Mars opposition Neptune

By the second week in October , we have a brief passing alignment of Mars and Neptune in opposition. Now Mars and Neptune are of themselves strange bedfellows. The drive and action of Mars becomes dissipated or challenged by the Neptune archetype coming into our life via an outside source. Oppositions of planets regularly play themselves out in relationship encounters, where one person carries the qualities of the one planet and the other person adopts the opposing planet’s expression. Neptune here dissipates the action nature of Mars, particularly into subtle escapist activities like the old “wine, women and song trio”. Other crucial activities may potentially get sidetracked if time gets misused and misappropriated. There can be a feeling of insidious procrastination if we’re not constantly keeping the goal in mind, evaluating the priorities, and remaining clear about the fact that life is short and only getting shorter, so we need to use the limited energy and drive that remains left to us for the highest goal.

It’s ok to dream big now, wish upon a star, but just be sure it’s the most important one in your chart. The desire nature can become hard to control or keep focused on that main priority if we’re not careful. Also watch out for getting mixed up in secret or underhand activities that are difficult to control. Neptune is so nebulous in its influence, and unconscious urges may slip out or be played out in our inter-relationship dynamics. Physical ailments representing repressed desires may manifest psychosomatically, so keep a check on any injuries that appear. Ultimately and most importantly, Neptune can so easily play the sob story in a way that you find your sympathies being taken advantage of. If it’s an old pattern, then even more reason to nip it in the bud, because you can.

Mars square Saturn

Thank the astrological heavens that the current Mars square Saturn aspect is past its peak and gradually fading. A square or 90 degree angle between any planets symbolises a challenging interplay because they are in incompatible signs to begin with. And in this particular situation we are talking about the two planets both known as "malefics", as in malevolent (not to be confused with "Malefecent" the movie where the jolly horned villainess actually turns out to have a good side). It suggests a rather frustrating time, with blocked ambitions, libido or ego expression. This in turn leads to negative feelings internally, which then flows into our relationships. Also it's a time when we can be a bit hard on ourselves too.

Of course there is a positive way to channel this influence too. For example this would be the ideal time to go on a fast, practice some self-discipline in the area of our life that may need it, or just embrace the austerity measures imposed on us, knowing that it is just a phase. Also the potential callousness that may manifest can instead be utilised where being thick-skinned is required, especially if we have been over-sensitive or too weak-egoed for our own good. After all what is a callous other than a chunk of thick skin, put there to toughen one's resistance to some external pressure.

So in this way the potential malefic villain can actually be an Angelina in disguise and end up helping us to strengthen our weak points, toughen up our resolve with the ability to soldier resiliently on. Despite the physical aches and pains, or feelings of weakness that we may feel in our limbs for a time.

Mercury retrograde in Libra square Pluto

The recently completed Mercury retrograde in Libra will have Mercury to make a square aspect to Pluto in Capricorn, not once but three times over a period of a few weeks - once while moving forward, once in retrograde, and then once more on the final forward pass.
Now Mercury square Pluto is traditionally known as "the obsessed mind". We may thus each feel this influence in our own unique way of course. One may, for example, be forced to take your computer in for repairs three times as it keeps coming back faulty. And in the obsession to get to the root of the problem, one may imagine ulterior motives where there are none, becoming overly suspicious toward the tech support, thinking he is out to get you. Or in an online written exchange of ideas one may start reading into the replies dark intent where there is none. Or your own provocative replies may cause more problems than necessary. Basically we can end up meeting our own shadows in the written and spoken word of others, manifesting even as a paranoia. Of course if we push on with the steely mental determination to get to the bottom of the matter, to really peel away the falsehoods and expose true motives, then we can find just what it is that shadow is trying to teach us about ourselves. And by the healthy process of introspection, spurred on by this catalytic square aspect, one can make healthy strides forward in self-realization. Just be careful, at the same time, not to overpower others with overly fierce debate or desire to convert others to your way or the highway.
On the positive side too, by the time the third exact square alignment passes by, one should ideally be able to purge, heal or discover the healthy way to channel the intense mental energy available, and to really harness it productively. Even if it means writing it all down with a pen and paper until the laptop returns. Because when it does return, it should be so much more powerful, as more latent unconscious psychic potential is released to conscious use.

