Question about the human-animal relationship

This question came as reply to one of my other posts on this site:

I'm very interested to know how all these astrological shifts are affecting the human/animal relationship in our world. As an Animal Advocate the increased awareness of animal suffering at the hands of mankind seems to be getting more publicity -- and support. Petitions are being started on a daily basis to draw attention to things -- and based on what we saw from the exposure of McDonalds poultry attrocities -- they seem to be working. Do you have any comments or insights? Thanks. 

As a vegetarian since I was 19, and now mostly vegan for the past 2 years, I very much appreciate your question!

I think astrologically we can see support for this renewed awareness of the suffering of others -- no matter what species -- from both Chiron and Neptune now being in Pisces. Pisces energy reminds us that we are all One, and so your pain becomes my pain, and vice versa.

As Chiron travels through Pisces (April 2010 through April 2018), we become more aware of the wounds in the world, and our hearts are opened in compassion and with the desire to alleviate suffering. In mythology, Chiron was a centaur -- half man, half horse -- which also reminds us of the connection between humankind and the other animals that share our planet.

And, as Neptune travels through Pisces (2011 through 2026), we become more sensitized and sensitive in many many ways. Hopefully, as a result of this high-heart opening, we also become stronger conduits of the healing power of Divine Source Energy and Love.

Question about Taurus Sun, Scorpio rising

This question arrived in my inbox today:

I had a quick question I wondered if you could help me with: If I am Taurus with Scorpio rising, how can I understand what I read in both charts/horoscopes, if it seems like what is happening in one sign is happening oppositely in the other? For example, they always say I'm supposed to be having a great time when the moon is in Taurus, but honestly, those are some of the worst days -- a pattern I've noticed! Haven't noticed Scorpio moon days being fab, in exchange, either. Do you have any tips for interpreting what I read? Pay more attention to the houses? The aspects?

Astrological interpretation and prediction become much more complicated when two planets or points in our natal charts are opposing each other -- especially when they are both so central to our self concept, as the Sun and the Ascendant are!

Of course, when any transiting planet is conjunct your Sun in Taurus, it is opposing your Scorpio Ascendant, and vice versa. This means that any generalized horoscope you might read for a specific sign is likely to bring up both agreement and opposition within you.

It would be interesting to notice how you feel when the Moon is in complementary aspect to both your Ascendant and Sun -- so, when it is in Cancer (trine your Ascendant, sextile your Sun), Virgo (sextile your Ascendant, trine your Sun), Capricorn (sextile your Ascendant, trine your Sun) or Pisces (trine your Ascendant, sextile your Sun).

You can also watch how it feels when other planets are in those signs -- but, of course, their effect will also depend on the placement of other planets in your birthchart, especially the Moon. Like many (or most) of us, you have a complicated chart, one that can't be easily contained in a "one size fits all" horoscope.

As for which general horoscope to read, I think you'll always find both the Taurus and Scorpio predictions a bit "off" from your experience!

In the silence

I know it's been a long time since I've posted to this site, and my apologies for that! It's not that I don't think about it, and I think of all of you often and fondly...

But transiting Saturn is both conjunct my Ascendant and square my Midheaven right now (and conjunct my Neptune and square my Uranus), so my work and personal lives are filled to the brim -- there just hasn't been that extra space and energy available for posting regularly here.

I'm always happy to answer specific questions, so please email me if there's an astrological/metaphysical thought or question you have that isn't being addressed in my weekly Journals, and I'll do my best to add a post here in reply.

And, I'm assuming things will lighten up eventually! Perhaps once Saturn goes direct (end of June), those of us with strong Saturn transits going on will start to breathe a little easier. But then again, the energy of these transits won't be wrapped up until the last pass of Saturn through the final degrees of Libra in September/October, which means we may have a bit to wade through, still.

So, my condolences to all who have planets, Ascendant or Midheaven in late degrees of the Cardinal signs (Libra, Cancer, Aries and Capricorn)! I can relate to what you're going through...

Blessings,

Pam

Precession of the Ages

I received a question by email today that I thought might be on others' minds as well:

Very interesting reading about the upcoming shift to Neptune in Pisces and I appreciate the way you are breaking it down. However, the following paragraph has me confused. I kept reading it over and over. Is it possible that the two signs were transposed?

As we shift INTO the Age of Aquarius, Neptune will be helping us release those roles, allowing us to shift into the knowing that each of us has the awareness and insight necessary to guide our lives.This enables us to hold compassion and understanding in very different ways, and even more powerfully than before.

Thank you for your work...

Here was my answer:

Thanks for your question!

The astrological ages go in reverse direction through the zodiac. It has something to do with how our galaxy moves through the universe -- but please don't ask me to give you the scientific explanation!

