Equinox but twice a year

Fri 11 March – Thurs 24 March 2011

Sun in Pisces/Aries 21 Mar; Mercury in Aries; Venus in Aqua; Mars in Pisces
The difference between this and last fortnight’s Pisces influences is that, although Sun and Mars are still floating on those same Neptunian tides, led by an unseen call or uncharted star, Mercury - now at the helm in Aries – is feeling much more decisive and to the point, up for a challenge and inspired by the competition of an opposing idea or unexplored territory. This can be a tricky combination, for until the equinox around the 21st, the Pisces Sun and Mars may be irrational or impractical, while the fiery Mercury intellect just wants to act, unable to be calm and contented with things as they are. This is where “active foolishness” may be considered more dangerous than “lazy foolishness”. Unless your dreams, whims or inspirations are well thought out and grounded in facts and logic, you may find yourself rushing off all amped but in a totally wrong direction, or even worse impulsively and impatiently taking foolish risks that could result in dire straits instead of giving credence to your clearwater revival. If you are living under any illusions about yourself or your position in the scheme of things, your foolishness will be obvious when you open your mouth. Possible ego inflation may arise if you forget your true identity, or even worse, start verbalizing your illusions or getting angry with those who do not see you as you see yourself.

The problem is that Sun – for a while – and Mars throughout this fortnight are apt to be highly emotional and driven by irrational impulses and deep subjective feelings as opposed to common sense. At the same time Mercury in Aries creates a thought process that is driven to act first and verify the emotional motivations later. Physical energy may also not be as available as usual, while at the same time mental energy is bursting at the seams or chomping at the bit. The result may be a passive exterior hiding an inner turmoil; or a tired, sluggish energy level or libido unable to respond to a bored or adventurous mind. The ideal synthesis of these current themes may be to work privately on any new and original artistic creations or ideas, something you can call your own and have some ego-identification with which at the same time may be of service to those in need. Whether it’s a children’s educational storybook or creative project, or perhaps a guided meditation manual or song track, or a new yoga dance technique, be content to work behind the scenes on a project that allows you to express your creative or cosmic inspirations, while at the same time avoiding the pitfall of measuring your success by the external results or anything more than your own psychic state of consciousness at the conclusion. Any feeling of solitude can be counteracted by the potential friends Venus in Aquarius can bring you, as long as you avoid being emotionally dependent on them reciprocating any deeply romantic sentiments to feel whole or complete in yourself. If you have a particular mood of, or appreciation for, songs of separation then this is the time to discover the true meaning of the separation of the lover from her beloved.

Swimming through Pisces

Fri 25 Feb – Thurs 10 March
Sun in Pisces; Mercury in Pisces; Venus in Cap/Aqua 2nd ; Mars in Pisces; Jupiter in Aries
With Sun, Mercury and Mars huddled together in dreamy Pisces be prepared to find yourself tuning in to a subtler frequency than usual as logic and practical rational channels are supplanted by feelings and intuitions. Pay attention to your dreams or any funny sixth sense hunches you may be picking up from the department of the inner voice. This is one of the more sensitive times in the year, in more sense than one. Be sure not to let yourself be sweet-talked or swindled though, for things may not always be as they seem just now. There is the tendency to be caught with a soft heart as boundaries melt somewhat, great for the romantics who want to woo any prospective paramours, particularly with poetry or song, although Venus in Aquarius from the 2nd may be more conducive to making friends first. You may find yourself to be more compassionate than usual, even sentimental, certainly sympathetic toward those in need. This is certainly “adopt the helpless” month.

On the other hand if you are already one of the helpless who tends to be weak-willed or undisciplined when it comes to mind-altering substances or other escapist tendencies, then this is also a vulnerable time. Will power may be reduced, so make sure you have your life jacket firmly strapped on as the watery Pisces tides sweep you along in their currents. Also if you are by nature already feeling a bit emotionally vulnerable or distressed, then be careful of the whirlpools of melancholy or depression dotted about the stormy seas of life. There are always causes for distress all about us in the form of war, famine, disease or whatever, what to speak of our own personal lives, and at times like this one needs to stay sensitive but not be overwhelmed by that suffering. Rather let any such concern act as a catalyst for your compassion for those in distress, as you think globally and act locally, working in your sphere of influence while simultaneously broadening you sphere of concern.



The lowered boundaries may also find you feeling odd or unfamiliar emotions which you may actually be picking up from someone near to you. Ideally you may be able to pick up on higher inspirational frequencies as you benefit from meditation, prayer, solitary introspection or contemplation. Go on a retreat if you can, where you can absorb yourself in uplifting practices while sheltering yourself from the harsh mundane world for a while. If that is too esoteric for your set and setting then take shelter of the realm of the visual or musical arts, both favoured by the triple Pisces trend. Inspiration and imagination should be flowing and even role-playing and acting comes more naturally, anything to allow access to fantasy as opposed to reality. Of course one man’s reality is another man’s illusion and what is daytime for you may be night for those with seats in another part of the auditorium of life as we know it, or with another translation to the manual; and with feelings, sentiments and instincts so easily impressed upon now, the conclusion may end up being a trans-logical simultaneous amalgamation of both versions.

