter - from who would do such a thing to what in society drives such hatred, to why people feel so alienated that they would think violence was any form of solution. The questions are endless. As are the challenges when we try to cope, or to be 'predictably ready' to respond in this unpredictable world. 

But beyond that is the realm of a greater perspective, the opportunity to contemplate what the metaphysical and karmic level of such events mean. They teach us that no matter how weak or how strong the city or nation, none of us are impervious. They teach us to feel lucky if we weren't involved. And in the sense that life is unpredictable and is always going to be unpredictable (that would be a very Aquarian quality, by the by) that we should value or prioritize or take care to how we organize our thoughts, our efforts, our aims because we don't know what's going to happen on any given day.

To say it locally: there is validity in saying 'I want to prioritize my family so if anything does happen to me, my family will be taken care of.' Then again, is that a better choice when placed against the person who wants to help people and create a better world in which fewer people will want to do such heinous things?

And to say it globally: what do we need to assure our future? Must we care about everyone's future to assure and insure our own?

With this May also bringing us a Taurus Solar Eclipse, the Eta Aquarids come to us as a 'sign' that as we move out of the old we can be inspired and ‘enlightened’ by the new. That may not be all comfortable. That may not be pleasant. But endings seldom are, which is why as a species, humans tend to greet such moments with 'look to the future!' and emphasize possibility over loss.

Sometimes that works. Sometimes that costs us.

The Lyrids and Eta Aquarids only overlap for about a week or so – between April 19th and 25th. Which means that this ‘doubling up’ on celestial sparks and sparkles ends right at a Lunar Eclipse.

Let’s hope that means the very best...for us all.
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The 2012 Orionid Meteor Shower

 Comet Bradfield from Cactus Flats in northeast Colorado, just before sunrise

(photo credit: the Starmom, May 2004)

Since the dawn of time, humans have watched night skies. We seem to take untold delight in spotting the streak of a meteor, as if its transient beauty somehow renews the innocence of childlike pleasures.

And maybe that’s what meteors are really all about. 

Certainly astrologically, these ‘dapplings of light’ are like the sparking of ideas and moments of sparkling pleasure we each so treasure, from wherever they may come.

This year’s Orionid meteor shower will be seen on October 20th and 21st. That it falls under the auspices of a Sun in late Libra and just as Venus moves into Virgo’s third decan may indicate glimmerings of hope. Or maybe a sense that all our hard (Venus in Virgo) efforts are finally going to (Sun in late Libra) meet with approval.

Or maybe just get finished. So many of us have been struggling with too much to (Venus in Virgo) to do and a disquieting feeling that what we’re doing (Venus/Sun) isn’t paying off. Not at least the way we might have wanted it to.

But with asteroid Bali – representing the pleasures of ‘paradise’ – having just gone direct, maybe…just maybe we’re going to find our way. Maybe all we need is a sprinkling of light, a bit of joy when all else seems dark to get us all through.

That the Moon will be in Capricorn during these days cautions against haste. Yet despite feelings of needing to be practical, maybe we can afford a moment of softening hardened hearts?

Goodness knows we all need it.

Against this, we have the reminder that the Orionids exist because of Comet Halley, probably our solar systems most famous comet – at least with Earthlings!
And fame does seem to be the operative word here. Because the orbit of comet Halley pretty much draws a metaphysical ‘loop’ between  Neptune and Venus, especially considering the fact that 2012 finds these two planets are in opposing signs the pluses and minuses of notoriety and idealization stand out here. Which means some among us will find their high flying ideals being plunged into the very cold water of reality about now.

If you want to read all the details, HERE is the link to the nitty-gritty blog on Comet Halley.

But what seems important to note here is how this Orionid shower – as spectacular as any meteor shower is if you can get to a place dark (and comfortable) enough – that it’s part two of Comet Halley, 2012 Edition.

That’s right…Earth passes through the floating tail left in Halley’s passage twice during its orbit around the Sun.

Maybe that’s why Halley is such a famous comet among humans? Metaphysically that could be. If so, it would also speak to ‘frequency of experience’ as a molding force in human experience.

