The Flow is a weekly blog published to better understand the flow of astrological, celestial, and magickal energies for the week, and how best to use them. It is intended for those with little knowledge of astrology.
For newcomers, the idea is to consider celestial influences as part of a larger whole, or the Flow. All too often, astrologers tend to write about astrological events as if each were an isolated specimen as if pulled out of the sky and analyzed by itself – and there is no dearth of astrological sites on the net that write that way. Here, it is the movement and interactions that are important and form the basis of discussion.
If any of the material is unclear or unfamiliar to you, it is probably unfamiliar to others as well, please leave a comment and I will be glad to answer your questions.
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The Flow! is updated every Sunday.
Please note: all times are in the Pacific Timezone.
Synopsis for the week: Beauty and the Beast
Welcome to The Flow! In each week’s edition we begin with a “Synopsis” that encapsulates the underlying energies of the period, discuss what it means, and follow that discussion guide of the notable energies and influences for each day. It is updated every Sunday.
A huge thank you to everyone who made Pantheacon 2012 such a success and enjoyable experience, with special extra thanks to those of you who attended my East Meets West presentation on Sunday. The I Ching can be a powerful tool for perceiving the reality of the moment and what that moment is most likely to become. I hope you found some of the information useful in your work and as a starting point to understand how a different culture can see the same things but use them in different ways.
This week is bookended with two entirely complementary celestial events. One of them is very visible, but the effects might be rather fleeting. The other is barely noticeable unless you know to look for it, but the effects could be quite significant. One puts on a spectacular celestial display and is filled with sweetness and light. The other glides silently in the night, and throbs to the percussive beat of the rhythms of strife and war.
On February 25th and 26th, we are treated to an amazing display in the heavens as Venus, Jupiter, and the Moon all romp through the sky together. On Saturday, the Moon rides high just above Venus’ head looking for a while like a crescent balloon holding the divine beauty aloft, with Jupiter looking on from above. And on Sunday, it’s Jupiter’s turn with Venus looking on benevolently from below.
Jupiter, Venus, and the Moon
Conjunctions like this are not particularly rare. They occur any year in which Venus sails ahead of the Sun as both approach Jupiter. Eventually, the Moon catches up with them both and puts on this display. Next month, the triple conjunction will be even tighter, after Venus overtakes Jupiter in the evening sky in mid-March in early Taurus. Next month’s alignment is particularly impressive astrologically, as the Venus/Jupiter/Moon conjunction forms a grand trine with Mars and Pluto. The period from March 8th-15th will be a highly critical time in the Middle East as different powers feel their oats and believe their physical strength matches the might of their emotions.
Venus, Jupiter, and the Moon are known as the benefics in astrology, shining down their bounty on a grateful Earth below like celestial manna. Jupiter bestowing his abundance with luck and greater good fortune, Venus providing the a somewhat less powerful fortune, and the Moon sweeping up from behind strewing flowers on our path when she is in the right phase, and mood.
When all three are in conjunction, it’s a bit like having all your eggs in one basket. Whatever you have in a late fire sign/early earth sign is likely to get a free spin at the wheel of fortune: Aries/Taurus, Sagittarius/Capricorn, and Leo/Virgo in that order of magnitude.
On the unfortunate side, all this goodness in one spot has its down side. Especially with Jupiter in the earth (wealth) sign of Taurus, it is likely that the period from now until the next triple conjunction, this time next month, could see a spike in inflation and be the high-water mark for the price of fuel. As Venus chugs off and gives Jupiter the old cheerio, that inflationary energy should slowly decrease so that by early summer, our economy should be back on track for growth.
It is also interesting that the stock markets continue to inch higher as this aspect gains strength, since stock is essentially a Taurean enterprise. As the Moon stresses (squares and opposes) Taurus on March 5-7th, 9th, 16th and 19th the market could similarly struggle. The time of highest tension in that area could be around the 9th as the Moon approaches Saturn. Most interesting is the fact that the times when the market would be under the highest astrological stress is the weekends, perhaps helping us dodge a financial 6-shooter of bullets. Time will tell.
Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury
All of this is bookended by the opposition of Mars to the Sun on Saturday, March 3rd.
First, a bit of astronomy.
Since the Earth is always opposed to the Sun, an opposition of anything to the Sun is also a conjunction with the Earth. Astronomically, conjunctions with the Earth are called “apparitions,” particularly with regard to Mars. This apparition or appearance of Mars is just about as meek as you can possibly get since Mars is almost as far away from Earth as it can be during one of these events. That doesn’t mean, however, that it is week. As we all know, when it comes to these things, meek don’t mean weak.