Mercury Stationary Direct

On 9 October, after about three weeks of retrograde motion, Mercury appears to stop and remain stationary, before going direct or forward through the zodiac once again. During the cycle, a planet's energy is most powerful (and more likely to generate critical events of universal importance) when the planet makes a station: appearing motionless in the sky. These stationary periods occur near the beginning of the cycle (when the planet first halts as it prepares to move backwards) and midway through the cycle when the retrograde planet slows to a stop before moving forward again as it will on the 9th. This direct station (when the planet halts before moving forward again) is the most powerful and can be used for maximum benefit. Even though there can still be some annoyances after the moment of stationary pause, due to Mercury still moving so slowly, the day of station itself is a valuable one.
Although occurring at the very beginning of Libra, this influence is felt by or available to all, although those born in early Libra or any of the other cardinal signs(Aries, Cancer and Capricorn) may feel its influence more directly. Since the Sun is also still in the sign of Libra now, the qualities of cooperation and companionship still permeate, where teamwork is favoured – as long as it adheres to ones core principles and a sense of what is just. After all, those Libran scales only balance when the input is fair on both sides.

The Life cycle in Astrology

Early Man felt a connection

between himself and the life all around him.

He saw himself as part

of a Greater Whole in which he played a part,

although insignificant.

2As Man's intellect grew,

so did his sense of importance and separateness.

He fell into competition

with the life forms around him

and sought to control them to suit his needs.

Man lost his sense of interdependence with life, and

astrology/religion became just another tool

for trying to control life.

But astrology, which had once

represented holism, can represent it again.

3We need to return to the sense of wholeness that we once had.

To do this, we will have to

reintegrate the lost part of ourselves

that provided this sense of wholeness and harmony:

our spiritual Self.

In fact, if we don’t do this,

the human race may not survive.

Our current direction is

destroying our most basic resources and the earth itself.

If we continue, there will be little left.

4Maybe this is what it will take before we realize

that we can only survive by working together.

What role can ...” one's chosen spiritual path”...... play in this?

First, it can provide the philosophical and spiritual

underpinnings that are missing.

Second, it can provide guidance about how to fulfil our soul's Plan,

chosen path for this lifetime.

Fulfilling our Plan is important to the Whole.

First, let's examine

these philosophical and spiritual underpinnings.

5 Astrology reveals the cyclical nature of life.

It demonstrates that we are part of an orderly universe:

the moon circles around the earth,

the earth circles around the sun,

one season follows another.

Our lives imitate these cycles,

being a microcosm of the great macrocosm.

We can hardly

notice these patterns and cycles

without also conceding to the existence of

a Higher Order,

an organizing

if not creative force—a Logos.

6“Astrology” also suggests that life continues beyond death.

what meaning would our lives have if they

were not part of a larger process of evolution?

Reincarnation explains many of the mysteries of life:

why people are different,

why suffering exists, and

why some people suffer more than others do.

Reincarnation also explains many things about the chart

that cannot be explained otherwise:

some signs in our charts are more developed than other signs and

some patterns run deeper than

just one lifetime could explain.

7Astrology also offers us a glimpse

of the perfection and wonder of the universe.

For anyone who

has used astrology for many years,

it is its own proof

of the existence of something higher.

It verifies the unseen like an oracle,

providing a bridge

designed of symbols

between the spiritual realm and the earthly one.

the archetypal realm

the realm of the Sun moon and planets

the realm of unity of brain hemispheres

unity consciousness

union of ego and superego

dare I say soul and supersoul?

Atma and Paramatma?

Unity and diversity simultaneously that is

Achintya bheda abheda tattva

Astrology is the esoteric translated into symbols.

