THE NEW AGE REVOLUTION: ASTROLOGICAL URANUS

You may have noticed that most of the Last Aspects the Moon has been making recently have been  to Uranus. This is because this planetary ruler of Aquarius has been moving through the late degrees of Aries and is, therefore, the last planet with which the Moon engages before it changes signs. As a consequence, the Uranus archetype is the narrative which currently and dramatically colors our world. So while the Moon is in Aquarius this month I thought it might be helpful to go more into depth about this planet's themes and muse on some personal and collective ways its symbols might be expressed.

Moon as Aquarian Water Bearer

THE MYTHOLOGY in brief...
Ouronus, or Uranus, is the Greek primordial sky god, married to (and the son of) Gaia/Earth. They birthed the Titans (the youngest of whom was Cronus or Saturn) Hekatonkheires, and the one-eyed giants - the Cyclopes. Having little liking for his progeny, Uranus buried them in Tatarus, deep withing Gaia, which was very painful for her. She asked her children to castrate Uranus and Saturn obliged. After Uranus was disempowered, Saturn re-imprisoned the Hekatonkheires and Cyclopes. Uranus and Gaia then prophesied that Saturn was destined to be overthrown by his own son; so in order to avoid this fate he devoured his young. Saturn's youngest son, Zeus or Jupiter, was hidden by his mother Rhea and in some versions of the myth followed through with the prophecy.

THE URANUS ARCHETYPE: The Great Awakener
Uranus reflects the principle of separation, a sudden breaking apart - as in achieving psychological individuation or the ah-ha moment of an enlightenment experience. It also indicates the unusual, unique, creative and revolutionary elements of existence. It indicates radical change. Uranus reflects the high vibration of electricity and the electronic arena where science, technology and other mental innovations are found. Here we also get the objective and detached nature of the archetype. The New Age Aquarian element of brother/sisterhood or community and friendship is present here, highlighting the Uranian quality of equality and freedom. The Uranus/Aquarian persona is likely to shake things up and reveal the qualities of existing or traditional structures that no longer serve us. It's time for these elements to go. Uranus offers the challenge of finding our unique sense of self within the collective/community.

EXPERIENCING THE URANUS ARCHETYPE
Because of the ongoing prominence of Uranus, when evaluating the candidates for the 2016 Presidential election, I looked at which chart had the strongest Uranus presence. Hands down it was Donald Trump - with his Sun Conjunct Uranus and his North Node, all in his 10th House of Public Achievement. Uranus also opposes his natal Moon and exactly Trines his natal Jupiter. There's no question he's actively shaking things up which is quite likely what the US karma now requires...to whatever end. His live-wire-manic-tweeting-unpredictable-loose-cannon Uranian nature is also likely to be his downfall. We feel the preparation for revolution all around us. Many feel the carpet being pulled out from under or at least the sands shifting. Uranus means change. In its most optimum expression, it is the Great Awakener. Mostly, what wakes us up is unexpected and even shocking - the Lightening Bolt. It takes a lot to inspire a shift. Expect the unexpected and you'll be more prepared for the surprises to come.
This is a time to get serious about your intentional inner work - whatever grounds and centers you, whatever gives you self-worth and trust. Whatever allows you to be your unique self within your community. Meditation, yoga and any other spiritual/centering practice will be so helpful now. Engaging in artistic projects, including music and creative writing, will trigger our imagination and inspire innovative ideas about living and thriving in the changing world.
Looking forward to 2020, when Saturn moves into its own sign Capricorn and takes center stage by joining Pluto and Jupiter there as well, we can expect the innovations achieved with Uranus to be tested and re-structured. Uranus will have moved into Tauru$ (May 2018) and while the strong Capricorn and Tauru$ Earth elements may keep us grounded, we are still likely to be shaken up with a financial revolution. There's a lot of preparation to do to keep ourselves viable and now is the time to begin!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cb8luHdpR84&t=195s

URANUS/AQUARIUS SCENE: Hair, 1979; Director: Milos Forman. The obvious film representative for the Uranian archetype is the musical Hair. The iconic soundtrack and protest of the Vietnam War narrative are reflective of the Aquarius demand for unique individual expression. Screening scenes from this film brings back that revolutionary time in many of our lives when we believed we could do anything. The images are dated for sure, but the Awakening experience is still inspiring! It's time to bring that feeling back! Featuring Treat Williams, John Savage and Beverly D'Angelo as well as choreography by Twyla Tharp, this movie is not only nostalgic but a beacon for the future.

URANUS IN TAURUS

URANUS ENTERS TAURUS on Tuesday, May 15 at 11:23am EDT and remains here for about seven years, until April 2026. This is a big deal for astrology lovers! When an outer planet (Uranus, Neptune and Pluto) changes signs, it's an indication of a major collective shift. Because one of Uranus' key descriptors is 'sudden change', we can also imagine some manner of cultural revolution. 
Uranus is the sky-god Ouranos in Greek creation myths, the husband and son of Earth goddess Gaia. Already this sounds like trouble! Indeed, as Hesiod describes his myth in Theogony, because Uranus disavowed the children Gaia bore him and imprisoned them in Tartarus, a place of torment in the underworld, Gaia asked her children to retaliate by castrating him. Cronos, or Saturn, was the only offspring to act and did so successfully, throwing Uranus' testicles into the sea.

The Mutilation of Uranus by Saturn: fresco by Giorgio Vasari and Cristofano Gherardi, c. 1560

The myth continues, that from the severed genitals and the sea-foam came Aphrodite, or Venus, a point to which we shall soon return. Indo-European and Greek etymology describes Uranus as the ‘rainmaker,’ while the Russian and Sanskrit derivations have him as ‘the one standing on high.’

The Birth of Aphrodite (from the froth of the sea) by George Cruikshank, 1860

Symbolically, Uranus’ archetype represents the principle of separation or breaking apart. The range of its interpretation is from its least optimum expression: disruption, upset, eccentricity, violent revolution and the shock of a lightening bolt - to its most optimum expression: freedom, release, liberation, independence, the unusual or unique, science and technology, higher awareness, intuition, New Age communities, and the proverbial Wake-Up Call.

