This summer's planetary line-ups

Here's another great question I received this past week:

So much of what you outlined in this new week's post to my inbox (see the NorthPoint Journal for May 3 to 9, 2010) is "happening in front of my eyes"; so, I'd like to ask you: What can we -- all of us -- "hope" to expect come this late Spring and Summer? Many of the "omens" I've read in other astrologers' columns are dire, to say the least, and while I'm not beyond girding my loins, I'd appreciate your perspective of possible outcomes; and, more importantly, as I see it, how we -- all of us -- may most humbly and humanely meet these challenges.

The planetary line-ups this summer are powerful, that is for sure. But as always, I find the greater purpose of astrology not to instill fear -- or, necessarily, to make exact predictions -- but rather, to offer higher perspectives and meanings to our human experience.

Planetary alignments

First, the astrological facts: Uranus will be entering Aries on May 27, Jupiter follows suit on June 5, and then the two planets align on June 8. Energetically, this is the first step toward the "main event" that will occur with the Lunar Eclipse on June 26, when the Moon aligns exactly with Pluto and the Sun and Mercury are placed in the fourth corner of a Grand Cross involving Pluto/Moon in Capricorn, Uranus in Aries, and Saturn in the last degree of Virgo (to be entering Libra on July 21).

The energy that is set up with this Lunar Eclipse will be in effect for several weeks, most likely finding another outlet of manifestation at the end of July and beginning of August. This is when:

• Uranus and Saturn have their fifth and last opposition, but the first in Aries/Libra (July 26)
• Mars opposes Uranus (July 30), conjoins Saturn (July 31), squares Pluto and opposes Jupiter (August 3)
• Jupiter squares Pluto (August 3)

If that sounds a bit overwhelming to you, you're not alone! And there are lots of predictions out there as to how this will manifest, some of them "dire," as the questioner described.

The pieces of the puzzle

It is helpful, when observing incoming astrological energies such as these, to take apart the individual pieces of the puzzle so as not to be overwhelmed -- in other words, to look at the separate intentions of each planet and sign that is involved, then to put them together to get the larger picture. We can also look back at other stages in the cycle that is being represented -- in this case, the dynamic cycle involving Saturn, Uranus and Pluto. In the question of what to expect this summer, we can review the mid-1960s, when Uranus was conjunct Pluto in Virgo, and both were opposing Saturn in Pisces.

By all accounts, the mid-'60s were tumultuous -- the United States was embroiled in the Vietnam war and there was great social unrest as record numbers protested that involvement. At the same time, the civil rights movement was fully engaged, issues such as abortion and personal freedoms were headlines, and "The Establishment" was a four-letter word. The Cold War was in full swing, and people were building bomb shelters in their back yards. The innocence of the 1950s' "Leave It to Beaver" days seemed in the distant past.

Of the three planets involved then and now, Saturn usually acts as the manifester in such planetary confrontations, while Pluto breaks down the old and Uranus brings about rebellion and independent thinking. With Saturn in Pisces in the mid-'60s, new ideals were trying to manifest -- but in order to get there, old methods had to be torn down and people had to rebel against the existing restrictions and controls (Pluto and Uranus in Virgo).

Where we are today

In our current situation, with Pluto in Capricorn, we are seeing the dismantling of existing social structures and goals that are not in alignment with humanity's highest integrity. Financial and religious institutions, other businesses, and many governmental systems have already fallen or or failing, ultimately to make way for a rebuilding.

At the same time, Uranus in Pisces has been refining our consciousness, bringing about rebellion motivated by compassion and higher (spiritual) concepts. The green movement, the efforts to support peoples and locations devastated by earthquakes, and other similar causes have come about as reactions to existing apathy or inertia. And, with Saturn in Virgo for the past two years, we've been working to manifest new organizations and new techniques to deal with issues such as health care and employment.

A turning point

Pluto will continue his journey through Capricorn until 2023, and throughout that time will keep tearing down structures that are without integrity and must be rebuilt. The focus on summer 2010 as a turning point in this process is because Uranus moves into Aries and Saturn enters Libra, changing their roles a bit and setting up a cardinal T-square with Pluto.

Beginning this summer and for the next two years, Saturn will be working more intentionally with the Libran issues of equal rights, partnerships and commitment, the law and laws, and finding harmony in spite of differences. Through Saturn, we will be trying to manifest new definitions of fairness, as well as a new balance interpersonally and also between nations.

Uranus, as usual, ends up playing the wild card in our planetary game. As Uranus leaves sympathetic Pisces and enters assertive Aries, the motivation behind our rebellion and the way it looks outwardly changes considerably. This is amplified by Jupiter also entering Aries, and joining forces with Uranus.

Under this influence, we may more forcefully claim our individuality, our desires, and our rights of autonomy. Uranus in Aries opposing Saturn in Libra will make sure we break free from codependencies, and Uranus squaring Pluto in Capricorn will bring out rebellions against structures and governments that interfere with individual freedoms.

It's not hard to extrapolate those generalities to specific situations, and since we are already dealing with the energies of these planetary alignments, all we need do is look around us for examples of how things are manifesting: the oil spill in the Gulf, the increase in higher-magnitude earthquakes, the financial problems around the world, the floods and volcanos and other extreme acts of nature -- these are all ways of bringing about the shifts that need to occur, just as the social turmoil in the 1960s ultimately brought about necessary changes.

Our individual experience

How this summer's planetary energies manifest in "real-world" terms will, of course, vary from person to person. Even though we are all in this together, we each still have our own journey to take and lessons to learn. In times of financial downturn, there are always those who thrive, and acts of nature usually affect a relatively small portion of the global population on physical levels, even if many more are affected through observing the events and helping deal with the aftermath.

Perhaps it will help to keep in mind that while Uranus can bring about breakthroughs, sometimes we must first go through breakdowns. Pluto brings about a rebirth, but often requires a purging and the death of the old to allow the space for the new to be born. Saturn ultimately helps create new structures, but first clearly shows us what is and isn't working, which may not be comfortable to see.

In answer to the question, "How may we most humbly and humanely meet these challenges?" -- my best reply is to work consciously with these energies of change, and to address any challenges internally, at their source, as well as externally. Listen carefully to Pluto-in-Capricorn's imperative to walk in integrity with your highest values, and be willing to transform areas of your life where that criteria is not being met. Observe what happens in relationships and to your understanding of fair play under Saturn-in-Libra's influence, and apply self-discipline as needed either to work harder at strengthening these structures or to discard them as no longer viable. And notice where you are feeling especially restless, resistant, and unable to follow the rules -- this is Uranus-in-Aries' way of telling you that you need greater authenticity and autonomy in this area of your life.

And then, when the unexpected occurs -- which it certainly will with Uranus involved -- use the techniques of the successful kayaker: trust and work with rather than against the flow of the river, and adjust your weight as needed to stay in balance.

Those are my first thoughts. More to come over the weeks ahead.

Blessings,

Pam