Astrology also teaches us of holism,

that all of life is interrelated and interdependent.

In a holistic universe,

the parts synergistically combine to form a whole.

Just as we are part and parcel

of the whole.

In quality identical

but in quantity minute in proportion.

The whole is more than the sum of the parts,

and each part is indispensable to the whole.

So it is with our charts. At the same time, the

whole is reflected in each of the parts:

“As above, so below.”

The individual entering life

reflects the energies present in the universe

at the moment of birth.

The energies of that moment can be read

in the sky and are represented in the chart.

Thus, the chart

is a picture of the energies of that moment,

which the individual born at that moment personifies.

8These energies are like a costume

donned for one lifetime to experience the lessons and develop

the talents of those energies.

Still, we are more than these energies;

we are more than our charts.

We are the sum total of all our previous lifetimes of experiences

and their energy patterns (charts).

In many ways, we are like actors on a stage:

we know that we are more

than the character that we are playing,

but for the time being we dress up in our costume and play our part.

The difference is that the actor has no freedom

to choose his lines and actions, and we do.

This is an important difference.

While the actor lives the script written for him,

we create the play as we go along.

We have no direct script.

Our future, our story,

is created by our choices.

But is that all? Is it all choice?

9Let's explore this further.

Just how much of our lives is predetermined

and how much is created by our choices?

Many of us believe that some events in life are predestined,

such as certain meetings.

Nevertheless, although some events may well be prearranged,

how and when they take place can’t be.

This is determined by the circumstances

and events that we create by our choices.

Free will and predestination interweave in our lives.

The few events in our lives that are predestined

are woven into the fabric of life

created by our choices and by the choices of those close to us.

If you stop a moment to think

about the many possible choices

you and others could make,

you can only conclude that

the specifics of the future are not predetermined.

The lessons that our soul sets out to teach us

must therefore be worked into the framework

already created by our choices.

The soul has to "play it by ear"

and wait for suitable opportunities to deliver its lessons.

As a result, predicting the future is

precarious, to say the least.

Therefore, the Plan described in the chart can only be very general.

More will be said about reading the Plan in the discussions that follow.

Solstice

Fri 16 Dec – Thurs 29 Dec 2011

Sun in Sag/Cap (22^nd) solstice; Merc in Sag; Venus in Cap/Aqu (20^th); Mars in Virgo; Jupiter dir 25^th

Have you been utilizing the current transit of the Sun and Mercury through Sagittarius to examine and explore your philosophy of life? Now, as the Sun aligns with the Galactic Center on the 19^th, and then arrives at his most southern point on the Solstice of Dec 22^nd, we have a fine opportunity to focus our consciousness with clarity on the goal of our individual lives as well as align ourselves with our true centre internally as well as with whoever or whatever embodies our belief system externally. The Christian calendar does this automatically (although perhaps unknowingly or unconsciously for most) three days after the Solstice on Dec 25^th, which is the exact point at which the Sun begins his return from the apparent depths of darkness after a three day pause there, as seen from the northern hemisphere, to rise again towards a slowly lengthening of daylight visibility. Watch the documentary “Zeitgeist” if you want to hear more about the fact that Christmas is originally based on (amongst other things) the astronomical movement of the Sun at the Solstice.