I’m sure advertisers will agree with that thought. As will (interestingly enough) psychologists, seeing as they use exactly this sort of ‘repetition’ to get some clients past aversions and fears in a process known as ‘aversion therapy.'

In Comet Halley’s case, its relationship with Earth is shaped by Halley’s orbit.

 The orbit of comet 1P, otherwise known as Halley's Comet
(diagram courtesy of the JLP Small Body Database)

Because Halley crosses Earth’s orbit around the Sun twice in two very different moments, the effects have come to be known by different names. The May shower is the Eta Aquarids; the October meteor shower is the Orionid.

Two things arise from this fact. One, and maybe the most important to us as individuals, is that this ties events of May 2012 (just before Venus went retrograde and our experience of a Solar Eclipse at 0 Gemini) to present-day circumstances, problems, challenges, events, victories and realities.

The other thing worth giving a thought to is that this describes a conceptual and metaphysical tie between Orion and Aquarius.

How it would do that (and what that means) is a whole other facet of spiritual and astronomical mechanics having to do with what things look like…and whether that’s the truth.

Allow me to explain…meteor showers are named for where the comet which creates them (in this case, comet 1P, otherwise known as Comet Halley) ‘comes from.’

Or, to be more honest about it, where they appear to come from. That point – the ‘radiant’ point, gets cited, and from that comes the name of the meteor shower. So here’s how it works…when Earth moves through the flowing remnants of Halley’s tail during October, astronomers look for the source (Halley) and its orbit – because of where Earth is on its orbit – appears to come from Orion. Similarly, during May, we look to the sky, do the calculations and Halley appears to ‘come from’ right near Eta Aquarii, one of constellation Aquarius’ brightest stars.

But life is a whole. Life is one thing, not ‘this’ and ‘that’ experience ‘now’ and ‘then.’ The cumulative experience of life is life. So for those of us who think that all Which Is matters, this in some ways ties the idea of Libra/Scorpio to Aquarius.

Libra/Scorpio? Yes, well...the Orionid shower does often overlap the change of signs from Libra to Scorpio. It sort of depends on where we are in our Leap Year cycle.

(Don’t get me started on leap years!)

But however you see it, this does make astrological sense. After all, Libra and Scorpio are about relating to others (and who we relate to either by choice, need or inclination) where Aquarius is about what we get out of life (and how comfortable we are with and in this life) depending on our ability and willingness to fit in, contribute, appreciate others and be appreciated in turn (both for who we innately are and what we earn through what we do).

Because Libra does its relating mentally (airily, in theory and through ideas) and Scorpio does it through all means and methods which evoke, provoke and test our emotions, values and sense of self worth there is, in fact, something of an ‘easier’ time expected here simply because Aquarius is also an air sign.

It’s the idea of the thing, you see.

And yet…that can be exactly what comes back to haunt (or even bite) us now. People love to ballyhoo trines like they’re something magically pleasant, but all a trine says is that things are ‘more automatic.’ So if you’re in the midst of bad times, that can mean that more bad shows up more easily than good, which takes some doing to achieve.

Likewise, trines in the natal chart can indicate great abilities…or simply bad habits we find terribly hard to break.

There’s another thing which occurs to me here…namely that in having two totally “different” meteor showers which “appear” to come from different places in the sky, Halley is indeed living up to its own cycle – that between Neptune and Venus. Those who know even a little astrology probably can easily envision this pair in combination as idyllic love and blissful enjoyment.

It takes a little more soul searching to realize that heartbreaks, huge financial and personal losses come through these very same symbolic mechanisms.

A mosaic overlay of the central section of the Orion Nebula

(photo credit: ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) at Parnal Observatory, 2001)

The lesson here is that its wonderful to love, but always important to be realistic enough to know the difference between the vision of beauty and the fact that life, by its very nature, is very seldom – if ever – perfect.

And that, if all things happen for a reason and all things are what they should be in any given moment because there are things we can only learn through passing through the deepest darkness so that we can appreciate the beauty of a star…

…or the beauty of accepting ourselves as we are, or others as they are - that in that moment and essence we may have indeed discovered the path to perfection here on Earth.
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