Mercury enters Scorpio: The Power of Thought

 Frozen ice lake in Ulriken-Bergen, Norway (cropped)

photo by Sveter

As Mercury moves into Scorpio at 9:20 (+0/UT, adjust to local time) it's time to start thinking in Scorpio terms and to recognize those Scorpio mannerisms which are now all around us and in the minds of others.

Scorpio is a water sign. It's thus all about our emotions. It's a fixed sign, too - and fixed signs are all about our ability to understand and in learning to tolerate however much we don't understand, to operate productively in spite of whatever insecurity or fear that provokes.

In opposition to Taurus, sign of security, values and self worth, Scorpio tests where we are with regards to those very issues.

So now our thoughts turn to our security, and what we value. Others may question our self worth or do things which amount to tests of our self worth.

Given that, you may ask why the photo of a frozen lake. The answer is this: when emotions (water) become 'fixed'...what does that equal? It equals ice. And this image of Scorpio as ice is an important one to keep in mind. So powerful is this image that when an astrologer finds a horoscope which has no planet set in any earth sign, Scorpio's sheer strength of durable, devoted  feelings and rock-solid loyalties are what they look to next.

This starts with the idea that ice can be thick enough to bear our weight - thus Scorpio is a sign which represents an opportunity. If and where we are able to rise above (and stay above) our own level of fear and/or whatever negative emotions are at hand (symbolically, all the water below the ice) we will be able to literally 'walk on water.' 

Certainly Scorpio is known for passion. But it's also known for feelings which are 'cold as ice.' Decisions arrived at under a Scorpio influence, provided they are arrived at through a 'conviction of correctness' which is not corrupt...those decisions can 'bear weight' - the 'ice' of Scorpio will support them.

At the same time, Scorpio is the plus and the minus of passion: it is dominance and control, it is vulnerability and surrender. Yet on either side of this equation lies the responsibility to own what you do. Being knowingly vulnerable is very different than simply giving up. Domination as a display of arrogance and desirous power is very different than the power of the guardian protector and 'take-charge' leader.

Remember, we're talking Mercury here. So we're talking about our mindset and our ability to think. So during the three weeks or so of Mercury's transit through Scorpio, maintaining control of ourselves and knowing 'what lies below the ice' - in our lives, in our minds, in situations and in the intentions and actions of others - that's  important.

During any Scorpio transit there's a marked tendency to project or focus on 'the other side' rather than to think through one's own rationale and dynamic.

And yet, the key to this sign is like that of all 3rd quadrant signs...whether a planet is transiting Libra, Scorpio or Sagittarius it is the process of interaction which is actually at stake. You need to know your own side, yes. And understanding someone else's point of view is vital too. But it's where and how the two sides meet up which is now the focus. What happens there will define success or setback, advances or costs.

That Mercury enters 0 Scorpio in the company of asteroid Lilith (that which we don't like facing in ourselves) and Panacea (making peace) gives us a clear picture that first and foremost, we need to cope with ourselves. Who we are and what we bring to any moment is all about how we deal with being who we are, how well we understand ourselves and the level of emotional responsibility we take for ourselves.

By implication, some level of peacemaking needs to go on now...and in all likelihood, we will need that in situations of the moment.

Left behind at 29 Libra is asteroid Child; it's apparently time to do a little more growing up.

In opposition stands Kallisto - a literal 'bear' of an image which represents our ability to go through and get past our own 'beastly' or 'animalistic' qualities (past or present) to the point where we can become a star and stand as a constellation in the sky by which others can guide their lives and future.

 The myth of Callisto, for whom is named the asteroid Kallisto,

ends with Callisto being turned into a prominently placed star in

our night sky. Is this a warning or inspiration? Probably both. 

Ursa Major - the Big Bear/Big Dipper - is the constellation which is

now Callisto's home. As photographed from Kalalau Lookout in 

Hawaii's Kokee State Park by Wikipedia contributor Gh5046,

the Great Bear's 'dipper' reminds us to 'contain' ourselves even

while realizing that given earth's precessionary cycle, everything

changes. Today's 'hard solution' may have to evolve - as life does

- slowly but surely, in time becoming something totally different.