Jupiter in Aries

Fri 11 Feb – Thurs 24 Feb



Sun in Aquarius/Pisces 19th; Mercury in Aquarius/23rd Pisces; Venus in Capricorn; Mars in Aquarius, Jupiter in Aries
As with last edition, planets in airy Aquarius are fanning and feeding the enthusiastic flames of Jupiter in Aries. Life should really feel worth living for a change, and any previous knocks over the past two weeks due to unbounded exuberance will be easily brushed aside. Even knocks to the pride can be soothed with the thought that there is always more experience to come, and only biting off as much as you can chew. If you are able to harness the fired up Jupiter archetype you will find yourself attracting some attention and even a following, as you command respect by your mere enthusiasm and readiness to plunge in head first.

The Aquarian theme may help to cultivate the much needed appreciation for, and enlistment of, the abilities of others. Being such an individualist can sometimes make one hard to harmonize with now. New projects will certainly appeal, even if it means abandoning stagnant ones. Venus in Capricorn will help you with fine tuning the timing, so you can sell, transfer or reinvest at the right time. You may need to feel your life is going somewhere during the 1st half of this year and it may feel as if this is the time to act on that impulse to explore new vistas or follow your star. Sitting around house bound will not be enough this year and fortune will be calling the bold. The pageant of life is playing your song and it’s a remix of Johnny Cash and the Holy Names.

So while you walk the line or go out on a limb just to get the fruit, this is the last fortnight to harness Mars in Aquarius and find your favourite system to buck, shackle to break or cause to campaign for. If you’re feeling hemmed in, try going for a run or a hike in the woods, wherever there is plenty of fresh oxygen available. Energy should be high spirited now and sudden surprises may manifest as if out of the electric blue. With all the primary planets in air or earth signs, emotional depth and sensitivity of feeling is going to take second place or be somewhat lacking, at least until Sun enters Pisces on the 19th. Aquarius needs freedom from anything claustrophobic or sentimental, preferring to campaign for the community, and Venus is at one of her shyest or inhibited now in Capricorn. Traditional values may appeal this month, when it comes to art, music and relationships. A more serious spiritual relationship or dimension to your current relationship may appeal or satisfy. The paradox is that you may need to open up first and surrender your heart, a tall order for some. However, if we remember that life is, in fact, all about love; that the Cosmic Source or God expands into individual souls in order to have loving exchanges, then it gives some perspective. Traditionally the most meaningful ways to cultivate these loving relationships amongst peers is by giving or receiving gifts, sharing meals, or hearing or discussing what is on one’s mind in a confidential setting. That means face to face, something fast being overwritten by Facebook to Facebook.

Keep your feet on the ground and reach for the stars

Fri 28 Jan – Thurs 10 Feb 2011



The urge to break free from anything that cramps your style or feels emotionally stifling may arise during the Sun’s glide through Aquarius, especially from the 4th of February, when Mercury joins the Sun and Mars in that cool and detached air sign, and Venus moves out of swinging Sagittarius and into controlled Capricorn.

While mercury is still in Capricorn the old school approach is preferred but in Aquarius, Mercury favours anything new or cutting edge, any ideas ahead of their time or radical in social or scientific terms, maybe groundbreaking. So if you wanted to start advertising, for example, a new eco-friendly device, after the 4th would be the time. But up to the 4th, a conservative mindset predominates, or at least, cautious. Not a bad thing of course, just slower to process the situation. Also up until the 4th thinking will be logical and matter of fact. In Aquarius however, Mercury can stimulate the mind to work in lightning flashes of inspiration or genius, and in ways that could not be explained by logic, and could be seen as more intuitive. This is sometimes because Aquarius facilitates a more open minded, out-of-the-box approach to problem-solving, compared to Capricorn’s logic. With Both Mars and Mercury backing Sun in Aquarius by the 4th, any progressive, utopian or revolutionary ideas and ways of thinking are favoured. Nelson Mandela comes from a generation that had Uranus in Aquarius, its best sign. He was able to carry the archetype of Aquarian equality, justice and liberation via revolution for not only his country, but for the world. From 1912 right through almost uninterrupted past Mandela’s birthday in 1918 until mid 1919 Uranus was in Aquarius. Busy decade that. Meanwhile here in the present, the Aquarian conjunction of King Sol and his major General Mars for this entire edition, with Mercury taking minutes not far away, may get draughty for some with all this air sign activity. A lot may get no further than the head, or ideas phase. Nevertheless, those who are able to ground the quantum volume of infinite possibilities and narrow it down to a probability will find that a lot can be achieved in before unimagined fields. Open mindedness does have a blind spot, of course, namely the interpersonal or romantic skills. The emotional quotient is limited in the eyes of more watery personalities. The Goddess Venus also becomes shy or reserved after the 4th in Capricorn, either that or too busy with career. A way to win her would be with tangible items as expressions of love, cash or kind. Any type of security or maturity becomes attractive too.

Jupiter, let’s not forget, has just returned to Aries for a six month stretch, favourable for all Sun and Rising sign Aries folks. If you felt you needed a positive boost to your programme then this is it. Confidence and bravado are likely to soar if you need that kind of thing. The fire of Aries will demand expression so channel the progenitive propensities. Actions overtake words. Just be sure to watch the ego, read the manual and keep your feet on the ground as you reach for the stars.