As for aligning ourselves…who do you accept as spiritual authority? What qualifies them to be such? Usually we accept someone by what they say, but what if their words or ideas are beyond our comprehension or ability to realize? We could end up discrediting them simply because we are not realized enough to comprehend them. Perhaps we should accept someone as an authority by their actions. After all, actions speak louder than words. However, the same logic or reasoning could apply – we may not be aware enough to comprehend their actions either and may be judging them according to our limited frame of reference. Of course on the ultimate level even the act of judging - accepting or rejecting - is merely a product or function of the mind, and not a matter of transcendence. Yet at the same time paradoxically we have to accept some things over others which we reject; so with all these contradictions and layers upon levels of realization how do we get anywhere or get anything done at all? Surely discrimination is needed, which implies making a judgment. Which brings me back to my question of whose standards are you using for your yardstick. On one level it depends on time, place and circumstance - what is appropriate according to your time in history, your geographical location or the socio-cultural circumstances in which you find yourself. However, on another level some things, particularly when discussing spiritual truths, are meant to be absolute, or eternally valid regardless of the temporary shifts in society, culture and history. For example even the teachings of Buddha, Shankara, Christ or Mohammed all have a starting point in history, before which the teachings were irrelevant. That is on one level, while on an absolute level certain spiritual truths taught by those teachers and others are timeless because they deal with our eternal spiritual natures or because they apply to all people under all circumstances for all time. Truths such as the concept that driving our temporary material body is an eternal spiritual spark of consciousness, and that one can uncover that spiritual self, and indeed should, by certain techniques which have always worked and always will, regardless of who tries them and when in history, because they are transcendent or absolute. This is apparently what is meant by one’s “Dharma”, the actual translation from the Sanskrit being “eternal constitutional nature or position”, regardless of time, place or current socio-religious circumstance. For example the dharma of fire is to burn, the dharma of sugar is to be sweet, and the dharma of the living entity is to be an eternally blissful conscious person (sat chit ananda), even though housed in this current temporary material body. So as Jupiter apparently goes direct or forward again on Dec 25^th after several months of retrograde motion, take the opportunity to wish yourself and all others a merry Saturnalia and a blessed year of real consciousness awakening on all levels.       

Total Lunar eclipse

Fri 2 Dec – Thurs 15 Dec

The fired up enthusiasm of an arched stallion may be urging you to celebrate the season just now, with Sun and Mercury in Sagittarius, but let’s not forget the retrograde now bringing Mercury to a slow and sluggish standstill around the 13^th. A retrograde period is best seen as a cycle, beginning when a planet begins to slow to a halt before traveling backwards through the zodiac as it did in November; and ending when it returns to the point where it first paused, early in the new year of 2012. However, during the cycle, a planet's energy is most powerful (and more likely to generate critical events of universal importance) when the planet makes a station: appearing motionless in the sky.

These stationary periods occur near the beginning of the cycle (when the planet first halts as it prepares to move backwards, as it did on November 24^th) and midway through the cycle when the retrograde planet slows to a stop before moving forward again. The direct station (when the planet halts before moving forward again) is the most powerful and can be used for maximum benefit. And that is what we are about to hit on the 13^th and 14^th of December. So anything before then will have Mercury at its slowest and subdued. However, those days, specifically the 14^th when Mercury is seen to move forward again, are available to be harnessed as a symbolic moment on which to strike a deal, have a ceremony or sign on the dotted line. Thereafter Mercury is seen to slowly pick up pace, symbolically showing the course of or unfolding of the intent or event you had on that day. Sometimes it can facilitate a step towards solving the problem or puzzle. Either the solution, or a move towards the solution, brought about later as Mercury returns to the point it originally stopped on November 24^th. With all this back and forth occurring in Sagittarius this time, issues around publishing and law, like the tabloid press legal cases in UK as well as ZAR’s Info Bill will be evident; that and expanding the horizons, so watch out for the travel delays at airports. Know when to hold your tongue too; is that tweet going to bounce back and trip you up like a foot in the mouth.

Currently our goddess Venus (in Capricorn) has an advantageous vantage point from which to spy out Mars (in Virgo) across the garden as they trine in the earth signs. This is a good time to focus on the material, practical departments of life, like work, income, health of the body. With Mars in Virgo take the opportunity to work out, if you don’t already and have been wanting to get fit. Venus in Capricorn favours dressing with status, the black outfit, professional or work attire, even if it means a smart pair of sandals at your surf stall. Or that green is the new black. So the more you keep it professional, and the more you have your eye on the ball, and on the goalposts, the Grail or the gold, the better your chances are of pulling off the achievement of your target, the target the archer in you aimed for in the ever-greener evergreens on the other side of the fence.