 

 Whatever these next few weeks hold, they depend on us - on our ability to tolerate and even grow through those things which challenge us most, including how those things are tested by our interactions and society at large.

Jupiter's Station

Planet Jupiter - source: NASA

On July 23 (at 12:04 GMT: adjust for local time) Jupiter goes retrograde.

The whole la-dee-dah of what this means and why it means it (the where-science-meets-metaphysics stuff) we'll leave for another time. Meanwhile, what's important to you is that from July 23rd until November 18th when Jupiter goes direct, your growth and learning process will be internal.

When a planet is in direct motion, we learn from and through external prompts and situations. When a planet is retrograde, we learn through experience of those planetary precepts within ourselves.

Given that Jupiter is about 'growth,' that means these months ahead are more about you learning about yourself IN the world than the world you are in. This can be fun, tedious, disappointing or exciting by turns. But whatever it is, through this process you become more aware and more focused on where you're taking your life, why that matters to you...and yes, maybe where you might need or want to make a few wee changes.

So here's the chart:

And because I've heard from a few of you who don't read astro-glyph, here's a little diagram which may make things easier:

The whole of this figure is a four-sided figure known as a 'Grand Cross' - meaning all four 'corners' are separated by ninety degrees (a 'square' or challenge). When you have four squares in a chart, there's a tendency to bounce from one 'corner to another' - the implication being that the months ahead may be full of 'but if I do this, then that would happen...and if I did that, this other thing couldn't get done' and the like.

But if you will notice, the "bottom" line is dotted. And the reason it is dotted is that there is no actual planet in that bottom group. (I've put true planets in yellow to make this easier). Though all which Is counts, planets represent major components "of vital mass" in our lives.

Since we thus have only three of the four 'corners' of the alleged square with planets involved, what we actually have is a t-square instead of a grand cross...though you may well have this lurking 'grand cross-ish' but...but...but... feeling as we move through the months ahead.

And just to make this a little more rigorous, that little cluster of symbols at the bottom of the chart are all about what we want. What we think would be easy (or easier) to do or on us. So expect a lot of those 'but's to be tinged with an internal red flag which says "I'm not going to enjoy that!'" printed in bold on it.

Is that true? Are you really doomed not to enjoy doing what you need to do? No! But as the cosmic wrench in the works here, that's going to be one of those bug-a-boos which arise now and again. Even frequently. Truth is...you may have a blast. If you take on the doing and the growing, you may discover things more fun and more rewarding than anything you can think of from where you're standing now.

It's just you have to let go of today's conceptions in order to get there. And that's the Jupiter 'grow' (or 'grow up') part of the equation. That big giant planet out there does throw its metaphysical weight around, and this time it's all about grasping the idea that we so don't know all that life holds. There are things out there which would delight us beyond what we know now...we just have to let go of our definitions of 'good' in order to get hold of 'even better!'

So...! With that now duly noted, what about this t-square thing? The 'rule' with t-squares is the "own" the issues described at the "t." So here we are starting with Saturn: structures, fear, limits self imposed or otherwise, responsibilities, time, dedication-willingness to dedicate your effort and time.

With Saturn at 0 Libra is Panacea - peace, feeling better, resolution of strife. Standing just behind Saturn are asteroids Lilith and Echo - which on one level represent that 'little voice' inside you may not want to hear...and which on another may well be a person (usually a woman) whose words you are echoing (or hear echoing through your mind) which you stand to lose by listening to.

This bring up another point about the 'grand cross-ish' thing. What that's likely to do is create a 'is it that person...or that person' quandary in your head. The instruction per symbol here concerns 'Lilith' as a person who tempts you (or who has tempted you) to betray some previous commitment, vow or promise.