Ingressing (entering) into Taurus (ruled by Venus) after residing in Aries (ruled by Mars) for seven years, suggests a significant qualitative transition. While Uranus in Fiery Aries can reflect a radical change in identity and willfulness, in Earthy Taurus it is likely to mirror a shift in 'what we value', what affords us security; it can also be more focused on the material world, what we physically build (Taurus is the Master Builder) and the personal resources it takes to accomplish these things. The combination of Uranus and Mars offers up images of explosion and war while Uranus aligned with Venus might portray something akin to a relationship break-up. Though, as the previously referred to etymology suggests, Venus’ mythological existence is directly linked to Uranus. I like the idea that archetypal Venusian Beauty/Love is the result of the ‘demise’ of Uranian separation…or freedom?

Since Taurus is considered the Money sign (Venus = what we value) we can also imagine a change (disruption) in financial conditions for the greater collective. The quick and high vibration of Uranus (the collective resonance of Mercury) also rules electronics and the digital arena (wide and fast distribution of information). There's been so much attention on bitcoins and other electronic currencies - and with Uranus in Taurus it would appear likely that the conversation will continue to grow in this direction. With the direct use of electronic currencies disregarding intermediary banks,  this is indeed a revolutionary idea whose time may come - big time - with this planetary shift. 

Some variations in the combined themes of Uranus and Taurus might give us: lightening striking buildings, innovative construction, shocking or liberating relationships, disruption in finances, a radical change in our values or an explosion on earth (as in the recent Mt. Kilauea volcanic eruption in Hawaii). Of course, it's all about perspective - a seemingly negative shocking disruption can, in the end, be just the wake-up call we needed to put us back on the right track.

I'm reminded of that great scene from the Mike Nichols film Charlie Wilson's War when Philip Seymour Hoffman's character tells Tom Hank's congressman Charlie Wilson  about the Zen master's "We'll See..." story. (The great Aaron Sorkin's dialogue, of course!) You just never know how it's going to go. But the enduring symbolic language of astrology most often gives us a good heads up! As always, more to come on the subject.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2L1-TgfKb4

MARCH 24-26: CHALLENGING CANCER MOON

MOON ENTERS CANCER at 4:53am EDT on Saturday, March 24 and remains here until Monday, March 26 at 2:58am. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Square Uranus in Aries. We should be used to this Cancer Moon configuration by now! Ruled by the Moon (the Moon is in its own sign), the Feminine Archetype is highlighted. Home, Family, Nourishment and Protective Containers are the likely themes with which we'll be engaging. The Mother Archetype is center stage. Cancer also rules the past, so Uranus may reflect family traditions being shaken up. Personal relationships may be upsetting and will often involve the Uranian theme of independence and new ways of behaving. Cancer tends to see circumstances subjectively. This is a Cardinal Water sign, so it wants to act and is motivated to do so through the emotions. Try to step back and get some objectivity before you act. Perhaps, instead of feeling alienated or separated from a relationship, you might frame your perspective more positively such as liberating yourself from a toxic situation. In general, though, actions initiated during this Moon period tend to have CHALLENGING resolutions.

NOTE: MARCH FOR OUR LIVES: How appropriate it is that on March 24, this Cancer Moon hosts over 800 marches globally in support of creating a Protective Container for schools around the world. The cover of Time Magazine is yet another indication that the voices of Parkland School leaders are being heard. Will Enough appropriate results be produced? The last time students took to the streets with such dramatic global demands was during the Uranus/Pluto Conjunction of 1965-66. Almost 60 years later we're at the next major angle of this Uranus/Pluto cycle: the opening square of Uranus/Pluto (now Uranus is separating - moving ahead of Pluto) which has been going on since 2008 (exact seven times during 2012 and 2015). Any major angle between outer planets resonates back to the initial conjunction of that cycle - and is a test or evolution of the issues brought to consciousness at the conjunction. In this case we would consider that the cultural revolution that was the '60's has been triggered during this opening square.  

Uranus reflects revolution, innovative science and technologies, New Age principles, breaking down before breaking through. Pluto has a compulsion, a drive to power: moving towards crisis, destruction and eventual regeneration. It is a time of slowly tearing down structures and rebuilding them. Best case scenario: Trump's attempt at assuming power, and all the insanely surreal events that have followed in his wake, are Uranus Square Pluto's collective last gasps of the patriarchy challenging its own demise. The other case scenarios involve looking at the last series of Uranus/Pluto squares (closing squares - the final square before the next conjunction) which occurred between 1932 and 1933, when the Great Depression was at its height and Hitler was consolidating power as Chancellor of Germany. We can sense the fine line we tread. We can see that this current moment is a possible turning point which could decide our collective future. May our strong intentions, voices and actions be loud and clear and have optimum resolutions for all!

ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jyjfi0XUag

CANCER SCENE: The Room, 2015; Director: Lenny Abrahamson. This independent film is a tale of mother and son, their imprisonment, their mutual sustenance and their eventual liberation (Uranus). Based on a novel by Irish author, Emma Donoghue (which is based on true events) we witness a story of a mother's remarkable endurance while kept inside a small shed with her young son Jack (Jacob Tremblay). While her primary goal is to protect her son, who is a result of her being repeatedly raped by her captor (Moon Square Uranus), she finally realizes in order to do that, she must risk finding a way for him to escape. In this scene Ma (Brie Larson) trains Jack to wiggle out of a rolled-up carpet that their kidnapper regularly takes out of the shed. It is with heartbreaking emotional strength that Ma relentlessly forces Jack to practice the get-away over and over, much to his resistance. The film garnered many awards including the Academy Award for Best Actress for Larson. The film was also nominated for Best Picture, Director and Screenplay and included in AFI's Top Ten Films of 2015.

URANUS TRINE SATURN TRANSIT

The Mutilation of Uranus by Saturn, fresco by Giorgio Vasari and Cristofano Gherardi, c. 1560 (on the ceiling of the room of the Elements, Sala di Cosimo I, Palazzo Vecchio)

TRANSIT OF URANUS TRINE SATURN: November 5-12
Hesiod's Theogony tells us that the Sky God Ouranos, Uranus, mated with Gaia, the Earth, producing children: the Cyclopes, the Hekatonkheires and the Titans. Uranus hated his children because, as the story goes, their physical appearance was not pleasing to him. He hid them away chained within the depths of Gaia. This pained Gaia enormously, so she asked her children to kill their father. Only the youngest Titan, Kronus (Saturn), wanting to prove his courage and love for his mother, responded.  With the scythe fashioned by Gaia, Saturn castrated his father, then cut him into pieces and threw them into the sea. Out of the sea foam emerged Aphrodite (Venus), Goddess of Beauty and Love.

