Venus Retrograde 2010: The Sticky Wicked?

Venus going retrograde on October 8th (at 14:46 UT) puts all of us on notice that the things which have been slowly taking shape on the outside for the past few weeks are now going to begin affecting us more personally and to our core.

Because Venus is symbolizes our ability to realize things or bring them into our life as a 'tangible reality,' for Venus to go retrograde means two things. One, that our concepts of tangible reality and what things are worth are going to come up for review. Maybe even get challenged. For instance, during retrograde would be a likely moment for you to 'get' something you've really been wanting, only to realize you don't like it (or want it) all that much.

This 'the excitement is in the chase' thing is likely to be all the more pronounced (and apply in many more areas) since this retrograde is happening in Scorpio, sign of all interactive desires. And though we think of such (interactive desires) greatly in the intimate relationship arena, it's really far more basic than that. If there's you in your world and there's something you want to bring into your world, find an outlet for, acquire, manage, parlay into more, even repair or get rid of, that's interactive. If you don't have it and you want to achieve or secure it, that's interactive.

If you're want to work on or repair some factor of your life, you're wanting to do so for a reason - that's interactive. In fact, that's literally inter-active, considering you're choosing to act in the cause of fixing, growing, changing, or eliminating some portion of your Self.

In all of this (or any of these) the fact that there is a motivating urge is the key to why Scorpio is said to be first ruled by Mars. The changes which come out of what you choose and how well you choose - that's the Pluto-as-'outcome'-ruler part of Scorpio. And considering that the orbit of Pluto (the celestial object) is governed by Neptune, that gives us a clue as to why 'Pluto moments' (and periods) are filled with reveling in success, wallowing in disillusionment, feeling idyllically fulfilled or haplessly, helplessly crunched.

Neptune (source: NASA/JPL)

Bearing all this in mind we come to the degree at which Venus will go retrograde - which would be 13 Scorpio, a degree which has a reputation for 'loneliness' coupled to 'stubbornness' and 'willfullness.' 

The 'up' side of this combination is its ability to 'create' safety or a 'safe zone' in which to operate. Does this make the Venus station possibly a good time for negotiations? On one hand yes - the days surrounding the station of October 8th (stations having a 2-day leeway in either direction) may find 'opposing factions' finally sitting down to converse in a more-or-less direct manner.

 Venus Station/Retrograde

October 8, 2010 - 7:06 (UT/+0)

With this station occurring as Venus stands in exact conjunction with TNO Huya (link to article on Huya) gives an additional parameter here...namely that those who carry on (stubbornly) doing for the greater good (Huya) will eventually make the greatest gains (Venus as reaping rewards + Huya in its 'rainmaker' function).

But all is not peaches and cream here. In the picture of this station, Venus is conjunct Mars, with Mars positioned at 15 Scorpio. Known rather broadly as a 'lesser developed' Scorpio degree which seems doomed to merely 'do' but never achieve, the probable secret to using 15 Scorpio on the plus side involves recognizing that this is one of the zodiac's 'cross quarter' degrees.

  Cross-quarter points occur at 15 degrees of each

fixed sign. Because fixed signs are the 'middle'

signs in each quadrant of the 'natural' zodiac wheel,

that means cross quarter points bisect each of the

zodiac's 'natrual' quarters.

Fixed signs being notoriously...sticky when it comes to matters of moving on (which can be as good as bad and everywhere between depending on how its used!), the cross-quarter degrees thus become demarcation points. At these points, or as symbols move past these points, we meet the division between 'controlling/managing/gathering facts' and 'releasing, acting on and making  forward thinking decisions' become important. Even vital.

So Venus is at 13 in this picture. And given that we are talking here about it's station/retrograde point, Venus it isn't moving towards release or decision or even really acting on anything. Quite the contrary...with 13 Scorpio being the position of a Black Hole, it is at this point that there is a perception of that Venusian 'wanting it, working on making it real' in life...the it could be true, or I was hoping I would be well received which gets to this point then backs away.

Part of the question thus is...what are we backing away from? The real truth? That which we had hoped for which we now see isn't workable or isn't really what we wanted to begin with? Are we backing away from some sort of effort required to get into some sort of interactive situation? What is being asked of us in that situation?

It being Mars which is standing at the cross-quarter point, the question is plainly how or if to move ahead. Conjunct desirous Eros, the question is whether we 'want it enough' to be willing to do (Mars) whatever is needed so that we are prepared (Venus) to be successful (Venus) as we go (Mars) through the metaphysical 'education-by-interactive application' (Mars moving through the balance of Scorpio and the whole of Sagittarius) in the effort to get where we want to go and emerge lusciously and victoriously satisfied (Mars/Venus).

All while (oh yes...) remembering that for us to 'win' what we want, we have to harness the Huya lesson: to be the rainmaker is to use who and what we are (and know how to do) to help others raise themselves up, producing the abundance of harvest which then spills over in abundance into our own lives. 