Standing just ahead of Saturn is Black Hole M87 (a giant shift of reality), then a quasar (brilliance) and pulsar, both in Libra. The quasar shines a light on the challenge to show one's true worth through development of skills as yet not brought to true potential. Given the association with M87 and Saturn, this would seem to refer to an adaptation of a skill to a totally new (M87) concept or situation. The pulsar adds to this a great exploration of love in all its many facets - for self, for others, for one particular other, for mankind, for your own abilities...with the pulsar giving us the clue that the light will shift from one thing to another, illuminating one while plunging something else into the darkness of lack of focus or temporary unimportance.

Shades of the grand cross quality...oh, these months ahead are going to be testing! But remember...these tests are internal. This is not about your ability to exist, except with or within your own skin.

So that's where everything starts. Through accepting and moving through the dynamics presented by Saturn, M87 and the quasar/pulsar (either leaving Lilith/Echo behind or being pursued by it in the shadows of your mind)...then you get to the real challenge of the season - the 't' of the t-square.

The crux of this t-square is all about your ability to reckon with responsibility for your life, and the reality of feelings. This involves a search for a new form of personal identity which requires breaking down old concepts and rebuilding yourself from within. To the extent that you don't do that, you will end up being tossed back into the land of Saturn restraints and limitations - which being in Libra may affect your social outlets, your reputation or your ability to deal with your surroundings. What we don't accept here is like as not going to come back to us in projected form - at least, that's how it's going to feel.

Again...and this cannot be stressed too much: this is not about your actual ability to survive in external terms. It's not about the job or the partner or the roof over your head except to the extent that you can deal with same, given the turmoil or arguments or debates or refusal to grow or change or grow up or get real which are going on inside you.

Moon in Capricorn often indicating 'societal values,' if you don't change (or at least become willing to accept input, critique or moderation) others will own this energy for you and foist it upon you. With two black holes and a quasar involved here, you will feel like the world you thought you knew is suddenly something altogether different: you're suddenly the proverbial stranger in a strange land.

The goal here is a 'breakthrough' (Uranus) which involves being of service or having served your greater purpose (Hebe/Uranus in Aries). With Scheat standing behind Uranus/Hebe and the Jupiterian 'goal' position, there is some sort of 'disapproval' out there which dissipates, is resolved or is converted to a stunning asset providing you become willing to break through what in this moment are your own limitations - as represented here by the Saturn/Uranus-Jupiter opposition.

As pictured by the Aries Jupiter/Lust, everyone is going into this moment fixed (Lust) on something about their own life - that being the Aries part.

In the end however, Aries is not about what you want (the cheers from the crowd for having slayed the great dragon)...but the courage to be the person who because they know how to slay dragons is willing to go out there and save the kingdom. The parade and cheers are merely the icing - the reality and necessity is the protecting of life's integrity.

Your own life, that would be - and by implication, that of others as without other people, our world is empty and without most of its richest meaning.

 

URANUS STATION/EFFECTIVE JULY 3RD through JULY 7TH

Uranus actually goes retrograde on July 5th. Yet because we always give planetary stations a two-day ‘lee-way’ (before and after) this means that the days of/between July 3rd and July 7th are all subject to this Uranian ‘turning point’ effect.

Remembering that Uranus the planet pretty much ‘rolls’ around the sun (as opposed to other planets which do a sort of spinning-like-tops thing), for us to think that Uranian events signal the unusual is…well, because the planet itself is unusual. It does things ‘a whole different way,’ which fits with the idea that astrology sees Uranus as the symbol of change and all things different.

So what about this station thing? Well first, let’s be real here about one thing: planets don’t actually back up. Retrograde is all about the fact that other planets move faster or slower in their orbits around the Sun than Earth does – it’s all something of an optical illusion. Yet speaking from either the metaphysical or science side, this does mean that energetics Uranus' moving through space generates/sends out does change in tandem with its relative position/directional movement to Earth.

Next thing to remember is the basic ‘rule’ of this station leeway thing...that the farther you are from the actual station (which in this case occurs at 4:50 in the afternoon GMT time)…the farther you are from the crux, or crucial effect of any ‘turning point’ happening in your life. (Not that you should ignore anything which happens during this period. Or more likely, that you could ignore them! Uranus events do tend to be things we take note of!)