A family narrative not unfamiliar in so many other Oedipal-like versions! I tell this myth as preface to the description of the current Uranus Trine to Saturn. Brief though the exact 120º angle may be, it suggests a harmony between the two inherently conflicting planetary archetypes.

THE SATURN ARCHETYPE: Saturn reflects the principle of Form and Structure; Structures limit Space. We tend to experience encounters with Saturn as limiting. However the other end of Saturn's spectrum of expression is the treasured ability for Manifestation, the ability to bring to Form - often the ultimate goal of life on the material plane. Saturn also rules Time and is a symbol for Old Age and Death. It suggests hardening or the crystallization of the body's structures, so it refers to bones and teeth. Saturn moves slowly and is said to 'delay, but not deny.' It is associated with the past and traditional, set-in-their-ways, concepts. Saturn rules Capricorn.

THE URANUS ARCHETYPE: Uranus reflects the principle of Separation. Signifying the drive to Break Things Apart, it rules Revolution and Freedom; the Innovative, Unique and Unusual. It is associated with a fast vibration and rules Electricity and the Electronic arena - and more broadly, Science and Technology. Its effects are often Surprising and even Shocking, like Lightening. It is Future oriented and rules Aquarius. Cultural Historian Richard Tarnas relates this archetype to revolutionary Prometheus who defied Zeus to bring Fire to humans. 

We begin to see the opposing characteristics between the Saturn and Uranus principles.

THE CHIRON ARCHETYPE: Interestingly, the large asteroid Chiron orbits the Sun between Saturn and Uranus. Barbara Hand Clow, author of Chiron: Rainbow Bridge Between Inner and Outer Planets, suggests that Chiron, whose archetype is called The Wounded Healer, negotiates the two principles - a kind of reconciliation between the opposites, building connections between past traditions and future innovation. Mythological Chiron was a teacher of medicine and the alternative healing arts of homeopathy and chiropractry as well as a mentor in ethics, music and martial arts. Those with a prominent natal Chiron are often mavericks, grounding new ideas in traditional form. Activating and honoring Chiron can result in 'teaching from the place where we have been wounded.'

EXCELLENT RESOLUTION: The current Trine between Uranus at 25º Aries and Saturn at 25º Sagittarius suggests that the Bridge is accessible: the opportunity for success in initiating innovative or even revolutionary ideas and having them grounded in enduring time. As the 30th Hexagram of the I Ching teaches, the passion and upward movement of these Fire signs requires the stabilizing quality of Earth for any lasting influence. Take advantage of this celestial metaphor. Find where your enthusiasm flourishes; use your imagination and skill for practical craftmanship to manifest your vision...What have you learned from your past initiations? Teach from where you have been wounded.

William Blake's Ancient of Days

"I must Create a System, or be enslav'd by another Man's. I will not Reason & Compare; my business is to Create." (Spoken by Los in Blake's Jerusalem The Emanation of the Giant Albion.)

...And out of the sea foam emerged Aphrodite (Venus), Goddess of Beauty and Love.

Bottecelli's Birth of Venus, Effizi, Florence

DAILY ASTROLOGY IN FILM: MAY 7-8

MOON enters GEMINI Saturday May 7 at 12:34pm EDT after being VOID of COURSE all Morning. Ruled by Mercury and with wings on his feet Gemini loves to travel. Remembering Mercury is retrograde, if you do decide to get in the car and take a physical journey this weekend double check all likely barriers to getting there - especially schedules! The mind is also very active; ideas and realizations abound and, as ruler of communication, Gemini loves to share his thoughts.  Journaling to keep track of these myriad ideas is always a useful idea.

LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon sextile Uranus at 0:15am on Monday, May 9th. With aspects to Uranus - the higher vibration of Mercury - mental synapses are firing on all cylinders. You may experience fast moving stream of conscious thoughts racing through you. Try to grab on and retain them, as opportunities may be available through these new ideas. Expanded states of consciousness may be experienced. Uranus rules the electronic arena so brainstorming (great concept for Gemini/Uranus!) on computers and mobile devices are highly successful. Though many mental connections may be made now Uranus may also reflect some surprising disruptions and changes so keep moving to get through them. These kinds of actions initiated during this time are likely to have a GOOD end result!
  
SCENE FOR THE DAY: Adaptation, 2002; Director: Spike Jonze; Screenwriter: Charlie Kaufman. Meryl Streep plays Susan Orlean, a New Yorker journalist who becomes fascinated by eccentric (Uranus) botanical connoisseur John Laroche ingeniously played by Chris Cooper (wins Oscar for Best Actor). His passion for orchids makes her realize she longs to care about something as deeply as he does. In this scene she has a profound realization about her concept of 'change' (Uranus). She hopes that finding the elusive Ghost Orchid will facilitate her transformation; it does, but in an unexpected turn of events (Uranus). The multi-faceted Nicholas Cage plays both roles of the Gemini twins, Charlie and Donald Kaufman. The film, itself an adaptation of real-life Orlean 's The Orchid Thief, takes the already unusually structured (Uranus) non-linear novel to a whole other self-conscious level of deconstruction. Both are brilliant! (Uranus!)

FEBRUARY 13-15: EXCELLENT AQUARIUS NEW MOON SOLAR ECLIPSE

MOON ENTERS AQUARIUS at 10:11am EST on Tuesday, February 13 after a VOID OF COURSE early morning and remains in Aquarius until 4:05pm on Thursday, February 15. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Conjunct Sun in Aquarius. This Last Aspect creates the NEW MOON SOLAR ECLIPSE and is EXACT at 4:05pm at 27º Aquarius. This is an EXCITING New Moon! A time for beginning New Chapters in areas of our lives that move us away from our old conventional ways of doing things. Be inspired and re-awakened to what's possible to create! The recent Full Moon Lunar Eclipse offered the opportunity to clear the decks of what no longer works for us. Now we have some empty psychic space available for new awareness to enter. Muse on what really excites you and Follow Your Bliss. Ruled by Uranus, Aquarius carries the archetype of sudden change - to the degree of revolution. If the previous Capricorn post referred to challenges through old patterns and structures, this moment in time begs for the transformation of these antiquated ways. This is an opportunity for major changes in your life as well as for the collective. Uranus signifies the Future, Saturn the past. If you are engaged in alternative ways of being in the world, any innovative communities or forms of political activism, take advantage of this heightened time. You have an abundance of celestial support for your endeavors. The world is waiting for you to step up. It needs you act on what only you can offer. It needs you to be uniquely you. Be a revolutionary in your own life and Begin it NOW!