Whenever we talk Huya, I suggest thinking of people like Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey and assembly-line maestro Henry Ford. These are people who took what they understand to give others the tools to have a better and more productive life. And though we often think only in monetary terms, Huya can operate through any means or medium. So here seen in conjunction with Venus, the medium could be money. Then again, it could be love. Or satisfaction. Or security - whatever that means to you personally.

With the Mars of this moment conjunct a pulsar, we should all not only expect moments of brilliance, but moments when we have no idea...when we wonder what we're doing or why on earth we're doing it. Given this chart as the 'picturing' of the entire Venus retrograde period, we should expect that theme to carry through - and for progress (such as it will be) to be sporadic. Or spotty. Or achieved by anything except the most direct route.

And that may be where the Venusian stubbornness - aka determination - shown by Venus taking station at 13 Scorpio really comes in.

But with that said, don't think you're waiting entirely on others. It may be tempting to do just that, but that certainly isn't the point of this - or any retrograde cycle. Particularly this one, as Venus' present turn to retrograde is happening just as this year's Orionid meteor shower is beginning.

The Temptress - by Raile

Planets in direct motion are about growth which we experience through the people around us and things which go on in and around our world. Planets in retrograde are about internal growth. So with this one coinciding with a moment in which we are being 'showered with points of light' (meteors as momentary illuminations) recognitions, realizations and gettings of 'the point' are evidently on the menu.

So! Depending on what you've been doing and how much you've already done, this may be a period of  consolidation - when you 'solidify' gains made and really get straight on what you have achieved so far. This is a common concept in military campaigns - you can only extend your supply lines so far before they become so strung out as to be vulnerable.

Where we have 'overstretched' ourselves, life will now make that evident - and from that we will have to consider how to proceed. At the very least we have to hold on for a moment to pull our proverbial pants up. And at the other end of the spectrum, maybe we have simply 'gone too far' in one sense or another: financially, physically, emotionally, in terms of any basic ability to keep up with things. A lot of people will probably come into this station period feeling vengeful, hassled, marginalized,  overwhelmed, bogged down, critical/criticized, hurt (sad, remorseful, insulted, etc.)...or simply boggled.

OR....or they may have been avoiding feeling all those very things.

Whatever is on your plate now, as you go into this Venus retrograde which will take us all the way to mid November, there will be a sense of waiting. But the person you are waiting for first and last is you. This time is about internal growth. It's about getting straight with you about who you are, what you are capable of, what you need to learn how to do - and it's all about how you operate in the world, in the company of (or with) others. That we know because this is all taking place in a  zodiacal 3rd quadrant sign - Scorpio.

We also know that the highs and lows of Scorpio, from elation to despair, from anger and frustration to rejection, denial and bliss born of ignorance...the whole cavalcade of hopes, dreams, demands, disgusts will be on display. If you're someone who doesn't what to 'see' or feel that, that's your call for sure, but then you're just choosing the Scorpio denial/ignorance/abandonment route - which is no better than anything else and often more harmful than most.

In the end, this cycle is about allowing ourselves to learn more about ourselves. It may be prompted by things which will happen now and going forward, or it may be a mixture of that and what has happened up until now. That when Venus goes direct it will go direct in tandem with Jupiter moving back into forward motion is a distinct signal that we have much to gain by being realistic and everything to lose by living in our own world, our own fantasy, our own closed mind, walled off heart or narrowness of spirit.

Where Scorpio is concerned, we serve to filter the good out - we accept all and from that make something good; we are the filter...we are the process of transmutation and metamorphic transformation. That the underlying rule for handling all things Scorpionic is to acknowledge the emotions or feelings at hand then proceed and choose based on facts and the basic Mars/Aries understanding that what you undertake you need to have the courage to see though...that is very much the key to the next six weeks or so.

One more note here: with the Moon of this image at 22 Libra conjunct Child and Spica/Tantalus yet opposition Eris/Edisonia is all about knowing yourself and knowing others. There is a temptation to foist one's childish, tantrum 'I want it!' sort of craving onto others - and where that isn't present, you're likely to have others act out on you.

Twenty-two Libra being all about the choice between careless self-indulgence and the truth of knowing, the primary separation here seems to be one between childish and childlike - and after that between true innocence of conviction/truth-of-innocence and plain immaturity, lack of ability/capacity and those various kinds of ego/self priority of focus which will not play well interactively going forward.

Planet Venus  (source: NASA/JPL)

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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.

Holey Eclipse, Batman! (by Alex Miller)

Probably best known for his work with galactics, my long-time friend Alex Miller has stopped by the blog today to give us all a few thoughts on Saturday's lunar eclipse.

Take it away, Alex !

Monster Black Hole - source: National Geographic

 Holy Eclipse, Batman!