All apparitions are also significant because they indicate the climax of the retrograde cycle, in this case, Mars. For those of you tired of spinning your wheels, running around in circles, and feeling as every step you take leads you on the board back to Mediterranean Avenue, we’re just about half-way there.
But it also means astronomically, that in terms of the current cycle, the Earth and Mars are about as close as it’s going to get. While it makes it a great time to launch spacecraft to Mars, for those of us who don’t have a rocket launcher in our back yard it is also a time when Martian energy is at its peak.
Let us review.
Mars now rules the night sky. You can see it in rise in the sky shortly after sunset. At midnight, it is roughly directly overhead, and at sunrise, it is setting in the west. You can always spot Mars as that bright reddish thing in the sky that doesn’t twinkle.
Stars twinkle, planets shine.
The redness of Mars has often been associated with blood, strife, fire, aggression and war. He was sacred to the legions of Rome, and to illustrate how much they liked the guy, he’s got a whole month (March) all his own. Mars hasn’t lost much of his oomph over the years, either. While he has taken on new meanings of animal instincts, ambition, drive, strategy, self-assertion, survival, and energy, whatever it is, if it can use a shield, or acts like a spear, it’s Martian.
As we approach next Saturday, then, expect people to be much more aggressive and defensive than usual. Disputes rapidly boil out of control as surrendering without a contest is out of the question. The slightest disagreements are settled on the field of battle, and it’s all or nothing over the simplest of trifles. All this testosterone rushing through the veins of fellow humanity doesn’t do much for the cause of compassion and reason. You’re as likely to get a snarl as a shoulder to cry on. And shield yourself with safety as much as possible while driving as getting there before you is more important than getting there at all.
Finally, as you can imagine, the best practice during periods of heightened Mars energy is to temper your temperament, and measure your words carefully. They can have unintended consequences as they get interpreted through the language of confrontation regardless of your intention. Give yourself plenty of breathing room, and if you find yourself setting fire to any bridges, you may want to rethink your strategy.
Mars is by no means evil. Without him, we wouldn’t have the will to get out of bed in the morning, let alone strive for those things important to us.
But he can be a bit of a beast, so beware.
Mars
To the Daily Details!
Sunday, February 26th
Sun sextile the Moon at 10:52pm at 9° Taurus
We essentially start the week with the Moon entering Taurus. Saturday night may have been a bit rambunctious, but by Sunday morning after the Moon has entered Taurus at 6:29am, things calm down and are far more peaceful. The mid-morning period may be a bit chaotic. Don’t take much too seriously, and give yourself time to wake up from what might be a particularly deep and restful slumber. If you’re cooking around 9am, be sure to take extra care and not burn the toast. The combination of spaciness and frenzied activity can lead to kitchen chaos. The afternoon more or less glides along on its own course, so if it happens to be nice outside be sure to take extra advantage of it. In the evening, we are feeling comfortable, optimistic, and in harmony with our environment. While there may still be anxieties lurking in the background, there’s a feeling that we are making progress. That feeling may be challenged on Wednesday, and if so, it is time to review some of your priorities.
Monday, February 27th
Sun sextile Pluto at 11:15pm
The Moon is in Taurus all day, lending a feeling of soothing calm that lasts until mid-evening. If you have a task or a chore to accomplish today is a great day to pick it up and work on it. No matter what the project you have in mind, if you are willing to give it your attention, you should be able to find some way to push it forward. We are feeling energetic, powerful, and more self-assured than usual today and it is wise to take advantage of the psychological boost it can bring. We’re not too likely to get in each other’s way either, so if you need help just ask for it. You’ll find all but the most obstinate in a cooperative mood. In the mid-evening hours things may not go as scheduled, unless you have your priorities well established. The evening is an excellent time to take any kind of action that can lead to a breakthrough with any problems you have been experiencing. A helpful thought or idea just may come to mind that can help you out of any sticky wickets.
Tuesday, February 28th
No major aspects
The Moon enters Gemini at 7:26pm and the pace picks rapidly. As the Moon settles into Gemini everyone is abuzz about something. Whatever your interest, whatever your passion, you’re likely to find someone to communicate and/or share it with – whether that’s online, in person, or on the phone. The afternoon and early evening is conducive for meetings and sharing ideas, so if you have something important to say, or a point to make try to communicate it before the Moon enters Gemini, because afterwards the emphasis is on speaking rather than listening – and if it’s that important, ears are more helpful than tongues. In the evening take the news with a grain of salt, things may not be as they appear. Reality shifts, things change, and what we think is true tonight may not be true in a day or so.