There’s also a metaphysical ‘playing out’ indication here. Those who encounter the ‘new and different’ moment prior to the station are working towards change. Those who encounter those 'moments’ after the exact station time are moving on, or capitalizing on changes already made.

The general metaphysical rule of thumb here is ‘a day’ equals either a month or a year. So if something happens in your life on the 4th, you'll see effects play out in a month...or a year. And maybe both! It depends on your chart - and how prominent Uranus is in that chart. So since we can't look at everyone's chart here (how many billions of people are there in the world now? Whew - that's a LOT of charts!)....let's just go with the idea that the overall theme is one of a ‘turning point.’ If you do know your chart, you can add to that using details about where Uranus is by house, sign, degree and aspect in your natal horoscope.

But even if you’re a bit astrologically challenged, here are some important ideas on the subject read by yours truly from signposts along this particular cosmic road (none of which say Burma Shave, by the way…)

First of all, the station occurs with Uranus at zero Aries – the first degree of the zodiac. So automatically we think ‘beginnings.’ And because this is Aries, we think physicality, ‘bringing into being,’ ‘giving life to’ and initiation of the idea, action or determination type. There is clarity of purpose here, but also a degree of limited ability to really do much – at least yet (baby steps, people - baby steps!). Also, egotism can be up, humility down, and with Jupiter at 2 Aries conjunct a brilliant Pulsar at 3 Aries, we've got one part ‘what you sow is what you reap’ plus one part of a ‘news flash’ in the mix.

And what is this 'news flash' about? It's about a recognizing in your own mind, heart or wherever else you do your recognizing about just how dangerous or problematic haste, vanity and impulsiveness can really be.

Despite this being an Aries (‘who I am in my own mind’) degree, there’s also a note about interactions here which suggests – as a whole – that this station is about a change in interaction and relationship. And since this is definitely a first decan degree (one falling in degrees 0 - 9 of some sign) this is definitely about what you do or do about it. Past or present, where things have come to, or where you are going because of past choices or events, that seems the likely overall theme.

Other signs on this celestial highway....with a Black Hole and fixed star Scheat at 28 and 29 Pisces, there's a message about ‘oh, THAT’s why that happened?’ in the mix. And with Lust (fixation) sitting with Jupiter (what works and learning better), it’s oh so very likely that obsessions or too much attention to one thing (and lack of attention to something else) creating an imbalance has brought you to wherever you are at the moment.

Also, be aware of...you may still be too fixated (and thus out of balance) too. And whether or not this is true (or if you recognize it as true), with Saturn, Panacea and supermassive black hole M87 sitting in opposition to this station, you may just feel like ‘placating’ someone. Or that someone is just trying to placate you.

Is that true? That depends....and unfortunately it's not just all about you. Jupiter and Saturn in opposition is certainly the effort to build something, but the 'opposition' part may be causing a problem. What you're trying to build may be incompatible with what someone else is trying to build. Or how you're going about it may not mesh. Even the rates of growth or effort may be a bit - or even greatly out of sync. 

But with this station being Uranian, the real message is that the truth of the matter is probably somewhat other than you think. Also - because Uranus symbolizes all things and forces we can only cooperate with, not control…and especially as there are galactic black holes positioned at either end of this Jupiter/Saturn balance beam, you may be sure that neither party really understands each other. At least not yet! 

Plus (seemingly just to be annoying), let’s be galactically real: black hole M87 is one of the biggest black holes we know of. So its black holey ‘altered reality’ potential is truly huge, and it's positioned in 'the other guy's court.' Considering this, you may think they're the one living in an altered reality. Yet remember - from their point of view, you're the one occupying some oddity-of-karmic-space zone.

Yes, this would be the sticky wicket part of global transits!.

Can you ignore it? No. Can you simply insist that you're right and they're wrong? You can, but that will probably play against you.