What that means is that as we leave the Age of Pisces, we are entering the Age of Aquarius. Before the Age of Pisces was the Age of Aries, before that the Age of Taurus, etc. In each of the ages, religious imagery has emerged that corresponded with the zodiac themes (such as the Golden Calf for the Age of Taurus, the Ram's Horn and Sacrificial Lamb in the Age of Aries, and the Christian use of Fish symbology in the Age of Pisces).

I hope that helps!

Blessings,

Pam

Coronal hole and solar winds

As happens from time to time, a large coronal hole has recently appeared on the Sun. The solar winds from that opening in the Sun's magnetic field will be reaching Earth in the next few days -- on January 16 or 17, by scientists' estimate. Here's a UV image of that coronal hole (shown as dark blue) from the Spaceweather.com website for January 14:

And, by synchronicity, this wonderful explanation of the metaphysical effects of solar cycles, solar flares and solar winds appeared on another website. I thank Gillian MacBeth-Louthan for receiving and sharing this information:

Solar cycles always play an important part in the upgrading of human consciousness. Solar activity is a catalyst for our evolutionary process. Solar light stimulates change in matter, energy, and consciousness. It pushes us into a higher position of knowing and the ability to integrate and use that knowledge for the betterment of all Universes. Evolutionary change is Sun driven. New energy is coming from deep space via this Solar portal.

Our Sun as the pulsing heart of this solar system, sends a twelve-faceted geometric light into every atom of its solar universe. The Sun is a portal which streams information in the form of light from other light/solar systems and worlds beyond ours. It is a storehouse of vital energies and is considered to be the Great Heart. Stars like our sun are the visible raiment of celestial beings. Their inner aspects are invisible, just like ours. The sun is simply the heart and brain of our little Universe. The mighty heart of the solar system beats to a different drum, disrupting and erupting time at any given moment. With each beat, the sun expels its accumulated light and energy through sunspots projecting to the remotest corners of the solar systems. The sun feeds its family, just as the heart feeds the body.

Earth and all her inhabitants are living receivers and transmitters. Solar flares affect the Central Nervous System, all brain activity (including equilibrium) and all human and animal behavior. Solar flares can cause us to be nervous, anxious, worrisome, jittery, irritable and lethargic, have short-term memory loss, lose time, feel nausea, headaches, trouble with all forms of communication--both human and technological. Solar activity illuminates consciousness, causing old patterns to be consumed in Light, just like a phoenix making way for the new prototype.

This is an excerpt from longer article entitled "2012 Time Fields" in Gillian's January 2012 newsletter. The newsletter also contains a lovely description of the Year of the Water Dragon, and other gems. Recommended!

No, Mercury is not retrograde!

Yesterday's Journal seemed to indicate Mercury might be retrograde! But it's not -- just my mind working backward.

Specifically, I wrote that Mercury was leaving Aquarius and entering Capricorn, when actually Mercury is leaving Sagittarius and entering Capricorn. The reverse would be true only if Mercury were retrograde (moving backward).

So, thanks to those of you who caught my error!

Capricorn New Moon

From an astrological viewpoint, the Capricorn New Moon (exact on Saturday, December 24 at 10:07am PST) symbolizes "New Year's Day" much more than the first day of January. Some years, the Capricorn New Moon occurs in January -- but this year, it occurs in December, and less than three days after the Solstice. This means we're getting a "jump start" on 2012! So, no more waiting. We're there. We're Here.

This is a powerful New Moon for other reasons as well, since the Sun and Moon are conjunct Pluto, square Uranus, and trine Jupiter at the time of the lunation. The alignment with Pluto emphasizes the deep transformation we are experiencing now, an energy shift that is urging us to claim greater levels of personal empowerment, along with a stronger knowing and commitment to our individual and group purposes.

The square to Uranus shakes us free from the attachment to what has been, and opens us to the possibilities before us. Uranus is in Aries, urging us to rebel against any definitions of self or statements of intent that are not One Hundred Percent Authentic. This planet always plays a bit of a "wild card" role, which means we can't control its effects, but must be flexible and openminded if we are to take advantage of the hand that it deals.

The trine to Jupiter in Taurus provides the moral support to help us move through the changes as gracefully as possible. Jupiter offers us a plate with equal portions of optimism, a knowing of what we value most, and a belief in a greater meaning beyond the personal. As the song says, Jupiter helps us "believe we can fly."

The Sabian symbol for the location of Saturday's New Moon puts it all together:

"A Human Soul, in its eagerness for new experiences, seeks embodiment: A powerful yearning for whatever will increase the scope and depth of one's contacts with other living beings."

Which one of us does not relate to that powerful yearning for the More, for the Connection, for the Community? We all seek new "embodiment" -- not in the human body, since we already have that -- but we long for the physical embodiment of our passions, our mission, our purpose, our potentials. It is this "eagerness for new experiences" that keeps us moving forward, continuing to open our hearts and our minds to the new.

And, it is this eagerness, this desire, this yearning, that takes us -- openhearted and openminded -- into 2012.

Blessings,

Pam