Mars enters Aquarius

 

Mars in Aquarius can be very different things. It can represent a dynamo of energy which gets all sorts of things done. It can represent incredible insight as to what is needed, and the courage to do that which is right and necessary, even if it’s not very popular.

Branching off from there, Mars in Aquarius can be that inexorable, unquenchable quality which causes us to embrace something we would otherwise reject. Or to reject everything we originally thought or accepted...or that which the majority, our 'group,' even our society accepts (the "system," social order, legalities, manners, rules, rights.)

Everything we think of as civilized and/or ‘civilization,’ because it's a 'theoretical collective' (or to the extent that we conceive of it that way) ...it's Aquarian. And as Mars enters Aquarius, it serves to separate that which does...or doesn't fit. What is or isn't acceptable. Or accepted.

Mars in Aquarius also speaks not just to personal energy, but to energy systems - and particularly any and all things electrical. Aquarius being the sign of ‘modern technology,’ Mars in Aquarius is the land of innovation and invention, cyber attacks and both implementation and/or interruption of all which is ‘transmitted’ or carried by computer networks, electronic media-networks-systems.

With Aquarius representing the greater marketplace and income, Mars entering Aquarius equals jobs and commercial activity (as opposed to ‘commerce’ as a business sector). Obviously a pretty dynamic combination, right? Too true – which would be why Mars entering Aquarius, especially just after Lilith has entered Sagittarius is something of a commentary on social dynamics.

 View of Manhattan taken from the Empire State Building

photo credit? Mathew Spolin (2006)

Oh, who are we kidding? It’s a HUGE comment on social dynamics!

(Mars in Aquarius allows for no pussyfooting!)

Aquarius is an interesting sign which is both about the individual and the societal collective. It represents the dynamic of freedom and universal equality and egalitarianism…and yet at the same time represents anarchy, elitism, tyranny and separatist instincts, actions and attitudes of any kind.

The concept here is integration - which makes sense as the polar opposite of Mars in Aquarius as the act of separating that which works or doesn't work. That Aquarius is one of three signs ruled by two planets tells us the whole sign (and everything it touches) involves a process...and the accepting of the idea that processes take time, take effort, take diligence - and that they sometimes need changing or refining along the way simply because they take time to enact or reap the benefits of.

Everything Aquarius begins with Saturn precepts of realism, facts, time and taking the time to dedicate one’s self to knowing what the realistic facts are without wasting time or procrastinating. Saturn being the first or primary ruler of Aquarius, it lays the foundation for Aquarian successes and failures, all of which are symbolized by Uranus.

Uranus represents change. Whatever the status quo is, Uranus changes that. If you are informed, Uranus affords you the chance for discovery. Where you are well integrated or well integrated in a system – or where a system itself is well integrated – the result is accomplishment, output, advancing of the cause and discoveries of new and interesting kinds.

Without having a basis in Saturnine patience, dedication, perseverance and the self-discipline which learns the rules, works to understand the rules and understands the structural limitations of various rules, the result is anarchy, disruption, rejection, lack of integrity, and ultimately, destruction.

 Bethesda Fountain, Central Park

photo credit: Dan4th Nicholas (2007)

There’s an obvious stewing sort of restlessness which can erupt from the desire to discover and be free (or freed) associated with Aquarius. Even the urge to excel which Mars in Aquarius may well signify and be squandered by haste – or otherwise hampered by the fact that Aquarius is a qualitatively ‘fixed’ sort of sign.

Here ‘fixed’ refers to the sign’s “mode” of action, with the zodiac having three: cardinal, fixed and mutable. Cardinal mode is direct and directed: do first, and learn by what happens. Mutable mode is try a little, correct course, try a little more, refine by what you learn – and so on.

Fixed is either hesitant, cautious or well equipped to excel through its willingness to size things up and  prepare. The hard part is knowing which is which – and as I’m sure any friend with personal planets and/or Ascendant in fixed sign will tell you, though the fixed sign inner conviction tends to be ‘this is necessary’ or ‘this is the right way to be/right thing to do’….as the old song says, ‘it ain’t necessarily so’!

Where Capricorn is the sign of achievement per se, Aquarius is the sign of advancement in the world. It’s not the job or the title, it’s the sense of belonging and relating to the world around you.