AQUARIUS SOLAR ECLIPSE SCENE FOR THE DAY: Disobedience, 2017; Director: Sebastián Lelio (Gloria, A Fantastic Woman). The title speaks volumes about the radical potential of Uranus/Aquarius. Two women, Rachel Weisz as Ronit and Rachel McAdams as Esti, follow their revolutionary bliss to rediscover their love for each other - which of course, as convention would have it, is forbidden. The tradition to which I refer is Orthodox Judiasm - where convention, rules and regs predominate. Ronit's father was a rabbi from whom she liberated herself by moving away to New York - while Esti grabbed hold of the Saturnian Jewish structure with all her might. She married the next holy man in line after the rabbi and buried her heart along with her passion. When Ronit returns to London for her father's funeral, old attractions return to the surface. These women want their Freedom and buck a three thousand year old religion - etched in Saturnian stone tablets - to attempt to get it. This feels particularly significant given the description of the previous post on Capricorn, ruled by Saturn. This Aquarius New Moon Solar Eclipse is a breaking away from old beliefs, behaviors and boundaries. Mark this moment and be inspired by these women to find your own revolution.

ECLIPSE NOTES: The Solar Eclipse exists at the New Moon, when the Moon Conjuncts the Sun and, in its orbit around Earth, is positioned exactly between the Earth and Sun blocking the Solar radiance, completely or partially. It is a time for New Beginnings. The Lunar Eclipse occurs at the Full Moon when the Moon is Opposite the Sun in a particular alignment when the shadow of the Earth is projected on the Moon. 

NASA image of Moon Crossing Sun

Of the five Eclipses in 2018, three are Partial Solar Eclipses (Feb.15, July 13, August 11) and two are Total Lunar Eclipses (January 31 and July 27). The Aquarius/Leo axis will be a recurring theme for all but one of these Eclipses. The Aquarius/Leo axis relates back to the dramatic Solar Eclipse in August 2017 - The Great American Eclipse, which many astrologers interpreted as a strong symbol for the significant shift that is occurring in the United States. This axis is ruled by Uranus (Aquarius) and The Sun (Leo). 
The Full Moon Lunar Eclipses (Sun Opposite Moon) beg a resolution of the tension between opposites. The Conjunction of Sun and Moon (New Moon Solar Eclipse) suggests a description of this resolution (the alchemical Marriage of Opposites) and the way to Begin Again. In the Conjunction, the two Archetypes stand together as equals, blending their qualities so both contribute and both are honored.
We could describe the Aquarian New Moon Eclipse as honoring the Sun and the Moon (Masculine and Feminine Archetypes) equally in an egalitarian, humanitarian, community oriented (think small and local) and participatory (within itself and with other communities) manner. The Free Press is fundamental - Aquarius rules the distribution of information freely and with integrity. And of course, Aquarius demands Freedom for All and an Independent spirit.

ECLIPSE TRUMPED: Let's get political. So interesting: Trump's birth chart has the Sun Conjunct Uranus (in Gemini) Opposite The Moon (in Sagittarius). He was born during a Full Moon Lunar Eclipse (The Feminine Moon blocked by the Shadow of Earth). This would indicate to psychological astrologers that not only does Trump's psyche carry the current challenging dynamic but may actually also carry a possible resolution. This is as hard for me to write as it most likely is for you to read - impossible to imagine. But let's muse on the idea. 

Someone with Sun Conjunct Uranus radically shakes things up. The Sun Opposite Moon suggests the Masculine Archetype opposed the Feminine. The opposition reflects the polarization we are witnessing. Uranus suggests a Breakthrough...perhaps the Breakdown Before Breakthrough. It also rules the digital electronic arena which seems to be the medium for governing now. Uranus concerns personal and collective Freedom and Independence. It suggests we may endure shocks of rude Awakenings as well as sudden insights of higher consciousness - all which serve to liberate and release us from that which no longer serves us. Intuition is strong for Uranus and our challenge is to trust what it brings and discern what is valuable, True and Morally honorable from what is...just Not.   
The Sun Archetype (Leo) is about the Center: The center of our Solar System, The Ego, One's Sense of Self, The Child, Play, The Creative, Light, Consciousness and Individuation (the journey to one's whole Self). The dynamic between Uranus (Aquarius) and The Sun is to negotiate between honoring the Self (it's needs, health, desires, security, resources etc) and participating responsibly with the Collective (Aquarius): To be one's unique self within one's Community.

Trump's ideas and actions are Shaking us to our core! They are polarizing us. Women are rising up, gathering courage and voice to speak Truth to Power. Government structure appears to be breaking down. Besides the Sun Conjunct Uranus in Trumps chart, there is also his most dramatic Ascendant at 28º 59 Leo - the Fixed Star Regulus, the most illustrious symbol in the zodiac - nearly the exact degree of The Great American Eclipse. His personal psyche and behavior reflect the collective zeitgeist. The Solar Eclipse occurs a degree away from his Descendant, one of the four major angles of a chart, triggering relationships. It's likely that his 'leadership' will result in a major response/reaction that will catapult us onto a new course. May we have the 'aha' moments of enlightened thought that release us from the polarization and inequality many of us feel. May our response be one that serves us All.
 