So! What to do…! Oh what to do…?!

The answer probably comes from [deep breath...] Pluto/Charybdis at the midpoint of this opposition...a position which makes the whole of this 'stationary affair' a prime example of an infamously annoying (yet potently powerful) figure known as a t-square. With Charybdis/Pluto at the ‘t’, the instruction is to keep trying (with Charybdis, the worst thing you can do is not keep trying!) and to participate in the attempt to create positive change, granting that you may not have done all perfectly to begin with.

Pluto is one of those ‘outcome’ symbols (a Plutino). And yet because it represents transformation, unless someone out-and-out dies (and we hope that isn’t the case here) there is always room for exploration, negotiation, rehabilitation, conversation…

So long as both sides (BOTH sides…hear me?) are willing to own who they are, what they may have done or not done - and that differences are sometimes not merely okay but a positive…then what comes out of this station may be truly innovative and lead to greater freedom and happiness all the way around.

And if it doesn’t, we assess and go from there. Just try not to assume or act in haste – that’s so against the grain here, and as always where Uranus is concerned, flex - lest you break something you need value, or stand to ultimately depend on.

Finally, remember that retrogrades are all about internal things, so don't go looking for your answers "out there." Uranus retrograde in Aries is a primal call to look at ourselves with enough clarity of perspective to actually see where we're going wrong and thus why things aren't working out. Only by facing our grinches, glitches and gremlins can we get what we want from our life, and here we see Uranus as the force which forces a crack to shiver the walls of our internal resistance so that we can see ourselves. So that we learn what needs changing.

Oddly enough, this means that even the most unpleasant of scenes and situations which arise now are merely the universe delivering us a message. We're feeling what we feel and struggling with what we encounter because we need to. If we were actually as 'together' as we think we are, things would be peaceful. So if they're not, where they're not (and the feelings which get stirred up) are clues to what we need to take a good hard look at...not through the eyes of self-justification, or recrimination, but with a liberating dose of perspective.

In so many of our lives, we are our own problem. So to the degree that this station proves unsettling, that's actually an Aries gift of revelation in (possibly uncomfortable) disguise.

But here's the best part: any negative you find and get hold of is really a road map to your answers. Problems are our potentials seen on edge - a cutting edge. And to allow yourself to see this is to own your untapped genius.

And genius? That's Uranus incarnate.

A Change of Seasons: The Cancer Ingress & Quarter

Astrologers pay attention to ingress charts because they literally picture  Earth's 'phases' vis-a-vis the Sun. It's all about the tilt of the planet - you know...global inclinations. 

This year, the Cancer ingress pictures two very different dynamics. The first is a challenging grand cross (above, in red lines). The other is a picture of possibilities called a 'kite' (look for the blue lines - the tail is at the bottom).

A grand cross (sometimes also called a grand square) is four squares put together. It's sort of like an intersection of streets. And to a great extent the same rules apply. Just like at an intersection, it's a matter of everyone obeying the rules, participating in turn. Which if you think about it, is really everyone working together. That's what allows us to get where we want to go. 

But I'm not going to kid you - astrological grand crosses have a nasty reputation for being endlessly challenging. People tend to bounce from one corner to the next like  dementedly undecided pedestrians. Or, to return to the actual traffic metaphor, to try to insist on having the right of way, screw the lights and traffic laws. 

And that just doesn't work. Neither does dwelling on any given corner of a grand cross!

So what are we working with here? Well, looking at each corner of the square alone and in isolation, in the first corner we have concrete problems - and an ongoing set of problems at that (Pluto-Charybdis-Orpheus in early Capricorn). We'd like someone to fix things...even if we have less than exquisite faith in anyone's ability TO fix anything (Ceres in late Sagittarius). If they don't fix it we're disappointed. If they do fix it, we don't like they way they solved the problem.