Wednesday, February 29th
Sun square Moon (First Quarter) at 5:21pm at 11° Gemini
Happy leap year day!
Today is likely to be as topsy turvy as it is unusual. We’re not in a particularly good mood, and the events around us are not likely to be particularly helpful. There may be a feeling that our responsibilities have gotten a bit out of hand, or that they have grown larger than we care to bear. Others may make demands on us that feel burdensome, and we just don’t feel as if we deserve to be treated the way we have been. My best advice is to simply make the best of things until after next week when the current stressful conditions diminish and helpful energies are more prevalent.
Thursday, March 1st
No major aspects
The Moon is still in Gemini, and things still are a bit unsettled. Tomorrow, there is an octile between Mars and Saturn, and that is causing a good bit of turbulence to the Flow. Considering all the energies buzzing about, there’s likely to be a good bit of gossip, scheming, and behind the scenes manipulation going on. Take nothing for granted – we are all supporting actors in each other’s play of life, and as I’ve said before, supporting actors are often expendable. The solution is not to bother making yourself unexpendable, if you’re not already, it’s too late. The best course of action is to make yourself scarce so that you’re not around when the trouble starts. Keep a low profile, stay out of trouble, and read tomorrow’s forecast to best prepare yourself.
Friday, March 2nd
Mercury enters Aries at 3:40am
Mars octiles Saturn at 3:30pm
Mercury enters Aries at 3:40am and we exit Fantasyland for the Indy 500. Like the ads for a 4G network, life is fast and speed is king. Furthermore, while Mercury has been in Pisces, people have essentially tried to be nice to each other. Mercury rules our method of communication, and even politically, the tone of candidates running for office has been muted, unpointed, and fuzzy. Pisces is a compassionate sign. Aries is not. Aries bites. And will bite until it finds blood if it has to. Sarcasm, barbs, and verbal grenades are the weapons of an Aries Mercury. Step carefully if you don’t want to explode a land mine!
Fortunately for our sanity, the Moon enters Cancer at 7:08am, tempering our moods a bit, and making us a bit more considerate and empathetic as we adjust to the change in mental tempo.
However, the real problem we face is not Mercury, but Mars and Saturn. As we discussed above, Mars is energy, ambition, drive, and strife. Saturn is karma, obstructions, delays, and our responsibilities. When the two combine, it is often frustrating except in the best of circumstances. An octile is not such a circumstance.
An octile is an eighth of the zodiac, and represents the cross-quarter times of the year. As pagans know, the cross-quarters are a particularly important time in the cycle, and this particular one between Mars and Saturn can be a doozy. The problem many of us may face is compromising our integrity to satisfy our ambitions. It is a particularly gnarly problem, because maintaining integrity is not just important for our pride, but because it serves as the engine that helps us accomplish our ambitions. When we are out of integrity, our world falls apart, regardless of whether we wind up holding a brass ring or not. The brass ring is but a consolation price for the world we have left behind.
This aspect lasts from March 1st to the 4th. During this time, take extra care to solve your problems while still remaining true to your principles. It may be difficult, and during this time you may well learn what is truly important to you and what isn’t. And remember, it’s your integrity, not your pride that’s at stake. Integrity is a gift. Be careful what you trade it for.
Saturday, March 3rd
Sun trine Moon at 8:57am
Sun oppose Mars at 12:10pm
Venus octile Mars at 6:53pm
Sun octile Saturn at 7:10pm
With the exception of the Sun-Moon trine in the morning, the aspects today are not particularly helpful. Today is the Sun-Mars opposition discussed above, so be extra careful if you venture out of doors today. The Venus-Mars octile revolves around what kind of person we are to the others in our lives. The balance in question is how passive or aggressive we are, and with all the aggressive, stressful aspects out there it is unlikely we will be able to strike much of a balance today. Try to be extra understanding in your interactions with others, and try to make amends swiftly if confrontation arises. The Sun-Saturn octile in the evening doesn’t help lift our spirits much. Are we doing everything we can to fulfill our life’s responsibilities or have we been dozing off on the job? True, if you’re like many of us, life has become a circus act fit for a juggler, tightrope walker – or clown, but still, how well are we going about accomplishing the truly important things that matter? Don’t worry if you feel a bit short in this respect. It’s natural human nature to feel so, just take the hint that it’s time to get back up, dust yourself off, and trudge along forward again. It’s the best way to begin a new chapter in life!
Wishing you all a wonderful week!