So on Thursday, Feb. 15 the Moon in Aquarius will partially eclipse the Sun in Aquarius. The Feminine Archetype of The Mother: Receptivity, Nurturing, Home, Family, Women, Food, Container, The Dark of the Womb, The Night Sky and The Soul - all symbolized by The Moon - eclipses the Masculine Solar Archetype. In ideal circumstances we notice that the Light of Day dims, if not disappears, and we can sometimes see stars and planets during a Solar Eclipse. I love the idea that, while the life-giving Sun radiates and symbolizes ideas and feelings brought to consciousness, it simultaneously obliterates the Light Bodies visible in the Night Sky. It is only when the Sun sets that we are able to witness the contrast between light and dark and experience the Beauty and Mystery that these Light Bodies (planets, asteroids, fixed stars or constellations...) offer. Blessed Be the Night Sky. May we make her proud.

JULY 7-10: CHALLENGING FULL CAPRICORN MOON

MOON ENTERS CAPRICORN at 1:45pm EDT on Friday, July 7 and remains here until Sunday, July 9 at 10:12pm. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Square Uranus in Aries. The  Ruled by Saturn, this Cardinal Earth sign reflects a drive to produce results. The ambitious mountain goat tends to take things very seriously, acting slowly, practically and responsibly to get to the top. Saturn's archetype symbolizes structure and form. Structure limits space, so we often feel Capricorn/Saturn influences as restriction. With the square to Uranus, there is tension between constraint and freedom at this time. Our result is likely to be radically different from what we expected. We might draw wisdom from the 30th Hexagram of the classic Wilhelm/Baynes translation of the I Ching in this area. "Human life is conditioned and unfree, and when we recognize this limitation and make ourselves dependent upon the harmonious and beneficent forces in the cosmos, we achieve success...By cultivating in ourselves the attitude of compliance and voluntary dependence, we acquire clarity without sharpness and find our place in the world." Paradox plays a fundamental part in human existence. Perhaps we can only experience a kind of freedom when we recognize our basic limitations. Perhaps it's all, once again, a matter of perspective. This I Ching reading might give us a deeper insight into Saturn's archetype, the astrological principal of Reality: the importance and even benefits of structure, and perhaps even Fate, as constraint. Otherwise, in general, actions initiated during this period will tend to have CHALLENGING resolutions.

FULL MOON: The Capricorn Moon Opposite Sun in Cancer is exact at 0:07am on Sunday, July 9 at 9 degrees Capricorn. This is the classic Masculine archetype opposite the Feminine Archetype as a double whammy - given than the Feminine Moon is in a sign reflecting the Masculine archetype and the Masculine Sun is in the sign reflecting the Feminine archetype. Capricorn (which rules the natural 10th House of the authority parent as well as how we present our own authority to the world) Opposite Cancer (which rules the natural 4th House of nurturing parent, home and family) is the classic Mother opposite Father or Home opposite Career dynamic. It is the quintessential reflection of the alchemical marriage of masculine and feminine, conjunctio. And that is one of the challenges of this Full Moon: finding the way to honor both ends of the polarity. Be creative!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTseWiI_yns

SCENE FOR THE DAY: Jane Eyre, 2011; Director: Cary Fukunaga. Here we have a film which can be seen to represent both the Moon Square Uranus period as well as the Full Moon Opposition of Cancer/Capricorn. Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender reflect our Feminine and Masculine archetypes in this scenario. Jane is passionately acknowledging her history of bondage (limiting Saturn) as opposed to her relative freedom (Uranus) while living at Thornfield Hall with Mr. Rochester. They also demonstrate, in the end, the reconciliation of opposites.
We might liken the above I Ching analogy for Moon Square Uranus to the actor who, only after memorizing his/her given dialogue, can be liberated in its expression and effect on another actor. Only then does she breath life into the words and make them her own. The structure of Saturn gives way to the freedom of Uranus. We then realize that the large asteroid Chiron orbits between these two planets and is considered by many astrologers (e.g. Barbara Hand Clow) to be the bridge between past traditional structures and the breakthroughs of future-oriented Uranus innovation - technological and otherwise. Chiron symbolizes our original place of wounding as well as the potential to teach others from what we have learned about that vulnerable place. Again, the marrying of oppositional forces, such as Saturn and Uranus, is crucial in moving towards wholeness.

FEBRUARY 15-17: EXCELLENT PISCES MOON

MOON REMAINS IN AQUARIUS until 4:05pm EST at which time the ECLIPSE IS EXACT. SEE FEB. 13 FOR AQUARIUS NEW MOON SOLAR ECLIPSE INFO. This Partial Eclipse will only be visible in Antarctica, the Atlantic Ocean and Southern South America. At 4:05pm the Moon goes VOID OF COURSE until 9:42pm. At this time the MOON ENTERS PISCES and remains here until Saturday, February 17 at 5:13pm when it goes VOID OF COURSE for the rest of the night. LAST ASPECT OF PISCES MOON: Moon Trine Jupiter in Scorpio. This is a rich and poignant Neptune-ruled Moon period when we should have the emotional depth to mine our true feelings and express them with great benefits. If you are a creative person, take advantage of this time to initiate some work of art that is important to you. It is likely to also be meaningful and healing to others. If you can be engaged in art, music or meditation now it should take you on a profound journey which will bring great rewards. These days may offer the experience of feeling united with others in a way you haven't know in a long time. Neptune reflects Compassion
and between the intensity of this last Eclipse period and the next challenging Aries Moon, it is a welcome interlude. The Divine may show herself to you. You might find her by the Sea or a nearby smaller body of water - even the bath. Listen to her poetry. Listen to her music. Soak Her In.

ECLIPSE NOTES: To add a clarification to yesterday's post...As we approach any Eclipse, energy intensifies. While the Moon may overcome the Solar energy in valuable metaphorical ways - as I mentioned in that post - it also blocks the positive, Light and Life-giving associations that the Sun's Archetype offers. Even though I gave an Excellent evaluation for actions initiated during this Eclipse period, I don't think I acknowledged as much as I should have (and as I've stated before for previous Eclipses) that the heightened energy often reflects intense circumstances in the inner life and outer world. The Florida school assault yesterday was only miles away from where I am at the moment and, true to Uranus-ruled Aquarius symbolism, is shocking and yet another Wake Up Call. 