Corner number two is all about our not approving what people are doing or how they're doing it. On the other hand, we're all totally obsessed with doing what WE like to do, in spite of the fact it isn't really make us feel happily secure(d). But heaven forbid that anyone tell us that (or how) we should give up our established and unsatisfying ways! Yes, even if we know in the depths of our brains, spirits and souls (pick as many as apply) that's exactly what we should be doing, how DARE anyone tell us so!

Oh! And let's not forget how good we've all gotten at making excuses for why we shouldn't have to change. Such expertise! You'd think we were all working on a PhD in Personal Alternate Realities.

This last note (the alternate reality thing) is a tip off that there's a black hole involved in this corner - and if you guessed that, give yourself a gold star (or at least a collapsed gold star). And this black hole is one of the reasons why getting things done is going to seem so challenging over these next few months; feeling magnetized by forces beyond our control, we so often find ourselves falling into....? Right! A black hole.

In our minds, that is.

For those of the technical ilk, the list of points in this quadrant corner reads thusly: Byblis, (things old),  Eos (unstoppable appetite), Lust (fixations), Jupiter (growing knowledge), Uranus (change/anarchy), Scheat (bad reputation/reception), a black hole at 28 Pisces (probably a contributor to Scheat's bad reputation thing) and Tantalus, a perfectly delightful symbol of all which tantalizes but (groan here!) never satisfies.

So to review: thus far we have one 'threatening' corner replete with yearnings to be 'rescued' and a second corner filled with lack of satisfaction and reluctance (if not downright refusal) to give up our unhappy ways. 

Corner three is occupied with every method you can think of which we use as passive placation: the ever-popular sport of political protesting, eating, drinking, drugs and sex (very popular, these), the productive pacifiers known as exercise, work, cleaning house, doing errands and/or walking the dog (or being walked by the dog if you happen to own a really big dog)...and then there are the verbal forms which fit here too, including discussing, theorizing, taking meetings and praying. All these fall under the auspices of a Dionysus/Panacea combination made particularly strong because Saturn is exactly conjunct Panacea in a degree which is much theory and little activity, assuring us that we will all be tempted to talk ourselves into self-placation this season. And if that doesn't work, we may just stalemate ourselves.  

Corner four is where the Cancer Sun actually is. Now mind you, Sun in Cancer itself is a highly vital symbol. It holds vital dynamics important to planning and building for the future. But it does tend to be moody and very protective. And at times, certainly myopic. Cancer often beats a queasy retreat just when action would work and gets testy when supportive patience is the heart, soul and simple divinity of the answer. 

Most of all, we must remember that this is the corner facing off (opposing) against the threats. And if you want the world to be a better place you can't do that by retreating from the problem. Cancers are very big with worrying about the future of their family and going home (to that family) instead of working on worldly problems so the world is a better place for that family.

Of course there is some chance that the answer really is in someone's living room. If so, we sure do hope they'll share it with the rest of us, right?

Okay...so that's the grand cross. As the 'answer' to its puzzle may not be all that apparent, let's look at the kite, as the answer to one is found in the format of the other.

The tail of said kite, to be precise.

But what is an astrological kite? Well, the recipe goes like this: take one grand trine (ongoing, nearly unstoppable energy) and stand that on end (the blue triangle at the bottom of the figure). Then add two supporting sextiles reaching to and supporting the top of the kite. These are the opportunities. 

'Solving' or 'gaining control of' whatever is at the the top of the kite (those problems and threats?) is the goal of a kite, and as said, the bottom - the tail - is the key. And seeing that that tail is expressed here by Betelgeuse-Sun-black hole, you start with a plan. A Cancerian plan, which means everybody pulling all together, each one of us marshaling ourselves to do what we should do in the long run, not just what feels safe, convenient or habitually natural. 

Cancer is the home, and our individual family, yes. But it's also the community, the nation and the family of man. It's the sign of this world and our planet - Mother Earth. So if we want to solve the problems in our world, we need to solve the problems in the world.