  
...Black Hole-y, that is. The Lunar Eclipse of 26 June 2010 sets off a Galactic Grand Cross of Deep Space energies guaranteed to keep things hopping for the next six months.  With the Moon eclipsed at 4 Capricorn, opposed a 4 Cancer Sun, a primal polarity of Black Holes is activated; add in squares to the Pulsar at 3 Aries and a Quasar at 5 Libra, and we have the makings of a truly stand-out astrological phenomenon.

Black Holes, those virtual pinpoints in space whose gravitational pull is so intense that not even light can escape them, promote the volte face, the sudden, swift, unexpected and complete reversal of the status quo. Conditions change in the twinkling of an eye to ones wholly unrecognizable from what pertained before.  In essence, you have changed universes - you can’t go home again. They drain energy from whatever they touch, creating instability and uncertainty, but they also tap us into the limitless potential of the unknown, and make possible what was previously considered unthinkable, both good and bad.

Quasars are among the brightest and furthest objects in the universe; they shine a bright spotlight upon whatever they touch and promote notoriety, success, achievement and attaining of goals.  It’s just not possible to keep hidden what they illumine, it stands out in a crowd, like placing a beacon on a hilltop.

Pulsars, rapidly rotating stellar remnants that emit regular bursts of energy in the radio and X-ray frequencies, are informational in nature, often provoking media attention or newsworthy events.  They can provide “body knowledge,” a sense of “just knowing” a thing to be true which wells up into consciousness from a cellular level.

Put it all together, and you’ve got a formula for some cosmic fireworks.  Add Pluto with the Moon at 4 Capricorn, just shy of the 5 Cap Black Hole, and Mercury at 2 Cancer with the Sun, both within the grip of the Black Hole at 4 Cancer, and the picture gains some clarity.  Add Uranus at 0 Aries and Jupiter at 2 Aries, both conjunct the 3 Aries Pulsar and squared the eclipse, and there’s even more substance to the image.

The Moon with Pluto and the Galactic Grand Cross has a positive and a negative message to convey. On the plus side, Moon/Pulsar is incredibly intuitive, has its finger on the pulse of the possible, and with the Black Hole giving access to the potential realms in parallel universes and alternate dimensions, it’s within your grasp now to transform (Pluto) your reality, enacting a new one and grounding it here (Quasar), breaking free of the habitual conditioning of the past (Moon).  Go with your gut, and with Jupiter in the mix, think big, expansive thoughts; the Black Holes say that anything is possible, so you may as well dream big. Uranus urges us to envision a more enlightened future, using the technological marvels at our disposal to refocus our life energy (Sun) and establish plans and procedures (Mercury) to achieve success (Quasar).

But there’s a potential downside as well. Mercury opposed Pluto can seem hopeless, helpless, our thoughts (Mercury) too dark to allow of the possibility of freeing ourselves (Uranus) from the emotional morass (Moon/Pluto) we seem to be stuck in.  The Black Hole here can make it difficult to convey our message, even if we see the silver lining in the clouds that lower.  In thinking too much of ourselves (Sun) we can become stuck in old patterns (Moon) and outdated assumptions or life scripts (Jupiter), not allowing ourselves to shine (Quasar), hiding our light under a bushel.  It’s in focusing on others, and how we may be an aid or catalyst (Pluto) to their development, making connections and networking (Quasar), sharing ideas (Mercury), theorizing (Jupiter) about a more expansive, collectively beneficial future (Uranus), that we can truly transform our reality (Black Hole) and find the security and comfort (Moon) we crave.

Emotions are likely to be in particular flux at this time, with moods swinging rapidly and running the gamut from A to Z in the blink of an eye.  Pay special attention to dream images and impressions, as these can provide vital clues to future action or resolution of prior conflicts.  Thoughts, too, can be unstable, even chaotic, but Mercury with a Black Hole also grants a highly creative perspective, with heretofore unconsidered solutions to age-old problems presenting themselves.

Nationally, with the eclipsed Moon and Pluto opposed the US Venus/Jupiter combination at 3 and 5 Cancer, it’s time to face our propensity to over-spend, over-extend ourselves financially, and pass the fiscal buck.  It can’t go on forever, and Pluto’s recent focus on overhauling our monetary structures is about to be joined by some serious shocks to the system provided courtesy of Uranus in square to Venus/Jupiter next year, and the hard times and deprivation likely brought on by Saturn’s upcoming square late this summer. This Lunar Eclipse may be yet another warning shot over the bow of the US financial industry; expect further upsets and volatility in these markets over the next few months, with Black Hole instability guaranteeing some heart-stopping thrill rides like the infamous “Flash Crash” of May.

Probably the most potent fact about Black Holes is their unpredictability - but whatever they bring, you can be sure it will be record-breaking, sensational, and sweeping. If you have natal placements between about 0 and 8 degrees of Cardinal Signs, this eclipse is especially focused on you, but regardless, we all have to deal with the fallout. And with the Galactic Grand Cross activated, that could be considerable.