Hopefully, what I wrote in the previous post: that the resolution to these recurring shocking events all over the world may be found in the Wake Up Calls themselves, is true. That the source of this volcanically expressed deep rage, both individually and collectively, resides in personal childhood wounding (Chiron's placement in the chart) - and perhaps the collective US Chiron at 20º Aries in the 4th House (Sibly chart). As I stated previously, The current recurring Eclipses fall along the Aquarius/Leo axis, ruled by Uranus and the Sun respectively. So the Uranus/Sun aspects, particularly the Opposition and the Conjunction may offer suggestions on the existing tension (Opposition) and resolution (Conjunction). 

If the collective imagination is shifting into the Uranus-ruled Aquarian Age (from the Neptune -ruled Piscean Age: within the Archetypal theme of Unity - ranging from Divinity to Boundary Issues and all-out Illusion/Deception/Confusion), this Aquarian/Leo Eclipse period may be alerting us to pay attention to its fundamental themes: Independence, Separation, Equality, Community, Change, Revolution, Individuation and Distribution of Information or the Free Press, particularly of the electronic variety. Again, the challenge is to discover how to be a unique individual within the collective community.

Another phenomenon becomes pertinent: As stated in the recent Capricorn Moon post, between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus moves the large asteroid Chiron which carries the Wounded Healer archetype. Astrologer Barbara Hand Clow refers to Chiron's archetype as the Rainbow Bridge between the old (Saturn) and the new (Uranus): that we need to cross the bridge to arrive at a new awareness of Aquarius/Uranus. Perhaps, when we acknowledge and begin to heal our original childhood wounding we can begin to imagine the release of our old patterns which compensate for a lifetime of suppressed pain. And only then can we begin to imagine a new, more conscious and compassionate way to resolve conflicts and be in the world. Uranus is considered the higher octave of Mercury; Mercury is Communication. Over and over we witness how powerful the courage to communicate to those who have wounded us can be. But the other side of Communicating is Listening, Respectful Listening. We need to be Still and Open in order to do that. To Still ourselves in a hyperactive world is the trick. Neptune would be our teacher for that. 
The final piece of this interesting puzzle is that the US Chiron (collective/cultural place of wounding) resides at 20º Aries in the Fourth House of Home and Family (Sibley chart). The Sabian Symbol (Dane Rudyar) for this point (read 21º Aries) reads: "A Pugilist (Boxer) Enters the Ring: The release and glorification of social aggression. Here we find potency glorified as muscular strength and will-to-power. Because it is potency operating at a harshly competitive level, it can and often does imply the possibility of defeat or disfiguration. In one sense the symbol translates into social terms the primordial struggle for survival of the fittest, adding to it an eagerness for social fame and social power (e.e. money). In another sense, the ring with two fighters in it can be referred to the Tai Chi symbol and the interplay between Yang and Yin. Each of the two types of energy wins in turn. Victory is always temporary in a dualistic world." Revealing? I think so. (I have to tell you that the preceding Sabian Symbol of 20º Aries is: "A Young Girl Feeding Birds in Winter". The following Symbol at 22º Aries is: "The Gate to the Garden of All Fulfilled Desires". But there we are at 21º!)  

Uranus was going back and forth over this 20º Aries point during the 2016 presidential campaigns, the election and made its final pass soon after the January 2017 Inauguration. Pluto is squaring this point right now. The universe is calling us out: Heal your cultural original wounding. Rise to the occasion and address your aggression towards Native Americans and African Americans. And your aggression against Women. I believe that the US soul will not be healed until we have Native American and African American Women in major leadership roles. OMG! I just looked up and it's 4:05pm EST as I write this. The Eclipse is Exact!
Dare I mention that the US Moon is exactly at the Solar Eclipse point of 27º Aquarius? The Moon can represent Public sentiment as well as the Soul of the chart and, of course, The Feminine. The Eclipse is activating this point and screaming for Action! This is an amazing number of elements constellating at a single point which, by the way, is an exact harmonious Sextile to the Center of the Galaxy as 27º Sagittarius. 

So, of course I had to look up the Sabian Symbol of 27º Aquarius (read 28º Aquarius): An Old Bridge Over a Beautiful Stream is Still in Constant Use. The enduring elements in a society which reveal its ability to significantly link the genius of its individuals to the everyday needs of the collectivity. The synchronicity abounds. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVtCcacNUxQ

PISCES SCENE FOR THE DAY: West Wing, Season 3, Episode 6, 2001; Writer: Aaron Sorkin; Director: Alex Graves. I'll be brief. President Barlett (Martin Sheen) extols the virtues great oratory using the bible text of Ephesians 5:21: 'Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the Church...'(the priest) "had an audience and he didn't know what to do with it." To which Abby replies, 'You're an oratory snob." The president counters with: "Words, when spoken out loud for the sake of performance, are music...Music has the ability to find us and move us and lift us up in meanings that literal meanings can't...and you can't just (bring up) Ephesians...it has nothing to do with husbands and wives, it's about all of us. St. Paul begins the passage, 'Be subject to one another out of reverence to Christ.' It's about all of us, not Christ and the Church - How do we end this cycle? Be Subject to One Another. " Music and reverence for each other... Neptune/Pisces in all its glory!

DAILY ASTROLOGY: JULY 24-26

MOON ENTERS ARIES at 3:06am EDT on Sunday July 24th until 2:18am EDT on Tuesday July 26th. IN GENERAL: The first sign of the zodiac, Aries reflects a time for new beginnings. Ruled by Mars this Moon period is best utilized by being physically active and asserting one's will in a conscious and creative manner. Courage and leadership are also indicated here so don't be afraid to show how capable you are! Be careful, though, of being so self-oriented and impulsive that you are not aware of how your strong energy might read as arrogant and insensitive to others' feelings. Find your grounding (eg. support from earth signs), get a reality check and steady your pace before you act.

LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Aries Moon Conjunct Uranus in Aries at 2:18am EDT on Tuesday July 26th. This PARTICULAR Aries Moon will tend to carry some unexpected, perhaps upsetting/perhaps enlightening circumstances along with it. There may be an unusually strong need for freedom and independence at this time. Try not to confine others or try to bend them to your will. This would likely result in a revolt followed by a full-scale revolution and the result would be CHALLENGING. The best way to use this energy is to be innovative and creative, especially using technology (Uranus). The imagination would be strong...so the BEST-CASE SCENARIO would reflect a time of an Aha Moment (Uranus). There's a lot of physical energy available to us - make sure you tap into it and use it cautiously! As I write this, the day before the Aries Moon, there's a thunderstorm (Uranus) crashing outside - the heat of Mars meeting the cool of Uranus. Just thinking about all this appears to invoke the willful expression of the gods! SCENE OF THE DAY: Contact, 1997; Director: Robert Zemeckis; Story by Ann Druyan and Carl Sagan; Based on the novel by Carl Sagan. One of my all time top 5 Aha Moments in film! Courageous and willful astronomer, Dr. Ellie Arroway (played by the amazing Jodie Foster) is determined to discover intelligent alien life. When a message from the star Vega is deciphered and blueprints result in the building of a transport system into space, she is determined to be the one to pilot the craft. This scene portrays only part of the the totally thrilling and strikingly unexpected vision and new awareness (Uranus) she experiences in her travels. If you haven't seen this film, it is a visual wake-up call (Uranus) - an example of two people (agnostic scientist Arroway and religious author Palmer Joss, played authentically by Matthew McConauhey) finding their way to a bridge between science/technology and the divine. If ever there was a film to inspire us now, it would be Contact. Indeed... 'they should send us poets!' This post is dedicated to my favorite poet, Patrice.

DAILY ASTROLOGY IN FILM: MAY 9-10

MOON enters CANCER at 1:24pm EDT on Monday May 9th after being VOID OF COURSE all morning. The Moon is the natural ruler of Cancer so it is very much at home here. The Moon carries the archetype of The Feminine: Receptive, Emotional, Protective, Nurturer, Container, The Mother, The Dark Unconscious, Intuitive, The Past, Memory, Family, Home. While the Moon is in its own sign these qualities tend to be activated. So it is often an emotionally sensitive time where the women in our lives are center stage. There will be needs that need to be addressed - and for all you readers who just can't get with the emotional expression program, please do try to address them! It will make life much easier. And you may be surprised how much talking about your feelings actually does clear the air. Cancer is a Cardinal Water sign so in spite of the reserved and private kind of atmosphere, the conversation about what's really going on beneath the cover-up politeness, denial or avoidance will be initiated by someone. And then, because all the Cancers I know are unifocused on FOOD, you can all go out and have a great meal!    

LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon square Uranus at 3:34am, Wednesday May 10. You may notice that we're having a lot of Uranus Last Aspects this month. That's because Uranus is the highest degree of most all the planets (21-23 degrees Aries). And that means a lot of great or terrible surprises, upsets, separations, revolutions or sudden enlightenment experiences or technological breakthroughs. Moon Square Uranus is no exception. This would be a time of some form of disruption to expectations held dear...emotionally dear. Expect emotional responses too. These sudden changes are likely to be in the vicinity of home and family and yes, particularly the females in our lives...like mood swings, temper tantrums, breakdowns and breakthroughs. But don't forget: there's a feminine side to every male. Actions initiated during this time will tend to have a CHALLENGING result. 

SCENE FOR THE DAY: Requiem for a Dream, 2000; Director: Darren Aronofsky. This shocking dysfunctional family drama epitomizes a broken home. (Uranus square Cancer Moon). The container of protection and nourishment is smashed into the powder everyone is ingesting by various means. The story is centered around the archetypally-extreme Mother character played unbelievably believably by actress extrordinaire Ellen Burstyn. If you don't want your children to do drugs and you are very very brave, have them watch parts of this film...well, maybe not. But you get my drift. Mother and son (Jared Leto) live in their own worlds, doing everything they can to satisfy their own fantasies barely surviving the ordeal known as daily life. Aronofsky is a mold-breaking director with films like Pi, The Fountain, The Wrestler and The Black Swan in his filmography. I swear I didn't know this but I just checked his natal chart and his Sun is in Uranus-ruled Aquarias and he has Moon square Uranus. This actually isn't an uncommon phenomenon. We do live out our charts in one way or another.  Making a film about a broken home is much better than having to live it.

OCTOBER 27-29: EXCELLENT AQUARIUS MOON

The Water Bearer Dispensing Words of Wisdom

MOON ENTERS AQUARIUS at 8:59am EDT on Friday, October 27 and remains here until 12:22pm on Sunday, October 29. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Sextile Uranus in Aries. Projects beginning during this Moon period are likely to produce exciting and innovative changes which offer great opportunities! Maintaining our unique individuality while engaging with community is the key to success now. Aquarius tends to have a more objective and even detached quality, so try not to take things too personally. The digital/electronic world is ruled by Uranus, so distribution of information via computers is advantageous. Aquarius represents the brother/sisterhoods of a culture - the equality of each member of the group being considered the highest value. While this attitude is believed to be fundamental in our country we all know that our behavior doesn't reflect our ideal vision. Aquarius was traditionally ruled by Saturn until Uranus was discovered in 1781). Given that Uranus and Saturn are very different archetypes, almost diametrically opposed - Saturn symbolizes limitations and tradition while Uranus suggests freedom and innovation - someone can be a more Saturnian or more Uranian Aquarian. Do a little research for yourself with your friends! We're most likely more familiar with the New Age brotherly-love, freedom and innovation-loving type of Aquarian. The more Saturnian Aquarians brings a reality check to these values, using their sharp minds to the exchange of ideas about social and political change. In general, actions initiated during this Moon period involving any of these themes are likely to have EXCELLENT results.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUQJKMngrYo

AQUARIAN SCENE OF THE DAY: The Newsroom: Season 1, Episode 1, 2012; Director: Greg Mattola; Writer: Aaron Sorkin. Here we have a brilliant play on Saturn vs. Uranus Aquarians. In this opening episode, Producer MacKenzie McHale (Emily Mortimer) and News Anchor Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels) have their first in a series of 'perspective battles'. Both have brilliant Aquarian minds and intent on sharing their wisdom with the world. Let's say Mac is the Uranus-oriented Aquarian who trusts the American population/viewers to know the truth when they hear it with the result of everyone coming together and changing the world. Will vents the skeptical Saturn-based reality-check Aquarian who challenges her idealistic assumptions. Deep down they love each other but remain detached enough to get the job done. And an exciting sharp-witted job it is. Ultimately...and we have to wait till Season 3...we have our Excellent results - well, there are excellent results of all different kinds in each episode. Available on HBO - or more scenes on Youtube. 