As for Begelgeuse, as a sign of easy accomplishment (if we put our minds to it), that's a plus. But in a grand cross world of negatives, threats and reluctance, let's be real - the easy way to think is in terms of one's own and our own little world. But with the problems coming from across the zodiac from the ingress, the problems (and thus the solution) are not 'inner,' they're 'outer' - or more particularly, how we do or don't connect to Things External. 

So much for those of you who think you can just ignore society and the news, right? 

But why would not helping or not joining not work? 

Answer: a little galactic thing called a black hole. Maybe you've heard of them - able to bend light? Possessed of inexorable gravity? To remain in your personal quadrant this season is to be swallowed up thereby. So will you allow yourself (or even volunteer) to be sucked in by your own reluctance? Or are you going to use the power of a black hole to 'visit' the alternative reality and harness that power to do the 'alternative' thing - which is to say something different than what has been done up until now?

But there's all that threat! And reluctance! And tendency to talk ourselves out of doing anything about it? Why would we do anything else and what 'anything else' shall we do? What works here?

The answer lies in the nature of the kite - the other two trine points of the 'unstoppable engine' of endless potential we are being gifted with this season. One point is Chiron-Lilith-Neptune, a sign that we can either take our challenges on or be driven ever harder by ever increasing bad behavior and necessity. 

This is good....why? Well, think of it this way: how else is the universe going to get us moving (and to shift us out of old habits) except to make it too uncomfortable to sit still?

The key to this is that with Chiron and friends we also get Athena (wisdom) and royal Fomalhaut - the premier signature of ideals and dreams which come true IF (big IF) they are not corrupt or corruptive. So we not only have to 'do,' we have to 'do' intelligently and without cutting corners or compromising ethical morals (and moral ethics - yes, those too). 

Bearing this in mind we look to the other side of the grand trine...and there we find an  elegant combination of a critical degree Libra Moon (the need to negotiate, compromise, reach agreements and join with others), Pallas (the other form of Athena and thus wisdom) and Scylla, a monster representing forces which can either eat you, or provide you with the impetus to bring all your skill to bear and to keep trying no matter what.

By the way - nobody said this was going to be easy, merely that there is a way to turn negatives into positives. 

And it is in the end these two forms of wisdom (Pallas and Athena) which really give us the clue: these two upper corners of the grand trine are also the keynote structures upon which our opportunities (to better things) are founded. So the way forward is through use of intellectual faculties, not emotional or spiritual resources. The 'ease' promised by Betelgeuse is in Gemini - a sign about choice. The whole grand trine is in air signs (theory and concept). So we do need to think things through and we do need to conceptualize what we're going to do. We just need to resist getting sucked in by our fears, by emotionalism, by inertia or temptations.

Apparently it's all doable. So says this very remarkable chart which comes to us in an astonishing, unsettled time filled with upheavals. We shouldn't think nothing bad (or more bad) is going to happen - things are going to happen. And why would that be?

Because only through challenges and trying times do we ever learn the truth of our potentials. In other words, trying times aren't about the state of our world, they're about the nature of our trying. 

Thus do we learn.

Natalee Holloway: Speaking from the Grave

A nineteen year old named Natalee Holloway disappeared on May 30, 2005 while on spring break in Aruba. The prime suspect in her disappearance was Joran van der Sloot, an eighteen year old native of the Netherlands.  Due to a lack of hard evidence, Joran was never charged.

Five years passes….

In Peru, on May 30, 2010, a young woman named Stephany Flores Ramirez disappears.

On June 2nd, she’s found stabbed to death in the room of one Joran van der Sloot. Joran has fled to Chile but is apprehended there on the 3rd and sent back to Peru where on June 7, he confesses to his crime.

It’s to be vividly stressed that we have no birth times for any of the parties involved in this story. But even without that, given location and date of birth, plenty of things simply scream to be said.

Among all, the most touching is how clearly Natalee’s chart ‘reacts’ to van der Sloot’s doings. It started long ago but continues on, starting with… as he confesses in Peru and that news hits the airwaves, Sedna opposes Natalee’s natal Mercury.