Mars being the will to do and the urge to get it done wants to be part of this world…or means we’re angry at the world…or means we are compelled to deal with and take on the world because it’s in our personal ‘Mars space.’

Given that, what notes on Mars in Aquarius do we get from the ingress chart?

Starting with the fact that Mars enters 0 Aquarius on January 15 at 10:42 pm (UT/+0), next we add that with Mars at zero, asteroid Hel is at 1 Aquarius, Ceres is at 4 Aquarius and Sappho at 29 Capricorn - just passed up by Mars.

Sappho by Leon Bazille Perrault (1832-1908)

That means Sappho, the ‘universal and poetic’ qualities of life is now being left behind as Mars plunges into Aquarius. And that may well signal our tackling Aquarian challenges – or the need to! Certainly some of us will carry the ‘Sappho vibe’ with us as a ‘reason to be doing all this.’ And for many, that will function well - particularly as a motivation). Others will try to be philosophic.

But with Hel at 1 Aquarius, there may well be the temptation to fly off the handle. Or to take off on some flight of fancy which gets you into trouble. This moment may arrive in your life as a provocation - something which you feel 'dares' you to prove yourself.

Should you? That depends. And what does it depend on? Probably why you're doing what you think you need to do. Mars/Aquarius works best when the effort or thought is for the benefit of many or for the defending of one's personal rights. Just watch the pure ego thing!

Oh yes - and don't be surprised if these next weeks feel like you're saddled with the chore of working through some difficulties. If things are particularly challenging, though you can fight, this is no time to fight bad behavior with bad behavior - integrity counts!  

With Hel at 1 Aquarius, this transition is marked as one where dreams might be shattered; such is the transition from the earthy, tangible-orientation of Capricorn into the airy world of Aquarius where determination gets overexposed to heady theory. Suddenly everything seems so complicated!

Answer: don't try to conquer Everest in a single bound. Make a plan, be realistic. Don't lose it - prove to yourself that you can do this thing you know you want to do!

With Mars taking about two days to move through one degree (on the average), the latter part of the 16th and on into the early part of the 18th (adjust roughly to local time) will thus like or not feel tedious or trying. Apart from that, Mars entering Aquarius with Hel just ahead gives the whole of this Mars-in-Aquarius transit something of an ‘it isn’t quite what I expected’ quality.

Remember – the rule with Aquarius is that offered by its rulers: be realistic (Saturn) and flexible (Uranus) those who surf the days between here and when Mars enters Pisces early on February 23rd will have more kowabunga to their credit and less black and blues from personal wipeouts along the way.

The Ceres at 4 Aquarius part is an intriguing note as it stresses all which is platonic and humanitarian. This is ‘friend of the world’ mode mixed with the Ceres understanding that you have to work today for that you harvest months from now.

(Implied by Ceres being at 4 Aquarius: four months from now.)

 

 Ancient Greek temple statue of Ceres

That Ceres adds such a marked note of nurturance required (the giving of as an investment in the future) with a distinct underscoring of thought through thoughtfulness, as opposed to emotionalism…?

This is a clue that Mars in Aquarius is best worked through with an air of consideration (of the situation, of everyone involved and of consequences down the line) rather than by taking the tact that we have any right to be a Mars bull in the world’s Aquarian china shop.

After all, Aquarius may be an air sign but its token symbol is that of the water-bearer. And since water is consistently a metaphysical reference to money (hence air sign Aquarius as ‘theoretical money’: economics and income) …with all that being true, it doesn’t pay to gore the water-bearer that feeds you!

Typhon, Eris and Lilith: Minor Life Points Which Maybe Aren’t so Minor?

 A scale diagram (orbital shapes not exact) of the

inner solar system showing the position of

the asteroid belt between Mars (the inner

red ring) and Jupiter (the outer red ring)

Here’s the core data at the crux of today’s commentary...

1. TNO Typhon goes retrograde on January 8th at 11:57 (UT/+0) at 1 Libra.

2. Dwarf planet Eris goes direct January 9th at 21 Aries.

And a few days after that…

3. January 14th asteroid Lilith enters Sagittarius at 6:38pm (UT/+0).

All three of these signatures are about shifts of or into ‘yang’ elements. That tells us that over this next week, we will sense a ‘shift’ in - and to some degree towards – assertiveness in our lives and in life around us. In this however, are three very different types of awareness.