NOVEMBER 10-12: WHAT DO WE DO NOW?

MOON IS VOID OF COURSE from 6:16pm EST until 8:45pm tonight, Thursday, Nov. 10 after being in Pisces all day. This energy is best utilized by inner creative work. Important practical actions initiated at this Void of Course time tend not to produce the desired results.  
MOON ENTERS ARIES at 8:45pm and remains until Saturday November 12 at 7:45am EST. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Conjunct Uranus in Aries. From my perspective Uranus has been the significating planet of this election. So, it's interesting that even days after this historical event, this planet continues to reflect our circumstances and attitudes. Uranus carries the archetype of Separation, Revolution, Surprises, Upsets, Renogades, Breakthroughs, Breakdowns, Liberation, Wake-Up Calls and Spiritual Awakenings. In the sign of Aries, ruled by Mars, where Uranus resides for seven years, it calls the Warriors of Higher Consciousness or innovative Scientific and Technological Wizards to the playing field. If these players don't show up, conflict, anger or aggressive armies fill our electronic screens and real daily life with death-threatening war games. It's our choice which part of the Uranus continuum we bring to the party. 
The Election Day Chart was colored by an Aquarius Moon, ruled by Uranus. Both candidates demanded revolution of the system - Trump with his outsider renegade persona and platform, and Hillary's run at being the First Woman US President. But Trump's highly placed Uranus in his 10th house conjunct his Sun and North Node was a stronger placement, suggesting a win. There were many other astrological indicators of his victory, especially his 29Leo Ascendant, the most majestic point (Fixed Star Regulus) of all the constellations, even though Hillary was considered the front runner. Also, this point is only 2 degrees away from the Ascendant of the Election Day Chart and 3 degrees away from the Ascendant of the progressed US chart (Sibley). The Ascendant reflects the lens through which we see the world and the way the world sees us - our persona. The Midheaven's are 24Taurus for Trump and Election Day and 29Taurus on the progressed US chart. This is an indication that Trump's chart angles (the foundation of any Western horoscope) and his personal rhythm/timing are in sync with the symbols reflected for the day of the election as well as with the progression of the US character - who we have become over time as a collective. (For my students who want to delve deeper into these charts I'll be posting more soon!) 
Trump's win was unexpected, an upset. These days that follow continue to resonate in Uranian after-shock for at least half the country. So, for this Aries Moon period, if your intention is to uphold the status-quo or convention, actions initiated during this time will tend to have CHALLENGING results. If you want to produce a breakthrough, wake-up call or a separation of some kind, actions initiated at this time will tend to have GOOD results. In any case, be prepared for a good fight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myEpap3TxVs

SCENE FOR THE DAY: The Candidate, 1972; Director: Michael Richie. Robert Redford stars as Bill McKay, idealistic lawyer and son of an ex-governor, who is convinced by the Democratic party to run for the Senate. While not expected to win, he's swept along by the political machine to an upset victory. The film was revolutionary in its realistic style of recreating the campaign trail. This is the closing scene of the film where McKay asks the inevitable naive puppet's question: What do we do now? Many of us today are asking ourselves this same question.

APRIL 9-11: VERY GOOD AQUARIUS MOON

William Blake's The Ancient of Days from Europe: A Prophecy, 1794

MOON ENTERS AQUARIUS at 2:50am EDT on Monday, April 9 and remains here until 10:55am on Wednesday, April 11. LAST ASPECT OF MOON: Moon Sextile Uranus in Aries. Ruled naturally by Uranus, this Fixed Air Moon should be Electric and the intelligent imagination it reflects is likely to soar! The Aquarius principle concerns higher consciousness and the separate individual within the community and its range is from the unusual and innovative, to upsetting changes of circumstance and revolution. Uranus is most always full of surprises, so expect the unexpected now, especially because of Mercury's continued Retrograde. Changes in plans are likely, but with the positive Sextile 60º angle, they're most probably for the best. We may experience people being more objective and detached but don't let that hurt you. Use the Mercury Retrograde opportunity to re-consider and re-do anything previously begun but either wasn't completed or just didn't work out. Scientific and technological/electronic/computer projects are highlighted. Aquarius also rules the circulatory system and reflects all kinds of distribution - especially of information. In general, actions initiated during this Moon period will tend to have VERY GOOD resolutions - as long as you respect the Mercury Retrograde caution. Check and double check your information; postpone, if possible, major contracts, agreements or purchases until the 18th when the Retrograde is clear. Revolution is in the air. Choose your transformation well!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SERgxZeoIjU

AQUARIUS SCENE: Snowden, 2016; Director: Oliver Stone. Stone's drive to enlighten the Moon-ruled public of counter-status-quo information via film (Nixon, JFK, Born on the 4th of July as well as his many politically radical documentaries) is reflective of his astrological blueprint. [His Sun/Mercury (Virgo) and Neptune (Libra) all reside in his 11th House which is Aquarius' natural house. Neptune rules cinema which, of course, would suggest his medium of choice - though it could also have been music or poetry.] With his Scorpio Ascendant, he's a storyteller that goes deep into hidden truths that keepers-of-mainstream-illusions prefer not be publicized. The amazing Mr. Snowden finds himself privy to inner workings of the National Security Agency which are appalling to his highly-tuned sense of justice and freedom. After much reflection, he makes the radical and life-altering decision to distribute the information via trusted journalists over both print and electronic media. We can see that Stone's life-purpose is very similar to Snowden's. Interestingly, both Stone and Snowden's North Nodes (direction toward which life takes us) are both in Gemini. They both fulfill their destinies as communicators. Ruled by Uranus, Aquarius is the collective or higher resonance of Mercury, the ruler of Gemini. While Stone has Uranus square Mercury/Sun, Snowden has Uranus opposite his natal Mercury. Both are high-wire acts with regards to communication, driven to tell the risky stories. Snowden is likely to be tested on his whistleblowing choice come January 2020 when the highly anticipated Saturn conjunction to Pluto in Capricorn makes a challenging squares to his own Saturn/Pluto conjunction in Libra in his 5th house. This clip is not only revelatory but visually exciting, as it graphically demonstrates just how extensively the electronic system of information-distribution is being made available to government watchers. Privacy is an illusion.