A bumpy ride

A reader wrote to me today, saying, "What is going on with the universe?@!! This is a very disjointed day..."

I've been feeling it as well, and am thinking we're dealing with Mars in the last degrees of Cancer. In general, when Mars is in this very vulnerable sign, we are all a bit more emotionally sensitive than usual. It's easier to take things personally, and to let our emotions run the show.

In addition, today Mars is triggering the degree of the July 21 Solar Eclipse, which occurred at 29 degrees of Cancer. This means that the energies and intentions of that eclipse may be more apparent now.

To tell the truth, it's hard for me to remember right now what was going on back in late July. But the energies this week have felt pretty intense, in keeping with eclipse themes. And, the 29th degree of any sign is said to carry intensity as well, being called a "critical degree" and calling us to complete the lessons related to the sign involved.

Cancer's lessons include learning to hold strong boundaries while still being sensitive to the needs of those around us, nurturing and allowing self to be nurtured in equal measure, and having the strength to feel our emotions without being overwhelmed by them. And, taking clues from the actions of the crab, being able to sidle away from conflict rather than reacting defensively, and sensing when the time is right to trust and to come out from under a protective rock.

I, for one, am looking forward to tomorrow, when Mars moves into Leo.

Remembering the triple conjunction of May 2009

As mentioned in today's Journal, we'll soon be working more intentionally again with the energy of the triple conjunction of Neptune, Chiron and Jupiter, which first became effective last spring and was strongest around the end of May. From talking with clients, I know that many people experienced significant spiritual opening around that time, and I'd love to hear more.

If you'd like to share some nuggets from your own experience at that time, please add your comment to this post. I look forward to reading your story, and hope that our mutual sharing will add to our awareness of what is possible.

My own story is brief, but was very powerful for me:

I awoke before dawn one morning in early April receiving the words: "We're going to incorporate the most powerful energy of all -- LOVE -- into the planet." It was one of those experiences that you know isn't a dream, and can only be interpreted as a message. But, it was the first time I had received information of that sort, and in that way.

I also know that the entire months of May and June felt very other-worldly to me, almost as if we were standing as a bridge between this reality and the higher dimensions. And, as I review my dream journal from those months, I see that my inner life was very active.

And now -- do you have a story to share? I'm eager to hear!

A grey Saturday with hints of blue sky

It's been an odd week. Perhaps Mars conjunct the South Node in Cancer has been behind the dreams and memories of past relationships and the wounds they left behind. And, with Mercury first conjunct Saturn and now square Pluto, we're both aware of and rooting out the negative, critical thinking directed both at ourselves and at others.

In addition, as Jupiter stations direct in Aquarius, he is only four degrees away from Chiron, which means he is amplifying the feelings of separation and alienation, all with the intention of healing that particular wound -- helping us understand and believe that we are never alone, but always united with others by the bond of love.

Clarifying comment about Virgo

I received an e-mail from a reader of this week's Journal, asking about my comments on Virgo:

One thing in this week's journal about Virgo left me with questions: "At the same time, it's hard not to fall into another dark side of Virgo, which perceives the world in terms of victims and martyrs." The phrase resonates, but I don't have a clear understanding of your meaning here. Could you say some more about this topic?

My reply:

As with every sign, the positive traits of Virgo, when taken to the extreme, turn into negative. So the service-orientation of Virgo, when taken too far, can become martyrdom. Virgo is also the healer, but needs to remember that each of us is ultimately responsible for our own healing, and are not merely victims of circumstance.

I hope this helps clarify my meaning! Thanks for asking!

2012 and Sabian symbols

What's interesting about the 2012 predictions is that using our usual astrological reference points, while there are some interesting configurations at that time, the main component -- the alignment of the Sun with the Galactic Center -- is not that unusual. It occurs every December, when the Sun reaches 27 degrees Sagittarius.

The esoteric research that supports the 2012 shift is actually assuming that there are additional levels of alignment with the Galactic Center. Based on that information, we can use the Sabian symbol for the 28th degree of Sagittarius for some clues to the intentions of the 2012 date. It reads:

"A sculptor at his work: The ability to project one's vision upon and to give form to materials."

Dane Rudhyar's interpretation (from /An Astrological Mandala/) reads in part:

"At this stage we see the individual creatively expressing his own particular individuality. He takes the materials available in his socio-geographical environment and shapes them so they reveal to other people something of his inner life and purpose. This is a symbol of man's capacity to transform raw materials according to his personal vision -- thus a symbol of Self-Projection into a Work."

Certainly, if one step in our evolution at this time is the awareness of our creative power, it makes sense that this is part of the energy contained in the 2012 intention. It will be interesting to see how quickly things are manifesting by that time, since there already seems to be a quickening of that effect.

Also intriguing is to look at the Sabian symbol for the 25th degree of Scorpio, where the mean North Node resides in December 2012. As you may know, the North Node represents our path of highest spiritual growth in our birth charts, and in the ongoing "Now," reveals humanity's intended path of spiritual evolution.

The Sabian symbol for the mean North Node in December 2012 reads:

"An X-ray photograph: The capacity to acquire a knowledge of the structural factors in all existence."

And here is some of Rudhyar's interpretation:

"The true philosopher is able to grasp and significantly evaluate what underlies all manifestations of life. His mind's eye penetrates through the superficialities of existence and perceives the framework that gives an at least relatively permanent 'form' to all organized systems. This is Structural Knowledge in contrast to existential knowledge."

There seems to be a common theme here -- that relating to our powers of manifestation, and how we channel creative spiritual energy into form. And isn't that what ascension is about, after all: the combining of spiritual and physical, of higher self and personal ego.

So, the Sabian symbol for the North Node emphasizes our ability to shift our vision, our perceptions, to gain information formally unaccessed by the conscious mind. The symbol for the Sun-Galactic Center alignment references our creative capacity to mold our reality based on the information and insights gained. Quite a powerful combination!

Earthquakes and tsunamis

Mother Earth is displaying the same symptoms as are we. The earthquakes correspond with the shaking up of structures that have been holding our reality in its current form. And the tsunamis are the waves of emotion that are released from the shifting energies.

Like tsunamis, our emotions can remain hidden beneath the surface, and we may not realize that they are even there, until they break to the surface and sweep over the terrain. And then, they can appear so immense and out of control that we often find ourselves reacting in fear -- not only to the original event, but to the intensity of our emotions as well.

Saturn and Mercury

Saturn and Mercury are virtually conjunct in Virgo for an extended period from mid-September until Mercury enters Libra on October 9.

This can have several effects -- most notably, a heaviness and symptoms of depression, overcriticalness, and the fear that we're never going to "get it right," be adequate enough for what we have been called to do, or live up to our own or others' expectations. It can be hard to extricate ourselves from those feelings, and sometimes they seem to take over so that they're all we can think about.

But there are reasons for such experiences. With Virgo involved, we are being given an opportunity to learn to love ourselves unconditionally, no matter how we may have been self-judging or finding fault. Yes, we are striving to grow, to become more perfect representations of ourselves, and we are spiritual beings having a human experience -- BUT we are also human beings, and by definition imperfect. We need to step into the love of self for the effort and intention extended, no matter what the current external manfestations.

And things WILL get better. Patience is another virtue Saturn requires that we learn, so be in the energy of Love as much as possible, and hold the thought of a brighter future not far away.