Eris orbits way out there…far, far beyond Neptune. In getting that ‘how far’ into focus, consider this: one “AU” (astronomical unit) is the distance from the Sun to planet Earth. And said astronomical unit is quite big enough to comfortably include two other planetary orbits (those of Mercury and Venus) without anyone feeling all that crowded.

Okay…so Eris can be as far away as 97.56 AUs from the Sun. Even at its closest, it’s 37.77 AU’s away from ol’ Sol, which makes it 36.77 AU’s beyond Earth.

 A NASA generated drawing of the solar system

showing Eris (it's position cited as being where it was in 2006. 

Considering Eris' orbit takes 557 years to complete,

it hasn't moved all that far from this point either,

telling us that we are actually at the 'low end'

of Eris' cycle of 'discord' ...something to think about! 

In other words, it’s way, way out there in space. And yet, still in our celestial “neighborhood.” (Kind of puts things in a bit of stunning perspective, doesn’t it?)

Put most simply, Eris is the dynamic of ‘discord’ – the disturbing/disturbance of the status quo. It’s not a planet like Uranus, so it’s not the symbol of actual change or real discoveries or personal breakthroughs. Planets are attributes. Asteroids are mental facets and life factors we meet up with along the way. Fixed stars (stars being the suns of other solar systems, galaxies and such) they’re a metaphysical ‘backdrop’ against which our local solar system or the ‘system of our life’ plays out.

So beyond the planetary ‘attribute’ but not part of the ‘backdrop’ or ‘eternal scenery’ …what’s that?

That’s the realm of the unanticipated and unexpected. That’s the realm of all which is part of our life…but not part of our daily mentality. Like Eris – the sense that something’s up. That we are about to be faced with a decision. Is it something overlooked or forgotten about to clonk us on the head? Or are we about to clonk others with something they’ve forgotten – or maybe refused to take into account?

Like all astrological factors, Eris has a positive-negative and a passive/pro-active component. So we may be the fiery social reformer…or the person getting the bad news that the ‘thing’ we had hoped would never happen is actually going to happen.

When Eris becomes active, it’s ‘the moment’ to decide whether to act or not. That it’s going direct on January 9th makes the whole weekend, and by implication all of Venus’ transit of Sagittarius, a time to act or be acted upon. That Eris is going direct tells us that the impetus comes to us from outside. From life. From others. What we do in to respond to that – or whether we respond at all – that’s up to us.

To this we add Typhon. With TNO standing for ‘Trans Neptunian Object’ we automatically know that Typhon occupies the same ‘unanticipated’ realm as Eris. But that’s only during part of Typhon’s orbit. Classed as a Centaur (a blending of two natures), Typhon is 37.6 AU’s away from us at the farthest.

Does that ring a bell? Didn’t we just say that Eris was at 37.7 AUs at it’s closest? Yes, we did. That would tend to connect these two concepts, it at very different parts of our psyche. Where, or maybe as that feeling of the status quo being disturbed comes to us, that’s about when Things Typhon are at their least effective.

So what is Typhon? Typhon is one of the most primal of Greek mythic entities – ‘primal’ being the operative word here, seeing that Typhon is all about our most instinctual Self. Survival, sex, hunger – these kinds of biological urges and how we handle them (or don’t handle them very well) are our Typhon arena.

This thus gives us…what? An interesting psychological reality: when we are threatened with disturbance of the status quo, suddenly all the ‘other stuff,’ even some of the most basic of ‘other stuff’ gets shut down. It simply ‘goes away.’

True? Too true – especially in the light of how this helps differentiate between Eris and Typhon as symbols.

Typhon is our ‘primal life’ urges. But Eris is that which comes and in acting upon us, causes us to deal with or defend the life which is having those urges!

Many of us are likely to interpret this moment as something ‘happening’ to them. And while that may be true in the purely temporal sense, maybe the more interesting question is why is this happening to me?

What can I learn from it – particularly about me? Given that we all have an Eris and a Typhon in our charts, and because the zodiac degrees implied in this celestial switch-o, change-o are in each and every chart, there is something for each of us to learn from this time.