Let’s not forget the imminent eclipse of the Moon on the full moon of Saturday 10^th. Anyone with their Sun sign within a degree or two of 18 degrees Gemini or Sagittarius, and also (by square or 90 degree aspect) Virgo and Pisces, will be in line to feel the effects more directly as the Sun and Moon align with their natal (birthday) Sun position. That means people born on roughly the 10^th or 11^th of December for example, or 9^th – 10^th June; 11^th – 12^th September and 8^th – 9^th March. Let me know if you have any interesting experiences. Being a total lunar eclipse, people have been known to shut up shop and temple, retire indoors and engage in something auspicious for the duration of the event. But that’s up to you, time place and circumstance. Where were you at 14h30 GMT on the 10^th of December 2011?

Mercury stationary as the S.A. Secrecy Bill/Protection of state info Bill is voted in.

22 Nov 2011

As the planet of communication, Mercury retrograde tends to breed a certain level of confusion. Mercury rules our mind--how we perceive and interpret information that we receive from our environment, and how we relay that information to others. Mercury has rulership over such things as speaking, negotiating, buying and selling, listening, formal contracts, documents, travel, the mail, journalism, media and so forth. All of these areas of life are affected when Mercury is functioning in a sluggish state. Decision-making is challenged during Mercury retrograde. Needless to say, it is not advised to sign contracts, engage in important decision-making, or launch a new business. Delays and challenges are more probable with Mercury retrograde. This period is best used for re-organizing and reflecting.

Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter, is the sign traditionally associated with law, philosophy, religion and other such academic issues – issues of tertiary education, morals and ethics and what may be considered lofty ideology and abstract concepts of epistemology or meaning; broader, larger ideas. With Mercury going stationary and then retrograde in Sagittarius at the moment, issues of law and constitutional rights are brought into focus now. Today, as Mercury approaches its stationary position, on the way to going retrograde, the “Protection of State Information Bill” was voted on and passed in South African parliament with 229 votes, despite a one third opposition of 107 votes. As a result of this, the opposition has decided to take the Bill to the Constitutional Court, the highest court in the land, to campaign that it is directly against the Constitution, the highest code of law in S.A. – higher than the current ruling party of the day. The Bill proposes to gag the media and whistle-blowers from speaking out on issues of corruption within parliament. Not only are investigative journalists and others liable to be jailed for up to a maximum of 25 years if the political party chooses, (citing, if they choose that such revelations are a risk to national security) but even those who harbour such people or documents are also subject to the same disciplinary action. This is tantamount to taking the nation back into Apartheid era control mechanisms, (something already in place in Israel, and to a degree in America with the Patriot Act.)

The fact that this law is being passed as Mercury goes stationary and retrograde, suggests that the process may not go through as smoothly as hoped, and will be subject to opposition and revision, hopefully being revised to at least allow a public opinion clause. It has already had over 100 amendments. Mercury’s retrograde continues until 13 December and only really returns to its current position at 20 degrees Sagittarius in early January next year. If the Bill goes into law, it will give power to a few at the top to use as a weapon, just like the Patriot act in U.S.A which now allows the state to arrest and detail anyone they wish without trial for almost as long as they want. Externally it may come across as in the best interests of state security, but in time it can also be used as a loophole by which they can control the masses, much like a police state, removing constitutional rights from the very people they are supposed to serve and protect. Why such a law if you have nothing to hide? Democracy is safest in the hands of the people, not just the powerful ie intel agencies. Academics around the world have been ignored, clearly indicating that a potential tool is being set up for future dictatorship. And South Africa is not the only country, as mentioned, where this is going on. How do you feel about your freedom and constitutional rights being subtly eroded from under your very nose? As the powers that be allocate themselves still more power – the politicians and bankers – the people are rising up and saying enough is enough. Where do you stand? Freedom of thought is what Mercury in Sagittarius strives for. Mercury in Sagittarius defends justice and freedom religiously.