Named for an Inuit goddess, Sedna represents our struggles to escape, hold on to or finally let go of our dreamy childish dependence. The myth (and the dwarf planet named for same) speaks in our chart of the trials we experience as we move from standard childhood ‘longings to be an adult’ into the somewhat chilling realization that with adult freedom and independence inevitably comes some measure of loneliness.

Or…an ‘alone-ness’ which, in isolating us, allows us to (hopefully) know ourselves better and thus move towards realizing our personal potential, providing ourselves with fulfillment instead of having to rely on someone else - replete with whatever they ‘require’ in return for that we think we can’t live without.   

In Natalee’s natal chart, Sedna sits conjunct asteroids Hel (terrible choices) and Phaethon (too headstrong for one’s own good). Obviously going off on her own for spring break brought these images out in a heartbreaking manner.

With an orbital period of 10,500 years, Sedna moves very slowly. But as Natalee arrived in Aruba, it opposed her Scorpio Venus, the first of three conjunct symbols. Seeking self worth from others, Venus in Scorpio tends to be too desirous, too controlling or too vulnerable – and often an uncomfortable mix of all three, particularly prior to when we get settled in our adult (individuated) mentality.

The second symbol is Ixion, a symbol all about entitlement and lack of gratitude which is a problem (though not impossible to manage) in everyone’s chart. Conjunct Natalee’s Scorpio Venus, this would have been her attraction to sensual vibes of the darker kind and probably the ‘bad boys’ among us. 

It’s also one form of description for a sexual predator.

Unfortunately for 19-year old Natalee, Sedna opposing her Venus set everything off. Natalee vanished. And as Sedna inched on to oppose Natalee’s Ixion, Joran van der Sloot, privileged son of a well-to-do judge….Joran walked away. Which is strikingly reminiscent of the mythic Ixion.

The third symbol in Natalee’s Scorpio triad is Mercury a symbol which by turns can manifest as  dedication and loyalty, an alluring quality and the ability to be lured, insight against blindness, denial against manipulation/coercion and honest polarized by total deception. Conjunct Ixion, to whatever degree she was ‘so very good’ she would have attracted the polarity. Even – unfortunately – been fascinated by it; that we do not own we become fixated by in someone else (projection).   

As Sedna finally confronted Natalee’s Mercury five years after Natalee’s disappearance, van der Sloot’s predatory instinct acted out again. And again as in the Ixion myth, then circumstances changed: the entitled son of privileged heritage committed his crime under circumstances which, far from making him nearly immune to punishment (as he seems to have been in Aruba)…now he was in a place where the people were immune to what would seem to be Joran’s ruinously self-entitled behavior.

Time will tell…and we may never know for sure…but astrologically, the clarity of the timing on Natalee’s chart with regards to this second murder of Stephany Ramirez suggests van der Sloot was well aware of the ‘anniversary’ of Natalee’s disappearance. The reasoning is this: if it was random, her chart wouldn’t reflect it with a series of transits as exact as we have seen.

For those of us bearing witness, possibly even worse is the idea that Joran van der Sloot has no strong signals on his chart for any of the dates involved - at least not using a chart without accurate time of birth. All we have is Vesta opposing his natal Juno as he was returned to Peru, where he confessed.

And yes, this may signal Joran feeling it time to own up. Some have suggested his confession is a ploy – a way to avoid the death penalty and get sent off to Peruvian prison where perhaps he could bribe someone and affect an escape before prison conditions (or another convict) gets to him.

Then again, given Vesta as an image of sacred service and Joran’s natal Juno (female integrity) conjunct  Kalypso (altruistic love) conjunct Medea (self-destructive love) is simply telling us that Joran van der Sloot takes a great pleasure in, even worships his own his ability to take a human life.    

One bright note in the morass - one we can only hope is felt by friends, family and victim spirits. As Sedna opposed Natalee’s Mercury and van der Sloot was apprehended, Sedna was also coming into unification with the position of Natalee’s Panacea – holistic inner healing.

And the truth will set you free.  

We hope Natalee and Stephany will now truly rest in peace. 


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