Eris direct says the ‘stimulation/stimulus’ comes from outside…Typhon speaks to an inner urge or instinct.

That Typhon makes the ‘first move’ here may give us a clue as to what the ‘cause’ in ‘cause effect’ over these days really is. Or it may simply mean some particular attribute of personality is meant to be (or just will be) more accessible and ‘on deck’ as discord (Eris) gets into motion.

Does that mean we should react instinctively? Or that we need to be mindful of how instincts may rule our day? Or how instinct may get in our way?

That’s individual. But to think about now – and going forward - certainly!

It’s almost a week later that Lilith enters Sagittarius, which may make the discussion of Lilith unnecessary here except for Lilith moving into Sagittarius on January 14 does tell us that Lilith is moving into ‘critical’ Scorpio territory just prior. As Typhon and Eris are going retrograde and direct, respectively, that is.

Lilith is always a symbol of all which we don’t want to deal with. That we’d rather not hear about. Or those things we really would like to ignore in Self or life.

 Lilith by John Collier (1892)

In the astrological sense, Lilith is not 'sin' or 'evil,'

but rather all those things about ourselves we

may be reluctant to admit to accept. That being true,

who is judging who? Who or what is 'entwining' or holding

us in 'mortal bondage'?

There being two forms of Lilith - one pertaining to the Moons aphelion point and thus ‘societal,’ the other an asteroid and thus ‘personal factor’ oriented  - this is the asteroid. One of thousands of main belt asteroids which cycle in the truly large gap between Mars and Jupiter, Lilith at its farthest from the Sun (and therefore Earth) orbits at 3.187 AU - pretty much at the center of this gap. There it keeps company with Lachesis (duration) Psyche (our consciousness of our own mind and mentality) and….(surprise!) Eos, another asteroid about instinct.

Have you not met Eos? Well, then, here’s the link to a little BLOG ON EOS.

Just on the surface of it, that may say that while it may be ‘instinctual’ to evade, avoid and deny certain attributes of our own personalities (or life, lifestyle, etc.) it doesn’t last forever. Sooner or later the ‘duration’ described by Lachesis ends. How long that is…that’s an individual chart issue. But there’s evidently only so long we can pretend.

At the near end of its orbit, Lilith comes just inside of the outer orbit of Dionysus (‘sacred celebrations’) making Lilith an indicator of real life and the totally mundane. Sort of a “that’s just what life is, and eventually we all have to deal with realities.”

And what comes between us and this willingness to deal with Lilith? Hybris: arrogance. At it’s closest, Lilith is at 2.14 AU. At its closest, Hybris is at 2.127 AU. It is therefore suggested that to own our life takes some dealing with the arrogance that we don’t have to deal with our life as a whole – or the whole of our life, whichever way you want to look at it.

To have Lilith in last Scorpio as Typhon and Eris go on station implies that our ability or willingness to deal with the issues which are emotionally evocative are here tested by Typhon and Eris dynamics. Apart from whatever else we have said – astrology being perfectly capable of stating many things in a symbolic string – apart from all else, our ability to feel for others (and not just ourselves) our ability and willingness to design solutions to problems which takes everybody’s needs into account, separating need from desire …that is in itself a Lilith test. A Lilith-Typhon-Eris challenge.

When Lilith moves into Sagittarius, all which we have designed goes ‘on trial.’ But in a sense, so do we. It may be a literal ‘on trial’  and then again, we may also be trying things out…having a ‘trial period,’ if you will. Sagittarius being the sign of expansion and a fiery sign which is either willing to find out what is true or highly resistant to any challenge (don’t confuse me with facts – I KNOW what I want to know!) …Lilith moving into Sagittarius may also cause many of us to actually expand that which we refuse to deal with.

Will that last? Can that last? For a while, maybe. But as Lilith meets up with the North Node in late 2011, we are likely to see repercussions and consequences breaking through many types of denial.

In the meantime, there are those who will now have a ‘dawning of the light’ as they stop fighting their personal battles with and through other people. These people will, in coming to understand themselves more innately, become more relaxed, happier, and greatly empowered by knowing how it wasn’t life holding them back – they were holding themselves back.

And kudos to them!